Open sea OWC motions and mooring loads monitoring at BiMEP

This is the author accepted manuscript.Despite the large number of wave energy converter concepts proposed over the past three decades, only a few field measurement datasets are available in the public domain. The sparse nature of device performance and reliability data coupled with a general lack of design convergence means that technological and economic progress within the sector is fragmented. Fundamental to ensuring device efficiency and survivability is the acquisition of long-term, open sea, device and mooring system response data, combined with comprehensive numerical modelling. With mooring systems representing approximately 10% of marine renewable energy device CAPEX, the evolution of shared mooring systems and the use of novel materials with load reduction capabilities represent clear strategies to achieve more favourable project finances. This paper will report on design of the mooring load monitoring system as well as preliminary analysis of several load cases identified from field data recorded during the winter of the first deployment. Comparisons are made to numerical simulations of the device and mooring system subjected to representative environmental conditions. The measured mooring line tensions also provide operational design criteria (i.e. load capacity and durability requirements) for two elastomeric tethers which will replace the polyester ropes currently used in the seaward catenary lines.The research leading to this paper is part of the OPERA (Open Sea Operating Experience to Reduce Wave Energy Cost) project which is funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 654.444

Influência da carga pendente, do espaçamento e de fatores climáticos no desenvolvimento da ferrugem do cafeeiro.

A ferrugem é a principal doença da cultura do cafeeiro podendo causar significativas reduções na produtividade da lavoura. A ocorrência desta doença é influenciada por fatores climáticos, tais como chuvas contínuas e temperaturas médias. Fatores ligados à lavoura, como carga pendente e espaçamento também interferem na infecção do patógeno. Neste trabalho foi realizado o acompanhamento do índice de infecção de ferrugem em lavouras localizadas na Fazenda Experimental de Varginha, entre nos agrícolas de 1998/99 a 2006/2007. Para tanto, foram coletadas folhas de talhões sem controle de ferrugem, em lavouras com espaçamento adensado e largo, sendo que para os dois espaçamentos foram utilizadas lavouras com carga pendente alta e baixa. Observou-se que, independentemente do espaçamento, a infecção de ferrugem foi maior nas lavouras com carga pendente alta, na média de todos os anos avaliados. No atual ano agrícola 2006/07 o índice de infecção mostrou-se muito precoce e elevado em relação à média histórica apresentando valores médios de 60 a 70,0% já no mês de fevereiro

Molecular mechanism of Gαi activation by non-GPCR proteins with a Gα-Binding and Activating motif

Heterotrimeric G proteins are quintessential signalling switches activated by nucleotide exchange on Gα. Although activation is predominantly carried out by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), non-receptor guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) have emerged as critical signalling molecules and therapeutic targets. Here we characterize the molecular mechanism of G-protein activation by a family of non-receptor GEFs containing a Gα-binding and -activating (GBA) motif. We combine NMR spectroscopy, computational modelling and biochemistry to map changes in Gα caused by binding of GBA proteins with residue-level resolution. We find that the GBA motif binds to the SwitchII/α3 cleft of Gα and induces changes in the G-1/P-loop and G-2 boxes (involved in phosphate binding), but not in the G-4/G-5 boxes (guanine binding). Our findings reveal that G-protein-binding and activation mechanisms are fundamentally different between GBA proteins and GPCRs, and that GEF-mediated perturbation of nucleotide phosphate binding is sufficient for Gα activation

High-resolution melting assay for genotyping variants of the CYP2C19 enzyme and predicting voriconazole effectiveness

Voriconazole is a triazole antifungal agent recommended as primary treatment for invasive aspergillosis, as well as some other mold infections. However, it presents some pharmacokinetic singularities that lead to a great variability intra- and interindividually, nonlinear pharmacokinetics, and a narrow therapeutic range. Most experts have recommended tracing the levels of voriconazole in patients when receiving treatment. This azole is metabolized through the hepatic enzyme complex cytochrome P450 (CYPP450), with the isoenzyme CYP2C19 being principally involved. Allelic variations (polymorphisms) of the gene that encodes this enzyme are known to contribute to variability in voriconazole exposure. Three different allelic variants, CYP2C19*17, CYP2C19*2, and CYP2C19*3, could explain most of the phenotypes related to the voriconazole metabolism and some of its pharmacokinetic singularities. We designed a rapid molecular method based on high-resolution melting to characterize these polymorphisms in a total of 142 samples, avoiding sequencing. Three PCRs were designed with similar cycling conditions to run simultaneously. The results showed that our method represents a fast, accurate, and inexpensive means to study these variants related to voriconazole metabolism. In clinical practice, this could offer a useful tool to individually optimize therapy and reduce expenses in patients with fungal infections.National Institute of Health Carlos III (AES13PI13/01817Research Project MPY 1367/13). L.B.-M. has a contract supported by theMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, cofinanced by the EuropeanDevelopment Regional Fund (EDRF) “A Way to Achieve Europe” and the SpanishNetwork for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI; RD12/0015/0015). B.M.-R. is astudent in the Master’s Program entitled “Microbiología Aplicada a la Salud Pública eInvestigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas,” Alcalá de Henares University, Madrid,Spain. A.C. and C.C. were supported by the Northern Portugal Regional OperationalProgram (NORTE 2020) under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement through theEuropean Regional Development Fund (FEDER; NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013) and theFundação Para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT; IF/00735/2014 [A.C.] and SFRH/BPD/96176/2013 [C.C.])

Prevalence and costs of multinutrution in hospitalized patients; the PREDyCES study

Justificación y objetivos: El estudio PREDyCES® tuvo dos objetivos principales. Primero, analizar la prevalencia de desnutrición hospitalaria (DH) en España tanto al ingreso como al alta, y segundo, estimar sus costes asociados. Métodos: Estudio nacional, transversal, observacional, multicéntrico, en condiciones de práctica clínica habitual que evaluó la presencia de desnutrición hospitalaria al ingreso y al alta mediante el NRS-2002®. Una extensión del estudio analizó la incidencia de complicaciones asociadas a la desnutrición, el exceso de estancia hospitalaria y los costes sanitarios asociados a la DH. Resultados: La prevalencia de desnutrición observada según el NRS-2002® fue del 23.7%. El análisis multivariante mostró que la edad, el género, la presencia de enfermedad oncológica, diabetes mellitus, disfagia y la polimedicación fueron los factores principales que se asociaron a la presencia de desnutrición. La DH se asoció a un incremento de la estancia hospitalaria, especialmente en aquellos pacientes que ingresaron sin desnutrición y que presentaron desnutrición al alta (15.2 vs 8.0 días; p < 0.001), con un coste adicional asociado de 5.829€ por paciente. Conclusiones: Uno de cada cuatro pacientes en los hospitales españoles se encuentra desnutrido. Esta condición se asocia a un exceso de estancia hospitalaria y costes asociados, especialmente en pacientes que se desnutren durante su hospitalización. Se debería generalizar el cribado nutricional sistemático con el objetivo de implementar intervenciones nutricionales de conocida eficacia.Background and aims: The main objective of the PREDyCES® study was twofold. First, to analyse the prevalence of hospital malnutrition in Spain, both at admission and at discharge, and second, to estimate the hospital costs associated with disease-related malnutrition. Methods: The study was a nationwide, cross-sectional, observational, multicentre study in routine clinical practice, which assessed the prevalence of hospital malnutrition both at patient admission and discharge using NRS- 2002®. A study extension analysed the incidence of complications associated with malnutrition, excess hospital stay and healthcare costs associated with hospital malnutrition. Results: Malnutrition was observed in 23.7% of patients according to NRS-2002®. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, gender, presence of malignant disease, diabetes mellitus, dysphagia and polymedication were the main factors associated with the presence of malnutrition. Malnutrition was associated with an increase in length of hospital stay, especially in patients admitted without malnutrition but who presented malnutrition at discharge (15.2 vs. 8.0 days, p < 0.001), with an associated additional cost of €5,829 per patient. Conclusion: In Spanish hospitals, almost one in four patients is malnourished. This condition is associated with increased length of hospital stay and associated costs, especially in patients developing malnutrition during hospitalization. Systematic screening for malnutrition should be generalised in order to implement nutritional interventions with well-known effectiveness

Fenologia do cafeeiro: condições agrometeorológicas e balanço hídrico do ano agrícola 2004-2005.

Durante todas as fases fenológicas do cafeeiro, o clima exerce grande infl uência sobre a incidência de pragas e doenças e, consequentemente, atua sobre a produtividade do cafeeiro e a qualidade da bebida. Adversidades climáticas, como acentuada defi ciência hídrica e extremos de temperatura do ar, podem resultar em redução drástica de produtividade do cafeeiro, embora os efeitos dependam da duração e da intensidade dessas adversidades, e também do estádio fenológico da planta. O monitoramento agrometeorológico da cultura do café é um recurso precioso para avaliar como esses elementos climáticos interferem diretamente na fenologia e na incidência de pragas e doenças no cafeeiro. Nesse monitoramento, devem ser caracterizados os períodos com excedente e com defi ciência hídrica, ao longo do ano, por meio do balanço hídrico sequencial, que é feito utilizandose uma das seguintes bases: diária, decendial (com frequência de 10 dias), semanal e mensal. Também devem ser analisadas as condições termopluviométricas do período em questão, segundo as fases fenológicas da planta, assim como deve ser considerado o levantamento de pragas e doenças no decorrer do ciclo do cafeeiro. Para dar continuidade ao trabalho iniciado no ano agrícola 2002?2003, este documento interpreta os balanços hídricos e as condições termopluviométricas referentes ao ano agrícola 2004?2005, de algumas regiões cafeeiras dos estados de Minas Gerais, São Paulo e Paraná. A importância desse monitoramento está no suporte técnico que ele oferece a tomadores de decisão, graças à disponibilização de informações agrometeorológicas históricas, relacionadas ao cafeeiro arábica produzido nessas regiões.bitstream/item/29356/1/Fenologia-do-cafeeiro.pd

Polarisation Patterns and Vectorial Defects in Type II Optical Parametric Oscillators

Previous studies of lasers and nonlinear resonators have revealed that the polarisation degree of freedom allows for the formation of polarisation patterns and novel localized structures, such as vectorial defects. Type II optical parametric oscillators are characterised by the fact that the down-converted beams are emitted in orthogonal polarisations. In this paper we show the results of the study of pattern and defect formation and dynamics in a Type II degenerate optical parametric oscillator for which the pump field is not resonated in the cavity. We find that traveling waves are the predominant solutions and that the defects are vectorial dislocations which appear at the boundaries of the regions where traveling waves of different phase or wave-vector orientation are formed. A dislocation is defined by two topological charges, one associated with the phase and another with the wave-vector orientation. We also show how to stabilize a single defect in a realistic experimental situation. The effects of phase mismatch of nonlinear interaction are finally considered.Comment: 38 pages, including 15 figures, LATeX. Related material, including movies, can be obtained from http://www.imedea.uib.es/Nonlinear/research_topics/OPO

Nanoinformatics: developing new computing applications for nanomedicine

Nanoinformatics has recently emerged to address the need of computing applications at the nano level. In this regard, the authors have participated in various initiatives to identify its concepts, foundations and challenges. While nanomaterials open up the possibility for developing new devices in many industrial and scientific areas, they also offer breakthrough perspectives for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this paper, we analyze the different aspects of nanoinformatics and suggest five research topics to help catalyze new research and development in the area, particularly focused on nanomedicine. We also encompass the use of informatics to further the biological and clinical applications of basic research in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and the related concept of an extended ?nanotype? to coalesce information related to nanoparticles. We suggest how nanoinformatics could accelerate developments in nanomedicine, similarly to what happened with the Human Genome and other -omics projects, on issues like exchanging modeling and simulation methods and tools, linking toxicity information to clinical and personal databases or developing new approaches for scientific ontologies, among many others