The evolution of jumping performance in anurans: morphological correlates and ecological implications

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

A tunable triode-MOSFET transconductor and its application to g(m)-C filters

A linear, tunable CMOS transconductance stage is introduced. Drain voltage of the input transistor operating in triode region is settled by a regulation loop and a first-order linear relationship between g(m) and a de bias voltage is achieved. In addition to easy tuning, this technique offers circuit simplicity, wide dynamic range, high input and output impedances and low consumption. The transconductor is presented on both single-ended and fully-differential versions. A 3rd-order elliptical low-pass g(m)-C filter with a nominal roll-off frequency of 2MHz is used as one example for the many applications of the proposed transconductor. SPICE data describe circuits performances and filter tunabilily Passband is tuned at a rate of 2.36KHz/mV and good linearity is indicated by a 0.89% THD for an 800mV(p-p) balanced-driven input.

A preliminary physicochemical, exergetic and economic study of hydrogen production utilizing glycerol

This work has as objective to demonstrate technical and economic viability of hydrogen production utilizing glycerol. The volume of this substance, which was initially produced by synthetic ways (from oil-derived products), has increased dramatically due mainly to biodiesel production through transesterification process which has glycerol as main residue. The surplus amount of glycerol has been generally utilized to feed poultry or as fuel in boilers, beyond other applications such as production of soaps, chemical products for food industry, explosives, and others. The difficulty to allocate this additional amount of glycerol has become it in an enormous environment problem, in contrary to the objective of biodiesel chain, which is to diminish environmental impact substituting oil and its derivatives, which release more emissions than biofuels, do not contribute to CO2-cycle and are not renewable sources. Beyond to utilize glycerol in combustion processes, this material could be utilized for hydrogen production. However, a small quantity of works (theoretical and experimental) and reports concerning this theme could be encountered. Firstly, the produced glycerol must be purified since non-reacted amounts of materials, inclusively catalysts, contribute to deactivate catalysts utilized in hydrogen production processes. The volume of non-reacted reactants and non-utilized catalysts during transesterification process could be reutilized. Various technologies of thermochemical generation of hydrogen that utilizes glycerol (and other fuels) were evaluated and the greatest performances and their conditions are encountered as soon as the most efficient technology of hydrogen production. Firstly, a physicochemical analysis must be performed. This step has as objective to evaluate the necessary amount of reactants to produce a determined volume of hydrogen and determine thermodynamic conditions (such as temperature and pressure) where the major performances of hydrogen production could be encountered. The calculations are based on the process where advance degrees are found and hence, fractions of products (especially hydrogen, however, CO2, CO, CH4 and solid carbon could be also encountered) are calculated. To produce 1 Nm3/h of gaseous hydrogen (necessary for a PEMFC - Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell - containing an electric efficiency of about 40%, to generate 1 kWh), 0,558 kg/h of glycerol is necessary in global steam reforming, 0,978 kg/h of glycerol in partial oxidation and cracking processes, and 0,782 kg/h of glycerol in autothermal reforming process. The dry reforming process could not be performed to produce hydrogen utilizing glycerol, in contrary to the utilization of methane, ethanol, and other hydrocarbons. In this study, steam reforming process was preferred due mainly to higher efficiencies of production and the need of minor amount of glycerol as cited above. In the global steam reforming of glycerine, for one mole of glycerol, three moles of water are necessary to produce three moles of CO2 and seven moles of H2. The response reactions process was utilized to predict steam reforming process more accurately. In this mean, the production of solid carbon, CO, and CH4, beyond CO2 and hydrogen was predicted. However, traces of acetaldehyde (C2H2), ethylene (C2H4), ethylene glycol, acetone, and others were encountered in some experimental studies. The rates of determined products obviously depend on the adopted catalysts (and its physical and chemical properties) and thermodynamic conditions of hydrogen production. Eight reactions of steam reforming and cracking were predicted considering only the determined products. In the case of steam reforming at 600°C, the advance degree of this reactor could attain its maximum value, i.e., overall volume of reactants could be obtained whether this reaction is maintained at 1 atm. As soon as temperature of this reaction increases the advance degree also increase, in contrary to the pressure, where advance degree decrease as soon as pressure increase. The fact of temperature of reforming is relatively small, lower costs of installation could be attained, especially cheaper thermocouples and smaller amount of thermo insulators and materials for its assembling. Utilizing the response reactions process in steam reforming, the predicted volumes of products, for the production of 1 Nm3/h of H2 and thermodynamic conditions as cited previously, were 0,264 kg/h of CO (13% of molar fraction of reaction products), 0,038 kg/h of CH4 (3% of molar fraction), 0,028 kg/h of C (3% of molar fraction), and 0,623 kg/h of CO2 (20% of molar fraction). Through process of water-gas shift reactions (WGSR) an additional amount of hydrogen could be produced utilizing mainly the volumes of produced CO and CH4. The overall results (steam reforming plus WGSR) could be similar to global steam reforming. An attention must to be taking into account due to the possibility to produce an additional amount of CH4 (through methanation process) and solid carbon (through Boudouard process). The production of solid carbon must to be avoided because this reactant diminishes (filling the pores) and even deactivate active area of catalysts. To avoid solid carbon production, an additional amount of water is suggested. This method could be also utilized to diminish the volume of CO (through WGSR process) since this product is prejudicial for the activity of low temperature fuel cells (such as PEMFC). In some works, more three or even six moles of water are suggested. A net energy balance of studied hydrogen production processes (at 1 atm only) was developed. In this balance, low heat value of reactant and products and utilized energy for the process (heat supply) were cited. In the case of steam reforming utilizing response reactions, global steam reforming, and cracking processes, the maximum net energy was detected at 700°C. Partial oxidation and autothermal reforming obtained negative net energy in all cited temperatures despite to be exothermic reactions. For global steam reforming, the major value was 114 kJ/h. In the case of steam reforming, the highest value of net energy was detected in this temperature (-170 kJ/h). The major values were detected in the cracking process (up to 2586 kJ/h). The exergetic analysis has as objective, associated with physicochemical analysis, to determine conditions where reactions could be performed at higher efficiencies with lower losses. This study was performed through calculations of exergetic and rational efficiencies, and irreversibilities. In this analysis, as in the previously performed physicochemical analysis, conditions such as temperature of 600°C and pressure of 1 atm for global steam reforming process were suggested due to lower irreversibility and higher efficiencies. Subsequently, higher irreversibilities and lower efficiencies were detected in autothermal reforming, partial oxidation and cracking process. Comparing global reaction of steam reforming with more-accurate steam reforming, it was verified that efficiencies were diminished and irreversibilities were increased. These results could be altered with introduction of WGSR process. An economic analysis could be performed to evaluate the cost of generated hydrogen and determine means to diminish the costs. This analysis suggests an annual period of operation between 5000-7000 hours, interest rates of up to 20% per annum (considering Brazilian conditions), and pay-back of up to 20 years. Another considerations must to be take into account such as tariffs of utilized glycerol and electricity (to be utilized as heat source and (or) for own process as pumps, lamps, valves, and other devices), installation (estimated as US$ 15.000 for a plant of 1 Nm3/h) and maintenance cost. The adoption of emission trading schemes such as carbon credits could be performed since this is a process with potential of mitigates environment impact. Not considering credit carbons, the minor cost of calculated H2 was 0,16288 US$/kWh if glycerol is also utilized as heat sources and 0,17677 US$/kWh if electricity is utilized as heat sources. The range of considered tariff of glycerol was 0-0,1 US$/kWh (taking as basis LHV of H2) and the tariff of electricity is US$ 0,0867 US$/kWh, with demand cost of 12,49 US$/kW. The costs of electricity were obtained by Companhia Bandeirante, localized in São Paulo State. The differences among costs of hydrogen production utilizing glycerol and electricity as heat source was in a range between 0,3-5,8%. This technology in this moment is not mature. However, it allows the employment generation with the additional utilization of glycerol, especially with plants associated with biodiesel plants. The produced hydrogen and electricity could be utilized in own process, increasing its final performance.

Social and environmental indexes to determine the impacts of closed neighbourhoods in Brazil

São Paulo State, in Brazil, is getting increasingly crowded, like in other third world countries around the world, so should give great importance to city development. This work considered the phenomenon of closed neighbourhoods (CN) as an important factor to city planning, papers report many impacts of this model of neighbourhoods in other countries, but in Brazil its impacts are not yet well listed in the literature. The aim of this work was to determine indicators to achieve the social and environmental performances and verify their applicability on three different closed neighbourhoods in São Paulo state, Brazil. The indicators were condensed on indexes: water management, waste management, energy and emissions, legal compliance, environment and buildings, risk management, health and education and governance. The preliminary results indicated several social and environmental problems in all indexes. © 2013 WIT Press.

Morphological effects of flooding on Styrax pohlii and the dynamics of physiological responses during flooding and post-flooding conditions

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Correlação linear e espacial entre a produtividade do feijoeiro e atributos físicos de um LATOSSOLO VERMELHO Distroférrico de Selvíria, Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul

Os atributos físicos do solo têm se mostrado de grade interesse para a agricultura contemporânea, uma vez que refletem decisivamente sobre a produtividade vegetal. em 2006, no campus da Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira, Unesp, analisouse a produtividade do feijoeiro (PG) no sistema plantio direto irrigado, a resistência mecânica do solo à penetração (RP), a densidade do solo (DS) e as umidades gravimétrica (UG) e volumétrica (UV) em profundidade, num LATOSSOLO VERMELHO Distroférrico. O objetivo foi determinar as correlações lineares e espaciais, entre os atributos estudados, visando selecionar um indicador da qualidade física do solo de boa representatividade para a PG. Foi instalada a malha, para a coleta de dados contendo 135 pontos amostrais, numa área de 7.500 m². A correlação linear entre a produtividade de grãos com os atributos do solo foi baixa. As de melhor correlação com a PG foram a DS1 e RP1. Contudo, do ponto de vista espacial, houve significativa correlação inversa entre a PG e DS1. Portanto, no presente trabalho, dentre os atributos estudados, a DS, avaliada na camada de 0-0,10 m, apresentou-se como o melhor indicador da qualidade física de um Latossolo de Selvíria, quando destinado à produtividade de grãos de feijão.

Correlação linear e espacial entre a produtividade de forragem de milho e frações granulométricas de um latossolo vermelho distrófico

A distribuição granulométrica do solo, por possuir estreita relação com a capacidade de retenção e disponibilidade de água e nutrientes, é um fator de grande influência na produtividade vegetal. O objetivo foi estudar a variabilidade e as correlações lineares e espaciais entre os atributos da planta e do solo. Foi instalada uma malha de amostragem, para a coleta de dados do solo e planta, contendo 125 pontos, em uma área de 2500 m², no ano agrícola de 2005, no município de Pereira Barreto (SP). Foram analisadas a produtividade de forragem do milho outonal (MSF) no sistema plantio direto irrigado e as frações granulométricas areia (AR), silte (SI) e argila (AG) em profundidade, em Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico. Nos atributos estudados, observou-se variabilidade dos dados entre média e baixa, e espaciais não variaram aleatoriamente, seguindo padrões bem definidos, com alcances entre 8,5 e 46,8 metros. Não houve correlação linear consistente entre o atributo da planta com os do solo, porém houve uma apreciável correlação espacial entre a MSF e a argila de 0,20-0,30 m (AG3).

Desempenho produtivo da tilápia do nilo em tanques-rede numa represa pública: modelo empírico de classificação

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

Recreação hospitalar: o papel do profissional de educação física na equipe multidisciplinar

This qualitative study aimed to investigate the methodological perspective, the contents, possible outcomes and the role of Physical Education professionals in multidisciplinary staff of Recreation in hospitals. The study consisted of a survey applied to 20 adults of both sexes, volunteers, working in multidisciplinary team at a hospital in Leme, SP. Data were descriptively analyzed through content analysis technique, indicating that the time of engagement of that professional in that team was on average 12.8 months. Physical Education Professionals act mainly with joy faced the patients, making them well accepted. In relation to the contents used by these professionals, toys were the most mentioned, followed by books, puppets, role play and music. The team noticed some positive changes in patients after Physical Education Professional performances, and his engagement in the health team was considered very important, highlighting the urgency of new shares to enlarge this Professional participation in health multidisciplinary teams.

Desempenho de escolares com distúrbio específico de leitura em programa de remediação.

BACKGROUND: Specific reading disability is caused by disruptions in the language abilities. AIM: To characterize the neurological, cognitive and phonological performances of scholars with specific reading disabilities pre and post a remediation program. METHOD: Group I consisted of ten scholars with specific reading disability who did not undergo the remediation program. Group II consisted of ten scholars with specific reading disabilities who took part in the proposed program. Neurological, psychological and phonological evaluations were made, as well as a test of scholastic performance and of reading and writing before and after the program. RESULTS: The scholars who underwent the remediation program demonstrated improvements in their neurological and cognitive performances and also in the processing of phonological information. CONCLUSION: Favoring of the emergence of phonological and syntactic awareness after the remediation program.

A participação da mulher na luta pela terra: discutindo relações de classe e gênero

Pós-graduação em Geografia - FCT

Modelos de regressão aplicado no absenteísmo em uma empresa do setor sucroalcooleiro

Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Produção - FEB

O despojamento em São Bernardo de Claraval e São Francisco de Assis (séculos XII e XIII)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A interlocução do Serviço Social com os movimentos sociais no Brasil: uma análise a partir da produção teórica com enfoque no trabalho profissional

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Correlação linear e espacial da produtividade de forragem de milho com atributos físicos de um latossolo vermelho distrófico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)