Geometrical parameter analysis of a high-sensitivity fiber optic angular displacement sensor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analytical expressions for the FM and AM responses of an integrated laser-modulator

The need for low-chirp and compact transmitters for high-bit-rate optical links has led to the development of integrated laser electroabsorption modulators (ILM). We have investigated feedback effects inducing frequency chirp by developing a model treating the ILM as a whole and obtained analytical expressions of the FM and AM responses. The variation of the frequency chirp with the residual facet reflectivity of the modulator section is calculated. The model predicts the unusual peak in the measured frequency responses and has been used to define design rules.

Investigação de agonismo tendencioso em α1A- e α1B-adrenoceptores

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of nutritional density and season on the performance of young rabbit does before the first mating

The objective was to evaluate the effect of nutritional density and season on the performance of young rabbit does before the first mating. Forty-eight females from the Botucatu Genetic Group were used in each season (warm or cool), starting at the age of 70 days, housed in groups of four per cage up to 119 days, and reared individually from 120 to 140 days of age. The high-density diet was formulated to contain, on a 90% DM basis, 18.4% CP, 16.5% ADF and 2,500 kcal DE kg-1; whereas the low-density diet was formulated to contain 14.7% CP, 24% ADF and 2,000 kcal DE kg-1. The experiment was conducted according to a 2x2 factorial design (two diets x two seasons) with repeated measures (weeks). The high-density diet promoted lower feed intake, higher final weight, and higher daily weight gain, adjusted for constant intake. But these facts alone do not warrant using a high-density diet for growing rabbit does, because it could have a negative impact during the reproductive phase. In the warm season, there was a reduction in feed intake and an improvement in feed efficiency. Along time, however, the mean body weight of does was similar in the two seasons.

Analysis of the four wave mixing effect (FWM) in a dispersion decreasing fiber (DDF) for a WDM system

We did a numerical investigation of the propagation of short light pulses in the region of 1.55 mu m and the conversion efficiency (CE) for the four wave mixing generation (FWM) of ordinary and dispersion decreasing fibers for use in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems, Our simulations studies three different profiles, linear, hyperbolic. and constant, One conclude that for all the profiles there is decrease of the conversion efficiency with the increase in the channel separation. The hyperbolic profile present a higher efficiency of around 1000 above in magnitude compared with the others profiles at 0.2 nm of channel separation. We calculate the conversion efficiency versus the fiber length for the three profiles. The conversion efficiency for the hyperbolic profile is higher when compared to the constant and linear profiles. The other interesting point of the hyperbolic profile is that the increase of the CE in the beginning of the fiber does not show my oscillation in the CE value (log eta), which was observed for the constant and linear profiles. For all the profiles there is an increase of the conversion efficiency with the increase of the pump power. The compression factor C-i for the generated FWM signal at omega(3) was measured along the DDF's and the constant profile fibers. One can conclude that with the use of decreasing dispersion profile (DDF) fibers one can have a control of the (CE) conversion efficiency and the compression factor of the four wave mixing (FWM) generation in WDM systems. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Factors affecting on bond strength of glass fiber post cemented with different resin cements to root canal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Photorefractive two-wave mixing phase coupling measurement in a self-stabilized recording regime

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Replacement of dicalcium phosphate by rock phosphate in cattle diets: nutrients digestibility, plasma parameters, ruminal fermentation and microbial synthesis efficiency

Este estudo foi conduzido para avaliar os efeitos da substituição do fosfato bicálcico pelo fosfato de rocha na dieta de bovinos em crescimento. Foram determinados a digestibilidade aparente das dietas, a absorção aparente do fósforo, cálcio e flúor, o pH ruminal, a concentração de amônia ruminal, a eficiência microbiana e o fósforo no plasma utilizando-se cinco bovinos da raça Holandesa Preto-e-Branco, fistulados, pesando entre 275 e 283 kg. O delineamento estatístico foi um quadrado latino 5 × 5 e as dietas consistiram de 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100% de substituição do fosfato bicálcico pelo fosfato de rocha no suplemento mineral. A adição de fosfato de rocha nas dietas ocasionou aumento linear na ingestão, no fluxo omasal, no fluxo fecal e no desaparecimento total do flúor. As dietas não diferiram quanto à absorção aparente do cálcio, assim como em relação à ingestão, excreção, digestão e digestibilidades aparentes parcial e total da matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro e carboidratos não-fibrosos. O fósforo no plasma não foi influenciado pelos tratamentos e a média foi de 5,93 mg/dL. Não houve diferença para o pH ruminal e concentração de amônia ruminal. A substituição do fosfato bicálcico não afetou a síntese microbiana aparente e verdadeira de proteína. A total substituição do fosfato bicálcico pelo fosfato de rocha em suplementos minerais em bovinos em crescimento não afetou o ambiente ruminal e a síntese de proteína no rúmen. Assim, a substituição do fosfato bicálcico em dietas para bovinos em crescimento diminui a absorção de fósforo e deveria ser vista com cuidado dependendo dos requerimentos.

Preparation and characterization of erbium and ytterbium co-doped sol-gel SiO2 : HfO2 films for planar waveguides

This work reports on the preparation of erbium and ytterbium co-doped SiO2:HfO2 single mode planar waveguides using the sol-gel method. Silica nanoparticles were prepared from tetraethylorthosilicate in basic media and the films were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical profilometry, M-lines spectroscopy based on prism coupling technique, X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The film thicknesses and the refractive indexes were adjusted in order to satisfy a future efficient coupling to single mode optical fiber. Films suitable for both weak and strong light confinement were prepared varying hafnia concentration into the silica matrix. The lifetime values of erbium I-4(13/2) state were measured in order to investigate the influence of clustering and hydroxyl groups on the fluorescence quantum efficiency of the I-4(13/2) level, responsible for the emission at 1.55 mu m attributed to the I-4(13/2) -> I-4(15/2) transition. The high lifetime values suggest the absence of erbium clusters and the elimination of hydroxyl groups by rapid thermal process. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Food intake and digestive efficiency in temperate wool and tropic semi-arid hair lambs fed different concentrate: forage ratio diets

This work was conducted to evaluate food intake and digestive efficiency of temperate wool and tropic semi-arid hair lambs, according to different concentrate: forage ratios in diet. Twenty-four lambs, averaging 90 +/- 1.8 days old and a mean body weight of 20 +/- 0.69 kg, 12 of them wool lambs, F, from Ideal x Ile de France crossing, and 12 others pure Santa Ines hair lambs, were distributed into a four replication 3 x 2 factorial arrangement consisting of three diets and two genotypes. Experimental diets consisted of: D1 = 60% concentrate mix (C) and 40% Cynodon sp. cv. Tifton-85 hay (F), D2 = 40% C and 60% F, and D3 = 20% C and 80% F. D1 was formulated for a daily gain of 300g per animal. Increasing forage levels in diets resulted in linear reductions (P < 0.01) in DM, OM, CP, TCH and metabolizable energy (ME) intake, and a linear increase (P < 0.01) in NDF ingestion. Tropic semi-arid hair lambs had higher DM, OM, NDF, CP, and TCH intake than temperate wool lambs. Although there were no genotype effects in OM and GE coefficient of digestibility, hair lambs showed more efficient (P < 0.05) digestibility of DM, CP, NDF and TCH. Increases in forage levels of diets corresponded to a negative linear effect (P < 0.01) in the apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, TCH and GE, while apparent digestibility of NDF increased linearly (P < 0.01). Total endogenous nitrogen (fecal plus urinary N) for F(1) Ideal x Ilede France wool and Santa Ines hair lambs were, respectively, 182 and 312 mg/kg(0.75) per day. Thus, Santa Ines tropic semi-arid hair lambs showed to be more responsive than F(1) Ideal x Ile de France temperate wool lambs to low quality fibrous diets. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reduced Insulin Secretion in Protein Malnourished Mice Is Associated with Multiple Changes in the beta-Cell Stimulus-Secretion Coupling

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

Monosodium glutamate in standard and high-fiber diets: Metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress in rats

Objective: This study determined the effects of adding monosodium glutamate (MSG) to a standard diet and a fiber-enriched diet on glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats (65 ± 5 g, n = 8) were fed a standard diet (control), a standard diet supplemented with 100 g of MSG per kilogram of rat body weight, a diet rich in fiber, or a diet rich in fiber supplemented with 100 g of MSG per kilogram of body weight. After 45 d of treatment, sera were analyzed for concentrations of insulin, leptin, glucose, triacylglycerol, lipid hydroperoxide, and total antioxidant substances. A homeostasis model assessment index was estimated to characterize insulin resistance. Results: Voluntary food intake was higher and feed efficiency was lower in animals fed the standard diet supplemented with MSG than in those fed the control, fiber-enriched, or fiber- and MSG-enriched diet. The MSG group had metabolic dysfunction characterized by increased levels of glucose, triacylglycerol, insulin, leptin, and homeostasis model assessment index. The adverse effects of MSG were related to an imbalance between the oxidant and antioxidant systems. The MSG group had increased levels of lipid hydroperoxide and decreased levels of total antioxidant substances. Levels of triacylglycerol and lipid hydroperoxide were decreased in rats fed the fiber-enriched and fiber- and MSG-enriched diets, whereas levels of total antioxidant substances were increased in these animals. Conclusions: MSG added to a standard diet increased food intake. Overfeeding induced metabolic disorders associated with oxidative stress in the absence of obesity. The fiber-enriched diet prevented changes in glucose, insulin, leptin, and triacylglycerol levels that were seen in the MSG group. Because the deleterious effects of MSG, i.e., induced overfeeding, were not seen in the animals fed the fiber-enriched diets, it can be concluded that fiber supplementation is beneficial by discouraging overfeeding and improving oxidative stress that is induced by an MSG diet. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Microtensile bond strength between a quartz fiber post and a resin cement: Effect of post surface conditioning

Purpose: To test the bond strength between a quartz-fiber-reinforced composite post (FRC) and a resin cement. The null hypothesis was that the bond strength can be increased by using a chairside tribochemical silica-coating system. Materials and Methods: Thirty quartz-FRCs (Light-Post) were divided into 3 groups according to the post surface treatment: G1) Conditioning with 32% phosphoric acid (1 min), applying a silane coupling agent; G2) etching with 10% hydrofluoric acid (1 min), silane application; G3) chairside tribochemical silica coating method (CoJet System): air abrasion with 30-μ SiO x-modified Al2O3 particles, silane application. Thereafter, the posts were cemented into a cylinder (5 mm diameter, 15 mm height) with a resin cement (Duo-Link). After cementation, the specimens were stored in distilled water (37°C/24 h) and sectioned along the x and y axes with a diamond wheel under cooling (Lab-cut 1010) to create nontrimmed bar specimens. Each specimen was attached with cyanoacrylate to an apparatus adapted for the microtensile test. Microtensile testing was conducted on a universal testing machine (1 mm/min). The data obtained were submitted to the one-way ANOVA and Tukey test (α = 0.05). Results: A significant influence of the conditioning methods was observed (p < 0.0001). The bond strength of G3 (15.14 ± 3.3) was significantly higher than the bond strengths of G1 (6.9 ± 2.3) and G2 (12.60 ± 2.8) (p = 0.000106 and p = 0.002631, respectively). Notwithstanding the groups, all the tested specimens showed adhesive failure between the resin cement and FRC. Conclusion: The chairside tribochemical system yielded the highest bond strength between resin cement and quartz-fiber post. The null hypothesis was accepted (p < 0.0001).

Ultra-structural mapping of sugarcane bagasse after oxalic acid fiber expansion (OAFEX) and ethanol production by Candida shehatae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Background: Diminishing supplies of fossil fuels and oil spills are rousing to explore the alternative sources of energy that can be produced from non-food/feed-based substrates. Due to its abundance, sugarcane bagasse (SB) could be a model substrate for the second-generation biofuel cellulosic ethanol. However, the efficient bioconversion of SB remains a challenge for the commercial production of cellulosic ethanol. We hypothesized that oxalic-acid-mediated thermochemical pretreatment (OAFEX) would overcome the native recalcitrance of SB by enhancing the cellulase amenability toward the embedded cellulosic microfibrils. Results: OAFEX treatment revealed the solubilization of hemicellulose releasing sugars (12.56 g/l xylose and 1.85 g/l glucose), leaving cellulignin in an accessible form for enzymatic hydrolysis. The highest hydrolytic efficiency (66.51%) of cellulignin was achieved by enzymatic hydrolysis (Celluclast 1.5 L and Novozym 188). The ultrastructure characterization of SB using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform-near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed structural differences before and after OAFEX treatment with enzymatic hydrolysis. Furthermore, fermentation mediated by C. shehatae UFMG HM52.2 and S. cerevisiae 174 showed fuel ethanol production from detoxified acid (3.2 g/l, yield 0.353 g/g; 0.52 g/l, yield, 0.246 g/g) and enzymatic hydrolysates (4.83 g/l, yield, 0.28 g/g; 6.6 g/l, yield 0.46 g/g). Conclusions: OAFEX treatment revealed marked hemicellulose degradation, improving the cellulases ability to access the cellulignin and release fermentable sugars from the pretreated substrate. The ultrastructure of SB after OAFEX and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulignin established thorough insights at the molecular level. © 2013 Chandel et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Application of passive control to energy harvester efficiency using a nonideal portal frame structural support system

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