State University of Santa Cruz

About: State University of Santa Cruz is a education organization based out in Ilhéus, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Species richness. The organization has 3266 authors who have published 4642 publications receiving 51876 citations. The organization is also known as: Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz.

Climate friendliness of cocoa agroforests is compatible with productivity increase

Abstract: There is increasing demand for agricultural commodities that are produced in a climate-friendly manner. At the same time, in many or most tropical countries there is need for intensification of agricultural production to increase yields and incomes, and this usually requires higher external inputs that may cause additional greenhouse gas emissions. Here we investigate if production methods that have a beneficial effect on the climate (are climate-friendly) are compatible with increased inputs and yields for traditional, shaded cocoa (Theobroma cacao) production systems (locally known as cabrucas) in southern Bahia, Brazil. We use two easily measurable and manageable dimensions of climate friendliness, namely the carbon (C) stocks in the large trees and the C footprint as related to on-farm agrochemical and fuel use. Through interviews and field inventories in 26 cabruca farms representing a range of production practices and intensities, we identify the combinations of management practices, yields, C stocks and C footprints typically found in the region. We find that yield levels up to the highest encountered yield of 585 kg ha−1, or twice the current regional average of 285 kg ha−1, are compatible with an aboveground C stock in the large shade trees (>30 cm diameter at breast height) of up to 65 Mg ha−1 and up to 55 % shade. Higher C stocks and shade levels are generally associated with yields below the regional average. Input-related C emissions increased non-linearly with increasing yield, but even the highest encountered yields were compatible with low ( 1 kg CO2e kg−1 of cocoa) were related to large fertilizer applications that did not proportionately increase yields. We conclude that doubling the cocoa output from southern Bahia, where cabrucas are the predominant form of growing cocoa, is compatible with climate-friendly production practices, measured by local standards. We suggest that the presented methodology can be used to identify opportunities for climate-friendly intensification of tree crops more generally, thereby increasing the contribution of commodity production to global climate change mitigation.

Environmental influences on the distribution of arapaima in Amazon floodplains

Abstract: This study investigated the environmental factors influencing the distribution of the endangered arapaima (Arapaima spp.) in floodplains of the Amazon. The abundance of arapaima was found to be positively related to the area and depth of the water column, and hence volume of lakes. Greater depth of water column also was related positively with the abundance and presence of arapaima in connecting channels. The abundance of arapaima was positively related to the connectivity of the lake with other water bodies. The principal reason for arapaima to prefer habitats that are deep, large, and connected to other water bodies appears to be increased survival through lower susceptibility to extreme drought events and increased mobility and availability of food resources. Deeper, larger, and more connected lakes and connecting channels sustain greater arapaima populations; they can now be used to prioritize conservation efforts.

Genotype selection by REML/BLUP methodology in a segregating population from an interspecific Passiflora spp. crossing

Abstract: The restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction (REML/BLUP) method involves, simultaneously, the estimation of variance components and the prediction of the genetic values, considering the optimum procedure to make inferences in genetic and non-phenotypic levels. By using the mixed models methodology, this study aimed to estimate genetics parameters and genotypic values in a segregating population comprising 118 individuals from Passiflora interspecific crossing. The experiment was arranged in randomized block design with two repetitions. The traits number of fruits, level of soluble solids and pulp mass presented large genetic variability, a fact that contributed to high heritability estimations and selective accuracy, and revealed excellent possibilities to the selection and breeding of Passiflora segregating populations. By comparing the average of the 30 selected genotypes with the general average of the population, it was possible to observe higher gain estimations for the number of fruits (319.15 %) and pulp mass (73.12 %), lower gains for fruit mass (21.50), soluble solids level (13.43), longitudinal fruit diameter (6.32) and transverse fruit diameter (4.99) as well as low reductions in shell thickness (−0.0036) and length of the androgynophore (0.0056), in relation to the first ordinated individuals. The assessed population presenting genetic variability and the superior individuals for each trait were identified, thus enabling the continuity of the selective process. The analyses by the REML/BLUP methodology and by the presented model proved adequate for gain prediction, with good genetic breeding perspectives.

Application of the Fog computing paradigm to Smart Factories and cyber-physical systems

Abstract: Since the invention of the steam engine in the 18th century, innovation drove the development of industrial processes. The next industrial revolution will form an ecosystem of over 20 billion connected devices with unforeseeable influence to the gross domestic product by 2020, and connected assets will generate about 44ZB of data, which pose interesting challenges related to privacy, connectivity, scalability, and others. A current line of action that leads to this direction is the development of cyber-physical systems; considered as the coupling of physical processes and the digital world, its influence in the next industrial revolution is essential. In this work, we discuss its implementation, taking the Fog computing paradigm into consideration. As a starting point, we are extending a standard-compliant machine-to-machine communication architecture to support container-based orchestration mechanisms to enable cyber-physical systems to be programmable, autonomous, and to communicate peer-to-peer. As the primary field of application, we are considering Industrial Internet domains in general and Smart Factory environments in particular. In this paper, we present an architecture for Fog Nodes, as well a more in-depth discussion on the orchestration system and programmable characteristics of the Fog Node. On the basis of a simulation model, we show the advantages of having a programmable Fog Node supported by an orchestration system. Finally, we open a discussion about our solution and its application in the field of Smart Factories.

Antibacterial Activity of the Alkaloid-Enriched Extract from Prosopis juliflora Pods and Its Influence on in Vitro Ruminal Digestion

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of alkaloid-enriched extracts from Prosopis juliflora (Fabaceae) pods in order to evaluate them as feed additives for ruminants. As only the basic chloroformic extract (BCE), whose main constituents were juliprosopine (juliflorine), prosoflorine and juliprosine, showed Gram-positive antibacterial activity against Micrococcus luteus (MIC = 25 μg/mL), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 50 μg/mL) and Streptococcus mutans (MIC = 50 μg/mL), its influence on ruminal digestion was evaluated using a semi-automated in vitro gas production technique, with monensin as the positive control. Results showed that BCE has decreased gas production as efficiently as monensin after 36 h of fermentation, revealing its positive influence on gas production during ruminal digestion. Since P. juliflora is a very affordable plant, this study points out this alkaloid enriched extract from the pods of Prosopis juliflora as a potential feed additive to decrease gas production during ruminal digestion.