This paper presents two new schemes for interpolating missing samples in satellite diurnal temperature cycles (DTCs). The first scheme, referred to here as the cosine model, is an improvement of the model proposed in [2] and combines a cosine and exponential function for modelling the DTC. The second scheme uses the notion of a Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) interpolator [1] for interpolating the missing samples. The application of RKHS interpolators to the DTC interpolation problem is novel. Results obtained by means of computer experiments are presented.

An examination of the logical relationships between attitude statements suggests that attitudes can be ordered according to favourability, and can also stand in relationships of implication to one another. The traditional representation of attitudes, as points on a single dimension, is inadequate for representing both these relations but representing attitudes as intervals on a single dimension can incorporate both favourability and implication. An interval can be parameterised using its two endpoints or alternatively by its midpoint and latitude. Using this latter representation, the midpoint can be understood as the �favourability� of the attitude, while the latitude can be understood as its �generality�. It is argued that the generality of an attitude statement is akin to its latitude of acceptance, since a greater semantic range increases the likelihood of agreement. When Coombs� Theory of Unidimensional Unfolding is reformulated using the interval representation, the key question is how to measure the distance between two intervals on the dimension. There are innumerable ways to answer this question, but the present study restricts attention to eighteen possible �distance� measures. These measures are based on nine basic distances between intervals on a dimension, as well as two families of models, the Minkowski r-metric and the Generalised Hyperbolic Cosine Model (GHCM). Not all of these measures are distances in the strict sense as some of them fail to satisfy all the metric axioms. To distinguish between these eighteen �distance� measures two empirical tests, the triangle inequality test, and the aligned stimuli test, were developed and tested using two sets of attitude statements. The subject matter of the sets of statements differed but the underlying structure was the same. It is argued that this structure can be known a priori using the logical relationships between the statement�s predicates, and empirical tests confirm the underlying structure and the unidimensionality of the statements used in this study. Consequently, predictions of preference could be ascertained from each model and either confirmed or falsified by subjects� judgements. The results indicated that the triangle inequality failed in both stimulus sets. This suggests that the judgement space is not metric, contradicting a common assumption of attitude measurement. This result also falsified eleven of the eighteen �distance� measures because they predicted the satisfaction of the triangle inequality. The aligned stimuli test used stimuli that were aligned at the endpoint nearest to the ideal interval. The results indicated that subjects preferred the narrower of the two stimuli, contrary to the predictions of six of the measures. Since these six measures all passed the triangle inequality test, only one measure, the GHCM (item), satisfied both tests. However, the GHCM (item) only passes the aligned stimuli tests with additional constraints on its operational function. If it incorporates a strictly log-convex function, such as cosh, the GHCM (item) makes predictions that are satisfied in both tests. This is also evidence that the latitude of acceptance is an item rather than a subject or combined parameter.

An examination of the logical relationships between attitude statements suggests that attitudes can be ordered according to favourability, and can also stand in relationships of implication to one another. The traditional representation of attitudes, as points on a single dimension, is inadequate for representing both these relations but representing attitudes as intervals on a single dimension can incorporate both favourability and implication. An interval can be parameterised using its two endpoints or alternatively by its midpoint and latitude. Using this latter representation, the midpoint can be understood as the �favourability� of the attitude, while the latitude can be understood as its �generality�. It is argued that the generality of an attitude statement is akin to its latitude of acceptance, since a greater semantic range increases the likelihood of agreement. When Coombs� Theory of Unidimensional Unfolding is reformulated using the interval representation, the key question is how to measure the distance between two intervals on the dimension. There are innumerable ways to answer this question, but the present study restricts attention to eighteen possible �distance� measures. These measures are based on nine basic distances between intervals on a dimension, as well as two families of models, the Minkowski r-metric and the Generalised Hyperbolic Cosine Model (GHCM). Not all of these measures are distances in the strict sense as some of them fail to satisfy all the metric axioms. To distinguish between these eighteen �distance� measures two empirical tests, the triangle inequality test, and the aligned stimuli test, were developed and tested using two sets of attitude statements. The subject matter of the sets of statements differed but the underlying structure was the same. It is argued that this structure can be known a priori using the logical relationships between the statement�s predicates, and empirical tests confirm the underlying structure and the unidimensionality of the statements used in this study. Consequently, predictions of preference could be ascertained from each model and either confirmed or falsified by subjects� judgements. The results indicated that the triangle inequality failed in both stimulus sets. This suggests that the judgement space is not metric, contradicting a common assumption of attitude measurement. This result also falsified eleven of the eighteen �distance� measures because they predicted the satisfaction of the triangle inequality. The aligned stimuli test used stimuli that were aligned at the endpoint nearest to the ideal interval. The results indicated that subjects preferred the narrower of the two stimuli, contrary to the predictions of six of the measures. Since these six measures all passed the triangle inequality test, only one measure, the GHCM (item), satisfied both tests. However, the GHCM (item) only passes the aligned stimuli tests with additional constraints on its operational function. If it incorporates a strictly log-convex function, such as cosh, the GHCM (item) makes predictions that are satisfied in both tests. This is also evidence that the latitude of acceptance is an item rather than a subject or combined parameter.

Single-head broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var.italica Plenk) is one of the vegetables with the latest introduction to Brazil and its cultivation has increased gradually over the past decades. This crop has potential to diversify vegetable production in Rio Grande do Sul central area as an economic and horticultural alternative to tobacco growing which widespread among local farmers, as well as to supply regional produce market. The aim of this work was to study growth, development and yield using data generated in two experiments with single-head broccoli hybrids grown in two seasons. The experiments were conducted at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria(UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, using Legacy and BRO 68 hybrids transplanted on march 22, 2011 and july 30, 2011. We evaluated morphological and productive variables as well as thermal time from transplanting through to the first flower opening. Adjusted growth curves by the cosine model, were determined measuring the length and width of the leaf blade to estimate leaf area, and the variance was analysed in factorial schemes. The model of growth and development of the cosine provided a good fit with the coefficient of determination higher than 70%. Concerning growth, leaf area differed between seasons and between the hybrids in the second season; number of leaves between hybrids in both seasons; component variables of head height, diameter and head green phytomasses, florets and stem apex, between the hybrids in the first season. The thermal time for hybrid Legacy in the first season was 1479.9 degree-days and in the second season was 1285.5 degree-days. The thermal time for hybrid BRO 68 in the first season was 1423.1 degree-days and second season was 1172.8 degree-days. The best model for estimating leaf area was: leaf area = - 0.006981 + 0.000878403 x W1,5, using the width of the leaf for hybrid BRO 68, whereas for 'Legacy ', was: leaf area = 0.0174307 + 0.00000249604 x (L x W)1.5, involving the product of leaf length and width. There was interaction between hybrids and seasons for head green phytomass. Legacy‟ was latest in both seasons and the most productive in the first season, with an average head phytomass of 755.72 g head-1. Both hybrids had the highest average weights in the second season, with 864.43 g head-1 and 862.62 g head-1 for 'BRO 68' and 'Legacy', respectively. / O brócolis de cabeça única (Brassica oleracea L. var.italica Plenk) é uma das hortaliças com a introdução mais recente no Brasil e seu cultivo vem aumentando gradativamente nas últimas décadas. Este cultivo apresenta potencial para a diversificação da produção olerícola, na região central do Rio Grande do Sul como uma alternativa econômica e horticultural para a conversão parcial da fumicultura, à qual se dedicam muitos produtores rurais, bem como, para o abastecimento do mercado regional de hortaliças. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o crescimento, desenvolvimento e produção dos híbridos Legacy e BRO 68 de brócolis de cabeça única cultivados em duas épocas, utilizando dados gerados em experimentos instalados na Universidade Federal de Santa Maria(UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, nas datas de 22/03/2011 e 30/06/2011. Foram avaliadas as variáveis morfológicas e produtivas bem como a soma térmica do transplante até a antese da primeira flor. Ajustou-se as curvas de crescimento pelo modelo do cosseno, determinou-se a medida linear do limbo foliar para estimar a área foliar e fez-se a análise da variância em esquemas fatoriais para as variáveis morfológicas e produtivas. O modelo de crescimento e desenvolvimento do cosseno teve um bom ajuste, com valores do coeficiente de determinação superiores a 70%. Quanto ao crescimento, a área foliar diferiu entre as épocas e entre os dois híbridos na segunda época; o número de folhas entre os híbridos nas duas épocas; as variáveis componentes da cabeça altura, diâmetro e as fitomassas verde da cabeça, dos floretes e do ápice caulinar, entre os dois híbridos na primeira época. A soma térmica para o híbrido Legacy na primeira época foi de 1.479,9 graus-dia e na segunda época foi de 1.285,5 graus-dia. A soma térmica para o híbrido BRO 68 na primeira época foi de 1.423,1 graus-dia e na segunda época foi de 1.172,8 graus-dia. O modelo de melhor ajuste para estimativa da área foliar foi: área foliar = - 0,006981 + 0,000878403 x L1,5, utilizando a medida da largura do limbo foliar, para o híbrido BRO 68, enquanto que, para o Legacy‟, foi: área foliar = 0,0174307 + 0,00000249604 x (C x L)1,5, envolvendo o produto entre o comprimento e a largura. Houve interação entre híbridos e épocas para fitomassa verde da cabeça. O híbrido Legacy foi o mais tardio em ambas as épocas e o mais produtivo na primeira época, com fitomassa média de 755,72 g cabeça-1. Ambos os híbridos obtiveram as maiores fitomassas médias na segunda época, com 864,43 e 862,62 g cabeça-1 para o BRO 68‟ e Legacy‟, respectivamente.