The LSTS open-source communication and autonomy software: enabling networked vehicle systems to find track, and sample dynamic features of the ocean

Peer Reviewe

In silico and expression analyses of fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins reveal functional conservation during embryo and seed development

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs) are a subclass of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), which contain fasciclin-like domains in addition to typical AGP domains. FLAs are present across all embryophytes, and despite their low overall sequence similarity, conserved regions that define the fasciclin functional domain (FAS) have been identified, suggesting that the cell adhesion property is also conserved. FLAs in Arabidopsis have been organized into four subgroups according to the number and distribution of functional domains. Recent studies associated FLAs with cell wall-related processes where domain organization seemed to be related to functional roles. In Arabidopsis, FLAs containing a single FAS domain were found to be important for the integrity and elasticity of the plant cell wall matrix, and FLAs with two FAS domains and two AGP domains were found to be involved in maintaining proper cell expansion under salt stress conditions. The main purpose of the present work was to elucidate the expression pattern of selected FLA genes during embryo and seed development using RT-qPCR. AtFLA8 and AtFLA10, two Arabidopsis genes that stood out in previous microarray studies of embryo development, were further examined using promoter-driven gene reporter analyses. We also studied the expression of cork oak FLA genes and found that their expression partially parallels the expression patterns of the putative AtFLA orthologs. We propose that the functional organization of FLAs is conserved and may be related to fundamental aspects of embryogenesis and seed development across angiosperms. Phylogenetic studies were performed, and we show that the same basic four-subgroup organization described for Arabidopsis FLA gene classification is valid for most Arabidopsis FLA orthologs of several plant species, namely poplar, corn and cork oak

Hodgkin's Disease in HIV Patients: Two Clinical Case Reports

Os autores apresentam dois casos de febre prolongada em doente com infecção VIH. O seu estudo conduziu ao diagnóstico de Doença de Hodgkin

Corn cob lightweight concrete for non-structural applications

A lightweight concrete using granulated corn cob (without corn) as an aggregate is proposed in this research work. Taking into account that corn cob, after extracting the corn, is generally considered an agricultural waste, an interesting economic and sustainable benefit may result by using it as a building material. Therefore, it can be an alternative sustainable lightweight aggregate solution in comparison to the most currently applied ones such as expanded clay, particles of cork, particles of expanded polystyrene (EPS), among others. The density, the compressive strength and the thermal insulation properties of a corn cob concrete were experimentally quantified. An expanded clay concrete was also studied as reference. The main results obtained are presented and discussed showing that the proposed corn cob concrete may have the adequate material properties required for a lightweight concrete for non-structural application purposes

[Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy in children younger than nine years-old: state of the art]

Introdução e Objectivos: Em Portugal, a experiência em retroperitoneoscopia pediátrica é escassa. Os autores apresentam a primeira série portuguesa de nefrectomias realizadas por esta via, em crianças com idade inferior a nove anos, e uma revisão da literatura sobre o tema. Material e Métodos: Análise retrospectiva dos processos das crianças submetidas a nefrectomia laparoscópica retroperitoneal (NLR), de Janeiro de 2009 e Dezembro de 2009, num Departamento de Cirurgia Pediátrica. A revisão da literatura foi realizada através de uma pesquisa na base de dados Medline. Resultados: Foram realizadas oito NLR. A média de idades dos doentes operados foi 4,5 anos (mínimo = 11 meses, máximo = 8,6 anos). As indicações cirúrgicas encontradas foram: quatro rins multiquísticos, três nefropatias de refluxo, uma nefropatia obstructiva. Quatro NLR foram realizadas à esquerda. O tempo cirúrgico médio foi 99 minutos (mínimo = 50 minutos, máximo 180 minutos), notando-se um encurtamento do mesmo à medida que aumenta a experiência da equipa. Não houve nenhuma conversão para lombotomia. A média de tempo de internamento foi 1,5 dias (mínimo = 1 dia, máximo = 2 dias). Não se registaram complicações intra-operatórias nem pós-operatórias. Conclusão: A NLR é exequível em crianças de idade inferior a nove anos e deve ser considerado tratamento de eleição na idade pediátrica

Budesonide Reverses Lung Hyperinflation in Childhood Asthma: a Controlled Study

Budesonide (800 mg bid, for 2 months) was administered to 12 asthmatic children (mean age, 11.293.3 years) with lung hyperinflation (TGV]130% predicted and:or RV]140% predicted) in a randomised, placebo controlled, double blind, crossover study. Body plethysmography (panting frequency controlled at 1·s 1) was performed at the beginning, 2 months afterwards (before crossover) and at the end of the study. Budesonide significantly reduced TGV (2.3590.90 l BTPS or 126924% predicted) compared with placebo (2.5491.08 l BTPS, P 0.014 or 140921% predicted, PB0.05). In addition, budesonide significantly increased mean specific conductance (0.0690.02 cm H2O 1 l s 1 to 0.0790.01 cm H2O 1 l s 1, PB0.05). It was concluded that budesonide reduced lung hyperinflation most likely by decreasing airway inflammation

Build-Up an Economical Tool for Machining Operations Cost Estimation

Currently, there is a lack of affordable and simple tools for the estimation of these costs, especially for machining operations. This is particularly true for manufacturing SMEs, in which the cost estimation of machined parts is usually performed based only on required material for part production, or involves a time-consuming, non-standardized technical analysis. Therefore, a cost estimation tool was developed, based on the calculated machining times and amount of required material, based on the final drawing of the requested workpiece. The tool was developed primarily for milling machines, considering milling, drilling, and boring/threading operations. Regarding the considered materials, these were primarily aluminum alloys. However, some polymer materials were also considered. The tool first estimates the required time for total part production and then calculates the total cost. The total production time is estimated based on the required machining operations, as well as drawing, programming, and machine setup time. A part complexity level was also introduced, based on the number of details and operations required for each workpiece, which will inflate the estimated times. The estimation tool was tested in a company setting, comparing the estimated operation time values with the real ones, for a wide variety of parts of differing complexity. An average error of 14% for machining operation times was registered, which is quite satisfactory, as this time is the most impactful in terms of machining cost. However, there are still some problems regarding the accuracy in estimating finishing operation timesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Camada de regularização com agregado de granulado de caroço da espiga de milho

Um conjunto de construções antigas localizadas na região de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal, apresentam caroços de espiga de milho incorporados na camada de enchimento de paredes exteriores de tabique. Esta descoberta tem vindo a estimular o estudo do potencial da aplicação na construção civil deste resíduo agrícola. Um trabalho de investigação preliminar permitiu concluir que este produto natural apresenta uma microestrutura e uma condutibilidade térmica que lhe conferem um interesse de aplicação no contexto do isolamento térmico. Este trabalho de investigação está centrado no estudo do potencial da aplicação de granulado de caroço de espiga de milho como agregado para argamassa ou betão leve de camada de regularização / enchimento. Para o efeito, um trabalho experimental foi desenvolvido de forma a aferir algumas propriedades físicas, mecânicas e de comportamento térmico deste material compósito. Amostras com agregado de argila expandida também foram fabricadas e ensaiadas de forma a funcionarem como referência. Com este trabalho de investigação pretende-se contribuir para uma construção mais sustentável e amiga do ambiente

Improving efficiency in a hybrid warehouse: a case study

Logistics has assumed a determining position in the supply chain of each organization. This paper concerns the work carried out in a bus manufacturing organization with the aim of improving efficiency in its hybrid warehouse. A hybrid warehouse could be considered as one that mixes several different activities (reception, storage area, picking, shipping, supply to production lines and production preparation tasks) and brings together many different materials or raw materials and components. This factor led to the appearance of innumerable management methods to improve employee performance. These are intended to meet the needs of their customers, from the motto "do more with less". The work developed in a hybrid warehouse allows to detect logistic complaints related to communication failures between employees, the reduced efficiency in the activities like the check of raw materials or components and respective picking, the lack of space for their reception and storage, and the non-compliance of the FIFO stock management system. It is imperative that organizations can redefine internal spaces and flows, generating a more efficient and intuitive work and admit an opportunity for improvements in terms of space and content management, and hence, cost savings for an organization. The combination of Lean tools was implemented, and the results have been checked, showing a significant impact in the hybrid warehouse, with annual gains through the optimization of several activities: employee turnover (decrease by 50%), check and picking times (decrease about 75 minutes/picking) and better working conditions for employees.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio