Ultrasonic densitometer using a multiple reflection technique

This work presents recent improvements in a density measurement cell with a double-element transducer that can eliminate diffraction effects. A new mechanical design combined with the use of more appropriate materials has resulted in better parallelism between interfaces, more robust assembly, and chemical resistance. A novel method of signal processing, named energy method, is introduced to obtain the reflection coefficient, reducing sensitivity to noise and improving accuracy. The measurement cell operation is verified both theoretically, using an acoustic wave propagation model, and experimentally, using homogeneous liquids with different densities. The accuracy in the density measurement is 0.2% when compared with the measurements made with a pycnometer.

Ultrasonic density measurement cell design and simulation of non-ideal effects

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of a density measurement cell using an unidimensional model composed by acoustic and electroacoustic transmission lines in order to simulate non-ideal effects. The model is implemented using matrix operations, and is used to design the cell considering its geometry, materials used in sensor assembly, range of liquid sample properties and signal analysis techniques. The sensor performance in non-ideal conditions is studied, considering the thicknesses of adhesive and metallization layers, and the effect of residue of liquid sample which can impregnate on the sample chamber surfaces. These layers are taken into account in the model, and their effects are compensated to reduce the error on density measurement. The results show the contribution of residue layer thickness to density error and its behavior when two signal analysis methods are used. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic material characterization using large-aperture PVDF receivers

This work describes the use of a large-aperture PVDF receiver in the measurement of liquid density and composite material elastic constants. The density measurement of several liquids is obtained with accuracy of 0.2% using a conventional NDE emitter transducer and a 70-mm-diameter, 52-mu m P(VDF-TrFE) membrane with gold electrodes. The determination of the elastic constants is based on the phase velocity measurement. Diffraction can lead to errors around 1% in velocity measurement when using alternatively the conventional pair of ultrasonic transducers (1-MHz frequency and 19-mm-diameter) operating in through-transmission mode, separated by a distance of 100 mm. This effect is negligible when using a pair of 10-MHz, 19-mm-diameter transducers. Nevertheless, the dispersion at 10 MHz can result in errors of about 0.5%, when measuring the velocity in composite materials. The use of an 80-mm diameter, 52-mu m-thick PVDF membrane receiver practically eliminates the diffraction effects in phase velocity measurement. The elastic constants of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer were determined and compared with the values obtained by a tensile test. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Structure of acetone and dimethyl sulfoxide from Monte Carlo simulations and MM2 calculations

The structure of acetone and dimethyl sulfoxide in the liquid phase is investigated using Monte Carlo simulations and MM2 calculations. The principal site - site correlations and degree of structure in both liquids have been investigated. The results showed that dimethyl sulfoxide is more structured than acetone. At short distances the dipoles of neighboring molecules are found to be in antiparallel configurations, but further apart the molecules tend to be aligned predominantly as head to tail. In both liquids there is evidence of strong methyl - oxygen interaction, important to the structure of the liquids. The contacts suggest weak hydrogen bonds between methyl hydrogen and oxygen.

A Monte Carlo Revisiting of N-Methylformamide and Acetone

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

Monte Carlo studies of N-methylformamide-dimethyl sulfoxide mixtures

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

Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of glass ionomer cements on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells

Glass ionomer cements are widely used in dentistry as restorative materials and adhesives for composite restorations. However, the results of genotoxicity studies using these materials are inconclusive in literature. The goal of this study was to examine the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of three different glass ionomer cements available commercially (Ketac Cem, Ketac Molar and Vitrebond) by the single cell gel (comet) assay and trypan blue exclusion test, respectively. For this, such materials were exposed to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in vitro for 1 h at 37 degrees C. Data were assessed by Kruskall-Wallis nonparametric test. The results showed that the powder from Ketac Molar displayed genotoxicity only in the maximum concentration evaluated (100 mu g/mL). In the same way, the liquid from Vitrebond at 0.1% dilution caused an increase of DNA injury. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in cytotoxicity provoked by all powders tested of glass ionomer cements were observed for exposure at 1000 mu g/mL concentration. With respect to liquids of glass ionomer cements evaluated, the major toxic effect on cell viability was produced at 10%, beginning at the dilution of 0.5% for Vitrebond. Taken together, we conclude that some components of glass ionomer cements show both genotoxic and cytotoxic effects.

Biocompatibility of glass-ionomer cements using mouse lymphoma cells in vitro

Glass-ionomer cements are widely used in dentistry as restorative materials and adhesives for composite restorations. A number of genotoxicity studies have been conducted using these materials with results conflicting so far. Thus, the approach was aimed to look at the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of three different glass-ionomer cements available commercially (Ketac Cem, Ketac Molar and Vitrebond) by the single cell gel (comet) assay and trypan blue exclusion test, respectively. For this, such materials were exposed to mouse lymphoma cells in vitro for 1 h at 37 degrees C. Data were assessed by Kruskall-Wallis non-parametric test. The results showed that all powders assayed did not show genotoxic effects. on the other hand, the liquid from Vitrebond at 0.1% dilution caused an increase of DNA injury. Significant statistically differences (P < 0.05) in cytotoxicity provoked by all powders tested were observed for exposure at 1000 mu g mL(-1) concentration and 100 mu g mL(-1) for Ketac Molar. With respect to liquids of glass-ionomer cements evaluated, the major toxic effect on cell viability was produced at 1%, beginning at the dilution of 0.5% for Vitrebond. Taken together, these results support the notion that some components of glass-ionomer cements show both genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in higher concentrations.

Effect of rinsing with water immediately after neutral gel and foam fluoride topical application on enamel remineralization: An in situ study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Development of a methodology of collection and rearing of the invasive ant Paratrechina longicornis Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the laboratory.

The genus Paratrechina is a cosmopolitan group, with some species invading residences and hospitals. In Brazil, the most important species are: Paratrechina fulva and Paratrechina longicornis. In spite of the importance of these species as urban pests, there is a lack of information on their biology, since studies on urban ants are rather recent in our country and also due to the difficulty of keeping colonies of P. longicornis in the laboratory. Therefore, the present study was aimed at developing two methodologies: one suitable for collecting and another for keeping colonies of P. longicornis in the laboratory. Concerning the collections, four methodologies were analyzed, while for keeping colonies in the laboratory, the types of containers where the colonies would be stored as well as the food items that would comprise their diet were evaluated. The most adequate methodology for collecting was the one performed using an entomological aspirator. Regarding the maintenance of colonies, the most adequate container was the test tube with cotton steeped in water, while in the tests on food attractiveness, the workers showed preference for sugary liquids and dead insects, mainly termites. Moreover, two infestations of mites from the families Acaridae, Macrochelidae (genus Macrocheles) and Uropodidae in the colonies of P. longicornis have occurred, which caused a significant mortality of the colonies, due to an unbalance in the social behavior of the ants.

Occurrence of Hymenoptera on Sus scrofa carcasses during summer and winter seasons in southeastern Brazil

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

CHARGED PARTICLE DYNAMICS IN TIME DEPENDENT MAGNETIC FIELDS

In this work we study the behavior of charged particles immersed in a peculiar configuration of magnetic fields, which has a main constant field B(0) and a superimposed, transversal perturbation field B(1) sin(omega(p)t), with B(1) << B(0). By taking Cartesian coordinates and placing B(0) along the z axis and B(1) sin (omega(p)t) on the x axis, an analytical solution for y(t) may be obtained by solving an integrodifferential equation. Besides, the solution z(t) also exhibits a very interesting dynamics, and the entire system is conditioned by resonances between the particle orbit frequencies and the frequency of the magnetic transversal perturbation, omega(p). In this work we also discuss numerical simulations for the related particle trajectories, as well as potential applications in the context of separation phenomena.

Friction losses in valves and fittings for liquid food products

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

Detection of phenolic compounds using impedance spectroscopy measurements

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

Geoelectrical mapping of contamination in the cemeteries: the case study in Piracicaba, São Paulo/Brazil

This paper presents the results of electrical resistivity methods in the area delineation that was potentially contaminated by liquefaction products, which are also called putrefactive liquids in Vila Rezende municipal cemetery, Piracicaba, So Paulo, Brazil. The results indicate a depth of water table between 3.1 and 5.1 m, with two groundwater direction flows, one to the SW and another to the SE. Due to the contamination plumes, which have the same groundwater direction flow, as well the conductive anomalies observed in the geoelectric sections, the contamination suspicions in the area were confirmed. The probable plume to the SE extends beyond the limits of the cemetery. The location of the conductive anomalies and the probable contamination plumes showed that the contamination is linked with the depth of the water table and the burial time. Mapping using the geostatistical method of ordinary kriging applied to the work drew structural characteristics of the regional phenomenon and spatial behavior of the electrical resistivity data, resulting in continued surfaces. Thus, this method has proved to be an important tool for mapping contamination plumes in cemeteries.