Genetic parameters for body weight in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Colombia using random regression models

The objective of this research was to estimate (co) variance functions and genetic parameters for body weight in Colombian buffalo populations using random regression models with Legendre polynomials. Data consisted of 34,738 weight records from birth to 900 days of age from 7815 buffaloes. Fixed effects in the model were contemporary group and parity order of the mother. Random effects were direct and maternal additive genetic, as well as animal and maternal permanent environmental effects. A cubic orthogonal Legendre polynomial was used to model the mean curve of the population. Eleven models with first to sixth order polynomials were used to describe additive genetic direct and maternal effects, and animal and maternal permanent environmental effects. The residual was modeled considering five variance classes. The best model included fourth and sixth order polynomials for direct additive genetic and animal permanent environmental effects, respectively, and third-order polynomials for maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects. The direct heritability increased from birth until 120 days of age (0.32 +/- 0.05), decreasing thereafter until one year of age (0.18 +/- 0.04) and increased again, reaching 0.39 +/- 0.09, at the end of the evaluated period. The highest maternal heritability estimates (0.11 +/- 0.05), were obtained for weights around weaning age (weaning age range is between 8 and 9.5 months). Maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental variances increased from birth until about one year of age, decreasing at later ages. Direct genetic correlations ranged from moderate (0.60 +/- 0.060) to high (0.99 +/- 0.001), maternal genetic correlations showed a similar range (0.41 +/- 0.401 and 0.99 +/- 0.003), and all of them decreased as time between weighings increased. Direct genetic correlations suggested that selecting buffalos for heavier weights at any age would increase weights from birth through 900 days of age. However, higher heritabilities for direct genetic weights effects after 600 days of age suggested that selection for these effects would be more effective if done during this age period. A greater response to selection for maternal ability would be expected if selection used maternal genetic predictions for weights near weaning. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The root systems of permian arborescent sphenopsids: evidence from the northern and southern hemispheres

Anatomically preserved calamitalean trunks are described from the Permian fossil forests of Chemnitz, Germany, and Tocantins, central-north Brazil. Several trunk bases were found in situ, still rooting in their former substrate or in parautochthonous sediments and revealing multiple organic connections between stems and roots. The new evidence of several free-stemmed Permian calamitaleans from different fossil lagerstatten and different taphonomic modes from the Northern and Southern hemispheres has implications for understanding calamite growth and challenges the universal validity of the reconstruction of rhizome-bearing woody trees. Whereas the stems belong to different species of the widely distributed genus Arthropitys GOEPPERT 1864, among them the generitype A. bistriata (COTTA) emend. RoSSLER, FENG & NOLL 2012 the attached roots represent the largest calamite roots ever found and incorporate a broad spectrum of preservational forms and ontogenetic stages. The latter are represented by the root genera Astromyelon WILLIAMSON 1878, Myriophylloides HICK & CASH 1881 and Asthenomyelon LEISTIKOW 1962 that were evidenced for the first time from Chemnitz, the type locality of Arthropitys and Calamitea (COTTA) emend. ROSSLER & NOLL 2007. Branched, stem-borne, adventitious root systems exhibit similar architectures, arise from different nodes of the lowermost trunks and anchor the trees in' different substrates. Developmental features were analysed in first- to third-order roots, which possess clearly-defined concentric tissue zones: epidermis/periderm, cortex, endodermis and central vascular tissue with or without pith. First-order roots, in particular, show considerable secondary growth. Numerous zones of concentric density variation in the secondary xylem indicate some kind of seasonality in the early Permian environments.

Picosecond nonlinearity of GeO2-Bi2O3-PbO-TiO2 glasses at 532 and 1,064 nm

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Random regression models using different functions to model milk flow in dairy cows

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

Verificação de terceira ordem de estruturas de concreto armado de edíficios

The change in design of a building can occur during its construction process, especially when this change involves greater amount of profit for the building company, as it is the case of adding extra floors. However, there must be an analysis of the structure of the building in order to see if it is possible to increase the number of floors without the need of reinforcement, as this need would result in higher costs for the building company. This graduation report presents this analysis by using the methods of third order verification of reinforced concrete structures

Reologia de fluidos envolvidos no processo de obtenção de bioetanol

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Long-range two-particle correlations of strange hadrons with charged particles in pPb and PbPb collisions at LHC energies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Random regression models for milk, fat and protein in Colombian Buffaloes

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

Spurious transients of projection methods in microflow simulations

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

Dinâmica secular rotacional de corpos tri-axiais: expansão de V em ressonâncias de primeira ordem

Consider a finite body of mass m (C1) with moments of inertia A, B and C. This body orbits another one of mass much larger M (C2), which at first will be taken as a point, even if it is not completely spherical. The body C1, when orbit C2, performs a translational motion near a Keplerian. It will not be a Keplerian due to external disturbances. We will use two axes systems: fixed in the center of mass of C1 and other inertial. The C1 attitude, that is, the dynamic rotation of this body is know if we know how to situate mobile system according to inertial axes system. The strong influence exerted by C2 on C1, which is a flattened body, generates torques on C1, what affects its dynamics of rotation. We will obtain the mathematical formulation of this problem assuming C1 as a planet and C2 as the sun. Also applies to case of satellite and planet. In the case of Mercury-Sun system, the disturbing potential that governs rotation dynamics, for theoretical studies, necessarily have to be developed by powers of the eccentricity. As is known, such expansions are delicate because of the convergence issue. Thus, we intend to make a development until the third order (superior orders are not always achievable because of the volume of terms generated in cases of first-order resonances). By defining a modern set of canonical variables (Andoyer), we will assemble a disturbed Hamiltonian problem. The Andoyer's Variables allow to define averages, which enable us to discard short-term effects. Our results for the resonant angle variation of Mercury are in full agreement with those obtained by D'Hoedt & Lemaître (2004) and Rambaux & Bois (2004)

Ocupação do solo em nove sub-bacias incluídas na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão do Faxinal - Botucatu (SP)

Expansion of agricultural practice, cattle raising and forestry, in a disorderly way and no limits of land use, generates the degradation of natural resources such as soil, water and vegetation. That fact brings consequences, impacts the environment and the rural landscape. This study aimed to identify and quantify the land use in nine watersheds included in the watershed of Faxinal creek, located in western Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, at 22º 51’ 35” and 22º 57’ 02” – Latitude S and 48º 39’ 42” and 48º 38’ 01” – Longitude W. The basin was subdivided into 9 subunits, being eight from second and one from third-order branch. The diagnosis of the subunits was carried out with geospatial technologies, in order to gather data on the use and occupation of the soil. Based on the obtained results, was concluded that the sub watersheds are occupied by the sum of areas of Citrus, horticulture, coffee plantation and small other occupations (25,81%), followed by reforestation (24,80%), as an isolated occupation element, has occupied the largest area.

Estudos de técnicas de reinicialização em métodos level-set e suas aplicações em escoamentos bifásicos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Modeling and identification of freeplay nonlinearity

A nonlinear analysis is performed for the purpose of identification of the pitch freeplay nonlinearity and its effect on the type of bifurcation of a two degree-of-freedom aeroelastic system. The databases for the identification are generated from experimental investigations of a pitch-plunge rigid airfoil supported by a nonlinear torsional spring. Experimental data and linear analysis are performed to validate the parameters of the linearized equations. Based on the periodic responses of the experimental data which included the flutter frequency and its third harmonics, the freeplay nonlinearity is approximated by a polynomial expansion up to the third order. This representation allows us to use the normal form of the Hopf bifurcation to characterize the type of instability. Based on numerical integrations, the coefficients of the polynomial expansion representing the freeplay nonlinearity are identified. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Application of the Z-scan technique to determine the optical Kerr coefficient and two-photon absorption coefficient of magnetite nanoparticles colloidal suspension

We investigate the occurrence of the optical Kerr effect and two-photon absorption when an oil-based magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles colloidal suspension is illuminated with high intensity femtosecond laser pulses. The frequency of the pulses is controlled and the Z-scan technique is employed in our measurements of the nonlinear optical Kerr coefficient (n(2)) and two-photon absorption coefficient (beta). From these values it was possible to calculate the real and imaginary parts of the third-order susceptibility. We observed that increasing the pulse frequency, additional physical processes take place, increasing artificially the absolute values of n(2) and beta. The experimental conditions are discussed to assure the obtention of reliable values of these nonlinear optical parameters, which may be useful in all-optical switching and optical power limiting applications. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4723829]

Influence of nanoparticle size on the nonlinear optical properties of magnetite ferrofluids

The nonlinear index of refraction (n(2)) and the two-photon absorption coefficient (beta) of water-based ferrofluids made of magnetite nanocrystals of different sizes and with different coatings have been measured through the Z-scan technique, with ultrashort (femtoseconds) laser pulses. Their third-order susceptibility is calculated from the values of n(2) and beta. The influence of different particles' coatings and sizes on these nonlinear optical properties are investigated. The values of n(2) and beta depend more significantly on the nanoparticles' size than on the particular coating. We observe a decrease of beta as the nanoparticles' diameters decrease, although the optical gap is found to be the same for all samples. The results are interpreted considering modifications in the electronic orbital shape due to the particles' nanosize effect.