Evaluation of an average numerator relationship matrix model and a Bayesian hierarchical model for growth traits in Nellore cattle with uncertain paternity

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

Nitric oxide release using natural rubber latex as matrix

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

A low-cost 3D reconstruction system using a single-shot projection of a pattern matrix

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

Binding of extracellular matrix proteins to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins plays a crucial role in invasive fungal diseases. ECM proteins bind to the surface of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells in distinct qualitative patterns. Extracts from Pb18 strain, before (18a) and after animal inoculation (18b), exhibited differential adhesion to ECM components. Pb18b extract had a higher capacity for binding to ECM components than Pb18a. Laminin was the most adherent component for both samples, followed by type I collagen, fibronectin, and type IV collagen for Pb18b. A remarkable difference was seen in the interaction of the two extracts with fibronectin and their fragments. Pb18b extract interacted significantly with the 120-kDa fragment. Ligand affinity binding assays showed that type I collagen recognized two components (47 and 80 kDa) and gp43 bound both fibronectin and laminin. The peptide 1 (NLGRDAKRHL) from gp43, with several positively charged amino acids, contributed most to the adhesion of P. brasiliensis to Vero cells. Synthetic peptides derived from peptide YIGRS of laminin or from RGD of both laminin and fibronectin showed the greatest inhibition of adhesion of gp43 to Vero cells. In conclusion, this work provided new molecular details on the interaction between P. brasiliensis and ECNI components. (c) 2006 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Metronidazole release using natural rubber latex as matrix

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

Wannier functions of isolated bands in one-dimensional crystals

We present a simple procedure to obtain the maximally localized Wannier function of isolated bands in one-dimensional crystals with or without inversion symmetry. First, we discuss the generality of dealing with real Wannier functions. Next, we use a transfer-matrix technique to obtain nonoptimal Bloch functions which are analytic in the wave number. This produces two classes of real Wannier functions. Then, the minimization of the variance of the Wannier functions is performed, by using the antiderivative of the Berry connection. In the case of centrosymmetric crystals, this procedure leads to the Wannier-Kohn functions. The asymptotic behavior of the Wannier functions is also analyzed. The maximally localized Wannier functions show the expected exponential and power-law decays. Instead, nonoptimal Wannier functions may show reduced exponential and anisotropic power-law decays. The theory is illustrated with numerical calculations of Wannier functions for conduction electrons in semiconductor superlattices.

Wannier functions of a one-dimensional photonic crystal with inversion symmetry

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Stratified Sampling Applied to Estimation of the Volumetric Fraction of Alumina in Cast Metal Matrix Composites

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparison between Two Methods to Calculate the Transition Matrix of Orbit Motion

Two methods to evaluate the state transition matrix are implemented and analyzed to verify the computational cost and the accuracy of both methods. This evaluation represents one of the highest computational costs on the artificial satellite orbit determination task. The first method is an approximation of the Keplerian motion, providing an analytical solution which is then calculated numerically by solving Kepler's equation. The second one is a local numerical approximation that includes the effect of J(2). The analysis is performed comparing these two methods with a reference generated by a numerical integrator. For small intervals of time (1 to 10s) and when one needs more accuracy, it is recommended to use the second method, since the CPU time does not excessively overload the computer during the orbit determination procedure. For larger intervals of time and when one expects more stability on the calculation, it is recommended to use the first method.

A control chart based on sample ranges for monitoring the covariance matrix of the multivariate processes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A new chart based on sample variances for monitoring the covariance matrix of multivariate processes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A new chart for monitoring the covariance matrix of bivariate processes

In this article we consider a control chart based on the sample variances of two quality characteristics. The points plotted on the chart correspond to the maximum value of these two statistics. The main reason to consider the proposed chart instead of the generalized variance |S| chart is its better diagnostic feature, that is, with the new chart it is easier to relate an out-of-control signal to the variables whose parameters have moved away from their in-control values. We study the control chart efficiency considering different shifts in the covariance matrix. In this way, we obtain the average run length (ARL) that measures the effectiveness of a control chart in detecting process shifts. The proposed chart always detects process disturbances faster than the generalized variance |S| chart. The same is observed when the size of the samples is variable, except in a few cases in which the size of the samples switches between small size and very large size.