Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome and Azathioprine

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare syndrome that presents with neurological manifestations, often associated with arterial hypertension. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows bilateral white matter oedema in the posterior vascular territories. Immunosuppression, (pre) eclampsia and autoimmune diseases can be implicated. A 27-year-old woman, with mixed connective tissue disease under azathioprine, was admitted in the emergency room in status epilepticus and with severe hypertension. The MRI showed bilateral oedema in a pattern compatible with PRES. There was clinical improvement after azathioprine suspension. PRES is typically reversible with prompt recognition of the syndrome and its trigger. The association with azathioprine is rare. LEARNING POINTS: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome should be considered in patients with sudden onset of headache, altered consciousness and seizures.Recognition of this entity and identification of the trigger are essential for reversal of the clinical picture.Autoimmune diseases and some immunosuppressive drugs have been identified as causative, but reports of an association with azathioprine are very rare.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Forensic DNA databases

Genetic databases have been created in several countries: the United Kingdom was the first European country to have, in 1995, a DNA database. Subsequently, the Netherlands and Austria (1997), Germany (1998), Finland and Norway (1999) and many others have introduced or are preparing databases.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T6W-4DTKFSF-6/1/b1b40e97eb4be818493af08cb4b86cc

Shaping an urban space: the revitalization process of Mouraria in Lisbon

The present thesis addresses revitalization processes, an important strategy for the contemporary city, based on a redefinition of the urban fabric, taking as a case study Mouraria in the so-called historic part of Lisbon, an area which had been considered by different actors, both internally and externally, as requiring an intervention in order to respond to physical decay and social vulnerabilities. The research aimed to analyze how a territory is shaped, by following local interventions and capture the changes that happen in a context of transition. In view of the global transformations with local consequences, urban policies tend to prioritize a concerted action at the local level via interventions that reflect the growing trend of combining economic growth and social justice. In this respect, by working in partnership, this model aims to enhance the competitiveness of cities and the socioeconomic development of territories by supporting entrepreneurial initiatives, improving public space, and boosting the housing market. These approaches focus on territories as evaluative goods, where new possibilities are to be explored by aesthetically elevating the landscape and recreating a local symbolic identity that is promoted for leisure and consumption. In this sense, the presence of organizations that work in the social sector, and increasingly from the cultural industry, which is considered by local government as a key element in the redevelopment of local meanings, is to be encouraged. At the same time, startup financing to trigger social entrepreneurship, a penetration of the middle class, which is attracted by locally-created opportunities, the media's role as well as online networks in disseminating trends in terms of urban realities, are important aspects in redefining a territory. In the reproduction of social action, new forms of appropriation, relocation and delimitation can be identified but also perpetuation.A presente tese aborda processos de revitalização, uma estratégia importante para a cidade contemporânea que tem por base a redefinição do tecido urbano, tomando como estudo de caso a Mouraria na chamada zona histórica de Lisboa, uma área que havia sido considerada por diversos atores, tanto interna como externamente, com tendo necessidade de uma intervenção a fim de responder à degradação física e vulnerabilidades sociais. A pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar como é que um território é moldado, ao seguir as intervenções locais e captar as mudanças que acontecem num contexto de transição. Tendo em conta as transformações globais, com consequências locais, as políticas urbanas tendem a priorizar uma ação concertada a nível local, através de intervenções que refletem a crescente tendência em combinar crescimento económico e justiça social. Neste sentido, ao trabalhar em parceria, este modelo tem como objetivo aumentar a competitividade das cidades e o desenvolvimento socioeconómico dos territórios ao apoiar iniciativas empreendedoras, melhorar o espaço público e impulsionar o mercado imobiliário. Essas abordagens concentram-se em áreas enquanto bens valorativos, onde novas possibilidades deverão ser exploradas ao elevar esteticamente a paisagem e recriar uma identidade simbólica local que é promovida para lazer e consumo. Neste sentido, a presença de organizações que trabalham no sector social, e cada vez mais da indústria cultural, que é considerada pelo governo local como um elemento-chave na reconstrução de significados locais, é de incentivar. Ao mesmo tempo, um financiamento que sirva de arranque para acionar o empreendedorismo social, a penetração da classe média que é atraída pelas oportunidades localmente criadas, o papel da comunicação social, bem como das redes sociais virtuais em disseminar tendências em termos de realidades urbanas, são aspetos importantes na redefinição de um território. Na reprodução da ação social, novas formas de apropriação, relocação e delimitação podem ser identificadas, mas também de perpetuação

Regulação da proliferação pela SETD7 no cancro da mama

Mestrado em Biomedicina MolecularBreast cancer growth is dependent on stimulation by the ovarian hormone estrogen. Estrogen activates estrogen receptora (ERa) which is a ligandactivated transcription factor. Estrogen-bound ERa transactivates genes which stimulate proliferation and survival. Hormonal therapy is an effective strategy to treat hormone-related breast cancer. However, it is associated with endocrine resistance and recurrence. Activation of growth factors signaling pathways and alterations on ERα protein have been propossed as resistance mechanisms. ERa protein stability and activation of transcription is regulated by post transcriptional modifications such as methylation and by proteasome degradation. SETD7 is a methyltransferase which targets histones and others non-histone proteins important for cellular proliferation, including ERa. Methylation of ERa seems to contribute to ERa stability and activity; this would lead to an increase in cell survival. However, previous results from our lab indicate that SETD7 inhibits mammary epithelial cell proliferation. Therefore, in this project, we intent to study the co-regulation between ERa and SETD7 as well as the subsequent effects on proliferation in response to different mitogenic stimuli, with focus on estrogen. For this purpose, we used a SETD7 activity inhibitor known as R-PFI. In this study, we show that SETD7 levels decrease when cells are stimulated to proliferate. Inhibition of SETD7 activity by R-PFI leads to an increase in cell number. However, when cells were co-treated with R-PFI and estrogen the increase was not significant once cells suffer a cell cycle arrest. In the presence of R-PFI, we show an increase of ERa protein levels, identical to the levels obtained when ERa degradation is impaired by blocking the proteasome, suggesting that SETD7 may control ERa protein levels at this level. However, this increase of ERa levels did not translate into an increase of ERa activity. Thus, SETD7 can be dispensable for ERa activity. Our findings suggest an inhibitory role of SETD7 in breast cells growth in the absence of estradiol. But, on the other hand, our results do not support studies previously reported in relation to ERa regulation. Therefore, further studies are needed to establish SETD7 function in ERα- induced proliferation.O crescimento e progressão do cancro da mama é maioritariamente dependente da estimulação hormonal, nomeadamente pela hormona ovariana estrogénica. Esta hormona liga-se e ativa o recetor de estrogénio a (ERα) que culmina na transativação de genes que por sua vez gera uma resposta celular ao nível da proliferação e sobrevivência celular. Uma das terapias para cancros dependentes de estrogénio é a terapia hormonal. Porém, apesar de eficaz, a longo tempo gera mecanismo de resistência endócrina e até recorrência. A ativação de vias de sinalização dependentes de fatores de crescimento e outras vias de sinalização alteram a estrutura do ERα, a sua estabilidade e função. Estes mecanismos são os propostos para explicar a resistência endócrina. A estabilidade e atividade do ERαsão processos regulados por modificações pós traducionais bem como a degradação da proteína mediada pelo proteossoma. A metilação do ERαpela SETD7 parece contribuir para a estabilidade e atividade transcricional do recetor. Tal, traduzir-se-ia num aumento de sobrevivência celular. Contudo, resultados anteriores do laboratório indicam que a SETD7 inibe a proliferação celular de células epiteliais mamárias. Assim, este estudo tem como objetivo principal estudar a regulação do ERα pela SETD7 e vice-versa, bem como os efeitos desta regulação ao nível da proliferação celular mediada por diversos estímulos mitogénicos, e com foco nos efeitos dos estrogénios. Para tal, realizámos vários estudos utilizando um inibidor da atividade da SETD7, RPFI. Neste estudo mostrámos que os níveis de SETD7 diminuem quando as células são estimuladas a proliferar. A inibição da atividade da SETD7 pelo R-PFI origina um aumento do número de células. Contudo, quando combinado com estrogénio, o aumento deixa de ser significativo devido a uma paragem no ciclo celular. Na presença de R-PFI, pudemos observar um incremento dos níveis proteicos de ERa idênticos aos que se verificam quando o proteossoma está inibido, sugerindo um controlo dos níveis proteicos de ERa pela SETD7 poderia estar associado ao controlo da degradação do ERα. Contudo, este aumento dos níveis de ER não se traduz num aumento de atividade do recetor, pelo que a SETD7 parece ser dispensável para a atividade do ERα. Os resultados obtidos sugerem um papel inibitório da SETD7 sobre o crescimento de células mamárias na ausência de estradiol. Por outro lado, os nossos resultados não estão de acordo com estudos já publicados, pelo que será necessário aprofundar os estudos para esclarecer qual a função da SETD7 na regulação da proliferação mediada pelo ERα

Modelling of friction and convective coefficients in a dry transformer

This thesis stands for a 2D axisymmetric study of convection heat transfer, within cooler ducts of dry type transformers, by means of CFD simulations (ANSYS Fluent). The purpose was the definition of descriptive functions for the mean heat transfer and friction coefficients, regarding free and forced convection, within a vertical cylindrical annular duct, under isoflux conditions (uniform wall heat flux). Dry-transformer type uses air as cooling system by natural convection and an AC system is assumed at the base of the transformer for forced convection. All system conditions and fluid properties were constructed and defined at Fluent program. Several pre-tests were performed, mainly in order to properly select the studied mesh and fluid-dynamic model. The parametric study was assembled accounting for 45 geometry’s designs, 8 values for wall heat flux, 4 velocities for forced convection simulations, while for natural convection a linear correlation heat flux-velocity was assumed. This corresponds to 1800 simulations. After data analysis and treatment, a non-linear regression was performed in MATLAB, aiming for the descriptive functions of convection heat transfer and friction coefficients, obtained thru CFD. A successful fitting was obtained through artificial neural networks (ANN), providing predictions for convective coefficient of relative errors inferior to 12% for approximately 80% of cases and inferior to 15% for approximately 70% of cases for friction coefficient. It was concluded an overcome accuracy of the ANN’s predictions shown, compared to the most fitted literature’s model considered, for convective heat transfer coefficient.Esta dissertação baseia-se no estudo, axi-simétrico 2D, de transferência de calor por convecção, em condutas de refrigeração de transformadores secos, por meio de simulações de CFD (ANSYS Fluent). O objetivo foi a definição de um modelo matemático descritivo dos coeficientes médios de transferência de calor por convecção e de fricção, em relação à convecção natural e forçada, num canal cilíndrico vertical anular, sob condições de fluxo de calor uniforme nas paredes. O fluido de refrigeração neste tipo de transformador é o ar, por convecção natural e um sistema AC é assumido na base do transformador para convecção forçada. Todas as condições do sistema e propriedades do fluido foram construídas e definidas no programa Fluent. Foram realizados vários testes prévios, principalmente para selecionar adequadamente a malha de estudo e o modelo fluido-dinâmico. O estudo paramétrico foi construído tendo em conta 45 geometrias, 8 fluxos de calor na parede, 4 velocidades para simulações de convecção forçada, enquanto para convecção natural foi criada e assumida uma correlação linear de velocidade de fluxo de calor. Isto corresponde a 1800 simulações. Após análise e tratamento dos dados, foi realizada uma regressão não linear no MATLAB, visando as funções descritivas dos coeficientes referidos. Obteve-se um ajuste adequado através de redes neurais artificiais (RNA), fornecendo previsões do coeficiente de convecção de erros relativos inferiores a 12% para aproximadamente 80% dos casos e inferior a 15% para aproximadamente 70% dos casos de coeficiente de atrito, relativamente aos resultados obtidos das simulações. Concluiu-se uma precisão superada das previsões de RNA, comparada com o modelo mais adequado de literatura considerado, para o coeficiente de transferência de calor por convecção.Mestrado em Engenharia Químic

Soil Functional Ability for groundwater recharge related with Land Use and Tillage System in a dry Mediterranean climate, southern Portugal

Groundwater has capacities like storing, filtering and transforming, which allows regulates atmospheric, hydrological and nutrient cycles. For agronomists, groundwater recharge is defined as the quantity of freshwater derived from precipitation that infiltrates vertically downward from the land surface to below the root zone. At this point the water may move laterally to discharge in streams or downward to enter an aquifer. Fresh water sustains biomass growth in terrestrial ecosystems, and provides key ecological services that supports biodiversity, sequesters carbon and combats desertification. On the other hand, soils provide us services like give clean water and abundant crops. To do this, soils plays there function of “regulator” distributing water for the recharge of groundwater and for the use by plants and animals, regulating the drainage, flow and storing water. Soil functions are difficult to measure directly, so they are usually assessed by measuring soil quality indicators. The soil functional ability to provide groundwater recharge is dependent on the water flowing within soils, under natural conditions or ones affected by its exploitation. Thus Soil Functional Ability to recharge groundwater (SFAgr) and Land use are essential to study the environmental sustainability and agricultural production capability once groundwater is a key component of a healthy watershed. But it is necessary pay attention to the Tillage System and not only to Land Use because the same Land Use can be related with more or less soil mobilizations and that have a great influence on soil structure and its hydrological skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Soil Functional Ability for groundwater recharge (SFAgr), different Land Uses and different Tillage Systems in a Dry Mediterranean climate in Alentejo, Portugal. This will be achieved by building a SFAgr, generated with combination of four properties related to water infiltration and percolation into the soil: depth; bulk density; saturated hydraulic conductivity; and drainable porosity. The saturated hydraulic conductivity was calculated by an indirect method based on texture and drainable porosity was also calculated by an indirect method though the difference between total porosity and field capacity. Each unit Soil/ Land Use/ Tillage System was analyzed in several identical units within the same catchment. When comparing SFAgr for different Land Uses and different soils, the results show a higher dependency of the groundwater recharge ability on Soil properties than on Land Use. The highest influences on SFAgr were bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity and the smallers were depth and drainage porosity. Better situations are where soils have bulk density rounding 1,2 covered by Cork/Holm Oak (50%) + Pasture and the worst situation are soils with bulk density greater than 1,5 even with Cork/Holm Oak (30%) + Pasture. When comparing SFAgr only for Annual Crops at same soils but having different Tillage Systems, the results showed that in both soils studied, the SFAgr was highest when Tillage System was a conservation one than when was a traditional system. The conclusions of this study for a Dry Mediterranean Climate are: 1 – Land Use influences the Soil Functional Ability to recharge groundwater, but more important than Land Use itself is the Tillage System used; 2- Tillage Systems associated with Conservation Agriculture more specifically No Tillage Systems provide better ability to recharge groundwater in clayey soils; 3 - The more years a system of No Tillage is practiced the higher Soil Functional Ability to Groundwater Recharge is expected in clayey soils

Nearshoring to emerging European markets : an analysis of the automotive industry

The European Emerging Markets are in the process of consolidation of their economies since the liberation from the Soviet Bloc. The EU accession and a combination of low wages and skilled labor facilitated the inclusion of these countries in global value chains. This study focuses on the automotive industry and examines the solution of nearshoring production to the European Emerging economies. Supported by quantitative and qualitative data, this study expects to formulate valuable strategic recommendations for European-based companies, by identifying the optimal market to nearshore, as well as the appropriate market entry strategy. An empirical tool was developed to aggregate and ease the interpretation of the data gathered, exhibiting its results thru the interception of two dimensions: the accessibility to enter a market; and the conditions to prosperity provided by it. The results generated by the matrix point to Czech Republic as the most attractive markets to nearshore, and companies should employ a wholly-owned entry strategy.Os mercados europeus emergentes encontram-se num processo de consolidação das suas economias desde a queda do bloco Soviético. A entrada na EU, juntamente com uma combinação de salários baixos e mão-de-obra qualificada, facilitou a inclusão destes países em diversas global value chains. Este estudo, foca-se na indústria automóvel e na realocação da produção para os mercados os mercados emergentes europeus. Sustentado por dados quantitativos e qualitativos, este estudo pretende formular recomendações estratégicas para empresas baseadas na Europa, identificando qual o mercado mais atrativo assim como a estratégia de entrada no mercado mais adequada. Um modelo empírico foi desenvolvido no âmbito de agregar e facilitar a interpretação dos dados recolhidos, exibindo os resultados alcançados através da interceção de dois eixos: a acessibilidade de entrar num mercado; e as condições para sucesso conferidas por tal. Os resultados gerados por esta matriz apontam para a República Checa como sendo o mercado mais atrativo para realocar produção, sendo que as empresas devem adotar uma estratégia de wholly-owned subsidiary neste caso

Kinetics and Mechanism of Hydrolysis of Benzimidazolylcarbamates

Synthesis of new 2-aminobenzimidazole-1-carbamates was accomplished by carbamoylation of 2-aminobenzimidazole using different substituted phenyl chloroformates. The aqueous hydrolysis of the new compounds was examined in the pH range 1-13 at 25 oC. The evaluated kinetic parameters led to the conclusion that up to pH 4 reaction proceeds by a bimolecular attack of water to the N-protonated substrate. This is the first time this behavior is described for carbamates, and can be ascribed to the higher basicity of the benzimidazolyl moiety when compared with the carbonyl oxygen. For higher values of pH, the results are consistent with a BAc2 mechanism with nucleophilic catalysis, but while between pH 4 and pH 7 water acts as the nucleophile, for pH> 7 the hydroxide ion is the acting species