COMPARATIVE ANALYSES OF THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF REFRIGERANTS R134A, R245fa, R407C AND R600a DURING FLOW BOILING IN A MICROCHANNELS HEAT SINK

A comparative study of the performance of of refrigerants R134a, R407C, R245fa and R600a during flow boiling was performed for a 123x494 µm2 heat sink composed of 50 parallel rectangular microchannels. Heat transfer experimental results for heat fluxes up to 310 kW/m2, mass velocities from 300 to 800 kg/(m2 s), liquid subcoolings of 5 and 10 °C and saturation temperature close to 30 ºC were obtained. Global heat transfer coefficients (footprint) up to 10 kW/(m2 °C) were found. The liquid superheating necessary for the onset of nucleate boiling (ONB) was also characterized, and the fluids R245fa and R407C presented the highest and lowest, respectively, superheating to trigger the boiling process. Moreover, for a fixed averaged vapor quality, the average effective heat transfer coefficient increases with increasing mass velocity and liquid subcooling. The refrigerants R600a and R407C presented the highest and the lowest heat transfer coefficients, respectively. Five heat transfer predictive methods from literature provided accurate predictions of the data for R134a, R245fa and R600a, capturing most of the data trends. No one method provided accurate predictions of the heat transfer coefficient data of R407C

Livres e iguais: A (in)eficacia do principio da dignidade humana para salvaguardar os direitos das pessoas trans

Em virtude do contexto de imposição de uma ordemdiscursiva cisheteronormativa compulsória, que determina acoerência e continuidade entre sexo-gênero-sexualidade para sustentar a normatização da vida dos indivíduos, aqueles que não se classificam na bipolaridade (homem/mulher) ficam à margem da própria sociedade. E é nesse sentido que se ressalta a importância da abordagem de gênero. Nesse ínterim, através do estudo do método dedutivo-bibliográfico, o presente trabalho pretende analisar as experiências identitárias da transexualidade e da travestilidade. Isso se dará através dos estudos de Judith Butler, que afirma que o gênero é concebido a partir de ordens discursivas que se traçam com base nas relações de poder, o que influencia na determinação de um mundo binário, por meio de técnicas da normalização, que acaba limitando os espaços de constituição identitária dos sujeitos humanos. Dessa forma, a experiência trans, ao ser uma experiência identitária transgressora das normas de gênero e também em virtude da precariedade social, ao desvirtuar tais normas, relega a travestis e transexuais o status de abjeção, sendo socialmente marginalizados e considerados como ininteligível, o que lhes resulta em uma vulnerabilidade à violências físicas e simbólicas, dando ensejo a violações de direitos humanos que podem ganhar contornos radicais como a negação do direito a vida. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho pretende fazer uma breve análise sobre se os direitos humanos, simbolizados principalmente pelo princípio da dignidade humana, são aplicados para salvaguardar os direitos dos indivíduos trans, buscando compreender como alguns organismos internacionais de proteção de direitos humano

Desenvolvimento humano e bioético: concretizando princípios de direitos humanos

Este trabalho busca uma reflexão abordando o surgimento e o papel da bioética enquanto estratégia de garantia de Direitos Humanos face aos horrores da guerra e as experimentações científicas com humanos ao longo do último século e não apenas como instrumento utilizado para estabilizar ou regular as relações médico-paciente. Tem-se como proposta a reflexão, quanto à imposição de limites com a introdução dos princípios da autonomia, beneficência, não maleficência e justiça e, se reforçam a construção principiológica voltada para a realidade da vulnerabilidade humana, considerando a frequência e rotina em que Direitos Humanos são violados, a partir dessa construção contemporânea que temos de Direito. Observam-se violações regulares e frequentes a direitos básicos quando, esses grupos em condição de vulnerabilidade, nas suas variadas dimensões, não apenas econômicas, deixam de ter acesso à saúde ou às novas tecnologias introduzidas pelas pesquisas

Triceps Tendon Ruptures Requiring Surgical Repair in National Football League Players.

BACKGROUND: Complete triceps tendon ruptures are relatively rare in the general population but slightly more prevalent in professional football. One prior study found 11 complete ruptures over a 6-season period. HYPOTHESIS: Triceps ruptures occur more commonly in football linemen due to forced elbow flexion during an eccentric contraction and may occur more commonly with the increasing size and speed of professional players. Surgical repair allows full return to sports, but with a lengthy recovery time. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A search of the National Football League Injury Surveillance System (NFLISS) found a total of 37 triceps tendon ruptures requiring surgical repair from the years 2000 to 2009. Data were obtained for setting of injury, player position, activity causing injury, play type, time of game when injury occurred, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and number of days lost from football. RESULTS: There were 37 players requiring surgical repair for triceps tendon ruptures over the 10-season period. The average height, weight, and BMI of the players were 75 inches, 292 pounds, and 36.5 kg/m(2), respectively. The majority of players were linemen (86%): 16 defensive, 15 offensive, and 1 tight end. The injury took place while blocking or being blocked in 29 players (78%) and while tackling or being tackled in 5 players (14%). Players missed an average of 165 days (range, 49-318 days) from football as a result of their injury and surgery. CONCLUSION: Triceps tendon tears requiring surgical repair are more common in professional football players than in the general population and are occurring more commonly than previously reported. Surgical repair allows return to play. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our study identifies the rate of triceps tendon tears requiring repair in the NFL according to position, identifying which players may be most at risk for this injury

Why women do not ask for information on preconception health? A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Preconception care involves health promotion to reduce risk factors that might affect women and couples of childbearing age. The risk factors of adverse reproductive outcomes include recognized genetic diseases in the family or the individual, previous congenital diseases, miscarriage, prematurity, fetal growth restriction, infertility, chronic maternal diseases, lifestyle, and occupational or environmental factors. Effective preconception care involves a range of preventive, therapeutic and behavioural interventions. Although in Italy there are national preconception care recommendations concerning the general population, they are usually encouraged informally and only for single risk factors. At present there is increasing interest in offering a global intervention in this field. The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes and behaviours of Italian women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals regarding preconception health. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study among women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals between February 2014 and February 2015. Five focus groups were held: 2 with non-pregnant women aged 22 to 44 years and 3 with healthcare professionals. Discussion topics included women's questions about preconception health, worries and barriers regarding preconception care interventions, attitudes and behaviours of women and healthcare professionals towards preconception health, women's information sources. In the analysis of the focus groups priority was given to what was said by the women, supplemented by information from the healthcare professionals' focus groups. RESULTS: Fourteen women of childbearing age (8 nulliparae and 6 multiparae) and 12 healthcare professionals (3 nurses, 4 midwives, 5 doctors) participated in the focus groups. The results indicate the presence of many barriers and a lack of awareness of preconception health relating to women, healthcare professionals and policies. Women's knowledge and attitudes towards primary preconception care information are described. The main reference source of information in this field for Italian women seems to be their obstetric-gynaecologist. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that several barriers influence preconception care in Italy. Moreover, a lack of awareness of preconception health and care among Italian women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals emerges. The findings might contribute to strategies for the implementation of preconception care guidelines

Why women do not ask for information on preconception health? A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Preconception care involves health promotion to reduce risk factors that might affect women and couples of childbearing age. The risk factors of adverse reproductive outcomes include recognized genetic diseases in the family or the individual, previous congenital diseases, miscarriage, prematurity, fetal growth restriction, infertility, chronic maternal diseases, lifestyle, and occupational or environmental factors. Effective preconception care involves a range of preventive, therapeutic and behavioural interventions. Although in Italy there are national preconception care recommendations concerning the general population, they are usually encouraged informally and only for single risk factors. At present there is increasing interest in offering a global intervention in this field. The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes and behaviours of Italian women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals regarding preconception health. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study among women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals between February 2014 and February 2015. Five focus groups were held: 2 with non-pregnant women aged 22 to 44 years and 3 with healthcare professionals. Discussion topics included women's questions about preconception health, worries and barriers regarding preconception care interventions, attitudes and behaviours of women and healthcare professionals towards preconception health, women's information sources. In the analysis of the focus groups priority was given to what was said by the women, supplemented by information from the healthcare professionals' focus groups. RESULTS: Fourteen women of childbearing age (8 nulliparae and 6 multiparae) and 12 healthcare professionals (3 nurses, 4 midwives, 5 doctors) participated in the focus groups. The results indicate the presence of many barriers and a lack of awareness of preconception health relating to women, healthcare professionals and policies. Women's knowledge and attitudes towards primary preconception care information are described. The main reference source of information in this field for Italian women seems to be their obstetric-gynaecologist. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that several barriers influence preconception care in Italy. Moreover, a lack of awareness of preconception health and care among Italian women of childbearing age and healthcare professionals emerges. The findings might contribute to strategies for the implementation of preconception care guidelines

Ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) mutations in two patients with tubular aggregate myopathy

Two likely causative mutations in the RYR1 gene were identified in two patients with myopathy with tubular aggregates, but no evidence of cores or core-like pathology on muscle biopsy. These patients were clinically evaluated and underwent routine laboratory investigations, electrophysiologic tests, muscle biopsy and muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They reported stiffness of the muscles following sustained activity or cold exposure and had serum creatine kinase elevation. The identified RYR1 mutations (p.Thr2206Met or p.Gly2434Arg, in patient 1 and patient 2, respectively) were previously identified in individuals with malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and are reported as causative according to the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group rules. To our knowledge, these data represent the first identification of causative mutations in the RYR1 gene in patients with tubular aggregate myopathy and extend the spectrum of histological alterations caused by mutation in the RYR1 gene

On the tracks of Nitrogen deposition effects on temperate forests at their southern European range - an observational study from Italy

We studied forest monitoring data collected at permanent plots in Italy over the period 2000\u20132009 to identify the possible impact of nitrogen (N) deposition on soil chemistry, tree nutrition and growth. Average N throughfall (N-NO3+N-NH4) ranged between 4 and 29 kg ha 1 yr 1, with Critical Loads (CLs) for nutrient N exceeded at several sites. Evidence is consistent in pointing out effects of N deposition on soil and tree nutrition: topsoil exchangeable base cations (BCE) and pH decreased with increasing N deposition, and foliar nutrient N ratios (especially N : P and N : K) increased. Comparison between bulk openfield and throughfall data suggested possible canopy uptake of N, levelling out for bulk deposition >4\u20136 kg ha 1 yr 1. Partial Least Square (PLS) regression revealed that - although stand and meteorological variables explained the largest portion of variance in relative basal area increment (BAIrel 2000\u20132009) - N-related predictors (topsoil BCE, C : N, pH; foliar N-ratios; N deposition) nearly always improved the BAIrel model in terms of variance explained (from 78.2 to 93.5%) and error (from 2.98 to 1.50%). N deposition was the strongest predictor even when stand, management and atmosphere-related variables (meteorology and tropospheric ozone) were accounted for. The maximal annual response of BAIrel was estimated at 0.074\u20130.085% for every additional kgN. This corresponds to an annual maximal relative increase of 0.13\u20130.14% of carbon sequestered in the above-ground woody biomass for every additional kgN, i.e. a median value of 159 kgC per kgN ha 1 yr 1 (range: 50\u2013504 kgC per kgN, depending on the site). Positive growth response occurred also at sites where signals of possible, perhaps recent N saturation were detected. This may suggest a time lag for detrimental N effects, but also that, under continuous high N input, the reported positive growth response may be not sustainable in the long-term

Ultra-fast silicon detectors

Abstract We propose to develop a fast, thin silicon sensor with gain capable to concurrently measure with high precision the space (∼10 μm) and time (∼10 ps) coordinates of a particle. This will open up new application of silicon detector systems in many fields. Our analysis of detector properties indicates that it is possible to improve the timing characteristics of silicon-based tracking sensors, which already have sufficient position resolution, to achieve four-dimensional high-precision measurements. The basic sensor characteristics and the expected performance are listed, the wide field of applications are mentioned and the required R&D topics are discussed