Development of biocompatible and “smart” porous structures using CO2-assisted processes

Dissertação apresentada para a obtenção do grau de Doutor em Engenharia Química, especialidade Engenharia da Reacção Química, pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Robustness of timber structures in seismic areas

Some of the properties sought in seismic design of buildings are also considered fundamental to guarantee structural robustness. Moreover, some key concepts are common to both seismic and robustness design. In fact, both analyses consider events with a very small probability of occurrence, and consequently, a significant level of damage is admissible. As very rare events,in both cases, the actions are extremely hard to quantify. The acceptance of limited damage requires a system based analysis of structures, rather than an element by element methodology, as employed for other load cases. As for robustness analysis, in seismic design the main objective is to guarantee that the structure survives an earthquake, without extensive damage. In the case of seismic design, this is achieved by guaranteeing the dissipation of energy through plastic hinges distributed in the structure. For this to be possible, some key properties must be assured, in particular ductility and redundancy. The same properties could be fundamental in robustness design, as a structure can only sustain significant damage if capable of distributing stresses to parts of the structure unaffected by the triggering event. Timber is often used for primary load‐bearing elements in single storey long‐span structures for public buildings and arenas, where severe consequences can be expected if one or more of the primary load bearing elements fail. The structural system used for these structures consists of main frames, secondary elements and bracing elements. The main frame, composed by columns and beams, can be seen as key elements in the system and should be designed with high safety against failure and under strict quality control. The main frames may sometimes be designed with moment resisting joints between columns and beams. Scenarios, where one or more of these key elements, fail should be considered at least for high consequence buildings. Two alternative strategies may be applied: isolation of collapsing sections and, provision of alternate load paths [1]. The first one is relatively straightforward to provide by deliberately designing the secondary structural system less strong and stiff. Alternatively, the secondary structural system and the bracing system can be design so that loss of capacity in the main frame does not lead to the collapse. A case study has been selected aiming to assess the consequences of these two different strategies, in particular, under seismic loads.

Minimal computation structures for visual information applications based on printed electronics

In the early nineties, Mark Weiser wrote a series of seminal papers that introduced the concept of Ubiquitous Computing. According to Weiser, computers require too much attention from the user, drawing his focus from the tasks at hand. Instead of being the centre of attention, computers should be so natural that they would vanish into the human environment. Computers become not only truly pervasive but also effectively invisible and unobtrusive to the user. This requires not only for smaller, cheaper and low power consumption computers, but also for equally convenient display solutions that can be harmoniously integrated into our surroundings. With the advent of Printed Electronics, new ways to link the physical and the digital worlds became available. By combining common printing techniques such as inkjet printing with electro-optical functional inks, it is starting to be possible not only to mass-produce extremely thin, flexible and cost effective electronic circuits but also to introduce electronic functionalities into products where it was previously unavailable. Indeed, Printed Electronics is enabling the creation of novel sensing and display elements for interactive devices, free of form factor. At the same time, the rise in the availability and affordability of digital fabrication technologies, namely of 3D printers, to the average consumer is fostering a new industrial (digital) revolution and the democratisation of innovation. Nowadays, end-users are already able to custom design and manufacture on demand their own physical products, according to their own needs. In the future, they will be able to fabricate interactive digital devices with user-specific form and functionality from the comfort of their homes. This thesis explores how task-specific, low computation, interactive devices capable of presenting dynamic visual information can be created using Printed Electronics technologies, whilst following an approach based on the ideals behind Personal Fabrication. Focus is given on the use of printed electrochromic displays as a medium for delivering dynamic digital information. According to the architecture of the displays, several approaches are highlighted and categorised. Furthermore, a pictorial computation model based on extended cellular automata principles is used to programme dynamic simulation models into matrix-based electrochromic displays. Envisaged applications include the modelling of physical, chemical, biological, and environmental phenomena.

Segmentation of striatal brain structures from high resolution pet images

Dissertation presented at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the New University of Lisbon in fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and Computers

Evaluation of the potential of translocated common cockle for ecological risk assessment studies: bioaccumulation and biomarkers test

Thesis submitted to the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia to obtain the Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, profile in Ecological Engineering

Evolution and biogenesis of microtubule-derived structures

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Biologia Celular pelo Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Life-cycle performance of structures: combining expert judgment and results of inspection

Life-Cycle Civil Engineering – Biondini & Frangopol

Vibration control with shape-memory alloys in civil engineering structures

Dissertação apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Engenharia Civil

Earthquakes and robustness for timber structures

Workshop of COST Actions TU0601 and E55 September 21-22 2009, Ljubljana, Slovenia

From the Lisbon strategy to EU2020: illusion or progress for european economies?

To be published at Krings, Bettina-J. ed. (2011), Brain Drain or Brain Gain? Changes of Work in Knowledge-based Societies, Berlin, Ed. Sigma. The author wants to thanks the comments and suggestions from Bettina Krings and Sylke Wintzer. They are not, however, responsible for the final result.

Robustness of corroded reinforced concrete structures. A structural performance approach

Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 1-17

Efeitos imediatos da técnica de desrotação do atlas de Rocabado e do SNAG C1/2 de Mulligan na amplitude do teste de flexão-rotação em indíviduos com cefaleia cervicogénica : um ensaio clínico aleatório

RESUMO: A cefaleia cervicogénica é uma forma comum de dor de cabeça, que tem sido associada à existência de uma disfunção das estruturas da coluna cervical superior. Estudos recentes mostram uma grande incidência dessa disfunção a nível de C1-C2, avaliada pelo teste de flexão-rotação. Vários terapeutas manuais, como Brian Mulligan e Mariano Rocabado, têm sido sugerido técnicas de tratamento para este tipo de disfunção. Contudo, a evidência acerca da efectividade dessas técnicas é escassa. Desenho do estudo: Foi efectuado um ensaio clínico aleatório, duplamente cego, composto por três fases: pré-intervenção, intervenção e pós-intervenção. Objectivos: Avaliar e comparar os efeitos imediatos de duas técnicas de Terapia Manual Ortopédica (SNAG C1/2 de Mulligan e técnica de desrotação do atlas de Rocabado), na amplitude de movimento de rotação do segmento vertebral C1-C2, em indivíduos com história de cefaleia cervicogénica e com limitação no teste de flexão-rotação. As técnicas de tratamento foram usadas de forma isolada, em comparação a um grupo placebo. Métodos: Uma amostra de 60 indivíduos, com cefaleia cervicogénica e limitação do teste de flexão-rotação, foram aleatoriamente distribuídos por três grupos: SNAG C1/2 de Mulligan, técnica de desrotação do atlas de Rocabado e grupo placebo. O outcome primário foi a amplitude de movimento obtida no teste de flexão-rotação, que foi medido antes e imediatamente após a intervenção. Resultados: Imediatamente após a intervenção, a amplitude verificada no teste de flexão-rotação aumentou 21.8º (DP, 4.68) no grupo submetido ao SNAG C1/2 de Mulligan, 15º (DP, 5.07) no grupo em que foi aplicada a técnica de desrotação do atlas de Rocabado e 0.65º (DP, 0.67) no grupo placebo. Uma ANOVA modelo misto, 2 por 3, revelou efeito principal significativo do tempo (p<.001) e grupo (p<.001), assim como uma interacção significativa entre grupo e tempo (p<.001), relativamente à variável amplitude do teste de flexão-rotação. Estes resultados indicam que as diferenças verificadas entre os grupos eram dependentes do momento de avaliação. Uma comparação múltipla post hoc revelou que quer as técnicas de Mulligan, quer de Rocabado, produziram efeitos significativamente maiores que a intervenção placebo na amplitude de movimento do teste de flexão-rotação (p<.001 e p=.001, respectivamente). No entanto,não se verificou uma diferença significativa no que diz respeito à efectividade de ambas as técnicas de Terapia Manual Ortopédica aplicadas (p=.42). Conclusão: Esta investigação sugere que as duas técnicas de Terapia Manual Ortopédica avaliadas produziram efeito clínica e estatisticamente significativo na amplitude do teste de flexão-rotação. No entanto, não se verificaram diferenças entre as duas técnicas, no que diz respeito ao seu efeito no ganho de amplitude de movimento. Os resultados obtidos fornecem evidência preliminar sobre a efectividade de ambas as intervenções no tratamento da redução de amplitude de movimento em indivíduos com história de cefaleia cervicogénica.-------------------------------ABSTRACT:Background: Cervicogenic headache is a common form of headache arising from dysfunction in structures of the upper cervical spine. Recent studies have shown a high incidence of C1/2 dysfunction, evaluated by the flexion-rotation test (FRT). Several manual therapists have suggested different approaches to manage that dysfunction, such as Brian Mulligan and Mariano Rocabado. However, the evidence of the effectiveness of those manual techniques is anedoctal. Design: Randomized double blinded controlled trial with three phases: pre-intervention, intervention and post-intervention. Objectives: To determine and compare the immediate effects of two manual therapy techniques (Mulligan’s SNAG C1/2 and Rocabado’s atlas’ derotation technique) in the range of motion of C1-C2 vertebral segments, in cervicogenic headache patients and with limitation on the flexion-rotatoin test. The treatment techniques were used as single treatments against a placebo group. Methods: A sample of 60 subjects with cervicogenic headache and FRT limitation were randomly allocated into one of three groups: Mulligan’s C1/2 SNAG, Rocabado’s atlas derotation technique or placebo group. The primary outcome was the flexion rotation test range, which was measured before and immediately after the intervention. Results: Immediately after the application of the interventions, FRT range increased by 21.8º (SD, 4.68) for the Mulligan’s C1-2 SNAG group, 15º (SD, 5.07) for the Rocabado’s atlas derotation technique and 0.65º (SD, 0.67) for the placebo group. A 2-by-3 mixedmodel ANOVA a significant main effect of time (p<.001) and group (p<.001), as well as a significant interaction between group and time (p<.001) for the variable FRT range. These results indicate that group differences were dependent on time. A pairwise post hoc comparison revelad that both the Mulligan and Rocabado techniques produced significantly more effect on FRT range of motion than the placebo intervention (p<.001 and p=.001, respectively). However, there was not a significant difference between the effectiveness of the two manual therapy techniques (p=.42).Conclusion: This investigation’s findings suggest that both Mulligan’s C1/2 SNAG and Rocabado’s atlas derotation techniques produced a clinically and statistically significant effect on FRT range, but there were no changes between the two techniques in their effectiveness. These results provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of both manual therapy techniques in the management of individuals with cervicogenic headache and FRT limitation.

Are societal changes new? Questions or trends and future perceptions on knowledge-based economy

With the emergence of a global division of labour, the internationalisation of markets and cultures, the growing power of supranational organisations and the spread of new information technologies to every field of life, it starts to appear a different kind of society, different from the industrial society, and called by many as ‘the knowledge-based economy’, emphasizing the importance of information and knowledge in many areas of work and organisation of societies. Despite the common trends of evolution, these transformations do not necessarily produce a convergence of national and regional social and economic structures, but a diversity of realities emerging from the relations between economic and political context on one hand and the companies and their strategies on the other. In this sense, which future can we expect to the knowledge economy? How can we measure it and why is it important? This paper will present some results from the European project WORKS – Work organisation and restructuring in the knowledge society (6th Framework Programme), focusing the future visions and possible future trends in different countries, sectors and industries, given empirical evidences of the case studies applied in several European countries, underling the importance of foresight exercises to design policies, prevent uncontrolled risks and anticipate alternatives, leading to different ‘knowledge economies’ and not to the ‘knowled

A framework for robustness assessment in the context of corroded RC structures

Structural robustness is an emergent concept related to the structural response to damage. At the present time, robustness is not well defined and much controversy still remains around this subject. Even if robustness has seen growing interest as a consequence of catastrophic consequences due to extreme events, the fact is that the concept can also be very useful when considered on more probable exposure scenarios such as deterioration, among others. This paper intends to be a contribution to the definition of structural robustness, especially in the analysis of reinforced concrete structures subjected to corrosion. To achieve this, first of all, several proposed robustness definitions and indicators and misunderstood concepts will be analyzed and compared. From this point and regarding a concept that could be applied to most type of structures and dam-age scenarios, a robustness definition is proposed. To illustrate the proposed concept, an example of corroded reinforced concrete structures will be analyzed using nonlinear analysis numerical methods based on a contin-uum strong discontinuities approach and isotropic damage models for concrete. Finally the robustness of the presented example will be assessed.