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Ionic liquids have gathered special attention due to their potential for carbon dioxide capture, and their potential as solvents for mitigation of climate change. Following the scope of previous works, amino‐acid‐based ionic liquids encapsulated (ENILs) into carbonaceous submicrocapsules are here proposed as a novel material for CO2 capture. The ENILs prepared using tetrabutylphosphonium acetate ([P4,4,4,4][Ac]), used as reference, (2‐hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium l‐phenylalaninate ([N1,1,1,2(OH)][L‐Phe]), (2‐hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium l‐prolinate ([N1,1,1,2(OH)][L‐Pro]), and tetrabutylammonium l‐prolinate ([N4,4,4,4][L‐Pro]) were characterized by SEM, TEM, elemental analysis, TGA, and BET to assess their morphology, chemical composition, porous structure, and thermal stability. The absorption of CO2 on these materials was studied up to 0.5 MPa and 343 K. The desorption of CO2 from the saturated ENILs was evaluated, under mild conditions, evidencing these materials as promising agents for CO2 capture from post‐combustion sources, with high sorption capacity and fast and complete regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the efficiency of cervical relaxation protocol using none, half or full dose (1.0 mg) of oestradiol benzoate in Dorper ewes subjected to non‐surgical embryo recovery (NSER). Thirty‐six pluriparous ewes received progestogen sponge (60 mg) for 9 days plus eCG administration (300 IU i.m.) 24 hr before sponge removal. Ewes were not mated and were randomly assigned to receive at 16 hr before NSER 37.5 µg d‐cloprostenol i.m. and different doses of oestradiol benzoate: 0.0 mg (0EB group; n = 12); 0.5 mg (0.5EB group; n = 12) or 1.0 mg of oestradiol (1.0EB group, n = 12). All ewes received oxytocin (50 IU) i.v. 20 min before NSER, which was performed 8 days after sponge removal. Corpora lutea were counted by transrectal ultrasonography 24 hr before NSER. After procedure, the ewes were kept in natural breeding period to check their post‐NSER fertility. NSER was performed in 91.7% (33/36) of the animals with overall fluid recovery efficiency over 97% (p >.05). The cervical transposing with Hegar dilator was longer (p <.05) in 0EB (4.2 ± 0.3 min) compared to 0.5EB (1.7 ± 0.3 min) and 1.0EB group (1.5 ± 0.3 min). The cervical transposing with mandrel/catheter was longer (p <.05) in 0EB (2.4 ± 0.5 min) than 1.0EB group (1.3 ± 0.5 min). Overall duration of uterine flushing was 25.4 min with structure recovery rate of 43.5%, with no difference among groups (p >.05). The post‐NSER fertility was higher (p <.05) in 0.0EB (90%) than 0.5EB group (36.4%). In conclusion, NSER can be successfully performed in Dorper ewes by using a cervical relaxation protocol without oestradiol benzoate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the effects of intravaginal and intravenous routes of oxytocin (OT) administration in 46 oestrous‐induced Santa Inês ewes (6‐day treatment with progestin‐releasing intravaginal sponges and a single injection of 200 IU of eCG at the time of sponge removal) that underwent transcervical embryo recovery 6–7 days after oestrous onset and mating. All ewes received 37.5 μg of d‐cloprostenol via latero‐vulvar route, and 1 mg of oestradiol benzoate i.m. 16 hr before and 50 IU of OT 20 min before non‐surgical embryo recovery (NSER), with OT being administered intravenously (n = 21) or intravaginally (n = 21). An overall oestrous response was 95.6% (44/46), and adequate cervical retraction could be accomplished in 78.6% (33/42) of ewes. The percentage of successful NSER procedures was 57% (24/42) or 72.7% (24/33) of animals with sufficient cervical retraction. The duration of NSER procedure averaged 28 min (range: 17–40 min) and ~96% of flushing fluid could be recovered (range: 85%–100%). Out of 18 ewes that could not undergo NSER, 12 (66.6%) presented various anatomical barriers, whilst the other 33.4% did not present these barriers and still could not be traversed. Excluding the ewes with those anatomical features, the overall success rate of NSER was 80% (24/30). The route of OT administration had no effect on NSER efficiency or the ease with which transcervical embryo flushing was performed. Both routes of OT administration can be used for cervical dilation protocol. Discarding ewes with anatomical features precluding cervical penetration is highly recommended to increase the efficacy of NSER in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, it is proposed and experimentally investigated a sensor structure based on a core diameter mismatch technique for strain sensing. An uncoated short section of multimode fiber is spliced between two standard single mode fibers forming the sensor structure, called the SMS (single‐mode‐multimode‐single‐mode) sensor. The proposed SMS sensor, in the strain analysis, generates destructive or constructive interference patterns as load or strain are applied, changing the power of the optical signal only, without varying the wavelength. The sensor configuration offers several motivating attributes, such as easy fabrication, low‐cost, high‐efficiency and high sensitivity, moreover allows interrogation of the optical signal using the transmitted or reflected total optical power. The results and these advantages indicate that the proposed SMS sensor device is suitable for strain measurement, which is helpful in a broad range of applications, for instance, structural health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, medical education context poses different challenges to anatomy, contributing to the introduction of new pedagogical approaches, such as computer‐assisted learning (CAL). This approach provides insight into students' learning profiles and skills that enhance anatomy knowledge acquisition. To understand the influence of anatomy CAL on spatial abilities, a study was conducted. A total of 671 medical students attending Musculoskeletal (MA) and Cardiovascular Anatomy (CA) courses, were allocated to one of three groups (MA Group, CA Group, MA + CA Group). Students' pre‐training and post‐training spatial abilities were assessed through Mental Rotations Test (MRT), with scores ranging between 0‐24. After CAL training sessions, students' spatial abilities performance improved (9.72 ± 4.79 vs. 17.05 ± 4.57, P < 0.001). Although male students in both MA Group and CA Group show better baseline spatial abilities, no sex differences were found after CAL training. The improvement in spatial abilities score between sessions (Delta MRT) was correlated with Musculoskeletal Anatomy training sessions in MA Group (r = 0.333, P < 0.001) and MA + CA Group (r = 0.342, P < 0.001), and with Cardiovascular Anatomy training sessions in CA Group (r = 0.461, P = 0.001) and MA + CA Group (r = 0.324, P = 0.001). Multiple linear regression models were used, considering the Delta MRT as dependent variable. An association of Delta MRT to the amount of CAL training and the baseline spatial abilities was observed. The results suggest that CAL training in anatomy has positive dose‐dependent effect on spatial abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this work, it is proposed a technique to implement an intensity sensor based on the generation of a double-reflecting (ghost) signal in optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR). The intensity sensor is supported by a singlemode-multimode-singlemode (SMS) fiber structure combined with a fiber loop mirror (FLM). The results of the displacement sensitivity show linear behavior for both the first-reflecting and double-reflecting signals with linear slopes of approximately −4.5 dB/mm and −6 dB/mm, respectively. The displacement resolution achieved is ∼0.28 mm. It is also found that the system is able to read periodic displacement variations in the millisecond time scale applied to the sensing head. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1312-1315, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this article, it is proposed an interrogation and multiplexing system based on optical time domain reflectometer for fiber loop mirror coupled intensity sensors. Pulse width of approximately 100 ns enabled to attain a dynamic range of approximately 18 dB. Good linearity was achieved with a −13.3 dB/mm slope. The resolution of the sensing head was 0.027 mm. The proposed interrogation system showed to be an alternative technique for multiplexing and remote sensing. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2860-2864, 2014 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]