Seasonal distribution and sex ratio of eleven noctuid species (Insecta, Lepidoptera) captured in blacklight traps on Terceira Island (Azores)

The adult flight periods of Agrotis segetum (DENNIS & SCHIFFERMÜLLER), Noctua pronuba (LINNAEUS), Noctua atlantica (WARREN), Peridroma saucia (HÜBNER), Xestia c-nigrum (LINNAEUS), Mythimna loreyi (DUPONCHEL), Phlogophora meticulosa (LINNAEUS), Phlogophora interrupta(WARREN), Mesapamea storai (REBEL), Autographa gamma (LINNAEUS), and Trichoplusia orichalcea (FABRICIUS) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were studied between November 1992 and November 1993, at Terra Chã (110 m), Granja (310 m), Fajãs (310 m) and Santa Bárbara (525 m) on the island of Terceira, Azores archipelago, using Pennsylvania blacklight traps. While there was evidence of considerable fluctuations in abundance, A. segetum, P. saucia, X. c-nigrum, M. loreyi and P. meticulosa were present continuously at Santa Bárbara. In contrast N. pronuba, N. atlantica, M. storai, P. interrupta, A. gamma, and T. orichalcea were generally captured from Spring to beginning of Autumn. For any given species both sexes were captured simultaneously. Males of X. c-nigrum, P. meticulosa (Santa Bárbara), A. segetum and M. storai (Fajãs) were more frequent than females, while in the other species females were more abundant. However, in no case does the sex ratio deviates entirely from 1:1. Under an integrated pest management perspective, blacklight trap is an important technique for agricultural warning services, allowing to forecast the outbreaks of agricultural pests

Analysis of sources of risk and uncertainties in the electricity system

Electricity power planning is a serious national task that encompasses not only forecasts but more importantly the evolution in short, medium and long term of each element that composes the assumptions, the constraints and/or the parameters of the planning model. Deterministic models can bring simplicity to the electricity power planning but do not consider the uncertainties and sources of risk of the electricity system. On the other hand, stochastic models tend to include the behaviour of one or more uncertain parameters that are critical to obtain a robust solution, being however more detailed and lengthy than deterministic models. The aim of this work was to identify the major sources of risk and uncertainties facing electricity system, representing valuable input for the electricity planner task. From this study it can be observed that several different behaviours for each uncertain parameter can be found along a time horizon. Thus, it is concluded that reeling on average lowers can represent a reductionist approach and in order to obtain more reliable scenarios for future electricity system, the statistical characteristics of each parameter should be considered in the electricity power planning.This research was supported by a Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme Fellowship within the 7th European Union Framework Programme, under project NETEP- European Brazilian Network on Energy Planning (PIRSES-GA-2013-612263)

Intervention Program on Adolescent's Creativity Representations and Academic Motivation

La creatividad y su promoción generan gran preocupación en educación. Sin embargo, han sido llevados a cabo pocos esfuerzos para implementar programas de promoción de la creatividad y otros aspectos (e.g., motivación académica). El Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), creado para mejorar las representaciones de creatividad y la solución creativa de problemas en jóvenes, ha sido bastante implementado. Se adaptaron sus materiales y actividades para estudiantes portugueses, y se desarrolló un estudio longitudinal. El programa se implementó semanalmente durante cuatro meses por trece profesores, que recibieron formación antes y durante la implementación. El grupo experimental incluyó 77 estudiantes de Educación Primaria y Secundaria y el grupo de control incluyó 78 estudiantes con características semejantes. Los datos de motivación y creatividad fueron recogidos en un pre y post-test, sugiriendo un aumento significativo de motivación y creencias apropiadas sobre la creatividad en el grupo experimental. Se presentan implicaciones prácticas y perspectivas para futuras investigaciones.Creativity and its promotion are widespread concerns in education. However, few efforts have been made to implement intervention programs designed to promote creativity and other related aspects (e.g., academic motivation). The Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), aimed for training creativity representations and creative problem solving skills in young people, has been one of the most implemented programs. This intervention's materials and activities were adapted for Portuguese students, and a longitudinal study was conducted. The program was implemented during four months, in weekly sessions, by thirteen teachers. Teachers received previous training for the program and during the program's implementation. Intervention participants included 77 Basic and Secondary Education students, and control participants included 78 equivalent students. Pretest-posttest measures of academic motivation and creativity representations were collected. Results suggest a significant increase, in the intervention group, in motivation and the appropriate representations of creativity. Practical implications and future research perspectives are presented.A criatividade e sua promoção geram grande preocupação em educação. Contudo, poucos esforços têm existido para implementar programas destinados a sua promoção e de outros aspetos relacionados (e.g., motivação acadêmica). O Future Problem Solving Program International(FPSPI), criado para melhorar as representações de criatividade e a resolução criativa de problemas em jovens, tem sido um dos mais implementados. Os seus materiais e atividades foram adaptados para estudantes portugueses, efetuando-se um estudo longitudinal. O programa foi implementado durante quatro meses, semanalmente, por treze professores, que receberam formação antes e durante a implementação. O grupo experimental incluiu 77 estudantes do Ensino Básico e Secundário, apresentando o grupo de controlo 78 estudantes com características equivalentes. Os dados sobre a motivação e criatividade foram recolhidos num pré e pós-teste. Os resultados sugerem um aumento significativo na motivação e crenças apropriadas de criatividade no grupo experimental. Implicações práticas e perspectivas para investigações futuras são apresentadas

Avaliação de cultivares de caupi para o consórcio com algodoeiro herbáceo

With the objective of evaluating cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) cultivars regarding their agronomic characteristics, seed quality and levels of competition with annual cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., r. latifolium) in an intercropping production system, an experiment was carried out at Gurinhém, PB, Brazil, in 1983. Twelve cultivars of cowpea with different growth and fruiting characteristics were used in this experiment. Two rows of cowpea were planted between rows of cotton. The cowpeas were planted 35 cm (leaving five plants per meter of row) from the adjoining cotton rows with a 30 cm spacing between the two rows of cowpea. Cotton was grown in rows 1,0 m x 0,20 m apart. Only three cultivars of cowpea (Epace 6, 40 days and CNC x 105-5E) did not significantly reduce the yield of the annual cotton indicating that these cowpea cultivars are well adapted to an intercropping system with annual cotton. The twelve cultivars of cowpeas showed no statistical difference in yield grain and had an average of 489 kg/ha.Visando a avaliação de cultivares de caupi (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) com relação às características de produção, qualidade de grão e força de competição no consorciamento com o algodoeiro herbáceo (Gossypium hirsutum L., r. latifolium Hutch.), um experimento foi realizado no município de Gurinhém, Paraíba, em 1983. Testaram-se doze cultivares de caupi de hábitos de crescimento e ciclos diferentes, numa modalidade de consórcio em que se utilizaram fileiras duplas da leguminosa, espaçadas entre si de 0,30 cm e distanciadas das fileiras de algodão herbáceo de 0,35 cm, com uma densidade de cinco plantas por metro de fileira, objetivando maior pressão de competição do caupi sobre a malvácea. O algodão foi plantado no espaçamento de 1,0 m x 0,2 m. Apenas três cultivares de caupi (Epace 6, 40 dias e CNC x 105 - 5E) não reduziram significativamente o rendimento do algodão, mostrando sua melhor adaptação ao consórcio com o algodão herbáceo. As doze cultivares de caupi não diferiram entre si com relação à produtividade de grão, com uma média de 489 kg/ha

An outlier-resistant κ\kappa-generalized approach for robust physical parameter estimation

In this work we propose a robust methodology to mitigate the undesirable effects caused by outliers to generate reliable physical models. In this way, we formulate the inverse problems theory in the context of Kaniadakis statistical mechanics (or $\kappa$-statistics), in which the classical approach is a particular case. In this regard, the errors are assumed to be distributed according to a finite-variance $\kappa$-generalized Gaussian distribution. Based on the probabilistic maximum-likelihood method we derive a $\kappa$-objective function associated with the finite-variance $\kappa$-Gaussian distribution. To demonstrate our proposal's outlier-resistance, we analyze the robustness properties of the $\kappa$-objective function with help of the so-called influence function. In this regard, we discuss the role of the entropic index ($\kappa$) associated with the Kaniadakis $\kappa$-entropy in the effectiveness in inferring physical parameters by using strongly noisy data. In this way, we consider a classical geophysical data-inverse problem in two realistic circumstances, in which the first one refers to study the sensibility of our proposal to uncertainties in the input parameters, and the second is devoted to the inversion of a seismic data set contaminated by outliers. The results reveal an optimum $\kappa$-value at the limit $\kappa \rightarrow 2/3$, which is related to the best results.Comment: 37 pages, 23 figure

A microfluidic approach for synthesis and kinetic profiling of branched gold nanostructures

Automatized approaches for nanoparticle synthesis and characterization represent a great asset to their applicability in the biomedical field by improving reproducibility and standardization, which help to meet the selection criteria of regulatory authorities. The scaled-up production of nanoparticles with carefully defined characteristics, including intrinsic morphological features, and minimal intra-batch, batch-to-batch, and operator variability, is an urgent requirement to elevate nanotechnology towards more trustable biological and technological applications. In this work, microfluidic approaches were employed to achieve fast mixing and good reproducibility in synthesizing a variety of gold nanostructures. The microfluidic setup allowed exploiting spatial resolution to investigate the growth evolution of the complex nanoarchitectures. By physically isolating intermediate reaction fractions, we performed an advanced characterization of the shape properties during their growth, not possible with routine characterization methods. Employing an in-house developed method to assign a specific identity to shapes, we followed the particle growth/deformation process and identified key reaction parameters for more precise control of the generated morphologies. Besides, this investigation led to the optimization of a one-pot multi-size and multi-shape synthesis of a variety of gold nanoparticles. In summary, we describe an optimized platform for highly controlled synthesis and a novel approach for the mechanistic study of shape-evolving nanomaterials

Project, development and test of an artificial multifunctional foot

The main purpose of this project is the development of a multifunctional artificial foot, capable of duplicate a human foot in a laboratory environment, in order to evaluate and simulate footwear’s performance under certain conditions. This foot is used as a laboratory prototype and is multisegmented, in order that each section is controlled independently in terms of heat generation and sweating rate, therefore it is possible to simulate more accurately the real behaviour of a human foot. The device produces thermal insulation values that will help to design footwear with better ability in terms of thermal comfort, replacing human volunteers in thermal comfort perception tests, which are very subjective. The prototype was already tested, and preliminary results indicated that thermal insulation values are within the range of expected values produced by other foot thermal manikins and by human volunteers’ tests. This fact suggests that this lab prototype can be used in future thermal comfort evaluations.This project was supported by FCT (the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) and CTCP (Fo otwear Technology Centre of Portugal) because of its poten tial interest and added value to the footwear industry, which is one of the most profitable business areas in Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Produtividade e análise de indicadores técnicos do maracujazeiro-amarelo irrigado em diferentes horários.

Diante da necessidade de pesquisas sobre o manejo da irrigação em horários alternativos e com menor custo com eletricidade na produção do maracujá-amarelo irrigado objetivou-se, com esta pesquisa, avaliar os efeitos do fracionamento da irrigação em diferentes horários de aplicação sobre a produtividade e qualidade do fruto do maracujazeiro-amarelo tal como, também, a quantificação de indicadores técnicos; para tanto se conduziu um experimento no município de Pentecoste, CE, no período de setembro de 2009 a agosto de 2010, no delineamento em blocos ao acaso com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos corresponderam aos horários de aplicação da lâmina de água requerida (LR) pela cultura (T1: 100% da LR às 07 h; T2: 50% da LR às 07 h e 50% da LR às 15 h; T3: 25% da LR às 07 h; 50% da LR às 15 h e 25% da LR às 21 h 30 min; T4: 100% da LR às 21 h 30 min: T5: 50% da LR às 07 h e 50% da LR às 21 h 30 min). De acordo com os resultados a aplicação fracionada da lâmina de água requerida pela cultura com 50% às 07 h e 50% às 21 h 30 min, foi a alternativa que proporcionou a maior produtividade do maracujazeiro; os atributos de qualidade dos frutos de maracujazeiro sólidos solúveis totais e pH se mantiveram indiferentes quanto aos tratamentos

Magnetic/plasmonic MnFe2O4/Au nanoparticles covered with lipid bilayers for applications in thermotherapy

In this work, three different types of magnetic/plasmonic nanoparticles were prepared: core-shell nanoparticles with a manganese ferrite core and a gold shell; plasmonic gold nanoparticles decorated with magnetic nanoparticles of manganese ferrite; and magnetic nanoparticles of manganese ferrite decorated with plasmonic gold nanoparticles. The structural, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of these nanoparticles were evaluated. In order to further develop applications in cancer therapy, the prepared mixed nanoparticles were covered with a lipid bilayer. The local heating capability of these nanosystems was tested through the quenching of rhodamine fluorescence incorporated in the lipid layer.Financial support by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2013. A.R.O Rodrigues thanks the FCT for SFRH/BD/90949/2012 PhD grant and funding to MAP-Fis Doctoral Program.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio