Some properties of two Nambu--Jona-Lasinio -type models with inputs from lattice QCD

We investigate the phase diagram of the so-called Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model at finite temperature and nonzero chemical potential. The calculations are performed in the light and strange quark sectors ($u$, $d$, $s$), which includes the 't Hooft instanton induced interaction term that breaks the axial symmetry, and the quarks are coupled to the (spatially constant) temporal background gauge field. On one hand, a special attention is payed to the critical end point (CEP). The strength of the flavor-mixing interaction alters the CEP location, since when it becomes weaker the CEP moves to low temperatures and can even disappear. On the other hand, we also explore the connection between QCD, a nonlocal Nambu--Jona-Lasinio type model and the Landau gauge gluon propagator. Possible links between the quenched gluon propagator and low energy hadronic phenomenology are investigated.Comment: Contribution to the International Meeting "Excited QCD", Peniche, Portugal, 06 - 12 May 201

Reprogramming practice: revising design thinking through digital fabrication

Questioning the importance and impact of design thinking methodologies in the architectural design studios is a backbone of architectural education in twenty first century 3D printing and digital manufacturing are disruptive technologies that are changing architects and designers daily lives. These trends require new skills, based on a deep understanding of digital continuum from design to production, from generation to fabrication. This continuity transcends the merely instrumental contributions of a person-machine relationship to praxis, has begun to evolve as a medium that supports a continuous logic of design thinking and making. Design thinking methodologies associated with digital fabrication emerged as a leading technological and design issue of digital research and design. As designers, we are witnessing a no frontier between computational design and digital fabrication. For this paper is taken into consideration the work of two architecture studios that share a unique background on new methodologies by embracing the digital technology in their own practice. Their work reflects on new design methodologies facing the expansion of digital technology in architectural practice. This paper discusses the possibility of new design thinking methods driven by digital fabrication.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The new clash of generation

Unlike in the sixties, today's clash of generations is not about creating (post-)materialistic values. It is about human species survival. The fear of decay (of the Empire through war) and the hope of revolution ( coming back a new to a starting configuration) are similar. Social State´s financial sustainability or the new generation of energy sources are partial problems. How to have justice for all, including the environment?, that´s a global problem. The main and also repressed question is about how climate change will impose new ways of living on us all.Political and cognitive alienation from the main human problems is pushing emotional responses in different directions. Alienation closes political systems from population and from it springs populist irrationality in politics, racist and sexist scapegoating, consumers street uprisings, etc. Considering the regulatory function of the law over technology, social exclusion, war, one can assess the way modern law focuses on intergeneration relationships and how a healthy environment has been dismissed as a human right. For this propose one will consider the ongoing legal attempts to criminalize ecocide.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

How digital fabrication can enable new methods in the architectural practice?

Design methods have always changed, considering that design thinking is bound to the representational medium. Thus, its scope can be expanded by the enlarged possibilities offered by the new media and methodologies. Today, the computational methods are a crucial medium for architectural design. Not only digital media is augmenting our design capacity in profound ways, but also digital fabrication is establishing itself as a core discipline for architecture. It has the power to link digital design information with physical production processes, thus opening the opportunity to materialize ideas, experiments and investigate physical or digital artifacts during the design process.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tratamento de Infeções Protésicas com Desbridamento e Preservação do Implante - Resultados da Aplicação Prospetiva de um Protocolo Pré-estabelecido

Objetivo: O tratamento de infeções protésicas é complexo e os resultados do desbridamento com preservação da prótese são frequentemente imprevisíveis. A nossa hipótese é que é possível oferecer uma boa probabilidade de sucesso desde que sejam cumpridas algumas regras simples para correta seleção e tratamento dos doentes. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar os resultados obtidos com a aplicação prospetiva desses pressupostos ao longo dos últimos anos na nossa instituição. Material e Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo clínico prospetivo que inclui todos os doentes com infeção protésica tratados desde Janeiro/2012 e com um seguimento mínimo de 12 meses após o fim do tratamento. Apenas foram candidatos ao desbridamento com preservação do implante doentes com prótese estável, sem sinais de descolamento, boa condição de partes moles e curta duração dos sintomas. O desbridamento cirúrgico foi realizado pelo mesmo cirurgião e incluiu sempre troca de partes móveis. Sempre que possível a antibioterapia incluiu fármacos com eficácia para bactérias no biofilme. Resultados: Foram estudados 24 doentes (15 joelhos e 9 ancas) com uma idade média de 65 anos. Um doente foi excluído da analise dos resultados por morte não relacionada. Registaram-se três casos de falência do tratamento o que resulta numa taxa de sucesso de 87% (20/23) com um seguimento médio de 30 meses após o término da antibioterapia. Conclusão: A aplicação de um protocolo pré-estabelecido de tratamento permite a obtenção de bons resultados no tratamento de infeções protésicas mesmo quando se opte pela preservação do implanteinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação de cultivares de aveia branca em Dourados, MS, no período de 2002 a 2004.

A aveia branca é uma importante espécie para produção de grãos e forragens no período de outono/inverno, mas é pouco cultivada em Mato Grosso do Sul. Identificar e indicar cultivares com boa adaptação às condições edafoclimáticas da Região Sul de Mato Grosso do Sul podem contribuir para a expansão da área semeada com este cereal.bitstream/item/38722/1/BP200631.pdfDocumento on-line

Avaliação de cultivares de triticale em Dourados, MS, no período de 2002 a 2004.

O triticale, híbrido natural entre o trigo e o centeio, é uma importante espécie para produção de grãos para consumo humano e animal, além de palha para a cobertura do solo, mas é pouco cultivado no período outono/inverno em Mato Grosso do Sul. Identificar e indicar cultivares com boa adaptação às condições edafoclimáticas da Região Sul de Mato Grosso do Sul podem contribuir para a Expansão da área semeada com este cereal.bitstream/item/38724/1/BP200632.pdfDocumento on-line

Thrombolysis in Patients Aged over 80 Years Is Equally Effective and Safe

BACKGROUND: Despite stroke's high prevalence in the elderly, intravenous thrombolysis is licensed in Europe only for patients younger than 80 years old. We aimed to compare the functional outcomes and complication rates in patients older versus younger than 80 years old treated with intravenous thrombolysis. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of patients who received intravenous thrombolysis in a stroke unit between January 1, 2009, and June 30, 2012, was conducted. Variables were compared between 2 subgroups (≤80 and >80 years). RESULTS: Overall, 512 patients underwent intravenous thrombolysis, of which 13.1% were over 80 years. The mean age was 65.4 years in the younger subgroup and 82.9 years in the older subgroup. Prior independence rates did not differ between the subgroups. Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke was higher in the older subgroup (P = .004 and .026). Only 3% of the elderly with atrial fibrillation were taking oral anticoagulants. Symptoms-to-needle time was lower in the older subgroup (P = .048). Stroke severity was higher in patients over 80 years (P = .026). There was significant improvement in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 7 days after intravenous thrombolysis (P < .001) in both subgroups. The proportion of patients with 3 months' favorable outcome and independence, hemorrhagic transformation, and mortality rates were similar in both subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients' benefits and outcomes from intravenous thrombolysis treatment were identical to the younger subgroup without excess hemorrhagic transformation or mortality. These results favor the use of intravenous thrombolysis in patients over 80 years.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio