Simultaneous determination of ethanol and methanol in fuel ethanol using cyclic voltammetry

AbstractA new and simple strategy for the simultaneous determination of ethanol and methanol in fuel ethanol using cyclic voltammetry at a gold electrode is reported. A fuel ethanol aliquot was added into an electrochemical cell containing 0.5molL−1 NaOH and 0.1% (v/v) of methanol as the electrolyte and both analytes were determined using cyclic voltammetry. Ethanol was selectively detected at +0.19V and both compounds were detected at +1.20V. Current subtraction (using a correction factor) could be used for the selective determination of methanol. The limits of detection were estimated to be 0.028% and 0.045% (v/v) for ethanol and methanol, respectively. The proposed method presented similar results to those obtained by gas chromatography at a 95% confidence level

Applying Goldratt’s Framework to the Banking System

This paper describes the major elements of the Goldratt’s framework – the Theory of Constraints (TOC) – in the banking sector, and examines the factors involved in the decision to adopt the TOC by companies in this sector. Through a deep literature review, analyzing similar cases that apply the Goldratt’s framework in services and in manufacturing and the severalviews of its components, we aim at formulating a framework specifically for the banking system.The study uses a qualitative methodology supported by the information extracted from reality as it is framed in a multicase study model. As part of the quantitative approach, we test several research hypotheses raised from the review of existing studies in the area.The main factors that influence the decision to adopt the TOC are the nature and the characteristics of the banking service, the attitude towards change, the leadership and the commitment of the entire institution.By using the Goldratt’s approach outlined in this article, through the location of the constraints and develop practical measurement to facilitate the banking process improvements, banks can improve resource utilization, revenues and employee satisfaction

Impact of Euro-Atlantic blocking patterns in Iberia precipitation using a novel high resolution dataset

In this work we reassess the impacts of blocking patterns on precipitation regimes in the Iberian Peninsula, distinguishing between north Atlantic and European blocking. For this we take full advantage of the recently developed high-resolution datasets for the Iberian countries. Precipitation anomalies during blocking events obtained with this dataset allow a much finer regional characterization of the impacts in both average and extreme daily precipitation, particularly when compared to widely used low-resolution reanalysis datasets. Blocked patterns induce a negative-positive dipole of precipitation anomalies from northwest to southeast Iberia. Increases are widespread during Atlantic blocks and pronounced in southern and eastern areas of Iberia, while during European blocks they are more spatially restricted, with increases above 50 % in coastal Mediterranean areas, which represents a considerable fraction of the annual precipitation. Blocking impacts in precipitation are nearly opposite to those found during strong zonal flow situations, but there are also some asymmetries in the precipitation responses. A significant increase in cyclones and cut-off lows frequency southwards of blocking structures is related to precipitation excesses over southern and eastern areas, where dynamical factors and local processes play a crucial role. On the contrary, precipitation deficits in northwest Iberia during blocking episodes are better explained by a reduction in north Atlantic frontal activity and simultaneous decreases in large-scale moisture advection towards northern Iberia. We show that these anomalies during blocking result from changes in precipitation amount rather than from increases in rainy days, pointing to more extreme rainfall regimes, particularly in southeastern Iberia. Finally, an Extreme Value Analysis was performed, fitting Generalized Pareto Distributions to precipitation extremes. Results show that the different extreme precipitation regimes of northwest and Mediterranean regions are partially determined by opposite anomalies of the zonal flow. Thus, heavy precipitation events in Mediterranean areas are usually short-lived and frequently associated with blocking conditions, while in northwest Iberia the total accumulations during rainfall episodes are more important for triggering extreme events and they are mainly related to strong westerly flows.Peer reviewe

Development of weCope, a mobile app for illness self-management in schizophrenia

Objective: To describe the development of weCope, a Portuguese mobile app for people with schizophrenia. Methods: The development of weCope followed 4 stages: I-102 people with psychotic disorders completed an online questionnaire; II-a multidisciplinary focus group was conducted among five mental health professionals; III-we developed the app; IV-9 participants used weCope during 8 weeks to assess its efficiency. Results: weCope targets coping with voices, problem solving, goals setting and stress management, and results indicated that: weCope improved symptoms, sense of recovery and personal and social functioning; 59% of the participants were willing to download an application for illness self-management; professionals revealed some concerns about mHealth but enhanced the high importance to develop these apps; usability testing revealed that 89% considered weCope useful for illness self-management. However, the more years with mental illness, the less importance is given to a mobile application for this purpose. Discussion: weCope was developed through a comprehensive development process and may contribute to a subjective perception of the patient’s better well-being and health condition

CM@MNP composites for the biodegradation of organic compounds

The ability of different Carbon Materials (CM), including Activated Carbon, Xerogels and Nanotubes, to accelerate the chemical and biological reduction rates of dyes and aromatic amines, and their advantages in comparison with soluble electron shuttles, such not needing to be constantly dosed, due to being continuously regenerated in the process, was previously demonstrated [1-3]. Though, powder CM is tricky to retain inside continuous reactors due to their low density. The talent of Magnetic NanoParticles (MNP) as strong reducers also enables their use in the remediation. In this way, our investigation aims to combine both materials to create a CM@MNP composite with synergistic properties by integrating the high catalytic activity and magnetic character. Combining materials is advantageous to exploit new applications and minimize cost.FCT Strategic PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013Project “BioEnv - Biotechnology and Bioengineering for a sustainable world”, REF.NORTE-07-0124 FEDER-000048.” Co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 – O NovoNorte), QREN, FEDER

Cost and burden of hypercholesterolemia In Portugal

Copyright © 2014 Published by Elsevier Inc.Hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor for ciculatory diseases. This study estimates the impact of hypercholesterolemia on populations’ health levels and its economic impact in Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The RNA-Binding Protein Musashi1 Affects Medulloblastoma Growth via a Network of Cancer- Related Genes and Is an Indicator of Poor Prognosis

Musashi1 (Msi1) is a highly conserved RNA-binding protein that is required during the development of the nervous system. Msi1 has been characterized as a stem cell marker, controlling the balance between self-renewal and differentiation, and has also been implicated in tumorigenesis, being highly expressed in multiple tumor types. We analyzed Msi1 expression in a large cohort of medulloblastoma samples and found that Msi1 is highly expressed in tumor tissue compared with normal cerebellum. Notably, high Msi1 expression levels proved to be a sign of poor prognosis. Msi1 expression was determined to be particularly high in molecular subgroups 3 and 4 of medulloblastoma. We determined that Msi1 is required for tumorigenesis because inhibition of Msi1 expression by small-interfering RNAs reduced the growth of Daoy medulloblastoma cells in xenografts. To characterize the participation of Msi1 in medulloblastoma, we conducted different high-throughput analyses. Ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation followed by microarray analysis (RIP-chip) was used to identify mRNA species preferentially associated with Msi1 protein in Daoy cells. We also used cluster analysis to identify genes with similar or opposite expression patterns to Msi1 in our medulloblastoma cohort. A network study identified RAC1, CTGF, SDCBP, SRC, PRL, and SHC1 as major nodes of an Msi1-associated network. Our results suggest that Msi1 functions as a regulator of multiple processes in medulloblastoma formation and could become an important therapeutic target

Differentiation of Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus safensis using MALDI-TOF-MS

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) despite being increasingly used as a method for microbial identification, still present limitations in which concerns the differentiation of closely related species. Bacillus pumillus and Bacillus safensis, are species of biotechnological and pharmaceutical significance, difficult to differentiate by conventional methodologies. In this study, using a well-characterized collection of B. pumillus and B. safensis isolates, we demonstrated the suitability of MALDI-TOF-MS combined with chemometrics to accurately and rapidly identify them. Moreover, characteristic species-specific ion masses were tentatively assigned, using UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot and UniProtKB/TrEMBL databases and primary literature. Delineation of B. pumilus (ions at m/z 5271 and 6122) and B. safensis (ions at m/z 5288, 5568 and 6413) species were supported by a congruent characteristic protein pattern. Moreover, using a chemometric approach, the score plot created by partial least square discriminant analysis (PLSDA) of mass spectra demonstrated the presence of two individualized clusters, each one enclosing isolates belonging to a species-specific spectral group. The generated pool of species-specific proteins comprised mostly ribosomal and SASPs proteins. Therefore, in B. pumilus the specific ion at m/z 5271 was associated with a small acid-soluble spore protein (SASP O) or with 50S protein L35, whereas in B. safensis specific ions at m/z 5288 and 5568 were associated with SASP J and P, respectively, and an ion at m/z 6413 with 50S protein L32. Thus, the resulting unique protein profile combined with chemometric analysis, proved to be valuable tools for B. pumilus and B. safensis discrimination, allowing their reliable, reproducible and rapid identification.Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran, Dr. Irene Ouoba, Dr. Joseph W. Kloepper, Dr. Cecilie From and Dr. Maria Morea are gratefully acknowledged for providing isolates FO-36bT, SAFN-027, SAFN-037, KL-052, 51-3C and 82-2C; Bs31; SE 49 (AP3) and SE 52 (AP7); FEL 55, UNG22 and MIL46, respectively. Raquel Branquinho was supported by a PhD fellowship (Ref. SFRH/BD/61410/2009) and Clara Sousa by a post-doctoral fellowship (Ref. SFRH/BPD/70548/2010), from FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Portugal). Hugo Osorio acknowledges the funding from QREN-FEDER through the Operational Program ON. 2 - O Novo Norte. IPATIMUP is an Associate Laboratory of the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and is partially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competin

A genome-wide association study follow-up suggests a possible role for PPARG in systemic sclerosis susceptibility

Introduction: A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) comprising a French cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) reported several non-HLA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing a nominal association in the discovery phase. We aimed to identify previously overlooked susceptibility variants by using a follow-up strategy.<p></p> Methods: Sixty-six non-HLA SNPs showing a P value <10-4 in the discovery phase of the French SSc GWAS were analyzed in the first step of this study, performing a meta-analysis that combined data from the two published SSc GWASs. A total of 2,921 SSc patients and 6,963 healthy controls were included in this first phase. Two SNPs, PPARG rs310746 and CHRNA9 rs6832151, were selected for genotyping in the replication cohort (1,068 SSc patients and 6,762 healthy controls) based on the results of the first step. Genotyping was performed by using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Results: We observed nominal associations for both PPARG rs310746 (PMH = 1.90 × 10-6, OR, 1.28) and CHRNA9 rs6832151 (PMH = 4.30 × 10-6, OR, 1.17) genetic variants with SSc in the first step of our study. In the replication phase, we observed a trend of association for PPARG rs310746 (P value = 0.066; OR, 1.17). The combined overall Mantel-Haenszel meta-analysis of all the cohorts included in the present study revealed that PPARG rs310746 remained associated with SSc with a nominal non-genome-wide significant P value (PMH = 5.00 × 10-7; OR, 1.25). No evidence of association was observed for CHRNA9 rs6832151 either in the replication phase or in the overall pooled analysis.<p></p> Conclusion: Our results suggest a role of PPARG gene in the development of SSc