Flow behaviour in microchannels of an innovative blood analogue fluid based on giant unilamellar vesicles

This work focused on the development of an innovative blood analogue, containing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), to mimic the flow behaviour of red blood cells (RBCs). The rheological characterization of different blood analogue solutions was performed in a stress controlled rheometer and the results have shown a good agreement when compared with a sample containing 5% of RBCs.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2013. The authors also acknowledge the financial support provided by FCT through the project PTDC/QEQ-FTT/4287/2014.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação dos conhecimentos relativos aos RH pelos profissionais de saúde da UHB

O presente estudo foi realizado em Bragança, tendo como objectivo, avaliar os conhecimentos dos profissionais de saúde da Unidade Hospitalar de Bragança (UHB) relativamente aos resíduos hospitalares (RH), no seguimento da unidade curricular Métodos e Técnicas de Investigação da Licenciatura em Farmácia da Escola Superior de Saúde de Bragança. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, correlacional e de carácter exploratório. Os dados foram recolhidos por meio de inquéritos realizados pelos constituintes deste grupo de trabalho e foram distribuídos nos diferentes serviços da UHB, sendo o tipo de amostragem feita de modo aleatório, estratificado e por conveniência. A dimensão da amostra correspondeu a 15% dos profissionais de saúde da referente instituição, mas a amostra pretendida era de 30%. O objectivo deste estudo é analisar se na UHB, a triagem de resíduos é devidamente efectuada cumprindo todas as normas de segurança e legislação em vigor, por todos os profissionais de saúde, e se estes, receberam formação suficiente acerca deste tema, saber também se existe alguma relação entre “profissão”/“tempo de serviço” com a “triagem em cada serviço”, o que se revela tão importante nos nossos dias para bem de todos os profissionais, utentes e população em geral, assim como para a preservação a nível ambiental. Assim pode dizer-se que é necessário promover mais acções de formação, por parte de Unidade Hospitalar de Bragança para os profissionais que contactam diariamente com estes resíduos, de modo a não suscitarem dúvidas, que os possam levar a cometer erros. Tais erros trazem custos à Instituição em causa, uma vez que, quando se coloca o resíduo no recipiente errado, paga-se mais para efectuar a triagem. É também uma lacuna a colmatar pelos cursos superiores de saúde, uma vez que os profissionais deveriam trazer da faculdade alguma formação acerca deste assunto, essencialmente os enfermeiros, pois são eles quem mais contactam com os diversos tipos de resíduos hospitalares

Why Large Seeds with Physical Dormancy Become Nondormant Earlier Than Small Ones

Under natural conditions, large seeds with physical dormancy (PY) may become water permeable earlier than small ones. However, the mechanism for this difference has not been elucidated. Thus, our aim was to evaluate the traits associated with PY in seeds of Senna multijuga (Fabaceae) and to propose a mechanism for earlier dormancy-break in large than in small seeds. Two seedlots were collected and each separated into large and small seeds. Seed dry mass, water content, thickness of palisade layer in the hilar and distal regions and the ratio between palisade layer thickness (P) in the lens fissure and seed mass (M) were evaluated. Further, the correlation between seed mass and seed dimensions was investigated. Large seeds had higher dry mass and water content than small seeds. The absolute thickness of the palisade layer in the different regions did not show any trend with seed size; however, large seeds had a lower P:M ratio than small seeds. Seed mass correlated positively with all seed dimensions, providing evidence for a substantially higher volume in large seeds. Since wet, but not dry, high temperatures break PY in sensitive seeds of S. multijuga, the data support our prediction that internal pressure potential in the seed and palisade layer thickness in the water gap (lens), which is related to seed mass (i.e. P:M ratio), act together to modulate the second step (dormancy break) of the two-stage sensitivity cycling model for PY break. In which case, large seeds are predetermined to become water-permeable earlier than small ones

Microfluidic deformability study of an innovative blood analogue fluid based on giant unilamellar vesicles

Blood analogues have long been a topic of interest in biofluid mechanics due to the safety and ethical issues involved in the collection and handling of blood samples. Although the current blood analogue fluids can adequately mimic the rheological properties of blood from a macroscopic point of view, at the microscopic level blood analogues need further development and improvement. In this work, an innovative blood analogue containing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) was developed to mimic the flow behavior of red blood cells (RBCs). A natural lipid mixture, soybean lecithin, was used for the GUVs preparation, and three different lipid concentrations were tested (1 × 10−3 M, 2 × 10−3 M and 4 × 10−3 M). GUV solutions were prepared by thin film hydration with a buffer, followed by extrusion. It was found that GUVs present diameters between 5 and 7 µm which are close to the size of human RBCs. Experimental flow studies of three different GUV solutions were performed in a hyperbolic-shaped microchannel in order to measure the GUVs deformability when subjected to a homogeneous extensional flow. The result of the deformation index (DI) of the GUVs was about 0.5, which is in good agreement with the human RBC’s DI. Hence, the GUVs developed in this study are a promising way to mimic the mechanical properties of the RBCs and to further develop particulate blood analogues with flow properties closer to those of real blood.COMPETE2020, NORTE2020, PORTUGAL2020, FEDER; FCT Project PTDC/QEQ-FTT/4287/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016861); FCT Project PTDC/EMD-EMD/29394/2017 (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-029394); FCT Project PTDC/EME-SIS/30171/2017 (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000032); FCT Project PTDC/QUI-QFI/28020/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028020); SFRH/BD/99696/2014 PhD Grant;info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of CCL22 (MDC) for the recruitment of eosinophils during allergic pleurisy in mice

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142274/1/jlb0356.pd

Meningoradiculitis Due To Cryptococcus Neofermans In An Immunocompetent Patient.

Meningoradiculitis refers to combined involvement of meninges and nerve roots. The most frequent location is the lumbosacral region. Etiology is diverse, including inflammatory, infectious and neoplastic disorders. Meningoradiculitis is a rare form of involvement in cryptococcal infection. We describe a case of subacute lower limbs flaccid paresis diagnosed as lumbosacral meningoradiculitis in view of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inflammatory changes and typical enhancement on MRI of lumbar spine. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from CSF. Extensive screening yielded no immunodeficiencies.62147-

Reference Model in BPMN Notation for a Production Scheduling System

Companies are progressively investing in practices aimed at improving the quality of management, with the main purpose of enabling them to operate competitively in the present market. For this, it is necessary to document the activities and information of the existing business processes in the organization, aiming at reducing time and cost in the elaboration of the particular model. In this context, the objective of this work is to develop a reference model of the Production Scheduling (PS) processes, an important module of production planning and control (PPC). The research methodology used in this work was divided into the following stages: study of PS and business process modeling, definition of reference model processes, choice of methodology and process modeling tool, development of reference model and prototype of the software and, finally, analysis of results. The modeling notation used was the BPMN, since it is considered a standard language in the field of process modeling. The prototype was developed through the Delphi interface in order to apply the model to support the implementation of business management programs. As results, from a formal documentation, the model proved to be a useful mechanism in the understanding of the processes raised and appropriate in the support to the implantation of production management tools

Behavioral Finance: A Different View in the State of Rio de Janeiro

The objective of this work is to present the consolidation of foreign reflections of a new branch in the financial theory, behavioral finance, that it aims at to adhere to the psychological aspects and the sociological ones of the individuals in the process of taking of decision at the moment to carry through an investment, as well as its applications through the incorporation of evidences on the irrationality of the investor. This new segment has as objective the revision and the improvement of the economic-financial model used currently. Through this study it was verified presence of the effect of super valuation of the assets and the effect disposal, as well as of aversion to the risk, since in the occurred economic crisis in 2008 middle a bigger index in the closing of companies was evidenced, and a minor in the opening of companies in the state of Rio De Janeiro. The association to the behavioral finance in such a way provides the agreement of the psychological process that motivates the investments, assisting in the construction of a model of more adequate taking of decision, how much in the act of contract of its administrators who will have to possess abilities adequate psychological techniques and in intention to prevent cognitive bias as reliable excess. The regression for being static got errors in its forecast high thus was not an incisive method, being able to be applied the forecast of demand of products, not obtaining success thus in this model

Proposal of a Reference Model in BPMN Notation for an MRP System

Companies are progressively investing in practices aimed at improving the quality of management, with the main purpose of enabling them to operate competitively in the present market. For this, it is necessary to document the activities and information of the existing business processes in the organization, aiming at reducing time and cost in the elaboration of the particular model. In this context, the objective of this work is to develop a reference model of the Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) processes, an important module of production planning and control (PPC). The research methodology used in this work was divided into the following stages: study of MRP and business process modeling, definition of reference model processes, choice of methodology and process modeling tool, development of reference model and prototype of the software and, finally, analysis of results. The modeling notation used was the BPMN, since it is considered a standard language in the field of process modeling. The prototype was developed through the Delphi interface in order to apply the model to support the implementation of business management programs. As results, from a formal documentation, the model proved to be a useful mechanism in the understanding of the processes raised and appropriate in the support to the implantation of production management tools

Oil and Gas on the Brazilian Coast

The study of behavioral finance is characterized by analyzing the volatility of financial markets, however, in a contemporary view, one can also apply it in other fields such as commerce and factories, and its dislike to be able to invest or not its financial capital . The objective of this work is to present foreign reflections on a new branch in financial theory, Behavioral Finance, which aims to adhere the psychological and sociological aspects of the individuals in the decision making process at the time of making an investment, as well as their applications through incorporation evidence of the investor\u27s irrationality. This new segment aims to review and improve the current economic-financial model. The association with behavioral finances provides both the understanding of the psychological process that motivates the investments, helping in the construction of a more adequate decision-making model, and in the hiring of its managers who must possess adequate technical and psychological skills in order to avoid cognitive bias as overconfidence