A new urban wind turbine blade design using a pressure-load inverse method

This paper presents the design methodology of a new wind turbine blade section that achieves high performance in urban environment by increasing the maximum lift. For this purpose, a turbomachine blade rows inverse design method was applied to obtain a new wind turbine blade section with constant pressure-load along the chord, at the design inlet angle. In comparison with conventional blade designs, the new blade section has increased maximum lift, reduced leading edge suction peak and controlled soft-stall behaviour,due to the strength reduction of the adverse pressure gradient on the blade suction surface.Wind tunnel experimental results confirmed the computational results

Study of the stability of acetaminophen extrudates for 3D printing prepared by hot melt extrusion when stored at different relative humidites

Poster presented at the PSWC2020 Virtual (7th FIP Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress), 4-6 October 2020N/

3D-Printing of paracetamol tablets by fused deposition modelling

Abstract of poster presented at the 12th PBP World Meeting on Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Wien, Austria, 11-14 May 2021 (virtual Meeting)N/

In a community-based setting spondyloarthritis patients report higher levels of physical disability than chronic low back pain patients-results from EpiReuma.pt

Publisher Copyright: © 2023, Sociedade Portuguesa de Reumatologia. All rights reserved.Objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common health problem and in most patients it is not possible to identify a specific cause (non-specific CLBP). Spondyloarthritis is a musculoskeletal disorder characterized by (often inflammatory) back pain and spinal stiffness. The impact of CLBP and spondyloarthritis on patients’ physical function may be different. This study aims to compare physical disability in patients with spondyloarthritis and CLBP, in a population-based setting. Furthermore, we aim to identify modifiable risk factors for physical disability among these two populations. Methods: Data from EpiReumaPt, a national health cohort with 10 661 individuals, conducted from September 2011 to December 2013, was used. Physical function was accessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and by the physical function dimension of the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the differences between groups. Factors associated with physical disability were explored for both diseases. Results: We evaluated 92 patients with spondyloarthritis, 1376 patients with CLBP and 679 subjects without rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Spondyloarthritis and CLBP patients reported significantly higher levels of disability in HAQ-DI (b=0.33; p<0.001 and b=0.20; p<0.001, respectively) than subjects without RMDs. In comparison to CLBP patients, spondyloarthritis patients reported higher disability (b=0.14; p=0.03). The physical domains of SF-36, bodily pain and general health, where more affected in spondyloarthritis patients than in CLBP patients (b=-6.61; p=0.02 and b=-5.94; p=0.001, respectively). Spondyloarthritis and CLBP patients had a worse physical summary score (PCS) than mental summary score (MCS), and only PCS was significantly worse in comparison to subjects without RMDs. Factors associated with physical disability in CLBP were low back pain intensity, older age, obesity, multimorbidity, and retirement. Similarly, in spondyloarthritis physical disability was associated with retirement and multimorbidity. Factors associated with lower disability were alcohol consumption and male gender in CLBP, and regular physical exercise was associated with lower disability in both disorders. Conclusions: In this nationwide cohort, spondyloarthritis and CLBP patients reported significant physical disability. Regular physical exercise was associated with lower disability in both diseases.publishersversionpublishe

Autobiographical narratives in Williams Syndrome: structural, process and content dimensions

Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, with an intriguing cognitive phenotype. Previous studies found support for an atypical profile of fictional narrative production in WS (Gonçalves et al. The British Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 56(111), 89-109, 2010). This study aimed at testing if the same profile is observed when individuals with WS tell autobiographical narratives. Using a new scoring system, structural (coherence), process (complexity) and content (multiplicity) aspects of autobiographical narrative production were analyzed in WS. Results suggest that individuals with WS produce autobiographical narratives that are significantly less coherent and complex than typically developing controls, although similar to controls in terms of content diversity. These findings point out to deficits in autobiographical narrative production in WS, suggesting the relative preservation of the social dimension of narrative production. These results also support the hypothesis that fictional and autobiographical narrative production may rely on different neurocognitive mechanisms.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - bolsas SFRH/BD/35882/2007, PIC/IC/83290/200

Pomegranate peels and seeds as a source of phenolic compounds: effect of cultivar, by-product, and extraction solvent

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study that are not included in this article (neither in the supplementary information files) are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.The nutraceutical properties of Punica granatum L. are not restricted to the edible portion of the fruit but also to the peels and seeds, flowers, leaves, and tree bark. The recovery and valorization of the peel and seeds (ca. 50% of the whole fruit), besides the positive environmental impact, can be viewed as a source of natural bioactive compounds. Thus, the bioactive properties of extracts of pomegranate peel and seeds from Acco and Wonderful known cultivars, as well as of the novel Big Full cultivar, were evaluated. The dried and ground pomegranate by-products were submitted to a conventional solid/liquid extraction with ethanol/water mixtures (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of EtOH, v/v). The obtained extracts were characterized in terms of total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), and antioxidant activity (AA), determined by the DPPH radical scavenging activity and expressed as IC50 (half maximum inhibitory concentration). With the exception of the Acco cultivar, the extraction yield (EY) was higher for peels, whose extracts showed higher TPC, TF, and IC50 (lower AA). The extracts obtained from the by-products of the Big Full cultivar had a statistically higher overall bioactive potential (TPC: 0.36mg GAE/mg extract; TF: 0.031mg CATE/mg extract; IC50: 0.51mg/mL) compared to the other two studied cultivars. Furthermore, the EY was enhanced by solvents richer in ethanol (50-75%), allowing obtaining extracts richer in TPC and TF with higher AA. Finally, it was shown that EY combined with bioactive data allowed a satisfactory principal component unsupervised differentiation of the pomegranate extracts according to the type of by-product used.This work was supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) through national funds to the research units CEB (UIDB/04469/2020), CERNAS (UIDB/00681/2020), and CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) as well as to the Associate Laboratory SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020). The European Regional Development Fund, under the Norte2020 Program funded BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) and funded MobFood operation (LISBOA 01-0247-FEDER-024524). Lara Campos acknowledges the research grants (CEB-BI-14-2019) and (FCT-IPC-i2A-CER NAS/Escola de Verão/BI-01-08), and Luana Seixas acknowl edges the research grant (FCT-IPC-i2A-CERNAS/Escola de Verão/BII-01-07), all provided by FCT.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

¿Entre héroes y deidades? actos de sacrificio de la Edad del Hierro grabados en la roca 6 del monte de Porreiras (Noroeste de Portugal)

El objetivo de este trabajo es publicar los grabados rupestres del Monte das Porreira 6, situado en Paredes de Coura, en el no de Portugal. El estudio se ha basado en un levantamiento fotogramétrico y el posterior contraste con la determinación de la distancia geométrica. Se trata de una roca profusamente decorada con una larga diacronía de grabados. La fase inicial incluye el arte atlántico clásico, integrado en el Calcolítico Reciente. La segunda fase incluye la representación de équidos, jinetes y puñales con mango de antenas. Basándose en los paralelos de dichas armas, es posible integrar estos motivos entre la Edad de Bronce Final y la Edad de Hierro Inicial. También es posible observar el paso de una gramática abstracta, durante la primera fase, a una gramática figurativa, en la que se puede identificar una narrativa relacionada con los sacrificios humanos y de animales, asociada al uso de puñales con mango de antenas. Estas representaciones evocan un simbolismo que recuerda a los textos de Estrabón y objetos de bronce que contienen escenas de sacrificio. La última fase del grabado indica nuevos cambios simbólicos, con la valorización de acciones aisladas perpetradas por un jinete, portando un arma arrojadiza, que pueden representar a una divinidad o a un héroe.The aim of this work is to publish the rock engravings of Monte das Porreira 6, located in the council of Paredes de Coura, in the Northwest of Portugal. The study was based on photogrammetric surveys and subsequent contrast recurring to geometric distance determination. It is a profusely decorated rock with a long diachrony of carving. The initial phase includes Classical Atlantic Art, integrated in the regional Neo-Chalcolithic period. The second phase includes representation of several types of equids, horsemen, and antenna-hilted daggers. Based on parallels for such weapons, it is possible to integrate these motifs between the Late Bronze Age and an Early Iron Age of North-western Iberia. It is also possible to observe a change from an abstract grammar, during the first phase, to a figurative grammar, in which we can identify a narrative related to human and animal sacrifices, associated with the use of antenna-hilted daggers. These depictions recall a symbolism reminiscent of Strabo’s writings, including bronze objects containing sacrificial scenes. The final phase of engraving indicates new symbolic changes, with valorisation of isolated actions perpetrated by horsemen, carrying throwing weapons, which may be a representation of a deity or hero

New perspectives of Juglans regia L. phytochemicals against Candida species

Opportunistic fungal infections have deserved special relevance in the last decades, presenting itself, a serious problem in terms of public health. Despite Candida albicans was considered the main agent responsible for those infections, other non-albicans Candida species have also been described in the last years [1-3]. Most of the species are susceptible to antimicrobial drugs, but recently it has been observed a growing number of microorganisms with drug resistance. Therefore, the discover/use of alternative therapies is crucial [4]. Juglans regia L. (walnut) leaves are commonly used in traditional medicine as antiseptic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory [5]; those benefits could be related with its richness in phenolic compounds [6]. In the present work, the antifungal potential of the hydroalcoholic extract prepared from walnut leaves was evaluated against a total of nineteen Candida strains (from the species: C.albicans, C.glabrata, C.parapsilosis and C.tropicalis), using the disc diffusion halo assay. All the tested strains were sensible to the plant extract. The obtained values of the inhibitory zones ranged between 0.9-1.4 cm, being the halo maintained after 48h. The observed antifungal activity is certainly related to the phenolic compounds previously determined in the extract [6]: five phenolic acid derivatives- caffeoylquinic and p-coumaroylquinic acid derivatives, two dimers and one trimer of procyanidins, twelve flavonols- quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol derivatives, and five taxifolin O-pentoside isomers; 3-O-caffeoylquinic acids and quercetin O-pentoside were the main phenolic compounds. Further studies are necessaries in order to elucidate the most active compounds and the specific role of each one. REFERENCES [1] Kim J, Sudbery P. (2011) J Microbiol. 49, 171-177. [2] Tsai P-W, Chen Y-T, Hsu P-C, Lan C-Y. (2013) BioMedicine. 3, 51–64. [3] Vázquez-González D, Perusquía-Ortiz AM, Hundeiker M, Bonifaz A. (2013) J Ger Soc Dermatology. 11, 381–94. [4] Kanafani ZA, Perfect JR. (2008) Clin Infect Dis - Antimicrob Resist. 46, 120–128. [5] Murray MT. (2004) 2nd ed. New York, NY. Random House. [6] Santos A, Barros L, Calhelha RC, Dueñas M, Carvalho AM, Santos-Buelga C, Ferreira ICFR. (2013) Ind Crops Prod. 51, 430-436.Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorg

Release kinetic model and antimicrobial activity of an innovative minocycline and voriconazole co-delivery system

Purpose and Strategy: Development of a new local drug-delivery system aiming at bone infection and the modulation of the polymicrobial activity; simultaneous delivery of minocycline and voriconazole, antibacterial and antifungal agents, respectively; polylactide (PDLLA) scaffolds functionalized with collagen and bioglass, osteogenic enhancers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diclofenac release from a silicon based contact lens material controlled by a chitosan/alginate coating

Poster presented at the AAO 2016 (American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting). Chicago, 15-18 October 2016.N/