bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A mortality review of tuberculosis and HIV co-infected patients in Mahalapye, Botswana: Does cotrimoxazole preventive therapy and/or antiretroviral therapy protect against death?
Authors: Tshitenge Stephane , Ogunbanjo Gboyega A. , Citeya Andre
Published: November 2018

Background: The World Health Organization aims to reduce tuberculosis (TB) mortality rate from 15% in 2015 to 6.5% by 2025.Aim: This study determined the profile of TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected patients who died in Mahalapye District, Botswana, while on anti-TB medication and the factors that contributed to such outcome.Setting: The study was conducted in the Mahalapye Health District in Botswana.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that reviewed patient records from the Mahalapye District Health Management Team Electronic Tuberculosis Register from January 2013 to December 2015.Results: The majority of the TB and HIV co-infected patients were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (486 [81.63%]) or were initiated cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) (518 [87.2%]) while taking anti-TB treatment. Seventy-three (13.6%) TB and HIV co-infected patients died before completing anti-TB treatment. Three-quarters (54 [74.4%]) of patients who died before completing anti-TB treatment were on ART, among them two patients who were on ART at least 3 months prior to commencing anti-TB. Also, the majority (64 [87.7%]) of TB and HIV co-infected patients were commenced on CPT prior to death. There was a bimodal density curve of death occurrence in those who did not commence ART and in those who did not commence CPT.Conclusion: This study established that TB and HIV co-infected patients had a TB mortality of 13.6%. A high mortality rate was observed during the first 3 months in those who did not take ART and during the second and the fifth month in those who did not commence CPT. Further study is needed to clarify this matter.
Possible acute rejection associated with the use of the new antihepatitis C virus medications
Authors: Karkout Khaled Ar , Al Sherif Saleema , Hussein Qutaiba , Albawardi Alia , Boobes Yousef
Published: November 2018

Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It remains a major challenge for management and treatment, especially in patients with renal transplant. The new directacting antiviral agents gave big hopes to both clinicians and patients that they can overcome this challenge without major side effects. Studies recently have supported this claim; however, they are still few, limited, and may give false hopes. In the following case report, we present a case, supported by histological evidence about a possible acute rejection of kidney transplant after treatment with these new medications. This case is limited by the absence of donorspecific antibodies. This report is aimed to increase awareness about the urgent need for further studies.
Une seule santé « one world, one health » : la place des vétérinaires
Authors: Parodi André-Laurent
Published: November 2018

Le concept «Un monde, Une seule Santé» est un concept émergent qui intègre les relations existant entre la, la santé de l’Homme (santé publique) et l’environnement. Il souligne l’importance d’une démarche conjointe des acteurs de ces différents domaines visant à contrôler les risques sanitaires, s’agissant notamment des maladies transmissibles, émergentes ou ré-émergentes, d’origine animale. Les grands organismes internationaux en charge de la santé publique et de la santé animale (OMS, FAO et OIE) ont établi des relations conventionnelles visant au dépistage précoce de ces maladies ainsi qu’à la mise en oeuvre de méthodes communes propres à les contrôler. Ils s’efforcent, entre autre, de reconnaître et d’évaluer l’impact des perturbations de notre environnement sur leur apparition. Ils interviennent encore dans le domaine de la thérapeutique, s’agissant de la préservation des traitements appliqués conjointement à l’Homme et à l’Animal et notamment de l’Antibiothérapie. Leur domaine de compétence s’étend naturellement à l’ensemble de la planète. Tant par leur contribution au sein de ces grands organismes que par leur pratique quotidienne, les vétérinaires contribuent très activement à l’application du concept «Une seule Santé» .
Être chercheur au 21ème siècle dans un environnement numérique
Authors: Rosolen Serge Georges , Hugot Jean-Pierre , Veillerot Frédéric , Pluchet Amandine
Published: November 2018

La révolution numérique a considérablement modifié l’environnement du chercheur. Avec le développement du libre accès et des archives ouvertes, la surabondance d’informations, la diversité des supports et les mutations concomitantes des modèles juridiques et économiques appliqués à la publication scientifique, le chercheur est confronté à un environnement foisonnant en perpétuelle évolution. Il doit adopter une démarche stratégique pour effectuer ses recherches documentaires afin de dresser un inventaire de l’état de l’art le plus exhaustif possible au sein de cette «infobésité» croissante. Il doit également construire son identité numérique pour valoriser ses travaux et protéger ses droits. Enfin il doit référencer et diffuser largement ses données via des réseaux professionnels et institutionnels. Afin de pouvoir gérer cette complexité, le chercheur du 21ème siècle a besoin de travailler en collaboration avec des experts de l’information scientifique et technique. Il est en effet nécessaire de savoir prendre en charge l’indexation et la gestion des métadonnées, leur référencement dans des moteurs de recherche ainsi que leur diffusion grâce à un archivage électronique pérenne. Ceci tout en tenant compte du droit de la propriété intellectuelle et des relations contractuelles avec les éditeurs puisque ces experts assurent également une veille sur le contexte juridique, les directives européennes et l’adaptation aux systèmes juridiques étrangers. Qu’il soit doctorant ou confirmé, le chercheur du 21ème siècle ne peut ignorer cet environnement, notamment les outils et la démarche méthodologique qui permettent de s’y adapter. Cet article, qui contient un glossaire et une liste des sites internet d’intérêt, s’emploie à les résumer.
The effect of salinity on the biogeochemistry of the coccolithophores with implications for coccolith-based isotopic proxies
Authors: Hermoso Michaël , Lecasble Marceau
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Reconstruction of sea surface temperatures from the oxygen isotope
composition (δ18O) of calcite biominerals synthesised in the
mesopelagic zone of the oceans requires knowledge of the
δ18O of seawater and constraints on the magnitude of
biological 18O∕16O fractionation (the so-called vital effect).
In the palaeoceanography community, seawater δ18O and
salinity are unduly treated as a common parameter owing to their strong
covariation both geographically and in the geological register. If the former
parameter has arguably no notable influence on the biogeochemistry of marine
calcifiers, salinity potentially does. However, how salinity per se and the
effect of osmotic adjustment can modulate the biogeochemistry, and in turn,
the expression of the vital effect in calcite biomineral such as the
coccoliths remains undocumented. In this culture-based study of
coccolithophores (Haptophyta) belonging to the Noelaerhabdaceae family, we
kept temperature and seawater δ18O constant, and measured
basic physiological parameters (growth rate and cell size), and the isotope
composition (18O∕16O and 13C∕12C) of coccoliths
grown under a range of salinity, between 29 and 39. Ultimately, the
overarching aim of this biogeochemical study is to refine the accuracy of
palaeotemperature estimates using fossil coccoliths. We found that despite
significant physiological changes in the coccolithophores, varying salinity
does not modulate biological fractionation of oxygen isotopes. This
observation contrasts with previous in vitro manipulations of temperature and
carbonate chemistry that led to substantial changes in the expression of the
vital effect. As such, salinity does not affect temperature estimation from
coccolith-bearing pelagic sequences deposited during periods of change in ice
volume, especially at the highest latitudes, or in coastal regions. By
contrast, the carbon isotope composition of the coccoliths is influenced by a
growth rate mediated control of salinity with implications for deriving
productivity indices from pelagic carbonate.
Do users benefit from additional information in support of operational drought management decisions in the Ebro basin?
Authors: Linés Clara , Iglesias Ana , Garrote Luis , Sotés Vicente , Werner Micha
Published: November 2018

Abstract. We follow a user-based approach to examine how information supports
operational drought management decisions in the Ebro basin and how these can
benefit from additional information such as from remote sensing data. First
we consulted decision-makers at basin, irrigation district and farmer scale
to investigate the drought-related decisions they make and the information
they use to support their decisions. This allowed us to identify the courses
of action available to the farmers and water managers, and to analyse their
choices as a function of the information they have available to them. Based
on the findings of the consultation, a decision model representing the
interrelated decisions of the irrigation association and the farmers was
built. The purpose of the model is to quantify the effect of additional
information on the decisions made. The modelled decisions, which consider the
allocation of water, are determined by the expected availability of water
during the irrigation season. This is currently informed primarily by
observed reservoir level data. The decision model was then extended to
include additional information on snow cover from remote sensing. The
additional information was found to contribute to better decisions in the
simulation and ultimately higher benefits for the farmers. However, the ratio
between the cost of planting and the market value of the crop proved to be a
critical aspect in determining the best course of action to be taken and the
value of the (additional) information. Risk-averse farmers were found to
benefit least from the additional information, while less risk-averse farmers
stand to benefit most as the additional information helps them take better
informed decisions when weighing their options.
Temporal evolution of flow-like landslide hazard for a road infrastructure in the municipality of Nocera Inferiore (southern Italy) under the effect of climate change
Authors: Uzielli Marco , Rianna Guido , Ciervo Fabio , Mercogliano Paola , Eidsvig Unni K.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. In recent years, flow-like landslides have extensively affected pyroclastic
covers in the Campania region in
southern Italy, causing human suffering and conspicuous economic damages. Due to the high
criticality of the area, a proper assessment of future variations in event
occurrences due to expected climate changes is crucial. The study assesses
the temporal variation in flow-like landslide hazard for a section of the A3
“Salerno–Napoli” motorway, which runs across the toe of the Monte Albino
relief in the Nocera Inferiore municipality. Hazard is estimated spatially
depending on (1) the likelihood of rainfall-induced event occurrence within
the study area and (2) the probability that the any specific location in the
study area will be affected during the runout. The probability of
occurrence of an
event is calculated through the application of Bayesian theory. Temporal
variations due to climate change are estimated up to the year 2100
through an ensemble of high-resolution climate projections, accounting for
current uncertainties in the characterization of variations in rainfall
patterns. Reach probability, or defining the probability that a given spatial
location is affected by flow-like landslides, is calculated spatially based
on a distributed empirical model. The outputs of the study predict substantial
increases in occurrence probability over time for two different scenarios of
future socioeconomic growth and
atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases.
Law, Ethics and Tech Aspects for an Irrevocable BlockChain Based Curriculum Vitae Created by Big Data Analytics Fed by Internet of Things, Sensors and Approved Data Sources
Authors: Kanavas Vasilios , Zisopoulos Athanasios , Spinthiropoulos Konstantinos
Published: November 2018

Our general idea is to adopt Blockchain Ledger Technology for volunteered recording of business skills to formulate an irrevocable irresistible Curriculum Vitae to be processed by Recruiting agencies. The desperate well-educated jobless people of our times rely on recruiting agencies to analyze their qualification and find them a descent work. The general process starts with personal data feed automatically from sensors to an irrevocable BlockChain. At the final stage recruiting companies read these data, they process and offer a better job. A modified Time-Series is used to store work history and skills as the most important part of a Curriculum-Vitae. Every moment of our work life is recorded accordingly. These data are collected from various IoT sources like; Internet of things, Word, Excel computer file headers, URL fingerprints, Data Centers & Banks Big Data. It looks like self-slavery although according to GDPR the necessary consent must be freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous. In order to obtain freely given consent, it must be given on a voluntary basis. We attempted a primitive social research. In our University young people, they prefer to follow the blockchain recruiting route at a rate of 96% while in a local prefecture only 1% endorses the technology for unemployment.
Limited and Inadequate Governance of Limited Liability Companies in Vietnam
Authors: Trong Nguyen Quy
Published: November 2018

Corporate governance is a topic that many scholars have paid much attention and it is still a controversial concept among researchers in describing and applying it. This article addresses some legal issues in corporate governance of limited liability companies in Vietnam. The purpose of this study is to study the limitations and inadequacies of corporate governance in limited liability companies in Vietnam towards the development of a transparent and effective corporate governance in the market economy.
Bernard Shaw's The Glimpse of Reality and the Iconography of Saint Barbara
Authors: Gahan Peter
Published: November 2018

Bernard Shaw wrote not one Saint Barbara play but two, and this article shows how the iconography of the saint in fifteenth-century Netherlandish art had decisive implications for both Major Barbara (1905), one of his best known and most highly regarded, and The Glimpse of Reality (1910), perhaps his least known and most critically neglected. Focusing on this apparently slight, peripheral work, even among Shaw's shorter plays, will facilitate prizing open an element of Shaw's dramaturgy that has garnered little critical attention: how the onetime art critic employs Western figurative art in his plays, something he himself pointed to as part of their very fabric. And key to Shaw's understanding of the iconography of Saint Barbara was a short trip the former art critic made to Bruges in 1902, specifically to view the largest ever exhibition up that time of the art of so-called Flemish primitives.
Presumptive Glucocorticoid-Induced Refractory Hypocalcemia in a Dog with Idiopathic Immune-Mediated Hypoparathyroidism, Thrombocytopenia, and Hemolytic Anemia
Authors: Jaffey Jared , DeClue Amy , Cannon Allison , Tocci Lynel , Hyland Joanna
Published: November 2018

Clinically relevant hypocalcemia is a well-documented complication of glucocorticoid administration in people with hypoparathyroidism. The current report describes the phenomenon in a dog. A 7 yr old neutered male Pomeranian was diagnosed with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, and primary hypoparathyroidism. This dog required long-term parenteral calcium gluconate to prevent clinical hypocalcemia despite appropriate doses of oral calcitriol and calcium carbonate. This is the first description of clinically significant presumptive glucocorticoid induced hypocalcemia in a dog with primary hypoparathyroidism.
Relative Oral Bioavailability of Two Amoxicillin–Clavulanic Acid Formulations in Healthy Dogs: A Pilot Study
Authors: Moczarnik Jennifer , Berger Darren J. , Noxon James O. , LeVine Dana N. , Lin Zhoumeng , Coetzee Johann F. , Mochel Jonathan P.
Published: November 2018

The use of human generic amoxicillin–clavulanic acid formulations in veterinary medicine is currently lacking supportive evidence. This pilot study was conducted to determine preliminary pharmacokinetic parameters and relative oral bioavailability of a human generic and veterinary proprietary 4:1 amoxicillin–clavulanic acid formulation in healthy dogs to evaluate whether drug exposure was similar and to determine if further comparative investigation is warranted. Each dog received a single oral dose of each formulation containing 500:125 mg of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid at two separate instances with a 2 wk washout period between product administration. Following drug administration, blood was collected at fixed times over 24 hr to measure plasma amoxicillin and clavulanic acid concentrations using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. There were no statistically significant differences between pharmacokinetic parameters of either formulation. Clavulanic acid showed greater between-dog variation in drug exposure between formulations compared with amoxicillin and was also observed to be more variable within the veterinary proprietary formulation. The average relative oral bioavailability was 98.2% (23.6% coefficient of variation) for amoxicillin and 152.6% (64.3% coefficient of variation) for clavulanic acid between formulations. This pilot investigation supports the need for further bioequivalence studies regarding these formulations before commenting on product interchangeability.
Persistent Leptospiruria in Five Dogs Despite Antimicrobial Treatment (2000–2017)
Authors: Mauro Tara , Harkin Kenneth
Published: November 2018

In dogs with leptospirosis, doxycycline therapy is recommended as the preferred therapy for its ability to eliminate the organism from all tissues, including the renal tubules. Elimination of organisms from the renal tubules terminates leptospiruria and prevents transmission of the organism. This report describes the discovery of persistent leptospiruria in the face of therapy with doxycycline in four dogs and enrofloxacin in one dog. Leptospiruria was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction testing for pathogenic leptospires in all five dogs. In two dogs, leptospiruria resolved after a change in therapy to enrofloxacin. In three dogs, doxycycline and/or enrofloxacin were ineffective at eliminating leptospiruria, which then resolved after therapy with clarithromycin. Pet owners could be at risk as persistent leptospiruria poses a potential zoonotic risk. The potential reasons for persistent leptospiruria as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction testing are discussed.
THE EXPERIMETAL INVESTIGATION OF EVAPORATOR’S CONDITION ON PERFORMANCE OF REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS
Authors: Cavalcanti E. J. C.
Published: November 2018

Due to the heat and mass transfer characteristics, the cooling and dehumidifying processes of evaporator are complex. In this sense, the present paper details the heat and mass transfer coefficients of moist air over surfaces for different cooling mode: dry, wet and partially wet. A modeling of the classical evaporator was reviewed by using finned surfaces wavy correlations for air-side. The mode of cooling was determined through a latent air–side convective heat transfer coefficient by correlating the experimental data with the model. In the literature have values of fouling factor for oil-bearing refrigerant and a fouling factor for air side coefficients for evaporator in operation for five years. The results have shown new values for these coefficients for evaporator in operation for eight years identifying a reduction of the nominal refrigeration capacity.
A REDUCED KINETIC MECHANISM FOR PROPANE FLAMES
Authors: Andreis G. S. L. , Gomes R. S. , De Bortoli A. L.
Published: November 2018

Propane is one of the simplest hydrocarbons that can be a representative of higher hydrocarbons used in many applications. Therefore, this work develops a ten-step reduced kinetic mechanism among 14 reactive species for the propane combustion. The model is based on the solution of the flamelet equations. The equations are discretized using the second-order space finite difference method, using LES (Large-Eddy Simulation). Obtained results compare favorably with data in the literature for a propane jet diffusion flame. The main advantage of this strategy is the decrease of the work needed to solve the system of governing equations.
ANALYSIS OF NOx EMISSIONS AND SPECIFIC FUEL CONSUMPTION OF A DIESEL ENGINE OPERATING WITH DIESEL/BIODIESEL BLENDS
Authors: Teixeira C. V. , Caldeira A. B. , Colaço M. J.
Published: November 2018

This study aims to examine experimentally the NOx emissions and the performance of a motor AGRALE M90, single cylinder, operating with diesel and biodiesel blends. The engine was linked to an electric generator, which provided 1500 W, 3000 W and 4500 W to an electrical system. The engine was tested with fuel blends containing different amounts of commercial diesel (B4) with palm biodiesel (B100). NOx emissions, as well as the specific fuel consumption of diesel, biodiesel and their mixtures were measured and analyzed. In this study, emissions of NOx have been prioritized over other pollutants by environmental issues and techniques. Air pollution by NOx causes serious respiratory problems. Furthermore, emissions of NOx enable a qualitative assessment of the combustion process. The results show that the commercial diesel has better performance in terms of energy efficiency and NOx emissions.
GAS TURBINE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OPERATING WITH LOWHEATING VALUE FUELS
Authors: Silva E. B. , Bringhenti C. , Assato M. , Lima R. C.
Published: November 2018

Usually, power plants work with gas turbine designed to fire natural gas; however, there are possibilities to use other types of gaseous fuels with different calorific values that may be available close to the power plant site. These fuels can be gases obtained from steel (from blast furnaces and coking plants), from gasification processes of coal or biomass, among others. In this work, a gas turbine performance was evaluated at different operational conditions in order to verify the technical feasibility of burning low calorific value fuels. A gas turbine designed to operate with natural gas was used as a reference, the model was built and the performance evaluated at design and off-design conditions using a commercial computer program, GasTurb 11®. A good agreement was obtained between the model operating with natural gas and the available data from open literature, at design and off-design conditions. The model was simulated using low heating value fuels under the same conditions established for natural gas. A reduction in compressor’s surge margin was identified when using low heating value fuels as well as an increase in power output. Therefore, for safe operation a strategy for recovering the surge margin was adopted. In this study the control strategy adopted was bleed air at the compressor discharge. This control strategy presents a technical viability and ensures that the gas turbine operates with the same surge margin level as when using natural gas.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF A CYCLONE SCRUBBER AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM USING FACTORIAL DESIGN
Authors: Elias R. B. , Pécora A. A. B.
Published: November 2018

This work reports the results obtained in the experimental evaluation of an American type cyclone which has been modified and adapted to perform environmental air conditioning by evaporative cooling. Equipment was fitted with nozzles atomizers, which perform the injection of liquid transversely to the gas stream. The tests were carried out following a full factorial design of experiments in order to obtain the influence of the atomizer holes diameter and of the liquid/air flow ratio on the cyclone performance. The diameter of the atomizer insert holes was in the range of 2.8 to 3.6 mm and the liquid/air flow ratio was from 0.65 to 0.76 L/m3. The saturation efficiency (Es) of the cyclone was analyzed through the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Saturation efficiencies between 45.9 and 62.2 % were obtained. The use of statistical techniques allowed the proposition of empirical correlations to predict the behavior of the system regarding the studied operational range. The results show that the cyclone scrubber equipment is a viable alternative to air conditioning for human standards.
ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM BIOMASS GASIFICATION
Authors: Rumão A. S. , Jaguaribe E. F. , Bezerra A. F. , Oliveira B. L. N. , Queiroga B. L. C.
Published: November 2018

Brazil is among the ten largest consumers of electricity in the world, and in the last decades its demand for electricity has been continuously increasing. As a consequence it has not been capable to ensure enough expansion of its electric power network, mostly affecting isolated communities. The present study discusses the use of a system formed by an Indian residue biomass gasifier and a 36 kVA engine-generator, which should generate 20 kWe, using gas-alone mode engine. The engine was, originally, a MWM D229-4 diesel engine, which was converted into an Otto cycle to run only with producer gas. The system performance was evaluated for different engine’s advance ignition angles, and two types of biomass. As the Indian gasifier was designed to operate just with dual-fuel mode to feed a gas-alone engine, some changes in the gasifier's water cleaning system were required. The modifications enabled the system to improve the power generation which overcame the 20 kWe reaching 26 kWe. Technical and economic considerations showed that the bioelectricity based on bio-residual gasifier may be a viable and ecological option for regions having enough biomass residue and not served by the system network.
A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF GLASS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE ON EPOXY/ALUMINA NANOCOMPOSITES
Authors: Souza J. P. B. , Reis J. M. L. , Sphaier L. A. , Moreira D. C.
Published: November 2018

The modification of polymer properties through the addition of nanoparticles has lead to the development of the so-called nanocomposites. The purpose of this study was to observe the glass transition temperature by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in epoxy/alumina nanocomposites. Analysis was carried-out for different volume fractions, ranging from 2.5% to 10%. The results showed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) is generally higher in the samples with nanoparticles; however, the observed Tg showed no variation with nanoparticle concentration. For the final version of this study, analysis of Termogravimetric Analisys (TGA) was performed to confirm the nanoparticle volume fraction and the DSC results.
SIMULATION OF THE ALCOHOL-OIL MIXTURE IN A T-SHAPED MICROCHANNEL USING THE DISSIPATIVE PARTICLE DYNAMICS METHOD ON GPU DEVICES
Authors: Horta A. A. , Ferreira L. O. S. , Martinez E. L. , Maciel Filho R.
Published: November 2018

Multiphase fluid motion in microchannnels involves complicated fluid dynamics and is fundamentally important to diverse practical engineering applications. Among several applications, the alcohol-oil mixture is particularly important due to its application for biodiesel production. In this work, the mixture of immiscible fluids alcohol-oil in a square T-shaped microchannel was investigated using the Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) method available in the HOOMD simulator, which runs on a single graphic processing unit (GPU). The immiscible fluids were achieved by increasing the repulsive force between species. The fluid properties and hydrodynamic behavior were discussed in function of model parameters. The simulation results agree with data published in the literature showing that the DPD is appropriate for simulation of mass transport on complex geometries in microscale on a single GPU.
IMAGE PROCESSING OF TEMPERATURE FIELDS FROM INFRARED TERMOGRAPHY OF MICRO-MIXERSWITH POLYMERIC SUBSTRATES
Authors: Costa Jr. J. M. , Naveira-Cotta C. P. , Fudym O.
Published: November 2018

The present work deals with the image processing and thermal analysis of micro-mixers from the data provided by an infrared camera thermography system. The micro-mixers are prepared by photolitography on a polymeric substrate and the camera employed is the FLIR SC645 with the proprietary software ThermaCam Researcher Pro v2.10. The thermal analysis is aimed at understanding the direct contact heat transfer between two fluid streams and the polymeric substrate at different inlet temperatures and mass flow rates, within mixers of various geometric configurations. Infrared thermography is thus employed to measure the external wall temperatures fields along the mixer length. Water at different inlet temperatures has been used as the working fluid in all cases and the mass flow rates of the two streams have been imposed through independent syringe pumps. The image processing and analysis of the experimental results show the basic qualitative and quantitative features of the heat transfer phenomena and indicates that a conjugated heat transfer formulation of the micro-mixer structure should be pursued for accurate quantitative analysis in theoretical predictions.
AN ALTERNATIVE AND SIMPLE MANNER TO CALCULATE THE THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF COMBUSTION ENGINES
Authors: Rocha F. N. C. , Martins J. A. , Romão E. C.
Published: November 2018

This papers aims to present techniques and methods to develop an alternative equation to determine the thermal efficiency of internal combustion engines. Towards interpolation of data, obtained from thermodynamic tables, it presents a function that allows a faster calculation of efficiency for combustion engines.
EDITORIAL
Authors: Ordonez J. C.
Published: November 2018

I would like to direct the attention of the reader to Second Law of thermodynamics approaches to the control and optimization of dynamic energy systems. Second Law approaches to optimization and control have emerged as an enhancement beyond First Law efforts. Second Law-based metrics have the inherent advantage of being applicable to a wide variety of systems under a variety of physical phenomena (e.g., heat transfer, fluid flow, electromagnetic effects, radiation). Exergy and Second Law efficiencies have been utilized as metrics in optimization of energy systems and in the formulation of control schemes, however, most efforts have emphasized on steady-state systems and have addressed mainly operational parameters (e.g., flow rates, pressure and operating temperature levels). Second Law based metrics are expected to be useful not only for operational studies, but more importantly in leading to the discovery of optimal system configurations. Dynamic models in conjunction with Second Law metrics can lead to the optimization of important system design features beyond operational parameters.
THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE INTERIOR BALLISTICS OF A RIFLE 7.62
Authors: Cronemberger P. O. , Lima Jr. E. P. , Gois J. A. M. , Caldeira A. B.
Published: November 2018

This study aims to examine theoretically and experimentally the interior ballistics of a rifle 7.62. Three theoretical methods are employed: the Vallier-Heydenreich, which is based on empirical data tables; the lumped parameters that is represented by a differential-algebraic system of equations, describing the propellant combustion, the thermodynamics of the gas inside the gun and the projectile dynamics; and the commercial software PRODAS. The theoretical solutions furnish the pressure, the projectile velocity and the projectile position inside the gun, the maximum pressure,the muzzle velocity and the total time of the interior ballistics. The experiments measure the pressure along of the time and the projectile velocity at seven meters ahead of the barrel. The proposed lumped parameter model indicates alternatives to model the energy lost and the resistance pressure functions. The theoretical solutions are compared with experiments. A thermodynamics analysis of the energy conversion in the gun is provided. The results are analyzed and the relevance of each method is highlighted.
3D NUMERICAL ANALYSIS ABOUT THE SHAPE INFLUENCE OF THE HYDRO-PNEUMATIC CHAMBER IN AN OSCILLATING WATER COLUMN (OWC)
Authors: Isoldi L. A. , Grimmler J. Do A. M. , Letzow M. , Souza J. A. , Gomes M. Das N. , Rocha L. A. O. , Dos Santos E. D.
Published: November 2018

The oceans represent one of the major energy natural resources, which potentially can be used to supply the World energy demand. In the last decades some devices to convert the wave ocean energy into electrical energy have been studied. In this work the operating principle of an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) converter was analyzed with a transient 3D numerical methodology, using the Finite Volume Method (FVM) and the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model. The incident waves on the OWC hydro- pneumatic chamber cause an oscillation of the water column inside the chamber producing an alternate air flow through the chimney. The air drives a turbine that is coupled to an electric generator. The aim of this work was to investigate the shape influence of the hydro-pneumatic chamber geometry in the air flow. For this, six cases were studied in laboratory scale and the results showed that the variation of the OWC chamber shape can improve 12.4% the amount of mass air flow.
NUMERICAL STUDY OF COOLING BY TANGENTIAL SYNTHETIC JET
Authors: Munhoz F. , Lee C. Y. Y. , Alves F. L. D.
Published: November 2018

Modern electronics are becoming more compact and with higher processing power, which translates into a demand for higher heat dissipation. Current electronic "coolers," which are based on the combination of fans and heat sinks, are becoming unable to provide sufficient heat dissipation since they rely primarily on generating large volumetric flowrates of air to achieve their results. As an alternative, synthetic jets are under consideration due to their known property to enhance turbulence and heat transfer. Synthetic jets are produced by the oscillation of a membrane in a sealed cavity equipped with an orifice. For this study, a numerical model of channel mounted with a heating element on one surface and a synthetic jet directed to blow along the wall was constructed on ANSYS CFX. Heat dissipation provided by the synthetic jet was analyzed with respect to changes in Reynolds number, pulsing frequency and placement of the heated element. Results were compared to a conventional technique represented by a steady channel flow of equivalent mass flow rate to the average flow induced by the synthetic jet. Results showed that the synthetic jet formed a thin layer of intense vorticity along the targeted surface with cooling greatly outperforming conventional techniques. Synthetic jet cooling was also determined to be most affected by jet velocity and Reynolds number while pulsing frequency and placement of the heated element were not as influential.
HEAT CONDUCTION IN MOVING SOLIDS USING GREEN’S FUNCTION
Authors: Ribeiro S. S. , Guimarães G. , Fernandes A. , Oliveira G. C.
Published: November 2018

Thermal problems involving moving heat sources occur in various engineering applications, such as welding processes, heat treatment furnaces and other treatments. Typically, in these cases, the precise formulation of the numerical solution due to the high complexity of the heat diffusion governing equation, boundary condition, including convection terms. This work proposes a mathematical analysis, analytical solution, verification using other solutions and comparison with numerical solution of a 1D transient thermal model based on Green’n functions, considering a solid moving at a constant speed along a cartesian coordinated.
NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE ERYTHRITOL MELTING PROCESS IN A TRIDIMENSIONAL RECTANGULAR CAVITY
Authors: Raymundo J. F. , Borahel R. Da S. , Oliveski R. De C.
Published: November 2018

Many areas of engineering, such as the petrochemical and food industries, use thermal energy storage to achieve better performance. Thermal energy storage can be used as a heat source or a heat sink. The thermal storage/release technology, based on the use of phase change materials (PCMs), which possess a great capacity of heat accumulation, has raised an important practical interest. Indeed, the improved storage density and the constant temperature release of energy allow a more compact heat exchange design and simplify system management. Phase change phenomena occurring during PCM melting and PCM solidification need to be carefully controlled. The aim of the present numerical study is to investigate the heat transfer and hydrodynamic characteristics of a phase change material (PCM) in a rectangular cavity and the melting process dependence on the cavity height. The geometry consists of a mini rectangular cavity which contains PCM. Water or steam flows in the longitudinal direction of the cavity, thus heating or cooling the PCM in the cavity. The computational domain is made of three materials: air, aluminum and PCM. The grid mesh is structured, hexaedrical and refined near the walls. The study is developed with different operation conditions of the mass flow and water temperature. The numerical simulation is developed through CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) with the Fluent code. The mathematical model was validated using results available in the literature. Results of temperature, velocity and volume fraction fields indicate that the cavity height has no impact on the melting process.
EDITORIAL
Authors: Kawa Vanessa
Published: November 2018

The most significant advance in Molecular Biology area in recent years was due to the development of a technic that provides the unlimited multiplication of DNA molecules (deoxyribonucleic acid – genetic material of most living things). Named PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), this technique afforded the progress of several scientific areas. The rapid and accurate diagnosis of diseases by PCR allows for greater effectiveness in the treatment of these diseases. The reliability of this technique is so great, that the identification of a criminal by PCR is accepted as forensic evidence. To perform a PCR reaction, it is necessary a DNA molecule to serve as a template, an enzyme called DNA polymerase and nucleotides, which make up the new DNA strand. In a simplified way, these are the main ingredients, but only mixing them in a test tube is not sufficient to trigger the process of DNA amplification. For this, cyclic temperature variations must occur, such as: a DNA initial denaturation at 94o C for 2 min, 35 cycles of 1 min at 94o C, 1 min at 62o C, 1 min at 72o C, and a final extension for 4 min at 72o C. For the accurate occurrence of these cyclic temperature changes, an equipment called thermocycler was developed. In other words, this revolutionary technique combines enzymatic reactions and a thermodynamic process. Currently most thermocyclers use the Peltier technology, exploiting the properties of semiconductors and providing greater uniformity at different temperatures that result in a high degree of accuracy and reproducibility. Thus, I take the opportunity to encourage research in the field of Thermal Engineering interfaced with Molecular Biology, which, as discussed above, may contribute to major scientific advances in biological sciences, and an improvement in the community's quality of life in general.
ENERGY STUDY OF A HEAT PUMP USED FOR AIR ( HEATING AND DEHUMIDIFICATION
Authors: Maia N. L. , Diniz M. L. , Gurgel J. M. A. M. , Gondim R. R. , Carvalho M. , Luiz M. R.
Published: November 2018

Heat pump assisted dryers can realize considerable savings of primary energy as compared with conventionally-heated air drying. This manuscript analyzes the design and construction aspects of a heat pump assisted dryer for biological products. The performance of the heat pump is investigated through an energy analysis, carried out under operating conditions of practical interest. The system is operated using R22 and is also evaluated with respect to the coefficient of performance (COP). Although the current trend is to invest in low-energy, low-carbon technologies, heat pump assisted dryers remain underexplored in the industrial sector due to its more complex operation.
EDITORIAL
Authors: Vargas J. V.C.
Published: November 2018

The editorial of Engenharia Térmica of this issue continues the discussion on scientific research needs in vital areas in which thermal engineering has important participation. The main goal is to motivate the readers, within their specialties, to identify possible subjects for their future research. With the development of modern high resolution infrared cameras, the utilization of thermal imaging exams has gained new appeal in medical practice, although the method has been applied for the first time more than 60 years ago. The technique is noninvasive, there is no ionizing radiation emission, low cost, fast in image capturing and of easy application. However, there are some aspects such as method imprecision due to the individual metabolism and surrounding ambient temperature that interfere in precise results, making the method subjective. In Engineering it is a well established field, mainly for the detection of heat leaks in boilers, hot fluid pipes, and other equipment, in which high temperatures are observed, thus with high temperature gradients with respect to the ambient, that are much above measurements uncertainties, what allows for well conclusive analyses. On the other hand, surface temperatures on human skin are close to the ambient temperature, therefore the observed temperature gradients are small, what makes the analyses less conclusive. In sum, there is need for the development of structured methodologies for adequate selection of human body surface temperatures that are related to diverse diseases. Expected normality ranges could be established based on infrared imaging temperature measurements of volunteers without complaints. It is expected that measurements in patients previously diagnosed with traditional techniques (e.g., biopsy) fall out of such ranges. The main objective would be to concretely demonstrate that infrared imaging has potential for utilization as a noninvasive screening exam for people with complaints, what would indicate whether or not the individual should be submitted to a more complex exam. The mission of Engenharia Térmica is to document the scientific progress in areas related to thermal engineering (e.g., energy, oil and renewable fuels). We are confident that we will continue to receive articles’ submissions that contribute to the progress of science.
ENERGY AND EXERGY ANALYSIS OF SUGARCANE INDUSTRY USING FREE SIMULATOR
Authors: Vieira A. L. , Lima L. F. , Conceição W. A. S. , Andrade C. M. G.
Published: November 2018

Due to environmental and economic problems, we need to seek and investigate renewable energy sources. Worldwide, we have a predominant use of energy derived from fossil fuels. In Brazil, much of the energy comes from hydroelectricity. However, it is known that to be dependent predominantly from a main source, could cause logistical problems. A solution to this situation, in Brazil, are sugarcane plants. These plants are normally self-sufficient in terms of energy, but they can still have their energetic and exegetics efficiencies increased. This paper intends to present by simulation (using free software, COCO) that if all machines in the process, steam-powered, were replaced by machines powered by electricity, the yield should increase. We also show that if we replace the turbines by other, working in higher pressures, the energy will have an even greater increase.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF A PASSIVE SYSTEM WITH AN ACTIVE WATER HEATING SYSTEM BY MEANS OF VACUUM SOLAR COLLECTOR GLASS TUBES
Authors: Naranjo J. D. , Ancines C. A. , Dos Santos C. F. , Krenzinger A.
Published: November 2018

The importance of renewable energy conversion in heat generation systems is increasing. Being a form of clean energy production, solar water heating systems can substitute part of the electricity consumption in Brazilian energy matrix. Beyond the environmental benefits, the use of such systems brings economic benefits to the country and especially those who use them, saving the use of other energy sources for water heating. In Brazil, the solar water heating is carried out mainly by flat solar collectors, a widely known technology produced in the country at low prices. Nowadays another technology is being used: the evacuated solar collectors. These collectors are being worldwide produced on a large scale and they are imported and inserted at competitive prices in the domestic market. Therefore, it is necessary to understand these systems and their operation to avoid errors in their installation and optimize their use. This work accomplishes a comparative analysis of a solar water heating system composed by a water- in-glass evacuated tube solar collector working in forced circulation, varying the flow, with the same system working in thermosyphon circulation. This comparison was performed by determining the annual energy the system can produce for each type of circulation, which was calculated based on the ISO 9459-2 standard and the climatic data of Porto Alegre city, Rio Grande Do Sul State. To perform these measures, a testing bench was mounted with sensors and measuring instruments which were calibrated before use. The results show that the system with thermosyphon circulation produces more annual energy than the forced circulation system where the water temperature stratification in the thermal reservoir was lower.
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION OF A THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY METER BASED ON ASTM E1225 STANDARD
Authors: Manetti L. L. , Dias Jr I. , Kiyomura I. S. , Cavalcanti R. C. , Pagliosa F. B.
Published: November 2018

The focus of this work is the design, construction and evaluation of a thermal conductivity meter apparatus based on ASTM E- 1225 standard. The thermal conductivity is a heat-transport propriety and with the development of new materials the determination of thermophysical properties for its correct use becomes necessary. The apparatus was projected in CAD software and the material selection was done following the standard recommendations. For the meter bars were used 304 stainless steel, since its thermal conductivity is known. The heater was made with an aluminum cylinder block and a cartridge electric resistance. The cooling system was assembled using a Peltier thermoelectric plate and a fin heat sink equipped with a fan. Lastly, a steel pipe was used for building the guard cylinder. In order to evaluate the apparatus, the first specimen tested was the 304 stainless steel, the same material as the meter bars. The result of thermal conductivity showed an error of 6% relative to the value found in literature. However, in this test the temperature of isothermal guard cylinder was lower than the temperature required by the standard. Thus, the future goals will be the development of a temperature control for the guard cylinder and realization of more tests with different materials.