Predicting breeding values for milk yield of Guzera (Bos indicus) cows using random regression models

Given the importance of Guzera breeding programs for milk production in the tropics, the objective of this study was to compare alternative random regression models for estimation of genetic parameters and prediction of breeding values. Test-day milk yields records (TDR) were collected monthly, in a maximum of 10 measurements. The database included 20,524 records of first lactation from 2816 Guzera cows. TDR data were analyzed by random regression models (RRM) considering additive genetic, permanent environmental and residual effects as random and the effects of contemporary group (CG), calving age as a covariate (linear and quadratic effects) and mean lactation curve as fixed. The genetic additive and permanent environmental effects were modeled by RRM using Wilmink, All and Schaeffer and cubic B-spline functions as well as Legendre polynomials. Residual variances were considered as heterogeneous classes, grouped differently according to the model used. Multi-trait analysis using finite-dimensional models (FDM) for testday milk records (TDR) and a single-trait model for 305-days milk yields (default) using the restricted maximum likelihood method were also carried out as further comparisons. Through the statistical criteria adopted, the best RRM was the one that used the cubic B-spline function with five random regression coefficients for the genetic additive and permanent environmental effects. However, the models using the Ali and Schaeffer function or Legendre polynomials with second and fifth order for, respectively, the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects can be adopted, as little variation was observed in the genetic parameter estimates compared to those estimated by models using the B-spline function. Therefore, due to the lower complexity in the (co)variance estimations, the model using Legendre polynomials represented the best option for the genetic evaluation of the Guzera lactation records. An increase of 3.6% in the accuracy of the estimated breeding values was verified when using RRM. The ranks of animals were very close whatever the RRM for the data set used to predict breeding values. Considering P305, results indicated only small to medium difference in the animals' ranking based on breeding values predicted by the conventional model or by RRM. Therefore, the sum of all the RRM-predicted breeding values along the lactation period (RRM305) can be used as a selection criterion for 305-day milk production. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural and optical properties of Cu2O crystalline electrodeposited films

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Systemic risk in dynamical networks with stochastic failure criterion

Complex non-linear interactions between banks and assets we model by two time-dependent Erdos-Renyi network models where each node, representing a bank, can invest either to a single asset (model I) or multiple assets (model II). We use a dynamical network approach to evaluate the collective financial failure -systemic risk- quantified by the fraction of active nodes. The systemic risk can be calculated over any future time period, divided into sub-periods, where within each sub-period banks may contiguously fail due to links to either i) assets or ii) other banks, controlled by two parameters, probability of internal failure p and threshold T-h ("solvency" parameter). The systemic risk decreases with the average network degree faster when all assets are equally distributed across banks than if assets are randomly distributed. The more inactive banks each bank can sustain (smaller T-h), the smaller the systemic risk -for some Th values in I we report a discontinuity in systemic risk. When contiguous spreading becomes stochastic ii) controlled by probability p(2) -a condition for the bank to be solvent (active) is stochasticthe- systemic risk decreases with decreasing p(2). We analyse the asset allocation for the U.S. banks. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2014

Proposta de uma metodologia de rebobinamento para converter motor de indução trifásico em monofásico

This paper proposes the conversion of a three-phase induction motor into single phase through rewinding its stator. It presents a methodology to calculate this rewinding process considering the constructive parameters of the, such as number of slots and number of poles, for instance. The operating principles of DC motors are highlighted to introduce the logic involved in the calculation of lap and wave windings. The construction of the stator three-phase induction motor generally uses the lap winding, which is also used in single phase to perform the conversion. The rewinding process is widely used for reconstruction of industrial and residential electric motors that have suffered damage or present flaws with use. Therefore, many three-phase electric motors that are discarded or disposed of could be recovered by the method described in this work for a purpose that contributes to energy efficiency or simply saving resources in single-phase uses

Chaveamento de cargas intermitentes usando sensor de corrente

Due to concerns about rational use of energy, several alternative technologies of power generation appeared, including the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by photovoltaic panels. In low-income households, the refrigerator represents considerable impact on the electric bill, since it requires constant power given its use in food preservation. It is possible to reduce this share, with the use of an alternative energy source. This work presents a timed switching electronic system, which allows commercial equipment that is not affected by short interruptions in the power supply to use a photovoltaic panel as a source of alternative energy, which usually do not provide energy continuously. Switching is made automatically in case of low incidence of sunlight, and without any form of energy storage. Between each switching, there is a dead time without power supply, therefore preventing the use of synchronizers circuits between the photovoltaic panel and the public power grid. A circuit containing a 80C31 microcontroller is used to control the system’s switching. The photovoltaic panel’s voltage inverter is in H bridge configuration, and is also controlled by the microcontroller through Pulse Width Modulation, which makes use of preprogrammed tables to generate the control signals of the power transistors. Through the use of software simulations, the proposed system was tested, which is capable of supplying intermittent single-phase loads. The simulations indicates that the project developed in this paper can be assembled into a prototype and be tested under real operating conditions, as long as the scaling of components, the characteristics of the photovoltaic panel to be used, and the project involved load are taken into account

Structural and functional characterization of barium zirconium titanate/epoxy composites

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

SnO2 dense ceramic microwave sintered with low resistivity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Piezoresponse force microscopy behaviour of Bi4Ti3O12 ceramics with various excess bismuth

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

Dielectric response of tungsten modified Ba(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O3 ceramics obtained by mixed oxide method

The electrical response of Ba(Ti0.90Zr0.10)O3 (BZT) ceramics obtained by the mixed oxide method as a functionof tungsten content was investigated. According to X-ray diffraction analysis the single phase BZT1W (1wt.% W doped BZT) and BZT2W (2 wt.% W doped BZT) ceramics, crystallized in a perovskite structure, wereobtained. It is also shown that tungsten substituted ceramics can be sintered at a reduced temperature whencompared to the undoped BZT. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analyses reveals that substitution ofTi4+ by W6+ causes distortion in the crystal structure changing lattice parameter. Substitution of W6+ on B-siteof ABO3 perovskite BZT ceramics shifted the phase transition to lower temperatures up to a tungsten contentof 2 wt.% leading to a relaxor-like behaviour.Keywords: donor dopant; ceramics; dielectric response; mixed oxide method

The role of oxygen vacancies and their location in the magnetic properties of Ce1-xCuxO2-delta nanorods

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Pigments based on Cr and Sb doped TiO2 prepared by microemulsion-mediated solvothermal synthesis for inkjet printing on ceramics

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

Post-processing of sequential indicator simulation realizations for modeling geologic bodies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Studies on structural, morphological and electrical properties of Ce1-xErxO2-delta (x=0.05-0.20) as solid electrolyte for IT - SOFC

A series of four different powders ceria doped Ce1-xErxO2-delta (0.05 <= x <= 0.20) were synthesized by applying self-propagating reaction at room temperature (SPRT method). SPRT procedure is based on the self-propagating room temperature reaction between metal nitrates and sodium hydroxide, wherein the reaction is spontaneous and terminates extremely fast. The method is known to assure very precise stoichiometry of the final product in comparison with a tailored composition. XRPD, Raman spectroscopy, TEM and BET measurements were used to characterize the nanopowders at room temperature. It was shown that all obtained powders were single phase solid solutions with a fluorite-type crystal structure and all powder particles have nanometric size (about 3-4 nm). Densification was performed at 1550 degrees C, in an air atmosphere for 2 h. XRPD, SEM and complex impedance method measurements were carried out on sintered samples. Single phase form was evidenced for each sintered materials. The best value of conductivity at 700 degrees C amounted to 1.10 x 10(-2) Omega(-1) cm(-1) for Ce0.85Er0.O-3(2-delta) sample. Corresponding activation energies of conductivity amounted to 0.28 eV in the temperature range 500-700 degrees C. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A study of the errors of the averaged models in the restricted three-body problem in a short time scale

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dielectric properties of Sr0.75Ba0.25Nb 2O6 thin films: Bias field, frequency and temperature dependence

Ferroelectric strontium barium niobate solid solutions had received great attention due to their excellent pyroelectric, electrooptic and photorefractive properties. Furthermore, they usually also present very interesting phase transition characteristics. In this work, polycrystalline single phase Sr 0.75 Ba 0.25 Nb 2 O 6 thin films were prepared by a hybrid chemical method and deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO 2 /Si substrates. The temperature dependence of dielectric constant was measured at different frequencies and bias field levels. The presence of two dielectric dispersion regions with relaxor characteristics was observed at distinct temperature ranges, corresponding to the ferro-paraelectric and to a structural phase transition at low temperatures, respectively. A specific dielectric dispersion region, associated with an incommensurate superstructure frequently observed in bulk samples, was not observed in this films probably due to their small grain sizes. © 2002 Taylor & Francis.