Forby: Disseminação de notificações sobre ficheiros partilhados

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para a obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia InformáticaO avanço e disponibilidade das tecnologias de comunicação, nomeadamente a Internet, tornaram possível a utilização deste meio como forma de colaboração entre diversos indivíduos. Assim, é cada vez mais comum encontrar grupos de pessoas que utilizam os mesmos ficheiros ou que pretendem partilhar conjuntos de ficheiros. Esta situação leva à necessidade de se desenvolverem sistemas que suportem estes grupos de utilizadores. Este suporte pode passar por várias alternativas, entre as quais manter diferentes réplicas dos ficheiros existentes, nas diversas máquinas, automaticamente actualizadas ou apenas notificar os utilizadores sobre os acessos a esses ficheiros. Neste trabalho apresenta-se o Forby, um sistema genérico de recolha e disseminação de informação relativa ao estado dos ficheiros partilhados. Este sistema, de fácil integração e utilização, permite o desenvolvimento de aplicações que lidam com estes ficheiros de forma simples, uma vez que fornece os mecanismos para monitorização e partilha de informação. O Forby fornece um mecanismo eficiente e extensível para fazer a monitorização da área de trabalho dos utilizadores, recolhendo eventos associados às chamadas ao sistema de ficheiros. Para a disseminação de eventos, o grupo de utilizadores é organizado numa rede peerto- peer que permite a troca de informação por todos os participantes. Dado que se tratam de ficheiros partilhados, é possível optimizar o tráfego que passa pela rede, minimizando o número de mensagens trocadas entre os participantes, sem comprometer o bom funcionamento da aplicação. Para fazer a avaliação do Forby, implementaram-se duas aplicações distintas que tiram partido das funcionalidades oferecidas. A primeira, o P2PVC2 estende os sistemas de controlo de versões CVS/SVN com informação de awareness possibilitando que cada participante do grupo tenha consciência dos ficheiros que estão a ser modificados por outros utilizadores. A segunda aplicação permite replicar conjuntos de ficheiros presentes numa directoria pelos vários elementos do grupo, podendo ser utilizada, por exemplo, para que vários utilizadores partilhem as suas fotografias de forma simples e automática

O chantre de Viseu e cónego de Coimbra Lourenço Esteves de Formoselha (...1279-1318†): uma abordagem prosopográfica

In this article it is studied the figure of a member of the portuguese cathedral clergy deceased in 1318, of whom we possess an unusual amount of information. Through this study case it is attempted to demonstrate that the prosopographical method allows not only to approach the common caracteristics of a certain social universe, but also to analyse which is unique and proper of each individual of that universe, which an ecclesiastical, familiar, economic and cultural point of view.Neste artigo é estudada a figura de um membro do clero catedralício português falecido em 1318, acerca do qual possuímos invulgar quantidade de informações. Procura-se através deste estudo de caso demonstrar que o método prosopográfico permite não apenas abordar as características comuns a um dado universo social, mas também analisar aquilo que é único e próprio de cada indivíduo que o integra, do ponto de vista eclesiástico, familiar, económico e cultural

Transthyretin is involved in depression-like behaviour and exploratory activity

Transthyretin (TTR), the major transporter of thyroid hormones and vitamin A in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), binds the Alzheimer β-peptide and thus might confer protection against neurodegeneration. In addition, altered TTR levels have been described in the CSF of patients with psychiatric disorders, yet its function in the CNS is far from understood. To determine the role of TTR in behaviour we evaluated the performance of TTR-null mice in standardized tasks described to assess depression, exploratory activity and anxiety. We show that the absence of TTR is associated with increased exploratory activity and reduced signs of depressive-like behaviour. In order to investigate the mechanism underlying these alterations, we measured the levels of cathecolamines. We found that the levels of noradrenaline were significantly increased in the limbic forebrain of TTR-null mice. This report represents the first clear indication that TTR plays a role in behaviour, probably by modulation of the noradrenergic system.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Programa Operacional "Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação" POCTI/NSE/37315/2001

Clinical and Nutritional characterization of patients with massive intestinal resection in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

Background: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a clinical situation due to extensive intestinal resection or dysfunction of the absorptive system of the small intestine. When these patints are not submitted to nutritional therapy their maximum survival is six months. In Brazil there are few reference centers for the treatment and follow-up of these patients and information about their characterization is scarce. Objective: To describe enterectomized patients attended during the period from 1996 to 2007. Methods: All medical records of the patients attended at the Nutrology service of HCFMRP-USP were analyzed retrospectively. Data were collected and analyzed descriptively using the contingency test and the Wilcoxon- Mann-Whitney test for independent samples. Results: Thirty-eight patients with a mean age of 52 years at the time of enterectomy were analyzed, 47% of them males and 53% females. The main etiology of SBS was mesenteric ischemia (73%). Of these patients, 67% had some risk factor associated with atherosclerosis. No significant differences in eating habits were detected between the period before and after surgery. After surgery, 39% of the patients developed a significant weight loss and 79% developed some type of complication, surgical in 34%, infectious in 66% and of both types in 21%. Survival was 9.5 years. Conclusion: Extensive resections of the small bowel may be associated with atherosclerosis and represent an important nutritional risk, with a significant weight loss during the first year, which seems to be related to increased morbidity. Adequate nutritional therapy is associated with increased survival

Visions of the Labyrinth at the Classical Age and in Comoenius

O presente ensaio propõe uma específica definição do conceito de “labirinto” enquanto possível modelo para uma nova forma de conhecimento que recupere a dimensão unitiva do saber, perdida ao longo da História. Assim, apresenta-se um percurso retrospetivo, partindo da criação do labirinto clássico e do papel do Minotauro e avançando para o exemplo de Comenius, através do seu caminho em direção ao “paraíso do coração”. Como ponto conclusivo, pretende-se apresentar a proposta de uma utopia para o conhecimento que permita a junção da “emoção” à “razão”, numa unidade capaz de estabelecer uma colaboração efetiva entre diversas áreas do saber.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Iron peptide complex does not increase blood iron concentration at the same extent as ferrous sulfate after oral ingestion in healthy adult males

Iron-deficient anemia continues to be one of the major nutritional and public health problems all over the world. Although ferrous sulfate is largely used for the prevention and treatment of this deficiency, the gastrointestinal side effects preclude its use in some cases. This study aimed to compare the effect of iron peptide complex and ferrous sulfate on serum iron and to examine serial serum iron levels. Ten volunteers were submitted to 5 different treatments: Control (C), Ferrous sulfate 60 mg (FS), Iron peptide 60 mg (IP1), Iron peptide 80 mg (IP2) and Iron peptide 60 mg plus diet (IPD). In the first treatment (C), empty capsules were given, whereas in the second (FS), third (IP1), fourth (IP2) and fifth (IPD) treatments, ferrous sulfate 60 mg, iron peptide complex 60 mg, iron peptide complex 80 mg and iron peptide complex 60 mg plus diet were given in a randomized crossover design, with a washout period of 1 week. The products were offered as capsules and blood samples were drawn at the following time points: 0, 30, 60, 120, 240, 480 and 720 minutes after oral intake. FS produced higher serum iron levels than Control, IP1, IP2 and IPD (P< 0.05). The areas under the curves for serum iron for the different compounds gave AUCFS > AUCC = AUCIP1 = AUCIP2 = AUCIPD. Conclusions: The iron peptide complex did not increase blood iron FS C IP1 IP2 IPD concentration as compared to control and ferrous sulfate at the respective time points

ULK overexpression mitigates motor deficits and neuropathology in mouse models of Machado-Joseph disease

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by prominent ataxia. It is caused by an expansion of a CAG trinucleotide in ATXN3, translating into an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the ATXN3 protein, that becomes prone to misfolding and aggregation. The pathogenesis of the disease has been associated with the dysfunction of several cellular mechanisms, including autophagy and transcription regulation. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional modifications of the autophagy pathway in models of MJD and assessed whether modulating the levels of the affected autophagy-associated transcripts (AATs) would alleviate MJD-associated pathology. Our results show that autophagy is impaired at the transcriptional level in MJD, affecting multiple AATs, including Unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 and 2 (ULK1 and ULK2), two homologs involved in autophagy induction. Reinstating ULK1/2 levels by adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer significantly improved motor performance while preventing neuropathology in two in vivo models of MJD. Moreover, in vitro studies showed that the observed positive effects may be mainly attributed to ULK1 activity. This study provides strong evidence of the beneficial effect of overexpression of ULK homologs, suggesting these as promising instruments for the treatment of MJD and other neurodegenerative disorders

Using the SOAR Approach to Teach Middle School Students about Math and Science Concepts Found in Engineering

In order to address the lack of knowledge about the engineering profession in middle-level students, the project described in this Honors Thesis was developed. Through the creation of an afterschool program centered on engineering, students were able to apply the math and science concepts covered to design, build, and test a bridge. One particular lesson from this after-school program was highlighted in this thesis, the lesson covering the Pythagorean Theorem, to demonstrate the use of SOAR methodology in the lesson’s development and later use in the classroom. The effectiveness of the Pythagorean Theorem lesson was evaluated positively based on the analysis of student learning by their performance on sample Pythagorean Theorem problems. After a semester of instruction, students showed greater interest in engineering and were more likely to see themselves becoming engineers in the future

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms, polygenic risk score, and thalamic development in children from the Brazilian High-Risk Cohort for Mental Conditions (BHRCS)

Background: Thalamic volume measures have been linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents. However, it is unclear if alterations in thalamic volumes occur before or after symptom onset and if there is a relation to the presence of sub-clinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). Here, we explore the relationship between OCS and the rate of thalamic volume change in a cohort of children and youth at high risk to develop a mental disorder. A secondary aim was to determine if there is a relationship between OCS and the individual’s OCD polygenic risk score (OCD-PRS) and between the rate of thalamic volume change and the OCD-PRS. Methods: The sample included 378 children enrolled in the longitudinal Brazilian High-Risk Cohort for Mental Conditions. Participants were assessed for OCS and the symmetrized percent change (SPC) of thalamic volume across two time-points separated by 3 years, along with the OCD-PRS. Zero-altered negative binomial models were used to analyze the relationship between OCS and thalamic SPC. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the relationship between thalamic SPC and OCD-PRS. Results: A significant relationship between OCS and the right thalamus SPC (p = 0.042) was found. There was no significant relationship between changes in thalamic volume SPC and OCD-PRS. Conclusions: The findings suggest that changes in the right thalamic volume over the course of 3 years in children may be associated to OCS. Future studies are needed to confirm these results and further characterize the specific nature of OCS symptoms associated with thalamic volumes