A consistent and stabilized continuous/discontinuous Galerkin method for fourth-order incompressible flow problems

This paper presents a new consistent and stabilized finite-element formulation for fourth-order incompressible flow problems. The formulation is based on the C0-interior penalty method, the Galerkin least-square (GLS) scheme, which assures that the formulation is weakly coercive for spaces that fail to satisfy the inf-sup condition, and considers discontinuous pressure interpolations. A stability analysis through a lemma establishes that the proposed formulation satisfies the inf-sup condition, thus confirming the robustness of the method. This lemma indicates that, at the element level, there exists an optimal or quasi-optimal GLS stability parameter that depends on the polynomial degree used to interpolate the velocity and pressure fields, the geometry of the finite element, and the fluid viscosity term. Numerical experiments are carried out to illustrate the ability of the formulation to deal with arbitrary interpolations for velocity and pressure, and to stabilize large pressure gradients.Indisponível

Histological analysis of the eyeball of Neotropical birds of prey Caracara plancus, Falco sparverius, Rupornis magnirostris, Megascops choliba and Athene cunicularia

Nos últimos anos a oftalmologia aviária se tornou um instrumento de grande relevância para a conservação de aves de vida livre e de cativeiro, principalmente pela crescente utilização do exame oftalmológico para a triagem de indivíduos designados para reintrodução em ambientes naturais. Os olhos das aves de rapina são estruturas imprescindíveis para detectar e capturar suas presas, e a sua notável capacidade visual torna o seu sistema de visão assunto de grande interesse para o estudo anatômico e histológico. Neste contexto, no presente trabalho foi realizada a análise histológica do bulbo ocular de aves de rapina representadas por espécies pertencentes às ordens Falconiformes, Accipitriformes e Strigiformes presentes em território brasileiro. Para realização do estudo foram utilizados vinte bulbos oculares obtidos de animais mortos por causas naturais, das espécies Caracara plancus, Falco sparverius, Rupornis magnirostris, Megascops choliba e Athene cunicularia.. As lâminas histológicas foram coradas pela técnica de hematoxilina e eosina e, analisadas por microscopia óptica. Foi constatada a existência de um padrão histológico com discreta variação entre as estruturas oculares nas diferentes espécies avaliadas, com destaque para o cristalino e a retina. Este estudo salienta a importância da determinação do padrão histológico ocular das espécies, e seus resultados atribuem informações histológicas basais auxiliares na determinação de diagnósticos histopatológicos oculares. The growing use of ophthalmic examination as a screening tool in birds intended for reintroduction into natural environments over the last few years has given renewed significance to avian ophthalmology in the context of free-ranging and captive bird conservation. The eye plays a vital role in prey detection and capture by birds of prey. The remarkable eyesight of such birds makes them interesting subjects for avian visual system anatomical and histological investigation. This study set out to describe histological features of the eyeball of ubiquitous birds of prey in Brazil (Falconiformes, Accipitriformes and Strigiformes). Twenty enucleated cadaveric eyeballs obtained from birds with natural death, Caracara plancus, Falco sparverius, Rupornis magnirostris, Megascops choliba and Athene cunicularia were used. Routinely prepared histological slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin were analyzed under light microscopy. Similarities and variations in ocular structures between the different bird species studied were highlighted in this study, with major differences concerning the lens and retina. This study highlights the importance of determining the ocular histological pattern of the species so they can be better understood. These results may well assign baseline information of the species and assist in eye histopathological diagnostics.

Commingled and Disarticulated Human Remains related to 1755 Lisbon Earthquake: Height Estimation from incomplete and complete femoral bones

Introduction: In Forensic Medicine, the estimation of the stature often has a crucial role in the reconstructive phase of disjointed populations. The femur, being the longest bone in the human body, is usually the most reliable source in height estimation. However, in these populations, intact femurs are hardly ever found, making it necessary to use femur fragments for the same purpose. Aim: This investigation aims to estimate the stature of the catastrophic population concerning the earthquake that occurred in Lisbon, in 1755. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 8 whole femurs and 21 fragments, which were measured and weighted. These measurements were applied in a regression formula, obtained from the gathered research, in order to estimate the stature of the population. Results: The results showed that, for the whole femur, the correspondent height varies between 147.96 cm and 168.82 cm. For the fragments, the obtained estimates vary between 151,96 cm and 174.96 cm. Conclusions: The methods used proved to be reliable in estimating the length of the femur, as well as in deducting the height of individuals through this bone, allowing the study of these parameter’s evolution in generations.</p

AVALIAÇÃO DA INFLUÊNCIA DA INSERÇÃO DA GERAÇÃO DISTRIBUÍDA EM SISTEMAS DE DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE ENERGIA ELÉTRICA

This paper seeks to evaluate the impacts arising from the insertion of distributed generation (DG) in electrical power distribution systems. In this circumstance, using the OpenDSS computational tool, simulations of four different scenarios were carried out, varying the DG penetration levels as a function of the total feeder load, considering a specific point of operation. Finally, the same feeder was simulated with photovoltaic generating sources distributed in bars next to the loads, in order to analyze the temporal characteristic of solar generation as a function of demand. Through the simulations, it was possible to analyze, interpret and highlight the impacts that the insertion of DG produces in the electrical power distribution systems. It was evident that the increase in DG penetration led to an improvement in the feeder voltage profile, power flow inversion and reduction of electrical losses in the feeder. It should be noted that the insertion of DG from renewable sources is a Brazilian reality and a path to be followed, since the diversification of the energy matrix in line with the use of new technologies, such as smart grids, will provide electrical power systems with greater safety, operational efficiency and quality in the product delivered to consumers.Neste artigo busca-se avaliar os impactos oriundos da inserção da geração distribuída (GD) em sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica. Nessa circunstância, por meio da ferramenta computacional OpenDSS, realizaram-se simulações de quatro cenários diferentes variando os níveis de penetração de GD em função do total de carga do alimentador, considerando um ponto específico de operação. Por fim, simulou-se o mesmo alimentador com fontes geradoras fotovoltaicas distribuídas em barras junto às cargas, com o intuito de analisar a característica temporal da geração solar em função da demanda. Por meio das simulações foi possível analisar, interpretar e destacar os impactos que a inserção da GD produz nos sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica. Evidenciou-se que o aumento da penetração de GD ocasionou melhoria no perfil de tensão do alimentador, inversão do fluxo de potência e redução das perdas elétricas no alimentador. Ressalta-se que a inserção da geração distribuída oriunda de fontes renováveis é uma realidade brasileira e um caminho a ser seguido, já que a diversificação da matriz energética em consonância com o uso de novas tecnologias, como as smart grids, proverá aos sistemas elétricos de potência maior segurança, eficiência operacional e qualidade no produto entregue aos consumidores

A IMPORTÂNCIA DO EPI NA CONSTRUÇÃO CIVIL

Resumo: Dentre os setores econômicos do país um dos que mais cresce é a construção civil. Com esse crescimento repentino o número de acidentes dentro dos canteiros de obras tem chegado a números surpreendentes. Para se combater essas estatísticas as empresas devem buscar métodos cada vez mais eficazes dentro da área de segurança do trabalho. O EPI (Equipamento de Proteção Individual), treinamentos constantes e os programas de segurança são as bases para diminuir o número de acidentes e mortes dentro da indústria da construção civil.     Palavras-chave: construção civil, acidente de trabalho, equipamento de proteção individual e prevenção

Development of a foam-filled steel web sandwich panel for the rehabilitation of timber floors

Lightweight sandwich panels offer a prominent solution for the rehabilitation of timber floors. This paper addresses the development of a solution capable of continuous production for a foam-filled steel web sandwich panel for floor rehabilitation. The newly designed flooring solution is tested in full-scale quasi-static flexural campaigns. The tests validate the analytical design’s compliance with Ultimate limit state (ULS) and Serviceability limit state (SLS) requirements. Furthermore, the flexural behaviour is compared with analytical predictions for thin-walled members according to the effective width method, described in Eurocode 3. Different effective cross-section design assumptions are assessed to allow an accurate prediction of the panel’s response.This work was developed within the scope of the research project “Lightslab – Desenvolvimento de soluções inovadoras de lajes de painel sandwich”, supported by FEDER funds through the Operational Program for Operational Program for Competitiveness and Internationalization (POCI) and the Portuguese National Innovation Agency (ANI) – project no. 33865 [POCI-01-0247-FEDER-033865]. Furthermore, it was partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the R&D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), under reference UIDB/04029/2020 (doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/04029/ 2020), and under the Associate Laboratory Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems ARISE under reference LA/P/0112/2020. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd authors wish also to acknowledge the grants 2021.07696.BD, 2022.13310.BD and DFA/BD/8319/2020 respectively, provided by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, IP (FCT), financed by European Social Fund and national funds through the FCT/MCTES. Acknowledgments are extended to LEST – Laboratório de Estruturas, for their technical and material suppor

BONE DENSITY GROWTH. BIOMECHANICS OF HEALTHY AND PROSTHETIC FEMUR AFTER A TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY

The necessity of computational tools to predict the long-term behavior of bone implants and prosthetic devices in orthopedics, has a tremendous importance, considering population aging as a world wide problem. However, specifically in the hip prosthesis research area, the bone density growth process modeling using the finite element method (FEM) is still a challenging task. In this work, we investigate the bone density growth based on growth and remodeling theories for biological materials and its treatment using continuum mechanics. There are presented the kinematics, the balance laws for mass and linear momentum and the constitutive equations for bone density growth, along with the governing equations resulting from the coupling of the mass and momentum balances. We present an example considering the healthy and the prosthetic femur submitted to loads and bone formed by cortical and spongious tissues, which was carried out using daily physical activities load cases, for locate possible growth and resorption. In addition, a preliminary density growth model to locate bone growth or reabsorption zones for the intact femur and its post-operative condition is presented

Physical and mechanical characterization of polyurethane foam core of sandwich panels of various densities

Sandwich foaming is a manufacturing process in which a liquid monomer mixture is injected on the bottom face sheet of the sandwich panel where it polymerizes to form cross-linked polyurethane (PUR) foam providing an adhesive joint between the bottom and upper metal sheets. The single-step process avoids manual operations in the assemblage of the panel and the use of adhesive. However, the PUR foam in the core of the panel and at foam-to-face sheet interface may present fluctuations in the mechanical properties. The aim of this study is the mechanical and thermophysical characterization of PUR foam of various densities produced by sandwich foaming. Additionally, a qualitative assessment of the foam-to-face sheet interface is carried out based on the results of the flatwise tensile and shear tests.This work was developed within the scope of the research project “Lightslab – Desenvolvimento de soluções inovadoras de lajes de painel sandwich”, supported by FEDER funds through the Operational Program for Operational Program for Competitiveness and Internationalization (POCI) and the Portuguese National Innovation Agency (ANI) – project no. 33865 [POCI-01-0247- FEDER-033865]. This work was partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the R&D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), under reference UIDB/04029/2020. The first and second authors wish also to acknowledge the grants DFA/BD/8319/2020 and DFA/BD/07696/2021 respectively, provided by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, IP (FCT), financed by European Social Fund and national funds through the FCT/MCTES

Teleological Framework For Transport Planning And Evaluation: A Tool In The Seek For Integrated And Meaningful Solutions For Better Results

Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne