Os objetivos dessa pesquisa foram avaliar as alterações de natureza física, fisiológica e bioquímica durante a formação das sementes de soja, produzidas nos anos 2009 e 2010, em Piracicaba, São Paulo. Foram utilizadas sementes de dois cultivares de soja, CD - 202 e CD - 224, e os tratamentos foram compostos pelos momentos de colheita, ao longo do processo de formação das sementes, e pela utilização ou não da secagem artificial. Para as avaliações foram determinados os número de dias para a emergência da plântula, para a floração, para a floração plena, para a colheita, os parâmetros físicos (produtividade, teor de água das sementes e massa de mil sementes) fisiológicos (viabilidade e vigor) e bioquímicos (teores de óleo, de proteína, de clorofila, carotenoides, de lignina e de carboidratos). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso, em que cada bloco continha uma unidade experimental de cada cultivar, distribuída de forma casualizada, em esquema fatorial de onze (momentos de colheita) x dois (sem secagem e com secagem), com quatro repetições e as análises estatísticas foram realizadas com o software R. Foi possível concluir que na maturidade fisiológica das sementes de soja, estádio R7, independentemente do cultivar e da avaliação das sementes úmidas ou secas, a produtividade, a viabilidade e os teores de lignina são máximos; No momento de colheita das sementes de soja, estádio R9, independentemente do cultivar e da avaliação de sementes úmidas ou secas, o acúmulo de massa é máximo, há a redução do teor de água, da viabilidade e do vigor e a semente tem mais óleo e proteína; O vigor das sementes é máximo no estádio R7 para as sementes avaliadas secas e no estádio R8 para as avaliadas úmidas, independentemente do cultivar; Há a degradação completa da clorofila nos estádios R7, para as sementes do cultivar CD - 202, e R8, para as sementes do cultivar CD - 224; Há carotenoides em todos os estádios de desenvolvimento da semente de soja, porém há mais carotenoides no início do processo de formação das sementes; Há variação da quantidade de carboidratos em função da avaliação das sementes úmidas ou secas. / This experiment aimed at the evaluation of the physical, physiological and biochemical changes during formation of soy seeds, produced in 2009 and 2010, in Piracicaba, São Paulo. Seeds of two cultivars of soy were used, namely CD - 202 and CD - 224, and treatments were composed by the moment of harvest, along the process of formation of seeds, and by the use or non-use of artificial drying. For the evaluations, we determined the number of days for seedling emergency, flowering, full flowering, harvest, physical parameters (productivity, rate of water in the seeds and mass of a thousand seeds) physiological parameters (viability and vigor) and biochemical parameters (rate of oil, of protein, of chlorophyll, of lignin and carbohydrates). The experimental delineation in use was in random blocks, in which each block contained one experimental unit of each cultivar, distributed at random, in a factorial scheme of eleven (harvesting periods), x two (dried and not dried), at four repetitions, and the statistical analysis were performed with software R. It was possible to conclude that at physiological maturity of soy seeds, stage R7, independently of the cultivar and of the evaluation of dry or humid seeds, the productivity, viability and rates of lignin are at their maximum; In the moment of harvest of soy seeds, stage R9, independently of the cultivar and evaluation of humid or dry seeds, the accumulation of mass is at its maximum, there is a drop in the level of water, of the viability and vigor, and the seed contains more oil and protein; The vigor of the seeds is at its maximum at stage R7 for the seeds which were evaluated dry and at stage R8 for the ones evaluated as humid, independently of the cultivar; There is the complete deterioration of the chlorophyll at stages R7, for the seeds of cultivar CD - 202 and R8, for the seeds of cultivar CD - 224; There are carotenoids in all stages of development of soy seed, however there are more of them in the beginning of the process of formation of seeds. There is variation of quantity of carbohydrates according to the evaluation of humid or dry seeds.

A estimativa antecipada da produção de café das diversas regiões produtoras é muito importante para o estabelecimento da política cafeeira do país. Apesar disso, não existe no Brasil uma metodologia adequada para previsão antecipada da safra de café que permita uma avaliação segura e precisa. As poucas informações para o estabelecimento de modelos para previsão de safra de café são em conseqüência da complexidade metodológica, ocasionada pela diversidade dos fatores ambientais, culturais e econômicos, envolvidos na produtividade dessa cultura, que devem ser levados em consideração nos modelos de previsão como, por exemplo: cultivares, densidade de plantio, idade da planta, tecnologia empregada, condições edafoclimáticas, etc. Para isso a avaliação das características fenológicas determinantes do desenvolvimento e da produção do cafeeiro é uma ferramenta fundamental no estabelecimento de modelos de previsão de safra. Atualmente as previsões baseiam-se em levantamentos empíricos efetuados visualmente, requerendo, para atingir razoável precisão, técnico ou produtores altamente especializados na cultura. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo desenvolver uma metodologia para estimar a produtividade do cafeeiro sem utilizar a contagem total de frutos na planta, com base no uso de índices fenológicos de produtividade, os quais são determinados a partir de quantificações não destrutivas, em uma secção reduzida da planta, e em diferentes épocas e locais de avaliação. A metodologia de previsão de safra, fundamentada em índices fenológicos, foi desenvolvida utilizando dados de duas regiões produtoras de café do Estado de São Paulo: Garça/Marília e Campinas, no período de 1999 a 2006. Os índices fenológicos de produtividades \'IFP1\' e \'IFP2\' foram determinados pela contagem de frutos, internódios produtivos, altura de planta e espaçamento da lavoura. O trabalho foi subdivido em dois níveis hierárquicos, \"talhão\" e \"propriedade\". A metodologia proposta apresentou facilidade de aplicação em ambas as regiões avaliadas. O número de internódios produtivos \'NIP\', considerado como característica fisiológica de produção, avaliado para determinação do \'IFP2\' apresentou influência negativa para o desempenho do modelo. O desempenho apresentado pelos modelos baseados no \'IFP1\' foi classificado como bom ao nível hierárquico \"talhão\", nas épocas de avaliação de dezembro, janeiro e março e apresentando melhores desempenhos que os modelos baseados no \'IFP2\', apesar de uma tendência de subestimar a produtividade. Foi encontrada uma relação linear e uma boa correlação entre os \'IFPs\' e a produtividade observada, sendo considerado para o nível hierárquico \"talhão\" menor do que o apresentado para o nível hierárquico \"propriedade rural\". Foi comprovado que é possível estimar a produtividade utilizando o \'IFP\' com até seis meses de antecedência (dezembro) da colheita, com a mesma precisão. A variação da estimativa de produtividade baseada no \'IFP1\' ao nível de \"propriedade rural\" foi menor do que a apresentada na estimativa da produtividade visual \'EPVIS\', variando de 0,4 a 20% e 0,5 a 18% nos meses de dezembro e março, respectivamente comparado ao de 3% a 41% para a estimativa visual. Os modelos baseados no \'IFP1\' ao nível hierárquico \"propriedade rural\" apresentaram desempenho classificado com excelente, para a estimativa de produtividade do cafeeiro. / The early estimate of the production of coffee of the various producing regions is of fundamental importance for the establishment of the coffee policy of the country. Although this, does not exist in Brazil a methodology adjusted for anticipated forecast of the coffee harvest that allows an accurate and precise evaluation. The few information for the establishment of models for forecasting of coffee harvest are consequence of the methodology complexity, caused by the diversity of environmental factors, cultural and economic which should be considered and to be taken into account in model forecasting such as: cultivars , density of planting, age of the plant, technology applied, edafoclimatics conditions, etc.. Therefore the evaluation of the determinative phenological characteristics of the development and the production of the coffee tree is a basic tool in the establishment of models of harvest forecast. Currently the harvest forecast is based on empirical surveys, done visually; requiring people (producers and technical) very well qualified and specialized in the crop to achieve reasonable accuracy. The objective of this study was to develop an objective method to estimate the productivity of coffee without using the total counting fruit in the plant, being based on the use of phenogical indexes of productivity, which are determined from not destructive quantifications, in a reduced section of the plant, and at different times and places of evaluation. The methodology of forecasting the harvest, based on phonological indexes, was developed using data from two different producing regions of coffee of the São Paulo State: Garça/Marília and Campinas regions, in the period of 1999 to 2006. The indexes of phenological productivity \'IFP1\' and \'IFP2\' were determined by counting the fruit, productive internodes, plant height and row spacing of the crop. The study was divided in two hierarchical levels: \"plot and farm\". The obtained results showed that the proposed methodology provided good usage methodology and application in both assessed regions. The number of productive internodes \' NIP \', considering the physiological characteristic of production, used for estimation and determination of the \"IFP2\", presented negative influence for the performance of the model. The performance presented by the models based on \'IFP1\' has been classified as good hierarchical level of \"plot\", in the following periods of evaluation: December, January and March and showed that the best performing models is based on \'IFP2\', although a trend of a tendency to underestimate the productivity. It was found a linear relationship and a good correlation between \'IFPs\' and the observed productivity, being considered for the level of \"plot\", a lower level when compared to \"farm\". It has been proven that it is possible to estimate the productivity of coffee, using \'IFP\' with up to six months in advance of normal period of harvest (December), with the same level of precision. The variation of the estimated productivity based on \'IFP1\' to the level of \"farm\" was lower than that presented in the visual estimated productivity - \'EPVIS\', ranging from 0,4 to 20% and 0,5 to 18% during the months of December and March, respectively, and ranged from 3% to 41% for the visual estimation on March. The models based on \'IFP1\' at hierarchical level of \"farm\" have been classified with an optimum performance in order to estimate the coffee productivity.

Thesis (M. Sc. (Horticulture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / ‘Hass’ avocado fruit changes skin colour from green to purple and then black during ripening. However, markets importing South African avocado fruit have been complaining about the ‘Hass’ skin colour not changing to purple/black during ripening. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the effect of tree girdling, harvest time and ripening temperature on ‘Hass’ avocado fruit skin colour development during ripening. The mature ‘Hass’ avocado fruit were harvested from girdled and non-girdled trees during early (April), mid- (May) and late (June) harvest times. Upon arrival, in the laboratory fruit were cold stored at 5.5°C for 28 days. After storage, fruit were ripened at 25, 21 and 16°C for 8, 6 and 4 days, respectively. After withdrawal from clod storage fruit were evaluated for skin colour development, ripening and physiological disorders (chilling injury). Fruit from girdled trees showed high maturity (low moisture content) when compared with fruit from non-girdled trees during early and mid-harvest. With respect to skin colour development, the results indicate that skin eye colour development of fruit from girdled and non-girdled trees minimally increased from emerald green (1) to olive green (3) across all harvest times, ripening temperature and ripening duration. However, late season fruit from non-girdled trees improved to purple (4) when ripened at 21°C when compared with fruit from girdled trees. In terms of objective colour, lightness, hue angle and chroma decreased for fruit from girdled and non-girdled trees, across all harvest times, ripening temperature and ripening duration. Lightness and hue angle of fruit from girdled trees were slightly reduced when compared with fruit from non-girdled trees, throughout all harvest times, ripening temperature and duration. Early and mid-season fruit harvested from girdled trees showed rapid decrease of chroma when compared with fruit from non-girdled trees, throughout ripening temperature and x duration. In terms of softening, fruit from girdled trees showed higher firmness loss and ripening percentage within 6 (16°C) and 4 (21 and 25°C) days when compared with fruit from non-girdled trees during early and mid-harvest, whereas, late harvest fruit from girdled trees reached higher ripening percentage and firmness loss within 4 days throughout ripening temperatures. With respect to cold damage, late harvested fruit from girdled trees showed higher external chilling injury when compared with non-girdled trees, throughout ripening temperature. In general, girdling treatment improved fruit maturity, ripening rate and firmness loss. However, the incidence of variable skin colouring of ‘Hass’ avocado fruit during ripening was also prevalent in early harvested fruit from girdled tree, irrespective of ripening temperature. Keywords: girdling, harvest time, physiological disorder, ripening temperature, variable colouring

Thesis (M.Sc. (Horticulture)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / ‘Hass’ avocado fruit changes skin colour from green to purple and then black during ripening. However, markets importing South African avocado fruit have been complaining about the ‘Hass’ skin colour not changing to purple/black during ripening. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the effect of tree girdling, harvest time and ripening temperature on ‘Hass’ avocado fruit skin colour development during ripening. The mature ‘Hass’ avocado fruit were harvested from girdled and non-girdled trees during early (April), mid- (May) and late (June) harvest times. Upon arrival, in the laboratory fruit were cold stored at 5.5°C for 28 days. After storage, fruit were ripened at 25, 21 and 16°C for 8, 6 and 4 days, respectively. After withdrawal from clod storage fruit were evaluated for skin colour development, ripening and physiological disorders (chilling injury). Fruit from girdled trees showed high maturity (low moisture content) when compared with fruit from non-girdled trees during early and mid-harvest. With respect to skin colour development, the results indicate that skin eye colour development of fruit from girdled and non-girdled trees minimally increased from emerald green (1) to olive green (3) across all harvest times, ripening temperature and ripening duration. However, late season fruit from non-girdled trees improved to purple (4) when ripened at 21°C when compared with fruit from girdled trees. In terms of objective colour, lightness, hue angle and chroma decreased for fruit from girdled and non-girdled trees, across all harvest times, ripening temperature and ripening duration. Lightness and hue angle of fruit from girdled trees were slightly reduced when compared with fruit from non-girdled trees, throughout all harvest times, ripening temperature and duration. Early and mid-season fruit harvested from girdled trees showed rapid decrease of chroma when compared with fruit from non-girdled trees, throughout ripening temperature and x duration. In terms of softening, fruit from girdled trees showed higher firmness loss and ripening percentage within 6 (16°C) and 4 (21 and 25°C) days when compared with fruit from non-girdled trees during early and mid-harvest, whereas, late harvest fruit from girdled trees reached higher ripening percentage and firmness loss within 4 days throughout ripening temperatures. With respect to cold damage, late harvested fruit from girdled trees showed higher external chilling injury when compared with non-girdled trees, throughout ripening temperature. In general, girdling treatment improved fruit maturity, ripening rate and firmness loss. However, the incidence of variable skin colouring of ‘Hass’ avocado fruit during ripening was also prevalent in early harvested fruit from girdled tree, irrespective of ripening temperature. Keywords: girdling, harvest time, physiological disorder, ripening temperature, variable colouring

Background: Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is a novel healthcare technology, for which much research evidence has been published. The objectives of this work were to compare the oncologic outcomes of this technology across different study types, and to define patterns of adoption on the basis of the literature. Methods: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature was conducted using 1) existing systematic reviews, 2) randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 3) observational studies. Outcomes of interest were overall survival, and total lymph node harvest. Outcomes were compared for congruence. Adoption was evaluated by means of summary expert opinions in the literature. Results: 1) Existing systematic reviews were of low to moderate quality and displayed evidence of overlap and duplication. 2) Laparoscopy was not inferior to open surgery in terms of oncologic outcomes in any study type. 3) Oncologic outcomes from RCTs and observational studies were congruent. 4) Expert opinion in the literature has been supportive of this technology, paralleling the publication of large RCTs. Conclusions: The evaluation of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in RCTs and observational studies suggests that it is not inferior to open surgery. Adoption of this technology has paralleled RCT evidence.

Pb(Zr₀.₅₂Ti₀.₄₈)O₃ (PZT) thin films are of interest for their large dielectric permittivity, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties. The material has been widely studied for use in high frequency transducers, multi-layered capacitors, and ferroelectric random access memory. Copper foils are an inexpensive, flexible substrate with a low resistivity which makes them ideal for many transducer and capacitor applications. PZT thin films on copper foils were produced by RF sputtering and crystallized under reducing conditions. Causes and prevention of a cuprous oxide interlayer are discussed. The film structure was characterized by XRD, SEM, and AFM. The permittivity was low, but remanent polarization increased to as high as ~40 μC/cm² as film thickness and crystallization temperature increased. Residual stresses were measured by x-ray diffraction using the sin²ψ method. The relative permittivity of the PZT/Cu films was measured as a function of applied AC electric field. By performing a Rayleigh analysis on this data one can determine the relative contributions of the intrinsic, reversible, and irreversible components to the permittivity. The residual stress could be correlated to the reversible part of the permittivity. The first order reversal curves (FORCs), which characterize the ferroelectric switching, give indications of the defect state of the film. Cantilever energy harvesters were fabricated. Large electrodes were able to be evaporated onto the films after oxidizing pinholes and cracks on a hot plate. Devices were tested on a shaker table at < 100 Hz. A dynamic model based on Euler-Bernoulli beam equations was used to predict power output of the fabricated devices. The observed output was comparable to model predictions. Resonant frequency calculations were in line with observed first and second resonances at ~17 Hz and ~35 Hz which were also close to those predicted by the dynamic model. / Graduation date: 2013

The release of genetically modified, herbicide tolerant canola (<I>Brassica napus</i> L.) genotypes in western Canada has increased interest in the persistence of volunteer canola. <i>B. napus</i> seed may be induced into secondary dormancy in the laboratory, however, little is known of the seedbank ecology and the role of secondary dormancy as a persistence mechanism in this species in the region. The objectives of this research were i) to determine seedbank additions at the time of harvest, ii) determine the role of secondary seed dormancy in seedbank persistence under different management systems, iii) determine the relative importance of factors contributing to secondary dormancy potential and iv) evaluate the role of abscisic acid (ABA) during secondary dormancy induction in <I>B. napus</i>. On farms, average seedbank additions during harvest were approximately 20 times the normal seeding rate of canola. High secondary seed dormancy potential prolonged seedbank persistence in fields, irrespective of tillage system. <I>B. napus</i> exhibited seedling recruitment of a typical summer annual weed where seedling recruitment was only observed in the spring. Seasonal seedling recruitment was the result of two fates: seed death in the shallow seedbank, irrespective of dormancy potential, and increased ungerminability in buried seeds which was related to secondary seed dormancy potential. Among the factors that contribute to secondary seed dormancy potential, genotype was of greatest significance. Seed size was of lesser importance, while the contributions of pre-harvest factors including seed maturity, year, and location were negligible in comparison. Differences in ABA synthesis and the response to ABA application were related to secondary seed dormancy potential and correlated well previous reports linking ABA to seed dormancy. Conclusions that emerge from this research are i) that on some farms, seedbank additions may be lowered by more diligent harvest practices, ii) seedbank persistence of <I>B. napus</i> may be reduced by growing low dormancy genotypes and avoiding seed burial for one year after seedbank establishment and iii) ABA + ABA-glucose ester (ABA-GE) and the ability of seeds to respond to ABA application after seed dormancy induction may potentially be used to identify seed dormancy potential in this species.

The release of genetically modified, herbicide tolerant canola (<I>Brassica napus</i> L.) genotypes in western Canada has increased interest in the persistence of volunteer canola. <i>B. napus</i> seed may be induced into secondary dormancy in the laboratory, however, little is known of the seedbank ecology and the role of secondary dormancy as a persistence mechanism in this species in the region. The objectives of this research were i) to determine seedbank additions at the time of harvest, ii) determine the role of secondary seed dormancy in seedbank persistence under different management systems, iii) determine the relative importance of factors contributing to secondary dormancy potential and iv) evaluate the role of abscisic acid (ABA) during secondary dormancy induction in <I>B. napus</i>. On farms, average seedbank additions during harvest were approximately 20 times the normal seeding rate of canola. High secondary seed dormancy potential prolonged seedbank persistence in fields, irrespective of tillage system. <I>B. napus</i> exhibited seedling recruitment of a typical summer annual weed where seedling recruitment was only observed in the spring. Seasonal seedling recruitment was the result of two fates: seed death in the shallow seedbank, irrespective of dormancy potential, and increased ungerminability in buried seeds which was related to secondary seed dormancy potential. Among the factors that contribute to secondary seed dormancy potential, genotype was of greatest significance. Seed size was of lesser importance, while the contributions of pre-harvest factors including seed maturity, year, and location were negligible in comparison. Differences in ABA synthesis and the response to ABA application were related to secondary seed dormancy potential and correlated well previous reports linking ABA to seed dormancy. Conclusions that emerge from this research are i) that on some farms, seedbank additions may be lowered by more diligent harvest practices, ii) seedbank persistence of <I>B. napus</i> may be reduced by growing low dormancy genotypes and avoiding seed burial for one year after seedbank establishment and iii) ABA + ABA-glucose ester (ABA-GE) and the ability of seeds to respond to ABA application after seed dormancy induction may potentially be used to identify seed dormancy potential in this species.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is a novel healthcare technology, for which much research evidence has been published. The objectives of this work were to compare the oncologic outcomes of this technology across different study types, and to define patterns of adoption on the basis of the literature. Methods: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature was conducted using 1) existing systematic reviews, 2) randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 3) observational studies. Outcomes of interest were overall survival, and total lymph node harvest. Outcomes were compared for congruence. Adoption was evaluated by means of summary expert opinions in the literature. Results: 1) Existing systematic reviews were of low to moderate quality and displayed evidence of overlap and duplication. 2) Laparoscopy was not inferior to open surgery in terms of oncologic outcomes in any study type. 3) Oncologic outcomes from RCTs and observational studies were congruent. 4) Expert opinion in the literature has been supportive of this technology, paralleling the publication of large RCTs. Conclusions: The evaluation of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in RCTs and observational studies suggests that it is not inferior to open surgery. Adoption of this technology has paralleled RCT evidence.

Few field studies have assessed the temporal and spatial dynamics of wood in small streams (bankfull widths < 5 m) flowing through forest ecosystems dominated by stand replacing wildfires. Comparisons of instream wood loads associated with clearcut harvesting, wildfire, and undisturbed, old forests are also scarce. The two main objectives of this research were: (1) to document the temporal and spatial variability of wood and its geomorphic role in relation to stand development stage; and (2) to compare wood loads and its geomorphic role in relation to streamside clearcut harvesting, wildfires and older, undisturbed forest stands. This research focused on 38 small streams with gradients less than 14% situated in the plateau regions of south-central British Columbia, Canada. A distinct temporal trend in wood loading was observed, with elevated volumes present 30-50 years subsequent to the wildfire disturbances following a “reverse J-shaped” trend in relation to time since the last major wildfire disturbance. The number of wood pieces was highly variable and few of the wood characteristics exhibited a significant trend in relation to time since the last major wildfire disturbance. Except at the smallest spatial scale (<3 m segments longitudinally along the stream) the spatial distribution of wood followed a random pattern with no trend, indicating that wood loads are related to local wood recruitment processes associated with episodic or chronic tree mortality and low wood transport. Instream wood volumes were three times higher in streams recently (30 – 50 years ago) disturbed by wildfire as compared to the older riparian forest stands, confirming that wildfire disturbance is an important mechanism to recruit wood into streams. No significant differences in wood loads were identified between the streamside clearcut streams and the wildfire-disturbed or older, undisturbed streams. The lack of reductions in wood loads are likely related to the low transport capacity of our study streams, retention of non-merchantable trees and recruitment of slash from harvesting. A lack of morphologic variability was observed in relation to the disturbances indicating that the streams included in this study are relatively robust and unresponsive to wildfire or streamside clearcut harvesting disturbances.