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Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a particular coronavirus strain responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), accounting for more than 3.1 million deaths worldwide. Several health-related strategies have been successfully developed to contain the rapidly-spreading virus across the globe, toward reduction of both disease burden and infection rates. Particularly, attention has been focused on either the development of novel drugs and vaccines, or by adapting already-existing drugs for COVID-19 treatment, mobilizing huge efforts to block disease progression and to overcome the shortage of effective measures available at this point. Areas covered: This perspective covers the breakthrough of multifunctional biomimetic cell membrane-based nanoparticles as next-generation nanosystems for cutting-edge COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccination, specifically cell membrane-derived nanovesicles and cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, both tailorable cell membrane-based nanosystems enriched with the surface repertoire of native cell membranes, toward maximized biointerfacing, immune evasion, cell targeting and cell-mimicking properties. Expert opinion: Nano-based approaches have received widespread interest regarding enhanced antigen delivery, prolonged blood circulation half-life and controlled release of drugs. Cell membrane-based nanoparticles comprise interesting antiviral multifunctional nanoplatforms for blocking SARS-CoV-2 binding to host cells, reducing inflammation through cytokine neutralization and improving drug delivery toward COVID-19 treatment.

The use of nanotechnology has been extensively explored for developing efficient drug delivery systems towards topical and transdermal applications. Ethosomes constitute a vesicular nanocarrier containing a relatively high concentration of ethanol (20-45%). Ethanol is a well-known permeation enhancer, which confers ethosomes unique features, including high elasticity and deformability, allowing them to penetrate deeply across the skin and enhance drug permeation and deposition. The improved composition of ethosomes offer, thereby, significant advantages in the delivery of therapeutic agents over particularly the conventional liposomes regarding different pathologies, including acne, psoriasis, alopecia, skin infections, hormonal deficiencies, among others. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the ethosomal system and an assessment of its potential as an efficient nanocarrier towards the skin delivery of active ingredients. Special attention is given to the composition of ethosomes and the mechanism of skin permeation, as well as their potential applications in different pathologies, particularly skin pathologies (acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, skin cancer and skin infections). Some examples of ethosome-based formulations for the management of skin disorders are also highlighted. Besides the need for further studies, particularly in humans, ethosomal-based formulations hold great promise in the skin delivery of active ingredients, which increasingly asserts oneself as a viable alternative to the oral route.

PurposeWe propose an integrative model of how leaders (individual level) effectively relate to their social networks as a whole (network level). Additionally, we focus both on the leader constructs and the followers shared constructs about those networks.Design/methodology/approachOur conceptual paper uses the integration of literature from two main bodies of knowledge: individual and shared cognitions, fundamentally from psychology, and a structural perspective, mainly from sociology, organisational studies and social network analysis. We take a psycho-structural approach which allows the emergence of new perspectives on the study of leadership and more specifically on the study of relational leadership.FindingsWe propose a leader-network exchange (LNX) theory focussed on the behaviours and cognitions of leaders and followers as well as the relations between them.Research limitations/implicationsOur model represents a new perspective on leader–followers relationship by stressing the importance of both followers and leaders' cognitions. We highlight the importance of the relationships between followers on the creation of shared meaning about the leader.Practical implicationsOur model helps leaders and managers make sense of the cognitions and behaviours of their teams. By considering the teams characteristics, i.e. cognitions and network structure, it allows leaders to adopt the most appropriate behaviours for effective leadership. Leadership and management development programmes designed around our model will enhance the use of networking skills.Originality/valueContrary to the traditional view of LMX, our approach considers the social context of leaders and followers. It also adds a new layer of knowledge going beyond what members think of their leaders by considering the social networks of leaders and followers.

Aim: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, postmortem and genetic studies in classifying skeletal dysplasias in the first vs second trimester of pregnancy. Methods: We retrospectively...

Osteosarcoma(OS) represents the main cancer affecting bone tissue, and one of the most frequent in children. In this review we discuss the major pathological hallmarks of this pathology, its current therapeutics, new active biomolecules, as well as the nanotechnology outbreak applied to the development of innovative strategies for selective OS targeting. Small RNA molecules play a role as key-regulator molecules capable of orchestrate different responses in what concerns cancer initiation, proliferation, migration and invasiveness. Frequently associated with lung metastasis, new strategies are urgent to upgrade the therapeutic outcomes and the life-expectancy prospects. Hence, the prominent rise of micelleplexes as multifaceted and efficient structures for nucleic acid delivery and selective drug targeting is revisited here with special emphasis on ligand-mediated active targeting. Future landmarks toward the development of novel nanostrategies for both OS diagnosis and OS therapy improvements are also discussed.

"Available online 30 September 2021", The assessment and modelling of unreinforced masonry structures require an adequate understanding of ma- sonry behaviour under shear loading. In particular, the behaviour of the interfaces connecting, brick and mortar, are of key importance during seismic actions. This is because the unit-joint interface may act as the main plane of weakness in the masonry composite. It has been observed that the inelastic behaviour of masonry structural elements subjected to shear loading depends largely on this interface behaviour. Hence, different experimental techniques available to observe in-situ or in a laboratory the behaviour of masonry under shear loading are reviewed and a suitable experimental campaign, also employing DIC as optical monitoring system is undertaken and shear tests are performed. After visualisation and discussion of novel displacement and shear strain maps and graphs, the experimental masonry behaviour is replicated via different numerical models based on the finite element approach. Models are used for better characterising the behaviour of the interface between brick and mortar. Further, the main parameters affecting the numerical models are discussed., The experimental part of this research work has received financial support for materials by the European Commission through the FP7- ENV-2007-1 research project “SMooHS - Smart Monitoring of Historical Structures”, (2008–2011) under grant 212939. The experimental facilities and technical personnel of the LISG laboratory of DICAM Department and of CIRI-EC lab both of the University of Bologna are acknowledged. The modelling part of this work was partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the R&D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), under reference UIDB/04029/2020.

Prenatal screening poses specific challenges in multiple pregnancies but is in growing demand due to their increasing prevalence. Both ultrasound and biochemical screening methods are available, although they are less accurate than in singleton pregnancies. The introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing has been a big step forward with higher sensitivities and lower false-positive rates. In this chapter, we present an overview of the methods and implications of screening in multiple pregnancies, which will aid in the counseling of prospective parents.

This article belongs to the Special Issue: Damage Detection, Quantification and Modelling in Masonry Structures, Historic monuments and constructions capture the knowledge of civilizations of the past and are a source of pride for people of the present. Over the centuries, these buildings have been at risk from natural and man-made causes. The Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Granada, Spain, is one of such places. This paper aims to evaluate the structural performance of the Torre de la Vela, a tower in the Alhambra, under blast loads. The loads were based on historical records of barrels of gunpowder and were modeled as simplified pressure profiles using existing empirical equations. The effect of impulsive loading on the material properties was accounted for using dynamic increase factors, determined experimentally by previous authors. The model was created using Finite Element Methods (FEM) and the problem was solved using explicit dynamic analysis available in Abaqus/Explicit. Using the failure volume damage index, a blast load applied outside and inside of the building would create a low damage level, which should be treated with caution given the occurrence of localized damage. The removal of elements exceeding a given damage threshold led to more visible damage patterns than the Concrete Tension Damage option in Abaqus., FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(UIDB/04029/2020)

Vessels used in industrial high temperature processes of steel and cement production are protected by refractory linings built with dry-stacked masonry, which plays a crucial role on the overall behaviour of the vessels. This paper presents the results of an experimental and numerical research on dry-joint refractory masonry subjected to uniaxial compression. Its main purpose is to fully characterize the masonry walls at different temperatures and different loading conditions. Several aspects that may influence the behaviour of these walls have been tested, namely the loadbearing capacity, the behaviour under cyclic loading and the restrained thermal elongation. The experimental results allowed to identify the effects of the stress concentrations caused by brick’s height imperfections in the mechanical behaviour of the bricks and in the loadbearing capacity of the specimens, the evolution of the wall’s Young’s modulus with the load application, the developed crack patterns and the mechanical behaviour of the samples at ambient and high temperatures. Numerical models were also developed to simulate the behaviour of the walls under different testing conditions and a good agreement with the experimental results was obtained. The concrete damaged plasticity model, using a micro-modelling approach, proved to be suitable for representing the behaviour of these walls at ambient and high temperatures., This work was supported by the funding scheme of the European Commission, Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Networks in the frame of the project ATHOR - Advanced THermomechanical multiscale mOdelling of Refractory linings 764987 Grant.

The real capacity of steel-concrete composite slabs currently used in buildings tends to be governed by the longitudinal shear failure mode. However, in many cases, the design of these structural members according to Eurocode 4, Part 1.1 (EN 1994-1-1) is governed by the vertical shear capacity. The design methodology for the determination of the vertical shear resistance predicted in the referred standard underestimates the shear resistance of steel-concrete composite slabs because it is based on the design model for reinforced concrete slabs stated in Eurocode 2, Part 1.1 (EN 1992-1-1), does not take the contribution of the profiled steel sheeting into account adequately. The results of an experimental programme, comprising 4 experimental tests on short-span steel-concrete composite slabs and carried out at the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Coimbra, Portugal, are then shown and discussed. In order to induce a failure by vertical shear, the composite slabs tested were provided with a longitudinal shear reinforcement system composed by transversal bars crossing longitudinal stiffeners placed along the upper flange of the steel sheets. The results of the experimental tests were also used to calibrate numerical models, which made it possible to carry out a parametric analysis. The experimental and numerical results showed that the design methodology prescribed by Eurocode 4, Part 1.1 is quite conservative as it underestimates the relevant contribution of the resistance of the profiled steel sheeting to the slab's vertical shear capacity.

Introduction Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) is an endoscopic technique proven to be useful in diagnostic approach to interstitial lung disease (ILD), but its role in sarcoidosis is not fully established. The aim of the present study was to assess the diagnostic yield of TBLC in sarcoidosis and its safety profile. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients, evaluated in a tertiary hospital ILD outpatient clinic, who underwent TBLC in the diagnostic work-up. TBLC was performed in accordance with the 2018 expert statement from the Cryobiopsy Working Group. Results 32 patients were included (mean±sd age 47.7±12.6 years, 59.4% male) and divided into three groups: highly likely sarcoidosis (n=21), possible sarcoidosis (n=6) and unlikely sarcoidosis (n=5). A mean of 2.8±0.8 TBLCs were performed. The definitive diagnosis was established by TBLC in 20 out of 27 patients with suspected sarcoidosis. Two patients were diagnosed with sarcoidosis by other methods performed afterwards. TBLC leaded to other diagnosis as well, such as fungal infection (n=1), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (n=1) and silicosis (n=3), making the diagnostic yield for suspected sarcoidosis of TBLC of 92.6%. TBLC was also able to show compatible histological features in five patients whom sarcoidosis was not previously considered. The complications reported overall were pneumothorax in five (15.6%) patients and moderate bleeding in one (3.1%) case. Conclusion In this cohort, TBLC was a safe, reliable and useful procedure in sarcoidosis diagnosis. These results suggest that TBLC can be used successfully in those cases where a definitive diagnosis could not be reached with the usual and less-invasive diagnostic tools., TBLC is a safe procedure with a high diagnostic yield in patients with a prior suspicion of sarcoidosis. Moreover, it can diagnose atypical cases in which previous methods are inconclusive. http://bit.ly/2KWJxLG

Unreinforced masonry construction is predominant in many urban areas world-wide. Many of these constructions are vulnerable to earthquakes, which are the main cause of damage and loss of cultural heritage. Understanding the in-plane behaviour of masonry walls when subjected to horizontal loadings will improve the society capacity to preserve and protect this cultural heritage. An experimental campaign on rubble stone masonry walls under different loading conditions is presented. This experimental campaign allows calibrating non-linear numerical models used to study these elements in a more comprehensive way, performing parametric studies regarding the geometry, pre-compression level, boundary conditions and mechanical properties. The capacity to estimate the shear strength using available analytical models is also reviewed, applied and compared., This work was performed under the research project: EpiCidade – Development of strengthening methods and experimental dynamic analysis of masonry buildings, with the reference QREN 13/SI/2011.

Background The use of immunosuppressive and antifibrotic agents for the treatment of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) appears promising, but there is still no evidence supporting the clinical decision regarding the implementation of each specific pharmacological strategy. Methods Patients diagnosed with CHP and treated with azathioprine (AZA) were retrospectively selected from a single centre for Interstitial Lung Diseases. Baseline clinical data, as well as functional, imaging, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and histology features were assessed. Longitudinal data on functional parameters were collected and comparatively analysed with patients' characteristics. Results In this cohort of 80 patients, of those who reached 12 months of treatment, 78.3% presented a preserved forced vital capacity, with 59 being eligible to be classified as AZA responders (n = 36) or non-responders (n = 23). BAL lymphocytosis was associated with a favourable response to AZA treatment (OR 1.051; 95% CI 1.015–1.089), although it didn't identify all responders. Conclusions AZA revealed to be effective in disease stabilisation in most patients, while ineffective for a subset. BAL lymphocytosis appears as a potentially valuable strategy to identify AZA responders, although with limited accuracy. Further studies are needed to clarify other response markers to immunosuppressive agents, in order to optimize the therapeutic options for this condition.

Cancer ranks amongst the most deadliest diseases, associated with significant burden, often fatal prognosis and huge clinical challenge [1]. Cancer management has substantially improved mainly on cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, resulting in extended survival rates and decreased mortality worldwide. Chemotherapy, along with radiotherapy and surgery, represents one of the major therapeutic approaches for cancer cells eradication, however associated with several shortcomings, as poor cancer tissue biodistribution, accelerated drug degradation and clearance, insufficient cancer targetability and still high systemic toxicity, overall compromising efficacy and safety [2, 3].

Cognitively demanding experiences, including complex skills acquisition and processing, have been shown to induce brain adaptations, at least at the macroscopic level, e.g. on brain volume and/or functional connectivity. However, the neurobiological bases of these adaptations, including at the microstructural cellular level, remain poorly understood. Here we use bilingualism as a case study to investigate the microscopic correlates of experience-based brain adaptations. We employ Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to measure concentrations of metabolites in the ventral striatum, a region critical to language control which is reshaped by bilingualism. Our results revealed increased concentration of myo-Inositol in bilinguals compared to monolinguals. This metabolite is linked to synaptic pruning, a process underlying experience-based brain restructuring. Crucially, concentration was predicted by relative amount of bilingual engagement. Our results suggest that (degree of) long-term cognitive experiences have measurable effects at the microcellular level, which might accompany, if not drive, the observed macroscopic brain adaptations.

RESUMO CONTEXTUALIZACAO: A tiroidite de Hashimoto (TH) pode associar-se a diferentes niveis de disfuncao tiroideia. Ainda nao esta esclarecido de que forma a disfuncao tiroideia ligeira, a autoimunidade e a inflamacao cronica contribuem para um risco cardiovascular aumentado nos doentes com TH. Desta forma, este estudo pretende avaliar o grau de insulinorresistencia, o perfil lipidico e a inflamacao de baixo grau nos doentes com TH. METODOS: Este estudo inclui um total de 228 individuos com tiroidite de Hashimoto, que foram divididos em tres grupos de acordo com os niveis de TSH - TSH 0.35-2.49 μUI/ml, TSH 2.50-4.94 μUI/ml e TSH>4.94 μUI/ml. Foram determinados os testes de funcao tiroideia, anticorpos anti-tiroideus, perfil lipidico, indices de insulinorresistencia, proteina C reativa de alta sensibilidade, vitamina B12, acido folico e homocisteina. A analise estatistica foi realizada com ANOVA, t-test de Student, correlacoes de Pearson e regressao linear multipla. RESULTADOS: 93.9% da nossa populacao e do sexo feminino e a media das idades e 47.1±15.4 anos. Nao foram encontradas diferencas estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos, relativamente a idade, sexo e indice de massa corporal (IMC). Os valores de Modelo de Avaliacao da Homeostasia da Insulinorresistencia (HOMA-IR) foram estatisticamente diferentes entre os tres grupos (p

Objectives: Evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in patients diagnosed with achalasia who performed Heller's myotomy. Methods: Between January 1, 2000 and March 27, 2019, 99 patients were submitted t...

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are naturally occurring macromolecules widely used as excipients on pharmaceutical formulations, evidencing a large spectrum of applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Their unique ability to act as molecular containers by entrapping a wide range of guest molecules in their internal cavity makes them a remarkable excipient to improve drug apparent solubility, stability, and bioavailability, and a valuable tool for the assembly of new drug delivery systems. These features are especially useful when it comes to chemotherapy, as most of the anticancer drugs present both low permeability and reduced water solubility. Therefore, guest-host inclusion complexes offer several potential advantages not only regarding the improvement of pharmaceutical formulations characteristics but also considering the reduction of drug toxic side effects. The combination of CDs with additional technologies and materials constitutes a potential strategy towards the development of advanced and multifunctional CD-based delivery systems. Paclitaxel, curcumin, camptothecin, doxorubicin, and cisplatin are among the most studied molecules with anticancer activities and have been successfully incorporated in such nanosystems. Exciting results using CDs and CD-based delivery systems have been obtained so far, paving the way towards the attainment of intelligent delivery systems to possibly address cancer therapeutics' unmet needs. In this review, a comprehensive exposition concerning in vivo-tested CD and CD-based delivery systems for anticancer therapy is undertaken. Additionally, the authors address the multivalent functionalities of CD-based delivery systems, namely the incorporation of active target ligands, stimuli-responsiveness components, surface functionalization, or further associations with other delivery systems, aiming at improved in vivo anticancer therapies. Graphical abstract.

Rationale: Poor lung health in adult life may occur partly through suboptimal growth and development, as suggested by epidemiological evidence pointing to early life risk factors. Objectives: To systematically investigate the effects of lung development genes on adult lung function. Methods: Using UK Biobank data, we tested the association of 391 genes known to influence lung development with FVC and FEV1/FVC. We split the dataset into two random subsets of 207,616 and 138,411 individuals, using the larger subset to select the most promising signals and the smaller subset for replication. Measurements and Main Results: We identified 55 genes, of which 36 (16 for FVC, 19 for FEV1/FVC, and one for both) had not been identified in the largest, most recent genome-wide study of lung function. Most of these 36 signals were intronic variants; expression data from blood and lung tissue showed that the majority affect the expression of the genes they lie within. Further testing of 34 of these 36 signals in the CHARGE and SpiroMeta consortia showed that 16 replicated after Bonferroni correction and another 12 replicated at nominal significance level. Of the 55 genes, 53 fell into four biological categories whose function is to regulate organ size and cell integrity (growth factors; transcriptional regulators; cell-to-cell adhesion; extracellular matrix), suggesting that these specific processes are important for adult lung health. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the importance of lung development genes in regulating adult lung function and influencing both restrictive and obstructive patterns. Further investigation of these developmental pathways could lead to druggable targets.

This study aims to analyze the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between network centrality and internal learning in teams. A questionnaire was administered to 480 undergraduate students to test this relationship. The results confirmed the positive relationship between network centrality and internal learning in teams, and a mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between student network centrality and internal learning in teams. This study suggests that it is important to promote centrality in advice networks among undergraduate students. In addition, this study might raise awareness among students, teachers, and public policymakers about the need to promote a socially responsible environment in Higher Education Institutions.

Aim To compare the influence of the abutment height and its insertion timing on the marginal bone change (MBC) variation of implants placed at posterior mandibular partial edentulous areas in a medium follow-up period. Material and methods This randomized clinical trial (RCT) comprised a sample of patients with posterior mandibular edentulous areas, treated with at least two implants and distributed into three groups: implants connected to a 2 mm height abutment during the surgical stage (Group A); implants connected to a 1 mm height abutment during the surgical stage (Group B); and implants connected to a 2 mm height abutment after 2 months (Group C). Clinical and radiographic measurements were performed during a 36-month period (T4). The MBC was set as the main variable in study. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results A total of 29 subjects and 59 implants were enrolled in this study. A mean MBC of 0.35 ± 0.46 mm, 0.60 ± 0.81 mm, and 0.71 ± 0.90 mm was computed for groups A, B and C, respectively, at T4. Significant differences were found between groups A and C in terms of MBC variation after 3 years of treatment (p = .048). Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant influence of the first-year MBC and the abutment insertion timing has independent predictor variables for the MBC assessed at T4. Conclusion The installation of 2-mm prosthetic abutments, at the time of implant placement, in areas with limited keratinized mucosa presents as a favorable treatment option in terms of periimplant marginal bone maintenance.

A 26-year-old woman (patient 1 on the family tree—figure 1) gave a 6-year history of dysarthria, occasional jerks and progressive gait unsteadiness with frequent falls, and had become bedridden. On examination, she had dorsal kyphosis and pes cavus. There was severe truncal and appendicular ataxia, generalised action myoclonus, hyporeflexia, hypotonia and bilateral extensor plantar reflexes. Electromyography with nerve conduction studies identified a sensorimotor polyneuropathy, with intermediate conduction velocities. Figure 1 Family tree depicting genetic and phenotypic status of the family members. Her medical history was unremarkable, with a normal development. She had experienced one recent generalised tonic–clonic seizure. She had an older sister (patient 2 on the family tree—figure 1) with a rapidly progressive nephrotic syndrome starting at the age of 17, becoming steroid resistant and needing haemodialysis after a few months. She also had a normal development and unremarkable medical history. At age of 21, she had developed action myoclonus of the lower limbs, with subjective loss of strength and frequent falls, later progressing to the upper limbs. She started having generalised tonicclonic seizures and lost walking ability in the next year. At aged 28 years, she underwent renal transplantation and died 5 years later due to graft-related complications. Their parents were consanguineous (they were half-siblings) and they had a healthy sister. ### How can you localise her myoclonus and what should be the initial steps in the evaluation? Clinical assessment of pathological myoclonus requires a systematic approach. On neurological examination, it is important to note if the myoclonus appears at rest, on posture or during action. If present at rest, a spinal or brainstem source is more likely, whereas, if action induced, a cortical source should be suspected. Distribution is also important: cortical myoclonus is typically focal or multifocal, spinal segmental myoclonus can also be focal (but usually is stimulus sensitive and not action induced), while generalised myoclonus is generally subcortical (brainstem or propriospinal). Generalised myoclonus …

This paper presents a 2-D finite element (FE) based micro modelling framework for thermo-mechanical response history analysis of solid brick masonry structures subjected to fire. The 2-D FE framework considers geometric and material nonlinearities, and transient states of strain in conjunction with the temperature-dependent material properties. Material nonlinearity within the 2-D FE model is considered by the temperature-dependent total strain rotating crack model. The FE framework is validated against the thermo-mechanical response of a half-scale masonry wall subjected to one-sided fire exposure, and it is observed that the predictions of the FE framework are reasonably accurate. Utilizing the validated FE framework, thermo-mechanical response history characterization is performed on a full-scale masonry wall subjected to one-sided fire exposure. Critical physical phenomena which include thermal bowing, heat diffusion, unit-mortar thermo-mechanical interaction, cracking and stress profiles within the masonry structures are studied intricately. Furthermore, thermo-mechanics within representative volumes enclosing unit as well as mortar and their correlation with the global thermo-mechanical response is studied. Such 2-D micro-scale thermo-mechanical computations on masonry walls followed by a detailed discussion on their thermo-mechanics are one of the novel features of the present study. It is observed that thermal bowing resulted from a complex interaction between thermal dilation and cracking and crushing in the mortar and unit within the masonry structure., The first author would like to acknowledge the post-doctoral fellowship offered by the University of Minho for this research. Funding provided by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) to the Research Project IntegraCrete (PTDC/ECM-EST/1056/2014 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016841) is gratefully acknowledged. This work was financially supported by UID/ECI/04029/2019 - ISISE, funded by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC).

Confined masonry (CM) is a widely used solution for buildings in developing countries and has potential for worldwide application when considering its economic and constructive advantages. Although a large background of experimental testing of CM walls is available, numerical studies are further needed to extend the existing knowledge and derive analytical rules to adopt in design codes. In this work, a parametric numerical study is performed, aimed to characterize the lateral in-plane response of CM walls under different variables and to establish a dataset for comparison of engineering demand parameters, towards the proposal of predictive models. Benchmark walls tested under lateral in-plane loading are used to calibrate a finite element modelling approach for pushover analysis. Based on the results of the parametric study, a formulation and charts are proposed to respectively estimate the lateral resistance and displacement capacity of CM walls with features similar to the ones used as benchmark., The FEM analysis work presented here was developed in the scope of European Commission Mandate 'M/515 phase 1 tasks for the development of the 2nd generation of EN Eurocodes' coordinated by the Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN), task SC6.T1 'Masonry Revised version of EN 1996-1-1'. The prolific discussions and suggestions of participants in the work of PT1 for SC6.T1 are gratefully acknowledged. This work was partly financed by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE and by national funds through FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, within ISISE (project UID/ECI/04029/2013). The Postdoc Grant SFRH/BPD/94677/2013 provided to the first author is acknowledged in particular.

The different aspects and specific technicalities of screening and diagnosis of aneuplodies in monozygotic twins are discussed in this chapter, from maternal age to non invasive prenatal test (cfDNA). Counseling couples may be more complex than in singletons, and it is generally based on chorionicity more feasible than zygosity.

Previous research in work and organisational studies has found that individuals may experience their work as a job, a career or a calling. That experience, in turn, has a significant influence on their performance. In the present study, we apply this framework to the field of entrepreneurship and examine if the experience of aspiring entrepreneurs as a job, a career or a calling impacts their ability to attract resources for a new venture by considering two different resource attraction strategies presented in the literature: network positioning and proactive search. The results show that seeing entrepreneurship as a job has a negative impact on both network positioning and proactive search strategies. Experiencing entrepreneurship as a calling, however, has a positive impact on proactive search strategy. Perceiving entrepreneurship as a career is not related to resource attraction strategies. These findings illustrate that the way aspiring entrepreneurs experience their role as entrepreneurs affects their efforts as well as others’ confidence in terms of attracting resources for their new ventures. Theoretical and practical implications are addressed at the end of this work.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the relation between leadership perception and workers’ sense of calling. Design/methodology/approach Workers’ sense of calling has been shown to relate to organizational outcomes such as job satisfaction, career development, personal growth, and well-being. Although recent studies point the sense of calling as a consequent of several organizational variables, the role of leadership in promoting workers’ sense of calling is yet to be analyzed. A self-report questionnaire was applied to a group of 325 Portuguese nurses to analyze this relation. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the results. Findings Results indicate a positive relation between a leader perceived as transformational or transactional and workers’ sense of calling. Directive and empowering leadership perception were found not to be related to calling. Unexpectedly, a significant positive relation with aversive leadership perception was identified. Research limitations/implications A confounding relation between aversive leadership perception and sense of calling cannot be excluded. It is possible that an unknown third variable, such as resilience or positive affect, is serving as a mediating bridge between leadership perception and the sense of calling. Further studies are necessary in order to explore this alternative path. Originality/value The sense of calling is known as a relevant organizational construct. Knowing what kinds of leadership promote workers’ sense of calling adds value for the literature and can help managers to learn how to improve their followers’ sense of calling.

Industrial vessels used in high temperature processes of steel and cement production are protected by refractory linings built with mortarless joints. These dry joints, formed by stacked bricks have a crucial importance on the mechanical behaviour of the lining. The stiffness and consequently the stresses generated by thermal expansion are reduced due to the joints. The present article presents the results of experimental and numerical tests on the thermomechanical behaviour of these joints. The compressive strength of the brick was assessed at ambient and high temperatures and a statistical analysis of the distribution of the bricks’ shape imperfections was carried out. Several studies were carried out on the normal behaviour of the joints: classical joint closure test; bed joint closing action in a masonry wallet measured with a DIC; effects of brick’s height imperfections on its loadbearing capacity; effects of brick’s height imperfections on the wall’s behaviour at ambient and high temperatures and a comparison between the bed and head joints behaviour. To characterize the joint’s tangential behaviour at high temperatures a novel device was developed and presented., The authors would like to thank the support of European Commission under the framework of Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Networks, project ATHOR -Advanced THermomechanical multiscale mOdelling of Refractory linings 764987 Grant.

As the role of students and lecturers in higher education changes, several questions emerge about the role of each of them on students’ academic performance. This includes questions regarding the impact of the relationships between students, lecturer’s characteristics and the social environment on students’ performance. To address these questions, this article reports a study of the impact of lecturer authentic leadership, psychological safety and network density on academic performance. It explores the relationship between network density, psychological safety and lecturer authentic leadership. A questionnaire was distributed to undergraduate students. A positive impact of lecturer authentic leadership and psychological safety on academic performance was found. Students from high-density groups tended to show better academic performance, higher psychological safety and tended to see their lecturers as being more authentic. A reflection on the role of the lecturer in higher education settings is presented. It also presents some recommendations on how student academic performance can be improved by the adoption of specific behaviours by their lecturer.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a rare benign tumor that affects most commonly children and young adults. In the lung, it comprises less than 1% of all neoplasms. The authors describe the clinical, radiological, and pathologic features of 2 cases of incidentally discovered pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors.