Parameterization technique for the continuation power flow using the trivial and tangent predictor

This paper presents efficient geometric parameterization techniques using the tangent and the trivial predictors for the continuation power flow, developed from observation of the trajectories of the load flow solution. The parameterization technique eliminates the Jacobian matrix singularity of load flow, and therefore all the consequent problems of ill-conditioning, by the addition of the line equations which pass through the points in the plane determined by the variables loading factor and the real power generated by the slack bus, two parameters with clear physical meaning. This paper also provides an automatic step size control around the maximum loading point. Thus, the resulting method enables not only the calculation of the maximum loading point, but also the complete tracing of P-V curves of electric power systems. The technique combines robustness with ease of understanding. The results to the IEEE 300-bus system and of large real systems show the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2012 IEEE.

Model to increase the lateral line length of drip irrigation systems

Non-pressure compensating drip hose is widely used for irrigation of vegetables and orchards. One limitation is that the lateral line length must be short to maintain uniformity due to head loss and slope. Any procedure to increase the length is appropriate because it represents low initial cost of the irrigation system. The hypothesis of this research is that it is possible to increase the lateral line length combining two points: using a larger spacing between emitters at the beginning of the lateral line and a smaller one after a certain distance; and allowing a higher pressure variation along the lateral line under an acceptable value of distribution uniformity. To evaluate this hypothesis, a nonlinear programming model (NLP) was developed. The input data are: diameter, roughness coefficient, pressure variation, emitter operational pressure, relationship between emitter discharge and pressure. The output data are: line length, discharge and length of the each section with different spacing between drippers, total discharge in the lateral line, multiple outlet adjustment coefficient, head losses, localized head loss, pressure variation, number of emitters, spacing between emitters, discharge in each emitter, and discharge per linear meter. The mathematical model developed was compared with the lateral line length obtained with the algebraic solution generated by the Darcy-Weisbach equation. The NLP model showed the best results since it generated the greater gain in the lateral line length, maintaining the uniformity and the flow variation under acceptable standards. It had also the lower flow variation, so its adoption is feasible and recommended.

A comparative study of aquifer systems occurring at the Paraná sedimentary basin, Brazil: U-isotopes contribution

The radioactivity due to 238U and 234U in three aquifer systems occurring within the Paraná sedimentary basin, South America, has been investigated. Uranium is much less dissolved from fractured igneous rocks than from the porous sedimentary rocks as indicated by the U-mobility coefficients between 7. 6 × 10-6 and 1. 2 × 10-3 g cm-3. These values are also compatible with the U preference ratios relative to Na, K, Ca, Mg and SiO2, which showed that U is never preferentially mobilized in the liquid phase during the flow occurring in cracks, fissures, fractures and faults of the igneous basaltic rocks. Experimental dissolution of diabase grains on a time-scale laboratory has demonstrated that the U dissolution appeared to be a two-stage process characterized by linear and second-order kinetics. The U dissolution rate was 8 × 10-16 mol m-2 s-1 that is within the range of 4 × 10-16-3 × 10-14 mol m-2 s-1 estimated for other rock types. The 234U/238U activity ratio of dissolved U in solutions was higher than unity, a typical result expected during the water-rock interactions when preferential 234U-leach from the rock surfaces takes place. Some U-isotopes data allowed estimating 320 ka for the groundwater residence time in a sector of a transect in São Paulo State. A modeling has been also realized considering all U-isotopes data obtained in Bauru (35 samples), Serra Geral (16 samples) and Guarani (29 samples) aquifers. The results indicated that the Bauru aquifer waters may result from the admixture of waters from Guarani (1. 5 %) and Serra Geral (98. 5 %) aquifers. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Ureasil-polyether hybrid film-forming materials

The objectives of this work were to study the suitability and highlight the advantages of the use of cross-linked ureasil-polyether hybrid matrices as film-forming systems. The results revealed that ureasil-polyethers are excellent film-forming systems due to specific properties, such as their biocompatibility, their cosmetic attractiveness for being able to form thin and transparent films, their short drying time to form films and their excellent bioadhesion compared to the commercial products known as strong adhesives. Rheological measurements have demonstrated the ability of these hybrid matrices to form a film in only a few seconds and Water Vapor Transmitting Rate (WVTR) showed adequate semi-occlusive properties suggesting that these films could be used as skin and wound protectors. Both the high skin bioadhesion and non-cytotoxic character seems to be improved by the presence of multiple amine groups in the hybrid molecules. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Bond strength of adhesive systems with different solvents to dry and wet dentin

Aim: This study evaluates bond strength between dentin and composite using adhesives with different solvents to dry and wet dentin. Materials and methods: Ninety bovine incisors were used; the vestibular surfaces were worn by the exposure of an area with a diameter of 4 mm of dentin. The specimens were divided into 6 groups, according to the type of adhesive used and hydratation stals: Group SB-wet: Single Bond 2 in wet dentin, Group SBdry: Single Bond 2 in dry dentin, Group SL-wet: Solobond M in wet dentin, Group SL-dry: Solobond M in dentin dry. Group XPwet: XP Bond in wet dentin, Group XP-dry: XP Bond in dentin dry. They were cut to obtain specimens in the shape of stick with 1 × 1 mm and subjected to microtensile test in universal testing machine with a cross speed of 1mm/min. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey's tests (5%). Results: ANOVA showed significant differences for surface treatment and interaction, but no difference was found for adhesive factor. The Tukey's test showed that the samples with wet dentin shown higher values of bond strength. Conclusion: The adhesive did not influence in the bond strength. The groups with wet dentin showed higher values of bond strength than groups with dry dentin.

Improving the grid operation and reliability cost of distribution systems with dispersed generation

In this work, a mathematical model to analyze the impact of the installation and operation of dispersed generation units in power distribution systems is proposed. The main focus is to determine the trade-off between the reliability and operational costs of distribution networks when the operation of isolated areas is allowed. In order to increase the system operator revenue, an optimal power flow makes use of the different energy prices offered by the dispersed generation connected to the grid. Simultaneously, the type and location of the protective devices initially installed on the protection system are reconfigured in order to minimize the interruption and expenditure of adjusting the protection system to conditions imposed by the operation of dispersed units. The interruption cost regards the unsupplied energy to customers in secure systems but affected by the normal tripping of protective devices. Therefore, the tripping of fuses, reclosers, and overcurrent relays aims to protect the system against both temporary and permanent fault types. Additionally, in order to reduce the average duration of the system interruption experienced by customers, the isolated operation of dispersed generation is allowed by installing directional overcurrent relays with synchronized reclose capabilities. A 135-bus real distribution system is used in order to show the advantages of using the mathematical model proposed. © 1969-2012 IEEE.

Cytotoxicity of adhesive systems of different hydrophilicities on cultured odontoblast-like cells

This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of experimental adhesive systems (EASs) on odontoblast-like cells. Paper discs (n=132) were impregnated with 10 μL of each EAS-R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 (in an ascending order of hydrophilicity), followed by photoactivation. R1 and R2 are nonsolvated hydrophobic blends, R3 represents a simplified etch-and-rinse adhesive system, and R4 and R5 represent simplified self-etch adhesive systems. Discs were immersed in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium for 24 h to obtain eluates applied on MDPC-23 cell cultures. No material was applied on discs used as control (R0). Cell viability [3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay], total protein (TP) production, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, type of cell death, and degree of monomer conversion Fourier transform infrared (%DC-FTIR) were evaluated. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (α=0.05). Considering R0 (control) as having 100% of cell viability, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 reduced the metabolic activity of cells by 36.4, 3.1, 0.2, 21.5, and 65.7%, respectively, but only R1 and R5 differed from R0. Comparing with R0, lower TP production was observed for R1, R4, and R5, while ALP activity decreased for R1 and R5. Necrotic cell death was predominant for all EASs, but only R1, R4, and R5 differed from R0. Only R5 presented a different apoptotic cell death ratio from R0. R1 presented the lowest %DC (ca. 37%), whereas R4 and R5 presented the highest (ca. 56%). In conclusion, R2 and R3 were not toxic to the MDPC-23 cells, suggesting that the degree of hydrophilicity or %DC of the EASs alone were not responsible for their cytopathic effects. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Transdentinal cytotoxicity of experimental adhesive systems of different hydrophilicity applied to ethanol-saturated dentin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the transdentinal cytotoxicity of experimental adhesive systems (EASs) with different hydrophilicity and dentin saturation solutions on odontoblast-like cells. One hundred 0.4-mm-thick dentin discs were mounted in in vitro pulp chambers and assigned to 10 groups. MDPC-23 cells were seeded onto the pulpal side of the discs, incubated for 48 h. The EASs with increasing hydrophilicity (R1, R2, R3 and R4) were applied to the occlusal side after etching and saturation of etched dentin with water or ethanol. R0 (no adhesive) served as controls. R1 is a non-solvated hydrophobic blend, R2 is similar to a simplified etch-and-rinse adhesive system and R3 and R4 are similar to self-etching adhesives. After 24 h, cell metabolism was evaluated by MTT assay (n = 8 discs) and cell morphology was examined by SEM (n = 2 discs). Type of cell death was identified by flow cytometry and the degree of monomer conversion (%DC) was determined by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) after 10 s or 20 s of photoactivation. Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (α = 0.05). Dentin saturation with ethanol resulted in higher necrotic cell death ratios for R2, R3 and R4 compared with water saturation, although R2 and R3 induced higher SDH production. Photoactivation for 20 s significantly improved the %DC of all EASs compared with 10 s. A significant positive correlation was observed between the degree of hydrophilicity and %DC. In conclusion, except for R1, dentin saturation with ethanol increased the cytotoxicity of EASs, as expressed by the induction of necrotic cell death. © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Action of andiroba oil and permethrin on the central nervous and reproductive systems of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks females. A confocal study

Research for acaricides with lower toxicity and impact on the environment has been intensified. An alternative would be the use of natural compounds or of synthetic products in lower concentrations than the ones sold commercially. Thus, this study describes the action of andiroba seed oil on the nuclei of the ovary and synganglion cells of Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and presents an analysis of the nuclear morphology of the nervous system cells of this tick species when exposed to permethrin. The results obtained showed that, although no changes have been observed in the genetic material of the ovary cells exposed to the andiroba oil, this compound, as well as permethrin, has neurotoxic action on the females of this species. The damages caused to the physiology of the synganglion, due to the loss of integrity of the genetic material, would result in the impairment of the metabolism of other systems of R. sanguineus ticks. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Rompimento de barreiras: análise experimental e numérica na previsão de velocidades de propagação de frentes de material hiperconcentrado

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação de apoptose induzida por extrato orgânico de material particulado atmosférico, rico em hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos, na região urbana de Araraquara durante a safra e entressafra de cana-de-açúcar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da resistência á flexão de cerâmicas dentais Y-TZP: efeito de material e espessura

Pós-graduação em Ciências Odontológicas - FOAR

Tratamento da manipueira por processo de flotação sem uso de agentes químicos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Tratamento de chorume através de percolação em solos empregados como material de cobertura de aterros para resíduos sólidos urbanos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morfologia e hidrodinâmica em rios multicanais (anabranching): exemplo do alto rio Paraná

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)