Model to design drip hose lateral line using two spacing between emitters

The use of non-pressure compensating drip hose in horticultural and annual cycle fruits is growing in Brazil. In this case, the challenge for designers is getting longer lateral lines with high values of uniformity. The objective of this study was to develop a model to design longer lateral lines using non-pressure compensating drip hose. Using the developed model, the hypotheses to be evaluated were: a) the use of two different spacing between emitters in the same lateral line allows longer length; b) it is possible to get longer lateral lines using high values of pressure variation in the lateral lines since the distribution uniformity stays below allowable limits. A computer program was developed in Delphi based on the model developed and it is able to design lateral lines in level using non-pressure compensating drip hose. The input data are: desired distribution uniformity (DU); initial and final pressure in the lateral line; coefficients of relationship between emitter discharge and pressure head; hose internal diameter; pipe cross-sectional area with the dripper; and roughness coefficient for the Hazen-Williams equation. The program allows calculate the lateral line length with three possibilities: selecting two spacing between emitters and defining the exchange point; using two pre-established spacing between emitters and calculating the length of each section with different spacing; using one emitter spacing. Results showed that the use of two sections with different spacing between drippers in the lateral line didn't allow longer length but got better uniformity when compared with lateral line with one spacing between emitters. The adoption of two spacing increased the flow rate per meter in the final section which represented approximately 80% of the lateral line total length and this justifies their use. The software allowed DU above 90% with pressure head variation of 40% and the use of two spacing between emitters. The developed model/software showed to be accurate, easy to handle and useful for lateral line design using non-pressure compensating drip hose.

Economic-statistical design of the (X)over-bar chart used to control a wandering process mean using genetic algorithm

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Z(gamma) production and limits on anomalous ZZ(gamma) and Z(gamma gamma) couplings in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s 1.96 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Economic design of (X)over-bar and R charts under Weibull shock models

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

Comparative genomic hybridization analysis detects frequent over-representation of DNA sequences at 3q, 7p, and 8q in head and neck carcinomas

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to identify chromosomal imbalances in 19 samples of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). The chromosome arms most often or er-represented were 3q (48%), 8q (42%), and 7p (32%); in many cases, these changes were observed at high copy number. Other commonly over-represented sites were 1q, 2q, 6p, 6q, and 18q. The most frequently under-represented segments were 3p and 22q. Loss of heterozygosity of two polymorphic microsatellite loci from chromosome 22 was observed in two tongue tumors, in agreement with the CGH analysis. Gains of 1q and 2q material were detected in patients exhibiting a clinical history of recurrence and/or metastasis followed by terminal disease. This association suggests that gain of 1q and 2q map be a new marker of head and neck tumors with a refractory clinical response. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Constrained optimization model for the design of an adaptive (X)over-bar chart

An economic-statistical model is developed for variable parameters (VP) (X) over bar charts in which all design parameters vary adaptively, that is, each of the design parameters (sample size, sampling interval and control-limit width) vary as a function of the most recent process information. The cost function due to controlling the process quality through a VP (X) over bar chart is derived. During the optimization of the cost function, constraints are imposed on the expected times to signal when the process is in and out of control. In this way, required statistical properties can be assured. Through a numerical example, the proposed economic-statistical design approach for VP (X) over bar charts is compared to the economic design for VP (X) over bar charts and to the economic-statistical and economic designs for fixed parameters (FP) (X) over bar charts in terms of the operating cost and the expected times to signal. From this example, it is possible to assess the benefits provided by the proposed model. Varying some input parameters, their effect on the optimal cost and on the optimal values of the design parameters was analysed.

Joint conomic design of (x)over-bar and R charts under Weibull shock models

This paper deals with the joint economic design of (x) over bar and R charts when the occurrence times of assignable causes follow Weibull distributions with increasing failure rates. The variable quality characteristic is assumed to be normally distributed and the process is subject to two independent assignable causes (such as tool wear-out, overheating, or vibration). One cause changes the process mean and the other changes the process variance. However, the occurrence of one kind of assignable cause does not preclude the occurrence of the other. A cost model is developed and a non-uniform sampling interval scheme is adopted. A two-step search procedure is employed to determine the optimum design parameters. Finally, a sensitivity analysis of the model is conducted, and the cost savings associated with the use of non-uniform sampling intervals instead of constant sampling intervals are evaluated.

Economic design of two-stage (X)over-bar charts: the Markov chain approach

When the (X) over bar chart is in use, samples are regularly taken from the process, and their means are plotted on the chart. In some cases, it is too expensive to obtain the X values, but not the values of a correlated variable Y. This paper presents a model for the economic design of a two-stage control chart, that is. a control chart based on both performance (X) and surrogate (Y) variables. The process is monitored by the surrogate variable until it signals an out-of-control behavior, and then a switch is made to the (X) over bar chart. The (X) over bar chart is built with central, warning. and action regions. If an X sample mean falls in the central region, the process surveillance returns to the (Y) over bar chart. Otherwise. The process remains under the (X) over bar chart's surveillance until an (X) over bar sample mean falls outside the control limits. The search for an assignable cause is undertaken when the performance variable signals an out-of-control behavior. In this way, the two variables, are used in an alternating fashion. The assumption of an exponential distribution to describe the length of time the process remains in control allows the application of the Markov chain approach for developing the cost function. A study is performed to examine the economic advantages of using performance and surrogate variables. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimum design of microirrigation systems in sloping lands

When an area to be irrigated has a high slope gradient in the manifold line direction, an option is to use a tapered pipeline to economize on pipe costs and to keep pressure head variations within desired limits. The objective of this paper is to develop a linear optimization model to design a microirrigation system with tapered, downhill manifold lines, minimizing the equivalent annual cost of the hydraulic network and the annual pumping cost, and maximizing the emission uniformity previously established to the subunit. The input data are irrigation system layout, cost of all hydraulic network components, and electricity price. The output data are equivalent annual cost, pipeline diameter in each line of the system, pressure head in each node, and total operating pressure head. To illustrate its capability, the model is applied in a citrus orchard in Sao, Paulo State, Brazil, considering slopes of 3, 6, and 9%. The model proved to be efficient in the design of the irrigation system in terms of the emission uniformity desired.

Economic design of (X)over-bar charts with variable parameters: the Markov chain approach

This paper presents an economic design of (X) over bar control charts with variable sample sizes, variable sampling intervals, and variable control limits. The sample size n, the sampling interval h, and the control limit coefficient k vary between minimum and maximum values, tightening or relaxing the control. The control is relaxed when an (X) over bar value falls close to the target and is tightened when an (X) over bar value falls far from the target. A cost model is constructed that involves the cost of false alarms, the cost of finding and eliminating the assignable cause, the cost associated with production in an out-of-control state, and the cost of sampling and testing. The assumption of an exponential distribution to describe the length of time the process remains in control allows the application of the Markov chain approach for developing the cost function. A comprehensive study is performed to examine the economic advantages of varying the (X) over bar chart parameters.

Design of microirrigation systems in sloping lands using linear programming

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

O uso de dois websites de compras on-line por usuários acima de 50 anos (older users): estudo de caso

Pós-graduação em Design - FAAC

DESIGN OF MICROIRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN SLOPING LANDS USING LINEAR PROGRAMMING

Quando a área a ser irrigada apresenta um elevado gradiente de declive na direção das linhas de derivação, uma opção de dimensionamento é o uso de tubulações com vários diâmetros para economizar no custo e também para manter a variação de pressão dentro dos limites desejados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um modelo de programação linear para dimensionar sistemas de irrigação por microaspersão com linhas de derivação com mais de um diâmetro e operando em declive, visando a minimização do custo anualizado da rede hidráulica e do custo anual com energia elétrica, além de assegurar que a máxima variação de carga hidráulica na linha será respeitada. Os dados de entrada são: configuração da rede hidráulica do sistema de irrigação, custo de todos os componentes da rede hidráulica e custo da energia. Os dados de saída são: custo anual total, diâmetro da tubulação em cada linha do sistema, carga hidráulica em cada ponto de derivação e altura manométrica total. Para ilustrar a potencialidade do modelo desenvolvido, ele foi aplicado em um pomar de citros no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. O modelo demonstrou ser eficiente no dimensionamento do sistema de irrigação quanto à obtenção da uniformidade de emissão desejada. O custo anual com bombeamento deve ser considerado no dimensionamento de sistemas de irrigação por microaspersão porque ele gera menores valores de custo anual total quando comparado com a mesma alternativa que não considera aquele custo.

Temperature and storage period over spermatic parameters of jundia, Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Position paper from the IBRA Symposium on Surgery of the Head - The 2nd International Symposium for Condylar Fracture Osteosynthesis, Marseille, France 2012

Background: This is a position paper from the 2nd International Bone Research Association (IBRA) Symposium for Condylar Fracture Osteosynthesis 2012 was held at Marseille, succeeding the first congress in Strasbourg, France, in 2007. The goal of this IBRA symposium and this paper was to evaluate current trends and potential changes of treatment strategies for mandibular condylar fractures, which remain controversial over the past decades.Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, we enrolled the consensus based on the panel of experts and participants in the IBRA Symposium 2012. The outcomes of interest were the panel and electronic votes on management of condylar base, neck and head fractures, and panel votes on endoscopic and paediatric condylar fractures. Appropriate descriptive and univariate statistics were used.Results: The consensus derived from 14 experts and 41 participant surgeons, using 12 case scenarios and 27 statements. The experts and participants had similar decision on the treatment of condylar base, neck and head fractures, as well as similar opinion on complications of condylar fracture osteosynthesis. They had a parallel agreement on using open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) as treatment of choice for condylar base and neck fractures in adults. Endoscopic approaches should be considered for selected cases, such as condylar base fractures with lateral displacement. There was also a growing tendency to perform ORIF in condylar head fractures. The experts also agreed to treat children (> 12 years old) in the same way as adults and to consider open reduction in severely displaced and dislocated fractures even in younger children. Nevertheless, non-surgical treatment should be the first choice for children <6 years of age. The decision to perform surgery in children was based on factors influencing facial growth, appropriate age for ORIF, and disagreement to use resorbable materials in children.Conclusions: The experts and participating surgeons had comparable opinion on management of condylar fractures and complications of ORIF. Compared to the first Condylar Fracture Symposium 2007 in Strasbourg, ORIF may now be considered as the gold standard for both condylar base and neck fractures with displacement and dislocation. Although ORIF in condylar head fractures in adults and condylar fractures in children with mixed dentition is highly recommended, but this recommendation requires further investigations. (C) 2014 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.