Color Doppler imaging of the superior ophthalmic vein in patients with Graves' orbitopathy before and after treatment of congestive disease

OBJECTIVE: To compare superior ophthalmic vein blood flow parameters measured with color Doppler imaging in patients with congestive Graves' orbitopathy before and after treatment and in normal controls. METHODS: Twenty-two orbits from 12 patients with Graves' orbitopathy in the congestive stage and 32 orbits from 16 normal controls underwent color Doppler imaging studies. Color Doppler imaging was repeated after treatment in the group of patients with Graves' orbitopathy, which included orbital decompression in 16 orbits and corticosteroids in six orbits. The findings for each group were compared. RESULTS: In the group of orbits with congestive disease, superior ophthalmic vein flow was detected in 17 orbits (anteroposteriorally in 13 and in the opposite direction in four) and was undetectable in five. After treatment, superior ophthalmic vein flow was detected and anteroposterior in 21 and undetected in one orbit. In normals, superior ophthalmic vein flow was detected anteroposterior in 29 orbits and undetectable in three orbits, indicating a significant difference between groups. There was also a significant difference between controls and congestive Graves' orbits and between congestive orbits before and after treatment, but not between controls and patients after treatment. A comparison of superior ophthalmic vein flow parameters revealed a significant difference between the groups. The superior ophthalmic vein flow was significantly reduced in the congestive stage compared with the flow parameters following treatment and in the untreated controls. CONCLUSIONS: Superior ophthalmic vein flow was significantly reduced in the orbits affected with congestive Graves' orbitopathy and returned to normal following treatment. Congestion appears to be a contributing pathogenic factor in the active inflammatory stage of Graves' orbitopathy.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Actuation, monitoring and control of fabrics feeding during high-speed sewing

For some years now the fabrics feeding system of an industrial overlock sewing machine has been studied at the University of Minho, gathering different background researchers at the Laboratory of Process Research. Following the findings reported in previous stages, briefly summarised in this paper, a new research programme was established to enable a PC-based open and closed-loop control of the presser foot system. This paper highlights all this recent developments, presenting and discussing, in detail, the PID closed-loop control strategy implemented. The results show that the presser foot closed-loop control has improved performance for a wide speed variation range.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – Project funding POSI/SRI/38944/2001

Interpretation of gravity data to delineate structural features connected to low-temperature geothermal resources at Northeastern Portugal

A great number of low-temperature geothermal fields occur in Northern-Portugal related to fractured rocks. The most important superficial manifestations of these hydrothermal systems appear in pull-apart tectonic basins and are strongly conditioned by the orientation of the main fault systems in the region. This work presents the interpretation of gravity gradient maps and 3D inversion model produced from a regional gravity survey. The horizontal gradients reveal a complex fault system. The obtained 3D model of density contrast puts into evidence the main fault zone in the region and the depth distribution of the granitic bodies. Their relationship with the hydrothermal systems supports the conceptual models elaborated from hydrochemical and isotopic water analyses. This work emphasizes the importance of the role of the gravity method and analysis to better understand the connection between hydrothermal systems and the fractured rock pattern and surrounding geology. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Diagnostic Ability Of Barrett’s Index to Detect Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy Using Multidetector Computed Tomography

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a muscular index (Barrett's Index), calculated with multidetector computed tomography, to detect dysthyroid optic neuropathy in patients with Graves' orbitopathy. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with Graves' orbitopathy were prospectively studied and submitted to neuro-ophthalmic evaluation and multidetector computed tomography scans of the orbits. Orbits were divided into two groups: those with and without dysthyroid optic neuropathy. Barrett's index was calculated as the percentage of the orbit occupied by muscles. Sensitivity and specificity were determined for several index values. RESULTS: Sixty-four orbits (19 with and 45 without dysthyroid optic neuropathy) met the inclusion criteria for the study. The mean Barrett's index values (± SD) were 64.47% ± 6.06% and 49.44% ± 10.94%in the groups with and without dysthyroid optic neuropathy, respectively (p<0.001). Barrett's index sensitivity ranged from 32% to 100%, and Barrett's index specificity ranged from 24% to 100%. The best combination of sensitivity and specificity was 79%/72% for BI=60% (odds ratio: 9.2). CONCLUSIONS: Barrett's Index is a useful indicator of dysthyroid optic neuropathy and may contribute to early diagnosis and treatment. Patients with a Barrett's index >60% should be carefully examined and followed for the development of dysthyroid optic neuropathy

On the Nature of the Core of α Centauri A: The Impact of the Metallicity Mixture

Forward asteroseismic modeling plays an important role toward a complete understanding of the physics taking place in deep stellar interiors. With a dynamical mass in the range over which models develop convective cores while in the main sequence, the solar-like oscillator α Centauri A presents itself as an interesting case study. We address the impact of varying the metallicity mixture on the determination of the energy transport process at work in the core of α Centauri A. We find that ≳ 70% of models reproducing the revised dynamical mass of α Centauri A have convective cores, regardless of the metallicity mixture adopted. This is consistent with the findings of Nsamba et al., where nuclear reaction rates were varied instead. Given these results, we propose that α Centauri A be adopted in the calibration of stellar model parameters when modeling solar-like stars with convective cores

Experimental Tests and Preliminary Life Cycle Assessment

Funding Information: Thanks are also due to FCT for the project PTDC/BII-BIO/30884/2017. A.F.P. and M.M.M. thank FCT for funding through the Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus (ref. 2020.01614.CEECIND/CP1596/CT0007 and CEEC-IND/02702/2017, respectively). O.D. is thankful for the Ph.D. grant supported by FCT (2021.05322.BD). Funding Information: This work was funded by Portuguese funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT/MCTES) in the framework of the projects UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, and EXPL/BII-BIO/0436/2021 and also by BIP Proof 2022/2023 through UI-Transfer, a cofunding project by European Union through COMPETE 2020-Portugal 2020, CIQUP, Centro de Investigação em Química da Universidade do Porto (UIDB/00081/2020), and IMS, Institute of Molecular Sciences (LA/P/0056/2020). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.The control of the oxidative stability of biodiesel and blends of biodiesel with diesel is one of the major concerns of the biofuel industry. The oxidative degradation of biodiesel can be accelerated by several factors, and this is most critical in the so-called second generation biodiesel, which is produced from low-cost raw materials with lower environmental impacts. The addition of antioxidants is imperative to ensure the oxidative stability of biodiesel, and these are considered products of high commercial value. The antioxidants currently available on the market are from synthetic origin, so the existence/availability of alternative antioxidants of natural origin (less dependent on fossil sources) at a competitive price presents itself as a strong business opportunity. This work describes and characterizes a sustainable alternative to synthetic antioxidants used in the biodiesel market developed from extracts of vineyard pruning waste (VPW), which are naturally rich in phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. A hydrothermal extraction process was applied as a more efficient and sustainable technology than the conventional one with the potential of the extracts as antioxidant additives in biodiesel evaluated in Rancitech equipment. The VPW extract showed comparable antioxidant activity as the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) typically used in biodiesel. The stability of the biodiesel is dependent from the amount of the extract added. Further, for the first time, the assessment of the environmental impacts of using natural extracts to control the oxidative stability of biodiesel in the production process is also discussed as a key factor of the process environmental sustainability.publishersversionpublishe