The influence of the mode II fracture energy on the behaviour of composite plate reinforced concrete

Comunicação apresentada em Fifth International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures, Vail, Colorado, USA, 2004In this paper, the finite element method is used to analyse the behaviour of concrete externally strengthened by sheets of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP). The bond between concrete and CFRP is modelled by a discrete approach using interface elements. The mechanisms involved in the behaviour of externally reinforced concrete specimens are complex, the global strength of the specimen being governed by the strength of each individual material as well as by the adhesion properties conferred by the epoxy. It is observed in experiments that, in most cases, failure occurs due to the loss of cohesion of a portion or lamina of concrete attached to the epoxy-fibres layers, the latter remaining intact. In this paper, the results of numerical simulations of bond tests are presented, aiming to contribute for a better understanding, in qualitative and quantitative terms, of mode II fracture energy in concrete and its influence on the behaviour of the interface concrete-FRP

Allergic conjunctivitis and conjunctival provocation tests in atopic dogs.

INTRODUCTION: Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a very common disease, but little is known about eye involvement. The conjunctival provocation test (CPT) is used in human to study the ocular response to allergenic stimuli and to evaluate anti-allergic therapy. To our knowledge it has not been used in dogs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of ocular signs in a population of atopic dogs and relate these with clinical cAD scores; and the usefulness of CPT for dust mites in atopic dogs with itchy eyes. PROCEDURES: Sixty cAD patients were evaluated for (i) ocular signs of allergic conjunctivitis including conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, epiphora, ocular discharge, pruritus and corneal involvement, graded 0 to 3 according to severity, and (2) cAD Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-03). Additionally, CPTs for Dermatophagoides farinae (n = 12) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (n = 12) were performed in sensitized atopic dogs and 24 control dogs. RESULTS: Periocular and ocular signs of allergy were present in 60% (36/60) of cases. Conjunctival hyperemia (90%) was the most common sign. Severity of ocular signs was significantly correlated with eye pruritus (r(s)  = 0.690, P = <0.001) and skin lesions score for head region (r(s) = 0.261, P = 0.04). A highly significant difference (P < 0.001, Fisher test) was found in CPTs between the test and the control groups. CONCLUSION:  Allergic conjunctivitis signs associated with cAD seem under valuated so these patients would benefit from an ophthalmologic evaluation. Furthermore, we found CPT to be a reliable, easy to perform and safe test for the etiologic diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis in the dog

O impacto da pandemia da Covid-19 nos territórios indígenas do Brasil

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Geografia, 2021.O presente trabalho explora o tema de saúde e território indígenas durante a pandemia da Covid-19. Uma breve revisão bibliográfica sobre a Geografia da Saúde é realizada para discutir conceitos de saúde, território, políticas e Estado. O contexto de direitos indígenas é analisado, segundo a Constituição Federal, bem como o processo de demarcação de terras e o contexto de pressões e ameaças aos povos indígenas. Por fim, o contexto da pandemia é analisado, abordando sobre saúde indígena, a evolução de óbitos em terras indígenas, e algumas considerações sobre as ações do estado em relação aos povos indígenas durante a pandemia. Os resultados indicam uma ampla possibilidade de contribuições que podem ser feitas pela geografia nos estudos sobre saúde, principalmente na utilização das ferramentas de geoprocessamento e sistemas de informações geográficas. Apesar de uma conquista presente na Constituição Federal, a demarcação de terras indígenas é um processo lento e que sofre diversos ataques por parte de setores interessados na exploração das riquezas naturais. Os dados referentes aos óbitos e contaminação em povos indígenas são divergentes, se considerando os dados oficiais e dados de outras instituições interessadas pela saúde indígena, o que dificulta no monitoramento e no combate à pandemia em contextos indígenas. Diversas fontes denunciam a omissão do Estado, durante à pandemia, no contexto indígena

Follicular Fluid redox involvement for ovarian follicle growth

As the human ovarian follicle enlarges in the course of a regular cycle or following controlled ovarian stimulation, the changes in its structure reveal the oocyte environment composed of cumulus oophorus cells and the follicular fluid (FF).In contrast to the dynamic nature of cells, the fluid compartment appears as a reservoir rich in biomolecules. In some aspects, it is similar to the plasma, but it also exhibits differences that likely relate to its specific localization around the oocyte. The chemical composition indicates that the follicular fluid is able to detect and buffer excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species, employing a variety of antioxidants, some of them components of the intracellular milieu.An important part is played by albumin through specific cysteine residues. But the fluid contains other molecules whose cysteine residues may be involved in sensing and buffering the local oxidative conditions. How these molecules are recruited and regulated to intervene such process is unknown but it is a critical issue in reproduction.In fact, important proteins in the FF, that regulate follicle growth and oocyte quality, exhibit cysteine residues at specific points, whose untoward oxidation would result in functional loss. Therefore, preservation of controlled oxidative conditions in the FF is a requirement for the fine-tuned oocyte maturation process. In contrast, its disturbance enhances the susceptibility to the establishment of reproductive disorders that would require the intervention of reproductive medicine technology.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Arrowhead - Eventhandler System

The following document is the final report regarding PESTI – Internship Project of the Informatics Degree in Computer Science of ISEP. The Eventhandler project is englobed in the European Project Arrowhead. This framework allows the development of collaborative applications between several devices also known as Internet of Things or IoT. Its base foundation lies on the SOA architecture and currently offers services such as: Service Discovery, Authentication, Orchestration, Authorization and others. Each of which will be described in this document. Using the Eventhandler as an Arrowhead platform, Event Producer applications are able to register any kind of event such as: a temperature provided by sensor, warnings, errors, connection failures, etc. All this information must be stored in a database, local file or the Historian service provided by the Arrowhead Framework. Event Consumers can subscribe to the Eventhandler using a filter. Therefore, being able to receive in real time incoming events or access them through the permanent storage referred above. Besides implementing the Eventhandler locally, the main objective of this project is to also integrated this system within the Arrowhead cloud.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effect of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha on the NADPH oxidase system of human colostrum macrophages, blood monocytes, and THP-1 cells

The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on NADPH oxidase activity and gp91-phox gene expression in human colostrum macrophages (CM), peripheral blood monocytes (PBM), and myelomonocytic THP-1 cells. We also investigated the effect of IFN-gamma on the release of TNF-alpha by these cells. Our results show that under basal culture conditions, CM release more superoxide than PBM and THP-1 cells (p andlt; 0.05). The addition of IFN-gamma, alone or in combination with TNF-alpha, increased spontaneous superoxide release by PBM and THP-1 cells (p andlt; 0.05) and increased phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated superoxide release by CM, PBM, and THP-1 cells (p andlt; 0.05). The NADPH oxidase activity of THP-1 cells consistently remained lower than that of CM or PBM, despite a dramatic response to IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. Under basal conditions, gp91-phox gene expression was significantly higher in CM and PBM compared with THP-1 cells (p andlt; 0.05). The addition of IFN-gamma alone or in combination with TNF-alpha caused a dramatic increase in gp91-phox gene expression in THP-1 cells (p andlt; 0.05) but not in CM or PBM. Under basal conditions or in the presence of IFN-gamma, CM released more TNF-alpha than PBM or THP-1 cells (p andlt; 0.05). In addition, PBM released more TNF-gamma than THP-1 cells (p andlt; 0.05). IFN-gamma did not significantly augment the release of TNF-alpha by these cells (p \u3e 0.05). Thus, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha induced equivalent gp91-phox gene expression in THP-1 cells compared with CM or PBM but did not bring about equivalent NADPH oxidase activity. TNF-alpha release was higher in more mature cells. This partial divergence of gp91- phox gene expression, NADPH oxidase activity, and TNF-alpha release is probably a consequence of different events of myeloid cell biology and relates at least in part to cell differentiation state