A Comparative Cytogenetic Analysis of 2 Bothriuridae Species and Overview of the Chromosome Data of Scorpiones

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

On the equivalence of the mechanisms governing switching and hysteresis phenomena

The nucleation and growth model, which is usually applied to switching phenomena, is adapted for explaining surface potential measurements on the P(VDF-TrFE) (polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) copolymer obtained in a constant current corona triode. It is shown that the growth is one-dimensional and that the nucleation rate is unimportant, probably because surface potential measurements take much longer than the switching ones. The surface potential data can therefore be accounted for by a growth model in which the velocity of growth varies exponentially with the electric field. Since hysteresis loops can be obtained from surface potential measurements, it is suggested that similar mechanisms can be used when treating switching and hysteresis phenomena, provided that account is taken of the difference in the time scale of the measurements.

Biological data for the neotropical termite Nasutitermes globiceps (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae)

Nasutitermes globiceps is a Neotropical termite, considered a pest in Brazil. It has been reported to cause damage to wood of buildings, transmission poles, fences, trees and stored material. Nest architecture of this arboreal Nasutitermes is described in a small area of natural vegetation of Sāo Paulo state. Polycalism and polygyny are reported as reproductive mechanisms present in the species.

Allocation of the cost of transmission losses in a multimarket framework

The paper addresses the issue of apportioning of the cost of transmission losses to generators and demands in a multimarket framework. Line flows are unbundled using equivalent bilateral exchanges on a DC-network model and allocated to generators and demands. Losses are then calculated based on unbundled flows and straightforwardly apportioned to generators and demands. The proposed technique is particularly useful in a multimarket framework, where all markets have a common grid operator with complete knowledge of all network data, as is the case of the Brazilian electric-energy system. The methodology proposed is illustrated using the IEEE Reliability Test System and compared numerically with an alternative technique. Appropriate conclusions are drawn. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2006.

Some considerations about a new procedure to derive transmission line parameters concerning three-phase lines

The paper shows an alternative methodology to calculate transmission line parameters per unit length and to apply it in a three-phase line with a vertical symmetry plane. This procedure is derived from a general procedure where the modal transformation matrix of the line is required. In this paper, the unknown modal transformation matrix requested by general procedure is substituted by Clarke's matrix. With the substitution that is shown in the paper, the transmission line parameters can be obtained starting from impedances measured in one terminal of the line. First, the article shows the classical methodology to calculate frequency dependent transmission line parameters by using Carson and Pollaczeck's equations for representing the ground effect and Bessel's functions to represent the skin effect. After that, a new procedure is shown to calculate frequency dependent transmission line parameters directly from currents and voltages of an existing line. Then, this procedure is applied in a non-transposed three-phase transmission line whose parameters have been previously calculated by using the classical methodology. Finally, the results obtained by using the new procedure and by using the classical methodology are compared. The article shows simulation results for typical frequency spectra of switching transients (10 Hz to 10 kHz). Results have shown that procedure has © 2006 IEEE.

Methodology proposal for acquisition of biotelemetric data in a real time

This work presents a methodological proposal for acquisition of biometric data through telemetry basing its development on a research-action and a case study. Nowadays, the qualified professionals of physical evaluation have to use specific devices to obtain biometric signals and data. These devices in the most of the time are high cost and difficult to use and handling. Therefore, the methodological proposal was elaborate in order to develop, conceptually, a bio telemetric device which could acquire the desirable biometric signals: oxymetry, biometrics, corporal temperature and pedometry which are essential for the area of physical evaluation. It was researched the existent biometrics sensors, the possible ways for the remote transmission of signals and the computer systems available so that the acquisition of data could be possible. This methodological proposal of remote acquisition of biometrical signals is structured in four modules: Acquisitor of biometrics data; Converser and transmitter of biometric signals; Receiver and Processor of biometrics signals and Generator of Interpretative Graphs. The modules aim the obtention of interpretative graphics of human biometric signals. In order to validate this proposal a functional prototype was developed and it is presented in the development of this work.

Electrical consumers data clustering through optimum-path forest

Non-technical losses identification has been paramount in the last decade. Since we have datasets with hundreds of legal and illegal profiles, one may have a method to group data into subprofiles in order to minimize the search for consumers that cause great frauds. In this context, a electric power company may be interested in to go deeper a specific profile of illegal consumer. In this paper, we introduce the Optimum-Path Forest (OPF) clustering technique to this task, and we evaluate the behavior of a dataset provided by a brazilian electric power company with different values of an OPF parameter. © 2011 IEEE.

A comparison of performance indexes in DC-DC converters under different stabilizing state-dependent switching laws

This paper deals with the problem of establishing stabilizing state-dependent switching laws in DC-DC converters operating at continuous conduction mode (CCM) and comparing their performance indexes. Firstly, the nature of the problem is defined, that is, the study of switched affine systems, which may not share a common equilibrium point. The concept of stability is, therefore, broadened. Then, the central theorem is proposed, from which a family of switching laws can be derived, namely the minimum law and the hold state law. Some of these are proved to stabilize the basic DC-DC converters and then, their performances are compared to another law, from a previous work, by simulation, where a great reduction in overshoot is obtained. © 2011 IEEE.

Influência do tipo de conexão protética, do platform-switching e do designe do implante no ambiente biomecânico de implantes imediatos com carga imediata

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sliding Mode Control for Active Suspension System with Data Acquisition Delay

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise da qualidade microbiológica em leite pasteurizado, tipo C, recém pasteurizado e na data de validade

The conservation of raw milk for long periods of time under refrigeration can result in the lost of its quality. This happens because bacterias, capable of developing in low temperatures, as psichrotrophics, in milk, associates with its enzymatic activities, are capable to degradate it. Although the pasteurization of milk sufficiently diminishes the transmission of the illnesses, that generally eliminates such microorganisms, is not a total efficient process because many enzymes produced for such bacterias are termostable, being able to resist the treatment and to remain active, leading to the loss of the quality of milk and its derivatives. The Normative Instruction 51 of 2002 established that milk must be cooled and stored in the production property, what resulted increasing the incidence of such bacteria in population destined milk. In some parts of the world contaminated milk is causing serious risks to the health of the population, assuming great importance in Public Health, mainly in relation to the hygienic-sanitary conditions of the product. ANVISA establishes, thus, maximum bacteriological concentration that must be evidenced before commercializing the product, guaranteeing the quality of milk as proper for consumption. Based on these aspects, the objective of this work is the microbiological analysis of 30 milk samples type C, collected in bakeries of the city Botucatu, in the state of São Paulo. Analysis were made to determinate the most likely number of termotolerants coliforms, as well the number of colony units of psichrotrophics bacterias, the presence of Salmonella and the enumeration of positive Staphylococcus aureus, at the moment of purchase and validity of the products

A transmission power self-optimization technique for wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are generally used to monitor hazardous events in inaccessible areas. Thus, on one hand, it is preferable to assure the adoption of the minimum transmission power in order to extend as much as possible the WSNs lifetime. On the other hand, it is crucial to guarantee that the transmitted data is correctly received by the other nodes. Thus, trading off power optimization and reliability insurance has become one of the most important concerns when dealing with modern systems based on WSN. In this context, we present a transmission power self-optimization (TPSO) technique for WSNs. The TPSO technique consists of an algorithm able to guarantee the connectivity as well as an equally high quality of service (QoS), concentrating on the WSNs efficiency (Ef), while optimizing the transmission power necessary for data communication. Thus, the main idea behind the proposed approach is to trade off WSNs Ef against energy consumption in an environment with inherent noise. Experimental results with different types of noise and electromagnetic interference (EMI) have been explored in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the TPSO technique.

Referência e code-switching: traços de singularidade na linguagem de uma criança bilíngue

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of mechanical cycling on screw torque in external hexagon implants with and without platform switching

This in vitro study evaluated the effect of mechanical cycling on the torque of retaining screw in external hexagon implants with platform switching (PS), regular platform (RP) and wide platform (WP). A total of 30 specimens were equally divided into 3 groups: PS, PR and WP. Each specimen was prepared with implants: 3.75 x 10 mm for RP group and 5.0x10 mm for PS and WP groups and its respective abutment with 32 Ncm torque. All groups were subjected to 106 cycles with 100 N (corresponding to about 40 months of chewing). The results were obtained with the reverse torque of each specimen and data were evaluated using ANOVA and Tukey test (p<0.05). The PS group showed statistically significant difference in screw removal torque (30.06±5.42) compared with RP (23.75±2.76) and WP (21.32±3.53) (p<0.05) groups; the RP and WP groups showed no statistically significant difference between them. It was concluded that the PS group showed higher reverse torque value, suggesting lower susceptibility of the abutment screw loosening.

Amplification of neuromuscular transmission by methylprednisolone involves activation of presynaptic facilitatory adenosine A(2A) receptors and redistribution of synaptic vesicles

The mechanisms underlying improvement of neuromuscular transmission deficits by glucocorticoids are still a matter of debate despite these compounds have been used for decades in the treatment of autoimmune myasthenic syndromes. Besides their immunosuppressive action, corticosteroids may directly facilitate transmitter release during high-frequency motor nerve activity. This effect coincides with the predominant adenosine A(2A) receptor tonus, which coordinates the interplay with other receptors (e.g. muscarinic) on motor nerve endings to sustain acetylcholine (ACh) release that is required to overcome tetanic neuromuscular depression in myasthenics. Using myographic recordings, measurements of evoked [H-3]ACh release and real-time video microscopy with the FM4-64 fluorescent dye, results show that tonic activation of facilitatory A(2A) receptors by endogenous adenosine accumulated during 50 Hz bursts delivered to the rat phrenic nerve is essential for methylprednisolone (03 mM)-induced transmitter release facilitation, because its effect was prevented by the A(2A) receptor antagonist, ZM 241385 (10 nM). Concurrent activation of the positive feedback loop operated by pirenzepine-sensitive muscarinic M-1 autoreceptors may also play a role, whereas the corticosteroid action is restrained by the activation of co-expressed inhibitory M-2 and Al receptors blocked by methoctramine (0.1 mu M) and DPCPX (2.5 nM), respectively. Inhibition of FM4-64 loading (endocytosis) by methylprednisolone following a brief tetanic stimulus (50 Hz for 5 s) suggests that it may negatively modulate synaptic vesicle turnover, thus increasing the release probability of newly recycled vesicles. Interestingly, bulk endocytosis was rehabilitated when methylprednisolone was co-applied with ZM241385. Data suggest that amplification of neuromuscular transmission by methylprednisolone may involve activation of presynaptic facilitatory adenosine A(2A) receptors by endogenous adenosine leading to synaptic vesicle redistribution. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.