Impact of dwell time on vertical transportation through discrete simulation in SIMIO

This work has the objective of simulating an elevator system, using SIMIO software. Firstly, two different approaches, and its implementation, will be explained and compared: Vehicle vs. Entity. After selecting the Entity-approach, due to its more flexible processes and the limitations of the Vehicle-approach, it will be used to conduct the simulation experiments. The purpose is to evaluate the impact of dwell time - time in which the elevator remains stopped, allowing for clients to enter and exit - in the performance of the system. That will be achieved analysing the impact on the total time - spent by clients from placing a call until reaching its destination - number of clients inside the system and waiting for the elevator, waiting time, elevator occupation and number of elevator movements. The analysis of the results indicates that, for the properties defined, the best time for the elevator to stay with its doors open is around 10 seconds.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia in the scope of the project: PEst-OE/EEI/UI0319/2014 (ALGORITMI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of an elevator system using discrete event simulation: case study

This paper documents the work conducted to simulate an elevator system, using SIMIO software. The modelled system represents a case study that was analyzed in a hospital at Braga, Portugal. A previ-ous work on the same case study concluded that the best dwell time configuration would be around 10 seconds, however it did not consider the impact of different client demand on the elevator system. In this sense, this paper analyses the impact of both parameters on the performance of the system. This will be achieved by analyzing the impact on the total time spent by clients in the system, the number of clients inside the system, and waiting for the elevator, waiting time, average elevator occupation and number of elevator movements. Conclusions and future work agenda were discussed in the conclusions section.This work has been supported by FCT -Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia in the scope of the project: PEstOE/EEI/UI0319/2014 (ALGORITMI)

Percutaneous treatment of mitral regurgitation by MitraClipTM: report on the first two procedures in Brazil

AbstractThe MitraClipTM system has been recently approved for clinical use in Brazil for percutaneous treatment of mitral valve regurgitation. This device is based on the Alfieri surgical procedure, creating a double orifice by bringing together the central segments of the two mitral valve cusps. This report describes the first two procedures performed in Brazil using this device. Two female patients considered to be at high surgical risk due to advanced age and presence of comorbidities were treated, with degenerative mitral regurgitation due to prolapse/flail, associated with chordae tendineae rupture. In both cases, significant mitral regurgitation intensity reduction was obtained using the MitraClipTM, demonstrating the great potential of this innovative technology for the percutaneous treatment of mitral valve regurgitation

Deep Venous Thrombosis Prophylaxis In Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery: A Brazilian Survey.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVP) is a frequent disease. Prophylaxis is the best means to reduce its incidence, for lowering morbidity and mortality rates and treatment costs caused by its complications. To evaluate the knowledge and use of any kind of DVT prophylaxis by Brazilian Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons. A questionnaire was sent to all Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons associated to the Brazilian College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons that have a valid e-mail address. The data retrieved was evaluated and tabulated. Of the 1100 questionnaires sent, only 4% were retrieved. The 42 retrieved were included in the study. Twenty six of the surgeons do not use any kind of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, 11 use mechanical means as elastic compressive stockings or pneumatic compressive devices for prophylaxis, and 5 uses low-molecular weight heparins (LMWH) as the choice for prophylaxis. The data collected, despite the low rate of participation (4%) by the surgeons, shows that this subject still does not receive proper attention. Whereas other medical specialties make routine use of prophylactic means maybe the maxillofacial surgeons lack concern on that matter.23519-2

Investigação sorológica de espécies de Ehrlichia em cães, equinos e humanos de um assentamento rural do sul do Brasil

Objetivou-se determinar a soroprevalência de Ehrlichia spp. e os fatores de risco associados a exposição em uma população restrita de cães, cavalos e humanos altamente expostos a picadas de carrapatos em um assentamento rural brasileiro utilizando um teste comercial de ELISA rápido e dois testes de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) com antígenos brutos de E. canis e E. chaffeensis. Amostras de soro de 132 cães, 16 cavalos e 100 humanos foram utilizadas. Cinquenta e seis/132 (42,4%) cães foram soropositivos para E. canis. Cães > um ano apresentaram mais chance de serem soropositivos para E. canis do que cães ≤ um ano (p =0,0051). Dez/16 (62,5%) e 8/16 (50%) cavalos foram soropositivos pelo ELISA comercial e IFI, respectivamente. Cinco/100 (5%) humanos foramsoropositivos para E. canis e E. chaffeensis. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n= 291, 97,98%) nos cães e A. cajennense (n = 25, 96,15%) nos cavalos foram os carrapatos mais encontrados. Concluindo, anticorpos anti-Ehrlichia spp. foram encontrados em cavalos; entretanto, a ausência de uma caracterização molecular impede qualquer conclusão sobre agente envolvido. Além disso, a alta soroprevalência de E. canis em cães e a evidência de anticorpos anti-Ehrlichia sp. em humanos, sugere que os casos de erliquiose humana no Brasil possam ser causados por E. canis ou outra espécie intimamente relacionada.The aims of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of Ehrlichia spp. and risk factors for exposure in a restricted population of dogs, horses, and humans highly exposed to tick bites in a Brazilian rural settlement using a commercial ELISA rapid test and two indirect immunofluorescent assays (IFA) with E. canis and E. chaffeensis crude antigens. Serum samples from 132 dogs, 16 horses and 100 humans were used. Fifty-six out of 132 (42.4%) dogs were seropositive for E. canis. Dogs > one year were more likely to be seropositive for E. canis than dogs ≤ one year (p = 0.0051). Ten/16 (62.5%) and 8/16 (50%) horses were seropositive by the commercial ELISA and IFA, respectively. Five out of 100 (5%) humans were seropositive for E. canis and E. chaffeensis. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n = 291, 97.98%) on dogs and Amblyomma cajennense (n = 25, 96.15%) on horses were the most common ticks found. In conclusion, anti-Ehrlichia spp. antibodies were found in horses; however, the lack of a molecular characterization precludes any conclusion regarding the agent involved. Additionally, the higher seroprevalence of E. canis in dogs and the evidence of anti-Ehrlichia spp. antibodies in humans suggest that human cases of ehrlichiosis in Brazil might be caused by E. canis, or other closely related species

Bis(tetra­phenyl­phospho­nium) bis­[N-(2,5-dichloro­phenyl­sulfon­yl)dithio­carbimato(2−)-κ2 S,S′]platinate(II)

In the title salt, (C24H20P)2[Pt(C7H3Cl2NO2S3)2], the PtII ion (site symmetry ) is coordinated by two S,S′-bidentate N-(2,5-dichloro­phenyl­sulfon­yl)dithio­carbimate ligands, resulting in a slightly distorted PtS4 square-planar geometry. In the crystal, a C—H⋯O inter­action is observed, as well as electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions

Short-term add-on therapy with angiotensin receptor blocker for end-stage inotrope-dependent heart failure patients: B-type natriuretic peptide reduction in a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate angiotensin receptor blocker add-on therapy in patients with low cardiac output during decompensated heart failure. METHODS: We selected patients with decompensated heart failure, low cardiac output, dobutamine dependence, and an ejection fractio

The first observed stellar occultations by the irregular satellite Phoebe (Saturn IX) and improved rotational period

peer reviewedWe report six stellar occultations by Phoebe (Saturn IX), an irregular satellite of Saturn, obtained between mid-2017 and mid-2019. The 2017 July 6 event was the first stellar occultation by an irregular satellite ever observed. The occultation chords were compared to a 3D shape model of the satellite obtained from Cassini observations. The rotation period available in the literature led to a sub-observer point at the moment of the observed occultations where the chords could not fit the 3D model. A procedure was developed to identify the correct sub-observer longitude. It allowed us to obtain the rotation period with improved precision compared to the currently known value from literature. We show that the difference between the observed and the predicted sub-observer longitude suggests two possible solutions for the rotation period. By comparing these values with recently observed rotational light curves and single- chord stellar occultations, we can identify the best solution for Phoebe's rotational period as 9.27365 ± 0.00002 h. From the stellar occultations, we also obtained six geocentric astrometric positions in the ICRS as realized by the Gaia DR2 with uncertainties at the 1-mas level