Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) from ethylene using Tp(Ms)NiCl (Tp(Ms) = hydridotris(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)) and CP2ZrCl2 as a tandem catalyst system

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with different branching contents were prepared from ethylene, without the addition of alpha-olefin comonomer, using a combination of catalyst precursors {Tp(Ms)}NiCl (1) (Tp(Ms) = hydridotris(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)) and Cp2ZrCl2 (2) activated with MAO/TMA (1:1) in toluene at 0degreesC and by varying the nickel loading mole fraction (x(Ni)). The polymerization results showed that the turnover frequencies are strongly dependent on the x(Ni) varying from 6.6 x 10(3) to 32.1 x 10(3) mol[C2H4]/mol[Zr] h. The C-13 NMR spectra of the copolymers showed that the branch contents of the polymers increase as the x(Ni) increase in the medium promoting the production of polymers with a wide range of melting point (T-m) (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Temperature and concentration dependence of density of model liquid foods

Density of binary solutions and combinations of sucrose, glucose, fructose, citric acid, malic acid, pectin, and inorganic salts were measured with an oscillating tube density meter in the temperature range from 10degrees to 60degreesC, at varying concentrations. Density can be predicted with accuracy better than 5 x 10(-5) g cm(-3) using predictive equations obtained by fitting the experimental data. Available literature values agreed well with experimental data. Relations for the excess molar volume of these solutions were derived in terms of mole fraction and temperature. A thermodynamic model for the volumetric analysis of multicomponent aqueous solutions containing electrolyte and non-electrolyte compounds was also proposed. These models can be used for prediction of density of liquid food systems, specially fruit juices and beverages, based on composition and temperature, with high accuracy and without elaborate experimental work.

Determination of density of states in PPS from space-charge-limited current measurements

Space-charge-limited currents measurements have been carried out on undoped amorphous poly p-phenylene sulfide. The scaling law is checked for different samples with varying thickness, and J-V data analyzed. The position of the quasi-Fermi level and the density of states was obtained.

Charge density alterations in human hair fibers: An investigation using electrostatic force microscopy

A new method for high-resolution analyses of hair surface charge density under ambient conditions is presented in this paper. Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) is used here to analyze changes in surface charge density in virgin hair, bleached hair, and hair treated with a cationic polymer. The atomic force microscopy technique is used concomitantly to analyze morphological changes in hair roughness and thickness. The EFM images depict exactly how the polymer is distributed on the surface of the hair fiber. The EFM's powerful analytical tools enabled us to evaluate the varying degrees of interaction between the hair fiber surface charge density and the cationic polymer. The surface charge density and the polymer's distribution in the hair fibers are presented in the light of EFM measurements. © 2006 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Socièété Française de Cosmétologie.

Avaliação dos dados decendiais de precipitação e temperatura máxima e mínima do ar simulados pelo modelo ECMWF para o estado de São Paulo

The weather and climate has a direct influence in agriculture, it affects all stages of farming, since soil preparation to harvest. Meteorological data derived from automatic or conventional weather stations are used to monitor these effects. These meteorological data has problems like difficulty of data access and low density of meteorological stations in Brazil. Meteorological data from atmospheric models, such as ECMWF (European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast) can be an alternative. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare 10-day period precipitation, maximum and minimum air temperature data from the ECMWF model with interpolated maps from 33 weather stations in Sao Paulo state between 2005 and 2010 and generate statistical maps pixel by pixel. Statistical index showed spatially satisfactory (most of the results with R 2 > 0.60, d > 0.7, RMSE < 5°C and < 50 mm; Es < 5°C and < 24 mm) in period and ECMWF model can be recommended for use in the Sao Paulo state.

Dimensionality effects in the local density of states of ferromagnetic hosts probed via STM: Spin-polarized quantum beats and spin filtering

We theoretically investigate the local density of states (LDOS) probed by an STM tip of ferromagnetic metals hosting a single adatom and a subsurface impurity. We model the system via the two-impurity Anderson Hamiltonian. By using the equation of motion with the relevant Green's functions, we derive analytical expressions for the LDOS of two host types: a surface and a quantum wire. The LDOS reveals Friedel-like oscillations and Fano interference as a function of the STM tip position. These oscillations strongly depend on the host dimension. Interestingly, we find that the spin-dependent Fermi wave numbers of the hosts give rise to spin-polarized quantum beats in the LDOS. Although the LDOS for the metallic surface shows a damped beating pattern, it exhibits the opposite behavior in the quantum wire. Due to this absence of damping, the wire operates as a spatially resolved spin filter with a high efficiency. © 2013 American Physical Society.

Influence of anatomical location on CT numbers in cone beam computed tomography

Objective: To assess the influence of anatomical location on computed tomography (CT) numbers in mid- and full field of view (FOV) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Study Design: Polypropylene tubes with varying concentrations of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K2HPO4) solutions (50-1200 mg/mL) were imaged within the incisor, premolar, and molar dental sockets of a human skull phantom. CBCT scans were acquired using the NewTom 3G and NewTom 5G units. The CT numbers of the K2HPO 4 phantoms were measured, and the relationship between CT numbers and K2HPO4 concentration was examined. The measured CT numbers of the K2HPO4 phantoms were compared between anatomical sites. Results: At all six anatomical locations, there was a strong linear relationship between CT numbers and K2HPO4 concentration (R 2 > 0.93). However, the absolute CT numbers varied considerably with the anatomical location. Conclusion: The relationship between CT numbers and object density is not uniform through the dental arch on CBCT scans. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Self-trapping of Fermi and Bose gases under spatially modulated repulsive nonlinearity and transverse confinement

We show that self-localized ground states can be created in the spin-balanced gas of fermions with repulsion between the spin components, whose strength grows from the center to periphery, in combination with the harmonic-oscillator (HO) trapping potential acting in one or two transverse directions. We also consider the ground state in the noninteracting Fermi gas under the action of the spatially growing tightness of the one- or two-dimensional (1D or 2D) HO confinement. These settings are considered in the framework of the Thomas-Fermi-von Weizsäcker (TF-vW) density functional. It is found that the vW correction to the simple TF approximation (the gradient term) is nearly negligible in all situations. The properties of the ground state under the action of the 2D and 1D HO confinement with the tightness growing in the transverse directions are investigated too for the Bose-Einstein condensate with the self-repulsive nonlinearity. © 2013 American Physical Society.

Influência dos simuladores de tecidos moles na densidade óssea e dentária por meio de duas análises radiográficas: subtração digital e intensidade de pixel

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Processamento, caracterização microestrutural e propriedades elásticas de metais celulares do sistema Ti-6Al-4V para fins de regeneração óssea

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC

Amazon forest biomass density maps: tackling the uncertainty in carbon emission estimates

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

Combining ALOS/PALSAR derived vegetation structure and inundation patterns to characterize major vegetation types in the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve, Central Amazon floodplain, Brazil

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

Classificação híbrida: pixel a pixel e baseada em objetos para o monitoramento da condição da superfície dos pavimentos rodoviários

Monitorar a condição de uso de toda a extensão das rodovias brasileiras é tarefa dispendiosa e demorada. Este trabalho trata de novas técnicas que permitem o levantamento da condição da superfície dos pavimentos rodoviários de forma ágil utilizando imagens hiperespectrais de sensor digital aeroembarcado. Nos últimos anos, um número crescente de imagens de alta resolução espacial tem surgido no mercado mundial com o aparecimento dos novos satélites e sensores aeroembarcados de sensoriamento remoto. Propõe-se uma metodologia para identificação dos pavimentos asfálticos e classificação das principais ocorrências dos defeitos na superfície do pavimento. A primeira etapa da metodologia é a identificação da superfície asfáltica na imagem, utilizando uma classificação híbrida baseada inicialmente em pixel e depois refinada por objetos. A segunda etapa da metodologia é a identificação e classificação das ocorrências dos principais defeitos nos pavimentos flexíveis que são observáveis nas imagens de alta resolução espacial. Esta última etapa faz uso intensivo das novas técnicas de classificação de imagens baseadas em objetos. O resultado final é a geração de índices da condição da superfície do pavimento a partir das imagens que possam ser comparados com os indicadores vigentes da condição da superfície do pavimento já normatizados pelos órgãos competentes no país.

Colonization of gastropods on subtidal reefs depends on density in adjacent habitats, not on disturbance regime

[EN] Habitats dominated by algal canopies are often altered by physical disturbances of varying severity, changing environmental conditions and biological processes. We used Artificial Seaweed Units (ASUs) to test whether severity of physical disturbances on algal canopies affects the post-disturbance colonization of gastropods on subtidal reefs. Specifically, we examined patterns of assemblage structure of gastropods to test the hypothesis that the extent and intensity of canopy removal affects the post-disturbance colonization of ASUs, testing the consistency of these effects among four regions encompassing a 68 latitudinal gradient in southwestern Australia. Because adjacent habitats can act as a source of new colonists (either as drifting migrants or as a source of propagules) from the perimeter surrounding perturbed areas, we also predicted that patterns of colonization (types and total abundances of colonizers) were influenced by the available pool of individuals at the scale of reefs. Three reefs were selected within each region. On each reef, ASUs were placed in the centre of circular canopy clearings of different size (0, 3, 13 and 50 m2) and intensity (50% vs 100%), and retrieved after 3 months. Resulting assemblages occupying the ASUs were quantitatively representative of the adjacent (undisturbed), algal-associated, assemblages at the scale of reef. Within reefs, recruited assemblages largely mimicked those associated with erect red algae. However, neither disturbance size nor intensity affected the colonization patterns across reefs and regions. These results suggest that algal-associated gastropods, regardless of the prevalent mode of dispersion, are resilient to physical disturbances to canopies across broad geographical regions as long as the pool of potential colonists is maintained. A high dispersal ability of gastropods likely ensures a quick colonization of recovering algal habitats.

DensiProbe Spine: a novel instrument for intraoperative measurement of bone density in transpedicular screw fixation

STUDY DESIGN.: Cadaver study. OBJECTIVE.: To determine bone strength in vertebrae by measuring peak breakaway torque or indentation force using custom-made pedicle probes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Screw performance in dorsal spinal instrumentation is dependent on bone quality of the vertebral body. To date no intraoperative measuring device to validate bone strength is available. Destructive testing may predict bone strength in transpedicular instrumentations in osteoporotic vertebrae. Insertional torque measurements showed varying results. METHODS.: Ten human cadaveric vertebrae were evaluated for bone mineral density (BMD) measurements by quantitative computed tomography. Peak torque and indentation force of custom-made probes as a measure for mechanical bone strength were assessed via a transpedicular approach. The results were correlated to regional BMD and to biomechanical load testing after pedicle screw implementation. RESULTS.: Both methods generated a positive correlation to failure load of the respective vertebrae. The correlation of peak breakaway torque to failure load was r = 0.959 (P = 0.003), therewith distinctly higher than the correlation of indentation force to failure load, which was r = 0.690 (P = 0.040). In predicting regional BMD, measurement of peak torque also performed better than that of indentation force (r = 0.897 [P = 0.002] vs. r = 0.777 [P = 0.017]). CONCLUSION.: Transpedicular measurement of peak breakaway torque is technically feasible and predicts reliable local bone strength and implant failure for dorsal spinal instrumentations in this experimental setting.