New Approaches to the Treatment of Age-Related Brain Disorders

Two novel reversible enzyme inhibitors involved in monoamine metabolism are described. The novel and reversible inhibitors are the catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) inhibitor, Ro 40-7592 (3,4-dihydroxy-4'-methyl-5-nitrobenzophenone), and the monoamine oxidase type-B (MAO-B) inhibitor, Ro 19-6327 (N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-chloro-2-pyridine carboxamide HC1). These may be of special therapeutic benefit in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease

Single stars in the Hyades open cluster. Fiducial sequence for testing stellar and atmospheric models

Age and mass determinations for isolated stellar objects remain model-dependent. While stellar interior and atmospheric theoretical models are rapidly evolving, we need a powerful tool to test them. Open clusters are good candidates for this role. We complement previous studies on the Hyades multiplicity by Lucky Imaging observations with the AstraLux Norte camera. This allows us to exclude possible binary and multiple systems with companions outside 2--7 AU separation and to create a "single-star sequence" for the Hyades. The sequence encompasses 250 main-sequence stars ranging from A5V to M6V. Using the "Tool for Astrophysical Data Analysis" (TA-DA), we create various theoretical isochrones applying different combinations of interior and atmospheric models. We compare the isochrones with the observed Hyades single-star sequence on J vs. J - K_s, J vs. J - H and K_s vs. H - K_s color-magnitude diagrams. As a reference we also compute absolute fluxes and magnitudes for all stars from X-ray to mid-infrared based on photometric measurements available in the literature(ROSAT X-ray, GALEX UV, APASS gri, 2MASS JHK_s, and WISE W1 to W).We find that combinations of both PISA and DARTMOUTH stellar interior models with BT-Settl 2010 atmospheric models describe the observed sequence well. The full sequence covers the mass range 0.13 to 2.3 Msun, and effective temperatures between 3060 K and 8200 K. Within the measurement uncertainties, the current generation of models agree well with the single-star sequence. The primary limitations are the uncertainties in the measurement of the distance to individual Hyades members, and uncertainties in the photometry. Additionally, a small (~0.05 mag) systematic offset can be noted on J vs. J - K and K vs. H - K diagrams - the observed sequence is shifted to redder colors from the theoretical predictions.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. The extended version of the table will be available online soon. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Fog precipitation and rainfall interception in the natural forests of Madeira Island (Portugal)

Situated in the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is a within-plate volcanic island, approximately 600 km northwest of the Western African coast. Cloud cover formed mainly of orographic origin persists on Madeira for more than 200 days per year between 800 m and 1600 m altitude. Since vegetation occupies 2/3 of the island’s surface, fog precipitation, which occurs when fog droplets are filtered by the forest canopy and coalesce on the vegetation surfaces to form larger droplets that drip to the forest floor, is an important hydrological input. Rainfall interception and fog precipitation data were collected between 1996 and 2005 in the natural forests of Madeira. Six throughfall gauges were placed under the canopy of three different types of forest: high altitude tree heath forest (1580 m), secondary tree heath forest (1385 m) and humid laurisilva forest (1050 m). Fog precipitation is higher under high altitude heath forest (average canopy interception was 225% of gross precipitation) and dependent both on altitude and vegetation type, due to different tree architecture and leaf shape. Although results are conservative estimates of fog precipitation, they point towards the importance of fog-water as a source of groundwater recharge in the water balance of the main forest ecosystems of Madeira.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Plano de negócio de uma plataforma de notificação para produtos frescos

O objetivo deste projeto passa por criar uma plataforma para o Mercado das Padarias e Pastelarias em Portugal, que visa ajudar na comunicação entre o estabelecimento e os vários tipos de consumidores. A plataforma apresenta-se em dois formatos: Aplicação para telemóvel e Website. O principal objetivo é notificar os consumidores dos horários a que saem novas fornadas de pães e bolos, nos estabelecimentos ao seu redor. Para uma melhor análise à necessidade por parte do consumidor e da loja, foi feito um questionário para estas duas perspetivas, com o intuito de entender os principais constrangimentos deste mercado. Através da análise feita, destacaram-se dois pontos fundamentais. Para o consumidor, a proximidade do estabelecimento e a frescura do produto são fatores essências para a compra e consumo do artigo. Relativamente à loja, a incerteza das quantidades a produzir é uma realidade que afeta as suas vendas, pois muitas vezes traduz-se em quebras do seu "stock". Perante estas duas perspetivas, e com o intuito de satisfazer os interesses dos consumidores e das Padarias e Pastelarias, surgiu a oportunidade da criação da Plataforma "Freshcato". A fim de permitir o arranque do projeto, será necessário um investimento inicial de 10.000,00€, destinado à contratação de programadores especializados, administrativo e também para a construção da própria plataforma. De acordo com os pressupostos considerados, a avaliação do projeto demonstra que este Plano de Negócio viável a nível financeiro e económico, uma vez que o Valor Atual Líquido é de 291.003,73 €, com uma Taxa Interna de Rentabilidade de 627%, e um período de recuperação ("Payback Period") de 2 anos, pelo que são valores positivos para este tipo de negócio avaliado.The goal of this project is to create a platform for Bakery and Pastry Market in Portugal, which aims to help in communication between the store and the different types of consumers. The platform comes in two formats: Mobile application and Website. The main goal is to notify consumers regarding the hours of a batch of breads and cakes, at a store nearby. In order to understand the real need to consumers and stores, in Bakery and Pastry Market, a query was made for these two perspectives, with the purpose of understanding the main problems of this market. Tha analysis made highlighted two fundamental points. In a consumer perspective, proximity of the store and a freshness of the product are essential for a purchase and consumption of the article. Regarding store perspective, the uncertainty of the quantities to produce is a reality that affects their sales, once it translates into stock break. Given these two perspectives, and to satisfy the interests of consumers and bakeries, a great opportunity arose to create "Freshcato" Platform. In order to allow the startup of project, an initial investment of € 10,000.00 will be required, to hiring specialized programmers, administrative and also for construction of the platform itself. According to the assumptions considered, the project evaluation demonstrates that this Business Plan is financially and economically viable, since the Net Present Value is 291.003,73 €, with an Internal Rate of Return of 627%, and a Payback Period of 2 years, where it shows positive values for this project evaluation

De triunfante a terrível: Avaliação de valência e familiaridade de adjectivos em língua portuguesa

Apresentam-se, neste artigo, normas de valência e familiaridade subjectivas de 400 adjectivos em Língua portuguesa avaliados por uma amostra total de 173 estudantes universitários. Especificamente, cada adjectivo foi avaliado em ambas as dimensões em escalas de 7 pontos ancoradas em Negativo/Positivo e Nada Familiar/Muito Familiar, por uma subamostra constituída por um número máximo de 22 participantes. Tais avaliações (i.e., médias, desviospadrão e intervalos de confiança a 95%) são aqui apresentadas com o objectivo de contribuir para o enriquecimento das normas de palavras em português. ------ ABSTRACT ------ In this study, we present subjective valence and familiarity norms for a set of 400 Portuguese adjectives evaluated by a sample of 173 college students. Specifically, each adjective was assessed in both dimensions on 7 points scales, Negative/Positive and Not at all Familiar/Very Familiar, by a subsample that included up to 22 participants. Such evaluations are presented here (i.e., means, standarddeviations and confidence intervals at the 95% level) in order to contribute to the enrichment of word norms in Portuguese

Qual é coisa, qual é ela? Avaliação de valência e familiaridade de imagens de objectos desconhecidos

Neste artigo apresentamos as normas de valência e familiaridade subjectivas de 100 imagens de objectos não-familiares1 avaliados por uma amostra total de 78 estudantes universitários. Especificamente, cada imagem foi avaliada em ambas as dimensões em escalas de 9 pontos ancoradas em Negativo/Positivo e Nada Familiar/Muito Familiar, por uma sub-amostra constituída por 39 participantes. Tais avaliações (i.e., médias, desvios-padrão, intervalos de confiança a 95% e correlação entre ambas as dimensões) são aqui apresentadas com o objectivo de contribuir para o enriquecimento das normas de estímulos pictóricos não-familiares. De um modo geral, o conjunto de imagens pré-testado foi avaliado simultaneamente como não-familiar e de valência negativa.In this paper we present subjective valence and familiarity norms of a set of 100 images of nonfamiliar objects1 evaluated by a sample of 78 college students. Specifically, each image was evaluated in both dimensions using 9-point scales anchored in Negative/Positive and Not at all Familiar/Very Familiar, by a sub-sample of 39 participants. Such evaluations are presented here (i.e., means, standard-deviations, confidence intervals at the 95% level and correlation between both dimensions) in order to contribute to the enrichment of norms of non-familiar pictorial stimuli. In general, the pretested set of images was evaluated as unfamiliar and of negatively valence

Hodgkin's disease as unusual presentation of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for malignant glioma

BACKGROUND: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a complication of solid organ and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); following autologous HSCT only rare cases of PTLD have been reported. Here, a case of Hodgkin's disease (HD), as unusual presentation of PTLD after autologous HSCT for malignant glioma is described. CASE PRESENTATION: 60-years old man affected by cerebral anaplastic astrocytoma underwent subtotal neurosurgical excision and subsequent high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous HSCT. During the post HSCT course, cranial irradiation and corticosteroids were administered as completion of therapeutic program. At day +105 after HSCT, the patient developed HD, nodular sclerosis type, with polymorphic HD-like skin infiltration. CONCLUSION: The clinical and pathological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of PTLD