Spatial variability in nutritional status of arabic coffee based on dris index

The combined use of precision agriculture and the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) allows the spatial monitoring of coffee nutrient balance to provide more balanced and cost-effective fertilizer recommendations. The objective of this work was to evaluate the spatial variability in the nutritional status of two coffee varieties using the Mean Nutritional Balance Index (NBIm) and its relationship with their respective yields. The experiment was conducted in eastern Minas Gerais in two areas, one planted with variety Catucaí and another with variety Catuaí. The NBIm of the two varieties and their yields were analyzed through geostatistics and, based on the models and parameters of the variograms, were interpolated to obtain their spatial distribution in the studied areas. Variety Catucai, with grater spatial variability, was more nutritional unbalanced than variety Catuai, and consequently produced lower yields. Excess of Fe and Mn makes these elements limiting yield factors.

Modelling the Mechanical Behavior of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites

Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to analyze the mechanical properties of polymer-based nanocomposites with varying nanofiber network parameters. The study was focused on nanofiber aspect ratio, concentration and initial orientation. The reinforcing phase affects the behavior of the polymeric nanocomposite. Simulations have shown that the fiber concentration has a significant effect on the properties, with higher loadings resulting in higher stress levels and higher stiffness, matching the general behavior from experimental knowledge in this field. The results also indicate that, within the studied range, the observed effect of the aspect ratio and initial orientation is smaller than that of the concentration, and that these two parameters are interrelated.

Spatial variability of particle size fractions of an Oxisol cultivated with conilon coffee

Information on the spatial distribution of particle size fractions is essential for use planning and management of soils. The aim of this work to was to study the spatial variability of particle size fractions of a Typic Hapludox cultivated with conilon coffee. The soil samples were collected at depths of 0-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m in the coffee canopy projection, totaling 109 georeferentiated points. At the depth of 0.2-0.4 m the clay fraction showed average value significantly higher, while the sand fraction showed was higher in the depth of 0-0.20 m. The silt showed no significant difference between the two depths. The particle size fractions showed medium and high spatial variability. The levels of total sand and clay have positive and negative correlation, respectively, with the altitude of the sampling points, indicating the influence of landscape configuration.

Inter-relações da produtividade de cana soca com a resistência à penetração, umidade e matéria orgânica do solo

A cultura da cana-de-açúcar desempenha, sobretudo no aspecto relacionado às fontes energéticas alternativas, importantíssimo papel. No ano de 2009, no município de Suzanápolis (SP), cujas coordenadas são 20º 28' 10'' S e 50º 49' 20'' W, no cerrado brasileiro foi analisada a produtividade da cana soca (2º ciclo) em razão da resistência à penetração, umidade gravimétrica e matéria orgânica de um Argissolo Vermelho eutrófico. O objetivo foi selecionar, entre os atributos pesquisados, aquele com a melhor correlação, a linear e a espacial, para explicar a variabilidade da produtividade da cana-de-açúcar. Foi instalada a malha geoestatística para a coleta de dados do solo e da planta, com 120 pontos amostrais, numa área de 14,53 ha. A matéria orgânica correlaciona-se linear e negativamente com a resistência à penetração, indicando que manejos do solo que visem seu aumento no perfil melhoram suas condições físicas e, por conseguinte, o desenvolvimento e a produtividade da cana-de-açúcar. A umidade gravimétrica (UG) e o teor de matéria orgânica do solo (MO) correlacionam-se direta, linear (UG2 e MO1) e espacialmente (UG1 e MO1) com a produtividade da cana-de-açúcar, demonstrando serem os melhores atributos, dentre os pesquisados, para estimar e aumentar a produtividade agrícola da cana-de-açúcar.

Artificial neural networks for automatic modelling of the pectus excavatum corrective prosthesis

Pectus excavatum is the most common deformity of the thorax and usually comprises Computed Tomography (CT) examination for pre-operative diagnosis. Aiming at the elimination of the high amounts of CT radiation exposure, this work presents a new methodology for the replacement of CT by a laser scanner (radiation-free) in the treatment of pectus excavatum using personally modeled prosthesis. The complete elimination of CT involves the determination of ribs external outline, at the maximum sternum depression point for prosthesis placement, based on chest wall skin surface information, acquired by a laser scanner. The developed solution resorts to artificial neural networks trained with data vectors from 165 patients. Scaled Conjugate Gradient, Levenberg-Marquardt, Resilient Back propagation and One Step Secant gradient learning algorithms were used. The training procedure was performed using the soft tissue thicknesses, determined using image processing techniques that automatically segment the skin and rib cage. The developed solution was then used to determine the ribs outline in data from 20 patient scanners. Tests revealed that ribs position can be estimated with an average error of about 6.82±5.7 mm for the left and right side of the patient. Such an error range is well below current prosthesis manual modeling (11.7±4.01 mm) even without CT imagiology, indicating a considerable step forward towards CT replacement by a 3D scanner for prosthesis personalization.

A inter-relação trabalho-saúde mental: um estudo de caso

A autora, após sintetizar algumas das vertentes de estudo e conceitos atuais na temática da inter-relação trabalho-saúde mental, apresenta um estudo de caso individual. Trata-se do caso de um mecânico industrial do setor siderúrgico que desenvolveu um quadro psicopatol6gico. A evolução de manifestações de fadiga crônica e desencadeamento de uma crise mental aguda são examinadas em suas correlações ao hist6rico de vida e trabalho e a dinâmicas referidas às condições e à organização do trabalho no emprego atual.

Os eventos vitais: aspectos de seus registros e inter-relação da legislação vigente com as estatísticas de saúde

Foram estudados os registros civis desde as suas origens, salientando aspectos legislativos do Brasil, chamando a atenção para algumas implicações que a legislação a eles referente trazem às estatísticas vitais e suas repercussões em planejamento de saúde e epidemiologia. Relativamente ao nascimento foram abordados alguns tópicos, com ênfase no problema do registro por local de ocorrência, fato que influe enormemente em programações de saúde materno-infantil. Foram salientados também alguns aspectos do sub-registro de nascimento, citando dados para São Paulo. Quanto aos óbitos foram analisados o registro por local de ocorrência, o prazo para registro, o problema das causas de morte e o relativo ao sub-registro. Com referência aos nascidos mortos, foi apresentada a conceituação de nascido vivo e nascido morto da Organização Mundial da Saúde e indicado o fato de sua não aplicação prática repercutir nos campos do Direito e da Estatística Vital. Foram feitas algumas recomendações no sentido de um maior entrosamento entre os vários profissionais - legisladores, médicos, oficiais de cartório, estaticistas de saúde - que, de uma maneira ou de outra, têm relação com os eventos vitais.

Supervisão inter-pares: um percurso colaborativo de formação

Projecto de intervenção apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Ciências da Educação -Especialização em Supervisão em Educação

Supercritical CO2 extraction of secondary metabolites from Agaricus blazei: experiments and modelling

The mycelium and young fruiting bodies of Agaricus blazei were submitted to supercritical CO2 extraction, in a modified commercial flow apparatus, at temperatures from 40 to 80 ºC, pressures up to 600 bar and CO2 flow-rates from 2.0 to 9.0 g.min-1. The best extraction conditions of secondary metabolites, whereby the degree of solubilization (g extract/100 g of fungi) is the highest, was obtained with pure CO2 at 400 bar, 70 ºC and a CO2 flow rate of 5.7g.min-1. The extract in that conditions were analysed by GC-Ms. In order to increase the extraction yield of secondary metabolites, which are mostly present in glycolipid fractions, a polar compound (ethanol) was used as co-solvent in the proportions of 5 and 10 % (mol/mol). The presence of ethanol increased the yield when compared with the extraction with pure CO2. Moreover, a simple model was applied to the supercritical CO2 extraction of secondary metabolites from Agaricus blazei.

Tsunami vulnerability assessment of Casablanca-Morocco using numerical modelling and GIS tools

Earthquakes and tsunamis along Morocco's coasts have been reported since historical times. The threat posed by tsunamis must be included in coastal risk studies. This study focuses on the tsunami impact and vulnerability assessment of the Casablanca harbour and surrounding area using a combination of tsunami inundation numerical modelling, field survey data and geographic information system. The tsunami scenario used here is compatible with the 1755 Lisbon event that we considered to be the worst case tsunami scenario. Hydrodynamic modelling was performed with an adapted version of the Cornell Multigrid Coupled Tsunami Model from Cornell University. The simulation covers the eastern domain of the Azores-Gibraltar fracture zone corresponding to the largest tsunamigenic area in the North Atlantic. The proposed vulnerability model attempts to provide an insight into the tsunami vulnerability of building stock. Results in the form of a vulnerability map will be useful for decision makers and local authorities in preventing the community resiliency for tsunami hazards.

Mathematical modelling of supercritical CO2 extraction of volatile oils from aromatic plants

The modelling of the experimental data of the extraction of the volatile oil from six aromatic plants (coriander, fennel, savoury, winter savoury, cotton lavender and thyme) was performed using five mathematical models, based on differential mass balances. In all cases the extraction was internal diffusion controlled and the internal mass transfer coefficienty (k(s)) have been found to change with pressure, temperature and particle size. For fennel, savoury and cotton lavender, the external mass transfer and the equilibrium phase also influenced the second extraction period, since k(s) changed with the tested flow rates. In general, the axial dispersion coefficient could be neglected for the conditions studied, since Peclet numbers were high. On the other hand, the solute-matrix interaction had to be considered in order to ensure a satisfactory description of the experimental data.

Immune cell changes in response to a swimming training session during a 24-h recovery period

Understanding the impact of training sessions on the immune response is crucial for the adequate periodization of training, to prevent both a negative influence on health and a performance impairment of the athlete. This study evaluated acute systemic immune cell changes in response to an actual swimming session, during a 24-h recovery period, controlling for sex, menstrual cycle phases, maturity, and age group. Competitive swimmers (30 females, 15 ± 1.3 years old; and 35 males, 16.5 ± 2.1 years old) performed a high-intensity training session. Blood samples were collected before, immediately after, 2 h after, and 24 h after exercise. Standard procedures for the assessment of leukogram by automated counting (Coulter LH 750, Beckman) and lymphocytes subsets by flow cytometry (FACS Calibur BD, Biosciences) were used. Subjects were grouped according to competitive age groups and pubertal Tanner stages. Menstrual cycle phase was monitored. The training session induced neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and a low eosinophil count, lasting for at least 2 h, independent of sex and maturity. At 24 h postexercise, the acquired immunity of juniors (15-17 years old), expressed by total lymphocytes and total T lymphocytes (CD3+), was not fully recovered. This should be accounted for when planning a weekly training program. The observed lymphopenia suggests a lower immune surveillance at the end of the session that may depress the immunity of athletes, highlighting the need for extra care when athletes are exposed to aggressive environmental agents such as swimming pools