A conjoint study towards transformative landscape architectural education in Brazil

The training of landscape architects in Brazil reproduces routinely the legend of Burle Marx as a self -made professional. That, however, need not be the case. The central motivation for this work is the immature state of landscape education and of the profession in Brazil. Its intention is to contribute in the process of organising landscape architectural higher education in that country and, more widely, to aid educators in assessing their practice, identifying methods that can be used conjointly in education research.Brazil's continental dimensions and notable environmental diversity require professionals that can act globally but also cater to particular regional needs. Analysing the current state of the profession, a fragmented network and total lack of statistical data on demographic and educational characteristics of professionals were perceived as obstacles to the development of the profession. This information gap prompted the development of a web based survey of Brazilian landscape professionals and students, which provided a baseline of information and revealed the significant issues for development of the profession. To inform recommendations for the Brazilian context, a study of international preferences in landscape education was then performed, using Choice Based Conjoint Analysis via the WWW. Analysis of the results provided a basis for recommendations towards a new educational paradigm.Establishing courses with a transformative pedagogy that focus on coaching students into thinking like landscape architects rather than on the assimilation of a static knowledge base is the central recommendation of this research. The adoption of this paradigm will give opportunities to satisfy the need for local relevance and to prepare professionals for new roles in a changing job market with vanishing geographical and professional boundaries

Estimation of Thunbergia grandiflora leaf area from allometric models

Sky vine (Thunbergia grandiflora Roxb) is a vine with important structural components for forest environments. Studies on growth and development are necessary, because of the environmental and economic importance. The leaf area determination is essential for ecophysiological studies to understand the relationship of the plant with the environment. The objective of this work was to estimate an allometric equation to estimate the leaf area of T. grandiflora from linear dimensions. 200 leaves of different shapes and sizes were collected from adult plants and the length (L), width (W), the product between length and width (LW), and real leaf area (LA) were measured. The linear regression, linear without intercept, quadratic, cubic, power, and exponential models were used to estimate the equations. The criteria for determining the best model were higher determination coefficient (R2), Willmott's agreement index (d), lower Akaike information criterion (AIC), the root of the mean error square (RMSE), and BIAS index closer to zero. The leaf area of T. grandiflora can be estimated satisfactorily by the equation ŷ = 0.58*LW.Sky vine (Thunbergia grandiflora Roxb) é uma planta trepadeira com importantes componentes estruturais para ambientes florestais. Estudos sobre crescimento e desenvolvimento são necessários, devido à importância ambiental e econômica. A determinação da área foliar é essencial para estudos ecofisiológicos para entender a relação da planta com o meio ambiente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar uma equação alométrica para estimar a área foliar de T. grandiflora a partir de dimensões lineares. 200 folhas de diferentes formas e tamanhos foram coletadas de plantas adultas e o comprimento (L), largura (W), o produto entre comprimento e largura (LW) e área foliar real (LA) foram medidos. Os modelos de regressão linear, linear sem intercepto, quadrático, cúbico, potência e exponencial foram usados ​​para estimar as equações. Os critérios para determinar o melhor modelo foram maior coeficiente de determinação (R2), índice de concordância de Willmott (d), menor critério de informação de Akaike (AIC), raiz do quadrado do erro médio (RMSE) e índice BIAS mais próximo de zero. A área foliar de T. grandiflora pode ser estimada de forma satisfatória pela equação ŷ = 0,58*LW

Do changes to the local street environment alter behaviour and quality of life of older adults? The ‘DIY Streets’ intervention

<p>Background: The burden of ill-health due to inactivity has recently been highlighted. Better studies on environments that support physical activity are called for, including longitudinal studies of environmental interventions. A programme of residential street improvements in the UK (Sustrans ‘DIY Streets’) allowed a rare opportunity for a prospective, longitudinal study of the effect of such changes on older adults’ activities, health and quality of life.</p> <p>Methods: Pre–post, cross-sectional surveys were carried out in locations across England, Wales and Scotland; participants were aged 65+ living in intervention or comparison streets. A questionnaire covered health and quality of life, frequency of outdoor trips, time outdoors in different activities and a 38-item scale on neighbourhood open space. A cohort study explored changes in self-report activity and well-being postintervention. Activity levels were also measured by accelerometer and accompanying diary records.</p> <p>Results: The cross-sectional surveys showed outdoor activity predicted by having a clean, nuisance-free local park, attractive, barrier-free routes to it and other natural environments nearby. Being able to park one's car outside the house also predicted time outdoors. The environmental changes had an impact on perceptions of street walkability and safety at night, but not on overall activity levels, health or quality of life. Participants’ moderate-to-vigorous activity levels rarely met UK health recommendations.</p> <p>Conclusions: Our study contributes to methodology in a longitudinal, pre–post design and points to factors in the built environment that support active ageing. We include an example of knowledge exchange guidance on age-friendly built environments for policy-makers and planners.</p&gt

Desenvolvimento vegetativo em vaso de Zigocactus truncatus semi - eretos sob diferentes doses de adubações.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar o desenvolvimento vegetativo de Zigocactus truncatus semi-eretos relacionados a dois adubos em doses diferentes.

Indução floral em bromélia ornamental Guzmania dissitiflora

O objetivo é analisar aspectos do desenvolvimento e qualidade das inflorescências tratadas com ethephon, acetileno e carbureto de cálcio, e uma testemunha sem tratamento com indutor floral

Desenvolvimento de Heliconia psittacorum L.f. em vaso, sob diferentes modos de adubação orgânica e mineral

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de fontes orgânicas e minerais e o modo de aplicação, para desenvolvimento de plantas de Heliconia psittacorum L.f. em vaso visando o cultivo orgânico para pequenos produtores.

Influencia de adubações mineral e orgânica na pigmentação de folhas de Heliconia psittacorum L.f.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de fontes orgânicas e minerais para a adubação de Heliconias psittacorum L.f., visando a pigmentação estética da planta

Uso de diferentes substratos no cultivo da bromélia ornamental Tilandsia cyanea

Visando estudar materiais de fácil disponibilidade e baixo custo para substituição parcial ou total do xaxim, 26 tratamentos (T) experimentais, obtidos por combinações de substratos diversos foram utilizados no cultivo de Tilandsia cyanea

Indução floral em bromélia ornamental Vriesea cv. ‘Charlotte’

Objetivo de analisar aspectos do desenvolvimento e qualidade das inflorescências tratadas com ethephon, acetileno e carbureto de cálcio, e uma testemunha sem tratamento com indutor floral.