Geodynamic evolution of the SW Europe Variscides

Abstract The early evolution of SW Europe Variscides started by opening of the Rheic ocean at 500 Ma, splitting Avalonia from Armorica/Iberia. Subduction on the SE side of Rheic generated the Paleotethys back-arc basin (430–390 Ma, splitting Armorica from Iberia), with development of Porto-Tomar-Ferreira do Alentejo (PTFA) dextral transform defining the boundary between continental Armorica and Finisterra microplate to the W. Obduction of Paleotethys was followed by Armorica/Iberia collision and emplacement of NW Iberian Allochthonous Units at 390–370 Ma, whereas toward the west of PTFA, there was antithetic ophiolite obduction (Beja-Acebuches and Rheic ophiolites plus Finisterra continental slices) on top of Ossa-Morena Zone, with simultaneous development of eclogites and orogenic magmatism under a flake–double wedge tectonic regime. Continued convergence (<370 Ma) proceeded by intracontinental deformation, with progressive tightening of the Ibero-Armorican Arc through dextral transpression on the Cantabrian Indentor, from Iberia to Armorica. The proposed model is discussed at the light of the driving mechanism of ‘‘soft plate tectonics.’

Product design and mechanical validation of a cane-type robot for fall prevention

Assistive devices are abandoned by the elderly due to various reasons, although clinical evidences support their use to increase the user's balance and reduce the fall risk. Therefore, it is important to stimulate their usability and acceptability through innovative and cutting edge technology-based strategies. To this end, cane-type robots have been developed throughout the scientific literature. However, there is a lack of mechanical validation and an optimisation of the prototype design that could lead these systems to be placed on the market. Therefore, this study aims to: i) present relevant information about the consumers needs and target specifications of canes available in the scientific literature and international standards; i i) present the first advances of the cane-type robot prototype developed based on the information collected; and iii) validate mechanically the prototype by performing three mechanical simulation tests, i.e., static load, separation and fatigue tests, in the software Solid-Works. As a final outcome, this initial prototype was validated after successfully overcoming the mechanical test simulations to which it was submitted and having met the target specifications outlined based on the information collected.This work has been supported in part by the FEDER Funds through the COMPETE 2020 -Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) and P2020 with the Reference Project SmartOs Grant POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039868, and by FCT -Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia -national funds, under the scholarship reference PD/BD/141515/2018 and the national support to R&D units grant, through the reference project UIDB/04436/2020 and UIDP/04436/2020

Reply to comment by M. Francisco Pereira et al. on ‘‘Geodynamic evolution of the SW Europe Variscides’’

Full article. An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Copyright (2009) by the American Geophysical Unio

Practical guide for the use of biological therapies in rheumatoid arthritis - Update of December 2011

The authors review the practical aspects of biologi -cal therapy use for rheumatoid arthritis patients, commenting safety issues before and after treatment initiation and the best treatment strategies to optimize efficacy.publishersversionpublishe

Practical guide for the use of biotechnological therapies in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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