Terrorism as a Global Threat: Models and Defence Strategies

Este texto corresponde à comunicação de abertura da Conferência “Terrorism as a Global Threat” em que se procura fazer um enquadramento geral sobre as várias vertentes do terrorismo internacional e o desenvolvimento da Conferência que teve lugar no IDN. É de particular importância toda a evolução ocorrida depois de 11 de Setembro, mas também os antecedentes da Al Qaeda criada em Março de 88 e o resumo de acções de sucesso das medidas contra-terroristas que de um modo quase sempre discreto conseguiram diminuir a capacidade operacional daquela organização. Por outro lado, os objectivos do terrorismo transnacional encontram-se em todo o mundo com consequências muito gravosas na economia e no turismo

Paz e Segurança

O texto “Paz e Segurança” dentro do contexto “Regular o Global” pretende primeiramente apresentar as grandes alterações qualitativas do mundo actual, a desregulação que existe no sistema internacional, o facto de a única ideologia hoje existente ser a do mercado e a necessidade de serem definidas regras que permitam alguma regulação. Simultaneamente nesta competição pelos mercados e pela influência política existe o risco de um afastamento perigoso entre os EUA e (parte) a União Europeia, o que convém contrariar mantendo- se um enquadramento de segurança e defesa que integre as duas partes

Analysis of a public repository for the study of automatic fall detection algorithms

The use of publicly available repositories containing movement traces of real or experimental subjects is a key aspect to define an evaluation framework that allows a systematic assessment of wearable fall detection systems. This papers presents a detailed analysis of a public dataset of traces which employed five sensing points to characterize the user’s mobility during the execution of ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) and emulated falls. The analysis is aimed at analysing two main factors: the importance of the election of the position of the sensor and the possible impact of the user’s personal features on the statistical characterization of the movements. Results reveal the importance of the nature of the ADL for the effectiveness of the discrimination of the falls.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Soil carbon sequestration rates under Mediterranean woody crops using recommended management practices : A meta-analysis

This work was supported by the projects: CARBOLIVAR (P11-RNM-7186) funded by Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa of Junta de Andalucía and GEISpain project (CGL2014‐52838‐C2‐1‐R) funded by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, both including European Union ERDF funds. This work was also supported by the FPU 2012 grant program of the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte of Spain. Dr. Roberto Garcia-Ruiz and Eduardo Aguilera gratefully acknowledge support by the Sustainable Farm Systems project (SSHRC 895-2011-1020) funded by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.Peer reviewedPostprin

A new Variable Curvature concept for Linear Fresnel Reflectors Solar Concentrating Systems

In a Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR) solar concentrating system [1] a series of single axis linear reflectors target the sunrays to a longitudinal facedown receiver on top of a fixed structure. The LFR technology offers simplicity and reduced costs when compared with the standard Parabolic Trough technology, but it also suffers from reduced optical performance, especially with large incidence angles. The present preliminary study explores the possibilities of a variable curvature geometrical concept for a LFR that would achieve a more focused solar print over the receptor than in a traditional fixed geometry system.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Citrus psorosis virus movement protein contains an aspartic protease required for autocleavage and the formation of tubule-like structures at plasmodesmata

Plant virus cell-to-cell movement is an essential step in viral infections. This process is facilitated by specific virus-encoded movement proteins (MPs), which manipulate the cell wall channels between neighboring cells known as plasmodesmata (PD). Citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) infection in sweet orange involves the formation of tubule-like structures within PD, suggesting that CPsV belongs to "tubuleforming" viruses that encode MPs able to assemble a hollow tubule extending between cells to allow virus movement. Consistent with this hypothesis, we show that the MP of CPsV (MPCPsV) indeed forms tubule-like structures at PD upon transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Tubule formation by MPCPsV depends on its cleavage capacity, mediated by a specific aspartic protease motif present in its primary sequence. A single amino acid mutation in this motif abolishes MPCPsV cleavage, alters the subcellular localization of the protein, and negatively affects its activity in facilitating virus movement. The amino-terminal 34-kDa cleavage product (34KCPsV), but not the 20-kDa fragment (20KCPsV), supports virus movement. Moreover, similar to tubule-forming MPs of other viruses, MPCPsV (and also the 34KCPsV cleavage product) can homooligomerize, interact with PD-located protein 1 (PDLP1), and assemble tubule-like structures at PD by a mechanism dependent on the secretory pathway. 20KCPsV retains the protease activity and is able to cleave a cleavage-deficient MPCPsV in trans. Altogether, these results demonstrate that CPsV movement depends on the autolytic cleavage of MPCPsV by an aspartic protease activity, which removes the 20KCPsV protease and thereby releases the 34KCPsV protein for PDLP1-dependent tubule formation at PD. IMPORTANCE Infection by citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) involves a self-cleaving aspartic protease activity within the viral movement protein (MP), which results in the production of two peptides, termed 34KCPsV and 20KCPsV, that carry the MP and viral protease activities, respectively. The underlying protease motif within the MP is also found in the MPs of other members of the Aspiviridae family, suggesting that protease-mediated protein processing represents a conserved mechanism of protein expression in this virus family. The results also demonstrate that CPsV and potentially other ophioviruses move by a tubule-guided mechanism. Although several viruses from different genera were shown to use this mechanism for cell-to-cell movement, our results also demonstrate that this mechanism is controlled by posttranslational protein cleavage. Moreover, given that tubule formation and virus movement could be inhibited by a mutation in the protease motif, targeting the protease activity for inactivation could represent an important approach for ophiovirus control.Fil: Robles Luna, Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Peña, Eduardo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Borniego, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Heinlein, Manfred. Université de Strasbourg; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Garcia, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentin

Innovative concepts of Integrated Solar Combined Cycles (ISCC) using a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is one of the most promising ways for electricity production of the upcoming years with high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar-photovoltaics. This is due to the fact that CSP when coupled to Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system enables large, inexpensive and flexible energy dispatch, which contributes to energy grid stabilization. At the same time, TES allows for steady operation of the power block by reducing undesirable fluctuations due to weather transient conditions and increasing the number of hours that the power block operates at design conditions 1. Despite the abovementioned advantages of CSP systems, a step further is needed for increase overall system efficiency and decrease CO2 emissions. Several studies have been performed considering high efficiency plant layouts such as combined cycle. For the latter, several works have been investigated about solar integration of combined cycle using parabolic trough and solar tower technologies. In both cases, solar energy was used for water/steam preheating and evaporation steps of the Rankine cycle in combination with the exhaust gases of fossil-fuel gas turbine engine. However, no research has been performed considering ISCC coupled with a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). In this research, two innovative layouts of ISCC power plants will be analyzed. First considers a ISCC based on solar tower and second a ISCC with a parabolic trough collector field coupled to the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG). The objective of this research is analyze the energy behavior of both layouts, selecting the best ISCC scheme to be coupled with a SOFC. The simulations will be performed using Thermoflex software. In both layouts, a SOFC is introduced before the combustion chamber at the topping cycle, and a Rankine cycle (bottoming cycle) with 2 pressures is considered.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

A construção da masculinidade : experiência de jovens cabo-verdianos em instituições públicas do ensino secundário

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Elenilton Vieira GodoyDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Educação, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação. Defesa : Curitiba, 28/03/2023Inclui referências: p. 133-139Resumo: Este trabalho teve como proposta estudar o processo de construção da masculinidade de jovens estudantes cabo-verdianos em instituições de Ensino Secundário. Para tanto, foi tomado como objetivo geral, analisar como se constrói a masculinidade de jovens estudantes do Ensino Secundário Público, da Escola Secundária Luciano Garcia na cidade de São Lourenço dos Órgãos em Cabo Verde. Metodologicamente, caracterizou-se pela abordagem qualitativa, sob o qual, para a geração de dados, utilizou-se o grupo focal, a entrevista, e análise de documentos. Também se fez uso de questionários com questões estruturadas de carácter objetivo, os quais foram enviados remotamente para alguns discentes da instituição selecionada visando, a princípio, uma aproximação com os participantes. Teoricamente, apoiou-se, entre tantos/as, em alguns/mas autores/as considerados/as imprescindíveis para a discussão e reflexão sobre os conceitos masculinidade e gênero no sentido de compreender a sua formulação teórica e a sua natureza sociopolítica, a saber, Daniel Welzer Lang; Raewyn Connell, James Messerchimd; Guarcia Lopes Louro; J Bola, etc. Panoramicamente essa pesquisa foi desenvolvida em quatro momentos substanciais. No primeiro momento foi realizado um mapeamento, junto ao Catálogo de Teses e Dissertações da CAPES e à Biblioteca Digital de Cabo Verde (BDCV), objetivando selecionar trabalhos que tratavam e/ou que tivessem uma aproximação com a temática produzida no, ou sobre, Cabo Verde cujo resultado, em ambas as plataformas, apontaram para uma ausência de pesquisas relacionadas ao critério da busca, o que favoreceu a suposição de que esta pesquisa, dado o seu carácter, trata-se de uma produção pioneira no contexto cabo-verdiano. No segundo momento debruçou-se sobre a compreensão teórica do fenômeno e o entendimento de sua natureza social, cultural e política e, consequentemente, as desconstruções de pressupostos essencialistas e deterministas. No terceiro momento dedicou-se à compreensão empírica da construção da masculinidade dos estudantes da Escola Secundária Luciano Garcia por meio de Grupo Focal. No quarto e último momento empenhou-se sobre a análise e discussão dos dados. Os resultados alcançados com essa pesquisa demonstraram que a instituição pesquisada tem contribuído para: reprodução e naturalização da concepção patriarcal essencialista de gênero; para a reprodução e naturalização do modelo hegemônico de masculinidade e, ao mesmo tempo, para a naturalização dos estereótipos, estigmas e preconceitos de gênero e, obviamente, para a manutenção do patriarcado e continuidade das desigualdades de gênero. Em contrapartida, os resultados dessa pesquisa podem servir como base de reflexão para instituição pesquisada, e não só, no que tange a importância da inclusão de temas como gênero, sexualidade e seus derivados na sua proposta curricular. Serve ainda, para repensar a importância da auto avaliação das propostas e práticas pedagógicas visando a educação de emancipadora e seu compromisso social.Abstract: This work aimed to study the process of building the masculinity of young Cape Verdean students in secondary education institutions. Therefore, it was taken as a general objective to analyze how the masculinity of young students of Public Secondary Education is constructed, at Escola Secundária Luciano Garcia in the city of São Lourenço dos Órgãos in Cape Verde. Methodologically, it was characterized by the qualitative approach, under which, for the generation of data, the focus group, the interview, and analysis of documents were used. Questionnaires with structured questions of an objective nature were also used, which were sent remotely to some students of the selected institution, aiming, in principle, to approach them. Theoretically, it relied, among many others, on some authors considered essential for the discussion and reflection on the concepts of masculinity and gender in order to understand its theoretical formulation and its sociopolitical nature, namely, Daniel Welzer Lang; Raewyn Connell, James Messerchimd; Guarcia Lopes Louro; J Ball, etc. Panoramicly, this research was developed in four substantial moments. At first, a mapping was carried out, together with the Catalog of Theses and Dissertations of CAPES and the Digital Library of Cabo Verde (BDCV), aiming to select works that dealt with and/or had an approximation with the theme produced in, or about, Cabo Verde. Verde whose result, on both platforms, pointed to an absence of research related to the search criterion, which favored the assumption that this research, given its nature, is a pioneering production in the Cape Verdean context. In the second moment, he focused on the theoretical understanding of the phenomenon and the understanding of its social, cultural and political nature and, consequently, the deconstruction of essentialist and determinist assumptions. The third moment was dedicated to the empirical understanding of the construction of the masculinity of students at Escola Secundária Luciano Garcia through a Focus Group. In the fourth and last moment, he committed himself to the analysis and discussion of the data. The results achieved with this research demonstrated that the researched institution has contributed to: reproduction and naturalization of the essentialist patriarchal conception of gender; for the reproduction and naturalization of the hegemonic model of masculinity and, at the same time, for the naturalization of stereotypes, stigmas and gender prejudices and, obviously, for the maintenance of patriarchy and continuity of gender inequalities. On the other hand, the results of this research can serve as a basis for reflection for the researched institution, and not only, regarding the importance of including themes such as gender, sexuality and its derivatives in its curricular proposal. It also serves to rethink the importance of self-assessment of pedagogical proposals and practices aimed at emancipatory education and its social commitment