Mosaic of submerged habitats in the Venice lagoon shows signs of marinization

The relationships between habitat patterns and ecosystem functioning have been widely explored in terrestrial ecosystems, but less in marine and coastal ecosystems, calling for further research in this direction. This work focuses on the mosaic of submerged habitats in the Venice lagoon, Italy. It aims to describe the habitats’ spatial patterns at multiple spatial scales, and to explore their linkages with the ecological status defined according to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC). The submerged habitats’ mosaic has been analysed by calculating a set of seascape metrics at different spatial scales. These metrics have been linked with the biological quality elements (BQEs) that are monitored in the lagoon in compliance to the WFD. The results show that the habitats’ spatial patterns differ between the areas of the lagoon with marine-like features and the areas which still retain more lagoon characteristics. The similarity between the pattern found in the whole lagoon and those found in marine-like areas suggests a general loss of lagoon characteristics at the lagoon scale. Regarding the ecological status, every BQE seems to be associated with a different habitat configuration at the water body scale. This does not facilitate the joint improvement of the BQEs, as required by the Directive. If we cannot achieve that, at some point we will probably have to choose what to prioritize. On a broader perspective, this calls for a reflection on what lagoon we want for the future, a vision that should be shared and account for the lagoon’s complexity, current trends and challenges

Piscicultura familiar: primeiros olhares e oportunidades de ação no Tocantins.

Nos últimos anos a piscicultura vem se consolidando como atividade de destaque no sistema de produção da agricultura familiar. A visão dos produtores sobre a atividade vem se modificando, deixando de ser uma atividade marginalizada na propriedade e se tornando uma alternativa de diversificação da produção. Contudo, o acesso dos produtores à extensão aquícola ainda é deficiente. O acesso às tecnologias ainda é considerado um elemento fraco na cadeia produtiva da aquicultura, sobretudo na piscicultura familiar. Apesar destes gargalos, a produção piscícola oriunda da agricultura familiar tem aumentado significativamente nos últimos anos, em especial no estado de Tocantins. O crescimento da piscicultura familiar neste estado levou a Embrapa Pesca e Aquicultura a desenvolver uma ação denominada Projeto Divinópolis, que visa identificar demandas e propor ações relacionadas à geração de tecnologias para a piscicultura familiar, além de fornecer subsídios para políticas públicas e ações de fomento. Tais ações vislumbram o fortalecimento da cadeia produtiva da piscicultura nos municípios de Divinópolis e Abreulândia, área de abrangência do projeto.Organizado por: Sílvio Ricardo Maurano; AQUACIÊNCIA 2012

Biomassa microbiana do solo em cultivo de milho precedido por diferentes espécies de cobertura vegetal, com suprimento de nitrogênio mineral.

FERTBIO 2010

3d printing and testing of rose thorns or limpet teeth inspired anchor device for tendon tissue repair

Purposes. Advancements in medical technology have enabled medical specialists to resolve significant problems concerning tendon injuries. However, despite the latest improvements, surgical tendon repair remains challenging. This study aims to explore the capabilities of the current state-of-the-art technologies for implantable devices. Methods. After performing extensive patent landscaping and literature review, an anchored tissue fixation device was deemed the most suitable candidate. This design was firstly investigated numerically, realizing a Finite Element Model of the device anchored to two swine tendons stumps, to simulate its application on a severed tendon. Two different hook designs, both bio-inspired, were tested while retaining the same device geometry and anchoring strategy. Then, the applicability of a 3D-printed prototype was tested on swine tendons. Finally, the device-tendon stumps ensemble was subjected to uniaxial tensile tests. Results. The results show that the investigated device enables a better load distribution during the immobilized limb period in comparison to standard suture-based approaches, yet it still presents several design flaws. Conclusions. The current implantable solutions do not ensure an optimal result in terms of strength recovery. This and other weak points of the currently available proposals will serve as a starting point for future works on bio-inspired implantable devices for tendon repair

O vírus da queima do broto da soja no Brasil: etiologia, epidemiologia e controle.

Caracteristicas do virus; Modo de transmissao; Sintomas; Epidemiologia e controle; Distribuicao no Brasil e plantas hospedeiras; Danos e controle.bitstream/item/60659/1/Documentos-85.pd

Graded Poisson-Sigma Models and Dilaton-Deformed 2D Supergravity Algebra

Fermionic extensions of generic 2d gravity theories obtained from the graded Poisson-Sigma model (gPSM) approach show a large degree of ambiguity. In addition, obstructions may reduce the allowed range of fields as given by the bosonic theory, or even prohibit any extension in certain cases. In our present work we relate the finite W-algebras inherent in the gPSM algebra of constraints to algebras which can be interpreted as supergravities in the usual sense (Neuveu-Schwarz or Ramond algebras resp.), deformed by the presence of the dilaton field. With very straightforward and natural assumptions on them --like demanding rigid supersymmetry in a certain flat limit, or linking the anti-commutator of certain fermionic charges to the Hamiltonian constraint-- in the ``genuine'' supergravity obtained in this way the ambiguities disappear, as well as the obstructions referred to above. Thus all especially interesting bosonic models (spherically reduced gravity, the Jackiw-Teitelboim model etc.)\ under these conditions possess a unique fermionic extension and are free from new singularities. The superspace supergravity model of Howe is found as a special case of this supergravity action. For this class of models the relation between bosonic potential and prepotential does not introduce obstructions as well.Comment: 22 pages, LaTeX, JHEP class. v3: Final version, to appear in JHE