Production and characterization of natural rubber-Ca/P blends for biomedical purposes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A NS-2 simulation model for DNP3 protocol over IEEE 802.15.4 wireless protocol toward low cost simulation of Smart Grid applications

Faced with an imminent restructuring of the electric power system, over the past few years many countries have invested in a new paradigm known as Smart Grid. This paradigm targets optimization and automation of electric power network, using advanced information and communication technologies. Among the main communication protocols for Smart Grids we have the DNP3 protocol, which provides secure data transmission with moderate rates. The IEEE 802.15.4 is another communication protocol also widely used in Smart Grid, especially in the so-called Home Area Network (HAN). Thus, many applications of Smart Grid depends on the interaction of these two protocols. This paper proposes modeling, in the traditional network simulator NS-2, the integration of DNP3 protocol and the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless standard for low cost simulations of Smart Grid applications.

Smart Grid e Carros Elétricos - Influência da Carga de Carros Elétricos Sobre o Sistema Elétrico

The technologies are advancing at a pace so expressive that allow the increase of the power quality from generation until the distribution to end customers. This improvement has been made possible through the automation of the energy that follows to a better quality of the energy provided, a lower energy supply disruptions and a very short recovery time. The trend of today and the near future is the distributed energy generation. To keep the automated control of the chain, the presence of Smart Grids is needed and that will be the most efficient and economical way to manage the entire system. Within this theme, is going to be necessary analyze the electric cars that promise to promote a more sustainable transport because it doesn’t uses fossil fuels, and more healthy because it does not emit pollutants into the atmosphere. The popularization of this type of vehicle is estimated to happen in a few decades and the case study analyzing its influence on the demand of the electrical system is something that will be very important in the near future. This paper presents a study of the influence of the inclusion of charges refering to electric cars

Biblioteca de escalonamento de tarefas em grid computacional - LIBTS

The use of computational grid simulators is particularly important for studying the algorithms of task scheduling. Through the simulators it’s possible to assess and compare the performance of different algorithms in various scenarios. Despite the simulation tools provide basic features for simulation in distributed environments, they don’t offer internal policies of task scheduling, so that the implementation of the algorithms must be realized by the user himself. Therefore, this study aims to present the library of task scheduling LIBTS (LIBrary Tasks Scheduling) which is developed and adapted to the SimGrid simulator to provide the users with a tool to analyze the algorithms of task scheduling in the computational grid.

Desenvolvimento de um sistema de gerenciamento de energia (EMS - Energy Management System) para a rede elétrica inteligente (Smart Grid)

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Modelo de simulação NS-2 para o protocolo DNP3 sobre o protocolo de rede sem fio IEEE 802.15.4 para simulação de baixo custo de aplicação smart grid

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Multi-task control strategy for grid-tied inverters based on conservative power theory

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

In situ sonochemical synthesis of ZnO particles embedded in a thermoplastic matrix for biomedical applications

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

A low-power silicon-on-insulator PWM discriminator for biomedical applications

A CMOS/SOI circuit to decode PWM signals is presented as part of a body-implanted neurostimulator for visual prosthesis. Since encoded data is the sole input to the circuit, the decoding technique is based on a double-integration concept and does not require dc filtering. Nonoverlapping control phases are internally derived from the incoming pulses and a fast-settling comparator ensures good discrimination accuracy in the megahertz range. The circuit was integrated on a 2 mu m single-metal SOI fabrication process and has an effective area of 2mm(2) Typically, the measured resolution of encoding parameter a was better than 10% at 6MHz and V-DD=3.3V. Stand-by consumption is around 340 mu W. Pulses with frequencies up to 15MHz and alpha = 10% can be discriminated for V-DD spanning from 2.3V to 3.3V. Such an excellent immunity to V-DD deviations meets a design specification with respect to inherent coupling losses on transmitting data and power by means of a transcutaneous link.

Titanium-35niobium alloy as a potential material for biomedical implants: in vitro study

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Wettability behavior of nanotubular TiO2 intended for biomedical applications

Nanotubes have been subject of studies with regard to their ability to promote differentiation of several cells lines. Nanotubes have been used to increase the roughness of the implant surfaces and to improve bone tissue integration on dental implant. In this study TiO2 nanotube layer prepared by anodic oxidation was evaluated. Nanotube formation was carried out using Glycerol-H2O DI(50-50 v/v)+NH4F(0,5 a 1,5% and 10-30V) for 1-3 hours at 37ºC. After nanostructure formation the topography of surface was observed using field-emission-scanning-microscope (FE-SEM). Contact angle was evaluated on the anodized and non-anodized surfaces using a water contact angle goniometer in sessile drop mode with 5 μL drops. In the case of nanotube formation and no treatment surface were presented 39,1° and 75,9°, respectively. The contact angle describing the wettability of the surface is enhanced, more hydrophilic, on the nanotube surfaces, which can be advantageous for enhancing protein adsorption and cell adhesion.

Natural rubber latex coated with calcium phosphate for biomedical application

Natural rubber latex (NRL) is a flexible biomembrane that possesses angiogenic properties and has recently been used for guided bone regeneration, enhancing healing without fibrous tissue, allergies or rejection. Calcium phosphate (Ca/P) ceramics have chemical, biological, and mechanical properties similar to mineral phase of bone, and ability to bond to the host tissue, although it can disperse from where it is applied. Therefore, to create a composite that could enhance the properties of both materials, NRL biomembranes were coated with Ca/P. NRL biomembranes were soaked in 1.5 times concentrated SBF solution for seven days, avoiding the use of high temperatures. SEM showed that Ca/P has been coated in NRL biomembrane, XRD showed low crystallinity and FTIR showed that is the carbonated type B. Furthermore, hemolysis of erythrocytes, quantified spectrophotometrically using materials (Ca/P, NRL, and NRL + Ca/P) showed no hemolytic effects up to 0.125 mg/mL (compounds and mixtures), indicating no detectable disturbance of the red blood cell membranes. The results show that the biomimetic is an appropriate method to coat NRL with Ca/P without using high temperatures, aiming a new biomembrane to improve guided bone regeneration.

Análise de desempenho de redes de comunicação wireless em aplicações de Smart Grid

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Structure, microstructure, and selected mechanical properties of Ti-Zr-Mo alloys for biomedical applications

New titanium alloys for biomedical applications have been developed primarily with the addition of Nb, Ta, Mo, and Zr, because those elements stabilize the β phase and they don’t cause cytotoxicity in the organism. The objective of this paper is to analyze the effect of molybdenum on the structure, microstructure, and selected mechanical properties of Ti-15Zr-xMo (x = 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) alloys. The samples were produced in an arc-melting furnace with inert argon atmosphere, and they were hot-rolled and homogenized. The samples were characterized using chemical, structural, and microstructural analysis. The mechanical analysis was made using Vickers microhardness and Young’s modulus measurements. The compositions of the alloys were sensitive to the molybdenum concentration, indicating the presence of α’+α”+β phases in the Ti-15Zr-5Mo alloy, α”+β in the Ti-15Zr-10Mo alloy, and β phase in the Ti-15Zr-15Mo and Ti-15Zr-20Mo alloys. The mechanical properties showed favorable values for biomedical application in the alloys presenting high hardness and low Young’s modulus compared with CP-Ti.

The influence of heat treatment on the structure and microstructure of Ti-15Mo-xNb system alloys for biomedical applications

The Ti-15Mo-xNb system integrates a new class of titanium alloys without the presence of aluminum and vanadium, which exhibit cytotoxicity, and that have low elasticity modulus values (below 100 GPa). This occurs because these alloys have a beta structure, which is very attractive for use as biomaterials. In addition, Brazil has about 90% of the world’s resources of niobium, which is very important economically. It strategically invests in research on the development and processing of alloys containing this element. In this paper, a study of the influence of heat treatments on the structure and microstructure of the alloys of a Ti-15Mo-xNb system is presented. The results showed grain grown with heat treatment and elongated and irregular grains after lamination due to this processing. After quenching, there were no changes in the microstructure in relation to heat-treated and laminated conditions. These results corroborate the x-ray diffraction results, which showed the predominance of the β phase.