Eficiência da produção agrícola de cana-de-açúcar no Estado de São Paulo entre as safras 1990/1991 a 2005/2006.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi mapear a eficiência produtiva ao longo de 16 safras agrícolas, analisando a importância relativa do clima e do solo e inferindo sobre os aspectos socioeconômicos e conjunturais que interferem na sua composição. Admitiu-se que a energia disponível pode ser dada pela produtividade atingível estimada por modelos de simulação baseados em variáveis ambientais, enquanto que a produtividade observada representaria a energia efetivamente utilizada no processo. Os elementos climáticos explicaram 43% da variabilidade da eficiência da produção agrícola de cana-de-açúcar, na seguinte ordem de importância: radiação solar, deficiência hídrica, temperatura máxima, precipitação e temperatura mínima. Observou-se que o solo explicou 15% da variabilidade da eficiência, na média de todas as safras. Analisando a variação temporal dessa correlação, notou-se uma alteração no padrão de correlação a partir da safra 2001/2002. Em média, 42% da variabilidade da eficiência da produção de cana-de-açúcar no Estado de São Paulo foram explicadas por outros fatores, além do clima e do solo.CBA 2009

Magnetic phases evolution in the LaMn1-xFexO3+y system

We have investigated the crystal structure and magnetic properties for polycrystalline samples of LaMn1-xFexO3+y, in the whole range x=0.0 to x=1.0, prepared by solid state reaction in air. All samples show the ORT-2 orthorhombic structure that suppresses the Jahn-Teller distortion, thus favoring a ferromagnetic (FM) superexchange (SE) interaction between Mn^{3+}-O-Mn^{3+}. For x=0.0 the oxygen excess (y ~ 0.09) produces vacancies in the La and Mn sites and generates a fraction around 18% of Mn^{4+} ions and 82% of the usual Mn^{3+} ions, with possible double exchange interaction between them. The Fe doping in this system is known to produce only stable Fe^{3+} ions. We find an evolution from a fairly strong FM phase with a Curie temperature T_{C} ~ 160 K, for x=0.0, to an antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase with T_{N} = 790 K, for x=1.0, accompanied by clear signatures of a cluster-glass behavior. For intermediate Fe contents a mixed-phase state occurs, with a gradual decrease (increase) of the FM (AFM) phase, accompanied by a systematic transition broadening for 0.2 < x < 0.7. A model based on the expected exchange interaction among the various magnetic-ion types, accounts very well for the saturation-magnetization dependence on Fe doping.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figure

Selection and genetic parameters for interpopulation hybrids between kouilou and robusta coffee.

Selection of hybrid coffee plants coming from crosses between divergent populations is particularly relevant for the success of breeding programs. This study aimed to outline the best selection strategy in a hybrid population of Coffea canephora var. kouilou and robusta by estimating intrapopulation genetic parameters. Twenty full-sib progenies obtained by North Caroline II were installed in a randomized complete blocks design, with one plant per elementary plot. The following traits were evaluated: vegetative vigor, reaction to rust, plant height, diameter of canopy projection, maturity time, and bean yield. Significant individual genotypic variance and heritability estimates lead to an effective selection. The multi-trait selection index carried out between progenies and at individual level provided 5% and 40% gain, respectively. Thus, intrapopulation selection in a hybrid population is a viable strategy for the selection of superior individuals to compose new crosses and clones for cultivars in the breeding program of C. canephora, even with unbalanced data

Ab initio study of the properties of Ti1-x-ySixAlyN solid solution

We have studied the electronic, structural, and elastic properties of Ti1-x-ySixAlyN metastable phase, using first principles calculations based on the density functional theory. These calculations provide the lattice parameter, density of states, cohesive energy, formation energy and elastic constants, when Si and Al atoms replace Ti in the TiN lattice. The calculated values of lattice parameters and elastic constants are generally in good agreement with experiments and compare well with other theoretical results. We show that the trend followed by cohesive energy, formation energy, elastic constants is related to the electronic properties and bonding characteristics of these compounds

DD3MAT: a code for yield criteria anisotropy parameters identification

This work presents the main strategies and algorithms adopted in the DD3MAT in-house code, specifically developed for identifying the anisotropy parameters. The algorithm adopted is based on the minimization of an error function, using a downhill simplex method. The set of experimental values can consider yield stresses and r - values obtained from in-plane tension, for different angles with the rolling direction (RD), yield stress and r - value obtained for biaxial stress state, and yield stresses from shear tests performed also for different angles to RD. All these values can be defined for a specific value of plastic work. Moreover, it can also include the yield stresses obtained from in-plane compression tests. The anisotropy parameters are identified for an AA2090-T3 aluminium alloy, highlighting the importance of the user intervention to improve the numerical fit.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) via the projects PTDC/EME-TME/118420/2010 and UID/EMS/00285/2013. The first author is also grateful to the FCT for the PhD grant SFRH/BD/98545/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio