Otimização topológica baseada na tensão de estruturas com gradiente de funcionalidade

Na prática comum de engenharia, o Homem acaba sempre por ter de se preocupar com o controlo das tensões para evitar que o material falhe. As formulações tradicionais baseadas no controlo do volume ou da compliance resultam em designs ideais de um ponto de vista da rigidez. Contudo, os designs orientados para serem altamente resistentes desempenham, cada vez mais, um papel crucial em engenharia. O foco deste trabalho é a otimização topológica multimaterial baseada na tensão, que não está suficientemente coberta na literatura. Mais especificamente, a resolução do problema de minimização do máximo da tensão de von Mises ao nível macroestrutural, através de uma lei de interpolação adequada, onde se investiga o desempenho dos materiais com gradiente de funcionalidade (FGMs) na mitigação de tensões. Estes são obtidos como uma extensa vari- ação suave das propriedades do material à conta de variar as frações volúmicas de dois mate- riais sólidos isotrópicos ao longo do domínio de projeto. Para além disso, é utilizado um mé- todo baseado na variável densidade, em conjunto com outras técnicas e análises bem estabe- lecidas e fundamentadas, para resolver as dificuldades conhecidas que envolvem controlar a tensão nos problemas de otimização. Neste trabalho são revisitados três exemplos clássicos de teste, placa com furo sujeita a carregamento hidrostático, placa com furo sujeita a corte puro e MBB-Beam. Primeiramente, são aplicadas as formulações de minimização da compliance e do pico de tensão a estruturas de material único, as quais mostram que a solução mais rígida e mais resistente são coinciden- tes. Por fim, estendendo a formulação baseada na tensão aos materiais com gradiente de fun- cionalidade, são obtidos níveis de tensão significativamente mais reduzidos nestas soluções em comparação com as soluções de um único material. As primeiras aproximam-se de fully stressed designs, ótimos na mitigação de tensões.In common engineering practice, there is always a concern regarding the stress control as it prevents material failure. The well-known compliance-based formulations result in stiff- ness-oriented optimal designs. However, strength-oriented designs are crucial in engineering practice. The present work addresses multi-material stress-based topology optimization, not well covered in the literature. More specifically, it aims to minimize the von Mises stress peak at the macrostructural level, through an appropriate interpolation law, where the performance of functionally graded materials (FGMs) in stress mitigation is investigated. These are ob- tained as an extensive smooth variation of material properties on account of varying compo- sition’s volume fractions of two isotropic solids throughout the design domain. Furthermore, one uses a density-based method, combined with other well-established techniques, to over- come the stress control difficulties in optimization problems. Three benchmarks problems are revisited here, plate with a hole under hydrostatic load, plate with a hole under shear load and MBB-Beam. Firstly, solving both the compliance and stress-based formulations in a single-material setting, one obtains the same design, i.e., the stiffest and strongest designs coincide. Ultimately, extending the stress-based formulation to graded materials, lower stress peaks are achieved in these solutions when compared to the single-material ones. The FGM solutions nearly attain fully stressed designs, optimal for stress mitigation

Performance das empresas da indústria farmacêutica nas redes sociais : análise do facebook

Mestrado em MarketingO rápido crescimento das redes sociais, impactou diferentes setores de atividade, incluindo o setor farmacêutico. As empresas deste setor estão pressionadas para responder às necessidades, não só dos clientes diretos, mas de todos os seus stakeholders, que se alteraram drasticamente nos últimos anos. Atendendo às alterações sofridas recentemente pela indústria farmacêutica (IF), com uma regulação mais apertada, menos delegados de Informação médica, menor disponibilidade por parte dos médicos para receber visitas, crescente necessidade dos doentes serem melhores informados sobre as suas patologias e surgimento de novas alternativas terapêuticas, a utilização das redes sociais, pode assumir um papel relevante para as EF interagirem com os seus stakeholders. Esta investigação tem como objetivo avaliar a utilização do Facebook pelas EF que se dedicam à comercialização de medicamentos sujeitos a receita médica e avaliar a relação entre o perfil das companhias e a sua performance no Facebook. Foi desenvolvida uma metodologia de investigação e um modelo concetual que permitiu avaliar a presença e o desempenho das 50 empresas farmacêuticas com maiores receitas e investimentos em investigação e desenvolvimento (I&D) a nível mundial. Foi efetuada uma análise quantitativa que permitiu avaliar a interatividade e o envolvimento de cada companhia com os seus seguidores no Facebook. Os resultados desta investigação permitiram constatar que a utilização do Facebook não é uma prática adoptada pela maioria das empresas farmacêuticas. Adicionalmente verificou-se que não existe relação entre o envolvimento e interatividade no Facebook, e o perfil da companhia (vendas / investimento em I&D / tipo de medicamentos comercializados). A presente investigação efetua uma análise atualizada e global do mercado farmacêutico relativamente à utilização do Facebook. Define um modelo e uma metodologia que poderá ser utilizada em investigações futuras, assim como, deteta novas áreas de investigação sobre esta temática.The fast growth of social media, had an impact on different sectors of activity, including the pharmaceutical industry. Companies in this sector are pushed to meet the needs of direct customers and all its stakeholders. However, these needs have changed dramatically in recent years. Recently, the pharmaceutical industry have undergone major changes, such as tighter regulation, reduced number of sales representatives and physicians willingness to receive calls, growing need of patients to be better informed about their diseases and emergence of new alternatives therapies. As a result, social media could play a relevant role for pharmaceutical companies to closely interact with their stakeholders. This work aims to evaluate the use of Facebook by the pharmaceutical companies focused in the marketing of products subject to medical prescription and also to evaluate the possible relationship between the profile of the companies and their performance on Facebook. In order to achieve the proposed aims, a methodology of research and a conceptual model to evaluate the presence and performance of the 50 pharmaceutical companies with higher revenues and investments in research and development (R&D) at a global level, was developed. A quantitative analysis has also been performed which allowed to evaluate interactivity and engagement of each company with their followers on Facebook. The results of this study showed that the use of Facebook is not a common practice among the majority of pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, it was observed no relationship between interactivity and engagement on Facebook, and the company's profile (sales / R&D / type medicines marketed). This research presents an updated and comprehensive analysis of the pharmaceutical market regarding the use of Facebook. Here, a model and methodology are reported, which may contribute to further investigate the use of social media by the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, new areas of research on this topic were uncovered and highlighted

Lobbies, interest groups and their intervention in public policy: regulation and supervision through the american system study

Os grupos de interesse são o objeto imediato do presente artigo, em que se propõe obter um conhecimento mais aprofundado, tendo em conta que do estudo da ação dos grupos de interesse sabe-se que em democracia por detrás das decisões coletivas existem jogos de conflitos de interesse, que resultam em equilíbrios da escolha pública através do sistema político, e que em muitos casos redundam em corrupção. Os modelos de prevenção e de controlo têm variado entre a institucionalização nos Estados Unidos da América e o modelo europeu de recusa e criminalização da atividade do lobby. O presente artigo busca ainda apresentar o funcionamento do sistema dos Estados Unidos da América, baseado no Lobbying Disclosure Act de 1995, no Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act de 2006 e no Honest Leadership and Open Government Act de 2007, como um modelo de regulamentação para a Europa e o Brasil.Interest groups are the immediate object of this article, in which it proposes to obtain a deeper knowledge, taking into account that the study of the action of interest groups it is known that in democracy behind collective decisions there are games of conflicts of interest, that result in the public choice balances through the political system, and that in many cases redound to corruption. The models for the prevention and control have varied between the institutionalization in the United States of America and the European model of refusal and criminalization of lobby activity. This article seeks also to submit the functioning of the system of the United States of America, based on Lobbying Disclosure Act de 1995, no Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act de 2006 e no Honest Leadership and Open Government Act de 2007, as a regulatory model for Europe and Brazil.Depto. de Derecho Mercantil, Financiero y TributarioFac. de DerechoTRUEpu

Inflammation is associated with the presence and severity of chronic coronary syndrome through soluble CD40 ligand

This study is part of the PhD thesis program of one of the authors (TPdS), supervised (MMC) and co-supervised (PN) by other two, conducted in NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. TP acknowledges the support of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal (Project UID/BIO/04565/ 2020), and Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa 2020 (Project N. 007317). The authors are grateful to Joana Castro, PhD, from Medinres - Medical Information and Research, for her advice in the statistical analysis.Introduction: Inflammation contributes to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, although the underlying inflammatory pathways are not entirely known. Specifically, the role of the proinflammatory soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) on the expression of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is not completely understood. We evaluated whether sCD40L expression is associated with the presence of CCS and with the clinical and anatomical severity of CCS. Methods: We prospectively recruited 94 participants, assigned to two groups matched by age and sex, without coronary artery disease (n=26) and with CCS (n=68). Clinical, laboratory and anatomical data were prospectively collected, and serum levels of sCD40L were measured. Results: In patients with CCS, classic cardiovascular risk factors were more prevalent, and the sCD40L levels, leukocyte and neutrophil counts, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, but not the C-reactive protein levels, were significantly higher than those in controls. sCD40L was independently associated with the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease in multivariate analysis. Regarding CCS severity, sCD40L levels showed a significant stepwise increase with increasing angina severity (ANOVA P=0.001). In addition, sCD40L was independently associated with the anatomical severity of coronary artery disease, as assessed by the Gensini score. Among patients with CCS, those with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (n=23) had lower sCD40L levels than patients waiting for revascularization (n=45) [4.3 (2.1) ng/mL vs. 6.8 (3.5) ng/mL, P=0.001]. Conclusions: The expression of the proinflammatory sCD40L was associated with the presence of CCS and reflected the clinical and anatomical severity of CCS. In addition, we describe for the first time the association between prior CABG and reduced sCD40L levels in patients with CCS.publishersversionpublishe

The proinflammatory soluble CD40 ligand is associated with the systemic extent of stable atherosclerosis

Funding: T.P. has received research support from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal [Project UID/BIO/04565/2020], and Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa 2020 [Project N. 007317].Background and objectives: Polyvascular atherosclerosis is frequent and associated with a high cardiovascular risk, although the mechanisms regulating the atherosclerosis extent to single or multiple arterial territories are still poorly understood. Inflammation regulates atherogenesis and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is an inflammatory mediator associated with the presence of single-territorial atherosclerosis. We assessed whether the sCD40L expression is associated with the atherosclerosis extent to single or multiple arterial territories and with the atherosclerosis severity in different territories. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 94 participants with no atherosclerosis (controls, n = 26); isolated coronary atherosclerosis (group 1, n = 20); coronary and lower extremity (LE) atherosclerosis (group 2, n = 18); coronary and carotid atherosclerosis (group 3, n = 12); and coronary, LE, and carotid atherosclerosis (group 4, n = 18). Serum sCD40L levels were quantified. Results: The sCD40L levels (ng/mL, mean (standard deviation)) were 4.0 (1.5), 5.6 (2.6), 7.2 (4.2), 5.9 (3.7), and 5.1 (2.4) in controls and groups 1 to 4, respectively (ANOVA p = 0.012). In nonrevascularized patients, the sCD40L levels were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 and were correlated with the number of LE diseased segments. Prior LE bypass surgery was associated with lower sCD40L levels. Coexistence of coronary and LE atherosclerosis was independently associated with the sCD40L levels. Conclusions: The sCD40L levels were increased in stable atherosclerosis, particularly in polyvascular coronary and LE atherosclerosis. The number of LE diseased segments and prior LE revascularization were associated with sCD40L expression. To our knowledge, these are novel data, which provide insights into the mechanisms underlying multi-territorial atherosclerosis expression. sCD40L may be a promising noninvasive tool for refining the stratification of the systemic atherosclerotic burden.publishersversionpublishe

Obesidade no 1º ciclo : desenho e implementação de um programa de intervenção num estudo transversal

A obesidade é, nos dias de hoje, considerada uma doença epidémica sendo que nas crianças e jovens, é uma agravante, na medida em que, o seu crescimento e desenvolvimento será negativamente influenciado. Segundo WHO (2012) a obesidade mais do que duplicou desde 1980, sendo que em 2008, 1,4 biliões de pessoas acima de 20 anos têm excesso de peso, e destas, 200 milhões de homens e 300 milhões de mulheres são obesas. Em 2010 mais de 40 milhões de crianças menores que cinco anos têm excesso de peso. O objetivo do presente estudo é aplicar e verificar se um programa de intervenção de atividade física em crianças contribui para combater o sedentarismo e a obesidade. A amostra é constituída por crianças com idades compreendidas entre os 8 e 10 anos, que frequentam o 1º ciclo de duas escolas do concelho de Braga. Fazem parte desta amostra 200 crianças de ambos os sexos. O estudo baseia-se na aplicação de um programa de intervenção de atividade física estruturada e com o aconselhamento aos encarregados de educação sobre hábitos alimentares saudáveis. Este programa será aplicado ao grupo experimental, sendo que o segundo (grupo controlo) não será intervencionado. Pretende-se avaliar antes e depois da intervenção, a atividade física com aplicação de um questionário e a determinação da aptidão física com aplicação do FitnessGram. Pretendemos com este estudo, demonstrar a importância da atividade física estruturada na prevenção da obesidade, considerando o papel fulcral que a escola deve desempenhar e promover nesta epidemia. Neste contexto, professor de educação física, sendo um agente interveniente na formação dos alunos, deve ter um papel relevante nas estratégias e programas que incidam nesta problemática.CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, UM (UI 317 da FCT

Association between mir-146a and tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnf-α) in stable coronary artery disease

Background and Objectives: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is proatherogenic and associated with the risk of acute ischemic events, although the mechanisms that regulate TNF-α expression in stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) are not fully understood. We investigated whether metabolic, inflammatory, and epigenetic (microRNA (miRNA)) markers are associated with TNF-α expression in SCAD. Materials and Methods: Patients with SCAD were prospectively recruited and their metabolic and inflammatory profiles were assessed. TNF-α levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relative expression of six circulating miRNAs associated with the regulation of inflammation and/or atherosclerosis was determined. Results: Of the 24 included patients with the mean age of 65 (9) years, 88% were male, and 54% were diabetic. The TNF-α levels were (median (interquartile range)) 1.0 (0.7–1.1) pg/mL. The percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin (r = 0.418, p = 0.042), serum triglyceride levels (r = 0.429, p = 0.037), and C-reactive protein levels (r = 0.407, p = 0.048) were positively correlated with TNF-α levels. Of the candidate miRNAs, miR-146a expression levels were negatively correlated with TNF-α levels (as indicated by r = 0.500, p = 0.035 for correlation between delta cycle threshold (∆Ct) miR-146a and TNF-α levels). In multivariate analysis, serum triglyceride levels and miR-146a expression levels were independently associated with TNF-α levels. miR-146 expression levels were not associated with metabolic or other inflammatory parameters and were negatively correlated with the number of coronary vessels with obstructive disease (as indicated by r = 0.556, p = 0.017 for correlation between ∆Ct miR-146a and number of diseased vessels). Conclusions: miR-146a expression levels were negatively correlated with TNF-α levels in patients with SCAD, irrespective of other metabolic or inflammatory markers, and with the severity of coronary artery disease. The results add to the knowledge on the role of miR-146a in TNF-α-based inflammation in SCAD and support future research on the potential therapeutic use of miR-146a in such a clinical scenario.publishersversionpublishe

Circulating miRNAs are associated with the systemic extent of atherosclerosis : novel observations for miR-27b and miR-146

Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).The mechanisms that regulate the systemic extent of atherosclerosis are not fully understood. We investigated whether the expression of circulating miRNAs is associated with the extent of stable atherosclerosis to a single territory or multiple territories (polyvascular) and with the severity of atherosclerosis in each territory. Ninety-four participants were prospectively recruited and divided into five age- and sex-matched groups: presenting no atherosclerosis, isolated coronary atherosclerosis, coronary and lower extremity atherosclerosis, coronary and carotid atherosclerosis, and atherosclerosis of the coronary, lower extremity, and carotid territories. The expression of six circulating miRNAs with distinct biological roles was assessed. The expression of miR-27b and miR-146 differed across groups (p < 0.05), showing a decrease in the presence of atherosclerosis, particularly in the three territories. miR-27b and miR-146 expression decreased in association with a higher severity of coronary, lower extremity, and carotid atherosclerosis. Polyvascular atherosclerosis involving the three territories was independently associated with a decreased miR-27b and miR-146 expression. Both miRNAs presented an area under the curve of ≥0.75 for predicting polyvascular atherosclerosis involving the three territories. To conclude, miR-27b and miR-146 were associated with the presence of severe polyvascular atherosclerosis and with the atherosclerosis severity in each territory. Both are potential biomarkers of severe systemic atherosclerosis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cigarette smoking, miR-27b downregulation, and peripheral artery disease : insights into the mechanisms of smoking toxicity

Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for the development of peripheral artery disease (PAD), although the proatherosclerotic mediators of cigarette smoking are not entirely known. We explored whether circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are dysregulated in cigarette smokers and associated with the presence of PAD. Ninety-four participants were recruited, including 58 individuals without and 36 with PAD, 51 never smokers, 28 prior smokers, and 15 active smokers. The relative expression of six circulating miRNAs with distinct biological roles (miR-21, miR-27b, miR-29a, miR-126, miR-146, and miR-218) was assessed. Cigarette smoking was associated with the presence of PAD in multivariate analysis. Active smokers, but not prior smokers, presented miR-27b downregulation and higher leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts; miR-27b expression levels were independently associated with active smoking. Considering the metabolic and/or inflammatory abnormalities induced by cigarette smoking, miR-27b was independently associated with the presence of PAD and downregulated in patients with more extensive PAD. In conclusion, the atheroprotective miR-27b was downregulated in active smokers, but not in prior smokers, and miR-27b expression was independently associated with the presence of PAD. These unreported data suggest that the proatherogenic properties of cigarette smoking are mediated by a downregulation of miR-27b, which may be attenuated by smoking cessation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Arbustus unedo essence: morphological and genetic characterization of the strawberry tree of Castelo de Paiva

O medronheiro é um arbusto da região mediterrânica que pode ser encontrada por todo o país. Ao contrário do que verifica na região sul do país, no concelho de Castelo de Paiva é atribuída uma reduzida importância económica a esta espécie. Com o intuito de preservar e potenciar a produção desta espécie e contribuir para a dinamização da economia do concelho, procedeu-se à caracterização morfológica e genética de uma amostra da população de medronheiros de Castelo de Paiva. A caracterização morfológica e genética foi realizada para um total de 10 genótipos. Para tal recolheram-se 70 folhas aleatoriamente em cada árvore. Em 40 folhas mediu-se o comprimento, largura, comprimento do pedúnculo, peso fresco, peso seco e determinou-se a área foliar. Dos caracteres morfológicos analisados, aqueles que se revelaram mais úteis na distinção dos vários genótipos foram: comprimento do pedúnculo, peso fresco e peso seco. As restantes 30 folhas foram utilizadas para a caracterização genética. Esta caracterização foi realizada recorrendo a um marcador de DNA, ISSR. Os 5 primeiros exemplaresutilizados na técnica de ISSR demonstraram-se polimórficos. Os resultados da caracterização genética sugerem que a variabilidade genética na população é média a alta.The strawberry tree is a shrub native in the Mediterranean region and it can be found throughout Portugal. Unlike the case in the southern region of the country, in Castelo de Paiva a minor economic importance is given to this species. In order to preserve, to enhance the production of this species and to contribute to the boosting of the economy of the region, we proceeded to the characterization of a small sample population of this fruit tree of Castelo de Paiva in what concerns to its morphology and genetics. The morphological and genetic characterization was performed for a total of 10 genotypes. For this, 70 leaves were randomly collected from each tree. For 40 leaves, it was measured the length, the width, the peduncle length, the wet weight, the dry weight and determined the leaf area. Of the morphological characteristics analyzed, the ones that proved most useful in distinguishing the various genotypes were: the length peduncle, the wet weight and the dry weight. The remaining 30 leaves were used in the genetic characterization. This characterization was performed using a DNA marker, the ISSR. The 5 primers used in the ISSR technique proved to be polymorphic. The results from the genetic characterization suggest that variability in population genetics is medium to high