Determination of Ca, Mg, and Zn in biodiesel microemulsions by FAAS using discrete nebulization

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

Reliability evaluation of distribution systems considering automatic reclosers

This paper presents a new methodology to evaluate in a predictive way the reliability of distribution systems, considering the impact of automatic recloser switches. The developed algorithm is based on state enumeration techniques with Markovian models and on the minimal cut set theory. Some computational aspects related with the implementation of the proposed algorithm in typical distribution networks are also discussed. The description of the proposed approach is carried out using a sample test system. The results obtained with a typical configuration of a Brazilian system (EDP Bandeirante Energia S.A.) are presented and discussed.

Propriedades de transporte eletrônico em filmes finos policristalinos de diboreto de magnésio (MGB IND.2') analisados pelo modelo de Bloch-Grüneisen

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC

Desenvolvimento de um sistema para caracterização de dispositivos eletroluminescentes

The materials designed to be used in electroluminescent (EL) devices construction are studied and improved since 1936. Great interests in the development of this kind of devices are mainly due to its low power consumption, flexibility, low cost and easy processing. One class of ELs devices with these characteristics are produced by employing a organic-polymeric/inorganic composite from a conductive polymer blend and an inorganic electroluminescent material (Zn2SiO4:Mn) dispersed in the polymeric matrix. This kind of device operates in d.c. or a.c. potentials, with EL of hundreds candela in the green region of the visible spectrum. However, few studies on the light emission were performed for these devices. In order to characterize devices made from composites, in this work is proposed a method of characterizing the electroluminescence associated with the impedance spectroscopy technique. To implement the technique of impedance spectroscopy was employ an experimental setup consisting of a source of a.c. voltage, an oscilloscope, and a reference resistor. Associated with this system, was use a photo diode and an analog electrometer to characterize the emitted light signal from the sample. The system was implemented allows characterization by impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range from 0.2 Hz up to 2 MHz and voltage amplitudes of 5 mV up to 20 kV. This system permits, at the same time, measurement of the RMS value of the luminance for devices in frequency range from 20 Hz up to 2 MHz. To test the system efficiency, an EL device was characterized showing analogous results to those reported in literature. By doing this, was demonstrated the efficiency of the system for electroluminescence characterization associated with the electrical characterization by impedance spectroscopy, for devices

Phosphite determination in fertilizers after online sequential sample preparation in a flow injection system

A flow injection spectrophotometric system is proposed for phosphite determination in fertilizers by the molybdenum blue method after the processing of each sample two times on-line without and with an oxidizing step. The flow system was designed to add sulfuric acid or permanganate solutions alternately into the system by simply displacing the injector-commutator from one resting position to another, allowing the determination of phosphate and total phosphate, respectively. The concentration of phosphite is obtained then by difference between the two measurents. The influence of flow rates, sample volume, and dimension of flow line connecting the injector-commutator to the main analytical channel was evaluated. The proposed method was applied to phosphite determination in commercial liquid fertilizers. Results obtained with the proposed FIA system were not statistically different from those obtained by titrimetry at the 95% confidence level. In addition, recoveries within 94 and 100% of spiked fertilizers were found. The relative standard deviation (n = 12) related to the phosphite-converted-phosphate peak alone was <= 3.5% for 800 mg L-1 P (phoshite) solution. Precision due to the differences of total phosphate and phosphate was 1.1% for 10 mg L-1 P (phosphate) + 3000 mg L-1 P (phosphite) solution. The sampling rate was calculated as 15 determinations per hour, and the reagent consumption was about 6.3 mg of KMnO4, 200 mg of (NH4)(6)Mo7O24 center dot 4H(2)O, and 40 mg of ascorbic acid per measurement.

Spectrophotometric determination of phosphite in fertilizers in a flow injection system with online sample preparation

A flow injection system with online sample preparation is proposed for the determination of phosphite in liquid fertilizers by spectrophotometry. After loop-based injection, phosphite is oxidized by an acidic permanganate solution (1.0 10(-2) mol L-1 KMnO4 + 1.0 mol L-1 H2SO4) in a heated reactor (50 degreesC). The phosphate generated is then determined by the molybdenum blue method. Influence of flow rates, temperature, and concentration and order of addition of reagents, sample volume, and reactor configuration for the blue complex formation on recorded signals were investigated. The pow system was applied to phosphite determination in commercial samples of liquid fertilizers. The proposed system handles about 80 samples per hour [0.05-0.40% (w/v) H3PO3; R = 0,9998], consuming about 80 muL sample, 1 mg KMnO4, 25 mg (NH)(6)Mo7O24, and Ia mg ascorbic acid per determination. Results are precise [relative standard deviation less than or equal to 3.5% for 0.1% (w/v) H3PO3, n = 12] and in agreement with those obtained by gravimetry at 95% confidence level. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Introduction of a non-conventional solution for Amazon transmission system: Analysis of the electric aspects

This article shows an analysis of the longitudinal electric parameters of a three-phase transmission line/section using a 280-meter high steel tower. This characteristic, the height of the line conductors and distance between them, are intrinsic related to the longitudinal and transversal parameters of the line. By this means, an accurate study was carried out in order to show the electric variations between a transmission line using the new technology and a three-phase conventional 440 kV line for a wide range of frequencies and a variable soil resistivity. In addition, by using a digital line model, simulations are carried out in time domain to analyze critical overvoltage transients on the studied line. © 2011 IEEE.

Comparative clinical sample preparation of DNA and RNA viral nucleic acids for a commercial deep sequencing system (Illumina MiSeq (R))

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

Crop sequences in no-tillage system: effects on soil fertility and soybean, maize and rice yield

Os resíduos vegetais das culturas, ao se decomporem, alteram os atributos químicos do solo e, como consequência, influenciam a produtividade das culturas em sucessão. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os atributos químicos do solo e a produtividade das culturas de soja, milho e arroz, cultivadas no verão, em sucessão a culturas de inverno em semeadura direta. O experimento foi realizado em Jaboticabal-SP (48 ° 18 ' 58 '' W e 21 ° 15 ' 22 '' S), em um Latossolo Vermelho eutrófico. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, no esquema em faixas, com três repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pela combinação de quatro sequências de culturas de verão (monoculturas de milho e soja e rotações soja/milho e arroz/feijão/algodão) com sete culturas de inverno (milho, girassol, nabo forrageiro, milheto, guandu, sorgo e crotalária). Os cultivos iniciaram-se em 2002. Após o manejo das culturas de inverno e antes da semeadura das culturas de verão do ano agrícola 2006/2007, foram coletadas amostras de solo nas camadas de 0-2,5; 2,5-5,0; 5-10; 10-20; e 20-30 cm. Nas amostras de solo, foram determinados: teores de matéria orgânica, pH, teores de P (resina), K, Ca e Mg trocáveis e acidez potencial (H + Al). As sequências de verão rotação soja/milho e milho em monocultura proporcionaram no solo menores teores de matéria orgânica na camada de 0-10 cm e de P do solo na camada de 0-20 cm. Na sequência de verão arroz/feijão/algodão, maiores teores de K foram proporcionados pelas culturas de inverno crotalária e nabo forrageiro, na camada de 0-10 cm, e milheto, na de 0-2,5 cm. Crotalária, milheto, nabo forrageiro e sorgo, cultivados no inverno, proporcionaram maiores teores de matéria orgânica no solo na camada de 0-30 cm. Maiores teores de P no solo foram proporcionados pela crotalária, na camada de 0-2,5 cm, e pelo nabo forrageiro, na de 0-5 cm. Maiores produtividades de soja, como monocultura de verão, foram obtidas após nabo forrageiro e crotalária e, quando em rotação com milho no verão, após nabo forrageiro, crotalária e milheto. Maiores produtividades de milho foram obtidas após nabo forrageiro, milheto e guandu, e menor produtividade de arroz foi obtida após sorgo.

Soil sampling intensity and spatial distribution pattern of soils attributes and corn yield in no-tillage system

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

Mating system of a population of Myracrodruon urundeuva F.F. & M.F. Allemão using the fAFLP molecular marker

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

Potassium cycling in a corn-brachiaria cropping system

Growing corn mixed with forage crops can be an alternative for pasture and Mulch production during relatively dry winters in tropical areas, making no-till feasible in some regions. However, little is known about nutrient dynamics in this cropping system. The objective of the present work was to evaluate K dynamics in a production system in which corn was either grown as a sole crop or mixed with Brachiaria brizantha. In the second year of the experiment, nitrogen rates ranging from 0 to 200 kg ha(-1) were applied to the system. Dry matter yields and potassium contents in the soil, as well as residues and plants were determined at corn planting and harvest. Potassium balance in the system was calculated. Corn grain yield in mixed crop responded up to 200 kg ha(-1) N. The introduction of brachiaria in the system resulted in higher amounts of straw on the soil Surface and higher K recycling. Soil exchangeable K balance showed an excess K for both N rates only in the mixed system, however, when non-exchangeable K was also included in calculations, excess K was found in both mixed and sole corn systems. Large amounts of non-exchangeable K were taken up in the system involving brachiaria, which showed a considerable capacity in recycling K, increasing its contents in the surface soil layer. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An electrochemical sensor for (L)-dopa based on oxovanadium-salen thin film electrode applied flow injection system

An oxovanadium-salen complex (NAP-ethylene-bis(salicylidenciminato) oxovanadium) thin film deposited on a graphite-polyurethane electrode was investigated with regard to its potential use for detection of L-dopa in flow injection system. The oxovanadium(IV)/oxovanadium(V) redox couple of the modified electrode was found to mediate the L-dopa oxidation before its use in the FIA system. Experimental parameters, such as pH of the carrier solution, flow rate, sample volume injection and probable interferents were investigated. Under the optimized FIA conditions, the amperometric signal was linearly dependent on the L-dopa concentration over the range 1.0 x 10(-1) to 1.0 x 10(-4) mol L-1 (I-anodic, mu A) = 0.01 + 0.25 [L-dopa mu mol L-1]) with a detection limit (S/N = 3) of 8.0 x 10(-7) mol L-1 and a sampling frequency of 90 h(-1) was achieved. For a concentration of 1.0 x 10(-5) mol L-1 L-dopa, the R.S.D. of nine consecutive measurements was 3.7%. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modeling a system of phosphated cross-linked high amylose for controlled drug release. Part 2: Physical parameters, cross-linking degrees and drug delivery relationships

High amylose cross-linked to different degrees with sodium trimetaphosphate by varying base strength (2% or 4%) and contact time (0.5-4 h) was evaluated as non-compacted systems for sodium diclophenac controlled release. The physical properties and the performance of these products for sodium diclophenac controlled release from non-compacted systems were related to the structures generated at each cross-linking degree. For samples at 2% until 2 h the swelling ability, G' and eta* values increased with the cross-linking degree, because the longer polymer chains became progressively more entangled and linked. This increases water uptake and holding, favoring the swelling and resulting in systems with higher viscosities. Additionally, the increase of cross-linking degree should contribute for a more elastic structure. The shorter chains with more inter-linkages formed at higher cross-linking degrees (2%4h and 4%) make water caption and holding difficult, decreasing the swelling, viscosity and elasticity. For 2% samples, the longer drug release time exhibited for 2%4h sample indicates that the increase of swelling and viscosity contribute for a more sustained drug release, but the mesh size of the polymeric network seems to be determinant for the attachment of drug molecules. For the 4% samples, smaller meshes size should determine less sustained release of drug. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.