Development of forming tool concept validator with variable stiffness blank-holder for high strength steel applications

This paper presents numerical and experimental results of a prototype tool that includes blank-holder elements of variable stiffness. The application is developed for high-strength steel applications aiming to achieve improvements in the forming operation, namely expand the limits of formability for the tested materials. A numerical model was built including material constitutive models description for the high-strength steel grades used while a forming tool was designed and constructed in order to evaluate the proposed concept. The obtained experimental and numerical results show a positive geometry control and reduction of failure risk. These results are a contribution to the validation of a variable-stiffness blank-holder concept for this particular case study.The funding support from Projects I&DT AdvancedTOOLING CENTRO-01-0247-FEDER-011399 and METRICS Ref. 2019 - UID/ EMS/04077/2019 is acknowledged

Impact behaviour of safety shoe high strength steel parts

This study presents results on the dynamic response of safety toe cap models made of high-strength steel. The structural response to impact loading conditions under normative requirements was properly related to tap the potential of lightweight design for significant reduction of thickness. A fully martensitic steel grade was selected, and numerical models were used to study extensive plastic deformation and strain-rate dependence. Material properties were modelled using the Cowper-Symonds models. The numerical simulation was developed using ANSYS explicit dynamics software and was compared to an experimental standard testing of final prototypes. The numerical modelling approach analysed different friction models seeking to better describe collapsing behaviour. A local stiffening toe cap model with high energy absorption efficiency was validated.The support from the Project S3 – Safety Slim Shoe, FCOMP-01-0202- FEDER-018458 and ICC – Lavoro is acknowledged

A protective safety footwear device simulation and design: an innovative and healthy hybrid component

The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become a necessity in view of the number of accidents at work that occurred in the past years. The European Community (EU) and the member states are creating strategies aiming the increase of the use of PPE's and consequently the decrease of the number of the accidents at work, decreasing also the number of injuries caused by them and their severity. In this paper, a brief review of safety footwear and its components will be presented focusing on penetration resistant inserts. Additionally, we present a project in development at University of Minho that aims to improve the existent shoes. This project proposes a brand new penetration resistant inserts through a combination of innovative materials.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Design de Moda x Projetos sob medida: uma alternativa de atuação profissional

En este trabajo se analiza el desarrollo de un proyecto de diseño de moda del que resultará la creación de una colección de ropa para ejecutivas con las características de la forma de trabajar de la sastrería, constituyendo un encuentro entre el proyecto de diseño y la fabricación artesanal a medida. Los cargos directivos vienen siendo cada vez más por mujeres que necesitan ropa adecuada para el código formal de vestimenta exigido y, al mismo tiempo, una identidad que las diferencie, sobre todo en las posiciones y los roles que ocupan. Por esta razón, el trabajo personalizado de sastrería es el más adecuado para que el público sea atendido con eficacia

Periodontal disease, peri-implant disease and levels of salivary biomarkers IL-1β, IL-10, RANK, OPG, MMP-2, TGF-β and TNF-α: follow-up over 5 years

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of salivary biomarkers IL-1β, IL-10, RANK, OPG, MMP-2, TG-β and TNF-α in individuals with diagnosis of peri-implant mucositis in the absence or presence of periodontal and peri-implant maintenance therapy (TMPP) over 5 years. Material and Methods: Eighty individuals diagnosed with peri-implant mucositis were divided into two groups: one group that underwent periodontal and peri-implant regularly maintenance therapy, called GTP (n=39), and a second group that received no regular maintenance GNTP (n=41). Each participant underwent a complete periodontal and peri-implant clinical examination. Collection of saliva samples and radiographic examination to evaluate peri-implant bone levels were conducted at two times: initial examination (T1) and after 5 years (T2). The salivary samples were evaluated through ELISA for the following markers: IL-1β, IL-10, RANK, OPG, MMP-2, TGF and TNF-α. Results: A higher incidence of peri-implantitis was observed in the GNTP group (43.9%) than in the GTP group (18%) (p=0.000). All individuals (n=12) who presented peri-implant mucositis and had resolution at T2 were in the GTP group. After 5 years, there was an increase in the incidence of periodontitis in the GNTP group compared to the GTP group (p=0.001). The results of the study revealed an increase in the salivary concentration of TNF-α in the GNTP group compared to the GTP group. The other salivary biomarkers that were evaluated did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: The salivary concentration of TNF-α was increased in individuals with worse periodontal and peri-implant clinical condition and in those with a higher incidence of peri-implantitis, especially in the GNTP group. Longitudinal studies in larger populations are needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the role of this biomarker in peri-implant disease

Effects of platelet-rich fibrin produced by three centrifugation protocols on bone neoformation in defects created in rat calvaria.

This study evaluated the potential of Leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF; fixed angle centrifugation protocol), Advanced-platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF; low-speed fixed angle centrifugation protocol), and Horizontal-platelet-rich fibrin (H-PRF; horizontal centrifugation protocol) in bone neoformation in critical size defects (CSDs) in rat calvaria. Thirty-two rats were divided into groups: Control (C), L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF. 5 mm diameter CSDs were created in the animals' calvaria. Defects from group Control (C) were filled with blood clots, while defects from groups L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF were filled with respective platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membranes. L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF were prepared from animal blood collection and specific centrifugation protocols. At 14 and 30 days, calcein (CA) and alizarin (AL) injections were performed, respectively. Animals were euthanized at 35 days. Microtomographic, laser confocal microscopy, and histomorphometric analyzes were performed. Data were statistically analyzed (ANOVA, Tukey, p < .05). L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF groups showed higher values of bone volume (BV), newly formed bone area (NFBA), and precipitation of CA and AL than the C group (p < .05). The H-PRF group showed higher values of BV, number of trabeculae (Tb. N), NFBA, and higher precipitation of AL than the A-PRF and L-PRF groups (p < .05). Therefore, it can be concluded that: i) L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF potentiate bone neoformation in CSDs in rat calvaria; ii) H-PRF demonstrated more biological potential for bone healing

Análise da viabilidade econômico-financeira da produção de Manihot esculenta (Crantz) em assentamentos rurais no município de Macaíba-RN/ Economic analysis and financial viability the production Manihot esculenta (Crantz) in rural settlements the municipality Macaíba-RN

Manihot esculenta (Crantz) pertence à família Euphorbiaceae, desempenhando um importante papel socioeconômico e cultural na região do Nordeste, tendo em vista, sua relevância e representatividade para a população, principalmente, para aquelas que vivem na base da economia familiar. Visto que o baixo nível de escolaridade entre os mandiocultores implica em um atraso nos avanços tecnológicos no sistema de produção, refletindo no desempenho econômico desta atividade. Para que se possa fazer o diagnóstico na determinação dos lucros ao final do cultivo, é importante determinar a viabilidade econômico-financeira, através de métodos de avaliação de investimentos baseado nos indicadores econômicos. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar a viabilidade econômico-financeira da produção de M. esculenta nos projetos de assentamentos rurais Eldorado dos Carajás e Caracaxá no município de Macaíba-RN. A pesquisa foi realizada nos assentamentos rurais citados acima. Para a coleta de dados, além do procedimento de pesquisa bibliográfica, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas junto aos produtores de mandioca, as visitas de campo se deram para acompanhar todo o sistema de produção desde o plantio até a colheita. Foi feita a estimativa dos elementos de custos e de receita através de recursos quantitativos, como; tabelas, planilhas e gráficos em programas de computação, e os resultados considerando as previsões de investimento para o estabelecimento da cultura, a receita oriunda da venda da produção, considerando o Período de Retorno – PR, o Valor Presente Líquido – VPL e a Taxa Interna de Retorno – TIR, indicadores estes necessários para obter resultado final. A análise de mercado para o preço da raiz de mandioca observado foi de R$0,40 kg, ou seja, R$ 400,00 a tonelada; os custos de produção dos assentamentos Eldorado dos Carajás e Caracaxá foram de R$5.262,80 e R$ 4.929,00 no primeiro ano, havendo uma redução de 18,72% e 15,72% respectivamente, no ano seguinte, se mantendo estável até o final do período; Os elementos de receita da cultura da mandioca considerando três diferentes cenários de mercado: preço mínimo (R$0,18), médio (R$ 0,29) e máximo (R$0,40); Os valores de mercado destacaram-se no mês de junho de 2018 com o maior valor (R$ 0,40), em abril de 2019 atingiu valor médio (R$0,29) e o menor valor ocorreu no mês de agosto de 2019 (R$ 0,18); O Valor Presente Líquido (VPL), o Período de Retorno (PR), e a Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR) demonstraram comportamentos semelhantes, visto que no primeiro cenário de mercado (I) apresentaram condições desfavoráveis para o produtor de mandioca assentado no Eldorado dos Carajás e Caracaxá. De acordo com os indicadores financeiros, o segundo cenário (II) exibiu uma situação mediana nos índices obtidos, e o terceiro cenário de mercado (III) apresentou condições favoráveis para o mandiocultor dos assentamentos mediante os resultados dos indicadores, apontando para a viabilidade econômico-financeira na produção de mandioca. De acordo com a análise econômico-financeira, a atividade da mandiocultura é viável considerando as condições ambientais e de cultivo observadas nos assentamentos Eldorado dos Carajás e Caracaxá

COVID-19 outcomes in people living with HIV: Peering through the waves

Objective: To evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients infected with HIV, and to compare with a paired sample without HIV infection. Methods: This is a substudy of a Brazilian multicentric cohort that comprised two periods (2020 and 2021). Data was obtained through the retrospective review of medical records. Primary outcomes were admission to the intensive care unit, invasive mechanical ventilation, and death. Patients with HIV and controls were matched for age, sex, number of comorbidities, and hospital of origin using the technique of propensity score matching (up to&nbsp;4:1). They were compared using the Chi-Square or Fisher's Exact tests for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon for numerical variables. Results: Throughout the study, 17,101&nbsp;COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, and 130&nbsp;(0.76%) of those were infected with HIV. The median age was&nbsp;54&nbsp;(IQR:&nbsp;43.0;64.0) years in&nbsp;2020 and 53&nbsp;(IQR:&nbsp;46.0;63.5) years in&nbsp;2021, with a predominance of females in both periods. People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their controls showed similar prevalence for admission to the ICU and invasive mechanical ventilation requirement in the two periods, with no significant differences. In&nbsp;2020, in-hospital mortality was higher in the PLHIV compared to the controls (27.9%&nbsp;vs.&nbsp;17.7%; p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.049), but there was no difference in mortality between groups in&nbsp;2021 (25.0%&nbsp;vs.&nbsp;25.1%; p &gt; 0.999). Conclusions: Our results reiterate that PLHIV were at higher risk of COVID-19 mortality in the early stages of the pandemic, however, this finding did not sustain in&nbsp;2021, when the mortality rate is similar to the control group

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio