Application of a Biomimetic Sensor Based on Iron Phthalocyanine Chloride: 4-Methylbenzylidene-Camphor Detection

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Tratamento de esgoto e produção de água de reúso com o emprego de filtros de areia

In this research it was studied a system composed by the anaerobic filter combined with a sand filter for the wastewater treatment. For this, three anaerobic filters were operated with hydraulic detention time of nine hours which had the effluent disposed over four sand filters in different frequencies of application. on the first sand filter, 50 L.m(-2) were applied once a day. on the second, the third and the fourth filters, the same load was disposed in twice, three and four times a day, distributed between 9 a. m. and 4 p. m. The system presented a final effluent suitable for the COD and BOD legislation maximum limit to be discharged into water body (Decreto Paulista no 8,468/1976), showing the viability of dispose a higher quantity of effluent then the one suggested by NBR 13969/1997, which guides the constructive aspects for this kind of treatment.

Longer wavelengths of light improve the growth, intake and feed efficiency of individually reared juvenile pikeperch Sander lucioperca (L.)

We tested the effects of monochromatic light on the specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake and feed efficiency (FE) of juvenile pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.). Pikeperch were reared individually for 42 days in aquaria covered with blue, green, yellow or red gelatin filters or white paper (control; n=5). Linear regression analysis indicated a significant positive effect of longer wavelengths of light on the condition factor (CF), FE and SGR. The final weight, SGR and CF were significantly higher in fish reared under red than under white light, and FE was better under green, yellow and red light than under white light (Dunnett's post hoc test, P < 0.05) while blue was comparable to white light in terms of the measured parameters. After the growth trial, the spectral sensitivity of photoreceptor cells in the retina was tested using microspectrophotometry, which revealed the presence of rods with lambda(max) at ca. 530 nm and two cone classes, absorbing maximally at ca. 535 and 603 nm, all containing a porphyropsin-based pigment. These results suggest that the presence of mid and long wavelength-sensitive cones enhances visual sensitivity under mid-wavelength and long-wavelength environments, and thus supports the finding that longer wavelengths of incoming light can improve FE and SGR of the cultivated pikeperch.

Possible shunt compensation strategies based on Conservative Power Theory

Considering the Conservative Power Theory (CPT), this paper proposes some novel compensation strategies for shunt passive or active devices. The CPT current decompositions result in several current terms (associated with specific physical phenomena), which were used for the definition of different selective current compensators, in terms of minimizing particular disturbing effects. Simulation results have been demonstrated in order to validate the possibilities and performance of the proposed strategies for single and three-phase four wired circuits.

Selective UV-filter detection with sensors based on stainless steel electrodes modified with polyaniline doped with metal tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine films

This work describes the construction and application of two amperometric sensors for sensitive UV-filter determination. The sensors were prepared using stainless steel electrodes in which polyaniline (PANI) was electrochemically polymerized in the presence of nickel (NiPcTS) or iron (FePcTS) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanines. The sensor surface characterizations were carried out using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The PANI/NiPcTS sensor was selective for the chemical UV-filter p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and the PANI/FePcTS sensor was selective for octyldimethyl-PABA (ODP), both in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 0.1 mol L(-1) H(2)SO(4) at a volume ratio of 30 : 70, and with an applied potential of 0.0 mV vs. Ag vertical bar AgCl. A detailed investigation of the selectivity was carried out for both sensors, in order to determine their responses for ten different UV filters. Finally, each sensor was successfully applied to PABA or ODP quantification in sunscreen formulations and water from swimming pools.

Passive and active dispersers respond similarly to environmental and spatial processes: an example from metacommunity dynamics of tree hole invertebrates

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aerosol and precipitation chemistry measurements in a remote site in Central Amazonia: the role of biogenic contribution

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

Protótipos de filtros para água poluida usada para irrigação de hortaliças e frutiferas

Prototypes A (bidin + broken stones + gravel stones + gross sand + activated coal) and B (bidin + broken stones + gravel stones + gross sand) under hydraulic charge of 35 cm presented outlets that, when extrapolated for larger filters, are sufficient to supply small and medium irrigation projects for vegetables and fruits. (bidin = Rhodia polyester for drainage). Under a charge of 35 cm, filtrate of both prototypes presented a reduction of fecal coliforms, being this reduction higher for A prototypes, but, even in this case, the coliform quantities were superior to the legal limit. Under a decrease of the biochemical oxygen demand an increase of the available oxygen rate; pH and hardness did not present significant changes.

Neural networks training using the constructivism paradigms

The Backpropagation Algorithm (BA) is the standard method for training multilayer Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), although it converges very slowly and can stop in a local minimum. We present a new method for neural network training using the BA inspired on constructivism, an alphabetization method proposed by Emilia Ferreiro based on Piaget philosophy. Simulation results show that the proposed configuration usually obtains a lower final mean square error, when compared with the standard BA and with the BA with momentum factor.

Another prefiltering algorithm for adaptive IIR filtering

An algorithm for adaptive IIR filtering that uses prefiltering structure in direct form is presented. This structure has an estimation error that is a linear function of the coefficients. This property greatly simplifies the derivation of gradient-based algorithms. Computer simulations show that the proposed structure improves convergence speed.

Oriented texture classification based on self-organizing neural network and Hough transform

This paper presents a technique for oriented texture classification which is based on the Hough transform and Kohonen's neural network model. In this technique, oriented texture features are extracted from the Hough space by means of two distinct strategies. While the first operates on a non-uniformly sampled Hough space, the second concentrates on the peaks produced in the Hough space. The described technique gives good results for the classification of oriented textures, a common phenomenon in nature underlying an important class of images. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the new technique in comparison, with an implemented technique based on Gabor filters.

On designing OTA-C graphic-equalizers with MOSFET-triode transconductors

A CMOS audio-equalizer based on a parallel-array of 2nd-order bandpass-sections is presented and realized with triode transconductors. It has a programmable 12db-boost/cut on each of its three decade-bands, easily achieved through the linear dependence of gm on VDS. In accordance with a 0.8μm n-well double-metal fabrication process, a range of simulations supports theoretical analysis and circuit performance at different boost/cut scenarios. For VDD=3.3V, fullboosting stand-by prover consumption is 1.05mW. THD=-42.61dB@1Vpp and may be improved by balanced structures. Thermal- and I/f-noise spectral densities are 3.2μV/Hz12 and 18.2μV/Hz12@20Hz, respectively, for a dynamic range of 52.3dB@1Vpp. The equalizer effective area is 2.4mm2. The drawback of the existing transmission-zero due to the feedthrough-capacitance of a triode input-device is also addressed. The proposed topology can be extended to the design of more complex graphic-equalizers and hearing-aids.

A method for the digital image analysis of ceramic grains based on shape factor segmentation

A very simple and robust method for ceramics grains quantitative image analysis is presented. Based on the use of optimal imaging conditions for reflective light microscopy of bulk samples, a digital image processing routine was developed for shading correction, noise suppressing and contours enhancement. Image analysis was done for grains selected according to their concavities, evaluated by perimeter ratio shape factor, to avoid consider the effects of breakouts and ghost boundaries due to ceramographic preparation limitations. As an example, the method was applied for two ceramics, to compare grain size and morphology distributions. In this case, most of artefacts introduced by ceramographic preparation could be discarded due to the use of perimeter ratio exclusion range.

An Improved Design Procedure for LCC Resonant Filter of Dimmable Electronic Ballasts for Fluorescent Lamps, Based on Lamp Model

This paper presents an improved design methodology for determining the parameters used in the classical Series-Parallel Loaded Resonant (SPLR) filter employed in the switching frequency controlled dimmable electronic ballasts. According to the analysis developed in this paper, it is possible to evaluate some characteristics of the resonant filter during the dimming process, such as: range of switching frequency, phase shift and rms value of the current drained by the resonant filter + fluorescent lamp set.

A Gm-C bump equalizer for low-voltage low-power applications

A low-voltage low-power 2nd-order CMOS pseudo-differential bump-equalizer is presented. Its topology comprises a bandpass section with adjustable center frequency and quality factor, together with a programmable current amplifier. The basic building blocks are triode-operating transconductors, tunable by means of either a DC voltage or a digitally controlled current divider. The bump-equalizer as part of a battery-operated hearing aid device is designed for a 1.4V-supply and a 0.35μm CMOS fabrication process. The circuit performance is supported by a set of simulation results, which indicates a center frequency from 600Hz to 2.4kHz, 1≤Q≤5, and an adjustable gain within ±6dB at center frequency. The filter dynamic range lies around 40dB. Quiescent consumption is kept below 12μW for any configuration of the filter.