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In this paper a numerical investigation on mixed convection in confined slot jets impinging on a partially filled configuration of porous medium by considering pure water or Al2O3/water based nanofluids is described. A two-dimensional model is developed and different Peclet numbers are considered. Rayleigh numbers is imposed equal to 30000. The particle volume concentration ranges from 0% to 4% and the particle diameter is assumed equal to 20, 30 and 80 nm. The target surface is heated at constant temperature value, calculated according to the value of Rayleigh number. The distance of the target surface is five times greater than the slot jet width. Three different values of the ratio between the total system length and metal foam length are considered. A single-phase model approach is employed in order to describe the nanofluid behaviour while the hypothesis of non-local thermal equilibrium is assumed to simulate the thermal behaviour in the metal foam. The foam is characterized by a number of pores per inch equal to 5, 10, 20 and 40 and a porosity around 0.90. The aim of the paper consists to study the thermal and fluid-dynamic behaviour of the impinging jet system with nanofluids. Results show increasing values of the Nusselt number for increasing values of Peclet number and nanoparticle concentration. In addition, the ratio between the thermal and pumping power is evaluated to find a trade-off between the increase of heat transfer and pressure drop.

The use of Silybum marianum L. for therapeutic purposes has been known since ancient times. Its phytocomplex reduces transaminases and other biohumoral indices in the course of liver disease and also in hepato-renal syndrome. In particular, the flavonolignan component has shown properties that would partially explain the ability of the phytocomplex to induce a certain regeneration of liver cells, stimulate the cellular elimination of toxins and reduce the inflammatory component, present in fatty, alcoholic and hormonal therapies with steroids. S. marianum is also successfully used in the treatment of patients with symptomatic chronic hepatitis, with complete disappearance of clinical symptoms, such as asthenia, loss of appetite, severe meteorism, dyspepsia, and with normalization of transaminases. The same results can be obtained in patients undergoing heavy chemotherapy cycles. Modern herbal medicine uses it in decoction or infusion, however with some caution in patients suffering from hypertension, due to the presence of tyramine. In addition, the extracts of the roots have antioxidant, diuretic and febrifugal properties and those of the leaves have aperitif properties. It is therefore interesting to provide a picture of the different non-flavonolignanic components (terpenes, steroids and essential oils) of the plant and their properties, which have perhaps been wrongly neglected over the past few years.

PurposeProper evaluation of polyphenols intake at the population level is a necessary step in order to establish possible associations with health outcomes. Available data are limited, and so far no study has been performed in people with diabetes. The aim of this work was to document the intake of polyphenols and their major food sources in a cohort of people with type 2 diabetes and in socio-demographic subgroups.MethodsWe studied 2573 men and women aged 50–75 years. Among others, anthropometry was measured by standard protocol and dietary habits were investigated by food frequency questionnaire (EPIC). The intake of polyphenols was evaluated using US Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases.ResultsThe mean total polyphenol intake was 683.3 ± 5.8 mg/day. Non-alcoholic beverages represented the main food source of dietary polyphenols and provided 35.5% of total polyphenol intake, followed by fruits (23.0%), alcoholic beverages (14.0%), vegetables (12.4%), cereal products and tubers (4.6%), legumes (3.7%) and oils (2.1%); chocolate, cakes and nuts are negligible sources of polyphenols in this cohort. The two most important polyphenol classes contributing to the total intake were flavonoids (47.5%) and phenolic acids (47.4%). Polyphenol intake increased with age and education level and decreased with BMI; furthermore, in the northern regions of Italy, the polyphenol intake was slightly, but significantly higher than in the central or southern regions.ConclusionsThe study documents for the first time the intake of polyphenols and their main food sources in people with diabetes using validated and complete databases of the polyphenol content of food. Compared with published data, collected in people without diabetes, these results suggest a lower intake and a different pattern of intake in people with diabetes.

Intraperitoneal prophylactic drain (IPD) use in pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is still controversial. A survey was designed to investigate surgeons’ use of IPD in PD patients through 23 questions and one clinical vignette. For the clinical scenario, respondents were asked to report their regret of omission and commission regarding the use of IPD elicited on a scale between 0 (no regret) and 100 (maximum regret). The threshold model and a multilevel mixed regression were applied. One hundred three (97.2%) respondents confirmed using at least two IPDs. The median regret due to the omission of IPD was 84 (67–100, IQR). The median regret due to the commission of IPD was 10 (3.5–20, IQR). The CR-POPF probability threshold at which drainage omission was the less regrettable choice was 3% (1–50, IQR). The threshold was lower for those surgeons who performed minimally invasive PD ( P  = 0.048), adopted late removal ( P  = 0.002), perceived FRS able to predict the risk ( P  = 0.006), and IPD able to avoid relaparotomy P  = 0.036). Drain management policies after PD remain heterogeneous among surgeons. The regret model suggested that IPD omission could be performed in low-risk patients.

HARVEST QUALITY AND SOIL PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES: IMPLICATIONS ON THE PLANNING OF REGROWTH FOREST STANDS The objective of this study was to evaluate the consequences of timber harvesting with the use of chainsaws and the physical properties of soil in two regrowth eucalyptus stands. The study was conducted at the Agua Limpa Farm, belonging to the University of Brasilia (UnB). Two areas were chosen to undergo the regrowth process. Area 1 (AR1) was harvested in 2010 and area 2 (AR2) was harvested in 2004 and abandoned for regeneration. In AR2 the height of the stumps was outside the recommended technical standards (<5 cm), which prevents the entry of forest implements for soil preparation. An inventory was performed and the yield and operating costs of lowering these stumps was determined. In both the AR1 and AR2, the parameters of penetration resistance, density and hygroscopic moisture of the soil were determined. Soil samples were characterized as highly plastic with lateric clay properties. The maximum values of RP were concentrated in soil depths of 25 to 35 cm and there was little variation in soil density between the two areas, with values close to 1.0 kg m-3. In AR2 the amount of wood wasted in the form of stumps was approximately 13.70 m3 ha-1, requiring 16.7 hours to lower the stumps of one hectare at a cost of R$ 492.48 ha-1 (one dollar equals R$ 1.70) .

O objetivo foi avaliar os refl exos da colheita de madeira com o uso da motosserra e das propriedades físicas do solo em duas áreas destinadas à reforma de povoamentos de eucalipto. O estudo foi conduzido na Fazenda Água Limpa (FAL), pertence à Universidade de Brasília (UnB). Foram escolhidas duas áreas a serem submetidas ao processo de reforma. A área 1 (AR1) foi colhida em 2010 e a área 2 (AR2) foi colhida em 2004 e abandonada para regeneração. Na AR2 a altura dos tocos estava fora dos padrões técnicos recomendados (< 5 cm), o que impossibilita a entrada dos implementos fl orestais para o preparo do solo. Foi realizado um inventário e determinado o rendimento e os custos operacionais de rebaixamento desses tocos. Tanto na AR1 quanto na AR2 os parâmetros resistência à penetração, densidade e umidade higroscópica do solo foram determinados. As amostras de solo foram caracterizadas como altamente plásticas, com comportamento argiloso laterítico. Os valores máximos de RP concentraram-se nas profundidades de solo de 25 até 35 cm e houve pouca variação na densidade do solo entre as duas áreas, com valores próximos a 1000 kg m-3. Na AR2 o volume de madeira desperdiçado na forma de tocos foi de aproximadamente 13,70 m³/ha, sendo necessárias 16,7 horas para rebaixar um hectare, a um custo de R$ 492,48 ha-1.