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This study investigated the integration of computer-aided design (CAD) and additive manufacturing (AM) in prototype production, particularly in the automotive industry. It explores how these technologies redefine prototyping practices, with a focus on design flexibility, material efficiency, and production speed. Adopting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, this study encompasses a systematic review of 28 scholarly articles. It undertakes a comprehensive analysis to identify key themes, trends, and gaps in the existing research on CAD and AM integration in automotive prototyping. This study revealed the significant advantages of CAD and AM in prototype manufacturing, including improved design capabilities, efficient material usage, and the creation of complex geometries. It also addresses ongoing challenges, such as technology integration costs, scalability, and sustainability. Furthermore, this study foresees future developments by focusing on enhancing CAD and AM technologies to meet evolving market demands and optimize performance. This study makes a unique contribution to the literature by providing a detailed overview of the integration of CAD and AM in the context of automotive prototyping. This study incorporates valuable insights into the current practices and challenges and future prospects, potentially leading to more advanced, sustainable, and customer-oriented prototyping methods in the automotive sector.

This study addressed the development of a pilot plant for pyrolysis of scrap tires to obtain carbon black and other byproducts. The work was motivated by the goal of contributing to the development and dissemination of knowledge about existing technologies that allow modern economies to transform waste into valuable products, by documenting and discussing an empirical application in Brazil. Thispaper describes the development of a market for steel scrap, pyrolytic oil and carbon black products obtained from a vacuum pyrolysis process. The research work was conducted in Brazil, and was guided by the twofold purpose of reducing the environmental impacts, while gaining economical sustainability. Modern economies increasingly need to devise strategies to address energy generation while preserving natural ecosystems. These strategies include leveraging the use of renewable energy sources. Acknowledging that scrap tires hold an enormous potential as a sustainable energy option, this study aimed to contribute to the development and maturity of eco-friendly processing approaches to realize its full potential. The work involved a preliminary phase concerned with the operation of vacuum pyrolysis of scrap tires at a laboratorial scale, followed by the design of the pilot plant that operated for 10 years, at the time of the study, with a 100 kg/h batch flow. Results show that the yield of the pyrolysis process was 41% pyrolytic oil, 38% carbon black, 12% gas, and 8.9% steel scrap, with a calorific value of 36 MJ/kg per tire. The carbon black was composed of 90% carbon, and the pyrolytic oil was composed of 66% gasoline and 33% other oils, which have higher quality and can be commercialized with a potential profit over 3 million dollars/year.

For the actual existence of e-government it is necessary and crucial to provide public information and documentation, making its access simple to citizens. A portion, not necessarily small, of these documents is in an unstructured form and in natural language, and consequently outside of which the current search systems are generally able to cope and effectively handle. Thus, in thesis, it is possible to improve access to these contents using systems that process natural language and create structured information, particularly if supported in semantics. In order to put this thesis to test, this work was developed in three major phases: (1) design of a conceptual model integrating the creation of structured information and making it available to various actors, in line with the vision of e-government 2.0; (2) definition and development of a prototype instantiating the key modules of this conceptual model, including ontology based information extraction supported by examples of relevant information, knowledge management and access based on natural language; (3) assessment of the usability and acceptability of querying information as made possible by the prototype - and in consequence of the conceptual model - by users in a realistic scenario, that included comparison with existing forms of access. In addition to this evaluation, at another level more related to technology assessment and not to the model, evaluations were made on the performance of the subsystem responsible for information extraction. The evaluation results show that the proposed model was perceived as more effective and useful than the alternatives. Associated with the performance of the prototype to extract information from documents, comparable to the state of the art, results demonstrate the feasibility and advantages, with current technology, of using natural language processing and integration of semantic information to improve access to unstructured contents in natural language. The conceptual model and the prototype demonstrator intend to contribute to the future existence of more sophisticated search systems that are also more suitable for e-government. To have transparency in governance, active citizenship, greater agility in the interaction with the public administration, among others, it is necessary that citizens and businesses have quick and easy access to official information, even if it was originally created in natural language.

O presente relatório de Dissertação teve como objetivo o estudo e implementação depráticas Lean em ambiente industrial, cujo projeto foi dividido em duas fases distintas. Numaprimeira fase abordaram-se as ferramentas e metodologias Lean, que consistiu numlevantamento do estado da arte e numa reflexão crítica do autor. A segunda fase, realizadana empresa Preh Portugal, passou pela implementação prática das metodologias quesuportam a filosofia Leane do estudo sobre o impacto que estas tiveram na organização.O projeto centrou-se na secção eletrónica e veio complementar um projeto interno quedecorre desde o início do ano. Neste sentido, o autor ingressou numa equipa de melhoria quetem como principal meta a redução do WIP para um valor objetivo até ao final do ano. Assim,este projeto foi orientado sobretudo à redução do produto em curso de fabrico, apoiado naimplementação de práticas Lean.Posto isto, inicialmente houve um período de adaptação e conhecimento de todos osprocessos da área de eletrónica, para que fosse possível aplicar eficazmente as ferramentasLean. De facto, esta fase foi muito importante para o sucesso do trabalho, pois possibilitouum grande envolvimento com os colaboradores que detêm a maior parte do conhecimento,fundamental para a melhoria contínua.A implementação de sistemas Kanban revelou ser uma ferramenta de enorme valor nagestão de stocks, contribuindo para a redução do excesso de inventário. Outra ferramenta desimples aplicação e com enorme impacto nas condições de trabalho dos colaboradores, são os5S. De facto foi notória a melhoria da área de trabalho, o que se refletiu no aumento dasatisfação dos colaboradores.De realçar que as temáticas do one-piece flow e do fluxo contínuo constituíram umdesafio muito interessante, tendo ficado demonstrado o seu nível de complexidade e oimpacto que podem ter no WIP e no lead time. A metodologia SMED permitiu identificar onível de ineficiência de setups, em que se perspetiva ganhos na ordem de 50% no tempo demudança. A recorrência à gestão visual foi uma constante, e possibilitou que todos ossistemas aplicados fossem corretamente apreendidos e utilizados pelos colaboradores.Este estudo de investigação, proporcionado pela FEUP e pela Preh Portugal, revelou sermuito estimulante e enriquecedor. Do ponto de vista científico, ficou patente o poder dafilosofia Leane o impacto que a sua correta aplicação pode ter em sistemas produtivos.O sucesso deste projeto não pode ser entregue somente ao autor, mas também aosorientadores do estágio pelo seu apoio incondicional e elevadoknow-how transmitido, e atodos os colaboradores da Preh, pela sua elevada contribuição e motivação.

Sistemas capazes de interagir com seres humanos através de linguagem natural falada têm sido alvo de muitos estudos e projectos. Estes sistemas são aliciantes, pois permitem ao Homem comunicar com a máquina de uma forma simples e intuitiva.O trabalho apresentado tem por objectivo tornar a interacção entre um humano e um robô, utilizando linguagem natural falada, mais eficiente e robusta, permitindo a sua utilização em ambientes mais adversos. O trabalho efectuado consistiu, essencialmente, na adaptação dos modelos acústicos de um reconhecedor de fala às condições de utilização e na concepção e desenvolvimento de um sistema de compreensão de linguagem natural, o mais possível imune a eventuais erros cometidos pelo sistema de reconhecimento.Conclui-se este trabalho avaliando, comparativamente, o sistema desenvolvido e o sistema em utilização no robô Carl.Os resultados obtidos apontam para uma melhoria do desempenho com o treino dos modelos acústicos. Também se verifica que o módulo de compreensão de linguagem natural é capaz de processar todas as frases aceites pelo sistema em utilização no Carl, extraindo informação de um número significativo de frases adicionais.

Although the NFT (nutrient film technique) solution application rate for cilantro is known for fresh water, the application rate is still debatable when using brackish water. The application rate alone influences flow velocity dynamics, which, when associated with nutrient solution salinity, can impact plant development when saline water is used. Knowledge of how to best combine solution salinity and application rates will help decide if brackish water can be used to produce cilantro under hydroponic conditions. Thus, two trials were conducted in sequence from November 2019 to February 2020 under a protected environment. Cilantro cv. Verdão was submitted to four levels of electrical conductivity of nutrient solutions (ECns of 1.7, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 dS m−1) combined with four flow rates (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 L min−1). Because Na+ and Ca2+ are predominant ions in brackish waters in the crystalline and sedimentary regions in the Brazilian Semiarid region, the first study used brackish waters dominated by NaCl and the second study used waters dominated by CaCl2. We measured gas exchange and other photosynthetic parameters in plants cultivated with nutrient solutions high in Cl− and prevalent in Na+ or Ca2+, each combined with different application rates. We concluded that the increment in salinity decreased the gas exchange of cilantro plants, especially when the brackish waters were dominant in Ca2+ and Cl−. Up to an ECns of 4.5 dS m−1, plants maintained their leaf chlorophyll concentrations, although with reduced gas exchange. Salt stress compromised chlorophyll a fluorescence, affecting important parameters such as initial, maximum, and variable fluorescence. Besides the effects of salinity on chlorophyll a and b concentrations, the quantum and maximum yields of photosystem II remained stable, indicating that photosystem II may have adapted to the saline conditions applied in this study. The variation in application rates was unable to attenuate the deleterious effects of salinity, regardless of the ionic prevalence. We conclude that cilantro plants can be cultivated under hydroponic conditions, using currently accepted flow rates, with nutrient solutions of up to 3.0 dS m−1 without severe damage to plant photosynthetic parameters.

•The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was substantial in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.•Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus should be encouraged to adopt healthier eating practices and routine physical exercise.•Glycemic control, physical activity, and excess weight represent risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. The therapeutic potential of vitamin D has been studied regarding adjuvant interventions. Some studies have evaluated the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in healthy populations, but they are scarce in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of and factors associated with VDD in children and adolescents with T1DM. This was a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data from a controlled clinical trial. Participants were between 7 and 16 y old, diagnosed with T1DM for at least 1 y, and classified as having VDD when 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) was less than 30 ng/mL. The following data were collected: sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, lifestyle, anthropometric, and Fok-I polymorphism (rs2228570). A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to adjust the effect of potential confounders. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used. The significance level used was 5%. A total of 143 children and adolescents were enrolled; 51% were female and the mean age was 11.5 ± 2.2 y old. The prevalence of VDD was 79% and the mean 25(OH)D of participants with VDD was 19.2 ± 6.1 ng/mL. The factors associated with VDD were low level of physical activity (OR, 2.9, 95% CI, 1.1–7.6, P = 0.031), poor glycemic control (OR, 5.0, 95% CI, 1.9–13.2, P = 0.001), and excess weight (OR, 3.6, 95% CI, 1.1–11.1, P = 0.029). A high prevalence of VDD was observed as well as some associated lifestyle and clinical variables. Recommendations for children and adolescents with T1DM include monitoring their 25(OH)D and encouraging healthy eating practices and routine physical exercise.

Although the NFT (nutrient film technique) solution application rate for cilantro is known for fresh water, the application rate is still debatable when using brackish water. The application rate alone influences flow velocity dynamics, which, when associated with nutrient solution salinity, can impact plant development when saline water is used. Knowledge of how to best combine solution salinity and application rates will help decide if brackish water can be used to produce cilantro under hydroponic conditions. Thus, two trials were conducted in sequence from November 2019 to February 2020 under a protected environment. Cilantro cv. Verdão was submitted to four levels of electrical conductivity of nutrient solutions (ECns of 1.7, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 dS m[sup.−1]) combined with four flow rates (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 L min[sup.−1]). Because Na[sup.+] and Ca[sup.2+] are predominant ions in brackish waters in the crystalline and sedimentary regions in the Brazilian Semiarid region, the first study used brackish waters dominated by NaCl and the second study used waters dominated by CaCl[sub.2]. We measured gas exchange and other photosynthetic parameters in plants cultivated with nutrient solutions high in Cl[sup.−] and prevalent in Na[sup.+] or Ca[sup.2+], each combined with different application rates. We concluded that the increment in salinity decreased the gas exchange of cilantro plants, especially when the brackish waters were dominant in Ca[sup.2+] and Cl[sup.−]. Up to an ECns of 4.5 dS m[sup.−1], plants maintained their leaf chlorophyll concentrations, although with reduced gas exchange. Salt stress compromised chlorophyll a fluorescence, affecting important parameters such as initial, maximum, and variable fluorescence. Besides the effects of salinity on chlorophyll a and b concentrations, the quantum and maximum yields of photosystem II remained stable, indicating that photosystem II may have adapted to the saline conditions applied in this study. The variation in application rates was unable to attenuate the deleterious effects of salinity, regardless of the ionic prevalence. We conclude that cilantro plants can be cultivated under hydroponic conditions, using currently accepted flow rates, with nutrient solutions of up to 3.0 dS m[sup.−1] without severe damage to plant photosynthetic parameters.

Upadacitinib is an oral Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) selective inhibitor approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Concerns have emerged regarding a potential increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with JAK inhibitors (JAKi), though real-world evidence remains limited. To assess the post-marketing safety profile of upadacitinib in relation to VTE using global pharmacovigilance data. We conducted a disproportionality analysis using Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) from VigiBase, accessed via VigiLyze, including all reports up to February 20, 2025. Upadacitinib was compared with: (i) all other medicines; (ii) other second-line advanced RA therapies (bDMARDs and tsDMARDs); and (iii) other JAKi (baricitinib, tofacitinib, filgotinib). Reporting Odds Ratios (ROR) and Information Components (IC), with 95% confidence intervals, were calculated. Descriptive analyses identified 678 VTE cases with upadacitinib, predominantly affecting women (68.1%), with a median age of 63 years. Most were classified as serious (91.2%), although fatal outcomes were less frequent than with comparators. In disproportionality analyses, upadacitinib showed a significant signal versus all medicines (ROR: 2.08; IC: 1.04) and versus other second-line therapies (ROR: 1.40; IC: 0.41), but not versus other JAKi (ROR: 0.98; IC: -0.04). In 2023, disproportionality declined, particularly relative to other JAKi (ROR: 0.57; IC: -0.38). Upadacitinib-related VTE cases display distinct clinical characteristics. These findings support continued pharmacovigilance and the need for robust real-world studies to clarify absolute and comparative risks, inform regulation, and guide personalised therapeutic strategies in RA.

Background Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic in Latin America. Thirty percent of infected individuals develop chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC), an inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy that is, by far, the most important clinical consequence of T. cruzi infection. The others remain asymptomatic (ASY). A possible genetic component to disease progression was suggested by familial aggregation of cases and the association of markers of innate and adaptive immunity genes with CCC development. Migration of Th1-type T cells play a major role in myocardial damage. Methods Our genetic analysis focused on CCR5, CCL2 and MAL/TIRAP genes. We used the Tag SNPs based approach, defined to catch all the genetic information from each gene. The study was conducted on a large Brazilian population including 315 CCC cases and 118 ASY subjects. Results The CCL2rs2530797A/A and TIRAPrs8177376A/A were associated to an increase susceptibility whereas the CCR5rs3176763C/C genotype is associated to protection to CCC. These associations were confirmed when we restricted the analysis to severe CCC, characterized by a left ventricular ejection fraction under 40%. Conclusions Our data show that polymorphisms affecting key molecules involved in several immune parameters (innate immunity signal transduction and T cell/monocyte migration) play a role in genetic susceptibility to CCC development. This also points out to the multigenic character of CCC, each polymorphism imparting a small contribution. The identification of genetic markers for CCC will provide information for pathogenesis as well as therapeutic targets.