The effect of polydispersity on the ordering transition of adsorbed self-assembled rigid rods

Extensive Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to investigate the nature of the ordering transition of a model of adsorbed self-assembled rigid rods on the bonds of a square lattice [Tavares et. al., Phys. Rev E 79, 021505 (2009)]. The polydisperse rods undergo a continuous ordering transition that is found to be in the two-dimensional Ising universality class, as in models where the rods are monodisperse. This finding is in sharp contrast with the recent claim that equilibrium polydispersity changes the nature of the phase transition in this class of models [L`opez et. al., Phys. Rev E 80, 040105(R)(2009)].Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure

The multidisciplinary role of cultural management: A look for communication as management tool and key-activity

The purpose of this article is to explore the communication as tool and key-activity, within the scope of multidisciplinary character of cultural management and cultural equipment’s multimensionality. It's a hybrid study - conceptual and empirical - and exploratory, based on literature review and illustrated with descriptive analysis from data collected by 573 questionnaires regarding a specific event. Was followed a mixed methodology – qualitative and quantitative - and an interpretative paradigm. Were pulled out 3 conclusions: 1) The first one is the awareness need by the cultural management for an adoption of multidisciplinary posture, lined up by the multidimensional nature of cultural equipment’s and the organizational environment, in a purpose to match public expectations; 2) The second one is the need of comprehend the communication as tool and key-activity to engender culture value in both organizational environments: inside and outside; 3) The third, due questionnaire application, resides in the mass-media advantage over digitals, for public fund. This article: a) provides inputs for an interterritorial plan creation; b) contribute for the discussion about ideologic construction of professional category, instrands of thought building about its functions and concerns; c) increase communication importance as key-activity; d) highlight the power of media in cultural events; e) contributes to sign the need for a multidisciplinary training for cultural managers. The article value resides in reinforce the discussion for a new vision about the action ray of the cultural manager, supported in the connection between the equipment’s dimensions and the multidisciplinary posture.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact evaluation of the Vila Viçosa small hydroelectric power plant (Portugal) on the water quality and on the dynamics of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities of the Ardena river

Over a two-year period a study of the Vila Viçosa small hydroelectric development, located on the Ardena river (hydrographical basin of the Douro river, Portugal), was conducted, with the objective of evaluating the impact of its operation on the water quality and on the dynamics of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. A morphological, hydrologic and physico-chemical characterization of the system was done, an analysis of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities looking into their structure and dynamics, as well as ecological and physiological characteristics. With the physical and chemical data, a study of its spatial and temporal variation was performed. With the data related to the macroinvertebrate communities, an analysis of the spatial variation of some indexes and metrics and of the (non) similarity between the samples collected were done, bearing in mind the composition of the communities, through different techniques of multivariate analysis. After the analysis of the data, it is possible to say that the Ardena River is a lothic system, with good water quality, in which the working of the small hydroelectric power plant causes alterations on the macroinvertebrate community, due to the alteration of the "natural" hydrologic regime. The impact on the macroinvertebrate communities is lower upstream of the plant, where the flow is minimal throughout the whole year leading to a change in the structure of the community. Downstream of the plant, where the flow is extremely variable, there is an impoverishment of the communities, leading to the displacement of substrate and organisms.Durante dos años se ha estudiado la minicentral hidroeléctrica de Vila Viçosa en el río Ardena (cuenca del Duero, Portugal), con el objetivo de evaluar el impacto de su funcionamiento en la calidad del agua y en la dinámica de la comunidad de macroinvertebrados bentónicos, haciendo la caracterización del sistema desde el punto de vista morfológico, hidrológico y físico-químico y estudiando las comunidades de macroinvertebrados bentónicos, atendiendo a aspectos relacionados con su estructura, dinámica y características ecológicas y fisiológicas. Con los datos relativos a los parámetros físico-químicos se ha hecho el estudio de la variación espacio temporal; y con los datos relativos a la comunidad de macroinvertebrados, se ha hecho el estudio de la variación espacial de algunos índices y medidas y de la (dis)similaridad entre las muestras recogidas, teniendo en cuenta su composición, a través de diferentes técnicas de análisis multivariante. Después de analizados los datos, se puede decir que el río Ardena es un sistema lotico con agua de buena calidad y que el funcionamiento de la minicentral hidroeléctrica provoca modificaciones en la comunidad de macroinvertebrados bentónicos, resultado de las alteraciones de caudales. El impacto en las comunidades de macroinvertebrados es menor aguas arriba de las minicentrales, donde el caudal es mínimo todo el año provocando una modificación en la estructura de las comunidades. Aguas abajo de las minicentrales, donde el caudal es muy variable, hay un empobrecimiento de las comunidades, provocando el desplazamiento del substrato y de los organismos

Murine infection with bioluminescent Leishmania infantum axenic amastigotes applied to drug discovery

Leishmaniasis is an important vector-borne neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites. Current anti-Leishmania chemotherapy is unsatisfactory, justifying the continued search for alternative treatment options. Herein, we demonstrate that luciferase-expressing Leishmania infantum axenic amastigotes, unlike promastigotes, are highly infectious to BALB/c mice and thus generate a robust bioluminescent signal in target organs, such as the liver and the spleen, as early as two weeks after infection. Treatment with the reference drugs amphotericin B and miltefosine was effective at reducing parasite burdens. This model allows the assessment of treatment efficacy using whole-mouse bioluminescence imaging without the need to wait several weeks for spleen infections to be detectable by this non-invasive method. In conclusion, we propose the use of this model in an initial approach to evaluate the treatment efficacy of promising chemical entities without having to sacrifice large numbers of animals or to wait several days for a readout.We thank Carla Oliveira from i3S for the support with the statistical analysis. Part of the content of this manuscript has been released as a pre-print in BioRxiv (https://doi.org/10.1101/326355). This work was financed by FEDER - Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020 - Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior in the framework of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031013 (PTDC/SAU-PAR/31013/2017). This work also received funds from: Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000012 “Structured program on bioengineered therapies for infectious diseases and tissue regeneration” of Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020) under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and through the Research Unit No. 4293; Individual funding from FCT through SFRH/BD/123734/2016 (to DC), SFRH/BD/121252/2016 (to PC) and CEECIND/02362/2017 (to JT)

Alkali activation of recycled ceramic aggregates from construction and demolition wastes

Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly more significant worldwide, thus creating the urgent need for new sustainable alternatives in the industrial sector. The present study assesses the fundamental properties of ceramic residue (CR) originated by demolition operations, specifically, the floor and wall tiles and sanitaryware furniture, for further incorporation in the construction sector, namely in alkali-activated bind- ers, mixed with other better-known precursors - fly ash (FA) and ladle furnace slag (LFS). Different CR/FA and CR/LFS weight ratios were considered and analyzed by mechanical behavior and microstructural analysis, which included uniaxial compression strength (UCS) tests, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Energy Dispersive Analyser (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Results obtained showed that the combination of CR and FA or LFS, activated with sodium silicate, produced UCS values higher than 20 MPa and 59 MPa, respectively, after 90 days curing.Activación alcalina de áridos cerámicos reciclados provenientes de residuos de construcción y demolición. Globalmente, las preocupaciones ambientales son cada vez más significativas, creando así la necesidad urgente de nuevas alternativas sostenibles en el sector industrial. El presente estudio evalúa las propiedades fundamentales de los residuos cerámicos (CR) provenientes de demolición, para ser reincorporados en el sector de la construcción, principalmente como ligantes activados alcalinamente, mezclados con otros precursores más conocidos: cenizas volantes (FA) y escorias de horno de cuchara (LFS). Se consideraron diferentes relaciones de peso CR/FA y CR/LFS, se analizó el comportamiento mecánico y se realizó un análisis microestructural, incluyendo pruebas de resistencia a la compresión (UCS), microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM), análisis por energías dispersivas de rayos X (EDX), Rayos-X (XRD) y espectroscopía infrarroja por transformada de Fourier (FTIR). Los resultados mostraron que, a 90 días de curado, la combinación de CR y FA o LFS activada con silicato de sodio produjo valores de UCS superiores a 20 MPa y 59 MPa, respectivamenteFoundation for Science and Technology - FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC), within the framework of the R&D Project “JUSTREST - Development of Alkali Binders for Geotechnical Applications Made Exclusively from Industrial Waste”, reference PTDC/ECM-GEO/0637/2014. The author would also like to acknowledge the support of the Secretary of Higher Education, Figure 8. FTIR spectra of starting materials, the ladle furnace slag (LFS); ceramic residue (MCR) – milled for 32 hours; fly ash (FA), and 75CR-25FA/SH or SS mixtures (M1 and M2) and 75CR-25LFS/SH or SS mixtures (M3 and M4), after 90 days curing time. Science, Technology and Innovation, SENESCYT (Spanish acronym) from Ecuador, reference No. CZ03-000052-201

Cellular for the skies: exploiting mobile network infrastructure for low altitude air-to-ground communications

In this article we presented an overview of UASs for civil applications focusing on the communication component. We identified several available communication technologies for UAVs, their constraints, and also protocols available for implementing the remote operation of the vehicles. As an attractive solution for the A2G communication link for UAVs, we discussed the potential of mobile networks with their fully deployed infrastructures, wide radio coverage, high throughputs, reduced latencies, and large availability of radio modems. We described how a UAS can be implemented in a flexible and modular approach that allows it to rely on one or several wireless (UAVs and GCSs) and wired (GCSs) technologies. Despite the advantages of a system based on cellular and IP networks, there are problems that must be dealt with, namely, possible loss of radio coverage, presence of NAT, delay, jitter, and packet loss. Following the proposed architecture, we implemented an UAS and conducted some flight tests, which showed that the operation of the vehicles in semi-automatic or fully-automatic modes is feasible. It is expected that future enhancements for 4G networks and evolution to 5G will benefit UAV communications even further with lower latencies, higher throughput, and higher reliability.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Absent abdominal muscles, nephro-urologic abnormalities, and severe neurologic damage in an infant with 3 chromosomal duplications: A novel syndrome?

Absent abdominal muscles, cryptorchidism, and hydroureteronephrosis are known to occur in the prune belly syndrome (PBS). We present a male with absent abdominal muscles, severe neurologic damage, with global developmental delay, hydroureteronephrosis, and cryptorchidism. The patient also had arthrogryposis multiplex congenital, low set ears, short neck, micrognathia, bilateral total ptosis, and bilateral clubfeet. Genetic testing (CGH array) revealed 3 novel duplications of unknown clinical significance at 7q11.23, 9q22.32 (PTCH 1 gene), and 12q21.32 (CEP 290 gene).Conclusion: We feel that our patient represents a novel entity, henceforth not described in the literature