RESUMO Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidos modelos matemáticos que permitem simular a produção de mel de uma determinada região. Esses modelos são baseados em equações diferenciais ordinárias e tiveram como ponto de partida o modelo neoclássico de Lucas 23 para o crescimento macroeconômico. Na determinação dos parâmetros dos modelos foram utilizados métodos numéricos de otimização não linear. Como resultado da solução numérica do modelo, foram simuladas a produção de mel de quatro municípios. Obteve-se, ainda, o índice de tecnologia aplicado a produção de mel de cada localidade, por um período de onze anos. Por meio desse índice é possível ordenar as municipalidades em termos de aplicação de tecnologia. Essa é uma das razões desse índice ser um indicador de vital importância para a gestão do agronegócio.

ABSTRACT In this work, mathematical models were developed which allow the simulation of the honey production at a certain municipality. These models are based in ordinary differential equations and were based on the neoclassical macroeconomic model by Lucas 23 for macroeconomic growth. In the models’ parameters determination, nonlinear numeric optimization methods were employed. As a result of the numerical solution of the model, honey production from four municipalities was simulated. It was also obtained the technology level attained by the honey production of a certain place, by a period of eleven years. Through this index it is possible to order the municipalities in terms of technology application. This is one of the reasons why this index is an indicator of vital importance for agribusiness management.

Abstract This paper presents an equipment dedicated to the monitoring of synchronous generator through the measurements of the external magnetic field time derivative. The equipment uses a methodology which can be an additional technique to those applied currently on the faults detection, mainly when monitoring the incipient faults type. Based on frequency spectra (magnetic signatures), the faults detection is performed by the analysis of the components evolution. As it is not possible to test the ability of the equipment in detecting several types of faults of generators faults in a power plant, a testbench was constructed for this purpose. Faults inserted deliberately in the generators of the testbench are detected by the equipment, showing its capacity. This equipment has been also installed in power plants.

Background & aims: To assess the agreement and the association between phase angle (PA) and parameters of nutritional status in surgical patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that involved 98 patients admitted for elective gastrointestinal or hernia repair surgery. The risk and nutritional status were evaluated through Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Body Mass Index (BMI) and Total Lymphocytes Count (TLC). These assessments were compared with the mean standardized PA (SPA), obtained by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). Statistical analysis included kappa coefficient, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and the construction of a ROC Curve. Results: The highest kappa agreement was obtained between the SPA and the SGA (0.27; CI95% 0.06-0.48). Malnourished patients diagnosed by NRS 2002, SGA and TLC had a significantly lower mean SPA as compared to those who were well-nourished. A cut-off point of 0.8 for SPA showed 82.6% (CI95% 65.0-100.0%) sensitivity and 40.6% (CI95% 23.0-58.2%) specificity. Conclusion: The SPA presented weak agreement with the methods of nutritional assessment, as well as low specificity, and could not be recommended as a marker of nutritional status, despite the fact that the lowest values for SPA were found in malnourished patients.

Introducción y objetivos: Evaluar la concordancia y asociación entre el ángulo de fase (AF) y los parámetros del estado nutricional en pacientes quirúrgicos. Métodos: Se desarrolló un estudio de sección transversal con 98 pacientes admitidos para una cirugía gastrointestinal o de hernia. Se evaluó el riesgo y el estado nutricional a través del Rastreo de Riesgo Nutricional 2002 (RRN 2002), la Valoración Global Subjetiva (VGS), el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) y el Recuento Total de Linfocitos (RTL). Estos métodos fueron comparados con la media del AF estandarizado (AFE) obtenido por medio del Análisis de Impedancia Bioeléctrica (AIB). Los Análisis estadísticos incluyeron el coeficiente kappa , el test t Student, el test de Mann-Whitney, y la construcción de la Curva ROC. Resultados: La concordancia kappa más alta se obtuvo entre el AFE y el VGS (0,27; CI95% 0,06-0,48). Los pacientes desnutridos diagnosticados por el RRN 2002, VGS y el RTL, tuvieron una media estadística de AFE significativamente menor comparado con aquellos que estaban bien nutridos. Un punto de corte del 0.8 para un AFE mostró 82,6% (CI95% 65,0-100,0%) de sensibilidad y 40,6% (CI95% 23,0-58,2%) de especificidad. Conclusión: El AFE presentó una concordancia débil con los métodos de evaluación nutricional, así como una baja especificidad y no pudo ser recomendado como un indicador del estado nutricional, a pesar de que los valores más bajos del AFE fueron encontrados en pacientes desnutridos.

The accumulation and distribution of 40K and 137Cs in tropical plant species were studied through measurements of gamma-ray spectra from mango, avocado, guava, pomegranate, chili pepper, papaya and manioc trees. Our goal was to infer their differences in the uptake and translocation of ions to the aboveground plant parts and to establish the suitability of using radiocaesium as a tracer for the plant uptake of nutrients such as K+.

Avaliou-se a atividade antiinflamatória do extrato etanólico de própolis - EEP, . sobre o edema desencadeado por carragenina, dextrana e histamina. O EEP apresentou dose eficaz (DE50) de 650 mg/kg (v.o), inibindo significativamente o processo inflamatório desencadeado pela carragenina, mas não inibiu o produzido por dextrana. O EEP antagonizou ainda o efeito edematogênico produzido por histamina. Nas úlceras produzidas por estresse, o EPP inibiu de forma significativa a geração dos diversos tipos classificados. Em todos os parâmetros analisados no estudo da toxicidade em fase de tratamento subcrônico , (hematológicos, bioquímicos e histopatológicos), o grupo tratado com o EEP não apresentou diferença significativa em relação ao grupo controle. Desta forma, sugere-se que na dose de 650 mg/kg (dose eficaz) não existe a presença de efeitos tóxicos que possam comprometer a utilização deste extrato.

The antlinflammatory activity of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis - EEP was evaluated on edema induced by carrageenan, dextran and hystamine. The inflammatory process induced by carrageenan was significantly reduced by the treatment with EEP (650 mg/kg, p.o), while it did not interfere in the response induced by dextran. The EEP antagonized the edematous effect produced by hystamine. The EEP promoted a significant inhibition in the generation of the ulcers induced by stress (p < 0.05). The hematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters presented no differences between treated and control groups. Therefore it can be concluded that the effective dose of 650 mg/kg of the EEP has no toxic effect which may compromise the use of this extract.