Critical points in logistic growth curves and treatment comparisons

Several biological phenomena have a behavior over time mathematically characterized by a strong increasing function in the early stages of development, then by a less pronounced growth, sometimes showing stability. The separation between these phases is very important to the researcher, since the maintenance of a less productive phase results in uneconomical activity. In this report we present methods of determining critical points in logistic functions that separate the early stages of growth from the asymptotic phase, with the aim of establishing a stopping critical point in the growth and on this basis determine differences in treatments. The logistic growth model is fitted to experimental data of imbibition of arariba seeds (Centrolobium tomentosum). To determine stopping critical points the following methods were used: i) accelerating growth function, ii) tangent at the inflection point, iii) segmented regression; iv) modified segmented regression; v) non-significant difference; and vi) non-significant difference by simulation. The analysis of variance of the abscissas and ordinates of the breakpoints was performed with the objective of comparing treatments and methods used to determine the critical points. The methods of segmented regression and of the tangent at the inflection point lead to early stopping points, in comparison with other methods, with proportions ordinate/asymptote lower than 0.90. The non-significant difference method by simulation had higher values of abscissas for stopping point, with an average proportion ordinate/asymptote equal to 0.986. An intermediate proportion of 0.908 was observed for the acceleration function method.

Dynamics of a spacecraft and normalization around Lagrangian points in the Neptune-Triton system

The problem of a spacecraft orbiting the Neptune-Triton system is presented. The new ingredients in this restricted three body problem are the Neptune oblateness and the high inclined and retrograde motion of Triton. First we present some interesting simulations showing the role played by the oblateness on a Neptune's satellite, disturbed by Triton. We also give an extensive numerical exploration in the case when the spacecraft orbits Triton, considering Sun, Neptune and its planetary oblateness as disturbers. In the plane a x I (a = semi-major axis, I = inclination), we give a plot of the stable regions where the massless body can survive for thousand of years. Retrograde and direct orbits were considered and as usual, the region of stability is much more significant for the case of direct orbit of the spacecraft (Triton's orbit is retrograde). Next we explore the dynamics in a vicinity of the Lagrangian points. The Birkhoff normalization is constructed around L-2, followed by its reduction to the center manifold. In this reduced dynamics, a convenient Poincare section shows the interplay of the Lyapunov and halo periodic orbits, Lissajous and quasi-halo tori as well as the stable and unstable manifolds of the planar Lyapunov orbit. To show the effect of the oblateness, the planar Lyapunov family emanating from the Lagrangian points and three-dimensional halo orbits are obtained by the numerical continuation method. Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of COSPAR.

Finishing of flat parts led by lapping kinematics on abrasive disc dressed in agreement with overlap factors

This paper discusses the investigation of an abrasive process for finishing flat workpieces, based on the combination of important grinding and lapping characteristics. Instead of loose abrasive grains between the workpiece and the lapping plate, a resinoid grinding wheel of hot-pressed silicon carbide is placed on the plate of a device resembling a lapping machine. The resin bond grinding wheel is dressed with a single-point diamond. In addition to keeping the plate flat, dressing also plays the role of interfering in the behavior of the process by varying the overlap factor (Ud). It was found that the studied process simplify the set-up and can be controlled more easily than in lapping, whose is a painstaking process. The surface roughness and flatness deviation proved comparable to those of lapping, or even finer than it, with the additional advantage of a less contaminated workpiece surface with a shiny appearance. The process was also monitored by acoustic emission (AE), which indicates to be a promissing and suitable technique for use in this process. Copyright © 2008 by ASME.

Relaxation to Fixed Points in the Logistic and Cubic Maps: Analytical and Numerical Investigation

Convergence to a period one fixed point is investigated for both logistic and cubic maps. For the logistic map the relaxation to the fixed point is considered near a transcritical bifurcation while for the cubic map it is near a pitchfork bifurcation. We confirmed that the convergence to the fixed point in both logistic and cubic maps for a region close to the fixed point goes exponentially fast to the fixed point and with a relaxation time described by a power law of exponent -1. At the bifurcation point, the exponent is not universal and depends on the type of the bifurcation as well as on the nonlinearity of the map.

Zero, minimum and maximum relative radial acceleration for planar formation flight dynamics near triangular libration points in the Earth-Moon system

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

Locating control points in aerial images with a multi-scale approach based on terrestrial image patches

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

Chaotic Dynamics in a Low-Energy Transfer Strategy to the Equilateral Equilibrium Points in the Earth-Moon System

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

Vesicle-micelle transition in mixtures of dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride and bromide with nonionic and zwitterionic surfactants

We have investigated the effect of mixing spontaneously formed dispersions of the cationic vesicle-forming dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride and bromide (DODAX, with X being anions Cl- (C) or Br- (B)) with solutions of the micelle-forming nonionic ethylene oxide surfactants penta-, hepta-, and octaethyleneglycol mono-n-dodecyl ether, C12En (n = 5, 7, and 8), and the zwitterionic 3-(N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)propane sulfonate (HPS). We used for this purpose differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), turbidity, and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate the vesicle-micelle (V-M) transition yielded by adding C12En and HPS to 1.0 mM vesicle dispersions of DODAC and DODAB. The addition of these surfactants lowers the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature (T-m) of DODAC and DODAB, and the transition becomes less cooperative, that is, the thermogram transition peak shifts to lower temperature and broadens to disappear when the V-M transition is complete, the vesicle bilayer becomes less organized, and the T., decreases, in agreement with measurements of the fluorescence quantum yield of trans-diphenylpolyene (t-DPO) fluorescence molecules incorporated in the vesicle bilayer. Turbidity data indicate that the V-M transition comes about in three stages: first surfactants are solubilized into the vesicle bilayer; after saturation, the vesicles are ruptured, and, finally, the vesicles are completely solubilized and only mixed micelles are formed. The critical points of bilayer saturation and vesicle solubilization were obtained from the turbidity and fluorescence curves, and are reported in this communication. The solubility of DODAX is stronger for C12En than it is for HPS, meaning that C12En solubilizes DODAX more efficiently than does HPS. The surfactant solubilization depends slightly on the counterion, and varies according to the sequence C12E5 > C12E7 > C12E8 > HPS.

Occurrence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in patients with chronic periodontitis, aggressive periodontitis, healthy subjects and children with gingivitis in two cities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of isolation of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) in 100 patients with chronic periodontitis, 14 patients with aggressive periodontitis, 142 pre-school children with gingivitis and 134 periodontally healthy subjects. Samples of subgingival plaque were taken using sterilized paper points introduced into periodontal pockets or gingival crevice for 60 seconds and inoculated on TSBV agar, which was incubated under anaerobiosis at 37°C, for 4 days. Microbial identification was performed through biochemical methods and morphocellular and morphocolonial analysis. Aa was detected in 40.3% of healthy subjects, 68% of patients with chronic periodontitis, 92.86% of patients with aggressive periodontitis and 40.14% of children with gingivitis. The rate of recovery of Aa in the tested human groups proved to be higher than previously reported and in agreement with participation of this facultative anaerobe as a member of native microbiota of the periodontium and its relation with aggressive and chronic periodontitis in Brazil.

Critical points on growth curves in autoregressive and mixed models

Adjusting autoregressive and mixed models to growth data fits discontinuous functions, which makes it difficult to determine critical points. In this study we propose a new approach to determine the critical stability point of cattle growth using a first-order autoregressive model and a mixed model with random asymptote, using the deterministic portion of the models. Three functions were compared: logistic, Gompertz, and Richards. The Richards autoregressive model yielded the best fit, but the critical growth values were adjusted very early, and for this purpose the Gompertz model was more appropriate.

Measurement of the inclusive 3-jet production differential cross section in proton-proton collisions at 7 TeV and determination of the strong coupling constant in the TeV range

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Pigeons (Columba livia) are a suitable experimental model for Neospora caninum infection in birds

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Terrain forms and spatial variability of soil properties in an area cultivatedwith citrus

A técnica de agricultura de precisão e a relação solo-paisagem permitem delimitar áreas para o manejo localizado, o que permite a aplicação localizada de insumos agrícolas e, consequentemente, pode contribuir para a preservação de recursos naturais. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a variabilidade espacial das propriedades químicas e do teor de argila, no contexto da relação solo-paisagem, em um Latossolo sob cultivo de citros. Amostras de solo foram coletadas na profundidade de 0,0-0,2 m, em uma área de 83,5 ha cultivada com citros, na forma de malha, com intervalos regulares de 50 m, com 129 pontos na forma de relevo côncava e 206 pontos na forma plana, totalizando 335 pontos. Os valores obtidos para as variáveis que expressam as propriedades químicas e para o teor de argila do solo foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva e geoestatística com a modelagem de semivariogramas para a confecção de mapas de krigagem. Os valores de alcance e mapas de krigagem indicaram maiores variabilidades na forma de relevo côncava (segmento topo), quando comparada com a forma plana (segmentos meia encosta e encosta inferior). A identificação de diferentes formas de relevo mostrou-se eficiente no entendimento da variabilidade espacial das propriedades químicas e do teor de argila do solo sob cultivo de citros.

Effects of scrotal insulation in Nellore bulls (Bos taurus indicus) on seminal quality and its relationship with in vitro fertilizing ability

The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of induced testicular degeneration in Bos taurus indicus (Nellore) bulls on changes in seminal characteristics and fertilizing ability of sperm. Four Nellore bulls (30-36-month-old, 500-550 kg) with good seminal quality (> 80% motile and morphologically normal sperm) had serotal insulation applied for 5 d. Semen was collected by electroejaculation and cryopreserved at a the pre-insulation moment, and 7, 14, and 21 d after insulation was removed. Gross motility, vigor of sperm movement (1-5), acrosome integrity, sperm morphology (phase-contrast microscopy), nuclear vacuoles and abnormal chromatin (Feulgen-stain) were determined after sperm preparations for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Prior to IVF, sperm were separated using a Percoll gradient (45% and 90%). Normal sperm decreased (P < 0.05) 14 and 21 d after insulation was removed. on 14 and 21 d, the incidence of head defects (9.7 +/- 0.6 and 17.0 +/- 0.8, respectively; mean +/- S.E.M) was higher (P < 0.05) in agreement with the incidence of nuclear vauoles (14.0 +/- 5.0 and 12.3 +/- 2.3) and abnormal chromatin (24.4 +/- 7.2 and 30.8 +/- 2.8). Although the frequency of cleaved oocytes decreased only on 21 d (P < 0.05), blastocyst rates were lower (P < 0.05) than pre-insulation on 14 and 21 d. In regression analyses, only nuclear vacuoles, head defects and intact acrosome accounted for differences in cleavage (R(2) = 0.38, 0.48, and 0.30, respectively) and blastocyst rates (R(2) = 0.35, 0.37, and 0.44). Abnormal chromatin was associated only with blastocyst rates (R(2) = 0.35). In conclusion, blastocyst rate was more sensitive than cleavage rate and the assessment of nuclear integrity is recommended to predict the fertilizing ability of bull sperm. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Object-Space Road Extraction in Rural Areas Using Stereoscopic Aerial Images

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