Damage process in glass fiber reinforced polymer specimens using acoustic emission technique with low frequency acquisition

The damage process in fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) has been the subject of continuous studies in recent decades using different approaches. In particular, the acoustic emission technique has been proved to be a powerful tool in the monitoring of structures of this type of material due to the large acoustic activity captured when this material is loaded to rupture. The present work explores several indexes that were calculated from the experimental recording of acoustic emission signals, and their efficiency in describing the failure process in structures. One of these indexes, called c value, is originally proposed, and its sensibility it is compared with other classical parameters that are usually employed in the Acoustic Emission analysis. A 3-point bending test has been performed on a glass fiber reinforced polymer plate. Our own methodology was proposed to identify AE signals in semi-automatic manner. This methodology also allowed a faster analysis of the global parameters during the process data of the AE test. The global parameter evolution obtained from the acoustic emission data during the damage process could be considered as precursors of the more meaningful event and as an aid to understand in which way the structure is going to the collapse

Crack path estimation in the shot-earth 772 by a discrete element method

In the present paper, the fracture behaviour of the shot-earth 772, in terms of crack path, is numerically investigated. To such an aim, a version of the lattice discrete element method is used to numerically simulate fracture toughness testing performed, on the shot-earth 772, by employing the Modified Two-Parameter model. A comparison between the numerical crack path and the experimental ones is performed, highlighting as the lattice discrete element method is able to capture the kinked crack shape, typical of quasi-brittle material

Ascorbic acid oxidation of thiol groups from dithiotreitol is mediated by its conversion to dehydroascorbic acid

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the in vitro pro-oxidant effect of ascorbic acid towards thiol groups could be mediated by free radicals formed during its autooxidation and/or by a direct oxidation of -SH groups by its oxidized form (dehydroascorbic acid). This hypothesis was examined by measuring the rate of AA (ascorbic acid) oxidation in MOPS (3-morpholinepropanesulfonic acid buffer) and phosphate buffer (PB). Here we have used dithiothreitol (DTT) as model of vicinal thiol-containing enzymes, namely delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase. The rate of AA and DTT oxidation was more pronounced in the presence of PB than in the MOPS. AA oxidation induced by iron/EDTA complex was significantly reduced by addition of superoxide dismutase, catalase and DTT to the reaction medium. H2O2 alone did not stimulate the oxidation of AA; however, AA oxidation was enhanced significantly with the addition of crescent concentrations of iron. Conversely, in DTT oxidation assay (without AA) the addition of iron, EDTA and H2O2, did not promote the oxidation of -SH groups. Our findings suggest that in the presence of physiological concentrations of AA and thiols, the oxidation of -SH groups is mediated by AA conversion to dehydroascorbic acid with the participation of iron. Furthermore, free radical species formed during the autooxidation of AA apparently did not oxidize thiol groups to a significant extent

Levantamento de dados sobre produção e mercado de sementes forrageiras de clima temperado na região da Campanha do Rio Grande do Sul.

SIEPE

Analysis of Acoustic Emission Activity during Progressive Failure in Heterogeneous Materials: Experimental and Numerical Investigation

This work focuses on an experimental and numerical investigation into monitoring damage in a cube-shaped concrete specimen under compression. Experimental monitoring uses acoustic emission (AE) signals acquired by two independent measurement apparatuses, and the same damage process is numerically simulated with the lattice discrete element method (LDEM). The results from the experiment and simulation are then compared in terms of their failure load, final configurations, and the evolution of global parameters based on AE signals, such as the b-value coefficient and the natural time approach. It is concluded that the results from the AE analysis present a significant sensitivity to the characteristics of the acquisition systems. However, natural time methods are more robust for determining such differences, indicating the same general tendency for all three data sets

Levantamento da qualidade das sementes de aveia preta (Avena strigosa) e azevém (Lolium multiflorum) no Rio Grande do Sul.

SIEPE

Amphipoda (Crustacea) Associados a “Bostrychietum” em uma Área de Manguezal na Região Norte do Estado de São Paulo

O manguezal é um sistema ecológico tropical que se restringe a estreitas faixas costeiras, apresentando condições propícias para alimentação, proteção e reprodução de muitas espécies de animais. Nos manguezais ocorrem importantes associações de macroalgas aderidas em pneumatóforos, rizóforos e troncos das árvores dos gêneros Avicennia L., Rhizophora L. e Laguncularia Gaertn denominadas como “Bostrychietum”. Essas associações incluem cianobactérias e clorofíceas, contudo há imensa dominância de rodofïceas, mais precisamente dos gêneros Bostrychia Mont., Caloglossa (Harv.) G. Martens e Catenella Grev. Os Amphipoda são muito comuns em ambientes de manguezal ao redor do mundo, no entanto não há nenhum estudo faunístico abrangente sobre este grupo para manguezais brasileiros. A área de estudo é uma região de manguezal localizada no Município de São Vicente, Baixada Santista, região norte do estado de São Paulo. A comunidade de “Bostrychietum” é coletada por meio de raspagem dos substratos (pneumatóforos, rizóforos e troncos). Os anfípodes são anestesiados por meio de submerssão em etanol 5-10%. Posteriormente, os anfípodes são triados em laboratório, fixados em etanol 70% e identificados com base em literatura especializada. As amostras de “Bostrychietum” foram depositadas na coleção de algas da Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Campus do Litoral Paulista. Todo o material de Amphipoda está conservado em etanol 70% na coleção do Laboratório de Zoologia do UniFOA. Após a realização do estudo todo o material será depositado em coleções zoológicas de referência. Este projeto está em fase intermediária e parte das amostras já foi analisada. Uma lista preliminar da fauna Amphipoda identificada será apresentada

Apathy Is Not Associated With a Panel of Biomarkers in Older Adults With HIV Disease

OBJECTIVE: Apathy is prevalent in HIV disease and can significantly impact personal well-being; however, little is known about its neurobiological substrates in persons with HIV (PWH) disease. METHODS: This cross-sectional, correlational study examined the association between apathy and several plasma biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor alpha, kynurenine, tryptophan, quinolinic acid, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light chain, and phosphorylated tau at position threonine 181) in 109 PWH and 30 seronegative participants ages 50 and older. Apathy was measured with a composite score derived from subscales of the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale and the Profile of Mood States. RESULTS: Multiple regressions showed that PWH had significantly greater severity of apathy symptoms, independent of both data-driven and conceptually-based covariates. Pairwise correlations in the PWH sample indicated that apathy was not significantly associated with any of the measured biomarkers and all of the effect sizes were small. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that apathy is not strongly associated with peripheral biomarkers of inflammation, neurotrophic support, or neurodegeneration in older PWH. Limitations of this study include the cross-sectional design, the use of self-report measures of apathy, and low rates of viremia. Longitudinal studies in more representative samples of PWH that include a more comprehensive panel of fluid biomarkers, informant and behavioral indicators of apathy, and relevant psychosocial factors might help to further clarify the neurobiological substrates of this complex neuropsychiatric phenomenon