The effects of peripheral and central warming on body temperature during canine laparotomy

Actively warming patients during surgery is considered the best method of preventing inadvertent hypothermia due to multiple causes: anaesthetic depression of the hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre, cutaneous vasodilatation, reduction of heat production by skeletal muscles, cold intravenous fluid administration and heat loss from opened body cavities. To compare the effects of active peripheral skin warming and trunk warming on body temperature during surgery, 15 dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy were studied using a prospective randomised trial design. Dogs were randomised into two groups: one group was warmed by compress leg pads (n=7) on limbs and the other group by a circulating warm water mattress (n=8), applied to the trunk. The rectal, oesophageal and room temperatures and relative humidity were measured. The results showed that the compress leg pads (active peripheral warming) were significantly (P

Large sets of large sets of Steiner triple systems of order 9

We describe a direct method of partitioning the 840 Steiner triple systems of order 9 into 120 large sets. The method produces partitions in which all of the large sets are isomorphic and we apply the method to each of the two non-isomorphic large sets of STS(9).

Method for determining the shear stress in cylindrical systems

We develop a method for determining the elements of the pressure tensor at a radius r in a cylindrically symmetric system, analogous to the so-called method of planes used in planar systems [B. D. Todd, Denis J. Evans, and Peter J. Daivis, Phys. Rev. E 52, 1627 (1995)]. We demonstrate its application in determining the radial shear stress dependence during molecular dynamics simulations of the forced flow of methane in cylindrical silica mesopores. Such expressions are useful for the examination of constitutive relations in the context of transport in confined systems.

Purification of post-translationally modified proteins from bacteria: homologous expression and purification of histidine-tagged pilin from Neisseria meningitidis

Until recently, glycosylation of proteins in prokaryotes was regarded as uncommon and thought to be limited to special cases such as S-layer proteins and some archeal outer membrane proteins. Now, there are an increasing number of reports of bacterial proteins that are glycosylated. Pilin of pathogenic Neisseria is one of the best characterised post-translation ally modified bacterial proteins, with four different types of modifications reported, including a novel glycosylation. Pilin monomers assemble to form pilus fibres, which are long protein filaments that protrude from the surface of bacterial cells and are key virulence factors. To aid in the investigation of these modifications, pure pilin is required. A number of pilin purification methods have been published, but none are appropriate for the routine purification of pilin from many different isolates. This study describes a novel, rapid, and simple method of pilin purification from Neisseria meningitidis C311#3, which facilitates the production of consistent quantities of pure, native pilin. A 6 x histidine tag was fused to the C-terminus of the pilin subunit structural gene, pilE, via homologous recombination placing the 6 x histidine-tagged allele in the chromosome of N. meningitidis C311#3. Pilin was purified under non-denaturing conditions via a two-step process using immobilised metal affinity chromatography (IMAC), followed by dye affinity chromatography. Analysis of the purified pilin confirmed that it retained both of the post-translational modifications examined. This novel approach may prove to be a generally applicable method for purification and analysis of post-translationally modified proteins in bacteria. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Determinação do momento crítico de flambagem lateral com distorção em vigas mistas contínuas de aço e concreto com perfis de alma senoidal

As vigas mistas de aço e concreto estão sendo largamente utilizadas em construções de edifícios e pontes. Ao se combinar o aço com o concreto obtêm-se estruturas mais econômicas, uma vez que se tira proveito das melhores características de cada material. Nas regiões de momento negativo de uma viga mista contínua, a mesa inferior e parte da alma estão comprimidas, se a alma do perfil não tiver rigidez suficiente para evitar a flexão lateral, ela distorcerá gerando um deslocamento lateral e um giro na mesa comprimida, caracterizando um modo de flambagem denominado flambagem lateral com distorção (FLD). O procedimento de verificação à FLD da EN 1994-1-1:2004 originou o método de cálculo da ABNT NBR 8800:2008, entretanto a EN 1994-1-1:2004 não fornece expressão para o cálculo do momento crítico elástico, enquanto a ABNT NBR 8800:2008 prescreve uma formulação proposta por Roik, Hanswille e Kina (1990) desenvolvida para vigas mistas com perfis de alma plana. Embora as normas prescrevam um método de verificação à FLD para vigas mistas com perfis de alma plana, poucos estudos têm sido feitos sobre esse estado-limite. Além disso, tanto a ABNT NBR 8800:2008 quanto as normas internacionais não abordam perfis de alma senoidal. Neste trabalho, foram implementadas análises de flambagem elástica, com auxílio do software ANSYS 14.0 (2011), em modelos de elementos finitos que retratem o comportamento à FLD de vigas mistas de aço e concreto com perfis de alma plana e senoidal. Os modelos numéricos foram constituídos pelo perfil de aço, por uma mola rotacional que restringe parcialmente o giro da mesa superior e uma restrição ao deslocamento lateral, ao longo de todo o comprimento da viga. Os resultados numéricos são comparados com os obtidos pelas formulações de Roik, Hanswille e Kina (1990) e de Hanswille (2002), adaptadas para levar em consideração a corrugação da alma do perfil de aço. Para avaliação das formulações supracitadas e da consistência da modelagem numérica adotada, o momento crítico elástico foi determinado para vigas mistas com perfis de aço de alma plana. Como resultado, um método para o cálculo do momento crítico elástico de vigas mistas de alma senoidal é proposto.

Selection of common bean lines with high grain yield and high grain calcium and iron concentrations

Genetic improvement of common bean nutritional quality has advantages in marketing and can contribute to society as a food source. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability for grain yield, calcium and iron concentrations in grains of inbred common bean lines obtained by different breeding methods. For this, 136 F7 inbred lines were obtained using the Pedigree method and 136 F7 inbred lines were obtained using the Single-Seed Descent (SSD) method. The lines showed genetic variability for grain yield, and concentrations of calcium and iron independently of the method of advancing segregating populations. The Pedigree method allows obtaining a greater number of lines with high grain yield. Selection using the SSD method allows the identification of a larger number of lines with high concentrations of calcium and iron in grains. Weak negative correlations were found between grain yield and calcium concentration (r = -0.0994) and grain yield and iron concentration (r = -0.3926). Several lines show genetic superiority for grain yield and concentrations of calcium and iron in grains and their selection can result in new common bean cultivars with high nutritional quality.

Selection of anthracnose resistant common beans using detached leaves in partially controlled environment

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the possibility of selecting anthracnose resistant common bean plants using detached primary leaves in partially controlled environment of a greenhouse and identify differences in the reaction of genotypes to anthracnose. The common bean cultivars Ouro Negro, OuroVermelho, ManteigãoFosco 11, Rudá, Rudá-R, VP8, BRSMG Madrepérola, Pérola, MeiaNoite and BRSMG Talismãwere characterizedfor resistance to the races 65, 81 and 453 of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and the method of detached primary leaves was compared to the method with the traditional inoculation of plants at the phenological stage V2. The lines Rudá, Rudá-R and Pérola were inoculated with the races 65 and 453 of C. lindemuthianum, aiming to assess the rate of coincidence of anthracnose severity by both inoculation methods. In general, the two methods presented similar results for the reaction of the cultivars. The use of detached primary leaves of common bean plants in the partially controlled environment was feasible for selection of plants resistant to anthracnose and has the advantages of low-needed infrastructure and reduction of resources, space and time.

Dimensionamento de estruturas de suporte rígidas

A Norma Portuguesa EN 1997-1:2007 - Eurocódigo 7 (EC 7) quando comparada, quer com a versão anterior ENV 1997-1:1994, cujo estatuto foi de pré-norma, quer com a prática tradicional corrente, introduz alterações significativas na abordagem ao dimensionamento geotécnico de estruturas de suporte. Assim, neste trabalho pretende-se aplicar a abordagem por meio de cálculos preconizada na Norma ao caso do dimensionamento de estruturas de suporte rígidas, comparando-a com os critérios tradicionais de dimensionamento utilizados em Portugal. Para tal realizou-se o plano de estudos seguinte: i) recensão bibliográfica síntese sobre o tema; ii) formulação geral do problema da verificação da segurança de estruturas de suporte rígidas de acordo com o preconizado no EC 7 e: iii) desenvolvimento de uma aplicação em Excel para a verificação da segurança daquelas estruturas nos moldes preconizados no EC 7. A folha de cálculo foi utilizada para comparar, através de dois exemplos - um relativo a um muro gravidade, e o outro relativo a um muro em T invertido - as diferenças entre a via tradicional e o EC 7 no respectivo dimensionamento.

Medição de parâmetros de componentes passivos RLC em ambiente LabVIEW pelo método da desmodulação síncrona ou coerente

A presente dissertação apresenta o desenvolvimento de um medidor de componentes passivos RLC. Este medidor baseia-se num protótipo desenvolvido para possibilitar a medição da impedância de um dispositivo em teste. Tendo uma carta de aquisição de sinal como interface, o protótipo comunica com um computador que controla todo o processo de medição desde a aquisição e processamento de sinais ao cálculo e visualização dos parâmetros. A topologia de medição implementada é a da ponte auto-balanceada e no processamento recorre-se ao método da desmodulação síncrona ou coerente. A sua viabilidade é suportada por um estudo teórico prévio, pela discussão das opções tomadas no projecto e pelos resultados obtidos através do algoritmo desenvolvido utilizando o software LabVIEW de programação gráfica.

Computational evaluation of hydraulic system behaviour with entrapped air under rapid pressurization

The pressurization of hydraulic systems containing entrapped air is considered a critical condition for the infrastructure's security due to transient pressure variations often occurred. The objective of the present study is the computational evaluation of trends observed in variation of maximum surge pressure resulting from rapid pressurizations. The comparison of the results with those obtained in previous studies is also undertaken. A brief state of art in this domain is presented. This research work is applied to an experimental system having entrapped air in the top of a vertical pipe section. The evaluation is developed through the elastic model based on the method of characteristics, considering a moving liquid boundary, with the results being compared with those achieved with the rigid liquid column model.

Computational evaluation of hydraulic system behaviour with entrapped air under rapid pressurization

The pressurization of hydraulic systems containing entrapped air is considered a critical condition for the infrastructure's security due to transient pressure variations often occurred. The objective of the present study is the computational evaluation of trends observed in variation of maximum surge pressure resulting from rapid pressurizations. The comparison of the results with those obtained in previous studies is also undertaken. A brief state of art in this domain is presented. This research work is applied to an experimental system having entrapped air in the top of a vertical pipe section. The evaluation is developed through the elastic model based on the method of characteristics, considering a moving liquid boundary, with the results being compared with those achieved with the rigid liquid column model.

Mathematical modeling of pressurized system behaviour with entrapped air

The presence of entrapped air in pressurized hydraulic systems is considered a critical condition for the infrastructure security, due to the transient pressure enhancement related with its dynamic behaviour, similar to non-linear spring action. A mathematical model for the assessment of hydraulic transients resulting from rapid pressurizations, under referred condition is presented. Water movement was modeled through the elastic column theory considering a moving liquid boundary and the entrapped air pocket as lumped gas mass, where the acoustic effects are negligible. The method of characteristics was used to obtain the numerical solution of the liquid flow. The resulting model is applied to an experimental set-up having entrapped air in the top of a vertical pipe section and the numerical results are analyzed.

Simulation of default events in a CDX and estimation of the spread

The portfolio generating the iTraxx EUR index is modeled by coupled Markov chains. Each of the industries of the portfolio evolves according to its own Markov transition matrix. Using a variant of the method of moments, the model parameters are estimated from a data set of Standard and Poor's. Swap spreads are evaluated by Monte-Carlo simulations. Along with an actuarially fair spread, at least squares spread is considered.

The role of discriminant analysis in the refinement of customer satisfaction assessment

OBJECTIVE: To test discriminant analysis as a method of turning the information of a routine customer satisfaction survey (CSS) into a more accurate decision-making tool. METHODS: A 7-question, 10-multiple choice, self-applied questionnaire was used to study a sample of patients seen in two outpatient care units in Valparaíso, Chile, one of primary care (n=100) and the other of secondary care (n=249). Two cutting points were considered in the dependent variable (final satisfaction score): satisfied versus unsatisfied, and very satisfied versus all others. Results were compared with empirical measures (proportion of satisfied individuals, proportion of unsatisfied individuals and size of the median). RESULTS: The response rate was very high, over 97.0% in both units. A new variable, medical attention, was revealed, as explaining satisfaction at the primary care unit. The proportion of the total variability explained by the model was very high (over 99.4%) in both units, when comparing satisfied with unsatisfied customers. In the analysis of very satisfied versus all other customers, significant relationship was identified only in the case of the primary care unit, which explained a small proportion of the variability (41.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Discriminant analysis identified relationships not revealed by the previous analysis. It provided information about the proportion of the variability explained by the model. It identified non-significant relationships suggested by empirical analysis (e.g. the case of the relation very satisfied versus others in the secondary care unit). It measured the contribution of each independent variable to the explanation of the variation of the dependent one.

Aplicação do ABC no sector de transporte público rodoviário de mercadorias: estudo de caso em PME

Mestrado em Contabilidade e Finanças Orientado por: Doutora Cláudia Lopes