Jacobi-Nijenhuis algebroids and their modular classes

Jacobi-Nijenhuis algebroids are defined as a natural generalization of Poisson-Nijenhuis algebroids, in the case where there exists a Nijenhuis operator on a Jacobi algebroid which is compatible with it. We study modular classes of Jacobi and Jacobi-Nijenhuis algebroids

CD8 T cell function and cross-reactivity explored by stepwise increased peptide-HLA versus TCR affinity.

Recruitment and activation of CD8 T cells occur through specific triggering of T cell receptor (TCR) by peptide-bound human leucocyte antigen (HLA) ligands. Within the generated trimeric TCR-peptide:HLA complex, the molecular binding affinities between peptide and HLA, and between TCR and peptide:HLA both impact T cell functional outcomes. However, how their individual and combined effects modulate immunogenicity and overall T cell responsiveness has not been investigated systematically. Here, we established two panels of human tumor peptide variants differing in their affinity to HLA. For precise characterization, we developed the "blue peptide assay", an upgraded cell-based approach to measure the peptide:HLA affinity. These peptide variants were then used to investigate the cross-reactivity of tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cell clonotypes derived from blood of cancer patients after vaccination with either the native or an affinity-optimized Melan-A/MART-1 epitope, or isolated from tumor infiltrated lymph nodes (TILNs). Vaccines containing the native tumor epitope generated T cells with better functionality, and superior cross-reactivity against potential low affinity escape epitopes, as compared to T cells induced by vaccines containing an HLA affinity-optimized epitope. Comparatively, Melan-A/MART-1-specific TILN cells displayed functional and cross-reactive profiles that were heterogeneous and clonotype-dependent. Finally, we took advantage of a collection of T cells expressing affinity-optimized NY-ESO-1-specific TCRs to interrogate the individual and combined impact of peptide:HLA and TCR-pHLA affinities on overall CD8 T cell responses. We found profound and distinct effects of both biophysical parameters, with additive contributions and absence of hierarchical dominance. Altogether, the biological impact of peptide:HLA and TCR-pHLA affinities on T cell responses was carefully dissected in two antigenic systems, frequently targeted in human cancer immunotherapy. Our technology and stepwise comparison open new insights into the rational design and selection of vaccine-associated tumor-specific epitopes and highlight the functional and cross-reactivity profiles that endow T cells with best tumor control capacity

Coleta de germoplasma de leguminosas no Semi-Árido do Estado da Bahia.

A tradição das famílias rurais do semi-árido nordestino de produzir e guardar sua própria semente em casa tem se consolidado ao longo das décadas, através das práticas de conservação da diversidade agrícola, pela adaptação e seleção de materiais, troca e experimentação do germoplasma, com a comercialização do excedente de produção na comunidade ou em feiras livre. Com o objetivo de coletar essas variedades, ampliando a amostragem dos Bancos de Germoplasma de Feijão, Caupi e Fava, localizados na Embrapa, e identificando preferências das famílias dessa região realizou-se a expedição a Bahia, com apoio da EBDA. Foram coletadas amostras de 91 acessos de germoplasma de feijão, feijão de corda e fava, mantidos por agricultores locais, principalmente para consumo familiar e eventuais trocas com outros agricultores. Observou-se uma grande perda de variabilidade nos últimos anos, decorrente, principalmente, de alterações no regime de chuvas. Ficou evidente, também, a preferência desses consumidores por suas variedades tradicionais, seja por suas características de sabor, seja pelas qualidades agronômicas, e a necessidade de buscar meios para garantir a conservação, em melhores condições técnicas, dos materiais com características de interesse

Epidemiologia dos nematódeos gastrintestinais em bovinos de corte nos cerrados e o controle estratégico no Brasil.

Prevalência das espécies. OPG e imunidade adquirida. Larvas na pastagem. Hipobiose. Mortalidade de animais. Integração entre os helmintos do abomaso. Anorexia. Faixa etária, prejuízos e controle. Custo/Benefício.bitstream/item/104809/1/Epidemiologia-dos-nematoideos-gastrintestinais.pd

A logistics management system for a biomass-to-energy production plant storage park

This work was partially supported by the following entities: (L.J.N.) proMetheus-Research Unit on Energy, Materials and Environment for Sustainability-UIDP/05975/2020, funded by national funds through FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia; (R.G.) UNIDEMI-Research & Development Unit for Mechanical and Industrial Engineering-UIDB/00667/2020, funded by national funds through FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia; and (J.C.M.) GOVCOPP-Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies-UID/CPO/04058/2019, funded by national funds through FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia.The biomass industry is growing due to the current search for greener and more sustainable alternatives to fossil energy sources. However, this industry, due to its singularity, presents several challenges and disadvantages related to the transportation of raw materials, with the large volumes that are usually involved. This project aimed to address this internal logistics situation in torrefied biomass pellets production with two different biomass storage parks, located in Portugal. The main park receives raw material coming directly from the source and stores it in large amounts as a backup and strategic storage park. The second park, with smaller dimensions, precedes the production unit and must be stocked daily. Therefore, a fleet of transport units with self-unloading cranes is required to help to unload the biomass at the main park and transport the raw material from this park to the one preceding the production unit. Thus, the main goal was to determine the dimensions of the fleet used in internal transportation operations to minimize the idle time of the transport units using a methodology already in use in the mining and quarrying industry. This methodology was analyzed and adapted to the situation presented here. The implementation of this study allows the elimination of unnecessary costs in an industry where the profit margins are low.publishersversionpublishe

Genotype x environment interaction, adaptability and stability of 'Piel de Sapo' melon hybrids through mixed models.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-01-17T18:08:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ART19121.pdf: 395810 bytes, checksum: 4aba9c9c559e21362d8a1c2d46a17e2a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019bitstream/item/209064/1/ART19121.pd

From chickpea and lupin as dairy alternatives

Funding text This work was supported by the FCT Project PTDC/BAA-AGR/28370/2017: “Bebida de proteína vegetal a partir de leguminosas europeias com potencial bioativo”; and also through the research unit UID/AGR/04129/2020 – LEAF.Consumption of plant based products as dairy alternatives is increasing steeply. This diet transition can only be achieved if these products keep the nutritional value and meet consumer's sensory acceptance. This work aimed to evaluate the decrease of the “beany” flavour and of raffinose, stachyose and verbascose contents in EU pulse beveragés production, and also the best lactic fermentation conditions of the beverages, towards chickpea- and lupin-based yoghurts, with rheology properties similar to the commercial soy yoghurts. The reduction of “beany” volatile compounds of chickpea and lupin beverages during processing was confirmed through GC–MS analysis. Soaking and cooking processes were effective in removing flatulence sugars with almost 48% loss from the initial content in lupin beverage. The fermentation conditions at 40 °C, 12 h and 2% (w/v) of starter concentration evidenced the best viscoelastic structure and flow properties. The lupin yoghurt-type showed a similar gel structure to commercial soy yoghurt. © 2022publishersversionpublishe