Automatic microstructural characterization and classification using artificial intelligence techniques on ultrasound signals

Secondary phases such as Laves and carbides are formed during the final solidification stages of nickel based superalloy coatings deposited during the gas tungsten arc welding cold wire process. However, when aged at high temperatures, other phases can precipitate in the microstructure, like the γ″ and δ phases. This work presents a new application and evaluation of artificial intelligent techniques to classify (the background echo and backscattered) ultrasound signals in order to characterize the microstructure of a Ni-based alloy thermally aged at 650 and 950 °C for 10, 100 and 200 h. The background echo and backscattered ultrasound signals were acquired using transducers with frequencies of 4 and 5 MHz. Thus with the use of features extraction techniques, i.e.; detrended fluctuation analysis and the Hurst method, the accuracy and speed in the classification of the secondary phases from ultrasound signals could be studied. The classifiers under study were the recent optimum-path forest (OPF) and the more traditional support vector machines and Bayesian. The experimental results revealed that the OPF classifier was the fastest and most reliable. In addition, the OPF classifier revealed to be a valid and adequate tool for microstructure characterization through ultrasound signals classification due to its speed, sensitivity, accuracy and reliability. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genotoxicological assessment of two reactive dyes extracted from cotton fibres using artificial sweat

Human eyes have a remarkable ability to recognize hundreds of colour shades, which has stimulated the use of colorants, especially for clothing, but toxicological studies have shown that some textile dyes can be hazardous to human health. Under conditions of intense perspiration, dyes can migrate from coloured clothes and penetrate into human skin. Garments made from cotton fabrics are the most common clothing in tropical countries, due to their high temperatures. Aiming to identify safe textile dyes for dyeing cotton fabrics, the genotoxicity [in vitro Comet assay with normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF), Tail Intensity] and mutagenicity [Salmonella/microsome preincubation assay (30 min), tester strains TA98, TA100, YG1041 and YG1042] of Reactive Blue 2 (RB2, CAS No. 12236-82-7, C.I. 61211) and Reactive Green 19 (RG19, CAS No. 61931-49-5, C.I. 205075) were evaluated both in the formulated form and as extracted from cotton fibres using different artificial sweats. Both the dyes could migrate from cotton fibres to sweat solutions, the sweat composition and pH being important factors during this extraction. However, the dye sweat solutions showed no genotoxic/mutagenic effects, whereas a weak mutagenic potential was detected by the Ames test for both dyes in their formulated form. These findings emphasize the relevance of textile dyes assessment under conditions that more closely resemble human exposure, in order to recognize any hazard. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Encalhes de tubarões anequins e de raias-pretas no litoral do estado de São Paulo, sudeste do Brasil: Relato de casos

Stranding of oceanic-pelagic elasmo branchs in the southeastern Brazil are reported. Data comes from animals observed in the coast of São Paulo state, between 1999 and 2012. Nine individuals of two species were recorded: Pteroplatytrygon violacea (n = 5; mostly during the winter) and Isurus oxyrinchus (n = 4; two in the winter and two in the summer). For P. violacea the strandings restricted to the austral winter suggest that the species follows the intrusion of high temperatures water masses recorded in southeastern Brazil during this season, bringing some individuals to shallow waters. For I. oxyrinchus is possible that individuals escaped from hooks of the commercial pelagic long line fishery and suffered injuries in the esophagus and in the gastric wall, stranding due to difficulties in locomotion and feeding. As these stranded sharks were not necropsied and only two animals were observed during the austral summer, we cannot exclude other causes of beaching such diseases or the intrusion of cold water masses in the continental shelf during this season.

Fatty acids profile and alteration of lemon seeds extract (Citrus limon) added to soybean oil under thermoxidation

This paper aimed at evaluating fatty acids profile and the total alteration of lemon seeds extract added to soybean oil under thermoxidation, verifying the isolated and synergistic effect of these antioxidants. Therefore, Control treatments, LSE (2,400 mg/kg Lemon Seeds Extract), TBHQ (mg/kg), Mixture 1 (LSE + 50 mg/kg TBHQ) and Mixture 2 (LSE + 25 mg/kg TBHQ) were subjected to 180 C for 20 h. Samples were taken at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 h intervals and analyzed as for fatty acid profile and total polar compounds. Results were subjected to variance analyses and Tukey tests at a 5% significance level. An increase in the percentage of saturated fatty acids and mono-unsaturated, and decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed, regardless of the treatments studied. For total polar compounds, it was verified that Mixtures 1 and 2 presented values lower than 25% with 20 h of heating, not surpassing the limits established in many countries for disposal of oils and fats under high temperatures, thus proving the synergistic effect of antioxidants. © 2011 Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India).

Milho e Brachiaria decumbens em sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação dos potenciais citotóxico, genotóxico e mutagênico das águas de um ambiente lêntico, por meio dos sistemas-teste de Allium cepa e Oreochromis niloticus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Características biométricas das sementes e descrição da resposta germinativa pelo modelo do tempo térmico em diferentes populações de Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Impacto do tratamento térmico com baixa umidade sobre as características físico-químicas e reológicas de amidos de mandioca, araruta e mandioquinha-salsa

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Isolamento de linhagens microbianas termofílicas amilolíticas, produção, caracterização e aplicação das amilases na hidrólise do amido de mandioca

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

Efeito da extrusão termoplástica na retenção de aroma e na estrutura de extrusados de grits de milho aromatizado

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Avaliação das condições cromatográficas de análise e efeito da aplicação de coberturas comestíveis nos caratenóides de abóboras desidratadas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ambiente controlado e não controlado no desempenho, comportamento e características de carcaça de suínos

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Impacto das condições climáticas sobre a etiologia das bacteremias nosocomiais no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu-UNESP

Pós-graduação em Doenças Tropicais - FMB

Integração agricultura-pecuária do milho consorciado com Brachiaria brizantha em sistema de plantio direto

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Otimização da tecnologia de assistência de ar em pulverizador de barras através da umidificação do fluxo de ar

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA