BFFT quantization and dynamical solutions of a fluid field theory

We study a field theory formulation of a fluid mechanical model. We implement the Hamiltonian formalism by using the BFFT conjecture in order to build a gauge invariant fluid field theory. We also generalize previous known classical dynamical field solutions for the fluid model. ©2000 The American Physical Society.

The improvement in grinding of inlet engine valves by the adoption of the most effective cuting fluid type

In this paper is presented an experimental research in which the grinding of seating surfaces of inlet engine valves was improved by the adoption of the most effective cutting fluid type, matching the new requirements of cutting fluid application. Four different types of cutting fluids (straight oil and three different types of soluble oils) were analyzed. As qualitative and quantitative evaluation parameters of the performance of the cutting fluids, the roughness, the grinding wheel wear, the cutting force and the workpiece residual stress were determined. As a conclusion, the straight oil was the cutting fluid that presented the best results in all of the parameters analyzed. Copyright © 2000 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

Morphology of the ventral lobe of the prostate and seminal vesicles in an ethanol-drinking strain of rats (UChA and UChB)

Chronic alcoholism alters reproduction and therefore may be responsible for alterations of prostate and seminal vesicles, which are the subject of this analysis in UCh ethanol-drinking rats. The prostate and seminal vesicles of 20 animals were submitted to macroscopic, light microscopy, electron microscopy and morphometric analysis. The UCh rats showed atrophy of the epithelium and reduction of the weight of the prostate and seminal vesicle, liver hypertrophy and fat infiltration and alterations of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. Ethanol induces changes in the weight and in the epithelium of prostate and seminal vesicles and hypothalamus-pituitary axis of UCh rats.

Evaluation of plasma membrane integrity of frozen-thawed goat spermatozoa with or without seminal plasma

The aim of the present work was to evaluate plasma membrane integrity, motility, vigor and morphology of fresh and frozen goat spermatozoa with or without seminal plasma. Semen samples were diluted in Tris solution, before and after thawing, with a combination of carboxifluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide. The results showed differences (P < 0.01) for motility and minor defects in the presence or absence of seminal plasma, for both fresh and frozen samples. Periods of collection had a significant effect on motility, probably due to changes in the photoperiod. Plasma membrane integrity was significantly reduced by the freezing process, whether seminal plasma was present or absent. In conclusion, removal of seminal plasma decreased motility and vigor rates in frozen samples. The photoperiod probably decreased the testosterone level, contributing negatively to the high percentage of sperm abnormalities, mainly damaged membranes. The use of fluorescent probes allowed a better estimation of the percentage of functional cells, instead of only estimating the percentage of motile cells or morphology defects. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The ultrastructure of the guinea pig rete testis

The chambers of the rete testis (RT) of guinea pig are lined by a simple epithelium, whose cells are squamous, cubical and columnar in shape. The epithelial cells with distinct shapes were counted and the quantitative analysis of the number of these cells showed relative predominance of cubical cells. The ultrastructural observations showed predominance of membrane interdigitations among the epithelial cells. These cells present common cytoplasmic organelles. The Golgi complex polarity is typical with observation of electronlucent vesicles on the Golgi cis face closely related to rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lamellae, mitochondria and large number of polysomes on the Golgi trans face. These related structures present in Golgi area of RT cells suggest secretory activity which maybe occurs in the RT epithelium. Endocytotic process also occurs in the RT and this function probably concerns the uptake of substances and resorption of seminiferous fluid. Apical cilia present in RT epithelium cells are related with fluid transport and perhaps with chemoreception. Presence of spermatozoa portions enclosed into the cytoplasm of some epithelium cells has been refferred to as spermatophagy. The RT complex is mainly supported by loose connective tissue, with collagen fibres and some Leydig cells. Leydig cells are adjacent to the network channels of the septal part of the RT and apparently are able to secrete inside the RT lumen.

The influence of fluid ingestion on performance of soccer players during a match

The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink on soccer performance. Twenty soccer players volunteered to participate in the study. Players were allocated to two assigned trials according to their positional roles in the team: CHO group (ingesting a 6% carbohydrate-electrolyte solution at regular 15 minutes intervals) and NCHO (ingesting no fluid) during 75 min on-field soccer game. During the trials, body mass loss, heart rate, time spent running, number of sprints and core temperature were measured. There were statistically significant changes (p < 0.05) in body mass loss (CHO: 1.14 ± 0.37 kg vs. NCHO: 1.75 ± 0.47 kg) and number of sprints performed (CHO: 14.70 ± 4.38 vs. NCHO: 10.70 ± 5.80) between groups. The main finding of the present study indicates that supplementation with a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink during a soccer match is beneficial in helping to prevent deterioration in performance. © Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2004).

Use of the paired samples (cerebrospinal fluid and serum) in immunodiagnostic of active and inactive human neurocysticercosis

Paired samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 30 patients - 10 with active, 10 with inactive neurocysticercosis (NCC), and 10 control subjects - were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using two Taenia crassiceps metacestode extracts as antigen in order to detect IgG antibodies. In active NCC, high levels of IgG were detected (p < 0.05). The CSF samples showed 80% (CI 72-88) of reactivity in the saline extract (S) and 90% (CI 84-95) in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and the serum samples were reactive in 90% (CI 84-95) and 100% (CI 98-100) in the S and SDS antigenic extracts, respectively. The use of the paired samples of CSF and serum in active NCC showed equivalent results suggesting that the serum samples could be used as a screening in those patients whose CSF puncture is counter-indicated.

Simulations of incompressible fluid flows by a least squares finite element method

In this work simulations of incompressible fluid flows have been done by a Least Squares Finite Element Method (LSFEM) using velocity-pressure-vorticity and velocity-pressure-stress formulations, named u-p-ω) and u-p-τ formulations respectively. These formulations are preferred because the resulting equations are partial differential equations of first order, which is convenient for implementation by LSFEM. The main purposes of this work are the numerical computation of laminar, transitional and turbulent fluid flows through the application of large eddy simulation (LES) methodology using the LSFEM. The Navier-Stokes equations in u-p-ω and u-p-τ formulations are filtered and the eddy viscosity model of Smagorinsky is used for modeling the sub-grid-scale stresses. Some benchmark problems are solved for validate the numerical code and the preliminary results are presented and compared with available results from the literature. Copyright © 2005 by ABCM.

Development of a supercritical fluid extraction method for simultaneous determination of organophosphorus, organohalogen, organonitrogen and pyretroids pesticides in fruit and vegetables and its comparison with a conventional method by GC-ECD and GC-MS

The aim of this paper was to apply a multiresidue method using Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) and capillary gas chromatography with electron capture and mass spectrometry detections in the analysis of the levels of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. Single laboratory validation of both solid-liquid and supercritical fluid extraction methods was carried out for 32 compounds selected from four pesticide classes (organochlorine, organonitrogen, organophosphorus and pyretroid) in blank and fortified samples of fresh lettuce, potato, apple and tomato. Recoveries for the majority of pesticides from fortified samples at fortification level of 0.04-0.10 mg kg -1 ranged 74-96% for both methods and confirmation of pesticide identity was performed by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry in a selected-ion monitoring mode. Both methods showed good limits of detection (less 0.01 mg kg-1, depending on the pesticide and matrix) and the SFE method minimized environmental concerns, time, and laboratory work. ©2005 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Antisperm antibodies in infertile men and their correlation with seminal parameters

Aim: Antisperm antibodies (ASA) in males cause the autoimmune disease 'immune infertility'. The present study intended to detect the presence of ASA and their incidence in men with unexplained infertility, as well as to evaluate the correlation between the presence of ASA and semen parameter alterations. Methods: Blood and sperm assessment were collected to carry out a direct and indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) test and semen analysis in infertile and fertile men from the University Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine, Sao Paulo State University, Sao Paulo. Results: In the MARtest, 18.18% of infertile men were positive for ASA. In fertile men, no positivity was found. A significant correlation between the presence of ASA with an increased white blood cell count plus a decreased hypoosmotic swelling test result was observed. Conclusions: The results indicate that ASA are involved in reduced fertility. It is not ASA detection per.se that provides conclusive information about the occurrence of damage to fertility. The correlation between infertility and altered seminal parameters reinforce the ASA participation in this pathology. © 2007 The Authors Journal compilation. © 2007 Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Influence of grinding on the roundness, residual stresses and microstructure of VC131 steel analysed by varying the type of cutting fluid

This paper by R. E. Catai, E. C. Bianchi, P. R de Águia and M. C. Alves reports on the results of an analysis made of roundness errors, residual stresses, and SEM micrographs of VC131 steel. The analysis involved workpieces ground with two types of cutting fluid: synthetic cutting fluid and emulsive oil. In this study, the cutting parameters were kept constant while the type of cutting fluid was varied. The amount of cutting fluid injected in the process was also varied, aiming to identify the ideal amount required to obtain good results without causing structural damage to the workpiece. The SEM analyses of roundness errors and residual stresses revealed that, of the two cutting fluids, emulsive oil provided better tensions due to its greater lubricating power.

Structural real time control using fluid magnetorheologic damper

In the last decades there was a great development in the study of control systems to attenuate the harmful effect of natural events in great structures, as buildings and bridges. Magnetorheological fluid (MR), that is an intelligent material, has been considered in many proposals of project for these controllers. This work presents the controller design using feedback of states through LMI (Linear Matrix Inequalities) approach. The experimental test were carried out in a structure with two degrees of freedom with a connected shock absorber MR. Experimental tests were realized in order to specify the features of this semi-active controller. In this case, there exist states that are not measurable, so the feedback of the states involves the project of an estimator. The coupling of the MR damper causes a variation in dynamics properties, so an identification methods, based on experimental input/output signal was used to compare with the numerical application. The identification method of Prediction Error Methods - (PEM) was used to find the physical characteristics of the system through realization in modal space of states. This proposal allows the project of a semi-active control, where the main characteristic is the possibility of the variation of the damping coefficient.

Caracterização morfológica do fruto, da semente e desenvolvimento pós-seminal do abacateiro

A propagação do abacateiro é comercialmente, realizada por enxertia da variedade desejada sobre porta-enxertos seminais. No entanto, a literatura é discordante sobre a ocorrência de poliembrionia e tipo de fruto, nesta espécie. Em função do exposto, o trabalho objetivou caracterizar o tipo de fruto, aspectos morfológicos da semente e da plântula, além de avaliar o número de embriões existente. O abacateiro possui frutos do tipo baga, as sementes são monoembriônicas e exalbuminosas, a germinação é hipógea e a emergência das plântulas ocorreu 33 dias após a semeadura. A raiz primária é longa e de coloração branca e as raízes secundárias são curtas e filiformes. Os cotilédones são maciços e de coloração rosada. Foi possível observar a presença de múltiplos caulículos na semente de abacate, originados do colo. As sementes apresentam policaulia; o início da estabilização da emergência de plântulas ocorreu na oitava semana, sendo inviável para a propagação da espécie, manter essas sementes no viveiro por mais tempo.

Entropy variation in isothermal fluid flow considering real gas effects

The present paper concerns on the estimative of the pressure loss and entropy variation in an isothermal fluid flow, considering real gas effects. The 1D formulation is based on the isothermal compressibility module and on the thermal expansion coefficient in order to be applicable for both gas and liquid as pure substances. It is emphasized on the simple methodology description, which establishes a relationship between the formulation adopted for ideal gas and another considering real gas effects. A computational procedure has been developed, which can be used to determine the flow properties in duct with a variable area, where real gas behavior is significant. In order to obtain quantitative results, three virial coefficients for Helium equation of state are employed to determine the percentage difference in pressure and entropy obtained from different formulations. Results are presented graphically in the form of real gas correction factors, which can be applied to perfect gas calculations.