Analysis of the Coupled Stretching-Bending Problem of Stiffened Plates by a BEM Formulation Based on Reissner's Hypothesis

In this work, the plate bending formulation of the boundary element method - BEM, based on the Reissner's hypothesis, is extended to the analysis of plates reinforced by beams taking into account the membrane effects. The formulation is derived by assuming a zoned body where each sub-region defines a beam or a slab and all of them are represented by a chosen reference surface. Equilibrium and compatibility conditions are automatically imposed by the integral equations, which treat this composed structure as a single body. In order to reduce the number of degrees of freedom, the problem values defined on the interfaces are written in terms of their values on the beam axis. Initially are derived separated equations for the bending and stretching problems, but in the final system of equations the two problems are coupled and can not be treated separately. Finally are presented some numerical examples whose analytical results are known to show the accuracy of the proposed model.

Caracterização físico-química de farinhas de mandioca de diferentes localidades do Brasil

A farinha de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) é produzida em diferentes regiões do Brasil e faz parte do hábito alimentar do brasileiro. Caracteriza-se num alimento de alto valor energético, possui teor elevado de amido, contém fibras e alguns minerais como potássio, cálcio, fósforo, sódio e ferro. Entre os diferentes estados, os do Norte e Nordeste consomem quantidades de farinha de mandioca bem maiores que os demais. Frente à importância econômica e nutricional deste produto, com o presente trabalho, objetivou-se caracterizar farinhas de mandioca de diferentes estados do País, esperando com isso fornecer informações referentes à composição e às características físico-químicas do produto, tanto para as indústrias produtoras quanto aos consumidores. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que, quanto à composição centesimal, as farinhas analisadas diferem entre si e entre as regiões produtoras, inclusive para classificações de mesmo grupo e subgrupo. Para proteínas e acidez, as farinhas não estão de acordo com os limites da legislação. As farinhas apresentam teores baixos a moderados de fibras, contudo, devido ao seu amplo consumo, contribui como importante fornecedor de fibras na alimentação. A classificação de algumas farinhas quanto à cor não está de acordo com as análises de seus componentes de cromaticidade.

Modelling the lethargic crab disease.

The lethargic crab disease (LCD) is an emergent infirmity that has decimated native populations of the mangrove land crab (Ucides cordatus, Decapoda: Ocypodidae) along the Brazilian coast. Several potential etiological agents have been linked with LCD, but only in 2005 was it proved that it is caused by an ascomycete fungus. This is the first attempt to develop a mathematical model to describe the epidemiological dynamics of LCD. The model presents four possible scenarios, namely, the trivial equilibrium, the disease-free equilibrium, endemic equilibrium, and limit cycles arising from a Hopf bifurcation. The threshold values depend on the basic reproductive number of crabs and fungi, and on the infection rate. These scenarios depend on both the biological assumptions and the temporal evolution of the disease. Numerical simulations corroborate the analytical results and illustrate the different temporal dynamics of the crab and fungus populations.

GLOBAL DYNAMICS IN THE POINCARE BALL of THE CHEN SYSTEM HAVING INVARIANT ALGEBRAIC SURFACES

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Simultaneous Determination of Phenanthrene and Benzo(a)pyrene in Water Samples by Synchronous Fluorescence Spectroscopy

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

Quantitative aspects of entanglement in the driven Jaynes-Cummings model

Adopting the framework of the Jaynes-Cummings model with an external quantum field, we obtain exact analytical expressions of the normally ordered moments for any kind of cavity and driving fields. Such analytical results are expressed in the integral form, with their integrands having a commom term that describes the product of the Glauber-Sudarshan quasiprobability distribution functions for each field, and a kernel responsible for the entanglement. Considering a specific initial state of the tripartite system, the normally ordered moments are then applied to investigate not only the squeezing effect and the nonlocal correlation measure based on the total variance of a pair of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen type operators for continuous variable systems, but also the Shchukin-Vogel criterion. This kind of numerical investigation constitutes the first quantitative characterization of the entanglement properties for the driven Jaynes-Cummings model.

Potentiometric determination of captopril in pharmaceutical formulations

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

Spectrophotometric determination of diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations assisted by microwave oven

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

Desenvolvimento de metodologia simplificada para análise de hexametilenotetramina (hmt) em medicamentos contendo corantes em sua formulação

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

Influência da secagem, armazenamento e embalagem nos resultados da análise química de terra para fins de fertilidade

Amostras de terra provenientes de uma Terra Roxa Estruturada e um Latossol Vermelho Escuro textura média foram analisados quimicamente para se verificar a influência de embalagem (caixa de papelão saco de polietileno), tempo de armazenamento (1-32 dias) e processo de secagem (ao ar ou estufa a 60°C). A secagem foi o fator que mais influenciou a análise determinando variações nos resultados analíticos principalmente para pH e fósforo. O armazenamento apresentou influência apenas para fósforo trocável enquanto que a embalagem não influiu nos resultados. As variações dos resultados analíticos para pH, em função da secagem, e fósforo, em função da secagem e tempo de armazenamento, foram de ordem a alterar a interpretação da fertilidade quanto aos limites de classes.

Second-order statistics for equal gain and maximal ratio diversity-combining reception

Exact and closed-form expressions for the level crossing rate and average fade duration are presented for equal gain combining and maximal ratio combining schemes, assuming an arbitrary number of independent branches in a Rayleigh environment. The analytical results are thoroughly validated by simulation.

Evaluation and application of bismuth as an internal standard for the determination of lead in wines by simultaneous electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the direct determination of Pb in wines by simultaneous multi-element atomic absorption spectrometry (SIMAAS) using a transversely heated graphite atomizer, Zeeman-effect background corrector and internal standardization is proposed. Bismuth was used as an internal standard and Pd(NO3)(2) plus Mg(NO3)(2) as chemical modifier,to stabilize both the analyte and the internal standard. The implementation of two pyrolysis steps avoided any build-up of carbonaceous residues on the graphite platform. All diluted samples (1 + 1 v/v) in 0.2% v/v HNO3 and reference solutions (5.0-50 mug l(-1) Ph in 0.2% v/v HNO3) were spiked with 25 mug l(-1) Bi. For a 20 mul aliquot dispensed into the graphite tube, a good correlation (r = 0.9997) was obtained between the ratio of the analyte signal to the internal standard signal and the analyte concentration of the reference solutions. The electrothermal behaviour of Pb and Bi in red, white and rose wines were compared. In addition, absorbance variations due to changes in experimental conditions, such as atomizer temperature, integration time, injected sample volume, radiation beam intensity, graphite tube surface, dilution and sample composition, were minimized by using Bi as internal standard. Relative standard deviations of measurements based on integrated absorbance varied from 0.1 to 3.4% and from 0.5 to 7.3% (n = 12) with and without internal standard correction, respectively. Good recoveries (91-104%) for Pb spikes were obtained. The characteristic mass was 45 pg Pb and the limit of detection based on integrated absorbance was 0.9 mug l(-1) Pb. Internal standardization increased the lifetime of the tube by 25%. Direct determinations of Pb in wines with and without internal standardization approaches were in agreement at the 95% confidence level. The repeatability and the tube lifetime were improved when using Bi as internal standard. The improvement in accuracy using an internal standard was only observed when the analytical results were affected by errors.

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of methyldopa in pharmaceutical formulations

A flow-injection spectrophotometric procedure is proposed for methyldopa determination in pharmaceutical preparations. The determination is based on formation of a yellow product (measured at 410 nm) after complexation of methyldopa with molybdate. Under optimal conditions, Beer's law is obeyed in a concentration range of 50-200 mg l(-1) methyldopa. Typical correlation between absorbance and analyte concentration was 0.9999. Usual excipients used as additives in pharmaceuticals do not interfere with the proposed method. The analytical frequency was 210 h(-1) and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was <= 2% for sample solution containing 150 mg l(-1) methyldopa (n = 11). The analytical results obtained in commercial formulations by applying the proposed FIA method were in good agreement with labeled values and those obtained by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia procedure at 95% confidence level. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A new potentiometric ibuprofenate ion sensor immobilized in a graphite matrix for determination of ibuprofen in tablets

The characteristics, performance, and application of an electrode, namely, Pt vertical bar Hg vertical bar Hg-2(IBP)(2)vertical bar Graphite, where IBP stands for ibuprofenate ion, are described. This electrode responds to IBP with sensitivity of (58.6 +/- 0.9) mV decade 1 over the range 5.0 x 10(-5)-1.0 x 10(-1) mol L-1 at pH 6.0-9.0 and a detection limit of 3.8 x 10(-5) mol L-1. The electrode is easily constructed at a relatively low cost with fast response time (within 1530 s) and can be used for a period of 5 months without any considerable divergence in potentials. The proposed sensor displayed good selectivity for ibuprofen in the presence of several substances, especially concerning carboxylate and inorganic anions. It was used for the direct assay of ibuprofen in commercial tablets by means of the standard additions method. The analytical results obtained by using this electrode are in good agreement with those given by the United States Pharmacopeia procedure. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectrophotometric determination of dipyrone in pharmaceutical preparations by using chromotropic acid

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of dipyrone in pharmaceutical preparations is proposed. This method is based on selective oxidation of dipyrone, in the presence of sulphuric acid, splitting off formaldehyde which reacts with chromotropic acid, also in a sulphuric acid medium, producing a violet-red compound (lambda(max) 575 nm). Beer's law is obeyed in a concentration range of 0.57-5.7 ppm dipyrone with an excellent correlation coefficient (r = 0.9997). The results show a simple, accurate, selective and readily applied method to the determination of dipyrone in pharmaceutical products. The analytical results obtained for these products by the proposed method are in agreement with those of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia procedure. No interference was observed from common excipients in formulations. Recoveries were within 98.7-101.2%, with standard deviations ranging from 0.2 to 1.7%. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. S.A. All rights reserved.