Bounds on the electromagnetic interactions of excited spin-3/2 leptons

We discuss possible deviations from QED produced by a virtual excited spin-3/2 lepton in the reaction $e^+e^- \longrightarrow 2\gamma$. Data recorded by the OPAL Collaboration at a c.m. energy $\sqrt{s} = 183 GeV$ are used to establish bounds on the nonstandard-lepton mass and coupling strengths.Comment: Latex, 5 pages, 7 ps figures. To be published in Phys. Rev.

The SENSORIA reference modelling language

This chapter provides an overview of SRML - the Sensoria Reference Modelling Language. Our focus will be on the language primitives that SRML offers for modelling business services and activities, the methodological approach that SRML supports, and the mathematical semantics the underpins the modelling approach, including techniques for qualitative and quantitative analysis. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

The Safe-Port project: an approach to port surveillance and protection

SAFE-PORT is a recently started project addressing the complex issue of determining the best configurations of resources for harbour and port surveillance and protection. More specifically, the main goal is to find, for any given scenario, an adequate set of configuration solutions — i.e., number and type of sensors and equipments, their locations and operating modes, the corresponding personnel and other support resources — that maximize protection over a specific area. The project includes research and development of sensors models, novel algorithms for optimization and decision support, and a computer-based decision support system (DSS) to assist decision makers in that task. It includes also the development of a simulation environment for modelling relevant aspects of the scenario (including sensors used for surveillance, platforms, threats and the environment), capable to incorporate data from field-trials, used to test and validate solutions proposed by the DSS. Test cases will consider the use of intelligent agents to model the behaviour of threats and of NATO forces in a realistic way, following experts’ definitions and parameters

C-ERB-2, P53, Ki67 proteins and receptors of estrogen and progesterone on the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. To date, many studies in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) have reported on the association HER-2/neu, p53 proteins and steroid hormones and their respective receptors with prognosis and/or the carcinogenesis process, but no definitive conclusion has been reached. Objectives: To assess the proteins c-erbB-2, p53, Ki67 and receptors of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) of EOC, with regard to clinical stage findings and its effect on survival. Methods: 125 patients with a diagnosis of EOC treated by primary surgery and chemotherapy have participated. A surgical stage was noted and analyzed the correlation with c-erbB-2, p53, Ki67, ER and PR. Immunohistochemical analysis, using the anti-c-erbB-2, p53, Ki67 monoclonal antibodies, the antibody cod PR clone PgR and code ER-6-F11 Anti human estrogen. The c-erbB-2 study was complemented by genetic amplification and was reported univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Age 55.7 ± 16; 50.2% with residual disease (< 2 cm); initial (54.6%) and advanced (45.4%) stage. Univariate analysis showed positive staining for c-erbB-2, p-53, Ki67, PR and ER. The patients with negative receptors had a significantly shortened survival time (p = 0.01) than patients with positive receptors. Multivariable analysis revealed only clinical FIGO stage as an independent prognostic of overall survival (p = 0.002). Other variables like c-erbB-2, p53, Ki67, and ER were not significantly related to survival. Conclusions: We concluded that patients with negative PR had a significantly shortened survival time than patients with positive receptors. The overexpression of markers c-erbB-2, p53, Ki67, and ER, were not significantly related to survival in EOC. Only the FIGO stage was achieved to be an independent predictor of overall survival. They should be evaluated together with the patient’s clinical status and other prognostic factors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Associations between neck circumference and adipocytokines among adolescents

Neck circumference (NC) was recently introduced as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor. Adipocytokines may have a key role in the development of CVD. Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between NC and adipocytokines, such as adiponectin and leptin in Portuguese adolescents.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Physical activity during pregnancy and its effects on fetal parameters in the second trimester

The physical activity (PA) during pregnancy still remains controversial due to the risk and protective effects on the fetal parameters (cephalic perimeter, abdominal perimeter, femur length and fetal weight). The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that pregnant women do, at least, 150 weekly minutes of moderate PA during a week (WK). This study aimed to (1) verify the relation between the accomplishment of ACSM guidelines PA and the maternal individual characteristics; (2) verify the relation between accomplishment of these guidelines and the fetal parameters in the second trimester. Prospective study was conducted at Hospital S. João, with a sample of 137 pregnant women. Socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors were assessed via questionnaire. PA was assessed by accelerometry (used for 7 consecutive days) in the second trimester (20–22 weeks). The fetal parameters were assessed by ultrasound between the 20th and 22nd gestational week, always by the same medical. No relation was found between the participants’ individual characteristics and the accomplishment of the ACSM’s recommendations, with p-value for all the variables being >0.05. There is no difference between the fetal parameters in the second trimester of the women who follow the recommendations (p>0.05). The pregnant women’s individual characteristics were not related with the accomplishment of the ACSM’s recommendations. Any relation between the recommendations accomplishment and the fetal parameters in the second trimester was not found and no negative influence was found in the same parameters.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fruit, vegetable consumption and blood pressure in healthy adolescents: A longitudinal analysis from the LabMed study

Background and aims: The associations between fruit and vegetable consumption and high blood pressure among adults are well studied. Nonetheless, data on the influence of a low consumption of fruit and vegetables on cardiovascular disease risk, particularly blood pressure, among healthy adolescents are scarce. Therefore, we aim to analyse the associations between fruit and/or vegetable intake and blood pressure over a two-year period in healthy adolescents.Methods and results: As part of a cohort, 606 adolescents from the LabMed Physical Activity study were evaluated in 2011 (baseline) and 2013 (follow-up). Blood pressure was measured according to standardized procedures and fruit and vegetable consumption was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric variables, socioeconomic status, pubertal stage and lifestyle determinants were gathered and used as confounders. Prospective associations between fruit and/or vegetable intake and blood pressure were examined using generalized linear models. Girls who consumed more fruit at baseline had a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure at follow-up [unstandardized beta: -0.005 mmHg (95% CI: -0.01; -0.0002) (p = 0.038)].Conclusion: In apparently healthy adolescents, fruit intake may already start to have an effect in blood pressure. Girls who consumed more fruit exhibited lower levels of diastolic blood pressure. (C) 2018 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This study was supported by the Research Centre on Physical Activity Health and Leisure (CIAFEL) of the Faculty of Sport, University of Porto and by FCT grant BD88984/2012 (J. Oliveira-Santos); The Research Centre on Physical Activity Health and Leisure (CIAFEL) is supported by UID/DTP/00617/2013 (FCT); the author C. Agostinis-Sobrinho was given Doctoral scholarship from the Brazilian government by CAPES (Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) (Proc: 9588-13-2).The authors gratefully acknowledged the participation of all adolescents and their parents, teachers and schools of the LabMed Study. They also acknowledge the cooperation of volunteer's subjects and the Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (University of Porto) for the sponsoring the LabMed Study

Utilização de fontes de energia renováveis para o aquecimento de aves.

Projeto/Plano de Ação: 03.05.01.021

Non-AIDS-related comorbidities in people living with HIV-1 aged 50 years and older: The AGING POSITIVE study

Objective: To characterize the profile of non-AIDS-related comorbidities (NARC) in the older HIV-1-infected population and to explore the factors associated with multiple NARC. Methods: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study including HIV-1-infected patients aged ≥50 years, who were virologically suppressed and had been on a stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen for at least 6 months. A multiple regression model explored the association between demographic and clinical variables and the number of NARC. Results: Overall, 401 patients were enrolled. The mean age of the patients was 59.3 years and 72.6% were male. The mean duration of HIV-1 infection was 12.0 years and the median exposure to ART was 10.0 years. The mean number of NARC was 2.1, and 34.7% of patients had three or more NARC. Hypercholesterolemia was the most frequent NARC (60.8%), followed by arterial hypertension (39.7%) and chronic depression/anxiety (23.9%). Arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most frequently treated NARC (95.6% and 92.6% of cases, respectively). The linear regression analysis showed a positive relationship between age and NARC (B=0.032, 95% confidence interval 0.015-0.049; p=0.0003) and between the duration of HIV-1 infection and NARC (B=0.039, 95% confidence interval 0.017-0.059; p=0.0005). Conclusions: A high prevalence of NARC was found, the most common being metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychological conditions. NARC rates were similar to those reported for the general population, suggesting a larger societal problem beyond HIV infection. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to reduce the burden of complex multi-morbid conditions in the HIV-1-infected population.Merck Sharp & Dohme, Lda, Portugal provided financial support for the non-interventional study (Protocol Nr. MK0518-826 ).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio