Prototype WSN platform for performing dynamic monitoring of civil engineering structures

Structural Health Monitoring represents the present and future of the civil engineering since, until few years ago, structural diagnosis works had been performed with few resources regarding to experimental techniques. Precisely in the field of monitoring sensors, the progress of new technologies based on wireless communications and Micro-Electro-Mechanical- Systems (MEMS) are of high interest for replacing the handle difficult wired sensors. However, three major limitations of the commercial off-the-shelf technology on WSN (combination of MEMS and wireless technology) for performing dynamic monitoring were identified by means of: (1) not enough sensitivity of the accelerometers; (2) low resolution of the ADC embedded; and (3) lack of synchronization algorithms implemented. This paper presents a new prototype system conceived for performing dynamic monitoring civil engineering structures. This system was jointly conceived by a team of civil, electrical and communication engineers and is a combination of the last technology on high resolution MEMS accelerometers and the state of the art of communication technologies. Despite the fact that the prototype system needs more improvements; the results of several rounds of validation experiences confirm the feasibility for its consideration as an alternative to the conventional wired based sensors.(undefined

Influence of synthesis conditions on carbonate entrapment in perovskite SrSnO 3

Strontium stannate (SrSnO 3 ), a perovskite material, was synthesized by the polymeric precursor method, with different routes to eliminate organic matter. The utilization of pure oxygen for the elimination of organic matter changed the Raman spectra, especially in the low frequency region. Some peaks, which were previously assigned to the perovskite phase, were not noticed when the carbonate amount was lower. On the other hand, the profile of the IR spectra and XRD patterns did not change. These results suggest that carbonate may be present inside the perovskite lattice

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

ACRIDONE ALKALOIDS AS INHIBITORS OF CATHEPSIN L AND V

Cathepsins represent a class of enzymes that has the primary function of randomly degrading proteins in the lysosomes, although are also involved in different pathologies. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the capacity of acridone alkaloids isolated from Swinglea glutinosa (Rutaceae) to inhibit cathepsin L in vitro . The IC50 values found were in the 0.8-57 µM range and the most promising compounds were alkaloids 1 and 2, with IC50 of 0.9 and 0.8 µM, respectively. Enzyme kinetics revealed that they are reversible competitive inhibitors with respect to the substrate Z-FR-MCA. This small series of acridone alkaloids showed low selectivity for both cathepsins, but represent promising lead candidates for the further development of competitive cathepsin L and V inhibitors

NEW DEGRADED QUINONE DITERPENOID FROM THE STEMS OF Byrsonima coccolobifolia Kunth. (Malpighiaceae)

A chemical investigation of two specimens of Byrsonima coccolobifolia collected in the southeast cerrado and from central Brazil was performed. A new degraded diterpenoid, byrsonimaquinone, was isolated from the stems along with known compounds. This is the first study on the roots of B. coccolobifolia, and several triterpenes, such as α-amyrin, β-amyrin, oleanolic acid, and glochidonol, along with a mixture of stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and campesterol, were identified. These compounds were identified by spectroscopic analysis techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR, GC-MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry

Nonprofitorganisationer inom vård och omsorg : en explorativ genomgång av kunskapsläget i Sverige, Kanada och Storbritannien

Operational Modal Analysis is currently applied in structural dynamic monitoring studies using conventional wired based sensors and data acquisition platforms. This approach, however, becomes inadequate in cases where the tests are performed in ancient structures with esthetic concerns or in others, where the use of wires greatly impacts the monitoring system cost and creates difficulties in the maintenance and deployment of data acquisition platforms. In these cases, the use of sensor platforms based on wireless and MEMS would clearly benefit these applications. This work presents a first attempt to apply this wireless technology to the structural monitoring of historical masonry constructions in the context of operational modal analysis. Commercial WSN platforms were used to study one laboratory specimen and one of the structural elements of a XV century building in Portugal. Results showed that in comparison to the conventional wired sensors, wireless platforms have poor performance in respect to the acceleration time series recorded and the detection of modal shapes. However, for frequency detection issues, reliable results were obtained, especially when random excitation was used as noise source.(undefined