Morfologia macro e microscópica das papilas linguais do quati (Nasua nasua)

O quati (Nasua nasua) é um animal que pertence à Família Procyonidae. Foram utilizados três animais ortotanasiados, de ambos os sexos, provenientes do Criatório Científico de Animais Silvestres, Centro Universitário Fundação de Ensino Octávio Bastos (Cecrimpas, Unifeob) autorizado pelo IBAMA (Proc.02027.003731/04-76). Para a análise macroscópica, as línguas foram retiradas, analisadas e foto-documentadas. Para análise microscópica, as línguas foram processadas rotineiramente pela técnica de microscopia eletrônica de varredura e inclusão em Paraplast; pela técnica de microscopia de luz os fragmentos foram cortados em micrótomo, com espessura média de 5mm e corados em HE e Picrosírius com fundo de hematoxilina. Os resultados macroscópicos e microscópicos mostram que a língua do quati apresenta papilas filiformes, fungiformes, valadas e cônicas sendo estas distribuídas nas regiões rostralis, medialis e caudalis. Histologicamente, a língua do quati é revestida por um epitélio pavimentoso estratificado queratinizado apresentando camada basal, espinhosa, granulosa e córnea com fibras de músculos estriados esqueléticos longitudinais e transversais e diversas glândulas. De acordo com os resultados pode-se concluir que a língua do quati possui características macroscópicas e microscópicas semelhantes aos canídeos, tendo como diferença o número de papilas valadas e o grau de queratinização.

Parametric Analysis of Effective Material Properties of Thickness-Shear Piezoelectric Macro-Fibre Composites

A previous study on the characterization of effective material properties of a d(15) thickness-shear piezoelectric Macro-Fibre Composite (MFC) made of seven layers (Kapton, Acrylic, Electrode, Piezoceramic Fibre and Epoxy Composite, Electrode, Acrylic, Kapton) using a finite element homogenization method has shown that the packaging reduces significantly the shear stiffness of the piezoceramic material and, thus, leads to significantly smaller effective electromechanical coupling coefficient k(15) and piezoelectric stress constant e(15) when compared to the piezoceramic fibre properties. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to perform a parametric analysis in which the effect of the variations of fibre volume fraction, Epoxy elastic modulus, electrode thickness and active layer thickness on the MFC effective material properties is evaluated. Results indicate that an effective d(15) MFC should use relatively thick fibres having relatively high shear modulus and relatively stiff epoxy filler. On the other hand, the electrode thickness does not affect significantly the MFC performance.

Usable work of macro-scale cavities in liquids

It is shown that the generation of cavities in a liquid can produce usable work, which is illustrated by the stretching of a string. This work is done during the expansion of the cavity, and not with its collapse. Basic equations are presented for the movement of a device moved by the so called cavity events. A theoretical solution is also proposed, which uses polynomial functions relating the so called "excess of pressure" in the cavity and time. Evaluations of the force generated during the expansion of the cavity showed a mean peak value of about 58 N for the moving container, while measurements with the container fixed to a support showed a peak value of 476 N, considered somewhat overestimated, because high frequency oscillations seem to superpose the mean behavior. Simultaneous phenomena occurring during the cavity events are also described. Series of pictures of the experiments are presented.

Parametric analysis of effective material properties of thickness-shear piezoelectric macro-fibre composites

A previous study on the characterization of effective material properties of a d15 thickness-shear piezoelectric Macro-Fibre Composite (MFC) made of seven layers (Kapton, Acrylic, Electrode, Piezoceramic Fibre and Epoxy Composite, Electrode, Acrylic, Kapton) using a finite element homogenization method has shown that the packaging reduces significantly the shear stiffness of the piezoceramic material and, thus, leads to significantly smaller effective electromechanical coupling coefficient k15 and piezoelectric stress constant e15 when compared to the piezoceramic fibre properties. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to perform a parametric analysis in which the effect of the variations of fibre volume fraction, Epoxy elastic modulus, electrode thickness and active layer thickness on the MFC effective material properties is evaluated. Results indicate that an effective d15 MFC should use relatively thick fibres having relatively high shear modulus and relatively stiff epoxy filler. On the other hand, the electrode thickness does not affect significantly the MFC performance.