Uso e adequação de tensoestruturas à região Amazônica estudo de caso: Feira do Ver-O-Peso em Belém-Pa

A crescente utilização das tensoestruturas para os mais diversos tipos de uso, nem sempre com a devida preocupação com os aspectos climáticos locais, motivou o presente estudo, o qual avalia a adequação deste tipo de cobertura à Região Amazônica. Em particular, tem-se como objeto de estudo as tensoestruturas da feira do Ver-O-Peso, localizada na cidade de Belém-PA. Neste trabalho, a avaliação do desempenho das coberturas tensionadas utilizadas na feira baseou-se na Arquitetura Bioclimática, com ênfase no desempenho das mesmas como proteção às intempéries. Na metodologia utilizada, a adequação do projeto destas tensoestruturas ao clima da região é verificada utilizando-se os programas Analyses Bio 3.0, o SOL-AR 5.0.1 e o Tensil 2.1. Os resultados obtidos com estes programas permitiram uma análise crítica do projeto das tensoestruturas da feira do Ver-O-Peso, quanto à orientação destas estruturas com relação à direção dos ventos predominantes e incidência dos raios solares, assim como no que diz respeito ao seu desempenho térmico e luminoso. Para estudar precisamente a incidência solar nas estruturas de acordo com a posição do sol, foi desenvolvida uma maquete eletrônica, utilizando-se o programa 3 DS MAX 8. Posteriormente, algumas simulações computacionais foram realizadas considerando as coordenadas geográficas da cidade de Belém e a respectiva trajetória do sol, durante o solstício de verão, solstício de inverno e equinócio; Além das análises realizadas através destes programas, foi desenvolvida também uma pesquisa de campo, com base na aplicação de questionários aos usuários da feira (feirantes e clientes). Os resultados obtidos demonstraram a necessidade de melhoria na proteção no interior destas tensoestruturas, especialmente para as barracas localizadas na periferia da área coberta. Para isso, sugere-se a utilização de um anteparo feito com uma membrana translúcida. Este anteparo, colocado estrategicamente nas regiões mais críticas da cobertura permitiria a passagem da luz, porém diminuindo os efeitos da radiação direta e criaria uma proteção mais eficaz para as chuvas, sem agredir esteticamente o projeto original.

Development of computational 3D MoM algorithm for nanoplasmonics

In this paper, we present an algorithm for full-wave electromagnetic analysis of nanoplasmonic structures. We use the three-dimensional Method of Moments to solve the electric field integral equation. The computational algorithm is developed in the language C. As examples of application of the code, the problems of scattering from a nanosphere and a rectangular nanorod are analyzed. The calculated characteristics are the near field distribution and the spectral response of these nanoparticles. The convergence of the method for different discretization sizes is also discussed.

Binding of antioxidant flavone isovitexin to human serum albumin investigated by experimental and computational assays

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

An improved interolog mapping-based computational prediction of protein protein interactions with increased network coverage

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cogeneration design problem Computational complexity analysis and solution through an expert system

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is twofold: to analyze the computational complexity of the cogeneration design problem; to present an expert system to solve the proposed problem, comparing such an approach with the traditional searching methods available.Design/methodology/approach - The complexity of the cogeneration problem is analyzed through the transformation of the well-known knapsack problem. Both problems are formulated as decision problems and it is proven that the cogeneration problem is np-complete. Thus, several searching approaches, such as population heuristics and dynamic programming, could be used to solve the problem. Alternatively, a knowledge-based approach is proposed by presenting an expert system and its knowledge representation scheme.Findings - The expert system is executed considering two case-studies. First, a cogeneration plant should meet power, steam, chilled water and hot water demands. The expert system presented two different solutions based on high complexity thermodynamic cycles. In the second case-study the plant should meet just power and steam demands. The system presents three different solutions, and one of them was never considered before by our consultant expert.Originality/value - The expert system approach is not a "blind" method, i.e. it generates solutions based on actual engineering knowledge instead of the searching strategies from traditional methods. It means that the system is able to explain its choices, making available the design rationale for each solution. This is the main advantage of the expert system approach over the traditional search methods. On the other hand, the expert system quite likely does not provide an actual optimal solution. All it can provide is one or more acceptable solutions.

Brazilian portuguese wordNet: a computational linguistic exercise of encoding bilingual relational lexicons

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Some deviations of form: a little essay on psychoanalysis, art and aesthetics

This work intends to investigate the use of psychoanalytical theory within the aesthetic and critical contemporary art field. To this purpose, it focuses on two philosophers who have become significant in our time: the art critic Hal Foster and the art historian Georges Didi-Huberman. This study aims to show how far the concepts generated in psychoanalytic praxis allowed interpretations that disrupt the traditional aesthetics field. This type of analysis is possible once we abandon the paradigm of “applied psychoanalysis”, which is still current in non-clinical setting. Finally, the proposal wants to argue that the category of the amorphous may clarify certain aesthetic experiences that range from the modernity of art through postmodernity.

Optimizing maxillary aesthetics of a severe compromised tooth through orthodontic movement and dental implants

Treatment of severe compromised tooth in the maxillary anterior area still poses great challenge to the clinicians. Several treatment modalities have been proposed to restore the function and aesthetics in teeth with advanced periodontal disease. The present study aims to report a case of traumatic injury of a left-maxillary central incisor with ridge preservation, orthodontic movement, and implant therapy. A 45-year-old woman underwent the proposed treatment for her left central incisor: basic periodontal therapy, xenogenous bone graft, and guided bone regeneration (GBR). Six months after the graft procedure, orthodontic movement by means of alignment and leveling was made and a coronal displacement of the gingival margin and vertical bone apposition could be observed after 13 months of active movement. Afterwards, a dental implant was placed followed by a connective tissue graft and immediate provisionalization of the crown. In conclusion, orthodontic movement was effective to improve the gingival tissue and alveolar bone prior to implant placement favoring the aesthetic results. Six years postoperatively, the results revealed height and width alveolar bone gain indicating that the treatment proposed was able to restore all the functional and aesthetic parameters.

Computational speed-up with a single qudit

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

NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL VERIFICATION OF A MULTISCALE COMPUTATIONAL MODEL FOR IMPACT PROBLEMS IN HETEROGENEOUS VISCOELASTIC MATERIALS WITH EVOLVING DAMAGE

Composites are engineered materials that take advantage of the particular properties of each of its two or more constituents. They are designed to be stronger, lighter and to last longer which can lead to the creation of safer protection gear, more fuel efficient transportation methods and more affordable materials, among other examples. This thesis proposes a numerical and analytical verification of an in-house developed multiscale model for predicting the mechanical behavior of composite materials with various configurations subjected to impact loading. This verification is done by comparing the results obtained with analytical and numerical solutions with the results found when using the model. The model takes into account the heterogeneity of the materials that can only be noticed at smaller length scales, based on the fundamental structural properties of each of the composite’s constituents. This model can potentially reduce or eliminate the need of costly and time consuming experiments that are necessary for material characterization since it relies strictly upon the fundamental structural properties of each of the composite’s constituents. The results from simulations using the multiscale model were compared against results from direct simulations using over-killed meshes, which considered all heterogeneities explicitly in the global scale, indicating that the model is an accurate and fast tool to model composites under impact loads. Advisor: David H. Allen

EVOLUTIONARY AESTHETICS AND SEXUAL SELECTION IN THE EVOLUTION OF ROCK ART AESTHETICS

This theoretical proposal applies evolutionary aesthetic, animal signalling and sexual selection to understand our artistic cognition, especially rock art aesthetics. Iconographic motifs, universally found in rock art, indicate which set of pre-artistic aesthetic psychological bias has been co-opted to catch the viewer`s attention. The co-evolutionary process of sexual selection could have shaped the design features of both rock art images and their aesthetic cognition by conferring mutual benefits on both producers, via manipulation, and receivers, via information extraction. We show some strategic techniques identified in rock art and art that indicate the occurrence of this co-evolution between producers and receivers.

Gas-phase reactivity of protonated 2-oxazoline derivatives: mass spectrometry and computational studies

RATIONALE: Oxazolines have attracted the attention of researchers worldwide due to their versatility as carboxylic acid protecting groups, chiral auxiliaries, and ligands for asymmetric catalysis. Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-MS/MS) analysis of five 2-oxazoline derivatives has been conducted, in order to understand the influence of the side chain on the gas-phase dissociation of these protonated compounds under collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions. METHODS: Mass spectrometric analyses were conducted in a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) spectrometer fitted with electrospray ionization source. Protonation sites have been proposed on the basis of the gas-phase basicity, proton affinity, atomic charges, and a molecular electrostatic potential map obtained on the basis of the quantum chemistry calculations at the B3LYP/6-31 + G(d, p) and G2(MP2) levels. RESULTS: Analysis of the atomic charges, gas-phase basicity and proton affinities values indicates that the nitrogen atom is a possible proton acceptor site. On the basis of these results, two main fragmentation processes have been suggested: one taking place via neutral elimination of the oxazoline moiety (99 u) and another occurring by sequential elimination of neutral fragments with 72 u and 27 u. These processes should lead to formation of R+. CONCLUSIONS: The ESI-MS/MS experiments have shown that the side chain could affect the dissociation mechanism of protonated 2-oxazoline derivatives. For the compound that exhibits a hydroxyl at the lateral chain, water loss has been suggested to happen through an E2-type elimination, in an exothermic step. Copyright (C) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Error Upper Bounds for a Computational Method for Nonlinear Boundary and Initial-Value Problems

This work develops a computational approach for boundary and initial-value problems by using operational matrices, in order to run an evolutive process in a Hilbert space. Besides, upper bounds for errors in the solutions and in their derivatives can be estimated providing accuracy measures.

Computational tools for comparing asymmetric GARCH models via Bayes factors

In this paper we use Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods in order to estimate and compare GARCH models from a Bayesian perspective. We allow for possibly heavy tailed and asymmetric distributions in the error term. We use a general method proposed in the literature to introduce skewness into a continuous unimodal and symmetric distribution. For each model we compute an approximation to the marginal likelihood, based on the MCMC output. From these approximations we compute Bayes factors and posterior model probabilities. (C) 2012 IMACS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis of energy dissipation in stirred suspension polymerisation reactors using computational fluid dynamics

This work evaluates the spatial distribution of normalised rates of droplet breakage and droplet coalescence in liquidliquid dispersions maintained in agitated tanks at operation conditions normally used to perform suspension polymerisation reactions. Particularly, simulations are performed with multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to represent the flow field in liquidliquid styrene suspension polymerisation reactors for the first time. CFD tools are used first to compute the spatial distribution of the turbulent energy dissipation rates (e) inside the reaction vessel; afterwards, normalised rates of droplet breakage and particle coalescence are computed as functions of e. Surprisingly, multiphase simulations showed that the rates of energy dissipation can be very high near the free vortex surfaces, which has been completely neglected in previous works. The obtained results indicate the existence of extremely large energy dissipation gradients inside the vessel, so that particle breakage occurs primarily in very small regions that surround the impeller and the free vortex surface, while particle coalescence takes place in the liquid bulk. As a consequence, particle breakage should be regarded as an independent source term or a boundary phenomenon. Based on the obtained results, it can be very difficult to justify the use of isotropic assumptions to formulate particle population balances in similar systems, even when multiple compartment models are used to describe the fluid dynamic behaviour of the agitated vessel. (C) 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering