Opening address: Paraconsistent logic

I am honoured with and touched by the invitation of delivering the opening address of this Congress. Firstly, to see paraconsistent logic flourishing and growing, as we can readily see by simply glacing over the programme of this conference, is among one of my greatest joys. Secondly, and equally important, because this congress takes place in the University of Toruń.I am honoured for having lectured here, a most congenial and stimulating place, and could not think of a better place for a conference dedicated to the memory of Stanisław Jaśkowski. In particular, I am delighted for having had a correspondence with him, and although I was deprived of the pleasure of meeting him personally, I was fortunate enough for having collaborated with some of his disciples, such as L. Dubikajtis and T. Kotas. All and all, Toruń in particular and Poland in general are for me a second home, for all the kindness and care everyone has shown to me over several years, since my very first visit to this country

A concentration phenomenon for semilinear elliptic equations

For a domain \Omega\subset\dR^N we consider the equation -\Delta u + V(x)u = Q_n(x)\abs{u}^{p-2}u with zero Dirichlet boundary conditions and $p\in(2,2^*)$. Here $V\ge 0$ and $Q_n$ are bounded functions that are positive in a region contained in $\Omega$ and negative outside, and such that the sets $\{Q_n>0\}$ shrink to a point $x_0\in\Omega$ as $n\to\infty$. We show that if $u_n$ is a nontrivial solution corresponding to $Q_n$, then the sequence $(u_n)$ concentrates at $x_0$ with respect to the $H^1$ and certain $L^q$-norms. We also show that if the sets $\{Q_n>0\}$ shrink to two points and $u_n$ are ground state solutions, then they concentrate at one of these points

A dual flow bioreactor with controlled mechanical stimulation for cartilage tissue engineering

In cartilage tissue engineering bioreactors can create a controlled environment to study chondrocyte behavior under mechanical stimulation or produce chondrogenic grafts of clinically relevant size. Here we present a novel bioreactor, which combines mechanical stimulation with a two compartment system through which nutrients can be supplied solely by diffusion from opposite sides of a tissue engineered construct. This design is based on the hypothesis that creating gradients of nutrients, growth factors and growth factor antagonists can aid in the generation of zonal tissue engineered cartilage. Computational modeling predicted that the design facilitates the creation of a biologically relevant glucose gradient. This was confirmed by quantitative glucose measurements in cartilage explants. In this system it is not only possible to create gradients of nutrients, but also of anabolic or catabolic factors. Therefore, the bioreactor design allows control over nutrient supply and mechanical stimulation useful for in vitro generation of cartilage constructs that can be used for the resurfacing of articulated joints or as a model for studying OA disease progression

The QCD critical end point in the SU(3) Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model

We study the chiral phase transition at finite temperature $T$ and baryonic chemical potential $\mu_B$ within the framework of the SU(3) Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model. The QCD critical end point (CEP) and the critical line at finite $T$ and $\mu_B$ are investigated: the study of physical quantities, such as the baryon number susceptibility and the specific heat in the vicinity the CEP, will provide relevant information concerning the order of the phase transition. The class of the CEP is determined by calculating the critical exponents of those quantities.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures; PLB versio

R&D, structural change and productivity: the role of high and medium-high technology industries

This paper investigates the potential impact of increased R&D efforts and structural change in Portugal on labour productivity. Based on existing literature on the relation between R&D expenditures, structural change and productivity, we evaluate the contribution of R&D and hightech industries to productivity over the last 30 years. Our results confirm the importance of business R&D in the medium to high-tech sectors and of public R&D, as they stimulate productivity growth. However, we cannot support the hypothosis that productivity growth was primarily rooted in the development of medium-high technology industries.Este artigo investiga o potencial impacto do aumento de I&D e de mudanças estruturais na produtividade do trabalho em Portugal. Com base na literatura sobre a relação entre despesas em I&D, mudança estrutural e produtividade, avaliamos a contribuição da I&D e das indústrias de alta tecnologia neste cenário durante os últimos 30 anos. Os resultados obtidos confirmam a importância dos investimentos em I&D das empresas de indústrias de alta e média-alta tecnologia e I&D público no crescimento da produtividade. Não obstante, não podemos afirmar que este fenômeno tenha como esteio principal o crescente relevo destas indústrias

k-transforms in classical and paraconsistent logics

We study some metamathematical properties of various classical and paraconsistent logical systems. In particular, we discuss the concept of a k-transform of a formula and consider some of its applications

Aging alters the production of iNOS, arginase and cytokines in murine macrophages

The limited amount of information on the primary age-related deficiencies in the innate immune system led us to study the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), arginase, and cytokines in macrophages of young (8 weeks old) and old (72 weeks old) female BALB/c mice. We first evaluated iNOS and arginase inducers on peritoneal (PMΦ) and bone marrow-derived (BMMΦ) macrophages of young BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, and then investigated their effects on macrophages of old mice. Upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), resident and thioglycolate-elicited PMΦ from young mice presented higher iNOS activity than those from old mice (54.4%). However, LPS-stimulated BMMΦ from old mice showed the highest NO levels (50.1%). Identical NO levels were produced by PMΦ and BMMΦ of both young and old mice stimulated with interferon-γ. Arginase activity was higher in resident and elicited PMΦ of young mice stimulated with LPS (48.8 and 32.7%, respectively) and in resident PMΦ stimulated with interleukin (IL)-4 (64%). BMMΦ of old mice, however, showed higher arginase activity after treatment with IL-4 (46.5%). In response to LPS, PMΦ from old mice showed the highest levels of IL-1α (772.3 ± 51.9 pg/mL), whereas, those from young mice produced the highest amounts of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (937.2 ± 132.1 pg/mL). Only TNF-α was expressed in LPS-treated BMMΦ, and cells from old mice showed the highest levels of this cytokine (994.1 ± 49.42 pg/mL). Overall, these results suggest that macrophages from young and old mice respond differently to inflammatory stimuli, depending on the source and maturity of the cell donors.67168

Somatotipo, Composição Corporal E Desempenho Em Ultramaratona

This study aimed to characterize somatotype, analyze anthropometric indicators associated with body composition during the race and verify possible relationships with the performance of athletes in a 217-km ultramarathon. For this, ten male volunteers (42.8 ± 3.5 years; 171.4 ± 1.9 cm height, 70.7 ± 3.1 kg body mass; 15 ± 3 years of running exercise) performed a critical velocity (CV) test one week before the competition and were submitted to anthropometric measurements before, at 84 km of the race and at the end of the race. Volunteers finished the race in 46.8 ± 3.4 h (4.9 ± 0.4 km/h; 33.4 ± 1.8% CV). Mean values equivalent to somatotype components accounted for 3.4 ± 0.4 for endomorphy, 5.2 ± 0.4 for mesomorphy and 1.7 ± 0.3 for ectomorphy. Body mass, body mass index, fat-free mass and chest circumference decreased (P <0.05) after 84 and 217 km compared to baseline. Pre-race values of thigh skinfold thickness (R = 0.79) and waist circumference (R = 0.64) were significantly correlated (P <0.05) with final race time. Thus, we concluded that ultramarathoners had mean endo-mesomorph somatotype and reductions in both body mass and fat-free mass during and after the race. Furthermore, the results suggest that increased body fat deposits concentrated in the lower limbs and abdominal region may have a negative impact on the performance of the athletes in 217-km ultramarathon. © 2016, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. All rights reserved.18212713

Evidence based practice in radiology: the radiographer perspective

This study is included in the exploratory-descriptive type, since it aims to analyze the applicability of knowledge and evidence based radiology by radiographers during their daily work and their academic education

Astrophysics from data analysis of spherical gravitational wave detectors

The direct detection of gravitational waves will provide valuable astrophysical information about many celestial objects. Also, it will be an important test to general relativity and other theories of gravitation. The gravitational wave detector SCHENBERG has recently undergone its first test run. It is expected to have its first scientific run soon. In this work the data analysis system of this spherical, resonant mass detector is tested through the simulation of the detection of gravitational waves generated during the inspiralling phase of a binary system. It is shown from the simulated data that it is not necessary to have all six transducers operational in order to determine the source's direction and the wave's amplitudes.Comment: 8 pages and 3 figure