Isoparametric hypersurfaces in product spaces

In this paper, we characterize and classify the isoparametric hypersurfaces with constant principal curvatures in the product spaces $\mathbb{Q}^{2}_{c_{1}} \times \mathbb{Q}^{2}_{c_{2}}$, where $\mathbb{Q}^{2}_{c_{i}}$ is a space form with constant sectional curvature $c_{i}$, for $c_1 \neq c_2$

Green solvents as hydrotropes to enhance the solubility of acetaminophen

Mestrado de dupla diplomação com a UTFPR - Universidade Tecnológica Federal do ParanáSolubility, the ability to dissolve a solute in a solvent, is crucial in pharmaceutical research, influencing drug formulation and bioavailability. Poorly water-soluble drugs, such as acetaminophen (ACP), a world-wide used drug as painkiller and antipyretic, often present challenges. The addition of hydrotropes to aqueous solutions is one of the strategies used to enhance the solubility of those solutes in water. This study compares the effect of various hydrotrope types (organic compounds, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents and organic or inorganic salts) at different concentrations. New solubility data in aqueous solutions of [BMIm][Ac], ChBr, ChCl, NaBS, NaCapry, NaSCN, NaSal, Na2SO4, NaTOS, NH4SCN, (NH4)2SO4, urea, ethanol, 1,2-propanediol, glycerol and acetone were measured at 298.2 K by the shake-flask method coupled to UV-Vis spectroscopy or gravimetry as analytical techniques. A critical comparison with literature data was also carried out. NaTOS, NaSal and [BMIm][Ac] stood out as hydrotropes with better performance, by enhancing the ACP solubility at lower hydrotropic concentrations. Statistical analysis of the hydrotrope polarity assessed using the COSMO-RS model showed a good positive correlation with the apolar factor, at a hydrotrope concentration of 0.10 (weight fraction). At the same hydrotrope concentration, in the studied organic solvents (ethanol, 1,2-propanediol, glycerol and acetone) a strong negative correlation is observed between their hydrogen donor character and the acetaminophen solubility, and an evident negative correlation between the hydrogen bond parameter and the ACP solubility was observed for systems containing ionic liquids. It is necessary to investigate these correlations for other hydrotrope concentrations, and temperatures, attempting to find heuristics that allow the analysis of the drug solubility increase in a predictive way. Finally, it was possible to identify hydrotropes capable of enhancing the solubility of acetaminophen, with potential application in other drugs formulations.A solubilidade, a capacidade do soluto para se dissolver num solvente, é crucial na investigação farmacêutica, influenciando a formulação e a biodisponibilidade do medicamento. Os fármacos pouco solúveis em água, como o acetaminofeno (ACP), um fármaco mundialmente utilizado como analgésico e antipirético, apresentam frequentemente desafios. A adição de hidrótropos a soluções aquosas é uma das estratégias utilizadas para aumentar a solubilidade desses solutos em água. Este estudo compara o efeito de vários tipos de hidrótropos (compostos orgânicos, líquidos iónicos, solventes eutécticos profundos e sais orgânicos ou inorgânicos) em diferentes concentrações. Foram medidos novos dados de solubilidade em soluções aquosas de [BMIm][Ac], ChBr, ChCl, NaBS, NaCapry, NaSCN, NaSal, Na2SO4, NaTOS, NH4SCN, (NH4)2SO4, ureia, etanol, 1,2-propanodiol, glicerol e acetona a 298,2 K pelo método do frasco agitado acoplado à espetroscopia UV-Vis ou gravimetria como técnicas analíticas. Foi também efectuada uma comparação crítica com dados da literatura. NaTOS, NaSal e [BMIm][Ac] destacaram-se como hidrótropos com melhor desempenho, aumentando a solubilidade do ACP em concentrações hidrotrópicas mais baixas. A análise estatística da polaridade do hidrótropo, avaliada pelo modelo COSMO-RS, mostrou uma boa correlação positiva com o fator apolar, a uma concentração de hidrótropo de 0,10 (fração mássica). Para a mesma concentração de hidrótropos, nos solventes orgânicos estudados (etanol, 1,2-propanodiol, glicerol e acetona), observa-se uma forte correlação negativa entre o seu carácter dador de hidrogénio e a solubilidade do acetaminofeno, e uma evidente correlação negativa entre o parâmetro de ligação de hidrogénio e a solubilidade do ACP para os sistemas que contêm líquidos iónicos. É necessário investigar estas correlações para outras concentrações de hidrótropos, e temperaturas, tentando encontrar heurísticas que permitam analisar o aumento da solubilidade do fármaco de forma preditiva. Finalmente, foi possível identificar hidrótropos capazes de aumentar a solubilidade do acetaminofeno, com potencial aplicação em formulações de outros fármacos

Representing Amino Acid Contacts In Protein Interfaces

Proteins are composed of twenty different types of amino acids, small organic molecules with different chemical and physical properties resulting from different groups of atoms. Protein interactions are mediated by the affinity between groups of atoms belonging to amino acid residues at the surface of each protein, in the interface region. However, it is not clear at what level these contacts are best evaluated, whether by grouping similar amino acids together, considering parts of each amino acid or even individual atoms. The number of databanks and extracted features continue to increase, this means very rich data, but that also brings the problem of the sheer amount of different features and what do they really represent in the big picture of protein interactions.Since the data itself is collected by scientific communities all around the globe, there is a vast amount of information but with that there is also a great diversity of the measured or calculated attributes. This creates a need to learn at which level these contacts occur and what is the best way to combine the information in the literature to learn a valuable representation. With the rise of machine learning algorithms making possible to work with data in various ways that were not previously possible due to practical limitations, various areas are using these algorithms to capture information about the data that was inaccessible before, bioinformatics being one of them. The goal of this work is to use unsupervised deep learning techniques that transform the data in a way that is intended to be informative and non-redundant, facilitating the subsequent learning for other algorithms of classification or regression that will perform better on processed data like this. The transformation involves finding encodings for the collected features that best capture which are the ones that are actually relevant to construct these encodings. These encondings can be latent in relation to the already known information in the area, meaning that they most likely will not be human friendly, in the sense that they will lack interpretability for humans, but can increase the performance of machine learning algorithms

A simulation model for lean, agile, resilient and green supply chain management: practices and interoperability assessment

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão IndustrialIn today’s global market, the environment of unpredictable events has imposed a competitiveness improvement that requires a greater coordination and collaboration among Supply Chain (SC) entities, i.e., an effective Supply Chain Management (SCM). In this context, Lean, Agile, Resilient and Green (LARG) strategies emerged as a response. However, interoperability issues are always presents in operations among SC entities. From the Information Technology (IT) perspective, among all the multi-decisional techniques supporting a logistics network, simulation appears as an essential tool that allow the quantitative evaluation of benefits and issues deriving from a co-operative environment. The present work provides a SC simulation model for analysing the effect of the interoperability degree of LARG practices in the SC performance, through Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) such as cost, lead time and service level. The creation of two scenarios with a different point of view about the LARG practices allowed to analyse which one contributes to the best SC performance. Since some of the inputs were assumed, it was made a sensitivity analysis to validate the output of the simulation model. Based on the creation of six types of math expressions, it was possible to establish the connection between the effect of the interoperability degree of LARG practices and the SC performance. This analysis was applied on a case study that was conducted at some entities of a Portuguese automotive SC. The software used to develop the simulation model is Arena, which is considered a user-friendly and dynamic tool. It was concluded that SCM, interoperability and simulation subjects must be applied together to help organisations to achieve overall competitiveness, focusing their strategies on a co-operative environment

Brand extensions: A marketing plan for the launching of a tea product line applied to Luso

This thesis project has the main goal of developing a strategic and operational marketing plan to support the launching of a tea product range by Luso directed to healthy minded consumers. The launching process will take place in Portuguese market during the summer of 2013. In this marketing plan was identified the potential market size and set actions for the new product proposal implementation, Luso Tea. This was achieved through the acquisition of knowledge from scientific research analysis that contributed to more consistent action plan definition. In an intermediary step was made a deep and crucial market, company and competitive analysis becoming possible to do a coherent product concept, support and communication. To really understand how to make an optimal product to healthy minded consumers was made a complete profiling of these target, leading to an adapted marketing strategy where was design all marketing mix components.Este projeto de tese tem o objetivo principal de desenvolver um plano de marketing estratégico e operacional para servir de base ao lançamento de uma gama de produtos de chá pela Luso, direcionado para os consumidores com uma mentalidade saudável. O processo de lançamento terá lugar no mercado Português durante o verão de 2013. Neste plano de marketing foi identificada a dimensão potencial do mercado e foram definidas ações para a implementação da nova proposta de produto, Luso Tea. Isto foi conseguido através da aquisição de conhecimentos a partir da análise de artigos científicos, o que contribuiu para a definição de um plano de ações mais consistente. Num passo intermédio foi feita uma profunda e crucial análise do mercado, da empresa e do ambiente competitivo tornando possível fazer um produto coerente ao nível do conceito, serviços de apoio e comunicação. Para realmente se compreender como fazer um produto adaptado aos consumidores com uma mentalidade saudável foi feita uma caracterização completa deste público-alvo, levando á elaboração de uma estratégia de marketing adaptada, onde foram desenhados todos componentes do marketing mix

Exploiting opponent behavior in multi-agent systems

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Informática e Computação. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 201