Sensorless synchronization method for thin-film direct optical broadband monitoring system

Optical monitoring systems are necessary to manufacture multilayer thin-film optical filters with low tolerance on spectrum specification. Furthermore, to have better accuracy on the measurement of film thickness, direct monitoring is a must. Direct monitoring implies acquiring spectrum data from the optical component undergoing the film deposition itself, in real time. In making film depositions on surfaces of optical components, the high vacuum evaporator chamber is the most popular equipment. Inside the evaporator, at the top of the chamber, there is a metallic support with several holes where the optical components are assembled. This metallic support has rotary motion to promote film homogenization. To acquire a measurement of the spectrum of the film in deposition, it is necessary to pass a light beam through a glass witness undergoing the film deposition process, and collect a sample of the light beam using a spectrometer. As both the light beam and the light collector are stationary, a synchronization system is required to identify the moment at which the optical component passes through the light beam.

Connection Admission Control for a WDM Optical Network Based on Traffic Monitoring and Bandwidth Release

We proposed a connection admission control (CAC) to monitor the traffic in a multi-rate WDM optical network. The CAC searches for the shortest path connecting source and destination nodes, assigns wavelengths with enough bandwidth to serve the requests, supervises the traffic in the most required nodes, and if needed activates a reserved wavelength to release bandwidth according to traffic demand. We used a scale-free network topology, which includes highly connected nodes ( hubs), to enhance the monitoring procedure. Numerical results obtained from computational simulations show improved network performance evaluated in terms of blocking probability.

Monitoring Services for Industrial Applications

Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in Brazil

In-Line Monitoring of Particle Size during Emulsion Polymerization under Different Operational Conditions using NIR Spectroscopy

In the present work, the sensitivity of NIR spectroscopy toward the evolution of particle size was studied during emulsion homopolymerization of styrene (Sty) and emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate-butyl acrylate conducted in a semibatch stirred tank and a tubular pulsed sieve plate reactor, respectively. All NIR spectra were collected online with a transflectance probe immersed into the reaction medium. The spectral range used for the NIR monitoring was from 9 500 to 13 000 cm(-1), where the absorbance of the chemical components present is minimal and the changes in the NIR spectrum can be ascribed to the effects of light scattering by the polymer particles. Off-line measurements of the average diameter of the polymer particles by DLS were used as reference values for the development of the multi-variate NIR calibration models based on partial least squares. Results indicated that, in the spectral range studied, it is possible to monitor the evolution of the average size of the polymer particles during emulsion polymerization reactions. The inclusion of an additional spectral range, from 5 701 to 6 447 cm(-1), containing information on absorbances (""chemical information"") in the calibration models was also evaluated.

Biogeochemical cycles of nutrients in tropical Eucalyptus plantations Main features shown by intensive monitoring in Congo and Brazil

The sustainability of fast-growing tropical Eucalyptus plantations is of concern in a context of rising fertilizer costs, since large amounts of nutrients are removed with biomass every 6-7 years from highly weathered soils. A better understanding of the dynamics of tree requirements is required to match fertilization regimes to the availability of each nutrient in the soil. The nutrition of Eucalyptus plantations has been intensively investigated and many studies have focused on specific fluxes in the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients. However, studies dealing with complete cycles are scarce for the Tropics. The objective of this paper was to compare these cycles for Eucalyptus plantations in Congo and Brazil, with contrasting climates, soil properties, and management practices. The main features were similar in the two situations. Most nutrient fluxes were driven by crown establishment the two first years after planting and total biomass production thereafter. These forests were characterized by huge nutrient requirements: 155, 10, 52, 55 and 23 kg ha(-1) of N, P, K, Ca and Mg the first year after planting at the Brazilian study site, respectively. High growth rates the first months after planting were essential to take advantage of the large amounts of nutrients released into the soil solutions by organic matter mineralization after harvesting. This study highlighted the predominant role of biological and biochemical cycles over the geochemical cycle of nutrients in tropical Eucalyptus plantations and indicated the prime importance of carefully managing organic matter in these soils. Limited nutrient losses through deep drainage after clear-cutting in the sandy soils of the two study sites showed the remarkable efficiency of Eucalyptus trees in keeping limited nutrient pools within the ecosystem, even after major disturbances. Nutrient input-output budgets suggested that Eucalyptus plantations take advantage of soil fertility inherited from previous land uses and that long-term sustainability will require an increase in the inputs of certain nutrients. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tree-ring characterization of Araucaria columnaris Hook and its applicability as a lead indicator in environmental monitoring

Tree-rings have frequently been used for dating of trees and to determine annual growth increments and forest dynamics, but little is known in tropical conditions about their utilization for environmental monitoring. This paper presents the results of Araucaria columnaris tree-ring characterization by wood anatomy and X-ray densitometric analysis and the determination of Pb concentration. Core samples from twelve araucaria trees were extracted from two sites exposed to air pollution due to intense traffic of vehicles and industrial activities. The tree-rings distinctly presented radial variation in early-latewood thickness and density, and characteristics of juvenile and mature wood. Anatomical and X-ray densitometric analysis were useful to delimit the tree-ring boundaries and to date the tree-rings, as well as to prove the annual formation. The lead concentration in annual araucaria tree-rings, analyzed with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, indicated the seasonal presence of the heavy metal in the environment during the 30 years studied, although the Pb did not affect tree growth. (c) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

MODIS NDVI time-series allow the monitoring of Eucalyptus plantation biomass

The use of remote sensing is necessary for monitoring forest carbon stocks at large scales. Optical remote sensing, although not the most suitable technique for the direct estimation of stand biomass, offers the advantage of providing large temporal and spatial datasets. In particular, information on canopy structure is encompassed in stand reflectance time series. This study focused on the example of Eucalyptus forest plantations, which have recently attracted much attention as a result of their high expansion rate in many tropical countries. Stand scale time-series of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were obtained from MODIS satellite data after a procedure involving un-mixing and interpolation, on about 15,000 ha of plantations in southern Brazil. The comparison of the planting date of the current rotation (and therefore the age of the stands) estimated from these time series with real values provided by the company showed that the root mean square error was 35.5 days. Age alone explained more than 82% of stand wood volume variability and 87% of stand dominant height variability. Age variables were combined with other variables derived from the NDVI time series and simple bioclimatic data by means of linear (Stepwise) or nonlinear (Random Forest) regressions. The nonlinear regressions gave r-square values of 0.90 for volume and 0.92 for dominant height, and an accuracy of about 25 m(3)/ha for volume (15% of the volume average value) and about 1.6 m for dominant height (8% of the height average value). The improvement including NDVI and bioclimatic data comes from the fact that the cumulative NDVI since planting date integrates the interannual variability of leaf area index (LAI), light interception by the foliage and growth due for example to variations of seasonal water stress. The accuracy of biomass and height predictions was strongly improved by using the NDVI integrated over the two first years after planting, which are critical for stand establishment. These results open perspectives for cost-effective monitoring of biomass at large scales in intensively-managed plantation forests. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The introduction of the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay in a groundwater monitoring program

The objective of this study was to verify the possible inclusion of the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay in a groundwater monitoring program as a complementary assay to assess water quality. Groundwater samples belonging to seven wells from different types of aquifers were analyzed. Three different methods for sample preparation were used: membrane filtration; liquid-liquid and XAD-4 extraction. The filtered samples were tested using TA98, TA100, YG1041 and YG1042 and the water extracts only with TA98 and TA100. No mutagenic activity was observed in any of the 16 filtered samples tested. Out of the 10 samples analyzed using XAD-4 extraction, five showed mutagenic activity with potency ranging from 130 to 1500 revertants/L. Concerning the liquid-liquid extraction, from the 11 samples analyzed, 3 showed mutagenicity. The XAD-4 extraction was the most suitable sample preparation. TA98 without S9 was found to be the most sensitive testing condition. The wells presenting water samples with mutagenic activity belonged to unconfined aquifers, which are more vulnerable to contamination. The data suggest that Salmonella/microsome assay can be used as an efficient screening tool to monitor groundwater for mutagenic activity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Micromethod for Quantification of Carbamazepine, Phenobartital and Phenytoin in Human Plasma by HPLC-UV Detection for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Application

A simple, rapid, selective and sensitive analytical method by HPLC with UV detection was developed for the quantification of carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin in only 0.2 mL of plasma. A C18 column (150 x 3.9 mm, 4 micra) using a binary mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile (70:30, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min were proposed. Validation of the analytical method showed a good linearity (0.3 to 20.0 mg/L for CBZ, 0.9 to 60.0 mg/L for PB and 0.6 to 40.0 mg/L for PHT), high sensitivity (LOQ: 0.3, 0.9 and 0.6 mg/L respectively). The method was applied for drug monitoring of antiepileptic drugs (AED) in 27 patients with epilepsy under polytherapy.

Monitoring the authenticity of Brazilian UHT milk: A chemometric approach

In this work, chemometric methods are reported as potential tools for monitoring the authenticity of Brazilian ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk processed in industrial plants located in different regions of the country. A total of 100 samples were submitted to the qualitative analysis of adulterants such as starch, chlorine, formal. hydrogen peroxide and urine. Except for starch, all the samples reported, at least, the presence of one adulterant. The use of chemometric methodologies such as the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) enabled the verification of the occurrence of certain adulterations in specific regions. The proposed multivariate approaches may allow the sanitary agency authorities to optimise materials, human and financial resources, as they associate the occurrence of adulterations to the geographical location of the industrial plants. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Real-time monitoring and kinetic parameter estimation of the affinity interaction of jArtinM and rArtinM with peroxidase glycoprotein by the electrogravimetric technique

ArtinM is a D-mannose binding lectin that has been arousing increasing interest because of its biomedical properties, especially those involving the stimulation of Th1 immune response, which confers protection against intracellular pathogens The potential pharmaceutical applications of ArtinM have motivated the production of its recombinant form (rArtinM) so that it is important to compare the sugar-binding properties of jArtinM and rArtinM in order to take better advantage of the potential applications of the recombinant lectin. In this work, a biosensor framework based on a Quartz Crystal Microbalance was established with the purpose of making a comparative study of the activity of native and recombinant ArtinM protein The QCM transducer was strategically functionalized to use a simple model of protein binding kinetics. This approach allowed for the determination of the binding/dissociation kinetics rate and affinity equilibrium constant of both forms of ArtinM with horseradish peroxidase glycoprotein (HRP), a N-glycosylated protein that contains the trimannoside Man alpha 1-3[Man alpha 1-6]Man, which is a known ligand for jArtinM (Jeyaprakash et al, 2004). Monitoring of the real-time binding of rArtinM shows that it was able to bind HRP, leading to an analytical curve similar to that of jArtinM, with statistically equivalent kinetic rates and affinity equilibrium constants for both forms of ArtinM The lower reactivity of rArtinM with HRP than jArtinM was considered to be due to a difference in the number of Carbohydrate Recognition Domains (CRDs) per molecule of each lectin form rather than to a difference in the energy of binding per CRD of each lectin form. (C) 2010 Elsevier B V. All rights reserved

Choice of macroinvertebrate metrics to evaluate stream conditions in Atlantic Forest, Brazil

The development of biomonitoring programs based on the macroinvertebrate community requires the understanding of species distribution patterns, as well as of the responses of the community to anthropogenic stressors. In this study, 49 metrics were tested as potential means of assessing the condition of 29 first- and second-order streams located in areas of differing types of land use in So Paulo State, Brazil. Of the sampled streams, 15 were in well-preserved regions in the Atlantic Forest, 5 were among sugarcane cultivations, 5 were in areas of pasture, and 4 were among eucalyptus plantations. The metrics were assessed against the following criteria: (1) predictable response to the impact of human activity; (2) highest taxonomic resolution, and (3) operational and theoretical simplicity. We found that 18 metrics were correlated with the environmental and spatial predictors used, and seven of these satisfied the selection criteria and are thus candidates for inclusion in a multimetric system to assess low-order streams in So Paulo State. These metrics are family richness; Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) richness; proportion of Megaloptera and Hirudinea; proportion of EPT; Shannon diversity index for genus; and adapted Biological Monitoring Work Party biotic index.

Home blood pressure monitoring in blood pressure control among haemodialysis patients: an open randomized clinical trial

Background. It is not known if the adjustment of antihypertensive therapy based on home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) can improve blood pressure (BP) control among haemodialysis patients. Methods. This is an open randomized clinical trial. Hypertensive patients on haemodialysis were randomized to have the antihypertensive therapy adjusted based on predialysis BP measurements or HBPM. Before and after 6 months of follow-up, patients were submitted to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for 24 h, HBPM during 1 week and echocardiogram. Results. A total of 34 and 31 patients completed the study in the HBPM and predialysis BP groups, respectively. At the end of study, the systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure during the interdialytic period measured by ABPM were significantly lower in the HBPM group in relation to the predialysis BP group (mean 24-h BP: 135 +/- 12 mmHg/76 +/- 7 mmHg versus 147 +/- 15 mmHg/79 +/- 8 mmHg; P < 0.05). In the HBPM analysis, the HBPM group showed a significant reduction only in SBP compared to the predialysis BP group (weekly mean: 144 +/- 21 mmHg versus 154 +/- 22 mmHg; P < 0.05). There were no differences between the HBPM and predialysis BP groups in relation to the left ventricular mass index at the end of the study (108 +/- 35 g/m(2) versus 110 +/- 33 g/m(2); P > 0.05). Conclusions. Decision making based on HBPM among haemodialysis patients has led to a better BP control during the interdialytic period in comparison with predialysis BP measurements. HBPM may be a useful adjuvant instrument for blood pressure control among haemodialysis patients.

INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE MONITORING IN CHILDREN WITH FULMINANT HEPATIC FAILURE

Introduction. We describe a series of 10 children with intracranial hypertension complicating fulminant hepatic failure submitted to intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring for intensive care an transplantation management. Patients and methods. Information from pediatrics patients acute liver failure admitted to our hospital was collected in a standard protocol form. We analyzed data from 10 patients, medium age 5.2 years old. In this period we studied aspects as ICP transducer used, number of days with ICP monitoring and complications of ICP monitoring. Results. Hepatitis A was diagnosed in five patients and hepatitis B in two cases. The initial ICP were 2 to 24 mmHg in transducer Seven patients died, four due to intracranial hypertension, included the patient operated for subdural hematoma, and three with transplantation failure. Only, a case of hematoma was verified. Conclusions. The application of ICP monitoring allows intensive care for aggressive ICP management. It can be used in children without adaptations. [REV NEUROL 2009: 48: 134-6]

Long-Term Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study Using Repetitive Education at Six-Month Intervals and Monitoring for Adherence in Heart Failure Outpatients The REMADHE Trial

Background-The effectiveness of heart failure disease management proarams in patients under cardiologists` care over long-term follow-up is not established. Methods and Results-We investigated the effects of a disease management program with repetitive education and telephone monitoring on primary (combined death or unplanned first hospitalization and quality-of-life changes) and secondary end points (hospitalization, death, and adherence). The REMADHE [Repetitive Education and Monitoring for ADherence for Heart Failure] trial is a long-term randomized, prospective, parallel trial designed to compare intervention with control. One hundred seventeen patients were randomized to usual care, and 233 to additional intervention. The mean follow-up was 2.47 +/- 1.75 years, with 54% adherence to the program. In the intervention group, the primary end point composite of death or unplanned hospitalization was reduced (hazard ratio, 0.64; confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.88; P=0.008), driven by reduction in hospitalization. The quality-of-life questionnaire score improved only in the intervention group (P<0.003). Mortality was similar in both groups. Number of hospitalizations (1.3 +/- 1.7 versus 0.8 +/- 1.3, P<0.0001), total hospital days during the follow-up (19.9 +/- 51 versus 11.1 +/- 24 days, P<0.0001), and the need for emergency visits (4.5 +/- 10.6 versus 1.6 +/- 2.4, P<0.0001) were lower in the intervention group. Beneficial effects were homogeneous for sex, race, diabetes and no diabetes, age, functional class, and etiology. Conclusions-For a longer follow-up period than in previous studies, this heart failure disease management program model of patients under the supervision of a cardiologist is associated with a reduction in unplanned hospitalization, a reduction of total hospital days, and a reduced need for emergency care, as well as improved quality of life, despite modest program adherence over time. (Circ Heart Fail. 2008;1:115-124.)