Hysteresis in transverse galloping: the role of the inflection points

Transverse galloping is here considered as a one-degree-of-freedom oscillator subjected to aerodynamic forces, which are described by using the quasi-steady hypothesis. The hysteresis of transverse galloping is also analyzed. Approximate solutions of the model are obtained by assuming that the aerodynamic and damping forces are much smaller than the inertial and stiffness ones. The analysis of the approximate solution, which is obtained by means of the method of Krylov–Bogoliubov, reveals the existing link between the hysteresis phenomenon and the number of inflection points at the aerodynamic force coefficient curve, Cy(α)Cy(α); CyCy and αα being, respectively, the force coefficient normal to the incident flow and the angle of attack. The influence of the position of these inflection points on the range of flow velocities in which hysteresis takes place is also analyzed.

Inflection and stability points of diphasic logistic analysis of growth

Growth functions with inflection points following a diphasic model, can be adjusted by two approaches using segmented regression or the sum of two functions. In both cases, there are two functions, one for each phase, with inflection and stability points. However, when they are summed, the result is a new function and the points of inflection and stability are different from those obtained from using each function individually. A method to determine these points in a diphasic logistics sum of functions is suggested and the results obtained from fitting the models to eucalyptus growth data showed a better fit of the logistic diphasic sum as compared with segmented regression and monophasic logistic models.

The shape of soap films and Plateau borders

We have calculated the shapes of flat liquid films, and of the transition region to the associated Plateau borders (PBs), by integrating the Laplace equation with a position-dependent surface tension γ(x), where 2x is the local film thickness. We discuss films in either zero or non-zero gravity, using standard γ(x) potentials for the interaction between the two bounding surfaces. We have investigated the effects of the film flatness, liquid underpressure, and gravity on the shape of films and their PBs. Films may exhibit 'humps' and/or 'dips' associated with inflection points and minima of the film thickness. Finally, we propose an asymptotic analytical solution for the film width profile.

Early intervention for conversion disorder: neurologists and psychiatrists working together

It has been shown that for the reaction catalyzed by "biodegradative" L-threonine dehydratase from E. coli strains K-12 and 980 in 0.5 M phosphate-carbonate buffer, pH 8.4 and pH 9.5, the plots of initial reaction rate (v) versus the initial substrate concentration ([S]0 are characterized by several inflection points, i. e. an intermediate plateau. The plot of v versus the allosteric activator (AMP) concentration have very complicated shapes: there are several inflection points, and also the maximum at L-threonine concentration equal to 3-10(2) and 5-10(-2) M. High AMP concentrations inhibit the enzyme at high substrate concentrations. The reduced glutathion dose not influence the enzyme and does not alter the activating effect of AMP. On the basis of the data obtained it is proposed that the substrate and AMP shift the equilibrium between multiple oligomeric enzyme forms differing in catalytic activity and kinetic manifestations of allosteric interactions between the active and allosteric AMP-binding sites towards polymerization. Thus, the functioning the enzyme under study is discussed in the frames of the model of dissociating regulatory enzymes with multiple intermediate oligomeric forms.

Perspectives on the specification of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) technology in construction projects

Innovative, low carbon technologies are already available for use in the construction of buildings, but the impact of their specification on construction projects is unclear. This exploratory research identifies issues which arise following the specification of BIPV in non-residential construction projects. Rather than treating the inclusion of a new technology as a technical problem, the research explores the issue from a socio-technical perspective to understand the accommodations which the project team makes and their effect on the building and the technology. The paper is part of a larger research project which uses a Social Construction of Technology Approach (SCOT) to explore the accommodations made to working practices and design when Building Integrated PhotoVoltaic (BIPV) technology is introduced. The approach explores how the requirements of the technology from different groups of actors (Relevant Social Groups or RSG's) give rise to problems and create solutions. As such it rejects the notion of a rational linear view of innovation diffusion; instead it suggests that the variety and composition of the Relevant Social Groups set the agenda for problem solving and solutions as the project progresses. The research explores the experiences of three people who have extensive histories of involvement with BIPV in construction, looks at how SCOT can inform our understanding of the issues involved and identifies themes and issues in the specification of BIPV on construction projects. A key finding concerns the alignment of inflection points at which interviewees have found themselves changing from one RSG to another as new problems and solutions are identified. The points at which they change RSG often occurred at points which mirror conventional construction categories (in terms of project specification, tender, design and construction).

3-manifolds in Euclidean space from a contact viewpoint

We study the geometry of 3-manifolds generically embedded in R(n) by means of the analysis of the singularities of the distance-squared and height functions on them. We describe the local structure of the discriminant (associated to the distribution of asymptotic directions), the ridges and the flat ridges.

Teorema de Riemann-Roch e aplicações

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

O processo de construção de objetos de aprendizagem em cálculo diferencial e integral durante uma atividade de design

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo ontogênico e taxonômico das larvas de algumas espécies de peixes da região norte do Brasil

O presente estudo teve como objetivo fornecer informações sobre a descrição morfológica e ontogênica das espécies Plagioscion squamosissimus (Sciaenidae), Cynoscion acoupa (Sciaenidae), Colomesus pscitacus (Tetraodontidae) e Oligoplites palometa (Carangidae) da região norte do Brasil. Todos os indivíduos estudados foram analisados quanto à integridade de suas estruturas e posteriormente identificados. A partir da identificação para cada espécie, os indivíduos foram analisados quanto a seus caracteres morfológicos, merísticos, morfométricos. Para o estudo ontogênico foram determinados os pontos de inflexão no crescimento das estruturas estudadas, as fases de desenvolvimento e seus períodos crítico, posteriormente foi realizado um PCA para melhor visualização dos caracteres que melhor definem o crescimento larval. Os resultados indicaram que o crescimento relativo (em função do comprimento total (CT) das partes corporais estudadas seguiu alometria negativa. As três fases de desenvolvimento larval definidas em função do processo ontogênico diferiram entre espécies apesar de apresentarem similaridades na cronologia do desenvolvimento corporal. Assim o desenvolvimento inicial das quatro espécies na fase F1 favorece a porção anterior das larvas enquanto que a parte posterior do corpo apresentou maior taxa de crescimento no final da fase larval. As duas espécies da família Sciaenidae Plagioscion squamosissimus e Cynoscion acoupa apresentam diferenças na forma da boca e CT quando foram observados os primeiros dentes, com diferença também na sequencia do desenvolvimento das nadadeiras, na pigmentação na presença e localização dos espinhos e nas proporções corporais. Para Colomesus pscitacus observou-se a ocorrência de dentes ossificados logo após eclosão, nesta espécie ocorre também o precoce surgimento das nadadeiras, de pigmentação e a manutenção das relações corporais (caracterizando a forma esférica do corpo). A espécie Oligoplites palometa apresentou o padrão de desenvolvimento das nadadeiras semelhante ao descritos para outras espécies desta família o que associa-se como um padrão característico para esta família, assim como as presença da pigmentação intensa e dos espinhos na região opercular e supra-occipital.

Pore structure and column efficiency of silica monoliths in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Five different methods were critically examined to characterize the pore structure of the silica monoliths. The mesopore characterization was performed using: a) the classical BJH method of nitrogen sorption data, which showed overestimated values in the mesopore distribution and was improved by using the NLDFT method, b) the ISEC method implementing the PPM and PNM models, which were especially developed for monolithic silicas, that contrary to the particulate supports, demonstrate the two inflection points in the ISEC curve, enabling the calculation of pore connectivity, a measure for the mass transfer kinetics in the mesopore network, c) the mercury porosimetry using a new recommended mercury contact angle values. rnThe results of the characterization of mesopores of monolithic silica columns by the three methods indicated that all methods were useful with respect to the pore size distribution by volume, but only the ISEC method with implemented PPM and PNM models gave the average pore size and distribution based on the number average and the pore connectivity values.rnThe characterization of the flow-through pore was performed by two different methods: a) the mercury porosimetry, which was used not only for average flow-through pore value estimation, but also the assessment of entrapment. It was found that the mass transfer from the flow-through pores to mesopores was not hindered in case of small sized flow-through pores with a narrow distribution, b) the liquid penetration where the average flow-through pore values were obtained via existing equations and improved by the additional methods developed according to Hagen-Poiseuille rules. The result was that not the flow-through pore size influences the column bock pressure, but the surface area to volume ratio of silica skeleton is most decisive. Thus the monolith with lowest ratio values will be the most permeable. rnThe flow-through pore characterization results obtained by mercury porosimetry and liquid permeability were compared with the ones from imaging and image analysis. All named methods enable a reliable characterization of the flow-through pore diameters for the monolithic silica columns, but special care should be taken about the chosen theoretical model.rnThe measured pore characterization parameters were then linked with the mass transfer properties of monolithic silica columns. As indicated by the ISEC results, no restrictions in mass transfer resistance were noticed in mesopores due to their high connectivity. The mercury porosimetry results also gave evidence that no restrictions occur for mass transfer from flow-through pores to mesopores in the small scaled silica monoliths with narrow distribution. rnThe prediction of the optimum regimes of the pore structural parameters for the given target parameters in HPLC separations was performed. It was found that a low mass transfer resistance in the mesopore volume is achieved when the nominal diameter of the number average size distribution of the mesopores is appr. an order of magnitude larger that the molecular radius of the analyte. The effective diffusion coefficient of an analyte molecule in the mesopore volume is strongly dependent on the value of the nominal pore diameter of the number averaged pore size distribution. The mesopore size has to be adapted to the molecular size of the analyte, in particular for peptides and proteins. rnThe study on flow-through pores of silica monoliths demonstrated that the surface to volume of the skeletons ratio and external porosity are decisive for the column efficiency. The latter is independent from the flow-through pore diameter. The flow-through pore characteristics by direct and indirect approaches were assessed and theoretical column efficiency curves were derived. The study showed that next to the surface to volume ratio, the total porosity and its distribution of the flow-through pores and mesopores have a substantial effect on the column plate number, especially as the extent of adsorption increases. The column efficiency is increasing with decreasing flow through pore diameter, decreasing with external porosity, and increasing with total porosity. Though this tendency has a limit due to heterogeneity of the studied monolithic samples. We found that the maximum efficiency of the studied monolithic research columns could be reached at a skeleton diameter of ~ 0.5 µm. Furthermore when the intention is to maximize the column efficiency, more homogeneous monoliths should be prepared.rn

Changes in respiratory mechanics and gas exchange during the acute respiratory distress syndrome

BACKGROUND: The time course of impairment of respiratory mechanics and gas exchange in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains poorly defined. We assessed the changes in respiratory mechanics and gas exchange during ARDS. We hypothesized that due to the changes in respiratory mechanics over time, ventilatory strategies based on rigid volume or pressure limits might fail to prevent overdistension throughout the disease process. METHODS: Seventeen severe ARDS patients {PaO2/FiO2 10.1 (9.2-14.3) kPa; 76 (69-107) mmHg [median (25th-75th percentiles)] and bilateral infiltrates} were studied during the acute, intermediate, and late stages of ARDS (at 1-3, 4-6 and 7 days after diagnosis). Severity of lung injury, gas exchange, and hemodynamics were assessed. Pressure-volume (PV) curves of the respiratory system were obtained, and upper and lower inflection points (UIP, LIP) and recruitment were estimated. RESULTS: (1) UIP decreased from early to established (intermediate and late) ARDS [30 (28-30) cmH2O, 27 (25-30) cmH2O and 25 (23-28) cmH2O (P=0.014)]; (2) oxygenation improved in survivors and in patients with non-pulmonary etiology in late ARDS, whereas all patients developed hypercapnia from early to established ARDS; and (3) dead-space ventilation and pulmonary shunt were larger in patients with pulmonary etiology during late ARDS. CONCLUSION: We found a decrease in UIP from acute to established ARDS. If applied to our data, the inspiratory pressure limit advocated by the ARDSnet (30 cmH2O) would produce ventilation over the UIP, with a consequent increased risk of overdistension in 12%, 43% and 65% of our patients during the acute, intermediate and late phases of ARDS, respectively. Lung protective strategies based on fixed tidal volume or pressure limits may thus not fully avoid the risk of lung overdistension throughout ARDS.

Mechanisms of perceptual learning of depth discrimination in random dot stereograms.

Perceptual learning is a training induced improvement in performance. Mechanisms underlying the perceptual learning of depth discrimination in dynamic random dot stereograms were examined by assessing stereothresholds as a function of decorrelation. The inflection point of the decorrelation function was defined as the level of decorrelation corresponding to 1.4 times the threshold when decorrelation is 0%. In general, stereothresholds increased with increasing decorrelation. Following training, stereothresholds and standard errors of measurement decreased systematically for all tested decorrelation values. Post training decorrelation functions were reduced by a multiplicative constant (approximately 5), exhibiting changes in stereothresholds without changes in the inflection points. Disparity energy model simulations indicate that a post-training reduction in neuronal noise can sufficiently account for the perceptual learning effects. In two subjects, learning effects were retained over a period of six months, which may have application for training stereo deficient subjects.

Género literario y finalidad discursiva en el DRN

Dentro de la rica tradición histórica de estudios acerca del De rerum natura llama la atención la diversidad de opiniones en cuanto al carácter genérico (principalmente su carácter épico y didáctico) y la finalidad o funcionalidad del poema, puesto que a su vez estos asuntos han sido puntos de inflexión del que se desprenden diversas interpretaciones del texto y aún en nuestros días genera disyuntivas entre los estudiosos. La situación no ha resultado tarea fácil, pues, mientras algunos investigadores declaran a Lucrecio como legislador de la norma didáctica, otros prefieren poner en relieve opiniones diferentes que no apuntan a considerar el poema como una obra de naturaleza didáctica. Así, pues, ante la creciente diversidad de razonamientos que se ha generado en torno a este asunto, consideramos oportuno, tanto a partir de taxonomías genéricas de la antigüedad misma, como de la moderna teoría de los géneros literarios, poner a dialogar algunas de las opiniones más relevantes sobre el particular en busca de aclarar un poco este horizonte, a la vez que agregamos a la discusión que el texto también posee un carácter didáctico en tanto que posee una estructura proléptica

Género literario y finalidad discursiva en el DRN

Dentro de la rica tradición histórica de estudios acerca del De rerum natura llama la atención la diversidad de opiniones en cuanto al carácter genérico (principalmente su carácter épico y didáctico) y la finalidad o funcionalidad del poema, puesto que a su vez estos asuntos han sido puntos de inflexión del que se desprenden diversas interpretaciones del texto y aún en nuestros días genera disyuntivas entre los estudiosos. La situación no ha resultado tarea fácil, pues, mientras algunos investigadores declaran a Lucrecio como legislador de la norma didáctica, otros prefieren poner en relieve opiniones diferentes que no apuntan a considerar el poema como una obra de naturaleza didáctica. Así, pues, ante la creciente diversidad de razonamientos que se ha generado en torno a este asunto, consideramos oportuno, tanto a partir de taxonomías genéricas de la antigüedad misma, como de la moderna teoría de los géneros literarios, poner a dialogar algunas de las opiniones más relevantes sobre el particular en busca de aclarar un poco este horizonte, a la vez que agregamos a la discusión que el texto también posee un carácter didáctico en tanto que posee una estructura proléptica

Género literario y finalidad discursiva en el DRN

Dentro de la rica tradición histórica de estudios acerca del De rerum natura llama la atención la diversidad de opiniones en cuanto al carácter genérico (principalmente su carácter épico y didáctico) y la finalidad o funcionalidad del poema, puesto que a su vez estos asuntos han sido puntos de inflexión del que se desprenden diversas interpretaciones del texto y aún en nuestros días genera disyuntivas entre los estudiosos. La situación no ha resultado tarea fácil, pues, mientras algunos investigadores declaran a Lucrecio como legislador de la norma didáctica, otros prefieren poner en relieve opiniones diferentes que no apuntan a considerar el poema como una obra de naturaleza didáctica. Así, pues, ante la creciente diversidad de razonamientos que se ha generado en torno a este asunto, consideramos oportuno, tanto a partir de taxonomías genéricas de la antigüedad misma, como de la moderna teoría de los géneros literarios, poner a dialogar algunas de las opiniones más relevantes sobre el particular en busca de aclarar un poco este horizonte, a la vez que agregamos a la discusión que el texto también posee un carácter didáctico en tanto que posee una estructura proléptica