Fabrication of phytic acid sensor based on mixed phytase-lipid Langmuir-Blodgett films

This paper reports the surface activity of phytase at the air-water interface, its interaction with lipid monolayers, and the construction of a new phytic acid biosensor on the basis of the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. Phytase was inserted in the subphase solution of dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) Langmuir monolayers, and its incorporation to the air-water interface was monitored with surface pressure measurements. Phytase was able to incorporate into DPPG monolayers even at high surface pressures, ca. 30 mN/m, under controlled ionic strength, pH, and temperature. Mixed Langmuir monolayers of phytase and DPPG were characterized by surface pressure-area and surface potential-area isotherms, and the presence of the enzyme provided an expansion in the monolayers ( when compared to the pure lipid at the interface). The enzyme incorporation also led to significant changes in the equilibrium surface compressibility (in-plane elasticity), especially in liquid-expanded and liquid-condensed regions. The dynamic surface elasticity for phytase-containing interfaces was investigated using harmonic oscillation and axisymmetric drop shape analysis. The insertion of the enzyme at DPPG monolayers caused an increase in the dynamic surface elasticity at 30 mN m(-1), indicating a strong interaction between the enzyme and lipid molecules at a high-surface packing. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films containing 35 layers of mixed phytase-DPPG were characterized by ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy and crystal quartz microbalance nanogravimetry. The ability in detecting phytic acid was studied with voltammetric measurements.

A smooth evolutionary structural optimization procedure applied to plane stress problem

Topological optimization problems based on stress criteria are solved using two techniques in this paper. The first technique is the conventional Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO), which is known as hard kill, because the material is discretely removed; that is, the elements under low stress that are being inefficiently utilized have their constitutive matrix has suddenly reduced. The second technique, proposed in a previous paper, is a variant of the ESO procedure and is called Smooth ESO (SESO), which is based on the philosophy that if an element is not really necessary for the structure, its contribution to the structural stiffness will gradually diminish until it no longer influences the structure; its removal is thus performed smoothly. This procedure is known as "soft-kill"; that is, not all of the elements removed from the structure using the ESO criterion are discarded. Thus, the elements returned to the structure must provide a good conditioning system that will be resolved in the next iteration, and they are considered important to the optimization process. To evaluate elasticity problems numerically, finite element analysis is applied, but instead of using conventional quadrilateral finite elements, a plane-stress triangular finite element was implemented with high-order modes for solving complex geometric problems. A number of typical examples demonstrate that the proposed approach is effective for solving problems of bi-dimensional elasticity. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The position effect of structural Eucalyptus round timber on the flexural modulus of elasticity

A madeira roliça possui grande emprego nas construções civis, desempenhando a função de vigas, colunas, fundações, postes para distribuição de energia elétrica, entre outras, apresentando a vantagem de não ser processada, como é o caso da madeira serrada. O projeto envolvendo elementos roliços requer, além de outras variáveis estruturais, o conhecimento do módulo de elasticidade. No Brasil, os documentos normativos que tratam da determinação das propriedades de rigidez e resistência para peças roliças de madeira estão em vigência há mais de vinte anos sem revisão técnica. A madeira roliça, por geralmente possuir eixo com curvatura não nula, pode apresentar, segundo a posição da peça no ensaio de flexão, valores diferentes do módulo de elasticidade. Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisara influência da posição de peças roliças de madeira de Eucalyptus grandis na determinação do módulo de elasticidade na flexão. O ensaio de flexão utilizado é o de três pontos, sendo cada peça avaliada em duas posições distintas, definidas mediante o giro da seção transversal em torno do eixo. Os resultados encontrados indicam a necessidade do ensaio de flexão em, pelo menos, duas posições distintas da peça.

Two-dimensional electron states bound to an off-plane donor in a magnetic field

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

On 3-Parameter Families of Piecewise Smooth Vector Fields in the Plane

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

Comparison of fracture surface and plane section analysis for ceramic grain size characterisation

A method has been developed to obtain quantitative information about grain size and shape from fractured surfaces of ceramic materials. One elaborated a routine to split intergranular and transgranular grains facets of ceramic fracture surfaces by digital image processing. A commercial ceramic (ALCOA A-16, Al2O3-1.5% of CrO) was used to test the proposed method. Microstructural measurements of grain shape and size taken from fracture surfaces have been compared through descriptive statistics of distributions, with the corresponding measurements from polished and etched surfaces. The agreement between results, with the expected bias on grain size values from fractures, obtained for both types of surfaces allowed to infer that this new technique can be used to extract the relevant microstructural information from fractured surfaces, thus minimising the time consuming steps of sample preparation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Alternative proposal for Modal Representation of a Non-transposed Three-Phase Transmission Line with a Vertical Symmetry Plane

The objective of this paper is to show an alternative representation in time domain of a non-transposed three-phase transmission line decomposed in its exact modes by using two transformation matrices. The first matrix is Clarke's matrix that is real, frequency independent, easily represented in computational transient programs (EMTP) and separates the line into quasi-modes a, b and zero. After that, Quasi-modes a and zero are decomposed into their exact modes by using a modal transformation matrix whose elements can be synthesized in time domain through standard curve-fitting techniques. The main advantage of this alternative representation is to reduce the processing time because a frequency dependent modal transformation matrix of a three-phase line has nine elements to be represented in time domain while a modal transformation matrix of a two-phase line has only four elements. This paper shows modal decomposition process and eigenvectors of a non-transposed three-phase line with a vertical symmetry plane whose nominal voltage is 440 kV and line length is 500 km.

Rapid prototyping and inclined plane technique in the treatment of maxillofacial malformations in a fox

An approximately 9-month-old fox (Pseudalopex ventulus) was presented With malocclusion and deviation of the lower jaw to the right side. Orthodontic treatment was performed using the inclined plane technique. Virtual 3D models and prototypes of the head were based on computed tomography (CT) image data to assist in diagnosis and treatment.

N=2 superconformal description of superstring in Ramond-Ramond plane wave backgrounds

Using the U(4) formalism developed ten years ago, the worldsheet action for the superstring in Ramond-Ramond plane wave backgrounds is expressed in a manifestly N = (2, 2) superconformally invariant manner. This simplifies the construction of consistent Ramond-Ramond plane wave backgrounds and eliminates the problems associated with light-cone interaction point operators.

Hamiltonian Formulation of the Yang-Mills field on the null-plane

We have studied the null plane hamiltonian structure of the free Yang Mills fields. Following the Dirac's procedure for constrained systems we have performed a detailed analysis of the constraint structure of the model and we give the generalized Dirac brackets for the physical variables. Using the correspondence principle in the Dime's brackets we obtain the same commutators present in the literature and new ones.

On the energy transported by exact plane gravitational-wave solutions

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

The canonical structure of Podolsky's generalized electrodynamics on the null-plane

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Study of stress distribution with finite element method in a root with prefabricated threaded split shaft post - Part I

A finite element analysis was carried out to study the role of prefabricated threaded split shaft post (Flexi-Post) on dentinal stress in pulpless tooth. Three dimensional plane strain model of mesio-distal section of a human maxillary central incisor without restoration was analysed with the MSC/NASTRAN (MacNeal/ Schwendler) general purpose finite analysis program was executed on a microcomputer. The model as discretized into 48.954 axisymmetric finite elements defined by 10.355 nodes. Each element was assigned unique elastic properties to represent the materials modeled. Homogeneity, isotropy and linear elasticity were assume for all material. A simulation of static load of 100N was applied to the incisal edge of the post; vertical. Maximal principal stresses and von Mises equivalent stress were calculated. Using the element analysis model employed in this study, the following can be concluded concerning threaded split shaft post (Flexi-Post): Maximum principal stresses in dentin were located at cervical place and at the post apex. The apical threads of the post not redirecting stresses away from the root.

Effect of thermocycling on bond strength and elasticity of 4 long-term soft denture liners

Statement of problem. Two problems found in prostheses with soft liners are bond failure to the acrylic resin base and loss of elasticity due to material aging.Purpose. This in vitro study evaluated the effect of thermocycling on the bond strength and elasticity of 4 long-term soft denture liners to acrylic resin bases.Material and methods. Four soft lining materials (Molloplast-B, Flexor, Permasoft, and Pro Tech) and 2 acrylic resins (Classico, and Lucitone 199) were processed for testing according to manufacturers' instructions. Twenty rectangular specimens (10 X 10-mm(2) cross-sectional area) and twenty cylinder specimens (12.7-mm diameter X 19.0-mm height) for each liner/resin combination were used for the tensile and deformation tests, respectively. Specimen shape and liner thickness were standardized. Samples were divided into a test group that was thermocycled 3000 times and a control group that was stored for 24 hours in water at 37degreesC. Mean bond strength, expressed in megapascals (Wa), was determined in the tensile test with the use of a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min. Elasticity, expressed as percent of permanent deformation, was calculated with an instrument for measuring permanent deformation described in ADA/ANSI specification 18. Data from both tests were examined with 1-way analysis of variance and a Tukey test, with calculation of a Scheffe interval at a 95% confidence level.Results. In the tensile test under control conditions, Molloplast-B (1.51 +/- 0.28 MPa [mean SD]) and Pro Tech (1.44 +/- 0.27 MPa) liners had higher bond strength values than the others (P < .05). With regard to the permanent deformation test, the lowest values were observed for Molloplast-B (0.48% +/- 0.19%) and Flexor (0.44% +/- 0.14%) (P < .05). Under thermocycling conditions, the highest bond strength occurred with Molloplast-B (1.37 +/- 0.24 MPa) (P < .05) With regard to the deformation test, Flexor (0.46% +/- 0.13%) and Molloplast-B (0.44% +/- 0.17%) liners had lower deformation values than the others (P < .05).Conclusion. The results of this in vitro study indicated that bond strength and permanent deformity values of the 4 soft denture liners tested varied according to their chemical composition. These tests are not completely valid for application to dental restorations because the forces they encounter are more closely related to shear and tear. However, the above protocol serves as a good method of investigation to evaluate differences between thermocycled and control groups.