Estudo numérico do escoamento e transporte de sedimentos em torno de pilares de pontes

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Civil

Semipermeable capsules wrapping a multifunctional and self-regulated co-culture microenvironment for osteogenic differentiation

A new concept of semipermeable reservoirs containing co-cultures of cells and supporting microparticles is presented, inspired by the multi-phenotypic cellular environment of bone. Based on the deconstruction of the â stem cell nicheâ , the developed capsules are designed to drive a self-regulated osteogenesis. PLLA microparticles functionalized with collagen I, and a co-culture of adipose stem (ASCs) and endothelial (ECs) cells are immobilized in spherical liquified capsules. The capsules are coated with multilayers of poly(L-lysine), alginate, and chitosan nano-assembled through layer-by-layer. Capsules encapsulating ASCs alone or in a co-culture with ECs are cultured in endothelial medium with or without osteogenic differentiation factors. Results show that osteogenesis is enhanced by the co-encapsulation, which occurs even in the absence of differentiation factors. These findings are supported by an increased ALP activity and matrix mineralization, osteopontin detection, and the up regulation of BMP-2, RUNX2 and BSP. The liquified co-capsules also act as a VEGF and BMP-2 cytokines release system. The proposed liquified capsules might be a valuable injectable self-regulated system for bone regeneration employing highly translational cell sources.

Micro/nano-structured superhydrophobic surfaces in the biomedical field: part I: basic concepts and biomimetic approaches.

Inspired by natural structures, great attention has been devoted to the study and development of surfaces with extreme wettable properties. The meticulous study of natural systems revealed that the micro/nano-topography of the surface is critical to obtaining unique wettability features, including superhydrophobicity. However, the surface chemistry also has an important role in such surface characteristics. As the interaction of biomaterials with the biological milieu occurs at the surface of the materials, it is expected that synthetic substrates with extreme and controllable wettability ranging from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic regimes could bring about the possibility of new investigations of cellâ material interactions on nonconventional surfaces and the development of alternative devices with biomedical utility. This first part of the review will describe in detail how proteins and cells interact with micro/nano-structured surfaces exhibiting extreme wettabilities.

Deep infiltrating endometriosis of the colon causing cyclic bleeding

[Description] Endometriosis, the presence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterus, occurs in about 3–10% of women of reproductive age and is a cause of chronic pelvic pain and infertility for some.1 Bowel involvement may be present in about 5–10% of these women, mostly affecting the rectum and distal sigmoid (over 80% of cases), and, more infrequently, the appendix, ileum and caecum. The most common lesions involve only the serosa (endometriotic implants) but they can penetrate the muscular layers of the wall, in which case they are called deep infiltrating endometriosis. (...)

O turismo religioso na Semana Santa em Braga

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Sociologia (área de Especialização em Organizações e Trabalho)

In vitro digestion and stability assessment of b-lactoglobulin/riboflavin nanostructures

B-Lactoglobulin (b-Lg) is the major protein fraction of bovine whey serum and a primary gelling agent. b-Lg has a high nutritional value, is stable at low pH being highly resistant to proteolytic degradation in the stomach, besides, it has the ability of acting as an encapsulating agent. This study aims at assessing the ability of b-Lg nanostructures to associate a nutraceutical - i.e. riboflavin - and release it in a controlled manner throughout an in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) system. For this reason b-Lg nanostructures loaded with riboflavin were critically characterized in terms of their morphology (i.e. size, polydispersity, -potential and shape) by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and efficiency to associate to riboflavin through spectrofluorimetry. Furthermore, these nanocomplexes were evaluated in an in vitro GI model, simulating the physiological conditions. Stable b-Lg nanostructures were obtained at pH 6, of spherical shape, characterized by particle size of 172±1 nm, low polydispersity (i.e. PDI of 0.06±0.02), -potential of -32±3 mV and association efficiency (AE) of 26±1 %. b-Lg nanostructures showed to be stable upon their passage throughout stomach (i.e. particle size, PDI and potential of 248±10 nm, 0.18±0.03 and 18±3 mV, respectively). Concerning their passage throughout the intestine, such nanostructures were mostly degraded in the duodenum. Regarding riboflavin, a release of about 11 % was observed after their passage through stomach, while 35 %, 38 % and 5 % were the released percentages of the total riboflavin associated observed after passage through duodenum, jejunum and ileum, respectively. Hence,b-Lg nanostructures showed to be suitable carriers for riboflavin until the intestine, where their degradation occurs. b-Lg also showed to be structurally stable, under food simulant conditions (yoghurt simulant, composed of 3 % acetic acid), over 14 days, with a protective effect upon riboflavin activity, releasing it in a 7 day period.

Financiamento bancário e o desempenho das empresas em portugal: qual a relação?

Dissertação de mestrado em Economia Monetária, Bancária e Financeira

O papel e a participação do terapeuta da fala nas equipas locais de intervenção precoce

Dissertação de mestrado em Educação Especial (área de especialização em Intervenção Precoce)

Relação entre índice de massa corporal e coordenação motora, em crianças portuguesas

Relatório de atividade profissional de mestrado em Ensino de Educação Física nos Ensinos Básico e Secundário

Identificação e caracterização de alunos em risco de desenvolverem dislexia: um estudo sobre o uso da Monitorização com base no currículo no terceiro ano de escolaridade

Dissertação de mestrado em Educação Especial (área de especialização em Dificuldades de Aprendizagem Específicas)

Acabamentos químicos em tecidos

Dissertação de mestrado em Técnicas de Caracterização e Análise Química

Engineering a commercial cold-adapted xylanase for improved low pH stability

Dissertação de mestrado em Genética Molecular

Dieta da torda-mergulheira, Alca torda, capturada acidentalmente em Portugal Continental

Dissertação de mestrado em Ecologia

O contributo da narrativa digital para o desenvolvimento da fala num caso de Rubinstein-Taybi: estudo de caso

Dissertação de mestrado em Ciências da Educação (área de especialização em Tecnologia Educativa)

A cumulative risk model of child physical maltreatment potential: findings from a community-based study

"Published online before print November 20, 2015"