Membrane interactions of S100A12 (Calgranulin C)

S100A12 (Calgranulin C) is a small acidic calcium-binding peripheral membrane protein with two EF-hand structural motifs. It is expressed in macrophages and lymphocytes and highly up-regulated in several human inflammatory diseases. In pigs, S100A12 is abundant in the cytosol of granulocytes, where it is believed to be involved in signal modulation of inflammatory process. In this study, we investigated the interaction of the porcine S100A12 with phospholipid bilayers and the effect that ions (Ca2+, Zn2+ or both together) have in modifying protein-lipid interactions. More specifically, we intended to address issues such as: (1) is the protein-membrane interaction modulated by the presence of ions? (2) is the protein overall structure affected by the presence of the ions and membrane models simultaneously? (3) what are the specific conformational changes taking place when ions and membranes are both present? (4) does the protein have any kind of molecular preferences for a specific lipid component? To provide insight into membrane interactions and answer those questions, synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and surface plasmon resonance were used. The use of these combined techniques demonstrated that this protein was capable of interacting both with lipids and with ions in solution, and enabled examination of changes that occur at different levels of structure organization. The presence of both Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions modify the binding, conformation and thermal stability of the protein in the presence of lipids. Hence, these studies examining molecular interactions of porcine S100A12 in solution complement the previously determined crystal structure information on this family of proteins, enhancing our understanding of its dynamics of interaction with membranes

Knowledge and attitude towards the gradual reduction of salt in bread – an online survey

Aim: Assess knowledge and attitude towards the gradual reduction of salt in bread and the potential impact on eating habits of children (6-18 years) and their families, as part as a Health Impact Assessment pilot study.N/

Epidemiologia e manejo do mofo-branco em hortaliças.

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Tools for online collaboration: Do they contribute to improve teamwork?

In the last decades, the fast growth of Information and Communication Technologies changed our way to communicate and share information. Traditional groups or teams frequently give way to virtual teams, working with tools for online collaboration. Interaction between persons geographically dispersed has become easier. However, the use of new collaboration tools can also bring many challenges. Some technologies, like e-mail, can create delays on reply or even misunderstandings, case the message is not well understood by the recipient. Can these new technologies improve the productivity and enhance the creativity between group members, improving also their confidence and motivation? Although virtual teams have a high capacity to adapt to constant market changes, personal interactions are still important, mainly to clarify tasks and goals. The main purpose of this study is to understand how tools for online collaboration may improve the productivity (and enhance creativity) in teamwork. This study was conducted through an internet platform and the survey was hosted online by SurveyMonkey.com. We intended to verify, among other questions, what users think about different collaboration tools, how often they use these tools, and how they perceive these technologies as adequate ways to communicate, to work with, and to improve productivity. Findings show that e-mail is the most used tool, and personal contact is still more important for teamwork than any tools for online collaboration. Our results contribute to perceive in what extent collaboration tools are indeed an asset or a barrier in teamwork.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Forecasting temperature time series for irrigation planning problems

Climate change is a reality and efficient use of scarce resources is vital. The challenge of this project is to study the behaviour of humidity in the soil by mathematical/statistical modeling in order to find optimal solutions to improve the efficiency of daily water use in irrigation systems. For that, it is necessary to estimate and forecast weather variables, in this particular case daily maximum and minimum air temperature. These time series present strong trend and high-frequency seasonality. This way, we perform a state space modeling framework using exponential smoothing by incorporating Box-Cox transformations, ARMA residuals, Trend and Seasonality.This research was partially financed by Portuguese funds by the Center for Research and Development in Mathematics and Applications (CIDMA) and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (”Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” - FCT), within project UID/MAT/04106 2019. This research was partially financed by Portuguese funds through Portuguese Foundation for Science and Tech nology (”Funda¸c˜ao para a Ciˆencia e a Tecnologia” - FCT), within project UID/MAT/00013/2013. FEDER/ COMPETE/- NORTE2020/ POCI/FCT funds through grants PTDC-EEI-AUT-2933-2014116858-TOCCATA and To CHAIR - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028247 Financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) within the frame work of Strategic Financing UIDIFIS/04650/2013 is also acknowledge

Dynamic ground stress‐path evolution due to the railway traffic: A parametric study

No presente artigo apresenta‐se um estudo numérico sobre a evolução do estado de tensão geomecânico induzido pela passagem de tráfego ferroviário. O modelo numérico proposto é baseado na formulação 2,5D apoiada no MEF‐PML, permitindo a consideração da interação do sistema composto pelo comboio, via‐férrea e maciço de fundação. Para o caso de estudo proposto, as alterações do estado de tensão são sistematizadas sob a forma de trajetórias de tensão. Perante os resultados alcançados é possível reconhecer a grande influência da velocidade de circulação do comboio e da presença de irregularidades na via no comportamento da via‐férrea. Tirando partido dos conhecimentos adquiridos com a realização dos estudos paramétricos referidos, verifica‐se a adequabilidade de um ensaio laboratorial –ensaio torsional com cilindro vazado– na simulação das complexas trajetórias de tensão induzidas no solo de fundação pela passagem do tráfego ferroviário. Os resultados obtidos permitem perspetivar a simulação em laboratório dessa ação, através de um carregamento cíclico, com o objetivo de estudar a acumulação de dano nas amostras.In this paper, a numerical study of the geomechanical stress state evolution induced by the railway traffic is presented. The numerical model is based on a 2.5D formulation with the ability to account for the dynamic train‐track interaction. For the case study, the stress state evolution is systematized in the form of stress paths. The results obtained allow to recognize the great influence of the train speed and the presence of irregularities in the track for the behavior of the railway track. Based on the knowledge acquired during the implementation of previous parametric studies, the adequacy of the hollow cylinder torsional test to simulate the complex stress paths induced in the ground of the traffic railway is evaluated. The results obtained allow to put in perspective the simulation of these loads in laboratory, with the aim of studying the damage accumulation in the specimens.Peer Reviewe

Determinantes escolares y de los estudiantes en el rendimiento lector: un análisis multinivel con estudiantes portugueses

Available online 10 June 2021Reading is crucial for learning, in general. Starting right with reading in primary grades is, therefore, vital for school achievement. The present study aims to test whether students’ factors best predict reading performance than school factors and determine what student and school factors predict reading performance. The study sample includes 4,118 fourth-grade students participating in IEA PIRLS 2016. Three questionnaires were used to collect data: one for school principals, one for students, and one for parents. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to study the relation of school and student-level variables to students’ reading performance. Students’ confidence in reading and home resources for learning are the best predictors of reading performance at the student level. At the school level, school emphasis on academic success is the best predictor of reading performance. The results provide clues as to what schools might do to improve reading results.La lectura es fundamental para el aprendizaje en general. Empezar con la lectura en educación primaria es, por tanto, vital para el rendimiento académico. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo probar si los factores de los estudiantes predicen mejor el rendimiento en lectura que los factores escolares y determinar qué factores del alumnado y de la escuela predicen el rendimiento en lectura. La muestra del estudio incluye 4.118 estudiantes de cuarto curso de educación primaria que participan en el Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), 2016. Han sido utilizados tres cuestionarios para recopilar datos: un cuestionario para directores de escuela, un cuestionario para estudiantes y un cuestionario para padres. Se ha utilizado un modelo lineal jerárquico para estudiar la relación de las variables al nivel de la escuela y del alumnado con el rendimiento de los estudiantes en lectura. La confianza de los estudiantes en la lectura y los recursos del hogar para el aprendizaje son los mejores predictores del rendimiento lector. Al nivel escolar, el mejor indicador del rendimiento lector es el énfasis de la escuela en el éxito académico. Los resultados proporcionan pistas sobre lo que podrán hacer las escuelas para mejorar los resultados de lectura

Tools for online collaboration: do they contribute to improve teamwork?

In the last decades, the fast growth of Information and Communication Technologies changed our way to communicate and share information. Traditional groups or teams frequently give way to virtual teams, working with tools for online collaboration. Interaction between persons geographically dispersed has become easier. However, the use of new collaboration tools can also bring many challenges. Some technologies, like e-mail, can create delays on reply or even misunderstandings, case the message is not well understood by the recipient. Can these new technologies improve the productivity and enhance the creativity between group members, improving also their confidence and motivation? Although virtual teams have a high capacity to adapt to constant market changes, personal interactions are still important, mainly to clarify tasks and goals. The main purpose of this study is to understand how tools for online collaboration may improve the productivity (and enhance creativity) in teamwork. This study was conducted through an internet platform and the survey was hosted online by SurveyMonkey.com. We intended to verify, among other questions, what users think about different collaboration tools, how often they use these tools, and how they perceive these technologies as adequate ways to communicate, to work with, and to improve productivity. Findings show that e-mail is the most used tool, and personal contact is still more important for teamwork than any tools for online collaboration. Our results contribute to perceive in what extent collaboration tools are indeed an asset or a barrier in teamwork.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio