Working postures of dental students: ergonomic analysis using the Ovako Working Analysis System and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment

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

Quantization of unstable linear scalar fields in static spacetimes

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

Effect of Pursed-Lip Breathing in Patients With COPD: Linear and Nonlinear Analysis of Cardiac Autonomic Modulation

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pursed-lip breathing (PLB) on cardiac autonomic modulation in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) while at rest. Methods: Thirty-two individuals were allocated to one of two groups: COPD (n = 17; 67.29 +/- 6.87 years of age) and control (n = 15; 63.2 +/- 7.96 years of age). The groups were submitted to a two-stage experimental protocol. The first stage consisted of the characterization of the sample and spirometry. The second stage comprised the analysis of cardiac autonomic modulation through the recording of R-R intervals. This analysis was performed using both nonlinear and linear heart rate variability (HRV). In the statistical analysis, the level of significance was set to 5% (p = 0.05). Results: PLB promoted significant increases in the SD1, SD2, RMSSD and LF (ms(2)) indices as well as an increase in alpha(1) and a reduction in alpha(2) in the COPD group. A greater dispersion of points on the Poincare plots was also observed. The magnitude of the changes produced by PLB differed between groups. Conclusion: PLB led to a loss of fractal correlation properties of heart rate in the direction of linearity in patients with COPD as well as an increase in vagal activity and impact on the spectral analysis. The difference in the magnitude of the changes produced by PLB between groups may be related to the presence of the disease and alterations in the respiration rate.

A genetic algorithm/mathematical programming approach to solve a two-level soft drink production problem

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A Multi-Stage Stochastic Non-Linear Model for Reactive Power Planning Under Contingencies

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

Controle de dissociação molecular com ferramentas de dinâmica não linear

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comportamento dinâmico de suspensão eletromecânica: análise da resposta devido ao amortecimento e à rigidez não linear

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEB

Nonlinear dynamical analysis of an aeroelastic system with multi-segmented moment in the pitch degree-of-freedom

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

An unequivocal normalization-based paradigm to solve dynamic economic and emission active-reactive OPF (optimal power flow)

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

Screening and determination of sulphonamide residues in bovine milk samples using a flow injection system

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determination of carbofuran and diuron in FIA system using electrochemical sensor modified with organometallic complexes and graphene oxide

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

Cogeneration design problem Computational complexity analysis and solution through an expert system

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is twofold: to analyze the computational complexity of the cogeneration design problem; to present an expert system to solve the proposed problem, comparing such an approach with the traditional searching methods available.Design/methodology/approach - The complexity of the cogeneration problem is analyzed through the transformation of the well-known knapsack problem. Both problems are formulated as decision problems and it is proven that the cogeneration problem is np-complete. Thus, several searching approaches, such as population heuristics and dynamic programming, could be used to solve the problem. Alternatively, a knowledge-based approach is proposed by presenting an expert system and its knowledge representation scheme.Findings - The expert system is executed considering two case-studies. First, a cogeneration plant should meet power, steam, chilled water and hot water demands. The expert system presented two different solutions based on high complexity thermodynamic cycles. In the second case-study the plant should meet just power and steam demands. The system presents three different solutions, and one of them was never considered before by our consultant expert.Originality/value - The expert system approach is not a "blind" method, i.e. it generates solutions based on actual engineering knowledge instead of the searching strategies from traditional methods. It means that the system is able to explain its choices, making available the design rationale for each solution. This is the main advantage of the expert system approach over the traditional search methods. On the other hand, the expert system quite likely does not provide an actual optimal solution. All it can provide is one or more acceptable solutions.

On the Performance of a Two-Stage Vibration Isolation System Which has Geometrically Nonlinear Stiffness

Linear single-stage vibration isolation systems have a limitation on their performance, which can be overcome passively by using linear two-stage isolations systems. It has been demonstrated by several researchers that linear single-stage isolation systems can be improved upon by using nonlinear stiffness elements, especially for low-frequency vibrations. In this paper, an investigation is conducted into whether the same improvements can be made to a linear two-stage isolation system using the same methodology for both force and base excitation. The benefits of incorporating geometric stiffness nonlinearity in both upper and lower stages are studied. It is found that there are beneficial effects of using nonlinearity in the stiffness in both stages for both types of excitation. Further, it is found that this nonlinearity causes the transmissibility at the lower resonance frequency to bend to the right, but the transmissibility at the higher resonance frequency is not affected in the same way. Generally, it is found that a nonlinear two-stage system has superior isolation performance compared to that of a linear two-stage isolator.

Sistema de Acelerador Linear Comercial para Radioterapia

This paper presents a study about the operation of the major system’s components of a linear particle acclerator (Linac). It addresses the components mainly responsible for the formation of the beam, through the inclusion of several block diagrams showing the details of the structure. Among the systems discussed may be mentioned the system modulator, automatic frequency control, dosimetry and auxiliary systems. The main objective is the dissemination of basic technology applied in linear accelerators and create literature about this subject in national language. Despite the high complexity and large number of devices that comprise a linear accelerator, it has been developed an easy to understand text that adresses the most relevant issues to the operation of the linear accelerator from the point of view of electrical engineering

Programação linear no planejamento do tratamento de câncer por radiocirurgia

Medical Physics has been reaching an important role among several lines in Science, providing means for the improvement of several theories and procedures. Currently, its main application is related with the use of ionizing radiations, specially, in treatment procedures such as Radiotherapy. Radiosurgery is a Radiotherapy technique which consists in administering a single tumoricidal dose of radiation exclusively to the tumorous lesion. It becomes then an interesting alternative to surgical treatment, mainly in cerebral metastases, which are the most frequent cerebral tumors in the central nervous system. The radio neurosurgical team works out a planning for the Radiosurgery treatment, aiming for obtaining an appropriate ideal treatment for each case. For the working out of this treatment planning, Computed Tomography images of the region to be treated are obtained, digitalized and later, fused with nuclear magnetic resonance images. Through these images, critical structures, organs at risk and lesions are localized. After this, calculations are made to determine three-dimensional positions of isocenters, isodose curves, prescribed dose, collimators sizes, position, numbers and respective weight of isocentric conformal fields, and others. The treatment planning is commonly based in desired levels of dose for specific types of tumors and organs at risk concerning the irradiated region. Theses levels of dose are chosen in a way that a high probability of cure may be achieved and meanwhile, that the probability of complications, in whichever organ at risk, may be minimal. Thus, many researches have been carried out, showing that mathematical techniques may help to obtain an optimal planning for the treatment of cerebral metastases. Among the methods of optimization in the study...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)