Spray deposition and losses in potato as a function of air-assistance and sprayer boom angle

A cultura da batata possui grande expressão econômica dentro do cenário agrícola. Para isso, equipamentos e técnicas de aplicação de produtos fitossanitários vêm sendo desenvolvidos visando melhorar o rendimento econômico da cultura. Neste sentido, experimentos foram conduzidos no delineamento em blocos ao acaso na cultura da batata cv. Ágata. Objetivando avaliar o efeito da assistência de ar combinada a diferentes ângulos de aplicação sobre a deposição da pulverização, bem como as perdas da calda para o solo utilizou-se um pulverizador com e sem assistência de ar junto à barra de pulverização posicionada a +30º, 0º e -30º (sinal + a favor e - contrário ao deslocamento) em relação a vertical. O volume de calda foi 400 L ha-1 utilizando-se pontas de jato cônico vazio JA-4 na pressão de 633 kPa. Para a avaliação dos depósitos utilizou-se um traçador cúprico. Os depósitos foram removidos dos folíolos por lavagem com água destilada, em ambas as superfícies foliares, nas posições superior e inferior das plantas de batata e quantificados por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica. As perdas da pulverização foram avaliadas em coletores plásticos colocados nas entrelinhas das parcelas experimentais. Os níveis dos depósitos do traçador cúprico nas diferentes posições da planta foram analisados pelo teste estatístico T² de Hotteling. Os maiores depósitos foram obtidos com a barra posicionada a 0º e +30º, em presença da assistência de ar, tanto na posição superior quanto inferior da planta. A presença do ar, além de propiciar maiores depósitos na parte inferior das plantas, possibilitou maior uniformidade na distribuição deles. As perdas da pulverização ficaram abaixo de 4%.

Liver dysfunction in patients bitten by Crotalus durissus terrificus (Laurenti, 1768) snakes in Botucatu (State of São Paulo, Brazil)

Os autores estudaram 32 doentes picados por serpentes venenosas, sendo 16 picados por Bothrops spp. e 16 por Crotalus durissus terrificus. Trinta doentes eram do sexo masculino e dois do feminino com idades variando entre 8 e 63 anos (méda 33±15). A prova da retenção da bromosulfaleína apresentou-se aumentada na maioria dos doentes picados por serpentes Crotalus durissus terrificus. Houve correlação positiva entre a retenção da bromosulfaleína e os níveis séricos de alanina aminotransferase e entre alanina e aspartato aminotransferase apenas nos doentes do grupo Crotalus. Um dos doentes evoluiu para o óbito e apresentou no exame anatomopatológico do fígado degeneração hidrópica e lesões mitocondriais. Os autores concluem que as alterações hepáticas são causadas por pelo menos dois mecanismos a saber: lesão mitocondrial por efeito do veneno crotálico; efeito das citoquinas, especialmente a interleucina-6.

Designing a modified Hopfield network to solve an Economic Dispatch problem with nonlinear cost function

Economic Dispatch (ED) problems have recently been solved by artificial neural networks approaches. In most of these dispatch models, the cost function must be linear or quadratic. Therefore, functions that have several minimum points represent a problem to the simulation since these approaches have not accepted nonlinear cost function. Another drawback pointed out in the literature is that some of these neural approaches fail to converge efficiently towards feasible equilibrium points. This paper discusses the application of a modified Hopfield architecture for solving ED problems defined by nonlinear cost function. The internal parameters of the neural network adopted here are computed using the valid-subspace technique, which guarantees convergence to equilibrium points that represent a solution for the ED problem. Simulation results and a comparative analysis involving a 3-bus test system are presented to illustrate efficiency of the proposed approach.

Test results of a superconducting FCL using bifilar coil of BSCCO-2212

A single-phase superconducting Fault Current Limiter using a bifilar coil of BSCCO-2212 tube was tested in 220 V-60 Hz line during fault current between 1 kA to 4 kA, operating in 77 K. In this work are presented the critical current dependence as a function of an external magnetic field applied and the results can be used to predict the current limiter performance. The experimental setup is described and the test results are presented for the unit conducting a steady nominal AC current of 200 A, and also during the fault time (1 to 6 cycles). The performance of the bifilar coil to provide the limiting impedance associated with the dynamic resistance developed during the beginning of the fault was analyzed and compared with other types of superconducting current limiters.

Primal-dual logarithmic barrier and augmented Lagrangian function to the loss minimization in power systems

This article presents a new approach to minimize the losses in electrical power systems. This approach considers the application of the primal-dual logarithmic barrier method to voltage magnitude and tap-changing transformer variables, and the other inequality constraints are treated by augmented Lagrangian method. The Lagrangian function aggregates all the constraints. The first-order necessary conditions are reached by Newton's method, and by updating the dual variables and penalty factors. Test results are presented to show the good performance of this approach.

Logarithmic barrier-augmented Lagrangian function to the optimal power flow problem

This paper presents a new approach to solve the Optimal Power Flow problem. This approach considers the application of logarithmic barrier method to voltage magnitude and tap-changing transformer variables and the other constraints are treated by augmented Lagrangian method. Numerical test results are presented, showing the effective performance of this algorithm. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new approach to the solution of the optimal power flow problem based on the modified Newton's method associated to an augmented Lagrangian function

This paper presents a new algorithm for optimal power flow problem. The algorithm is based on Newton's method which it works with an Augmented Lagrangian function associated with the original problem. The function aggregates all the equality and inequality constraints and is solved using the modified-Newton method. The test results have shown the effectiveness of the approach using the IEEE 30 and 638 bus systems.

Analysis of camphorquinone in composite resins as a function of shade

Objective. To identify and quantify the camphorquinone (CQ) used in different brands of composite resins as a function of the shade analyzed.Materials and methods. Filtek Z250 A3 (FZA3), Filtek Z-250 Incisal (FZI), Pyramid Enamel A1 (PEA1), Pyramid Enamel Translucent (PET), Filtek Supreme A3E (FSA3) and Filtek Supreme GT (FSGT) were used. Five hundred milligrams of each resin were weighed and then dissolved in 1.0 ml of methanol. The samples were centrifuged to accelerate the sedimentation of the inorganic particles. 0.8 ml of the supernatant solution was collected with a pipette and assessed under gas chromatography coupled to the mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results were compared to pure CQ solutions, used as a standard. Student's t-test, (p = 0.05) significant at the level of 5%, compared the results of each brand shade.Results. A smaller amount of camphorquinone was found in Filtek Z-250 (FZI) resin incisal shade when compared to (FZA3) A3 shade. on the other hand, Filtek Supreme resin featured a statistically larger camphorquinone amount in the incisal shade. in Pyramid Enamel resin camphorquinone was found only in shade Al, while the photoinitiator used in the Translucent shade was not identified.Significance. Based on the data obtained, it is possible to conclude that a single composite resin brand may feature differences in amount and type of photoinitiator used. (C) 2006 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Early cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of atrazine on Wistar rat liver: A morphological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and molecular study

Risk assessments suggest that intermediate and long-term exposure to triazine herbicides and its metabolites through water can cause severe damage to human health. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effects of atrazine on Wistar rats submitted to subacute treatment. For this purpose, the activity of catalase and alanine aminotransferase was quantified, and the effect of the herbicide on cell membranes was examined based on the measurement of lipid peroxidation and consequent formation of malondialdehyde and on the mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes (Mn-superoxide dismutase [SOD] and GSTM1) and connexins. In addition, we evaluated histopathological alterations in the liver, cellular expression of SOD and glutathione (GST), activation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) by immunohistochemistry, and the induction of apoptosis. The genotoxic potential of the herbicide was investigated by the micronucleus test in bone marrow smears. Adult male Wistar rats were treated with an aqueous solution of atrazine at a concentration of 400 mg/kg/day, by gavage, for 14 consecutive days. Control groups were also included. The results showed an increase of catalase levels and maintenance of the expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GST). In addition, lipid peroxidation, hepatic tissue degeneration, activation of HSP90, increased levels of connexin mRNA, and genotoxicity were observed. In conclusion, atrazine induced early hepatic oxidative stress that triggered defense mechanisms to maintain the morphophysiological integrity of the liver. Further studies are needed to better understand the effects of this herbicide on human health. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aromatic antiepileptic drugs and mitochondrial toxicity: Effects on mitochondria isolated from rat liver

Idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity is a well-known complication associated with aromatic antiepileptic drugs (AAED), and it has been suggested to occur due to the accumulation of toxic arene oxide metabolites. Although there is clear evidence of the participation of an immune process, a direct toxic effect involving mitochondria dysfunction is also possible. The effects of AAED on mitochondrial function have not been studied yet. Therefore, we investigated, in vitro, the cytotoxic mechanism of carbamazepine (CB), phenytoin (PT) and phenobarbital (PB), unaltered and bioactivated, in the hepatic mitochondrial function. The murine hepatic microsomal system was used to produce the anticonvulsant metabolites. All the bioactivated drugs (CB-B, PB-B, PT-B) affected mitochondrial function causing decrease in state three respiration, RCR, ATP synthesis and membrane potential, increase in state four respiration as well as impairment of Ca(2+) uptake/release and inhibition of calcium-induced swelling. As an unaltered drug, only PB, was able to affect mitochondrial respiration (except state four respiration) ATP synthesis and membrane potential; however, Ca(2+) uptake/release as well as swelling induction were not affected. The potential to induce mitochondrial dysfunction was PT-B > PB-B > CB-B > PB. Results suggest the involvement of mitochondrial toxicity in the pathogenesis of AAED-induced hepatotoxicity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fault current test of a bifilar Bi-2212 bulk coil

A bifilar Bi-2212 bulk coil with parallel shunt resistor was tested under fault current condition using a 3 MVA single-phase transformer in a 220 V-60 Hz line achieving fault current peak of 8 kA. The fault current tests are performed from steady state peak current of 200 A by applying controlled short circuits up to 8 kA varying the time period from one to six cycles. The test results show the function of the shunt resistor providing homogeneous quench behavior of the HTS coil besides its intrinsic stabilizing role. The limiting current ratio achieves a factor 4.2 during 5 cycles without any degradation.

Emergence and initial growth of rambutan seedlings as a function of seed storage conditions

Introduction. Rambutan is a tropical fruit species with recalcitrant seeds. Despite the expansion of exotic fruit cultivation in Brazil, lots of which fruit species, including rambutan, need basic information, especially in relation to propagation and storage of seeds, which are important for genetic improvement studies, maintenance of genetic sources and seedling production. Materials and methods. A completely randomized design was adopted with treatments distributed in a factorial arrangement, 3 x 4, referring to three seed storage conditions [room temperature conditions; a dry chamber with (18 +/- 2) degrees C and 60% relative humidity; and a cold chamber with (10 +/- 2) degrees C and 70% relative humidity] and four storage times ( 0, 7, 14 and 21 d). Each treatment of 10 seeds was replicated five times. Data on seedling emergence, emergence rate, plant height, number of leaves and length of main root were submitted to variance analysis and means were separated using Tukey's test. Correlation analysis between seed moisture and seedling emergence was performed. Results and discussion. Our results indicated that dry chamber conditions promoted the statistically significantly highest seedling emergence after 7 d of storage. Cold chamber conditions promoted an extremely low seedling emergence independently of time. Conclusion. Rambutan seeds can be stored in a dry chamber for 7 d without losing viability; after 14 d of storage the loss of emergence is 60%.

Effect of posture-control insoles on function in children with cerebral palsy: Randomized controlled clinical trial

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

Inhibin B and ovarian function after total abdominal hysterectomy in women of reproductive age

The aim of this prospective study was to assess ovarian function using clinical and endocrine parameters in women of reproductive age who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy. Sixty-one women, aged ≤ 40 years, were allocated into two groups: group 1, consisting of 31 patients who had hysterectomy, and group 2, consisting of 30 normal women. Inclusion criteria were normal ovarian function at baseline, normal body weight, no hormonal diseases and basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level of < 15 mIU/ml. FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol and inhibin B levels as well as maturation value (MV) were measured by vaginal cytology on three occasions: baseline, and 6 and 12 months after hysterectomy. Analysis of variance, the Friedman test, Mann-Whitney test and t-test statistics were employed to compare the two groups. At baseline the groups were homogeneous. At months 6 and 12, hysterectomized women showed decreased median values of inhibin B, increased median values of estradiol (p < 0.05), unchanged median values of FSH and LH, and decreased median values of MV (p < 0.05). In the hysterectomy group, 12.9% (4/31) of the patients had FSH levels of > 40 mIU/ml, estradiol of < 20 pg/ml and inhibin B of < 5 ng/ml, compatible with ovarian failure. In the control group, all the parameters studied remained unchanged. These results suggest that total abdominal hysterectomy accelerates the decline in ovarian function in women of reproductive age.