The use and relevance of gonad protection shields in children during hips radiography

Considering that ionizing radiation effects are cumulative and the gonads are particularly sensitive to these effects, and also the clinical importance of pelvic radiographs in children, the excess of radiation exposure to the gonads must be avoided. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the relevance of the correct use of gonad protection shields and to evaluate their use on the hip radiographs performed in a reference clinical institution, through the retrospective analysis of pelvic radiographic images performed in children. According the image quality assessment, 20 (40%) patients were unprotected and gonads shields were incorrectly placed in 24 (80%) patients.

Metodologia de análise da patologia de fachadas de edifícios recentes com sistema ETICS

Ao percorrermos as cidades portuguesas, deparámo-nos frequentemente com fachadas de edifícios muito degradadas, não só de edifícios antigos, mas também de edifícios recentes (construção edificada a partir do início da década de 70). A presença de anomalias nas fachadas, para além de ser esteticamente desagradável na paisagem urbana, pode também potenciar a degradação prematura da envolvente vertical dos edifícios, deixando estas de desempenhar satisfatoriamente as funções de impermeabilidade e eficiência térmica. Tem-se assistido nas últimas décadas em Portugal, não só a uma evolução das técnicas construtivas das fachadas face à crescente exigência da qualidade dos edifícios, mas também a uma crescente utilização de novos revestimentos, nomeadamente, o sistema de isolamento térmico pelo exterior, conhecido pela sigla inglesa ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System) e designado por “revestimento delgado armado sobre isolante”. O principal objectivo da presente dissertação consiste no desenvolvimento e aplicação de uma proposta de metodologia para análise da patologia de fachadas de edifícios recentes com sistema ETICS, que gradualmente tem vindo a implantar-se em Portugal como uma das soluções de carácter inovador de isolamento térmico e de protecção higrométrica da envolvente vertical opaca dos edifícios.

Inventories and concentration profiles of 137Cs in undisturbed soils in the northeast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Inventories and vertical distribution of (137)Cs were determined in La Plata region undisturbed soils, Argentina. A mean inventory value of 891 ± 220 Bq/m(2) was established, which is compatible with the values expected from atmospheric weapon tests fallout. The study was complemented with pH, organic carbon fraction, texture and mineralogical soil analyses. Putting together Southern Hemisphere (137)Cs inventory data, it is possible to correlate these data with the mean annual precipitations. The large differences in (137)Cs concentration profiles were attributed to soil properties, especially the clay content and the pH values. A convection-dispersion model with irreversible retention was used to fit the activity concentration profiles. The obtained effective diffusion coefficient and effective convection velocity parameters values were in the range from 0.2 cm(2)/y to 0.4 cm(2)/y and from 0.23 cm/y to 0.43 cm/y, respectively. These data are in agreement with values reported in literature. In general, with the growth of clay content in the soil, there was an increase in the transfer rate from free to bound state. Finally, the highest transfer rate from free to bound state was obtained for soil pH value equal to 8.

Delineating environmental groundwater vulnerability and protection zones mapping in fractured rock masses

Hard‐rock watersheds commonly exhibit complex geological bedrock and morphological features. Hydromineral resources have relevant economic value for the thermal spas industry. The present study aims to develop a groundwater vulnerability approach in Caldas da Cavaca hydromineral system (Aguiar da Beira, Central Portugal) which has a thermal tradition that dates back to the late 19th century, and contribute to a better understanding of the hydrogeological conceptual site model. In this work different layers were overlaid, generating several thematic maps to arrive at an integrated framework of several key‐sectors in Caldas da Cavaca site. Thus, to accomplish a comprehensive analysis and conceptualization of the site, a multi‐technical approach was used, such as, field and laboratory techniques, where several data was collected, like geotectonics, hydrology and hydrogeology, hydrogeomorphology, hydrogeophysical and hydrogeomechanical zoning aiming the application of the so‐called DISCO method. All these techniques were successfully performed and a groundwater vulnerability to contamination assessment, based on GOD‐S, DRASTIC‐Fm, SINTACS, SI and DISCO indexes methodology, was delineated. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology was on the basis to organise and integrate the geodatabases and to produce all the thematic maps. This multi‐technical approach highlights the importance of groundwater vulnerability to contamination mapping as a tool to support hydrogeological conceptualisation, contributing to better decision‐making of water resources management and sustainability.