The Azambuja fault: An active structure located in an intraplate basin with significant seismicity (Lower Tagus Valley, Portugal)

The Azambuja fault is a NNE trending structure located 50 km NE of Lisbon, in an area of important historical seismicity. It is sited in the Lower Tagus Basin, a compressive foredeep basin related to tectonic inversion of the Mesozoic Lusitanian Basin in the Miocene. The fault is evident in commercial seismic reflection data, where it shows steep thrust geometry downthrowing the Cenozoic sediments to the east. It has also a clear morphological signature, presenting a NNE-SSW trending, east facing, 15 km long scarp, reaching a maximum height of 80 m. The fault scarp is the geomorphic appearance of a flexure expressed as a zone of distributed deformation, where Miocene and Pliocene sediments are tilted eastwards and are cut by steeply dipping meso-scale faults presenting reverse and normal offsets, with a net downthrow to the east. This pattern at the surface is compatible with a steep fault in the basement that tilts and branches through the overlying Cenozoic sedimentary cover. In order to constrain the neotectonic activity of this structure, detailed geological studies were conducted. Morphotectonics was studied through aerial photo interpretation, analysis of topographic maps and digital mapping. Those studies indicate Quaternary slip on the fault in the ranges of 0.05–0.06 mm per year. Seismogenic behaviour was assumed for the Azambuja fault based on the evidence of Quaternary tectonic activity and its location in an area of significant historical seismicity. Mw 6.4–6.7 maximum earthquakes, with recurrence intervals of 10000–25000 years, were estimated based upon the displaced morphological references, cumulative offsets and fault length

Water quality-quantity evaluation of the Ribeirão das Posses Watershed, Brazil, applying the AgES-W model.

Southeastern Brazil is under a period of drought that has impacted the conservation of watersheds and the management of water quality and quantity for agricultural and urban demands. In this context agro-hydrological modeling tools can generate information of water response over time in response to climate and landuse changes. A 12-km2 watershed which has suffered from anthropogenic activities is the Ribeirão das Posses watershed that is located in the extreme south of Minas Gerais State and is a headwater catchment of the Jaguari river, one of the contributing rivers of the Cantareira Reservoir Complex in the state of São Paulo. This watershed had its landscape changed over the last century from native forests to more homogeneous vegetation for pastures and small crops and some forest plantations fragments with eucalyptus. Currently, the Conservative Waters project has planted some small areas with vegetation of native species, especially where there are springs and at the top of the hills, in order to recover degraded areas and improve the hydrogeochemistry in this study basin. In this context, the AgroEcoSystem-Watershed (AgES-W) model is presented to simulate the water movement and storage in agricultural watersheds with different spatial resolutions of land areas or hydrological responses units. The objectives are to evaluate the quality and quantity of water in Ribeirão das Posses Basin using measured data, then simulate these responses in space and time to test the AgES-W model. The period chosen for research was from 2011 to 2015, because the water quality data were collected during this period. The answers that we hope to find out are: How well does the AgES-W model simulate this Brazilian watershed in the tropics? What are the future prospects of the quality and quantity of water in this basin? The results will help to guide hydrological simulations in similar tropical environments in Brazil in this and other agricultural watersheds with AgES-W

Is there still a role for intraoperative enteroscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding?

BACKGROUND: in 21st century, endoscopic study of the small intestine has undergone a revolution with capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy. The difficulties and morbidity associated with intraoperative enteroscopy, the gold-standard in the 20th century, made this technique to be relegated to a second level. AIMS: evaluate the actual role and assess the diagnostic and therapeutic value of intraoperative enteroscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: we conducted a retrospective study of 19 patients (11 males; mean age: 66.5 ± 15.3 years) submitted to 21 IOE procedures for obscure GI bleeding. Capsule endoscopy and double balloon enteroscopy had been performed in 10 and 5 patients, respectively. RESULTS: with intraoperative enteroscopy a small bowel bleeding lesion was identified in 79% of patients and a gastrointestinal bleeding lesion in 94%. Small bowel findings included: angiodysplasia (n = 6), ulcers (n = 4), small bowel Dieulafoy´s lesion (n = 2), bleeding from anastomotic vessels (n = 1), multiple cavernous hemangiomas (n = 1) and bleeding ectopic jejunal varices (n = 1). Agreement between capsule endoscopy and intraoperative enteroscopy was 70%. Endoscopic and/or surgical treatment was used in 77.8% of the patients with a positive finding on intraoperative enteroscopy, with a rebleeding rate of 21.4% in a mean 21-month follow-up period. Procedure-related mortality and postoperative complications have been 5 and 21%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: intraoperative enteroscopy remains a valuable tool in selected patients with obscure GI bleeding, achieving a high diagnostic yield and allowing an endoscopic and/or surgical treatment in most of them. However, as an invasive procedure with relevant mortality and morbidity, a precise indication for its use is indispensable

Nicolau Livedoid Dermatitis following intramuscular benzathine penicillin injection

We report the case of a 64-year-old male presenting with a rapidly enlarging painful violaceous plaque in the left buttock and posterior thigh, following a gluteal intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin. Associated urinary incontinence and lower left limb paresis were consistent with sciatic and lower sacral nerve damage, as confirmed by electromyography. Additional underlying muscular damage was observed in ultrasound and computer tomodensitometry scans and supported by high serum levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. Aggressive treatment was performed with fluid expansion, intravenous steroid bolus, vasodilators and anticoagulation, resulting in slow improvement of cutaneous and muscular lesions. However, no significant effect was observed on neurologic dysfunction after 6 months of regular neuromuscular rehabilitation. Nicolau Livedoid Dermatitis is a rare and potentially fatal condition showing variable levels of tissue impairment and unpredictable course and prognosis. Specific treatment is not consensual and the efficacy of any particular treatment remains to be established

Social-Cognitive Theories to Explain Physical Activity

Despite the widely recognized health benefits of physical activity, participation in regular physical activity falls far short of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030. More than half of the population does not reach current recommendations, and around one-fourth is not sufficiently active at all. Understanding social-cognitive theories may aid in the creation of interventions to improve long-term physical activity maintenance. The current work covers theory and research on physical activity patterns. It specifically provides an overview of contemporary conceptualizations of motivational and cognitive theories, as well as reviews recent perspectives on how physical activity can be adopted and maintained. Key questions, such as whether physical activity can be executed purely based on cognitive functions, are also addressed. Furthermore, this review identifies possible and effective intervention strategies to promote physical activity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rheology of decane/water and triglyceride/water emulsions stabilized by β-casein and sodium caseinate

β-Casein and sodium caseinate stabilized emulsions were produced and had their rheological properties investigated as a function of the nature of the oil phase, ionic strength and pH. Oil phases of distinct structural characteristics, namely decane and vegetable oil of high triglyceride content, were assayed. The former was much more effectively emulsified than the latter. Effects of pH and ionic strength were minor. Emulsion rheological properties were strikingly distinct in each case, with viscoelastic, solid-like structures being formed with decane (G' >> G"), differently from what is observed for samples containing triglycerides as the oil phase, in which viscoelasticity was not even apparent. The relevance of the spatial features of the oil phase structure in the development of the emulsion viscoelastic character is discussed. Factors responding for the system distinct behaviour possibly reside at the emulsion droplet interface, unapproachable by optical microscopy, rather than on aspects related to particle size or shape.Emulsões estabilizadas por β-caseína e sódio caseinato tiveram suas propriedades reológicas investigadas em função da natureza da fase oleosa, da força iônica e do pH. Fases oleosas de características estruturais distintas, a saber, decano e óleos vegetais de alto teor triglicerídico, foram ensaiadas. A emulsificação dos sistemas contendo decano foi significativamente mais efetiva do que aquela das amostras contendo triglicérides. Efeitos de pH e força iônica mostraram-se relativamente pouco importantes sobre a capacidade emulsificante da proteína. As propriedades reológicas foram marcadamente distintas em cada caso, com estruturas de caráter sólido (G' >> G") sendo produzidas com decano, diferentemente do que foi observado para amostras contendo triglicérides, nas quais a viscoelasticidade não foi nem mesmo aparente. A relevância de aspectos espaciais da estrutura da fase oleosa no desenvolvimento do caráter viscoelástico é discutida. Propõe-se que os fatores responsáveis pelo comportamento distinto observado residam possivelmente na interface gotícula/meio dispersante, inacessível por microscopia óptica, e guardam pouca relação com tamanho ou forma da gotícula.FAPESPCNP

Urgent capsule endoscopy is useful in severe obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding

AIM: With capsule endoscopy (CE) it is possible to examine the entire small bowel. The present study assessed the diagnostic yield of CE in severe obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding (OOGIB). METHODS: During a 3-year period, 15 capsule examinations (4.5% of all CE in a single institution) were carried out in 15 patients (11 men; mean age 69.9 +/- 20.1 years) with severe ongoing bleeding, defined as persistent melena and/or hematochezia, with hemodynamic instability and the need for significant red blood cell transfusion. CE was carried out after non-diagnostic standard upper and lower endoscopy. The mean time from admission until CE was 4.1 +/- 4.4 days (0-15 days). RESULTS: CE revealed active bleeding in seven patients and signs of recent bleeding in four. Etiology of bleeding was correctly diagnosed in 11 patients (73.3%) (portal hypertension enteropathy, three patients; subepithelial ulcerated lesion, two patients; angiodysplasia, two patients; jejunal ulcer with visible vessel, one patient; multiple small bowel ulcers, one patient; jejunal tumor, one patient; jejunal mucosa irregularity with adherent clot, one patient). One patient (6.7%) had active bleeding but no visible lesion. As a consequence of the capsule findings, specific therapeutic measures were undertaken in 11 patients (73.3%) with five managed conservatively, four endoscopically and two surgically. Two patients experienced bleeding recurrence. One of them, with a probable small bowel tumor, refused any other interventions. CONCLUSIONS: CE is useful in patients with severe OOGIB by providing positive findings in the majority of patients, with subsequent impact on therapeutic procedures

Capsule endoscopy assisted by traditional upper endoscopy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Capsule endoscopy (CE) can be prevented by difficulties in swallowing the device and/or its gastric retention. In such cases, endoscopic delivery of the capsule to duodenum is very useful. We describe the indications and outcomes of cases in which traditional endoscopic techniques allowed placement of the capsule in duodenum. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, descriptive case series. All patients in the above conditions were identified and indications for CE, endoscopic-placement technique, complications and completeness of small bowel imaging were registered. RESULTS: Endoscopic-assisted delivery of the capsule was necessary in 13 patients (2.1% of all CE; 7 males; mean age--47.9 +/- 24.9 years, range 13 to 79 years). Indications for endoscopic delivery included: inability to swallow the capsule (7), gastric retention in previous exams (3), abnormal upper gastrointestinal anatomy (3). In eight patients, the capsule was introduced in GI tract with: foreign body retrieval net alone (3), retrieval net and a translucent cap (2), prototype delivery device (2) or a polypectomy snare (1). Five patients ingested the capsule that was then placed in duodenum with a polypectomy snare (3) or a retrieval net (2). No major complications occurred. Complete small bowel examination was possible in 10 patients (77%). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic placement of capsule endoscope in the duodenum is rarely needed. However it may be safely performed by different techniques avoiding some limitations of CE. The best methods for endoscopic delivery of the capsule in the duodenum seem to be retrieval net with a translucent cap when the patient is unable to swallow the device or a retrieval net only to capture the capsule in the stomach when the patients swallows it easily