The Electron Temperature Gradient in the Galactic Disk

We derive the electron temperature gradient in the Galactic disk using a sample of HII regions that spans Galactocentric distances 0--17 kpc. The electron temperature was calculated using high precision radio recombination line and continuum observations for more than 100 HII regions. Nebular Galactocentric distances were calculated in a consistent manner using the radial velocities measured by our radio recombination line survey. The large number of nebulae widely distributed over the Galactic disk together with the uniformity of our data provide a secure estimate of the present electron temperature gradient in the Milky Way. Because metals are the main coolants in the photoionized gas, the electron temperature along the Galactic disk should be directly related to the distribution of heavy elements in the Milky Way. Our best estimate of the electron temperature gradient is derived from a sample of 76 sources for which we have the highest quality data. The present gradient in electron temperature has a minimum at the Galactic Center and rises at a rate of 287 +/- 46 K/kpc. There are no significant variations in the value of the gradient as a function of Galactocentric radius or azimuth. The scatter we find in the HII region electron temperatures at a given Galactocentric radius is not due to observational error, but rather to intrinsic fluctuations in these temperatures which are almost certainly due to fluctuations in the nebular heavy element abundances. Comparing the HII region gradient with the much steeper gradient found for planetary nebulae suggests that the electron temperature gradient evolves with time, becoming flatter as a consequence of the chemical evolution of the Milky Way's disk.Comment: 43 pages, 9 figures (accepted for publication in the ApJ

Comparison of growth and lipid accumulation at three different growth regimes with Desmodesmus sp.

The production of third generation biofuel and use of microalgae as feedstock have recently gained increased attention in the research area in search of more sustainable processes. These microorganisms have characteristics that offer great potential to produce either feedstock to other process or even final use products. They have fast growth rates and accumulation of intracellular metabolites, including lipids. There are three basic types of cultures in which microalgae can develop: autotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic. The objective of this work was to study the growth of the microalgae Desmodesmus sp. in these three types of cultivations in order to establish the most effective farming strain for lipids production. It was observed that the strain had higher yields of biomass and lipids in the mixotrophic cultivation with glucose (10 g L−1) as the carbon source, obtaining 54.5 × 106 cells mL−1 with a growth rate of 0.28 (days−1) and 25.1% of lipids in a 6 day cultivation time9421427COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informação2014/10064-9; 2015/19935-

Modelagem e controle avançado não-linear multivariável por lógica nebulosa : aplicação para um processo de copolimerização

A obtenção de um modelo matemático confiável de um dado processo é um pré-requisito fundamental para o projeto de controladores. Contudo, particularmente para sistemas poliméricos que são intrinsecamente caracterizados por dinâmicas complexas, o delineamento de uma aproximação a partir dos primeiros princípios é uma tarefa bastante árdua e, por vezes, não realizável. Logo, representações matemáticas mais simples, porém reprodutivas das principais peculiaridades do sistema, são bem-vindas. Assim sendo, este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento e a implementação de dois esquemas de controle preditivo não-linear multivariável baseado em modelo nebuloso para um processo de copolimerização. Modelos MISO (Multi-Input/Single-Output) lineares e exponenciais são construídos a partir da lógica nebulosa, combinados e aplicados para simulação e predição on-line. Os desempenhos das estruturas de controle propostas foram comparados ao DMC (Dynamic Matrix Control) e a um típico NMPC (Nonlinear Model-based Predictive Control) para o problema servo. Os resultados obtidos comprovaram a eficácia das configurações projetadas

Sulfur, Chlorine, & Argon Abundances in Planetary Nebulae. I: Observations and Abundances in a Northern Sample

This paper is the first of a series specifically studying the abundances of sulfur, chlorine, and argon in Type II planetary nebulae (PNe) in the Galactic disk. Ratios of S/O, Cl/O, and Ar/O constitute important tests of differential nucleosynthesis of these elements and serve as strict constraints on massive star yield predictions. We present new ground-based optical spectra extending from 3600-9600 Angstroms for a sample of 19 Type II northern PNe. This range includes the strong near infrared lines of [S III] 9069,9532, which allows us to test extensively their effectiveness as sulfur abundance indicators. We also introduce a new, model-tested ionization correction factor for sulfur. For the present sample, we find average values of S/O=1.2E-2(+/- 0.71E-2), Cl/O=3.3E-4(+/- 1.6E-4), and Ar/O=5.0E-3(+/- 1.9E-3).Comment: 44 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Reactive power management of a wind farm to prevent voltage collapse of an electric power system

Nowadays, the large penetration of wind power generation poses new challenges for dynamic voltage stability analysis of an electric power system. The practical importance of dynamic voltage stability analysis is to help in designing and selecting counter-measures in order to avoid voltage collapse and enhance system stability. The impact of wind integration on reactive reserve requirements is a current area of interest for renewable integration studies and power system operators. In this paper is studied a new wind power plant model with reactive power management. The active power and the frequency management are taken into account too. The developed model can be used to represent, in a simplified way, an entire wind farm in order to simulate the dynamic voltage stability of the system, whatever the technology involved in the wind turbine. The system is completely modelled by a single dynamic converter model with appropriate control loops intended to reproduce the overall response of a wind farm for different grid events, such as faults or voltage and reactive power management at the point of common coupling. Â(c) 2015 IEEE

Carrier relaxation in GaAs v-groove quantum wires and the effects of localization

Carrier relaxation processes have been investigated in GaAs/AlGaAs v-groove quantum wires (QWRs) with a large subband separation (46 meV). Signatures of inhibited carrier relaxation mechanisms are seen in temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence-excitation (PLE) measurements; we observe strong emission from the first excited state of the QWR below ~50 K. This is attributed to reduced inter-subband relaxation via phonon scattering between localized states. Theoretical calculations and experimental results indicate that the pinch-off regions, which provide additional two-dimensional confinement for the QWR structure, have a blocking effect on relaxation mechanisms for certain structures within the v-groove. Time-resolved PL measurements show that efficient carrier relaxation from excited QWR states into the ground state, occurs only at temperatures > 30 K. Values for the low temperature radiative lifetimes of the ground- and first excited-state excitons have been obtained (340 ps and 160 ps respectively), and their corresponding localization lengths along the wire estimated.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B Attempted to correct corrupt figure

Stellar parameters for stars of the CoRoT exoplanet field

Aims:To support the computation and evolutionary interpretation of periods associated with the rotational modulation, oscillations, and variability of stars located in the CoRoT fields, we are conducting a spectroscopic survey for stars located in the fields already observed by the satellite. These observations allow us to compute physical and chemical parameters for our stellar sample. Method: Using spectroscopic observations obtained with UVES/VLT and Hydra/Blanco, and based on standard analysis techniques, we computed physical and chemical parameters ($T_{\rm{eff}}$, $\log \,(g)$, $\rm{[Fe/H]}$, $v_{\rm{mic}}$, $v_{\rm{rad}}$, $v \sin \,(i)$, and $A(\rm{Li})$) for a large sample of CoRoT targets. Results: We provide physical and chemical parameters for a sample comprised of 138 CoRoT targets. Our analysis shows the stars in our sample are located in different evolutionary stages, ranging from the main sequence to the red giant branch, and range in spectral type from F to K. The physical and chemical properties for the stellar sample are in agreement with typical values reported for FGK stars. However, we report three stars presenting abnormal lithium behavior in the CoRoT fields. These parameters allow us to properly characterize the intrinsic properties of the stars in these fields. Our results reveal important differences in the distributions of metallicity, $T_{\rm eff}$, and evolutionary status for stars belonging to different CoRoT fields, in agreement with results obtained independently from ground-based photometric surveys. Conclusions: Our spectroscopic catalog, by providing much-needed spectroscopic information for a large sample of CoRoT targets, will be of key importance for the successful accomplishment of several different programs related to the CoRoT mission, thus it will help further boost the scientific return associated with this space mission.Comment: 43 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Reúso da água da despesca na produção de camarão.

A carcinicultura causa impactos ambientais significativos devidos, sobremaneira, à elevada demanda de água e ao descarte de efluentes, agravando o problema de assoreamento e poluição dos mananciais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo buscar uma alternativa para o reaproveitamento do efluente da carcinicultura na própria atividade e assim mitigar os impactos causados. Os experimentos foram realizados em três etapas, a primeira relacionada à toxicidade, para as pós-larvas das águas de despesca, a segunda com a mortalidade das pós-larvas em curto prazo e a terceira relacionada com a sobrevivência em longo prazo e produtividade do camarão ao longo de um ciclo de engorda, utilizando-se água de despesca. Os resultados mostraram que o índice de sobrevivência é de 42,1% quando o camarão é cultivado em águas de despesca; no entanto, a maior mortalidade dos camarões ocorre principalmente na primeira semana do ciclo de engorda, indicando que uma mudança de estratégia na produção de camarão pode aumentar a produtividade da fazenda