3,482 research outputs found
The meaning of mainland Portugal beaches and dunes' psammophilic plant communities: a contribution to tourism management and nature conservation
Due to their position of interface between the sea
and land, the flora and vegetation of coastal beaches and
dunes, occupy ecologically extreme, sensitive, unique and
valuable habitats. The occurrence of a large number of
endemic taxa and specific plant associations endowed with
key ecological services and adapted to a stressful and harsh
environmental gradient, gives them a high interest for nature
conservation and an important role in sustainable territorial
planning. However, such ecosystems are vulnerable to the
disruption caused by several anthropogenic sources. Among
other global threat factors, the inevitable sea rise caused by
climate change and, at a local scale, the non-negligible
implications of trampling caused by disorderly coastal touristic
exploitation, growing construction pressure in the littoral,
and a seasonal population boom in late spring and in
summer, plus all derivate forms of pollution, are threat
factors to their integrity. Therefore, a correct planning of
the touristic economic activities requires the understanding
of the vegetation composition and spatial distribution patterns,
intrinsically determined by their biogeographic context
in the Euro-Siberian or Mediterranean Regions. This
comprehensive work, based on a broad phytogeographic study, brings together disperse information on plant communities
of the Portuguese sandy coasts (beaches and
dunes), by analysing floristic compositions, chorology and
ecological characteristics, and matching them with the “Nature
2000” network habitats. Resilience and vulnerability
are also studied. In a nature conservation perspective, a
positive balance (and a sustainable co-existence) between
the preservation of natural values and human development
in the Portuguese coast, will benefit with the integration of
this knowledge in coastal planning and management
activitie
Vibrational spectra of tris(maltolato)gallium(III): a new interesting antitumoral agent
The FTIR and FT-Raman spectra of the gallium(III) complex of 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone (maltol), tris(maltolato)gallium(III), a new very promising antitumoral drug, were recorded and briefly discussed by comparison with the spectra of uncoordinated maltol and with some related species.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire
Toxicological Study Employing Repeated Doses of Garcinielliptone FC, a Polyisoprenylated-Benzophenone Isolated from Seed of Platonia Insignis Mart
The major constituent from the hexane extract of the seeds of P. insignis is GFC (garcinielliptone FC). Doses of 25, 50and 75 mg/kg of GFC were aseptically suspended in 0.05% Tween 80 dissolved in 0.9% saline (vehicle) and orally administered for30, 90 and 120 consecutive days to adult Swiss mice. In this work, the repeated oral administration, in animals of both sexes,demonstrates that this compound is not able to induce mortality and/or behavioral changes in adult mice. In addition, body weightgain, feed intake and disposal of excreta were not altered by the administration of this compound with repeated doses. Furthermore,no differences in weight and macroscopic structure of the brain, liver, kidney, lung, heart and spleen between groups of male andfemale adult mice were observed after treatment. During the periods of treatment, GFC produced no significant changes onhaematological and biochemical parameters in male and female mice treated with all doses used. The aim of this study was toinvestigate the toxicological potential of GFC through behavioral, hematological, biochemical and morphological parameters inanimals in order to ensure the safe use of Platonia insignis in folk medicine.Fil: Silva, Ana P.. Federal University of Piauí; BrasilFil: Filho, José Carlos C. L. S.. North Union of Parana; BrasilFil: da Costa Júnior, Joaquim S.. Federal Institute of Piauí; BrasilFil: Peláez, Walter José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Faillace, Martín Sebastián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Falcão Ferraz, Alexandre de B.. Lutheran University of Brazil; BrasilFil: David, Jorge M.. Institute Of Chemistry, Federal University Of Bahia; Brasil. Universidade Federal da Bahia; BrasilFil: Freitas, Rivelilson M.. Federal University of Bahia; Brasi
Hybrid Deep Modeling of a GS115 (Mut+) Pichia pastoris Culture with State–Space Reduction
JP acknowledges the PhD grant SFRD/BD14610472019, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT).Hybrid modeling workflows combining machine learning with mechanistic process descriptions are becoming essential tools for bioprocess digitalization. In this study, a hybrid deep modeling method with state–space reduction was developed and showcased with a P. pastoris GS115 Mut+ strain expressing a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv). Deep feedforward neural networks (FFNN) with varying depths were connected in series with bioreactor macroscopic material balance equations. The hybrid model structure was trained with a deep learning technique based on the adaptive moment estimation method (ADAM), semidirect sensitivity equations and stochastic regularization. A state–space reduction method was investigated based on a principal component analysis (PCA) of the cumulative reacted amount. Data of nine fed-batch P. pastoris 50 L cultivations served to validate the method. Hybrid deep models were developed describing process dynamics as a function of critical process parameters (CPPs). The state–space reduction method succeeded to decrease the hybrid model complexity by 60% and to improve the predictive power by 18.5% in relation to the nonreduced version. An exploratory design space analysis showed that the optimization of the feed of methanol and of inorganic elements has the potential to increase the scFv endpoint titer by 30% and 80%, respectively, in relation to the reference condition.publishersversionpublishe
Improving operational management of wastewater systems: a case study
Wastewater treatment facilities collecting wastewater from longstanding sewer networks of five municipalities in the Ave River basin (located in NW Portugal) are especially vulnerable to water inflows since they have considerable extensions of sewers installed in stream and riverbeds. TRATAVE, the company responsible for operating the system, designed and implemented a monitoring network to measure discharges along the entire drainage network and treatment facilities in order to reduce those water inflows. Several flow measurement devices were installed at strategic locations within the sewer network and integrated with a SCADA system responsible for its operation. A decision support system (DSS) is being implemented using the Delft-FEWS platform, integrating monitoring data and models. Based on monitored data and model results, an estimation of infiltration volumes during wet periods is presented. Moreover, the capabilities of the DSS are illustrated in: (i) location of manholes losses along sewer networks during wet periods; (ii) identification and location of unknown connections to the sewer network using wastewater balances; and (iii) design of a PID controller for a pumping station using on-line tank water level measurement. Acquired knowledge resulting from the DSS greatly improved the utility performance both in terms of economic revenue and environmental protectionThe authors thank TRATAVE for the financial support in
the installation of measurement devices, the first author’s scholarship for PhD tuition fees, and in making available
the monitoring data used in this research
combining first-principles with deep neural networks
JP acknowledges PhD grant SFRD/BD14610472019, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT).Hybrid modeling combining First-Principles with machine learning is becoming a pivotal methodology for Biopharma 4.0 enactment. Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, being the workhorse for industrial glycoproteins production, have been the object of several hybrid modeling studies. Most previous studies pursued a shallow hybrid modeling approach based on threelayered Feedforward Neural Networks (FFNNs) combined with macroscopic material balance equations. Only recently, the hybrid modeling field is incorporating deep learning into its framework with significant gains in descriptive and predictive power.publishersversionpublishe
Tactical Voting in Plurality Elections
How often will elections end in landslides? What is the probability for a
head-to-head race? Analyzing ballot results from several large countries rather
anomalous and yet unexplained distributions have been observed. We identify
tactical voting as the driving ingredient for the anomalies and introduce a
model to study its effect on plurality elections, characterized by the relative
strength of the feedback from polls and the pairwise interaction between
individuals in the society. With this model it becomes possible to explain the
polarization of votes between two candidates, understand the small margin of
victories frequently observed for different elections, and analyze the polls'
impact in American, Canadian, and Brazilian ballots. Moreover, the model
reproduces, quantitatively, the distribution of votes obtained in the Brazilian
mayor elections with two, three, and four candidates.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
A multivariate randomized controlled experiment about the effects of mindfulness priming on EEG neurofeedback self-regulation serious games
Neurofeedback training (NFT) is a technique often proposed to train brain activity SR with promising results. However, some criticism has been raised due to the lack of evaluation, reliability, and validation of its learning effects. The current work evaluates the hypothesis that SR learning may be improved by priming the subject before NFT with guided mindfulness meditation (MM). The proposed framework was tested in a two-way parallel-group randomized controlled intervention with a single session alpha NFT, in a simplistic serious game design. Sixty-two healthy naïve subjects, aged between 18 and 43 years, were divided into MM priming and no-priming groups. Although both the EG and CG successfully attained the up-regulation of alpha rhythms (F(1,59) = 20.67, p ηp2 = 0.26), the EG showed a significantly enhanced ability (t(29) = 4.38, p t(29) = 1.18, p > 0.1). Furthermore, EG superior performance on NFT seems to be explained by the subject’s lack of awareness at pre-intervention, less vigour at post-intervention, increased task engagement, and a relaxed non-judgemental attitude towards the NFT tasks. This study is a preliminary validation of the proposed assisted priming framework, advancing some implicit and explicit metrics about its efficacy on NFT performance, and a promising tool for improving naïve “users” self-regulation ability.This work is co-financed by the ERDF—European Regional Development Fund through
the Operational Program for Competitiveness and Internationalisation—COMPETE 2020 (ref.: POCI01-0145-FEDER-007043; ref: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007038), the North Portugal Regional Operational
Program—NORTE 2020 (ref.: NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000045) and by the Portuguese Foundation for
Science and Technology – FCT under MIT Portugal (author Ph.D. grant ref.: PD/BD/114033/2015)
and within the R&D Units Project Scope (ref.: UIDB/00319/2020)
Synthesis, structure and antileishmanial evaluation of endoperoxide–pyrazole hybrids
Leishmaniases are among the most impacting neglected tropical diseases. In attempts to repurpose antimalarial drugs or candidates, it was found that selected 1,2,4-trioxanes, 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes, and pyrazole-containing chemotypes demonstrated activity against Leishmania parasites. This study reports the synthesis and structure of trioxolane–pyrazole (OZ1, OZ2) and tetraoxane–pyrazole (T1, T2) hybrids obtained from the reaction of 3(5)-aminopyrazole with endoperoxide-containing building blocks. Interestingly, only the endocyclic amine of 3(5)-aminopyrazole was found to act as nucleophile for amide coupling. However, the fate of the reaction was influenced by prototropic tautomerism of the pyrazole heterocycle, yielding 3- and 5-aminopyrazole containing hybrids which were characterized by different techniques, including X-ray crystallography. The compounds were evaluated for in vitro antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of L. tropica and L. infantum, and for cytotoxicity against THP-1 cells. Selected compounds were also evaluated against intramacrophage amastigote forms of L. infantum. Trioxolane–pyrazole hybrids OZ1 and OZ2 exhibited some activity against Leishmania promastigotes, while tetraoxane–pyrazole hybrids proved inactive, most likely due to solubility issues. Eight salt forms, specifically tosylate, mesylate, and hydrochloride salts, were then prepared to improve the solubility of the corresponding peroxide hybrids and were uniformly tested. Biological evaluations in promastigotes showed that the compound OZ1•HCl was the most active against both strains of Leishmania. Such finding was corroborated by the results obtained in assessments of the L. infantum amastigote susceptibility. It is noteworthy that the salt forms of the endoperoxide–pyrazole hybrids displayed a broader spectrum of action, showing activity in both strains of Leishmania. Our preliminary biological findings encourage further optimization of peroxide–pyrazole hybrids to identify a promising antileishmanial lead.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Optics and children
Light and Optics are subjects that “naturally” attracts the interest and sympathy of
children even from very early ages. In this communication, we present a serie of experiments
and support material designed in this hands-on perspective, to be used to introduce the study of
light and optics to kindergarten and early basic school students. Our hands-on investigative
approach leads the students, aged 4 to 10 years, to observe the experiment and discover
themselves, in a critical and active way, different aspects of light and optics. Preparing funny
eye catching situations and experiments predispose the children to work, effectively, enjoying
themselves while building up their self-confidence.(undefined
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