RESUMO Introdução/enquadramento/objetivos: A “Asma do Padeiro” é um tipo de asma ocupacional frequente na indústria da panificação, relacionada com a inalação de alergénios presentes no ambiente de trabalho. É uma doença que produz elevadas taxas de absentismo e incapacidade temporária (“baixa médica”). Este estudo objetivou agregar informação acerca da presença de alergénios presentes no setor da panificação que podem desencadear asma ocupacional, com o intuito de potenciar a intervenção dos serviços de saúde ocupacional. Metodologia: Foi realizada uma revisão da literatura, onde foram incluídos estudos encontrados nas bases de dados online SciELO.Org, RCAAP, CINAHL, MEDLINE e MedicLatina, com pesquisa realizada entre janeiro e março de 2022, com as palavras-chave “Baker”, “Occupational Asthma” e “Allergens”. Foram definidos como critérios de inclusão os artigos de texto integral publicados nos últimos cinco anos, em inglês, português ou espanhol. A questão protocolar desta revisão é: “Quais os alergénios suscetíveis de desencadear asma ocupacional na área da panificação, bem como os comportamentos preventivos a adotar?”. Conteúdo: A asma do padeiro é um dos tipos mais comuns de asma de origem profissional associada à exposição ao pó da farinha e aos alergénios contidos na mesma. A exposição persistente a alergénios transportados pelo ar pode resultar na iniciação ou agravamento da asma, bem como sintomatologia ocular e/ou nasal. Verifica-se uma forte relação entre asma ocupacional e os trabalhadores expostos ao pó de farinha de cereais, bem como alguns comportamentos adotados pelos trabalhadores da panificação, como fatores de risco. São identificados como principais alergénios aqueles que estão presentes no pó das farinhas de trigo, centeio, cevada, milho, aveia e soja, bem como o ovo, leite, trigo sarraceno, sementes de sésamo, frutos secos e leveduras presentes no fermento, como potenciadores do desenvolvimento de asma ocupacional no setor da panificação. Conclusões: A revisão sobre os alérgenos e asma ocupacional é importante para a saúde dos trabalhadores que inalam continuamente o pó da farinha. É importante a identificação dos alérgenos que causam asma do padeiro, pois pode ajudar a melhorar o diagnóstico e os tratamentos desta doença e programas de prevenção. As intervenções no local de trabalho, através da introdução de medidas preventivas (incluindo proteção individual e coletiva), educação para a saúde e treino adequado dos trabalhadores, destinadas a reduzir a exposição aos alergénios, contribuem para reduzir a incidência de asma ocupacional.

ABSTRACT Introduction/framework/objectives: “Baker’s Asthma” is a common type of occupational asthma in the bakery industry, related to the inhalation of allergens present in the work environment. It is a disease that produces high rates of absenteeism and temporary unfit for duty (sick leave). This study aimed to gather information about the presence of allergens present in the bakery sector that can develop occupational asthma, with the aim of potenciate the intervention by occupational health services. Methodology: A literature review was carried out, including studies found in the online databases SciELO.Org, RCAAP, CINAHL; MEDLINE and MedicLatina, with research carried out between January and March 2022, with the keywords “Baker”, “Occupational Asthma” and “Allergens”. Full text articles published in the last five years, in English, Portuguese or Spanish, were defined as inclusion criteria. The protocol issue of this review is: “What are the allergens likely to trigger occupational asthma in the bakery area, as well as the preventive behaviors to be adopted?”. Results: Baker's asthma is one of the most common types of occupational asthma associated to exposure to flour dust and the allergens contained in it. Persistent exposure to airborne allergens may result in the initiation or worsening of asthma, as well as ocular and/or nasal symptoms. There is a strong relationship between occupational asthma and workers exposed to cereal flour dust, as well as some behaviors adopted by bakery workers as risk factors. The main allergens are those present in the dust of wheat, rye, barley, corn, oat and soy flours, as well as eggs, milk, buckwheat, sesame seeds, nuts and yeasts present in yeast as enhancers of the development of occupational asthma in the bakery sector. Conclusions: The review of allergens and occupational asthma is important for the health of workers who continually inhale flour dust. It is important to identify the allergens that cause baker's asthma, as it can help to improve the diagnosis and treatments of this disease and prevention programs. Workplace interventions, through the introduction of preventive measures (including individual and collective protection), health education and adequate training of workers, aimed at reducing exposure to allergens, contribute to reduce the incidence of occupational asthma.

The research described in this paper was done to confirm the Upper Group 2 (UG2) PlatMine peak pillar strength formula (Watson et al., 2007), which was determined from a back-analysis of failed and unfailed pillars. Underground measurements were made on a stable pillar that was loaded by firstly reducing it's length and then by mining the surrounding pillars until pillar failure took place. The pillar was instrumented with suitably positioned strain cells and closure meters, which allowed both the average pillar stress and strain to be determined. The paper describes the methodology applied to identify a suitable position for the instrumentation, as well as the results. A stress/strain curve is presented for a UG2 pillar with a w/h ratio of 2.0, at Booysendal Platinum Mine. The measured pillar strength was similar to the predicted strength using the PlatMine pillar strength formula for UG2 pillars. The PlatMine formula has been successfully implemented on Booysendal Platinum Mine, and about 3 670 pillars have been cut without a single failure. An additional revenue of US$1.3 billion was calculated for the 25-year life of the mine as a direct result of the improved pillar design, given the January 2020 platinum group metals basket price. An extended life of mine and better mining efficiencies will also be realized.

Las compañías eléctricas por lo general responden al aumento de la demanda de energía mediante la construcción de nuevas instalaciones de generación. Sin embargo, un uso eficiente de la energía podría reducir y retrasar los gastos de inversión en nuevas centrales eléctricas. En este trabajo se muestra el sistema de software para gestionar transformadores y evaluar las pérdidas cuando trabajan con cero cargas. Este sistema ayuda a reducir la pérdida de energía con acciones simples como: Desenergizar un transformador no utilizado o volver a conectar el equipo con base en la demanda del cliente. Utiliza las mediciones en tiempo real obtenidas de la base de Intelligent Electronic Devices para el software de Decisiones. También mide e informa el ahorro total de energía.

Power companies usually answer the increase in power demand by building new generation facilities. Nevertheless, an efficient use of energy could reduce and delay the costs of investment in new power plants. This paper shows a software system to manage transformers and evaluate losses when they work with zero loads. This system contributes to reduce the waste of energy with some simple actions such as shutting off an unused transformer or reconnecting disabled equipment based on the customer's demand. It uses real time measurements collected from Intelligent Electronic Devices as a base for software decisions. It also measures and reports the total power saving.

O processo de Soldadura por Impulso Magnético aplica os princípios do electromagnetismo postulados no século XIX e verificados mais tarde experimentalmente. Recentemente, o processo tem sido alvo de desenvolvimentos de modo a satisfazer requisitos do mercado, envolvendo ligações dissimilares ou de materiais difíceis de soldar. É um processo de elevada produtividade com tempos de soldadura muito curtos que usa a força electromagnética para acelerar um material contra o outro, resultando numa ligação no estado sólido sem calor adicionado externamente, nem distorções de origem térmica. Uma fonte de alta potência, um interruptor de descarga e uma bobina constituem os elementos fundamentais do equipamento. Uma corrente de elevada intensidade circulando através de uma bobina próxima de um material condutor produz uma corrente induzida, que por sua vez origina um campo magnético intenso que se opõe ao campo magnético original. O efeito desta segunda corrente movendo-se no campo magnético inicial é a geração de uma força de Lorentz que acelera o elemento "voador" a alta velocidade. Se se colocar um material no campo do elemento voador, no impacto produz-se uma ligação a nível atómico no estado sólido entre os dois elementos. Este artigo discute os fundamentos do processo em termos fenomenológicos, de modelação analítica e simulação numérica. Apresenta aplicações na industria em termos de materiais, configuração de juntas, vantagens e desvantagens do processo.

Magnetic Pulse Welding (MPW) applies the electromagnetic principles postulated in the XIXth century and later demonstrated. In recent years the process has been developed to meet highly demanding market needs involving dissimilar material joining, specially involving difficult-to-weld materials. It is a very high speed joining process that uses an electromagnetic force to accelerate one material against the other, resulting in a solid state weld with no external heat source and no thermal distortions. A high power source, the capacitor, a discharge switch and a coil constitute the minimum equipment necessary for this process. A high intensity current flowing through a coil near an electrically conductive material, locally produce an intense magnetic field that generates eddy currents in the flyer according to Lenz law. The induced electromotive force gives rise to a current whose magnetic field opposes the original change in magnetic flux. The effect of this secondary current moving in the primary magnetic field is the generation of a Lorentz force, which accelerates the flyer at a very high speed. If a piece of material is placed in the trajectory of the flyer, the impact will produce an atomic bond in a solid state weld. This paper discusses the fundamentals of the process in terms of phenomenology and analytical modeling and numerical simulation. Recent industrial applications are presented in terms of materials, joint configurations and real examples as well as advantages and disadvantages of the process.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the recurrence and complication rates of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair performed in a private practice in Cape Town. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: An unselected cohort of 507 patients who underwent laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair before September 2005 were included in this study, thus ensuring a minimum 5-year follow-up. Patient demographic data, clinical notes, operating notes and outpatient follow-up notes were studied. Patients were interviewed telephonically regarding hernia recurrence, chronic pain and technique preference if they had previously undergone an open repair. All data collected were recorded on an electronic spreadsheet. The primary outcome parameter was recurrence. The secondary outcome parameters were postoperative and long-term complications. RESULTS: Of the 507 patients, 267 were contactable telephonically. There were 384 hernia repairs with a mean follow-up of 8.8 years. There were 9 recurrences (2.3%). The overall complication rate was 7.9%. Two per cent of patients suffered from chronic groin pain with gradual improvement since surgery. Sixteen per cent of patients had had previous open repair of an inguinal hernia, either on the ipsilateral or the contralateral side, and all judged the open repair to have been more painful. CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence and complication rates for laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair in this practice are low and comparable to the best reported series. There is a low incidence of persistent postoperative pain with the laparoscopic technique, and it is the technique preferred by patients who previously underwent an open repair.

Surface modification by chitosan (CT) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was employed in the present study to determine metal traces (Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, As and Pt). Previous report about the chitosan film affinity toward positive or negative species demonstrated and allowed the application of these polymeric films for detecting heavy metals in aqueous solutions. The modified surface exhibited an affinity to chelating metal ions in solution, forming complexes. Differential pulse voltammetry combined with a pre-concentrating process and standard addition method were employed for trace analysis, obtaining the detection ranges (Cu (II) from 3.99´10-6 to 3.91´10-5 mol L-1, Pb(II) from 1.99´10-6 to 1.58´10-5 mol L-1, Cd(II) from 1.59´10-5 to 6.23´10-5 mol L-1, As(IV) from 7.99´10-6 to 5.04´10-5 mol L-1, Pt(IV) from 8.19´10-6 to 3.59´10-5 mol L-1, Co(II) from 6.11´10-4 to 2.78´10-3 mol L-1), calibrations plots and relevant equations for each metal. Finally, cyclic voltammetry technique was used to characterize the polymeric surface behavior in presence of different metals and during the differential pulse voltammetric analysis. The results are described and discussed in the light of the existing literature.

The purpose of this work was to analyze the hydrodynamic and drying aspects of a rotary dryer used in a fertilizer industry. A set of equations to predict the solids holdup in the flights, the length of fall, the residence time of particles and the drying variables was evaluated by comparison to experimental measurements performed in an industrial rotary dryer of the Copebras Fertilizer Company, located in Catalão, state of Goias, Center-west of Brazil. Because of precise estimations, these equations may be used to design and predict the solids cascading behavior in industrial rotary dryers. Despite larger deviations, reaching 20%, the drying model can also be used for design calculations and process simulations.

No presente trabalho é analisado o efeito do enrelvamento, comparativamente à mobilização do solo, na composição, estrutura e dinâmica das infestantes vitícolas. O estudo de três anos (2002-2004) decorreu numa vinha de encosta, não regada, casta ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, na região Vitícola da Estremadura, Portugal. Foram comparadas três modalidades: mobilização do solo (testemunha), enrelvamento semeado permanente (Lolium perenne ‘Nui’, L. multiflorum ‘Bartíssimo’, Festuca ovina ‘Ridu’, F. rubra ssp. rubra ‘Echo’, Trifolium incarnatum ‘Red’, T. repens ‘Huie’ e T. subterraneum ‘Claire’), e enrelvamento permanente natural. Não se registaram diferenças significativas na biomassa total da vegetação da entrelinha na primavera entre modalidades mas o valor absoluto variou com o ano. As práticas de gestão aplicadas em cada modalidade, designadamente época e número de mobilizações do solo e corte do enrelvamento foram determinantes na evolução da biomassa. A análise canónica de correspondências revelou efeitos significativos entre modalidades nas espécies inventariadas, com implicações nas comunidades residentes. Três anos após o início do ensaio a composição florística na modalidade mobilizada era dominada por espécies dicotiledóneas anuais, designadamente cinco espécies de Geraniaceae, Medicago polymorpha e Sonchus oleraceus. No enrelvamento natural houve um aumento de espécies perenes como Rumex crispus Veronica anagallis-aquatica e Polypogon monspeliensis e de algumas anuais tal como Melilotus indica e Avena sterilis. O aumento daquelas espécies perenes, consideradas como competitivas com a videira implica uma maior frequência dos cortes no verão. No enrelvamento semeado as espécies L. perenne e T. repens mantiveram a sua capacidade de regeneração e a sua abundância reduziu a dominância ou eliminou a maioria das infestantes anuais e perenes inventariadas no enrelvamento natural.

The influence of two sward treatments and soil cultivation on the composition, the structure, and the evolution of the biomass of vineyard weed communities was examined. The 3-year study (2002-2004) was carried out in a sloping, non-irrigated vineyard, cv. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, in the Estremadura winegrowing region of Portugal. The experimental treatments were: soil tillage (control); permanent sown cover crop - Lolium perenne ‘Nui’, L. multiflorum ‘Bartíssimo’, Festuca ovina ‘Ridu’, F. rubra ssp. rubra ‘Echo’, Trifolium incarnatum. ‘Red’, T. repens ‘Huie’ and T. subterraneum ‘Claire’; and permanent resident vegetation. Total weed biomass in the spring did not reveal significant differences between treatments, but varied annually. The management practices - e.g. time and number of soil cultivations and inter-row mowing - were determinant in weed biomass evolution. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed significant treatment effects on community structure. Three years after the experiment was set up, in the soil tillage treatment weed composition was dominated by annual broad-leaved species, namely five Geraniaceae species, Medicago polymorpha and Sonchus oleraceus. The perennial broad-leaved species Oxalis pes-caprae was also a dominant species in soil tillage. In both sward treatments there was an increase in the perennial broad-leaved and grass species. Compared to soil tillage, in the resident vegetation treatment there was a significant increase in perennial species, such as Rumex crispus, Veronica anagallis-aquatica and Polypogon monspeliensis, and in the annuals Melilotus indica and Avena sterilis. The increase in these perennial species, which are considered to compete with vines, requires more frequent mowing in the summer. In the permanent sown cover crop treatment, L. perenne and T. repens displayed the ability to re-establish successfully, and their abundance decreased or suppressed most of the annual and perennial weed species.

Numa vinha da casta ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ instalada na região da Estremadura - Alenquer - estudou-se o efeito do enrelvamento da entrelinha no crescimento vegetativo, rendimento e qualidade da uva e do vinho. Durante três anos compararam-se três tratamentos alternativos: mobilização da entrelinha (testemunha), relvado natural e relvado semeado. Comparativamente à modalidade mobilizada as videiras das modalidades relvadas apresentaram um potencial de base mais baixo durante o período floração-meia maturação. Estas diferenças no estado hídrico da videira não afectaram o rendimento nem a acumulação de açúcar nos bagos no entanto, no terceiro ano de ensaios, provocaram uma redução significativa no crescimento vegetativo das videiras das modalidades relvadas, comparativamente à modalidade mobilizada. Esta redução do crescimento vegetativo induziu um efeito positivo na composição da uva através da redução da acidez total e do aumento da concentração de antocianas e fenóis nas películas do bago. Estas diferenças foram também detectadas na análise sensorial do vinho, na qual os provadores atribuíram uma melhor classificação aos vinhos das modalidades relvadas. Os nossos resultados indicam que, neste “terroir”, o enrelvamento da vinha é uma técnica cultural recomendável pois permite controlar o vigor e, indirectamente, melhorar a qualidade da uva.

Grapevine vegetative growth, yield, fruit composition and wine quality were studied in the Estremadura Winegrowing Region of Portugal in a ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ slopping non-irrigated vineyard. During three seasons three treatments were compared: soil tillage (control), permanent resident vegetation, and permanent sown cover crop. When compared to soil tillage, the inter-row sward treatments displayed a lower predawn leaf water potential from bloom to mid-ripening. These differences in vine water status did not affect vine yield or berry sugar accumulation; however, in the third season after experiment setup it induced a significant reduction in vegetative growth in the sward treatments, compared to soil tillage. This vegetative growth reduction had a positive effect on grape composition by reducing titratable acidity and increasing berry skin total phenols and anthocyanins. Those differences were also detected in the wines by the judges who gave a better classification to the wines from the sward treatments. Our results indicate that cover cropping can be a valuable tool for controlling vigour and enhancing wine quality in this winegrowing region.

Objectivos: Determinar os padrões endoscópicos dos pólipos gástricos (PG) encontrados com a cromoendoscopia de ampliação e relacioná-los com os achados histológicos. Material e Métodos: Dezanove doentes (H: 8; M:11) com PG (n=27) foram avaliados com o endoscópio de ampliação Q240Z® (Olympus Corporation) e cromoscopia com índigo carmim a 0,4%, após a remoção de muco com N-acetilcisteína. Após a observação dos padrões endoscópicos das lesões em ampliação (105x), os PG foram removidos e caracterizados histopatologicamente. Resultados: Os achados histológicos foram: Gastrite Crónica (GC)-5; Metaplasia Intestinal(MI)-2; PG Inflamatório (INF)-12; PG Hiperplásico(H)-7; PG Adenomatoso(AD)-1. Os padrões endoscópicos dos PG foram classificados após a determinação da histologia. Identificados 4 padrões endoscópicos: Tipo I-redondo ou tubular; Tipo II-digitiforme ou "em feijão"; Tipo III-cerebriformes; Tipo IV-não estruturado. Em 19% dos pólipos (n=5) não foi possível identificar um padrão, por friabilidade intensa ou excesso de muco. Procedeu-se à relação dos padrões predominantes com a histologia: Tipo I: GC/MI; Tipo II: INF; Tipo III: H;Tipo IV:AD. Conclusão: Estudos de validação e aplicabilidade clínica destes padrões poderão vir a definir a utilidade desta classificação na selecção de pólipos gástricos para polipectomia.

Aims: To define the endoscopic pit patterns of gastric polyps (GP) by magnification chromoendoscopy and correlate them with histopathologic findings. Methods: A total of 19 patients (M: 8; F:11) with 27 GP were evaluated. The endoscopic procedure was performed with a magnification endoscope Q240Z® (Olympus Corporation) and consisted of applying a mucolytic agent followed by the spray by a 0,4% indigo carmine contrast dye spray. The pit patterns of the GP mucosa are then observed by using the maximum magnification (105x). All the polyps were then removed and sent for histopathological evaluation. Results: The histological findings were: chronic gastritis (CG)-5; intestinal metaplasia (IM)-2; inflammatory GP (INF)-12; hyperplastic GP (H)-7; adenomatous GP (AD)-1. The GP endoscopic pit patterns were classified after histological characterisation. We identified four endoscopic patterns: Type I: round or tubular; Type II: finger-shaped or bean-like; Type III: brain-like; Type IV: unstructured. Friability and mucous excess did not permit identification of an endoscopic pattern in 18,5% (n= 5) of the polyps. A correlation was established between the predominant pit patterns and the histological findings: Type I:CG/IM; Type II:INF; Type III:H; Type IV:AD. Conclusion: GP endoscopic pit patterns can, in the future, aid in selecting patients for to polypectomy.

A cinética de desidratação dos 4-clorobenzalpiruvatos de itérbio, lutécio e ítrio foi estudada utilizando a Termogravimetria e os parâmetros cinéticos obtidos pelo método Flynn e Wall sugerem que a etapa de desidratação segue um mecanismo de primeira ordem. A energia de ativação (Ea) calculada foi 103,6, 96,6 e 97,2 kJ/mol e o tempo de meia-vida considerando as temperaturas de 31 e 101 oC para a desidratação térmica dos compostos estudados foram 23, 26, 31 minutos e 0,6, 1,3 e 1,4 segundos, respectivamente. Os resultados possuem valores muito próximos e sugerem que a água está ligada da mesma forma nos compostos estudados.

The dehydration kinetic of Yb, Lu and Y 4-chlorobenzylidenepyruvate was studied by using thermogravimetry and the kinetics parameters obtained by Flynn and Wall method suggest that the dehydration step follows a first order mechanism. The activation energies calculated were 103.6, 96.6 and 97.2 kJ/mol and the lifetime considering the temperature of 31 and 101 º C for the dehydration of these compounds were 23, 26, 31 minutes and 0.6, 1.3 and 1.4 seconds, respectively. The results have similar values and suggest that the water is attached in the same way.