Abstract In this paper, penetration of a liquid drop in a layered porous medium as well as its motion navigation was investigated using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The porous medium was generated by locating square obstacles randomly in the each layer which would cause the layered porosity in the domain. Two regimes of penetration; (a) capillary fingering regime and (b) viscous fingering regime were used for this study. The relationship between the porosity and the penetration rate was studied. The effect of porous surface type (i.e., hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity) on the penetration rate and penetration pattern was also investigated. A new parameter, called “Percent of hydrophobicity”, was defined such that each layer of the porous medium could have multiple properties. This means that in each layer some solid elements might be randomly hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Using this hydrophobicity coefficient, one could navigate the motion of the liquid in such porous media.

ABSTRACT Macrobrachium olfersii (Wiegmann, 1836) is a prawn that lives in shallow and transparent freshwater in Southern Brazil. Aquatic organisms that inhabit these systems can be exposed to incident UV radiation. Many studies have demonstrated the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the development, survival rate, morphological abnormalities, and impairments in swimming behavior in crustaceans. However, fewer studies have elucidated how the embryos of crustaceans respond to the exposure of UV radiation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether UVA and UVB affect biometrical and morphological parameters of eggs and embryos of M. olfersii. Embryos were divided into two groups: Group I, composed of embryonic day 7 (E7) to E10 and Group II, composed of E11 to E14. Both groups were irradiated with 60 min UVA and 30 min UVB. Non-irradiated embryos at the same stages were used as controls. UVA and UVB radiation induces variations in morphometric parameters, such as egg volume, egg water content, and eye index. UVB radiation also induced an increase of embryonic cell death. We conclude that the embryonic cells of M. olfersii respond differentially to UVA and UVB radiation in accordance with the evaluated parameters.

Abstract The comparison of the failure state for composite laminates under bending and tensile loads is a well-known issue which has been intensively discussed in the literature. The scope of the current work is to investigate the appropriate method of the flexural modulus of the composite laminates by the aid of experimental and numerical approach. The primary objective of this study is to compare the experimental measurements of the elastic modulus of the composite laminates under the tensile and flexural tests. The numerical study is performed through progressive damage analysis (PDA) approach which is verified by simulation of the tensile specimens. This procedure is then used to predict the failure of the beam specimens under three-point-bending (3PB) test. Both inter-laminar and intra-laminar damages are included in the developed models. The first type of damage is examined based on the continuum damage mechanics (CDM) approach and the second one based on the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). The variation of the flexural modulus and ultimate strength of the composite beams is considerably depends on loading types and lay-up configurations. In this study, it is proven that the strain-based failure criterion can predict the realistic failure mode of the composite beams in consistency with the ultimate strains which was obtained from a simple tensile test.

Abstract The study of the natural convection flow and heat transfer from hot surfaces in a porous medium has been of considerable interest in energy-related engineering problems. This paper is concerned with the free convection heat transfer over an arbitrary hot surface in a porous medium. It is assumed that the fluid and solid phases are not in local thermal equilibrium and therefore a two-temperature model of heat transfer is applied. The coupled momentum and energy equations are used and transformed into ODE’s. The similar equations obtained are solved numerically and the local heat flux is shown for three types of axisymmetric shapes, i.e., a vertical plate, horizontal cylinder and sphere. The results have also been validated with the available results in the literature; which show that our assumptions and numerical method are accurate. Mathematical derivation of a similarity solution for an arbitrary geometry in the heat transfer analysis is the main novelty of the present study.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was employed for rapid detection of ethambutol (EMB) resistant clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: From 182 clinical isolates of M tuberculosis collected from different regions, 103 strains were entered in the investigation. DNA was extracted by Chelex 100 method and PCR was performed using specific primers for embB gene. Polymerase chain reaction products were digested with HaeIII and NlaII restriction endonucleases and the patterns of restriction fragments were analysed. Some randomly selected samples were sequenced. Results: Out of 103 studied strains, 52 were resistant to EMB. The cases of secondary tuberculosis were 53 (51.50 ± 1.77%), and primary cases 50 (48.50 ± 1.77%; p > 0.05). From 63 extensively drug-resistant (XDR), pre-XDR and multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates, 27 (87%), 18 (81.8%) and 7 (70%) strains were resistant to EMB, respectively. Results of PCR-RFLP method showed that from 27R EMB XDR isolates, 13 (sensitivity 48% with CI: 0.307, 0.66 and specificity 100%), from 18R EMB pre-XDR strains, 4 (sensitivity 22% with CI: 0.09, 0.45 and specificity 100%) and of 7R EMB MDR, 2 (sensitivity 28% with CI: 0.082, 0.64 and specificity 100%) had mutation in ATG-Met codon 306. Results of sequencing were concordant with RFLP method. Overall, sensitivity of the molecular method was 36.5% (CI: 0.09, 0.45) and specificity 100%. None of the 40 pansusceptible strains was embB306 mutants. Extensively drug-resistant strains had a higher proportion of embB306 mutants (43%) than pre-XDR and MDR isolates (odds ratio 6.78; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Fast detection of susceptibility to EMB drug is possible by PCR-RFLP. The embB306 locus is a candidate marker for rapid prediction of high resistance of MDR and XDR forms to anti-tuberculosis drugs using this method.

RESUMEN Introducción: El método de polimorfismo de la longitud de los fragmentos de restricción amplificados por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR-RFLP) fue empleado para la detección rápida de aislados clínicos de Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistentes al etambutol (EMB). Materiales y métodos: De 182 aislados clínicos de M. tuberculosis recogidos de diferentes regiones, 103 cepas fueron tomadas para la investigación. Se extrajo el ADN por el método de Chelex100 y se realizó el PCR usando iniciadores específicos para el gene embB. Los productos de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa fueron digeridos con endonucleasas de restricción HaeIII y NlaII, y se analizaron los patrones de fragmentos de restricción. Algunas muestras seleccionadas al azar fueron secuenciadas. Resultados: De 103 cepas estudiadas, 52 fueron resistentes al EMB. Los casos de tuberculosis secundaria fueron 53 (51.50 ± 1.77%), y los casos de tuberculosis primaria 50 (48.50 ± 1.77%; p > 0.05). De 63 aislados (XDR), pre-XDR y multirresistentes (MDR) extremadamente resistentes a los medicamentos, 27 (87%), 18 (81.8%) y 7 (70%) cepas fueron resistentes al EMB, respectivamente. Los resultados del método PCR-RFLP mostraron que de 27 aislados XDRR EMB 13 (sensibilidad 48% con IC: 0.307, 0.66 y especificidad 100%); 18 cepas pre-XDRR EMB, 4 (sensibilidad 22% con IC: 0.09, 0.45 y especificidad 100%) y de 7 MDRR EMB, 2 (sensibilidad 28% con IC: 0,082, 0.64 y especificidad 100%) presentaron mutación en el codón 306ATG-Met. Los resultados de la secuenciación estuvieron en concordancia con el método RFLP. En general, la sensibilidad del método molecular fue 36.5% (IC: 0.09, 0.45), y la especificidad 100%. Ninguna de las 40 cepas pansusceptibles fue mutante embB306. Las cepas extremadamente fármacorresistentes tuvieron una mayor proporción de mutantes embB306 (43%) que los aislados pre-XDR y MDR (odds-ratio 6.78; p < 0.001). Conclusión: Mediante el PCR-RFLP, es posible la detección rápida de susceptibilidad al fármaco EMB. El locus de embB306 es un marcador candidato para la predicción rápida de alta resistencia de formas MDR y XDR a medicamentos contra la tuberculosis utilizando este método.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of coated calcium butyrate (CCB) on calf performance and some blood parameters. Sixteen female Holstein calves with a mean age of 3 ± 1 d were divided into two equal groups and fed a milk replacer supplemented with 3 g of coated calcium butyrate (CCB)/day or with no coated calcium butyrate (NCB). The calves had free access to solid feed and water. Body weight was measured at days 3, 12, 24, 36 and 48 (weaning day). Respiratory rate and rectal temperature (within first 4 weeks of life), feed intake and faecal score (during the whole experimental period) were recorded daily. Rumen fluid was taken for volatile fatty acid (VFA) determination on days 33 and 48, and structural growth (rump height, withers height and hip width) was recorded on days 3, 24 and 48. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 12, 24, 36 and 48. Feed intake, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio and structural growth of calves were improved by CCB supplementation. There were no significant differences on rectal temperature, respiratory rate and faecal score between the treatments. Rumen concentration of total VFAs increased and the VFA profile was affected on days 33 and 48 by CCB supplementation. The supplementation of milk replacer of calves with coated calcium butyrate significantly increased serum concentrations of glucose, insulin and β-hydroxybutyrate. Serum concentration of cortisol in the CCB calves was numerically lower than in NCB. In conclusion, supplementation of calves' milk replacer with the coated calcium butyrate could improve calf performance.

Em embriões de Macrobrachium olfersi (Wiegman, 1836) foram analisadas as características morfológicas bem como o dia do desenvolvimento em que estas características surgiram. Machos e fêmeas de M. olfersi foram coletados na Ilha de Santa Catarina e colocados em aquários de água doce, na temperatura de 26°C e ciclo escuro e claro de 10:14 horas. Fêmeas ovígeras foram monitoradas diariamente para retirada de uma amostra de 20 ovos da câmara incubadora. O desenvolvimento embrionário foi caracterizado através do sistema de estagiamento diário. Embriões vivos e fixados foram analisados (48x) em intervalos de 24 horas (dia embrionário). O índice do olho foi calculado em cada dia embrionário, a partir do aparecimento da pigmentação no olho. O desenvolvimento de M. olfersi foi caracterizado em 14 dias embrionários (E), onde entre E1 a E4 ocorreu a clivagem, gastrulação, disco germinativo e organização do nauplius embrionizado. Nos dias subseqüentes foi caracterizado o crescimento do nauplius embrionizado bem como a formação e encurvamento do pós-nauplius. Em E7 observou-se a pigmentação no olho, seguida do início dos batimentos cardíacos em E8. Entre E9 e E14, ocorreu de forma mais intensa o processo de organogênese, principalmente dos sistemas nervoso, cardiovascular e digestivo. O estagiamento diário do desenvolvimento de M. olfersi permitiu o reconhecimento de diferentes formas embrionárias, bem como de ritmos de crescimento e diferenciação do embrião, os quais são essenciais à formação gradual do plano do corpo.

Morphological landmarks of Macrobrachium olfersi embryos were examined and their appearance times were related to each embryonic day. Males and females of M. olfersi (Wiegman, 1836) were captured in Santa Catarina Island and kept in freshwater small tanks at 26ºC and 10:14 dark: light cycle. Ovigerous females were monitored daily to remove samples of 20 eggs from brood pouch. The embryonic development was characterized through daily staging system. Living and fixed embryos were analyzed (48x) in intervals of 24 hours (embryonic day). The eye index was calculated in each embryonic day from the appearance of the eye pigmentation. The development of M. olfersi was described in 14 embryonic days (E), where the cleavage, gastrulation, germinal disk and egg nauplius are developed from E1 to E4. The subsequent days were characterized by the growth of the egg nauplius, as well by the formation and the bent of the post-nauplius. At E7, the eye pigmentation appeared and was followed by the beginning of heartbeats at E8. From E9 to E14, more intensive organogenesis processes occurred, mainly on the nervous, cardiac and digestive systems. The daily staging of development of M. olfersi development enabled the recognition of different embryonic forms, as well as growth and differentiation rhythms of embryo, which were fundamental to the gradual formation of the body plan.

Foi estudado o desenvolvimento embrionário de quatro espécies de Palaemonidae em condições controladas de laboratório. Adultos de Macrobrachium olfersi (Wiegman, 1836), Macrobrachium potiuna (Müller, 1880), Palaemon pandaliformis (Stimpson, 1871) e Palaemonetes argentinus (Nobili, 1901) foram coletados na Ilha de Santa Catarina, SC, Brasil e mantidos à temperatura de 26ºC. Foram analisadas as seguintes características embrionárias: forma do ovo, organização do vitelo e planos de clivagem, apêndices naupliares e pós-naupliares, estomodeo, lobos ópticos, olhos, telson, curvatura do embrião e o espaço ocupado pelo embrião no ovo. Diferentes ritmos de desenvolvimento foram observados espécies, sendo que M. potiuna mostrou o maior tempo de embriogênese. As espécies seguem o padrão de embriogênese de ovos centrolécitos, sendo identificadas características similares do desenvolvimento, possibilitando o estabelecimento de oito estágios embrionários, comuns as quatro espécies.

The embryonic development of four species of the family Palaemonidae was studied under laboratory conditions. Adults of Macrobrachium olfersi (Wiegman, 1836), Macrobrachium potiuna (Müller, 1880), Palaemon pandaliformis (Stimpson, 1871) and Palaemonetes argentinus (Nobili, 1901) were collected in Santa Catarina Island, Santa Catarina, Brazil and maintained at 26ºC. The following embryonic characters were analyzed: egg shape, yolk organization and cleavage plane, naupliar and post-naupliar appendages, stomodeum, optical lobes, eyes, telson, embryo curvature and the space occupied by the embryo in the egg. Different rates of development were observed for the four species, with M. potiuna showing the longest time of embryogenesis. The species studied followed the pattern of embryogenesis of centrolecithal eggs, enabling the identification of similar features of the development, and the establishment of eight common embryonic stages.

The aim of this study is to characterize the reproductive features of Macrobrachium olfersii (Wiegman, 1836) from Santa Catarina's lsland. The animals were collected in freshwater streams of the Ratones Hidrografic Basin (site A1) and at the Peri's Pond (site A2). In the laboratory, the procedures of sexual differentiation were carried out to classify the individuais in males, females or ovigerous females, followed by the determination of total weight (g), quelipod relative weight (g) and total length (mm). The eggs were removed from the ovigerous females and counted. Sexual maturity and fecundity were analyzed based in the dimensions and number of eggs carried by ovigerous females. The water temperature on the capture sites varied from 17 to 29ºC throughout the months of study. A total of 503 individuais were captured, with 129 individuais from site A1 and 374 from site A2. The mean total size and length was 49.65 mm and 3.79 g for the males, 38.75 mm and 1.61 g for the females and 36.19 mm and 1.08 g for the ovigerous females. At the sites A1 and A2, the individual sexual maturity was reached with 27.3 and 21.2 mm of total length, respectively, while populational sexual maturity was estimated for the 45.0 to 50.0 mm class at site A1 and for the 30.0 to 35.0 mm class at site A2. The ovigerous females carried an average of 3464 eggs at site A1, and 1440 eggs at site A2. These reproductive features, presented by M. olfersii, show the species' plasticity, which can be associated with environmental variations, contributing to its reproductive success.