Reliability analysis of I-section steel columns designed according to new Brazilian building codes

This paper presents an evaluation of the safety of I-section steel columns designed according to the new revision of the Brazilian code for design of steel buildings (NBR8800) and to the code for loads and safety of structures (NBR8681). The safety evaluation is based on structural reliability analysis of columns designed to comply with these codes, and on advanced (FE-based) analysis of actual column resistance. The effects of geometrical imperfections and residual stresses in column resistance are taken into account. The uncertainty in yield stress, elasticity modulus, geometrical imperfections and dead and live loads are considered in the reliability evaluation. Reliability indexes are obtained for several column configurations. These indexes reflect the safety of the columns designed according to the two building codes. Reliability indexes are compared with target reliability indexes used in calibration of the ANSI code and with indexes proposed in the new EUROCODE.(CNPq) Brazilian Council for Research and Developmen

Designing an interactive forest through sensor-based installations

We describe the design approach of an interactive exhibition called "The Interactive Laurissilva". The exhibition is about Madeira Island's endemic forest, and is composed of 15 sensor-based interactive installations. We discuss the interaction styles that were adopted, reflecting upon the ethnographic observation of visitors and we summarize the lessons learned.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Relações empíricas entre características dendrométricas da Caatinga brasileira e dados TM Landsat 5

The objective of this work was to adjust models to estimate dendrometric characteristics of the Brazilian dry tropical forest (Caatinga) from Landsat 5 TM sensor data. Measures for tree diameter and height were taken in 60 inventory plots (400 m2), in two municipalities of the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Basal area and wood volume were estimated using an allometric equation and form factor (f = 0.9). Explanatory variables were taken from the TM sensor, after radiometric and geometric correction, having considered, in the analysis, six spectral bands, with 30 m spatial resolution, besides the indexes of simple ratio (SR), of normalized difference vegetation (NDVI), and of soil‑adjusted vegetation (Savi). To choose the best explanatory variables, the coefficient of determination (R2), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) were considered. The basal area per hectare did not show a significant correlation with any of the explanatory variables used. The best models were adjusted to tree mean height per plot (R2 = 0.4; RMSE = 13%) and to wood volume per hectare (R2 = 0.6; RMSE = 42%). The metrics derived from the Landsat 5 TM sensor have great potential to explain variation in the mean height of trees and in the wood volume per hectare, in remaining areas of the tropical dry forest in the Brazilian Northeast.O objetivo deste trabalho foi ajustar modelos para estimar características dendrométricas da Caatinga brasileira a partir de dados do sensor TM do Landsat 5. Medidas de diâmetro e altura das árvores foram obtidas de 60 parcelas de inventário (400 m2), em dois municípios do Estado de Sergipe. A área basal e o volume de madeira foram estimados com uso de equação alométrica e de fator de forma (f = 0,9). As variáveis explicativas foram obtidas do sensor TM, após correção radiométrica e geométrica, tendo-se considerado, na análise, seis bandas espectrais, com resolução espacial de 30 m, além dos índices de razão simples (SR), de vegetação por diferença normalizada (NDVI) e de vegetação ajustado ao solo (Savi). Na escolha das melhores variáveis explicativas, foram considerados coeficiente de determinação (R2), raiz do erro quadrático médio (RMSE) e critério bayesiano de informação (CBI). A área basal por hectare não apresentou correlação significativa com nenhuma das variáveis explicativas utilizadas. Os melhores modelos foram ajustados à altura média das árvores por parcela (R2 = 0,4; RMSE = 13%) e ao volume de madeira por hectare (R2 = 0,6; RMSE = 42%). As métricas derivadas do sensor TM do Landsat 5 têm grande potencial para explicar variações de altura média das árvores e do volume de madeira por hectare, em remanescentes de Caatinga situados no Nordeste brasileiro

Morphological parameters in quadriceps muscle were associated with clinical features and muscle strength of women with rheumatoid arthritis : a cross-sectional study

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, inflammatory and chronic disease that may lead to loss of muscle mass, muscle strength and decreased functionality. Our objectives are to assess the quadriceps muscle morphology by ultrasound (MU) and verify its associations with clinical features, muscle strength and physical function in RA patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, RA women ( 18 years) were included. Morphological parameters in quadriceps muscle consisted of the muscle thickness and pennation angle of rectus femoris (RF), vastus intermedius (VI) and vastus lateralis (VL). RA activity was measured by a 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), muscle strength by handgrip and chair stand tests, and physical function by health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), timed-up-and-go (TUG) test and short physical performance battery (SPPB). Results: Fifty-five patients were included (age: 56.73 9.46 years; DAS28: 3.08 1.29). Muscle thickness in RF, VI and VL were negatively associated with age (RF, p < 0.001; VI, p = 0.013; VL, p = 0.002) and disease duration (RF, p < 0.001; VI, p = 0.005; VL, p = 0.001), and were positively associated with handgrip strength (RF, p = 0.015; VI, p = 0.022; VL, p = 0.013). In addition, decreased muscle thickness in VI (p = 0.035) and a smaller pennation angle in RF (p = 0.030) were associated with higher DAS-28 scores. Conclusion: Quadriceps muscle morphology by ultrasound appears to be affected by age, disease duration, disease activity and muscle strength in patients with RA. MU can be a useful method to evaluate the impact of the disease on skeletal muscle

A database of freshwater fish species of the Amazon Basin

The Amazon Basin is an unquestionable biodiversity hotspot, containing the highest freshwater biodiversity on earth and facing off a recent increase in anthropogenic threats. The current knowledge on the spatial distribution of the freshwater fish species is greatly deficient in this basin, preventing a comprehensive understanding of this hyper-diverse ecosystem as a whole. Filling this gap was the priority of a transnational collaborative project, i.e. the AmazonFish project - https://www.amazon-fish.com/. Relying on the outputs of this project, we provide the most complete fish species distribution records covering the whole Amazon drainage. The database, including 2,406 validated freshwater native fish species, 232,936 georeferenced records, results from an extensive survey of species distribution including 590 different sources (e.g. published articles, grey literature, online biodiversity databases and scientific collections from museums and universities worldwide) and field expeditions conducted during the project. This database, delivered at both georeferenced localities (21,500 localities) and sub-drainages grains (144 units), represents a highly valuable source of information for further studies on freshwater fish biodiversity, biogeography and conservation