Dry biomass distribution in a cerrado sensu stricto site in Brazil central

The Cerrado has been the main source of firewood and charcoal in Brazil, but despite being one of the hot spots for conservation of the world's biodiversity, neither plantations of native species nor sustainable management has been adopted in the region. The aim of this work was to investigate the biomass distribution and the potential for energy production of the cerrado species. The study was conducted in a cerrado sensu stricto site at the Água Limpa Farm (15º 56'14'' S and 47º 46'08'' W) in the Cerrado Biosphere Reserve. An area of 63.54ha was divided in 20 x 50m plots and, a random sample consisting of ten of these plots, representing 1.56% of the study-site, was assessed. All woody individuals from 5 cm diameter at 30 cm above ground level were identified and measured. Each individual was felled, the twigs thinner than 3cm were discarded while the larger branches and the trunks, both with bark, were weighted separately. After that, 2.5cm transverse sections of the trunk with bark were taken at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the length. A similar sample was also taken at the base of each branch. A total of 47 species in 35 genera and 24 families were found, with an average density of 673 individuals per ha. The diameter distribution showed a reversed-J shape with 67% of the individuals up to 13cm, while the maximum diameter was 32.30cm. Seven species represented 72% of the total biomass. In general, the species with higher production per tree were among those with higher production per ha. This content was distributed by diameter classes, reaching a maximum of 2.5ton/ha between 9 to 13cm and then, decreasing to 0.96 ton/ha between 29 to 33cm diameter. Carbon sequestering was 6.2ton/ha (until the actual stage of cerrado) based on an average 50% carbon content in the dry matter. The heat combustion of the wood varied from 18,903kj/kg to 20,888kj/kg with an average of 19,942kj/kg. The smaller diameter classes fix more carbon due to the large number of small plants per ha. But, for a species that reached larger dimensions and contained individuals in all diameter classes, Vochysia thyrsoidea, one can verify an increase in carbon fixation from 1.41 kg/ha in the first class (5 to 9cm) to 138,3kg/ha in the last (25 to 33cm). That indicates that it is possible to select species that reach larger size with a higher capacity of carbon accumulation per plant. The species that reached larger dimensions, with a production per tree above average and had high calorific power values were Dalbergia miscolobium, Pterodon pubescens and Sclerolobium paniculatum. These species have potential for use in fuelwood plantations and sustainable management.

Teollisuusprosessien signaalien automaattinen analysointi

Diplomityössä kehitettiin menetelmiä teollisuusprosessien signaalien automaattiseen havainnointiin ja luotiin työkalu tulosten esittämiseen. Työn tarkoituksena on nopeuttaa ja helpottaa prosessin ongelmien ratkaisua luokittelemalla signaalit matemaattisten menetelmien avulla. Koska prosessin mittaussignaalit ovat pääasiassa stokastisia, eli niitä ei voida etukäteen ennustaa, käsitellään signaaleita tilastomatemaattisin keinoin. Työstä rajattiin mittaushistorian käyttö, joten värähtelyiden tunnistus toteutettiin taajuusanalyysin avulla. Korrelaation avulla löydetään samankaltaiset signaalit. Testeissä todettiin, että työssä kehitetyt havainnoinnit toimivat eri näytteenottotaajuuksilla ja työkalun suoritusnopeus todettiin hyväksi. Lopuksi esiteltiin todellinen teollisuusprosessin ongelma ja siihen mahdollisia ratkaisuja.

Evaluation of alternative containers to determining the working width of fertilizer spreaders

Farmers have difficult of determining the evenness of transverse distribution and the working width, due the tests with this aim require equipments and complex methodologies. So, this study evaluates some alternative containers with the aim to allow a more accessible adjustment of the full width of the solid fertilizer spreaders. Four different containers were tested: i) standard container constructed in accordance with ISO 5690/1; ii) container of polyethylene (plastic trays) with screen shading to prevent the ricochet of material; iii) containers composed by boxes of long-life milk, and iv) containers composed by flowerpots (number 3.5). Also, three different spreaders were used for the tests. Alternative containers showed greater retention of particles than the standardized containers. The full width of work obtained for the coefficients of variation of 12.5; 15; 17.5 and 20%, ranged due the containers in the different pathways. The flowerpots of polyethylene showed similar results to the standardized containers. The heights of the containers were more important for its efficiency than its area of collection.

Hérnia de Morgagni simulando lipoma torácico

The Morgagni hernia is the rarest kind of diaphragmatic hernia , occurring in 3% of all cases. It consists of the protrusion of the abdominal content into the thoracic cavity including omentum and transverse colon, among others. It is more common in the right side and appears more frequently after 40 years of age or after a raise in the intra-abdominal pressure. Patients with Morgagni hernia are usually asymptomatic. In the X-ray it appears like an opaque image in the cardiophrenic angle.Surgical correction is the treatment of choice for this conditions. We present one case of Morgagni hernia successfully treated.

Teníase: uma causa rara de apendicite aguda

Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical condition of acute abdomen. Approximately 7 percent of the population will have appendicitis during their lifetime, with the peak incidence occurring between 10 through 30 years-old. Obstruction of the appendix lumen with subsequent bacterial infection initiates the pathophysiological sequence of acute appendicitis. Obstruction may have multiple causes, including fecalith, lymphoid hyperplasia (related to viral illnesses, including upper respiratory infection, mononucleosis, and gastroenteritis), foreign bodies, carcinoid tumor, and parasites. In Asia, Africa and Latin America, Enterobius vermicularis has been reported as the main parasite that causes appendix obstruction. Rarely, Taenia sp., has been pointed as a cause of parasitic appendicitis. We reported a 30 years-old patient clinically diagnosed with acute appendicitis. The appendectomy was performed through a McBurney incision. The patient's convalescence was uneventful, and he was discharged from hospital 48 hours after operation. Histological examination of the appendix showed acute appendicitis, and it was found a parasite (Taenia sp.) lying inside of the appendix lumen at a transverse section. He has received 10 mg/Kg weight of praziquantel for taeniasis treatment.

Soodakattiloiden ilmakanavien hyödyntäminen jäykistävänä rakenteena

Työssä tutkittiin soodakattiloiden ilmakanavien hyödyntämistä jäykistävänä rakenteena. Työssä käsiteltiin yksittäisiä jäykistämättömiä ja jäykistettyjä levykenttiä ja niiden lommahduskestävyyttä Eurokoodi standardin mukaisesti ja elementtimenetelmän avulla. Lisäksi käsiteltiin lommahduksen teoriaa ja levykenttien käyttäytymistä yleisellä tasolla erilaisilla kuormituksilla ja reunaehdoilla. Työn tavoitteena oli selvittää kuinka lommahdus tutkitaan Eurokoodin mukaisesti ja elementtimenetelmää hyödyntäen, kun levykentän kuormituksena on poikittainen kuormitus tason suuntaisen kuormituksen lisäksi. Työssä tutkittiin kahden eri elementtimenetelmään pohjautuvan ratkaisuvaihtoehdon käyttöä lommahduslaskennassa. Työssä kehitettiin Eurokoodin sovellettu yhteisvaikutuskaavan käyttö lineaarisen ominaisarvotehtävän ratkaisun lisänä, jossa otetaan huomioon painekuorman vaikutus levykentän lommahduksessa. Kehitettyä menetelmää sovellettiin ilmakanavan esimerkkirakenteen mitoituksessa.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of fibrillar components of the extracellular matrix of transversalis fascia and anterior abdominal rectus sheath in men with inguinal hernia

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the role of fibrillar extracellular matrix components in the pathogenesis of inguinal hernias. METHODS: samples of the transverse fascia and of the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle were collected from 40 men aged between 20 and 60 years with type II and IIIA Nyhus inguinal hernia and from 10 fresh male cadavers (controls) without hernia in the same age range. The staining technique was immunohistochemistry for collagen I, collagen III and elastic fibers; quantification of fibrillar components was performed with an image analysis processing software. RESULTS: no statistically significant differences were found in the amount of elastic fibers, collagen I and collagen III, and the ratio of collagen I / III among patients with inguinal hernia when compared with subjects without hernia. CONCLUSION: the amount of fibrillar extracellular matrix components did not change in patients with and without inguinal hernia.

Väsymiskestävyyden määritys murtumismekaanisilla särönmallinnusohjelmilla

Tässä työssä tutkitaan Wärtsilä Oyj:n moottorin ja ABB Oy:n generaattorin muodostaman aggregaatin väsymiskestävyyttä lineaarisen murtumismekaniikan avulla. Työn tavoitteena on selvittää ABAQUS/XFEM- ja FRANC3D-ohjelman soveltuvuus kuormitukseltaan ja geometrialtaan vaativan generaattorirungon suunnittelutyökaluksi. Generaattorirungon kuormitukset aiheutuvat aggregaatin käynnin sekä käynnistys- ja sammutusvaiheen aikai-sista syntyvistä värähtelyistä. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan generaattorirungon väsymistä käynninaikaisella kuormituksella. Työssä mallinnettiin generaattorirungosta valittu hitsausdetalji alimallinnustekniikalla, jolloin alimallin reunaehdot voitiin määrittää aggregaatille tehdyn vastelaskennan perus-teella. Alimallista tutkittiin kahta erilaista hitsiliitostyyppiä, joihin mallinnettiin XFEM- ja FRANC3D-ohjelmilla erikokoisia säröjä hitsiliitosten rajaviivalle sekä juuren puolelle. Tutkittavilla ohjelmilla saatujen jännitysintensiteettikertoimien avulla säröille voitiin las-kea ekvivalentti jännitysintensiteettikerroin, jota verrattiin kokeellisesti saatuun jännitysin-tensiteettikertoimen kynnysarvoon. XFEM- ja FRANC3D-ohjelmia vertailtiin käytön helppouden, tulosten tarkkuuden sekä laskenta-aikojen perusteella. Käytettävyyden ja laskenta-aikojen perusteella XFEM-ohjelma soveltui paremmin käytettäväksi teollisuudessa suunnittelu- ja kehitystyön apu-työkaluna. FRANC3D taas antoi XFEM-ohjelmaa luotettavampia tuloksia, mutta laskenta-ajat olivat moninkertaiset.

Assessment of pelvic floor by three-dimensional-ultrasound in primiparous women according to delivery mode: initial experience from a single reference service in Brazil

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes to the pelvic floor of primiparous women with different delivery modes, using three-dimensional ultrasound. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study on 35 primiparae divided into groups according to the delivery mode: elective cesarean delivery (n=10), vaginal delivery (n=16), and forceps delivery (n=9). Three-dimensional ultrasound on the pelvic floor was performed on the second postpartum day with the patient in a resting position. A convex volumetric transducer (RAB4-8L) was used, in contact with the large labia, with the patient in the gynecological position. Biometric measurements of the urogenital hiatus were taken in the axial plane on images in the rendering mode, in order to assess the area, anteroposterior and transverse diameters, average thickness, and avulsion of the levator ani muscle. Differences between groups were evaluated by determining the mean differences and their respective 95% confidence intervals. The proportions of levator ani muscle avulsion were compared between elective cesarean section and vaginal birth using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The mean areas of the urogenital hiatus in the cases of vaginal and forceps deliveries were 17.0 and 20.1 cm², respectively, versus 12.4 cm² in the Control Group (elective cesarean). Avulsion of the levator ani muscle was observed in women who underwent vaginal delivery (3/25), however there was no statistically significant difference between cesarean section and vaginal delivery groups (p=0.5). CONCLUSION: Transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound was useful for assessing the pelvic floor of primiparous women, by allowing pelvic morphological changes to be differentiated according to the delivery mode.

Multibody Simulation Model of the Roller Test Rig

Multibody simulation model of the roller test rig is presented in this work. The roller test rig consists of a paper machine’s tube roll supported with a hard bearing type balancing machine. The simulation model includes non-idealities that are measured from the physical structure. These non-idealities are the shell thickness variation of the roll and roundness errors of the shafts of the roll. These kinds of non-idealities are harmful since they can cause subharmonic resonances of the rotor system. In this case, the natural vibration mode of the rotor is excited when the rotation speed is a fraction of the natural frequency of the system. With the simulation model, the half critical resonance is studied in detail and a sensitivity analysis is performed by simulating several analyses with slightly different input parameters. The model is verified by comparing the simulation results with those obtained by measuring the real structure. Comparison shows that good accuracy is achieved, since equivalent responses are achieved within the error limit of the input parameters.

Vesihöyrypiirin kiertolaskenta kuplapetikattilassa

Työssä selvitetään kiertolaskennan periaatteita kuplapetikattilassa, esitetään lyhyesti kattilan toimintaperiaate ja paneudutaan alan laskentaohjelmistoihin. Luonnonkierto kattilan vesihöyrypiirissä on seurausta hydrostaattisesta paineesta, joka aiheutuu tiheyserosta nousu- ja laskuputkien välillä. Kiertolaskennassa on huomioitava kaksifaasivirtauksen ominaispiirteet. Höyry ja neste virtaavat putkistossa eri nopeuksilla, jolloin esimerkiksi painehäviön määrityksessä käytetään erilaisia korrelaatioita ja käyrästöjä. Kaksifaasivirtauksen laskennassa tarvitaan kolmea eri taseyhtälöä: energiatasetta, massatasetta ja liikemäärätasetta. Luonnonkiertokattiloissa höyrykierron suunnittelussa on kaksi pääasiallista ehtoa. Ensimmäiseksi tulee varmistaa riittävä kiertoveden massavirta, jotta vältetään höyrystinputkien puhki palaminen. Toiseksi tulee välttää höyrystinputken pinnan lämpötilavaihteluita ja värähtelyitä. Alustavassa luonnonkierron mitoituksessa turvaudutaan kokemusperäiseen tietoon. Myöhemmässä tarkemmassa mitoituksessa käytettäviä ohjelmistoja ovat NOWA sekä kaupalliset PPSD ja Apros. Laskenta lähtee liikkeelle siitä, että lasketaan ensin vesihöyrykierron massavirrat erilaisilla lämpökuormilla ja höyryntuotanto määritellään painehäviöiden perusteella. NOWA- ja PPSD- ohjelmistoilla tehtyjen esimerkkilaskelmien perusteella voidaan sanoa, että tulokset riippuvat käytetystä laskentamallista.

Pienahitsien staattisen kestävyyden mitoitus perinteisesti ja eri reunaehtoihin perustuvilla parannetuilla mitoitusmalleilla

Tässä tutkimuksessa oli tavoitteena tarkastella analyyttisen laskennan keinoin pienahitsin mitoittamista ja selvittää käytännön kokeissa havaittu a-mitasta poikkeavan vauriotason sijainti poikittain kuormitetuissa pienahitseissä. Perinteinen laskentamallin tarkastelu laa-jennettiin koskemaan mielivaltaisessa kulmassa olevaa laskentatasoa ja suurimman yhdistetyn jännityksen perusteella löydettiin kriittisin leikkaus tasakylkisessä hitsissä. Lisäksi tarkasteltiin voimatasapainon huomioon ottamista mitoituksessa ja luotiin kaksi eri mallia tämän pohjalta. Kolme teoreettisesti oikeampaa mitoitusmallia täydennettiin kattamaan myös erikylkiset hitsit ja todettiin, että kaikilla mitoitusmalleilla erikylkiset hitsit ovat tilavuudeltaan optimaalisempia verrattaessa samanlujuisiin tasakylkisiin hitseihin.

Systematization, description and territory of the caudal cerebral artery of the brain in broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris)

Thirty heads with the neck segment of Caiman latirostris were used. The animals were provided from a creation center called Mister Caiman, under the authorization of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). Animals were sacrificed according to the slaughtering routine of the abattoir, and the heads were sectioned at the level of the third cervical vertebra. The arterial system was washed with cold saline solution, with drainage through jugular veins. Subsequently, the system was filled with red colored latex injection. Pieces were than fixed in 20% formaldehyde, for seven days. The brains were removed, with a spinal cord segment, the duramater removed and the arteries dissected. At the level of the hypophysis, the internal carotid artery gave off a rostral branch, and a short caudal branch, continuing, naturally, as the caudal cerebral artery. This artery projected laterodorsalwards and, as it overpassed the optic tract, gave off its I (the first) central branch. Penetrated in the cerebral transverse fissure, emitting the diencephalic artery and next its II (second) central branch. Still inside the fissure, originated occipital hemispheric branches and a pineal branch. Emerged from the cerebral transverse fissure, over the occipital pole of the cerebral hemisphere. Projected rostralwards, sagital to the cerebral longitudinal fissure, as interhemispheric artery. This artery gave off medial and convex hemispheric branches to the respective surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres, anastomosed with its contralateral homologous, forming the common ethmoidal artery. This artery entered the fissure between the olfactory peduncles, emerging ventrally and dividing into ethmoidal arteries, right and left, which progressed towards the nasal cavities, vascularizing them. The territory of the caudal cerebral artery included the most caudal area of the base of the cerebral hemisphere, its convex surface, the olfactory peduncles and bulbs, the choroid plexuses and the diencephalus with its parietal organs.

Design of an amplifier and an instrumentation setup for a harsh environment heat flux measurement application – case axial flux electric machine

Measurement is a tool for researching. Therefore, it is important that the measuring process is carried out correctly, without distorting the signal or the measured event. Researches of thermoelectric phenomena have been focused more on transverse thermoelectric phenomena during recent decades. Transverse Seebeck effect enables to produce thinner and faster heat flux sensor than before. Studies about transverse Seebeck effect have so far focused on materials, so in this Master’s Thesis instrumentation of transverse Seebeck effect based heat flux sensor is studied, This Master’s Thesis examines an equivalent circuit of transverse Seebeck effect heat flux sensors, their connectivity to electronics and choosing and design a right type amplifier. The research is carried out with a case study which is Gradient Heat Flux Sensors and an electrical motor. In this work, a general equivalent circuit was presented for the transverse Seebeck effect-based heat flux sensor. An amplifier was designed for the sensor of the case study, and the solution was produced for the measurement of the local heat flux of the electric motor to improve the electromagnetic compatibility.

Galvanomagnetic effects in InGaAs nanostructure

Investigation of galvanomagnetic effects in nanostructure GaAs/Mn/GaAs/In0.15Ga0.85As/ GaAs is presented. This nanostructure is classified as diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS). Temperature dependence of transverse magnetoresistivity of the sample was studied. The anomalous Hall effect was detected and subtracted from the total Hall component. Special attention was paid to the measurements of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, which exists only in the case of magnetic field aligned perpendicularly to the plane of the sample. This confirms two-dimensional character of the hole energy spectrum in the quantum well. Such important characteristics as cyclotron mass, the Fermi energy and the Dingle temperature were calculated, using experimental data of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations. The hole concentration and hole mobility in the quantum well also were estimated for the sample. At 4.2 K spin splitting of the maxima of transverse resistivity was observed and g-factor was calculated for that case. The values of the Dingle temperatures were obtained by two different approaches. From the comparison of these values it was concluded that the broadening of Landau levels in the investigated structure is mainly defined by the scattering of charge carriers on the defects of the crystal lattice