Effect of wettability on nucleate boiling

Papers presented to the 11th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, South Africa, 20-23 July 2015.Heat transfer enhancement at liquid-solid interfaces is often achieved by modifying the surface properties. However, deep efforts to describe the actual role of surface modification only started at the 1980’s and much work has left undone since then. The wettability is a key parameter governing heat, mass and momentum transport at liquid-solid interfaces. However it is usually quantified using macroscopic quantities, which cannot be related with the micro-and-nano-scale phenomena occurring at the interface. In this context, the present paper revises the potential and limitations of using macroscopic apparent contact angles to predict the wetting regimes. Then, these angles are used to relate the wetting regimes with bubble dynamics and heat transfer processes occurring at pool boiling. The results show that the macroscopic angles are useful to establish general trends and differentiate bubble dynamics behaviour occurring for opposite wetting regimes. However, milder wetting changes occurring within each regime, caused, for instance, by surface topography are not well captured by the apparent angle, as the surface topography is not scaled to affect this macroscopic angle, although it can clearly influence the bubble formation and departure mechanisms and, consequently the heat transfer coefficients. In line with this, the concept of the micro-scale contact angle, as introduced by Phan et al. [1] is used here together with a geometrical parameter to include the effect of surface topography, to describe the role of the wettability on bubble dynamics. Based on this analysis, a multi-scale approach is proposed to include the role of wettability on correlations predicting the pool boiling heat transfer coefficients.am201

Physical–biological interactions in the life history of small pelagic fish in the Western Iberia Upwelling Ecosystem.

This paper reviews relevant investigations conducted in the Western Iberia Upwelling Ecosystem (WIUE) on the dynamics of small pelagic fish (SPF), its relationship to climate changes and processes related to the ‘ocean triad’ (enrichment, concentration, transport/retention). In the last decades, a decline in the productivity of several SPF species (e.g., sardine and horse mackerel) was observed in the WIUE, which is partially explained by environmental variability (e.g., changes in coastal upwelling). The main mechanism proposed to explain this decline is the increased frequency and intensity of upwelling events during the spawning season (winter) of these species, which is typically a period when convergence conditions prevail. Thus, this ‘anomalous’ situation promotes egg and larval dispersal away from the favourable coastal habitat (the shelf) and consequently has a negative impact on their survival and recruitment. However, the variability of local features like the Western Iberia Buoyant Plume (WIBP) and the Iberian Poleward Current (IPC) introduce important fluctuations in the transport patterns of the region, and could modulate the impact of these winter upwelling events in the survival of larvae. The retention on the shelf of larval sardine along convergence zones formed by the interaction of these two features plays an important role in their survival. Furthermore, the WIBP is a suitable environment for the growth of phytoplankton and for larval fish survival. From these findings it is clear that simplified Ekman transport models could not explain larval fish transport/retention patterns in this region and more realistic biophysical models should be used to simulate the local oceanographic conditions to understand larval dynamics and the success of recruitment of SPF in the Western Iberia

Litteras arena conspergere. Uncovering blotting sands on the Portuguese Inquisition documents

Historical and archival research focused on the Portuguese Inquisition documents (1551–1800) uncovered the use of arena known as blotting sands, a writing accessory used to hasten ink drying. We present in this work the first systematic study combining image analysis, SEM/EDS and µ-Raman techniques, statistics and chemometrics to characterise the blotting sands used by the Portuguese Inquisition and hypothesise their provenance. Iron-titanium and iron oxide minerals categorised as texturally mature sands are the dominant species, consistent with sediment extraction from fluvial or beach contexts and later processed. Chemometrics unveiled time period trends by clustering the samples according to morphology and composition data. This work constitutes a groundbreaking step towards uncovering this intricate writing tool

Effect of deep soil compaction alleviation on the production of potato crop

O preparo de solo para batata no Brasil é geralmente realizado com o emprego de grade aradora (preparo raso), máquina cujo uso frequente estabelece uma zona compactada abaixo de 20 cm. Em tese, a descompactação profunda pode aumentar a produtividade e reduzir a incidência de doenças no tubérculo e esses efeitos podem variar com a espécie de gramínea cultivada anteriormente à cultura da batata. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a descompactação profunda associada ao cultivo de Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu e milho (Zea mays) híbrido 'Dekalb 191' e, como testemunha, o preparo raso associado ao cultivo do mesmo híbrido de milho. O experimento foi conduzido em Piracicaba-SP, de dezembro de 2006 a outubro de 2008 no delineamento de blocos completos casualizados. A resistência à penetração no centro do canteiro, avaliada por meio de penetrômetro de impacto, foi inferior a 1,5 MPa até 40 cm de profundidade em todos os tratamentos e, na camada de 40 a 60 cm, esse valor no preparo raso (2,4 MPa) foi significativamente superior aos dos demais tratamentos, cujos valores variaram de 0,9 a 1,0 MPa. A produtividade de tubérculos no preparo raso foi de 28,3 t ha-1 e diferiu estatisticamente do maior valor obtido com a descompactação profunda (32,9 t ha-1). A proporção de tubérculos com diâmetro inferior a 4 cm foi superior no preparo raso (5,1%) em comparação ao preparo vertical com milho (2,9%) e B. brizantha (2,2%). A ocorrência de pragas, doenças e lenticelose (Diabrotica speciosa, 31,0% a 49,7%; Streptomyces scabies, 3,3% a 6,3%; Helminthosporium solani, 60,3% a 69%; Rhizoctonia solani, 1,3% a 4,3%; lenticelose, 6,0% a 15,7%), não foi afetada pelos tratamentos. A descompactação profunda reduziu a resistência à penetração do solo e proporcionou maior produtividade com menor ocorrência de tubérculos pequenos, mas não influenciou a ocorrência de pragas, doenças e lenticelose.The soil tillage for potato in Brazil commonly relies on harrow utilization (shallow tillage), which causes a compacted zone below 20 cm. Apparently, deep soil loosening improves productivity and reduces tuber disease incidence and these effects can vary according to the species of grass cultivated before the potato crop. The objective of this work was to study deep loosening associated to the cultivation of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu and maize (Zea mays) 'Dekalb 191' and the control (shallow tillage with the same maize genotype). The experiment was carried out in Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, from December 2006 to October 2008, in a complete randomized blocks design. The soil penetration resistance (SPR) value, evaluated by impact penetrometer in the center of the seed bed, was lower than 1.5 MPa up to 40 cm depth for all treatments and, in the 40-60 cm layer, the SPR value in the shallow tillage (2.4 MPa) was statistically higher than all other treatments, whose values ranged from 0.9 to 1.0 MPa. Tuber productivity in the shallow tillage was 28.3 t ha-1 and differed from the highest value among the deep soil loosening treatments (32.9 t ha-1). The proportion of tubers with less than 4 cm diameter in the shallow tillage (5.1%) was higher than the deep soil alleviation treatments with maize (2.9%) and B. brizantha (2.2%). The occurrence of tuber pests, diseases and lenticelose (Diabrotica speciosa, 31.0% to 49.7%; Streptomyces scabies, 3.3% to 6.3%; Helminthosporium solani, 60.3% to 69%; Rhizoctonia solani, 1.3% to 4.3%; lenticelose, 6.0% to 15.7%), was not influenced by the treatments. The deep soil loosening reduced soil penetration resistance and increased potato productivity, with lower rate of small tubers, but did not affect the occurrence of tuber pests, diseases and lenticelose.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)FAPES

Phytoplankton dynamics in relation to seasonal variability and upwelling and relaxation patterns at the mouth of Ria de Aveiro (West Iberian Margin) over a four-year period

From June 2004 to December 2007, samples were weekly collected at a fixed station located at the mouth of Ria de Aveiro (West Iberian Margin). We examined the seasonal and inter-annual fluctuations in composition and community structure of the phytoplankton in relation to the main environmental drivers and assessed the influence of the oceano-graphic regime, namely changes in frequency and intensity of upwelling events, over the dynamics of the phytoplankton assemblage. The samples were consistently handled and a final subset of 136 OTUs (taxa with relative abundance > 0.01%) was subsequently submitted to various multivariate analyses. The phytoplankton assemblage showed significant changes at all temporal scales but with an overriding importance of seasonality over longer-(inter-annual) or shorter-term fluctuations (upwelling-related). Sea-surface temperature, salinity and maximum upwelling index were retrieved as the main driver of seasonal change. Seasonal signal was most evident in the fluctuations of chlorophyll a concentration and in the high turnover from the winter to spring phytoplankton assemblage. The seasonal cycle of production and succession was disturbed by upwelling events known to disrupt thermal stratification and induce changes in the phytoplankton assemblage. Our results indicate that both the frequency and intensity of physical forcing were important drivers of such variability, but the outcome in terms of species composition was highly dependent on the available local pool of species and the timing of those events in relation to the seasonal cycle. We conclude that duration, frequency and intensity of upwelling events, which vary seasonally and inter-annually, are paramount for maintaining long-term phytoplankton diversity likely by allowing unstable coexistence and incorporating species turnover at different scales. Our results contribute to the understanding of the complex mechanisms of coastal phytoplankton dynamics in relation to changing physical forcing which is fundamental to improve predictability of future prospects under climate change.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) [SFRH/BPD/ 94562/2013]; FEDER funds; national funds; CESAM [UID/AMB/50017]; FCT/MEC through national funds; FEDERinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of diabetes on multiple avoidable admissions: a cross-sectional study

Background Multiple admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) are responsible for an important proportion of health care expenditures. Diabetes is one of the conditions consensually classified as an ACSC being considered a major public health concern. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of diabetes on the occurrence of multiple admissions for ACSC. Methods We analysed inpatient data of all public Portuguese NHS hospitals from 2013 to 2015 on multiple admissions for ACSC among adults aged 18 or older. Multiple ACSC users were identified if they had two or more admissions for any ACSC during the period of analysis. Two logistic regression models were computed. A baseline model where a logistic regression was performed to assess the association between multiple admissions and the presence of diabetes, adjusting for age and sex. A full model to test if diabetes had no constant association with multiple admissions by any ACSC across age groups. Results Among 301,334 ACSC admissions, 144,209 (47.9%) were classified as multiple admissions and from those, 59,436 had diabetes diagnosis, which corresponded to 23,692 patients. Patients with diabetes were 1.49 times (p < 0,001) more likely to be admitted multiple times for any ACSC than patients without diabetes. Younger adults with diabetes (18–39 years old) were more likely to become multiple users. Conclusion Diabetes increases the risk of multiple admissions for ACSC, especially in younger adults. Diabetes presence is associated with a higher resource utilization, which highlights the need for the implementation of adequate management of chronic diseases policies.NOVASaudeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Detecção por sorologia do Melon yellowing associated virus (MYaV) em áreas produtoras de melão no Nordeste brasileiro.

O Nordeste é a principal região produtora de melão do País, contribuindo com mais de 90% da produção nacional. Entretanto, o “amarelão do meloeiro”, doença associada à presença de um novo vírus, o Melon yellowing-associated virus (MYaV), vem afetando a cultura desde 1999. Este trabalho teve como objetivo detectar a ocorrência do MYaV em meloeiros exibindo sintomas suspeitos da doença nos estados que são os maiores produtores da Região Nordeste. Em novembro de 2007, plantios comerciais de melão foram inspecionados para avaliar a ocorrência do “amarelão”. Um total de 374 plantas foi coletado em áreas produtoras dos estados do RN (54) e CE (37) e também, do Submédio do Vale do São Francisco (283), situado nos Estados da BA e PE. A detecção do MYaV nas amostras foi realizada por DAS-Elisa utilizando-se anticorpos policlonais desenvolvidos pela Embrapa Hortaliças. Extratos preparados a partir de folhas e de hastes das plantas coletadas foram utilizados como antígeno. O MYaV foi detectado em 58,0% do total de plantas avaliadas, sendo que a concentração viral foi maior em hastes do que em folhas. A quantidade de plantas infectadas foi maior em amostras coletadas no RN (96,3%) e CE (75,7%) que no Submédio do Vale do São Francisco (PE e BA, com 48,4%). Estes resultados revelaram a ampla disseminação do MYaV nas principais áreas produtoras de melão da Região Nordeste e demonstraram a eficiência dos anticorpos na detecção viral

Occurrence of melon yellowing-associated virus (MYaV) in melon producing areas of Brazilian Northeast.

Suplemento. Edição dos Resumos do 42 Congresso Brasileiro de Fitopatologia, Rio de Janeiro, ago. 2009. Nome correto do pesquisador é Antonio Williams Moita - MOITA, A. W