The effect of residual stresses in the lateral-torsional buckling of steel I-beams at elevated temperature

When a beam is bent about its major axis, it may twist and move laterally, before it reaches its elastic/plastic resistance in bending. Although the problem of lateral-torsional buckling of steel beams at room temperature has a well-established solution, the same problem at elevated temperature has not. A numerical investigation of the lateral-torsional buckling of steel I-beams subjected to a temperature variation from room temperature up to 700 °C, with the aim of assessing the effects of the residual stresses in this mechanism of failure, is presented in this paper.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V3T-49WPKXM-4/1/af8f102f10a3293de400c7377649c98

Afrontamiento, vida personal y familiar de profesores que pertenecen al Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNI) de una universidad del sureste de México

This study aimed to know the self-perception of the dimensions of coping, as well as personal and family life of researchers belonging to the National System of Researchers (SNI) of a public university in southeastern, Mexico. It was developed from a quantitative, descriptive-exploratory perspective. The study was made up of 121 (96%) of the researchers assigned to the SNI, of which 72 (59.5%) are men (M age = 43.3, SD = 9.5 years) and 49 (40.5%) women (M age = 44.2, DE = 8.4 years). The information-gathering instrument was a questionnaire that was answered with a Likert scale, as well as three open questions. It was found that the members of the SNI of the University of the study are young, and have mostly recognition at level I. In relation to the dimensions of coping and personal and family life, the subjects are almost always satisfied with the variables associated with these dimensions. In sum, the factors that influence their permanence or admission to the SNI, are the skills they possess, the interest, the family and the preparation they received in the field of research.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer la autopercepción de las dimensiones de afrontamiento, vida personal y familiar de investigadores que pertenecen al Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNI) de una universidad pública del sureste de México. Se desarrolló desde una perspectiva cuantitativa, descriptiva-exploratoria. El estudio estuvo conformado por 121 (96%) de los investigadores adscritos al SNI, de los cuales 72 (59.5%) son hombres (M edad = 43.3, DE = 9.5 años) y 49 (40.5%) mujeres (M edad = 44.2, DE = 8.4 años). El instrumento de recolección de la información fue un cuestionario con escala tipo Likert, así como tres preguntas abiertas. Se encontró que los miembros del SNI de la Universidad en estudio son jóvenes y tienen mayormente reconocimiento en el nivel I. En relación a las dimensiones de afrontamiento, vida personal y familiar, los sujetos se encuentran satisfechos casi siempre con las variables asociadas a estas dimensiones. En suma, los factores que influyen en su permanencia o ingreso al SNI son las habilidades que poseen, el interés, la familia y la preparación que recibieron en el campo de la investigación

Antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic properties of Lactobacillus species

Molds play an important role in spoilage of food products. It is estimated that 5 to 10% of the world foods production is lost due to fungal contamination. Further, certain fungal species produce highly toxic metabolites designated as mycotoxins. According to FAO, up to 25% of the worlds food crops have been estimated to be significantly contaminated with mycotoxins. Among all known mycotoxins, aflatoxins are the most relevant ones because they are carcinogenic. Biopreservation, defined as the control of one organism by another, has received much attention by researchers in recent years. In this field, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are of great interest to be used as natural biopreservatives of food and feed since they have extensive probiotic properties and have been traditionally used in fermentation processes. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the potential of Lactobacillus species to control the occurrence of aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxins in agricultural commodities. For that several aflatoxigenic species such as Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, A. nomius, A. tamari, A. arachidicola, and A. minisclerotigenes were inoculated in triplicate in MEA supplemented with 10% of sterile supernatants of different Lactobacillus species obtained from liquid MRS cultures. Supernatants of most active strains inactivated with heat, proteases and NaOH (for pH neutralization) were also tested and compared with untreated ones. The fungal radial growth and the aflatoxin concentration produced in each plate were recorded and compared. L. casei and L. plantarum supernatants were found to be most active. Growth of Aspergillus flavus in MEA after 7 days was reduced approx. by 31% and 25%, respectively for each bacteria. Aflatoxins B1 and B2 production were inhibited approx. by 97 and 87%, respectively. The antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activity of those strains was reverted when supernatants were treated with proteolytic enzymes or their pH adjusted to 7

Critical variables to predict technological expansion in traditional sugarcane productive region of north-east Brazil.

Abstract: Several critical variables are used to predict the technological expansion of traditional sugarcane productive region of Brazil's northeast (NE). Variables were selected after retrospective evaluation, present diagnosis and validation by expertise of the sugarcane sector. After the selection, the variables were classified based on impact levei and predictability. The matrix for morphological analysis was carried out to indicate the technological expansion pathway. It is possible to conclude that technological expansion of sugarcane production in this traditional region could be limited or enhanced by agricultural, social environrnental and economic variables. ln this study, a total of twenty five parameters were designated to evaluate the sugarcane expansion in this region, being eight agricultural, six natural resource, six market and five social variables. Therefore, straight analysis of the scenario lead to the possibility of immediate actions in agricultura I sugarcane production, natural resource preservation and social relationships variables, on the other hand the market actions agreements are more complex and complicated to apply

Ultrasonography Reliability in the Detection of Inflammatory and Structural Abnormalities: An Exercise in Multiple Joints

Background Ultrasonography is an image technique that allows rheumatologists to visualize structural and inflammatory changes within a joint. The objective of this study was to assess the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) in the detection of inflammatory and destructive joint changes in patients with polyarthritis. Methods A Delphi exercise was undertaken to standardize and adapt the EULAR-OMERACT elementary US definitions of inflammatory lesions (effusion, synovial hypertrophy, power Doppler, bone erosions, and synovitis) for each joint. Fifteen patients were analyzed, and video clips of 600 joints were collected. Each joint was scored for the presence of each elementary component, on 2 separate occasions, by 6 examiners. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement analysis was assessed through Fleiss κ coefficient (κ). Results Considering all patients and all joints, the interobserver values were highest for erosions and lowest for effusion (κ = 0.7314 and κ = 0.6044, respectively). When analyzing different regions, the highest interobserver agreement was for tibiotalar joint (κ = 0.8043) and the lowest for wrist (κ = 0.6767). Intraobserver reliability was excellent for each and all elementary components and anatomical region. Conclusions The present study showed either a good or excellent US interobserver and intraobserver reliability in elementary elements and anatomical region. This kind of US reliability exercises are important for standardization of exploration in everyday practice by reducing the variability associated with this imaging technique, and ensuring a greater degree of homogeneity and future comparability in the assessment of disease activity in polyarthritis patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Paraneoplastic sclerodermiform syndrome--case report.

Occasionally, auto-immune diseases may emerge as paraneoplastic syndromes. This is especially recognized in the case of polymyositis/dermatomyostis, but it is an extremely rare event in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The authors report the case of a sixty-year-old woman who presented with Raynaud's phenomenon and rapidly progressing skin thickness of the forearms, hands and lower limbs. Patient evaluation revealed a colorectal carcinoma. The patient was referred to the oncology department. This concomitance of cancer and SSc with rapid progression of the latter, suggests that the scleroderma might have a paraneoplastic origin. Such an hypothesis deserves consideration in every case as early diagnosis may be decisive to control the progression of either disease