349 research outputs found
Comparison between the thermal properties of cement composites using infrared thermal images
The use of agribusiness residual lignocellulosic fibres can be a good alternative in the
development of lignocellulosic composites. The current work aimed to investigate the thermal
performance of cement-based composites with lignocellulosic materials: Eucalyptus, sugarcane
bagasse, coconut fibre in comparison with commercial gypsum board to be used as internal
partitions of the building using infrared thermal images. Three repetitions for each kind of
lignocellulosic material were made, and three commercial gypsum boards were used. In the
production of the panels, the following parameters were applied: material and cement ratio,
1:2.75; water and cement ratio, 1:2.5; hydration water rate of 0.25; additive, 4% (based on cement
mass). The calculations were performed for a nominal panel density of 1,200 kg m-
Âł. The thermal
analysis was performed in a chamber composed of MDP (Medium-Density Particleboard) and
with an internal layer of rock wool and the heat source (thermal resistance). For the superficial
temperature measurement, a FLIR E75 camera was used to capture the infrared images. When
the internal temperature of the chamber stabilized at 50 °C, an infrared thermal image was
collected from each side of the composite. Thermal properties were analysed: thermal
conductivity, resistivity, resistance, and transmittance. Based on the results, sugar cane cement
composites were characterized by higher values of thermal conductivity. Related to thermal
resistivity, thermal resistance, and thermal transmittance, only the coconut panel presented
similar behaviour to the commercial gypsum board. Thus, cement composite using coconut can
be a potential alternative that might solve energy and environmental concerns simultaneously
Thermal analysis of cement panels with lignocellulosic materials for building
The use of lignocellulosic material residue in cement composites can be considered as
a good option because they allow good thermal behaviour. This paper aimed to compare three
kinds of cement panels reinforced with different lignocellulosic materials (Coffee husk, Coconut
shell, and Banana pseudostem) based on their thermal properties. To produce each panel, the
methodology suggested by Souza (1994) was used. Six replicates of each lignocellulosic panel
with dimensions of 7.0Ă—7.5 were evaluated. The thermal analysis was performed in a chamber
composed of MDP (medium density particleboard). The chamber contained the heat source
(incandescent lamp) connected to a thermostat that maintained the temperature at 48.0 °C. The
porosity and thickness of the panels and the thermal behaviour of each sample panel (thermal
conductivity, resistivity, resistance, and transmittance) and the difference in temperature of both
sides of the panel were evaluated. The temperature difference to stabilization was obtained after
a sampling time of 200 minutes, with 1,000 readings of 12 s each. Although all the panels were
submitted under the same temperature, the inner and external superficial temperatures of the
coffee husk panels reached smaller values. Besides, coconut and banana pseudostem panels
presented the best results of thermal transmittance and thermal resistance. Thus, coconut shell
panels present the best thermal performance, which means that this panel might be an attractive
alternative building material, in terms of heat insulation for indoor applications
Numerical Study of the Ghost-Gluon Vertex in Landau gauge
We present a numerical study of the ghost-gluon vertex and of the
corresponding renormalization function \widetilde{Z}_1(p^2) in minimal Landau
gauge for SU(2) lattice gauge theory. Data were obtained for three different
lattice volumes (V = 4^4, 8^4, 16^4) and for three lattice couplings \beta =
2.2, 2.3, 2.4. Gribov-copy effects have been analyzed using the so-called
smeared gauge fixing. We also consider two different sets of momenta (orbits)
in order to check for possible effects due to the breaking of rotational
symmetry. The vertex has been evaluated at the asymmetric point (0;p,-p) in
momentum-subtraction scheme. We find that \widetilde{Z}_1(p^2) is approximately
constant and equal to 1, at least for momenta p > ~ 1 GeV. This constitutes a
nonperturbative verification of the so-called nonrenormalization of the Landau
ghost-gluon vertex. Finally, we use our data to evaluate the running coupling
constant \alpha_s(p^2).Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 9 tables, using axodraw.sty; minor modifications
in the abstract, introduction and conclusion
Prevalence and predictors of coronary artery disease in patients with a calcium score of zero
The absence of coronary calcification is associated with an excellent prognosis. However, a calcium score of zero does not exclude the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) or the possibility of future cardiovascular events. Our aim was to study the prevalence and predictors of coronary artery disease in patients with a calcium score of zero. Prospective registry consisted of 3,012 consecutive patients that underwent cardiac CT (dual source CT). Stable patients referred for evaluation of possible CAD that had a calcium score of zero (n = 864) were selected for this analysis. The variables that were statistically significant were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. From 864 patients with a calcium score of zero, 107 (12.4 %) had coronary plaques on the contrast CT (10.8 %, n = 93 with nonobstructive CAD and 1.6 %, n = 14 with obstructive CAD). By logistic regression analysis, the independent predictors of CAD in this population were age >55 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.63 (1.05-2.52)], hypertension [OR 1.64 (1.05-2.56)] and dyslipidemia [OR 1.54 (1.00-2.36)]. In the presence of these 3 variables, the probability of having coronary plaques was 21 %. The absence of coronary artery calcification does not exclude the presence of coron
Protocol for Functional Assessment of Adults and Older Adults after Hospitalization for COVID-19
Diabetes as an independent predictor of high atherosclerotic burden assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography: The coronary artery disease equivalent revisited
(1) To study the prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetic patients. (2) To provide a detailed characterization of the coronary atherosclerotic burden, including the localization, degree of stenosis and plaque composition by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Single center prospective registry including a total of 581 consecutive stable patients (April 2011-March 2012) undergoing CCTA (Dual-source CT) for the evaluation of suspected CAD without previous myocardial infarction or revascularization procedures. Different coronary plaque burden indexes and plaque type and distribution patterns were compared between patients with (n = 85) and without diabetes (n = 496). The prevalence of CAD (any plaque; 74.1 vs. 56 %; p = 0.002) and obstructive CAD (≥50 % stenosis; 31.8 vs. 10.3 %; p<0.001) were significantly higher in diabetic patients. The remaining coronary atherosclerotic burden indexes evaluated (plaque in LM-3v-2v with prox. LAD; SIS; SSS; CT-LeSc) were also significantly higher in diabetic patients. In the per segment analysis, diabetics had a higher percentage of segments with plaque in every vessel (2.6/13.1/7.5/10.5 % for diabetics vs. 1.4/7.1/3.3/4.4 % for nondiabetics for LM, LAD, LCx, RCA respectively; p<0.001 for all) and of both calcified (19.3 vs. 9.2 %, p<0.001) and noncalcified or mixed types (14.4 vs. 7.0 %; p<0.001); the ratio of proximal-to-distal relative plaque distribution (calculated as LM/proximal vs. mid/distal/branches) was lower for diabetics (0.75 vs. 1.04; p = 0.009). Diabetes was an independent predictor of CAD and was also associated with more advanced CAD, evaluated by indexes of coronary atherosclerotic burden. Diabetics had a significantly higher prevalence of plaques in every anatomical subset and for the different plaque composition. In this report, the relative geographic distribution of the plaques within each subgroup, favored a more mid-to-distal localization in the diabetic patients
Measurement of the p-pbar -> Wgamma + X cross section at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV and WWgamma anomalous coupling limits
The WWgamma triple gauge boson coupling parameters are studied using p-pbar
-> l nu gamma + X (l = e,mu) events at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV. The data were
collected with the DO detector from an integrated luminosity of 162 pb^{-1}
delivered by the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The cross section times branching
fraction for p-pbar -> W(gamma) + X -> l nu gamma + X with E_T^{gamma} > 8 GeV
and Delta R_{l gamma} > 0.7 is 14.8 +/- 1.6 (stat) +/- 1.0 (syst) +/- 1.0 (lum)
pb. The one-dimensional 95% confidence level limits on anomalous couplings are
-0.88 < Delta kappa_{gamma} < 0.96 and -0.20 < lambda_{gamma} < 0.20.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. D Rapid Communication
Measurement of the ttbar Production Cross Section in ppbar Collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV using Kinematic Characteristics of Lepton + Jets Events
We present a measurement of the top quark pair ttbar production cross section
in ppbar collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 230 pb**{-1}
of data collected by the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We
select events with one charged lepton (electron or muon), large missing
transverse energy, and at least four jets, and extract the ttbar content of the
sample based on the kinematic characteristics of the events. For a top quark
mass of 175 GeV, we measure sigma(ttbar) = 6.7 {+1.4-1.3} (stat) {+1.6- 1.1}
(syst) +/-0.4 (lumi) pb, in good agreement with the standard model prediction.Comment: submitted to Phys.Rev.Let
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