Physiological response of American bullfrog tadpoles to stressor conditions of capture and hypoxia

The American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), recently named Lithobates catesbeianus is currently farmed for commercial purposes throughout various regions of Brazil. Stressful situations such as problems of management, inadequate facilities and environmental changes with consequent reduction of immunity are common in intensive production. The assessments of these situations of stress allow us detect these problems decreasing the injuries causes by confinement. The main objective of this study was to use the biological markers of plasma cortisol and glucose level and hematological parameters to evaluate the response of bullfrog tadpoles submitted to stressed mechanisms of capture and hypoxia. The animals were subjected to three treatments: stress due to individual capture with a hand net; stress due to batch capture with a hand net; and stress due to capture by emptying. The results obtained demonstrated that there were no statistically significant differences in the parameters tested when comparing the treatments with and without exposure to air (normoxia and hypoxia). Based on these results we can conclude that the stressful stimuli tested were not adequate to alter the biomarker tested. For the cortisol, probably this should have occurred due to the synergistic action between this hormone and thyroxin, which induces metamorphosis in these animals.

Asiantuntijan suorituskykyyn vaikuttavien tekijöiden mittaaminen

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli tutkia asiantuntijaorganisaation henkilöstön työmotivaatioon vaikuttavia tekijöitä. Konkreettisena tavoitteena oli kehittää asiantuntijaorganisaation olemassa olevaan suorituskykymittaristoon uusia mittareita, joiden avulla yrityksessä pyritään luomaan asiantuntijoille mahdollisimman motivoiva työskentelyilmapiiri. Tutkimus toteutettiin kvalitatiivisena tapaustutkimuksena. Tutkimuksen teoreettisessa osuudessa tutkittiin asiantuntijan työmotivaatioon vaikuttavia tekijöitä sekä aineettoman pääoman mittaamista. Empiirisessä osuudessa tutkittiin pienen asiantuntijaorganisaation työskentelyolosuhteita. Aineistonkeruumenetelmänä toimi vanha tutkimustieto, puolistrukturoidun haastattelun piirteitä omaavat teemahaastattelut sekä tutkijan oma havainnointi. Asiantuntijan motivaatioon vaikuttaa erityisen paljon henkilökohtainen kasvu, autonomisuus, merkityksellinen työ, haasteelliset ja vaihtelevat työtehtävät sekä työstä saatu palaute. Vähemmän merkittäviä motivaattoreita ovat raha, työsuhteen jatkuvuus, ystävälliset työtoverit, kunnioitus ja oikeudenmukainen kohtelu. Urakehitystä asiantuntija ei koe erityisen motivoivana asiana. Tutkimuksen kohdeyrityksen haasteiksi ilmeni erityisesti palautteen antaminen, osaamisen ja koulutuksen johtaminen, autonomian vähyys projektin käyttöönotto vaiheessa sekä työn kuormittavuuden jakautuminen. Uudet mittarisuoritukset kohdeyrityksessä ovat: projektipalautteen antaminen, positiivisen palautteen määrä, projektien edistymispalaverit, projektikatselmukset, suunnittelun tuntiarviot, sisäisten kehitysideoiden toteutuminen, työntekijöiden kuormituksen jakautuminen sekä koulutuksen ja osaamisen jakautuminen.

Estrus cycle monitoring of captive collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) in semiarid conditions

Collared peccaries (Peccary tajacu) are among the most hunted species in Latin America due the appreciation of their pelt and meat. In order to optimize breeding management of captive born collared peccaries in semiarid conditions, the objective was to describe and correlate the changes in the ovarian ultrasonographic pattern, hormonal profile, vulvar appearance, and vaginal cytology during the estrus cycle in this species. During 45 days, females (n=4) were subjected each three days to blood collection destined to hormonal dosage by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). In the same occasions, evaluation of external genitalia, ovarian ultrasonography and vaginal cytology were conducted. Results are presented as means and standard deviations. According to hormonal dosage, six estrous cycles were identified as lasting 21.0 ± 5.7 days, being on average 6 days for the estrogenic phase and 15 days for the progesterone phase. Estrogen presented mean peak values of 55.6 ± 20.5 pg/mL. During the luteal phase, the high values for progesterone were 35.3 ± 4.4 ng/mL. The presence of vaginal mucus, a reddish vaginal mucosa and the separation of the vulvar lips were verified in all animals during the estrogenic peak. Through ultrasonography, ovarian follicles measuring 0.2±0.1 cm were visualized during the estrogen peak. Corpora lutea presented hyperechoic regions measuring 0.4±0.2 cm identified during luteal phase. No significant differences (P>0.05) between proportions of vaginal epithelial cells were identified when comparing estrogenic and progesterone phases. In conclusion, female collared peccaries, captive born in semiarid conditions, have an estral cycle that lasts 21.0±5.7 days, with estrous signs characterized by vulvar lips edema and hyperemic vaginal mucosa, coinciding with developed follicles and high estrogen levels.

Prediction of transients and control reactions in a transonic wind tunnel

This work describes a lumped parameter mathematical model for the prediction of transients in an aerodynamic circuit of a transonic wind tunnel. Control actions to properly handle those perturbations are also assessed. The tunnel circuit technology is up to date and incorporates a novel feature: high-enthalpy air injection to extend the tunnel’s Reynolds number capability. The model solves the equations of continuity, energy and momentum and defines density, internal energy and mass flow as the basic parameters in the aerodynamic study as well as Mach number, stagnation pressure and stagnation temperature, all referred to test section conditions, as the main control variables. The tunnel circuit response to control actions and the stability of the flow are numerically investigated. Initially, for validation purposes, the code was applied to the AWT ("Altitude Wind Tunnel" of NASA-Lewis). In the sequel, the Brazilian transonic wind tunnel was investigated, with all the main control systems modeled, including injection.

Influence of Cutting Conditions on Tool Life, Tool Wear and Surface Finish in the Face Milling Process

The main goal of this work is to study the influence of cutting conditions - cutting speed, feed velocity and feed per tooth - on tool life and surface finish of the workpiece in the face milling of flat surfaces. Aiming to achieve this goal, several milling experiments were carried out with different cutting speeds, feed velocities and feeds per tooth. In the first phase of the experiments, cutting speed was varied without varying feed velocity, which caused a variation in feed per tooth. In the second phase of the experiments, cutting speed and feed velocity were varied in such a way that feed per tooth was kept constant. Tool flank wear and surface roughness of the workpiece were measured as cutting time elapsed. The main conclusions of this work are that a) cutting speed has a strong influence on tool life, regardless of whether feed velocity or feed per tooth varies and b) an increase in surface roughness of the workpiece is not closely related to an increase in wear of the primary cutting edge.

Searchig the links between "knowledge governance mechanisms", "the individual conditions of knowledge sharing", and "individual's knowledge sharing behaviour".

The objective of this study was to understand how organizational knowledge governance mechanisms affect individual motivation, opportunity, and the ability to share knowledge (MOA framework), and further, how individual knowledge-sharing conditions affect actual knowledge sharing behaviour. The study followed the knowledge governance approach and a micro-foundations perspective to develop a theoretical model and hypotheses, which could explain the casual relationships between knowledge governance mechanisms, individual knowledge sharing conditions, and individual knowledge sharing behaviour. The quantitative research strategy and multivariate data analysis techniques (SEM) were used in the hypotheses testing with a survey dataset of 256 employees from eleven military schools of Finnish Defence Forces (FDF). The results showed that “performance-based feedback and rewards” affects employee’s “intrinsic motivation towards knowledge sharing”, that “lateral coordination” affects employee’s “knowledge self-efficacy”, and that ”training and development” is positively related to “time availability” for knowledge sharing but affects negatively employee’s knowledge self-efficacy. Individual motivation and knowledge self-efficacy towards knowledge sharing affected knowledge sharing behaviour when work-related knowledge was shared 1) between employees in a department and 2) between employees in different departments, however these factors did not play a crucial role in subordinate–superior knowledge sharing. The findings suggest that individual motivation, opportunity, and the ability towards knowledge sharing affects individual knowledge sharing behaviour differently in different knowledge sharing situations. Furthermore, knowledge governance mechanisms can be used to manage individual-level knowledge sharing conditions and individual knowledge sharing behaviour but their affect also vary in different knowledge sharing situations.

Effect of additives, precursors and process conditions on particle morphology

The objective of the thesis was to develop methods to manufacture and control calcium carbonate crystal nucleation and growth in precipitation process. The work consists of experimental part and literature part that addresses theory of nucleation, crystallization and precipitation. In the experimental part calcium carbonate was precipitated using carbonization reaction. Precipitation was carried out in presence of known morphology controlling agents (anionic polymers and sodium silicate) and by using different operation conditions. Formed material was characterized using SEM images, and its thermal stability was assessed. This work demonstrates that carbon dioxide feeding rate and concentrations of calcium hydroxide and additives can be used to control size, shape and amount of precipitating calcium carbonate.

Atrazine and picloram adsorption in organic horizon forest samples under laboratory conditions

Adsorption of two herbicides, atrazine and picloram, displaying different sorption characteristics, were evaluated for O (organic) horizon samples collected from SMZs (streamside management zones) in Piedmont (Ultisol) of Georgia, USA. Samples were randomly collected from within 5 SMZs selected for a study of surface flow in field trials. The five SMZs represented five different slope classes, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20%. Results indicate that 0 horizons have the potential for sorbing atrazine from surface water moving through forested SMZs. Atrazine adsorption was nearly linear over a 24-hour period. Equilibrium adsorption, determined through 24-hour laboratory tests, resulted in a Freundlich coefficient of 67.5 for atrazine. For picloram, negative adsorption was observed in laboratory experiments. This seemed to be due to interference with ELISA analyses; however, this was not confirmed. The adsorption coefficient (Kd) obtained for atrazine in 0 horizons was greater than it would have been expected for mineral soil (from 1 to 4). Picloram was not sorbed in 0 horizons at any significant degree. Although there is a significant potential for the direct adsorption of soluble forms of herbicides in SMZs, the actual value of this adsorption for protecting water is likely to be limited even for relatively strongly sorbed chemicals, such as atrazine, due to relatively slow uptake kinetics.

Physiological response of vicia faba to prohexadione-calcium under saline conditions

Changes in the activities of oxidative enzymes (indole acetic acid oxidase, peroxidase and catalase), endogenous hormones (gibberellic acid (GA3), indole acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinins (AsZeatin), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids), total carbohydrates, total soluble sugars, amino acid proline and vegetative growth parameters were used as indicators to explain the physiological role of the growth retardant prohexadione-calcium on Vicia faba seedlings 40 days after sowing under salinity stress for 30 days. The obtained results show that soaking faba bean seeds prior to sowing at different concentrations of prohexadione-calcium (0, 10, 20 and 30 ppm) significantly increased the activities of indole acetic acid oxidase (IAA-oxidase) and peroxidase enzymes, but decreased the catalase enzyme activity as compared with their respective control. Application of prohexadione-Ca caused markedly decreases in the endogenous contents of gibberellins and indole acetic acid (IAA) but increased the levels of natural growth inhibitor abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinins in the shoots of faba bean seedlings. All the prohexadione-Ca concentrations increased the contents of amino acid proline, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids), total carbohydrates and total soluble sugars in faba bean seedlings grown under salt stress. Application of prohexadione-Ca decreased significantly seedling height and shoot fresh weight but significantly increased shoot dry weight.

Water use efficiency of cassava plants under competition conditions

The objective of this work was to evaluate characteristics associated with the photosynthetic activity of cassava plants in competition with weeds or not. The trial was performed on open environment conditions, with experimental units consisting of fiber glass vases with 150 dm³ filled with Red Yellow Latosol, previously fertilized. Treatments consisted in the cultivation of cassava plants isolated and associated to three weed species (Bidens pilosa, Commelina benghalensis and Brachiaria plantaginea). After cassava shooting, 15 days after planting, a removal of the weeds excess was performed, sown at the time of cassava planting, leaving six plants m-2 of B. pilosa and four plants m-2 of C. benghalensis and B. plantaginea. At 60 days after emergence (DAE), stomatal conductance (Gs), vapor pressure in the substomatal cavity (Ean), temperature gradient between leaf and air (ΔT), transpiration rate (E) and water use efficiency (WUE) were evaluated. B. pilosa showed greater capacity to affect growth of cassava plants. B. plantaginea is very efficient in using water, especially by presenting C4 metabolism, and remains competitive with cassava even under temporarily low water status. C. benghalensis, in turn, is not a good competitor for light and apparently is not the primary cause of water depletion in the soil. The effects of weeds, in this case, were more associated with the competition. However, they were found between moderate to low. This implies that the competition established at experimental level was low.

Weed emergence in autumn under temperate conditions

The emergence of weed plants depends on environmental conditions, especially temperature and soil moisture. The latter is extremely important in Mediterranean environments which are characterized by irregular amount and distribution of rain throughout the year, which influences the beginning of the growth cycle of the annual species (seed germination). This paper studies the influence of rainfall, in particular accumulated rainfall in autumn, on the emergence of weed plants. The experiment was carried out on Luvisols, and the appearance of flora under field conditions was observed. Through analysis of the results, it can be concluded that a high percentage of weed plants (> 85% related to the highest registered value) was obtained with more than 90 mm of accumulated rainfall from the beginning of September. Thus, in those years in which this amount of rainfall (90 mm) is registered until the end of October, the appearance of potential weed plants can be ensured, under Mediterranean conditions, in a period before sowing the autumn-winter crops.

Efficacy of herbicides applied to Digitaria horizontalis plants under different water conditions

This project aimed to relate the control efficiency of ACCase inhibiting herbicides applied post-emergence to Digitaria horizontalis plants under different soil water contents. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, with the application of three different herbicides (fluazifop-p-butyl, haloxyfop-methyl, and sethoxydim + mineral oil Assist). The experimental design used for each herbicide was completely randomized, with four replications, consisting of a 3 x 4 factorial, with the combination of water management strategies (-0.03, -0.07 and -1.5 MPa) and four doses of these products (100%, 50%, 25%, and 0% of the recommended dose). Herbicide application was made at two vegetative stages, 4-6 leaves and 2-3 tillers. The visual phytotoxicity evaluations were performed at 14 days after application and the plant dry weight at the end of the study was evaluated. The control efficiency was not affected by water management strategies when applied to the recommended dose of the herbicides in early stages of plant development (4-6 leaf stage). In late applications (2-3 tiller stage) the plants held under drought stress showed less phytotoxicity.

ICT-varautumisen analyysi ja kehittäminen julkisen sektorin virastossa

Lainsäädäntö velvoittaa valtionhallintoa huolehtimaan riittävästä ICT-varautumisesta, jotta yhteiskunnan kriittiset toiminnot ovat turvattu normaaliolojen lisäksi normaaliolojen häiriötilanteissa ja poikkeusoloissa. ICT-varautumisen vaatimukset on määrätty VAHTI ICT-varautumisen vaatimukset - ohjeessa. ICT-varautuminen on riskienhallintaan perustuvaa toimintaa, joka liittyy keskeisesti organisaation kokonaisturvallisuuteen, tietohallintoon ja yleiseen varautumiseen. Tutkielman teoriakatsauksessa perehdytään riskienhallintaan ja kokonaisturvallisuuteen painottaen ICT-varautumisen kannalta tärkeitä osa-alueita tietoturvallisuutta ja IT-riskienhallintaa. Kohdeorganisaation ICT-varautumisen toimintajärjestelmää varten kartoitetaan ICT-varautumisen viitekehys. Empiirisessä osiossa toteutetaan tapaustutkimuksena kohdeorganisaation ICT-varautumisen nykytilan suppea analyysi ja laaditaan kehittämisehdotelmana toimintamalli ICT-varautumisen organisoimiseksi ja käyttöönottamiseksi. Tutkielman tuotoksena kohdeorganisaatiolla on systemaattinen organisaation eri tasot huomioiva toimintamalli ICT-varautumisen toteuttamiseksi.

Globe fringerush (Fimbristylis miliacea) cross resistance to als-inhibitor herbicides under field conditions in irrigated rice in the south of Brazil

ALS-inhibiting herbicides usually provide adequate weed control in irrigated rice fields. After consecutive years of use, the Cyperaceae species, globe fringerush (Fimbristylis miliacea) began to show resistance to ALS (acetolactate synthase) inhibitors. Globe fringerush is one of the most problematic herbicide-resistant weeds in irrigated rice in the state of Santa Catarina in the South of Brazil. The objective of this research was to examine cross resistance of globe fringerush to ALS inhibitors, under field conditions. Two experiments were conducted in a rice field naturally infested with ALS-resistant globe fringerush in Santa Catarina, in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 cropping seasons. The experimental units were arranged in randomized complete block design, with five replicates, consisting of two factors (herbicide and dose) in a 4 x 5 factorial arrangement. ALS herbicides included bispyribac-sodium, ethoxysulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl and penoxsulam. Six-leaf globe fringerush was sprayed with herbicide doses of 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4X the recommended doses in a spray volume of 200 L ha-1. The number of rice culm, filled and sterile grains, plant height, dry shoot biomass and grain yield were recorded. Globe fringerush control was evaluated 28 and 70 days after herbicide application (DAA); shoots were harvested at 13 weeks after herbicide application and dry weight recorded. Competition with globe fringerush reduced the number of culm and rice grain yield. The globe fringerush biotype in this field was resistant to all ALS herbicides tested. Penoxsulam had the highest level of activity among treatments at 28 and 70 DAA, but the control level was only 50% and 42%, respectively, in the second year of assessment. This was not enough to prevent rice yield loss. Alternative herbicides and weed control strategies are necessary to avoid yield losses in rice fields infested with ALS-resistant biotypes of globe fringerush.