On The Use Of Polyurethane Matrix Carbon Fiber Composites For Strengthening Concrete Structures

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials have effectively been used in numerous reinforced concrete civil infrastructure strengthening projects. Although a significant body of knowledge has been established for epoxy matrix carbon FRPs and epoxy adhesives, there is still a need to investigate other matrices and adhesive types. One such matrix/adhesive type yet to be heavily researched for infrastructure application is polyurethane. This thesis investigates use of polyurethane matrix carbon fiber composites for strengthening reinforced concrete civil infrastructure. Investigations on mirco- and macro-mechanical composite performance, strengthened member flexural performance, and bond durability under environmental conditioning will be presented. Results indicate that polyurethane carbon composites could potentially be a viable option for strengthening concrete structures

Functional and Structural Neuroplastic Changes Related to Sensitization Proxies in Patients with Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review

Objective: Several reports in literature have identified sensitization as a possible basis for the enhanced pain reactions associated with osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this current systematic review is to summarize functional and structural brain changes associated with surrogate sensitization parameters assessed in patients with OA-related pain. Design: Systematic review. Subjects: Patients with OA related pain. Methods: A literature search was conducted systematically in MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE databases for human studies up to December 2019. Articles were included if they assessed brain imaging and sensitization parameters (quantitative sensory testing and questionnaires) in adults with OA-related pain. Methodological quality was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) score. Results: Five studies reporting on 138 patients were included in this review. The MINORS scale yielded mean scores of 8.5/16 and 12.3/24, for the cohort and case-control studies respectively. Four low-quality studies suggest a greater pain matrix activation associated with clinical measures of sensitization in patients with OA, while another study underlined the presence of structural changes (reduced gray matter volume) in the cortical areas involved in the nociceptive processing possible also related to sensitization. Conclusions: This review shows conflicting evidence for structural and functional neuroplastic brain changes related to sensitization proxies in patients with OA

Spontaneous membrane-less multi-compartmentalisation via aqueous two-phase separation in complex coacervate microdroplets

Polyelectrolyte/nucleotide multiphase complex coacervate droplets are produced by internalized aqueous two-phase separation and used for the spatially dependent chemical transfer of sugar molecules, providing a step towards the development of membrane-free "organelles" within coacervate-based protocells

Framing automatic grading techniques for open-ended questionnaires responses. A short survey

The assessment of students' performances is one of the essential components of teaching activities, and it poses different challenges to teachers and instructors, especially when considering the grading of responses to open-ended questions (i.e., short-answers or essays). Open-ended tasks allow a more in-depth assessment of students' learning levels, but their evaluation and grading are time-consuming and prone to subjective bias. For these reasons, automatic grading techniques have been studied for a long time, focusing mainly on short-answers rather than long essays. Given the growing popularity of Massive Online Open Courses and the shifting from physical to virtual classrooms environments due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the adoption of questionnaires for evaluating learning performances has rapidly increased. Hence, it is of particular interest to analyze the recent effort of researchers in the development of techniques designed to grade students' responses to open-ended questions. In our work, we consider a systematic literature review focusing on automatic grading of open-ended written assignments. The study encompasses 488 articles published from 1984 to 2021 and aims at understanding the research trends and the techniques to tackle essay automatic grading. Lastly, inferences and recommendations are given for future works in the Learning Analytics field

Life satisfaction and musculoskeletal complaints in a population seeking osteopathy care: consecutive sample of 611 patients.

BackgroundLife satisfaction is a component of the subjective well-being construct. Research consistently suggests that life satisfaction is associated with enhanced social benefits and improved health outcomes. However, its relationship to musculoskeletal health outcomes is underexplored. This study evaluates the life satisfaction of a patient population presenting with musculoskeletal complaints, and the relationship of life satisfaction with other health demographics and behaviours.MethodThe study used a consecutive sampling design. Patients attending the Victoria University Osteopathy Clinic (Melbourne, Australia) were invited to complete the PROMIS® General Life Satisfaction scale (GLSS) along with questions related to health demographics and behaviours.ResultsThe GLSS T-score was not significantly different for gender, being born outside of Australia, speaking English at home, or complaint chronicity.ConclusionsLife satisfaction did not appear to be related to a range of health and demographic variables in the current musculoskeletal pain cohort. The PROMIS® General Life Satisfaction scale could prove useful to explore the relationship between life satisfaction and treatment outcomes for musculoskeletal complaints

Ensino profissionalizante em agroturismo: um estudo de caso sobre experiências de valorização do patrimônio cultural no Brasil

Starting from the theoretical framework on local heritage and sustainable development according to the literature on cultural goods, as well as, born of reflection in social pedagogy, according to the perspective of a local approach and committed to the enhancement of development and dissemination of endogenous skills to communities, this article examines the implications of professional course of Initial and Continuing Training in Serra Geral - developed by the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina (IFSC) Campus Florianópolis Continent. The contribution analyses their spatial and productive relations with the gastronomic cultural heritage of the slopes of the Serra Geral - SC. and the importance of addressing the training through a system approach that adequately ensures the sustainability of the education actions. The study, based on qualitative methodology developed interviews with graduating students, local residents and managers, teachers and educational managers. The work explains and analyses perceptions of individuals about: learning and their relations with the habits, customs and local agricultural production; teaching methodology developed during the course units; the general impression resulting from learning processes; expectations and hopes for further training; knowledge of culinary dishes which characterize the identity. Conclusions open to the possibilities for future studies

A comparison between overweight cutoff points for detection of high blood pressure in adolescents

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a acurácia de três pontos de corte na determinação da pressão arterial elevada em adolescentes, dada a forte relação entre o excesso de peso e valores elevados de pressão arterial. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo 1.021 adolescentes de ambos os sexos, selecionados de maneira aleatória nas escolas públicas e particulares de Londrina (PR). O peso corporal foi aferido por meio de balança digital, e a estatura, por um estadiômetro portátil com extensão máxima de 2 metros. A pressão arterial foi avaliada através de um aparelho automático. A capacidade do índice de massa corporal de detectar a pressão arterial elevada foi averiguada por meio da curva ROC e seus parâmetros (sensibilidade, especificidade e área sob a curva). RESULTADOS: Os pontos de corte da proposta nacional apresentaram maior acurácia (masculino: 0,636±0,038; feminino: 0,585±0,043) quando comparados aos pontos de corte das propostas internacional (masculino: 0,594±0,040; feminino: 0,570±0,044) e norte-americana (masculino: 0,612±0,039; feminino: 0,578±0,044). CONCLUSÃO: A proposta nacional foi a que apresentou melhor acurácia na indicação de valores elevados de pressão arterial.OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of three different cutoff points for the detection of high blood pressure in adolescents, given the strong relationship between overweight and high blood pressure levels. METHODS: A total of 1,021 adolescents of both sexes were enrolled in the study, selected at random from public and private schools in Londrina, Brazil. Their body weight was measured using a digital balance, and their height with a portable stadiometer with a maximum extension of 2 meters. Arterial blood pressure was measured using an automatic apparatus. The capacity of body mass index to detect high blood pressure was gauged using ROC curves and their parameters (sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve). RESULTS: The cutoff points proposed in a Brazilian standard exhibited greater accuracy (males: 0.636±0.038; females: 0.585±0.043) than the cutoff points proposed in an international (males: 0.594±0.040; females: 0.570±0.044) and a North-American standard (males: 0.612±0.039; females: 0.578±0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian proposal offered greatest accuracy for indicating high blood pressure levels