Characterization of biofilm formation by bacteria associated with the midgut of Anopheles mosquito, vector of malaria

"Malaria is the most prevalent vector-borne disease, caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. One malaria control approach involves the Anopheles midgut microbiota manipulation. According to the literature, Pseudomonas spp. may reduce Plasmodium infection in Anopheles mosquitoes, which could be associated with their high capacity of biofilm production. Bacterial biofilms at the midgut epithelium may restrict the ookinetes´ movement, therefore with potential application as a malaria transmission blocking tool.(...)"N/

the corporate exodus from Russia

A ideia de que as empresas têm a responsabilidade de respeitar os direitos humanos, tanto nas suas operações como ao longo das suas cadeias de valor globais, foi originalmente consagrada nos Princípios Orientadores das Nações Unidas sobre Direitos Humanos e Empresas (UNGPs), com base em princípios morais e expectativas socias (ou seja, a licença social para operar das empresas) e está a tornar-se cada vez mais uma obrigação legal vinculativa no âmbito dos desenvolvimentos legislativos. Estes desenvolvimentos tornaram-se particularmente relevantes dada a dimensão e influência crescentes das empresas multinacionais nos últimos anos, e o impacto que as suas atividades podem ter nos direitos humanos. À luz desta perspetiva, e em resposta às tensões crescentes que se verificaram a partir de 24 de fevereiro de 2022, várias empresas decidiram retirar-se ou suspender as suas operações em território russo. Esta tese de mestrado visa demonstrar como as empresas multinacionais se podem desvincular de forma responsável de relações comerciais em áreas afetadas por conflito armado, como a Rússia, enquanto parte da responsabilidade corporativa de respeitar os direitos humanos. A dissertação aprofundará ainda os potenciais desafios associados à permanência ou saída das empresas multinacionais da Rússia, proporcionando uma compreensão abrangente das dinâmicas complexas em torno das empresas que operam em zonas afetadas por conflito armado.The idea that businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights, both in their own operations and throughout their global value chains, has originally been crystallised in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) on the grounds of moral principles and social expectations (i.e. a business’ social license to operate) and it is now increasingly becoming a legally binding obligation under the legislative developments. These developments have become particularly relevant given the growth in size and influence of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in recent years, and the impact that their activities might have on human rights. In light of this perspective, and in response to the heightened tensions that unfolded on the 24th of February 2022, numerous multinational enterprises have decided to withdraw from or suspend their operations in Russian territory. This master’s thesis aims to demonstrate how multinational enterprises can responsibly disengage from business relationships in conflict-affected areas, such as Russia, as part of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights. Building on this investigation into responsible disengagement, the dissertation will further delve into potential challenges associated with remaining or withdrawing from Russia, providing a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding multinational enterprises in conflict-affected areas

o exemplo do 1º Conde de Figueiró e o 3º comendador-mor de Avis

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Multitask Symbolic Regression in Genetic Programming

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Science and Advanced Analytics, specialization in Data ScienceMultitask Learning (MTL) is the process in which multiple problems are solved simultaneously, usually with shared representations or parameters. This approach is known to improve generalisation, performance and training time. MTL in Genetic Programming (GP) has received limited attention, due to the assumption that GP tailors solutions to a specific task and thus, that it is challenging to share these amongst different problems. This work introduces a novel method that evolves a tree that is shared between two tasks (also called problems), in which its terminals are pairs of the original features of the datasets. The fitness function of the common evolution is the average performance on each task, as an attempt to balance the improvement of both. The impact of different metrics for the common fitness function was studied, in specific the difference between Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and Relative Squared Error (RSE). The results revealed that the RSE is a more adequate measure than the other, as it achieves a better balance between the minimisation of error across both tasks. The effectiveness of the Common Tree (CT) in reducing overfitting and program size was verified for some cases, but it is not evident under what conditions this effect is predictable. In addition, across all datasets, the common evolution produces trees that for the same level of fitness, are smaller in size, indicating that it is preventing bloat. Other conclusions relate to the nature of the relationship between tasks. It was verified that the domain of problems is not sufficient to justify if a joint evolution will be successful. Additionally, some problems were verified to be better pairs than others and that their effectiveness is not symmetric. The CT is not expected to capture the complexity of each problem, leading to poorer results when compared with Standard Genetic Programming (StdGP). This was verified for all cases with the exception of the Istanbul dataset. To tackle this issue, the CT is transformed into a new feature that is later inserted into the dataset of each problem. A final evolutionary process is conducted to leverage the information from both evolutions. The final results yield no difference when compared with StdGP

Harmonias Humanas: A criação de Paisagens Sonoras através de Coro e Movimento para a disciplina de Educação Musical em 2.o Ciclo do Ensino Básico

O presente relatório foi elaborado no contexto da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada, inserida no Mestrado em Ensino de Educação Musical no Ensino Básico (2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico), da Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, da Universidade Nova de Lisboa. A prática ocorreu em colaboração com uma escola do concelho de Vila Franca de Xira, durante o ano letivo de 2023/2024, abrangendo o período de outubro de 2023 a junho de 2024. Este relatório estrutura-se em duas partes: a parte I refere-se à prática pedagógica, nomeadamente, a caracterização do contexto da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada, bem como a síntese e reflexão das aulas observadas, a síntese e reflexão das aulas lecionadas, e, por último, a respetiva participação em projetos e clubes, como o Clube TecMúsica do 1.ºciclo e o clube de Rádio e ainda projetos como a DAC das Abelhas ou a DAC das Flores do Verde Pino. Para terminar esta parte, apresenta-se as considerações finais sobre a Prática de Ensino Supervisionada. Assim, na parte II refere-se ao projeto implementado na Prática de Ensino Supervisionada “Harmonias Humanas”. Nesta secção, consta uma descrição do projeto, bem como os objetivos, os métodos e a finalidade, e, de que modo, se insere na disciplina de Educação Musical. Ao longo do projeto, os alunos foram solicitados a realizar uma interpretação vocal da canção “Amor Comum”, bem como realizar Paisagens Sonoras deste tema com o Movimento e Instrumental orff. Para além disso, estarão reveladas atividades intercalares, reflexões sobre o projeto mencionadas pelos alunos no questionário realizado a cada final de aula, bem como as reflexões do docente aos desafios e aprendizagens.The present report was prepared in the context of the Supervised Teaching Practice, part of the Master's in Music Education for Elementery Education, at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Nova University of Lisbon. The practice took place in collaboration with a school in the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira, during the academic year 2023/2024, covering the period from October 2023 to June 2024. This report is structured into two parts: Part I refers to the pedagogical practice, namely the characterization of the context of the Supervised Teaching Practice, as well as the summary and reflection on the observed lessons, the summary and reflection on the lessons taught, and finally, the respective participation in projects and clubs, such as the TecMúsica Club for Key Stage 1 and the Radio Club, as well as projects like the DAC of Bees or the DAC of Flowers from Verde Pino. To conclude this part, final considerations on the Supervised Teaching Practice are presented. Thus, Part II refers to the project implemented during the Supervised Teaching Practice, "Human Harmonies." This section includes a description of the project, as well as its objectives, methods, and purpose, and how it fits into the Music Education curriculum. Throughout the project, students were asked to perform a vocal interpretation of the song "Amor Comum," as well as create Soundscapes of this theme with Movement and Orff instruments. Additionally, intercalary activities, reflections on the project mentioned by the students in the questionnaire conducted at the end of each lesson, as well as the teacher's reflections on the challenges and learnings, will be revealed

Cryobiophysics: Structure-Function-Property-Design Interplay of Polysaccharides in Crystal Binding

A criopreservação de matéria biológica tem despertado grande interesse na ciência médica pelo seu potencial em prolongar o tempo de preservação de órgãos, alimentos e alongar a esperança média de vida. Esta dissertação explora profundamente as relações estrutura-função de polissacáridos biocompatíveis em crioproteção, revelando novos mecanismos e desafiando pressupostos científicos em criobiologia. Polissacáridos crioprotetores provenientes de microorganismos aclimatizados ao frio apresentam um maior peso molecular, conteúdo em ácidos urónicos electronegativos e uma incidência para possuir fucose na cadeia polimérica, corroborado experimentalmente pelo perfil composicional de crioprotetores eficientes na criopreservação de células Vero. O papel-chave da fucose parece estar conectado, ao contrário dos ácidos urónicos, a um mecanismo independente de carga formal que regula a estabilização da membrana celular, contrapondo-se às flutuações volumétricas citosólicas durante o congelamento. Os polissacáridos crioprotetores também possuem uma conformação estrutural mais ordenada em vez de disposições “random coil”, permitindo que passem por uma transição sol-gel a temperaturas hipotérmicas. A anticipação do ponto de solidificação da água leva a cristais de gelo menores e advém de uma forte influência na nucleação de gelo, perturbando a organização difusiva de moléculas de água em núcleos de gelo estáveis. O FucoPol em particular demonstrou um carácter mais determinístico na distribuição de temperaturas de nucleação, associado a uma redução na estocasticidade da nucleação, levando a um maior controlo experimental e sendo benéfico no “design” de protocolos de biopreservação. Por fim, o efeito dualista anti-nucleação e pró-nucleação do FucoPol foi racionalizado através dos formalismos da Teoria Clássica da Nucleação. A hipótese assente é que o desempenho crioprotetor do FucoPol surge de uma inibição cinética, mediada pela viscosidade, da dinâmica de difusão molecular, um efeito modulatório Gibbs-Thomson da cristalização similar a proteínas anticongelamento, e a formação de um gel que exerce influência em ambas as interfaces polisacárido-célula e polisacárido-gelo, respetivamente ao minimizar o dano mecânico na membrana celular durante a congelação e confinando volumetricamente moléculas de água em poros de tamanho definido, aumentado a tensão interfacial, promovendo a nucleação em dimensões uniformes e impedindo a formação de núcleos maiores, assim explicando o viés assimétrico de sobrevivência de núcleos pequenos.Cryopreservation of biological matter has accumulated apex interest in medical science for its potential in elongating organ shelf-life, food storage and human life expectancy. Here, hidden structure-function relationships of biocompatible polysaccharides in successful cryoprotection were deeply explored, to unveil novel mechanistic rationales and challenge pre-established assumptions in cryobiology. Cryoprotective polysaccharides from cold-adapted microorganisms show an increased molecular weight, prominent negatively charged uronic acids and a particular incidence towards fucose in the polymer chain, which correlates experimentally with the compositional profile of the high-tier cryoprotectants in Vero cell cryopreservation. The key role of fucose appears connected, unlike uronic acids, to a charge-independent mechanism regulating cell membrane stabilization counteracting cytosolic volumetric fluctuations during freezing. Cryoprotective polysaccharides also possess an ordered structural conformation rather than random coil dispositions, allowing them to undergo a sol-gel transition at hypothermic temperatures. The freezing point supercooling attenuation as an anticipation of crystal growth leads to smaller ice crystals and arises from a strong influence in ice nucleation, disrupting diffusive assembly of water molecules into stable ice nuclei. FucoPol in particular demonstrated an increased determinism in nucleation temperature distribution, associated to a reduction in nucleation stochasticity, enhanced experimental control, thus beneficial to biopreservation protocol design. Lastly, the anti-nucleation and pro-nucleation effect duality of FucoPol was rationalized using Classical Nucleation Theory formalisms. The withstanding hypothesis is that polysaccharide cryoprotective performance arises from a combination of a kinetic viscosity-mediated impairment of diffusive dynamics, a Gibbs-Thomson ice modulatory effect similar to antifreeze proteins, and the formation of a gel-like matrix which exerts influence both in polysaccharide-cell and polysaccharide-ice interfaces, respectively by minimizing cell membrane mechanical strain during freezing and volumetrically confining water molecules in defined pores, which increases interfacial tension, promotes nucleation and size uniformity, and quenches larger nuclei from forming, thus explaining the asymmetric small nuclei survivorship bias.Fulbright Portugal Visiting Student Researcher funding (21-066); Fundacão Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento, FLAD (Proj. 2021/0070 G-2021-0052); The Company of Biologists Research Fellowship (JCSTF2105556)

True or Fake?: A strategy to help individuals verify fake news and misinformation on social media

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Information Systems and Technologies ManagementThis thesis presents a collection of strategies to verify dis-/misinformation in online environments and examines how social media users apply these strategies in their regular use of social media via an experiment/survey. There is a higher flow of disinformation and fake news on social media platforms than ever seen before, and thus users are consuming unverified content on an everyday basis. This poses a problem for critical thinking, transparency and even democracy. By researching user’s attitudes regarding misinformation and fake news and testing the ways in which they verify information, it demonstrates that there is a lack in education about information disorders and how to approach content on social media. Results show that most participants did not research the information presented to them and showed that their knowledge and application of these strategies is limited. Thus, the concern for a more educated social media audience and the need to improve and incorporate guidelines becomes clear

The impact of continuous Versus Periodic price promotion strategy on Brand image and Perceived product quality

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Driven Marketing, specialization in Digital Marketing and AnalyticsPrice promotions are a staple of modern marketing, utilised by marketeers globally. This thesis explores the effects of continuous versus periodic price promotions on consumer perceptions on brand image and perceived product quality, addressing a gap in previous literature. In today’s competitive landscape, understanding how the frequency of promotions affects the brand is crucial for managers, CEOs and stakeholders. Through an experimental approach, this study presented 103 participants to promotions featuring either continuous or periodic price promotions, and surveyed their responses on brand image, perceived product quality and attitudes towards encountered promotion strategy. The findings reveal that while no significant difference was observed in brand image and perceived product quality – respondents perceived the brand applying continuous promotion strategy as less unique, prestigious and marginally cheaper. This research not only deepens our understanding of price promotion strategy but also lays a strong foundation for future researchers to expand upon

Três tratados do P.e António Pessoa, S.J. (c. 1648)

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