Tagging methods as a tool to investigate histone H3 methylation dynamics in mouse embryonic stem cells

Covalent modification of histones is an important factor in the regulation of the chromatin structure implicated in DNA replication, repair, recombination, and transcription, as well as in RNA processing. In recent years, histone methylation has emerged as one of the key modifications regulating chromatin function. However, the mechanisms involved are complex and not well understood. Histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methylation is deposited by a family of histone H3K4 methyltransferases (HMTs) that share a conserved SET domain. In mammalian cells, six family members have been characterized: Setd1a and Setd1b (the mammalian orthologs of yeast Set1) and four Mixed lineage leukemia (Mll) family HMTs, which share limited similarity with yeast Set1 beyond the SET domain. Several studies demonstrated that the H3K4 methyltransferases exist as multiprotein complexes. To functionally dissect H3K4 methyltransferase complexes, GFP tagging of the core subunit Ash2l and the complex-specific subunits Cxxc1 and Wdr82 (Setd1a/b complexes) Men1 (Mll1/2 complexes), and Ptip (Mll3/Mll4 complexes), was used. The fusion proteins were successfully expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells), analyzed by confocal microscopy, Mass Spectrometry (MS) and ChIP-seq. Ptip was the only subunit able to bind mitotic chromatin. Additionally, both Ptip and Wdr82 were found to associate with cell cycle regulators, suggesting a possible role of the two proteins or respective complexes in cell cycle regulation. Mass Spectrometry revealed that Wdr82 and Ptip interact with members of he PAF complex, and ChIP-seq showed that Wdr82, Cxxc1 and Ptip positively modulate pluripotency genes. Thus, Setd1a/b and Mll3/4 complexes might act together in the regulation of embryonic stem cells identity. Protein pull downs identified at least one new Setd1a/b interactor, Bod1l that is orthologous to the yeast protein Sgh1, a component of the Set1C complex. Furthermore, our MS and ChIP-seq data suggested that only Mll2 complex binds to bivalent promoters, wheras Mll2 and Setd1a complexes might function together in a set of promoters

Information lifecycle management in Structural Engineering BIM, openBIM and Blockchain technology to digitise and re-engineer structural safety information management processes

Over the past decade, the building information modelling (BIM) approach has increasingly been used in both professional practice and research relating to the fields of civil and structural engineering. Indeed, it has been adopted across the globe, with some governments demanding its use in public projects involving bridges, tunnels and railways, as well as for strategic facilities like hospitals and schools. In Europe, most countries comply with Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on public procurements, which allows such clients to demand the use of BIM methodologies. Some countries, meanwhile, have decided to enforce digital delivery; for example, the United Kingdom has required the use of BIM in all government projects since 2016, while the Italian government published a timeline in 2018 mandating the use of BIM methodologies in all construction work by 2025. As a consequence, companies involved in the AEC sector are embracing the BIM approach by employing new tools and workflows, even though they face obstacles in relation to issues like training costs and time or low initial productivity. BIM-based workflows, innovative tools and collaboration platforms can be employed throughout the lifecycle of an asset, and have been the catalyst for innovation in the entire architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. However, the BIM approach does not have its own agenda for research purposes only, but this has one in applied research with the purpose of aiding professional practice. Thus, this thesis will address the use of BIM in structural engineering not for the sake of the research itself, but with the practical intent of summarizing and presenting the current experience of the use of BIM in structural engineering and then contributing to expanding knowledge about the possible uses of BIM in this regard. This thesis proposes innovative processes for the lifecycle information management of information that refers to the discipline of structural engineering. The proposed processes are based on the BIM approach, an information management framework that allows to standardise information flows using processes that implement tools such as BIM-authoring software, BIM tools and collaboration platforms. In detail, the BIM-based processes here proposed are in the number of three and refer, respectively, to the authorization phase, the testing and closeout phase, and the operation and maintenance phase of the lifecycle of a facility. A further novelty of this work is investigating the use of the open format industry foundation classes (IFC) in the processes that refer to the authorization phase and the operation and maintenance phase, and the use of blockchain technology in the testing and closeout phase. The first aim of this thesis, therefore, is to start bridging that gap by 1) providing the first state-of-the-art on the use of BIM in structural engineering. Additionally, this thesis is original in that it addresses the production, management, and storage of information that pertains to structural engineering. Accordingly, this work aims at: 2) Proposing an open BIM-based process for the application for seismic authorization, in Italian 'autorizzazione sismica' (authorization phase). 3) Proposing a proof-of-concept for the integration of blockchain technology and smart contract into information flows among common data environments (CDEs) in the construction process of structural systems (testing and closeout phase). 4) Proposing an open BIM-based process for the operation and maintenance phase of structures

Extended hard-sphere model for the viscosity of dense fluids

An extended hard-sphere model is reported that may be applied to correlate and predict the viscosity of gases, liquids and supercritical fluids. The method is based on the hard-sphere model of Dymond and Assael and uses their roughness factors and molar core volumes to relate reduced viscosity to a universal function of reduced volume. The extended model behaves correctly in the limit of low densities and offers improved accuracy at high densities. The new universal reference function was determined from a large database of experimental viscosities for alkanes extending up to reduced densities of 0.84. It has been tested by correlating the viscosity of two high-viscosity liquids not used in the development of the universal function and has shown to perform satisfactorily up to reduced densities of approximately 0.9

Preliminary basin scale assessment of CO2 geological storage potential in Santos Basin, Southeastern Brazil: Merluza Field study case / Avaliação preliminar do potencial para armazenamento geológico de CO2 da Bacia de Santos, sudeste do Brasil: estudo de caso do Campo de Merluza

The global community has authorized, through the Paris Agreement, the choice of an ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions during the 21st century. The high world dependence on fossil fuels indicates that a quick energy transition—based on the use of renewable fuels or even considering the reduction of total energy consumption—will not be possible without structural changes in the neoliberal way of production and consumption. Thus, carbon capture and storage technologies emerge as a relevant tool for emergency action to meet the Paris Agreement goals. The search for adequate reservoirs is a relevant part of the CO2 storage endeavor and the Santos Basin has a privileged location, being close to oil producing and consuming centers. This work culminated in the study of the Merluza Field zone. Geochemical data and compiled lithological descriptions suggest a possible use of Jureia Formation and Itajaí-Açu Formation. A storage capacity estimation study is also presented. This favorability is not only geological: the presence of infrastructure installed in the Merluza zone as a fixed platform and an exclusive gas pipeline suggests greater economy and less environmental damage from the adaptation of depleted fields for use as a geological reservoir of CO2

Strategic Themes for Balanced Scorecard Construction Based on Fuzzy Logic

Balanced Scorecard is a methodology for strategic management with emphasis in strategic, tactic, and operational control. If you don’t measure something, you don’t manage it. Last statement is a way to emphasizes one of the most important assumptions of this methodology that is very well implemented by it. However, BSC can’t express strategy in actions, nor translate verbalization of strategic planning, important topics to build an effective Balance Scorecard. This paper defines priorities of topics about strategic planning considering the SWOT analysis - strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats – (Andrews, 1971). SWOT analysis is completed considering actions and objectives through Fuzzy Logic theory. The Fuzzy Logic based methodology is an intelligent information system expressed by Espin and Vanti (2005) and completed by Espin, Becker and Vanti (2005). The system, expressed by mathematic formulas, is based in Complexity Theory principles with emphasis in non linearity and is applied here to the tourism industry (a travel agency)

GRAMSCI EM PORTUGAL: UM AUTOR AINDA A DESCOBRIR

O artigo propõe uma reflexão acerca do desinteresse pelos estudos sobre Gramsci em Portugal. A partir de alguns apontamentos a respeito do desenvolvimento sócio-histórico da sociedade portuguesa, percebemos que o desinteresse em Gramsci manifesta os desdobramentos de contradições inscritas na própria formação desta sociedade, a saber: certa passividade com relação às questões políticas e sociais do país; a condução política e ideológica do PCP de alinhamento à URSS que, além de ter afastado os estudos sobre Gramsci do escopo de seus interesses, contribuiu para a distensão do fenômeno atual de russofobia e anticomunismo; e o caráter historicamente conservador das universidades portuguesas. Concluímos o artigo indicando que há boas perspectivas para o avanço dos estudos sobre Gramsci em Portugal, salientando que para tanto, é preciso superar o estado de coisas apontado em nossas argumentaçõe

Metal Nanostructures for Environmental Pollutant Detection Based on Fluorescence

Heavy metal ions and pesticides are extremely dangerous for human health and environment and an accurate detection is an essential step to monitor their levels in water. The standard and most used methods for detecting these pollutants are sophisticated and expensive analytical techniques. However, recent technological advancements have allowed the development of alternative techniques based on optical properties of noble metal nanomaterials, which provide many advantages such as ultrasensitive detection, fast turnover, simple protocols, in situ sampling, on-site capability and reduced cost. This paper provides a review of the most common photo-physical effects impact on the fluorescence of metal nanomaterials and how these processes can be exploited for the detection of pollutant species. The final aim is to provide readers with an updated guide on fluorescent metallic nano-systems used as optical sensors of heavy metal ions and pesticides in water

Portogallo: un Gramsci “quasi” dimenticato

This is the abstract of the Italian-language article by Rita Ciotta Neves on the current picture of Gramsci in Portugal

Hydrogen storage in depleted offshore gas fields in Brazil:Potential and implications for energy security

This article estimates the potential of using depleted offshore gas fields in Brazil for hydrogen storage and the effects this may have in terms of energy security. Brazil is starting to invest in producing green hydrogen associated with offshore wind energy generation. This initiative has stimulated the search for suitable locations to store hydrogen, including in depleted offshore gas reservoirs. The methodology used in this paper allows for identifying which of the 85 assessed depleted offshore gas fields are the most suitable for hydrogen storage and evaluating the storage capacity of the selected fields. In addition, a wind speed analysis is made to investigate possible locations for prospective wind energy generation projects that can accommodate green hydrogen production. As our main result, we find that the selected depleted offshore gas fields have the potential to store around 5483 TWh worth of hydrogen. This amount is equivalent to about 10 times the total annual electricity consumption in Brazil. Hence, Brazil can comfortably leverage its offshore wind potential in connection with hydrogen production to enhance the energy security of its electricity supply. Considering that to date primarily natural gas has been used as the main source of energy security in Brazil and that its share in the electricity sector has significantly increased over the last decade, the combination of hydrogen storage and renewable energy such as offshore wind power has the potential to provide a resilient and decarbonised electricity system in the country. Furthermore, hydrogen stored in offshore reservoirs in Brazil can become an important resource in the international energy market and constitute a possible key to energy security for countries to which Brazil may export hydrogen. We end our paper by providing comments on the challenges, opportunities, and prospects of offshore hydrogen storage in Brazil