Building analytical three-field cosmological models

A difficult task to deal with is the analytical treatment of models composed by three real scalar fields, once their equations of motion are in general coupled and hard to be integrated. In order to overcome this problem we introduce a methodology to construct three-field models based on the so-called "extension method". The fundamental idea of the procedure is to combine three one-field systems in a non-trivial way, to construct an effective three scalar field model. An interesting scenario where the method can be implemented is within inflationary models, where the Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian is coupled with the scalar field Lagrangian. We exemplify how a new model constructed from our method can lead to non-trivial behaviors for cosmological parameters.Comment: 11 pages, and 3 figures, updated version published in EPJ

Será o Implante de iStent® uma Cirurgia do Canal de Schlemm? Avaliação por OCT Spectral Domain de Segmento Anterior

Introdução: O iStent® “trabecular micro-bypass stent modelo GTS100R/L” tem resultados comprovados na cirurgia do glaucoma de ângulo aberto. Descrito como cirurgia ab interno do canal de Schlemm, visa criar um bypass entre a câmara anterior e este canal, ultrapassando a malha trabecular – principal resistência à drenagem de humor aquoso. Os autores visam estudar o papel do OCT de segmento anterior (SA) na localização do iStent® e uma eventual relação entre o seu posicionamento a eficácia hipotensora. Material e Métodos: Estudo transversal descritivo em que se avaliaram 17 olhos de 17 doentes submetidos a cirurgia de facoemulsificação combinada com iStent®, com um ano de follow-up. Estudou-se o ângulo irido-corneano com OCT spectral domain de SA (Heidelberg Spectralis®) e realizou-se uma avaliação oftalmológica que incluiu medição da pressão intra-ocular (PIO) com tonómetro de Goldmann e gonioscopia. Resultados: Em todos os olhos foi possível localizar o iStent® no ângulo da câmara anterior, porém apenas 4 pareciam estar no canal de Schlemm, estando os restantes na malha trabecular ou esporão escleral. Nos 4 olhos com implante no canal verificou-se uma redução média da PIO de 6,0 mmHg relativamente aos valores pré-operatórios, nos restantes essa redução foi 5,36 mmHg. Esta diferença não é estatisticamente significativa (p>0,05). Conclusões: O OCT spectral domain de SA é um método eficiente para determinar o posicionamento do iStent® no ângulo. Apesar da maioria das extremidades distais dos dispositivos não se encontrarem no canal de Schlemm, estes ultrapassaram a resistência da malha trabecular, pelo que a localização não parece comprometer a eficácia hipotensora.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estabilidade de QTLs para peso de semente do feijoeiro em diferentes ambientes, utilizando regressão linear múltipla.

Os objetivos desse trabalho foram identificar, em diferentes épocas e locais de cultivo, marcadores RAPD ligados a QTLs controladores do peso de sementes do feijoeiro e avaliar a existência de interação QTLs por ambientes

Household disaster preparedness: a survey research results after the wildfires in the Pedrógão Grande, Figueiró dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera, Portugal, 2017

Os incêndios florestais constituem uma séria ameaça à saúde das populações e ao ambiente. A preparação das famílias para fazer face a desastres e emergências é crucial para a sua proteção e para a resiliência da comunidade. Aproximadamente um ano depois do incêndio florestal de 2017 ocorrido na região portuguesa de Pedrógão Grande, foi realizado um inquérito sobre medidas de preparação, envolvendo uma amostra aleatória e representativa de 330 pessoas da população afetada. Analisaram-se as relações entre as variáveis sociodemográficas e a adoção de medidas básicas de preparação pelas famílias, bem como do índice de preparação, através de odds ratio, estimadas por regressão logística. A taxa de resposta ao inquérito foi de 83%. Alimentos que não requerem refrigeração nem preparação culinária e o abastecimento de água foram as medidas de preparação mais referidas (85% e 63% respetivamente). Aproximadamente 79% dos respondentes referiram dispor de um rádio a pilhas e 47% de uma lanterna a pilhas, mas apenas 35% verificava regularmente a carga das pilhas. A forma preferida para obter informações durante um desastre ou emergência era a televisão (36,4%), o telefone (22%) e o rádio (15%). A análise do índice de preparação revela a existência de pequenas diferenças a nível local e que as mulheres tendem a adotar menos medidas de preparação que os homens. A existência de doenças crónicas está relacionada com a adoção de um maior número de medidas de preparação.Wildfires are a serious threat to populations’ health and the environment. Household preparedness for disasters and emergency is crucial to help people to protect themselves and improve community resilience. A sur vey on preparedness household measures was conducted in 2018 in a random representative sample (n=330) of the population af fected by the 2017 wildfire in the Por tuguese region of Pedrógão Grande. Associations between sociodemographic variables and the preparedness measures as well the preparedness index were tested by odds ratio estimated by logistic regression. A response rate of 83% was obtained. Non-perishable food and water supplies were the preparedness measures most referred (85% and 63% respectively). To have a battery operated radio (79%) and a flashlight (47%) were also referred but only 35% checked the batteries regularly. The preferred primary means of getting information during a disaster or emergency were television (36,4%), telephone (22%) and radio (15%). The preparedness index analysis shows a slightly dif ference at local level and that women tended to be less prepared than men. Having a chronical disease is associated with the adoption of a higher number of preparedness measures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mapping and stability of QTLs for seed weight in common beans under different environments.

The objectives were: 1 - to identify, under different environments, RAPD markers linked to loci that control the 100 seed weight of common beans; 2 - to evaluate the existence of interactions involving QTL's with planting dates and locations; 3 - to compare detection procedures of markers linked to QTL's utilizing the methods of mapping and multiple regression. One hundred and minety-six recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross of cultivars Carioca x Flor de Mayo were evaluated under two tradtional sowing dates for common beans in 1996, 1997 and 1998, in Lavras and Patos de Minas, Brazil. For the phenotypic evaluation of the families, seven field experiments were conduced. The experimental design used was a 14 x 14 partially balanced Square Simple Lattice. Results indicated that interaction of QTL's by location were significant, and some stable QTL's were identified. Multiple regression analysis identified a greater number of QTL's-linked markers than the process of composite interval mapping. There was no coincidence between results obtained with the two methods studied. Molecular markers which were considered of greater potential use on marker-assisted selection for seed weight were OPN-02 (1445 pb) e OPM-06 (1096 pb)

Retinal Neurodegeneration in Diabetic Patients Without Diabetic Retinopathy

PURPOSE: To compare the thickness of all retinal layers between a nondiabetic group and diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: Cross-sectional study, in which all subjects underwent an ophthalmic examination including optical coherence tomography. After automatic retinal segmentation, each retinal layer thickness (eight separate layers and overall thickness) was calculated in all nine Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) areas. The choroidal thickness (CT) also was measured at five locations. Generalized additive regression models were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 175 patients were recruited, 50 nondiabetic subjects and 125 diabetic patients without DR, stratified into three groups according to diabetes duration: group I (10 years, n = 31). Overall, groups I and III of diabetic patients had a decrease in the photoreceptor layer (PR) thickness, when compared with the nondiabetic subjects in six ETDRS areas (P < 0.0007). Patients with more recent diagnosis (group I) had thinner PR than those with moderate duration (group II). Interestingly, patients with longer known disease (group III) had the thinnest PR values. There were no overall differences in the remaining retinal parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal thickness profile is not linear throughout disease duration. Even in the absence of funduscopic disease, PR layer in diabetic patients seems to differ from nondiabetic subjects, thus suggesting that some form of neurodegeneration may take place before clinical signs of vascular problems arise.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A chromatographic network for the purification of detergent-solubilized six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate 1 from Komagataella pastoris mini-bioreactor lysates

Funding Information: The authors acknowledge the support from FEDER funds through the POCI-COMPETE 2020–Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalisation in Axis I–Strengthening Research, Technological Development and Innovation (Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491), Jorge Barroca-Ferreira's and Ana M. Gonçalves's individual PhD Fellowships (SFRH/BD/130068/2017 and SFRH/BD/147519/2019, respectively), and Luís A. Passarinha's sabbatical fellowship (SFRH/BSAB/150376/2019) from FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia. This work was also supported by the Health Sciences Research Centre CICS-UBI (UIDB/00709/2020 and UIDP/00709/2020), the Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit UCIBIO (UIDB/04378/2020 and UIDP/04378/2020) and the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy–i4HB (project LA/P/0140/2020) which are financed by National Funds from FCT/MCTES. Publisher Copyright: © 2022The Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate 1 (STEAP1) is an integral membrane protein involved in cellular communications, in the stimulation of cell proliferation by increasing Reactive Oxygen Species levels, and in the transmembrane-electron transport and reduction of extracellular metal-ion complexes. The STEAP1 is particularly over-expressed in prostate cancer, in contrast with non-tumoral tissues and vital organs, contributing to tumor progression and aggressiveness. However, the current understanding of STEAP1 lacks experimental data on the respective molecular mechanisms, structural determinants, and chemical modifications. This scenario highlights the relevance of exploring the biosynthesis of STEAP1 and its purification for further bio-interaction and structural characterization studies. In this work, recombinant hexahistidine-tagged human STEAP1 (rhSTEAP1-His6) was expressed in Komagataella pastoris (K. pastoris) mini-bioreactor methanol-induced cultures and successfully solubilized with Nonidet P-40 (NP-40) and n-Decyl-β-D-Maltopyranoside (DM) detergents. The fraction capacity of Phenyl-, Butyl-, and Octyl-Sepharose hydrophobic matrices were evaluated by manipulating the ionic strength of binding and elution steps. Alternatively, immobilized metal affinity chromatography packed with nickel or cobalt were also studied in the isolation of rhSTEAP1-His6 from lysate extracts. Overall, the Phenyl-Sepharose and Nickel-based resins provided the desired selectivity for rhSTEAP1-His6 capture from NP-40 and DM detergent-solubilized K. pastoris extracts, respectively. After a polishing step using the anion-exchanger Q-Sepharose, a highly pure, fully solubilized, and immunoreactive 35 kDa rhSTEAP1-His6 fraction was obtained. Altogether, the established reproducible strategy for the purification of rhSTEAP1-His6 paves the way to gather additional insights on structural, thermal, and environmental stability characterization significantly contributing for the elucidation of the functional role and oncogenic behavior of the STEAP1 in prostate cancer microenvironment.publishersversionpublishe

Doenças da seringueira no Brasil.

Seringueira: importancia economica, o genero Hevea, fenologia. Historia da patologia da seringueira no Brasil. Doencas bioticas e abioticas. Receituario de fungicidas.bitstream/item/108634/1/CPAA-DOEN.-DA-SERING.-NO-BRAS.-97.pd