HERITAGE OR MODERN TOURISM

As referred by Umberto Eco there must be a dialog between the subject and the object. (Eco, 1989) Tourism could give a push into the maintenance of architecture quality, and preserving of architectonic historical zones. So what is the purpose of the tourism realm in the 21st century

Somatic senses required for the emotional design of upper limb prosthesis

Despite the technological advances associated with prostheses, the total embodiment is still the great challenge in the segment of assistive technology. One of the main aspects is that the bionic member’s sensibility is not responsive to the environment that surrounds it. The purpose of this study aims to identify the perceptual modalities of the somatic senses that are required for a more sensible prosthesis. The methodological strategy contemplates literary research and proposes an interrelationship between neuroscience with philosophical/cultural studies, which regards the different concepts of sensory experience. Such data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The main conclusion points out that it would be important to unite the nine physiological requirements identified in the state of the art, with the ontological image construction of the prosthesis, in order to create a sensory experience that, in addition to the perceptive organs, builds up by the visual areas of the brain.This work is financed by Project “Deus ex Machina”, NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000026, funded by CCDRN, through Sistema de Apoio à Investigação Científica e Tecnológica (Projetos Estruturados I&D&I) of Programa Operacional Regional do Norte, from Portugal 2020 and byProject UID/CTM/00264/2019 of 2C2T –Centro de Ciência e Tecnologia Têxtil, funded by National Founds through FCT/MCTES

Analytical evaluation of fining treatments for white wines contaminated by Ochratoxin A

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain molds. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most relevant. Its chemical structure is a dihydro-isocoumarin connected at the 7-carboxy group to a molecule of L--phenylalanine via an amide bond. OTA in wine is a risk to consumer health [1]. According to the Regulation No. 123/2005 of the European Commission, the maximum limit for OTA in wine is 2 µg/kg [2]. Then, it is important to control its occurrence. So, the aim of this work was to know the effect of different fining agents on OTA removal from white wine.This work was funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE and by national funds through FCT, Ref. FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028029 and PTDC/AGR-TEC/3900/2012, respectively. Luís Abrunhosa received support through grant SFRH/BPD/43922/2008 from FC

Salivary IgA Responses During a Week of Training In Under-15 Soccer Players

Introduction There is an apparent consensus around the idea that light exercise can improve the immune response whilst strenuous exercise can depress the defense system, including the mucosal immune system, with reduction of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels. Salivary IgA acts as a main barrier against the colonization of infectious agents. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence in the pattern of salivary IgA responses in an under-15 soccer team, during a training week. Methods The study was performed during the winter training season, in the competitive period. The training sessions were planned by the coaches without any interference from the researchers. Thirteen players (13 to 15 years) were tested before each of four training sessions during a week period. Before and after training, saliva samples were collected and salivary IgA concentrations and secretion rates determined by ELISA. Thirty minutes after each session, rated perceived effort (RPE) was assessed to quantify training load. Changes in pre-training IgA responses were examined based on multilevel modeling regression using polynomial model (model I). Influence of training load was explored including the explanatory variable at level 2 (model lI). Results Multilevel regression analysis showed no differences between training sessions throughout the week. However, significant residual variance at level I (within-individuals) and at level II (between-individuals), in the intercept and slope (i.e., training sessions). Although limited by the small sample size, a curvilinear trend in pre-training IgA response became apparent when individual athletes´ training loads were controlled in the model. The results showed a significant decrement in IgA response pre-training from the first to the second training session (p \u3c 0.05), and a significant exponential increase in IgA response in the next two training sessions (p \u3c 0.05). The significant random effects at level I suggest that the fit of individual responses may need to be validated in larger samples, although the non significant random effects at level II suggest that the mean responses accounting individual training loads describes well the group behavior in pre training IgA responses. Conclusion The specific relationship that appears to be linked to the intensity, duration and type of physical activity were detected in our study. Monitoring mucosal immune parameters during training periods may provide an assessment of the risk status of these young athletes for upper respiratory tract Infections and allow the coach to have an effective management of periodization

Optical clearing mechanisms characterization in muscle

Optical immersion clearing is a technique that has been widely studied for more than two decades and that is used to originate a temporary transparency effect in biological tissues. If applied in cooperation with clinical methods it provides optimization of diagnosis and treatment procedures. This technique turns biological tissues more transparent through two main mechanisms — tissue dehydration and refractive index (RI) matching between tissue components. Such matching is obtained by partial replacement of interstitial water by a biocompatible agent that presents higher RI and it can be completely reversible by natural rehydration in vivo or by assisted rehydration in ex vivo tissues. Experimental data to characterize and discriminate between the two mechanisms and to find new ones are necessary. Using a simple method, based on collimated transmittance and thickness measurements made from muscle samples under treatment, we have estimated the diffusion properties of glucose, ethylene glycol (EG) and water that were used to perform such characterization and discrimination. Comparing these properties with data from literature that characterize their diffusion in water we have observed that muscle cell membrane permeability limits agent and water diffusion in the muscle. The same experimental data has allowed to calculate the optical clearing (OC) efficiency and make an interpretation of the internal changes that occurred in muscle during the treatments. The same methodology can now be used to perform similar studies with other agents and in other tissues in order to solve engineering problems at design of inexpensive and robust technologies for a considerable improvement of optical tomographic techniques with better contrast and in-depth imaging

Estudos geológicos aplicados à indústria extractiva de mármores no Anticlinal de Estremoz : o caso do Núcleo de Pardais

O Anticlinal de Estremoz é um dos principais centros mundiais produtores de mármores para fins ornamentais, no qual estão legalmente definidas unidades de ordenamento afectas a esta actividade. Para poder continuar nesta posição privilegiada, tem sido objecto de estudos que visam melhorar a sua caracterização e permitir adaptar a sua exploração às crescentes exigências de eficácia ambiental e económica. Neste trabalho, apresentam-se alguns estudos de carácter geológico que envolveram cartografia litoestrutural, levantamentos de fracturação e realização de sondagens que tiveram como objectivo contribuir para o ordenamento da actividade extractiva da unidade UNOR 5 - Pardais. Foi elaborada uma Carta de Risco Geoeconómico para esta UNOR que pretende classificá-la em função da sua maior ou menor aptidão para a produção de mármore ornamental

Diffusion characteristics of ethylene glycol in skeletal muscle

Part of the optical clearing study in biological tissues concerns the determination of the diffusion characteristics of water and optical clearing agents in the subject tissue. Such information is sufficient to characterize the time dependence of the optical clearing mechanisms—tissue dehydration and refractive index (RI) matching. We have used a simple method based on collimated optical transmittance measurements made from muscle samples under treatment with aqueous solutions containing different concentrations of ethylene glycol (EG), to determine the diffusion time values of water and EG in skeletal muscle. By representing the estimated mean diffusion time values from each treatment as a function of agent concentration in solution, we could identify the real diffusion times for water and agent. These values allowed for the calculation of the correspondent diffusion coefficients for those fluids. With these results, we have demonstrated that the dehydration mechanism is the one that dominates optical clearing in the first minute of treatment, while the RI matching takes over the optical clearing operations after that and remains for a longer time of treatment up to about 10 min, as we could see for EG and thin tissue samples of 0.5 mm

Aquisição de sinais electromiográficos recorrendo a eléctrodos em substratos têxteis

A electromiografia (EMG) constitui um método fundamental para o estudo do comportamento biomecânico de um indivíduo. Este artigo apresenta um estudo realizado na óptica do desenvolvimento de eléctrodos têxteis não invasivos para a realização de electromiografia de superfície. O trabalho apresenta um método de fabrico de eléctrodos, as suas vantagens e limitações e uma comparação entre dois tipos de eléctrodos têxteis e convencionais, utilizados neste tipo de medição. Os resultados obtidos indiciam um comportamento para estes eléctrodos têxteis considerado semelhante ao dos convencionais, podendo deste modo constituir uma alternativa válida, sobretudo quando se tem em consideração as vantagens que estes proporcionam.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - PTDC/EEA-ELC/70803/2006Universidade do Minh

An innovative device for bobbin thread consumption measurement on industrial lockstitch sewing machines

Comunicação apresentada na International Conference on Industrial Technology, Hammamet, Tunisia, 8 - 10 Dezembro 2004.This paper presents some development work following up on previous research on monitoring and control techniques for high-speed industrial sewing machines. The main objective of the studies is to develop techniques and devices to allow a faster set-up, greater flexibility and higher product quality in industrial sewing operations. One of the main aspects of the sewing process is the interlacing of threads – stitch formation. It has been found that the on-line measurement of thread consumption can provide information about stitch adjustment and serve as a feedback variable for thread tension control. In this paper, an overview of this technique will be given, with particular focus on the quantification of bobbin thread consumption in lockstitch machines, one of the most widely used type of machine. In this specific case, measurement is difficult due to lack of physical space for the sensors.Fundação para a Ci~Encia e Tecnologia - Fundação para a Ciência - POSI/SRI/38944/2001