Modeling and optimization of extracellular polysaccharides production by Enterobacter A47

Polysaccharides are gaining increasing attention as potential environmental friendly and sustainable building blocks in many fields of the (bio)chemical industry. The microbial production of polysaccharides is envisioned as a promising path, since higher biomass growth rates are possible and therefore higher productivities may be achieved compared to vegetable or animal polysaccharides sources. This Ph.D. thesis focuses on the modeling and optimization of a particular microbial polysaccharide, namely the production of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) by the bacterial strain Enterobacter A47. Enterobacter A47 was found to be a metabolically versatile organism in terms of its adaptability to complex media, notably capable of achieving high growth rates in media containing glycerol byproduct from the biodiesel industry. However, the industrial implementation of this production process is still hampered due to a largely unoptimized process. Kinetic rates from the bioreactor operation are heavily dependent on operational parameters such as temperature, pH, stirring and aeration rate. The increase of culture broth viscosity is a common feature of this culture and has a major impact on the overall performance. This fact complicates the mathematical modeling of the process, limiting the possibility to understand, control and optimize productivity. In order to tackle this difficulty, data-driven mathematical methodologies such as Artificial Neural Networks can be employed to incorporate additional process data to complement the known mathematical description of the fermentation kinetics. In this Ph.D. thesis, we have adopted such an hybrid modeling framework that enabled the incorporation of temperature, pH and viscosity effects on the fermentation kinetics in order to improve the dynamical modeling and optimization of the process. A model-based optimization method was implemented that enabled to design bioreactor optimal control strategies in the sense of EPS productivity maximization. It is also critical to understand EPS synthesis at the level of the bacterial metabolism, since the production of EPS is a tightly regulated process. Methods of pathway analysis provide a means to unravel the fundamental pathways and their controls in bioprocesses. In the present Ph.D. thesis, a novel methodology called Principal Elementary Mode Analysis (PEMA) was developed and implemented that enabled to identify which cellular fluxes are activated under different conditions of temperature and pH. It is shown that differences in these two parameters affect the chemical composition of EPS, hence they are critical for the regulation of the product synthesis. In future studies, the knowledge provided by PEMA could foster the development of metabolically meaningful control strategies that target the EPS sugar content and oder product quality parameters

Assessing and comparing applications of molecular clocks to phylogenetic datasets

Tese de mestrado em Bioinformática e Biologia Computacional, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2021A implementação de relógios moleculares na inferência filogenética foi uma das maiores descobertas no estudo da área, permitindo à comunidade científica obter resultados mais robustos e com uma menor margem de erro significativa, suportados pelo uso de registos fósseis e geológicos. Nesta tese foram comparados os métodos de inferência filogenética molecular implementados no programa BEAST2 e StarBEAST2, para que se tenha uma ideia de em que cenário um é mais vantajoso aplicar um ou o outro assim como a comparação entre as suas versões mais recentes e antigas. Assim sendo, foram realizadas inferências moleculares independentes a espécies de escaravelhos tigre (Coleoptera: Cicindelini) e a espécies de escaravelhos subterrâneos (Trechus fulvus). As análises tiveram por base a aplicação de um workflow que permite a realização de inferências filogenéticas moleculares inter e intraespecíficas, com base nos recursos disponibilizados pelo pacote do programa BEAST2. Os resultados obtidos com o template standard de BEAST2 demonstram que é fundamental o uso de um outgroup adequado na calibração da árvore filogenética, que garanta suporte de confiança à inferência realizada. Relógios inapropriados ou calibrações incorretas (resultando em valores mínimos de ESS) conduzem a resultados ilusórios de escalas de tempo. Contudo com o programa StarBEAST2 não é necessário o uso de um outgroup, assim como demonstra obter resultados com melhor resolução, intervalos de divergência menores e um tempo de processamento significamente mais rápido comparativamente ao programa BEAST2 (dependendo dos specs do PC usado) ao mesmo tempo usando um método de coalescência multi-espécies o qual habilita ao programa de modelar as árvores de genes dentro da árvore de espécies resultando em geral em resultados de tempos de divergência mais precisos. Porém deve-se ter sempre em atenção o contexto biológico ao averiguar os resultados obtidos na inferência, pois mesmo que sejam bem suportados pela análise dos valores de confiança, nunca deverão ser interpretados isoladamente.The implementation of molecular clocks in phylogenetic inference was one of the largest breakthroughs in the field of genetics and phylogeny, allowing to the scientific community a way to obtain more robust results and with a significantly smaller margin of error, supported by the use of fossil and geological records. In this thesis were compared the methods of molecular phylogenetic inference in the programa BEAST2 and *BEAST2 (or starBEAST2), so as to identify in which scenario is better to use one or the other as well as comparing their most recent versions to their previous iterations so as to ascertain how much better they’ve gotten if at all. And so, were realized phylogenetic inferences on species of tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelini) and on species of ground beetles (Trechus fulvus). The subsequent analyses had as their core the usage of a workflow designed to standardize the whole procedure permitting the realization of interspecific and intraspecific molecular phylogenetic inferences based on the available resources in BEAST2’s packages. The results obtained through the standard template of BEAST2 show that the usage of an adequate outgroup tailored to the calibration of the phylogenetic tree is fundamental to the credibility of the inference in question. Inaccurate clocks or incorrect calibrations (resulting in low ESS values) inevitably lead to illusory results. However, with the usage of StarBEAST2 an outgroup isn’t required to the phylogenetic inference, as well as it showing (normally) results with better resolution, smaller divergence times and a much faster processing time when compared to BEAST2 (depending on the PC specs) all the while using a multi species Coalescent methods that allows the program to model the analyzed gene trees within the species tree thereby improving the overall accuracy and precision of the divergence times. Although one should always take the biological context into account when analyzing the results as they never should be treated immediately as fact even if well supported by its confidence values

Estruturação da oferta de programas de sócio-torcedor de acordo com a lealdade: um estudo para otimização de portfólio

Na indústria do esporte, é consenso que os valores investidos pelos diversos stakeholders que a compõem têm no torcedor seu principal pilar. De forma simplificada, assume-se que as receitas de um clube de futebol são oriundas de bilheteria, direitos de TV, vendas de jogadores e demais receitas de marketing. Neste último item, os programas de sócio torcedor adquiriram certa notoriedade nos últimos anos. Nesses programas, o torcedor contribui periodicamente com o clube (por meio de uma mensalidade ou mecanismo similar) e recebe benefícios como contrapartida. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar como a lealdade do torcedor com sua equipe e a multiplicidade dos atributos que compõem a oferta de um programa de sócio torcedor afetam sua disposição de compra. A compreensão desse relacionamento de variáveis permite ao formador da oferta um melhor desenho de portfólio. Os conceitos fundamentais envolvidos na pesquisa foram a perspectiva racional de compra do consumidor nos modelos compensatórios e o nível de lealdade dos torcedores. A metodologia empregada foi uma análise conjunta baseada em escolhas e os resultados sugerem avaliação bastante distinta de acordo com o nível de lealdade registrado

REMUNERAÇÃO E CARACTERÍSTICAS DAS PESSOAS OCUPADAS NA AGRO-INDÚSTRIA CANAVIEIRA NO BRASIL, DE 2002 a 2006

ste artigo analisa a remuneração, a qualificação e características do emprego das pessoas ocupadas em empreendimentos cuja atividade principal é a cultura da cana-de-açúcar, a produção de açúcar e/ou a produção de álcool, no período de 2002 a 2006. Considera-se o conjunto de todas as pessoas ocupadas nessas atividades e destaca-se aqueles que são empregados (assalariados). Compara-se o nível de rendimento das pessoas empregadas em diversas lavouras: cana-de-açúcar, arroz, soja, café, mandioca, milho etc. são apresentados resultados para o Brasil como um todo, para as regiões norte-nordeste e centro-sul e para o estado de São Paulo. Verifica-se que a remuneração dos empregados na cultura da cana cresceu no período analisado, acompanhando o crescimento do salário mínimo real. Comparando a remuneração e as características dos empregados na cana e em outras lavouras, verifica-se que a segunda remuneração mais elevada é a dos empregados na cana-de-açúcar.---------------------------The paper analysis the earnings and other characteristics of employment in sugar cane crops and in sugar and alcohol industries in Brazil, from 2002 to 2006, considering either all occupied persons or only employees. The paper also compares earnings of workers in different crops: sugar cane, rice, soybean, coffee, corn and others. Results are shown considering the whole country, the North-Northeast and Center-South regions and the State of São Paulo. It is shown that average earnings of sugar cane workers increased during the period, following the increasing value of the national real minimum wage. Comparing the characteristics of the employment in different crops, it can be verified that the second highest earnings level is in sugar cane.Cana-de-açúcar, Empregados, Agro-indústria canavieira, Brasil, Sugar cane, Earnings, Sugar industry, Brazil, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries,

Entre o escudo e a espada: caracterizando o “land grabbing” como crime contra a humanidade = Between the shield and the sword: characterizing land grabbing as a crime against humanity

- DOI: 10.5102/rdi.v16i1.587

Adrenal function testing in patients with septic shock

INTRODUCTION: Adrenal failure (AF) is associated with increased mortality in septic patients. Nonetheless, there is no agreement regarding the best diagnostic criteria for AF. We compared the diagnosis of AF considering different baseline total cortisol cutoff values and Δmax values after low (1 μg) and high (249 μg) doses of corticotropin, we analyzed the impact of serum albumin on AF identification and we correlated laboratorial AF with norepinephrine removal. METHODS: A prospective noninterventional study was performed in an intensive care unit from May 2002 to May 2005, including septic shock patients over 18 years old without previous steroid usage. After measurement of serum albumin and baseline total cortisol, the patients were sequentially submitted to 1 μg and 249 μg corticotropin tests with a 60-minute interval between doses. Post-stimuli cortisol levels were drawn 60 minutes after each test (cortisol 60 and cortisol 120). The cortisol 60 and cortisol 120 values minus baseline were called Δmax(1 )and Δmax(249), respectively. Adrenal failure was defined as Δmax(249 )≤ 9 μg/dl or baseline cortisol ≤ 10 μg/dl. Other baseline cortisol cutoff values referred to as AF in other studies (≤15, ≤20, ≤25 and ≤34 μg/dl) were compared with Δmax(249 )≤ 9 μg/dl and serum albumin influence. Norepinephrine removal was compared with the baseline cortisol values and Δmax(249 )values. RESULTS: We enrolled 102 patients (43 male). AF was diagnosed in 22.5% (23/102). Patients with albumin ≤2.5 g/dl presented a lower baseline total cortisol level (15.5 μg/dl vs 22.4 μg/dl, P = 0.04) and a higher frequency of baseline cortisol ≤25 μg/dl (84% vs 58.3%, P = 0.05) than those with albumin > 2.5 g/dl. The Δmax(249 )levels and Δmax(249 )≤ 9, however, were not affected by serum albumin (14.5 μg/dl vs 18.8 μg/dl, P = 0.48 and 24% vs 25%, P = 1.0). Baseline cortisol ≤ 23.6 μg/dl was the most accurate diagnostic threshold to determine norepinephrine removal according to the receiver operating characteristic curve. CONCLUSION: AF was identified in 22.5% of the studied population. Since Δmax(249 )≤ 9 μg/dl results were not affected by serum albumin and since the baseline serum total cortisol varied directly with albumin levels, we propose that Δmax(249 )≤ 9 μg/dl, which means Δmax after high corticotropin dose may be a better option for AF diagnosis whenever measurement of free cortisol is not available. Baseline cortisol ≤23.6 μg/dl was the best value for predicting norepinephrine removal in patients without corticosteroid treatment

Estudo de orçamento em edificação multifamiliar

The present undergraduate thesis makes a study about the process of budgeting a building. A case study was carried out in which the budget of a multifamily building with three floors (a total of 605.00 square meters) and is located in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba. The construction process was divided between constructive stages. During the budgeting, the necessary considerations were made for the quantitative measurements of each service. Through the budget it was possible to reach the total cost of the work, which had the value compared to the regional CUB index. In the total cost of the work, the BDI (also calculated by the author) was added to obtain the final cost of the work, already considering the sale price. At the end, a schedule was elaborated with the expenses and durations of each stage. In addition, analyzes were performed on the division of expenditures through the data resulting from the ABC Curve.O presente Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso faz um estudo sobre o processo de orçamentação de uma edificação. Foi realizado um estudo de caso em que elaborou-se o orçamento de um edifício multifamiliar, que possui três pavimentos (um total de 605,00 metros quadrados) e está localizado na cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba. O processo construtivo foi dividido entre etapas construtivas. Durante a orçamentação foram feitas as considerações necessárias para as medições dos quantitativos de cada serviço. Através do orçamento foi possível chegar ao custo total da obra, que teve o valor comparado ao índice do CUB regional. No custo total da obra foi ainda adicionado o BDI (também calculado pelo autor) para obtenção do custo final da obra, considerando o preço de venda. Ao final, foi elaborado um cronograma com os gastos e duração de cada etapa. Além disso, foram feitas análises sobre a divisão dos gastos através dos dados resultantes da Curva ABC