Roy Andersson: The Essence of the Complex Image

The work of Roy Andersson, a Swedish auteur that turned its back to Realism and embraced Abstractionism, embodies one of the few truly defying and groundbreaking attitudes in modern Cinema: the denial of speed. The current essay focus on the methods through which he obtains this effect and the contribution of his body of work to the Aesthetics of Cinema

The singlespot frogfish Antennarius radiosus (Lophiiformes, Antennariidae), a valid member of the ichthyofauna of the Azores

The big-eyed frogfish Antennarius radiosus Garman, 1896 is confirmed as a valid record for the Azores. A revision of the historical records confirms three valid species of frogfishes from the Azores (A. radiosus, A. nummifer, Histrio histrio). Two species (A. senegalensis, A. pardalis or A. multiocellatus) require confirmation

Neuronal Activity Induces Synaptic Delivery of hnRNP A2/B1 by a BDNF-Dependent Mechanism in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Dendritic protein synthesis plays a critical role in several forms of synaptic plasticity, including BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor)-mediated long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP). Dendritic transcripts are typically transported in a repressed state as components of large ribonucleoprotein complexes, and then translated upon stimulation at, or in the vicinity, of activated synapses. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNP A2/B1) is a trans-acting factor involved in dendritic mRNA trafficking, but how the distribution of the protein in dendrites is regulated has not been characterized. Here we found that a fraction of hnRNP A2/B1 is present at the synapse under resting conditions in cultured hippocampal neurons. Accordingly, this ribonucleoprotein was detected in free mRNP, monosomal, and polyribosomal fractions obtained from synaptoneurosomes. Neuronal activity and BDNF treatment increased hnRNP A2/B1 protein levels in the cell body and dendritic compartments, and induced the delivery of this protein to synaptic sites. The activitydependent accumulation of hnRNP A2/B1 at the synapse required, at least in part, the activation of TrkB receptors, presumably by BDNF. This neurotrophin also upregulated the hnRNP A2/B1 mRNA in the soma but was without effect on the abundance of neuritic hnRNP A2/B1 transcripts. These results show that the distribution of hnRNP A2/B1 is regulated by BDNF and by neuronal activity, an effect that may have a role in BDNF-induced synaptic plasticity events

Development of a monitoring system for electrical energy consumption and power quality analysis

This paper presents the development of a monitoring system for electrical energy consumption and power quality analysis, also known as power quality analyser (PQA). The internal architecture of the developed monitoring system is described in detail along the paper, highlighting the signal conditioning circuit and analogue to digital conversion (ADC) stage, the advanced RISC machine (ARM) processor, and the digital signal processor (DSP), which are used, respectively, for data acquisition, data communication and power quality calculations. This paper also describes the software developed for a Raspberry Pi, which receives the processed information from the ARM processor and presents it in real-time using a touch screen user-friendly interface. Among all the available features of the developed system, the paper presents the most relevant experimental results obtained with linear and nonlinear loads, showing the main functionalities of the different menus available in the developed user interface, mainly the menus “Scope”, “Harmonics” and “Data”.This work is supported by FCT with the reference project UID/EEA/04436/2013, by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) with the reference project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006941.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An improved k-ε turbulence model for FENE-P fluids capable to reach high drag reduction regime

An improved k-ε turbulence model for viscoelastic fluids is developed to predict turbulent flows in complex geometries, with polymeric solutions described by the finitely extensible nonlinear elastic-Peterlin constitutive model. The k-ε model is tested against a wide range of direct numerical simulation data, with different rheological parameters combinations, and is capable to capture the drag reduction for all regimes of low, intermediate and high, with good performance. Two main contributions are proposed, one through the viscoelastic closures present in the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation equations, and the other, by modifying eddy viscosity model damping function to incorporate the viscoelastic effect close to the wall, especially at the buffer layer. In addition, improvements have been made to the cross-correlations between the fluctuating components of the polymer conformation and rate of strain tensors present in the Reynolds-averaged transport equation for the conformation tensor. The main advantage is the capacity to predict all components of the tensor with good performance.indisponível

A contribuição da informática para o desenvolvimento sustentável: o exemplo do conceito de grid computing

Este trabalho foi realizado sob orientação do Prof. António Brandão Moniz para a disciplina “Factores Sociais da Inovação” do Mestrado Engenharia Informática realizado na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal)Some years ago, Information Technologies (IT) were in the leading edge, it was possible to have a power never seen before in calculation, simulation and data storage. This fact turned the computational power of the new technologies essential, currently representing a significant weight in the budget of companies, the state and even the common households. Today, the world is positively condemned to focus itself on sustainability - conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources. We can find the great world-wide leaders face to face with a great challenge - to contribute for the development of a sustainable world. It is important that these leaders are able to focus themselves on the economic development without forgetting important environmental and social matters that every time become more and more pertinent. Innovation in informatics and grid computing appears not only as a promising solution concerning this sustainable economic development but also as the best answer to the stagnation or contraction of the world-wide economy. Our paper presents some trends and examples of development of new systems that use in a sustainable way the computer energy available and contribute to more productive and powerful computer systems

Insights from cyclic and pulse load testing

Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s) PMF also acknowledges FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for funding the PhD grant UI/BD/151055/2021. PMF, MAM, CV and MSC acknowledge FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for its financial support via projects UIDB/00667/2020 and UIDP/00667/2020 (UNIDEMI)Recent advancements in materials engineering have addressed challenges in integrating sensory properties into metallic components, notably through Self-Sensing Materials (SSMs) embedding piezoelectric particles like Barium Titanate (BT) via Friction Stir Processing (FSP). This study explores self-monitoring metallic parts obtained by incorporating BT particles in AA5083-H111 plate via FSP, evaluating their behaviour under cyclic and pulse loads for real-time operational insights. The study explores how manufacturing processes affect SSMs’ electrical voltage response, focusing on FSP's impact on different nugget regions, investigating polarization direction, electrode positioning, thickness effects, and performance under pulse loads. Findings indicated consistent electrical responses across specimens, with sensitivity affected by polarization direction and thickness. There was no evidence of electrical voltage response for constant loads. The pulse and cyclic loads triggered an electrical response, exhibiting a piezoelectric behaviour. The study highlights the intricate relationship between specimen features and piezoelectric properties, offering insights into optimizing SSM performance.publishersversionpublishe

Perkinsus Atlanticus – desenvolvimento de um método de diagnóstico para detecção de infecção em moluscos bivalves

Diferentes espécies do género Perkinsus, um protozoário parasita pertencente ao novo phylum Perkinsea, podem ser encontradas mundialmente e constituem uma séria ameaça aos moluscos bivalves como as ostras, amêijoas, abalones e vieiras, os quais têm um papel importante não só do ponto de vista comercial, mas também ecológico

Peixes marinhos costeiros da ilha de São Tomé (Golfo da Guiné).

Since the early works of Balthazar Osório, at the turn of the century, only few papers have been published on the ichthyofauna of São Tomé island. The papers dealing with these fishes were compilations of previous works or the results of a few scientific expeditions (e.g. "Galathea" and "Calypso"). In this paper, we present the results of several surveys carried out from the island over the last decade, together with an annotated revision of the known bibliography for the area. The result is an inventory of the coastal fish of São Tomé island. Our records (124 species belonging to 59 families) are based on fish captured, photographed or observed whilst diving and also on those landed by local artisanal fishermen. In this paper we report a total of 185 confirmed coastal species and 67 families. Twenty-seven of these are reported for the first time for the area, and three other unidentified species may represent new species to science. The best represented families are Carangidae (14 species), Serranidae (11 species), Gobiidae and Scombridae (8 species each). Despite its proximity to the African Continent, it is clear that these islands harbour a particular fish fauna, including several amphiatlantic species, which, in the eastern Atlantic, occur only around oceanic islands (e.g., Epinephelus ascencionis, Paranthias furcifer, Mulloidychtis martinicus, Bodianus pulchellus, Chromis multilineata, Gnatholepis thomsoni, Melychthis niger). The coastal ichthyodiversity of São Tomé is apparently poorer than that of the adjacent coasts, showing a significant influence of the islands further west, St. Helena and Ascencion

Polymedication and its association with individual factors in Portuguese older adults: a cross-sectional study

Population aging is a reality resulting in polymedication and its harmful consequences. Therefore, determining polymedication state in Portugal and identifying its associated characteristics is vital. METHODS: Among the cross-sectional study Nutrition UP 65, information on socio-demographic data, cognitive performance, lifestyle, health, and nutritional status was collected in the Portuguese older population. Frequency of polymedication (self-reported concomitant administration of ≥5 medications and/or supplements) was calculated. Associated factors were determined. RESULTS: A total of 1317 individuals were included in the sample and the frequency of polymedication was 37.1%. Characteristics associated with higher odds of polymedication were living in an institution (OR: 1.97; CI: 1.04-3.73); being overweight (OR: 1.52; CI: 1.03–2.25) or obese (OR: 1.57; CI: 1.06–2.34); perceiving health status as reasonable (OR: 1.68; CI: 1.25–2.27) or bad/very bad (OR: 2.04; CI: 1.37–3.03); having illnesses of the circulatory system (OR: 2.91; CI: 2.14–3.94) or endocrine, metabolic, and nutritional diseases (OR: 1.79; CI: 1.38–2.31). CONCLUSIONS: A 3 to 4 out of 10 Portuguese older adults are polymedicated. Intervention in modifiable factors and the monitorization of others is an important strategy in the care of the elderly