Eficiência energética nas indústrias de fabrico de queijo da Beira Interior.

Eficiência energética nas indústrias de fabrico de queijo da Beira Interior.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sistema modular para superfícies ajardinadas-produzido com geopolímeros e aglomerado negro de cortiça

O aglomerado negro de cortiça expandida foi fornecido pela ISOCOR/SOFALCA.A integração de superfícies ajardinadas em edifícios, como coberturas e paredes verdes, pode constituir uma estratégia passiva de poupança de energia, entre outros benefícios, como se discute neste trabalho. Em primeiro lugar é apresentada uma síntese dos principais benefícios da integração das superfícies ajardinadas em edifícios. Em seguida, são analisadas as principais características das coberturas e paredes verdes. Por fim, é apresentada uma descrição detalhada da concepção do sistema modular GEOGREEN e as suas características inovadoras relevantes.Fundação Portuguesa para a Ciência e Tecnologia, FCT

In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assays Of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles In Epithelial And Dermal Cells

In recent years, the interest in nanostructured systems to drug delivery has increased because they offer several advantages over conventional dosage forms. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN) have been highlighted among these systems because they have advantages such as high physical stability, protection against drug degradation and ease of scale-up and manufacturing, without using organic solvent. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of SLN, by in vitro cytotoxicity assays, for dermal drug delivery. SLN of three different lipids were prepared by hot high pressure homogenization and the cytotoxicity was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test in mouse 3T3 fibroblasts and human HaCaT keratinocytes. SLN showed no cytotoxic potential suggesting a great potential for dermal application.3041Mishra, B., Patel, B.B., Tiwari, S., (2010) Nanomed.-Nanotechnol. Biol. Med., 6, p. 9Mehnert, W., Mäder, K., (2001) Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev., 47, p. 165Pardeike, J., Hommoss, A., Müller, R.H., (2009) Int. J. Pharm., 366, p. 170Lewinski, N., Colvin, V., Drezek, R., (2008) Small, 4, p. 26Schöler, N., Hahn, H., Müller, R.H., Liesenfeld, O., (2002) Int. J. Pharm., 231, p. 167Müller, R.H., Maassen, S., Schwarz, C., Mehnert, W., (1997) J. Control. Release, 47, p. 261Shöler, N., Hahn, H., Müller, R.H., Liesenfeld, O., (2002) Int. J. Pharm., 231, p. 167Weyenberg, W., Filev, P., Plas, D.V., Vandervoort, J., Smet, K.D., Sollie, P., Ludwig, A., (2007) Int. J. Pharm., 337, p. 291Kristl, J., Teskac, K., Milek, M., Rascan, I.M., (2008) Toxicol. Appl.Pharmacol., 232, p. 218Mosmann, T., (1983) J. Immunol. Methods, 65, p. 55Marcato, P.D., Caverzan, J., Rossi-Bergmann, B., Pinto, E.F., MacHado, D., Silva, R.A., Justos, G.Z., Durán, N., (2011) J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol

Virtual Coronary Intervention: A Treatment Planning Tool Based Upon the Angiogram

Objectives: This study sought to assess the ability of a novel virtual coronary intervention (VCI) tool based on invasive angiography to predict the patient's physiological response to stenting. Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with improved clinical and economic outcomes compared with angiographic guidance alone. Virtual (v)FFR can be calculated based upon a 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the coronary anatomy from the angiogram, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. This technology can be used to perform virtual stenting, with a predicted post-PCI FFR, and the prospect of optimized treatment planning. Methods: Patients undergoing elective PCI had pressure-wire-based FFR measurements pre- and post-PCI. A 3D reconstruction of the diseased artery was generated from the angiogram and imported into the VIRTUheart workflow, without the need for any invasive physiological measurements. VCI was performed using a radius correction tool replicating the dimensions of the stent deployed during PCI. Virtual FFR (vFFR) was calculated pre- and post-VCI, using CFD analysis. vFFR pre- and post-VCI were compared with measured (m)FFR pre- and post-PCI, respectively. Results: Fifty-four patients and 59 vessels underwent PCI. The mFFR and vFFR pre-PCI were 0.66 ± 0.14 and 0.68 ± 0.13, respectively. Pre-PCI vFFR deviated from mFFR by ±0.05 (mean Δ = -0.02; SD = 0.07). The mean mFFR and vFFR post-PCI/VCI were 0.90 ± 0.05 and 0.92 ± 0.05, respectively. Post-VCI vFFR deviated from post-PCI mFFR by ±0.02 (mean Δ = -0.01; SD = 0.03). Mean CFD processing time was 95 s per case. Conclusions: The authors have developed a novel VCI tool, based upon the angiogram, that predicts the physiological response to stenting with a high degree of accuracy

The livestock roles in the wellbeing of rural communities of Timor-Leste

The livestock species play very important economic and socio-cultural roles for the wellbeing of rural households, such as food supply, source of income, asset saving, source of employment, soil fertility, livelihoods, transport, agricultural traction, agricultural diversification and sustainable agricultural production. The aim of this work was to identify and characterize the different roles that livestock and livestock species play in rural communities of Timor-Leste, highlighting the importance of animal production for the wellbeing and rural development, and relate the functions performed by livestock production with economic, social and cultural attributes of the communities. The data used in this study were collected in 2011 through a questionnaire survey in three rural communities in the district of Bobonaro, namely in a mountain area, an irrigation plain and a coastal zone, and were complemented with secondary data. Livestock production in Timor-Leste is predominantly familiar being chickens, pigs, goats, cattle, horses, buffaloes and sheep the main species. Beyond the economic function, each livestock species also performs social and cultural functions

Global persistence exponent of the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model

The global persistence exponent $\theta_g$ is calculated for the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model following a quench to the critical point from both disordered states and such with small initial magnetizations. Estimates are obtained for the nonequilibrium critical dynamics on the critical line and at the tricritical point. Ising-like universality is observed along the critical line and a different value $\theta_g =1.080(4)$ is found at the tricritical point.Comment: 7 pages with 3 figure

High Salinity Tolerance of Aedes to Breed in Brackish Waters Around the Negombo Estuary

In the midst of dengue control programs, a high occurrence of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever cases around the Negombo estuary is reported at the Centre for Clinical Management of Dengue & Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, Negombo, during April/May and Sept/Oct 2014. Although preimaginal development of Aedes-dengue vector mosquito is known to exist in fresh water environment for many years, few recent findings have revealed the possibility of Aedes breeding and immature stage development in brackish water conditions. In Negombo estuary-being a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water, we investigated the possible Aedes mosquito breeding in brackish water in and around the lagoon. Natural breeding sources were examined, and an ovitrap based study was also carried out to investigate the possible breeding, immature stage development, hatching and adult emergence in brackish water environment. The study revealed the oviposition preference (0-22 ppt), egg hatching (0-6 ppt in field conditions and 0-6 ppt in laboratory conditions for Ae.aegypti; 0-14 ppt in field conditions and 0-18 ppt in laboratory conditions for Ae. albopictus) and preimaginal development (0-6 ppt in field conditions and 0-6 ppt in laboratory conditions for Ae.aegypti; 0-14 ppt in field conditions and 0-14 ppt in laboratory conditions for Ae.albopictus) of Aedes mosquitoes. Further, the study reported the natural prevalence of preimaginal stages of Ae.albopictus in brackish water collections (2-14 ppt) around the estuary. The study confirmed the brackish water breeding of Aedes mosquitoes around the Negombo estuary. Higher salinity tolerance, compared to brackish water collections of the Northern coast, Sri Lanka was revealed. Negombo, being a fishing village and having a high population density, the study identifies the potential risk of dengue transmission in the area by providing breeding grounds for vector mosquitoes and possibly explains the high occurrence of dengue incidence around the lagoon. Further, the study suggests incorporating larvivorus fish and removing trapped receptacles in the marshy environments to intensify the control programs.Keywords: Salinity tolerance, Aedes, Negombo lagoo