Non-linear analysis of piezolaminated structures

In the recent years the study of smart structures has attracted significant researchers, due to their potential benefits in a wide range of applications, such as shape control, vibration suppression, noise attenuation and damage detection. The applications in aerospace industry are of great relevance, such as in active control of airplane wings, helicopter blade rotor, space antenna. The use of smart materials, such as piezoelectric materials, in the form of layers or patches embedded and/or surface bonded on laminated composite structures, can provide structures that combine the superior mechanical properties of composite materials and the capability to sense and adapt their static and dynamic response, becoming adaptive structures. The piezoelectric materials have the property of generate electrical charge under mechanical load or deformation, and the reverse, applying an electrical field to the material results in mechanical strain or stresses.

First report of Citrus tristeza virus in the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Citrus production in the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro has a strategic importance to the agricultural sector. Approximately 400,000 trees are now grown in the major citrus producing region, which is the Montenegrin Coastal Region. Satsuma mandarins and lemons grafted on Poncirus trifoliata are the most cultivated varieties. In December 2003, eight samples taken from the coastal region close to the towns of Bar and Ulcinj were analyzed using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with SP7 antibodies produced at Universidade do Algarve, Portugal (3). Further analysis was done using immunocapture-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) targeting the entire coat protein (CP) gene (forward primer CTV1: 5(prime)- ATGGACGACGAAACAAAGAA-3(prime) and reverse primer CTV10: 5 (prime)-ATCAACGTGTGTTGAATTTCC-3(prime)). Using both techniques, seven of eight samples analyzed were found to be infected by Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), including samples from five trees that exhibited chlorosis, gummosis, and fruit deformation, and two trees that were symptomless.