Neonatally induced mild diabetes: influence on development, behavior and reproductive function of female Wistar rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Finite-time synchronization of tunnel-diode-based chaotic oscillators

This paper addresses the problem of finite-time synchronization of tunnel diode based chaotic oscillators. After a brief investigation of its chaotic dynamics, we propose an active adaptive feedback coupling which accomplishes the synchronization of tunnel-diode-based chaotic systems with and without the presence of delay(s), basing ourselves on Lyapunov and on Krasovskii-Lyapunov stability theories. This feedback coupling could be applied to many other chaotic systems. A finite horizon can be arbitrarily established by ensuring that chaos synchronization is achieved at a pre-established time. An advantage of the proposed feedback coupling is that it is simple and easy to implement. Both mathematical investigations and numerical simulations followed by PSPICE experiment are presented to show the feasibility of the proposed method.

Application of passive control to energy harvester efficiency using a nonideal portal frame structural support system

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

Clinical, biomechanical and histological study on oophorectomy induced menopause

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

Human-calf relationship and its implications on animal welfare

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Unusual broadening of the NIR luminescence of Er3+-doped Nb2O5 nanocrystals embedded in silica host: Preparation and their structural and spectroscopic study for photonics applications

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

Fabrication of Yb3+/Er3+ codoped Bi2O3-WO3-TeO2 pedestal type waveguide for optical amplifiers

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, experimental results on pedestal waveguides produced with Yb3+/Er3+ codoped Bi2O3-WO3-TeO2 thin films deposited by RF Sputtering for photonic applications. Thin films were deposited using Ar/O-2 plasma at 5 mTorr pressure and RF power of 40 W on substrates of silicon wafers. The definition of the pedestal waveguide structure was made using conventional optical lithography followed by plasma etching. Propagation losses around 2.0 dB/cm and 2.5 dB/cm were obtained at 633 and 1050 nm, respectively, for waveguides in the 20-100 mu m width range. Single-mode propagation was measured for waveguides width up to 10 mu m and 12 mu m, at 633 nm and 1050 nm, respectively; for larger waveguides widths multi-mode propagation was obtained. Internal gain of 5.6 dB at 1530 nm, under 980 nm excitation, was measured for 1.5 cm waveguide length (similar to 3.7 dB/cm). The present results show the possibility of using Yb3+/Er3+ codoped Bi2O3-WO3-TeO2 pedestal waveguide for optical amplifiers. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Trends in planktonic copepod diversity in reservoirs and lotic stretches in a large river basin in South America

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

Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeographic History of the Armored Neotropical Catfish Subfamilies Hypoptopomatinae, Neoplecostominae and Otothyrinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

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

Dynamic behavior, stochasticity and enviromental heterogeneity in Tribolium castaneum

In this study we analyzed the influence of demographic parameters on the population dynamics of Tribolium castaneum, combining empiricism and population theory to analyze the different effects of environmental heterogeneity, by employing Ricker models, designed to study a two-patch system taking into account deterministic and stochastic analysis. Results were expressed by bifurcation diagrams and stochastic simulations. Dynamic equilibrium was widely investigated with results suggesting specific parametric spaces in response to environmental heterogeneity and migration. Population equilibrium patterns, synchrony and persistence in T. castaneum were discussed

Total bacterial counting and the response to treatment of bacterial vaginosis with metronidazole

Objective: To evaluate if the total bacterial count of vaginal samples with bacterial vaginosis assessed by flow cytometry influences the response to treatment with metronidazol. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 273 low-risk reproductive aged women were enrolled. Vaginal samples were taken to evaluate the pattern of vaginal flora according to Nugent’s criteria, as well as the presence of trichomoniasis and candidosis. Cases identified of bacterial vaginosis were treated with metronidazole and controlled after 45 days. Cervical infection by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were also assessed. Flow cytometry for total bacterial counting was performed in propidium iodide stained cervicovaginal samples, using fluorescent beads at a known concentration. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare total bacterial count between groups of interest, at p<0.05. Results: From the total of 273 women enrolled, 50 were excluded as they presented at least one of the infections investigated. Bacterial vaginosis was detected in 79 women (35.4%), of which 33 (41.8%) returned for re-evaluation after treatment, being 21 cases successfully treated and 12 with persistent abnormal vaginal flora. Flow cytometric data showed that total bacterial counting does not differ between normal flora and bacterial vaginosis samples (p=0.14). Also, no difference was found between the cases of treated and persistent bacterial vaginosis (p=0.48). Conclusion: Total bacterial counting does not influence the response to metronidazole treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Comparative study on direct and indirect bracket bonding techniques regarding time length and bracket detachment

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the time spent for direct (DBB - direct bracket bonding) and indirect (IBB - indirect bracket bonding) bracket bonding techniques. The time length of laboratorial (IBB) and clinical steps (DBB and IBB) as well as the prevalence of loose bracket after a 24-week follow-up were evaluated. METHODS: Seventeen patients (7 men and 10 women) with a mean age of 21 years, requiring orthodontic treatment were selected for this study. A total of 304 brackets were used (151 DBB and 153 IBB). The same bracket type and bonding material were used in both groups. Data were submitted to statistical analysis by Wilcoxon non-parametric test at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: Considering the total time length, the IBB technique was more time-consuming than the DBB (p < 0.001). However, considering only the clinical phase, the IBB took less time than the DBB (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference (p = 0.910) for the time spent during laboratorial positioning of the brackets and clinical session for IBB in comparison to the clinical procedure for DBB. Additionally, no difference was found as for the prevalence of loose bracket between both groups. CONCLUSION: the IBB can be suggested as a valid clinical procedure since the clinical session was faster and the total time spent for laboratorial positioning of the brackets and clinical procedure was similar to that of DBB. In addition, both approaches resulted in similar frequency of loose bracket.

The dark matter profile of the Milky Way: a non-parametric reconstruction

We present the results of a new, non-parametric method to reconstruct the Galactic dark matter profile directly from observations. Using the latest kinematic data to track the total gravitational potential and the observed distribution of stars and gas to set the baryonic component, we infer the dark matter contribution to the circular velocity across the Galaxy. The radial derivative of this dynamical contribution is then estimated to extract the dark matter profile. The innovative feature of our approach is that it makes no assumption on the functional form or shape of the profile, thus allowing for a clean determination with no theoretical bias. We illustrate the power of the method by constraining the spherical dark matter profile between 2.5 and 25 kpc away from the Galactic center. The results show that the proposed method, free of widely used assumptions, can already be applied to pinpoint the dark matter distribution in the Milky Way with competitive accuracy, and paves the way for future developments.

A virtual experiment for the detection of specific features in the frequency response of a coupled nonlinear and linear oscillator

This paper presents an investigation into some practical issues that may be present in a real experiment, when trying to validate the theoretical frequency response curve of a two degree-of-freedom nonlinear system consisting of coupled linear and nonlinear oscillators. Some specific features, such as detached resonance curves, have been theoretically predicted in multi degree-of-freedom nonlinear oscillators, when subject to harmonic excitation, and the system parameters have been shown to be fundamental in achieving such features. When based on a simplified model, approximate analytical expression for the frequency response curves may be derived, which may be validated by the numerical solutions. In a real experiment, however, the practical achievability of such features was previously shown to be greatly affected by small disturbances induced by gravity and inertia, which led to some solutions becoming unstable which had been predicted to be stable. In this work a practical system configuration is proposed where such effects are reduced so that the previous limitations are overcome. A virtual experiment is carried out where a detailed multi-body model of the oscillator is assembled and the effects on the system response are investigated.

Non-parametric identification of a non-linear buckled beam using discrete-time Volterra Series

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