Nitroglicerina transdérmica versus nifedipina oral para inibição do trabalho de parto prematuro: ensaio clínico randomizado

OBJETIVO: comparar a efetividade da nitroglicerina transdérmica com a nifedipina oral na inibição do trabalho de parto prematuro. MÉTODOS: foi realizado um ensaio clínico com 50 mulheres em trabalho de parto prematuro, randomizadas em dois grupos, 24 para nifedipina oral (20 mg) e 26 para nitroglicerina transdérmica (patch 10 mg). Foram selecionadas as pacientes com gestação única, entre a 24ª e 34ª semanas e diagnóstico de trabalho de parto prematuro. Foram excluídas pacientes com malformações fetais e com doenças clínicas ou obstétricas. As variáveis analisadas foram tocólise efetiva, tempo necessário para tocólise, frequência de recorrência, progressão para parto prematuro e efeitos colaterais. RESULTADOS: a eficácia da tocólise nas primeiras 12 horas foi semelhante entre os grupos (nitroglicerina: 84,6% versus nifedipina: 87,5%; p=0,5). A média do tempo para tocólise também foi semelhante (6,6 versus 5,8 horas; p=0,3). Não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à recorrência de parto prematuro (26,9 versus 16,7%; p=0,3) e nem na frequência de parto prematuro dentro de 48 horas (15,4 versus 12,5%; p=0,5). Entretanto, a frequência de cefaleia foi significativamente maior no grupo que usou nitroglicerina (30,8 versus 8,3%; p=0,04). CONCLUSÕES: a nitroglicerina transdérmica apresentou efetividade semelhante à nifedipina oral para inibição do trabalho de parto prematuro nas primeiras 48 horas, porém com maior frequência de cefaleia.

Surface transformation hardening of carbon steel with high power fiber laser

This study investigated the surface hardening of steels via experimental tests using a multi-kilowatt fiber laser as the laser source. The influence of laser power and laser power density on the hardening effect was investigated. The microhardness analysis of various laser hardened steels was done. A thermodynamic model was developed to evaluate the thermal process of the surface treatment of a wide thin steel plate with a Gaussian laser beam. The effect of laser linear oscillation hardening (LLOS) of steel was examined. An as-rolled ferritic-pearlitic steel and a tempered martensitic steel with 0.37 wt% C content were hardened under various laser power levels and laser power densities. The optimum power density that produced the maximum hardness was found to be dependent on the laser power. The effect of laser power density on the produced hardness was revealed. The surface hardness, hardened depth and required laser power density were compared between the samples. Fiber laser was briefly compared with high power diode laser in hardening medium-carbon steel. Microhardness (HV0.01) test was done on seven different laser hardened steels, including rolled steel, quenched and tempered steel, soft annealed alloyed steel and conventionally through-hardened steel consisting of different carbon and alloy contents. The surface hardness and hardened depth were compared among the samples. The effect of grain size on surface hardness of ferritic-pearlitic steel and pearlitic-cementite steel was evaluated. In-grain indentation was done to measure the hardness of pearlitic and cementite structures. The macrohardness of the base material was found to be related to the microhardness of the softer phase structure. The measured microhardness values were compared with the conventional macrohardness (HV5) results. A thermodynamic model was developed to calculate the temperature cycle, Ac1 and Ac3 boundaries, homogenization time and cooling rate. The equations were numerically solved with an error of less than 10-8. The temperature distributions for various thicknesses were compared under different laser traverse speed. The lag of the was verified by experiments done on six different steels. The calculated thermal cycle and hardened depth were compared with measured data. Correction coefficients were applied to the model for AISI 4340 steel. AISI 4340 steel was hardened by laser linear oscillation hardening (LLOS). Equations were derived to calculate the overlapped width of adjacent tracks and the number of overlapped scans in the center of the scanned track. The effect of oscillation frequency on the hardened depth was investigated by microscopic evaluation and hardness measurement. The homogeneity of hardness and hardened depth with different processing parameters were investigated. The hardness profiles were compared with the results obtained with conventional single-track hardening. LLOS was proved to be well suitable for surface hardening in a relatively large rectangular area with considerable depth of hardening. Compared with conventional single-track scanning, LLOS produced notably smaller hardened depths while at 40 and 100 Hz LLOS resulted in higher hardness within a depth of about 0.6 mm.

Tietokantojen yhdistäminen järjestelmän rajapintoja hyödyntäen

Tässä työssä on pyritty kartoittamaan mahdollisuudet omatoimiseen Voyager-kirjastojärjestelmän aineistotietokantojen ja asiakasrekisterien yhdistelyyn. Lähtökohtana on ollut oletus, että kohdejärjestelmän tietokantaan ei ole oikeuksia eikä sopimusteknistä mahdollisuuttakaan kirjoittaa tietoja suoraan kyselykielellä. Järjestelmän dokumentaatiota sekä verkostoa hyödyntämällä olen pyrkinyt kartoittamaan mahdollisuudet kaiken toiminnallisuuden vaatiman datan siirtoon. Hyödyntämällä järjestelmän rajapintoja, voidaan saavuttaa kustannussäästöjä sekä joustavuutta työn suorittamisen aikataulutukseen. Bibliografisen datan siirtoon Voyager-kirjastojärjestelmässä on mahdollisuus hyödyntää palvelimella eräajona suoritettavaa ohjelmaa. Tässä eräajossa voidaan siirtää sekä bibliografiset tietueet että varastotietueet. Nidetietojen kirjoittamiseksi kohteena olevaan tietokantaan käytetään Visual Studio -sovellusta, joka hyödyntää luettelointirajapintaa. Asiakastietojen siirtoon on mahdollista hyödyntää palvelimella suoritettavaa eräajoa, jonka syötteeksi kirjoitetaan määrämittainen syötetiedosto. Asiakastietueisiin sidotut lainatiedot voidaan siirtää kohdetietokantaan asiakasohjelman offline-lainaustoiminnolla.

Jatkuvan äänitehojakautuman algoritmi pitkien käytävien äänikenttien mallintamiseen

JÄKÄLA-algoritmi (Jatkuvan Äänitehojakautuman algoritmi Käytävien Äänikenttien LAskentaan) ja sen NUMO- ja APPRO-laskentayhtälöt perustuvat käytävällä olevan todellisen äänilähteen kuvalähteiden symmetriaan. NUMO on algoritmin numeerisen ratkaisun ja APPRO likiarvoratkaisun laskentayhtälö. Algoritmia johdettaessa oletettiin, että absorptiomateriaali oli jakautunut tasaisesti käytävän ääntä heijastaville pinnoille. Suorakaiteen muotoisen käytävän kuvalähdetason muunto jatkuvaksi äänitehojakautumaksi sisältää kolme muokkausvaihetta. Aluksi suorakaiteen kuvalähdetaso muunnetaan neliön muotoiseksi. Seuraavaksi neliön muotoisen kuvalähdetason samanarvoiset kuvalähteet siirretään koordinaattiakselille diskreetiksi kuvalähdejonoksi. Lopuksi kuvalähdejono muunnetaan jatkuvaksi äänitehojakautumaksi, jolloin käytävän vastaanottopisteen äänenpainetaso voidaan laskea integroimalla jatkuvan äänitehojakautuman yli. JÄKÄLA-algoritmin validiteetin toteamiseksi käytettiin testattua kaupallista AKURI-ohjelmaa. AKURI-ohjelma antoi myös hyvän käsityksen siitä, miten NUMO- ja APPRO-yhtälöillä lasketut arvot mahdollisesti eroavat todellisilla käytävillä mitatuista arvoista. JÄKÄLA-algoritmin NUMO- ja APPRO-yhtälöitä testattiin myös vertaamalla niiden antamia tuloksia kolmen erityyppisen käytävän äänenpainetasomittauksiin. Tässä tutkimuksessa on osoitettu, että akustisen kuvateorian pohjalta on mahdollista johtaa laskenta-algoritmi, jota voidaan soveltaa pitkien käytävien äänikenttien pika-arvioinnissa paikan päällä. Sekä teoreettinen laskenta että käytännön äänenpainetasomittaukset todellisilla käytävillä osoittivat, että JÄKÄLA-algoritmin yhtälöiden ennustustarkkuus oli erinomainen ideaalikäytävillä ja hyvä niillä todellisilla käytävillä, joilla ei ollut ääntä heijastavia rakenteita. NUMO- ja APPRO-yhtälöt näyttäisivät toimivan hyvin käytävillä, joiden poikkileikkaus oli lähes neliön muotoinen ja joissa pintojen suurin absorptiokerroin oli korkeintaan kymmenen kertaa pienintä absorptiokerrointa suurempi. NUMO- ja APPRO-yhtälöiden suurin puute on, etteivät ne ota huomioon pintojen erilaisia absorptiokertoimia eivätkä esineistä heijastuvia ääniä. NUMO- ja APPRO- laskentayhtälöt poikkesivat mitatuista arvoista eniten käytävillä, joilla kahden vastakkaisen pinnan absorptiokerroin oli hyvin suuri ja toisen pintaparin hyvin pieni, ja käytävillä, joissa oli massiivisia, ääntä heijastavia pilareita ja palkkeja. JÄKÄLA-algoritmin NUMO- ja APPRO-yhtälöt antoivat tutkituilla käytävillä kuitenkin selvästi tarkempia arvoja kuin Kuttruffin likiarvoyhtälö ja tilastollisen huoneakustiikan perusyhtälö. JÄKÄLA-algoritmin laskentatarkkuutta on testattu vain neljällä todellisella käytävällä. Algoritmin kehittämiseksi tulisi jatkossa käytävän vastakkaisia pintoja ja niiden absorptiokertoimia käsitellä laskennassa pareittain. Algoritmin validiteetin varmistamiseksi on mittauksia tehtävä lisää käytävillä, joiden absorptiomateriaalien jakautumat poikkeavat toisistaan.

Pressure drop coefficients for elliptic and circular sections in one, two and three-row arrangements of plate fin and tube heat exchangers

The objective of the present work is the experimental determination of pressure drop coefficients (loss coefficients) for elliptic and circular sections in one, two and three-row arrangements of plate fin and tube heat exchangers. The experiments permitted to correlate the dimensionless loss coefficient with the flow Reynolds number in the rectangular channel formed by the plate fins. The experimental technique consisted of the measurement of the longitudinal pressure distribution along the flow channel, for several values of air mass flow rate. The total number of data runs, each one characterized by the flow Reynolds number, was 216. The present geometry is used in compact heat exchangers for air conditioning systems, heaters, radiators, and others. Also, it is verified the influence of the utilization of elliptic tubes, instead of circular ones, in the pressure drop. The measurements were performed for Reynolds numbers ranging from 200 to 1900.

Pulse response based control for positive definite systems

Pulse Response Based Control (PRBC) is a recently developed minimum time control method for flexible structures. The flexible behavior of the structure is represented through a set of discrete time sequences, which are the responses of the structure due to rectangular force pulses. The rectangular force pulses are given by the actuators that control the structure. The set of pulse responses, desired outputs, and force bounds form a numerical optimization problem. The solution of the optimization problem is a minimum time piecewise constant control sequence for driving the system to a desired final state. The method was developed for driving positive semi-definite systems. In case the system is positive definite, some final states of the system may not be reachable. Necessary conditions for reachability of the final states are derived for systems with a finite number of degrees of freedom. Numerical results are presented that confirm the derived analytical conditions. Numerical simulations of maneuvers of distributed parameter systems have shown a relationship between the error in the estimated minimum control time and sampling interval

Numerical and experimental investigation of thermal louvers for space applications

Thermal louvers, using movable or rotating shutters over a radiating surface, have gained a wide acceptance as highly efficient devices for controlling the temperature of a spacecraft. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the performance of a rectangular thermal louver with movable blades. The radiative capacity of the louver, determined by its effective emittance, is calculated for different values of the blades opening angle. Experimental results obtained with a prototype of a spacecraft thermal louver show good agreement with the theoretical values.

Do We Understand Hydrodynamic Dispersion in Sedimenting Suspensions?

Microstructural changes, that is an important feature for the understanding of the velocity variance in sedimentation is investigated with numerical simulations. The simulations are used to describe velocity fluctuations and hydrodynamic dispersion in a suspension of interacting point-particles sedimenting in a rectangular box with periodic sides and impenetrable bottom and top. It is observed how the positions of the particles evolve in a finite container. The suspension that was initially random in the gravity direction only, tends to be fully randomized as a result of the relative arrangements of the particles and the hydrodynamic interactions between them. The computer simulations, based on statistics over a significant number of particle configurations, suggest velocity variances and diffusivities dependent on the size of the simulated system but with anisotropy in velocity fluctuations and diffusion coefficients nearly independent of the box size.

S500 Suurlujuusteräksestä valmistettujen rakenneputkiliitosten lujuusominaisuudet

Nykyinen Eurocode 3 suunnitteluohjeen rakenneputkiliitoksia käsittelevä osio vaatii S500 suurlujuusteräksestä valmistettujen liitosten mitoituksen yhteydessä käytettäväksi reduk-tiokerrointa 0.8. Tämä on varsin konservatiivinen mitoituspa, joka vähentää merkittävästi lujemman teräslaadun käyttämisestä saavutettavaa hyötyä. Tämän työn pääasiallinen ta-voite on laboratoriotestein selvittää S500 lujuusluokan rakenneputkiliitosten todellinen äärikapasiteetti ja verrata sitä nykyisen mitoitusohjeen mukaiseen kapasiteettiin. Tässä työssä tutkitut liitokset ovat valmistettu poikkileikkaukseltaan nelikulmaisista kyl-mämuovatuista rakenneputkista. Koesarja koostui kahdeksasta X-liitoksesta, sekä kymme-nestä K-liitoksesta. Kaikki testit suoritettiin huoneenlämmössä, LUT Koneen teräsrakenne-laboratoriossa. Laboratoriotestien lisäksi rakenteen käyttäytymistä tutkittiin epälineaarisen elementtimenetelmän avulla ja näitä tuloksia verrattiin kokeellisiin tuloksiin. Sekä testien että FE–analyysin perusteella voidaan todeta, että S500 lujuusluokan terästä käytettäessä ei Eurocode 3:n mukaisen reduktiokertoimen käytölle ole perusteita.

SolidWorks Simulations ja Femap FE-analyysiohjelmien vertailu RHS-putkipalkkien mallinnuksen avulla

Tässä kandidaatintyössä vertailtiin SolidWorks Simulations ja Femap FE-analyysiohjelmien tuottamia tuloksia. Vertailu suoritettiin yksinkertaisten RHS-putkipalkkien mallinnuksen avulla. Mallinnuksessa käytettiin viittä erilaista kuormitustapausta, jotka sisälsivät mm. taivutus-, vääntö- ja jännityskeskittymätarkastelut. Ohjelmien tuottamia tuloksia verrattiin mahdollisuuksien mukaan analyyttisin menetelmin tehtyihin vertailulaskelmiin. Työn tarkoituksena oli selvittää tuottivatko eri ohjelmat erilaisia tuloksia samoista kuormitustapauksista ja kuinka paljon tulokset erosivat.

EFFECTS OF PLANTING DATE AND SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT ON COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris) YIELD UNDER WEED-FREE AND WEEDY CONDITIONS

ABSTRACTTo evaluate the effect of planting date and spatial pattern on common bean yield under weed-free and weed-infested conditions, an experiment was conducted in Kelachay, Northern Iran, in 2013. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in a factorial arrangement with three replicates. Factors were planting date (10 August and 20 August), spatial pattern (square and rectangular planting pattern, with a planting distance of 30 x 30 cm and 45 x 20 cm, respectively), and weed management regime (weed-free and weedy conditions, weeded and not weeded throughout the growing season, respectively). Results showed that the main effect of planting date was significant only for pod number per plant and seed number per pod. At the same time, pod number per plant, seed number per pod, pod length, and grain yield were influenced significantly by spatial pattern. Results of ANOVA have also indicated that all traits, except pod length, were influenced significantly by weed-management regimes. Moreover, effect of planting date and spatial pattern were nonsignificant for weed dry weight. Mean comparison has expressed a significant increment in seed yield for square planting arrangement (1,055 kg ha-1) over rectangular (971 kg ha-1). Weeding has also presented an overall 12% and 8% improvement in grain and pod yield over control (weedy check), respectively. Based on the results of this study, weed control, as well as square planting pattern, are recommended for obtaining the highest seed yield in common bean.

Patterns of spatial distribution in macroalgal communities from tropical lotic ecosystems

Three sampling sites were analysed in each of the following tropical regions: 1) northwestern São Paulo State, representing a disturbed region; 2) Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul State, representing a hard water region; and 3) Ubatuba, northern costal region of São Paulo State, a well preserved tropical rainforest region. The hard water region had the highest mean values for macroalgal species richness (6.3) and diversity index (H' = 0.62). Northwest and rainforest regions had the highest percent cover values (22.5% and 17.0%, respectively). All sites in the northwest region had one or two dominant species (percent cover significantly higher than the remaining species), characterizing the niche pre-emption distribution pattern. The same pattern was found in two sites of the Atlantic rainforest. The hard water region had dominance of one species in two out of the three sites, but differently from the northwest region, niche overlap values were lower, evidencing a patch distribution. Competition for space was one of the main factors to explain spatial distribution. Overall, sites characterized by niche pre-emption had lower species richness, higher values for niche width and overlap, dominance index and percent cover of dominant species. In contrast, sites characterized by patch distribution had higher species richness and lower values for niche overlap and width, dominance index and percent cover.

Microscopic variability in mechanical defence and herbivory response in microphyllous leaves of tropical herb species from Serra do Cipó, Brazil

Tropical high altitude grasslands present several species with both microphyllous and highly sclerophyllous leaves, and co-occur in specific soil patches, thus exposed to identical environments. In this article we describe herbivory among co-occurring microphyllous species in a tropical high altitude grassland ecosystem of Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais state, and we tested the effect of variable anatomic traits on leaf herbivory patterns. Leaf anatomical traits were investigated for Baccharis imbricata Heering , Lavoisiera imbricata DC. and L. subulata Triana (focal species). Herbivory was measured from branches and leaves of individual plants and compared among co-occurring species within one multispecific shrub patch and among L. subulata individuals from this patch and an adjacent monospecific patch. For all present plant species and individuals we estimated the proportion of leaves with different levels of area lost. For the focal species, six leaves were sorted and taken for histological sectioning, in order to allow precise measures of defensive structures. Relative mean leaf area lost differed significantly among the six species found in the multispecific patch. Lavoisiera subulata individuals were more attacked in the multispecific than in the monospecific patch. Leaf margin protection traits in both B. imbricata and L. imbricata showed significant effect against herbivory. Data suggest that some anatomic traits have direct effect against herbivory but their effect are not clearly perceptible among branches within individual plants or among plants within the same species.

Normal median near nerve potential

In routine studies of sensory nerve conduction, only fibers e7 µm in diameter are analyzed. The late components which originate from thinner fibers are not detected. This explains why a normal sensory action potential (SAP) may be recorded in patients with peripheral neuropathies and sensory loss. In the present study we investigated the late component of the median SAP with a near nerve needle electrode technique in 14 normal volunteers (7 men and 7 women), aged 34.5 ± 14.8 years. The stimulus consisted of rectangular pulses of 0.2-ms duration at a frequency of 1 Hz with an intensity at least 6 times greater than the threshold value for the main component. Five hundred to 2000 sweep averagings were performed. The duration of analysis was 40 or 50 ms and the wave analysis frequency was 200 (-6 dB/oct) to 3000 Hz (-12 dB/oct). We used an apparatus with a two-channel amplifier system, 200 MW or more of entry impedance and a noise level of 0.7 µVrms or less. The main component mean amplitude, conduction velocity and latency and the late component mean amplitude, conduction velocity and latency were respectively (mean ± SD): 26.5 ± 5.42 µV, 56.8 ± 5.42 m/s, 3.01 ± 0.31 ms, 0.12 ± 0.04 µV, 16.4 ± 2.95 m/s and 10.6 ± 2.48 ms. More sophisticated equipment has an internal noise of 0.6 µVrms. These data demonstrate that the technique can now be employed to study thin fiber neuropathies, like in leprosy, using commercial electromyographs, even in non-academic practices