Produção e tecnologia de cereais: processo de maltagem da cevada

O processo de maltagem da cevada consiste na germinação e secagem controlada do cereal, tendo como principal objetivo a obtenção de um produto com atividade enzimática, coloração e estabilidade adequadas. É possível obter maltes com características bastante distintas, no que se refere à sua cor e atividade enzimática, o que também possibilita a obtenção de cervejas com diferentes características. Com este trabalho pretende-se descrever o processo de maltagem da cevada, abordando numa fase inicial a estrutura e composição química do grão de cevada. Serão também descritas as principais modificações químicas que ocorrem ao nível dos principais componentes químicos do grão de cevada.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efficacy and limitations of Triticale as a nitrogen catch crop in a mediterranean environment

During 3 consecutive years (1996/97–1998/99) the efficacy was studied of Triticale as a nitrogen (N) catch crop sown after the harvest of the potato crop cultivated in the preceding summer season under several N fertilizer treatments. In October, shortly after the harvest of the potatoes, there were registered significative differences in the soil N–NO3− levels among N fertilizer treatments of the potato crop. The higher values were recorded on the plots corresponding to higher N doses. At the end of winter, the N status of plants and at the end of experiments (late in April), the N–NO3− in soil, the biomass yield and the N uptake by the catch crop did not reflect the differences registered before in the soil inorganic N. This comparison may suggest that Triticale is little effective in recovering the residual inorganic N of the preceding crop due either to the rainfall occurring in the autumn or to the poor vegetative development of the catch crop during the autumn/winter period. However, at the date of cut, the catch crop removed up to 80 kg N ha−1. At this time, the soil N–NO3− levels were significantly higher on the fallowed plots. This result shows that the crop was very effective in uptaking the N that is mineralized after the end of winter

Efeito do fraccionamento da fertilização azotada na cultura da batata

Durante os anos de 1996 a 1998 estudou-se o efeito do fraccionamento da aplicação de azoto na cultura da batata (cv. Desirée). Os ensaios decorreram em Bragança num Cambissolo êutrico. Foram usadas 7 modalidades de fertilização com as seguintes doses de N (fundo + cobertura). 0+0; 200+0; 0÷200; 100÷100; 100+o; 0+100; e 50+50 kg N ha na forma de ureia. Todas as modalidades fertilizadas apresentaram produções unitárias significativamente superiores à modalidade testemunha. Nas modalidades mais produtivas ultrapassaram-se Os 50 Mg ha de tubérculos de calibre comercial

Produção e tecnologia de cereais: notas breves sobre o cultivo de cevada em Portugal

A cevada é o principal cereal usado no fabrico de cerveja. Portugal é um produtor modesto de cevada, pelo que a indústria cervejeira nacional funciona com base em cevada importada. Em Portugal a cevada cultiva-se quase exclusivamente em sequeiro, sendo as produções unitárias de grão muito baixas quando comparadas com as produtividades obtidas em países situados a latitudes mais elevadas. Neste trabalho procuram explicar-se as causas das baixas produtividades obtidas em Portugal. Sobretudo interessa saber se as baixas produtividades são devidas a causas naturais ou se podem ser alteradas com a introdução de melhorias nas técnicas de cultivo. O trabalho está organizado em quatro tópicos principais: origem e situação atual da cultura; aspetos botânicos e morfologia da planta; adaptação ecológica da cevada; e técnica cultural. Discutem-se ainda brevemente alguns critérios a observar na escolha das cultivares e como esta espécie está integrada nas rotações.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efficiency of organic nitrogen fertilization of potato in Northeast Portugal

The study was conducted over a 4 year period with the purpose of measuring N mineralization using an in situ incubation technique, following the application of farmyard manure, poultry manure or municipal solid waste. The results varied from –10 % (net immobilization) to +28 % (net mineralization) in relation to the total organic N applied. N fluxes were assessed through plant N analysis during the growing season and through determination of potato tuber dry weight (TDW), N uptake by tubers and the apparent N recovery (ANR) of added N at harvest. Organic material applications slightly increased TDW above the control treatment (9 to 25%), although the results indicate a shortage of N, where no N was added to the crop. The effect of organic fertilization on N uptake by tubers was also limited. Petiole nitrate concentration and estimated net N mineralization were in agreement with trends in TDW and N uptake by tubers, with no differences in soil N availability between the control and organic treatments. Values of ANR were particularly low, ranging from 4 to 23 %. The results suggest that caution is needed when judging the contribution of organic fertilization to N nutrition of crops, which have a short growing season. Synchronization between N release and plant uptake is discussed

13CO2 recovery fraction in expired air of septic patients under mechanical ventilation

The continuous intravenous administration of isotopic bicarbonate (NaH13CO2) has been used for the determination of the retention of the 13CO2 fraction or the 13CO2 recovered in expired air. This determination is important for the calculation of substrate oxidation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in critically ill patients with sepsis under mechanical ventilation, the 13CO2 recovery fraction in expired air after continuous intravenous infusion of NaH13CO2 (3.8 µmol/kg diluted in 0.9% saline in ddH2O). A prospective study was conducted on 10 patients with septic shock between the second and fifth day of sepsis evolution (APACHE II, 25.9 ± 7.4). Initially, baseline CO2 was collected and indirect calorimetry was also performed. A primer of 5 mL NaH13CO2 was administered followed by continuous infusion of 5 mL/h for 6 h. Six CO2 production (VCO2) measurements (30 min each) were made with a portable metabolic cart connected to a respirator and hourly samples of expired air were obtained using a 750-mL gas collecting bag attached to the outlet of the respirator. 13CO2 enrichment in expired air was determined with a mass spectrometer. The patients presented a mean value of VCO2 of 182 ± 52 mL/min during the steady-state phase. The mean recovery fraction was 0.68 ± 0.06%, which is less than that reported in the literature (0.82 ± 0.03%). This suggests that the 13CO2 recovery fraction in septic patients following enteral feeding is incomplete, indicating retention of 13CO2 in the organism. The severity of septic shock in terms of the prognostic index APACHE II and the sepsis score was not associated with the 13CO2 recovery fraction in expired air.Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade de São Paulo (USP)(FAEPA) Fundação de Amparo ao Ensino, Pesquisa e AssistênciaFAPES

Quantitative sidedress nitrogen recommendations for potatoes based upon crop nutritional indices

The quantification of sidedress N rate from in-season information on crop N nutritional status is extremely important in order to use only the necessary amount of nutrient to achieve maximum yields without significant N losses from soil. During three consecutive years (1996, 1997 and 1998) field N fertilizer experiments with irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Désirée) were conducted in Bragança (NE Portugal). Eight preplant treatments (0, 50, 100, 200 and 300 kg urea-N/ha and poultry manure, farmyard manure and municipal solid waste in rates equivalent to 100 kg organic-N/ha) were arranged as main plots and five sidedress N rates (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 kg urea-N/ha) included as subplots. Petiole nitrate concentration, determined by a laboratory method (PNLab, g NO3-N kg−1, dry weight basis) and by the portable RQflex reflectometer (PNRQflex, mg NO3 kg−1, from fresh tissues), and leaf N content (LeafN, g kg−1, dry weight basis) were used as N nutritional indices. From the five sidedress N rates applied over each of the preplant treatments, critical sidedress N rates were estimated for several different crop N nutritional status. This was achieved by establishing exponential asymptotic curves between sidedress N rates and tuber yields and solving the equations for 95% of maximum tuber yield. In a second step, multiple regression equations were established between the estimated critical sidedress N rates (SNrate, kg N/ha), as dependent variable, and each crop N nutritional indices (PNLab, PNRQflex or LeafN) and days after emergence (DAE). The equations obtained are: SNrate = 182.7 − 4.146 × PNLab −1.87 × DAE SNrate = 161.0 − 0.013 × PNRQflex −1.34 × DAE SNrate = 562.2 − 8.416 × LeafN −3.59 × DAE These equations provide quantitative sidedress N rates for any level of crop N nutritional indices and sampling dates from 10 to 48 days after emergence

A coalgebraic perspective on logical interpretations

In Computer Science stepwise refinement of algebraic specifications is a well-known formal methodology for rigorous program development. This paper illustrates how techniques from Algebraic Logic, in particular that of interpretation, understood as a multifunction that preserves and reflects logical consequence, capture a number of relevant transformations in the context of software design, reuse, and adaptation, difficult to deal with in classical approaches. Examples include data encapsulation and the decomposition of operations into atomic transactions. But if interpretations open such a new research avenue in program refinement, (conceptual) tools are needed to reason about them. In this line, the paper’s main contribution is a study of the correspondence between logical interpretations and morphisms of a particular kind of coalgebras. This opens way to the use of coalgebraic constructions, such as simulation and bisimulation, in the study of interpretations between (abstract) logics.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

The Safe-Port project: an approach to port surveillance and protection

SAFE-PORT is a recently started project addressing the complex issue of determining the best configurations of resources for harbour and port surveillance and protection. More specifically, the main goal is to find, for any given scenario, an adequate set of configuration solutions — i.e., number and type of sensors and equipments, their locations and operating modes, the corresponding personnel and other support resources — that maximize protection over a specific area. The project includes research and development of sensors models, novel algorithms for optimization and decision support, and a computer-based decision support system (DSS) to assist decision makers in that task. It includes also the development of a simulation environment for modelling relevant aspects of the scenario (including sensors used for surveillance, platforms, threats and the environment), capable to incorporate data from field-trials, used to test and validate solutions proposed by the DSS. Test cases will consider the use of intelligent agents to model the behaviour of threats and of NATO forces in a realistic way, following experts’ definitions and parameters