Fatigue crack growth in notched specimens: a numerical analysis

Fatigue crack growth (FCG) is linked to irreversible and non-linear processes happening at the crack tip, which explains different problems observed in the use of da/dN-?K curves. The replacement of ?K by non-linear crack tip parameters, namely the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) is an interesting alternative. The objective in here is to study the effect of notches on FCG using the plastic CTOD range, ?p. M(T) specimens with lateral notches of different radius (1, 2, 4 and 8 mm were analysed numerically, keeping the total depth constant (8 mm). The increase of crack length increases ?p and therefore FCG rate. For plane stress state, the formation of the residual plastic wake with crack propagation, produces crack closure which compensates the effect of crack length and there is a stabilization of ?p. The reduction of notch radius increases ?p for all crack lengths, particularly for the shortest ones. For plane strain state there is almost no crack closure therefore ?p is higher than for plane stress state, and the effect of crack length produces a relatively fast increase of ?p

Efeito residual do adubo aplicado na soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) sobre a cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.)

An experiment was installed on a dark red latosol in the County of Sales de Oliveira, SP, to verify the residual effect of fertilizer applied to soybean on the sugarcane yield and vice versa. A randomized block design with four replications was utilized. The results showed that sugarcane responded to residual fertilization only at high fertilizer doses.Foi conduzido na Fazenda Nova Aliança no município de Sales de Oliveira, SP em latossolo roxo distrófico um experimento com 14 tratamentos para verificar o aproveitamento pela cana, do efeito residual do adubo aplicado na soja e vice-versa. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os resultados mostraram que cana apenas aproveitou o efeito residual quando as doses de fertilizantes foram altas

Concerns and adjustments: How the Portuguese population met COVID-19

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptive changes worldwide, with different implications across countries. The evolution of citizens’ concerns and behaviours over time is a central piece to support public policies. Objective To unveil perceptions and behaviours of the Portuguese population regarding social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for more informed public policies. Methods Online panel survey distributed in three waves between March 13th and May 6th 2020. Data collected from a non-representative sample of 7,448 respondents includes socio-demographic characteristics and self-reported measures on levels of concern and behaviours related to COVID-19. We performed descriptive analysis and probit regressions to understand relationships between the different variables. Results Most participants (85%) report being at least very concerned with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation reached a high level of adherence during the state of emergency. Around 36% of the sample anticipated consumption decisions, stockpiling ahead of the state of emergency declaration. Medical appointments suffered severe consequences, being re-rescheduled or cancelled. We find important variation in concerns with the economic impact across activity sectors. Conclusion We show that high level of concern and behaviour adaptation in our sample preceded the implementation of lockdown measures in Portugal around mid-March. One month later, a large share of individuals had suffered disruption in their routine health care and negative impacts in their financial status

Anti-inflammatory choline based ionic liquids: Insights into their lipophilicity, solubility and toxicity parametrites

The impact on in vivo efficacy and safety of two novel ionic liquids based on the association of choline with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ketoprofen and naproxen forming IL-APIs, was evaluated. Their lipophilicity, solubility and toxicity were assessed aiming the illustration of the pharmaceutical profile and potential toxic impact. Partition coefficientwas determined usingmicelles of hexadecylphosphocholine and UV–Vis derivative spectroscopy. Additionally, solubility in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 wasmeasured using amodified shake flaskmethod and UV–Vis spectroscopy as detection technique. Ultimately, toxicity was considered resorting to a fully automated cytochrome c oxidase assay based onmicrofluidics. The obtained results demonstrated that the IL-APIs' drug format has the ability to interact with biological membranes and also improves solubility up to 58 times. Moreover, it was evidenced that, although being a nutrient, choline influences the IL-APIs' toxicity. The studied anti-inflammatory IL-APIs exhibited promising properties regarding their incorporation in pharmaceutical formulations

Flow cytometry immunophenotyping for diagnostic orientation and classification of pediatric cancer based on the EuroFlow Solid Tumor Orientation Tube (STOT)

Early diagnosis of pediatric cancer is key for adequate patient management and improved outcome. Although multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) has proven of great utility in the diagnosis and classification of hematologic malignancies, its application to non-hematopoietic pediatric tumors remains limited. Here we designed and prospectively validated a new single eight-color antibody combination-solid tumor orientation tube, STOT-for diagnostic screening of pediatric cancer by MFC. A total of 476 samples (139 tumor mass, 138 bone marrow, 86 lymph node, 58 peripheral blood, and 55 other body fluid samples) from 296 patients with diagnostic suspicion of pediatric cancer were analyzed by MFC vs. conventional diagnostic procedures. STOT was designed after several design-test-evaluate-redesign cycles based on a large panel of monoclonal antibody combinations tested on 301 samples. In its final version, STOT consists of a single 8-color/12-marker antibody combination (CD99-CD8/(nu)myogenin/CD4-EpCAM/CD56/GD2/(sm)CD3-CD19/(cy)CD3-CD271/CD45). Prospective validation of STOT in 149 samples showed concordant results with the patient WHO/ICCC-3 diagnosis in 138/149 cases (92.6%). These included: 63/63 (100%) reactive/disease-free samples, 43/44 (98%) malignant and 4/4 (100%) benign non-hematopoietic tumors together with 28/38 (74%) leukemia/lymphoma cases; the only exception was Hodgkin lymphoma that required additional markers to be stained.& nbsp;In addition, STOT allowed accurate discrimination among the four most common subtypes of malignant CD45(-) CD56(++) non-hematopoietic solid tumors: 13/13 (GD2(++) (nu)myogenin(-) CD271(-/+) (nu)MyoD1(-) CD99(-) EpCAM(-)) neuroblastoma samples, 5/5 (GD2(-) (nu)myogenin(++) CD271(++) (nu)MyoD1(++) CD99(-/+) EpCAM(-)) rhabdomyosarcomas, 2/2 (GD2(-/+) (nu)myogenin(-) CD271(+) (nu)MyoD1(-) CD99(+) EpCAM(-)) Ewing sarcoma family of tumors, and 7/7 (GD2(-) (nu)myogenin(-) CD271(+) (nu)MyoD1(-) CD99(-) EpCAM(+)) Wilms tumors. In summary, here we designed and validated a new standardized antibody combination and MFC assay for diagnostic screening of pediatric solid tumors that might contribute to fast and accurate diagnostic orientation and classification of pediatric cancer in routine clinical practice.Stemcel biology/Regenerative medicine (incl. bloodtransfusion