Comparison of Monomethylhydrazine/Hydroxypropylcellulose and Hydrocarbon/Silica Gels

Experimental studies have been performed to investigate rheology and droplet burning with different types of gelled propellants. Monomethylhydrazine has been gelled with organic hydroxypropylcellulose. JP-8 and RP-1 hydrocarbon gels have been produced with inorganic fumed silica particles. Rheological characterization showed the differences in terms of viscosity and yield stress behavior due to different types of gelling agents. Herschel-Bulkley and Carreau-Yasuda models have been used to characterize the gels with inorganic and organic gelling agents, respectively. First experiments with the Monomethylhydrazine/hydroxypropylcellulose gels showed a typical swelling process during combustion with a flexible viscous droplet surface. Contrary to that, the hydrocarbon/silica gels burned while a rigid silica structure was built, which remained unburned. Burning drop measurements have been compared to the d^2-squared law

ICONA: Inter Cluster ONOS Network Application

Several Network Operating Systems (NOS) have been proposed in the last few years for Software Defined Networks; however, a few of them are currently offering the resiliency, scalability and high availability required for production environments. Open Networking Operating System (ONOS) is an open source NOS, designed to be reliable and to scale up to thousands of managed devices. It supports multiple concurrent instances (a cluster of controllers) with distributed data stores. A tight requirement of ONOS is that all instances must be close enough to have negligible communication delays, which means they are typically installed within a single datacenter or a LAN network. However in certain wide area network scenarios, this constraint may limit the speed of responsiveness of the controller toward network events like failures or congested links, an important requirement from the point of view of a Service Provider. This paper presents ICONA, a tool developed on top of ONOS and designed in order to extend ONOS capability in network scenarios where there are stringent requirements in term of control plane responsiveness. In particular the paper describes the architecture behind ICONA and provides some initial evaluation obtained on a preliminary version of the tool.Comment: Paper submitted to a conferenc

CIRCUNCISÃO MASCULINA DE MENORES PARA FINS NÃO TERAPÊUTICOS OU MÉDICOS

Male circumcision is one of the oldest medical interventions. Male circumcision for non-therapeutic or medical purposes is a controversial topic, especially when practiced in minors. Internationally, the debate on male circumcision in children has been neglected due to its strong religious connections (Judaism and Islam) and cultural practices, as well as its acceptance in many societies. We will discuss the legality of circumcision for non-therapeutic or medical purposes of a male child within the regulatory framework Portuguese. Sustained as violating the rights of the child to his physical integrity and self-determination, it will seek to verify legally whether the parents, under their parental prerogatives, are sovereign in the decision to carry it out or whether the best interests of the children interfere with this decision. The debate will be brought to the debate whether a possible religious right of parents can overtake children's right to physical integrity, their self-determination. The research has a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive character. The questions presented, in addition to legal problems in the face of a normative framework that does not give an immediate answer, pose moral, religious and ethical problems. Throughout the text are addressed the doctrinal positions before this practice (admissibility or not in minors), starting from the world in general to Portugal. After the examination, it is possible to conclude that a right of the parent himself must never overlap with that of the child, in particular where it is not clearly exercised in the best interests of the child or where there is no benefit.A circuncisão masculina é uma das mais antigas intervenções médicas. A circuncisão masculina para fins não terapêuticos ou médicos é um tema polémico, sobretudo quando praticado em menores. A nível internacional tem sido negligenciado o debate da circuncisão masculina em crianças devido às suas fortes ligações religiosas (Judaísmo e Islão) e práticas culturais, bem como pela sua aceitação em muitas sociedades. Iremos debater a legalidade da circuncisão para fins não terapêuticos ou médicos de uma criança do sexo masculino no quadro normativo português. Sustentado como violador dos direitos da criança à sua integridade física e à autodeterminação, procurar-se-á verificar juridicamente se os progenitores, ao abrigo das suas prerrogativas parentais, são soberanos na decisão de realizar realizá-lo ou se o superior interesse das crianças interferem nesta decisão. Ao debate será trazida a discussão se um eventual direito religioso dos pais se pode sobrepor ao direito à integridade física as crianças, à sua autodeterminação. A investigação tem caráter qualitativo, exploratório e descritivo. As questões expostas, além de problemas jurídicos face a um quadro normativo que não dá uma resposta imediata, colocam problemas morais, religiosos e de ordem ética. Ao longo do texto são abordadas as posições doutrinais perante esta prática (admissibilidade ou não em menores), partindo do mundo em geral até Portugal. Findo a análise é possível a conclusão de que nunca um direito do próprio progenitor se deverá sobrepor ao da criança, nomeadamente quando não seja nitidamente exercido no superior interesse da mesma ou quando não haja qualquer benefício

A numerical approach for the modelling of forming limits in hot incremental forming of AZ31 magnesium alloy

Magnesium alloys, because of their good specific material strength, can be considered attractive by different industry fields, as the aerospace and the automotive one. However, their use is limited by the poor formability at room temperature. In this research, a numerical approach is proposed in order to determine an analytical expression of material formability in hot incremental forming processes. The numerical model was developed using the commercial software ABAQUS/Explicit. The Johnson-Cook material model was used, and the model was validated through experimental measurements carried out using the ARAMIS system. Different geometries were considered with temperature varying in a range of 25–400 °C and wall angle in a range of 35–60°. An analytical expression of the fracture forming limit, as a function of temperature, was established and finally tested with a different geometry in order to assess the validity

A superoxide dismutase biosensor for measuring the antioxidant capacity of blueberry based integrators

The antioxidant capacity of capsules containing blueberry based products which are included among the group of integrators owing to their antioxidant capacity and produced by various films was investigated. The results of the investigation are compared to rank these products in order to their antioxidant capacity. In order to measure antioxidant capacity, our laboratory has recently developed a special electrochemical method based on a superoxide dismutase (SOD) biosensor to determine the superoxide radical. The results obtained by applying the SOD biosensor method to various blueberry based integrators were compared with the results obtained with the spectrophotometric (FRAP) method based on N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylendiamine (DMPD-FeCl3) and with those obtained also using the ORAC fluorimetric (TRAP) method. One of the more interesting aspect of the article is the good agreement it evidences of the results of the three methods for measuring antioxidant capacity. The three methods differ among themselves: an Electron Transfer (ET) method, a Hydrogen Atom Trasnfer Metod (HAT) and an electrochemical based biosensor method of the Morning Superoxide Radical (MSR) type. It is also shown how the antioxidant capacity of the fresh vegetable is in any case always greater then of any food supplement obtained from the same type of vegetable

Curcumin affects HSP60 folding activity and levels in neuroblastoma cells

The fundamental challenge in fighting cancer is the development of protective agents able to interfere with the classical pathways of malignant transformation, such as extracellular matrix remodeling, epithelial\u2013mesenchymal transition and, alteration of protein homeostasis. In the tumors of the brain, proteotoxic stress represents one of the main triggering agents for cell transformation. Curcumin is a natural compound with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties with promising potential for the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Among the mediators of cancer development, HSP60 is a key factor for the maintenance of protein homeostasis and cell survival. High HSP60 levels were correlated, in particular, with cancer development and progression, and for this reason, we investigated the ability of curcumin to affect HSP60 expression, localization, and post-translational modifications using a neuroblastoma cell line. We have also looked at the ability of curcumin to interfere with the HSP60/HSP10 folding machinery. The cells were treated with 6, 12.5, and 25 \ub5M of curcumin for 24 h, and the flow cytometry analysis showed that the compound induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner with a higher percentage of apoptotic cells at 25 \ub5M. This dose of curcumin-induced a decrease in HSP60 protein levels and an upregulation of HSP60 mRNA expression. Moreover, 25 \ub5M of curcumin reduced HSP60 ubiquitination and nitration, and the chaperonin levels were higher in the culture media compared with the untreated cells. Furthermore, curcumin at the same dose was able to favor HSP60 folding activity. The reduction of HSP60 levels, together with the increase in its folding activity and the secretion in the media led to the supposition that curcumin might interfere with cancer progression with a protective mechanism involving the chaperonin

Comparison of mandibular arch expansion by the schwartz appliance using two activation protocols: A preliminary retrospective clinical study

Background and objectives: Dental crowding is more pronounced in the mandible than in the maxilla. When exceeding a significant amount, the creation of new space is required. The mandibular expansion devices prove to be useful even if the increase in the lower arch perimeter seems to be just ascribed to the vestibular inclination of teeth. The aim of the study was to compare two activation protocols of the Schwartz appliance in terms of effectiveness, particularly with regard to how quickly crowding is solved and how smaller is the increasing of vestibular inclination of the mandibular molars. Materials and methods: We compared two groups of patients treated with different activation's protocols of the lower Schwartz appliance (Group 1 protocol consisted in turning the expansion screw half a turn twice every two weeks and replacing the device every four months; Group 2 was treated by using the classic activation protocol-1/4 turn every week, never replacing the device). The measurements of parameters such as intercanine distance (IC), interpremolar distance (IPM), intermolar distance (IM), arch perimeter(AP), curve of Wilson (COW), and crowding (CR) were made on dental casts at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. Results: A significant difference between protocol groups was observed in the variation of COWL between time 0 and time 1 with protocol 1 with protocol 1 subjects showing a smaller increase in the parameter than protocol 2 subjects. The same trend was observed also for COWR, but the difference between protocol groups was slightly smaller and the interaction protocol-by-time did not reach the statistical significance. Finally, treatment duration in protocol 1 was significantly lower than in protocol 2. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that the new activation protocol would seem more effective as it allows to achieve the objective of the therapy more quickly, and likely leading to greater bodily expansion

Phenylpropanoids are key players in the antioxidant defense to ozone of European ash, Fraxinus excelsior

Physiological and biochemical responses to ozone (O3) (150 ppb, 8 h day−1, 35 consecutive days) of two Italian provenances (Piedmont and Tuscany) of Fraxinus excelsior L. were evaluated, with special attention to the role of phenylpropanoids. Our results indicate (i) the high O3 sensitivity especially of Piedmont provenance (in terms of visible injury, water status, and photosynthetic apparatus); (ii) although the intra-specific sensitivity to O3 between provenances differs (mainly due to different stomatal behaviors since only Tuscany plants partially avoided the uptake of the pollutant gas), both provenances showed detoxification and defense mechanisms; (iii) the crucial participation of phenylpropanoids, with a key role played by flavonoids (especially quercitrin): among this class of metabolites, isoquercitrin is the principal player in the lower O3 sensitivity of Tuscany plants, together with lignins; (iv) although coumarins (typical compounds of Fraxinus) were severely depressed by O3, isofraxidin was triggered suggesting a key role in reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification, as well as trans-chalcone. Furthermore, the different behavior of verbascoside and oleuropein among provenances lead us to speculate on their influence in the tentatively repair or acclimation shown by Piedmont plants at the end of the exposure. Finally, the intra-specific O3 sensitivity may be also due to de novo peaks triggered by O3 not yet associated to some chemicals

Phononic and photonic band gap structures: modelling and applications

AbstractPhotonic crystals (PhCs) are artificial materials with a permittivity which is a periodic function of the position, with a period comparable to the wavelength of light. The most interesting characteristic of such materials is the presence of photonic band gaps (PBGs). PhCs have very interesting properties of light confinement and localization together with the strong reduction of the device size, orders of magnitude less than the conventional photonic devices, allowing a potential very high scale of integration. These structures possess unique characteristics enabling to operate as optical waveguides, high Q resonators, selective filters, lens or superprism. The ability to mould and guide light leads naturally to novel applications in several fields.Band gap formation in periodic structures also pertains to elastic wave propagation. Composite materials with elastic coefficients which are periodic functions of the position are named phononic crystals. They have properties similar to those of photonic crystals and corresponding applications too. By properly choosing the parameters one may obtain phononic crystals (PhnCs) with specific frequency gaps. An elastic wave, whose frequency lies within an absolute gap of a phononic crystal, will be completely reflected by it. This property allows realizing non-absorbing mirrors of elastic waves and vibration-free cavities which might be useful in high-precision mechanical systems operating in a given frequency range. Moreover, one can use elastic waves to study phenomena such as those associated with disorder, in more or less the same manner as with electromagnetic waves.The authors present in this paper an introductory survey of the basic concepts of these new technologies with particular emphasis on their main applications, together with a description of some modelling approaches