A simplified biomimetic temperature logger for recording intertidal barnacle body temperatures

published_or_final_versio

Estudo comparativo da artrodese posterolateral e PLIF no tratamento da espondilolistesis degenerativa grau I ou II ? análise de 124 casos

Objetivo: Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) ou artrodese posterolateral (APL) são técnicas cirúrgicas válidas na espondilolistese degenerativa. Alterações biomecânicas no nível adjacente à artrodese aceleram alterações degenerativas. Na literatura discute-se o tratamento adequado. Este estudo comparativo avalia clínica, taxa de fusão, complicações, alterações degenerativas e instabilidade no nível adjacente. Material e Métodos: Retrospectivamente foram analisadas espondilolisteses degenerativas grau I e II de Meyerding tratadas com PLIF ou APL de Janeiro 2000 a Dezembro 2010 num total de 124 doentes, 45 PLIF e 79 APL. Recorreu-se à escala visual analógica (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) e Short Form-36 (SF-36). No PLIF foi determinada artrodese por estabelecimento de pontes ósseas estáveis. A instabilidade na APL foi definida quando osteolise adjacente aos parafusos, deslizamento ou angulação no nível da fusão. Resultados: O follow-up foi 4.5±2.7 e 3.9±2.6 anos (1-11 anos) no PLIF e APL, respectivamente. Ocorreu fusão em 93.3% no PLIF e 74.7% na APL (p=0.008). O PLIF apresenta superioridade no VAS pós-operatório (p=0.01) e variação geral (p=0.002). O ODI pós-operatório no PLIF foi menor (p<0.001) e 2.2% permanecem com disfunção severa comparativamente com 19% na APL. O PLIF é superior em escalas do SF-36: Função Física (p=0.034), Limitação Emocional (p=0.037), Função Social (p=0.05) e Saúde Geral (p=0.02). A taxa de complicações foi 4.4% no PLIF e 12.6% na APL (p=0.2). Ambas as técnicas desenvolveram doença do disco adjacente. Conclusões: Em ambos os grupos verifica-se melhoria da qualidade de vida, no entanto, a médio prazo o PLIF mostra superioridade. Instabilidade pré-operatória pode ser indicativa da eleição de PLIF

Film thickness in a ball-on-disc contact lubricated with greases, bleed oils and base oils

Three different lubricating greases and their bleed and base oils were compared in terms of film thickness in a ball-on-disc test rig through optical interferometry. The theoretical values calculated according to Hamrock's equation are in close agreement with the base oil film thickness measurements, which validates the selected experimental methodology. The grease and bleed oil film thickness under fully flooded lubrication conditions presented quite similar behaviour and levels. Therefore, the grease film thickness under full film conditions might be predicted using their bleed oil properties, namely the viscosity and pressure-viscosity coefficient. The base and bleed oil lubricant parameter LP are proportional to the measured film thickness. A relationship between grease and the corresponding bleed oil film thickness was evidenced

Transcript of The Dory Derby Accident

This story is an excerpt from a longer interview that was collected as part of the Launching through the Surf: The Dory Fleet of Pacific City project. In this story, Don Grotjohn recounts an accident that occurred during a Dory Derby competition

Numerical simulation of strongly nonlinear and dispersive waves using a Green-Naghdi model

We investigate here the ability of a Green-Naghdi model to reproduce strongly nonlinear and dispersive wave propagation. We test in particular the behavior of the new hybrid finite-volume and finite-difference splitting approach recently developed by the authors and collaborators on the challenging benchmark of waves propagating over a submerged bar. Such a configuration requires a model with very good dispersive properties, because of the high-order harmonics generated by topography-induced nonlinear interactions. We thus depart from the aforementioned work and choose to use a new Green-Naghdi system with improved frequency dispersion characteristics. The absence of dry areas also allows us to improve the treatment of the hyperbolic part of the equations. This leads to very satisfying results for the demanding benchmarks under consideration

Mean-field Study of Charge, Spin, and Orbital Orderings in Triangular-lattice Compounds ANiO2 (A=Na, Li, Ag)

We present our theoretical results on the ground states in layered triangular-lattice compounds ANiO2 (A=Na, Li, Ag). To describe the interplay between charge, spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom in these materials, we study a doubly-degenerate Hubbard model with electron-phonon couplings by the Hartree-Fock approximation combined with the adiabatic approximation. In a weakly-correlated region, we find a metallic state accompanied by \sqroot3x\sqroot3 charge ordering. On the other hand, we obtain an insulating phase with spin-ferro and orbital-ferro ordering in a wide range from intermediate to strong correlation. These phases share many characteristics with the low-temperature states of AgNiO2 and NaNiO2, respectively. The charge-ordered metallic phase is stabilized by a compromise between Coulomb repulsions and effective attractive interactions originating from the breathing-type electronphonon coupling as well as the Hund's-rule coupling. The spin-orbital-ordered insulating phase is stabilized by the cooperative effect of electron correlations and the Jahn-Teller coupling, while the Hund's-rule coupling also plays a role in the competition with other orbital-ordered phases. The results suggest a unified way of understanding a variety of low-temperature phases in ANiO2. We also discuss a keen competition among different spin-orbital-ordered phases in relation to a puzzling behavior observed in LiNiO2

Investigação no ensino de engenharia biomédica: dois casos de estudo

Desde os anos oitenta que os avanços das ciências básicas e das ciências da engenharia têm dado um impulso sem precedentes à investigação médica, o que criou as condições para a afirmação da Engenharia Biomédica como ramo autónomo da Engenharia. Este novo ramo da Engenharia impôs-se em domínios que incluem a imagiologia biomédica, a bioinformática, a biotecnologia, a biomecânica, os biomateriais, a engenharia de tecidos, próteses e orgãos artificiais, a análise e modelação de sinais fisiológicos e a gestão de sistemas de saúde. Já no século XXI, o volume de saber acumulado e a motivação para acelerar desenvolvimentos científicos e tecnológicos, levou à criação e organização nas universidades de uma oferta de cursos de graduação e pós-graduação em Engenharia Biomédica. Apesar do espectro muito largo da Engenharia Biomédica e dos cursos criados, é possível, mesmo ao nível de Mestrado pós-Bologna (licenciatura pré-Bologna), dar uma formação avançada que permita aos alunos realizar trabalhos de investigação complexos e com impacto clínico. Neste artigo apresentamos dois destes casos de sucesso, representativos do papel da investigação ao longo do ensino bem actual da Engenharia Biomédica. No primeiro, intitulado “Caracterização Tridimensional da Placa de Ateroma da Bifurcação Carotídea com Ultrasonografia 3D”, é apresentado um método inovador de diagnóstico da Aterosclerose, baseado na reconstrução e caracterização tridimensional da lesão aterosclerótica ao nível da bifurcação carotídea. O segundo trabalho, intitulado “Reconstrução da Frente de Onda e Simulação da Acuidade Visual no Estudo do Impacto das Aberrações Ópticas em Olhos Submetidos a Cirurgia”, apresenta uma ferramenta computacional que gera informação adicional sobre a medição da frente de onda obtida com aparelhos comerciais, permitindo estudar o impacto de aberrações ópticas na acuidade visual de diferentes olhos. Este artigo está organizado em quatro partes. A primeira parte é uma nota histórica introdutória à Engenharia Biomédica em geral. A segunda parte apresenta o que do ponto de vista de ensino superior em Engenharia Biomédica, ao nível de Mestrado Integrado de 1º e 2º ciclos, pode em geral viabilizar a fácil inserção dos estudantes na Investigação, conduzindo-os de imediato a resultados de investigação concretos. A terceira parte constitui a parte central deste artigo onde se apresentam dois exemplos ilustrativos do sucesso da formação de 5 anos em Engenharia Biomédica e da inserção da investigação, desde muito cedo, nessa formação. Por fim, na quarta secção apresentam-se as conclusões

Colonización oral por Candida en pacientes que asisten a una clinica dental in Braga, Portugal

The ability of the Candida species to colonize surfaces can be considered as a risk factor for oral infection. Aims The aim of this work was to establish oral Candida carriage in patients attending a dental clinic in Braga, Portugal. Methods A total of 97 patients were analysed. Swab samples were collected, and directly cultured onto CHROMagar Candida. Representative yeasts were identified by polymerase chain reaction. Results From the samples analysed 54.6% (n=53) were Candida positive, and Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated species, accounting for 79% of all the species identified. Non-C. albicans Candida (NCAC) species recovered included Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Candida guilliermondii. There was a lack of association between the presence of C. albicans and NCAC species, and age, gender, or prostheses wearing in this population. In 17% of the cases (n=9), polymicrobial cultures, with two different Candida species, were identified. Conclusions This study shows a high Candida carriage rate among this population, thus pointing to the relevance of an accurate diagnostic approach in Candida species identification.Antecedentes: La capacidad que poseen las diferentes especies de Candida de colonizar las superficies, puede ser considerada como un factor de riesgo para la infección oral. Objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer la colonización oral por Candida en pacientes que asisten a una clinica dental en Braga, Portugal. Métodos: Un total de 97 pacientes fueron estudiados. Se colectaron muestras bucales con hisopo y fueron cultivadas directamente en CHROMagar Candida. Las levaduras seleccionadas se identificaron mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. Resultados: De las muestras analizadas 54.6% (n=53) fueron positivas para Candida. Candida albicans fue la especie más frecuentemente aislada, representado el 79% de todas las especies identificadas. Las especies de Candida no-Candida albicans (CNCA) aisladas fueron C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis y C. guilliermondii. En la población estudiada no se observó asociación entre la presencia de C. albicans y CNCA con la edad, el sexo o el uso de prótesis. En el 17% de los casos (n=9) se identificó colonización mixta con dos especies de Candida. Conclusiones: Este estudio muestra una alta incidencia de colonización por Candida en esta población; por lo tanto, se sugiere la necesidad de un diagnóstico preciso para la identificación de las especies de Candida.Margarida Martins was financially supported by a fellowship from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (Contract SFRH/BD/28222/2006). This research was supported by FCT through the Project PPCDT/BIO/61112/2004

Predictable phenotypic, but not karyotypic, evolution of populations with contrasting initial history

This study was financed by Portuguese National Funds through FCT - ‘Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia’ within the projects PTDC/BIA-BEC/098213/2008, PTDC/BIA-BIC/2165/2012 and cE3c Unit FCT funding UID/BIA/00329/2013. I.F. had a PhD grant (SFRH/BD/60734/2009), P.S. has a Post Doc grant (SFRH/BPD/86186/2012) and S.G.S. has a Post Doc grant (SFRH/BPD/108413/2015) from FCT. M.S. is funded by grant CGL2013-42432-P from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain) and grant 2014 SGR 1346 from Generalitat de Catalunya. The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available in the figshare repository, at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4797550.The relative impact of selection, chance and history will determine the predictability of evolution. There is a lack of empirical research on this subject, particularly in sexual organisms. Here we use experimental evolution to test the predictability of evolution. We analyse the real-time evolution of Drosophila subobscura populations derived from contrasting European latitudes placed in a novel laboratory environment. Each natural population was sampled twice within a three-year interval. We study evolutionary responses at both phenotypic (life-history, morphological and physiological traits) and karyotypic levels for around 30 generations of laboratory culture. Our results show (1) repeatable historical effects between years in the initial state, at both phenotypic and karyotypic levels; (2) predictable phenotypic evolution with general convergence except for body size; and (3) unpredictable karyotypic evolution. We conclude that the predictability of evolution is contingent on the trait and level of organization, highlighting the importance of studying multiple biological levels with respect to evolutionary patterns.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Go global or go home: comparing the regional vs. global engagement of Brazil and South Africa at the UN General Assembly

Brazil and South Africa have long been regarded as archetypical regional powers, commanding more resources than their neighbours, spearheading regional projects and pursuing high-profile global status. Yet, recent years have also evidenced how the engagement with their regions and acceptance as leading players is often ambiguous and incomplete. How does one ascertain that a regional power privileges either the regional or the global stage? Through an original dataset of Brazilian and South African output at the UN General Assembly between 1994 and 2013, we monitor sponsorship patterns and thematic preferences in order to verify whether these countries indulged their regional partners and topics. Our findings suggest that Brazil and South Africa favoured their immediate neighbourhoods but have gradually engaged their regions in different ways: while Brazilian emphasis on regional peers and themes declined over the years, South Africa developed an increasingly more regionalised UNGA agenda.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio