Geometric phase induced by a cyclically evolving squeezed vacuum reservoir

We propose a new way to generate an observable geometric phase by means of a completely incoherent phenomenon. We show how to imprint a geometric phase to a system by "adiabatically" manipulating the environment with which it interacts. As a specific scheme we analyse a multilevel atom interacting with a broad-band squeezed vacuum bosonic bath. As the squeezing parameters are smoothly changed in time along a closed loop, the ground state of the system acquires a geometric phase. We propose also a scheme to measure such geometric phase by means of a suitable polarization detection.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Evaluation of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in ICU patients with COVID-19

Tese de mestrado, Ciências Biofarmacêuticas, 2021, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia.No final do ano de 2019, foi descoberto um novo vírus altamente contagioso ao qual se deu o nome de SARS-CoV-2, (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) o qual provoca a doença COVID-19. Mundialmente, a disseminação contínua de COVID-19 tornou-se um enorme problema de saúde pública com consequências sociais, económicas e políticas devastadoras. Devido ao seu recente surgimento, existe uma grande carência de informação sobre o seu comportamento e da resposta imune do hospedeiro. Esta tese tem como objetivo caracterizar a resposta(s) imune(s) desencadeada pelo SARS-CoV-2 numa coorte de doentes internados nos cuidados intensivos (CI) com COVID-19. Além disso, também pretendemos encontrar padrões associados à qualidade e amplitude das respostas imunes nestes doentes. Os participantes do estudo foram recrutados no Hospital Curry Cabral, em Lisboa, de 14 de março a 14 de junho de 2020. Todos os participantes elegíveis tinham uma infeção provocada por SARS-CoV-2, confirmada por RT-PCR, e caracterizada por uma evolução clínica grave, o que resultou na sua admissão na unidade de cuidados intensivos (UCI) do hospital. De forma a acompanhar a progressão da doença ao longo do tempo de internamento, foram colhidas amostras de sangue aproximadamente a cada 3 dias em cada doente. Além disso, de acordo com os níveis de CRP monitorizados no momento de admissão nos cuidados intensivos, os doentes foram estratificados de acordo com o estado clínico em doentes graves (CRP200µg/mL). Inicialmente, analisámos a resposta humoral mediada por anticorpos entre os dois grupos de doentes. Ao analisarmos os títulos de IgG e IgM específicos para a proteína spike S1, S2 e para a nucleocapside, não observamos diferenças significativas entre os 2 grupos, durante o tempo de permanecia nos CI. No entanto, foi possível observar que os títulos de anticorpos IgM e IgG específicos para a spike S1 eram mais elevados quando comparados com os títulos para a nucleocapside. O que sugere que a proteína spike é mais imunogénica do que a nucleocapside, e que os anticorpos contra esta proteína têm um papel importante na eliminação viral e na recuperação dos doentes. Curiosamente, não detetamos níveis de anticorpos IgG e IgM específicos para a subunidade S2, mostrando a baixa imunogenicidade desta subunidade da proteína spike. Na admissão aos cuidados intensivos, os níveis de anticorpos IgG anti-spike S1 e anti-nucleocapsíde estavam 4 e 2 vezes aumentados, respetivamente, em relação ao background do ensaio de ELISA. No entanto, os títulos de anticorpos IgG continuaram a aumentar até aproximadamente ao 6º dia após a admissão, onde atingiram o plateau. Relativamente aos níveis de anticorpos IgM, estes permaneceram constantes durante o tempo de internamento no UCI. Os níveis de IgM específicos para a Spike S1 estavam 2 vezes aumentados relativamente ao cutpoint, enquanto os níveis de IgM específicos para a nucleocapsíde estavam próximos do cutpoint. Relativamente, aos níveis de anticorpos IgA específicos para a S1 e para a N, observámos uma grande variação entre os dois grupos CRP-estratificados. Os títulos de anticorpos IgA aumentaram até atingir um pico por volta do 6º dia após a admissão na UCI, mas rapidamente decresceram até valores próximo do background do ensaio. Em contraste, a variação nas respostas de anticorpos foi extremamente díspar nos doentes críticos. Enquanto alguns doentes apresentavam uma resposta semelhante à observada nos doentes graves, outros não apresentavam qualquer resposta. Em suma, o perfil cinético da resposta dos anticorpos observado neste estudo é consistente com o reportado em estudos anteriores. No entanto, é possível observar variações temporais na cinética das respostas entre os vários estudos. É ainda importante notar que os doentes que sucumbiram ao COVID-19 não desenvolveram elevados títulos de anticorpos contra as várias proteínas SARS-CoV-2 testadas (Spike S1, S2 e Nucleocapsíde). Nos primeiros dias após entrada no UCI foi possível detetar títulos de anticorpos neutralizantes (NAbs), porém esses títulos eram relativamente baixos. Destaca-se um aumento ligeiro nos títulos de NAbs nos doentes graves em relação aos doentes em estado crítico. Em ambos os grupos, os títulos de NAbs atingiram o seu pico aproximadamente ao 6º dia após a admissão na UCI, permanecendo estáveis durante o restante período de internamento. De forma geral, os doentes graves apresentaram uma resposta cinética para os anticorpos neutralizantes idêntica à dos doentes críticos, contudo apresentaram sempre níveis de NAbs ligeiramente superiores. É, no entanto, de notar que os doentes que morreram não desenvolveram títulos de NAbs ou o seu surgimento foi tardio, sugerindo que as respostas de anticorpos contra SARS-CoV-2 desempenham um papel essencial na sobrevivência à COVID-19. Foi ainda possível notar que os níveis de NAbs estão fortemente correlacionados com os níveis de anticorpos IgG, mas não com as restantes classes IgM e IgA. Estudos anteriores demonstraram que os anticorpos neutralizantes direcionados para o domínio de ligação ao recetor (RBD) são imunodominantes durante as infeções por SARS-CoV-2. Com base nessas observações, decidimos estudar a reatividade das amostras de plasma dos doentes COVID-19 contra os epítopos do RBD do SARS-CoV-2. Observámos, pela primeira vez, a existência de dois clusters de peptídeos, cluster 1 e cluster 2, nos quais a reatividade das amostras de plasma de doentes foi superior. Ao comparar a reatividade entre os dois clusters foi possível observar que o cluster 2 apresentava reatividade superior em relação ao cluster 1. Curiosamente, ao analisar a localização dos clusters na estrutura tridimensional da proteína spike do SARS-CoV-2, vemos que o cluster 2 está localizado no local de interação do RBD com o seu recetor, o ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2), em contraste com o cluster 1, que está localizado no local oposto. Estas observações sugerem que os anticorpos direcionados a estes clusters, particularmente ao cluster 2, são mais prováveis de possuírem uma atividade neutralizantes. Ao analisar a resposta entre doentes graves e críticos não foi possível encontrar diferenças significativas na imuno-reatividade dos peptídeos. No entanto, foi possível perceber que em ambos os grupos, alguns doentes exibiam um padrão distinto de reatividade para os diversos epítopos do RBD. Esses resultados sugerem que a progressão da doença não está inteiramente associada aos títulos e ao alvo dos anticorpos, mas também a outros mecanismos da resposta imune, como a resposta inflamatória mediada por citocinas. Foi ainda possível observar um aumento da reatividade ao longo do tempo de internamento em quase todos os doentes, sendo consistente com as melhorias observadas dos doentes. No entanto, mais estudos são necessários para confirmar a capacidade neutralizante dos anticorpos direcionados a esses dois clusters. Por último, mostrámos que a assinatura COVID-19 foi caracterizada por um aumento dos níveis de várias citocinas inflamatórias e quimiocinas, das quais destacamos as seguintes: GM-CSF, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-5, IL- 6, IL-8, e MIP3a. Os doentes que não sobreviveram, revelaram um perfil de citocinas divergente, caracterizado ou por uma resposta exacerbada ou pela falta de resposta. Os resultados apresentados neste trabalho demostram que vários mecanismos da resposta imune do hospedeiro parecem estar implicados na imunopatogénese da COVID-19. Através da análise da resposta de anticorpos, podemos perceber que estes desempenham um papel importante na progressão e no desfecho clínico da COVID-19. Além disso, a análise da assinatura de citocinas pode dar orientações aos profissionais de saúde para modular a resposta imune inflamatória no estágio inicial da doença, evitando assim trajetórias clínicas graves e até a morte.The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has infected millions of people. Unprecedent efforts have been performed by the scientific community worldwide with the aim to develop an effective treatment or vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this thesis was to characterize the immune responses triggered by SARS-CoV-2 in a cohort of severe COVID-19 patients. Analysis of antibody responses revealed that almost 100% of patients developed spike S1-, and nucleocapsid-specific IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies, during intensive care hospitalization. On the other hand, Spike S2-specific IgG and IgM antibody responses were not detected. In addition, non-survival patients failed to develop high titers of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 proteins tested. Moreover, in the early stage of hospitalization, patients already presented neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers yet relatively low. Median Nab titers increased during the first days of intensive care (IC) hospitalization and remained constant until discharge. Furthermore, characterization of antibody response to receptor-binding domain (RBD) epitopes from SARS-CoV-2 revealed the existence of two clusters of peptides, in which the reactivity of IC patients' plasma samples was higher. The immunoreactivity of cluster 2 stands out compared to cluster 1. This cluster is located in the RBD site of interaction with its receptor, the ACE2, suggesting that antibodies targeting these epitopes are more likely to be Nabs. Moreover, we showed that the COVID-19 signature was characterized by an upregulation of several pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as GM-CSF, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and MIP3a. Elevated cytokine levels were correlated with a worse disease prognosis. Non-survival patients revealed a divergent cytokine profile, characterized by either an exacerbated or a lack of response. We concluded that several mechanisms of host immune response are being implicated in COVID-19 immunopathogenesis. Antibody responses likely play an important role in COVID-19 progression and outcome. Furthermore, the cytokine signature responses may give important hints to clinicians and thereby raising the possibility to modulate the inflammatory immune response in the early disease stage avoiding bad clinical trajectories and ultimately death.Com o patrocínio da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisbo

QUALITY EVALUATION OF 'SUNBURST' CHERRIES HARVESTED AT DIFFERENT RIPENESS STAGES .

The sweet cherry ‘Sunburst’ is highly appreciated by consumers due to its organoleptic traits. Regional producers tend to harvest cherries sooner in order to increase their profits. With the aim of understanding the consequences of this we have tested the effect of different ripeness stages at the moment of harvesting on fruit quality. Quality parameters tested included external colour (L*, a*, b*), fruit texture, total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA). To evaluate nutritional quality total antioxidant activity was measured too. Once again, and in agreement with results obtained in previous studies, we conclude that there is no advantage in picking less ripe cherries

Predicting the present and future of aquaponics

Nowadays the increasing volumes of ‘big data’ reflecting various aspects of our present activities and represent a crucial new opportunity for scientists and experts to study the fundamental questions about the complex world we inhabit (Preis et al., 2013; Axtell, R. L. Zipf, 2001; King 2011; Vespignani, 2009; Perc, 2012; Petersen et al., 2012; Christakis et al., 2009). On the other hand, research on innovative topics, whose technology is still in constant progress, development and improvement of efficiency on the use of inputs and the production of outputs like is the case of aquaponics in Europe, sometimes results in difficulties in obtaining data. These difficulties arise, or because there is no data available from private companies, or because either there are data from other continents, or countries whose production systems do not allow comparability, or because the soil-climatic conditions, or technical-institutional-economic conditions (Goddek, et al. (2015; Dos Santos. 2016). Because they use different production techniques due to the difference in quality and quantity of inputs available in loco.N/

Semi-subsistence farms in Portugal: key concepts

Drawing principally on the literature and in primary data we analyze the farm structure in Portugal and explain the duality agrarian system between Southern and Northern of the country, introduce a new concept semi-subsistence farms in Portugal. After we analyze the main reasons for agricultural households in Portugal which possess a large subsistence and semi-subsistence farming sector. The study indicates that the contribution of subsistence farming to household incomes, social and rural development is significant and have potential to development due the macroeconomic situation in Portugal. But concerning that, stronger quantitative analysis and studies are needed. Due the prevalence and importance of small farms in Portugal, the main EU Common Agricultural Policy instruments must suited to respond to the specific needs of these subsistence farmers.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Commercial aquaponics approaching the European market: a consumers’ perception on aquaponics products in Europe

The paper aim was to estimate consumers’ knowledge about aquaponics and their acceptance of aquaponics products in different European regions. An on-line questionnaire was administered to the general public through the aquaponics network of Food and Agriculture COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action FA1305 “The EU Aquaponics Hub—RealisingSustainable Integrated Fish and Vegetable Production for the EU” in 16 European countries. The methodology includes univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. The results show that, on average, attitudes towards aquaponics were positive, showing no significant differences between those who already knew about aquaponics and those who only heard about it through the survey. More than 50% of respondents had never heard of aquaponics, whilst more than 70% had already heard of hydroponics. No more than 17% of respondents were willing to pay more for aquaponicallyproduced products and no more than 40% more when compared to the price of products from conventional farming. The results confirm three different clusters of potential consumers of aquaponics products.N/

Free trade and implications for hunger

Free Trade are the numerous forms of elimination of trade barriers among regions on the world. Usually they the intent to eliminate the trade barriers by the construction of trade agreements that usually allow various types of international economic integration agreements, namely, free trade agreements, customs unions, common markets, and economic unions, etc. This paper refers to the elimination of barriers among countries and regions on trade mainly in countries in development promote the economic development by bringing new countries with competitive advantages to the international commerce. Also, new innovative techniques of production foods are referred, as aquaponics production in order to contribute to zero hunger. As a consequence, the international supply of food generally increases at the beginning the prices decrease and allow to increase the demand of food, that means a construction, in ceteris paribus of a new market equilibrium higher than the initial that will contribute for food security and for the reduction of hunger around the world. This is also one of the Sustainable Goals from United Nations to achieve.N/

Sustainable and smart cities: A review

This paper addresses the main challenges to be overcome so that cities in the future can be sustainable and also smart cities in the African Continent. The main goal of the paper is to analyses the main constraints to urban development in the African Continent in order for these cities to became smart cities in the future. The methodology was based on a literature revision of all the papers referred in Social Science Citation Index and SCOPUS Elsevier from Q2 to Q1. The results confirm the existence of huge challenges, problems and restrictions on social, economics, environmental and political issues in Africa and also confirm that smart cities will only be possible in Africa when the current problems of sustainable development (economic, social, environmental and political) are overcome. However, the paper allows us to understand why, this is the first paper in the literature to address the topic of smart cities in Africa. It should be noted that in this continent there are at least two of the world's largest cities in terms of inhabitants and the growth of population rate of the African continent is about 2.5%. This is a global problem to handle. The concern about the problems of sustainable development in this region and how to promote it towards sustainable cities concerns everyone and the next steps will affect all of the world’s sustainable development.N/

The sustainability of European agricultural firms

There has been an undeniable and remarkable performance of the global food system over the last fifty years. During this period, total food supply has increased almost threefold, whereas population has only increase in a twofold ratio, along with very significant shifts in diet related to the economic development. European agricultural activity plays an important role in European and world food security through the agricultural production, supply and international trade. The main aim of this paper was analyses the agricultural sustainability of the twenty-eight Member States of the European Union in terms of economics, environmental, social and political activity. Information and data comes from FADN database from the European Commission related to the year 2013, because is the last information available. The methodology includes the min-max approach based on the four components of sustainability, namely, economic, social, environmental and politics. We include the new component of politics in the sustainability because European agricultural are high subsidised and these subsidies have impacts on European agricultural sustainability. All the referred components of sustainability were based on various indicators in each component based on the literature. The minmax approach was employed to normalise the selected indicators expressed in variety dimensions for their need to be put on a common basis. Multivariate methods, namely Component Principal Analysis was used to estimate weights for the selected indicators to construct sub-indices and then the subindices were aggregated into the farm relative sustainability index. After, cluster analysis was used to form homogeneous groups of European countries according the agricultural sustainability indices. The results confirm three groups of European countries, namely, the North and Central countries; the New Member States and the Mediterranean counties. The results confirm that European agriculture firms and respective countries had a medium sustainability. The results also confirm that Northern European countries and the New Member States (of Eastern Europe) presents the highest levels of economic and political sub-indices of sustainability, confirming the high level of support for EU agricultural policies. However, are the Mediterranean countries (Southern Europe) that presents the highest environmental sustainability sub-indices. The main conclusion highlines confirms the importance of the sustainability as a tool to better adjust agricultural policies among the European Member States and around the word in other sectorial firms, for better adjust sectorial policies.N/