Growth of papaya nodal and rooted shoot cultures as affected by ACC, STS, culture vessel size and incubation conditions

Nodal shoot cultures of 'Clone 003', a selected Australian papaya cultivar, were cultured on modified De Fossard medium supplemented with chemicals that either promote ethylene evolution or inhibit action while in culture. Nodal shoot cultures grown in the presence of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC, 1.0 mM) resulted in a significant reduction in percent fresh and dry weights, shoot length, leaf area, petiole length and chlorophyll content, but leaf development was significantly increased. In contrast, nodal cultures grown in the presence of silver thiosulphate (STS, 0.5 mM) significantly produced the highest percentage of fresh and dry weights, shoot length, leaf production, leaf area expansion, petiole length and leaf chlorophyll content. Nodal cultures and rooted whole plantlets placed in medium-sized (125 mL) culture vessels had significantly better growth than those cultures placed in small (70 mL) or in large (250 mL) vessels. Cultures grown in medium-sized vessels had higher fresh and dry weights, longer shoots, more leaves and larger leaf area than those cultures placed in smaller or larger vessels. Similarly, values for said growth parameters and for chlorophyll content of the nodal and rooted whole plantlets were higher when they were incubated under high light intensity of 120 mumol m(-2)s(-1) at a prevailing temperature of either 20+/-1 C or 25+/-1 C.

A yield architecture framework to explain adaptation of pearl millet to environmental stress

Functional knowledge of the physiological basis of crop adaptation to stress is a prerequisite for exploiting specific adaptation to stress environments in breeding programs. This paper presents an analysis of yield components for pearl millet, to explain the specific adaptation of local landraces to stress environments in Rajasthan, India. Six genotypes, ranging from high-tillering traditional landraces to low-tillering open-pollinated modern cultivars, were grown in 20 experiments, covering a range of nonstress and drought stress patterns. In each experiment, yield components (particle number, grain number, 100 grain mass) were measured separately for main shoots, basal tillers, and nodal tillers. Under optimum conditions, landraces had a significantly lower grain yield than the cultivars, but no significant differences were observed at yield levels around 1 ton ha(-1). This genotype x environment interaction for grain yield was due to a difference in yield strategy, where landraces aimed at minimising the risk of a crop failure under stress conditions, and modem cultivars aimed at maximising yield potential under optimum conditions. A key aspect of the adaptation of landraces was the small size of the main shoot panicle, as it minimised (1) the loss of productive tillers during stem elongation; (2) the delay in anthesis if mid-season drought occurs; and (3) the reduction in panicle productivity of the basal tillers under stress. In addition, a low investment in structural panicle weight, relative to vegetative crop growth rate, promoted the production of nodal tillers, providing a mechanism to compensate for reduced basal tiller productivity if stress occurred around anthesis. A low maximum 100 grain mass also ensured individual grain mass was little affected by environmental conditions. The strategy of the high-tillering landraces carries a yield penalty under optimum conditions, but is expected to minimise the risk of a crop failure, particularly if mid-season drought stress occurs. The yield architecture of low-tillering varieties, by contrast, will be suited to end-of-season drought stress, provided anthesis is early. Application of the above adaptation mechanisms into a breeding program could enable the identification of plant types that match the prevalent stress patterns in the target environments. (C) 2003 E.J. van Oosterom. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermomechanical environment characterisation in injection moulding and its relation to the mechanical properties of talc-filled polypropylene

This study is focused on the establishment of relationships between the injection moulding processing conditions, the applied thermomechanical environment (TME) and the tensile properties of talc-filled polypropylene,adopting a new extended concept of thermomechanical indices (TMI). In this approach, TMI are calculated from computational simulations of the moulding process that characterise the TME during processing, which are then related to the mechanical properties of the mouldings. In this study, this concept is extended to both the filling and the packing phases, with new TMI defined related to the morphology developed during these phases. A design of experiments approach based on Taguchi orthogonal arrays was adopted to vary the injection moulding parameters (injection flow rate, injection temperature, mould wall temperature and holding pressure), and thus, the TME. Results from analysis of variance for injection-moulded tensile specimens have shown that among the considered processing conditions, the flow rate is the most significant parameter for the Young’s modulus; the flow rate and melt temperature are the most significant for the strain at break; and the holding pressure and flow rate are the most significant for the stress at yield. The yield stress and Young’s modulus were found to be governed mostly by the thermostress index (TSI, related to the orientation of the skin layer), whilst the strain at break depends on both the TSI and the cooling index (CI, associated to the crystallinity degree of the core region). The proposed TMI approach provides predictive capabilities of the mechanical response of injection-moulded components, which is a valuable input during their design stage.

Effect of the Impact Conditions on the Mechanical Properties of Injection-Molded Parts

This work focused on the study of the impact event on molded parts in the framework of automotive components. The influence of the impact conditions and processing parameters on the mechanical behavior of talc-filled polypropylene specimens was analyzed. The specimens were lateral-gate discs produced by injection molding, and the mechanical characterization was performed through instrumented falling weight impact tests concomitantly assisted with high-speed videography. Results analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method have shown that from the considered parameters, only the dart diameter and test temperature have significant influence on the falling weight impact properties. Higher dart diameter leads to higher peak force and peak energy results. Conversely, higher levels of test temperatures lead to lower values of peak force and peak energy. By means of high-speed videography, a more brittle fracture was observed for experiments with higher levels of test velocity and dart diameter and lower levels of test temperature. The injection-molding process conditions assessed in this study have an influence on the impact response of moldings, mainly on the deformation capabilities of the moldings.

Manejo do pastejo de cultivares de Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst) Stapf e de Panicum maximum Jacq

A definição dos princípios adequados de manejo do pastejo capazes de possibilitar que as pastagens mantenham-se produtivas e persistentes tem sido uma preocupação constante dos pesquisadores brasileiros. No entanto, foi durante as duas últimas décadas que ocorreram grandes mudanças e um avanço significativo na compreensão dos processos determinantes da correta utilização das plantas forrageiras tropicais em pastagens. Este texto tem por objetivo apresentar e discutir os principais resultados obtidos sobre o manejo do pastejo de alguns cultivares de Panicum maximum e de Brachiaria brizantha, bem como a importância da utilização de metas de pasto como guia de campo para o monitoramento e controle do processo de pastejo para planejar e recomendar práticas de manejo eficientes.

Selection of full-sib families of Panicum maximum Jacq under low light conditions

The silvopastoral system is a viable technological alternative to extensive cattle grazing, however, for it to be successful, forage grass genotypes adapted to reduced light need to be identified. The objective of this study was to select progenies of Panicum maximum tolerant to low light conditions for use in breeding programs and to study the genetic control and performance of some traits associated with shade tolerance. Six full-sib progenies were evaluated in full sun, 50% and 70% of light reduction in pots and subjected to cuttings. Progeny genotypic values ​​(GV) increased with light reduction in relation to plant height (H) and specific leaf area (SLA). The traits total dry mass accumulation (DM) and leaf dry mass accumulation (LDM) had GV higher in 50% shade and intermediate in 70% shade. The GV of tiller number (TIL) and root dry mass accumulation (RDM) decreased with light reduction. The highest positive correlations were obtained for the traits H and RDM with SLA and DM; the highest negative correlations were between TIL and SLA and RDM, and H and LDM. The progenies showed higher tolerance to 50% light reduction and, among them, two stood out and will be used in breeding programs. It was also found that it is not necessary to evaluate some traits under all light conditions. All traits had high broad sense heritability and high genotypic correlation between progenies in all light intensities. There is genetic difference among the progenies regarding the response to different light intensities, which will allow selection for shade tolerance

Estimativa do recurso associado a um parque eólico e solução ótima de integração do parque numa rede elétrica do sudeste brasileiro

Um dos objetivos da presente dissertação consiste em estimar o recurso eólico num determinado local com base em dados de velocidade e direção de vento de outro local. Para esta estimativa, é utilizado um método que faz a extrapolação dos dados de vento do local onde as medições de velocidade e direção de vento foram realizadas para o local onde se quer estimar o recurso eólico, permitindo assim fazer uma avaliação da potência disponível que se pode obter para uma dada configuração de turbinas eólicas e tendo em consideração fatores topográficos tais como a rugosidade, orografia da superfície e também obstáculos em redor. Este método foi aplicado usando a ferramenta computacional, Wind Atlas Analysis and Aplication Program (WAsP), de modo a avaliar a potência média de um parque eólico na região de Osório, Brasil. O outro objetivo desta dissertação consiste no estudo e definição da melhor ligação do referido parque eólico à rede elétrica local. Para o efeito e após modelização da rede elétrica foram identificados os reforços de rede necessários na zona que irá receber a nova potência do parque eólico. No estudo em causa foram avaliadas quatro alternativas de ligação do parque eólico à rede. A escolha da melhor alternativa de ligação foi efetuada tendo por base uma análise de relação entre benefício de perdas da rede e custos de reforço da rede local.

Thick dyke emplacement and internal flow: A structural and magnetic fabric study of the deep-seated dolerite dyke of Foum Zguid (southern Morocco)

Knowledge on forced magma injection and magma flow in dykes is crucial for the understanding of how magmas migrate through the crust to the Earth's surface. Because many questions still persist, we used the long, thick, and deep-seated Foum Zguid dyke (Morocco) to investigate dyke emplacement and internal flow by means of magnetic methods, structural analysis, petrography, and scanning electron microscopy. We also investigated how the host rocks accommodated the intrusion. Regarding internal flow: 1. Important variations of the rock magnetic properties and magnetic fabric occur with distance from dyke wall; 2. anisotropy of anhysteretic remanent magnetization reveals that anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) results mainly from the superposition of subfabrics with distinct coercivities and that the imbrication between magnetic foliation and dyke plane is more reliable to deduce flow than the orientation of the AMS maximum principal axis; and 3. a dominant upward flow near the margins can be inferred. The magnetic fabric closest to the dyke wall likely records magma flow best due to fast cooling, whereas in the core the magnetic properties have been affected by high-temperature exsolution and metasomatic effects due to slow cooling. Regarding dyke emplacement, this study shows that the thick forceful intrusion induced deformation by homogeneous flattening and/or folding of the host sedimentary strata. Dewatering related to heat, as recorded by thick quartz veins bordering the dyke in some localities, may have also helped accommodating dyke intrusion. The spatial arrangement of quartz veins and their geometrical relationship with the dyke indicate a preintrusive to synintrusive sinistral component of strike slip.

A DC-DC Step-Up mu-Power Converter for Energy Harvesting Applications, Using Maximum Power PointTracking, Based on Fractional Open Circuit Voltage

A DC-DC step-up micro power converter for solar energy harvesting applications is presented. The circuit is based on a switched-capacitorvoltage tripler architecture with MOSFET capacitors, which results in an, area approximately eight times smaller than using MiM capacitors for the 0.131mu m CMOS technology. In order to compensate for the loss of efficiency, due to the larger parasitic capacitances, a charge reutilization scheme is employed. The circuit is self-clocked, using a phase controller designed specifically to work with an amorphous silicon solar cell, in order to obtain themaximum available power from the cell. This will be done by tracking its maximum power point (MPPT) using the fractional open circuit voltage method. Electrical simulations of the circuit, together with an equivalent electrical model of an amorphous silicon solar cell, show that the circuit can deliver apower of 1132 mu W to the load, corresponding to a maximum efficiency of 66.81%.

A Step-up mu-Power Converter for Solar Energy Harvesting Applications, using Hill Climbing Maximum Power Point Tracking

This paper presents a step-up micro-power converter for solar energy harvesting applications. The circuit uses a SC voltage tripler architecture, controlled by an MPPT circuit based on the Hill Climbing algorithm. This circuit was designed in a 0.13 mu m CMOS technology in order to work with an a-Si PV cell. The circuit has a local power supply voltage, created using a scaled down SC voltage tripler, controlled by the same MPPT circuit, to make the circuit robust to load and illumination variations. The SC circuits use a combination of PMOS and NMOS transistors to reduce the occupied area. A charge re-use scheme is used to compensate the large parasitic capacitors associated to the MOS transistors. The simulation results show that the circuit can deliver a power of 1266 mu W to the load using 1712 mu W of power from the PV cell, corresponding to an efficiency as high as 73.91%. The simulations also show that the circuit is capable of starting up with only 19% of the maximum illumination level.

Desenvolvimento de algoritmos para a determinação da máxima injeção nodal em redes de energia elétrica

A presente dissertação apresenta um conjunto de algoritmos, cujo objetivo é a determinação da capacidade máxima de energia que é possível integrar numa rede de energia elétrica, seja num único nó ou em vários nós simultaneamente. Deste modo, obtém-se uma indicação dos locais mais adequados à nova instalação de geração e quais os reforços de rede necessários, de forma a permitirem a alocação da nova energia. Foram estudados e identificados os fatores que influenciam o valor da capacidade máxima nodal, assim como as suas consequências no funcionamento da rede, em particular o carácter simultâneo associado às referidas injeções nodais. Nesse sentido, são apresentados e desenvolvidos algoritmos que têm em consideração as características técnicas da geração a ligar e as restrições físicas impostas pela rede elétrica existente. Os algoritmos desenvolvidos apresentados baseiam-se em busca gaussiana, tendo sido igualmente implementada uma heurística que tem em consideração a proximidade de outras injeções em nós adjacentes e finalmente, dada a natureza combinatória do problema, propõe-se a aplicação de algoritmos genéticos especificamente adaptados ao problema Conclui-se que os algoritmos genéticos encerram características que lhes permitem ser aplicados em qualquer topologia com resultados superiores a todos os algoritmos desenvolvidos. Os métodos apresentados foram desenvolvidos e implementados usando a linguagem de programação Python, tendo-se desenvolvido ainda um interface visual ao utilizador, baseado em wxPython, onde estão implementadas diversas ferramentas que possibilitam a execução dos algoritmos, a configuração dos seus parâmetros e ainda o acesso à informação resultante dos algoritmos em formato Excel.

Maximum penetration of microgeneration photovoltaic panels in distribution network

In smart grids context, the distributed generation units based in renewable resources, play an important rule. The photovoltaic solar units are a technology in evolution and their prices decrease significantly in recent years due to the high penetration of this technology in the low voltage and medium voltage networks supported by governmental policies and incentives. This paper proposes a methodology to determine the maximum penetration of photovoltaic units in a distribution network. The paper presents a case study, with four different scenarios, that considers a 32-bus medium voltage distribution network and the inclusion storage units.

Nodal price simulation in competitive electricity markets

Locational Marginal Prices (LMP) are important pricing signals for the participants of competitive electricity markets, as the effects of transmission losses and binding constraints are embedded in LMPs [1],[2]. This paper presents a software tool that evaluates the nodal marginal prices considering losses and congestion. The initial dispatch is based on all the electricity transactions negotiated in the pool and in bilateral contracts. It must be checked if the proposed initial dispatch leads to congestion problems; if a congestion situation is detected, it must be solved. An AC power flow is used to verify if there are congestion situations in the initial dispatch. Whenever congestion situations are detected, they are solved and a feasible dispatch (re-dispatch) is obtained. After solving the congestion problems, the simulator evaluates LMP. The paper presents a case study based on the the 118 IEEE bus test network.

Static and hydrodynamic monitoring of citalopram based on its electro-oxidation behavior at a glassy-carbon surface

The electrooxidative behavior of citalopram (CTL) in aqueous media was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV) at a glassy-carbon electrode. The electrochemical behaviour of CTL involves two electrons and two protons in the irreversible and diffusion controlled oxidation of the tertiary amine group. The maximum analytical signal was obtained in a phosphate buffer (pH ¼ 8.2). For analytical purposes, an SWV method and a flow-injection analysis (FIA) system with amperometric detection were developed. The optimised SWV method showed a linear range between 1.10 10 5–1.20 10 4 molL 1, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 9.5 10 6 molL 1. Using the FIA method, a linear range between 2.00 10 6–9.00 10 5 molL 1 and an LODof 1.9 10 6 molL 1 were obtained. The validation of both methods revealed good performance characteristics confirming applicability for the quantification of CTL in several pharmaceutical products.