Jean Piaget University of Angola

A avaliação funcional de pavimentos rodoviários é essencial para garantir o conforto, a segurança e a eficiência operacional dos utentes, particularmente durante a recepção provisória de infraestruturas recentemente construídas ou reabilitadas. Este estudo apresenta uma avaliação funcional abrangente da estrada nacional EN-240 em Angola, especificamente no troço de 34 km entre Mussende e Cariango, usando o Índice de Irregularidade Internacional (IRI) como parâmetro principal de avaliação. A metodologia empregou um perfilómetro laser (ARRB Hawkeye 2000) para medição contínua do perfil longitudinal, complementada por inspecções visuais para cálculo do Índice de Condição do Pavimento (ICP) conforme a norma ASTM D6433-07. Os resultados indicam condições excelentes do pavimento com valores de ICP de 89,9 (classificado como "Excelente/Bom") e médias de IRI abaixo de 2,5 m/km em ambos os sentidos de tráfego, em conformidade com os padrões internacionais para pavimentos novos. As patologias menores identificadas incluem microfissuras longitudinais (densidade de 7,30%), exsudação (6,09%) e pele de crocodilo (1,47%), todas com baixo nível de severidade. O estudo demonstra que o pavimento da EN-240 atende aos requisitos funcionais para recepção provisória, estabelecendo simultaneamente um quadro metodológico para avaliação de pavimentos em Angola. As recomendações incluem monitorização periódica a cada dois anos, manutenção preventiva dos sistemas de drenagem e reforço da sinalização vertical e horizontal.

Rinck hockey has been shown to be a highly demanding team sport with serious gaps between training and competitions. This study examined elite male rink hockey players’ training and competition variation demands, considering player positions. Ten participants from a leading European team underwent data collection during two microcycles using a local positioning system and heart-rate monitoring. A linear mixed model, accounting for individual repeated measures, was used to compare physiological and mechanical load demands between player positions across training days and competition. Regarding physiological metrics, forward players showed lower total distance skated (m) on match-day-4 and match-day-2 when compared to match-day (p < 0.001) and lower maximum heart rate (bpm) on match-day-4 and match-day-3 than on match-day-2 and match-day (p < 0.001). Regarding biomechanical metrics, forwards presented lower (p < 0.001) accelerations, decelerations, and high-intense impacts across the training sessions when compared with match-day (p < 0.001). Defenders/midfielder players also experienced significantly lower high-intensity impacts than match-day (p < 0.001). Cluster analysis classified physiological and biomechanical demands into "Low" and "High" categories between training days and competition. Results highlighted the inadequacy of training sessions replicating game demands for defenders/midfielders and forwards. The proposed approach allows for categorizing and classifying physiological and biomechanical loads in rink hockey, assisting coaches in customizing training sessions, and emphasizing the importance of position-specific modifications in elite rink hockey training.

Angola’s colonial architectural heritage presents significant levels of deterioration associated with material ageing, insufficient maintenance, and prolonged exposure to environmental conditions. This study presents the development and application of STRUFIBER, a computational system designed to support the inspection, diagnosis, structural assessment, and preliminary definition of rehabilitation solutions for existing buildings, integrating inspection data, testing, structural modelling, and strengthening solutions using fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP). The methodology combined a literature review, analysis of standards and technical procedures, visual inspection, diagnosis of pathological manifestations, analysis of test results provided by the Laboratório de Engenharia de Angola (LEA), structural modelling, and development of the computational prototype. The FAPA Building, located in Huambo, Angola, was used as a case study to test the organization and integration of data within the system. STRUFIBER enables the registration and classification of pathological manifestations, their association with structural elements, integration of testing results and external structural analyses, organization of technical information, and support for the preliminary design of FRP strengthening solutions. The rebound hammer test results indicated estimated concrete strength values that, for part of the non-fractured elements, fell within a range compatible with the C20/25 strength class, in addition to identifying manifestations such as reinforcement corrosion, deformations, cracking, and structural damage associated with exceptional actions. The application of the system also enabled the development of a preliminary CFRP strengthening proposal for selected structural elements. It is concluded that STRUFIBER shows potential as a decision-support tool and as a means of integrated information management throughout the inspection, assessment, and structural rehabilitation process of existing buildings in the Angolan context.

Background/Objectives: Neuropathic and chronic centralized pain disorders remain difficult to treat because they involve central sensitization, maladaptive neuroplasticity, neuroimmune activation, affective amplification, and large-scale network dysfunction. Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic acting primarily through 5-HT2A receptor agonism, has emerged as a candidate modulator of chronic pain states; however, clinical evidence remains preliminary. This review synthesizes preclinical, clinical, and mechanistic literature on psilocybin in chronic neuropathic and centralized pain, emphasizing biological plausibility, translational gaps, and future trial design. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, bioRxiv, medRxiv, and targeted journal searches were reviewed through February 2026 and supplemented by reference screening. Thirty-seven peer-reviewed evidence sources were retained for mechanistic synthesis, and ClinicalTrials.gov records were reviewed separately to contextualize the registered clinical-trial landscape. Evidence was synthesized narratively because heterogeneity in study design, pain models, interventions, outcomes, and follow-up precluded meta-analysis. Results: Several preclinical studies reported psilocybin-associated reductions in allodynia, hypersensitivity, formalin-induced nociception, or pain-related affective behaviors in selected rodent models, with some effects linked to 5-HT2A signaling. However, findings were not uniform, and one rigorous null study found no immediate or persistent analgesic effect across multiple models. Human evidence remains limited and is primarily derived from one small open-label fibromyalgia pilot trial, case reports or case series, and survey studies, and has been summarized in recent systematic and narrative reviews. Collectively, these data remain insufficient to establish clinical efficacy. Four putative mechanistic domains were identified: descending serotonergic modulation, 5-HT2A- and TrkB/BDNF-related neuroplasticity, neuroimmune/microglial modulation, and affective-salience/default mode network reorganization. Conclusions: Psilocybin should not currently be regarded as an established analgesic. Available evidence supports a biologically plausible but clinically unproven model requiring phenotype-specific randomized trials with active controls, biomarkers, and long-term follow-up.

Performance differences between female youth handball players selected for national teams and non-selected peers are often linked to strength, speed, and power. This study aimed to compare the conditioning capacities and body composition of national and non-national youth handball players. The sample included 36 female players (17.13 ± 1.75 years), 18 national and 18 position-matched non-national players. Anthropometry, sprint and change in direction ability, vertical jump, upper- and lower-body strength, aerobic capacity, and body composition were assessed using standard tests and bioimpedance analysis. For normally distributed variables, an independent-samples t-test was applied, while for variables that did not meet the normality assumptions, the Mann–Whitney U test was used. Cohen’s d was used to assess effect size. National team players showed significantly greater jump height (p < 0.001, d = 1.408), higher relative peak power (p < 0.001, d = 1.644), and faster 20 m sprint times (p = 0.004, d = −1.037). No significant differences were found in body composition or the other measured parameters, although a moderate Yo-Yo IRL1 effect size suggests a potential practical advantage in aerobic capacity for national team players. These results indicate that explosive power and linear speed are key discriminators for youth national-team selection.