Fast fault section estimation in distribution control centers using adaptive genetic algorithm

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

Cassava wastewater as carbon source for the polyhydroxybutyrate production by Azotobacter vinelandii CCT 2841

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Period and Time of Harvest Affects the Apitoxin Production in Apis mellifera Lineu (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Bees and Expression of Defensin Stress Related Gene

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Implementing new northernmost records to modelling the distribution of Hypsiboas caingua (Anura: Hylidae) in South America

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

An investigation into the effects of resonances on the time delay estimate for leak detection in buried plastic water distribution pipes

In water distribution systems, old metallic pipes have been replaced by plastic pipes due to their deterioration over time. Although acoustic methods are effective in finding leaks in metallic pipes, they have been found to be problematic when applied to plastic pipes due to the high damping within the pipe wall and the surrounding medium. This is responsible for the leak signal not traveling long distances. Moreover, the leak energy in plastic pipes is generally located at a narrow frequency range located at low frequencies. However, the presence of resonances can narrow even more this frequency range. In order to minimise the influence of background noise and resonances on the calculation of the time delay estimate, band-pass filters are often used to supress undesirable frequency components of the noise. The objective of this paper is to investigate the influence of resonances in the pipe system (pipe, valves, connections and hydrants), on the time delay estimate calculated using acoustic signals. Analytical models and actual leak data collected in a bespoke rig located in the United Kingdom are used to investigate this feature.

Widespread pH abnormalities in patients with malformations of cortical development and epilepsy: a phosphorus-31 brain MR spectroscopy study

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

Evaluation of the use of probiotic acid lactic bacteria in the development of chicken hambúrguer

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of fermentation with Lactobacillus acidophilus CRL 1014 on the physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of a hamburger product like processed with chicken meat and okara flour, with reduction of curing salts. A mixture of ingredients containing 90% chicken meat and 10% okara flour was subjected to the following treatments: F1: fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus; F2:75 mg nitrite/kg and fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus; F3: 150 mg nitrite/kg and unfermented. The quality of the “hamburgers” was assessed by physical and chemical analysis (pH, cooking yield and shrinkage), chemical composition, microbiological tests (Salmonella spp., count of sulphite-reducing clostridia, staphylococos coagulase-positive, total coliforms and Escherichia coli) and sensory analysis (sensory acceptance and purchase intent). During the first six days of fermentation, there was a decrease in pH from approximately 6.33 to 5.10. All the samples showed the same chemical composition (p < 0.05). The fermentation process was observed to inhibit the multiplication of microorganisms of several groups: coagulasepositive staphylococci, sulphite-reducing clostridia, Salmonella spp. and E. coli. The different “hamburgers” formulations showed high scores for all the sensory attributes evaluated, without differing from each other (p < 0.05). The results showed that the use of L. acidophilus CRL 1014 enabled the production of a safe product, with good physicochemical and sensory characteristics, in the absence of curing salts.

Aplicação de carbono vítreo monolítico para produção de eletrodos a partir da resina furfurílica com diferentes variações de pH

Nowadays, we live in a time of rapid research for technological advances, in a way that this pursuit of new technologies is deeply connected to the diversity of new materials that have been developed by mankind. It deals with issues such as materials with enhanced properties which offer better quality, less cost and high performance, while they are accessible both in their production and moment of operation. In this context, it was required to develop electrodes that were easy to prepare as well as which present high electric conductivity and good mechanic proprieties by using carbonaceous material as basis. For this reason, the best parameters of the furfuryl resin cures were established with different pH variations through viscosimetric measurements and differential scanning calorimetry. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was possible to identify an increased porosity in the samples with pH 7 and pH 8, as compared to samples with lower pH content. After carbonization of the material, the characterization of monolithic glassy carbon was held by means of FT-IR techniques, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry. The spectra showed that the change in pH does not have significant influence on the crystallographic ordering of the material and its structural characteristics. As for the electrochemical character, the CVM electrodes showed excellent response, with good reversibility and wide potential window. Some voltammetric curve deviations were only observed for the sample with pH 4, which may be related to processing parameters adopted

Aplicação de carbono vítreo monolítico para produção de eletrodos a partir da resina furfurílica com diferentes variações de pH

Nowadays, we live in a time of rapid research for technological advances, in a way that this pursuit of new technologies is deeply connected to the diversity of new materials that have been developed by mankind. It deals with issues such as materials with enhanced properties which offer better quality, less cost and high performance, while they are accessible both in their production and moment of operation. In this context, it was required to develop electrodes that were easy to prepare as well as which present high electric conductivity and good mechanic proprieties by using carbonaceous material as basis. For this reason, the best parameters of the furfuryl resin cures were established with different pH variations through viscosimetric measurements and differential scanning calorimetry. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was possible to identify an increased porosity in the samples with pH 7 and pH 8, as compared to samples with lower pH content. After carbonization of the material, the characterization of monolithic glassy carbon was held by means of FT-IR techniques, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry. The spectra showed that the change in pH does not have significant influence on the crystallographic ordering of the material and its structural characteristics. As for the electrochemical character, the CVM electrodes showed excellent response, with good reversibility and wide potential window. Some voltammetric curve deviations were only observed for the sample with pH 4, which may be related to processing parameters adopted

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF FISH IN PALMAS BAY, UBATUBA, BRAZIL

The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution and abundance of the fish fauna of Palmas bay on Anchieta Island in southeastern Brazil. Specimens were caught in the summer and winter of 1992, using an otter trawl at three locations in the bay. The specimens were caught in both the nighttime and daytime. Data on the water temperature and salinity were recorded for the characterization of the predominant water mass in the region, and sediment samples were taken for granulometric analysis. A total of 7 656 specimens (79 species), with a total weight of approximately 300 kg, were recorded. The most abundant species were Eucinostomus argenteus, Ctenosciaena gracilicirrhus, Haemulon steindachneri, Eucinostomus gula and Diapterus rhombeus, which together accounted for more than 73% of the sample. In general, the ecological indices showed no differences in the composition of species for the abiotic variables analyzed. The multivariate analysis showed that the variations in the distribution of the fish fauna were mainly associated with intra-annual differences in temperature and salinity, resulting from the presence of South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) in the area during the summer. The analysis also showed an association with the type of bottom and a lesser association with respect to the night/day periods.

Efficient Placement of Fault Indicators in an Actual Distribution System Using Evolutionary Computing

This paper proposes an evolutionary computing strategy to solve the problem of fault indicator (FI) placement in primary distribution feeders. More specifically, a genetic algorithm (GA) is employed to search for an efficient configuration of FIs, located at the best positions on the main feeder of a real-life distribution system. Thus, the problem is modeled as one of optimization, aimed at improving the distribution reliability indices, while, at the same time, finding the least expensive solution. Based on actual data, the results confirm the efficiency of the GA approach to the FI placement problem.

In vitro evaluation, in vivo quantification, and microbial diversity studies of nutritional strategies for reducing enteric methane production

The main objective of the present work was to study nutritive strategies for lessening the CH4 formation associated to ruminant tropical diets. In vitro gas production technique was used for evaluating the effect of tannin-rich plants, essential oils, and biodiesel co-products on CH4 formation in three individual studies and a small chamber system to measure CH4 released by sheep for in vivo studies was developed. Microbial rumen population diversity from in vitro assays was studied using qPCR. In vitro studies with tanniniferous plants, herbal plant essential oils derived from thyme, fennel, ginger, black seed, and Eucalyptus oil (EuO) added to the basal diet and cakes of oleaginous plants (cotton, palm, castor plant, turnip, and lupine), which were included in the basal diet to replace soybean meal, presented significant differences regarding fermentation gas production and CH4 formation. In vivo assays were performed according to the results of the in vitro assays. , when supplemented to a basal diet (Tifton-85 hay sp, corn grain, soybean meal, cotton seed meal, and mineral mixture) fed to adult Santa Ines sheep reduced enteric CH4 emission but the supplementation of the basal diet with EuO did not affect ( > 0.05) methane released. Regarding the microbial studies of rumen population diversity using qPCR with DNA samples collected from the in vitro trials, the results showed shifts in microbial communities of the tannin-rich plants in relation to control plant. This research demonstrated that tannin-rich , essential oil from eucalyptus, and biodiesel co-products either in vitro or in vivo assays showed potential to mitigate CH4 emission in ruminants. The microbial community study suggested that the reduction in CH4 production may be attributed to a decrease in fermentable substrate rather than to a direct effect on methanogenesis.

Plasticity of stomatal distribution pattern and stem tracheid dimensions in Podocarpus lambertii: an ecological study

Leaf and wood plasticity are key elements in the survival of widely distributed plant species. Little is known, however, about variation in stomatal distribution in the leaf epidermis and its correlation with the dimensions of conducting cells in wood. This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that Podocarpus lambertii, a conifer tree, possesses a well-defined pattern of stomatal distribution, and that this pattern can vary together with the dimensions of stem tracheids as a possible strategy to survive in climatically different sites. Leaves and wood were sampled from trees growing in a cold, wet site in south-eastern Brazil and in a warm, dry site in north-eastern Brazil. Stomata were thoroughly mapped in leaves from each study site to determine a spatial sampling strategy. Stomatal density, stomatal index and guard cell length were then sampled in three regions of the leaf: near the midrib, near the leaf margin and in between the two. This sampling strategy was used to test for a pattern and its possible variation between study sites. Wood and stomata data were analysed together via principal component analysis. The following distribution pattern was found in the south-eastern leaves: the stomatal index was up to 25 higher in the central leaf region, between the midrib and the leaf margin, than in the adjacent regions. The inverse pattern was found in the north-eastern leaves, in which the stomatal index was 10 higher near the midrib and the leaf margin. This change in pattern was accompanied by smaller tracheid lumen diameter and length. Podocarpus lambertii individuals in sites with higher temperature and lower water availability jointly regulate stomatal distribution in leaves and tracheid dimensions in wood. The observed stomatal distribution pattern and variation appear to be closely related to the placement of conducting tissue in the mesophyll.

A knapsack problem as a tool to solve the production planning problem in small foundries

According to recent research carried out in the foundry sector, one of the most important concerns of the industries is to improve their production planning. A foundry production plan involves two dependent stages: (1) determining the alloys to be merged and (2) determining the lots that will be produced. The purpose of this study is to draw up plans of minimum production cost for the lot-sizing problem for small foundries. As suggested in the literature, the proposed heuristic addresses the problem stages in a hierarchical way. Firstly, the alloys are determined and, subsequently, the items that are produced from them. In this study, a knapsack problem as a tool to determine the items to be produced from furnace loading was proposed. Moreover, we proposed a genetic algorithm to explore some possible sets of alloys and to determine the production planning for a small foundry. Our method attempts to overcome the difficulties in finding good production planning presented by the method proposed in the literature. The computational experiments show that the proposed methods presented better results than the literature. Furthermore, the proposed methods do not need commercial software, which is favorable for small foundries. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

End-to-end Distance Distribution in Fluorescent Derivatives of Bradykinin in Interaction with Lipid Vesicles

Cellular membranes have relevant roles in processes related to proteases like human kallikreins and cathepsins. As enzyme and substrate may interact with cell membranes and associated co-factors, it is important to take into account the behavior of peptide substrates in the lipid environment. In this paper we report an study based on energy transfer in two bradykinin derived peptides labeled with the donor-acceptor pair Abz/Eddnp (ortho-aminobenzoic acid/N-[2,4-dinitrophenyl]-ethylenediamine). Time-resolved fluorescence experiments were performed in phosphate buffer and in the presence of large unilamelar vesicles of phospholipids, and of micelles of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The decay kinetics were analyzed using the program CONTIN to obtain end-to-end distance distribution functions f(r). Despite of the large difference in the number of residues the end-to-end distance of the longer peptide (9 amino acid residues) is only 20 % larger than the values obtained for the shorter peptide (5 amino acid residues). The proline residue, in position 4 of the bradykinin sequence promotes a turn in the longer peptide chain, shortening its end-to-end distance. The surfactant SDS has a strong disorganizing effect, substantially broadening the distance distributions, while temperature increase has mild effects in the flexibility of the chains, causing small increase in the distribution width. The interaction with phospholipid vesicles stabilizes more compact conformations, decreasing end-to-end distances in the peptides. Anisotropy experiments showed that rotational diffusion was not severely affected by the interaction with the vesicles, suggesting a location for the peptides in the surface region of the bilayer, a result consistent with small effect of lipid phase transition on the peptides conformations.