Research methodologies focused on urban planning and mathematical issues

This article aims to present an interdisciplinary approach about the research methodologies used at the civil engineering research field, in the domains of urban planning and mathematics. Actually, there are some similarities in between the research process features of urban planning and mathematics. In fact, these both scientific subjects follow analogous tasks in their research process, which have the same starting point with the definition of the research problem and the final phase, based on the proposed solution. It joins scholars from the department of civil engineering and architecture, experts in spatial analysis and scholars form the department of mathematics of the University of Beira Interior. Two case studies will be presented as examples of the application of these methodological approaches, both of them focused on the urban planning researches, associated with postgraduate teachings, one is related to a PhD thesis and the other one relates to a master degree dissertation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

El ensamble de invertebrados y la calidad del agua: indicadores taxonómicos y funcionales en arroyos pampeanos

The use of benthic invertebrates is considerate and recognized at present as one of the better methodological alternative to detect early modifications or contamination from diffuse origin. The objective of this work was to evaluate the biological quality of two regional pampean plain streams by means of taxonomic and functional indicators of the whole of invertebrates assemblages and to compare the utility of the different applied indicators. The selected streams belong to the Rio de La Plata basin, with different anthropogenic impact. Over a period of two years, the physicochemical parameters and the benthic invertebrates and those present in the vegetation, of these lotic systems were assessed in samplings sites located upstream and downstream. Taxonomic and functional feeding groups, of the invertebrate assemblages were analyzed. The estimated taxonomic indicators reflected seasonal differences and the valuation of the quality of the sites were different and variable depending on the parameter and the taxonomical level used. Even so, the density of the most abundant family, the abundance of Ephemeroptera-Trichoptera (ET), the ET/total and ET/Oligochaeta relations resulted useful to establish differences between sites and streams. The collectors appeared as the dominant functional feeding group in all the sites. No significant differences were observed in the composition of the functional feeding groups of the invertebrate assemblages from headwaters to the mouth of both streams. Then these indicators would not be efficient to evaluate the environmental quality of these systems.Fil: García, M. E.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología ; ArgentinaFil: Rodrigues Capitulo, Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología ; ArgentinaFil: Ferrari, L.. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentin

Cattle tick fever in the semiarid region of the Brazilian state of Paraiba

Descrevem-se 24 surtos de tristeza parasitária bovina no sertão paraibano, sendo 18 de anaplasmose por Anaplasma margimale, dois de babesiose por Babesia bigemina, dois por Babesia não identificada e dois por infecção mista de A. marginale e Babesia sp. Os surtos ocorreram entre agosto de 2007 a outubro de 2009, porém, com uma concentração dos surtos no final do período chuvoso e início do período seco de cada ano, sendo 22 em animais adultos e dois em bezerros de aproximadamente 11 meses. Dois surtos ocorreram em bovinos da raça Nelore, um em animais da raça Gir e os 21 restantes ocorreram em animais das raças Holandês, Pardo Suiço e mestiços das mesmas com zebuínos. Conclui-se que no sertão da Paraíba há áreas de instabilidade enzoótica, ocorrendo surtos de tristeza no final da época de chuvas, principalmente nas áreas de planaltos e serras da região da Borborema e em áreas úmidas como a Bacia do Rio do Peixe, Rio Piranhas e Rio Espinharas em que há a formação de microclimas favoráveis à sobrevivência do carrapato.Twenty four outbreaks of cattle tick fever are reported in the semiarid region of Paraiba known as Sertão. Eighteen outbreaks were caused by Anaplasma. marginale, two by Babesia bigemina, and two by mixed infection of A. marginale and Babesia sp. In other two outbreaks of babesiosis the species of Babesia was not identified. Outbreaks occurred from August 2007 to October 2009, however with a concentration of the outbreaks at the end of the rainy period and beginning of the dry period in each year. Twenty two outbreaks affected adult cattle and two affected calves approximately 11 months-old. Three outbreaks affected Bos taurus indicus cattle, of the Nelore and Gir breeds. In 21 outbreaks Holstein, Brown Swiss and crossbred of these breeds with Bos taurus indicus cattle were affected. It is concluded that in the sertão of Paraíba there are areas of enzootic instability for cattle tick fever occurring outbreaks at the end of the rainy season, mainly in hilly areas of the Borborema region, and in wet areas of some river basins, including Rio do Peixe, Rio Piranhas and Rio Espinharas

Actinomycosis Causing Recurrent Perianal Fistulae

Actinomycosis is a rare but easily curable infection that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of perianal fistulizing disease. We present the case of a 26-year-old woman with complex perianal fistulae, including trans-sphincteric and suprasphincteric fistulous tracts and a rectovaginal fistula, requiring multiple abscess drainages, seton placement, and antibiotic courses, with little improvement. After extensive investigation, Actinomyces spp. was identified in anal cytology. The patient underwent a 6-week course of intravenous penicillin followed by oral amoxicillin, with remarkable improvement. This case illustrates the importance of pursuing less common diagnoses in refractory complex perianal disease, such as actinomycosis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O/IR Polarimetry for the 2010 Decade (GAN): Science at the Edge, Sharp Tools for All

Science opportunities and recommendations concerning optical/infrared polarimetry for the upcoming decade in the field of Galactic science. Community-based White Paper to Astro2010 in response to the call for such papers.Comment: White Paper to the Galactic Neighborhood (GAN) Science Frontiers Panel of the Astro2010 Decadal Surve

Portuguese Sorraia horse dynamics study with innovative technology: stance and swing of the walk

Apresentação em painelSorraia horse is an endangered native primitive breed from Portugal, highly inbred with a small census of around 300 animals worldwide. The aim of the study was to present the difference between stance (St) and swing (Sw), when the limbs are moving on the ground or in the air, respectively, during stride duration. Results were obtained for the total, forelimbs and hindlimbs, left and right sides, and each limb separately. Using innovative technology (EquiMoves), six Sorraia stallions were studied for the variables St and Sw (complete stride duration) at medium Walk. The averages of the variables for a complete stride duration (1.16±0.10 s) were 0.70±0.08 s (St) and 0.46±0.02 (Sw), for the forelimbs, 0.72±0.09 s (St) and 0.44±0.03 (Sw), for hindlimbs 0.69±0.08 s (St) and 0.47±0.02 (Sw), for the left side of 0.71±0.09 s (St) and 0.45±0.03 (Sw), and for the right side 0.70±0.07 s (St) and 0.46±0.02 (Sw). The distribution by four limbs was, for left front 0.71±0.09 s (St) and 0.45±0.03 (Sw), right front 0.72±0.08 s (St) and 0.44±0.02 (Sw), left hind 0.69±0.08 s (St) and 0.47±0.02 (Sw) and right hind 0.68±0.06 s (St) and 0.48±0.01 (Sw). Differences between variables St and Sw were significant (p-v<0.05), indicating that, on average, stride duration of Sorraias stallions is distributed by 60.6% with the limb on the ground (St) and 39.4% with the limb in the air (Sw). On the other hand, the differences within the variables were not significant (p-v>0.05) for the forelimbs, hindlimbs, both sides and isolated limbs. The analysis of the medium Walk for variables St and Sw from Sorraia stallions, indicated that, for a complete stride duration, limbs spend more time on the ground and present identical distribution among all limbs. Sorraia horses are animals with a balanced and symmetrical distribution of the Walk. New studies, including trot and canter, will allow to better understand the distribution of the variables St and Sw for Sorraia horse dynamics and possible differences for the Walk.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

AVENS - A Novel Flying Ad Hoc Network Simulator with Automatic Code Generation for Unmanned Aircraft System

The wireless communication has played a significant impact on our daily lives introducing simplicity and making life more comfortable. \ As a result of faster technological advances in electronics and communications, the development of different types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has become possible. \ Recently, many efforts have been made to develop more efficient inter- and intra-vehicle communication protocols introducing new challenges, e. g. multiple-UAV communication and Flying Ad Hoc Networks (FANETs). \ However, most of the experiments using real prototypes or systems are not feasible due to the costs and risks involved. \ Thus, simulating network protocol behavior in FANET scenarios is increasingly required to evaluate the applicability of developed network protocols. \ Thereby, we have been developing AVENS, a hybrid aerial network simulation framework, which merges LARISSA Architectural Model, X-Plane Flight Simulator and OMNeT++ Discrete Event Simulator. \ In a proof-of-concept study, we highlighted its advantages. \ Using AVENS, we can advance in the state-of-the-art concerning performance evaluation of intelligent aerial vehicles and provide means to evaluate the development of protocols, codes and systems more accurately

Numerical optimization of a microchannel geometry for nanofluid flow and heat dissipation assessment

In this study, a numerical approach was carried out to analyze the effects of different geometries of microchannel heat sinks on the forced convective heat transfer in single-phase flow. The simulations were performed using the commercially available software COMSOLMultiphysics 5.6® (Burlington, MA, USA) and its results were compared with those obtained from experimental tests performed in microchannel heat sinks of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Distilled water was used as the working fluid under the laminar fluid flow regime, with a maximum Reynolds number of 293. Three sets of geometries were investigated: rectangular, triangular and circular. The different configurations were characterized based on the flow orientation, type of collector and number of parallel channels. The main results show that the rectangular shaped collector was the one that led to a greater uniformity in the distribution of the heat transfer in the microchannels. Similar results were also obtained for the circular shape. For the triangular geometry, however, a disturbance in the jet impingement was observed, leading to the least uniformity. The increase in the number of channels also enhanced the uniformity of the flow distribution and, consequently, improved the heat transfer performance, which must be considered to optimize new microchannel heat sink designs. The achieved optimized design for a heat sink, with microchannels for nanofluid flow and a higher heat dissipation rate, comprised a rectangular collector with eight microchannels and vertical placement of the inlet and outlet.This work has been funded by Portuguese national funds of FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) through base funding from the following research units: UIDB/00532/2020 (Transport Phenomena Research Center-CEFT), UIDB/04077/2020 (MEtRICs) and UIDP/04436/2020. The authors are also grateful for the funding of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia-FCT through the projectsLISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-030171/NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-030171 (PTDC/EMESIS/30171/2017), funded by COMPETE2020, NORTE2020, PORTUGAL2020, and FEDER. The authors also acknowledge FCT for partially financing the research under the framework of the project JICAM/0003/2017. Finally, I. Gonçalves acknowledges FCT for supporting her PhD fellowship, ref.: 2020.08646.B

Thermochemical and catalytic conversion technologies for the development of Brazilian biomass utilization

The social, economic, and environmental impacts of climate change have been shown to affect poorer populations throughout the world disproportionally, and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–2021 has only exacerbated the use of less sustainable energy, fuel, and chemical sources. The period of economic and social recovery following the pandemic presents an unprecedented opportunity to invest in biorefineries based on the pyrolysis of agricultural residues. These produce a plethora of sustainable resources while also contributing to the economic valorization of first-sector local economies. However, biomass-derived pyrolysis liquid is highly oxygenated, which hinders its long-term stability and usability. Catalytic hydrogenation is a proposed upgrading method to reduce this hindrance, while recent studies on the use of nickel and niobium as low-cost catalysts, both abundant in Brazil, reinforce the potential synergy between different economic sectors within the country. This review gathers state-of-the-art applications of these technologies with the intent to guide the scientific community and lawmakers alike on yet another alternative for energy and commodities production within an environmentally sustainable paradigm