Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis of Mocoffee’s Single-Serve Coffee Capsule System

The aim of this work was to apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to Mocoffee’s single-serve coffee capsule system in order to predict the hydrodynamics of water inside the extraction chamber, as well as to determine the impact of certain model parameters and design features on the fluid flow and, consequently, on the efficiency of the extraction. The geometries of the extraction chamber of the coffee machine were built using the software Solidworks 2016, while the computational mesh and 3D numeric calculations were done using the software Ansys Fluent 16.0. The experimental data used to validate the CFD model was obtained through a set of extractions of different coffee blends, all of them performed in a custom made machine that replicated the very same extraction process as seen in a Mocoffee patented espresso machine (Bossa). Different turbulence models and near-wall treatments were tested to capture the significant features of the fluid flow, such as mixing and the formation of eddies in the more unstable regions of the domain. The CFD results and measured data from the experiments were compared, with a reasonable agreement found with the experimental data for pressure and mass flow rate, but only for a coffee bed resistance that was higher than its predicted theoretical value

Prehospital therapeutic hypothermia in recovered cardiac arrest victims

INTRODUÇÃO A Hipotermia terapêutica consiste no arrefecimento corporal induzido com o objetivo de manter uma temperatura central de 33ºC, com a finalidade de reverter e ou prevenir os mecanismos responsáveis pela lesão neurológica de reperfusão após recuperação de circulação espontânea. Existe alguma evidência de que a hipotermia terapêutica melhora a sobrevivência e o resultado neurológico após paragem cardíaca ocorrida no préhospitalar, contudo a sua utilização não é ainda consensual em vítimas com recuperação de circulação espontânea. OBJETIVO Determinar a eficácia da Hipotermia Terapêutica induzida no Pré-Hospitalar na melhoria da sobrevivência e dos resultados neurológicos das vítimas que sofreram paragem cardíaca extrahospitalar. MÉTODOS Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre estudos que avaliavam a eficácia da aplicação de hipotermia terapêutica nas vítimas de paragem cardíaca no contexto de pré-hospitalar. Cinco RCT’s, envolvendo 759 participantes, sendo 378 do grupo de hipotermia pré-hospitalar e 381 do grupo controlo. RESULTADOS A análise dos estudos revelou que existem diferenças significativas na diminuição da temperatura na admissão hospitalar quando utilizada a HTPH comparativamente à normotermia ou hipotermia terapêutica hospitalar (HTH) (IV=-1,16; IC 95%= -1,40-0,92; p<0,00001). Contudo não são observadas diferenças significativas no que se refere à sobrevivência (RR=0,97; IC 95%=0,79-1,19; p=0,76) e outcomes neurológicos favoráveis (RR=0,98; IC 95%=0,79-1,20; p=0,83). CONCLUSÕES A hipotermia terapêutica no pré-hospitalar não tem influência na sobrevivência e nos outcomes neurológicos favoráveis no momento da alta, mas apresenta benefício com relevância clinica nos valores da temperatura no momento da admissão hospitalar, pelo que se infere serem necessários mais estudos para aferir da eficácia desta medida terapêutica.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The open pan-genome architecture and virulence landscape of Mycobacterium bovis

Animal tuberculosis (TB) is an emergent disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis, one of the animal-adapted ecotypes of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). In this work, whole-genome comparative analyses of 70 M. bovis were performed to gain insights into the pan-genome architecture. The comparison across M. bovis predicted genome composition enabled clustering into the core- and accessory-genome components, with 2736 CDS for the former, while the accessory moiety included 3897 CDS, of which 2656 are restricted to one/two genomes only. These analyses predicted an open pan-genome architecture, with an average of 32 CDS added by each genome and show the diversification of discrete M. bovis subpopulations supported by both core- and accessory-genome components. The functional annotation of the pan-genome classified each CDS into one or several COG (Clusters of Orthologous Groups) categories, revealing ‘transcription’ (total average CDSs, n=258), ‘lipid metabolism and transport’ (n=242), ‘energy production and conversion’ (n=214) and ‘unknown function’ (n=876) as the most represented. The closer analysis of polymorphisms in virulence-related genes in a restrict group of M. bovis from a multi-host system enabled the identification of clade-monomorphic non-synonymous SNPs, illustrating clade-specific virulence landscapes and correlating with disease severity. This first comparative pan-genome study of a diverse collection of M. bovis encompassing all clonal complexes indicates a high percentage of accessory genes and denotes an open, dynamic non-conservative pan-genome structure, with high evolutionary potential, defying the canons of MTC biology. Furthermore, it shows that M. bovis can shape its virulence repertoire, either by acquisition and loss of genes or by SNP-based diversification, likely towards host immune evasion, adaptation and persistence.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A look into the experience between the School of Architecture Art and Design and the School of Engineering

The Degree in Visual Arts at the School of Architecture, Art and Design of the University of Minho is in its infancy, as it only started in 2018. At its genesis was the idea to create something unique, anchored in the territory – Guimarães – It made perfect sense to create a partnership with the School of Engineering, articulating a relationship with the industries of textiles and of polymers. Guimarães is a city that exudes its history, cultural, geographical and social heritage, particularly in the field of textiles and industry. What we intend to share is the complete compendium of these fields and disciplines, this universe

Genome-wide estimation of recombination, mutation and positive selection enlightens diversification drivers of Mycobacterium bovis

Genome sequencing has reinvigorated the infectious disease research feld, shedding light on disease epidemiology, pathogenesis, host–pathogen interactions and also evolutionary processes exerted upon pathogens. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), enclosing M. bovis as one of its animal-adapted members causing tuberculosis (TB) in terrestrial mammals, is a paradigmatic model of bacterial evolution. As other MTBC members, M. bovis is postulated as a strictly clonal, slowly evolving pathogen, with apparently no signs of recombination or horizontal gene transfer. In this work, we applied comparative genomics to a whole genome sequence (WGS) dataset composed by 70 M. bovis from diferent lineages (European and African) to gain insights into the evolutionary forces that shape genetic diversifcation in M. bovis. Three distinct approaches were used to estimate signs of recombination. Globally, a small number of recombinant events was identifed and confrmed by two independent methods with solid support. Still, recombination reveals a weaker efect on M. bovis diversity compared with mutation (overall r/m= 0.037). The diferential r/m average values obtained across the clonal complexes of M. bovis in our dataset are consistent with the general notion that the extent of recombination may vary widely among lineages assigned to the same taxonomical species. Based on this work, recombination in M. bovis cannot be excluded and should thus be a topic of further efort in future comparative genomics studies for which WGS of large datasets from diferent epidemiological scenarios across the world is crucial. A smaller M. bovis dataset (n= 42) from a multi-host TB endemic scenario was then subjected to additional analyses, with the identifcation of more than 1,800 sites wherein at least one strain showed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The majority (87.1%) was located in coding regions, with the global ratio of non-synonymous upon synonymous alterations (dN/dS) exceeding 1.5, suggesting that positive selection is an important evolutionary force exerted upon M. bovis. A higher percentage of SNPs was detected in genes enriched into “lipid metabolism”, “cell wall and cell processes” and “intermediary metabolism and respiration” functional categories, revealing their underlying importance in M. bovis biology and evolution. A closer look on genes prone to horizontal gene transfer in the MTBC ancestor and included in the 3R (DNA repair, replication and recombination) system revealed a global average negative value for Taijima’s D neutrality test, suggesting that past selective sweeps and population expansion after a recent bottleneck remain as major evolutionary drivers of the obligatory pathogen M. bovis in its struggle with the host.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Primary lymphomas of the female genital tract: imaging findings

Primary lymphomas of the female genital tract are extremely rare, and a definitive diagnosis requires correlation of the clinical, radiological, and pathological findings. Unlike nonlymphomatous malignant tumors, the treatment of lymphoma is typically nonsurgical, thus raising the possibility of lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of a pelvic mass, a radiologist can significantly change the approach to the disease. Although some imaging findings may appear nonspecific, others may suggest the possibility of lymphoma, such as the presence of one or more solid, well-defined, homogeneous masses without necrosis despite a large size or the presence of diffuse infiltration leading to organomegaly with architectural preservation. Additionally, pelvic lymphadenopathy may be evident. In this pictorial essay, we discuss the radiological appearances of gynecological primary lymphomas, grouped by organ, in ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging

Family, Peers and Juvenile Delinquency: Analysis of Different Pathways to Recidivism

Diversas dimens&otilde;es relativas &agrave; fam&iacute;lia, como a estrutura e as din&acirc;micas familiares (cf., Contreras, Molina &amp; Cano, 2011), e relacionadas com o grupo de pares (cf. Cottle, Lee &amp; Heilbrun, 2001) t&ecirc;m sido associadas &agrave; reincid&ecirc;ncia de comportamentos delinquentes em jovens. Trazendo novos contributos para esta discuss&atilde;o, o objetivo do estudo apresentado consiste em avaliar como diferentes dimens&otilde;es de risco familiares e do grupo de pares variam de acordo com diferentes percursos de reincid&ecirc;ncia (i.e., n&atilde;o reincidentes, reincidentes interm&eacute;dios, reincidentes persistentes). Recorrendo a uma amostra de 105 jovens em cumprimento de medida tutelar educativa, este estudo foi realizado em Portugal e centrou-se na reincid&ecirc;ncia dos jovens no contacto com o sistema de justi&ccedil;a como indicador de percursos delinquentes persistentes. Os resultados revelam que mais de metade dos jovens da amostra (54.3%) s&atilde;o reincidentes, tendo cumprido medidas tutelares educativas anteriores. Entre as vari&aacute;veis significativamente associadas &agrave; reincid&ecirc;ncia, destacam-se a exist&ecirc;ncia de contactos anteriores com o sistema de prote&ccedil;&atilde;o e os comportamentos delinquentes do grupo de pares. Em conjunto, esses fatores parecem relacionar-se com o envolvimento em atos delinquentes, enfatizando a necessidade de serem desenvolvidas interven&ccedil;&otilde;es integradas para prevenir a reincid&ecirc;ncia.Different family factors such as structure, family dynamics (cf. Contreras, Molina &amp; Cano, 2011) and peer-related variables (cf. Cottle, Lee &amp; Heilbrun, 2001) have been linked to recidivism among young offenders. Bringing new contributions to this discussion, our goal was to evaluate how different family and peer factors of risk differ according to various recidivism pathways (e.g., non-reoffenders; moderate reoffenders; persistent reoffenders). Taking a sample of 105 young offenders, complying with youth justice measures, the present study has been developed in Portugal and focuses on recidivism as an indicator of persistent reoffending. Results showed that more than half of young offenders in the sample (54.3%) are reoffenders, as they have already complied with former youth justice measures. Among the most relevant variables associated with recidivism are a previous connection with the protection system, and the criminal behavior of the young offenders' peers. Together, these factors may relate to delinquent behavior, highlighting the need to develop integrated interventions, in order to prevent recidivism. &nbsp; &nbsp

Study of oxidant and anti-oxidant molecular alterations in an eukaryotic model

Mitochondrial dysfunction and protein aggregation are two phenomena that have been correlated with neurodegenerative diseases and are both interlinked with cellular oxidative stress. Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with nucleic acid damage and protein aggregation with mistakes in protein folding. However, aggregation has not yet been defined as a cause or consequence of neurodegenerative diseases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio