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In the last decades the laser beam welding (LBW) has outclassed older welding techniques in the industrial scenario. Despite the improvement in welding technology, sophisticated methods of fault detection are not commonly used in commercially available equipments yet. A recent analysis of process images have revealed the possibility to build up a real time closed loop control system. By the use of image based quality features, a feedback signal can be provided to maintain the process in the desired state. The development of the presented visual control system has been focused on the adjustment of the laser power according to the detection of the so called full penetration hole. Due to the high dynamics of the laser welding, a fast real time image processing with controlling rates in the multi kilo Hertz range is necessary to have a robust feedback control. In this paper an algorithm for the real time control of welding processes is described. It has been implemented on the Eye-RIS v1.2, a visual system which mounts a cellular structure. By applying this algorithm in real time applications, controlling rates of about 7 kHz can be reached. In the following some real time control results are also described.

O envelhecimento populacional trouxe consigo temas emergentes como os maus-tratos contra idosos, que em decorrência de seu caráter biopsicossocial, aspira por investigações mais profundas e soluções urgentes. A pouca disseminação das informações sobre maus-tratos aos idosos contribui para a perpetuação da violência e, frente a este cenário, o presente estudo objetivou realizar uma atualização ampla da literatura através da caracterização dos tipos de violência, do perfil do agressor e vítima, principais locais de ocorrência, indicadores, epidemiologia, instrumentos de detecção e propostas de resolução com base nos dados dos últimos anos de pesquisa científica (2001 a 2008). No desenvolvimento desta produção, nos deparamos com a escassez de dados epidemiológicos atualizados que expressem a verdadeira dimensão estatística do problema, além da ausência de exploração científica minuciosa das diversas faces da violência contra o idoso. Sendo assim, este possui, também, o intuito de enfatizar a necessidade de futuras produções científicas abordando a presente questão visto que, por meio do maior entendimento e desenvolvimento de pesquisas acerca do assunto, serão ampliadas as condições para prevenção, autuação e condutas adequadas, tanto por parte de órgãos e profissionais, que sejam ou não da área da saúde, quanto pelos próprios idosos que necessitam de maior respaldo de orientação.

Paclitaxel is routinely used in cancer chemotherapy to treat patients with ovarian, breast, lung, head and neck cancers. However, because of its low aqueous solubility, it’s been administered as a Cremophor EL and ethanol solution, which is associated with increased toxicity and high therapeutic dose requirements. The goal of the present study was to formulate paclitaxel into a self assembling nanoemulsion (SANE) and demonstrate the effects of paclitaxel SANE formulation on the inhibition of cell proliferation in breast (80 %), colon (60 %), and pancreatic cell lines (60 %) compared to blank nanoemulsion. In addition, nanoemulsions of paclitaxel with a mean particle size of 20 nm dramatically reduced zeta potential and showed up to 12 fold greater apoptosis in the PL-45 pancreatic cancer cell line compared to a blank nanoemulsion. In conclusion we have developed a SANE formulation of paclitaxel having a particle size of 20 nm which significantly inhibited cell proliferation, dramatically reduced zeta potential and increased apoptosis by 12-fold when compared to a blank and nanoemulsion, thus indicating the therapeutic potential for SANE as an anti-cancer drug delivery system.

Decreasing the volume of media required to maintain cell viability not only reduces contamination of bioreactors from the upstream process, but may contribute to cost-containment measures in the biopharmaceutical industry. Based on our recent finding that dextran-containing nanocarriers increased CHO cell density up to 20 fold compared to its cellulose-containing microcarrier counterpart (manuscript submitted), we then investigated the possibility of reducing media volume to maintain cell viability, by utilizing the same dextran-based nanocarrier prepared from a self assembling nanoemulsion (SANE) method, and an adherent Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture line to evaluate media volume requirements. At the same 60 mL volume of media, cell viability after day 3 was 6 fold greater in CHO cells exposed to dextran-containing nanocarriers compared to cellulose-based microcarriers. When CHO cells were exposed to 60 mL of media containing dextran-based nanocarriers compared to 100 mL of media for cellulose-microcarriers, at day 6, cell density was up to 7 fold greater. Similarly, cell lysate protein concentrations at day 6 was nearly 3 fold greater for CHO cells exposed to dextran-containing nanocarriers compared to the cellulose-based microcarriers. Furthermore, nanocarriers had 59% greater glucose concentration, used as a measure of the polymer dextran and cellulose content levels in the nanocarriers and microcarriers, respectively. In conclusion, nanocarriers with increased numbers of dextran molecules, developed in these studies may be useful to further optimize media volume requirements for maximum culture growth.

Lutein, a lipid soluble, oxygenated carotenoid, has shown beneficial effects against the risk factors associated with age-related macular degeneration, cardiovascular disease and also damaging UV radiation. The goal of the present study was to formulate lutein into a stable hydrophilic nanoemulsion that is more bioavailable and consumable in a matrix such as a beverage rather than just supplements. A Microfluidizer® Processor was used to convert an oil-in-water lutein emulsion into a nanoemulsion that is a stable water dispersion and measures 150 nm. After a one wk baseline phase, subjects consumed a lutein supplement pill followed by a lutein nanoemulsion added to orange juice (6 mg/d and 2 mg/d in two separate studies) for one wk each with a 2 wk washout phase between treatments. In study 1, mean serum lutein concentrations (n = 9) increased by 104% (P < 0.001) and 167% (P < 0.001) after the 6 mg supplement and nanoemulsion phases, respectively. In study 2, mean serum lutein concentrations (n = 11) increased by 37% (P < 0.05) and 75% (P < 0.001) after the 2 mg lutein supplement and nanoemulsion phases, respectively Despite the fact that the actual concentration of lutein in the 6 mg and 2 mg nanoemulsions was 10% and 40% lower compared to the supplement form, respectively, due to Microfluidizer ® processor preparation loss, the nanoemulsions resulted in 31% (P < 0.05) and 28% (P < 0.05) greater serum lutein concentrations compared to the supplement.. In conclusion, nanoemulsions of lutein had significantly greater bioavailability than the supplement-pill forms.

Various metamathematical investigations, beginning with Fraenkel’s historical proof of the independence of the axiom of choice, called for suitable definitions of hierarchical universes of sets. This led to the discovery of such important cumulative structures as the one singled out by von Neumann (generally taken as the universe of all sets) and Godel’s universe of the so-called constructibles. Variants of those are exploited occasionally in studies concerning the foundations of analysis (according to Abraham Robinson’s approach), or concerning non-well-founded sets. We hence offer a systematic presentation of these many structures, partly motivated by their relevance and pervasiveness in mathematics. As we report, numerous properties of hierarchy-related notions such as rank, have been verified with the assistance of the ÆtnaNova proof-checker.Through SETL and Maple implementations of procedures which effectively handle the Ackermann’s hereditarily finite sets, we illustrate a particularly significant case among those in which the entities which form a universe of sets can be algorithmically constructed and manipulated; hereby, the fruitful bearing on pure mathematics of cumulative set hierarchies ramifies into the realms of theoretical computer science and algorithmics.

We consider the Dirichlet problem for a class of degenerate nonlinear elliptic fourth-order equations with strengtheningly monotone principal parts, absorbing lower-order terms and L1-right-hand sides. We establish existence of solutions of the given problem bounded on the sets where the behaviour of the data of the problem is regular enough.

This study presents magnetic anomaly data from a new high-resolution, low-altitude helicopter-borne magnetic survey recently collected on and offshore Tenerife in the Canary Archipelago. The Italian Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) in collaboration with the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales of the CSIC of Spain conducted the survey in 2006. The data for Tenerife and surrounding marine areas were processed into digital total intensity magnetic anomalies for geomagnetic epoch 2006.4. Relative to previously available higher altitude magnetic survey data, the new survey mapped higher resolution anomalies with significantly improved spatial details, especially over the Las Cañadas caldera and Teide-Pico Viejo complex in the central part of the island. A good correlation is evident between known structural geology and the magnetic anomalies, where the new shorter wavelength anomalies facilitate more detailed and comprehensive geologic interpretations.

The present study investigated chemical and sensory properties of Malvasia delle Lipari DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin) wine fermented with a cryotolerant strain of Saccharomyces uvarum, characterized by low levels of acetic acid production. In particular, experimental wine was tested for volatile acidity and for aromatic profile by gas chromatography and the results were compared with the same wine produced with a commercial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sensory analysis was carried out to assess the identification of experimental wine as Malvasia delle Lipari by defining its sensory profile. Fermentation with S. uvarum gave a final product with lower volatile acidity, lower alcohol content and higher total acidity. Moreover, differences in the aroma profile could be ascribed to different characteristics of the yeasts. Concerning sensorial analysis, the panel assigned higher scores in positive attributes to the wine fermented with S. uvarum.

Burn injuries are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the Brazilian population. We conducted this study in a tertiary hospital in Brazil to discover the epidemiological characteristics of patients with burn injuries. We conducted a cohort review of patients admitted to the burn unit of our institute during a 5-year period. For each patient, we collected data that included age, gender, total percentage of burned body surface area, burn location, burn mode, and burn cause. We analyzed the data using the R programming language. We included a total of 496 patients in our study. The mean age of the patients was 28 ± 14.7 years. The median length of hospital stay was 2 weeks. We found a significant correlation between the total percentage of burned body surface area and the length of hospitalization (p <.001) and the length of hospitalization in the intensive care unit (p <.001). A total of 427 patients (86%) were discharged from the hospital after successful treatment. In contrast, 43 patients (8.67%) died. The mortality rate was highest in patients who had more than 70% of their total body surface area burned. The average length of hospitalization aligned with global and national statistics presented in the literature. The main causes of the burn injuries were thermal (e.g., fire, hot liquids). We found inhalation injuries present in more than one third of the patients who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit with thermal burns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In the recent past home automation has been expanding its objectives towards new solutions both inside the smart home and in its outdoor spaces, where several new technologies are available. This work has developed an approach to integrate intelligent microclimatic greenhouse control into integrated home automation. Microclimatic control of greenhouses is a critical issue in agricultural practices, due to often common sudden daily variation of climatic conditions, and to its potentially detrimental effect on plant growth. A greenhouse is a complex thermodynamic system where indoor temperature and relative humidity have to be closely monitored to facilitate plant growth and production. This work shows an adaptive control system tailored to regulate microclimatic conditions in a greenhouse, by using an innovative combination of soft computing applications. In particular, a neural network solution has been proposed in order to forecast the climatic behavior of greenhouse, while a parallel fuzzy scheme approach is carried out in order to adjust the air speed of fan-coil and its temperature. The proposed combined approach provides a better control of greenhouse climatic conditions due to the system’s capability to base instantaneous solutions both on real measured variables and on forecasted climatic change. Several simulation campaigns were carried out to perform accurate neural network and fuzzy schemes, aimed at obtaining respectively a minimum forecasted error value and a more appropriate fuzzification and de-fuzzification process. A Matlab/Simulink solution implemented with a combined approach and its relevant obtained performance is also shown in present study, demonstrating that through controlled parameters it will be possible to maintain a better level of indoor climatic conditions. In the present work we prove how with a forecast of outside temperature at the next time-instant and rule-based controller monitoring of cooling or heating air temperatures and air velocities of devices that regulate the indoor micro-climate inside, a better adjustment of the conditions of comfort for crops is achievable.

Current patterns of biodiversity distribution result from a combination of historical and contemporary processes. Here, we compiled checklists of amphibian species to assess the roles of long-term climate stability (Quaternary oscillations), contemporary environmental gradients and geographical distance as determinants of change in amphibian taxonomic and phylogenetic composition in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We calculated beta diversity as both variation in species composition (CBD) and phylogenetic differentiation (PBD) among the assemblages. In both cases, overall beta diversity was partitioned into two basic components: species replacement and difference in species richness. Our results suggest that the CBD and PBD of amphibians are determined by spatial turnover. Geographical distance, current environmental gradients and long-term climatic conditions were complementary predictors of the variation in CBD and PBD of amphibian species. Furthermore, the turnover components between sites from different regions and between sites within the stable region were greater than between sites within the unstable region. On the other hand, the proportion of beta-diversity due to species richness difference for both CBD and PBD was higher between sites in the unstable region than between sites in the stable region. The high turnover components from CBD and PBD between sites in unstable vs stable regions suggest that these distinct regions have different biogeographic histories. Sites in the stable region shared distinct clades that might have led to greater diversity, whereas sites in the unstable region shared close relatives. Taken together, these results indicate that speciation, environmental filtering and limited dispersal are complementary drivers of beta-diversity of amphibian assemblages in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

This work focuses on a particular type of vertical-axis wind turbine, in which a number of inclined arms with airfoil-shaped cross-sections are mounted to connect the principal blades to their hub. While the majority of the known studies on vertical-axis turbines is devoted to the role of principal blades, in most of the cases without taking into account other parts of the wind turbine, the objective of this work is to investigate the effect of uncommon arm geometries, such as the inclined arms. The inclined arms are known to have a potentially beneficial role in the power extraction from the wind current but, due to the complexity of the phenomena, the investigation on aerodynamics of this type of turbine is often impossible through analytical models, such as blade-element momentum theory. It turns out that adequate studies can only be carried out by wind tunnel experiments or CFD simulations. This work presents a methodical CFD study on how inclined arms can be used on a selected wind turbine configuration to harvest additional power from the wind. The turbine configuration, geometry, and some fundamental definitions are introduced first. Then an in-depth CFD analysis is presented and discussed.

Mini-puberty is the physiological and transient activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis occurring during the first months after birth. In preterm infants, the hormonal surge is more pronounced and longer-lasting than in at-term-peers. To date, only few cases of vaginal bleeding in the setting of an exaggerated mini-puberty have been reported. At the corrected age of 3 months, an ex-very-preterm girl presented with breast enlargement and recurrent vaginal bleeding. A remarkable increase in gonadotropins and estradiol levels was detected, while pelvic ultrasound highlighted a large right ovarian cyst. As brain and pituitary MRI showed negative findings, an exaggerated mini-puberty was suspected and no additional investigations were undertaken. The subsequent progressive regression of clinical, biochemical and sonographic findings confirmed the diagnosis. Although exaggerated mini-puberty of infancy in ex-preterm girls is a rare event, it is important to raise knowledge of this para-physiological condition in order to avoid unnecessary investigations and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Um novo modelo de coração artificial está sendo desenvolvido e testado em nossos laboratórios, o Coração Artificial Auxiliar (CAA). Este dispositivo foi projetado com dimensões reduzidas para ser implantado em paralelo ao coração natural do paciente, dentro da cavidade torácica direita de forma heterotópica. Foram realizados testes in vitro, em um circuito simulador do sistema circulatório humano, para verificação do desempenho hidrodinâmico do CAA. Os resultados mostraram que o CAA pode fornecer um fluxo de até 5,8 L/min, com uma pré-carga de 20 mmHg e uma pós-carga de 100 mmHg. A freqüência de batimento do CAA e, consequentemente, o débito cardíaco são dependentes da pré-carga do ventrículo esquerdo, funcionamento semelhante ao coração natural (Lei de Frank Starling). Testes in vivo animal estão sendo realizados para avaliar os resultados obtidos com os testes in vitro e para verificar o comportamento do CAA em ambiente e condições fisiológicas difíceis de serem simuladas. Os testes in vivo estão sendo também importantes para o desenvolvimento de técnicas cirúrgicas e treinamento dos cirurgiões cardiovasculares envolvidos no projeto. Até o momento, dois estudos agudos in vivo foram realizados, com o CAA funcionando por 5h, implantado na cavidade torácica direta de carneiros adultos (50 ± 5 kg). Os resultados destes estudos in vivo demonstraram que o funcionamento do CAA é sincronizado ao coração natural, sendo possível estudar o comportamento do CAA quando, gradativamente, o coração natural teve sua contratilidade reduzida até sua parada total.

Sono raccolte in questo Volume alcune delle conferenze svolte durante il 3^o Simposio Internazionale Problemi Attuali dell’Analisi e della Fisica Matematica, dedicato alla memoria di Gaetano Fichera, che si è svolto a Taormina dal 29 Giugno al 1 Luglio, 2006. Hanno partecipato al Simposio più di cinquanta studiosi italiani e stranieri (cfr. Elenco dei Partecipanti). Sono state svolte trentasette relazioni.