On numerical simulations of a nonlinear self-excited system with two non-ideal sources

In this work, the dynamic behavior of self-synchronization and synchronization through mechanical interactions between the nonlinear self-excited oscillating system and two non-ideal sources are examined by numerical simulations. The physical model of the system vibrating consists of a non-linear spring of Duffing type and a nonlinear damping described by Rayleigh's term. This system is additional forced by two unbalanced identical direct current motors with limited power (non-ideal excitations). The present work mathematically implements the parametric excitation described by two periodically changing stiffness of Mathieu type that are switched on/off. Copyright © 2005 by ASME.

Photon-induced multiple particle emissions of Zr90 and natZr from 10 to 140 MeV

A comprehensive analysis of electrodisintegration yields of protons on Zr90 is proposed taking into account the giant dipole resonance, isovector giant quadrupole resonance (IVGQR), and quasideuteron contributions to the total photoabsorption cross section from 10 to 140 MeV. The calculation applies the MCMC intranuclear cascade to address the direct and pre-equilibrium emissions and another Monte Carlo-based algorithm to describe the evaporation step. The final results of the total photoabsorption cross section for Zr90 and relevant decay channels are obtained by fitting the (e,p) measurements from the National Bureau of Standards and show that multiple proton emissions dominate the photonuclear reactions at higher energies. These results provide a consistent explanation for the exotic and steady increase of the (e,p) yield and also a strong evidence of a IVGQR with a strength parameter compatible with the E2 energy-weighted sum rule. The inclusive photoneutron cross sections for Zr90 and natZr, derived from these results and normalized with the (e,p) data, are in agreement within 10% with both Livermore and Saclay data up to 140 MeV. © 2007 The American Physical Society.

Antimony glasses with large nonlinear refractive indices, small two-photon absorption coefficients and ultrafast response at telecom wavelengths

Nonlinear (NL) optical properties of antimony oxide based glasses (AG) were characterized for excitation wavelengths from 800 to 1600 m. The NL refractive indices, n2, and the two-photon absorption (TPA) coefficient, β, have been evaluated using the Z-scan technique. Values of n2≈ 10-15 - 10-14 cm2/W of electronic origin were measured and negligible TPA coefficients (β < 0.003 cm/GW) were determined. The response time of the nonlinearity is faster than 100 fs as determined using the Kerr shutter technique. The figure-of-merit usually considered for all-optical switching, T = 2βλ/n2 , indicates that AG are very good materials for ultrafast switches at telecom wavelengths. © 2007 IEEE.

Developing new radiotherapy techniques using linac based gamma radiation sources

A major challenge in cancer radiotherapy is to deliver a lethal dose of radiation to the target volume while minimizing damage to the surrounding normal tissue. We have proposed a model on how treatment efficacy might be improved by interfering with biological responses to DNA damage using exogenous electric fields as a strategy to drastically reduce radiation doses in cancer therapy. This approach is demonstrated at this Laboratory through case studies with prokaryotes (bacteria) and eukaryotes (yeast) cells, in which cellkilling rates induced by both gamma radiation and exogenous electric fields were measured. It was found that when cells exposed to gamma radiation are immediately submitted to a weak electric field, cell death increases more than an order of magnitude compared to the effect of radiation alone. This finding suggests, although does not prove, that DNA damage sites are reached and recognized by means of long-range electric DNA-protein interaction, and that exogenous electric fields could destructively interfere with this process. As a consequence, DNA repair is avoided leading to massive cell death. Here we are proposing the use this new technique for the design and construction of novel radiotherapy facilities associated with linac generated gamma beams under controlled conditions of dose and beam intensity.

Search for long-lived particles decaying into electron or photon pairs with the D0 detector

In this Letter we report on a search for long-lived particles that decay into final states with two electrons or photons. Such long-lived particles arise in a variety of theoretical models, such as hidden valleys and supersymmetry with gauge-mediated breaking. By precisely reconstructing the direction of the electromagnetic shower we are able to probe much longer lifetimes than previously explored. We see no evidence of the existence of such long-lived particles and interpret this search as a quasi model-independent limit on their production cross section, as well as a limit on a long-lived fourth generation quark. © 2008 The American Physical Society.

Response of the stingless bee manduri do mato grosso (Melipona favosa orbignyi, Hymenoptera, Apidae) to variable concentrations of sucrose in artificial feeding sources of different colors

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Temperature rise during adhesive and composite polymerization with different light-curing sources

AIM: This study evaluated the temperature rise of the adhesive system Single Bond (SB) and the composite resins Filtek Z350 flow (Z) and Filtek Supreme (S), when polymerized by light-emitting diode (LED XL 3000) and quartz-tungsten halogen (QTH Biolux). METHODS: Class V cavities (3 yen2 mm) were prepared in 80 bovine incisors under standardized conditions. The patients were divided as follows: G1: Control; G2: SB; G3: SB + Z; G4: SB + S. The groups were subdivided into two groups for polymerization (A: QTH, B: LED). Light curing was performed for 40 s and measurement of temperature changes during polymerization was performed with a thermocouple positioned inside the pulp chamber. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey tests. RESULTS: The factors material (P<0.00001) and curing unit (P<0.00001) had significant influence on temperature rise. The lowest temperature increase (0.15 degrees C) was recorded in G2 B and the highest was induced in G1 A (0.75 degrees C, P<0.05). In all groups, lower pulp chamber temperature measurements were obtained when using LED compared to QTH (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: QTH caused greater increases in tooth temperature than LED. However, both sources did not increase pulpal temperature above the critical value that may cause pulpal damage.

Single-phase current-source-boost inverter for renewable energy sources

This paper presents a new methodology for the operation and control of a single-phase current-source (CS) Boost Inverter, considering that the conventional CS boost inverter has a right-half-plane (RHP) zero in its control-to-output transfer function, and this RHP zero causes the known non-minimum-phase effects. In this context, a special design with low boost inductance and a multi-loop control is developed in order to assure stable and very fast dynamics. Furthermore, the proposed inverter presents output voltage with very low total harmonic distortion (THD), reduced components and high power density. Therefore, this paper presents the inverter operation, the proposed control technique, the main simulation results and a prototype in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposal. © 2011 IEEE.

Rumen microbial diversity under influence of a polyclonal antibody preparation against lactate-producing and proteolytic bacteria in cows fed different energy sources

Nine ruminally cannulated cows fed different energy sources were used to evaluate an avianderived polyclonal antibody preparation against specific ruminal bacteria and monensin on microbial community diversity. The experimental design was three Latin squares 3 x 3 distinguished by the main energy source in the diet [dry-ground corn grain, high moisture corn silage or citrus pulp]. Inside each Latin square, animals received one of the feed additives per period [control, monensin or polyclonal antibody preparation]. Each period lasted 21 days where 20 were used for treatments adaptation and the last one for sampling collection. Microbial diversity was evaluated by protozoa counts and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Polyclonal antibodies plus citrus pulp (CiPu) addition in the diet resulted in an increase of relative counting of Isotricha protozoa that indicates a possible effect on this ruminal ciliate population. In general lines, in the present experiment, it was not possible to assign that there was a pattern in the structures of amplification of Bacteria and Archaea communities of the ruminal content. Oral passive immunization is a technology that arises as an effective alternative for feed additive production. Further research is still necessary to better understand its mechanisms of action.

Occurrence of sensitivity during at-home and in-office tooth bleaching therapies with or without use of light sources

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tooth bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide (CP) or 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP), with or without quartz-tungsten-halogen light or hybrid source LED/infrared laser exposition on the occurrence duration, intensity and location of tooth sensitivity Forty patients were selected and randomly divided into four groups: GI--home bleaching with CP for 4 hours a day, over the course of 3 weeks; GII--three sessions of HP with three 10-minute applications at each session and no light source; GIII--the same procedure as GII with quartz-tungsten-halogen light irradiation; GIV--the same procedure as GII with LED/laser light irradiation. The evaluation included an appointment with each patient before and after each HP bleaching session or each weekly CP bleaching and 7, 30 and 180 days after the end of treatment. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that the duration and intensity of post-treatment sensitivity were significantly higher for HP than for CP (p< 0.05), and symptoms were located predominantly in anterior teeth. All bleaching methods generated sensitivity, which was more frequent in anterior teeth. However, treatment with CP generated lower sensitivity than treatment with HP independently of the light sources.

Fermentation characteristics of several carbohydrate sources for dog diets using the in vitro gas production technique

Fermentable carbohydrates are an important part of the canine diet. They can improve gastrointestinal health by modifying gut microbial population and metabolic activity. The present study compared the fermentation characteristics and kinetic patterns of 10 carbohydrate sources using the in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT) with dog faecal inoculum. The substrates tested were: pure cellulose (PC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), sugar-cane fibre (SCF), beet pulp (BP), wheat bran (WB), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, yeast cell wall (YCW), ground psyllium seed (PS), pea hulls (PH). All substrates were incubated at 39°C under anaerobic conditions with faeces collected from dogs as microbial inoculum. Gas production of fermenting cultures was recorded and after 48 h, pH, shortchain fatty acids (SCFA) and organic matter disappearance (OMD) were determined. The results confirm high fermentation by dog faecal bacteria of FOS and inulin that produced high amounts of propionate and that underwent very rapid fermentation. Three substrates (SCF, CMC and PC) were not able to support bacterial growth, with low gas and SCFA production, and high BCFA formation. The PH and BP showed moderate OMD and SCFA production. Wheat bran B underwent rapid fermentation and generated a high proportion of butyrate. Psyllium seeds underwent slow fermentation with delayed gas production, supporting a high formation of SCFA, with an adequate amount of butyrate for bacterial growth while YCW, which showed a delayed fermentation, gave moderate SCFA production. The fermentation characteristics of PS and YCW suggest their potential use in promoting a more distal fermentation on intestinal tract. © Copyright S. Calabrò et al., 2013 Licensee PAGEPress, Italy.

Supplementation of diets for Santa Ines sheep with organic and inorganic zinc sources

This research was conducted with objective to evaluate the effect of different zinc (Zn) sources and doses in the diet for Santa Ines sheep. Forty lambs at weaning, with 18.4 kg of body weight were supplemented with three different sources of zinc (zinc oxide (ZnO), zinc amino acid and zinc proteinate) and three doses of zinc (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg DM) added to the basal diet. At every 28 days, animals were weighted and blood samples were collected for analyses of zinc (Zn), alkaline phosphatase and immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM). At the end of experiment, liver samples were collected for determination of the hepatic zinc levels. Zinc was analyzed with atomic absorption spectrophotometer, while phosphatase alkaline and immunoglobulins G and M were analyzed using Laborlab and Bioclin kits, respectively. There was no effect of diets on phosphatase alkaline levels and hepatic zinc, but there was difference in the plasmatic zinc levels and IgG and IgM levels. Based on the accumulation of hepatic zinc, the estimate of the zinc bioavailability, through the regression equation, showed that supplementation with organic and inorganic sources of zinc did not differ in the diet of Santa Ines sheep. © 2012 Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia.

Lipid and selenium sources on fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat and muscle selenium concentration of Nellore steers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of carbon and nitrogen sources on lipase production by a newly isolated Candida viswanathii strain

Microorganisms can produce lipases with different biochemical characteristics making necessary the screening of new lipase-producing strains for different industrial applications. In this study, 90 microbial strains were screened as potential lipase producers using a sensitive agar plate method with a suitable medium supplemented with Tween 20 and also a liquid culture supplemented with olive oil. The highest cell growth and lipase production for Candida viswanathii were observed in triolein and oleic acid when used as the only pure carbon source. Renewable low-cost triacylglycerols supported the best cell growth, and olive oil was found to be the best inducer for lipase production (19.50 g/L and 58.50 U). The selected conditions for enzyme production were found with yeast extract as nitrogen source and 1.5 % (w/v) olive oil (85.70 U) that resulted in a good cell growth yield (YX/S = 1.234 g/g) and lipase productivity (1.204 U/h) after 72 h of shake-flask cultivation. C. viswanathii lipase presented high hydrolytic activity on esters bonds of triacylglycerols of long-chain, and this strain can be considered an important candidate for future applications in chemical industries. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg and the University of Milan.

Studies of jet quenching using isolated-photon+jet correlations in PbPb and pp collisions at sNN=2.76TeV

Results from the first study of isolated-photon+jet correlations in relativistic heavy ion collisions are reported. The analysis uses data from PbPb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 2.76TeV per nucleon pair corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 150μb-1 recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC. For events containing an isolated photon with transverse momentum pTγ>60GeV/c and an associated jet with pTJet>30GeV/c, the photon+jet pT imbalance is studied as a function of collision centrality and compared to pp data and pythia calculations at the same collision energy. Using the pTγ of the isolated photon as an estimate of the momentum of the associated parton at production, this measurement allows an unbiased characterisation of the in-medium parton energy loss. For more central PbPb collisions, a significant decrease in the ratio pTJet/pTγ relative to that in the pythia reference is observed. Furthermore, significantly more pTγ>60GeV/c photons in PbPb are observed not to have an associated pTJet>30GeV/c jet, compared to the reference. However, no significant broadening of the photon+jet azimuthal correlation is observed. © 2012 CERN.