Piezoelectric transducers assessed by the pencil lead break for impedance-based structural health monitoring

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

Compostagem de resíduo sólido de abatedouro avícola

The great demand for animal protein was responsible for the increase on the broilers production and hence, the generation of waste from the poultry slaughter was increased as well, which in turn, propelled the development of techniques that allow the reuse and recycling of these wastes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of composting on the treatment and recycling of solid waste from poultry slaughterhouse. The solid waste was from a commercial poultry slaughterhouse and was composed of viscera, muscle, fat, bone, blood and feathers that was mixed with a source of carbon, rice husk. Initially, a windrow with a volume of 1.5m(3) was built, and then some parameters were monitored: temperature, total solids (TS), volatile (VS), N, P, K, organic carbon (C), composting organic matter (COC), organic matter resistant to composting (MORC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), mass and volume of the windrow, most probable number (MPN) of total and fecal coliforms, as well as their reductions during the process. The maximum temperature reached in the center of the windrow was 53.3 degrees C (weekly average) since reductions of weight of TS and VS and volume during the pre-composting were 36.1, 44.3 and 23.3%, respectively and during the composting process was 21.8, 23.8 and 4.4%. The low volume reduction can be associated with high concentrations of MORC (40.1%) which can be mainly related to the quality of the carbon source. The process produced satisfactory total reductions of TS, VS and volume that were respectively, 50.1, 57.5 and 26.7%. However reductions were observed in 43% of amount of nitrogen in the final compound. Despite reductions in nitrogen content, composting proved to be an effective method in the treatment of solid waste from poultry slaughterhouse.

Análise do comportamento da cor de restaurações cerâmicas sem metal avaliadas por diferentes métodos: estudo clínico prospectivo

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

Discrimination of production environments of specialty coffees by means of stable isotopes and discriminant model

The south of Minas Gerais, Brazil stands out among various regions through its capacity for production of specialty coffees. Its potential, manifested through being one of the most award-winning Brazilian regions in recent years, has been recognized by the Cup of Excellence (COE). With the evident relationship between product quality and the environment in mind, the need arises for scientific studies to provide a foundation for discrimination of product origin, creating new methods for combating possible fraud. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in discrimination of production environments of specialty coffees from the Serra da Mantiqueira of Minas Gerais by means of the discriminant model. Coffee samples were composed of ripe yellow and red fruits collected manually at altitudes below 1,000 m, from 1,000 to 1,200 m and above 1,200 m. The yellow and red fruits were subjected to dry processing and wet processing, with five replications. A total of 119 samples were used for discrimination of specialty coffee production environments by means of stable isotopes and statistical modeling. The model generated had an accuracy rate of 89% in discrimination of environments and was composed of the isotope variables of δ15N, δ13C, %C, %N, δD, δ18O (meteoric water) and sensory analysis scores. In addition, for the first time, discrimination of environments on a local geographic scale, within a single municipality, was proposed and successfully concluded. This shows that isotope analysis is an effective method in verifying geographic origin for specialty coffees.

Expressão gênica de Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri colonizando laranja doce ‘pêra rio’ (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) e lima ácida ‘galego’ (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo e desenvolvimento de filmes espessos de CeO2 obtidos por tape casting

Tape Casting proved to be an effective method for the production of thick films of CeO2 pure and doped with La. For this study, the nanoparticles used to form the slurry were synthesizes by the H-M method, at 100°C for 8 minutes, using KOH mineralizer. The slurry was made in aqueous solvent, requiring optimal control of surroundings conditions so that the produced tape has conditions to be studied. However, there's no toxicity or flammability in the film made by such solvent, being pleasing to the environment. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the films obtained by the Tape Casting process were studied by the methods of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, specific surface area, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and voltage-current measures, varying the electric field and frequency. From the results obtained by laboratory experiments, based on the literature, it was possible to reveal and understand some CeO2 features pure and doped with La

A importância da mediação: a situação do professor mediador escolar e comunitário na Rede Estadual Paulista de Ensino

This study aims to analyze the implementation of mediation in the school environment of São Paulo State Education Network through the figure of Teacher School and Community Mediator (PMEC). Mediation arises, as an alternative and effective method for conflict resolution from existing interpersonal relationships at school. The methodology used was the exploratory and empirical research literature on the subject mediation and the analysis of the resolutions of the Secretariat of São Paulo State Education establishing the School Protection System (SPE) and made possible the performance of the PMEC within that environment. Authors like Bonafé-Schmitt (2010); Caetano, Freire and Ferreira (2009); Calcaterra (2002); Freire (2010); Jares (2002); Lederach (1996); Littlejohn and Domenici (1999); Morgado and Oliveira (2009); Torremorell (2008) and Vecchi and Greco (1999) were selected in order to provide greater familiarity with the subject mediation and conflict mediation later in the school environment. The concept of mediation, mediation templates and profiles of mediators will be explained as well as PMEC function features as regards the selection methods training main assisted cases, assignments that are stipulated by the guiding documents and what actually happens in daily practice verified the reports obtained through a semi-structured interview. Finally, we present the PMEC situation regarding the review by the leaders and attended school community and the acceptance of their work within that environment

Compressed Air, Wooden Clappers, and Other Non-Traditional Methods for Dispersing European Starlings from an Urban Roost

During autumn 2003, several thousand European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) began roosting on exposed I-beams in a newly constructed, decorative glass canopy that covered the passenger pick-up area at the terminal building for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Ohio. The use of lethal control or conventional dispersal techniques, such as pyrotechnics and fire hoses, were not feasible in the airport terminal area. The design and aesthetics of the structure precluded the use of netting and other exclusion materials. In January 2004, an attempt was made to disperse the birds using recorded predator and distress calls broadcast from speakers installed in the structure. This technique failed to disperse the birds. In February 2004, we developed a technique using compressed air to physically and audibly harass the birds. We used a trailer-mounted commercial air compressor producing 185 cubic feet per minute of air at 100 pounds per square inch pressure and a 20-foot long, 1-inch diameter PVC pipe attached to the outlet hose. One person slowly (< 5 mph) drove a pick-up truck through the airport terminal at dusk while the second person sat on a bench in the truck bed and directed the compressed air from the pipe into the canopy to harass starlings attempting to enter the roost site. After 5 consecutive nights of compressed-air harassment, virtually no starlings attempted to roost in the canopy. Once familiar with the physical effects of the compressed air, the birds dispersed at the sound of the air. Only occasional harassment at dusk was needed through the remainder of the winter to keep the canopy free of starlings. Similar harassment with the compressor was conducted successfully in autumn 2004 with the addition of a modified leaf blower, wooden clappers, and laser. In conclusion, we found compressed air to be a safe, unobtrusive, and effective method for dispersing starlings from an urban roost site. This technique would likely be applicable for other urban-roosting species such as crows, house sparrows, and blackbirds.

Estudo e desenvolvimento de filmes espessos de CeO2 obtidos por tape casting

Tape Casting proved to be an effective method for the production of thick films of CeO2 pure and doped with La. For this study, the nanoparticles used to form the slurry were synthesizes by the H-M method, at 100°C for 8 minutes, using KOH mineralizer. The slurry was made in aqueous solvent, requiring optimal control of surroundings conditions so that the produced tape has conditions to be studied. However, there's no toxicity or flammability in the film made by such solvent, being pleasing to the environment. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the films obtained by the Tape Casting process were studied by the methods of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, specific surface area, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and voltage-current measures, varying the electric field and frequency. From the results obtained by laboratory experiments, based on the literature, it was possible to reveal and understand some CeO2 features pure and doped with La

A importância da mediação: a situação do professor mediador escolar e comunitário na Rede Estadual Paulista de Ensino

This study aims to analyze the implementation of mediation in the school environment of São Paulo State Education Network through the figure of Teacher School and Community Mediator (PMEC). Mediation arises, as an alternative and effective method for conflict resolution from existing interpersonal relationships at school. The methodology used was the exploratory and empirical research literature on the subject mediation and the analysis of the resolutions of the Secretariat of São Paulo State Education establishing the School Protection System (SPE) and made possible the performance of the PMEC within that environment. Authors like Bonafé-Schmitt (2010); Caetano, Freire and Ferreira (2009); Calcaterra (2002); Freire (2010); Jares (2002); Lederach (1996); Littlejohn and Domenici (1999); Morgado and Oliveira (2009); Torremorell (2008) and Vecchi and Greco (1999) were selected in order to provide greater familiarity with the subject mediation and conflict mediation later in the school environment. The concept of mediation, mediation templates and profiles of mediators will be explained as well as PMEC function features as regards the selection methods training main assisted cases, assignments that are stipulated by the guiding documents and what actually happens in daily practice verified the reports obtained through a semi-structured interview. Finally, we present the PMEC situation regarding the review by the leaders and attended school community and the acceptance of their work within that environment

Transcranial DC Stimulation Coupled With TENS for the Treatment of Chronic Pain A Preliminary Study

Objective: Based on evidence showing that electrical stimulation of the nervous system is an effective method to decrease chronic neurogenic pain, we aimed to investigate whether the combination of 2 methods of electrical stimulation-a method of peripheral stimulation [transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)] and a method of noninvasive brain stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)]-induces greater pain reduction as compared with tDCS alone and sham stimulation. Methods: We performed a preliminary, randomized, sham-controlled, crossover, clinical study in which 8 patients were randomized to receive active tDCS/active TENS (""tDCS/TENS"" group), active tDCS/sham TENS (""tDCS"" group), and sham tDCS/sham TENS (""sham"" group) stimulation. Assessments were performed immediately before and after each condition by a blinded rater. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference in pain reduction across the conditions Of stimulation (P = 0.006). Post hoc tests showed significant pain reduction as compared with baseline after the tDCS/TENS condition [reduction by 36.5% (+/- 10.7), P = 0.004] and the tDCS condition [reduction by 15.5% (+/- 4.9), P = 0.014], but not after sham stimulation (P = 0.35). In addition, tDCS/TENS induced greater pain reduction than tDCS (P = 0.02). Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest that the combination of TENS with tDCS has a superior effect compared with tDCS alone.

Non-invasive brain stimulation for the management of arterial hypertension

The neural control of the cardiovascular system is a complex process that involves many structures at different levels of nervous system. Several cortical areas are involved in the control of systemic blood pressure, such as the sensorimotor cortex, the medial prefrontal cortex and the insular cortex. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques - repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) - induce sustained and prolonged functional changes of the human cerebral cortex. rTMS and tDCS has led to positive results in the treatment of some neurological and psychiatric disorders. Because experiments in animals show that cortical modulation can be an effective method to regulate the cardiovascular system, non-invasive brain stimulation might be a novel tool in the therapeutics of human arterial hypertension. We here review the experimental evidence that non-invasive brain stimulation can influence the autonomic nervous system and discuss the hypothesis that focal modulation of cortical excitability by rTMS or tDCS can influence sympathetic outflow and, eventually, blood pressure, thus providing a novel therapeutic tool for human arterial hypertension. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Insecticidal Activity of the Granulosis Virus in Combination with Neem Products and Talc Powder Against the Potato Tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The potato tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) is an important agricultural pest that causes significant economic losses to potato growers worldwide. The addition of an effective method of biological control for the potato tuberworm is greatly needed, and is currently unavailable in Brazil. The granulosis virus (Baculoviridae) is a promising biological control agent to protect post-harvest potatoes and in storage from the potato tuberworm. However, the control measure must be economically feasible. Liquid suspensions of a granulosis virus applied alone or in mixture with two commercial neem oil-based products (DalNeem (TM) and NeemAzal (TM)), and a dry powder formulation of viral granules were evaluated for control of potato tuberworm larvae by treating potato tubers under laboratory conditions. High larval mortality (86.7%) was achieved when DalNeem and virus were applied together at 4 mg of azadirachtin/L and 10(4) occlusion bodies (OBs)/mL, respectively. This combination resulted in a parts per thousand yen50% efficacy in relation to their counterparts alone. Conversely, NeemAzal did not enhance virus effectiveness against larvae of the potato tuberworm. The talc-based virus formulation was used for dusting seed tubers at different concentrations and resulted in 100% larval mortality at 5 x 10(8) OBs/g. Formulated and unformulated virus provided 50% mortality at 166 OBs/g and at 5.0 x 10(5) OBs/mL, respectively. As a result, talc-based virus formulation had a better control efficiency on potato tuberworm than the aqueous virus suspension. The granulosis virus combined with DalNeem at low rates or formulated with talc powder is a viable option to control the potato tuberworm under storage conditions.

Effects of circuit-based exercise programs on the body composition of elderly obese women

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of circuit-based exercise on the body composition in obese older women by focusing on physical exercise and body weight (BW) gain control in older people. Methods: Seventy older women (>60 years old) voluntarily took part in the study. Participants were randomized into six different groups according to body mass index (BMI): appropriate weight (AW) control (AWC) and trained (AWT) groups, overweight (OW) control (OWC) and trained (OWT) groups, and obesity (O) control (OC) and trained (OT) groups. The exercise program consisted of 50 minutes of exercise three times per week for 12 weeks. The exercises were alternated between upper and lower body using rest between sets for 40 seconds with intensity controlled by heart rate (70% of work). The contraction time established was 5 seconds to eccentric and concentric muscular action phase. The following anthropometric parameters were evaluated: height (m), body weight (BW, kg), body fat (BF, %), fat mass (FM, kg), lean mass (LM, kg), and BMI (kg/m(2)). Results: The values (mean +/- standard deviation [SD]) of relative changes to BW (-8.0% +/- 0.8%), BF (-21.4% +/- 2.1%), LM (3.0% +/- 0.3%), and FM (-31.2% +/- 3.0%) to the OT group were higher (P < .05) than in the AWT (BW: -2.0% +/- 1.1%; BF: -4.6% +/- 1.8%; FM: -7.0% +/- 2.8%; LM: 0.2% +/- 1.1%) and OWT (BW: -4.5% +/- 1.0%; BF: -11.0% +/- 2.2%; FM: -16.1% +/- 3.2%; LM: -0.2% +/- 1.0%) groups; additionally, no differences were found for C groups. While reduction (P < .03) in BMI according to absolute values was observed for all trained groups (AWT: 22 +/- 1 versus 21 +/- 1; OWT: 27 +/- 1 versus 25 +/- 1, OT: 34 +/- 1 versus 30 +/- 1) after training, no differences were found for C groups. Conclusion: In summary, circuit-based exercise is an effective method for promoting reduction in anthropometrics parameters in obese older women.

Importance of anterior segment tomography for the diagnosis of corneal ectasia

Purpose: The methodology currently used for interpretation of the cornea and anterior segment tomography for the diagnosis of corneal ectasia and its susceptibility. Methods: Description of the methodology and clinical interpretation of corneal and anterior segment tomography indexes; report of three cases demonstrating the importance of this new diagnostic tool (Pentacam HR (R)) in ophthalmological practice. Conclusion: The use of corneal and anterior segment tomography seems to be an effective method to increase the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis and early detection of corneal ectasia.