Ministry of Agriculture

About: Ministry of Agriculture is a government organization based out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Biology & Chemistry. The organization has 1153 authors who have published 1189 publications receiving 14442 citations.

Disponibilidade de matéria seca em pastagens de capim-elefante irrigadas

Abstract: Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da irrigacao na disponibilidade de materia seca em pastagens de capim-elefante, cv. Napier, foi conduzido um experimento durante dois anos no Setor de Agrostologia da UFV. A irrigacao foi realizada por um sistema de aspersao convencional de media pressao, usando turno de rega variavel. Observou-se que, nos dois periodos de seca abrangidos pelo experimento, a irrigacao nao conseguiu determinar diferencas significativas na disponibilidade de materia seca do capim-elefante. Por outro lado, quando se avaliaram os resultados acumulados para os periodos de inverno e verao, a disponibilidade de forragem nos tratamentos sob irrigacao foi sempre significativamente maior, em razao de a irrigacao suprir e manter a umidade do solo em niveis suficientemente adequados para as forrageiras, quando as temperaturas minimas nao foram limitantes ao crescimento, eliminando os efeitos dos veranicos e permitindo manutencao da estabilidade da producao. Conclui-se que a irrigacao realizada de forma eficiente e criteriosa pode ser mais uma alternativa, visando ao aumento da producao animal a pasto, pois permite significativos aumentos na producao forrageira, principalmente no verao, quando as temperaturas minimas nao foram limitantes ao desenvolvimento do capim-elefante.

Validation of quality tests for forest seed species

Abstract: The Brazilian literature on seed germination testing of tropical forest species, although still insufficient, is extensive for species with economical potential. However, this information is still fragmented and often reported in scientific communications of modest circulation. In this summary, we present the results of a validation process for germination tests on Brazilian forest species, which had as a starting point the ample reviewing of current methods, besides exhaustive pre-testing in certified laboratories. Specific protocols were created for each species, including substrate, temperature, seed disinfection, breaking of dormancy, seedling classification and other information. These protocols were sent to research laboratories and accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture, together with seed lots of three distinct qualities. The presuppositions of normality of the residuals and homoscedasticity of the variations were previously tested and the completely randomized factorial design statistical model was applied to the normal seedlings of each species. After this analysis, germination test methods for seeds of Astronium fraxinifolium, Ceiba speciosa, Cybistax antisyphilitica, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Guazuma ulmifolia, Lafoensia pacari, Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, Peltophorum dubium, Pseudobombax tomentosum and Pterogyne nitens, all forest species of different Brazilian biomes, were considered to be validated.

Efficacies of prevention and control measures applied during an outbreak in Southwest Madrid, Spain.

Abstract: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease of worldwide distribution, currently present in 98 countries. Since late 2010, an unusual increase of human visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis cases has been observed in the south-western Madrid region, totaling more than 600 cases until 2015. Some hosts, such as human, domestic dog and cat, rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and hare (Lepus granatensis), were found infected by the parasite of this disease in the area. Hares were described as the most important reservoir due to their higher prevalence, capacity to infect the vector, and presence of the same strains as in humans. Various measures were adopted to prevent and control the disease, and since 2013 there was a slight decline in the human sickness. We used a mathematical model to evaluate the efficacy of each measure in reducing the number of infected hosts. We identified in the present model that culling both hares and rabbits, without immediate reposition of the animals, was the best measure adopted, decreasing the proportion of all infected hosts. Particularly, culling hares was more efficacious than culling rabbits to reduce the proportion of infected individuals of all hosts. Likewise, lowering vector contact with hares highly influenced the reduction of the proportion of infected hosts. The reduction of the vector density per host in the park decreased the leishmaniasis incidence of hosts in the park and the urban areas. On the other hand, the reduction of the vector density per host of the urban area (humans, dogs and cats) decreased only their affected population, albeit at a higher proportion. The use of insecticide-impregnated collar and vaccination in dogs affected only the infected dogs' population. The parameters related to the vector contact with dog, cat or human do not present a high impact on the other hosts infected by Leishmania. In conclusion, the efficacy of each control strategy was determined, in order to direct future actions in this and in other similar outbreaks. The present mathematical model was able to reproduce the leishmaniasis dynamics in the Madrid outbreak, providing theoretical support based on successful experiences, such as the reduction of human cases in Southwest Madrid, Spain.

Packaging machine for manufacture, filling and sealing of sachets

Abstract: A packaging machine for manufacturing sachets including a first pair of jaws for the a transversally pressure and heat sealed tube from a strip of pressure and heat sealable material formed by tangentially counter-rotating gripper controlled by an actuator with a continuous movement of the cyclical type, in which the tangentially counter-rotating gripper is constructed in the form of opposite pressure and heat sealing jaws and at least one of these jaws is controllable with an adjustable and the actuator with a continuous movement are designed to adjust, in conjunction with the thrust action, the pressure and heat sealing time as a function of the thickness and constituent structure of the pressure and heat sealable material used.