Brief communication. Rain effect on the load of tephra deposits

Accumulation of tephra fallout produced during explosive eruptions can cause roof collapses in areas near the volcano, when the weight of the deposit exceeds some threshold value that depends on the quality of buildings. The additional loading of water that remains trapped in the tephra deposits due to rainfall can contribute to increasing the loading of the deposits on the roofs. Here we propose a simple approach to estimate an upper bound for the contribution of rain to the load of pyroclastic deposits that is useful for hazard assessment purposes. As case study we present an application of the method in the area of Naples, Italy, for a reference eruption from Vesuvius volcano

IT Outsourcing as a Source of Open Innovation

Outsourcing has been considered as an important source of innovation, nowadays. The paradigm of open innovation suggeststhat valuable ideas may occur either inside or outside the company, as in the Information Technology (IT) outsourcing. Inview of the emerging paradigm of open innovation, this paper analyzes the IT outsourcing process as an external source ofopen innovation. This research has a qualitative approach, adopting the strategy of studying multiple cases. The unit ofanalysis are three large companies, reference in their niches and aknowledged for their successful IT outsourcing practices.Results show that IT outsourcing is heavily influenced by costs reduction; however, innovation is perceived in the workingmethods resulting from the outsourcing process, being explained by the open innovation theory, since the source is external

A review on flexible electrochemical biosensors to monitor alcohol in sweat

The continued focus on improving the quality of human life has encouraged the development of increasingly efficient, durable, and cost-effective products in healthcare. Over the last decade, there has been substantial development in the field of technical and interactive textiles that combine expertise in electronics, biology, chemistry, and physics. Most recently, the creation of textile biosensors capable of quantifying biometric data in biological fluids is being studied, to detect a specific disease or the physical condition of an individual. The ultimate goal is to provide access to medical diagnosis anytime and anywhere. Presently, alcohol is considered the most commonly used addictive substance worldwide, being one of the main causes of death in road accidents. Thus, it is important to think of solutions capable of minimizing this public health problem. Alcohol biosensors constitute an excellent tool to aid at improving road safety. Hence, this review explores concepts about alcohol biomarkers, the composition of human sweat and the correlation between alcohol and blood. Different components and requirements of a biosensor are reviewed, along with the electrochemical techniques to evaluate its performance, in addition to construction techniques of textile-based biosensors. Special attention is given to the determination of biomarkers that must be low cost and fast, so the use of biomimetic materials to recognize and detect the target analyte is turning into an attractive option to improve electrochemical behavior.Authors acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), FEDER funds by means of Portugal 2020 Competitive Factors Operational Program (POCI) and the Portuguese Government (OE) for funding the project PluriProtech—“Desenvolvimentos de soluções multicamada para proteção ativa contra ameaças NBQR”, ref. POCI-01-0247-FEDER-047012. Authors also acknowledge strategic funding of UID/CTM/00264/2020 of 2C2T and by the “plurianual” 2020–2023 Project UIDB/00264/2020

Spin and density overlaps in the frustrated Ising lattice gas

We perform large scale simulations of the frustrated Ising lattice gas, a three-dimensional lattice model of a structural glass, using the parallel tempering technique. We evaluate the spin and density overlap distributions, and the corresponding non-linear susceptibilities, as a function of the chemical potential. We then evaluate the relaxation functions of the spin and density self-overlap, and study the behavior of the relaxation times. The results suggest that the spin variables undergo a transition very similar to the one of the Ising spin glass, while the density variables do not show any sign of transition at the same chemical potential. It may be that the density variables undergo a transition at a higher chemical potential, inside the phase where the spins are frozen.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figure

Virome analysis of antiretroviral-treated HIV patients shows no correlation between T-cell activation and anelloviruses levels

BackgroundAbnormally high levels of T-cell activation can persist in HIV-infected subjects despite effective anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and has been associated with negative health outcomes. The nature of the antigenic drivers or other causes of this residual T-cell activation remain uncertain. Anelloviruses are universally acquired soon after birth, resulting in persistent viremia, and considered part of the commensal human virome. Reduced immunocompetence results in increased anellovirus levels.ObjectivesTo test whether increased levels of anelloviruses or other viruses in plasma are associated with higher levels of persistent T-cell activation during ART.Study designTwo amplification methods combined with next generation sequencing were used to detect all viruses and estimate relative anellovirus levels in plasma from 19 adults on effective ART who exhibited a wide range of T-cell activation levels.ResultsNucleic acids from HBV and HCV were detected in one patient each while pegivirus A (GBV-C) was found in three patients. Anellovirus DNA was detected in all patients with some individuals carrying up to eight different genotypes. Specific anellovirus genotypes or higher level of co-infections were not detected in subjects with higher levels of T-cell activation. No association was detected between relative plasma anellovirus DNA levels and the percentage of activated CD4 or CD8 T cells.ConclusionsHuman anelloviruses were detected in all HIV suppressed subjects, exhibited a wide range of viremia levels, and were genetically highly diverse. The level of persistent T-cell activation was not correlated with the level of viremia or genotypes present indicating that anellovirus antigens are unlikely to be a dominant source of antigens driving chronic T-cell activation

Nación Guarani y Legislaciones educaionales en el panorama Trinacional: Brasil, Argentina y Paraguay

Este número da Revista Brasileira de Iniciação Científica publica os artigos com os resultados das pesquisas de Iniciação Científica 2016/17 da Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (UNILA). A UNILA é uma das novas universidades federais brasileiras, iniciando suas atividades em 2010. Já em 2011, começa a funcionar seu Programa de Iniciação Científica (IC). A IC é uma das prioridades da política de pesquisa da UNILA. Seu aporte em bolsas de IC é superior ao de fontes externas como CNPq e Fundação Araucária. Em seus seis anos de existência, o Programa de IC tem promovido a difusão da cultura científica entre os estudantes, contribuído com sua formação e os estimulado ao ingresso na pós-graduação.Pelo presente alisamos a oferta da educação escolar à Nação Guarani no contexto de sua territorialidade transfronteira abarcando Argentina, Brasil e Paraguai. A partir de pesquisa bibliográfica, documental e etnográfica, constatamos que cada Estado Nacional desenvolve uma política educacional específica, não considerando a dinâmica da população tampouco a legislação internacional. Em que pese a recusa a esse tipo de escola, os Guarani buscam manejá-la a seu favor, como mecanismo de resistência.At first we offer the school education to the Guarani Nation in the context of Its cross-border territoriality encompassing Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Based on bibliographical, documentary and ethnographic research, we found each National State develops a specific educational policy, neither considering population dynamics nor international legislation. In spite of the refusal of this type of school, the Guarani seeks to manage it in their favor, as a mechanism of resistance.Por el presente alisamos la oferta de la educación escolar a la Nación Guaraní en el contexto de su territorialidad transfronteriza abarcando Argentina, Brasil y Paraguay. A partir de investigación bibliográfica, documental y etnográfica, constatamos que cada Estado Nacional desarrolla una política educativa específica, no considerando la dinámica de la población ni la legislación internacional. En cuanto a la negativa a ese tipo de escuela, los guaraní buscan manejarla a su favor, como mecanismo de resistencia

Acute effects of isotonic eccentric exercise on the neuromuscular function of knee extensors vary according to the motor task: impact on muscle strength profiles, proprioception and balance

[Abstract]: Introduction: Eccentric exercise has often been reported to result in muscle damage, limiting the muscle potential to produce force. However, understanding whether these adverse consequences extend to a broader, functional level is of apparently less concern. In this study, we address this issue by investigating the acute and delayed effects of supramaximal isotonic eccentric exercise on neuromuscular function and motor performance of knee extensors during tasks involving a range of strength profiles, proprioception, and balance. Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers (23.2±2.9 years old) performed a unilateral isotonic eccentric exercise of the knee extensors of their dominant lower limb (4 ×10 reps at 120% of one Repetition Maximum (1RM)). The maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC), rate of force development (RFD), force steadiness of the knee extensors, as well as knee joint position sense and mediolateral (MLI) and anteroposterior stability (API) of the dominant lower limb, were measured pre-, immediately, and 24 h after the eccentric exercise. The EMG amplitude of the vastus medialis (VM) and biceps femoris (BF) were concomitantly evaluated. Results: MVC decreased by 17.9% immediately after exercise (P<0.001) and remained reduced by 13.6% 24 h following exercise (P<0.001). Maximum RFD decreased by 20.4% immediately after exercise (P<0.001) and remained reduced by 15.5% at 24 h (P<0.001). During the MVC, EMG amplitude of the VM increased immediately after exercise while decreasing during the RFD task. Both values returned to baseline 24 h after exercise. Compared to baseline, force steadiness during submaximal isometric tasks reduced immediately after exercise, and it was accompanied by an increase in the EMG amplitude of the VM. MLI and knee joint position sense were impaired immediately after isotonic eccentric exercise (P<0.05). While MLI returned to baseline values 24 h later, the absolute error in the knee repositioning task did not. Discussion: Impairments in force production tasks, particularly during fast contractions and in the knee joint position sense, persisted 24 h after maximal isotonic eccentric training, revealing that neuromuscular functional outputs were affected by muscle fatigue and muscle damage. Conversely, force fluctuation and stability during the balance tasks were only affected by muscle fatigue since fully recovered was observed 24 h following isotonic eccentric exercise