Curvature-driven coarsening in the two dimensional Potts model

We study the geometric properties of polymixtures after a sudden quench in temperature. We mimic these systems with the $q$-states Potts model on a square lattice with and without weak quenched disorder, and their evolution with Monte Carlo simulations with non-conserved order parameter. We analyze the distribution of hull enclosed areas for different initial conditions and compare our results with recent exact and numerical findings for $q=2$ (Ising) case. Our results demonstrate the memory of the presence or absence of long-range correlations in the initial state during the coarsening regime and exhibit super-universality properties.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figure

Effect of Sr substitution on superconductivity in Hg2(Ba1-ySry)2YCu2O8-d (part2): bond valence sum approach of the hole distribution

The effects of Sr substitution on superconductivity, and more particulary the changes induced in the hole doping mechanism, were investigated in Hg2(Ba1-ySry)2YCu2O8-d by a "bond valence sum" analysis with Sr content from y = 0.0 to y = 1.0. A comparison with CuBa2YCu2O7-d and Cu2Ba2YCu2O8 systems suggests a possible explanation of the Tc enhancement from 0 K for y = 0.0 to 42 K for y = 1.0. The charge distribution among atoms of the unit cell was determined from the refined structure, for y = 0.0 to 1.0. It shows a charge transfer to the superconducting CuO2 plane via two doping channels pi(1) and pi(2), i.e. through O2(apical)-Cu and Ba/Sr-O1 bonds respectively.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matte

Ocorrência de novos elementos megaflorísticos na Bacia Carbonífera do Douro (Estefaniano C inferior) [Gzheliano inferior], NW de Portugal

New megafloristic elements were found in the São Pedro da Cova region (Gondomar),Douro Basin (lower Stephanian C) [lower Gzhelian

Mapping case studies of public engagement and participation in science and technology

In recent years, increasing criticism has been levelled against case study based research on public engagement and participation in science and technology (PEST). Most critics argue that such case studies are highly contextual and fail to provide global, holistic and systemic views of public engagement phenomena. In this study, we mapped the case study literature on PEST by identifying a robust sample of articles, and analysed it looking for emerging patterns that could provide empirical evidence for new frameworks of public engagement design and analysis. Results show that the case study based literature on PEST continues to grow, although concentrated in a few countries and knowledge domains. The trends that emerged from the sample reveal high centralisation and planning and suggest that deficit science communication models are still common. We argue that future frameworks may focus on decentralising hierarchical power and dependency relationships between agents.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Intraventricular Thrombi with Systemic Embolization: Two Clinical Cases

A formação de trombos intraventriculares é um complicação frequente nos doentes com miocardiopatia dilatada e enfarte agudo do miocárdio, sendo o risco de embolização sistémica muito variável em função da patologia subjacente e características subjacentes dos trombos. Os autores descrevem dois casos clínicos relativos a dois doentes internados no mesmo dia com trombos intraventriculares, volumosos, protuberantes e muito móveis, no contexto de miocardiopatia dilatada e enfarte agudo do miocárdio, que embolizaram para os membros inferiores. Salientam a importância da ecocardiografia no diagnóstico, caracterização morfológica inicial e controlo evolutivo dos trombos intraventriculares, aspectos fundamentais na avaliação do risco embólico. Na ausência de recomendações específicas quanto às opções terapêuticas – anticoagulação, trombólise ou remoção cirúrgica, os autores sublinham a necessidade de avaliação individualizada, «caso a caso», tendo em conta o risco embólico, hemorrágico, e cirúrgico

Understanding the role of visual attention on wines’ purchase intention: an eye-tracking study

Purpose: Wine bottles compete for consumers’ attention in the shelf during the decisive moment of choice. This study aims to explore the role that visual attention to wine labels has on the purchase decision and the mediating role of quality perceptions and desire on such purchase behaviours. Wine awards and consumption situation are used as moderators. Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted in Portugal and 36 individuals participated in a 2 × 2 within subjects design (awarded/not awarded × self-consumption/social-consumption). For each scenario, individuals’ attention, perceptions of quality, desire and purchase intentions were recorded. Findings: Data from eye-tracking shows that, during the purchase process, the amount of attention given to a bottle is determinant of individuals’ purchase intentions, a relationship that increases in significance for bottles with awards and for when consumers are buying wine for a consumption situation involving a social environment. In addition, both quality perceptions and desire are confirmed to positively influence wines’ purchase intentions. Originality/value: By using an eye monitoring method, this paper brings new insights into the wine industry by highlighting the impact that wines’ labels and different consumption situations have on individuals’ attention and purchase intention. Wine producers and retailers may benefit from the insights provided by the current study to refine their communication strategies by either highlighting product characteristics and pictorial elements, as it is the case of the awards, or communicating about their products for different consumption situations.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Healthy bread as an alternative to traditional bread

Today, bread is part of the culture and eating habits of most people and can be considered one of the most consumed foods in the world. The bread is made from a simple mixture of flour, water, salt and yeast, and it is an extremely versatile food and with a very good digestibility. Since it was first produced for thousands of years, it has undergone changes both in terms of production methods and in terms of its constitution, thus giving place nowadays to a wide variety of breads available on the market. The objectives of this study were to compare the sensory and nutritionally attributes of a special healthier bread, ―Pão São‖, which is a recent product in the Portuguese market. Nutritionally this type of bread turned out to be a food with high nutritional value, with a low salt content (0.4%, about half of traditional bread), and being a good source of omega-3 (0.67%), fibre and protein when compared with the traditional bread. These differences are mainly due to the wide variety of raw materials selected to the preparation of this bread, including the mixture of flour (wheat flour type 150 and 65 and rye flour type 70), oatmeal, sunflower and linseed seeds, soy, fish oil extracts rich in omega 3, malt and milk protein. From the results of the sensory analysis, conducted by a panel of 40 untrained tasters aged 7 to 63 years, it was found that the traditional breads from the region closest to the marketing of healthy bread were preferred by the tasters, especially for their wood and bread flavour, as well as elasticity. The healthy bread was evaluated as a denser bread, with a more intense fermented flavour. With this work it was concluded that the healthy bread is a nutritious and healthy bread, being currently recommended by the Portuguese Foundation of Cardiology. However from the sensory point of view, consumers still slighly prefer the traditional bread

Pão são, uma alternativa ao pão tradicional

Hoje em dia o pão faz parte da cultura e dos hábitos alimentares da maioria dos povos, podendo considerar-se um dos alimentos mais consumidos do mundo. O pão é feito a partir de uma mistura simples de farinha, água, sal e fermento, sendo um alimento extremamente versátil e com uma enorme digestibilidade [1]. Desde que foi produzido pela primeira vez há milhares de anos, foi sofrendo evoluções quer ao nível dos métodos de produção, quer ao nível da sua constituição encontrando-se nos dias de hoje uma grande diversidade de pães no mercado. Os objectivos deste trabalho foram comparar nutricionalmente e sensorialmente um pão classificado como especial, o Pão São, um produto recente no mercado Português. Nutricionalmente o Pão São revelou ser um pão com elevado valor nutricional, apresentando um baixo teor de sal (0.4%, cerca de metade do pão tradicional), sendo uma boa fonte de ómega 3 (0.67%), fibras e proteínas quando comparado com o pão tradicional. Estas diferenças devem-se sobretudo à grande variedade de matérias-primas seleccionadas na elaboração do Pão São, nomeadamente a mistura de farinhas (farinhas de trigo tipo 65 e 150 e farinha de centeio tipo 70), flocos de aveia, sementes de girassol e linhaça, soja, extractos de óleo de peixe rico em ómega 3, malte e proteína de leite. Dos resultados obtidos da análise sensorial, realizada por um painel de 40 provadores não treinados com idades compreendidas entre os 7 e os 63 anos, verificou-se que os pães tradicionais da região de comercialização mais próxima do Pão São foram os preferidos pelos provadores, destacando-se pelo seu sabor a lenha e a pão, e pela sua elasticidade. O Pão São foi avaliado como um pão mais denso, apresentando um sabor mais intenso a fermentado. Com a realização deste trabalho foi possível concluir que o Pão São é um pão nutritivo e saudável, sendo actualmente recomendado pela Fundação Portuguesa de Cardiologia. No entanto sobre o ponto de sensorial o consumidor aprecia e prefere o pão tradicional

Percutaneous Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale after Anterior Spinal Cord Infarction

In patients with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) who have had a cryptogenic ischemic stroke, percutaneous closure reduces its recurrence risk. However, its role in spinal cord infarction (SCI) is less well-established. A few case reports describe the putative causative role of PFO in SCI. We present a case of a teenager with cryptogenic anterior SCI in the setting of a deep vein thrombosis and a high risk-PFO who underwent successful percutaneous closure.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio