Study and design of a device that applies adhesive tape

This work describes all the development of a mechanical design that have been realized for an industrial semi device, whose functionality is to apply adhesive tape around a cylindrical body with high level of flexibility. With all the study realized it was possible to achieve a 3D virtual prototype with the conceptual idea obtained and to determine the critical key issues of the device. Those points should be analysed during the testing phase using a physical prototype.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Urban form indicators as proxy on the noise exposure of buildings

Available online 27 September 2013The present paper aims to address the problems of the urban environment as an area of interaction between urban forms and urban noise. This interaction is intended to be monitored using urban indica-tors, by comparing the effects of noise propagation using models of urban forms. The model of noise pre-diction allowed developing noise studies in facades, resulting in noise levels in a calculation grid located in the building facades. The study will allow the creation of different scenarios and anticipate as early as in the preliminary building design phase, which facades would be exposed to higher noise levels. The effects of noise in facades can then be minimized in advance, by adjusting the layout of the urban typology

(R)-(1-Ammonio­prop­yl)phospho­nate

The title compound, C3H10NO3P, crystallizes in its zwitterionic form, H3N+CH(C2H5)PO(O−)(OH), with the asymmetric unit being composed by two of such entities (Z′ = 2). The crystal packing leads to a sequence of hydro­phobic and hydro­philic layers. While the hydro­phobic layer comprises the aliphatic substituent groups, the hydro­philic one is held together by a series of strong and rather directional N+—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Time-to-Arrival and Useful Field of View: Associations with Reported Driving Difficulties Among Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to determine self-reported driving difficulties related to time-to-arrival (TTA) and/or useful field of view (UFOV), to identify associations between TTA and UFOV, and to compare the TTA estimated accuracy between different vehicle speed approaches. Thirty-eight male and female active drivers ages 61 to 81 years (70,2 ± 5,0 years) participated in this study. The UFOV® test was applied. TTA was studied with a removal paradigm, using two vehicle speeds (50 and 70km/h) for data collection. A driving habits questionnaire was administered, including items concerning driving difficulties. Results showed that lower performances in divided attention (subtest 2 of UFOV®) were significantly associated with reported difficulties in hightraffic intersections, trouble seeing the signs in time to respond to them, and problems judging the speed or distance of an approaching vehicle. Concerning TTA, greater response bias and/or greater response inconsistency were significantly associated with difficulties in overtaking other cars, difficulties seeing the signs in time to react to them, difficulties in the speed or distance perception of an oncoming vehicle. Low associations were found between UFOV and TTA measures. TTA estimated accuracy increased when the vehicle traveled at higher speeds. We concluded that both TTA and UFOV seem to be important measures to identify driving difficulties in older adults. The TTA could be relevant in measuring specific aspects of visual information processing in addition to other instruments like UFOV®

Characterization of Ni-CNTs Nanocomposites Produced by Ball-Milling

This research focuses on the characterization of a metal matrix nanocomposite (MMNC) comprised of a nickel matrix reinforced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The aim of this study was to characterize Ni-CNTs nanocomposites produced by powder metallurgy using ball-milling. CNTs were initially untangled using ultrasonication followed by mixture/dispersion with Ni powder by ball-milling for 60, 180, or 300 min. The mixtures were cold-pressed and then pressureless sintered at 950 degrees C for 120 min under vacuum. Their microstructural characterization was mainly performed by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The mechanical properties were evaluated by Vickers microhardness. The results indicate that combining ultrasonication and ball-milling can successfully produce Ni-CNTs nanocomposites. The ball-milling time has a significant effect on both the CNT dispersion and the final nanocomposite microstructure

Objective vs subjective vault measurement after myopic implantable collamer lens implantation

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between subjective measurements of vault and objective values measured with Visante optical coherence tomography (OCT) in eyes receiving an implantable contact lens (ICL) for myopia correction. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. METHODS: SETTING: Fernández-Vega Ophthalmological Institute, Oviedo, Spain. PATIENTS: Four hundred and fifty-two eyes from 246 patients were elected to be implanted with a Visian ICL V4 (STAAR Surgical Inc, Monrovia, California, USA). OBSERVATION PROCEDURES: Subjective and objective measurements of vault after implantation of ICL. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjective vault classified in 5 levels assessed using an optical section during slit-lamp examination. Objective vault was measured with Visante OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc, Dublin, California, USA). RESULTS: Average values of objective and subjective vault were 414 +/- 228 microm and 2.1 +/- 1.0, respectively and both parameters were highly correlated (r = 0.82; P < .001). Differences in average objective vault were statistically significant among the 5 groups of subjective vault (P < .001). Subjective vault 0 corresponded to a mean OCT value of 62 +/- 49 microm with 99% confidence interval (CI) [38; 86] microm; eyes with vault 1 to 203 +/- 93 microm with 99% CI [176; 230] microm; eyes with vault 2 to 402 +/- 131 microm with 99% CI [378; 425] microm; eyes with vault 3 to 594 +/- 146 microm, 99% CI [554; 633] microm; and vault 4 to 794 +/- 182 microm with 99% CI [713; 875] microm. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective and objective values of vault are highly correlated. In 99% of cases within the CI, objective values for eyes subjectively classified within a certain level vary within a narrow interval (+/-25 to 80 microm) around the mean value, and this interval is characteristic of each subjective level.THIS STUDY WAS SUPPORTED IN PART BY A UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA RESEARCH GRANT NO. UV-AE-20070225#, (DR Montes-Mico) and Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia of Portugal Grant no. FCT-SFRH-BD-34303-2007= (Dr Fernandes). The authors indicate no financial conflict of interest. Involved in design and conduct Of Study (J.F.A., C.L., A.P., P.F., J.GAM., R.M.-M.); collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data (J.F.A., C.L., A.P., P.F., J.G.-M., R.M.-M.); and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript (J.F.A., C.L., P.F., J.G.-M., R.M.-M.). The study was approved by the Fernandez-Vega Ophthalmological Institutional Review Board. The study protocol was approved by and all study procedures adhered to the recommendations of the Declaration of Helsinki

Luiz bandeira bridge: Assessment of a historical reinforced concrete (RC) bridge

The Luiz Bandeira Bridge is located along the Portuguese national road EN333-3, breaching the valley of the Vouga River, just northeast of the small village Sejães, in the district of Oliveira de Frades. It is considered to be the oldest concrete bridge in use in Portugal, and one of the oldest in Europe. Since this bridge is at risk of disappearing due to a construction of a dam, the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Minho decided to launch a comprehensive study of Luiz Bandeira Bridge, in an attempt to preserve the memory of the past cataloguing the heritage for future reference. These studies include historical, geometrical and damage surveys, the physical and chemical characterization of existing structural materials, the assessment of the reinforcement detailing, dynamic characterization by determining the main frequencies and vibration modes and safety level. This work presents a comprehensive overview of the most important results of these studies

Perception of reality vs. professional reality in unilateral lower limb prothesis user amputees

Introduction To understand the perception of lower limb amputees, regarding movement with prothesis, wellbeing and perceived appearance, and to elaborate a socio-professional demographic and clinical study, to establish patterns and relations that may help enjoy a better quality of life. Methods We conducted a questionnaire survey of socio-professional, demographic and clinical data of 103 lower limb amputees, between 29th March 2018 and 9th July 2018. 74 interviewees also replied to sub-scales from the PEQPT questionnaire. Results The values attributed to movement, wellbeing and perceived appearance, were on average, 59.3%, 62.7% and 75.3%, respectively. A large number of patients (80.6%) stated that because of the amputation, there is an increase in the monthly expenses and a reduction in the monthly income. The value attributed to the prosthetics perceived appearance for males and females, was, on average, 79.32% and 65.03% respectively, this difference being significant. Conclusions Our main aim was to study the perception regarding movement with prothesis; the perception regarding wellbeing with prothesis; the perception regarding prothesis perceived appearance; to elaborate a socioprofessional, demographic and clinical analysis.In the first three points, the values attributed are good, mainly the perceived appearance issue. In the fourth point, we can conclude that it was successfully undertaken.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio