Seismic assessment of St. James church by means of pushover analysis : before and after the New Zealand earthquake

The paper presents a numerical study for the seismic assessment of the St James Church in Christchurch, New Zealand affected by the recent 2011 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. The structural behaviour of the Church has been evaluated using the finite element modelling technique, in which the nonlinear behaviour of masonry has been taken into account by proper constitutive assumptions. Two numerical models were constructed, one incorporating the existing structural damage and the other considering the intact structure. The validation of the numerical models was achieved by the calibration of the damaged model according to dynamic identification tests carried out in situ after the earthquake. Non-linear pushover analyses were carried out on both principal directions demonstrating that, as a result of the seismic action, the Church can no longer be considered safe. Pushover analysis results of the undamaged model show reasonable agreement with the visual inspection performed in situ, which further validates the model used. Finally, limit analysis using macro-block analysis was also carried out to validate the main local collapse mechanisms of the Church.(undefined

Synthesis of several precursors of glycoconjugates containing a 1,2,3-triazole unit

Preparation of some alkynyl amino acids (Gly, Phe, Tyr, Ala, Ser), alkynyl derivatives of hydroxycoumarins and acetylenic carbohydrate derivativesFundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and FEDER, for National NMR Network (Bruker Avance III 400

Macro/microporous silk fibroin scaffolds with potential for articular cartilage and meniscus tissue engineering applications

This study describes the developmental physicochemical properties of silk fibroin scaffolds derived from high concentration aqueous silk fibroin solutions. The silk fibroin scaffolds were prepared with different initial concentrations (8%, 10%, 12% and 16% (wt%)) and obtained by combining the salt-leaching and freeze-drying methodologies. The results indicated that the antiparallel β-pleated sheet (silk-II) conformation was present in the silk fibroin scaffolds. All the scaffolds possessed macro/micro porous structure. Homogeneous porosity distribution was achieved in all the groups of samples. As the silk fibroin concentration increased from 8% to 16%, the mean porosity decreased from 90.8±0.9% to 79.8±0.3%, and the mean interconnectivity decreased from 97.4±0.5% to 92.3±1.3%. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds exhibited a concentration dependence. The dry state compressive modulus increased from 0.81±0.29 MPa to 15.14±1.70 MPa, and the wet state dynamic storage modulus increased around 20-30 folds at each testing frequencies when the silk fibroin concentration increased from 8% to 16%. The water-uptake ratio decreased by means of increasing silk fibroin concentration. The scaffolds present favorable stability as their structure integrity, morphology and mechanical properties were maintained after in vitro degradation for 30 days. Based on these results, the scaffolds developed in this study are herein proposed to be used in meniscus and cartilage tissue engineering scaffolding.Tissue2Tissue project (PTDC/CTM/105703/2008

High-fat diet-induced obesity rat model: a comparison between wistar and sprague-dawley rat

[resumo][abstract

Electrochemical study of nickel(salen) and cobalt(salen) derivatives complexes in the presence of unsaturated halides

The electrochemical intramolecular cyclisation of allyl 2-bromophenyl ethers in N,N'-dimethylformamide at constant current in a diaphragmless cell has been developed using Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes as electron-transfer mediators. Cyclic compounds are obtained in good yields under appropriate experimental conditions

Biotechnological applications of selected macroalgae

IBBA Strategic Planning - Workshop III, Plant Biotechnology Ponta Delgada, 25 Janeiro, 2011

High Trypanosoma spp. diversity is maintained by bats and triatomines in Espírito Santo state, Brazil

The aim of this study was to reevaluate the ecology of an area in the Atlantic Forest, southeast Brazil, where Chagas disease (CD) has been found to occur. In a previous study, immediately after the occurrence of a CD case, we did not observe any sylvatic small mammals or dogs with Trypanosoma cruzi cruzi infections, but Triatoma vitticeps presented high T. c. cruzi infection rates. In this study, we investigated bats together with non-volant mammals, dogs, and triatomines to explore other possible T. c. cruzi reservoirs/hosts in the area. Seventy-three non-volant mammals and 186 bats were captured at three sites within the Guarapari municipality, Espírito Santo state. Rio da Prata and Amarelos sites exhibited greater richness in terms of non-volant mammals and bats species, respectively. The marsupial Metachirus nudicaudatus, the rodent Trinomys paratus, and the bats Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata were the most frequently captured species. As determined by positive hemocultures, only two non-volant mammals were found to be infected by Trypanosoma species: Monodelphis americana, which was infected by T. cascavelli, T. dionisii and Trypanosoma sp., and Callithrix geoffroyi, which was infected by T. minasense. Bats presented T. c. cruzi TcI and TcIII/V, T. c. marinkellei, T. dionisii, T. rangeli B and D, and Trypanosoma sp. infections. Seven dogs were infected with T. cruzi based only on serological exams. The triatomines T. vitticeps and Panstrongylus geniculatus were found to be infected by trypanosomes via microscopy. According to molecular characterization, T. vitticeps specimens were infected with T. c. cruzi TcI, TcII, TcIII/V, and TcIV, T. c. marinkellei and T. dionisii. We observed high trypanosome diversity in a small and fragmented region of the Atlantic Forest. This diversity was primarily maintained by bats and T. vitticeps. Our findings show that the host specificity of the Trypanosoma genus should be thoroughly reviewed. In addition, our data show that CD cases can occur without an enzootic cycle near residential areas

FIRST RECORD OF A NUCLEAR-FOLLOWER ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CORYDORAS VITTATUS (NIJSSEN, 1971), CORYDORAS CF. JULII (CALLICHTHYIDAE) AND KNODUS VICTORIAE (STEINDACHNER, 1907) (CHARACIDAE)

Nuclear-follower interactions are a particular type of interspecific foraging association which involves a nuclear species, which revolves or scans through the substrate, and follower species that access the food items made available by the nuclear species’ activity. This type of association was observed in a headwater stream at the Itapecuru basin, in the Maranhão cerrado, involving the catfishes Corydoras vittatus, Corydoras cf. julii as nuclear species and Knodus victoriae as its follower. Individuals of C. vittatus, Corydoras cf. julii revolved the substrate during their foraging, promoting sediment suspension. Their followers, in turn, moved through the “cloud” of particles in suspension, capturing food items. Food particles in suspension do not seem to be used by the catfishes but become available for K. victoriae. The follower behavior represents a feeding tactic for these species, reinforcing the general idea of behavioral plasticity between follower species

Valorization of water treatment sludge for applications in the construction industry: a review

To address the growing global water demand, it is imperative to implement advanced treatment systems and sustainable alternatives for managing the large amount of waste generated during the water purification process, known as water treatment sludge (WTS). Worldwide, researchers and companies are exploring alternatives and methods for the valorization of WTS as a raw material in other processes. It is urgent that all productive sectors, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, adopt this management principle to ensure more sustainable production, contributing to the global goal of climate neutrality. Notably, in civil construction, incorporating WTS as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) shows great promise, considering that the industrial waste currently used for this purpose is increasingly restricted. The use of WTS as a raw material in the cement industry not only contributes to the reduction of the carbon footprint, but also reduces the high waste load still disposed of in landfills. The emerging applications for WTP sludge are reviewed, with emphasis on its valorization in the civil construction as an SCM. The main characteristics of this waste and their impacts on the environment are also addressed.Scientific and Technological Cooperation Protocol between Águas do Norte S.A. and the University ofMinho, within the scope of the Archimedes Doctoral Scholarship

Potential biological properties of lycopene in a self-emulsifying drug delivery system

In recent years, lycopene has been highlighted due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, associated with a beneficial effect on human health. The aim of this study was to advance the studies of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms on human keratinocytes cells (HaCaT) of a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) loaded with lycopene purified from red guava (nanoLPG). The characteristics of nanoLPG were a hydrodynamic diameter of 205 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.21 and a zeta potential of −20.57, providing physical stability for the nanosystem. NanoLPG demonstrated antioxidant capacity, as shown using the ORAC methodology, and prevented DNA degradation (DNA agarose). Proinflammatory activity was evaluated by quantifying the cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8, with only IL-8 showing a significant increase (p < 0.0001). NanoLPG showed greater inhibition of the tyrosinase and elastase enzymes, involved in the skin aging process, compared to purified lycopene (LPG). In vitro treatment for 24 h with 5.0 µg/mL of nanoLPG did not affect the viability of HaCaT cells. The ultrastructure of HaCaT cells demonstrated the maintenance of morphology. This contrasts with endoplasmic reticulum stresses and autophagic vacuoles when treated with LPG after stimulation or not with LPS. Therefore, the use of lycopene in a nanoemulsion may be beneficial in strategies and products associated with skin health.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio