The influence of hot pressing on high density fibreboards, when the panels are used for overlaying

Um conjunto de painéis de fibras de alta densidade, colados com uma resina de melamina/ureia-formaldeído, foi submetido a operações de prensagem a quente, de modo a estudar a influência desta operação nas propriedades do substrato. Usou-se uma prensa de pratos, a uma pressão que permitisse um contacto firme entre os painéis e os pratos da prensa. Foi desenvolvido um plano experimental para três temperaturas diferentes de 95, 180 e 210 º C e dois tempos de prensagem, de 22 e 35 segundos, para cada uma delas. Os painéis foram fabricados com fibras de pinho (Pinus pinaster) a uma densidade média de 930 kg/m3 e espessura média de 6,7 mm De acordo com os resultados obtidos, as operações de pós-fabrico dos painéis de alta densidade resultaram numa ligeira melhoria do módulo de elasticidade, da tensão de rotura à flexão estática e da resistência interna dos painéis usados como substrato. Observou-se também uma ligeira diminuição da humidade de equilíbrio e espessura dos painéis, bem como um aumento da densidade e do inchamento, com o aumento da temperatura e tempo de prensagem.ct A series of high density fiberboard (HDF) panels, bonded with melamine/urea-formaldehyde (MUF), were exposed to a post manufacture hot pressing at various temperatures and pressing durations using a hot press and just enough pressure to ensure firm contact between the panel and the press platens. The experimental plan was developed for three different temperatures of 95, 180 and 210ºC and two different pressing times, of 22 and 35 seconds. The panels were made with pine fibers (pinus pinaster) at a target density of 930 kg/m3 and target thickness of 6.7 mm. The results indicated that the pos-manufacture hot-pressing of the exterior HDF panels resulted in a slightly improvement of the modulus of elasticity (MOE), bending strength and internal bonding (IB) of the panels used as substrates. A reduction in moisture content and thickness as well as an increase in density and thickness swelling was also noticed with an increase in the temperature and pressing timeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efficient parallelization on GPU of an image smoothing method based on a variational model

Medical imaging is fundamental for improvements in diagnostic accuracy. However, noise frequently corrupts the images acquired, and this can lead to erroneous diagnoses. Fortunately, image preprocessing algorithms can enhance corrupted images, particularly in noise smoothing and removal. In the medical field, time is always a very critical factor, and so there is a need for implementations which are fast and, if possible, in real time. This study presents and discusses an implementation of a highly efficient algorithm for image noise smoothing based on general purpose computing on graphics processing units techniques. The use of these techniques facilitates the quick and efficient smoothing of images corrupted by noise, even when performed on large-dimensional data sets. This is particularly relevant since GPU cards are becoming more affordable, powerful and common in medical environments

Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx by CO over Cu(Fe)/SBA-15 Catalysts: Effects of the Metal Loading on the Catalytic Activity

Mesoporous Cu(Fe)/SBA-15 catalysts were prepared with distinct metal loadings of ca. 2–10 wt.%. A detailed set of characterizations using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy was performed to correlate the relationship among structure, electronic properties and catalytic performances. All solids were evaluated in the selective catalytic reduction of NOx in the presence of CO (CO-SCR). The influence of the metal loadings on the overall activity indicated that introducing high amounts of Fe or Cu on the catalysts was beneficial to form either CuO or α-Fe2O3 clusters. Cux/SBA-15 series exhibited more efficient activity and poison-tolerant ability during CO-SCR reaction, in contrast to Fex/SBA-15. In spite of the Fe species introduced on SBA-15 having structural features similar to those of Cu ones, low interactions among Fe nanoparticles, silica and clusters impeded the high performances of Fe10/SBA-15. XPS revealed the Fe species in a more oxidized state, indicating the stability of the solid after the catalytic tests, in agreement with EPR and Raman spectroscopy. Cu8/SBA-15 worked better, being recyclable due to the interaction of the Cu2+ ions with SBA-15, avoiding the deactivation of the catalyst.The authors acknowledge the financial support by the Funcap (Grant PS1-0186-00346.01.00/21). A.C.O. and ERC thank to Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain) projects PID2021-126235OB-C32 and TED2021-130756B-C31, and FEDER funds. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Prevention and control of Chagas Disease : an overview

Chagas disease is the main cause of heart failure and sudden death in the Western Hemisphere. The literature of the last decades reported on the changing epidemiological profiles of Chagas disease, which now threats the human population in the cities. The exodus of the Latin America people to the Northern Hemisphere explains the growing concern in countries where the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi was accidental or transferred from a mother to her offspring. Herein, we present the evidence of the possible acquisition of the T. cruzi infection by sex. The staggering demonstration of the transmission of the T. cruzi infections from males and females to naïve mates by intercourse introduces substantial changes in the surveillance of the Chagas disease. Notably, the sexual transmission of the T. cruzi introduces changes in the concepts of medical care, prevention and control; specifically, the risk for the vertical transfer of the parasiteinduced kDNA mutations, underpinning the genetically driven autoimmunity, inheritance, and pathogenesis associated with multifaceted clinical manifestations of Chagas disease with high ratios of morbidity and mortality. In this regard, the endemics require much paradigm research with new approaches and innovation technologies, aiming at its control. For example, the recent knowledge anticipates useful measures for preventing the potential forthcoming pandemic Chagas parasites. A long-lasting multicenter research program is needed for creative, drug discovery for curtailment of Chagas disease. Meanwhile, the prevention shall rely on the education, information, and communication program for health

The Psychedelic State Induced by Ayahuasca Modulates the Activity and Connectivity of the Default Mode Network

The experiences induced by psychedelics share a wide variety of subjective features, related to the complex changes in perception and cognition induced by this class of drugs. A remarkable increase in introspection is at the core of these altered states of consciousness. Self-oriented mental activity has been consistently linked to the Default Mode Network (DMN), a set of brain regions more active during rest than during the execution of a goal-directed task. Here we used fMRI technique to inspect the DMN during the psychedelic state induced by Ayahuasca in ten experienced subjects. Ayahuasca is a potion traditionally used by Amazonian Amerindians composed by a mixture of compounds that increase monoaminergic transmission. In particular, we examined whether Ayahuasca changes the activity and connectivity of the DMN and the connection between the DMN and the task-positive network (TPN). Ayahuasca caused a significant decrease in activity through most parts of the DMN, including its most consistent hubs: the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC)/Precuneus and the medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC). Functional connectivity within the PCC/Precuneus decreased after Ayahuasca intake. No significant change was observed in the DMN-TPN orthogonality. Altogether, our results support the notion that the altered state of consciousness induced by Ayahuasca, like those induced by psilocybin (another serotonergic psychedelic), meditation and sleep, is linked to the modulation of the activity and the connectivity of the DMN.The Brazilian Federal Agencies: CNPq, CAPES; FINEP; The Sao Paulo State financial agency (FAPESP)

PERSEIA: a biomedical wireless sensor network to support healthcare delivery for the elderly and chronically Ill

Proceeding of: 28th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2006. EMBS ´06, New York, Aug. 30 2006-Sept. 3, 2006This paper presents a system based on Ambient Intelligence (AmI) to foster home care monitoring of senior citizens and chronically ill patients. The most important fact addressed in this research is the development of non intrusive and easy to use sensing devices. According to this, medical tests do not need user collaboration to perform them, neither powering on and off the sensor, starting the measure, configuring communications, etc.This work was supported in part by the Spanish Comunidad de Madrid under Grant GR/SAL/0277/2004.Publicad

Vasorelaxant activity of Euphorbia furcillata Kunth mainly by activation of NO/cGMP pathway and calcium channel blockade

The aim of current study was to determinate ex vivo and chromatographic fingerprint by HPLC of four extracts of Euphorbia furcillata K. Ethyl acetate extract of Euphorbia furcillata (EaEEf) was the most effective and potent extract (Emax=98.69±1.24%) and its effect was partially endothelium-dependent. Functional vasorelaxant mechanism of action of EaEEf was determinate, EaEEf showed efficient relaxation of KCl [80 mM]-induced contraction and norepinephrine and CaCl2 contraction curves showed diminution of maximal contraction in the presence of EAEEf and EaEEf-relaxation curve was shifted to the right in the presence of L-NAME (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) and ODQ (guanylate cyclase inhibitor). Chromatographic fingerprints analysis suggests presence of diterpenoid such as abietane, tigliane, and ingenane skeletons. Our experiments suggest the EaEEf vasorelaxant activity could be attributed to diterpenoid molecules whose mechanism involves nitric oxide production and calcium channel blockade

Ocorrência da "soja louca II" no estado do Pará.

Edição dos resumos do 44º Congresso Brasileiro de Fitopatologia, 2011, Bento Gonçalves. Resumo 1175