Mean surface temperature prediction models for broiler chickens-a study of sensible heat flow

Body surface temperature can be used to evaluate thermal equilibrium in animals. The bodies of broiler chickens, like those of all birds, are partially covered by feathers. Thus, the heat flow at the boundary layer between broilers' bodies and the environment differs between feathered and featherless areas. The aim of this investigation was to use linear regression models incorporating environmental parameters and age to predict the surface temperatures of the feathered and featherless areas of broiler chickens. The trial was conducted in a climate chamber, and 576 broilers were distributed in two groups. In the first trial, 288 broilers were monitored after exposure to comfortable or stressful conditions during a 6-week rearing period. Another 288 broilers were measured under the same conditions to test the predictive power of the models. Sensible heat flow was calculated, and for the regions covered by feathers, sensible heat flow was predicted based on the estimated surface temperatures. The surface temperatures of the feathered and featherless areas can be predicted based on air, black globe or operative temperatures. According to the sensible heat flow model, the broilers' ability to maintain thermal equilibrium by convection and radiation decreased during the rearing period. Sensible heat flow estimated based on estimated surface temperatures can be used to predict animal responses to comfortable and stressful conditions. © 2013 ISB.

Maternal flow-mediated dilation and nitrite concentration during third trimester of pregnancy and postpartum period

Objectives. To compare maternal flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and nitrite concentration between third trimester of pregnancy (3rdT) and postpartum (PP) period. Additionally, we will evaluate whether FMD correlates with nitrite concentration in both periods. Methods. Eligibility criteria was healthy women with singleton pregnancy, gestational age >28 weeks, nonsmokers, and no personal or family history of vascular disease. Each women was examined during 3rdT and between 8 and 12 weeks PP to evaluate FMD and nitrite concentration in whole blood. Women not examined in both periods were excluded. Values between both periods were compared using paired t tests. Correlation between FMD and nitrite was examined by Pearson correlation coefficient. Significance level set as p<0.05. Results. We invited 42 pregnant women. Among them, 35 were eligible and 7 of them were excluded for not attending the PP evaluation resulting in 28 participants analyzed. We found no significant change in FMD (10.39±5.57% vs. 8.42±4.21%; p=0.11; 3rdT vs. PP, respectively) and no significant change in nitrite concentration (257.41±122.95nmol/L vs. 237.16±90.01nmol/L; p=0.28). Baseline brachial artery diameter had a significant reduction (3.11±0.30 to 2.75±0.34mm; p<0.01). No significant correlation between FMD and nitrite during 3rdT (r=-0.13; p=0.50) or PP (r=0.14; p=0.48) was found. Conclusions. We did not observe significant changes in both FMD and nitrite concentration between third trimester and the PP period. FMD did not correlate with nitrite in both periods. More studies are needed to confirm our findings. © Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

Relationship between age of waste and natural electric potential generation in Sanitary Landfill

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ultrasound evaluation of common carotid artery blood flow in the Labrador retriever

Background: Doppler ultrasound (DUS) examination provides quantitative and qualitative information concerning the blood flow in veins and arteries, enabling their morphological evaluation and the collection of hemodynamic data. Dogs and cats as well as humans may display neurological signs of brain hypoperfusion secondary to common carotid alterations. Hence, DUS examination might aid in the differential diagnosis of neurological disorders of ischemic origin, among other causes. The objective of this study was to register normal values for systolic peak velocity, minimum diastolic velocity, diameter and resistance index of both common carotid arteries of 12 healthy Labrador retriever dogs between 2 and 5 years of age. By gathering these values, we might be able to improve the sensitivity of hemodynamic studies in clinically important brain disorders. Results: There were no statistical differences between the values for the right and left vessels: the systolic peak velocity was 75.8 ± 16 cm/s, minimum diastolic velocity was 12.2 ± 4 cm/s, common carotid diameter was 0.545 ± 0.063 cm, and resistance index was 0.83 ± 0.07. Conclusions: The results of this study might be used to establish normal parameters for Labrador retriever dogs and thus help in the diagnosis of neurological disorders associated with alterations of the carotid arteries. Similar studies must be performed to evaluate the same parameters in other dog breeds of different sizes and skull conformations. © 2013 Svicero et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

The influence of resistance exercise with emphasis on specific contractions (concentric vs. eccentric) on muscle strength and post-exercise autonomic modulation: a randomized clinical trial

Contextualização:Ações concêntricas apresentam maior estresse cardiovascular quando comparadas às excêntricas. Entretanto, não se sabe a influência desses tipos de ações no comportamento da modulação autonômica cardíaca durante o processo de recuperação pós-esforço.Objetivo:Comparar o efeito de um treinamento resistido para o grupo extensor do joelho realizado com ênfase concêntrica vs excêntrica sobre a força muscular e a recuperação pós-exercício considerando índices de variabilidade de frequência cardíaca (VFC) em jovens saudáveis.Método:Cento e cinco homens, com idades entre 18 e 30 anos, foram randomizados em quatro grupos: controle concêntrico (CCONC), controle excêntrico (CEXC), treinamento concêntrico (TCONC) e treinamento excêntrico (TEXC). Os grupos CCONC e CEXC realizaram uma sessão de exercício reduzido (ER) para o grupo extensor do joelho [três séries de uma repetição a 100% de uma repetição máxima (1RM)], e os grupos TCONC e TEXC realizaram dez sessões de treinamento. A VFC foi analisada no momento basal e na recuperação após as sessões (T1, T2, T3 e T4).Resultados:Observou-se aumento da força muscular para o grupo TEXC. Em relação à modulação autonômica cardíaca, observou-se, em comparação ao momento basal, aumento dos índices SDNN e SD2 no momento T1 nos grupos CCONC e CEXC e aumento dos índices RMSSD, SD1 e AF (ms2) nos momentos T1, T2 e T4 no grupo TEXC.Conclusões:Conclui-se que o treinamento resistido realizado com ênfase em contrações excêntricas promoveu ganho de força e aumento da modulação vagal cardíaca durante o processo de recuperação em relação à condição basal.

Interaction between GIS and hydrologic model: a preliminary approach using ArcHydro Framework Data Model

In different regions of Brazil, population growth and economic development can degrade water quality, compromising watershed health and human supply. Because of its ability to combine spatial and temporal data in the same environment and to create water resources management (WRM) models, the Geographical Information System (GIS) is a powerful tool for managing water resources, preventing floods and estimating water supply. This paper discusses the integration between GIS and hydrological models and presents a case study relating to the upper section of the Paraíba do Sul Basin (Sao Paulo State portion), situated in the Southeast of Brazil. The case study presented in this paper has a database suitable for the basin's dimensions, including digitized topographic maps at a 50,000 scale. From an ArcGIS®/ArcHydro Framework Data Model, a geometric network was created to produce different raster products. This first grid derived from the digital elevation model grid (DEM) is the flow direction map followed by flow accumulation, stream and catchment maps. The next steps in this research are to include the different multipurpose reservoirs situated along the Paraíba do Sul River and to incorporate rainfall time series data in ArcHydro to build a hydrologic data model within a GIS environment in order to produce a comprehensive spatial-temporal model.

A simple and rapid screening method for sulfonamides in honey using a flow injection system coupled to a liquid waveguide capillary cell

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Numerical modeling of flow through an industrial burner orifice

This paper presents numerical modeling of a turbulent natural gas flow through a non-premixed industrial burner of a slab reheating furnace. The furnace is equipped with diffusion side swirl burners capable of utilizing natural gas or coke oven gas alternatively through the same nozzles. The study is focused on one of the burners of the preheating zone. Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation has been used to predict the burner orifice turbulent flow. Flow rate and pressure at burner upstream were validated by experimental measurements. The outcomes of the numerical modeling are analyzed for the different turbulence models in terms of pressure drop, velocity profiles, and orifice discharge coefficient. The standard, RNG, and Realizable k-epsilon models and Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) have been used. The main purpose of the numerical investigation is to determine the turbulence model that more consistently reproduces the experimental results of the flow through an industrial non-premixed burner orifice. The comparisons between simulations indicate that all the models tested satisfactorily and represent the experimental conditions. However, the Realizable k-epsilon model seems to be the most appropriate turbulence model, since it provides results that are quite similar to the RSM and RNG k-epsilon models, requiring only slightly more computational power than the standard k-epsilon model. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Strength gain through eccentric isotonic training without changes in clinical signs or blood markers

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

A two-fluid model for refrigerant flow through adiabatic capillary tubes

This work presents a numerical model to simulate refrigerant flow through capillary tubes, commonly used as expansion devices in refrigeration systems. The flow is divided in a single-phase region, where the refrigerant is in the subcooled liquid state, and a region of two-phase flow. The capillary tube is considered straight and horizontal. The flow is taken as one-dimensional and adiabatic. Steady-state condition is also assumed and the metastable flow phenomena are neglected. The two-fluid model, considering the hydrodynamic and thermal non-equilibrium between the liquid and vapor phases, is applied to the two-phase flow region. Comparisons are made with experimental measurements of the mass flow rate and pressure distribution along two capillary tubes working with refrigerant R-134a in different operating conditions. The results indicate that the present model provides a better estimation than the commonly employed homogeneous model. Some computational results referring to the quality, void fraction, velocities, and temperatures of each phase are presented and discussed.

Sensitive flow-injection spectrophotometric analysis of bromopride

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Random regression models using different functions to model milk flow in dairy cows

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

Optimizing urban traffic flow using genetic algorithm with petri net analysis as fitness function

This paper describes a new methodology adopted for urban traffic stream optimization. By using Petri net analysis as fitness function of a Genetic Algorithm, an entire urban road network is controlled in real time. With the advent of new technologies that have been published, particularly focusing on communications among vehicles and roads infrastructures, we consider that vehicles can provide their positions and their destinations to a central server so that it is able to calculate the best route for one of them. Our tests concentrate on comparisons between the proposed approach and other algorithms that are currently used for the same purpose, being possible to conclude that our algorithm optimizes traffic in a relevant manner.

Despacho ótimo de potências ativa e reativa de sistema elétricos multi-áreas considerando restrições físicas, econômicas e ambientais =: Envronmentally constrained active-reactive optimal power flow-a compromising strategy for economic-emission dispatch and a multi-area paradigm

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Relationship between velopharyngeal closure, hypernasality, nasal air emission and nasal rustle in subjects with repaired cleft palate

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)