Discrete-to-continuum modeling of spider silk fiber composites

This work presents a discrete -to -continuum approach to the constitutive response of composite materials formed by embedding a network of spider silk fibers in a matrix material. A multiscale model that makes use of the virial stress concept of statistical mechanics is formulated, which accounts for hyperelastic constitutive equations of the component materials. The finite element implementation of the given constitutive equations is also carried out. Numerical simulations show the response of a silk composite formed by embedding a spider orb web in a matrix material, and illustrate the main features of the proposed model. In the presence of a weak matrix, the force-displacement response of a silk composite is compared with that deriving from an atomistic modeling of the spider orb web. A simulation of the response of a composite equipped with an elastomeric matrix is also discussed

Métodos químicos para extração de boro no solo.

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Eficiência da adubação residual com rochas brasileiras para a cultura da soja.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência agronômica residual de rochas como fertilizantes multinutrientes no desenvolvimento e no estado nutricional da soja cultivada em sucessão ao girassol. O experimento foi executado em casa-devegetação, em vasos contendo 3 kg dos solos com características distintas, um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico (LVdf) e um Neossolo Quartzarênico (NQ). Os tratamentos foram dispostos no esquema fatorial (solos x fontes) e delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Além de uma testemunha não adubada, testaram-se as fontes de potássio, arenito vulcânico, brecha alcalina, carbonatito, biotita xisto, ultramáfica alcalina e a fonte padrão de potássio, cloreto de potássio, aplicadas na dose de 150 mg kg-1 de K2O por ocasião da semeadura do girassol. Cultivaram-se duas plantas de soja BRS 232 por vaso, as quais foram coletadas no estádio de florescimento pleno para a avaliação da produção de matéria seca da parte aérea, além dos teores de macro e micronutrientes nos tecidos. As rochas ultramáfica alcalina e biotita xisto apresentaram os maiores índices de eficiência agronômica residual para a produção de matéria seca pela soja. As rochas diferem na capacidade de disponibilização de nutrientes às plantas em função da composição mineralógica e apresentam características de fertilizantes multinutrientes, o que deve ser considerado no cálculo de balanço da adubação

Eficiência da adubação residual com rochas brasileiras para a cultura da soja.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência agronômica residual de rochas como fertilizantes multinutrientes no desenvolvimento e no estado nutricional da soja cultivada em sucessão ao girassol. O experimento foi executado em casa-devegetação, em vasos contendo 3 kg dos solos com características distintas, um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico (LVdf) e um Neossolo Quartzarênico (NQ). Os tratamentos foram dispostos no esquema fatorial (solos x fontes) e delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Além de uma testemunha não adubada, testaram-se as fontes de potássio, arenito vulcânico, brecha alcalina, carbonatito, biotita xisto, ultramáfica alcalina e a fonte padrão de potássio, cloreto de potássio, aplicadas na dose de 150 mg kg-1 de K2O por ocasião da semeadura do girassol. Cultivaram-se duas plantas de soja BRS 232 por vaso, as quais foram coletadas no estádio de florescimento pleno para a avaliação da produção de matéria seca da parte aérea, além dos teores de macro e micronutrientes nos tecidos. As rochas ultramáfica alcalina e biotita xisto apresentaram os maiores índices de eficiência agronômica residual para a produção de matéria seca pela soja. As rochas diferem na capacidade de disponibilização de nutrientes às plantas em função dacomposição mineralógica e apresentam características de fertilizantes multinutrientes, o que deve ser considerado no cálculo de balanço da adubação. ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to evaluate the residual efficiency of ground rocks as multi-nutrient fertilizers on the development and nutritional status of the soybean after sunflower, under greenhouse conditions. Treatments were displayed in a factorial scheme (2 soils x 6 potassium sources), in a completely randomized blocks design with four replications. Two soybean BRS 232 plants were grown in pots containing 3 kg of two soils, a Rhodic Hapludox and an Ustoxic Quartzipsamment. Besides a control treatment (without potassium), the sources, volcanic sandstone, alkaline breccia, carbonatite, biotite schist, alkaline ultramaphic, and potassium chloride, as the standard fertilizer source, were applied in a rate of 150 mg kg-1 of K2O, before the first crop sowing. At the full bloom stage, shoot dry matter yield and macro and micronutrients concentration in soybean tissues were evaluated. Alkaline ultramaphic and biotite schist rocks showed the highest residual agronomic efficiencies to dry matter yield of soybean. The rock sources presented differences in the capacity to supply nutrients for crops as a function of their mineralogical composition. The rocks act like multinutrient fertilizers and this characteristic must be considered in the fertilization progra

Design of an RSFQ Control Circuit to Observe MQC on an rf-SQUID

We believe that the best chance to observe macroscopic quantum coherence (MQC) in a rf-SQUID qubit is to use on-chip RSFQ digital circuits for preparing, evolving and reading out the qubit's quantum state. This approach allows experiments to be conducted on a very short time scale (sub-nanosecond) without the use of large bandwidth control lines that would couple environmental degrees of freedom to the qubit thus contributing to its decoherence. In this paper we present our design of a RSFQ digital control circuit for demonstrating MQC in a rf-SQUID. We assess some of the key practical issues in the circuit design including the achievement of the necessary flux bias stability. We present an "active" isolation structure to be used to increase coherence times. The structure decouples the SQUID from external degrees of freedom, and then couples it to the output measurement circuitry when required, all under the active control of RSFQ circuits. Research supported in part by ARO grant # DAAG55-98-1-0367.Comment: 4 pages. More information and publications at http://www.ece.rochester.edu:8080/users/sde/research/publications/index.htm

V centers in MgAl2O4 spinels

V centers induced by ionizing irradiation at 80 or 300 K in single-crystal and polycrystalline MgAl2O4 samples have been studied by use of electron paramagnetic resonance and optical absorption. Vt- and Vo2- centers, as a result of hole trapping at tetrahedral and octahedral cation vacancies, respectively, have been found to be responsible for two EPR bands centered at g=2.011 and optical absorption bands involved in the complex absorption spectrum at about 3.4 eV. These centers anneal thermally in a very wide step from 220 to 575 K. © 1991 The American Physical SocietyPeer Reviewe

Detection of an optical transient following the 13 March 2000 short/hard gamma-ray burst

We imaged the error box of a gamma-ray burst of the short (0.5 s), hard type (GRB 000313), with the BOOTES-1 experiment in southern Spain, starting 4 min after the gamma-ray event, in the I-band. A bright optical transient (OT 000313) with I = 9.4 +/- 0.1 was found in the BOOTES-1 image, close to the error box (3-sigma) provided by BATSE. Late time VRIK'-band deep observations failed to reveal an underlying host galaxy. If the OT 000313 is related to the short, hard GRB 000313, this would be the first optical counterpart ever found for this kind of events (all counterparts to date have been found for bursts of the long, soft type). The fact that only prompt optical emission has been detected (but no afterglow emission at all, as supported by theoretical models) might explain why no optical counterparts have ever been found for short, hard GRBs.This fact suggests that most short bursts might occur in a low-density medium and favours the models that relate them to binary mergers in very low-density enviroments.Comment: Revised version. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters, 5 pages, 3 figure

Mechanical behaviour of Portland cement mortars with incorporation of Al-containing salt slags

Recovery of a salt cake slag produced from aluminum scrap re-melted in rotary furnaces, at the lowest cost, while complying with all environmental laws is the main objective of this study. The characterisation of the slag residue involved determinations of the water leaching conditions, toxicological analysis, chemical analysis of the leaching waste, and mineralogical composition. A two-phase study was made to determine the effect of waste additions on mechanical properties of cement mortars, involving partial replacements of either sand or cement. SEM characterisation of fracture surfaces was also made. Partial substitution of cement, which is the most expensive component of the mortar, by salt slag has both environmental and economical advantages. However, only small amounts (up to 10 wt.%) can be replaced by washed slag without significant damage to mortar characteristics. Sand substitution by slag is less problematic and 30±50 wt.% replacement levels are easily achieved. However, the direct economical impact is less relevant. The incorporation of unwashed slag in impracticable, as a result of noxious gases released and significant volumetric expansion effects