951 research outputs found
Non-Invasive measurer for methane and carbone dioxide emissions in bovine cattle through TRIZ
Greenhouse gases (GHG), mainly methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), can be
generated in agricultural activities, not only in waste but also in the process of breathing of
livestock. The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) is an innovative Russian
methodology that allows finding the solution to a problem raised. This paper presents the use of
two TRIZ tools to design a non-invasive prototype that detects CH4 and CO2 emitted by cattle in
real time. The tools were the matrix of technical contradictions and the nine-screen analysis with
which the parameter to be improved (A) was found and the best possible solution to design a
prototype that allows quantifying gases for animal welfare, Final Ideal Result (IFR) a wireless
module with a sensor system for each of the gases placed on the bovine head, which convert the
detected gas into an electrical signal to be sent wirelessly to a range of 1.5 km in free space at a
receiver for its visualization representing the parts per million (ppm) of CH4 and CO2 that the
bovine is generating during the measurement
Unveiling the Role of the Integrated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response in Leishmania Infection - Future Perspectives.
The integrated endoplasmic reticulum stress response (IERSR) is an evolutionarily conserved adaptive mechanism that ensures endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and cellular survival in the presence of stress including nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, and imbalance of Ca(+) homeostasis, toxins, and microbial infection. Three transmembrane proteins regulate integrated signaling pathways that comprise the IERSR, namely, IRE-1 that activates XBP-1, the pancreatic ER kinase (PERK) that phosphorylates the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 and transcription factor 6 (ATF6). The roles of IRE-1, PERK, and ATF4 in viral and some bacterial infections are well characterized. The role of IERSR in infections by intracellular parasites is still poorly understood, although one could anticipate that IERSR may play an important role on the host's cell response. Recently, our group reported the important aspects of XBP-1 activation in Leishmania amazonensis infection. It is, however, necessary to address the relevance of the other IERSR branches, together with the possible role of IERSR in infections by other Leishmania species, and furthermore, to pursue the possible implications in the pathogenesis and control of parasite replication in macrophages
Assessment of time limit at lowest speed corresponding to maximal oxygen consumption in the four competitive swimming strokes
Time limit at lowest speed of maximal oxygen consumption
(TLim-v O2max) was characterized in the 4 swimming strokes,
and related with O2max and anaerobic threshold (AnT). 23
elite swimmers performed an incremental protocol for v
O2max assessment. 48 hours later, Tlim-v O2max was
assessed. O2 was directly measured BxB (K4 b2, Cosmed,
Italy) and AnT was assessed individually (YSI 1500L Sport,
USA). Tlim-v O2max values were 238.8±39.0, 246.1±51.9,
277.6±85.6 and 331.4±82.7 s in crawl, backstroke, butterfly,
and breaststroke (no differences observed). No correlations
were found between Tlim-v O2max and O2max, and AnT.
However, inverse relationships were observed between Tlim-v
O2max and v O2max (r=-0.63, p<0.01) and vAnT (r=-0.52,
p=0.01), pointing out that the higher the velocities commonly
related to aerobic proficiency, the lower the TLim- v O2max
Emerging Role for the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 in Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.
Leishmania parasites utilize adaptive evasion mechanisms in infected macrophages to overcome host defenses and proliferate. We report here that the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling branch of the integrated endoplasmic reticulum stress response (IERSR) is activated by Leishmania and this pathway is important for Leishmania amazonensis infection. Knocking down PERK or ATF4 expression or inhibiting PERK kinase activity diminished L. amazonensis infection. Knocking down ATF4 decreased NRF2 expression and its nuclear translocation, reduced HO-1 expression and increased nitric oxide production. Meanwhile, the increased expression of ATF4 and HO-1 mRNAs were observed in lesions derived from patients infected with the prevalent related species L.(V.) braziliensis. Our data demonstrates that Leishmania parasites activate the PERK/eIF2α/ATF-4 pathway in cultured macrophages and infected human tissue and that this pathway is important for parasite survival and progression of the infection
Time limit at the minimum velocity of VO2max and intracyclic variation of the velocity of the centre of mass
The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship
between time limit at the minimum velocity that elicits maximal
oxygen consumption (TLim-vVO2max) and intra-cyclic variations
of the velocity of the centre of mass (dv) in the four
competitive swimming techniques. Twelve elite male swimmers
SWIMMING BIOENERGETICS
Rev Port Cien Desp 190 6(Supl.2) 185–197
swam their own best technique until exhaustion at their previously
determined v O2max to assess TLim-v O2max. The test
was videotaped in the sagittal plan and the APAS software was
used to evaluate the horizontal velocity of the centre of mass
(Vcm) and its intra-cyclic variation (dv) per swimming technique.
Results pointed out that the strokes that presented
higher intra-cyclic variations also presented larger values of
TLim. Intra-cyclic speed fluctuations (dv) decreased during the
TLim test in the four strokes studied, probably due to fatigue.
Key words: VO2, intra-cyclic velocity variations, time limit, centre
of mass.Authors want to express their gratitude to the Portuguese
National Team, and the Portuguese Swimming Federation, for
their cooperation
Simultaneous Excitation of Multiple-Input Multiple-Output CFD-Based Unsteady Aerodynamic Systems
A significant improvement to the development of CFD-based unsteady aerodynamic reduced-order models (ROMs) is presented. This improvement involves the simultaneous excitation of the structural modes of the CFD-based unsteady aerodynamic system that enables the computation of the unsteady aerodynamic state-space model using a single CFD execution, independent of the number of structural modes. Four different types of inputs are presented that can be used for the simultaneous excitation of the structural modes. Results are presented for a flexible, supersonic semi-span configuration using the CFL3Dv6.4 code
Stress response inside perturbed particle assemblies
The effect of structural disorder on the stress response inside three
dimensional particle assemblies is studied using computer simulations of
frictionless sphere packings. Upon applying a localised, perturbative force
within the packings, the resulting {\it Green's} function response is mapped
inside the different assemblies, thus providing an explicit view as to how the
imposed perturbation is transmitted through the packing. In weakly disordered
arrays, the resulting transmission of forces is of the double-peak variety, but
with peak widths scaling linearly with distance from the source of the
perturbation. This behaviour is consistent with an anisotropic elasticity
response profile. Increasing the disorder distorts the response function until
a single-peak response is obtained for fully disordered packings consistent
with an isotropic description.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure captions To appear in Granular Matte
Family involvement in eating disorder treatment among Latinas
Latinos are less likely to seek health care for eating disorders and more likely to drop out of treatment than members of other ethnic groups, highlighting existing challenges to engagement in traditional mental health care. This study explored the role of family in the treatment of adult Latinas with eating disorders through content analysis of family sessions adjunctive to cognitive behavioral therapy. This study yielded insight into the experiences of 10 Latinas with eating disorders (M age = 39.90 years) and 10 relatives (M age = 39.50) from the Promoviendo una Alimentación Saludable trial who were randomly selected to receive six family enhancement sessions. Data from 53 sessions were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach. Family intervention might serve as a valuable adjunct to conventional treatment by positively influencing social, family, and emotional support for Latinas with eating disorders
Sub-terahertz, microwaves and high energy emissions during the December 6, 2006 flare, at 18:40 UT
The presence of a solar burst spectral component with flux density increasing
with frequency in the sub-terahertz range, spectrally separated from the
well-known microwave spectral component, bring new possibilities to explore the
flaring physical processes, both observational and theoretical. The solar event
of 6 December 2006, starting at about 18:30 UT, exhibited a particularly
well-defined double spectral structure, with the sub-THz spectral component
detected at 212 and 405 GHz by SST and microwaves (1-18 GHz) observed by the
Owens Valley Solar Array (OVSA). Emissions obtained by instruments in
satellites are discussed with emphasis to ultra-violet (UV) obtained by the
Transition Region And Coronal Explorer (TRACE), soft X-rays from the
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and X- and gamma-rays
from the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). The sub-THz
impulsive component had its closer temporal counterpart only in the higher
energy X- and gamma-rays ranges. The spatial positions of the centers of
emission at 212 GHz for the first flux enhancement were clearly displaced by
more than one arc-minute from positions at the following phases. The observed
sub-THz fluxes and burst source plasma parameters were found difficult to be
reconciled to a purely thermal emission component. We discuss possible
mechanisms to explain the double spectral components at microwaves and in the
THz ranges.Comment: Accepted version for publication in Solar Physic
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