Performance based design: Bouça Residents’ Association Housing

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Arquitetura (especialização em Construção e Tecnologia)A arquitectura performativa é a arquitectura baseada no desempenho do edifício, uma arquitectura em que tanto as decisões funcionais como as formais e ou estéticas estão ao mesmo nível uma da outra. Ver estes dois aspectos como independentes um do outro leva a uma arquitectura em que os aspectos funcionais são deixados para trás até à fase final de tomada de decisões de concepção, a fim de confirmar algumas normas e padrões energéticos. O objectivo desta investigação é trazer de volta a discussão em torno do desempenho do edifício para as mãos dos projectistas ou arquitectos, utilizando como ferramenta, métodos analíticos e softwares de simulação como, por exemplo, o Climate Studio. Esta investigação destina se a compreender as vantagens da utilização da tecnologia durante o processo de concepção, mais especificamente a utilização do software de modelação e simulação Climate Studio em Rhinoceros 3D, para analisar e simular a luz natural e o desempenho térmico nos edifícios. Considerando a evolução e disseminação de novas tecnologias aliadas à arquitectura, estamos actualmente a experimentar uma mudança de paradigma no processo de concepção arquitectónica. Desde 1970, são utilizados softwares de modelação e simulação para estudar o desempenho dos edifícios. Agora que a tecnologia está facilmente disponível para todos, o software de simulação que antes tinha um fluxo de trabalho difícil de compreender agora é mais fácil de aprender e utilizar e pode mesmo ser aplicado em diferentes fases de concepção. A habitação, no seu conceito mais básico e primário, destinam-se a proteger e proporcionar conforto. O Conjunto Habitacional da Associação de Moradores da Bouça, utilizado como caso de estudo, foi projectado para realocar pessoas que vivem nas ilhas do Porto e proporcionar-lhes um espaço confortável para viver. Este projecto marca um ponto de viragem significativo nas experiências de habitação social em Portugal no século XX e por isso é relevante na história arquitectónica portuguesa. Nesta investigação é analisado e comparado o desempenho de diferentes variações projetuais com o caso de estudo, com o objetivo de se compreender as vantagens associadas à utilização do software de modelação e simulação para a melhoria da performance de um edifício.Thinking about performance in architecture is thinking about the synergy between both technical and architectural aspects of a design. Seeing these two aspects as independent of each other can lead to an architecture where the technical aspects are left in the final decision-making phase, in order to conform the building to a certain norms and standards. A more holistic way of designing would be to think about performance in the different design phases so that the technical aspects are on par with the form-making. The aim of this research is to bring the discussion around the performance of the building back in the hand of the designers or architects by using simulation software like Climate Studio as a design tool. This investigation is intended to understand the advantages of using technology during the design process, more specifically the use of the computer modelling and simulation software, Climate Studio, in Rhinoceros 3D, for analysing and simulating natural light and thermal performance in buildings. Considering the evolution and dissemination of new technologies related to architecture, we are currently experiencing a paradigm shift in the way technology is being implemented during the architectural design process. From the 1970s onwards, digital modelling and simulation software are being used to study the performance of buildings. Nowadays, due to the advancement in the hardware and software, the simulation technology is available for wide use and can be applied during several design phases. Dwellings, in their most basic and primary concept, are meant to protect and provide comfort. The case study Bouça Residents’ Association Housing was a project to reallocate and provide affordable and comfortable housing for the people living in the “ilhas” of Porto. This project marks a significant turning point in Portugal’s social housing experiments in the 20th century, and also marks a period in Portuguese architectural history. In this research, the performance of different design variations are analyzed and compared with the existent case study, in order to understand the advantages associated with the use of modelling and simulation software to improve the performance of a building

Performance-based design: report of an academic workshop with energy efficiency simulation tools

This article presents the results of a Seminar/Workshop named “Energy Modelling: Preliminary Analysis of an Architecture Project”, organised at the University of Minho's School of Architecture, Art and Design, located in Guimarães. The Seminar/Workshop aimed to teach students on the use of simulation tools that evaluate the energy performance of building's architectural design. It demonstrates the importance of simulation software as a tool to design energy-efficient architecture in the early stages of a project. The Seminar/Workshop introduced students to fundamental notions of simulation related to thermal and natural lighting comfort, like modelling methods, interpreting the obtained results and procedures for improving the results. Despite presenting different simulation software during the workshop, the exercises proposed to the students focused on using Climate Studio because of its versatility and compatibility with different architectural modelling software. The software is relatively recent and can be adapted in different project phases. The students learned the benefits of using simulation software to obtain information for further improving an architectural project. The simulation helped students understand the passive design strategies that can improve thermal comfort in the building. Like making the best use of the landscape, the shape of the building and its position and not just by increased insulation in the envelope, well-oriented glazing, optimised thermal mass, controlled ventilation or shading. Therefore, the students learn that simulation tools allow for optimising the passive strategies to their limits in the design stage.Funding of the Landscape, Heritage and Territory Laboratory (Lab2PT), Ref. UID/04509/2020, financed by national funds (PIDDAC) through the FCT/MCTE

Biocompatibility of a self-assembled crosslinkable hyaluronic acid nanogel

Hyaluronic acid nanogel (HyA-AT) is a redox sensitive crosslinkable nanogel, obtained through the conjugation of a thiolated hydrophobic molecule to the hyaluronic acid chain. Engineered nanogel was studied for its biocompatibility, including immunocompatibility and hemocompatability. The nanogel did not compromise the metabolic activity or cellular membrane integrity of 3T3, microvascular endothelial cells, and RAW 264.7 cell lines, as determined by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase release assays. Also, we didn't observe any apoptotic effect on these cell lines through the Annexin V-FITC test. Furthermore, the nanogel cell internalization was analyzed using murine bone marrow derived macrophages, and the in vivo and ex vivo biodistribution of the Cy5.5 labeled nanogel was monitored using a non-invasive near-infrared fluorescence imaging system. The HyA-AT nanogel exhibits fairly a long half-live in the blood stream, thus showing potential for drug delivery applications.The authors thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/ BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and the Project “BioHealth – Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality”, Ref. NORTE-07-0124- FEDER-000027, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. The authors would like to acknowledge also the support of FCT for the PhD grant reference SFRH/BD/61516/2009. They would also like to thank Bioimaging department on Molecular Medicine Institute (IMM) in Lisbon, namely Dr José Rino and Dr António Temudo. Also thank the animal facilities in IMM (Lisbon), specially Dr. Dolores Bonaparte and Dr. Joana Marques. Finally, the authors thank Dr Africa Gonzalez and Mercedes Pelletero the performance of the studies on the activation of complement

Lactoferrin perturbs lipid rafts and requires integrity of Pma1p-lipid rafts association to exert its antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae

"Available online 07 January 2021"Lactoferrin (Lf) is a bioactive milk-derived protein with remarkable wide-spectrum antifungal activity. To deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Lf cytotoxicity, the role of plasma membrane ergosterol- and sphingolipid-rich lipid rafts and their association with the proton pump Pma1p was explored. Pma1p was previously identified as a Lf-binding protein. Results showed that bovine Lf (bLf) perturbs sterol-rich lipid rafts organization by inducing intracellular accumulation of ergosterol. Using yeast mutant strains lacking lipid rafts-associated proteins or enzymes involved in the synthesis of ergosterol and sphingolipids, we found that perturbations in the composition of these membrane domains increase resistance to bLf-induced yeast cell death. Also, when Pma1p-lipid rafts association is compromised in the Pma110 mutant and in the absence of the Pma1p-binding protein Ast1p, the bLf killing activity is impaired. Altogether, results showed that the perturbation of lipid rafts and the inhibition of both Pma1p and V-ATPase activities mediate the antifungal activity of bLf. Since it is suggested that the combination of conventional antifungals with lipid rafts-disrupting compounds is a powerful antifungal approach, our data will help to pave the way for the use of bLf alone or in combination for the treatment/eradication of clinically and agronomically relevant yeast pathogens/fungi.This work was supported by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT I.P.) under the scope of the strategic funding of “Contrato-Programa” UIDB/04050/2020 and UIDB/ 04469/2020 unit; by the BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145- FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte; and by the Servicio para el Control de la Esterilización, Laboratorio de Microbiología Oral (CN-16-036). Cátia Santos-Pereira acknowledges the PhD fellowship PD/BD/128032/2016 funded by FCT under the scope of the doctoral programme in Applied and Environmental Microbiology (DP_AEM).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Deciphering the mechanisms underlying bovine milk lactoferrin anticancer activity using yeast and cancer cell lines as complementary models

Lactoferrin (Lf) is a milk derived iron-binding protein that exhibits a broad range of interesting biological activities, from which its anticancer and antifungal activities stand out. Our group has been elucidating the mechanisms and identifying the molecular targets underlying Lf anticancer/antifungal activities in order to improve its therapeutic efficacy and rational application. Indeed, we previously demonstrated that Lf triggers a mitochondrial and caspase-dependent regulated cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1). Moreover, we found that Lf selectively induces apoptosis in highly metastatic cell lines displaying the proton pump V-ATPase at the plasma membrane (2). However, much work is needed to further characterize Lf mechanisms of action. In the present work, we show how functional genomic approaches using yeast deletion mutants provided new insights on the activity of Lf against yeast that were then validated in human cancer cell lines. Results will be discussed in an integrated manner regarding their contribution towards understanding the molecular basis of Lf anticancer activity. In addition, this study highlights the great potential of yeast as a model to uncover mechanisms of action occurring in the more complex human cells. References (1) Acosta-Zaldívar M, Andrés MT, Rego A, Pereira CS, Fierro JF, Côrte-Real M. (2016) Human lactoferrin triggers a mitochondrial- and caspase-dependent regulated cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Apoptosis. 21(2):163-73. doi: 10.1007/s10495-015-1199-9. (2) Pereira CS, Guedes JP, Gonçalves M, Loureiro L, Castro L, Gerós H, Rodrigues LR, Côrte-Real M. (2016) Lactoferrin selectively triggers apoptosis in highly metastatic breast cancer cells through inhibition of plasmalemmal V-H+-ATPase. Oncotarget. 7(38):62144-62158. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.11394.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O papel da investigação na prática pedagógica dos mestrados em ensino

Os mestrados em ensino da Universidade do Minho preveem a formação do professor/ educador como prático reflexivo e intelectual crítico, conferindo um lugar de relevo à investigação pedagógica no estágio através da construção e avaliação de um “projeto de intervenção pedagógica supervisionada” que deve enquadrar-se numa visão democrática da educação. O projeto dá origem a um relatório final, defendido em provas públicas. Com o objetivo de compreender o papel da investigação no estágio, foi analisado um corpus de 28 relatórios de 5 mestrados de diversos níveis de ensino, com base numa grelha incidente na visão de educação subjacente aos projetos, no tipo e função do conhecimento mobilizado, na articulação investigação-ensino e no valor educativo das intervenções. Os projetos evidenciam a importância da investigação no desenvolvimento de práticas educativas focadas na qualidade dos processos de ensino e de aprendizagem, embora a coexistência de diferentes modalidades de articulação investigação-ensino sinalize conceções diferenciadas de formação e da função da investigação na regulação das práticas e na (re)construção de competências profissionais. A partir das potencialidades e limitações observadas, traçam-se linhas de ação futura para a construção de uma cultura investigativa na formação inicial de professores/ educadores

EAIR 41st Annual Forum in Leiden, The Netherlands 25 till 28 August 2019

Trabalho apresentado em EAIR 41st Annual Forum, 25-28 agosto 2019, Leiden, Países Baixos.Polytechnic Institutes in Portugal: research on the impact of twelve institutes on the local economy Higher Education Institutions are recognized as important actors in regional development. The Portuguese higher education system comprises both Universities and Polytechnic Institutes, which face an increasing pressure to demonstrate that their presence has an impact on the surrounding communities contributing to their economic development. This paper presents the estimation of the economic impact of twelve Polytechnic Institutes, located in quite diverse regions, based on a shared model so that comparisons have a collective framework of analysis. The main results obtained show that the economic impact ranged from 1.8% to 10.6% of the local GDP and that these Institutes are major local employers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rett syndrome with and without detected MECP2 mutations: an attempt to redefine phenotypes

Background: The diagnosis of Rett syndrome (RTT) is based on a set of clinical criteria, irrespective of mutation status. The aims of this study were (1) to define the clinical differences existing between patients with Rett syndrome with (Group I) and without a MECP2 mutation (Group II), and (2) to characterize the phenotypes associated with the more common MECP2 mutations. Patients and methods: We analyzed 87 patients fulfilling the clinical criteria for RTT. All were observed and videotaped by the same paediatric neurologist. Seven common mutations were considered separately, and associated clinical features analysed. Results: Comparing Group I and II, we found differences concerning psychomotor development prior to onset, acquisition of propositive manipulation and language, and evolving autistic traits. Based on age at observation, we found differences in eye pointing, microcephaly, growth, number of stereotypies, rigidity, ataxia and ataxic-rigid gait, and severity score. Patients with truncating differed from those with missense mutations regarding acquisition of propositive words and independent gait, before the beginning of the disease, and microcephaly, growth, foot length, dystonia, rigidity and severity score, at the time of observation. Patients with the R168X mutation had a more severe phenotype, whereas those with R133C showed a less severe one. Patients with R294X had a hyperactive behaviour, and those with T158M seemed to be particularly ataxic and rigid. Conclusion: A clear regressive period (with loss of prehension and language, deceleration of growth) and the presence of more than three different stereotypies, rigidity and ataxic-rigid gait seemed to be very helpful in differentiating Group I from Group II

Common Variation in the PIN1 Locus Increases the Genetic Risk to Suffer from Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome

Funding Information: Funding: This work was supported by the Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación (PAIDI 2020) (ref. PY20_00212, P20_00583), and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Spanish National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation (ref. SAF2016–78722-R, PID2020–120157RB-I00) and the Proyectos I + D + i del Programa Operativo FEDER 2020 (ref. B-CTS-584-UGR20, B-CTS-260-UGR20). FDC was supported by the “Ramón y Cajal” program (ref. RYC-2014–16458), and LBC was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the “Juan de la Cierva Incorporación” program (Grant ref. IJC2018– 038026-I, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), all of them including FEDER funds. AGJ was funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FSE “El FSE invierte en tu futuro”(grant ref. FPU20/02926). SGM was funded by a previously mentioned project (ref. PY20_00212). IPATIMUP integrates the i3S Research Unit, which is partially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), financed by the European Social Funds (COMPETE-FEDER) and National Funds (projects PEstC/SAU/LA0003/2013 and POCI-01–0145-FEDER-007274). AML is funded by the Portuguese Government through FCT (IF/01262/2014). PIM is supported by the FCT post-doctoral fellowship (SFRH/BPD/120777/2016), financed from the Portuguese State Budget of the Ministry for Science, Technology and High Education and from the European Social Fund, available through the Programa Operacional do Capital Humano. ToxOmics—Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, Genetics, Oncology and Human Toxicology, Nova Medical School, Lisbon, is also partially supported by FCT (Projects: UID/BIM/00009/2013 and UIDB/UIDP/00009/2020). SLarriba received support from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant DTS18/00101], co-funded by FEDER funds/European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)—a way to build Europe), and from “Generalitat de Catalunya” (grant 2017SGR191). SLarriba is sponsored by the “Researchers Consolidation Program” from the SNS-Dpt. Salut Generalitat de Catalunya (Exp. CES09/020). This article is related to the Ph.D. Doctoral Thesis of Miriam Cerván-Martín (grant ref. BES-2017–081222 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FSE “El FSE invierte en tu futuro”). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.We aimed to analyze the role of the common genetic variants located in the PIN1 locus, a relevant prolyl isomerase required to control the proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells and the integrity of the blood–testis barrier, in the genetic risk of developing male infertility due to a severe spermatogenic failure (SPGF). Genotyping was performed using TaqMan genotyping assays for three PIN1 taggers (rs2287839, rs2233678 and rs62105751). The study cohort included 715 males diagnosed with SPGF and classified as suffering from non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA, n = 505) or severe oligospermia (SO, n = 210), and 1058 controls from the Iberian Peninsula. The allelic frequency differences between cases and controls were analyzed by the means of logistic regression models. A subtype specific genetic association with the subset of NOA patients classified as suffering from the Sertoli cell-only (SCO) syndrome was observed with the minor alleles showing strong risk effects for this subset (ORaddrs2287839 = 1.85 (1.17–2.93), ORaddrs2233678 = 1.62 (1.11–2.36), ORaddrs62105751 = 1.43 (1.06–1.93)). The causal variants were predicted to affect the binding of key transcription factors and to produce an altered PIN1 gene expression and isoform balance. In conclusion, common non-coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms located in PIN1 increase the genetic risk to develop SCO.publishersversionpublishe

Contribution of TEX15 genetic variants to the risk of developing severe non-obstructive oligozoospermia

Background: Severe spermatogenic failure (SPGF) represents one of the most relevant causes of male infertility. This pathological condition can lead to extreme abnormalities in the seminal sperm count, such as severe oligozoospermia (SO) or non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Most cases of SPGF have an unknown aetiology, and it is known that this idiopathic form of male infertility represents a complex condition. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether common genetic variation in TEX15, which encodes a key player in spermatogenesis, is involved in the susceptibility to idiopathic SPGF.Materials and Methods: We designed a genetic association study comprising a total of 727 SPGF cases (including 527 NOA and 200 SO) and 1,058 unaffected men from the Iberian Peninsula. Following a tagging strategy, three tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TEX15 (rs1362912, rs323342, and rs323346) were selected for genotyping using TaqMan probes. Case-control association tests were then performed by logistic regression models. In silico analyses were also carried out to shed light into the putative functional implications of the studied variants.Results: A significant increase in TEX15-rs1362912 minor allele frequency (MAF) was observed in the group of SO patients (MAF = 0.0842) compared to either the control cohort (MAF = 0.0468, OR = 1.90, p = 7.47E-03) or the NOA group (MAF = 0.0472, OR = 1.83, p = 1.23E-02). The genotype distribution of the SO population was also different from those of both control (p = 1.14E-02) and NOA groups (p = 4.33-02). The analysis of functional annotations of the human genome suggested that the effect of the SO-associated TEX15 variants is likely exerted by alteration of the binding affinity of crucial transcription factors for spermatogenesis.Conclusion: Our results suggest that common variation in TEX15 is involved in the genetic predisposition to SO, thus supporting the notion of idiopathic SPGF as a complex trait