Revisiting compressed air energy storage.

The use of renewable energies as a response to the EU targets defined for 2030 Climate Change and Energy has been increasing. Also non-dispatchable and intermittent renewable energies like wind and solar cannot generally match supply and demand, which can also cause some problems in the grid. So, the increased interest in energy storage has evolved and there is nowadays an urgent need for larger energy storage capacity. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) is a proven technology for storing large quantities of electrical energy in the form of high-pressure air for later use when electricity is needed. It exists since the 1970’s and is one of the few energy storage technologies suitable for long duration (tens of hours) and utility scale (hundreds to thousands of MW) applications. It is also one of the most cost-effective solutions for large to small scale storage applications. Compressed Air Energy Storage can be integrated and bring advantages to different levels of the electric system, from the Generation level, to the Transmission and Distribution levels, so in this paper a revisit of CAES is done in order to better understand what and how it can be used for our modern needs of energy storage.

Pontes invisíveis. Estratégias de actuação de redes sociais no combate à pobreza e exclusão social: Um estudo de caso com redes sociais portuguesas

As Redes Sociais, enquanto estrutura social, são um sistema aberto, altamente dinâmico e susceptível de inovação (Castells, 2000) constituindo-se como um importante recurso para combater a pobreza e a exclusão social, através de uma acção concertada e coerente. No presente estudo, apresentam-se os resultados de um estudo qualitativo cujo objectivo foi o de conhecer os benefícios da actuação em rede como estratégia de combate à pobreza e exclusão social. Realizou-se uma entrevista semi-estruturada a 13 colaboradores de organizações, não-lucrativas, que operam em rede. As respostas foram analisadas a partir da metodologia qualitativa Consesual Qualitative Research (Clara Hill, 1997). Os resultados obtidos permitiram obter como principal atributo estratégico, da actuação em rede, a orientação para o processo, enquanto medida adaptável e geradora de resultados. As conclusões obtidas são discutidas quanto ao seu contributo para incentivar as políticas sociais que considerem o reconhecimento e activação da solidariedade social local. / ABSTRACT: Social Networks, as a social structure, are an open system, highly dynamic and capable of innovation (Castells, 2000) constituting itself as an important resource to combat Poverty and Social Exclusion, through a concerted and coherent action. ln this study, we present the results of a qualitative investigation whose aim was to know the benefits of building social networks of support in fighting against poverty and social exclusion. There were performed semi-structured interviews with 13 employees of non­profit organizations, operating in network. The responses were analyzed based on Consensual Qualitative Research (Clara Hill, 1997). The results have enabled the orientation to process as the main strategic attribute of the implementation Strategies of Social Network as an adaptive measure and as capable of generating results. The main conclusions are discussed in terms of its contribution to promote social policies that consider the recognition and activation of local charities.

Serviços educativos e turismo cultural no museu da tapeçaria de Portalegre Guy Fino

Este projecto faz uma abordagem à nova museologia e ao seu papel no mercado do turismo, com especial enfoque nos serviços educativos dos museus portugueses e na sua relação com o turismo cultural. O estudo do património artístico e cultural do Museu da Tapeçaria 1e Portalegre Guy Fino e da Manufactura de Tapeçarias de Portalegre, bem como a análise crítica dos serviços educativos de museus importantes a nível nacional e internacional, serviram de suporte à realização do projecto de criação de serviços educativos no referido Museu. O projecto tem como principal objectivo qualificar a oferta turístico-cultural que as Tapeçarias de Portalegre representam e está estruturado de forma a poderem ser desenvolvidas actividades em rede com os outros dois museus da cidade, o Museu Municipal e a Casa Museu José Régio. Foram escolhidas, como áreas temáticas, a História, a História da Arte e a Literatura. As actividades propostas para as áreas temáticas, são de três tipos: visitas dinamizadas, visitas-oficina e vistas-jogo, podendo algumas delas ser desenvolvidas on-line, de forma interactiva. Todas as actividades propostas exploram conteúdos programáticos que integram os planos curriculares do 1° Ciclo do Ensino Básico, podendo algumas delas ser desenvolvidas também por alunos do 2° Ciclo e por famílias de diferentes nacionalidades. O projecto constitui um primeiro passo para uma progressiva transformação das Tapeçarias de Portalegre numa atracção âncora do turismo cultural regional, sem perder de vista as suas inquestionáveis potencialidades de se tornar numa atracção de âmbito nacional e internacional. ABSTRACT: This project makes an approach to the new museology and its role on tourist market, with special focus on the educational services in portuguese museums and its relationship with cultural tourism. The investigation about the artistic and cultural patrimony of Guy Fino Museum and the Manufacture, as well as the critic analysis of educational services in important national and international museums, supported the present project of creation of educational services for Guy Fino Museum. The defined main objective of the project is qualifying the touristic and cultural offer represented by the Tapestries of Portalegre. lt is structured in a way that allows activities to be developed in network with other museums in the city: The Municipal Museum and the Museum House of Jose Regio. ln this way, the following areas were chosen: History, History of Arte and Literature. The activities proposed for the themes are three types: dynamic visits, visits - hands on and visits - games, some being developed on-line, in an interactive way. Twelve activities were conceptualized. Ali the proposed activities explore programmed contents that integrate curricular plans of primary school. Some of the activities can also be developed by students of secondary school and families. The translation of the material used should be in a way that they can be used and developed by foreign visitors. The project constitutes a first step for a progressive transformation of the Tapestries of Portalegre in an anchor attraction of the regional cultural tourism, being sure of their unquestionable potentialities to become a national and international attraction.

Isolation and characterization of plastid terminal oxidase gene from carrot and its relation to carotenoid accumulation

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is a biennial plant that accumulates considerable amounts of carotenoid pigments in the storage root. To better understand the molecular mechanisms for carotenoid accumulation in developing storage roots, plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX) cDNA was isolated and selected for reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Present in photosynthetic species, PTOX is a plastid-located, nucleus encoded plastoquinone (PQ)-O2 oxidoreductase (plastioquinol oxidase). The enzyme is known to play a role as a cofactor for phytoene desaturase, and consequently plays a key role in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. A single PTOX gene was identified (DcPTOX) in carrot. DcPTOX encodes a putative protein with 366 amino acids that contains the typical structural features of PTOXs from higher plants. The expression of DcPTOX was analysed during the development of white, yellow, orange, red, and purple carrot roots, along with five genes known to be involved in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, PSY2, PDS, ZDS1, LCYB1, and LCYE. Expression analysis revealed the presence of DcPTOX transcripts in all cultivars, and an increase of transcripts during the time course of the experiment, with differential expression among cultivars in early stages of root growth. Our results demonstrated that DcPTOX showed a similar profile to that of other carotenoid biosynthetic genes with high correlation to all of them. The preponderant role of PSY in the biosynthesis of carotenoid pigments was also confirmed.

Pacote de sincronização de réplicas de bases de dados

A replicação de base de dados tem como objectivo a cópia de dados entre bases de dados distribuídas numa rede de computadores. A replicação de dados é importante em várias situações, desde a realização de cópias de segurança da informação, ao balanceamento de carga, à distribuição da informação por vários locais, até à integração de sistemas heterogéneos. A replicação possibilita uma diminuição do tráfego de rede, pois os dados ficam disponíveis localmente possibilitando também o seu acesso no caso de indisponibilidade da rede. Esta dissertação baseia-se na realização de um trabalho que consistiu no desenvolvimento de uma aplicação genérica para a replicação de bases de dados a disponibilizar como open source software. A aplicação desenvolvida possibilita a integração de dados entre vários sistemas, com foco na integração de dados heterogéneos, na fragmentação de dados e também na possibilidade de adaptação a várias situações. ABSTRACT: Data replication is a mechanism to synchronize and integrate data between distributed databases over a computer network. Data replication is an important tool in several situations, such as the creation of backup systems, load balancing between various nodes, distribution of information between various locations, integration of heterogeneous systems. Replication enables a reduction in network traffic, because data remains available locally even in the event of a temporary network failure. This thesis is based on the work carried out to develop an application for database replication to be made accessible as open source software. The application that was built allows for data integration between various systems, with particular focus on, amongst others, the integration of heterogeneous data, the fragmentation of data, replication in cascade, data format changes between replicas, master/slave and multi master synchronization.