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Real-world data collections are generally not easily available. Energy measurements from buildings, houses and other devices can be used within different areas of research while being employed to plan or train models, allowing the improvement of power grid energy efficiency or providing more insight on how an energy community can work.This paper provides a dataset concerning a Portuguese community of 172 households that are geographically close to each other, enabling the establishment of relationships among buildings and the analysis of a community's power consumption.In addition to the consumed energy values, the related local weather information is included in the data. The intersection of weather data and energy measurements can be helpful to train AI models, contributing to explain variations in energy consumption and the absolute values of the energy readings.The inclusion of these weather parameters aims to unveil features that can correlate to the energy measurements, enabling them to be used in multiple areas of research. Hence, it will provide added value to the data as it can be reused to explore Machine Learning algorithms or community energy planning by grid operators.

The birth process in animals, much like in humans, can encounter complications that pose significant risks to both offspring and mothers. Monitoring these events can provide essential nursing support, but human monitoring is expensive. Although there are commercial monitoring systems for large ruminants, there are no effective solutions for small ruminants, despite various attempts documented in the literature. Inertial sensors are very convenient given their low cost, low impact on animal life, and their flexibility for monitoring animal behavior. This study offers a systematic review of the literature on detecting parturition in small ruminants using inertial sensors. The review analyzed the specifics of published research, including data management and monitoring processes, behaviors indicative of parturition, processing techniques, detection algorithms, and the main results achieved in each study. The results indicated that some methods for detecting birth concentrate on classifying unique animal behaviors, employing diverse processing techniques, and developing detection algorithms. Furthermore, this study emphasized that employing techniques that include analyzing animal activity peaks, specifically recurrent lying down and getting up occurrences, could result in improved detection precision. Although none of the studies provided a completely valid detection algorithm, most results were promising, showing significant behavioral changes in the hours preceding delivery.

Indirect methods of measuring the energy expenditure of grazing animals using heartbeat variation or accelerometers are very convenient due to their low cost and low intrusiveness, allowing animals to maintain their usual routine. In the case of accelerometers, it is possible to use them to measure activity, as well as to classify animal behavior, allowing their usage in other scenarios. Despite the obvious convenience of use, it is important to evaluate the measurement error and understand the validity of the measurement through a simplistic method. In this paper, data from accelerometers were used to classify behavior and measure animal activity, and an algorithm was developed to calculate the energy expended by sheep. The results of the energy expenditure calculations were subsequently compared with the values reported in the literature, and it was verified that the values obtained were within the reference ranges. Although it cannot be used as a real metering of energy expended, the method is promising, as it can be integrated with other complementary sources of information, such as the evolution of the animal’s weight and ingestion time, thus providing assistance in animals’ dietary management.

The autonomous identification of animal births has a significant added value, since it enables for a prompt timely human intervention in the process, protecting the young and the mothers’ health, without requiring continuous human surveillance. Wearable inertial sensors have been employed for a variety of animal monitoring applications, thanks to their low cost and the fact that they allow less invasive monitoring process. Alarms triggered by the occurrence of events must be generated close to the events to avoid delays caused by communication latency, which is why this type of mechanism is typically implemented at the network’s edge and integrated with existing auxiliary mechanisms on the Internet. Although the detection of births in cattle has been carried out commercially for some years, there is no solution for small ruminants, especially goats, where the literature does not even report any attempts. The current work consisted of a first attempt at developing an automatic birth monitor using inertial sensing, as well as detection techniques based on Machine Learning, implemented in a network edge device to assure real-time alarm triggering. Thus, two concept drift detection techniques and seven kidding detection mechanisms were developed using data classification models. The work also includes the testing and comparison of learning results, both in terms of accuracy and of computational costs of the detection module, for algorithms implemented. The results revealed that, despite their simplicity, concept drift algorithms do not allow kidding detection, whereas classification-algorithm-based static learning models do, despite the unbalanced character of the dataset and its reduced size. The learning findings are quite promising in terms of computational cost and its suitability for deployment on edge devices. The algorithm demonstrates behavior changes four hours before kidding and allows for the identification of the kidding hour with an accuracy of 61%, as well as the capacity to improve the overall learning process with a larger dataset.

A steady supply of mineral raw materials is vital for the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy. The number of active mines in Europe has severely declined over the last century and half, giving rise to many abandoned mining waste sites and corresponding geological heritage. Also, the rise in minerals demand for large-scale deployment of renewable energy requires the continued and steady availability of key minerals. The supply risk associated with unpredicted geopolitical events needs to be eliminated/mitigated. Historical mine waste sites are the answer but evaluating mine waste is a lengthy and costly exercise. The study, undertaken in the Lousal Mine, used small unmanned aerial systems (sUASs) to model and determine mine waste volumes by generating orthomosaic maps with quick, inexpensive, and reliable results. Calculated mine waste volumes between 308,478 m3 and 322,455 m3 were obtained. XRD and p-XRF techniques determined the mineralogy and chemistry of waste, which varied from mineralization and host rocks with hydrothermal alteration and numerous neogenic sulphates (mostly gypsum, rhomboclase, ferricopiapite, coquimbite, and jarosite) related with supergene processes and weathering. The study shows the viability of using these sUASs to successfully model historical mine waste sites in an initial phase and for future monitoring programs.

The energy sector is currently undergoing a significant shift, driven by the growing integration of renewable energy sources and the decentralization of electricity markets, which are now extending into local communities. This transformation highlights the pivotal role of prosumers within these markets, and as a result, the concept of Renewable Energy Communities is gaining traction, empowering their members to curtail reliance on non-renewable energy sources by facilitating local energy generation, storage, and exchange. Also in a community, management efficiency depends on being able to predict future consumption to make decisions regarding the purchase, sale and storage of electricity, which is why forecasting the consumption of community members is extremely important. This study presents an innovative approach to manage community energy balance, relying on Machine Learning (ML) techniques, namely eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), to forecast electricity consumption. Subsequently, a decision algorithm is employed for energy trading with the public grid, based on solar production and energy consumption forecasts, storage levels and market electricity prices. The outcomes of the simulated model demonstrate the efficacy of incorporating these techniques, since the system showcases the potential to reduce both the community electricity expenses and its dependence on energy from the centralized distribution grid. ML-based techniques allowed better results specially for bi-hourly tariffs and high storage capacity scenarios with community bill reductions of 9.8%, 2.8% and 5.4% for high, low, and average photovoltaic (PV) generation levels, respectively.

Introduction: Transapical off-pump NeoChord DS1000™ implantation is a minimally invasive surgical mitral valve repair (MVr) procedure to treat degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR), which is performed using the NeoChord DS1000™ system with two and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic guidance on a beating heart. It has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in carefully selected patients. Objective: The authors aim to analyze short-term clinical and echocardiographic results after mitral valve repair using the NeoChord™ system. Methods: All patients that underwent transapical off-pump mitral valve repair with NeoChord™ implantation at our center, between December 2017 and December 2019, were included. The procedure was performed by left minithoracotomy, under general anesthesia. All patients presented severe primary MR due to flail/prolapse of one leaflet (anterior or posterior). Results: Eighteen patients were included in the analysis, the mean age was 65±15 years, 72% were male. The mean EuroSCORE II was 1.9±1.6. All patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class ≥ II. Mean effective regurgitant orifice area was 1.0±0.4 cm2, with a mean regurgitant volume 146±42 mL, and a mean leaflet-to-annulus index of 1.29±0.14. MR was due to leaflet prolapse in 50% (N=9), and flail leaflet in 50% (N=9). Anatomic type A (isolated P2 defect) was the predominant form in 66.5% (N=12). Successful repair, defined by none, trace or mild mitral regurgitation, by implantation of two to four neochordae, was achieved in all 18 patients. No major complications arose intra-procedurally. The median follow-up was 194 days. NYHA class was ≤II in 94.5% patients at six-month follow-up, which represented a significant improvement in symptomatic status (p=0.002). At follow-up, 72% of patients (N=13) had grade ≤2 MR. There was a significant reduction in mean indexed left atrium volume (63±7 mL/m2 vs. 45±6 mL/m2, p=0.038), mean indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume (87±7 mL/m2 vs. 79±9 ml/m2, p=0.001), and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (44±4 vs. 31±8 mmHg, p=0.002). The re-intervention rate was 11.1% (N=2, both patients underwent reintervention, either a re-do NeoChord™ or conventional MV repair on-pump surgery). No major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events were registered. Conclusions: In selected patients, minimally invasive MVr using the NeoChord™ system is safe, effective and reproducible. Early clinical and echocardiographic results suggest a significant symptomatic improvement, sustained MR grade decrease, and favorable left cardiac chamber remodeling, with low re-intervention rates. These results warrant further confirmation in larger cohorts, on longer period of follow-up. Resumo: Introdução: A implantação de neocordas por via transapical sem circulação extracorporal é uma técnica minimamente invasiva de reparação valvular mitral (RVM). É utilizada no tratamento de insuficiência mitral (IM) degenerativa, com recurso ao dispositivo NeoChord DS1000™. O procedimento é realizado sob orientação de ecocardiografia transesofáfica (ETE) 2D e 3D e demonstrou ser seguro e eficaz em doentes cuidadosamente selecionados. Objetivo: Os autores pretendem analisar os resultados clínicos e ecocardiográficos a curto prazo da RVM minimamente invasiva com o sistema NeoChord™. Metodos: Foram incluídos todos os doentes submetidos a RVM com implantação de neocordas por via transapical no nosso centro, entre dezembro de 2017 e dezembro de 2019. O procedimento foi realizado por minitoracotomia esquerda, sob anestesia geral. Todos os doentes apresentaram IM primária grave por flail ou prolapso de um dos folhetos da válvula mitral. Resultados: Dezoito doentes foram incluídos na análise, com uma idade média de 65±15 anos, 72% do sexo masculino. O score EuroSCORE II médio foi 1,9±1,6. Todos os doentes tinham classe funcional NYHA ≥ II. O EROA médio foi de 1,0±0,4 cm2, com um volume regurgitante médio de 146±42 mL e um índice folheto-anel de 1,29±0,14. A causa da IM foi prolapso de um dos folhetos em 50% dos doentes (N=9) e flail de um dos folhetos em 50% (N=9). O tipo anatómico A (defeito isolado de P2) foi a forma predominante, em 66,5% dos casos (N=12). O sucesso do procedimento, definido por IM mínima ou ligeira com implantação de 2 a 4 neocordas, foi atingido em todos os doentes. Não se registaram complicações major intraprocedimento. O follow-up (F-UP) médio foi de 194 dias. A classe de NYHA foi ≤ II em 94,5% dos doentes aos seis meses de F-UP, representando uma melhoria significativa comparativamente à classe funcional basal (p=0,002). Ao longo do F-UP, 72% dos doentes (N=13) mantiveram IM grau ≤ II. Verificou-se uma redução significativa no volume auricular esquerdo (63±7 mL/m2 versus 45±6 mL/m2, p=0,038), volume telediastólico do ventrículo esquerdo (87±7 mL/m2 versus 79±9 ml/m2, p=0,001) e da PSAP (44±4 versus 31±8 mmHg, p=0,002). A taxa de reintervenção foi de 11,1% (N=2, um dos doentes tendo sido submetido a re-do NeoChord™ e outro a cirurgia convencional de RVM). Não foram registados eventos adversos major cardio ou cerebrovasculares. Conclusão: Em doentes selecionados, a RVM minimamente invasiva com recurso ao sistema NeoChord™ revelou-se segura, efetiva e reprodutível. Os resultados clínicos e ecocardiográficos a curto prazo sugerem uma melhoria sintomática significativa, redução sustentada do grau de IM e remodelagem favorável das câmaras cardíacas esquerdas, com uma taxa reduzida de reintervenção. Estes resultados merecem confirmação ulterior em coortes maiores de doentes e ao longo de um follow-up mais prolongado.

Introduction and Objectives: The use of mechanical circulatory support is increasing in cases of cardiogenic shock (CS) and high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR-PCI). The Impella® is a percutaneous ventricular assist device that unloads the left ventricle by ejecting blood to the ascending aorta. We report our center's experience with the use of the Impella® device in these two clinical settings. Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective study including all consecutive patients implanted with the Impella® between 2007 and 2019 for CS treatment or prophylactic support of HR-PCI. Data on clinical and safety endpoints were collected and analyzed. Results: Twenty-two patients were included: 12 were treated for CS and 10 underwent an HR-PCI procedure. In the CS-treated population, the main cause of CS was acute myocardial infarction (five patients); hemolysis was the most frequent device-related complication (63.7%). In-hospital, cumulative 30-day and one-year mortality were 58.3%, 66.6% and 83.3%, respectively. In the HR-PCI group, all patients had multivessel disease (mean baseline SYNTAX I score: 44.1±13.7). In-hospital, 30-day and one-year mortality were 10.0%, 10.0% and 20.0%, respectively. There were no device- or procedure-related deaths in either group. Conclusion: The short- and long-term results of Impella®-supported HR-PCI were comparable to those in the literature. In the CS group, in-hospital and short-term outcomes were poor, with high mortality and non-negligible complication rates. Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: O uso de suporte mecânico no choque cardiogénico (CS) e intervenção coronária percutânea de alto risco (HR-PCI) tem aumentado. O Impella® é um sistema de suporte ventricular percutâneo que ejeta sangue do ventrículo esquerdo para a aorta ascendente. Reportamos a experiência do nosso centro com o Impella® nestes dois cenários clínicos. Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo unicêntrico incluindo todos os doentes consecutivos submetidos a implantação de Impella® entre 2007 e 2019, para tratamento de CS ou suporte profilático para HR-PCI. Dados sobre endpoints clínicos e de segurança foram analisados. Resultados: Foram incluídos 22 doentes: 12 tratados por CS e 10 submetidos a HR-PCI. Na população de CS, a principal causa de choque foi o enfarte agudo do miocárdio (5 doentes); a hemólise foi a complicação relacionada com o dispositivo mais frequente (63,7%); a mortalidade intra-hospitalar, a 30 dias e um ano, foi, respetivamente, 58,3%, 66,6% e 83,3%. No grupo da HR-PCI, todos os doentes apresentavam doença multivaso (SYNTAX I score médio: 44,1±13,7); a mortalidade intra-hospitalar, a 30 dias e um ano, foi, respetivamente, 10,0%, 10,0% e 20,0%. Não houve mortes relacionadas com o dispositivo ou procedimento em ambos os grupos. Conclusão: Os resultados em curto e longo prazo da HR-PCI protegida por Impella® foram comparáveis aos da literatura disponível. No grupo de CS, os resultados intra-hospitalares e em curto prazo foram desanimadores, com elevada mortalidade e taxas de complicações apreciáveis.

The application of IoT-based methods to support pastoralism allows the smart optimization of livestock operations and improves the efficiency of the activity. The use of autonomous animal control mechanisms frees the shepherd to carry out other tasks. However, human intervention is still needed in cases such as system failure, the bad or unpredicted behavior of the animals, or even in cases of danger, the welfare of the animal. This study documents the enhancement of an alarm generation system, initially developed within the scope of the SheepIT project, to monitor animal behavior and equipment, which warns the human operator of the occurrence of undesirable events that require intervention. Special attention was given to the use of case scenarios in places without Internet access, such as rural areas. Therefore, the system was integrated with a satellite interface, as a way of guaranteeing the timely delivery of the alarm messages. To ensure an acceptable operating cost, the system was further optimized in terms of message encoding, considering the cost of this type of communication. This study assessed the overall performance of the system, evaluated its scalability, and compared the efficiency gains from the optimization, as well as the performance of the satellite link.

The Wilberforce pendulum is a mechanical oscillator often used to demonstrate the phenomenon of coupled oscillations. It is a spring-mass system whose pendulum bob contains lateral rods to vary its moment of inertia, being possible to verify the coupling of the rotational and longitudinal motions of the resonant system. In the present work, we present a experimental study of the coupled oscillations on the Wilberforce pendulum using easily accessible materials. With a Slinky spring toy, a wood rod containing masses at the extremities and getting images of the movements using a mirror and the TRACKER software on a smartphone, we could analyze quantitatively the properties associated with the coupled oscillations. The final result has indicated excellent agreement with the theoretical modeling, and therefore it can be used in teaching of wave physics.

Six-phase machines are increasingly used in safety-critical applications due to their inherent fault-tolerant capabilities. Due to the greater complexity of controlling six-phase machines and the fast dynamics required in safety-critical applications, finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) emerged as an ideal candidate for the control of six-phase machines. However, most of the available FCS-MPC strategies only apply to six-phase machines where the two sets of three-phase windings are star-connected with isolated neutral points (2N). Nevertheless, the 2N configuration does not take full advantage of the machine’s capabilities in terms of fault tolerance. Hence, this paper proposes a predictive current control strategy based on virtual vectors for six-phase permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) drives with a single isolated neutral point (1N) configuration. The proposed method reduces the current harmonic distortion, decreases the copper losses, and is suitable to operate the six-phase drive in fault-tolerant conditions. The included simulation and experimental results demonstrate the good performance obtained with the proposed strategy.

Animal monitoring is a task traditionally performed by pastoralists, as a way of ensuring the safety and well-being of animals; a tremendously arduous and lonely task, it requires long walks and extended periods of contact with the animals. The Internet of Things and the possibility of applying sensors to different kinds of devices, in particular the use of wearable sensors, has proven not only to be less invasive to the animals, but also to have a low cost and to be quite efficient. The present work analyses the most impactful monitored features in the behavior learning process and their learning results. It especially addresses the impact of a gyroscope, which heavily influences the cost of the collar. Based on the chosen set of sensors, a learning model is subsequently established, and the learning outcomes are analyzed. Finally, the animal behavior prediction capability of the learning model (which was based on the sensed data of adult animals) is additionally subjected and evaluated in a scenario featuring younger animals. Results suggest that not only is it possible to accurately classify these behaviors (with a balanced accuracy around 91%), but that removing the gyroscope can be advantageous. Results additionally show a positive contribution of the thermometer in behavior identification but evidences the need for further confirmation in future work, considering different seasons of different years and scenarios including more diverse animals’ behavior.

Animal activity during the night period is of enormous importance, since it represents approximately half of animals’ lives, and monitoring it during this period makes it possible to detect problems related to well-being and safety, and allows us to infer energy expenditure on the basis of their activity level. The present study analyzes a sheep activity dataset created during the night period to validate non-invasive techniques of monitoring that can be used to infer energy expenditure at night and to detect abnormal nocturnal activity. The study allowed us to detect cyclic changes in activity during the night period, which is composed of inactive and active periods, and to identify sheep lying positions. The analysis of the joint activity of the flock allowed us to perceive a time lag in the rest cycles, which consisted of periods of activity of ewes undone between elements of the flock. Although it does not allow us to identify the components of the period of inactivity, since the method used does not monitor brain activity, the results allow us to confirm the cyclical character of the nocturnal activity of sheep that has been reported in the literature, as well as their typical posture when lying down. Although this is an exploratory application with a very small number of animals, the similarity between the results obtained and the results documented in the existing literature, which have mostly been obtained using invasive methods, is encouraging, and suggests it is possible to rely on activity monitoring processes based on inertial sensors.

In recent decades, the perception of the impact of humanity’s ecological footprint has changed dramatically; it is now widely recognized that natural resources are limited and sensitive, and that their indiscriminate use is unsustainable and deeply impacts the well-being of people, animals and plants [...]

Monitoring sheep’s behavior is of paramount importance, because deviations from normal patterns may indicate nutritional, thermal or social stress, changes in reproductive status, health issues, or predator attacks. The night period, despite being a more restful period in which animals are theoretically sleeping and resting, represents approximately half of the life cycle of animals; therefore, its study is of immense interest. Wearable sensors have become a widely recognized technique for monitoring activity, both for their precision and the ease with which the sensorized data can be analyzed. The present dataset consists of data from the sensorization of 18 Serra da Estrela sheep, during the nocturnal period between 18 November 2021 and 16 February 2022. The data contain measurements taken by ultrasound and accelerometry of the height from neck to ground, as well as measurements taken by an accelerometer in the monitoring collar. Data were collected every 10 s when the animals were in the shelter. With the collection of data from various sensors, active and inactive periods can be identified throughout the night, quantifying the number and average time of those periods.

The valorization of microalgal biomass produced during wastewater treatment has the potential to mitigate treatment costs. As contaminated biomass (e.g., with pharmaceuticals, toxic metals, etc.) is often generated, biogas production is considered an effective valorization option. The biomass was obtained from a pilot facility of photobioreactors for tertiary wastewater treatment. The pilots were run for one year with naturally formed microalgal consortia. The biogas was generated in 70 mL crimp-top vials at 35 °C, quantified with a manometer and the methane yield measured by gas chromatography. A maximum biogas production of 311 mL/g volatile solids (VS) with a methane yield of 252 mL/g VS was obtained with the spring samples. These rather low values were not improved using previous thermo-acidic hydrolysis, suggesting that the low intrinsic biodegradable organic matter content of the consortia might be the cause for low yield. Considering the total volume of wastewater treated by this plant and the average amount of methane produced in this study, the substitution of the current tertiary treatment with the one here proposed would reduce the energy consumption of the plant by 20% and create an energy surplus of 2.8%. The implementation of this system would therefore contribute towards meeting the ambitious decarbonization targets established by the EU.

Monitoring road traffic is extremely important given the possibilities it opens up in terms of studying the behavior of road users, road design and planning problems, as well as because it can be used to predict future traffic. Especially on highways that connect beaches and larger urban areas, traffic is characterized by having peaks that are highly dependent on weather conditions and rest periods. This paper describes a dataset of mobility patterns of a coastal area in Aveiro region, Portugal, fully covered with traffic classification radars, over a two-year period. The sensing infrastructure was deployed in the scope of the PASMO project, an open living lab for co-operative intelligent transportation systems. The data gathered includes the speed of the detected objects, their position, and their type (heavy vehicle, light vehicle, two-wheeler, and pedestrian). The dataset includes 74,305 records, corresponding to the aggregation of road information at 10 min intervals. A brief analysis of the dataset shows the highly dynamic nature of traffic during the two-year period. In addition, the existence of meteorological records from nearby stations, and the recording of daily data on COVID-19 infections, make it possible to cross-reference information and study the influence of weather conditions and infections on traffic behavior.

Forecasting road flow has strong importance for both allowing authorities to guarantee safety conditions and traffic efficiency, as well as for road users to be able to plan their trips according to space and road occupation. In a summer resort, such as beaches near cities, traffic depends directly on weather conditions, variables that should be of great impact on the quality of forecasts. Will the use of a dataset with information on transit flows enhanced with meteorological information allow the construction of a precise traffic flow forecasting model, allowing predictions to be made in advance of the traffic flow in suitable time? The present work evaluates different machine learning methods, namely long short-term memory, autoregressive LSTM, and a convolutional neural network, and data attributes to predict traffic flows based on radar and meteorological sensor information. The models trained to predict the traffic flow have shown that weather conditions were essential for this forecast, and thus, these variables were employed in the evaluated deep-learning models. The results pointed out that it is possible to forecast the traffic flow at a reasonable error level for one-hour periods, and the CNN model presented the lowest prediction error values and consumed the least time to build its predictions.

The detection of kidding in production animals is of the utmost importance, given the frequency of problems associated with the process, and the fact that timely human help can be a safeguard for the well-being of the mother and kid. The continuous human monitoring of the process is expensive, given the uncertainty of when it will occur, so the establishment of an autonomous mechanism that does so would allow calling the human responsible who could intervene at the opportune moment. The present dataset consists of data from the sensorization of 16 pregnant and two non-pregnant Charnequeira goats, during a period of four weeks, the kidding period. The data include measurements from neck to floor height, measured by ultrasound and accelerometry data measured by an accelerometer existing at the monitoring collar. Data was continuously sampled throughout the experiment every 10 s. The goats were monitored both in the goat shelter (day and night) and during the grazing period in the pasture. The births of the animals were also registered, both in terms of the time at which they took place, but also with details regarding how they took place and the number of offspring, and notes were also added.

The Digital Transformation, which has the Internet of Things (IoT) as one of its pillars, is penetrating all aspects of our society with dramatic effects [...]

The sheltered environment of the Algares +30 level adit (underground mine gallery) contributes to the preservation of secondary water-soluble minerals formed on the tunnel walls. The massive sulphide and related stockwork zone are hosted by the Mine Tuff volcanic unit and are exposed in the walls of the gallery, showing intense oxidation and hydrothermal alteration. Minerals from the halotrichite group were identified on the efflorescent salts, typically white fine-acicular crystals but also on aggregates with dark orange/brownish colour. Mineral characterization was performed using several methods and analytical techniques (XRD, XRF-WDS, SEM-EDS, DTA-TG), and the chemical formulas were calculated maintaining the ratio A:B ≅ 1:2 in accordance with the general formula of the halotrichite group, AB2(SO4)4·22H2O. This methodology allowed the assignment of the orange colour to the presence of trivalent iron on iron-rich pickeringite in partial substitution of aluminium.

Weed control in vineyards demands regular interventions that currently consist of the use of machinery, such as plows and brush-cutters, and the application of herbicides. These methods have several drawbacks, including cost, chemical pollution, and the emission of greenhouse gases. The use of animals to weed vineyards, usually ovines, is an ancestral, environmentally friendly, and sustainable practice that was abandoned because of the scarcity and cost of shepherds, which were essential for preventing animals from damaging the vines and grapes. The SheepIT project was developed to automate the role of human shepherds, by monitoring and conditioning the behaviour of grazing animals. Additionally, the data collected in real-time can be used for improving the efficiency of the whole process, e.g., by detecting abnormal situations such as health conditions or attacks and manage the weeding areas. This paper presents a comprehensive set of field-test results, obtained with the SheepIT infrastructure, addressing several dimensions, from the animals’ well-being and their impact on the cultures, to technical aspects, such as system autonomy. The results show that the core objectives of the project have been attained and that it is feasible to use this system, at an industrial scale, in vineyards.

In the last few decades, agriculture has played an important role in the worldwide economy. The need to produce more food for a rapidly growing population is creating pressure on crop and animal production and a negative impact to the environment. On the other hand, smart farming technologies are becoming increasingly common in modern agriculture to assist in optimizing agricultural and livestock production and minimizing the wastes and costs. Precision agriculture (PA) is a technology-enabled, data-driven approach to farming management that observes, measures, and analyzes the needs of individual fields and crops. Precision livestock farming (PLF), relying on the automatic monitoring of individual animals, is used for animal growth, milk production, and the detection of diseases as well as to monitor animal behavior and their physical environment, among others. This study aims to briefly review recent scientific and technological trends in PA and their application in crop and livestock farming, serving as a simple research guide for the researcher and farmer in the application of technology to agriculture. The development and operation of PA applications involve several steps and techniques that need to be investigated further to make the developed systems accurate and implementable in commercial environments.

Abstract Objectives To identify alternatives for radiographers’ postures while performing mammography that can contribute to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). Methods Radiographers’ postures to positioning craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) views were simulated without any intervention for three scenarios: radiographer/patient with similar statures, radiographer smaller than patient and radiographer taller than patient. Actions were taken to modify the postures: seated radiographer; patient on a step; seated patient; radiographer on a step. All the postures were analysed using kinovea 0.8.15 software and the angles were measured twice and classified according to European standard EN1005–4: 2005. Results The non-acceptable angles were measured mainly during MLO positioning when radiographer was taller than the patient: 139° and 120° for arm-flexion and abduction, 72° for trunk and −24° for head/neck-flexion. The introduction of alternative postures (radiographer seated), allowed improvements in posture (60° and 99° for arm flexion and abduction, 14° for trunk and 0° for head/neck flexion), being classified as acceptable. Conclusions The alternative postures simulated have the potential to reduce the risk of developing WRMSDs when radiographers and patients have different statures. Main messages • Radiographers’ postures in mammography can contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders • Non-acceptable posture was identified for MLO breast positioning (radiographer taller than patient) • Adapting posture to patient biotype reduces the WRMSD risk for radiographers

Objective Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in occidental countries. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) is associated with an increased risk for CRC development. The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between inflammatory status and absorption of nutrients with a role in CRC pathogenesis. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, we evaluated the in vitro effect of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IF-γ), and acetylsalicylic acid on 14C-butyrate (14C- BT), 3H-folic acid (3H-FA) uptake, and on proliferation, viability and differentiation of Caco-2 and IEC-6 cells in culture. Results The proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and INF-γ were found to decrease uptake of a low concentration of 14C-BT (10 µM) by Caco-2 (tumoral) and IEC-6 (normal) intestinal epithelial cell lines. However, the effect of TNF-α and INF-γ in IEC-6 cells is most probably related to a cytotoxic and antiproliferative impact. In contrast, INF-γ increases uptake of a high concentration (10 mM) of 14C-BT in Caco-2 cells. The anticarcinogenic effect of BT (10 mM) in these cells is not affected by the presence of this cytokine. On the other hand, acetylsalicylic acid stimulates 14C-BT uptake by Caco-2 cells and potentiates its antiproliferative effect. Finally, both TNF-α and INF-γ cause a significant decrease in 3H-FA uptake by Caco-2 cells. Conclusion The inflammatory status has an impact upon cellular uptake of BT and FA, two nutrients with a role in CRC pathogenesis. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory acetylsalicylic acid potentiates the anticarcinogenic effect of BT in Caco-2 cells by increasing its cellular uptake.

Na década de 1970, instigando concepções entabuladas nos anos precedentes, Ernesto de Sousa advoga “por uma revolução total”, que deveria repercutir-se em todos os campos da sociedade. Com o intuito de subverter as normas instituídas, Ernesto de Sousa conduz os processos artísticos sob a sua alçada numa extensão política, procedendo tanto a uma revisão de nomenclaturas linguísticas, substituindo, por exemplo, o termo artista pelo de operador estético; como na abertura das obras ao espectador, activando-o como elemento constitutivo das mesmas. Estas transformações situam-se na sua maioria em confronto com a burguesia, que, dentro do seu espectro teórico, abarca tanto o mercado artístico como o regime fascista, que perdurou até 1974. O programa que engloba estas considerações atravessa, neste sentido, diversos momentos históricos em território nacional, procurando sempre reflecti-los e abarcá-los na promoção de uma sociedade mais livre e igualitária.

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in co-activation around the knee joint during different walking speeds in healthy females using the co-activation index. Ten healthy females (age: 21.20 ± 7.21 years, height: 164.00 ± 4.00 cm, mass: 60.60 ± 4.99 kg) participated in this study and performed three walking speeds (slow, normal, and fast). A Qualisys 11-camera motion analysis system sampling at a frequency of 200 Hz was synchronized with a Trigno EMG Wireless system operating at a 2000 Hz sampling frequency. A significant decrease in the co-activation index of thigh muscles was observed between the slow and fast, and between the normal and fast, walking speeds during all walking phases. A non-significant difference was observed between the slow and normal walking speeds during most walking phases, except the second double support phase, during which the difference was significant. A negative relationship was found between walking speed and the co-activation index of thigh muscles in all speeds during walking phases: first double support (r = −0.3386, p < 0.001), single support (r = −0.2144, p < 0.01), second double support (r = −0.4949, p < 0.001), and Swing (r = −0.1639, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results indicated high variability of thigh muscle co-activation in healthy females during the different walking speeds, and a decrease in the co-activation of the thigh muscles with the increase of speed.

Abstract Background: The revascularization strategy of the left main disease is determinant for clinical outcomes. Objective: We sought to 1) validate and compare the performance of the SYNTAX Score 1 and 2 for predicting major cardiovascular events at 4 years in patients who underwent unprotected left main angioplasty and 2) evaluate the long-term outcome according to the SYNTAX score 2-recommended revascularization strategy. Methods: We retrospectively studied 132 patients from a single-centre registry who underwent unprotected left main angioplasty between March 1999 and December 2010. Discrimination and calibration of both models were assessed by ROC curve analysis, calibration curves and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Results: Total event rate was 26.5% at 4 years.The AUC for the SYNTAX Score 1 and SYNTAX Score 2 for percutaneous coronary intervention, was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.49-0.73) and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.57-0.78), respectively. Despite a good overall adjustment for both models, the SYNTAX Score 2 tended to underpredict risk. In the 47 patients (36%) who should have undergone surgery according to the SYNTAX Score 2, event rate was numerically higher (30% vs. 25%; p=0.54), and for those with a higher difference between the two SYNTAX Score 2 scores (Percutaneous coronary intervention vs. Coronary artery by-pass graft risk estimation greater than 5.7%), event rate was almost double (40% vs. 22%; p=0.2). Conclusion: The SYNTAX Score 2 may allow a better and individualized risk stratification of patients who need revascularization of an unprotected left main coronary artery. Prospective studies are needed for further validation.

Use of digital flashcards promotes active recall, spaced repetition, and self-assessment academic principles. This work explores the association and dose-dependent effect of this study method and locomotor (LP) and cardiovascular physiology (CP) grades. A single-faculty cohort study of medical LP and CP students was conducted, and 155 and 676 flashcards, respectively, were created through Moodle. An exploratory analysis examined three exam results (2019), and a confirmatory study used a fourth exam (2021) in another CP cohort. Of 685 students enrolled, 558 participated in the exploratory analysis: 319 (69%) for LP and 311 (84%) for CP, of which 203 LP and 267 CP students were flashcard users. Median grades were higher among flashcard users, and the number of cards reviewed was positively correlated with grades (r = 0.275 to 0.388 for LP and r = 0.239 to 0.432 for CP, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression models confirmed a positive dose-dependent association between results and the number of flashcards studied: for every 100 LP cards reviewed, exam grades increased 0.44-0.75 on a 0-20 scale range (P < 0.001), and for every 1,000 CP flashcards, results raised 0.81-1.08 values (P < 0.05). These findings were confirmed in the 2021 CP cohort of 269 participants, of whom 67% were flashcard users. Digital flashcard revision has a consistent positive dose-dependent association on LP and CP grades.

Background: Facial paralysis remains as one of the major morbidities of surgery of cerebellopontine angle tumors. The preoperative standard Magnetic Resonance Image does not identify, with precision, the path of the facial nerve. Case description: The authors describe a case of a 56 years-old female with a cerebellopontine angle meningioma, submitted to preoperative Diffusion Tensor Tractography to identification of the course of the facial nerve, and correlate its position with the intraoperative findings. There was an accurate correlation between the path of the facial nerve revealed by preoperative DTT and the route of the nerve identified during surgery. Conclusion: The preoperative identification of the facial nerve seems to be possible by tractography in meningiomas of the cerebellopontine angle. It is possible that this technique may have utility in larger tumors, where the intraoperative identification of the facial path can be more difficult. Keywords: Cerebellopontine angle meningioma, Diffusion tensor tractography, Facial nerve, Vestibular schwannoma

Mining activity in Algares (Aljustrel Mine, Portuguese sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, IPB) stems prior to Roman times. As the orebody is vertical and relatively thin, mining was carried out mainly along underground adits (galleries). Nowadays, the deposit is considered exhausted and the area is being rehabilitated for a different use. The Algares +30 level adit intersects two volcanic units of the IPB Volcano-Sedimentary Complex. The massive sulphide and related stockwork zone are hosted by the Mine Tuff volcanic unit and are exposed in the walls of the gallery, showing intense hydrothermal alteration. Along the mine adit, the geological sequence is affected by strong oxidation and supergene alteration, giving rise to the formation of secondary minerals through the oxidation of the sulphides. The most common minerals found were melanterite (FeSO4·7H2O) and chalcanthite (CuSO4·5H2O), forming essentially massive or crystalline aggregates, ranging from greenish to bluish colours. Melanterite from the walls revealed to be Cu-rich by opposition to that from stalactites/stalagmites formed below the old ore storage silo revealing the low-copper-grade ores exploited underground. The mineralogy of the efflorescent salts was used to ascertain the processes involved in their formation, and moreover, the inventory of minerals is presented, as well as their principal characteristics.

Viscosupplementation is a minimally invasive technique that replaces synovial fluid by intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA). Although effective in some joints, there is not conclusive evidence regarding temporomandibular disorders. This case series described the efficacy of a viscosupplementation protocol in intra-articular temporomandibular disorders. Ten patients with a diagnosis of disc displacement and/or osteoarthritis by Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) were submitted to four monthly injections of low or medium molecular weight HA. Pain, mandibular function, image analysis by tomography and magnetic resonance, and quality of life were assessed at baseline and follow-ups (1 and 6 months). Pain, jaw range-of-motion, mandibular function, and quality of life improved at follow-up evaluations. Osteoarthritis changes decreased, and 20% of patients improved mandibular head excursion after treatment. Resolution of effusion and improvement in disc morphology were observed for most patients. This viscosupplementation protocol reduced pain and symptoms associated with internal derangement of temporomandibular joint, improved quality of life, and showed benefits from both low and medium molecular weight HA in alternate cycles.

O Grupo de estudos de Ciência do sistema Terra constitui esforço de pesquisa, experimentação e reflexão sobre como adaptar o currículo do Ensino Médio brasileiro perseguindo eixos curriculares vinculados aos estudos da Terra. A maior parte das escolas brasileiras de educação básica não inclui no currículo componente curricular voltado para o estudo do conhecimento da Terra e do ambiente a seus estudantes. Dentro destes limites, tempo geológico tornou-se eixo capaz de articular disciplinas comuns da escola, ou seja, estudar a Terra e seus fenômenos permite construir ligações, p.ex. entre Biologia e Geografia (disciplinas comuns do Ensino Médio). Os procedimentos seguem orientações de pesquisa colaborativa que entrelaça pesquisadores de distintas universidades e professores da rede pública. Os principais resultados se concentram em inovações curriculares que enfatizam concepção mais realista e integrada de dinâmicas ambientais. O objetivo deste estudo é revelar como professores da educação básica descrevem a contribuição das Ciências da Terra para sua formação e quais são as implicações para o currículo do Ensino Médio.

Este artigo analisa a percepção de trabalhadores e gestores em relação às políticas e práticas de gestão de pessoas (GP) sob o foco da Responsabilidade Social Empresarial (RSE). A análise foi feita em uma empresa pública de economia mista a partir dos indicadores Ethos de RSE. A escolha metodológica recaiu sobre uma pesquisa quantitativa de caráter descritivo. O método utilizado foi o survey. Com base nos indicadores Ethos, foi aplicado questionário fechado aos empregados e aos gerentes da empresa e também foi realizada análise documental. A amostra foi composta por 247 empregados, numa população de 850 pessoas. Os resultados sugerem uma percepção positiva sobre a empresa e as práticas de GP relativas aos cuidados com a saúde, a segurança e as condições de trabalho; comportamento diante de demissões; preparação para a aposentadoria. Por outro lado, há uma percepção menos positiva em relação à gestão participativa e relações com trabalhadores terceirizados.

O trabalho objetivou avaliar a interferência do espaçamento entrelinhas e população de plantas sobre a produção do sorgo sacarino em duas épocas de semeadura, safra e safrinha. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, em Sete Lagoas (MG), em Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico, na safra 2011/2012. Para as duas épocas de semeadura, as parcelas foram compostas por cinco espaçamentos entrelinhas (50; 60; 70; e 80cm e linha dupla 100x50x50cm), e as subparcelas por quatro populações de plantas de sorgo sacarino (80.000, 100.000, 120.000 e 140.000 plantas ha-1). O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso (DBC), com três repetições. Utilizou-se a variedade de sorgo sacarino BRS506. O experimento de safra foi implantado em novembro/2011 e de safrinha em março/2012. A época de semeadura no período de safra resultou em maior rendimento de matéria fresca de colmos, matéria fresca de biomassa total, massa de caldo e Brix do sorgo sacarino, independente do arranjo de plantas. O espaçamento de 50cm entrelinhas resultou em maior produção de biomassa total e massa de caldo ha-1, independente da época de semeadura. O espaçamento duplo resultou em valores similares ao espaçamento de 80cm, para as principais variáveis produtivas, independente da época de semeadura. As populações de plantas não influenciaram o rendimento de matéria fresca de colmos e massa de caldo, independente da época de semeadura.

A pecuária constitui uma das principais atividades do Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) brasileiro, exercendo papel fundamental no processo de ocupação do território nacional. Doenças infecciosas, de origem bacteriana, viral ou parasitária, podem afetar o sistema reprodutivo, tanto dos machos como das fêmeas, causando uma série de problemas de infertilidade com diferentes níveis de ocorrência. Dentre as doenças mais importantes que afetam a esfera reprodutiva de origem viral e que já foram identificadas em bovinos no Brasil destaca-se a Rinotraqueíte Infecciosa Bovina (IBR). O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo epidemiológico no estado de Goiás, especificamente na microrregião do Vale do Rio dos Bois (municípios de Cezarina, Mairipotaba e Pontalina), detectando a presença de anticorpos contra a IBR, pelo teste de vírusneutralização (VN). Das propriedades estudadas foi encontrada uma soroprevalência de 96,4% para anticorpos neutralizantes contra a IBR em fêmeas bovinas acima de 24 meses. Os resultados encontrados no presente estudo demonstraram que há uma elevada taxa de prevalência da infecção por BoHV-1 na microrregião do Vale do Rio dos Bois. Os dados destes estudos poderão servir de base para se traçar estratégias para o controle da doença, com a orientação aos produtores.

Intelligent farming is one of the vast range of applications covered by the Internet of Things concept. Notwithstanding, such applications present specific requirements and constraints that are dependent on their purpose. A practical case on which that is particularly relevant is the SheepIT project, where an automated IoT-based system controls grazing sheep within vineyards, guaranteeing that they do not threaten cultures. Due to its rigid requirements, particularly regarding the deployment of the Wireless Sensor Network, Machine-2-Machine communications and necessary interactions with a computational platform available through the Internet, Internet Protocol-based solutions are not suitable. Consequently, a customized communication stack has been developed, that intends to meet the project requirements, from the physical to the Application Layers. Although it has been developed considering the SheepIT requirements, its use may be extended to more generic intelligent farming applications, since most of the requirements are directly related with the farming environment. This paper reviews the proposed stack and details the recent developments. Particularly, we focused on Internet of Things/Machine-2-Machine interaction, describing the design and deployment of a gateway that addresses the SheepIT service requirements. Additionally, and complementary to previously published results, we evaluate the gateway performance and show its feasibility and scalability in a real scenario.

This study presents a complete biomechanical analysis of the block phase of a swimming modified track start. Kinetic, kinematic and electromyography (EMG) data were collected. The forces produced by the swimmer on the block, the EMG of eight muscles and the kinematics of the centre of mass (CM) were recorded. A national-level swimmer performed three repetitions of a track start in a dynamometric starting block. Temporal instants ‘reaction time’, ‘hands take-off’, ‘rear foot take-off’ and ‘front foot take-off’ were identified. Results show the peak forces (Fmax) produced by the most dynamic limb in each sub-phase delimited by mentioned instants (right hand take-off: Fmaxvertical = 103 N; rear foot take-off: Fmaxantero-posterior = 524 N; front foot take-off: Fmaxvertical = 634 N). The CM revealed a descendent vertical trajectory along the block phase. Mean resultant speed at front foot take-off was 4.092m/s. The muscles with highest values of integral EMG (iEMG) were the tibialis anterior during hands take-off, Biceps Femoris and Gluteus Maximus during rear foot take-off, respectively 41.17%, 52.96% and 36.37% of the maximum isometric voluntary contraction (%MIVC). The study demonstrates an effective characterisation of the block phase in swimming starts with potential to evaluate the swimmers performance in the track start, using different back plate positioning.

Resumo: A biópsia endomiocárdica continua a ser o principal método de monitorização da rejeição em recetores de transplante cardíaco. No entanto, este procedimento pode estar associado, ainda que raramente, a complicações potencialmente graves.Descreve-se o caso de um doente com enfarte anterior extenso não revascularizado, com evolução em choque cardiogénico e necessidade de transplante cardíaco. Na fase pós-transplante é detetada fístula coronária para o ventrículo direito com aneurisma associado e duas comunicações interventriculares restritivas. Abstract: Endomyocardial biopsy is still the principal method for diagnosing cardiac allograft rejection. However, this procedure can be associated, albeit rarely, with potentially serious complications.We describe the case of a patient with extensive anterior myocardial infarction without revascularization, who developed cardiogenic shock and required heart transplantation. Post-transplantation, a coronary artery fistula to the right ventricle associated with an aneurysm and two restrictive ventricular septal defects were detected. Palavras-chave: Transplante cardíaco, Biópsia do endomiocárdio, Fístula coronária, Comunicação interventricular restritiva, Keywords: Heart transplantation, Endomyocardial biopsy, Coronary artery fistula, Restrictive ventricular septal defect

Understanding the large-scale structural network formed by neurons is a major challenge in neuroscience. In this study we analyzed the structural connectivity of the human brain in 22 healthy subjects and in two patients with post-traumatic epilepsy. We evaluated the differences between these two groups. We also investigated differences in connectivity regarding gender and age in healthy individuals. For this purpose, we developed an analysis protocol using specialized software applications and we used graph theory metrics to characterize the structural connectivity between 118 different brain regions. Within the group of healthy subjects we found that men in general are those with higher average values of graph theory metrics. However, there were no significant differences in gender regarding global characterization of the brain. In addition, age was, in general, negatively correlated to the connectivity metrics. The brain regions where the most important differences were observed between healthy individuals and patients were: the Rolandic sulcus, the hippocampus, the pre-cuneus, the thalamus and the cerebellum bilaterally. These differences were consistent with theradiologic images of patients and the studied literature on post-traumatic epilepsy. Developments are expected for the study of the structural connectivity of the human brain, since its potential can be combined with other methods to characterize the disorders of brain circuits.