Vibrational Spectroscopy with neutrons: applications to bio-based polymers and deep eutectic solvents

Se van a descibir los avances de los estudios basados en la dispersión inlástica de neutrones (INS) sobre la estructuración de polímeros bio-compatibles y disolventes eutécticos. La técnica INS permite obtener una información complementaria a los resultados de las espectroscopías vibracionales convencionales, Infrarroja y Raman, especialmente en relación con el empaquetamiento de estos sistemas y su grado de cristalinidad.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

A química das coisas

"A Química das Coisas" pretende desmascarar a química escondida no nosso dia a dia e mostrar como os desenvolvimentos recentes desta Ciência contribuem para o bem-estar da Sociedade. É usual a confusão entre substância química e substância tóxica, irritante, cancerígena. Uma confusão que veicula a ideia de que a Química contribui para todos os males do mundo moderno, de que tudo o que é químico é artificial ou antinatural, como se na Natureza não houvesse substâncias ou compostos químicos. Mas tudo à nossa volta, na Natureza e fora dela, é constituído por "químicos". (...

Os ‘nossos’ e os ‘outros’: a química nas relações interpessoais

São cada vez mais frequentes os estudos científicos que procuram identificar a base molecular dos processos dos processos cerebrais. E daí resulta um conhecimento cada vez maior acerca dos compostos químicos que actuam sobre o nosso cérebro e são responsáveis pelos nossos sentimentos e emoções. Esta comunicação apresenta uma revisão bibliográfica em torno da química das relações interpessoais: quais os “actores químicos” que têm um papel fundamental nos processos neurobiológicos complexos que vão desde o amor romântico e a amizade, até à violência social e a xenofobia, passando pela confiança e o heroísmo

Effective core potential ab initio calculations on main group heptoxides and large silicate systems

The ab initio molecular structures for several main group heptoxides (X2O7n-, n=0,2,4) are calculated using effective core potentials at the HF and DFT (B3LYP) levels. Particular attention is given to the X-O-X bond angle, as this structural parameter is a key feature for the study of both heptoxides and larger derivatives, such as polysilicate systems. The extent of the p-d interactions, which was found to be the main factor governing the magnitude of the X-O-X angle in transition metal heptoxides, does not play a significant role in the main group analogues.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TGT-40V4F3D-3/1/f26d56c6395122fcba007ed20f55868

Design of a hexapod robotic system

The main purpose of this work was to design a prototype of an autonomous hexapod robot. This paper reports on an initial phase, where the basic geometry of the system was specified and improved through a kinematics and dynamic study, using a motion analysis software. This also allowed the design of all mechanical components and the definition of motion generation needs. In this paper the importance of legged robots on mobile research is emphasised. The capabilities of the computational programs specially dedicated to the analysis of mechanical systems are demonstrated. The mobility of the geometric model presented in this paper is a trade-off between natural idea and technical feasibility. Some results of the virtual simulation of the movement of this hexapod robotic system are presented

Kinematics and dynamics study of a hexapod robotic system using computational packages’ capabilities

The main purpose of this work was to perform kinematics and dynamics analysis of a prototype of an autonomous hexapod robot. This paper reports on an initial phase, where the basic geometry of the system was specified and improved through a kinematics and dynamic study by using a motion analysis software. This study also allowed the design of all mechanical components and the definition of motion generation needs. In this paper the importance of legged robots on mobile research is emphasised. The capabilities of the computational programs specially dedicated to the analysis of mechanical systems are also discussed. The mobility of the geometric model presented in this paper is a trade-off between natural idea and technical feasibility. Some results of the computational simulations of the movement of the proposed hexapod robotic system are presented and discussed under the premises and assumptions adopted in this work

Identification of microplastics using Raman spectroscopy: latest developments and future prospects

Widespread microplastic pollution is raising growing concerns as to its detrimental effects upon living organisms. A realistic risk assessment must stand on representative data on the abundance, size distribution and chemical composition of microplastics. Raman microscopy is an indispensable tool for the analysis of very small microplastics (<20 μm). Still, its use is far from widespread, in part due to drawbacks such as long measurement time and proneness to spectral distortion induced by fluorescence. This review discusses each drawback followed by a showcase of interesting and easily available solutions that contribute to faster and better identification of microplastics using Raman spectroscopy. Among discussed topics are: enhanced signal quality with better detectors and spectrum processing; automated particle selection for faster Raman mapping; comprehensive reference libraries for successful spectral matching. A last section introduces non-conventional Raman techniques (non-linear Raman, hyperspectral imaging, standoff Raman) which permit more advanced applications such as real-time Raman detection and imaging of microplastics.publishe

Ferramentas de genotipagem para estudos populacionais em dafnídeos

Mestrado em Biologia Molecular e CelularOs dafnídeos representam organismos-modelo importantes em diversas áreas como limnologia, ecotoxicologia, genética ecológica e, recentemente, em genómica. Contudo, as suas relações filogenéticas e a sua taxonomia são ainda bastante controversas, sendo a identificação destes organismos dificultada pela elevada plasticidade fenotípica que apresentam e a existência de fluxo de genes entre taxa, via hibridação e retrocruzamentos. Com o objectivo de ultrapassar as ambiguidades dos critérios morfológicos para a diferenciação de espécies, têm vindo a ser desenvolvidas, ao longo do tempo, várias ferramentas moleculares, como a electroforese de alozimas, RFLP e RAPD. Este tipo de ferramentas moleculares possui também grande utilidade para estudos de dinâmica populacional, ao permitir um maior grau de resolução na compreensão da extensão e rapidez das alterações da estrutura populacional. Neste trabalho, a técnica de MSP-PCR (microsatellite-primed polymerase chain reaction), utilizada com sucesso na diferenciação de outros organismos, foi optimizada e aplicada em populações naturais de Daphnia longispina. Comparando com outras ferramentas moleculares, esta técnica apresenta vantagens como a sua simplicidade, a eficácia, e os baixos custos e necessidades técnicas. Posteriormente, as técnicas desenvolvidas foram aplicadas a diversas populações de Simocephalus, com o objectivo de analisar a variação genética ao nível do genótipo. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram a utilidade destas ferramentas na identificação genética de linhagens clonais cultivadas em laboratório, revelando contudo uma grande variabilidade associada à técnica e a necessidade de optimização da mesma. Com este trabalho, perspectivam-se elevadas potencialidades na utilização regular desta técnica em estudos de genética de populações naturais de Daphniidae. ABSTRACT: Daphniids represent important model-organisms in different areas, such as limnology, ecotoxicology, ecological genetics and, recently, genomic. However, their phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy are still very controversial. The identification of Daphnia species is still somewhat ambiguous, because of high phenotypic plasticity and gene flow between taxa, via hybridization and backcrosses. Aiming at overcoming the ambiguities of morphological criteria for species differentiation, several molecular tools have been developed through time, such as allozyme electrophoresis, RFLP, and RAPD. Such molecular tools can also be used in population dynamics studies, allowing a high resolution degree on our understanding of the extent and speed of population structure changes. In this work, an MSP-PCR technique (microsatellite-primed polymerase chain reaction), which has been used successfully on the differentiation of other organisms, was optimized and applied in natural populations of Daphnia longispina. Comparing with other molecular tools, this technique presents advantages, such as its simplicity, efficacy, and low cost and technical requirements. In a second phase of the work, the developed techniques were applied to Simocephalus populations, with the goal of analysing the genetic variation at the genotype level. Our results have shown the usefulness of these molecular tools in the genetic identification of clonal lineages reared in laboratory, showing however a large variability associated with the technique and the need to optimize it. This work revealed a high potential for the regular use of these markers on genetic studies in natural populations of Daphniidae

DIÁRIOS COLABORATIVOS DE FORMAÇÃO: A CO-CONSTRUÇÃO DE SABERES PROFISSIONAIS PELA PLURALIDADE DE SENTIDOS

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio