GIS-based analytical tools for transport planning: spatial regression models for transportation demand forecast

Considering the importance of spatial issues in transport planning, the main objective of this study was to analyze the results obtained from different approaches of spatial regression models. In the case of spatial autocorrelation, spatial dependence patterns should be incorporated in the models, since that dependence may affect the predictive power of these models. The results obtained with the spatial regression models were also compared with the results of a multiple linear regression model that is typically used in trips generation estimations. The findings support the hypothesis that the inclusion of spatial effects in regression models is important, since the best results were obtained with alternative models (spatial regression models or the ones with spatial variables included). This was observed in a case study carried out in the city of Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in the stages of specification and calibration of the models, with two distinct datasets.

Equação de regressão linear múltipla para estimativa do erro experimental

Este trabalho teve por objetivo estimar equações de regressão linear múltipla tendo, como variáveis explicativas, as demais características avaliadas em experimento de milho e, como variáveis principais, a diferença mínima significativa em percentagem da média (DMS%) e quadrado médio do erro (QMe), para peso de grãos. Com 610 experimentos conduzidos na Rede de Ensaios Nacionais de Competição de Cultivares de Milho, realizados entre 1986 e 1996 (522 experimentos) e em 1997 (88 experimentos), estimaram-se duas equações de regressão, com os 522 experimentos, validando estas pela análise de regressão simples entre os valores reais e os estimados pelas equações, com os 88 restantes, observando que, para a DMS% a equação não estimava o mesmo valor que a fórmula original e, para o QMe, a equação poderia ser utilizada na estimação. Com o teste de Lilliefors, verificou-se que os valores do QMe aderiam à distribuição normal padrão e foi construída uma tabela de classificação dos valores do QMe, baseada nos valores observados na análise da variância dos experimentos e nos estimados pela equação de regressão.

Determination of Merremia cissoides leaf area using the linear measures of the leaflets

O conhecimento da área foliar de plantas daninhas pode auxiliar o estudo das relações de interferência entre elas e as culturas agrícolas. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar uma equação matemática que estime a área foliar de Merremia cissoides, a partir da relação entre as dimensões lineares dos limbos foliares. Folhas da espécie foram coletadas de diferentes locais na Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, medindo-se o comprimento (C), a largura máxima (L) e a área foliar de três tipos de folíolos. Foram estimadas equações lineares Y = a x (X) para cada tipo de folíolo. Houve sobreposição dos intervalos de confiança das equações dos folíolos primário e secundário, por isso considerou-se uma única equação da média desses folíolos, além da equação do folíolo principal, para caracterização da área foliar de M. cissoides. Assim, a área foliar dessa espécie pode ser estimada pelo somatório das áreas dos limbos foliares dos folíolos principal e primário + secundário, por meio da equação AFnest = 0,501 x (X) + 2,181 x (Z), em que X indica C x L do folíolo principal e Z indica C x L médios dos folíolos primário + secundário, respectivamente.

Generalized linear mixed models for the genetic evaluation of binary reproductive traits: a simulation study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of probit and logit link functions for the genetic evaluation of early pregnancy using simulated data. The following simulation/analysis structures were constructed: logit/logit, logit/probit, probit/logit, and probit/probit. The percentages of precocious females were 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% and were adjusted based on a change in the mean of the latent variable. The parametric heritability (h²) was 0.40. Simulation and genetic evaluation were implemented in the R software. Heritability estimates (ĥ²) were compared with h² using the mean squared error. Pearson correlations between predicted and true breeding values and the percentage of coincidence between true and predicted ranking, considering the 10% of bulls with the highest breeding values (TOP10) were calculated. The mean ĥ² values were under- and overestimated for all percentages of precocious females when logit/probit and probit/logit models used. In addition, the mean squared errors of these models were high when compared with those obtained with the probit/probit and logit/logit models. Considering ĥ², probit/probit and logit/logit were also superior to logit/probit and probit/logit, providing values close to the parametric heritability. Logit/probit and probit/logit presented low Pearson correlations, whereas the correlations obtained with probit/probit and logit/logit ranged from moderate to high. With respect to the TOP10 bulls, logit/probit and probit/logit presented much lower percentages than probit/probit and logit/logit. The genetic parameter estimates and predictions of breeding values of the animals obtained with the logit/logit and probit/probit models were similar. In contrast, the results obtained with probit/logit and logit/probit were not satisfactory. There is need to compare the estimation and prediction ability of logit and probit link functions.

Análise genética de escores de avaliação visual de bovinos com modelos bayesianos de limiar e linear

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar as estimativas de parâmetros genéticos obtidas em análises bayesianas uni-característica e bi-característica, em modelo animal linear e de limiar, considerando-se as características categóricas morfológicas de bovinos da raça Nelore. Os dados de musculosidade, estrutura física e conformação foram obtidos entre 2000 e 2005, em 3.864 animais de 13 fazendas participantes do Programa Nelore Brasil. Foram realizadas análises bayesianas uni e bi-características, em modelos de limiar e linear. de modo geral, os modelos de limiar e linear foram eficientes na estimação dos parâmetros genéticos para escores visuais em análises bayesianas uni-características. Nas análises bi-características, observou-se que: com utilização de dados contínuos e categóricos, o modelo de limiar proporcionou estimativas de correlação genética de maior magnitude do que aquelas do modelo linear; e com o uso de dados categóricos, as estimativas de herdabilidade foram semelhantes. A vantagem do modelo linear foi o menor tempo gasto no processamento das análises. Na avaliação genética de animais para escores visuais, o uso do modelo de limiar ou linear não influenciou a classificação dos animais, quanto aos valores genéticos preditos, o que indica que ambos os modelos podem ser utilizados em programas de melhoramento genético.

Modelo de programação linear para seleção de pulverizadores agrícolas de barras

A seleção de pulverizadores agrícolas que se adaptem às necessidades da propriedade, é um processo trabalhoso, sendo uma das etapas mais importantes dentro do processo produtivo. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o de desenvolver e utilizar um modelo de programação linear para auxiliar na seleção de pulverizadores agrícolas de barras, baseado no menor custo horário do equipamento. Foram utilizadas as informações técnicas referentes a 20 modelos de pulverizadores disponíveis no mercado, sendo quatro autopropelidos, oito de arrasto e oito do tipo montado. A análise de sensibilidade dos componentes dos custos operacionais mostrou que as taxas de reparo e depreciação foram os fatores que mais interferiram na variação do custo horário do conjunto trator-pulverizador. O modelo matemático desenvolvido facilitou a realização da análise de sensibilidade que foi processada em um tempo muito pequeno.

Electrochemical sensor for sulfite determination based on a nanostructured copper-salen film modified electrode

The electrochemical preparation described herein involved the electrocatalytic oxidation of sulfite on a platinum electrode modified with nanostructured copper salen (salen=N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato)) polymer films. The complex was prepared and electropolymerized at a platinum electrode in a 0.1 mol L-1 solution of tetrabutylammonium perchlorate in acetonitrile by cyclic voltammetry between 0 and 1.4V vs. SCE. After cycling the modified electrode in a 0.50 mol L-1 KCI solution, the estimated surface concentration was found to be equal to 2.2 x 10(-9) Mol cm(-2). This is a typical behavior of an electrode surface immobilized with a redox couple that can usually be considered as a reversible single-electron reduction/oxidation of the copper(II)/copper(III) couple. The potential peaks of the modified electrode in the electrolyte solution (aqueous) containing the different anions increase with the decrease of the ionic radius, demonstrating that the counter-ions influence the voltammetric behavior of the sensor. The potential peak was found to be linearly dependent upon the ratio [ionic charge]/[ionic radius]. The oxidation of the sulfite anion was performed at the platinum electrode at +0.9V vs. SCE. However, a significant decrease in the overpotential (+0.45V) was obtained while using the sensor, which minimized the effect of oxidizable interferences. A plot of the anodic current vs. the sulfite concentration for chronoamperometry (potential fixed = +0.45V) at the sensor was linear in the 4.0 x 10(-6) to 6.9 x 10(-5) mol L-1 concentration range and the concentration limit was 1.2 x 10(-6) mol L-1. The reaction order with respect to sulfite was determined by the slope of the logarithm of the current vs. the logarithm of the sulfite concentration. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spray layer-by-layer films based on phospholipid vesicles aiming sensing application via e-tongue system

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

Development of an electrochemical sensor for potassium ions based on KSr(2)Nb(5)O(15) modified electrode

In the work described by this paper, we studied the development of a selective potassium ion sensor constituted of a carbon paste electrode modified (CPEM) with a novel KSr(2)Nb(2)O(15). The material KSr(2)Nb(2)O(15) is an oxide with the tetragonal tungsten bronze structure (TTB) type are in forefront both in the area of research as well as in industrial applications. The sensor response to potassium ions was linear in the concentration range 1.26 x 10(-5) at 1.62 x 10(-3) mol L(-1) (E (mV) = 32.7 + 51.1 log [K(+)]). The sensor based KSr(2)Nb(2)O(15), of the TTB-type presented very good potentiometric response, with a slope of 51.1 mV/dec (at 25 degrees C) and detection limit for the potassium ions of 7.27 x 10(-5) mol.L(-1)

An electrochemical sensor for dipyrone determination based on nickel-salen film modified electrode

An amperometric dipyrone sensor based on a polymeric nickel-salen (salen = N,N'-ethylenebis(salicydeneiminato)) film coated platinum electrode was developed. The sensor was constructed by electropolymerization of nickel-salen complex at a platinum electrode in acetonitrile/tetrabuthylamonium perchlorate by cyclic voltammetry. After cycling the modified electrode in a 0.50 mol L-1 KCl solution, the estimated surface concentration was found to be equal to 1.29 x 10(-9) mol cm(-2). This is a typical behavior of an electrode surface immobilized with a redox couple that can usually be considered as a reversible single-electron reduction/oxidation of the nickel(II)/nickel(III) couple. A plot of the anodic current versus the dipyrone concentration for chronoamperometry (potential fixed = +0.50 V) at the sensor was linear in the 4.7 x 10(-6) to 1.1 x 10(-4) mol L-1 concentration range and the concentration limit was 1.2 x 10(-6) mol L-1. The proposed electrode is useful for the quality control and routine analysis of dipyrone in pharmaceutical formulations.

Development of Nanostructured Electrochemical Sensor Based on Polymer Film Nickel-Salen for Determination of Dissolved Oxygen

An amperometric oxygen sensor based on a polymeric nickel-salen (salen = N,N '-ethylenebis(salicydeneiminato)) film coated platinum electrode was developed. The sensor was constructed by electropolymerization of nickel-salen complex at a platinum electrode in acetonitrile/tetrabuthylamonium perchlorate by cyclic voltammetry. The voltammetric behavior of the modified electrode was investigated in 0.5 mol L-1 KCl solution in the absence and presende of molecular oxygen. A significant increased of cathodic peak current (at -0.20 vs. SCE) of the modified electrode with addition of oxygen to the solution was observed. This result shows that the nickel-salen film on the surface of the electrode promotes the reduction of oxygen. The reaction can be brought about electrochemically where in the nickel(II) complex is first reduced to a nickel(I) complex at the electrode surface. The nickel(I) complex then undergoes a catalytic oxidation by the oxygen molecular in solution back to the nickel(II) complex, which can then be electrochemically re-reduced to produce an enhancement of the cathodic current. The plot of the cathodic current versus the dissolved oxygen concentration for chronoamperometry (potential fixed = -0.20 V) at the sensor was linear in the concentration range of 3.95 to 9.20 mg L-1 with concentration limit of 0.17 mg L-1 O-2. The modified electrode proposed is useful for the quality control and routine analysis of dissolved oxygen in commercial water and environmental water samples. The results obtained for the levels of dissolved oxygen are in agreement with the results obtained with an O-2 commercial sensor. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Estimation of Maximal Work Rate Based on the 6-Minute Walk Test and Fat-Free Mass in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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

Human face verification based on multidimensional Polynomial Powers of Sigmoid (PPS)

In this paper, we described how a multidimensional wavelet neural networks based on Polynomial Powers of Sigmoid (PPS) can be constructed, trained and applied in image processing tasks. In this sense, a novel and uniform framework for face verification is presented. The framework is based on a family of PPS wavelets,generated from linear combination of the sigmoid functions, and can be considered appearance based in that features are extracted from the face image. The feature vectors are then subjected to subspace projection of PPS-wavelet. The design of PPS-wavelet neural networks is also discussed, which is seldom reported in the literature. The Stirling Universitys face database were used to generate the results. Our method has achieved 92 % of correct detection and 5 % of false detection rate on the database.

A mixture theory based method for three-dimensional modeling of reinforce concrete members with embedded crack finite elements

The paper presents a methodology to model three-dimensional reinforced concrete members by means of embedded discontinuity elements based on the Continuum Strong Discontinuous Approach (CSDA). Mixture theory concepts are used to model reinforced concrete as a 31) composite material constituted of concrete with long fibers (rebars) bundles oriented in different directions embedded in it. The effects of the rebars are modeled by phenomenological constitutive models devised to reproduce the axial non-linear behavior, as well as the bond-slip and dowel action. The paper presents the constitutive models assumed for the components and the compatibility conditions chosen to constitute the composite. Numerical analyses of existing experimental reinforced concrete members are presented, illustrating the applicability of the proposed methodology.

Comparative degradation of ZnO- and SnO(2)-based polycrystalline non-ohmic devices by current pulse stress

The degradation behaviour of SnO(2)-based varistors (SCNCr) due to current pulses (8/20 mu s) is reported here for the first time in comparison with the ZnO-based commercial varistors (ZnO). Puncturing and/or cracking failures were observed in ZnO-based varistors possessing inferior thermo-mechanical properties in comparison with that found in a SCNCr system free of failures. Both systems presented electric degradation related to the increase in the leakage current and decrease in the electric breakdown field, non-linear coefficient and average value of the potential barrier height. However, it was found that a more severe degradation occurred in the ZnO-based varistors concerning their non-ohmic behaviour, while in the SCNCr system, a strong non-ohmic behaviour remained after the degradation. These results indicate that the degradation in the metal oxide varistors is controlled by a defect diffusion process whose rate depends on the mobility, the concentration of meta-stable defects and the amount of electrically active interfaces. The improved behaviour of the SCNCr system is then inferred to be associated with the higher amount of electrically active interfaces (85%) and to a higher energy necessary to activate the diffusion of the specific defects.