sexta-feira, 31 de maio de 2013

Melancia quadrada - tradutor de inglês

Olá, amigos

Em 1981, agricultores japoneses começaram a cultivar melancias quadradas, seu preço para venda era de R$175,00 a unidade. O propósito de eles cultivarem as melancias neste formato era para facilitar o manuseio e o transporte do produto. Mas o elevado preço para a venda da melancia quadrada não a tornou acessível para a maioria dos consumidores assim muitos produtores usam alternativas mais simples como os americanos que produzem melancias menores que cabem com mais facilidade nos refrigeradores. Mais outra curiosidade: a melancia é considerada tanto uma fruta como um vegetal assim ele esta classificada nas 2 categorias. Para treinar seu inglês um pouco mais segue este assunto e outros referentes a melancia neste texto simples e direto deste idioma que é tão importante hoje em dia.

What Are Square Watermelons?

Square watermelons are actual watermelon fruits that are grown into square shapes. They are not genetically modified at all. Instead, the watermelons are placed into glass cube containers so that the watermelons take the form of the containers. Japanese farmers began to grow and sell square watermelons in 1981, at a price equivalent to about $83 US Dollars (USD) each. The purpose of the square watermelons was to make them easier to stack and ship, as well as to preserve refrigerator space. The high price of square watermelons is a main reason why they are not widely purchased, and farmers typically use other options for saving space. For example, American farmers often grow small watermelons that will fit on standard refrigerator shelves for convenience purposes.

More about watermelons:

•The watermelon is thought to have originated in ancient Egypt, and hieroglyphics of watermelons are depicted on the walls of ancient Egyptian buildings.

•Watermelons consist of about 92% water.

•Other shapes of watermelons have been created, including pyramid-shape watermelons.

fruit or vegetable?

For years people have debated whether watermelon is a fruit or a vegetable – we consider it both – here’s why . . .

Watermelon is a Fruit

Watermelon is the fruit of a plant originally from a vine of southern Africa. The watermelon fruit, loosely considered a type of melon (although not in the genus Cucumis), has a smooth exterior rind and a juicy, sweet, usually red interior flesh. The species descriptor Citrullus vulgaris is sometimes, synonymously, used to refer to this plant (vulgaris meaning "common" — Shosteck, 1974).

Like the pepper, tomato, and pumpkin, watermelon is botanically a fruit. According to Webster’s dictionary and Wikipedia, a fruit is the ripened ovary of a seed plant and its contents, and a watermelon is a large oblong roundish fruit (2004, 2006). Consumers use watermelon primarily as a fruit because of its sweet flavor and refreshing qualities.

Watermelon is Also a Vegetable

According to Webster’s dictionary a vegetable is anything made or obtained from plants (2004). Watermelon is a member of the cucurbitaceae plant family of gourds (classified as Citrullus Lantus), related to the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin (Maynard, 2001). It is planted from seeds or seedlings, harvested, and then cleared from the field like other vegetables. Since watermelon is grown as a vegetable crop using vegetable production systems, watermelon is considered a vegetable (Wolford, 2004).

How Watermelon is used as a Fruit or a Vegetable

Watermelon is popularly used as a fruit, to be a sweet enhancer or fun accompaniment to our everyday meals. The watermelon is often cut into bite-sized squares or balled, or very often simply sliced and enjoyed. It’s also used in the types of recipes that are created using fruit.

However, the whole watermelon is edible, even the rind. In places like China, the watermelon is stir-fried, stewed and often pickled. In this case, the watermelon is being used as a vegetable. Pickled watermelon rind is also widespread in Russia. (Wikipedia 2006)

Scientifically Speaking

The scientific name of watermelon is Citrullus lanatus. It is a member of the cucurbitaceae family. Life; Embryophyta (plants); Angiospermae (flowering plants); Order: Cucurbitales (pumpkin and melon family); Family: Cucurbitaceae.

There are about 120 genera and 735 species of Cucurbitaceae worldwide, with 18 genera and 76 species native to southern Africa. Some well known vegetables fall in this family such as watermelon, hubbard squash, butternut, pumpkin, sweet melons and cucumber.

All a Matter of Perspective

Depending on how you want to classify it, a watermelon can be considered a fruit or a vegetable. No matter which way you slice it, watermelon is fun to eat and very good for you!

quarta-feira, 29 de maio de 2013

CÉREBRO HUMANO TOMA DECISÕES MAIS SIMPLES EM TEMPERATURAS MAIS ALTAS- TRADUTOR DE INGLÊS

Olá amigos

Parece que em temperaturas mais altas fica mais difícil e complexo tomar decisões que exigem mais do nosso cérebro. Pesquisadores descobriram que em temperaturas elevadas as pessoas tendem a escolher as opções mais simples que aquelas que têm mais complexidade. Isto ocorre porque o cérebro usa mais glicose para regular a temperatura corporal, em especial para resfriar o organismo. Assim o cérebro fica sem uma dose extra de glicose para realizar as tarefas mentais. As pessoas que não estão habituadas a temperatura local do ambiente tendem a sofrer mais já as pessoas nativas não sofrem esta discrepância. Para você que gosta de inglês, confira o texto em inglês para praticar um pouco mais:

Is It Harder to Think in Warm Temperatures?

Warm temperatures have been found to make it more difficult to think and make complex decisions. Researchers found that people in warmer temperatures tend to choose the simplest available options rather than weighing different options. This is thought to occur because the brain uses additional glucose to regulate the body’s temperature, especially to cool the body. This might leave less glucose for the brain to use as energy for performing mental tasks. Temperature tends to affect decision making mainly when a person is experiencing a temperature to which he or she is not adapted, such as when on vacation in a different climate. Those who regularly live in warm climates do not have their thinking affected.

More about what affects decisions:

•Making more decisions throughout the day can lead to decision fatigue, making it more difficult to think clearly later in the day.

•A study in the Netherlands found that people who have full bladders are able to make better decisions, which has been attributed to the brain signaling the need for self-control.

•Research has shown that people who are angry can more easily differentiate between strong and weak arguments and thus make better decisions.

terça-feira, 28 de maio de 2013

Formiga cortadeira do arizona, considerada a mais peçonhenta - tradutor de inglês

Olá, amigos

Depois de um tempo afastado do blogger estou de volta. Resolvi voltar, pois recebi vários pedidos para retornar ao blog, e depois havia um grande numero de acesso e de seguidores que me animou a continuar com esta empreitada e cá estou novamente com o inglês que tanto amo e com certeza vocês também amam muito. Hoje apresento a vocês, como curiosidade, uma formiga muito peçonhenta que vive no Arizona (EUA) depois de uma breve explicação em português vocês acompanham em inglês para quem gosta de praticar este idioma tão importante, espero que vocês gostem. Beijão!

Formiga Cortadeira (Pogonomyrmex maricopa) As formigas cortadeiras de Maricopa, Maricopa Pogonomyrmex, é uma das espécies mais comuns de formigas cortadeiras encontradas no Arizona, e é considerada o inseto mais peçonhento no mundo atualmente.

Comportamento:

Ela ataca geralmente num processo duplo, consiste em mordida com as mandíbulas e ferroada aplicando o veneno, e costuma fazer isso repetidas vezes. Apesar disso, essas formigas cortadeiras desempenham um papel importante na decomposição, arrastando cadáveres de insetos para o subterrâneo e enriquecendo o solo para as plantas e as colheitas. Mas sua dieta é mais especifica. Isso pode variar numa Planta chamada Mesquite e em vegetações próximas (Vagens/sementes).

Which Is the Most Poisonous Insect?

The most poisonous insect is considered to be the Maricopa harvester ant, which is native to Arizona. A fully grown Maricopa harvester ant is about 1.2 inches (3 cm) long, and its venom is more toxic than those of bees, wasps, scorpions or snakes. In fact, a person would have to be stung by a honeybee more than 12 times to equal one sting from a Maricopa harvester ant. These ants cling to their prey and inject a venom containing toxins that can destroy tissue. About 350 stings from these ants could be enough to kill a person who weighs 150 pounds (68 kg).

More about poisonous insects:

•The first recorded death caused by a poisonous insect was in the 26th century B.C. King Menes of Egypt was thought to have died as a result of a wasp or hornet sting.

•The Maricopa harvester ant releases a pheromone upon the first sting of its victim, and it alerts other ants to come and attack the victim as well.

•About 96% of deaths related to insect stings are thought to be the result of allergic reactions to the stings, rather than because of the toxicity of the venom.