Efficiency of extrinsic and intrinsic charge-carrier photogeneration processes obtained from the steady-state photocurrent action spectra of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) derivatives

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Existence and asymptotic behaviour for the parabolic-parabolic Keller-Segel system with singular data

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

In Vitro Assessment of Chemical Activation Efficiency During In-office Dental Bleaching

Purpose: This study compared five types of chemical catalyzing agents added to 35% hydrogen peroxide gel, with regard to their capacity of intensifying in-office dental bleaching results.Methods: One-hundred and twenty bovine incisors were used, of which the crowns and roots were cut in the incisor-apical direction, to acquire the dimensions of a human central incisor. The specimens were sectioned in the mesiodistal direction by means of two longitudinal cuts, the lingual halves being discarded. The vestibular halves received prophylaxis with a bicarbonate jet, ultrasound cleaning and acid etching on the dentinal portion. Next, the specimens were stored in receptacles containing a 25% instant coffee solution for two weeks. After the darkening period, initial measurement of the shade obtained was taken with the Easy Shade appliance, which allowed it to be quantified by the CIELab* method. The samples were divided into six groups, corresponding to the chemical activator used: a) none (CON); b) ferric chloride (CF); c) ferrous sulphate (SF); d) manganese gluconate (GM); e) manganese chloride (CM); f) mulberry root extract (RA). Each group received three 10-minute applications of the gels containing the respective activating agents. Next, a new shade measurement was made.Results: The Analysis of Variance and Tukey tests (alpha=5%) showed statistically significant differences for the shade perception values (p=0.002). Groups GM, CM and RA showed significantly higher means than the control group.Conclusion: The presence of some chemical activators is capable of resulting in a significant increase in tooth shade variation.

On asymptotic solutions of integrable wave equations

Asymptotic 'soliton train' solutions of integrable wave equations described by inverse scattering transform method with second-order scalar eigenvalue problem are considered. It is shown that if asymptotic solution can be presented as a modulated one-phase nonlinear periodic wavetrain, then the corresponding Baker-Akhiezer function transforms into quasiclassical eigenfunction of the linear spectral problem in weak dispersion limit for initially smooth pulses. In this quasiclassical limit the corresponding eigenvalues can be calculated with the use of the Bohr Sommerfeld quantization rule. The asymptotic distributions of solitons parameters obtained in this way specify the solution of the Whitham equations. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Asymptotic soliton train solutions of Kaup-Boussinesq equations

Asymptotic soliton trains arising from a 'large and smooth' enough initial pulse are investigated by the use of the quasiclassical quantization method for the case of Kaup-Boussinesq shallow water equations. The parameter varying along the soliton train is determined by the Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization rule which generalizes the usual rule to the case of 'two potentials' h(0)(x) and u(0)(x) representing initial distributions of height and velocity, respectively. The influence of the initial velocity u(0)(x) on the asymptotic stage of the evolution is determined. Excellent agreement of numerical solutions of the Kaup-Boussinesq equations with predictions of the asymptotic theory is found. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

On the asymptotic behavior of effective QED at finite temperature

The aim of this paper is to study finite temperature effects in effective quantum electrodynamics using Weisskopf's zero-point energy method in the context of thermo, field dynamics. After a general calculation for a weak magnetic field at fixed T, the asymptotic behavior of the Euler-Kockel-Heisenberg Lagrangian density is investigated focusing on the regularization requirements in the high temperature limit. In scalar QED the same problem is also discussed.

Asymptotic soliton train solutions of the defocusing nonlinear Schrodinger equation

Asymptotic behavior of initially large and smooth pulses is investigated at two typical stages of their evolution governed by the defocusing nonlinear Schrodinger equation. At first, wave breaking phenomenon is studied in the limit of small dispersion. A solution of the Whitham modulational equations is found for the case of dissipationless shock wave arising after the wave breaking point. Then, asymptotic soliton trains arising eventually from a large and smooth initial pulse are studied by means of a semiclassical method. The parameter varying along the soliton train is calculated from the generalized Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization rule, so that the distribution of eigenvalues depends on two functions-intensity rho(0)(x) of the initial pulse and its initial chirp v(0)(x). The influence of the initial chirp on the asymptotic state is investigated. Excellent agreement of the numerical solution of the defocusing NLS equation with predictions of the asymptotic theory is found.

Fundamental Limits on Wavelength, Efficiency and Yield of the Charge Separation Triad

In an attempt to optimize a high yield, high efficiency artificial photosynthetic protein we have discovered unique energy and spatial architecture limits which apply to all light-activated photosynthetic systems. We have generated an analytical solution for the time behavior of the core three cofactor charge separation element in photosynthesis, the photosynthetic cofactor triad, and explored the functional consequences of its makeup including its architecture, the reduction potentials of its components, and the absorption energy of the light absorbing primary-donor cofactor. Our primary findings are two: First, that a high efficiency, high yield triad will have an absorption frequency more than twice the reorganization energy of the first electron transfer, and second, that the relative distance of the acceptor and the donor from the primary-donor plays an important role in determining the yields, with the highest efficiency, highest yield architecture having the light absorbing cofactor closest to the acceptor. Surprisingly, despite the increased complexity found in natural solar energy conversion proteins, we find that the construction of this central triad in natural systems matches these predictions. Our analysis thus not only suggests explanations for some aspects of the makeup of natural photosynthetic systems, it also provides specific design criteria necessary to create high efficiency, high yield artificial protein-based triads.

Ultrasound efficiency in relation to sodium hypochlorite and filtration adsorption in microbial elimination in a water treatment plant

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efficiency of ethanol conversion induced by controlled modification of pore structure and acidic properties of alumina catalysts

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Impedance Spectroscopy Analysis of the Effect of TiO2 Blocking Layers on the Efficiency of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

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

Comparison of oxidation efficiency of disperse dyes by chemical and photoelectrocatalytic chlorination and removal of mutagenic activity

Degradation of Disperse Orange 1, Disperse Red 1 and Disperse Red 13 dyes has been performed using electrochemical oxidation on Pt electrode, chemical chlorination and photoelectrochemical oxidation on Ti/TiO(2) thin film electrodes in NaCl or Na(2)SO(4) medium. 100% discoloration was obtained for all tested methods after 1 h of treatment. Faster color removal was obtained by photoelectrocatalytic oxidation in 0.1 mol L(-1) NaCl pH 4.0 under UV light and an applied potential of +1.0V (vs SCE reference electrode), which indicates also values around 60% of TOC removal. The conventional chlorination method and electrochemical oxidation on Pt electrode resulted in negligible reduction of TOC removal. All dyes showed positive mutagenic activity in the Salmonella/microsome assay with the strain TA98 in the absence and presence of S9 (exogenous metabolic activation). Nevertheless, there is complete reduction of the mutagenic activity after 1 h of photoelectrocatalytic oxidation, suggesting that this process would be good option to remove disperse azo dyes from aqueous media. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efficiency of bioaugmentation in the removal of organic matter in aquaculture systems

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

Sulfentrazone efficiency on Ipomoea hederifolia and Ipomoea quamoclit as influenced by rain and sugarcane straw

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar o controle em pré-emergência de Ipomoea hederifolia e Ipomoea quamoclit pelo herbicida sulfentrazone em função do intervalo de tempo entre a aplicação e a ocorrência de chuva e da manutenção ou não de palha de cana-de-açúcar na superfície do solo. Três experimentos foram desenvolvidos: dois em casa de vegetação e um em campo. Nos experimentos em casa de vegetação, foram estudadas três doses de sulfentrazone (0, 0,6 e 0,9 kg ha-1) pulverizado em duas quantidades de palha na superfície do solo (0 e 10 t ha-1) e cinco intervalos de tempo entre a sua aplicação e a simulação de chuva (0, 20, 40, 60 e 90 dias). No experimento em campo, foram avaliados cinco tratamentos de herbicida (sulfentrazone a 0,6 e 0,9 kg ha-1; sulfentrazone + hexazinone a 0,6 + 0,25 kg ha-1; amicarbazone a 1,4 kg ha-1; e imazapic a 0,147 kg ha-1) e duas testemunhas sem aplicação. A manutenção ou não da palha de cana sobre o solo também foi estudada. em casa de vegetação, a aplicação de 0,6 kg ha-1 de sulfentrazone foi suficiente para o controle adequado de I. hederifolia e I. quamoclit num ambiente seco com até 90 dias sem chuva após a aplicação. Os 20 mm de chuva simulados após a aplicação do herbicida foram suficientes para remover o sulfentrazone da palha para o solo, pois o efeito biológico de controle de I. hederifolia e I. quamoclit não foi alterado. em campo, sem ou com a permanência de palha de cana sobre o solo, o sulfentrazone isolado (0,6 e 0,9 kg ha-1) ou em mistura com hexazinone (0,6 + 0,25 kg ha-1) foi eficaz para I. hederifolia e I. quamoclit, com resposta similar ou melhor que a do amicarbazone (1,4 kg ha-1) e imazapic (0,147 kg ha-1).