O uso de SIG na caracterização e análise da estrutura verde urbana: plano verde da cidade de Bragança

O Plano Verde da Cidade de Bragança, iniciado em 2006, surge como um instrumento de apoio à autarquia local, pela definição de um modelo de estrutura verde urbana, secundado por um conjunto de elementos técnicos de apoio à sua correcta gestão. Entre as múltiplas vertentes deste projecto, o levantamento e análise dos espaços verdes assumiu-se desde o primeiro momento como uma das áreas mais relevantes do projecto. O presente poster documenta os esforços de formulação e aplicação de um modelo de avaliação da estrutura verde da cidade de Bragança, tendo por base a plataforma de SIG– ArcGis- descrevendo sumariamente a metodologia de análise e apresentando diversos mapas resultantes do processo.Câmara Municipal de Bragança e FCT-MCE

EUStress: A human behaviour analysis system for monitoring and assessing stress during exams

In today’s society, there is a compelling need for innovative approaches for the solution of many pressing problems, such as understanding the fluctuations in the performance of an individual when involved in complex and high-stake tasks. In these cases, individuals are under an increasing demand for performance, driving them to be under constant pressure, and consequently to present variations in their levels of stress. Human stress can be viewed as an agent, circumstance, situation, or variable that disturbs the normal functioning of an individual, that when not managed can bring mental problems, such as chronic stress or depression. In this paper, we propose a different approach for this problem. The EUStress application is a non-intrusive and non-invasive performance monitoring environment based on behavioural biometrics and real time analysis, used to quantify the level of stress of individuals during online exams.FCT - Fuel Cell Technologies Program(NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-017832)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

X3S: A multi-modal approach to monitor and assess stress through human-computer interaction

Stress evaluation is nowadays gaining an increasing importance in a time in which inter-individual competition continuously pushes us to be better. Indeed, in the workplace, in the academia or in many other contexts there is increasing pressure for better performance, which pushes us forward but also wears us out. This phenomenon has been studied from many different angles, including psychology, medicine or occupational dynamics. In a medical or biological context, stress is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension, which can cause or influence the course of many medical conditions including psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety. In these cases, individuals are under an increasing demand for performance, driving them to be under constant pressure, and consequently to present variations in their levels of stress. To mitigate this condition, this paper proposes to add a new dimension in human–computer interaction through the development of a distributed multi-modal framework approach entitled X3S, which aims to monitor and assess the psychological stress of computer users during high-end tasks, in a non-intrusive and non-invasive way, through the access of soft sensors activity (e.g. task performance and human behaviour). This approach presents as its main innovative key the capacity to validate each stress model trained for each individual through the analysis of cortisol and stress assessment survey data. Overall, this paper discusses how groups of medical students can be monitored through their interactions with the computer. Its main aim is to provide a stress marker that can be effectively used in large numbers of users and without inconvenienceThis work is part-funded by ERDF–European Regional Development Fund and by National Funds through the FCT–Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within project NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-017832. FCT grant with the reference ICVS-BI-2016-005info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Propyl­ammonium 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)butane-1,3-dionate

The title salt, C3H10N+·C14H8F3O2 −, constitutes the first organic crystal containing a residue of 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)butane-1,3-dione. The terminal –CF3 group is disordered over two locations [occupancy ratio = 0.830 (7):0.170 (7)]. Bond delocalization involving the two carbonyl groups and the α-carbon was observed. The crystal packing is mediated by several supra­molecular inter­actions, namely charged-assisted N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, C—H⋯F and C—F⋯F short contacts and C—H⋯π inter­actions

Distribution and quantitation of skin iron in primary haemochromatosis: correlation with total body iron stores in patients undergoing phlebotomy

Measurement of the concentration of iron in the skin, if correlated with total body iron stores, may enable better informed decisions on when to initiate, change or stop therapy in hereditary heamochromatosis. Naïve haemochromatosis patients with iron overload and with C282Y and/or H63D HFE mutations were evaluated at the following time-points: disease diagnosis, end of the therapy programme, and 6 months after the end of therapy. The distribution and concentration of iron in the skin were assessed by quantitative nuclear microscopy methods, in parallel with serum and plasma iron concentration. Iron content in the liver was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. Iron accumulated in the epidermis; its concentration increased from outer to inner layers, being maximal in the basal layer (7.33?±?0.98 µmol/g). At all 3 time-points, most of the iron was associated with the extracellular space. During the phlebotomy programme the iron content of the skin and the liver decreased by a factor of 2. These data suggest that measurements of iron concentration in the epidermis, which is a readily accessible tissue, reflect iron overload in the liver

Simple strategies for stable aqueous suspensions of carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are attractive nanoparticles for biological applications due to their broad absorption of light in the UV-Vis-NIR, NIR photoluminescence, unique Raman signature, photothermal response, and large surface area for the covalent and non-covalent conjugation of contrast agents and drugs, DNA/RNA. However, pristine CNT are highly hydrophobic and not biocompatible, requiring functionalization with hydrophilic molecules in order to form stable aqueous suspensions. Here, simple functionalization methods of perylene bisimides and pyrene, to render these polyaromatic molecules amphiphilic, will be presented. Bolaamphiphilic perylene bisimides (PBI) were prepared by the reaction of perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride with -amino acids in good yield, using a simple protocol and avoiding complex purification methods. [1] Pyrene was modified by nitration followed by amination, and further reacted with maleic anhydride yielding carboxylic acid-functionalized pyrene. The CNT aqueous suspensions were studied by absorption and emission spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations were used to support the experimental observations. The possibility of CNT double functionalization (covalent and non-covalent) will be discussed based on CNT solubility studies in surfactant aqueous solutions. Pristine and covalently functionalized CNT, at different functionalization yields, were compared. The CNT were functionalized by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides. [2] The ability of CNT to adsorb surfactant molecules was reduced by the covalent functionalization. Nevertheless, depending on the extent of covalent functionalization, a high concentration of CNT in water could be attained, in comparison to that of pristine CNT.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

The impact of multicomponent exercise protocols order on the maximum voluntary contraction of older women

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of exercise order in multicomponent training (MCT) on the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of older women. A total of 91 older women, ranging in age from 60 to 85 years, were randomly assigned to either Group A or Group B. Group A performed a warm up followed by aerobic training and resistance training, whereas Group B followed a warm up followed by resistance training and aerobic training. A control group (CG) did not engage in any exercise interventions. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA for between-group comparisons, and ANOVA was used for repeated measures. The results revealed that Group A demonstrated significant increases in MVC for knee extensors (KEs) between M1 and M3 (p < 0.001) and between M2 and M3 (p < 0.001). Similarly, Group A exhibited significant increases in MVC for knee flexors (KFs) between M1 and M3 (p = 0.001) and between M2 and M3 (p < 0.001). Both Group A and Group B demonstrated significant increases in MVC for elbow flexors (EFs) between M1 and M3 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, Group B showed a significant increase in hand grip strength (HGS) between M1 and M3 (p < 0.001). Overall, the findings suggest that initiating MCT with aerobic training followed by resistance training is the most effective approach for improving muscle strength in older women.This research was funded by national funds via the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. I.P.: grant number UIDB/04748/2020 and grant number UID/04045/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Vision and visual variation in the peacock blenny

Microspectrophotometry (MSP) revealed the presence of a rod and at least two cone classes (mid- and long-wavelength sensitive) in the intertidal peacock blenny Salaria pavo. Both rhodopsin and porphyropsin based visual pigments were found in all fish, together with high individual variation in chromophore ratio. The three morphs (females, males and sneaker males) differed in their spectral sensitivities (as measured with the optomotor response) with sneakers having higher sensitivity at long-wavelengths than either males or females. This longwave displacement of peak sensitivity could be due elevated proportions of porphyropsin visual pigments in the sneakers’ retinae. The lenses of all morphs exhibited a short-wavelength cut-off and an unusual layer of carotenoid was found behind the retinal pigment epithelium and in the outer segments of some cones. These screening pigments could serve a photo-protective role or to improve visual contrast. No short-wave photoreceptors were located using MSP. This indicates that this cone class may be absent or present at very low numbers in the retina. This is the first in depth study of the visual system of a blenniid fish and indicates potential within-species visual variation that may be related to the species’ habitat and morph-specific behavioural requirements

Experimental characterization of a microfluidic device based on passive crossflow filters for blood fractionation

The separation of red blood cells (RBCs) from blood plasma and the analysis of individual RBCs are of great importance, as they provide valuable information regarding the health of their donor. Recent developments in microfluidics and microfabrication have contributed to the fabrication of microsystems with complex features to promote the separation and analysis of RBCs. In this work, the separation capacity of a multi-step crossflow microfluidic device was evaluated by using a blood analogue fluid made by Brij L4 micelles and human RBCs separated from whole blood, suspended in a solution with hematocrits (Ht) of 0.5 and 1%. All the samples collected at the outlets of the device were experimentally analyzed and compared. The absorbance spectrum was also measured for the prepared blood samples. The results indicate that the tested blood analogue fluid has exhibited a flow behavior similar to that of blood. In addition, the optical absorbance spectrophotometry revealed that it was possible to evaluate the separation efficiency of the microfluidic device, concluding that the concentration of cells was lower at the most lateral outside outlets of the microchannel due to the cumulative effect of the multiple cross-flow filters