Selection of imprinted nanoparticles by affinity chromatography

Soluble molecularly imprinted nanoparticles were synthesised via iniferter initiated polymerisation and separated by size via gel permeation chromatography. Subsequent fractionation of these particles by affinity chromatography allowed the separation of high affinity fractions from the mixture of nanoparticles. Fractions selected this way possess affinity similar to that of natural antibodies (Kd 6.6 × 10−8) M and were also able to discriminate between related functional analogues of the templ

Configuration of self-organizing informality: socio-spatial dynamic in favelas

This paper aims to discuss on spatial patterns found in favelas throughout di erent cities worldwide, as they seem to reproduce similar con gurations and urban dynamics despite its diverse local contexts. The purpose is to explore these patterns in order to understand its social behaviour and address urban informality issues through it. To see how resilience seems to be inherent to such spaces, that grow vibrant, complex and dynamic global structures emerging and self-organizing from segregation in city space. It pursues the acknowledgement of structural morphological patterns of informality production, those genotypic characteristics that seem to be independent on culture, and might be representative of these social patterns commonly observed worldwide. Favela is observed in this study as a complex, self-organized entity, whose contrast to o cial city relies on its “bottom up” structure. It tends to follow natural rules of organization instead of formal urban strategies. Space Syntax (Hillier and Hanson, 1984) is the theoretical and methodological approach applied, through which it is possible to investigate these peculiar spatial patterns in favela, comparing several cases in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The analyses are based on axial and segment maps. Investigated variables are connectivity, local and global integration, mean depth, synergy, intelligibility, angular Choice, number and length of axes, and number and length of segments, compactness, normalized angular integration and choice for segment comparison. Findings show favela as an entity that maximises use and space into strong fragmented spatial structures, which provides the labyrinthic perception of users, but also accentuates spatial hierarchy. Topography is critical to the understanding of favela’s performance. The more accentuated, the more fragmented, labyrinthic and endogenous. Nevertheless, most analysed favelas locate in at areas and, therefore, present a tendency to better articulate with the surroundings, resulting in a softer in- and-out transition. Such topological performance seems better than Brazilian cities (Medeiros, 2013), which points out favela’s organizing structure as a possible model that could be adopted to re ne the con gurational performance of cities

Gestão de informação do Projeto Scaf através dos softwares Plone e Árvore Hiperbólica.

A implantação de softwares livres como ferramentas de gestão de conteúdo e facilitadores no fluxo de informação é cada vez mais comum em muitas organizações. Com a utilização dos softwares, Plone e Árvore Hiperbólica foi desenvolvido o portal do Projeto SCAF, com uma estrutura que permite de maneira segura e dinâmica, liberdade para os usuários, mesmo de lugares e plataformas diferentes, produzirem, atualizarem e gerenciarem conteúdos, promovendo o trabalho corporativo. Objetivo. Assimilar o uso das ferramentas Plone e Árvore Hiperbólica, visando facilitar e automatizar o fluxo da informação, possibilitando aos colaboradores o acesso, edição e divulgação de artigos relacionados ao Projeto SCAF.Trabalho apresentado na V Mostra de Trabalhos de Estagiários e Bolsistas, Campinas, out. 2009

Geração e organização das informações da cana-de-açúcar: impactos das mudanças climáticas e avaliação espaço-temporal.

O objetivo geral deste trabalho é apresentar o processo de geração e organização das informações climáticas e geográficas necessárias para se realizar o Zae Cana de acordo com as definições impostas por esses dois ministérios

Water calcium concentration modifies whole-body calcium uptake in sea bream larvae during short-term adaptation to altered salinities

Whole-body calcium uptake was studied in gilthead sea bream larvae (9–83·mg) in response to changing environmental salinity and [Ca2+]. Calcium uptake increased with increased fish size and salinity. Fish exposed to calcium-enriched, diluted seawater showed increased calcium uptake compared with fish in diluted seawater alone. Calcium uptake was unchanged in Na+- enriched, diluted seawater. Overall, [Ca2+], and not salinity/osmolarity per se, appears to be the main factor contributing to calcium uptake. By contrast, drinking was reduced by a decrease in salinity/osmolarity but was little affected by external [Ca2+]. Calculations of the maximum contribution from drinking-associated calcium uptake showed that it became almost insignificant (less than 10%) through a strong decrease in drinking rate at low salinities (0–8‰). Diluted seawater enriched in calcium to the concentration present in full-strength seawater (i.e. constant calcium, decreasing salinity) restored intestinal calcium uptake to normal. Extra-intestinal calcium uptake also benefited from calcium addition but to a lesser extent

Energy governance in Portugal

Portugal is in the middle of a major transformation of its energy supply, which has been shaped by internal resource constraints, growing environmental concerns, and the dynamics of European integration. Portugal’s past choices – the investment in hydropower and the refusal of nuclear energy – and the lack of an endowment of resources have constrained the Portuguese energy policy. With the accession to the European Union in 1986, environmental concerns moved up the Portuguese policy agenda. The EU’s push for a common electricity market influenced a set of policies oriented toward the liberalization of the energy market, which was centralized, monopolistic, and public owned. The investment in renewable energy gained momentum in the 2000s, led by the Portuguese government and EDP, the (then) publicly owned energy company, supported by a public discourse on climate change and energy policy imbued with economic rationality. The financial crisis that hit Portugal in 2010 led to a temporary stall in the promotion of the use of energy from renewable energy sources (RES), but new market-based support schemes, such as photovoltaic solar auctions, have fostered the recent new investment in renewables.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Religion, space and culture

Traditional places of worship were related with sacred spaces and this fact has been reflected in spatial cultures and within the structures of the city and territory. Dematerialization and placelessness characterizes the new urban landscape. Location and functionality of the buildings seem to be the common elements between new religious movements. The appropriation of available spaces and buildings (factories and industrial structures, warehouses, shops, cinemas, etc.) with good global accessibility seems to be the main reasons for choosing a place for worship. This paper examines the relationship between space and religion within Lisbon landscape and it aims to answer the following questions: In which way spatiality has implications in the constitution of the new places of worship? What is their relationship with the local communities and how they help to form new spatial cultures and urbanities in suburban landscapes? What are the change and persistence of the traditional pattern of sacred spaces as places of worship? To answer this questions, we present a new methodology to investigate the urban spatial structure by using Space Syntax with the GIS for analysis and visualization of places of worship. Two levels of scale analysis were required: Global (Lisbon city and suburbs) and local (neighborhood-street). Space Syntax models the spatial configurations of urban spaces by using a connectivity graph representation. Using GIS software all places of worship were mapped within the region according to different religions. The patterns of distribution and clustering were then correlated with the syntactic measures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Space as place: mapping patterns of social life in public spaces

One of the most fascinating aspects in the study of urban spaces is the interaction of people – with the physical environment as well as with other people. Urban spaces comprise not only the physical aspects, like the form of buildings, the streets, etc., but also the people who live in them. This paper is about the understanding of the informal process which creates life in public spaces. How space configure people behavior? And how people behavior configure space? Is that space layout performative of life in public space and vice versa? Why some places work and others don’t? What are the evidences of the relationships between spatial patterns, life patterns and social patterns? Can we measure it, simulate it and use it in design? We will examine spatial and social patterns in small urban spaces in Lisbon. Through descriptive analyses and quantification, it would be discussed how space layout can contribute to the urban life. The research combines configuracional analysis with findings from observation in order to understand how physical structures influence human behavior. Space Syntax techniques will be used to describe and analyze spatial configurations in relation to social patterns, (Hillier and Hanson, 1984). The model involves a nonmetric understanding of space and suggests that the presence of pedestrian in a network can be explained by topology. At the same time, direct observation of pedestrian behavior was attempted to quantifiably isolate what elements of the space made it effective or, conversely, ineffective (Whyte, 1980).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The stabilisation of receptor structure in low cross-linked MIPs by an immobilised template

In molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) a high level of cross-linking is usually important for preserving the receptor structure. We propose here an alternative approach for stabilising binding sites, which involves the use of an immobilised template. The idea is based on the assumption that an immobilised template will ‘‘hold’’ polymeric chains and complementary functionalities together, preventing the collapsing of the binding sites. To test this postulate, a range of polymers was prepared using polymerisable (2,4-diamino-6- (methacryloyloxy)ethyl-1,3,5-triazine) and non-polymerisable (or extractable) (2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine) templates, methacrylic acid as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker. The level of cross- linking was varied from 12 to 80%. Polymerisations were performed in acetonitrile using UV initiation. Binding properties of the synthesised materials were characterised both by HPLC and equilibrium batch binding experiments followed by HPLC-MS or UV-visible detection. The adsorption isotherms of polymers were obtained and fitted to the Langmuir model to calculate dissociation constant, Kd, and concentration of binding sites for each material. The results strongly indicate that the presence of an immobilised template improves the affinity of MIPs containing low percentages of cross- linker. The low cross-linked MIPs synthesised with a polymerisable template also retain a reasonable degree of selectivity. Low crosslinked MIPs with such binding characteristics would be useful for the creation of new types of optical and electrochemical sensors, where induced fit or the ‘‘gate effect’’ could be used more effectively for generating and enhancin

The deflocculation of kaolin suspensions : the effect of various electrolytes

The deflocculation effect of conventional additives to kaolin suspensions is evaluated from the results standard rheological measurements. Several widely used electrolytes (NaOH, Na2C03, Na2Si03, SHMP = sodium hexametaphosphate, and CMC = sodium salts of carboxymethylcellulose) have been tested. The optimal concentrations of these deffloculants, in respect to reaching the maximum reduction of initial suspension viscosity, are found. The stability of deflocculated kaolin suspensions against sedimentation is evaluated and different aspects of the observed flow enhancement discussed. Inorganic electrolytes are found to be more effective in viscosity reduction, but on the other hand, low-molecular organic CMC additives produce more stable final suspensions.Czech Science Foundation GACR through the contract P101/12/058