Nanogel formation of polymer solutions flowing through porous media

A gelation process was seen to occur when Boger fluids made from aqueous solutions of polyacrylamide (PAA) and NaCl flowed through porous media with certain characteristics. As these viscoelastic fluids flow through a porous medium, the pressure drop across the bed varies linearly with the flow rate, as also happens with Newtonian fluids. Above a critical flow rate, elastic effects set in and the pressure drop grows above the low-flow-rate linear regime. Increasing further the flow rate, a more dramatic increase in the slope of the pressure drop curve can be observed as a consequence of nanogel formation. In this work, we discuss the reasons for this gelation process based on our measurements using porous media of different sizes, porosity and chemical composition. Additionally, the rheological properties of the fluids were investigated for shear and extensional flows. The fluids were also tested as they flowed through different microfluidic analogues of the porous media. The results indicate that the nanogel inception occurs with the adsorption of PAA molecules on the surface of the porous media particles that contain silica on their surfaces. Subsequently, if the interparticle space is small enough a jamming process occurs leading to flow-induced gel formation

Evolution of statistical analysis in empirical software engineering research: Current state and steps forward

Software engineering research is evolving and papers are increasingly based on empirical data from a multitude of sources, using statistical tests to determine if and to what degree empirical evidence supports their hypotheses. To investigate the practices and trends of statistical analysis in empirical software engineering (ESE), this paper presents a review of a large pool of papers from top-ranked software engineering journals. First, we manually reviewed 161 papers and in the second phase of our method, we conducted a more extensive semi-automatic classification of papers spanning the years 2001--2015 and 5,196 papers. Results from both review steps was used to: i) identify and analyze the predominant practices in ESE (e.g., using t-test or ANOVA), as well as relevant trends in usage of specific statistical methods (e.g., nonparametric tests and effect size measures) and, ii) develop a conceptual model for a statistical analysis workflow with suggestions on how to apply different statistical methods as well as guidelines to avoid pitfalls. Lastly, we confirm existing claims that current ESE practices lack a standard to report practical significance of results. We illustrate how practical significance can be discussed in terms of both the statistical analysis and in the practitioner's context.Comment: journal submission, 34 pages, 8 figure

Towards an integrated stratigraphy of the Gramame Formation (Maastrichtian), CIPASA quarry, Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin, NE Brazil

This study presents the integrated biostratigraphic (calcareous nannofossils and foraminifera), petrographic, geochemical and ichnological analyzes of the Gramame Formation (Maastrichtian) at the CIPASA Quarry section, in the Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin, northeastern Brazil. A high resolution calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphic study has been carried out, allowing to subdivide the studied section into three subzones of Maastrichtian age: CC25A, CC25B, and CC25C. Each biostratigraphic unit was further characterized by petrographic, geochemical and ichnological parameters. During the Maastrichtian the area was characterized by a dry and warm climate with low influx of terrigenous sediments. These conditions were fundamental to the widespread development of a carbonate ramp system in an outer neritic to bathyal setting, with deposition of alternating calcareous mudstones and argillaceous mudstones of the Gramame Formation. The Gramame Formation belongs to the transgressive system tract of second-order type, characteristic of a Passive Margin Sequence. The studied section consists of part of a third order deposicional cycle, which is arranged in a transgressive systems tract and a highstand systems tract. The lowstand systems tract was not characterized

Avaliação do impacto das degradações no ruído pneu-pavimento

O ruído pneu-pavimento é a principal fonte de ruído nos veículos a velocidades superiores a 40 km/h, sendo de forma indireta um grande contribuinte para o ruído ambiental. Como as degradações existentes na superfície dos pavimentos provocam alterações nas suas características, torna-se importante o estudo da influência destas no ruído pneu-pavimento. Assim, neste estudo, recorrendo ao método da proximidade imediata (CPX) e a uma técnica de Data Mining, designada de Máquinas de Vetores de Suporte, para a modelação do ruído, avaliou-se a importância de degradações tais como o fendilhamento, a pele de corocodilo e a desagregação na geração do ruído pneu-pavimento. Confirmou-se assim que as patologias têm uma contribuição relevante para o ruído pneu-pavimento, o que justifica ter em conta o estado de degradação do pavimento quando se pretende estimar os níveis de ruído pneu-pavimento.Este artigo foi elaborado com o apoio da FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia e contém informação proveniente do projeto PEst-OE/ECI/UI4047/2014, financiado no âmbito do Programa Operacional Temático Fatores de Competitividade (COMPETE) e comparticipado pelo Fundo Comunitário Europeu FEDER. Também foi parcialmente financiado pelos fundos FEDER através do Programa Operacional Temático Fatores de Competitividade - COMPETE e por fundos nacionais através da FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia no âmbito do projeto POCI-01-0145-FEDER- 007633.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Innovative structural systems for industrial buildings using fiber reinforced concrete and material nonlinear FEM-Based models

Fibre Reinforced Concrete (FRC) can be very effective in precast pre-stressed high strength concrete structures, since shear reinforcement and passive longitudinal bars can be totally replaced by fibre reinforcement. To simulate adequately the fibre reinforcement benefits, material constitutive models, able of capturing the crack initiation and crack propagation need to be used, under the frame-work of FEM-based analysis. In the present work, the use of FRC was explored for the development of innovative structural systems for industrial buildings. The connections between structural precast elements were also simulated. The numerical simulations are described and the results are analyzed and discussed

Development of a metric of aquatic invertebrates for volunteers (MAIV): a simple and friendly biotic metric to assess ecological quality of streams

Citizen science activities, involving local people in volunteer-supported and sustainable monitoring programs, are common. In this context, the objective of the present work was to develop a simple Metric of Aquatic Invertebrates for Volunteers (MAIV), including a user-friendly tool that can be easily accessed by volunteers, and to evaluate the e ciency of a volunteer monitoring program following an audit procedure. To obtain MAIV values, macroinvertebrate communities were reduced to 18 surrogate taxa, which represented an acceptable compromise between simplicity, e ciency, and reproducibility of the data, compared to the regular Water Framework Directive monitoring. When compared to results obtained with the National Classification System of Portugal, MAIV accurately detected moderate, poor, and bad ecological status. Thus, MAIV can be used by volunteers as a complement to the o cial monitoring program, as well as a prospective early warning tool for local problems related to ecological quality. Volunteers were students supervised by their teachers. Results obtained by volunteers were compared to results obtained by experts on macroinvertebrate identification to measure the e ciency of the procedure, by counting gains and losses on sorting, and identification. Characteristics of groups of volunteers (age and school level) did not influence significantly the e ciency of the procedure, and generally results of volunteers and experts matched.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio