Desenvolvimento de ferramenta vocacionada para o dimensionamento de estruturas metálicas de acordo com a NP EN 1993-1-1

Trabalho desenvolvido em parceria com a empresa Casais.A presente comunicação descreve o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta informática vocacionada para o dimensionamento de estruturas metálicas de acordo com a NP EN 1993 1 1 [1]. A ferramenta AciariUM é direcionada para a verificação e dimensionamento (ELU) de vigas-coluna em aço sujeitas a flexão composta desviada. Foi desenvolvida como meio de análise de elementos em aço e de verificação expedita dos resultados recolhidos a partir de programas comerciais de análise estrutural. Permite ao utilizador um controlo total sobre os resultados, na medida em que todo o algoritmo e procedimento de cálculo relativo a cada parâmetro está disponível para consulta e edição.É dirigido um especial agradecimento: à CASAIS – Engenharia e Construção, S.A. e à Universidade do Minho por acolherem este projeto; aos suportes dos programas CYPE 3D e Robot Structural Analysis pela disponibilidade com que interagiram com os autores deste projeto sempre que a sua intervenção foi solicitada

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Development of a numerical tool dedicated to the design and safety assessment of steel structures according to np en 1993-1-1

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia CivilO presente documento descreve o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta informática vocacionada para o dimensionamento de estruturas metálicas de acordo com a NP EN 1993-1-1. A ferramenta AciariUM é direcionada para a verificação e dimensionamento aos estados limite últimos de vigas-coluna em aço sujeitas a flexão composta desviada: secções transversais em I e H, perfis dos tipos laminado a quente e reconstituído soldado. Foi desenvolvida como um instrumento de análise de elementos em aço e de verificação expedita dos resultados recolhidos a partir de programas comerciais de análise estrutural. Porque alguns dos programas de análise estrutural disponíveis no mercado não permitem ao utilizador total controlo sobre os procedimentos que dão origem aos resultados que lhe são apresentados, o chamado efeito de “caixa negra”, justifica-se a importância de dispor de ferramentas práticas, intuitivas e de utilização simples que contrariem essa tendência e que permitam validar os resultados devolvidos por esses programas. Um estudo comparativo focado na avaliação da eficácia e versatilidade de software comercial de análise estrutural permitiu reforçar as considerações do parágrafo anterior. A metodologia de cálculo implementada é resultado de pesquisa e de estudos que tiveram como objetivo a procura das soluções mais adequadas. A ferramenta foi desenvolvida em formato de ficheiro do Microsoft Office Excel utilizando programação em Visual Basic. A AciariUM realiza verificações aos estados limite últimos da resistência das secções transversais e da estabilidade dos elementos. Todo o algoritmo de cálculo está disponível para consulta e edição. A ferramenta apresenta uma estrutura coerente, organizada em interfaces dedicados a procedimentos específicos bem definidos. Dispõe de diferentes módulos de introdução de dados, sendo possível recolher automaticamente informação a partir de modelos construídos no programa Robot Structural Analysis, o que facilita o trabalho de validação de resultados. São apresentadas em tempo real instruções e informações relativas a todos os parâmetros. No final, é gerado um relatório de cálculo pronto para exportação. O trabalho de validação da ferramenta foi desenvolvido com a colaboração da empresa CASAIS – Engenharia e Construção S.A. Essa validação atesta a eficiência da ferramenta AciariUM por comparação dos resultados por ela fornecidos com os devolvidos pelos programas Robot Structural Analysis e CYPE 3D para o caso estudado. São apresentadas estratégias e definidos procedimentos de análise estrutural adequados ao referido caso de estudo.This document describes the development of a numerical tool dedicated to the design and safety assessment of steel structures, according to NP EN 1993-1-1. The tool, named AciariUM, is designed to evaluate the ultimate limit states of hot rolled and welded I and H-shaped steel elements subjected to biaxial bending with axial force. AciariUM was developed as an instrument of steel member analysis and as a tool to be used in the validation of results obtained from commercial software. Some of the existing structural analysis software applications available on the market do not provide the user an absolute control over the whole calculation procedure that is the base of the given results, resulting in a “black box” effect. Therefore, it is important to have practical, intuitive and simple tools that counter this trend and allow the user to validate those results. A comparative study focused on the evaluation of efficacy and versatility of existing commercial software applications emphasises the considerations made in the last paragraph. The implemented calculation procedure is a result of research and studies conducted with the purpose of finding the most suitable solutions. This numerical tool was developed as a Microsoft Office Excel file, using automation from Visual Basic. AciariUM runs ultimate limit state verifications of cross-sections resistance and member’s stability. The entire algorithm is available for editing. AciariUM has a coherent structure organized in interfaces dedicated to well-defined specific procedures. Different modes of data entry are available and data can also be accessed from a structure model defined in a Robot Structural Analysis project, making easier the validation of results. Information and instructions concerning all parameters are presented in real time. At the end an exportable results report is generated. The validation work was developed with the contribution of the company CASAIS – Engenharia e Construção S.A. It proved the AciariUM efficiency by comparing the obtained results with the ones given by the commercial software Robot Structural Analysis and CYPE 3D for the studied case. Strategies are presented and procedures are defined for structural analysis in respect to the mentioned case study

Germinação de sementes de Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville de diferentes origens submetidas a tratamentos para superação de dormência

Sementes de diferentes procedências podem apresentar variações na intensidade de dormência, respondendo de forma diferenciada aos tratamentos e dificultando a indicação da melhor metodologia para superá-la. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de identificar métodos para superar a dormência e promover a germinação de sementes de barbatimão de diferentes procedências. Sementes dessa espécie foram colhidas em sete fragmentos de Cerrado localizados na região de Botucatu, SP, e submetidas aos seguintes tratamentos de superação de dormência: testemunha, escarificação mecânica (lixa 220), H2O quente por 20 min e escarificação com H2SO4 (95%) por 40, 60 e 80 min. As sementes foram avaliadas quanto ao teor de água, teste de germinação, comprimento de plântulas, índice de velocidade de germinação e condutividade elétrica. A escarificação em ácido sulfúrico por 60 min foi o tratamento mais eficiente para superar a dormência, acelerar e aumentar a porcentagem de germinação e resultar plântulas de maior tamanho, para as sementes de diferentes locais de origem.<br>Seeds from different sources may present variation in dormancy intensity, responding differently to treatments and making it difficult to select the best dormancy breaking method. This work aimed to identify methods for breaking dormancy and promoting germination of Stryphnodendron adstringens seeds from differents origins. Seeds of Stryphnodendron adstringens were harvested at seven cerrado fragments in the Botucatu region (SP) and were submitted to the following treatments for breaking dormancy: control, mechanical scarification (with sand paper 220), boiling water for 20 minutes and acid scarification (with H2 SO4 95%) for 40, 60 and 80 minutes. Seeds were evaluated by water content, germination test, seedling length, and conductivity test. Scarification with sulphuric acid for 60 minutes was the most efficient treatment for breaking dormancy, accelerating and increasing germination percentage and resulting in seedlings with large size, for all the seeds from different origins

Livro Vermelho dos Mamíferos de Portugal Continental

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Respiratory support in patients with severe COVID-19 in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection (ISARIC) COVID-19 study: a prospective, multinational, observational study

Background: Up to 30% of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 require advanced respiratory support, including high-flow nasal cannulas (HFNC), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV), or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, outcomes and risk factors for failing non-invasive respiratory support in patients treated with severe COVID-19 during the first two years of the pandemic in high-income countries (HICs) and low middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: This is a multinational, multicentre, prospective cohort study embedded in the ISARIC-WHO COVID-19 Clinical Characterisation Protocol. Patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who required hospital admission were recruited prospectively. Patients treated with HFNC, NIV, or IMV within the first 24 h of hospital admission were included in this study. Descriptive statistics, random forest, and logistic regression analyses were used to describe clinical characteristics and compare clinical outcomes among patients treated with the different types of advanced respiratory support. Results: A total of 66,565 patients were included in this study. Overall, 82.6% of patients were treated in HIC, and 40.6% were admitted to the hospital during the first pandemic wave. During the first 24 h after hospital admission, patients in HICs were more frequently treated with HFNC (48.0%), followed by NIV (38.6%) and IMV (13.4%). In contrast, patients admitted in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were less frequently treated with HFNC (16.1%) and the majority received IMV (59.1%). The failure rate of non-invasive respiratory support (i.e. HFNC or NIV) was 15.5%, of which 71.2% were from HIC and 28.8% from LMIC. The variables most strongly associated with non-invasive ventilation failure, defined as progression to IMV, were high leukocyte counts at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 5.86 [4.83–7.10]), treatment in an LMIC (OR [95%CI]; 2.04 [1.97–2.11]), and tachypnoea at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 1.16 [1.14–1.18]). Patients who failed HFNC/NIV had a higher 28-day fatality ratio (OR [95%CI]; 1.27 [1.25–1.30]). Conclusions: In the present international cohort, the most frequently used advanced respiratory support was the HFNC. However, IMV was used more often in LMIC. Higher leucocyte count, tachypnoea, and treatment in LMIC were risk factors for HFNC/NIV failure. HFNC/NIV failure was related to worse clinical outcomes, such as 28-day mortality. Trial registration This is a prospective observational study; therefore, no health care interventions were applied to participants, and trial registration is not applicable

Respiratory support in patients with severe COVID-19 in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection (ISARIC) COVID-19 study: a prospective, multinational, observational study

Background: Up to 30% of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 require advanced respiratory support, including high-flow nasal cannulas (HFNC), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV), or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, outcomes and risk factors for failing non-invasive respiratory support in patients treated with severe COVID-19 during the first two years of the pandemic in high-income countries (HICs) and low middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: This is a multinational, multicentre, prospective cohort study embedded in the ISARIC-WHO COVID-19 Clinical Characterisation Protocol. Patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who required hospital admission were recruited prospectively. Patients treated with HFNC, NIV, or IMV within the first 24 h of hospital admission were included in this study. Descriptive statistics, random forest, and logistic regression analyses were used to describe clinical characteristics and compare clinical outcomes among patients treated with the different types of advanced respiratory support. Results: A total of 66,565 patients were included in this study. Overall, 82.6% of patients were treated in HIC, and 40.6% were admitted to the hospital during the first pandemic wave. During the first 24 h after hospital admission, patients in HICs were more frequently treated with HFNC (48.0%), followed by NIV (38.6%) and IMV (13.4%). In contrast, patients admitted in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were less frequently treated with HFNC (16.1%) and the majority received IMV (59.1%). The failure rate of non-invasive respiratory support (i.e. HFNC or NIV) was 15.5%, of which 71.2% were from HIC and 28.8% from LMIC. The variables most strongly associated with non-invasive ventilation failure, defined as progression to IMV, were high leukocyte counts at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 5.86 [4.83-7.10]), treatment in an LMIC (OR [95%CI]; 2.04 [1.97-2.11]), and tachypnoea at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 1.16 [1.14-1.18]). Patients who failed HFNC/NIV had a higher 28-day fatality ratio (OR [95%CI]; 1.27 [1.25-1.30]). Conclusions: In the present international cohort, the most frequently used advanced respiratory support was the HFNC. However, IMV was used more often in LMIC. Higher leucocyte count, tachypnoea, and treatment in LMIC were risk factors for HFNC/NIV failure. HFNC/NIV failure was related to worse clinical outcomes, such as 28-day mortality. Trial registration This is a prospective observational study; therefore, no health care interventions were applied to participants, and trial registration is not applicable