Wearable textile elongation sensor

This work shows a developed wearable elongation sensor based on an optical fiber. The presented approach to sew a fiber optic into a lycra textile enables the modulation of light amplitude in respect to textile strain. This apparatus in combination with small-size instrumentation enables the development of a wearable textile garment capable of monitoring and acquiring strain data, and send it wirelessly to a base station. The light amplitude increases with the increment of textile strain. The output voltage remains stable over time for the resting and maximum textile strain position

Circularity micro-indicators applied to plastic parts: the materials perspective

The use of polymeric materials has increased exponentially in recent decades in all application areas. However, currently, most plastic products are designed and manufactured without careful consideration of their end-of-life management. As a result, the generated waste presents a large diversity of different polymers (often including harmful additives), which are discharged in landfills, posing problems for sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management, and draining valuable finite resources. Thus, it is urgent to change the plastic sector regarding the way products are conceived, and to promote, through strategies of the circular economy, the recovery of plastic materials to produce new products. To make this possible, there is a need to inform plastic manufacturers about circular economy concepts and provide knowledge and tools that allow them to measure the circularity of their products. In recent years, circularity micro-indicators have been proposed as a type of tool addressing this issue; however, they vary in scope, breadth, and the perspective they take on the overall life cycle of the product. Additionally, among the plethora of such circularity micro-indicators, the materials used in the product and how the material is handled at the end-of-life stage are only relevant in some cases. As such, this paper aims to identify circular micro-indicators that are relevant to plastic products and consider the origin of their polymeric materials (virgin, recycled, biodegradable, compostable, or derived from renewable sources) for evaluating product circularity. Within the scope of decision making, these circularity micro-indicators can help project development teams to determine if the selected materials contribute to overall product sustainability. In addition, we identify—from the materials perspective—some guidelines and good practices that help maximize product circularity and accelerate the implementation of the circular economy in the plastics sector

Normal range and lateral symmetry in the skin temperature profile of pregnant women

Body skin temperature is a useful parameter for diagnosing diseases and infrared thermography can, be a powerful tool in providing important information to detect body temperature changes in a noninvasive way. The aim of this work was to study the pattern of skin temperature during pregnancy, to establish skin temperature reference values and to find correlations between these and the pregnant population characteristics. Sixty-one healthy pregnant women (mean age 30.6 +/- 5.1 years) in the 8th-40th gestational week with normal pregnancies were examined in 31 regions of interest (ROI). The ROIs were defined all over the body in order to determine the most influenced by factors such as age or body mass index (BMI). The results obtained in this work highlight that in normal pregnant women the skin temperature is symmetrically distributed, with the symmetrical areas differing less than 0.5 degrees C, with a mean value of 0.25 +/- 0.23 degrees C. This study identified a significant negative correlation between the BMI and temperature. Age has been shown to have great influence on the skin temperature, with a significant increase of temperature observed with age. This work explores a novel medical application of infrared thermography and provides a characterization of thermal skin profile in human pregnancy for a large set of ROIs while also evaluating the effects of age and BMI.This work is funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/50025/2013. Thermal equipment provided through the REEQ/ 1033/CTM/ 2005 POCI 2010 program. Project "Do-IT", co-financed by the European Community Fund through COMPETE Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade. Hospital de Braga for authorizing the study and providing facilities for data collection. We also acknowledge the collaboration from the entire staff at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Hospital de Braga.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A wireless posture monitoring system for personalized home-based rehabilitation

We live in an aging society, an issue that will be exacerbated in the coming decades, due to low birth rates and increasing life expectancy. With the decline in physical and cognitive functions with age, it is of the utmost importance to maintain regular physical activity, in order to preserve an individual’s mobility, motor capabilities and coordination. Within this context, this paper describes the development of a wireless sensor network and its application in a human motion capture system based on wearable inertial and magnetic sensors. The goal is to enable, through continuous real-time monitoring, the creation of a personalized home-based rehabilitation system for the elderly population and/or injured people. Within this system, the user can benefit from an assisted mode, in which their movements can be compared to a reference motion model of the same movements, resulting in visual feedback alerts given by the application. This motion model can be created previously, in a ‘learning phase’, under supervision of a caregiver.Project “AAL4ALL”, co-financed by the European Community Fund FEDER through COMPETE – Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade (POFC). This work is funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the projects UID/CTM/50025/2013 and UID/EEA/04436/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Futebol, negócio e globalização: clubes brasileiros na nova era do multi-club ownership

Soccer has acquired new forms of organization in a period marked by the technical-scientific-informational milieu, in which companies become globalized. The appropriation of local soccer clubs by global companies and businessmen is one of such forms. Often, these businesses own more than one club, a process known as MCO (multi-club ownership). US-based private capital has considerably increased its interest in soccer worldwide and has channeled large investment into the sport. In Brazil, the sales of 90% of Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) Botafogo and of 70% of SAF Vasco for American investors in 2022 are major examples of such phenomenon. This study analyzes the interaction within those soccer clubs’ networks since the development of MCO, with a closer look at the new wave of US investments in soccer clubs in Brazil in the past few years. This article attempts to answer the question: Does this investment trend reinforce a subordinated insertion/introduction of clubs in an operational organization in networks? The present trend of US investment in soccer clubs in Brazil was perceived to deepen the phenomenon of MCO, enabling the subordination of local clubs to a centralized structure, especially since the implementation of SAFs.O futebol adquiriu novas formas de organização em um período marcado pelo meio técnico-científico-informacional, em que empresas se tornam globais. Dentre essas maneiras, está a apropriação de clubes de futebol locais por empresários e corporações globais, que recorrentemente se tornam proprietários de mais de um clube. Para designar a existência de diversas agremiações controladas pelo mesmo proprietário, utiliza-se a sigla MCO (multi-club ownership). O capital privado sediado nos Estados Unidos tem aumentado consideravelmente seu interesse no futebol e canalizado largos investimentos no esporte. No Brasil, a venda de 90% da Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) de Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas e 70% da SAF Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama para companhias norte-americanas em 2022 são os principais exemplos desse fenômeno. Este estudo analisa a interação em redes de clubes de futebol a partir do surgimento de MCO, com ênfase na nova onda de investimentos estadunidenses em clubes de futebol no Brasil. O artigo busca responder a seguinte questão: esta onda de investimento reforça a introdução subordinada dos clubes numa organização operacional em redes? Observou-se que a onda atual de investimentos dos EUA em clubes de futebol no Brasil ampliou o fenômeno de MCO, permitindo a subordinação de clubes locais a uma estrutura centralizada, especialmente a partir da implementação das SAFs

Nível de conhecimento e implementação da economia circular nas indústrias portuguesas de transformação de plásticos

[Excerto] Os plásticos são considerados um dos principais geradores de resíduos da atualidade, pois são projetados, em grande parte, para seguirem uma estratégia de economia linear (produção, uso e descarte). A dificuldade em gerir o seu fim de vida leva a que uma percentagem considerável seja depositada em aterro, causando um enorme impacto ambiental, o consumo de recursos e a perda do seu valor económico.Os autores deste estudo agradecem a todas as empresas intervenientes na elaboração do inquérito proposto e às entidades envolvidas na divulgação do inquérito pelas empresas, assim como o financiamento dos Projetos UIDB/05256/2020 e UIDP/05256/2020 e da bolsa UI/BD/150827/202

Linking mould filling and structural simulations

Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) is common standard in the development process within the automotive industry. For thermoplastic components, for example, the manufacturing process is commonly simulated with injection moulding simulation software and passive safety with explicit crash software. Currently both disciplines are only linked within the simulation of fibre reinforced thermoplastics to take into account the fibre orientation from injection moulding simulation within crash simulation due to the significant influence of the fibre orientation on mechanical part properties. This work proposes a methodology that allows consideration of moulding conditions on the mechanical behaviour of unreinforced injection moulded components by coupling injection moulding simulation (Moldflow) and crash simulation (LS-DYNA (R)/RADIOSS (R)). A newly developed dedicated computer application allows to directly consider results from injection simulation within crash simulations. The manufacturing boundary conditions that most influence the mechanical behaviour are combined within the thermomechanical indices (TMI) methodology, and mapped onto each finite element within the crash simulation. Mathematical functions have been used to correlate the TMI to important mechanical properties of the moulded polymer. A user defined material model can read those indices and translate them to local mechanical properties.This work is funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 program and National Funds through FCT under project UID/CTM/50025/2013, and grant SFRH/BD/51570/2011

A Clinical Decision Support System for Remote Monitoring of Cardiovascular Disease Patients: A Clinical Study Protocol

Funding: This work was partially supported by the Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechcare), Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal. The work of FV was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), CEECINST/00103/2018. The funder had no role in the clinical study protocol.Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17. 9 million lives each year. Cardiac rehabilitation is shown to reduce mortality and hospital readmissions, while improving physical fitness and quality of life. Despite the recommendations and proven benefits, acceptance and adherence remain low. Mobile health (mHealth) solutions may contribute to more personalized and tailored patient recommendations according to their specific needs. This study protocol aims to assess the effectiveness of a user-friendly, comprehensive Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) for remote patient monitoring of CVD patients, primarily on the reduction of recurrent cardiovascular events. Methods and Analysis: The study will follow a multicenter randomized controlled design involving two cardiology units in the Center Region of Portugal. Prospective CVD patients will be approached by the healthcare staff at each unit and checked for eligibility according to the predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. The CDSS will suggest a monitoring plan for the patient, will advise the mHealth tools (apps and wearables) adapted to patient needs, and will collect data. The clinical study will start in January 2023. Discussion: The success of the mHeart.4U intervention will be a step toward the use of technological interfaces as an integrating part of CR programs. Ethics and Dissemination: The study will undergo ethical revision by the Ethics Board of the two hospital units where the study will unfold. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov on 18th January 2022 with the number NCT05196802. The study findings will be published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and encounters and in a user-friendly manner to the society.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

PÉ DIABÉTICO: O PODER DIAGNÓSTICO DA RADIOGRAFIA CONVENCIONAL

Introdução: O pé diabético é uma complicação da Diabetes Mellitus (DM) responsável por 250 amputações em 2015 em Portugal1,2. É uma consequência da vasculopatia, imunopatia e neuropatia3,4, sendo esta última o mecanismo mais importante da Neuroartropatia de Charcot (NC)5. A radiografia convencional permite uma primeira abordagem imagiológica, identificando os “6 D’s”: Dense subchondral bones; Degeneration; Destruction; Deformity; Debris, Dislocation6,7. Deste modo, pretende-se relacionar os dados imagiológicos da radiografia simples do pé com a clínica e a fisiopatologia da entidade “Pé Diabético”, tendo como mote a descrição de um caso clínico. Caso clínico: Homem de 59 anos, com antecedentes de DM tipo 2 e amputação transmetatársica à direita recorreu ao Serviço de Urgência por dor, eritema e edema no pé e terço inferior da perna direita e úlcera plantar com exsudato purulento. Apresentava pulsos femorais e poplíteos. Pulsos distais ausentes. Foi internado para antibioterapia, descarga total, cuidados de penso e avaliação analítica, radiológica e multidisciplinar. Apesar do controlo da infeção associada foi impossível o realinhamento do pé e restituição das relações dos ossos pela grande destruição óssea. O doente foi submetido a amputação abaixo do joelho. Comentários: Na radiografia de perfil observou-se perda dos arcos plantares longitudinais medial e lateral e calcificação (encurtamento) do tendão de Aquiles (Figura 1, nº1), com aumento da pressão na face plantar que, associada à neuropatia sensitiva, contribuíram para a formação de úlcera, como observado neste caso8,9. A úlcera traduz-se neste exame do pé pela radio-lucência identificada na zona média plantar, patognomónica de Neuroartropatia de Charcot. (Figura 1, número 2)10. Verificou-se destruição óssea - fragmentos ósseos (Figura 1, nº3) com fratura da tuberosidade do calcâneo e colapso sub-astragalino (Figura 1, nº4). A localização desta fratura é das menos frequentemente observadas na Neuroartropatia de Charcot11. A neuropatia sensitiva permite submeter o pé a extremos de stress com consequentes fraturas indolores. A neuropatia autonómica, a abertura de “shunts” arteriovenosos e a hipervascularização óssea, acarretam osteopenia (Figura 1, nº5) e diminuição da resistência à fratura11,12. Observou-se edema (Figura 1, nº6) e enfisema subcutâneo (Figura 1, nº7), tradutor da presença de agentes microbiológicos anaeróbios, geralmente identificados em 90% das culturas13. Constatou-se calcificação da artéria tibial posterior (Figura 1, nº8), tipicamente uma mediocalcinose de Monckeberg, que está associada a elevada taxa de amputação e de mortalidade. Esta alteração vascular aumenta o grau de dificuldade técnica e compromete o prognóstico da revascularização11,14,15.  Conclusões: Apesar da grande variedade de técnicas imagiológicas, o custo-efetividade na deteção das principais alterações patológicas tornam a radiografia convencional a primeira linha de diagnóstico do pé diabético16