E. P. da Silva

Growth evolution of ZnO thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering

We study the surface morphology evolution of ZnO thin films grown on glass substrates as a function of thickness by RF magnetron sputtering technique. The surface topography of the samples is measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). All AFM images of the films are analyzed using scaling concepts. The results show that the surface morphology is initially formed by a small grains structure. The grains increase in size and height with growth time resulting in the formation of a mounds-like structure. The growth exponent, β, and the exponent defining the evolution of the characteristic wavelength of the surface, p, amounted to β = 0.76 ± 0.08 and p = 0.3 ± 0.05. From these exponents, the surface morphology is determined by the nonlocal shadowing effects, that is the dominant mechanism, due to the incident deposition particles during film growth.

Parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions for state-derivative feedback control in polytopic linear systems

In some practical problems, for instance, the suppression of vibration in mechanical systems, the state-derivative signals are easier to obtain than the state signals. Using Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs), and applying the reciprocal projection lemma in a Parameter-dependent Lyapunov Function (PDLF), this article proposes a method for the design of state-derivative feedback applied to uncertain linear systems. The control design aims the system stabilisation without and with decay rate restriction. When considering only the system stability, the proposed methodology becomes practically equivalent to the Common Quadratic Lyapunov Function (CQLF) technique. Otherwise, when the decay rate is taken in account, the proposed methodology is shown to be less conservative. Numerical examples illustrate its efficiency.

Effect of dietary betaine supplementation on the performance, carcass yield, and intestinal morphometrics of broilers submitted to heat stress

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of betaine in methionine- and choline-reduced diets fed to broilers submitted to heat stress. In total, 1,408 male broilers were randomly distributed into eight treatments, according to 2 x 4 (environment x diet) factorial arrangement, with eight replicates of 2 birds each. Birds were reared environmental chambers under controlled temperature (25-26 °C) or cyclic heat-stressing temperature (25-31 °C). The following diets were tested: positive control (PC), formulated to meet broiler nutritional requirements; negative control (NC), with reduced DL-methionine and choline chloride levels; and with two supplementation levels of natural betaine to the negative control diet (NC+NB1 and NC+NB2). Live performance, carcass traits, and intestinal morphometrics were evaluated when broilers were 45 days of age. The results showed that all evaluated parameters were influenced by the interaction between environment and diet, except for breast meat drip loss. The breakdown of the interactions showed that birds fed the PC diet and reared in the controlled environment had greater breast drip loss than those submitted to the cyclic heat-stress environment. Birds submitted to cyclic heat stress and fed the PC diet presented the lowest feed intake. Feed conversion ratio was influenced only by diet. The FCR of broilers fed the NC+NB2 diet was intermediate relative to those fed the PC and NC diets. The addition of betaine in the diet, with 11.18% digestible methionine and 24.73% total choline reductions, did not affect broiler live performance, carcass yield, or intestinal morphometrics.

Less conservative optimal robust control of a 3-DOF helicopter

This work proposes an improved technique for design and optimization of robust controllers norm for uncertain linear systems, with state feedback, including the possibility of time-varying the uncertainty. The synthesis techniques used are based on LMIs (linear matrix inequalities) formulated on the basis of Lyapunovs stability theory, using Finslers lemma. The design has used the addition of the decay rate restriction, including a parameter γ in the LMIs, responsible for decreasing the settling time of the feedback system. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons were made between methods of synthesis and optimization of the robust controllers norm, seeking alternatives with lower cost and better performance that meet the design restrictions. A practical application illustrates the efficiency of the proposed method with a failure purposely inserted in the system.

Modelling of the nitrogen deposition and dietary lysine requirements of Redbro broilers

The aim of this study was to determine the coefficients of the Goettingen model for Redbro birds and estimate the digestible lysine requirements. To determine the model parameters, three nitrogen balance trials were performed in Periods I (14–28 days), II (42–56 days) and III (70–84 days), using 42 birds per trial. The birds were individually housed and subjected to six diets with increasing levels of nitrogen, with lysine as the limiting amino acid (deficient by 20% in relation to other amino acids). Dietary nitrogen concentrations were 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 g/kg. A control diet was added to confirm lysine as the first limiting amino acid. Nitrogen balance trials were divided into 5 days of adaptation and two periods of excreta collection, each one of 5 days. The response of the birds to a control diet confirmed that lysine was the first limiting amino acid. The adjustment of the exponential functions between nitrogen retention or excretion and nitrogen intake allowed estimation of parameters of the Goettingen model. The maximum potential for nitrogen retention was 3276, 2585 and 2603 mg/BWkg0.67.day, nitrogen maintenance requirement was 225, 135 and 122 mg/BWkg0.67.day and efficiency of nitrogen utilisation was 313 × 10−6, 406 × 10−6 and 415 × 10−6 in the phases of 14–28, 42–56 and 70–84 days. The digestible lysine intake for Periods I, II and III, based on 60% of the maximum potential for nitrogen retention, was 711, 989 and 1272 mg/day (1.225%, 1.137% and 1.09% of lysine in the diet for a daily feed intake of 58, 87and 117 g/day), respectively.

Exogenous enzymes in pre-starter broiler diets based on corn and soybean meal

A fibrolytic enzyme complex was added to the pre-starter diet. Broiler chicks were randomly distributed into five treatments, consisting of a diet with no enzyme addition and four test diets supplemented with 100, 200, 300 and 400g/T of an enzyme complex. The dietary inclusion of the enzyme complex increased weight gain, and the dose of 300g/T improved weight gain and worsened feed conversion ratio.