Completing the Tree of Life of Gentianales: an update from the Plant and Fungal Trees of Life (PAFTOL) project and related research initiatives

The tree o f life is a fundamental scientific knowledge for the exploration, prediction, and application o f the properties o f life on Earth. From the identification o f species new to Science to the discovery o f novel biomolecules or crops, the potential o f the tree of life is immense but is yet to be fully explored because many o f the tree’s branches remain unknown. The first phase of the PAFTOL project at the RBG Kew successfiilly led, in partnerships with other institutions, to the development of a universal bait kit for target enrichment sequencing in flowering plañís (Angiosperms353) and to the sequencing o f more than 50% o f the ca 13,600 genera. The molecular data generated were used in a wide number o f studies highlighting the power o f the approach for research in taxonomy, phylogenetics, and biogeography questions. PAFTOL subscribes to an open data agenda and aims to release its data early viathe Tree o f Life Explorer (https://treeoflife. kew.org/). This portal provides access to raw data, intermedíate producís (i.e. assembled data, alignments, gene trees) and a navigable tree of life based on all released datato date. The second phase of PAFTOL was launched with the aim o f producing phylogenomic data for the remaining genera of Angiosperms. Among the largest orders, Gentianales is a priority group for which a large collaborating group was assembled, to source material and collaborate on research outputs. In this presentation, we report our progress towards completing a genus-level phylogeny for the estimated 1,100 genera o f Gentianales. We discuss initiatives that take advantage o f the data generated, including research to accelerate drug discovery, as well as species level studies using the Angiosperms353 probes to resolve relationships in the economically important taxonomic group, the Asclepias generic complex (Apocynaceae) and assist in the identification o f putative new species o f Faramea (Rubiaceae)

The information professionals in the Algarve region: a study of the users perspective

In this article it is presented the research carried out in the South of Portugal (region of Algarve) with the general objective to know the users perspective about the information services (public libraries and archives) and their professionals and afterwards define a marketing strategy to improve the image of these services. After the literature review it was decided to apply a questionnaire (quantitative approach) to the users and non-users of archives and libraries of the region. The data collected were analysed and although the perspectives of the users were very good there is the need to develop a marketing campaign to show the non-user the information services potentiality.CIDHEUS-UE/FC

Development of an Electronic System for Field-Scale Geomorphometric Measurements

Terrain attributes are among the most studied soil characteristics. Although important, in only a few areas are topographic features mapped at the field-scale level. These features play an important role in assessing the crop production potential and erosion susceptibility of agricultural fields. Therefore high-resolution mapping of terrain attributes are vital to a better management of production fields. Today, terrain attributes are derived from elevation measurement.A more direct form of measurement was developed by Rowe and Spencer (1976), pitch and roll angles were used to derive slope gradient and vehicle attitude. Yang (1997) related vehicle attitude to slope aspect. The existing mathematical models are difficult to implement with today’s low-cost micro-controllers because of existing trigonometric functions. Research conducted at the Biosystems Department of The University of Tennessee focused on the simplification of existing models and on the development of an electronic system to test two sensing techniques in dual-axial rotational measurement of a roving vehicle: a clinometer and an accelerometer. Tests were conducted in a field with a widely varying topography located on the Blount Experiment Research Unit, by mounting the electronic monitoring system on an ATV. Elevation data measured with a RTK-GPS were used to generate an accurate elevation map. Terrain attributes were calculated in 3 spatial resolutions: 4, 16, and 100 m2.Simplification of the mathematical models relating pitch and roll angles to terrain attributes is possible because of the existing limitations on slope gradient of arable lands. Results obtained during field tests show that slope measurement accuracy varied according to spatial resolutions. The density of points used in the calculation of the terrain attributes also contributes to measurement accuracy. In general, mean absolute error (MAE) were less than 1° for both sensors in all resolutions tested. Data collected from pitch and roll sensors can also be used to detect field elevation changes.In conclusion, it is possible to rely on measurements of vehicle axial rotation for the computation of field-scale terrain attributes. The sensing techniques tested were successfully used in these measurements. The application of simplified models to derive terrain measurements is possible due to the existing slope gradient limitation of arable lands. It is possible to describe terrain attributes in a scale similar to order I soil maps using the proposed electronic system and models. The system can also be used to pinpoint locations of elevation differences in the field

A importância de imunoglobulina E (IgE) na mucosa intestinal para a eliminação de nematódeos parasitos gastrointestinais

This review discusses experimental evidences that indicate the IgE participation on the effector mechanisms that leads to gastrointestinal nematode elimination. Data discussed here showed that, for most experimental models, the immune response involved in nematode elimination is regulated by Th-2 type cytokines (especially IL-4). However, the mechanism(s) that result in worm elimination is not clear and might be distinct in different nematode species. Parasite specific IgE production, especially the IgE produced by the intestinal mucosae or associated lymphoid organs could participate in the intestinal elimination of Trichinella spiralis from infected rats. Intestinal IgE may also be important to the protective mechanism developed against other gastrointestinal nematodes that penetrate the murine duodenum mucosa tissue, such as Strongyloides venezuelensis and Heligmosomoides polygyrus. At least in Trichinella spiralis infected rats, the results indicated that intestinal IgE might work independently from mast cell degranulation for worm elimination.Esta revisão pretende discutir as evidências experimentais indicando que IgE tem participação no processo que resulta na eliminação de nematódeos parasitos gastrointestinais. Os dados da literatura revelam que, na maioria dos modelos experimentais de infecção em murinos, a resposta imune que induz a eliminação de nematódeos é controlada por citocinas Th-2 (especialmente IL-4). Entretanto, o exato mecanismo(s) responsável pelo fenômeno ainda não foi completamente esclarecido e, provavelmente, varia em diferentes espécies de nematódeos. A produção de IgE específica contra antígenos do parasito, especialmente a IgE produzida localmente (mucosa intestinal ou órgãos linfáticos associados), tem grande importância para eliminação de T. spiralis do intestino de ratos infectados. IgE intestinal pode também estar envolvida na eliminação de vermes adultos de outros nematódeos que penetram na mucosa intestinal da região duodenal, como S. venezuelensis e H. polygyrus. No caso da infecção de T. spiralis em ratos, os resultados obtidos sugerem ainda que IgE intestinal pode participar da eliminação dos vermes intestinais através de mecanismos que independem de mastócitos

The influence of content marketing and social media on the followers of private hospitals pages

This dissertation focuses on content marketing in social media of private healthcare hospitals in Portugal. The main purpose of this study is to understand how social media and content marketing influence the followers of private hospitals pages. The research questions of this study are (1) What are the reasons that lead people to follow the social media of private hospitals?, (2) What content creates more interaction in the social media of private hospitals?, (3) What are the reasons that lead social media followers to interact with posts in the social media of private hospitals?, and (4) How does social media influence the relationship between followers and private hospitals hospital? A qualitative approach was used to accomplish the main purpose of this dissertation. The research methods used were interviews made with twelve social media followers and an analysis of the Instagram and Facebook pages of four Portuguese private hospitals: CUF, Trofa Saúde, Lusíadas, and Luz Saúde. With this research, it is possible to understand the influence of social media and content marketing on the followers of private hospitals pages. The interaction between followers and social media pages of private hospitals has increased the trust and closeness between the follower and the private hospital. This study also helped to understand what type of content followers value the most and the reasons for interacting with social media posts. These findings can help marketers to build a better content marketing strategy for the social media of private hospitals

Automated Playtesting In Videogames

Game industry has recently emerged as a major software development industry. The number of games being developed has increased exponentially over the last few years [20]. And as these numbers grow there is also a need to test these games. Related to the game development workflow in diverse areas (AI, networking, graphics, engines, etc.) a unit testing and play testing component should be associated, which nowadays is rare or even nonexistent. Right now a common approach to testing games is hiring Testers to manually play a large number of potential scenarios that end users may exercise. Current game testing practices are labor intensive and become tedious and monotonous with the passage of time[3]. Furthermore, it gets quite expensive to pay someone to test these sort of games over and over again. Automated testing simplifies and makes these repetitive tasks efficient and automatic. This dissertation consists in the implementation and definition of a framework for a system that simplifies the creation of unit tests and automatic playtesting. The playtests test the integrity of the level and are able to determine whether it is possible to exploit the game in some way. This dissertation has a partnership with the ZPX company that provided a level to use and experiment the framework and manual playtesting in order to get results. The results obtained from the use of this framework are compared with the results of the manual testing performed by testers. These results consist of the time each testing approach takes, how many bugs were found in total and the quality of the report for the game level designer. These results uncover the advantages and disadvantages of the framework and the manual playtesting. One advantage to creating this framework in a highly general and modular way is that this framework can be applied to different games and the tedious work from the developer can be taken away since there is not a need to implement the more general playtests for each new game in development

Rehabilitation of the Roof Timber Trusses of a Multiuse Pavilion

This paper describes the rehabilitation procedure of the roof timber structure of a multiuse pavilion in Viseu, Portugal. The roof structure consists of a series of parallel double timber trusses, partially concealed above a polyhedral wooden plank-made ceiling. Recently, the support of one of the trusses failed and another one has been assessed as in a pre-failure condition. Some load-redistribution and the prompt shore of the structure prevented the generalized collapse. The subsequent inspection and assessment led to the conclusion that the primary cause of the collapse was the failure perpendicular to the grain of the solid timber elements inserted between the double rafters and tie-beams. The replacement of the existing with a steel structure, and the repair and reinforcement of the existing wooden trusses, were considered as intervention possibilities. The latter revealed much cheaper, less time-consuming and in line with the international recommendations on rehabilitation works, and was therefore adopted. An innovative solution, consisting of the replacement of the central timber elements in all the supports, resulted in minimum visual impact and improved the load bearing capability beyond its original value. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2020-03091628 Full Text: PD

Site-specific applications of nitrogen in corn based on yield potential

Burdened by high production costs and increased environmental concerns, today\u27s farmers are looking for new technologies that can help optimize their production efficiency. Site-specific farming is a technique to describe what some are calling the next major revolution in production agriculture which has the potential to address many of these concerns. During the 1994 season, an experiment was conducted to document site-specific yield response of corn for different application rates of nitrogen fertilizer within soils with varying yield potentials. To accomplish this task, new technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), grain yield monitoring, and variable rate control were integrated into a overall system. A 22-acre no-till production corn field located in Milan, Tennessee was selected for this study. Prior to planting, an extensive soil survey was conducted and the field was classified based on varying levels of yield potential. Five different application rates of nitrogen were applied on the field using a variable rate applicator controlled by a laptop PC with control information being received in real-time from a GPS receiver and digital application map. Soil nutrient samples, leaf nitrogen samples, and plant population samples were collected through the season. The GIS software in conjunction with the GPS receiver proved to be an effective method for managing spatially related information. Results indicate that variable rate application of nitrogen based on site-specific soil types within a field has the potential to increase the production efficiency for producers