A mobile dose prediction system based on artificial neural networks for NPP emergencies with radioactive material releases

This work presents the approach of a mobile dose prediction system for NPP emergencies with nuclear material release. The objective is to provide extra support to field teams decisions when plant information systems are not available. However, predicting doses due to atmospheric dispersion of radionuclide generally requires execution of complex and computationally intensive physical models. In order to allow such predictions to be made by using limited computational resources such as mobile phones, it is proposed the use of artificial neural networks (ANN) previously trained (offline) with data generated by precise simulations using the NPP atmospheric dispersion system. Typical situations for each postulated accident and respective source terms, as well as a wide range of meteorological conditions have been considered. As a first step, several ANN architectures have been investigated in order to evaluate their ability for dose prediction in hypothetical scenarios in the vicinity of CNAAA Brazilian NPP, in Angra dos Reis, Brazil. As a result, good generalization and a correlation coefficient of 0.99 was achieved for a validation data set (untrained patterns). Then, selected ANNs have been coded in Java programming language to run as an Android application aimed to plot the spatial dose distribution into a map.In this paper, the general architecture of the proposed system is described; numerical results and comparisons between investigated ANN architectures are discussed; performance and limitations of running the Application into a commercial mobile phone are evaluated and possible improvements and future works are pointed

Undernutrition in institutionalized elderly patients with neurological diseases: comparison between different diagnostic criteria

"Objectives: To determine and compare the frequency of undernutrition in institutionalized elderly patients with neurological diseases at admission using different nutritional assessment tools. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: One long-term care institution specialized in neurodegenerative diseases. Participants: 92 Elderly people (aged ≥ 65 years) with at least one neurological condition. Measurements: Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), body mass index (BMI), mid-arm (MAC) and calf circumferences (CC) were used for nutritional status assessment. Presence and severity of dysphagia, polypharmacy and feeding difficulties were also assessed. Results: According to MNA, 77.1% of the participants were undernourished at admission. BMI identified 46.8%, MAC identified 44.6% and CC identified 22.8% of undernourished participants. Undernutrition was more frequent in Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and dementia syndromes. 63% had dysphagia for at least one food consistence and most of these patients were malnourished. MNA revealed best concordance with BMI and MAC than with CC. BMI and feeding difficulties were the major risk factors for undernutrition. Conclusion: Undernutrition prevalence in institutionalized elderly with neurological diseases at admission is high. Nutritional assessment tools revealed low concordance between them."info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identificação de demandas por informação na Embrapa Algodão.

Identificação de demandas por informação na Embrapa Algodão; Introdução; Informações demandados, Perfil dos clientes; Considerações; Anexos;bitstream/CNPA/15807/1/DOC96.pd

Consumo, produção e constituintes lácteos de cabras leiteiras alimentadas com diferentes fontes de óleo.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito de diferentes fontes de lipídeos na dieta sobre o consumo, produção e constituintes lácteos de cabras leiteiras. Foram utilizadas oito cabras lactantes da raça Saanen com 60 dias de lactação e produção média de 2,5 kg de leite/dia, mantidas em gaiolas de metabolismo. Utilizou-se um delineamento em duplo quadrado latino 4x4. As dietas apresentaram relação volumoso:concentrado 31,9:68,1 sendo que a fonte de volumoso foi o feno de capim Tifton-85 e o concentrado à base de milho, óleo, farelo de soja, calcário e suplemento mineral. Foram avaliados três tratamentos, que consistiram da inclusão de duas fontes de óleo (de soja e de palmiste) e um tratamento controle (sem óleo). A suplementação com as diferentes fontes de óleo, quando comparado ao tratamento controle, não afetou a composição do leite (P>0,05). Por outro lado, o óleo de palmiste reduziu o consumo de MS em %PV e em g/kg PV ?0,75? (P<0,01) e a produção de leite (g/dia) (P<0,01), enquanto que o tratamento com óleo de soja não afetou nenhuma das variáveis mensuradas. Uma vez que a suplementação com óleo pode aumentar o custo de produção do leite, a ausência de efeitos positivos sobre os parâmetros avaliados em relação ao controle, não se recomenda a utilização de óleo nos níveis avaliados no presente trabalho. No entanto, pela possibilidade de agregação de valor ao leite, avaliações quanto ao impacto destas fontes na qualidade da gordura láctea devem ser feitas

Interpretação do ensaio de carga dinâmico em estacas através de análises tipo CAPWAP

O objectivo deste trabalho é o de mostrar as potencialidades do ensaio de carga dinâmico, como método alternativo ou complementar ao ensaio de carga estático. Discutem-se os problemas associados ao método de interpretação dos registos obtidos no ensaio dinâmico, com base em análises tipo CAPWAP. Apresenta-se um estudo paramétrico discutindo a influência dos diversos parâmetros do modelo, nomeadamente, da rigidez de ponta, do deslocamento elástico limite e dos factores de amortecimento lateral e de ponta. Este modelo foi implementado num programa de cálculo com base nas equações originalmente propostas por Smith (1960).The aim of this work is to show the potentialities of the dynamic load test, as an alternative or a complementary method to the static load test. The problems associated to the interpretation method based on CAPWAP analyses are discussed. A parametric study is presented, discussing the influence of several parameters of the model, namely, the base rigidity, the quake and the lateral and base soil damping constant. This model was implemented in a computer code using the original equations proposed by Smith (1960).Sociedade Portuguesa de Geotecnia, Associação Brasileira de Mecânica dos Solos e Engenharia Geotécnica, Secção Autónoma de Engenharia Civil da Universidade de Aveir

Arthroscopic repair of ankle instability with all-soft knotless anchors

In recent years, arthroscopic and arthroscopically assisted techniques have been increasingly used to reconstruct the lateral ligaments of the ankle. Besides permitting the treatment of several comorbidities, arthroscopic techniques are envisioned to lower the amount of surgical aggression and to improve the assessment of anatomic structures. We describe our surgical technique for arthroscopic, two-portal ankle ligament repair using an all-soft knotless anchor, which is made exclusively of suture material. This technique avoids the need for classic knot-tying methods. Thus it diminishes the chance of knot migration caused by pendulum movements. Moreover, it avoids some complications that have been related to the use of metallic anchors and some currently available biomaterials. It also prevents prominent knots, which have been described as a possible cause of secondary complaints.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis of S. epidermidis biofilms exposed to farnesol, vancomycin and rifampicin

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the major bacterial species found in biofilm-related infections on indwelling medical devices. Microbial biofilms are communities of bacteria adhered to a surface and surrounded by an extracellular polymeric matrix. Biofilms have been associated with increased antibiotic tolerance to the immune system. This increased resistance to conventional antibiotic therapy has lead to the search for new antimicrobial therapeutical agents. Farnesol, a quorum-sensing molecule in Candida albicans, has been described as impairing growth of several different microorganisms and we have previously shown its potential as an adjuvant in antimicrobial therapy against S. epidermidis. However, its mechanism of action in S. epidermidis is not fully known. In this work we better elucidate the role of farnesol against S: epidermidis biofilms using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Findings 24 h biofilms were exposed to farnesol, vancomycin or rifampicin and were analysed by CLSM, after stained with a Live/Dead stain, a known indicator of cell viability, related with cell membrane integrity. Biofilms were also disrupted by sonication and viable and cultivable cells were quantified by colony forming units (CFU) plating. Farnesol showed a similar effect as vancomycin, both causing little reduction of cell viability but at the same time inducing significant changes in the biofilm structure. On the other hand, rifampicin showed a distinct action in S. epidermidis biofilms, by killing a significant proportion of biofilm bacteria. Conclusions While farnesol is not very efficient at killing biofilm bacteria, it damages cell membrane, as determined by the live/dead staining, in a similar way as vancomycin.. Furthermore, farnesol might induce biofilm detachment, as determined by the reduced biofilm biomass, which can partially explain the previous findings regarding its role as a possible chemotherapy adjuvant.(undefined

Immunoliposomes doubly targeted to transferrin receptor and to α-synuclein

Aim: The present study was designed to test the cellular uptake of PEGylated liposomes targeted to transferrin receptor and to alpha-synuclein by a cell model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Materials &amp; methods: PEGylated immunoliposomes were prepared with anti-transferrin receptor OX26 and anti-alpha-synuclein LB509 antibodies to overcome the BBB in Parkinson\u27s disease. Results: The doubly targeted immunoliposomes bind to transferrin receptor and to alpha-synuclein protein, as assessed by ELISA assays. We establish that 40% of an encapsulated tested drug (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) is released in a time frame of 44 h, which is reasonable for sustained release. The cellular uptake of doubly targeted immunoliposomes in cultured brain endothelial cells hCMEC/D3 was two-times more efficient than that of PEGylated liposomes. Conclusion: Immunoliposomes targeted to BBB receptors and to alpha-synuclein could potentially enable the transport of drugs across the BBB and reach one of the drug targets in Parkinson\u27s disease. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents the distribution of drugs into the brain, making the development of new treatments for brain disorders such as Parkinson\u27s disease difficult. This is due to the presence of tight cell-cell junctions within the brain capillary endothelium. Nanocarriers that transport drugs across the BBB enable noninvasive modes of drug delivery (e.g., oral, systemic routes) to the brain. In the present study, we developed vesicles targeted with antibodies to BBB receptors and to a biological target of Parkinson\u27s disease. This technology, known as Trojan horse technology, uses endogenous molecules that are able to cross the BBB through receptors present in the brain capillary endothelium

Avaliação da silagem do híbrido de sorgo BR 601 com aditivos: alterações nos teores de matéria seca, frações fibrosas e digestibilidade "in vitro" da matéria seca.

Avaliou-se o padrão de fermentação de silagens do híbrido de sorgo forrageiro BR 601 com ou sem aditivos. Foram adotados os tratamentos: silagem sem aditivo (testemunha) e silagens adicionadas com 0,5% de uréia, 0,5% de carbonato de cálcio, 0,5% de uréia mais 0,5% de carbonato de cálcio e com inoculante bacteriano. Os materiais foram ensilados em silos de “PVC” e abertos com um, três, cinco, sete, 14, 28 e 56 dias de ensilagem. Determinaram-se as variações nos teores de matéria seca (MS), os teores de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), hemicelulose, celulose, fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), lignina e a digestibilidade “in vitro” da MS (DIVMS). Adotou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em um esquema fatorial 5 x 7, sendo as médias comparadas pelo teste SNK a 5%. As silagens tratadas com a associação entre uréia e carbonato de cálcio apresentaram as maiores perdas de MS. Os aditivos não promoveram alterações nos teores de FDN, hemicelulose e celulose e na DIVMS. Ocorreu diferença entre a silagem testemunha e as silagens com aditivo, com a evolução do processo fermentativo, quanto aos teores de FDA e lignina

Teores de matéria seca, pH, proteína bruta e nitrogênio amoniacal das silagens de três genótipos de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) ensilados em cinco diferentes épocas.

Avaliaram-se a qualidade das silagens de tres genotipos de sorgo colhido em cinco diferentes epocas usando-se silos experimentais de PVC. Foram determinados os teores de materia seca, pH, proteina bruta e nitrogenio amoniacal em relacao ao nitrogenio total. A primeira epoca de corte (83 dias) foi a que apresentou os valores de MS mais proximos ao indicado para a ensilagem, para os tres genotipos de sorgo. Os valores de pH, PB e nitrogenio amoniacal encontrados foram satisfatorios para todas as epocas estudadas