Productive Efficiency of Small Scale Sawmilling Industries in Mufindi District, Tanzania

This study was carried out to examine the productive efficiency of small-scale sawmills in Mufindi District. The specific objectives were: (i) to assess the relative efficiency of small-scale sawmills in Mufindi, (ii) to identify factors for variation in the small scale sawmill’s relative efficiency and (iii) to provide policy recommendations for efficiency improvement in utilization of forest resources. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 80 small-scale sawmills in Mufindi District. Data were analysed using descriptive as well as quantitative methods. Technical, scale and allocative efficiency score of sawmills were computed using data envelopment analysis programme developed by Coelli. Censored regression models were estimated to identify factors for inefficiency of smallscale sawmills. Results showed a mean technical efficiency of 84% (CRS model) and 92% (VRS model), allocative efficiency of 84% (CRS model) and 89% (VRS model) and cost efficiency of 70% (CRS model) and 81 % (VRS model). Furthermore, results from the censored regression model revealed that Owners/manager’s education, experience, the size of the sawmill timber yard and partnership ownership had positive effects on sawmill’s efficiency while machine age had a negative effect on sawmill’s efficiency. Recommendations for enhancing small-scale sawmills production efficiency are: Strengthening extension services to increase sawmilling experience, and insistence on partnership ownership of sawmills. Since mill size positively enhanced sawmills’ relative efficiency, anincrease of the size of mills must receive priority. Squeezing sawmill area as a result of increased number of sawmills leads to inefficiency. Lastly but not least, the use of sawmilling by products particularly chips, saw dusts and slabs should be promoted as it is a way of increasing efficiency in sawmilling

2006-2007 Master Class - Qi Liu (Piano)

https://spiral.lynn.edu/conservatory_masterclasses/1138/thumbnail.jp

Predicting Runoff Risks By Digital Soil Mapping

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Digital soil mapping (DSM) permits continuous mapping soil types and properties through raster formats considering variation within soil class, in contrast to the traditional mapping that only considers spatial variation of soils at the boundaries of delineated polygons. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of SoLIM (Soil Land Inference Model) for two sets of environmental variables on digital mapping of saturated hydraulic conductivity and solum depth (A + B horizons) and to apply the best model on runoff risk evaluation. The study was done in the Posses watershed, MG, Brazil, and SoLIM was applied for the following sets of co-variables: 1) terrain attributes (AT): slope, plan curvature, elevation and topographic wetness index. 2) Geomorphons and terrain attributes (GEOM): slope, plan curvature, elevation and topographic wetness index combined with geomorphons. The most precise methodology was applied to predict runoff areas risk through the Wetness Index based on contribution area, solum depth, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. GEOM was the best set of co-variables for both properties, so this was the DSM model used to predict the runoff risk. The runoff risk showed that the critical months are from November to March. The new way to classify the landscape to use on DSM was demonstrated to be an efficient tool with which to model process that occurs on watersheds and can be used to forecast the runoff risk.40Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel - CAPESBrazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq [471522/2012-0, 201987/2012-0, 305010/2013-1]Minas Gerais State Research Foundation - FAPEMIG [CAG-APQ-01423-11, CAG-PPM-00422-13]Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

An Interactive Spray Drift Simulator

The off target movement of pesticides, known as spray drift, results in a reduction in application rates, damage to non-target organisms, and environmental concerns. Much of this drift can be eliminated if its prevalence is understood and best management practices are implemented. Drift prediction software has been developed to serve as a management tool in determining the effects of applying pesticides under certain operating conditions. To further increase the usefulness and instructiveness of such programs, a program was developed which links spray drift prediction software (DRIFTSIM) with a GPS simulator to obtain a two dimensional representation of drift for simulated ground based spraying event. The program was evaluated using a variety of operating conditions to determine their respective effects on drift deposition levels. Results from the simulations show the importance of choosing the largest sufficient nozzle size, operating under low wind speeds, and spraying at the lowest possible boom height. Analysis of multi-swath simulations showed patterns of increased and reduced application rates due to spray drift

Proteção Estatal, Informação e a Capacidade das Pessoas com Deficiência na Perspectiva dos Direitos Fundamentais

Para o exercício da democracia idealizada no texto constitucional, não se pode fugir da concepção de compartilhamento social de informação em prol da pessoa protegida pelo Estatuto das Pessoas com Deficiência, que tem como partícipe primordial o poder público. Esse é o caminho que as pessoas possuem para a construção do seu discernimento relativamente livre. Desta maneira, exercitam a capacidade de escolha que possuem de acordo com sua racionalidade (logicamente, influenciada pelas externalidades do ambiente social em que vivem).Nessa linha, o cidadão, conforme suas convicções, preferências e interesses, aproxima sua liberdade de gerenciamento da informação da ideia do ser livre e soberano de si. Contudo, não possui soberania esse homem social detentor de deveres e direitos perante si e os outros que compõem este ambiente social, pois estão todos sob a tutela do Estado.

Predicting runoff risks by digital soil mapping

Digital soil mapping (DSM) permits continuous mapping soil types and properties through raster formats considering variation within soil class, in contrast to the traditional mapping that only considers spatial variation of soils at the boundaries of delineated polygons. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of SoLIM (Soil Land Inference Model) for two sets of environmental variables on digital mapping of saturated hydraulic conductivity and solum depth (A + B horizons) and to apply the best model on runoff risk evaluation. The study was done in the Posses watershed, MG, Brazil, and SoLIM was applied for the following sets of co-variables: 1) terrain attributes (AT): slope, plan curvature, elevation and topographic wetness index. 2) Geomorphons and terrain attributes (GEOM): slope, plan curvature, elevation and topographic wetness index combined with geomorphons. The most precise methodology was applied to predict runoff areas risk through the Wetness Index based on contribution area, solum depth, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. GEOM was the best set of co-variables for both properties, so this was the DSM model used to predict the runoff risk. The runoff risk showed that the critical months are from November to March. The new way to classify the landscape to use on DSM was demonstrated to be an efficient tool with which to model process that occurs on watersheds and can be used to forecast the runoff risk40113CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAIS - FAPEMIG471522/2012-0; 201987/2012-0; 305010/2013-1Sem informaçãoCAG-APQ-01423-11; CAG-PPM-00422-1

Feasible low bone density condition for assessing bioactivity in ex-in vivo and in vivo studies

Objective: To choose a critical animal model for assessments of bone repair with implant installation by comparing senile rats (SENIL) to young ovariectomized rats (OXV). Methodology: For the ex-in vivo study, the femurs were precursors for bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Cellular responses were performed, including cell viability, gene expression of osteoblastic markers, bone sialoprotein immunolocalization, alkaline phosphatase activity, and mineralized matrix formation. For the in vivo study, the animals received implants in the region of the bilateral tibial metaphysis for histometric, microtomography, reverse torque, and confocal microscopy. Results: Cell viability showed that the SENIL group had lower growth than OVX. Gene expression showed more critical responses for the SENIL group (p<0.05). The alkaline phosphatase activity obtained a lower expression in the SENIL group, as for the mineralization nodules (p<0.05). The in vivo histological parameters and biomechanical analysis showed lower data for the SENIL group. The confocal microscopy indicated the presence of a fragile bone in the SENIL group. The microtomography was similar between the groups. The histometry of the SENIL group showed the lowest values (p<0.05). Conclusion: In experimental studies with assessments of bone repair using implant installation, the senile model promotes the most critical bone condition, allowing a better investigation of the properties of biomaterials and topographic changes

Accurate Atmospheric Parameters at Moderate Resolution Using Spectral Indices: Preliminary Application to the MARVELS Survey

Studies of Galactic chemical and dynamical evolution in the solar neighborhood depend on the availability of precise atmospheric parameters (Teff, [Fe/H] and log g) for solar-type stars. Many large-scale spectroscopic surveys operate at low to moderate spectral resolution for efficiency in observing large samples, which makes the stellar characterization difficult due to the high degree of blending of spectral features. While most surveys use spectral synthesis, in this work we employ an alternative method based on spectral indices to determine the atmospheric parameters of a sample of nearby FGK dwarfs and subgiants observed by the MARVELS survey at moderate resolving power (R~12,000). We have developed three codes to automatically normalize the observed spectra, measure the equivalent widths of the indices and, through the comparison of those with values calculated with pre-determined calibrations, derive the atmospheric parameters of the stars. The calibrations were built using a sample of 309 stars with precise stellar parameters obtained from the analysis of high-resolution FEROS spectra. A validation test of the method was conducted with a sample of 30 MARVELS targets that also have reliable atmospheric parameters from high-resolution spectroscopic analysis. Our approach was able to recover the parameters within 80 K for Teff, 0.05 dex for [Fe/H] and 0.15 dex for log g, values that are lower or equal to the typical external uncertainties found between different high-resolution analyzes. An additional test was performed with a subsample of 138 stars from the ELODIE stellar library and the literature atmospheric parameters were recovered within 125 K for Teff, 0.10 dex for [Fe/H] and 0.29 dex for log g. These results show that the spectral indices are a competitive tool to characterize stars with the intermediate resolution spectra.Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ. Abstract edited to comply with arXiv standards regarding the number of character