Wind pumping based water supply schemes for remote villages in Sri Lanka

In the remote rural villages in Hambantota district (located in South-East of Sri Lanka) there is no easy access to potable water, and conventional community water supply schemes by pumping water from deep wells is far from the reality. Present study investigates the feasibility of community water supply schemes for sparsely distributed houses in these villages by the installation of a wind rotor coupled to a hand operated deep well pump at a favourable location in the village and storing of water in a tank at a higher elevation. Based on field measurements of wind data, power requirement for hand pump installed in a deep well, the scale model testing of two horizontal axis wind rotors and the performance of a pilot wind pump, potential for introducing wind pumping based community water supply schemes in the district is emphasized

Photoactive materials for buildings

Since the intertwining of light and electron transfer enables life on the planet, it is no surprise that the same phenomenon can serve to empower materials[1] for service in the built environment. The inexpensive generation of electrical power from sunlight in a distributed manner will probably become possible with photoelectrochemical cells embedded in windows. From a chemical viewpoint, 1 can undergo photoinduced electron transfer (PET) with TiO2 and the resulting 1.+ can undergo further electron transfer with electrochemical relay I-, when the thermodynamic conditions are considered (Fig. 1). However, the efficiency of charge separation following PET in this and related cases is attributable to the nanostructured TiO2 matrix on which 1 is bound [2]. For instance, the electric current generation efficiency in sunlight is around 1000-fold higher for 1 in nanostructured TiO2 than on a chosen face of single-crystal TiO2 in its anatase form[3]. Besides the hugely increased surface area of this matrix (c.f. the single-crystal), it also avoids charge-depletion layers and local electric fields near the particles. Some of these window-cells will probably be adaptable to selfcleaning tasks as well, since photoelectrochemical cells are able to decompose organic compounds via redox processes [4]

Determination of low molecular weight volatiles in Ficus carica using HS-SPME and GC/FID

Ficus carica L. is one of the earliest cultivated fruit trees, having an important consumption in Mediterranean countries. In this work, the volatile compound profiles of two characteristic Portuguese white varieties (‘‘Pingo de Mel” and ‘‘Branca Tradicional”) was determined by HS-SPME and GC/FID. Leaves, pulps and peels, submitted to freezing and lyophilisation treatments, were analysed. The two varieties presented a similar profile composed of eight volatile compounds: acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, hexanal, limonene, (E)-2-hexenal and octanal. The total volatile content was different among the vegetal materials, following the order leaves > peels > pulps. Methanol and ethanol are the major compounds in all samples. The developed procedure revealed to be rapid, sensitive, reproducible and accurate. The detection limit values were low, and the method precise. The recovery values for acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, methanol and ethanol were generally high, suggesting that it will be most suitable for compounds with low molecular weight. Due to its rapidity and low cost, this technique can be useful in the quality control of fig fruit and leaves

Ruminal Degradability Of Agro-industrial Fruit Residues

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and ruminal degradability of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of fruit residues. Three fistulated sheep were held collectively in a pen, and fed daily with the studied residues in a diet consisting of canarana grass (Echinochloa pyramidalis) and a concentrate of corn and soybeans. The animals were allowed an adjustment period of seven days. The residues were dried in the sun, crushed in a forage machine, sorted using a 4.0-mm sieve, and incubated for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h using nonwoven bags (weight 60g/m2, 14 ×12 cm2). Chemical analyses of the residues were performed using a randomized block experimental design with split plots. The cherimoya and tamarind residues showed the highest concentrations of CP (12.66% and 11.79%) the ether extract of cherimoya residue was the highest at 22.30%stands out the sour soup residue. The cashew and guava residues showed the highest levels of lignin (22.13 and 18.34%). The effective degradability of DM for the pineapple and tamarind residues to a passage rate of 5%/h were 53.04% and 42.61%, respectively. The guava, cherimoya, and cashew residues showed lower values at 19.16%, 26.86%, and 29.21%, respectively. The cherimoya, guava and pineapple residues showed the highest values of potential degradability for CP at 87%, 81%, 86.02% and 90.94%, respectively, with an average effective degradability of 50.0% at the rate of 5%/h. The pineapple (35.38%) and tamarind residues (34.49%) showed higher values of the effective degradability of NDF at a passage rate of 5%/h. Among the studied residues, the pineapple residue showed the greatest potential for use in animal feed based on chemical composition and rates of degradability.37127929

Uso da fish em mucosa oral para investigação de mosaicismo com linhagem 45,x: estudo com homens saudáveis e pacientes com distúrbios da diferenciação do sexo

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOObjective: To verify whether fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of cells from the buccal epithelium could be employed to detect cryptomosaicism with a 45,X lineage in 46,XY patients. Subjects and methods: Samples of nineteen 46,XY healthy young men and five patients with disorders of sex development (DSD), four 45,X/46,XY and one 46,XY were used. FISH analysis with X and Y specific probes on interphase nuclei from blood lymphocytes and buccal epithelium were analyzed to investigate the proportion of nuclei containing only the signal of the X chromosome. Results: The frequency of nuclei containing only the X signal in the two tissues of healthy men did not differ (p = 0.69). In all patients with DSD this frequency was significantly higher, and there was no difference between the two tissues (p = 0.38), either. Conclusions: Investigation of mosaicism with a 45,X cell line in patients with 46,XY DSD or sterility can be done by FISH directly using cells from the buccal epithelium. © ABE&M todos os direitos reservados.To verify whether fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of cells from the buccal epithelium could be employed to detect cryptomosaicism with a 45,X lineage in 46,XY patients. Subjects and methods: Samples of nineteen 46,XY healthy young men and five patients with disorders of sex development (DSD), four 45,X/46,XY and one 46,XY were used. FISH analysis with X and Y specific probes on interphase nuclei from blood lymphocytes and buccal epithelium were analyzed to investigate the proportion of nuclei containing only the signal of the X chromosome. Results: The frequency of nuclei containing only the X signal in the two tissues of healthy men did not differ (p = 0.69). In all patients with DSD this frequency was significantly higher, and there was no difference between the two tissues (p = 0.38), either. Conclusions: Investigation of mosaicism with a 45,X cell line in patients with 46,XY DSD or sterility can be done by FISH directly using cells from the buccal epithelium584328334FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2011/50189-7Verificar se a hibridização in situ por fluorescência (FISH) em células de mucosa oral poderia ser empregada para detectar criptomosaicismo com linhagem 45,X em pacientes 46,XY. Sujeitos e métodos: Amostra de 19 jovens saudáveis 46,XY e cinco pacientes com distúrbios da diferenciação do sexo (DDS), quatro 45,X/46,XY e um 46,XY. FISH com sondas específicas para X e Y em núcleos interfásicos de linfócitos e mucosa oral para investigar aproporção de núcleos contendo apenas o sinal do cromossomo X. Resultados: A frequência de núcleos contendo apenas o sinal do X nos dois tecidos dos homens saudáveis não diferiu (p =0,69). Em todos os pacientes com DDS essa frequência foi significativamente maior, e tambémnão houve diferença entre os dois tecidos (p = 0,38). Conclusões: A investigação de mosaicismo com linhagem 45,X em pacientes com DDS 46,XY ou esterilidade pode ser feita por FISHdiretamente em células de mucosa ora

Comparação entre dois métodos para avaliação da infestação pelo complexo broca-podridões em cultivares de cana-de-açúcar

This research was conducted at the Experimental Station of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Six sugarcane cultivars were studied with the main purpose of comparing the percentage of infested stalks and the intensity of infestation by the borer - rot complex. The cultivars were planted in April of 1985 and the evaluations were made in May, July and September of 1986. The results indicated that there were no differences between the internal and external percentages of infested stalks. The internal and external intensities of infestation presented a positive and highly significant linear correlation. On the other hand, a significant correlation between the percentage of infested stalks and the intensity of infestation was not always found. The highest percentage of infested internodes was observed at the basal region of the stalk and the lowest at the apical one.O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido na Estação Experimental de Piracicaba, SP, utilizando-se seis cultivares de cana-de-açúcar, com o objetivo de comparar a porcentagem de colmos infestados e a intensidade de infestação como técnicas para avaliar o ataque pelo complexo broca-podridões. As cultivares foram plantadas em abril de 1985, sendo as avaliações realizadas nos meses de maio, julho e setembro do ano seguinte. Com base nos resultados obtidos, constatou-se que não há diferenças entre as porcentagens de colmos infestados externa e internamente pelo complexo broca-podridões. A intensidade de infestação interna foi maior que a externa, verificando-se entre estes parâmetros uma correlação linear positiva e altamente significativa. Nem sempre se constatou correlação significativa entre porcentagem de colmos infestados e intensidade de infestação. A maior porcentagem de internódios infestados foi observada na região basal do colmo, e a menor na apical

A clinically aligned experimental approach for quantitative characterization of patient-specific cardiovascular models

Recent improvements in computational tools opened the possibility of patient-specific modeling to aid clinicians during diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. One example is the modeling of blood flow for surgical planning, where modeling can help predict the prognosis. Computational analysis is used to extract hemodynamic information about the case; however, these methods are sensitive to assumptions on blood properties, boundary conditions, and appropriate geometry accuracy. When available, experimental measurements can be used to validate the results and, among the modalities, ultrasound-based methods are suitable due to their relative low cost and non-invasiveness. This work proposes a procedure to create accurate patient-specific silicone replicas of blood vessels and a power Doppler compatible experimental setup able to simulate and measure realistic flow conditions. The assessment of silicone model geometry shows small discrepancies between these and the target geometries (median of surface error lies within 57 µm and 82 μm). Power Doppler measurements were compared against computational fluid dynamics results, showing discrepancies within 10% near the wall. The experimental approach offers a setup to quantify flow in in vitro systems and provide more accurate results where other techniques (e.g., particle image velocimetry and particle tracking velocimetry) have shown limitations due to the interference of the interface