• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.773-793
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• 2016

This work presents a methodology to distribute piezoelectric material for structural vibration active control. The objective is to design controlled structures with actuators which maximizes the system controllability. A topology optimization was formulated in order to distribute two material phases in the domain: a passive linear elastic material and an active linear piezoelectric material. The objective is the maximization of the smallest eigenvalue of the system controllability Gramian. Analytical sensitivities for the finite element model are derived for the objective functions and constraints. Results and comparisons with previous works are presented for the vibration control of a two-dimensional short beam.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.459-473
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• 2011

The study of the early age concrete properties is becoming more important, as the thermal effects and the shrinkage, even in the first hours, could generate cracks, increasing the permeability of the structure and being able to induce problems of durability and functionality in the same ones. The detailed study of the stresses development during the construction process can be decisive to keep low the cracking levels. In this work a computational model, based on the finite element method, was implemented to simulate the early age concrete behavior and, specially, the evaluation of the cracking risk. The finite element analysis encloses the computational modeling of the following phenomena: chemical, thermal, moisture diffusion and mechanical which occur at the first days after the concrete cast. The developed software results were compared with experimental values found in the literature, demonstrating an excellent approach for all the implemented analysis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.449-451
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• 2014

The karyotypes of Biomphalaria tenagophila collected from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were studied using the air-drying method. Somatic cells of this species had 2n=36. The 18 chromosome pairs were identified and classified into 3 groups. The diploid cell has 7 pairs of metacentric, 8 pairs of submetacentric, and 3 pairs of subtelocentric chromosomes. Observed chromosomes ranged from 2.4 to $6.4{\mu}m$, and the total length was $122.3{\mu}m$. This is the first report on the chromosome of B. tenagophila.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.240-248
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• 2003

This paper analyzes mobile agent performance in network management compared to the client-server model used in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Prototypes of an application that gathers MIB-II (Management Information Base-II) variables have been created and tested on a LAN. After acquiring implementation parameters related to network management and to the mobile agent infrastructure, simulation results have been obtained on large topologies similar in shape to the Internet. Response time results show that mobile agents perform better than SNMP when the number of managed elements ranges between two specific limits, an inferior bound and a superior one, determined by the number of messages that pass through a backbone and by the mobile agent size which grows along with MIB-II variables collected on network elements. The results also show that a significant improvement is achieved when the mobile agent returns or sends data to the management station after visiting a fixed number of nodes.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2001

Purpose : To develop a new subtraction program for registering digital periapical images based on the correspondence of anatomic structures. Materials and Methods: The digital periapical images were obtained by Digora system with Rinn XCP equipment after translation of 1-16 mm, and rotation of 2-20° at the premolar and molar areas of the human dried mandible. The new subtraction program, NIH Image program and Emago/Advanced program were compared by the peak-signal-to noise ratio (PSNR). Results : The new subtraction program was superior to NIH Images program and Emagol Advanced program up to 16 mm translation and horizontal angulation up to 4°. Conclusion: The new subtraction program can be used for subtracting digital periapical images.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.735-749
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• 2004

This work presents a direct integration scheme, based on a fourth order finite difference approach, for elastodynamics. The proposed scheme was chosen as an alternative for attenuating the errors due to the use of the central difference method, mainly when the time-step length approaches the critical time-step. In addition to eliminating the spurious numerical oscillations, the fourth order finite difference scheme keeps the advantages of the central difference method: reduced computer storage and no requirement of factorisation of the effective stiffness matrix in the step-by-step solution. A study concerning the stability of the fourth order finite difference scheme is presented. The Finite Element Method and the Boundary Element Method are employed to solve elastodynamic problems. In order to verify the accuracy of the proposed scheme, two examples are presented and discussed at the end of this work.

• Communications of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.765-800
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• 2022

Quantization for probability distributions concerns the best approximation of a d-dimensional probability distribution P by a discrete probability with a given number n of supporting points. In this paper, we have considered a probability measure generated by an infinite iterated function system associated with a probability vector on ℝ. For such a probability measure P, an induction formula to determine the optimal sets of n-means and the nth quantization error for every natural number n is given. In addition, using the induction formula we give some results and observations about the optimal sets of n-means for all n ≥ 2.

• Journal of Smart Tourism
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-18
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• 2024

This study examines Natal in Brazil as a Smart Tourism Destination (STD) based on the perception of public and private managers who are members of the City Tourism Council. The research utilizes a systemic perspective of STD proposed by Ivars-Baidal et al. (2016), consisting of three interconnected levels: Strategic-Relational, Instrumental, and Applied. The findings reveal that Natal faces challenges in terms of infrastructure, accessibility, security, connectivity, and sensoring, which hinder its progress as STD. The study also identifies opportunities in the form of governance structures with smart destinations and the inclusion of smartness guidelines in the City Master Plan. The research aims to contribute to the theoretical understanding of STD and its application in destination development. It highlights the need for innovative planning and management in Natal, emphasizing that adopting the STD from a systemic perspective can enhance competitiveness and elevate the level of smartness in the destination.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 2024

This work investigates the mechanical energy harvesting from smart and adaptive devices using magnetic interactions. The energy harvester is built from an elastic beam connected to an electric circuit by a magnetostrictive material that promotes energy transduction. Besides, magnetic interactions define the system stability characterizing multistable configurations. The adaptiveness is provided by magnets that can change their position with respect to the beam, changing the system configuration. A mathematical model is proposed considering a novel model to describe magnetic interactions based on the single-point magnet dipole method, but employing multiple points to represent the magnetic dipole, which is more effective to match experimental data. The adaptive behavior allows one to alter the system stability and therefore, its dynamical response. A nonlinear dynamics analysis is performed showing the possibilities to enhance energy harvesting capacity from the magnet position change. The strategy is to perform a system dynamical characterization and afterward, alter the energetic barrier according to the environmental energy sources. Results show interesting conditions where energy harvesting capacity is dramatically increased by changing the system characteristics.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.219-220
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• 2005