Bubble transport by electro-magnetophoretic forces at anode bottom of aluminium cells

Electrically conducting and nonconducting particles and bubbles experience additional forcing in a liquid which carries electric current. These so called electro-magnetophoretic forces are well known in metallurgical applications, like metal purification in vacuum-arc remelting, electro-slag processes, impurity removal or concentration change in special castings. However, the effect of electro-magnetophoretic forces has never been considered for aluminium cells where the gas bubbles evolving in the liquid electrolyte are surrounded by an electric current and significant magnetic fields. We present models to estimate the effect of electric current flow in the vicinity of the bubbles and the additional pressure distribution resulting from the magnetic forces in the surrounding liquid electrolyte. According to the estimates, this force becomes important for bubbles exceeding 2 mm in size, and could be sufficient to overcome the typical drag force associated with electrolyte flow thereby opposing motion of the bubble along the base of the anode when it is inclined at a slight angle. The effect could explain certain features of the anode effect onset. Mathematical models and numerical results are presented and a further implementation in the general MHD code for the aluminium cell design is discussed

How the metabolic phenotype in adulthood is affected by long-lasting immunological trajectories since adolescence

A close relationship between immune and metabolic systems has been perceived in the recent past. We aimed to assess whether the immunological trajectories of circulating white blood cells (WBC) started in adolescence, affects the metabolic phenotype in adulthood. We used data from 1183 participants of the population-based EPITeen cohort, evaluated at 13, 17, 21, 24 and 27 years of age. The Immunological trajectories from 13 to 27 years old were identified by mixed-effects models, being their association with metabolic features at 27 years old measured by logistic regression. The Higher Inflammatory Activation trajectory (HIA trajectory) had the highest percentage of individuals with metabolic syndrome, while Lowest Levels of WBC trajectory (LLWBC trajectory) showed the lowest percentage. Participants with HIA trajectory had significantly higher triglycerides, waist circumference, serum uric acid and BMI. After adjustment for sex and sports practice and hs-CRP, the odds of having one or more metabolic features in adulthood was significantly lower in LLWBC trajectory. Individuals with immunological trajectories of WBC linked with a pattern of higher immune activation showed a less favorable metabolic profile, while those with the lowest levels of WBC were less likely to have metabolic risk factors in adulthood. © 2022, The Author(s).This study was financed by national funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portuguese public agency that supports science, technology and innovation, in all scientific domains, under responsibility of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education), under the Project UIDB/04750/2020 and under the scientific Project PTDC/DTP-EPI/6506/2014 and the doctoral studentship PD/BD/149264/2019 (VC)

Immunological Trajectories of White Blood Cells from Adolescence to Adulthood: Description and Determinants

Background: The immune system gradually matures early in life in the face of internal and external stimuli. Whether the immune responses are lasting and stable during the course of life is still unclear. Methods: As part of the EPITeen cohort, 1183 adolescents were prospectively evaluated at the ages of 13, 17, 21, 24 and 27. Sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical data were collected by self- and face-to-face-administered questionnaires, along with a physical examination comprising anthropometric measurements and blood sample collections. Mixed-effects models were used to identify individual trajectories of white blood cells (WBC) and finite Gaussian mixture models were used to identify the clusters of individual trajectories. Results: Participants were allocated into six clusters based on the individual trajectories of WBC distribution. Higher Inflammatory Activation Cluster (11.4%) had the highest total WBC count and neutrophils percentage, as well as the lowest percentage of lymphocytes. These participants had significantly higher odds of being overweight [OR = 2.44, 95%CI:1.51-3.92]. Lowest Levels of WBC Cluster (24.1%) had the lowest total WBC count, being characterized by a higher participation on sports [OR = 1.54, 95%CI:1.12-2.13]. Highest Proportion of Eosinophils Cluster (20.1%) had the highest eosinophils percentage and the highest likelihood of having been diagnosed with a chronic disease [OR = 2.11, 95%CI:1.43-3.13], namely "asthma or allergies" [OR = 14.0 (1.73, 112.2]. Lowest Proportion of Eosinophils Cluster (29.1%) had the lowest percentage of eosinophils and basophils, as well as the highest lymphocyte proportion. Participants in the Undefined Cluster (13.8%) showed the highest percentage of monocytes and basophils and were also characterized by significant lower odds of having parents with 7-9 years of schooling [OR = 0.56, (0.32, 0.99]. Conclusions: In this study we identified distinct immunological trajectories of WBC from adolescence to adulthood that were associated with social, clinical and behavioral determinants. These results suggest that these immunological trajectories are defined early in life, being dependent on the exposures.This study was funded by FEDER through the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization and by national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education) (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016829), under Unidade de Investigação em Epidemiologia—Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (EPIUnit) (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006862; Ref. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UID/DTP/04750/2013/PT); and the individual PhD Grant to VC (PD/BD/149264/2019), co-funded by the FCT and the POPH/FSE Program

Variability in Galactomannan detection by platelia Aspergillus EIA™ according to the Aspergillus species

Here we investigate the extent to which different Aspergillus species release galactomannan (GM) in vitro. Marked variability was observed in GM reactivity between and within Aspergillus species, with A. terreus strains showing the highest GM indexes. The in vivo significance of these findings remains to be determined.O estudo objetivou investigar a liberação in vitro de galactomanana (GM) em distintas espécies patogênicas de fungos do gênero Aspergillus. Grande variabilidade foi detectada tanto intra quanto inter espécies, sendo as cepas da espécie A. terreus relacionadas aos maiores índices de GM detectados. O significado in vivo destes achados permanece em aberto, porém merece investigação

Histoplasmose pulmonar aguda e primeiro isolamento do Histoplasma capsulatum do solo do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

A case of acute pulmonary histoplasmosis, where the clinical histoiy and epidemiological data led to the identification of H. capsulatum natural source, is described. Specimens of spleen and liver, obtained after intraperitonial inoculation in mice, grew H. capsulatum in culture from the soil of rural area of General Câmara, by the first time in Rio Grande do Sul.Apresenta-se um caso de histoplasmose pulmonar aguda, onde a história clinica orientada levou a Identificação da fonte natural do Histoplasma capsulatum. O fungo foi obtido em cultivo a partir de fragmentos de baço e fígado de ratos inoculados intraperitonealmente com solo da zona rural de General Câmara, pela primeira vez no Rio Grande do Sul

Leiomioma da Uretra Feminina - Revisão da Literatura a Propósito de Caso Clínico

Oleiomioma da uretra é uma patologia rara, estando descritos cerca de uma centena de casos na literatura. São tumores benignos, constituídos por músculo liso e surgem mais frequentemente na idade fértil.Otratamento é cirúrgico com excisão da massa, existindo contudo possibilidade de recidiva local. Apresenta-seumcaso clínico de leiomioma da uretra e realizou-se revisão da literatura

'Strawberry Festival': nova cultivar de morangueiro recomendada para o Rio Grande do Sul.

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Qualidade pós-colheita de Physalis sob temperatura ambiente e refrigeração.

A physalis (Physalis peruviana) é um pequeno fruto cujo cultivo vem se expandindo no Brasil. No entanto, informações a respeito do seu armazenamento ainda são escassas. Por isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade de physalis durante o armazenamento, sob temperaturas ambiente e refrigerada. A colheita foi realizada quando o cálice dos frutos apresentava coloração amarelo-esverdeada, sendo os frutos submetidos aos seguintes tratamentos: 1- armazenamento à temperatura de 20°C (± 0,5°C) e 2- armazenamento à temperatura de 4°C (± 0,5°C). Foram avaliados os teores de SS, AT, SS/AT, o pH, a firmeza, a cor e a perda de massa dos frutos, a cada dois dias, durante oito dias. Foi possível observar que o emprego da refrigeração promoveu a manutenção da firmeza, auxiliando também na prevenção da perda de massa fresca, do fruto e do cálice. O teor de sólidos solúveis (SS) reduziu-se significativamente, independentemente da temperatura de armazenamento dos frutos. Frutos armazenados sob refrigeração apresentaram teores superiores de acidez titulável (AT) e, consequentemente, menor relação SS/AT. Os resultados, obtidos neste estudo, permitiram concluir que as modificações que ocorrem em parâmetros considerados importantes para a qualidade de physalis , como pH, AT, SS/AT, firmeza e cor, durante o período de armazenamento de frutos, podem ser minimizados com o uso da refrigeração (4 °C)

'Earlibrite': nova cultivar de morangueiro recomendada para o Rio Grande do Sul.

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