Modelling tyre-road noise with data mining techniques

The research aimed to establish tyre-road noise models by using a Data Mining approach that allowed to build a predictive model and assess the importance of the tested input variables. The data modelling took into account three learning algorithms and three metrics to define the best predictive model. The variables tested included basic properties of pavement surfaces, macrotexture, megatexture, and uneven- ness and, for the first time, damping. Also, the importance of those variables was measured by using a sensitivity analysis procedure. Two types of models were set: one with basic variables and another with complex variables, such as megatexture and damping, all as a function of vehicles speed. More detailed models were additionally set by the speed level. As a result, several models with very good tyre-road noise predictive capacity were achieved. The most relevant variables were Speed, Temperature, Aggregate size, Mean Profile Depth, and Damping, which had the highest importance, even though influenced by speed. Megatexture and IRI had the lowest importance. The applicability of the models developed in this work is relevant for trucks tyre-noise prediction, represented by the AVON V4 test tyre, at the early stage of road pavements use. Therefore, the obtained models are highly useful for the design of pavements and for noise prediction by road authorities and contractors.

Development of an intelligent earthwork optimization system

Tese de Doutoramento em Engenharia Civil.

Exploring silk based biomaterials functionalized with antimicrobial peptides to prevent surgical site infections

Surgical site infections (SSI) often occur after invasive surgery, which is as a serious health problem, making it important to develop new biomaterials to prevent infections. Spider silk is a natural biomaterial with excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity and controllable biodegradability. Through recombinant DNA technology, spider silk-based materials can be bioengineered and functionalized with antimicrobial (AM) peptides 1. The aim of this study is to develop new materials by combining spider silk chimeric proteins with AM properties and silk fibroin extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons to prevent microbial infection. Here, spider silk domains derived from the dragline sequence of the spider Nephila clavipes (6 mer and 15 mer) were fused with the AM peptides Hepcidin and Human Neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP1). The spider silk domain maintained its self-assembly features allowing the formation of beta-sheets to lock in structures without any chemical cross-linking. The AM properties of the developed chimeric proteins showed that 6 mer + HNP1 protein had a broad microbicidal activity against pathogens. The 6 mer + HNP-1 protein was then assembled with different percentages of silk fibroin into multifunctional films. In vitro cell studies with a human fibroblasts cell line (MRC5) showed nontoxic and cytocompatible behavior of the films. The positive cellular response, together with structural properties, suggests that this new fusion protein plus silk fibroin may be good candidates as multifunctional materials to prevent SSI.

A new page on the road book of inorganic mercury in fish body - tissue distribution and elimination following waterborne exposure and post-exposure periods

prova tipográfica / uncorrected proof

As particularidades do jornalismo online ao serviço das preferências dos leitores: análise dos elementos multimédia no site Maisfutebol

Dissertação de mestrado em Ciências da Comunicação (área de especialização em Informação e Jornalismo)

Analysis of the Prevalence of Ventricular Late Potentials in the Late Phase of Myocardial Infarction Based on the Site of Infarction

OBJECTIVE: The initial site of myocardial infarction (MI) may influence the prevalence of ventricular late potentials (VLP), high-frequency signals, due to the time course of ventricular activation. The prevalence of VLP in a period of more than 2 years after acute MI was assessed focusing on the initially injured wall . METHODS: The prevalence of VLP in a late phase after MI (median of 924 days) in anterior/antero-septal and inferior/infero-dorsal wall lesion was analyzed using signal-averaged electrocardiogram in time domain. The diagnostic performance of the filters employed for analysis on was tested at high-pass cut-off frequencies of 25 Hz, 40 Hz and 80 Hz. RESULTS: The duration of the ventricular activation and its terminal portion were larger in inferior than anterior infarction, at high-pass cut-off frequencies of 40 Hz and 80 Hz. In patients with ventricular tachycardia, these differences were more remarked. The prevalence of ventricular late potentials was three times greater in inferior than anterior infarction. CONCLUSION: Late after myocardial infarction, the prevalence and the duration of ventricular late potentials are greater in lesions of inferior/infero-dorsal than anterior/antero-septal wall confirming their temporal process, reflecting their high-frequency content.

An analysis of the use of photogrammetric sorting to audit construction and demolition waste production on site

This study analyses the area of construction and demolition waste (C & D W) auditing. The production of C&DW has grown year after year since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first published a report in 1996 which provided data for C&D W quantities for 1995 (EPA, 1996a). The most recent report produced by the EPA is based on data for 2005 (EPA, 2006). This report estimated that the quantity of C&DW produced for that period to be 14 931 486 tonnes. However, this is a ‘data update’ report containing an update on certain waste statistics so any total provided would not be a true reflection of the waste produced for that period. This illustrates that a more construction site-specific form of data is required. The Department of Building and Civil Engineering in the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology have carried out two recent research projects (Grimes, 2005; Kelly, 2006) in this area, which have produced waste production indicators based on site-specific data. This involved the design and testing of an original auditing tool based on visual characterisation and the application of conversion factors. One of the main recommendations of these studies was to compare this visual characterisation approach with a photogrammetric sorting methodology. This study investigates the application of photogrammetric sorting on a residential construction site in the Galway region. A visual characterisation study is also carried out on the same project to compare the two methodologies and assess the practical application in a construction site environment. Data collected from the waste management contractor on site was also used to provide further evaluation. From this, a set of waste production indicators for new residential construction was produced: □ 50.8 kg/m2 for new residential construction using data provided by the visual characterisation method and the Landfill Levy conversion factors. □ 43 kg/m2 for new residential construction using data provided by the photogrammetric sorting method and the Landfill Levy conversion factors. □ 23.8 kg/m2 for new residential construction using data provided by Waste Management Contractor (WMC). The acquisition of the data from the waste management contractor was a key element for testing of the information produced by the visual characterisation and photogrammetric sorting methods. The actual weight provided by the waste management contractor shows a significant difference between the quantities provided.

Development of an inspection regime for on-site domestic wastewater treatment systems

The overall purpose of this study was to develop a thorough inspection regime for onsite wastewater treatment systems, which is practical and could be implemented on all site conditions across the country. With approximately 450,000 onsite wastewater treatment systems in Ireland a risk based methodology is required for site selection. This type of approach will identify the areas with the highest potential risk to human health and the environment and these sites should be inspected first. In order to gain the required knowledge to develop an inspection regime in-depth and extensive research was earned out. The following areas of pertinent interest were examined and reviewed, history of domestic wastewater treatment, relevant wastewater legislation and guidance documents and potential detrimental impacts. Analysis of a questionnaire from a prior study, which assessed the resources available and the types of inspections currently undertaken by Local authorities was carried out. In addition to the analysis of the questionnaire results, interviews were carried out with several experts involved in the area of domestic wastewater treatment. The interview focussed on twelve key questions which were directed towards the expert’s opinions on the vital aspects of developing an inspection regime. The background research, combined with the questionnaire analysis and information from the interviews provided a solid foundation for the development of an inspection regime. Chapter 8 outlines the inspection regime which has been developed for this study. The inspection regime includes a desktop study, consultation with the homeowners, visual site inspection, non-invasive site tests, and inspection of the treatment systems. The general opinion from the interviews carried out, was that a standardised approach for the inspections was necessary. For this reason an inspection form was produced which provides a standard systematic approach for inspectors to follow. This form is displayed in Appendix 3. The development of a risk based methodology for site selection was discussed and a procedure similar in approach to the Geological Survey of Irelands Groundwater Protection Schemes was proposed. The EPA is currently developing a risk based methodology, but it is not available to the general public yet. However, the EPA provided a copy of a paper outlining the key aspects of their methodology. The methodology will use risk maps which take account of the following parameters: housing density, areas with inadequate soil conditions, risk of water pollution through surface and subsurface pathways. Sites identified with having the highest potential risk to human health and the environment shall be inspected first. Based on the research carried out a number of recommendations were made which are outlined in Chapter 10. The principle conclusion was that, if these systems fail to operate satisfactorily, home owners need to understand that these systems dispose of the effluent to the 'ground' and the effluent becomes part of the hydrological cycle; therefore, they are a potential hazard to the environment and human health. It is the owners, their families and their neighbours who will be at most immediate risk.

Efeitos da aplicação de P, B, Zn e calagem no teor de boro e zinco das folhas de mudas de Eucalyptus grandis (Hill, Ex-Maiden) cultivadas em solo de cerrado

Foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação, na E. S.A."Luiz de Queiroz", em Piracicaba (SP), um experimento, utilizando-se Latossol Vermelho Amarelo, fase arenosa, originalmente sob vegetação de cerrado, do município de Itirapina (SP), cujo objetivo foi estudar os efeitos de níveis de fósforo (0, 16 e 32 ppm), boro (0, 2 e 4 ppm), zinco (0, 3 e 6 ppm) e calagem (0 e 6,0 g CaCO3 + 2,5 g MgCO3) por vaso no teor de micronutrientes de folhas de Eucalyptus grandis (Hill, Ex-Maiden). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado num esquema fatorial 3³ na presença e ausência de calagem. Cada parcela foi constituída de um vaso contendo 8,0 kg de terra e duas plantas. As adubações com boro e zinco aumentaram as concentrações desses micronutrientes nas folhas das plantas. Verificou-se acúmulo de boro nos tecidos das folhas, em níveis considerados tóxicos, quan do se adicionou ao solo 2 e 4 ppm de boro. A calagem diminuiu as concentrações de zinco das folhas das plantas.

Efeitos da aplicação de fósforo, boro, zinco e calagem na altura e na produção de matéria seca em mudas de Eucalyptus grandis (Hill, Ex-Maiden) cultivadas em um solo de cerrado

Foi desenvolvido um experimento em casa de vegetação na Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", em Piracicaba (SP) utilizando-se Latossol Vermelho Amarelo, fase arenosa, originalmente sob vegetação de cerrado, do município de Itirapina (SP), com o objetivo de estudar o efeito de três níveis de P (0, 16 e 32 ppm), três níveis de B (0, 2 e 4 ppm), tres níveis de Zn (0, 3 e 6 ppm) e dois níveis de calagem (0 e 6,0 g CaCO3 + 2,5 g MgC0(3)) por cada vaso no crescimento em altura e na produção de matéria seca de mudas de Eucalyptus grandis (Hill, Ex-Maiden). A adubação fosfatada, provocou aumento no crescimento em altura e na produção de matéria seca das plantas. A adição de 2 e 4 ppm de boro ao solo, provocou efeitos de interação com calagem, fósforo e zinco, ocasionando alterações no crescimento em altura das plantas. A adição de 3 e 6 ppm de zinco ao solo, ocasionou interação com o boro e fósforo adicionados, diminuindo o crescimento em altura das plantas.

Efeitos da aplicação de fósforo, boro, zinco e calagem no teor de macronutrientes das folhas de mudas de Eucalyptus grandis (Hill, Ex-Maiden) Cultivadas em solo de cerrado

Utilizando-se um Latossol Vermelho Amarelo fase arenosa, originalmente sob vegetação de Cerrado do município de Itirapina (SP), foi desenvolvido um experimento em vasos, em casa de vegetação, na E. S.A. "Luiz de Queiroz", em Piracicaba (SP), com a finalidade de se verificar o efeito da aplicação de níveis de P (0, 16 e 32 ppm), níveis de B (0, 2 e 4 ppm), níveis de Zn (0, 3 e 6 ppm) e níveis de calagem (0 e 6,0 g CaCO3 + 2,5 g MgCO3) por cada vaso, na concentração de N, P, K, Ca e Mg das folhas de mudas de Eucalyptus grandis (Hill, Ex-Maiden), A calagem e as adubações fosfatadas, com boro ou com zinco, alteraram as concentrações dos macronutrientes dos tecidos foliares das plantas.

Biologia de Glena unipennaria unipennaria (Guenée, 1857) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) em folhas de Eucalyptus grandis (Hill) Maiden

Este trabalho trata do estudo da biologia de Glena unipennaria unipennaria (Guenée, 1857) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae), cujas lagartas são desfolhadoras e consideradas como praga de grande importância econômica, em povoamentos homogêneos e implantados de Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae), no Brasil. Os insetos foram criados em condições de laboratório (temperatura 25±3°C; UR:70±10; fotoperíodo de 12 horas), no Laboratório de Controle Biológico, do Departamento de Entomologia, da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz"-USP, em Piracicaba, SP, em 1978. As lagartas foram alimentadas, exclusivamente, com folhas de Eucalyptus grandis (Hill) Maiden. Foram estudados os seguintes parâmetros: período e viabilidade das fases de ovo, lagarta (exceto viabilidade), pré-pupa; número e duração dos ínstares larvais e consumo foliar na fase larval; longevidade dos a dultos e proporção quanto ao sexo. Medidas lineares foram tomadas das cápsulas cefálicas das lagartas, comprimento e maior largura das pupas e envergadura das asas anteriores dos adultos. Aspectos relacionados com o comportamento e morfologia externa também foram observados.