Depósitos de calda de pulverização nas faces adaxial e abaxial de folhas de Eichhornia crassipes dispostas em diferentes ângulos

Estudos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de avaliar os depósitos de gotas pulverizadas através de dois tipos de pontas sobre as faces adaxial e abaxial de folhas de Eichhornia crassipes dispostas em diferentes ângulos. No primeiro estudo, os tratamentos foram dispostos no esquema fatorial 2x4x7: dois tipos de pontas (TX12 e XR11002VS), quatro ângulos verticais (0º, 30º, 60º e 90º) e sete ângulos horizontais (0º, 15º, 30º, 45º, 60º, 75º e 90º). No ângulo vertical de 90º a lâmina foliar foi posicionada paralelamente ao sentido de deslocamento do jato de pulverização; e no ângulo horizontal de 90º a folha foi posicionada perpendicularmente ao plano do solo. Como traçadores, foram utilizadas soluções de 1.000 ppm do corante Azul FDC-1 e 3.500 ppm do corante Amarelo Tartrasina para as pontas tipo leque e cone, respectivamente. No segundo estudo, os tratamentos foram dispostos no esquema fatorial 2x2x3: dois tipos de pontas (TX12 e XR11002VS), dois tipos de calda (com e sem Aterbane BR a 0,5%) e três ângulos horizontais (0º, 45º e 90º). Adotou-se o ângulo vertical de 90º como padrão para todos os tratamentos. Soluções de 1.000 ppm do corante Azul FDC-1 e 3.500 ppm do corante Amarelo Tartrasina foram utilizadas como traçadores para a calda com e sem surfatante, respectivamente. Os resultados do primeiro estudo revelaram que os depósitos observados em toda a folha e na face adaxial das lâminas foliares de aguapé diminuíram à medida que se aumentou a angulação vertical, independentemente da ponta utilizada. Os menores depósitos sempre estiveram relacionados ao ângulo vertical de 90º, independentemente do ângulo horizontal utilizado. Não foi detectado nenhum depósito na face abaxial das folhas de aguapé em todas as combinações dos fatores estudados. No segundo estudo também foram observados os mesmos decréscimos no volume de calda depositado em toda a folha e na face adaxial à medida que se aumentou a angulação vertical das lâminas foliares. As duas pontas proporcionaram depósitos nulos na face abaxial quando o surfatante não foi utilizado; entretanto, a adição do surfatante à calda incrementou significativamente os depósitos nesta face da folha do aguapé.

Remediação de solos contaminados com óleo diesel utilizando um sistema de lavagem com microemulsão

The underground reservoirs of fuel retailing system represent an environmental threat, because once in bad conservation, these tanks allow fuel leakage and infiltration. For soil contaminated with fuel, such as diesel oil, the present study introduces the microemulsion systems used by the method of washing. In tests carried out in column with a sample of sandy soil artificially contaminated and previously characterized as to its void level to porosity, to permeability which is an important parameter concerning the study of the method of washing. While microemulsions were characterized for their viscosity and wettability, a variation of active matter was also done departing from the original formulation. The hydraulic diffusivity of the microemulsion was studied so as the injection of such fluid in a soil with sandy characteristics. The results of the extractions revealed the excellent performance of these systems which get to remove around 95% of diesel fuel. This proves the efficiency of the microemulsion in the process of removal of diesel fuel from the soil with the advantage of being a system easily obtainable and less aggressive to the environment when compared to organic solvents.

Concepção e estudo de um biofiltro para tratamento de compostos orgânicos voláteis COVs

In the last decade, biological purification of gaseous waste has become an important alternative to many conventional methods of exhaust air treatment. More recently, biofiltration has proved to be an effective and inexpensive method for the treatment of air contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A biofilter consists in a reactor packed with a porous solid bed material, where the microorganisms are fixed. During the biofiltration process, polluted air is transported through the biofilter medium where the contaminant is degraded. Within the biofilm, the pollutants in the waste gases are energy and carbon sources for microbial metabolism and are transformed into CO2, water and biomass. The bed material should be characterized by satisfactory mechanical and physical properties as structure, void fraction, specific area and flow resistance. The aim of this research was the biofilter construction and study of the biological degradation of ethanol and toluene, as well as the modeling of the process. Luffa cylindrica is a brazilian fiber that was used as the filtering material of the present work. The parameters and conditions studied were: composition of nutrients solution; effect of microflorae strains, namely Pseudomanas putida and Rhodococcus rhodochrous; waste gas composition; air flow rate; and inlet load of VOCs. The biofilter operated in diffusion regime and the best results for remotion capacity were obtained when a microorganisms consortion of Pseudomanas putida and Rhodococcus rhodochrous,were used, with a gas flow rate of 1 m3.h-1 and molar ratio nitrogene/phosphore N/P=2 in the nutrients solution. The maximum remotion capacity for ethanol was around 90 g.m-3.h-1 and 50 g.m-3.h-1 to toluene. It was proved that toluene has inhibitory effect on the ethanol remotion When the two VOCs were present in the same waste gas, there was a decrease of 40% in ethanol remotion capacity. Luffa cylindrica does not present considerable pressure drop. Ottengraf and van Lith models were used to represent the results obtained for ethanol and toluene, respectively. The application of the transient model indicated a satisfactory approximation between the experimental results obtained for ethanol and toluene vapors biofiltration and the ones predicted it

Nitrificação de efluentes de reatores anaeróbicos em filtros submersos aerados

Although the good performance in organic matter and suspended solids removal, the anaerobic reactors are unable to remove ammonia nitrogen from sewage, which makes indispensable to include a step of post-treatment for removal of ammonia or nitrate as necessary. This paper presents the performance of a new variant technology, where the nitrification unit, preceded by anaerobic units, is a submerged aerated biological filter, without continuous sludge discharge in their daily operation. The oxygenation system is very simple and inexpensive, consisting of perforated hoses and compressors. The anaerobic reactors are a septic tank with two chambers followed (8.82 m³) and two parallel anaerobic filters (36 m³ each) filled with ceramic bricks and conics plastic parts. Both followed aerated filters were filled with cut corrugated conduit. The study evaluated the behavior of the system with constant domestic sewage flow (10 m³/d) and different aeration conditions, are these: stage 01, when applied air flow of 0.01 m³ air/min in both aerated filter; stage 02, remained in the initial air flow rate in the second aerated filter and increased at the first to 0.05 m³ air/min; at last, at last, in stage 03, the air flow rate of first aerated filter was 0.10 m³ air/min and on the second remained at 0.01 m³ air/min. The filter FA1 received load of 0.41 kg COD/m³.d, 0.37 kg COD/m³.d and 0.26 kg COD/m³.d on phases 01, 02 and 03, respectively. The FA2 received loads of 0.25 kg COD/m³.d, 0.18 kg COD/m³.d and 0.14 kg COD/m³.d on phases 01, 02 and 03, respectively. During stage 01, were found the following results: 98% removals of BODtotal and 92% of CODtotal, with effluent presenting 9 mg/L of BODtotal final average and 53 mg/L of CODtotal average; suspended solids removals of 93%, with a mean concentration of 10 mg/L in the final effluent; 47% reduction of ammonia of FA2 to FAN 's, presenting average of 28 mg NNH3/ L of ammonia in the effluent with; the dissolved oxygen levels always remained around 2.0 mg/L. During stage 02, were found removals of 97% and 95% to BODtotal and suspended solids, respectively, with average final concentrations of 8 and 7 mg/L, respectively; was removed 60% of ammonia, whose final concentration was 16.3 mg NNH3/ L, and nitrate was increased to a final average concentration of 16.55 mg N-NO3/L. Finally, the stage 03 provided 6 mg/L of DBOtotal (98% removal) and 23 mg/L of CODtotal (95% removal) of final effluent concentrations average. At this stage was identified the higher ammonia oxidation (86%), with final effluent showing average concentration of 6.1 mg N-NH3/L, reaching a minimum of 1.70 mg N-NH3/L. In some moments, during stage 03, there was a moderate denitrification process in the last aerated filter. The average turbidity in the effluent showed around 1.5 NTU, proving the good biomass physical stability. Therefore, the results demonstrate the submerged biological filters potential, filled with high void ratio material (98%), and aerated with hoses and compressor adoption, in the carbonaceous and nitrogenous matter oxidation, also generating an effluent with low concentration of solids

Influence of voids on the flexural resistance of the NCF/RTM6 composites

A major difficulty to achieve maximum weight savings in the manufacture of composite structural components, is the tendency of these materials have the formation of voids and cracks in the interior and surface components. In aeronautical applications, controlling the volume fraction of fibers, resins and empty the components of composite is very hard. In this work, composites of epoxy matrix RTM6 reinforced with NCF (non crimp fabric carbon) processed by resin transfer molding (RTM) were characterized for porosity (P-ap) and density (rho(ad)). We used a method based on Archimedes' principle (ASTM C830) and the technique of helium pycnometer. The porosity values were compared with those determined by acid digestion (ASTM D3171). The mechanical properties of processed composites was evaluated by testing on the performing flexural and the results were correlated with the porosity value. All techniques tested to determine void content are satisfactory. The differents results can be justified for heterogeneous void distribution on laminate and differences among techniques characteristics. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of ICM11

Levenberg-Marquardt application to two-phase nonlinear parameter estimation for finned-tube coil evaporators

A procedure for calculation of refrigerant mass flow rate is implemented in the distributed numerical model to simulate the flow in finned-tube coil dry-expansion evaporators, usually found in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. Two-phase refrigerant flow inside the tubes is assumed to be one-dimensional, unsteady, and homogeneous. In themodel the effects of refrigerant pressure drop and the moisture condensation from the air flowing over the external surface of the tubes are considered. The results obtained are the distributions of refrigerant velocity, temperature and void fraction, tube-wall temperature, air temperature, and absolute humidity. The finite volume method is used to discretize the governing equations. Additionally, given the operation conditions and the geometric parameters, the model allows the calculation of the refrigerant mass flow rate. The value of mass flow rate is computed using the process of parameter estimation with the minimization method of Levenberg-Marquardt minimization. In order to validate the developed model, the obtained results using HFC-134a as a refrigerant are compared with available data from the literature.

Numerical analysis of refrigerant flow along non-adiabatic capillary tubes using a two-fluid model

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

Processamento e interpretação de dados 2D e 3D de GPR :aplicações no imageamento de feições kársticas e estruturas de dissolução no campo de petróleo de Fazenda Belém-CE

In Fazenda Belém oil field (Potiguar Basin, Ceará State, Brazil) occur frequently sinkholes and sudden terrain collapses associated to an unconsolidated sedimentary cap covering the Jandaíra karst. This research was carried out in order to understand the mechanisms of generation of these collapses. The main tool used was Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). This work is developed twofold: one aspect concerns methodology improvements in GPR data processing whilst another aspect concerns the geological study of the Jandaíra karst. This second aspect was strongly supported both by the analysis of outcropping karst structures (in another regions of Potiguar Basin) and by the interpretation of radargrams from the subsurface karst in Fazenda Belém. It was designed and tested an adequate flux to process GPR data which was adapted from an usual flux to process seismic data. The changes were introduced to take into account important differences between GPR and Reflection Seismic methods, in particular: poor coupling between source and ground, mixed phase of the wavelet, low signal-to-noise ratio, monochannel acquisition, and high influence of wave propagation effects, notably dispersion. High frequency components of the GPR pulse suffer more pronounced effects of attenuation than low frequency components resulting in resolution losses in radargrams. In Fazenda Belém, there is a stronger need of an suitable flux to process GPR data because both the presence of a very high level of aerial events and the complexity of the imaged subsurface karst structures. The key point of the processing flux was an improvement in the correction of the attenuation effects on the GPR pulse based on their influence on the amplitude and phase spectra of GPR signals. In low and moderate losses dielectric media the propagated signal suffers significant changes only in its amplitude spectrum; that is, the phase spectrum of the propagated signal remains practically unaltered for the usual travel time ranges. Based on this fact, it is shown using real data that the judicious application of the well known tools of time gain and spectral balancing can efficiently correct the attenuation effects. The proposed approach can be applied in heterogeneous media and it does not require the precise knowledge of the attenuation parameters of the media. As an additional benefit, the judicious application of spectral balancing promotes a partial deconvolution of the data without changing its phase. In other words, the spectral balancing acts in a similar way to a zero phase deconvolution. In GPR data the resolution increase obtained with spectral balancing is greater than those obtained with spike and predictive deconvolutions. The evolution of the Jandaíra karst in Potiguar Basin is associated to at least three events of subaerial exposition of the carbonatic plataform during the Turonian, Santonian, and Campanian. In Fazenda Belém region, during the mid Miocene, the Jandaíra karst was covered by continental siliciclastic sediments. These sediments partially filled the void space associated to the dissolution structures and fractures. Therefore, the development of the karst in this region was attenuated in comparison to other places in Potiguar Basin where this karst is exposed. In Fazenda Belém, the generation of sinkholes and terrain collapses are controlled mainly by: (i) the presence of an unconsolidated sedimentary cap which is thick enough to cover completely the karst but with sediment volume lower than the available space associated to the dissolution structures in the karst; (ii) the existence of important structural of SW-NE and NW-SE alignments which promote a localized increase in the hydraulic connectivity allowing the channeling of underground water, thus facilitating the carbonatic dissolution; and (iii) the existence of a hydraulic barrier to the groundwater flow, associated to the Açu-4 Unity. The terrain collapse mechanisms in Fazenda Belém occur according to the following temporal evolution. The meteoric water infiltrates through the unconsolidated sedimentary cap and promotes its remobilization to the void space associated with the dissolution structures in Jandaíra Formation. This remobilization is initiated at the base of the sedimentary cap where the flow increases its abrasion due to a change from laminar to turbulent flow regime when the underground water flow reaches the open karst structures. The remobilized sediments progressively fill from bottom to top the void karst space. So, the void space is continuously migrated upwards ultimately reaching the surface and causing the sudden observed terrain collapses. This phenomenon is particularly active during the raining season, when the water table that normally is located in the karst may be temporarily located in the unconsolidated sedimentary cap

Mode of Action of Pulegone on the Urinary Bladder of F344 Rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A comparative analisys of pelvic floor muscle strength in women with stress and urge urinary incontinence

Aims: To assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urge urinary incontinence (UUI).Materials and Methods: 51 women were prospectively divided into two groups, according to the symptoms as SUI (G1 = 22) or UUI (G2 = 29). Demographic data, such as number of pads/ 24 hours, number of micturations/ 24 hours and nocturia, delay time of urgent void (i.e., the time period for which an urgent void could be voluntarily postponed), number of parity and vaginal deliveries were obtained using a clinical questionnaire. Objective urine loss was evaluated by 60-min. Pad Test, subjective urine stream interruption test (UST) and visual survey of perineal contraction. Objective evaluations of PFM were performed in all patients (vaginal manometry).Results: Median of age, mean number of pads/ 24 hours, nocturia and warning time were significantly higher in UUI comparing to SUI group. During UST, 45.45% in G1 and 3.44%, in G2, were able to interrupt the urine stream (p < 0.001). The 60-min. Pad Test was significantly higher in G2 compared to G1 women (2.7 +/- 2.4 vs 1.5 +/- 1.9 respectively, p = 0.049). Objective evaluation of PFM strength was significantly higher in the SUI than in the UUI patients. No statistical difference was observed regarding other studied parameters.Conclusion: Pelvic floor muscle weakness was significantly higher in women with UUI when compared to SUI.

Early healing after elevation of the maxillary sinus floor applying a lateral access: a histological study in monkeys

AimTo describe the early healing within the void obtained after the elevation of the sinus mucosa and simultaneous implant installation without the use of any grafting material in monkeys.Material and methodsImplants were installed simultaneously with the elevation of the maxillary sinus using the lateral approach in eight monkeys without the use of grafting material. The healing after 4, 10, 20 and 30 days was evaluated in the area distal to the implants. Paraffin sections were prepared and analyzed using qualitative histological methods.ResultsThe healing process was initiated by the formation of a coagulum and followed by a provisional matrix and woven bone. Subsequently, a parallel-fiber bone replaced woven bone. The dimension of the elevated area shrank during the healing process. Sprouts of woven bone, present to a moderate extent after 4 days, were more numerous after 10 and 20 days. Newly formed bone originated from the sinus walls and septa, while there was no evidence of participation of the Schneiderian membrane in this process. After 30 days, the window access appeared to be closed by a layer of newly formed trabecular bone.ConclusionsThe coagulum that filled the void distal to the implant after simultaneous elevation of the sinus floor gave rise to newly formed bone. However, the void occupied by the coagulum shrank substantially. The Schneiderian membrane did not provide a basis for new bone formation in the early phase of healing.To cite this article:Scala A, Botticelli D, Rangel IG Jr, de Oliveira JA, Okamoto R, Lang NP. Early healing after elevation of the maxillary sinus floor applying a lateral access: a histological study in monkeys.Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21, 2010; 1320-1326.doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2009.01964.x.

Lack of influence of the Schneiderian membrane in forming new bone apical to implants simultaneously installed with sinus floor elevation: an experimental study in monkeys

Aim: To describe the early healing processes around the implants installed after elevation of the sinus mucosa applying the lateral access technique without the use of grafting material.Material and methods: Immediately after the elevation of the maxillary sinus Schneiderian membrane by the lateral approach in eight monkeys, implants were installed without the use of grafting material. The healing of the tissue around the implants was evaluated after 4, 10, 20 and 30 days. Ground sections were prepared and analyzed histologically.Results: After 4 days of healing, the formation of coagulum and provisional matrix was documented within the elevated area. At 10-day interval, sprouts of woven bone were in continuity with the parent bone, and partly in contact with the implant surface at the base of the augmented area. While bone-to-implant contact increased after 20 and 30 days, the area underneath the Schneiderian membrane appeared reduced in volume and condensed toward the apex of the implants. The sinus mucosa was to some extent collapsed onto the implant surface and on the newly formed bone.Conclusions: The void initially occupied by the coagulum after sinus membrane elevation shrank substantially during the observation period. A lack of influence of the Schneiderian membrane in bone formation apical to implants was documented in the early phase of healing.

Use of a titanium device in lateral sinus floor elevation: an experimental study in monkeys

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a space-maintaining device fixed to the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus after the elevation of the sinus mucosa on bone filling of the sinus cavity. Material and methods: Immediately after the elevation of the maxillary sinus Schneiderian membrane accomplished through lateral antrostomy in four monkeys, a titanium device was affixed to the lateral sinus wall protruding into the sinus cavity to maintain the mucosa elevated without the use of grafting material. The healing of the tissue around the implants was evaluated after 3 and 6 months. Ground sections were prepared and analyzed histologically. Results: The void under the elevated sinus membrane, originally filled with the blood clot, was reduced after 3 as well as after 6 months of healing of about 56% and 40.5%, respectively. In seven out of eight cases, the devices had perforated the sinus mucosa. The formation of mineralized bone and bone marrow amounted to about 42% and 69% after 3 and 6 months, respectively. The connective tissue represented about 53% and 23% of the newly formed tissue after 3 and 6 months, respectively. Conclusions: New bone formation was found below the devices. However, shrinkage of the newly formed tissue was observed both after 3 and 6 months of healing. Hence, the space-maintaining function of the devices used in the present study has to be questioned.

Role of PKC and CaV1.2 in Detrusor Overactivity in a Model of Obesity Associated with Insulin Resistance in Mice

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

Awaking the Vacuum in Relativistic Stars

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