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This study aimed to investigate the circulating levels of adiponectin and leptin levels and their association with fat mass, and lipid and glycaemic profiles in sedentary middle-aged adults without diabetes. Forty middle-aged sedentary adults (82.5% women; 53.4 ± 7.18 years old; BMI: 27.4 ± 3.9 kg/m2) took part in this study. Anthropometric measures including body mass, stature, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Fat mass was determined by bioimpedance. Fasting blood samples were collected to determine adipokines and lipid and glycaemic profile outcomes. Pearson and Spearman's correlations were used to determine the associations between variables. Our results suggested that leptin is positively associated with BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, glucose, HbA1c (%), and total cholesterol. Regarding adiponectin levels, we found a negative association with BMI and triglycerides and a positive association with HDL-C levels. No significant associations were observed between adiponectin and glycaemic profile outcomes. Adiponectin/leptin ratio showed to be associated negatively with BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, fasting glucose, and triglycerides. This study has important clinical and public health implications supporting the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle to maintain satisfactory levels of leptin and adiponectin, and consequently, a normal glycaemic and lipid profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn is an example of an agricultural grain with a specific combustibility level and can promote smoldering fires during storage. This paper conducts an experimental design to numerically evaluate how three parameters, namely particle size, moisture, and air ventilation, influence the smoldering velocity. The work methodology is based on Minitab's experimental design, which defined the number of experiments. First, a pile of corn is heated by a hot plate and a set of thermocouples registers all temperature variations. Then, a full-factorial experiment is implemented in Minitab to analyze the smoldering, which provides a mathematical equation to represent the smoldering velocity. The results indicate that particle size is the most influential factor in the reaction, with 35% and 45% variation between the dried and wet samples. Moreover, comparing the influence of moisture between corn flour and corn powder samples, a variation of 19% and 31% is observed; additionally, analyzing the ventilation as the only variant, we noticed variations of 15% and 17% for dried and wet corn flour, and 27% and 10% for dried and wet corn powder. Future studies may use the experimental design of this work to standardize the evaluation methodology and more effectively evaluate the relevant influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post design and material has very important effects on dentinal stress distribution since the post placement can create stresses that lead to root fracture. Materials and Methods: In this study we use finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate stress distribution on endodontically treated maxillary central incisors that have been restored with different prefabricated posts. Six models were generated from the image of anatomical plate: Four metallic posts (ParaPost XH, ParaPost XT, ParaPost XP, and Flexi-Flange) and one fiberglass post (ParaPost Fiber Lux). The sixth model was a control-a sound maxillary central incisor. We used CAD software and exported the models to ANSYS 9.0. All the materials and structures were considered elastic, isotropic, homogeneous, and linear except the fiberglass post which was considered orthotropic. The values for the mechanical properties were obtained by a review of the literature and the model was meshed with 8-node tetrahedral elements. A load of 2N was applied to the lingual surface at an angle of 135°. Results: The stress results were recorded by shear stress and von Mises criteria; it was observed that there was no difference for stress distribution among the titanium posts in the radicular portions and into posts. There was higher stress concentration on the coronary portion with the titanium posts than with the glass fiber post. It seems that the metallic posts′ external configuration does not influence the stress distribution. Conclusion: Fiber posts show more homogeneous stress distribution than metallic posts. The post material seems to be more relevant for the stress distribution in endodontically treated teeth than the posts′ external configuration.

Background: The radiopacity degree of posts is not enough for adequate visualization during radiographic analyses. Glass fiber post with stainless steel reinforcement has been fabricated in an attempt to overcome this limitation. Aim: This study was designed to determine the influence of this metal reinforcement on the post mechanical properties. Materials and Methods: This study evaluated flexural modulus (E), flexural strength (σ), and stiffness (S) of five different fiber post systems (n = 5): RfX (Reforpost Glass Fiber RX; Ângelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil); RG (Reforpost Glass Fiber, Ângelus); RC (Reforpost Carbon Fiber, Ângelus); FP (Fibrekor Post; Jeneric Pentron Inc., Wallingford, CT, USA); and CP (C-Post; Bisco Dental Products, Schaumburg, IL, USA), testing the hypothesis that the insertion of a metal reinforcement (RfX) jeopardizes the mechanical properties of a glass fiber post. Posts were loaded in three-point bending using a testing machine with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Results : The results were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey′s multiple range tests (a = 0.05). Mean and standard deviation values of E (GPa), s (MPa), and S (N/mm) were as follows: RfX: 10.8 ± 1.6, 598.0 ± 52.0, 132.0 ± 21.9; RG: 10.6 ± 1.0, 562.0 ± 24.9, 137.8 ± 5.5; RC: 15.9 ± 2.4, 680.5 ± 34.8, 190.9 ± 12.9; FP: 10.9 ± 1.4, 586.8 ± 21.9, 122.4 ± 17.3; CP: 6.3 ± 1.7, 678.1 ± 54.2, 246.0 ± 41.7. Carbon fiber posts showed the highest mean s values (P < 0.05). In addition, RC showed the highest mean E value and CP showed the highest mean S value (P < 0.05). Conclusion : The hypothesis was rejected since the metal reinforcement in the glass fiber post (RfX) does not decrease the mechanical property values. Posts reinforced with carbon fibers have a higher flexural strength than glass fiber posts, although all posts showed similar mechanical property values with dentin.

The thickness and shade of a restoration will affect the transmission of light from the light-curing unit (LCU). This study determined the power (mW), spectral radiant power (mW/nm), and beam profile of different LCUs through various thicknesses and shades of a CAD-CAM resin composite (BRAVA Block, FGM). Five thicknesses: 0.5; 0.75; 1.0; 1.5, and 2.0 mm, in three shades: Bleach; A2 and A3.5 of a CAD-CAM resin (n = 5). Two single-peak LCUs: EL, Elipar DeepCure-S (3M Oral Care); and OP, Optilight Max (Gnatus), and one multiple-peak LCU: VL, VALO Grand (Ultradent), were used. The LCUs were positioned touching the surface of the BRAVA Block. The power and emission spectrum were measured using a fiberoptic spectrometer attached to an integrating sphere, and the beam profiles using a laser beam profiler. The effect of the material thickness on the light attenuation coefficients was determined. VL and EL delivered more homogeneous beam profiles than OP. The type of the BRAVA Block had a significant effect on the transmitted power, and wavelengths of transmitted light (p < 0.001). There was an exponential reduction in the power and emission spectrum as the thickness of the BRAVA Block increased (p < 0.001). The light transmission through the A2 shade was least affected by the thickness (p < 0.001). The attenuation coefficient was higher for the violet light and higher for A3.5 than the A2 or Bleach shades. No violet light from the VL could be detected at the bottom of 2.0 mm of the BRAVA Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban drainage systems play an important role in the complex ecosystem of cities and are often subject to challenges that hinder their functioning. Although identifying these challenges is essential for developing policies and actions to improve drainage systems, there is a lack of studies addressing these challenges. This work has two objectives to contribute to filling this gap: (1) to research the main challenges that make it difficult to improve urban drainage systems; and (2) to prioritize them. We conducted extensive and detailed bibliographic research in which 15 challenges were identified, and a survey with 30 Brazilian professionals with experience in the concerned field. The results showed that 15 challenges identified in the literature were considered important by the survey respondents. It also showed that the most important challenges concern the inadequate functioning of drainage infrastructure, dynamics of city expansion, system maintenance, vulnerability of urban areas, public policies, and investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy consumption of buildings accounts for almost a third of total energy use worldwide, leading to greater efforts in the industry and academia to reduce energy consumption in the built environment. This paper proposes an inventory method integrated within a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) framework to characterise the energy consumption in the building phase of construction projects early in the construction design process. The proposed approach relies on Data Quality Indicators (DQI) and a Pedigree Matrix to quantify the building's Direct Component of Initial Embodied Energy (DCIEE). In addition, a real case study involving various construction technologies representative of contemporary practice is adopted for validation purposes. Results indicate that the DCIEE of the case study building is 0.481 GJ/m2, which is slightly higher than that of other studies in the literature that report energy consumption per m2 of the construction project, mostly due to material transportation being a major contributor in the case study analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]