BOTDA Sensing Employing a Modified Brillouin Fiber Laser Probe Source

A theoretical and experimental study has been carried out on a tunable dual pump-probe optical source for distributed Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (BOTDA). The developed source exploits a modified Brillouin ring laser technology and is capable of a tuning range of ∼200 MHz without using phase-locked loop or optical sideband generation techniques, and exhibits a linewidth smaller than 2.5 MHz and ∼0.5 mW power. In BOTDA experiments, the proposed source has demonstrated to be an efficient solution enabling distributed sensing over 10 km single mode fiber with a spatial resolution of ∼4 m, and a strain and temperature resolutions of ∼10 μϵ and ∼0.5 °C respectively

A EDUCAÇÃO E A DIVERSIDADE SEXUAL E DE GÊNERO: uma análise a partir da proposta dos temas transversais para o ensino fundamental na perspectiva dos educadores

This article is the result of a research that culminated in the master's thesis presented to the Graduate Program in Social Work by the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of Franca in the year 2017, and had as objective to analyze through field research from the perspective of dialectical historical materialism with a quantitative approach if educators reflect on the theme of sexual and gender diversity in their practices and what are the limits and possibilities of inserting this debate into the educational process, with reference to the Transversal Themes of National Curricular Parameters 1998.Este artigo resulta-se de uma pesquisa que culminou em uma dissertação de mestrado apresentada ao programa de Pós Graduação em Serviço Social pela Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais de Franca no ano de 2017, e teve como objetivo analisar por meio de pesquisa de campo na perspectiva do materialismo histórico dialético com abordagem quanti-qualitativas e os educadores realizam a reflexão sobre o tema diversidade sexual e de gênero em suas práticas e quais são os limites e as possibilidades da inserção deste debate no processo educativo tendo como referência os Temas Transversais dos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais de 1998

3D additive manufactured composite scaffolds with antibiotic-loaded lamellar fillers for bone infection prevention and tissue regeneration

Bone infections following open bone fracture or implant surgery remain a challenge in the orthopedics field. In order to avoid high doses of systemic drug administration, optimized local antibiotic release from scaffolds is required. 3D additive manufactured (AM) scaffolds made with biodegradable polymers are ideal to support bone healing in non-union scenarios and can be given antimicrobial properties by the incorporation of antibiotics. In this study, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin intercalated in the interlamellar spaces of magnesium aluminum layered double hydroxides (MgAl) and α-zirconium phosphates (ZrP), respectively, are dispersed within a thermoplastic polymer by melt compounding and subsequently processed via high temperature melt extrusion AM (~190 °C) into 3D scaffolds. The inorganic fillers enable a sustained antibiotics release through the polymer matrix, controlled by antibiotics counterions exchange or pH conditions. Importantly, both antibiotics retain their functionality after the manufacturing process at high temperatures, as verified by their activity against both Gram + and Gram - bacterial strains. Moreover, scaffolds loaded with filler-antibiotic do not impair human mesenchymal stromal cells osteogenic differentiation, allowing matrix mineralization and the expression of relevant osteogenic markers. Overall, these results suggest the possibility of fabricating dual functionality 3D scaffolds via high temperature melt extrusion for bone regeneration and infection prevention.We are grateful to the FAST project funded under the H2020-NMP- PILOTS-2015 scheme (GA n. 685825) for financial support. Some of the materials used in this work were provided by the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Scott & White through a grant from NCRR of the NIH (Grant #P40RR017447)

Fire Retardant Action of Layered Double Hydroxides and Zirconium Phosphate Nanocomposites Fillers in Polyisocyanurate Foams

Modern day energy codes are driving the design and multi-layered configuration of exterior wall systems with a significant emphasis on achieving high performance insulation towards improving energy performance of building envelopes. Use of highly insulating polyisocyanurate (PIR) based materials enhanced with eco-friendly lamellar inorganic fillers reinforces energy performance requirements, environmental challenges and cost reduction without compromising the overall building fire safety. The current work assessed the fire behaviour of PIR modified with three layered fillers, namely MgAlCO3 (PIR-LDH1), MgAl Stearate (PIR-LDH2) and Zirconium Phosphate octadecylamine (PIR-ZrP3). For each of the fillers, three loadings (2, 4 and 6% by weight) were used. Optical analysis by X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), cone calorimeter (CC), thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis, post-burning morphological evaluation using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT) analysis, were performed. The results indicated that fire reaction properties and thermal stability of foam samples were enhanced with all three different lamellar inorganic smart fillers. The initial degradation temperature of PIR-layered filler samples was increased, demonstrating that incorporation of flame retardants decelerated the degradation of the PIR foam and contributed to significant char formation, from 19.5% in pure PIR samples to 33% in PIR-6%LDH1 samples. Increasing the filler content also resulted in improved char properties and decreased peak Heat Release Rates (HRR) in the cone calorimeter. Due to the development of a stable char layer, samples containing 6% of ZrP3 did not ignite at 20 kW/m2 and a reduction of up to 40% in the peak HRR was achieved in PIR-2%ZrP3 samples

DUE NUOVE SPECIE DI OTIORHYNCHUS (LIXORRHYNCHUS) REITTER, 1914 E UNA NUOVA SPECIE DI RAYMONDIONYMUS WOLLASTON, 1873 DEI MONTI AURUNCI (LAZIO) (COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONOIDEA)

Nella presente nota vengono descritti tre nuovi Curculionoidea ipogei dei Monti Aurunci (Lazio): Otiorhynchus (Lixorrhynchus) avoni n. sp.; Otiorhynchus (Lixorrhyn­chus) paulae n. sp. e Raymondionymus pulcherrimus n. sp. Nel testo vengono riportate immagini fotografiche dei principali caratteri esoscheletrici (sia interni che esterni) che contraddistinguono le nuove specie, nell’ambito dei gruppi di appartenenza. Una cartina geografica riassume lo stato dell’attuale distribuzione dei Lixorrhynchus anoftalmi o microftalmi in Italia penisulare e nell’area Sardo-Corsa. Le prime due specie presentano indubbie affinità con Otiorhynchus (Lixorrhynchus) bastianinii Magrini, Meoli & Abbazzi, 2005, recentemente descritto dei Monti Aurunci centrali [Grava dei Serini (= Grotta dei Serini) 587 La/FR], mentre la terza specie costituisce, insieme a R. meggiolaroi (Osella, 1977) (Liguria), R. eximius Meregalli & Osella, 2006 (Lazio, Monti Simbruini) e R. zoiai (Osella & Giusto, 1985) (Piemonte, Massiccio del Monviso), un gruppo immediatamente riconoscibile rispetto ai taxa congeneri, per la particolare conformazione del pronoto

UNA NUOVA TYPHLOREICHEIA DEL LAZIO (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE)

Nella presente nota viene descritta Typhloreicheia magrinii n. sp. di Prato di Campoli (Monti Ernici, Lazio). La nuova specie, nota per ora solo della località tipica, si differenzia essenzialmente da quelle peninsulari già conosciute per la singolare forma dell’edeago e, soprattutto, della lamella copulatrice il cui aspetto potremmo definire a “tenda da campeggio”. La nuova specie è stata raccolta in quota, sotto pietre interrate in faggeta

UN NUOVO DUVALIUS ENDOGEO DELLA SICILIA (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE)

Nella presente nota viene descritto un nuovo Duvalius endogeo della Sicilia occidentale appartenente al gruppo silvestrii (sensu Magrini 1997). Il nuovo taxon, come la specie nominale del gruppo, presenta un edeago di grandi dimensioni, fornito di una lamella copulatrice anch’essa assai grande, conformata a doccia e con apice bifido di consistenza membranosa. L’habitus molto convesso, arrotondato e dilatato ed il colore giallo ambra lo rendono facilmente distinguibile dagli altri taxa siciliani