Development of innovative hybrid sandwich panel slabs: Experimental results

The authors appreciate the collaboration of the following labs: Civitest for developing DHCC materials, PIEP for conducting VARTM process (Eng. Luis Oliveira) and Department of Civil Engineering of Minho University to perform the tests (Mr. Antonio Matos and Eng. Marco Jorge).

Políticas, eventos e turismo de experiência

Partindo do princí­pio de que no turismo, tal como em outras actividades económicas, a economia de serviços virão a ser substituída pela economia da experiência, os eventos vão assumir, cada vez mais, um papel preponderante. Este capítulo propõe uma visão inovadora  sobre a atividade turística no destino de Gramado (Brasil), especialmente no que se relaciona a principal atraso, o Natal Luz. Para tanto, detalha-se as fases de desenvolvimento turí­stico deste destino com base na aplicação do Modelo de Entrelaçamento. Trata-se de um modelo conceitual que possibilita analisar a influência dos eventos e da aplicação do conceito de turismo de experiência na construção das polí­ticas públicas dos destinos turísticos, através da análise dos ciclos de desenvolvimento dos eventos no destino. Com a aplicação a Gramado, confirmou-se que o modelo de Entrelaçamento Á uma ferramenta estratégica de análise do percurso de desenvolvimento da actividade turí­stica de um destino que tenha como vocação principal a promoção de eventos e espectáculos. Como resultado da pesquisa, observa-se a importância assumida pelo turismo, em especial do atrativo Natal, para o desenvolvimento do destino pesquisado, traduzida nas polí­ticas públicas instituí­das no destino e na inter-relação estabelecida entre os diferentes atores para a consolidação da marca à Natal.

Measurement of Spin Correlation in Top-Antitop Quark Events and Search for Top Squark Pair Production in pp Collisions at s√=8 TeV Using the ATLAS Detector

A measurement of spin correlation in tt¯ production is presented using data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1. The correlation between the top and antitop quark spins is extracted from dilepton tt¯ events by using the difference in azimuthal angle between the two charged leptons in the laboratory frame. In the helicity basis the measured degree of correlation corresponds to Ahelicity=0.38±0.04, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction. A search is performed for pair production of top squarks with masses close to the top quark mass decaying to predominantly right-handed top quarks and a light neutralino, the lightest supersymmetric particle. Top squarks with masses between the top quark mass and 191 GeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level.

Measurements of the nuclear modification factor for jets in Pb+Pb collisions at sNN =2.76TeV with the ATLAS detector

Measurements of inclusive jet production are performed in pp and Pb+Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 4.0 pb−1 and 0.14 nb−1 , respectively. The jets are identified with the anti-kt algorithm with R=0.4, and the spectra are measured over the kinematic range of jet transverse momentum 32

Search for higgs and Z boson decays to J/ψγ and (nS)γ with the ATLAS detector

A search for the decays of the Higgs and Z bosons to J/ψγ and Υ(nS)γ (n=1,2,3) is performed with pp collision data samples corresponding to integrated luminosities of up to 20.3fb−1 collected at s√=8TeV with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. No significant excess of events is observed above expected backgrounds and 95% CL upper limits are placed on the branching fractions. In the J/ψγ final state the limits are 1.5×10−3 and 2.6×10−6 for the Higgs and Z bosons, respectively, while in the Υ(1S,2S,3S)γ final states the limits are (1.3,1.9,1.3)×10−3 and (3.4,6.5,5.4)×10−6, respectively.

Search for Higgs Boson Pair Production in the γγbb¯ Final State using pp Collision Data at s√=8TeV from the ATLAS Detector

Searches are performed for resonant and non-resonant Higgs boson pair production in the hh→γγbb¯ final state using 20 fb−1 of proton--proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. A 95% confidence level upper limit on the cross section times branching ratio of non--resonant production is set at 2.2 pb, while the expected limit is 1.0 pb. The corresponding limit observed for a narrow resonance ranges between 0.8 and 3.5 pb as a function of its mass.

Search for Scalar-Charm Pair Production in pp Collisions at s√=8 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

The results of a dedicated search for pair production of scalar partners of charm quarks are reported. The search is based on an integrated luminosity of 20.3fb−1 of pp collisions at s√=8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The search is performed using events with large missing transverse momentum and at least two jets, where the two leading jets are each tagged as originating from c-quarks. Events containing isolated electrons or muons are vetoed. In an R-parity-conserving minimal supersymmetric scenario in which a single scalar-charm state is kinematically accessible, and where it decays exclusively into a charm quark and a neutralino, 95% confidence-level upper limits are obtained in the scalar-charm—neutralino mass plane such that, for neutralino masses below 200 GeV, scalar-charm masses up to 490 GeV are excluded.

Search for heavy lepton resonances decaying to a Z boson and a lepton in pp collisions at s√=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for heavy leptons decaying to a Z boson and an electron or a muon is presented. The search is based on pp collision data taken at s√=8 TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1. Three high-transverse-momentum electrons or muons are selected, with two of them required to be consistent with originating from a Z boson decay. No significant excess above Standard Model background predictions is observed, and 95% confidence level limits on the production cross section of high-mass trilepton resonances are derived. The results are interpreted in the context of vector-like lepton and type-III seesaw models. For the vector-like lepton model, most heavy lepton mass values in the range 114-176 GeV are excluded. For the type-III seesaw model, most mass values in the range 100-468 GeV are excluded.

Combined Measurement of the Higgs Boson Mass in pp Collisions at root s=7 and 8 TeV with the ATLAS and CMS Experiments

A measurement of the Higgs boson mass is presented based on the combined data samples of the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the CERN LHC in the H→γγ and H→ZZ→4ℓ decay channels. The results are obtained from a simultaneous fit to the reconstructed invariant mass peaks in the two channels and for the two experiments. The measured masses from the individual channels and the two experiments are found to be consistent among themselves. The combined measured mass of the Higgs boson is mH=125.09±0.21(stat.)±0.11(syst.) GeV.

Search for a Charged Higgs Boson Produced in the Vector-boson Fusion Mode with Decay H±→W±Z using pp Collisions at s√=8 TeV with the ATLAS Experiment

A search for a charged Higgs boson, H±, decaying to a W± boson and a Z boson is presented. The search is based on 20.3 fb−1 of proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The H± boson is assumed to be produced via vector-boson fusion and the decays W±→qq′¯ and Z→e+e−/μ+μ− are considered. The search is performed in a range of charged Higgs boson masses from 200 to 1000 GeV. No evidence for the production of an H± boson is observed. Upper limits of 31--1020 fb at 95% CL are placed on the cross section for vector-boson fusion production of an H± boson times its branching fraction to W±Z. The limits are compared with predictions from the Georgi-Machacek Higgs Triplet Model.

Search for New Phenomena in Dijet Angular Distributions in Proton-Proton Collisions at s√=8 TeV Measured with the ATLAS Detector

A search for new phenomena in LHC proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of s√=8 TeV was performed with the ATLAS detector using an integrated luminosity of 17.3 fb−1. The angular distributions are studied in events with at least two jets; the highest dijet mass observed is 5.5 TeV. All angular distributions are consistent with the predictions of the Standard Model. In a benchmark model of quark contact interactions, a compositeness scale below 8.1 TeV in a destructive interference scenario and 12.0 TeV in a constructive interference scenario is excluded at 95% CL; median expected limits are 8.9 TeV for the destructive interference scenario and 14.1 TeV for the constructive interference scenario.

A Educação para a sexualidade com alunos do 3.º CEB

A educação para a sexualidade nas escolas torna-se cada vez mais importante, pois os adolescentes constituem uma faixa etária muito vulnerável a comportamentos sexuais de risco, que podem vir a comprometer o seu projeto de vida futuro. O projeto de intervenção aqui apresentado tinha como principal objetivo contribuir para um aumento dos conhecimentos dos alunos, ao nível da educação para a sexualidade e, consequentemente, promover uma mudança de crenças, atitudes e comportamentos por parte dos mesmos, junto dos seus pares e familiares. Neste sentido, foi adotada a metodologia de investigação-ação (IA). Na fase de diagnóstico, o instrumento de recolha de dados predominantemente utilizado foi um questionário construído especificamente para o efeito, o qual foi aplicado a uma amostra de 114 alunos (38 raparigas; 76 rapazes) de 3.º CEB. O mesmo instrumento foi aplicado no final da intervenção - fase de avaliação. Nas respostas aos questionários iniciais, os alunos evidenciaram algum desconhecimento relativamente ao conceito de sexualidade, às causas e consequências da gravidez na adolescência e revelaram também a adoção de alguns comportamentos de risco. Para além do questionário, foi também aplicada aos alunos a técnica da caixa de perguntas. Perante as necessidades evidenciadas pelos alunos foi implementada uma formação, dedicando-se uma sessão de 45 minutos para cada tema: o que é a sexualidade; gravidez na adolescência; assédio sexual e violência na intimidade juvenil. Os resultados obtidos na fase de avaliação demonstraram que os alunos tinham adquirido um conceito de sexualidade mais correto, revelaram-se mais conscientes relativamente às causas e consequências da gravidez na adolescência, demonstraram estar mais informados sobre o assédio sexual, bem como sobre os cuidados a ter e revelaram algumas mudanças de crenças e opiniões relativamente a determinadas situações potencialmente abusivas nas relações de intimidade juvenil.

Effector memory CD4+ T cells are associated with cognitive performance in a senior population

Objective: Immunosenescence and cognitive decline are common markers of the aging process. Taking into consideration the heterogeneity observed in aging processes and the recently described link between lymphocytes and cognition, we herein explored the possibility of an association between alterations in lymphocytic populations and cognitive performance. Methods: In a cohort of cognitively healthy adults (n = 114), previously characterized by diverse neurocognitive/psychological performance patterns, detailed peripheral blood immunophenotyping of both the innate and adaptive immune systems was performed by flow cytometry. Results: Better cognitive performance was associated with lower numbers of effector memory CD4(+) T cells and higher numbers of naive CD8(+) T cells and B cells. Furthermore, effector memory CD4(+) T cells were found to be predictors of general and executive function and memory, even when factors known to influence cognitive performance in older individuals (e.g., age, sex, education, and mood) were taken into account. Conclusions: This is the first study in humans associating specific phenotypes of the immune system with distinct cognitive performance in healthy aging.

Automatic eye blink detection using consumer web cameras

This research aims to advance blinking detection in the context of work activity. Rather than patients having to attend a clinic, blinking videos can be acquired in a work environment, and further automatically analyzed. Therefore, this paper presents a methodology to perform the automatic detection of eye blink using consumer videos acquired with low-cost web cameras. This methodology includes the detection of the face and eyes of the recorded person, and then it analyzes the low-level features of the eye region to create a quantitative vector. Finally, this vector is classified into one of the two categories considered —open and closed eyes— by using machine learning algorithms. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology was demonstrated since it provides unbiased results with classification errors under 5%

Chemical features of Ganoderma polysaccharides with antioxidant, antitumor and antimicrobial activities

Review aricle