Poço de infiltração para controle de enchentes na fonte: avaliação das condições de operação e manutenção

This study investigated the following aspects regarding a soakaway, i.e. an infiltration well: i) entrance filter device; ii) permeability of the geotextile; and iii) emptying time. The 3.6 m³ infiltration well drains a roof area of 241.8 m². The entrance device is made up of layers of sand, gravel and geotextile set on a metal structure. The concrete rings that form the lateral walls were covered with geotextile, and bricks were laid between the soil and concrete rings. The infiltration well remained in operation during the entire testing period, and specific events were simulated to measure the emptying time. Permeability and fine particle tests were carried out after eight months of operation. Samples of geotextile taken from the bottom, the walls and the entrance device presented average permeability reductions of approximately 50.7%, 7.7% and 21.2%, respectively. The sand in the entrance device retained around 34.8% of fine particles and the gravel retained 0.13% in the same period. The infiltration rate was approximately 34.7 mm/h. The R2 coefficient for measured and calculated times was 0.97.

Avaliação do efeito da inclinação e umidade antecedente na qualidade e quantidade das parcelas escoadas, percoladas e armazenadas em telhado verde extensivo

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

Avaliação do efeito da inclinação e umidade antecedente na qualidade e quantidade das parcelas escoadas, percoladas e armazenadas em telhado verde extensivo

This study investigated the effect of slope and antecedent soil moisture on the water depth stored and percolated on extensive green roofs built in pilot scale. For this purpose, slopes of 10, 20 and 30% were investigated. Moisture was measured before and after each test in order to determine the differential moisture (∆U). The experimental runoff and percolated flow were analyzed by varying moisture and slope. Apparent color and turbidity were measured on runoff and percolated flow for each one of the modules. The results yielded that for the slopes of 10% the smaller values of runoff was obtained (average of 1,01% ± 0,7%). For the others slopes (20% and 30%), the runoffs were around 35% ± 15%. The sum of runoff and percolated water results in 77% (average) for slope of 10% and 80% for 20% and 30%. The slope and moisture have explained 87% of data for retained water and 81% for runoff. For percolated flow the inverse trend was observed. The retained water was 11,6±1,4mm for the module with 10% of slope, around 10,0±1,2 mm for the module with 20% of slope, and about 9,5±1,1 mm for the module with 30%. The results pointed out that both slope and antecedent moisture are crucial for runoff reduction and for material transportation.

Evaluation technique designed to investigate the efficacy of a group communication-based aural rehabilitation program for hearing-impaired adults

This paper studies aural rehabilitation efforts designed to address the compensatory strategies used by hearing-impaired adults and evaluates the success of an eight week group communications-based therapy program.

Unilateral ablation of follicles >= 4 mm leads to compensatory follicle response from the contralateral ovary in heifers

In each of two experiments, heifers were assigned to a control group and a unilaterally ablated (UA) group (n = 6/group). In the UA group, follicles >= 4 mm in the left ovary were ablated by transvaginal ultrasound-guided technique at Hour 0 (8:00 AM) on the day of ovulation. Follicles in the CL-bearing right ovary remained intact. In Experiment 1, ablations continued until the next ovulation, and new follicles emerged in the right ovary in 9 of 14 (64%) waves. The number of follicles/wave (combined, 6.4 +/- 0.4) did not differ between groups. In Experiment 2, follicles were counted at Hours 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24; the resistance index (RI) for blood flow in the ovarian pedicle was determined at Hours 0 and 12; and blood samples were collected every hour from Hours 0 to 12 and Hour 24. An increase (P < 0.05) in the number of follicles in the follicle-intact ovary began at Hour 4 with complete compensation by Hour 24. Concentrations of FSH did not change between Hours 0 and 24 in the UA group but decreased (P < 0.05) in the controls by Hour 7. At Hour 12, RI to the right ovary approached being lower (P < 0.06) in the UA group than in the control group. Results indicated that unilateral ablation of follicles >= 4 mm led to compensatory follicle response in the follicle-intact ovary, and initially circulatory FSH concentrations were maintained and blood flow to the follicle-intact ovary increased. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Is clipping the preferable technique to perform sympathicotomy? A retrospective study and review of the literature

PURPOSE Thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery is nowadays a broadly accepted technique in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis as well as facial blushing. The objective of this study was to compare the two currently most commonly used methods for thoracic sympathicotomy: transection (ETS) and clipping (ETC.). METHODS This is a retrospective study on a total of 63 patients, who underwent rib-oriented sympathicotomy, either by transection (n = 36, 57 %) or by clipping (n = 27, 43 %). Moreover, the up-to-date international literature is reviewed concerning which level(s) of the sympathetic trunk should be addressed, depending on the patients underlying condition. Furthermore, the highly controversial topic of reversibility of sympathetic clipping is debated. RESULTS Our results confirm that clipping is at least as effective as transection of the sympathetic chain in the treatment of hyperhidrosis and facial blushing. Furthermore, the analysis of all larger studies on unclipping in humans shows a surprisingly high reported reversal rate between 48 and 77 %. CONCLUSIONS Depending on the symptoms of the patient, different levels of the sympathetic chain should be addressed. When a higher rib level such as R2 is approached, which more likely will result in moderate to severe compensatory sweating, clipping should be preferred as it seems that this technique has indeed a potential for reversibility. As demonstrated, this method is at least as effective as an irreversible transection of the sympathetic chain.

On waveform analysis, the adaptive task technique, and the effect of vibration on manual control skill

A re-examination of fundamental concepts and a formal structuring of the waveform analysis problem is presented in Part I. eg. the nature of frequency is examined and a novel alternative to the classical methods of detection proposed and implemented which has the advantage of speed and independence from amplitude. Waveform analysis provides the link between Parts I and II. Part II is devoted to Human Factors and the Adaptive Task Technique. The Historical, Technical and Intellectual development of the technique is traced in a review which examines the evidence of its advantages relative to non-adaptive fixed task methods of training, skill assessment and man-machine optimisation. A second review examines research evidence on the effect of vibration on manual control ability. Findings are presented in terms of percentage increment or decrement in performance relative to performance without vibration in the range 0-0.6Rms'g'. Primary task performance was found to vary by as much as 90% between tasks at the same Rms'g'. Differences in task difficulty accounted for this difference. Within tasks vibration-added-difficulty accounted for the effects of vibration intensity. Secondary tasks were found to be largely insensitive to vibration except secondaries which involved fine manual adjustment of minor controls. Three experiments are reported next in which an adaptive technique was used to measure the % task difficulty added by vertical random and sinusoidal vibration to a 'Critical Compensatory Tracking task. At vibration intensities between 0 - 0.09 Rms 'g' it was found that random vibration added (24.5 x Rms'g')/7.4 x 100% to the difficulty of the control task. An equivalence relationship between Random and Sinusoidal vibration effects was established based upon added task difficulty. Waveform Analyses which were applied to the experimental data served to validate Phase Plane analysis and uncovered the development of a control and possibly a vibration isolation strategy. The submission ends with an appraisal of subjects mentioned in the thesis title.