Influence of door handles design in effort perception: accessibility and usability

The application of ergonomics in product design is essential to its accessibility and usability. The development of manual devices should be based on ergonomic principles. Effort perception analysis is an essential approach to understand the physical and subjective aspects of the interface. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effort perception during a simulated task with different door handles by Portuguese subjects of both genders and different ages. This transversal study agreed with ethical aspects. 180 subjects of both genders pertaining to three age groups have participated. Five door handles with different shapes were evaluated. A subjective numeric rating scale of 5 levels was used to evaluate the effort. For statistical analysis it was applied the Friedman non-parametric test. The results have showed no significant differences of effort perception in door handles "A" and "B"; "A" and "D"; and "D" and "C". Door handle "E" presented the lowest values of all. In general, there's an inverse relationship between the results of biomechanical studies and the effort perception of the same task activity. This shows that door handles design influence directly these two variables and can interfere in the accessibility and usability of these kinds of products.

Manutenção da umidade do substrato durante o teste de germinação de Brachiaria brizantha

Para avaliar procedimentos para a manutenção da umidade do substrato durante o teste de germinação de Brachiaria brizantha. Estudou-se o efeito da posição das caixas plásticas na câmara de germinação sobre a perda de água semanal, testando-se nove posições verticais (bandejas) e três posições horizontais (porta, meio e fundo do germinador). Foi também avaliado o efeito de procedimentos para manter a umidade do substrato, sobre a germinação, a perda de água semanal e o tempo despendido para a instalação do teste. Os procedimentos testados foram: (a) vedação da caixa plástica com vaselina, (b) vedação com saco plástico dobrado em quatro e colocado entre a tampa e a caixa, (c) colocação da caixa tampada dentro de saco plástico, (d) espuma sob o papel de germinação e (e) testemunha, caixa apenas tampada. Concluiu-se que a câmara de germinação promove a desidratação desigual do substrato conforme a posição das caixas; aquelas localizadas na primeira bandeja superior são as mais prejudicadas. Entre os procedimentos, a vedação com vaselina, a colocação da caixa dentro de saco plástico e a vedação com saco plástico dobrado em quatro entre a tampa e a caixa são eficientes na manutenção da umidade do substrato em taxas que não alteram os resultados do teste de germinação de B. brizantha; os dois últimos procedimentos são os mais rápidos e práticos, adaptando-se à rotina de um laboratório de análise de sementes.

Topological signatures in CMB temperature anisotropy maps

We propose an alternative formalism to simulate cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature maps in Lambda CDM universes with nontrivial spatial topologies. This formalism avoids the need to explicitly compute the eigenmodes of the Laplacian operator in the spatial sections. Instead, the covariance matrix of the coefficients of the spherical harmonic decomposition of the temperature anisotropies is expressed in terms of the elements of the covering group of the space. We obtain a decomposition of the correlation matrix that isolates the topological contribution to the CMB temperature anisotropies out of the simply connected contribution. A further decomposition of the topological signature of the correlation matrix for an arbitrary topology allows us to compute it in terms of correlation matrices corresponding to simpler topologies, for which closed quadrature formulas might be derived. We also use this decomposition to show that CMB temperature maps of (not too large) multiply connected universes must show patterns of alignment, and propose a method to look for these patterns, thus opening the door to the development of new methods for detecting the topology of our Universe even when the injectivity radius of space is slightly larger than the radius of the last scattering surface. We illustrate all these features with the simplest examples, those of flat homogeneous manifolds, i.e., tori, with special attention given to the cylinder, i.e., T-1 topology.

Tin(II)-EDTA complex: kinetic of thermal decomposition by non-isothermal procedures

Tin on the oxide form, alone or doped with others metals, has been extensively used as gas sensor, thus, this work reports on the preparation and kinetic parameters regarding the thermal decomposition of Sn(II)-ethylenediaminetetraacetate as precursor to SnO2. Thus, the acquaintance with the kinetic model regarding the thermal decomposition of the tin complex may leave the door open to foresee, whether it is possible to get thin film of SnO2 using Sn(II)-EDTA as precursor besides the influence of dopants added.The Sn(II)-EDTA soluble complex was prepared in aqueous medium by adding of tin(II) chloride acid solution to equimolar amount of ammonium salt from EDTA under N-2 atmosphere and temperature of 50degreesC arising the pH similar to 4. The compound was crystallized in ethanol at low-temperature and filtered to eliminate the chloride ions, obtaining the heptacoordinated chelate with the composition H2SnH2O(CH2N(CH2COO)(2))(2).0.5H(2)O.Results from TG, DTG and DSC curves under inert and oxidizing atmospheres indicate the presence of water coordinated to the metal and that the ethylenediamine fraction is thermally more stable than carboxylate groups. The final residue from thermal decomposition was the SnO2 characterized by X-ray as a tetragonal rutile phase.Applying the isoconversional Wall-Flynn-Ozawa method on the DSC curves, average activation energy: E-a = 183.7 +/- 12.7 and 218.9 +/- 2.1 kJ mol(-1), and pre-exponential factor: log A = 18.85 +/- 0.27 and 19.10 +/- 0.27 min(-1), at 95% confidence level, could be obtained, regarding the loss of coordinated water and thermal decomposition of the carboxylate groups, respectively. The E-a and logA also could be obtained applying isoconventional Wall-Flynn method on the TG curves.From E-a and log A values, Dollimore and Malek procedures could be applied suggesting R3 (contracting volume) and SB (two-parameter model) as the kinetic model to the loss of coordinated water (177-244degreesC) and thermal decomposition of the carboxylate groups (283-315degreesC), respectively. Simulated and experimental normalized DTG and DSC curves besides analysis of residuals check these kinetic models. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Investigação tecnológica de arenitos silicificados da Formação Botucatu (ne do Paraná) para uso como rocha de revestimento

For many years the silicified sandstone associated of the Botucatu Formation has been the target of interest to researchers and miners, either for understanding the genesis of silicification or for your use as dimension stone and covering on the building industry. If in the first there are several articles available in the geological literature the second there are only technical data marketing available. In the northeast portion of the Paraná State and southwest of the São Paulo State these rocks are mined and traded as covering stones. Not much is known about their intrinsic characteristics and technological properties. To improve the knowledge of the technological behavior of these materials, samples from a quarry from Ribeirao Claro region were petrographically and physically characterized according to the standards established by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards to dimension stones. Therefore, two bulk samples of silicified sandstone of the Ribeirão Claro/PR region were studied and characterized following the norms established by Brazilian Association of Technical Standards for dimension stones. The results obtained in the petrographical and technological studies are presented and indicated that, in general, the technological performance presented by sandstone studied induces limitations of use as covering materials, mainly horizontally as pavements, door stone and step ladder.

Os Olhos no outro: estudo da sensibilidade na imagem fotográfica de pessoas de diferentes culturas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização mecânica e microestrutural de aços Bake hardening graus 180 e 210 aplicados na indústria automotiva

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Monitoramento e avaliação dos ovos férteis de avestruz submetidos à incubação artificial

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Prevalência e sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos de microrganismos potencialmente superinfectantes na cavidade bucal de pacientes com espondilite anquilosante em uso de terapia anti TNF

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O tempo e o espaço do comércio 24 horas na metrópole paulista

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

(Re)Iventando realidades: jogos espacio-temporais em três contos de Julio Cortázar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mitos bíblicos e contos de fadas revisitados na metaficção de Robert Coover

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Revista Gil Blas e o nacionalismo de combate (1919-1923)

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

Enraizamento de estacas de pinheira (Annona squamosa L.), gravioleira (Annona muricata L.) e atemoeira (Annona squamosa L. x Annona cherimola L.) tratadas com ácido indolbutírico (IBA), ácido naftalenoacético (NAA) e bioestimulante

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Enxertia e irrigação com água carbonatada no transporte de 'INTPOT.15 N' e na produção do tomateiro ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)