Blade design and forming for fans using finite elements

The necessity of adapting the standardized fan models to conditions of higher temperature has emerged due to the growth of concerning referring to the consequences of the gas expelling after the Mont Blanc tunnel accident in Italy and France, where even though, with 100 fans in operation, 41 people died. However, since then, the defied solutions have pointed to aerodynamic disadvantages or have seemed nonappropriate in these conditions. The objective of this work is to present an alternative to the market standard fans considering a new technology in constructing blades. This new technology introduces the use of the stainless steel AISI 409 due to its good adaptation to temperatures higher than 400°C, particularly exposed to temperatures of gas exhaust from tunnels in fire situation. Furthermore, it presents a very good resistance to corrosion and posterior welding and pressing, due to its alloyed elements. The innovation is centered in the process of a deep drawing of metallic shells and posterior welding, in order to keep the ideal aerodynamic superficies for the fan ideal performance. On the other hand, the finite element method, through the elasto-plastic software COSMOS permitted the verification of the thickness and structural stability of the blade in relation to the aerodynamic efforts established in the project. In addition, it is not advisable the fabrication of blades with variable localized thickness not even, non-uniform ones, due to the verified concentration of tensions and the difficulties observed in the forming. In this way, this study recommends the construction of blades with uniform variations of thickness. © 2007 Springer.

Calibration uncertainty estimation for internal aerodynamic balance

Aerodynamic balances are employed in wind tunnels to estimate the forces and moments acting on the model under test. This paper proposes a methodology for the assessment of uncertainty in the calibration of an internal multi-component aerodynamic balance. In order to obtain a suitable model to provide aerodynamic loads from the balance sensor responses, a calibration is performed prior to the tests by applying known weights to the balance. A multivariate polynomial fitting by the least squares method is used to interpolate the calibration data points. The uncertainties of both the applied loads and the readings of the sensors are considered in the regression. The data reduction includes the estimation of the calibration coefficients, the predicted values of the load components and their corresponding uncertainties, as well as the goodness of fit.

Occurrence and expression of p53 suppressor gene and c-Myc oncogene in dog eyelid tumors

Purpose: To detect the occurrence and expression of the suppressor gene p53 and of the oncogene c-Myc in eyelid tumors of dogs using the PCR, RT-PCR, PCR-ELISA and RT-PCR-ELISA techniques. These genes have not been described in dog eyelid tumors before. Methods: Nine samples of eyelid or third eyelid epithelial tumors were obtained from the archives of the Department of Veterinary Pathology. Tumor diagnosis was confirmed by evaluation of hematoxylin-eosin stained sections, and immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and vimentin V9. A canine mammary tumor was used for positive control. Agarose gel electrophoresis, PCR-ELISA and RT-PCR-ELISA were used to detect p53 and c-Myc genes. Results: The occurrence of p53 was detected in most of the eyelid tumors and third eyelid tumors studied (88.8%, n = 8) and was expressed in 75% of the positive samples, as indicated by ELISA. The c-Myc gene was found in 77.7% (n = 7) of the samples and was expressed in eight samples. Conclusions: Eyelid and third eyelid tumors of dogs express both the p53 and the c-Myc genes as shown by PCR and RT-PCR. However, PCR ELISA and RT-PCR ELISA were more efficient in assessing occurrence and expression of these genes because they identified amplified products that were not detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. © 2010 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

Comparison of electrophoretic and dye-binding methods for measuring albumin concentrations in female turkeys

Albumin concentrations in female Bronze turkeys were compared using agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and the bromocresol green (BCG) dye-binding method. The correlation coefficient observed for albumin in the BCG and AGE methods was low, and statistical differences were observed at paired t test (p < 0. 0001). Compared with electrophoresis, the BCG-binding method yielded significantly lower albumin values for female turkeys during laying season. © 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited.

Physical factors affecting plasmid DNA compaction in stearylamine-containing nanoemulsions intended for gene delivery

Cationic lipids have been used in the development of non-viral gene delivery systems as lipoplexes. Stearylamine, a cationic lipid that presents a primary amine group when in solution, is able to compact genetic material by electrostatic interactions. In dispersed systems such as nanoemulsions this lipid anchors on the oil/water interface confering a positive charge to them. The aim of this work was to evaluate factors that influence DNA compaction in cationic nanoemulsions containing stearylamine. The influence of the stearylamine incorporation phase (water or oil), time of complexation, and different incubation temperatures were studied. The complexation rate was assessed by electrophoresis migration on agarose gel 0.7%, and nanoemulsion and lipoplex characterization was done by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The results demonstrate that the best DNA compaction process occurs after 120 min of complexation, at low temperature (4 ± 1 °C), and after incorporation of the cationic lipid into the aqueous phase. Although the zeta potential of lipoplexes was lower than the results found for basic nanoemulsions, the granulometry did not change. Moreover, it was demonstrated that lipoplexes are suitable vehicles for gene delivery. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Characterization of a tannase from Emericela nidulans immobilized on ionic and covalent supports for propyl gallate synthesis

The extracellular tannase from Emericela nidulans was immobilized on different ionic and covalent supports. The derivatives obtained using DEAE-Sepharose and Q-Sepharose were thermally stable from 60 to 75 °C, with a half life (t50) >24 h at 80 °C at pH 5. 0. The glyoxyl-agarose and amino-glyoxyl derivatives showed a thermal stability which was lower than that observed for ionic supports. However, when the stability to pH was considered, the derivatives obtained from covalent supports were more stable than those obtained from ionic supports. DEAE-Sepharose and Q-Sepharose derivatives as well as the free enzyme were stable in 30 and 50 % (v/v) 1-propanol. The CNBr-agarose derivative catalyzed complete tannic acid hydrolysis, whereas the Q-Sepharose derivative catalyzed the transesterification reaction to produce propyl gallate (88 % recovery), which is an important antioxidant. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Description and interpretation of Cenozoic vertebrate ichnofossils in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

In the neighborhood of the city of Boqueirão do Leão (State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) a set of three big-sized tunnels has been found. One of the tunnels is only partially filled with sand and accessible along its entire length. It is horizontal, slightly sinuous, 36 m long, up to 4.2 m wide and up to 2.0 m high. The surface morphology of the walls is composed of anthropogenic marks, speleothems, black incrustations and traces like digging scratches and smoothed surfaces. The 2nd tunnel has its entrance blocked by sand and sandstone cobbles, but the end of the tunnel is only partially clogged and therefore accessible. This accessible portion is 12 m long, 3 m wide and 1.5 m high. The 3rd tunnel is completely filled and collapsed and is nowadays only indicated by concave roof features at its end. The general features of the tunnel system and the analysis of the surface morphology of the walls of the accessible portions permit to conclude that the tunnels were produced by ground sloths of the Cenozoic South American megafauna. The size of the tunnels suggests that its excavation was gradually carried out by successive generations of sloth herds, and not by a single individual animal. The primary function of the tunnels probably was not protection from predators, which had easy access to structures of this size, but to shelter during a drier climate. However, it is not yet possible to relate the tunnels to a specific ground sloth genus, a task that depends on the discovery of better-preserved tunnel systems. © 2013 by the Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia.

Production of xylo-oligosaccharides by immobilized-stabilized derivatives of endo-xylanase from Streptomyces halstedii

An endoxylanase from Streptomyces halstedii was stabilized by multipoint covalent immobilization on glyoxyl-agarose supports. The immobilized enzyme derivatives preserved 65% of the catalytic activity corresponding to the one of soluble enzyme that had been immobilized. These immobilized derivatives were 200 times more stable 200 times more stable than the one-point covalently immobilized derivative in experiments involving thermal inactivation at 60 °C. The activity and stability of the immobilized enzyme was higher at pH 5.0 than at pH 7.0. The optimal temperature for xylan hydrolysis was 10 °C higher for the stabilized derivative than for the non-stabilized derivative. On the other hand, the highest loading capacity of activated 10% agarose gels was 75 mg of enzyme per mL of support. To prevent diffusional limitations, low loaded derivatives (containing 0.2 mg of enzyme per mL of support) were used to study the hydrolysis of xylan at high concentration (close to 1% (w/v)). 80% of the reducing sugars were released after 3 h at 55 °C. After 80% of enzymatic hydrolysis, a mixture of small xylo-oligosaccharides was obtained (from xylobiose to xylohexose) with a high percentage of xylobiose and minimal amounts of xylose. The immobilized-stabilized derivatives were used for 10 reaction cycles with no loss of catalytic activity. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spatial distribution and architecture of acromyrmex landolti forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) nests in pastures of Southwestern Bahia, Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Continuous production of xylooligosaccharides in a packed bed reactor with immobilized-stabilized biocatalysts of xylanase from Aspergillus versicolor

The production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) using a packed-bed enzymatic reactor was studied at lab-scale. For this, a xylanase from Aspergillus versicolor was immobilized on different supports. The optimal derivative was xylanase immobilized on glyoxyl-agarose supports. This derivative preserved 85% of its catalytic activity; it was around 700-fold more stable than the soluble enzyme after incubation at 60. °C and was able to be reused for at least 10 1. h-cycles retaining full catalytic activity. About 18% of oligosaccharides with prebiotic interest (X2-X6) were produced by the glyoxyl derivative in batch hydrolysis. The production of xylobiose was 2.5-fold higher using the immobilized preparation than with soluble enzyme and small concentrations of xylose (<0.1%) were observed only at the end of the reaction. The derivative was employed on a packed bed reactor, and the continuous operation with no recirculation reached 56% and 70% of the end of reaction with flow rates of 60. mL/h and 12. mL/h, respectively. In continuous operation with recirculation at a flow rate of 60. mL/h, the reaction was completed after four hours. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Detecção do gene de peroxidase em sementes de soja pela reação da polimerase em cadeia (PCR)

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

Caracterização molecular e expressão heteróloga do alérgeno fosfolipase A1 do veneno de Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera; Vespidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Peptídeos derivados da proteína bacteriana YacG : síntese e estudos de estrutura-função

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo eritroleucométrico e proteinograma do sangue do cordão umbilical e da jugular de eqüinos e asininos ao nascimento e de suas respectivas mães

Pós-graduação em Cirurgia Veterinária - FCAV

Valores sanguíneos de pH, pCO2, pO2, e HCO3 e proteinograma sérico de cabritos de raça Saanem do nascimento aos quatro meses de idade

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