Novel expert system for defining power quality compensators

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

Atrazine levels in the Jaboticabal water stream (Sao Paulo State, Brazil) and its toxicological effects on the pacu fish Piaractus mesopotamicus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Differences in metabolic and inflammatory responses in lower and upper body high-intensity intermittent exercise

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

Switch allocation problems in power distribution systems

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Environmental training and environmental management maturity of Brazilian companies with ISO14001: empirical evidence

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

Composite resin color stability: influence of light sources and immersion media

This study evaluated the influence of light sources and immersion media on the color stability of a nanofilled composite resin. Conventional halogen, high-power-density halogen and high-power-density light-emitting diode (LED) units were used. There were 4 immersion media: coffee, tea, Coke® and artificial saliva. A total of 180 specimens (10 mm x 2 mm) were prepared, immersed in artificial saliva for 24 h at 37±1ºC, and had their initial color measured with a spectrophotometer according to the CIELab system. Then, the specimens were immersed in the 4 media during 60 days. Data from the color change and luminosity were collected and subjected to statistical analysis by the Kruskall-Wallis test (p<0.05). For immersion time, the data were subjected to two-way ANOVA test and Fisher's test (p<0.05). High-power-density LED (ΔE=1.91) promoted similar color stability of the composite resin to that of the tested halogen curing units (Jet Lite 4000 plus--ΔE=2.05; XL 3000--ΔE=2.28). Coffee (ΔE=8.40; ΔL=-5.21) showed the highest influence on color stability of the studied composite resin. There was no significant difference in color stability regardless of the light sources, and coffee was the immersion medium that promoted the highest color changes on the tested composite resin.

Noninvasive and multidisciplinary approach to the functional and esthetic rehabilitation of amelogenesis imperfecta: a pediatric case report

Case Report. An 8-year-old girl with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) reported unsatisfactory aesthetics, difficulty in mastication, and dental hypersensitivity. The intraoral examination observed mixed dentition, malocclusion in anteroposterior relationships, anterior open bite, and dental asymmetry. A hypoplastic form of AI was diagnosed in the permanent dentition. A multidisciplinary planning was performed and divided into preventive, orthopedic, and rehabilitation stages. Initially, preventive treatment was implemented, with fluoride varnish applications, in order to protect the fragile enamel and reduce the dental sensitivity. In the second stage, the patient received an interceptive orthopedic treatment to improve cross-relationship of the arches during six months. Finally, the rehabilitation treatment was executed to establish the vertical dimension. In the posterior teeth, indirect composite resin crowns were performed with minimally invasive dental preparation. Direct composite resin restorations were used to improve the appearance of anterior teeth. Follow-Up. The follow-up was carried out after 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. After 18 months of follow-up, The restoration of integrity, oral hygiene, and patient satisfaction were observed . Conclusion. Successful reduction of the dental hypersensitivity and improvement of the aesthetic and functional aspects as well as quality of life were observed.

Running-based anaerobic sprint test as a procedure to evaluate anaerobic power

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the running anaerobic sprint test (RAST) as a predictor of anaerobic capacity, compare it to the maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) and to compare the RAST's parameters with the parameters of 30-s all-out tethered running on a treadmill. 39 (17.0±1.4 years) soccer players participated in this study. The participants underwent an incremental test, 10 submaximal efforts [50-95% of velocity correspondent to VO2MAX (vVO2MAX)] and one supramaximal effort at 110% of vVO2MAX for the determination of MAOD. Furthermore, the athletes performed the RAST. In the second stage the 30-s all-out tethered running was performed on a treadmill (30-s all-out), and compared with RAST. No significant correlation was observed between MAOD and RAST parameters. However, significant correlations were found between the power of the fifth effort (P5) of RAST with peak and mean power of 30-s all-out (r=0.73 and 0.50; p<0.05, respectively). In conclusion, the parameters from RAST do not have an association with MAOD, suggesting that this method should not be used to evaluate anaerobic capacity. Although the correlations between RAST parameters with 30-s all-out do reinforce the RAST as an evaluation method of anaerobic metabolism, such as anaerobic power.

Composite resin color stability: influence of light sources and immersion media

This study evaluated the influence of light sources and immersion media on the color stability of a nanofilled composite resin. Conventional halogen, high-power-density halogen and high-power-density light-emitting diode (LED) units were used. There were 4 immersion media: coffee, tea, Coke® and artificial saliva. A total of 180 specimens (10 mm x 2 mm) were prepared, immersed in artificial saliva for 24 h at 37±1ºC, and had their initial color measured with a spectrophotometer according to the CIELab system. Then, the specimens were immersed in the 4 media during 60 days. Data from the color change and luminosity were collected and subjected to statistical analysis by the Kruskall-Wallis test (p<0.05). For immersion time, the data were subjected to two-way ANOVA test and Fisher's test (p<0.05). High-power-density LED (ΔE=1.91) promoted similar color stability of the composite resin to that of the tested halogen curing units (Jet Lite 4000 plus--ΔE=2.05; XL 3000--ΔE=2.28). Coffee (ΔE=8.40; ΔL=-5.21) showed the highest influence on color stability of the studied composite resin. There was no significant difference in color stability regardless of the light sources, and coffee was the immersion medium that promoted the highest color changes on the tested composite resin.

Controle da placa bacteriana dentária e suas formas de registro

Dental plaque is the principal etiological agent of periodontal disease, one of oral diseases more prevalent in the world. Due existence of relation between periodontal disease and oral hygiene, on the point of periodontal view, it was developed a growing interesting by experimental research and by clinical investigations. The knowledge of problem, its extension, severity, hypothetic cause is so valuable to establish prevention, control and treatment acts. In this form, the use of plaque index becomes more and more often, being valuable the determination of discriminatory power of them. The aim of this work was to describe and analyze principal forms to register of dental plaque aiming to subsidize the researcher and dental surgeon on adoption of most adequate method for their case. Data bases: Medline, Lilacs and BBO were consulted without limit to identify the format of register of each index described on literature. It was observed the use of Oral Hygiene Index on diverse ways like: clinical evaluation of dental plaque, in products evaluation works and dental Office; patients monitoring; instruction about hygiene and oral hygiene technique. It was noted that dental plaque indexes are useful and allows the register of different forms point out the importance of its use on clinical and researches practice.

Análise da viabilidade do uso de biogás gerado a partir de dejetos bovinos em microturbinas para fins de geração, cogeração e trigeração de energia

The use of digesters has become an important alternative for the proper disposal of organic agricultural wastes, serving as a solution to some environmental and health problems. Furthermore, the process of digestion provides commercially valuable by products such as biogas and bio fertilizer. The generation of biogas from agricultural waste, and its use in power generation systems has aroused great interest in rural areas because it enables supply in whole or in large part the energy demand of ownership by reducing production costs. The advent of technology has brought new forms of energy conversion of biogas, as the use of micro turbines specifies to be fuelled with biogas derived from the decomposition of organic matter in digesters, since it has a low level of methane in its composition, and high degree of impurities such as hydrogen sulphide, which are harmful to equipment and reduce the calorific value of biogas. The use of micro turbines behind other advantages like low emissions, great fuel flexibility and low maintenance. This paper presents an analysis of the feasibility of using biogas generated from cattle manure in micro turbines to generate electricity. Behind also an assessment of the energy potential that each animal has on various uses of biogas, and forms of energy recovery from the exhaust gases of the micro turbine. Also conducts an evaluation of the energy savings that the use of biogas aggregates properties.

Repeated sprint ability tests and intensity-time curvature constant to predict short-distance running performances

Anaerobic efforts are commonly required through repeated sprint during efforts in many sports, making the anaerobic pathway a target of training. Nevertheless, to identify improvements on such energetic way it is necessary to assess anaerobic capacity or power, which is usually complex. For this purpose, authors have postulated the use of short running performances to anaerobic ability assessment. Thus, the aim of this study was to find a relationship between running performances on anaerobic power, anaerobic capacity or repeated sprint ability. Methods Thirteen military performed maximal running of 50 (P50), 100 (P100) and 300 (P300) m on track, beyond of running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST; RSA and anaerobic power test), maximal anaerobic running test (MART; RSA and anaerobic capacity test) and the W′ from critical power model (anaerobic capacity test). Results By RAST variables, peak and average power (absolute and relative) and maximum velocity were significantly correlated with P50 (r = −0.68, p = 0.03 and −0.76, p = 0.01; −0.83, p < 0.01 and −0.83, p < 0.01; and −0.78, p < 0.01), respectively. The maximum intensity of MART was negatively and significantly correlated with P100 (r = −0.59) and W′ was not statistically correlated with any of the performances. Conclusion MART and W′ were not correlated with short running performances, having a weak performance predicting probably due to its longer duration in relation to assessed performances. Observing RAST outcomes, we postulated that such a protocol can be used during daily training as short running performance predictor.

The canonical correlation between the biological markers of performance and physical fitness in high level judo athletes

The objective of this research was to verify the relationship between biological markers of performance of elite judo athletes and performance in different physical fitness tests. Twenty-one judo athletes were involved in the present observational and correlational study. Dermatoglyphic variables and the 2D:4D digit ratio were considered as biological markers, while the physical fitness variables analyzed were body fat, maximal strength, muscular power, the aerobic and anaerobic profile, and performance in specific tests. The statistics involved canonical correlations and a multivariate technique. A high and significant canonical correlation was observed between groups of variables, the first expressed by 1=0.999 (p<0.0001) and the second by 2=0.997 (p<0.001). It appears that, beyond height and body mass, total ridge count, pattern intensity for fingers and 2D:4D had more canonical loading. The physical fitness component of the first canonical variable incorporated, with high intensity were: the sum of skinfold thickness, the bench press onerepetition maximum (1RM), upper and lower body aerobic power. In the second canonical variable, physical fitness was composed of the squat 1RM, suspension time on the bar, the SJFT-index, and mean power during the upper body Wingate test. The data of this investigation showed the interdependence between biological markers of performance and physical fitness in high level judo athletes.

RB34-71 Effects of Inflation and Deflation Upon Nebraska Agriculture, 1914 to 1932

Nebraska farmers prospered during the period which followed the depression of the nineties and preceded the beginning of the World War. To be sure the prosperity was not uniformly distributed either by years or by areas. The corn crop was unusually short in a large portion of the state in 1901 and an almost total failure in many of the southern counties in 1913. Chinch bugs did considerable injury in 1901 and the Hessian fly in 1905 and 1914. There was noticeable damage from insects in some areas in other years. No part of the state, however, suffered from long-continued drouth or repeated ravages of insect pests. The depression of 1907 affected credit and prices very severly for a few months, but recovery was rapid and within less than a year business was again moving forward. This 1934 research bulletin covers the problems of inflation and deflation; changes in the prices of various commodities during inflation and deflation; prices and purchasing power of Nebraska farm products, 1914 to 1932; adjustments during inflation and deflation; the effect of wages on Nebraska agriculture; taxes; Nebraska farm income; changes in types of farming in Nebraska, 1914 to 1932; the banking situation; Nebraska farm land prices; and the effects of inflation and deflation upon Nebraska businesses.

Synthesis Methodology Applied to a Tunable Patch Filter With Independent Frequency and Bandwidth Control

A new methodology for the synthesis of tunable patch filters is presented. The methodology helps the designer to perform a theoretical analysis of the filter through a coupling matrix that includes the effect of the tuning elements used to tune the filter. This general methodology accounts for any tuning parameter desired and was applied to the design of a tunable dual-mode patch filter with independent control of center frequency and bandwidth (BW). The bandpass filter uses a single triangular resonator with two etched slots that split the fundamental degenerate modes and form the filter passband. Varactor diodes assembled across the slots are used to vary the frequency of each degenerate fundamental mode independently, which is feasible due to the nature of the coupling scheme of the filter. The varactor diode model used in simulations, their assembling, the dc bias configuration, and measured results are presented. The theory results are compared to the simulations and to measurements showing a very good agreement and validating the proposed methodology. The fabricated filter presents an elliptic response with 20% of center frequency tuning range around 3.2 GHz and a fractional BW variation from 4% to 12% with low insertion loss and high power handling with a 1-dB compression point higher than +14.5 dB.