Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis of Mocoffee’s Single-Serve Coffee Capsule System

The aim of this work was to apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to Mocoffee’s single-serve coffee capsule system in order to predict the hydrodynamics of water inside the extraction chamber, as well as to determine the impact of certain model parameters and design features on the fluid flow and, consequently, on the efficiency of the extraction. The geometries of the extraction chamber of the coffee machine were built using the software Solidworks 2016, while the computational mesh and 3D numeric calculations were done using the software Ansys Fluent 16.0. The experimental data used to validate the CFD model was obtained through a set of extractions of different coffee blends, all of them performed in a custom made machine that replicated the very same extraction process as seen in a Mocoffee patented espresso machine (Bossa). Different turbulence models and near-wall treatments were tested to capture the significant features of the fluid flow, such as mixing and the formation of eddies in the more unstable regions of the domain. The CFD results and measured data from the experiments were compared, with a reasonable agreement found with the experimental data for pressure and mass flow rate, but only for a coffee bed resistance that was higher than its predicted theoretical value

Bioavailability of heavy metals and their effects on the midgut cells of a phytopaghous insect inhabiting volcanic environments

© 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Organisms living in volcanic environments are chronically exposed to metals, either as particles or associated with gases, from volcanic emissions, being therefore potential sentinels of the effects derived from such exposure. Concentrations of Ca, Cd, Cu, Mg, Mn, Pb, Rb, and Zn were measured in soil, grass (Lolium perenne), and larvae of Pseudaletia uninpuncta captured in sites exposed and non-exposed to volcanic activity. The midgut epithelial cell morphometry and apoptosis of P. unipuncta larvae were also analyzed. Larvae from the site with volcanic activity showed higher levels of Cu, Mn, Rb and Zn. Metals such as Pb, Cd and Mg levels of P. unipuncta larvae were similar between sites. Apoptosis was higher in cells from digestive epithelium of larvae exposed to volcanic activity. Soils and grass not exposed to volcanic activity showed higher levels for most of the analyzed elements with the exception of Rb. Such result when compared with metal levels of larvae may reveal that bioavailability of elements differs between sites. The higher levels of Cd, Zn and Mg in soils and grass from the site with no volcanic activity are probably related to the severe artificial fertilization in the studied pastures. Such result, when compared with metal levels of larvae, suggest that the bioavailability of metals differs between sites.CIRN, Centro de Investigação de Recursos Naturais, Ponta Delgada

Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle

Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli (CTCL) is a rare, self-limited and probably under diagnosed cause of acute neck pain in which the radiologist can make a definitive diagnosis. It commonly mimics potentially serious conditions affecting the retropharyngeal space. We report a case of a 63-year old male presenting in the emergency department with acute throat pain. Imaging findings were diagnostic of CTCL. A brief review of the literature is provided

Implementação dum sistema integrado de gestão de resíduos no Campus da UA

Mestrado em Gestão do Ambiental, Materiais e Valorização de ResíduosUm dos problemas considerado mundialmente como urgente e fundamental, associado à gestão ambiental é o da gestão dos resíduos. O padrão de desenvolvimento actual traduz-se na exploração intensa dos recursos existentes e na produção excessiva de resíduos. Os números são impressionantes e fazem da gestão de resíduos um tema de topo nas agendas ambientais. A sociedade e, em particular as Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES), devem encarar o problema, responder de forma activa e assumir-se como um exemplo de progresso no caminho da sustentabilidade. Com o estudo do caso do campus da Universidade de Aveiro (UA), pretendese determinar em que medida a implementação de um Sistema de Gestão de Resíduos (SGR) numa IES pode contribuir para a melhoria do seu desempenho, nas vertentes ambiental, económica e social. Esta dissertação pretende ainda fornecer orientações para IES que pretendam gerir os resíduos gerados nos seus campi. O Projecto GeReSUA II apurou informações, através de várias entrevistas, relativamente aos meios alocados para a gestão de resíduos, à tipologia produzida, ao conhecimento e à sensibilização da comunidade universitária para a temática. Após análise dos resultados da quantificação de produção de resíduos sólidos urbanos e outras tipologias, bem como do inventário aos resíduos produzidos nos vários laboratórios do campus, o GeReSUA II adianta nesta dissertação algumas soluções de encaminhamento mais sustentáveis que as actuais e apresenta um programa alicerçado na sustentabilidade ambiental, económica, social e de cidadania, com a gestão e monitorização centralizadas da produção de resíduos, conseguidas através da criação dum Parque Central de Resíduos e da constituição duma equipa de gestão que garanta a sua prossecução. Pode concluir-se que um sistema como este poderá trazer grandes vantagens para o funcionamento sustentável do campus, nomeadamente: i) a centralização da informação sobre a produção de resíduos do campus, crucial para o cumprimento legal, de acordo com o disposto no Decreto-Lei n.º 178/2006, que estabelece a obrigatoriedade de reporte anual no SIRAPA, através da concentração da gestão de resíduos da UA numa equipa de gestão do Parque; ii) a prestação de auxílio às Unidades na dissolução de dúvidas no relativo ao encaminhamento final dos resíduos produzidos; iii) negociação de novos contratos globais e avaliação da sua renovação; iv) aproveitamento do know-how interno nas suas diversas especialidades em prol da implementação dum sistema de gestão.One of the world’s most urgent and fundamental problems associated with environmental management is the waste management. The current pattern of development is the intense exploitation of existing resources and the excessive waste production. The numbers are impressive and make the waste management one of the top issues of the environmental agendas. Society, and in particular the Higher Education Institutions (HEI), must face the problem and address it in an active way, standing as an example of development in the path of sustainability. With the analysis of a case study, the University of Aveiro campus, we want to determine in what way the implementation of a Waste Management System (WMS) in a HEI can contribute to improve the environmental, economical and social performance of the institution. This paper also aims at supplying orientation to other HEI that might want to manage the wastes generated on their campus. The GeReSUA II Project gathered information through several interviews, regarding the available means for waste management, the produced typology, the knowledge and the awareness of the university community on this subject. After analyzing the results of the quantifying of production of municipal and other solid waste, as well as inventorying the waste produced in the several laboratories on campus, GeReSUA II introduces in this paper some more sustainable follow-up solutions than the existing ones and presents a program based on environmental, economic, social and citizenship sustainability, by using central management and monitoring of waste production, through the creation of a Central Waste Park and the assembling of a management team that can guarantee its execution. We can conclude that a system like this one can bring big benefits for the sustainable running of the campus, namely: i) Centralizing information on the campus waste production, essential for the enforcement of the provisions in Decree-law 178/2006, that states the obligation to present an annual report to SIRAPA, through the concentration of UA’s waste management in a management team for the Park; ii) Providing assistance to the Units in clarifying doubts regarding the final routing of the waste produced; iii) Negotiating new global contracts and assessing their renewal; iv) Using the several skills of the internal know-how to implement a management system

Indicadores de Saúde Oral em Adolescentes

Os indicadores da saúde oral permitem mensurar o estado de saúde e higiene da boca. O presente, estudo de natureza descritiva e cariz transversal, foi realizado numa amostra constituída por 189 adolescentes com idades compreendidas entre os 11 e 17 anos, com uma média de idades de 13 anos (Dp=1.17), do concelho de Sátão, distrito de Viseu. A pesquisa teve como finalidade avaliar o Índice de Dentes Cariados, Perdidos e Obturados (CPOD), o Índice de Placa Bacteriana Simplificado e caracterizar as práticas de higiene oral dos adolescentes. Para o efeito, a avaliação dos indicadores de saúde oral foi efetuada por observação clínica. Em face dos resultados inferiu-se que os adolescentes apresentam saúde oral precária, com 34,9% de dentes cariados, a maioria apresenta placa bacteriana reveladora de deficientes práticas de higiene oral.Os resultados reforçam que o planeamento das intervenções de educação para a saúde em adolescentes devem considerar os valores dos indicadores de saúde oral.The oral health indicators allow measuring health status and oral hygiene. This study is of descriptive and cross-sectional nature. It was conducted on a sample composed of 189 adolescents aged between 11 and 17 years old, with an average age of 13 years old (SD = 1.17), from Sátão, district of Viseu. The research aimed to evaluate the index decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT), the Plaque Index Simplified and characterize Index of plaque and the oral hygiene practices of adolescents. The assessment of oral health indicators was made by clinical observation. From the results it was concluded that adolescents have poor oral health, with 34.9% of decayed teeth and most of the adolescents present plaque, revealing deficient oral hygiene practices. The results emphasize that the planning of the interventions of health education in adolescents should consider the values of the indicators of oral health

O alistamento eleitoral juvenil: reflexões sobre comportamento político e comportamento eleitoral da juventude no Rio Grande do Sul/Brasil

This article analyzes the electoral enrollment of the youth from Rio Grande do Sul between the years 2000 and 2012. Employing the theoretical approach of political culture, we utilize the findings about behavior, attendance and political participation of youth in Brazil and in South America to discuss local reality. We use a quantitative approach. The data analyzed were obtained by the Regional Electoral Court of Rio Grande do Sul, or by the Superior Electoral Court, and, by the Economics and Statistics Foundation. We also utilize secondary sources from surveys as the one from IBOPE/2013 and from IBASE/2008.Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar o alistamento eleitoral da juventude gaúcha nos anos 2000-2012. Através da abordagem teórica de cultura política, utilizamos os achados sobre comportamento, comparecimento e participação política da juventude no Brasil e na América Latina para discutir a realidade local. O método utilizado é o quantitativo; analisando dados obtidos junto ao Tribunal Regional Eleitoral do Rio Grande do Sul, do Tribunal Superior Eleitoral-TSE, da Fundação de Economia e Estatística do Rio Grande do Sul; além de fontes secundárias de surveys como do IBOPE/2013 e do IBASE/2008