Finite element modeling and operational modal analysis of a historical masonry mosque

Finite Element Modeling (FEM) and Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) is herein presented for the historical masonry Kütahya Kurşunlu Mosque within the framework of its seismic performance assessment. The historical structure is located in Turkey which has a high-level seismic activity. A FEM strategy was adopted to construct a numerical model of the structure considering a simplified three-dimensional geometry and a macro-modeling approach for the masonry. A representative numerical model of the existing structure was calibrated and improved according to the OMA results obtained from ambient vibration measurements, performed in-situ. The ambient vibration measurements were operated by using two triaxial accelerometers, that one of the accelerometers was regulated as a reference station whereas the other accelerometer was relocated to seven different points on the top of the walls. Identification of the experimental modal parameters was achieved by performing two different signal processing methodologies, namely the Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD) and the Stochastic Subspace Identification - Unweighted Principal Components (SSI-UPC). Results obtained from both methods were compared in terms of the Modal Assurance Criterion (MAC) which considers the mode shapes derived in a specific range of frequency. The SSI-UPC method was employed in achieving the experimental modal response of the structure and the results were compared with the eigenvalue analysis results of the preliminary numerical model. A calibration process was carried out in terms of minimizing the difference between the experimental and numerical modal response by a trial and error approach and an average error of 4.9% was calculated for the modal frequencies of the first four global modes of vibration

An early sex difference in the relation between mental rotation and object preference

Accumulating evidence suggests that males outperform females on mental rotation tasks as early as infancy. Sex differences in object preference have also been shown to emerge early in development and precede sex-typed play in childhood. Although research with adults and older children is suggestive of a relationship between play preferences and visuospatial abilities, including mental rotation, little is known about the developmental origins of this relationship. The present study compared mental rotation ability and object preference in 6- to 13-month-old infants. We used a novel paradigm to examine individual differences in infants’ mental rotation abilities as well as their differential preference for one of two sex-typed objects. A sex difference was found on both tasks, with boys showing an advantage in performance on the mental rotation task and exhibiting greater visual attention to the male-typed object (i.e., a toy truck) than to the female-typed object (i.e., a doll) in comparison to girls. Moreover, we found a relation between mental rotation and object preference that varied by sex. Greater visual interest in the male-typed object was related to greater mental rotation performance in boys, but not in girls. Possible explanations related to perceptual biases, prenatal androgen exposure, and experiential influences for this sex difference are discussed

Biochar/Zinc Oxide Composites as Effective Catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Novel electrocatalysts based on zinc oxide (ZnO) and biochars are prepared through a simple and scalable route and are proposed for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 (CO2RR). Materials with different weight ratios of ZnO to biochars, namely, pyrolyzed chitosan (CTO) and pyrolyzed brewed waste coffee (CBC), are synthesized and thoroughly characterized. The physicochemical properties of the materials are correlated with the CO2RR to CO performance in a comprehensive study. Both the type and weight percentage of biochar significantly influence the catalytic performance of the composite. CTO, which has pyridinic- and pyridone-N species in its structure, outperforms CBC as a carbon matrix for ZnO particles, as evidenced by a higher CO selectivity and an enhanced current density at the ZnO_CTO electrode under the same conditions. The study on various ZnO to CTO weight ratios shows that the composite with 40.6 wt % of biochar shows the best performance, with the CO selectivity peaked at 85.8% at -1.1 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a CO partial current density of 75.6 mA cm-2 at -1.3 V versus RHE. It also demonstrates good stability during the long-term CO2 electrolysis, showing high retention in both CO selectivity and electrode activity

Diversidade florística em quintais agroflorestais de quatro localidades, Parintins - Amazonas.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a diversidade das espécies em pomares caseiros no assentamento de Vila Amazônia

Structural changes in intestinal enteroendocrine cells after ileal interposition in normal rats

INTRODUCTION: No therapeutic approach has significantly impacted the progression of diabetes. As early improvement of glicaemic control is observed after bariatric surgeries, there is currently a search for surgical procedures that can promote euglycemia also in non-obese patients. Glicaemic control can be achieved by increasing the blood concentration of GLP-1, a hormone produced by L cells that are more densely concentrated in the terminal ileum. The interposition of ileal segment to a more anterior region (proximal jejunum) can promote a greater stimulation of the L cells by poorly digested food, increasing the production of GLP-1 and reflecting on glicaemic control.
AIMS: To investigate long-term histological modifications of intestinal mucosa of rats submitted to interposition of ileum segment to a proximal region (jejunum).
METHODS: Forty 8-week old male Wistar-EPM1 rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) were randomly distributed into 3 groups: the Interposition Group (IG) was subjected to ileal interposition, the Sham Group (SG) was subjected to sham operations, and the Control Group (CG) was not subjected to surgery. All animals were followed until the 60th postoperative day (8 postoperative week) when they were euthanized. Segments of jejunum and ileum from all groups were collected and analyzed by optical microscopy and immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: No structural nor histological changes in intestinal L cells in the interposed intestinal segment and other intestinal segments were noted after ileal interposition surgery. 
CONCLUSION: As L cells endocrine characteristics were likely maintained, the use of metabolic surgical techniques for the treatment of metabolic diseases, especially diabetes, seems to be justified