Mass spectrometry improvement on an high current ion implanter

The development of accurate mass spectrometry, enabling the identification of all the ions extracted from the ion source in a high current implanter is described. The spectrometry system uses two signals (x-y graphic), one proportional to the magnetic field (x-axes), taken from the high-voltage potential with an optic fiber system, and the other proportional to the beam current intensity (y-axes), taken from a beam-stop. The ion beam mass register in a mass spectrum of all the elements magnetically analyzed with the same radius and defined by a pair of analyzing slits as a function of their beam intensity is presented. The developed system uses a PC to control the displaying of the extracted beam mass spectrum, and also recording of all data acquired for posterior analysis. The operator uses a LabView code that enables the interfacing between an I/O board and the ion implanter. The experimental results from an ion implantation experiment are shown. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efeito da incorporação de resíduos da indústria petrolífera na durabilidade de argamassas de reparação de estruturas de betão

Na presente dissertação, o trabalho desenvolvido teve como objetivo, a avaliação de alguns parâmetros de durabilidade de argamassas com incorporação de catalisador exausto de FCC (do inglês “Fluid Catalytic Cracking”) para serem utilizadas na reparação de estruturas de betão. O catalisador exausto de FCC é um resíduo da indústria petrolífera e o utilizado neste estudo é proveniente da refinaria da Petrogal, S.A. em Sines. A presente investigação baseou-se na preparação, e avaliação de propriedades, de duas séries distintas de argamassas: a série que se denominou “RAS” e a série que se denominou “Durabilidade”, nas quais se substituiu, parcialmente entre 5, 10 e 15%, em massa de cimento por resíduo exausto de FCC. As argamassas de ambas as séries diferenciam-se entre si, sobretudo, pela utilização de areia reativa nas argamassas da série RAS e de areia inerte no caso das argamassas da série durabilidade. Nas argamassas estudadas foram realizados ensaios no estado fresco e ensaios no estado endurecido. Os ensaios no estado fresco incluíram a determinação da consistência por espalhamento, da massa volúmica e do teor de ar. Nos ensaios no estado endurecido foram avaliadas, no caso das argamassas da série RAS a extensão da reação àlcalis-sílica e no caso das argamassas da série Durabilidade as resistências mecânicas - à flexão e à compressão, a resistência à carbonatação acelerada, o módulo de elasticidade à compressão, a absorção capilar, a permeabilidade ao oxigénio, a difusão de cloretos em regime não estacionário. O trabalho desenvolvido nesta dissertação demonstrou que a incorporação de catalisador exausto de FCC, em argamassas à base de cimento, minimiza o efeito de expansão das reações álcalis-sílica, bem como contribui para reduzir a absorção capilar e coeficiente de difusão de cloretos. No entanto, este resíduo quando incorporados em argamassas contribui para a diminuição da resistência à carbonatação acelerada e para o aumento da permeabilidade ao oxigénio.

Synthesis, structure and electrochemical behaviour of Na, Mg-II, Mn-II, Cd-II and Ni-II complexes of 3-(2-carboxyphenylhydrazone)pentane-2,4-dione

Mononuclear manganese(II) [Mn(kappa O-HL)(2)(CH3OH)(4)] (4), nickel(II) [Ni(kappa O-2, kappa N-L)(H2O)(3)] (5), cadmium(II) [Cd(kappa O-2-HL)(2)(CH3OH)(3)] (7), tetranuclear zinc(II) [Zn-4(mu-OH)(2)(1 kappa O:2 kappa O-HL)(4)(kappa O-HL)(2)(H2O)(4)] (6) and polynuclear aqua sodium(I) [Na(H2O)(2)(mu-H2O)(2)](n)(HL)(n) (2) and magnesium(II) [Mg(OH)(H2O)(mu-H2O)(2)](n)(-HL)(n) (3) complexes were synthesized using 3-(2-carboxyphenyl-hydrazone)pentane-2,4-dione (H2L, 1) as a ligand precursor. The complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, H-1 and C-13 NMR (for 2, 3, 6 and 7) spectroscopies. Mono- or dianionic deprotonated derivatives of H2L display different coordination modes and lead to topologies and nuclearities of the complexes depending on metal ions and conditions used for the syntheses. Extensive intermolecular H-bonds form supramolecular arrangements in 1D chains (4 and 6), 1D chains of the organic anion and 2D networks of the metal-aqua aggregates (2 and 3), 2D networks (7) or even 3D frameworks (5). Electrochemical studies, by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis, show ligand centred redox processes as corroborated by theoretical DFT calculations in terms of LUMO and HOMO compositions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seismic imaging of the western Iberian crust using ambient noise: Boundaries and internal structure of the Iberian Massif

We present new Rayleigh-wave dispersion maps of the western Iberian Peninsula for periods between 8 and 30 s, obtained from correlations of seismic ambient noise, following the recent increase in seismic broadband network density in Portugal and Spain. Group velocities have been computed for each station pair using the empirical Green's functions generated by cross-correlating one-day-length seismic ambient-noise records. The resulting high-path density allows us to obtain lateral variations of the group velocities as a function of period in cells of 0.5 degrees x 0.5 degrees with an unprecedented resolution. As a result we were able to address some of the unknowns regarding the lithospheric structure beneath SW Iberia. The dispersion maps allow the imaging of the major structural units, namely the Iberian Massif, and the Lusitanian and Algarve Meso-Cenozoic basins. The Cadiz Gulf/Gibraltar Strait area corresponds to a strong low-velocity anomaly, which can be followed to the largest period inverted, although slightly shifted to the east at longer periods. Within the Iberian Massif, second-order perturbations in the group velocities are consistent with the transitions between tectonic units composing the massif. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Driving Scheme Using MIS Photosensor for Luminance Control of AMOLED Pixel

This paper presents a new driving scheme utilizing an in-pixel metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) photosensor for luminance control of active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) pixel. The proposed 3-TFT circuit is controlled by an external driver performing the signal readout, processing, and programming operations according to a luminance adjusting algorithm. To maintain the fabrication simplicity, the embedded MIS photosensor shares the same layer stack with pixel TFTs. Performance characteristics of the MIS structure with a nc-Si : H/a-Si : H bilayer absorber were measured and analyzed to prove the concept. The observed transient dark current is associated with charge trapping at the insulator-semiconductor interface that can be largely eliminated by adjusting the bias voltage during the refresh cycle. Other factors limiting the dynamic range and external quantum efficiency are also determined and verified using a small-signal model of the device. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the MIS photosensor for the discussed driving scheme.

Optical processing devices based on a-SiCH multilayer architectures

Red, green and blue optical signals were directed to an a-SiC:H multilayered device, each one with a specific transmission rate. The combined optical signal was analyzed by reading out, under different applied voltages, the generated photocurrent. Results show that when a chromatic time dependent wavelength combination with different transmission rates irradiates the multilayered structure, the device operates as a tunable wavelength filter and can be used in wavelength division multiplexing systems for short range communications. An application to fluorescent proteins detection is presented. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Analysis and simulation of a-Si Ha-SiC HPINIP structures for color image detection

It is presented in this paper a study on the photo-electronic properties of multi layer a-Si: H/a-SiC: H p-i-n-i-p structures. This study is aimed to give an insight into the internal electrical characteristics of such a structure in thermal equilibrium, under applied Was and under different illumination condition. Taking advantage of this insight it is possible to establish a relation among-the electrical behavior of the structure the structure geometry (i.e. thickness of the light absorbing intrinsic layers and of the internal n-layer) and the composition of the layers (i.e. optical bandgap controlled through percentage of carbon dilution in the a-Si1-xCx: H layers). Showing an optical gain for low incident light power controllable by means of externally applied bias or structure composition, these structures are quite attractive for photo-sensing device applications, like color sensors and large area color image detector. An analysis based on numerical ASCA simulations is presented for describing the behavior of different configurations of the device and compared with experimental measurements (spectral response and current-voltage characteristic). (c) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Besnoitia besnoiti protein disulfide isomerase (BbPDI): molecular characterization, expression and in silico modelling

Besnoitia besnoiti is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for bovine besnoitiosis, a disease with a high prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions and re-emerging in Europe. Despite the great economical losses associated with besnoitiosis, this disease has been underestimated and poorly studied, and neither an effective therapy nor an efficacious vaccine is available. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is an essential enzyme for the acquisition of the correct three-dimensional structure of proteins. Current evidence suggests that in Neosporacaninum and Toxoplasmagondii, which are closely related to B. besnoiti, PDI play an important role in host cell invasion, is a relevant target for the host immune response, and represents a promising drug target and/or vaccine candidate. In this work, we present the nucleotide sequence of the B. besnoiti PDI gene. BbPDI belongs to the thioredoxin-like superfamily (cluster 00388) and is included in the PDI_a family (cluster defined cd02961) and the PDI_a_PDI_a'_c subfamily (cd02995). A 3D theoretical model was built by comparative homology using Swiss-Model server, using as a template the crystallographic deduced model of Tapasin-ERp57 (PDB code 3F8U chain C). Analysis of the phylogenetic tree for PDI within the phylum apicomplexa reinforces the close relationship among B. besnoiti, N. caninum and T. gondii. When subjected to a PDI-assay based on the polymerisation of reduced insulin, recombinant BbPDI expressed in E. coli exhibited enzymatic activity, which was inhibited by bacitracin. Antiserum directed against recombinant BbPDI reacted with PDI in Western blots and by immunofluorescence with B. besnoiti tachyzoites and bradyzoites.

Tipologia, instalação, funcionamento e manutenção dos diversos tipos de aparelhos de apoio em obras de arte

Trabalho Final para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil

Solution enthalpies of 1,4-dioxane: Study of solvent effects through quantitative structure-property relationships

Solution enthalpies of 1,4-dioxane have been obtained in 15 protic and aprotic solvents at 298.15 K. Breaking the overall process through the use of Solomonov's methodology the cavity term was calculated and interaction enthalpies (Delta H-int) were determined. Main factors involved in the interaction enthalpy have been identified and quantified using a QSPR approach based on the TAKA model equation. The relevant descriptors were found to be pi* and beta, which showed, respectively, exothermic and endothermic contributions. The magnitude of pi* coefficient points toward non-specific solute-solvent interactions playing a major role in the solution process. The positive value of the beta coefficient reflects the endothermic character of the solvents' hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) basicity contribution, indicating that solvent molecules engaged in hydrogen bonding preferentially interact with each other rather than with 1,4-dioxane. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Projecto de conceito e estrutura de website: para sensibilizar jovens para uma dieta alimentar saudável

O marketing social veio teorizar a forma como as entidades, públicas ou privadas, tentam alterar comportamentos e hábitos de saúde. A eficácia das campanhas de saúde pública aumentou em grande parte devido ao uso das técnicas de marketing social. A finalidade deste projecto de investigação é elaborar uma proposta de estrutura de website, cujo objectivo consiste em sensibilizar jovens para a necessidade de seguir hábitos alimentares saudáveis, considerando que este pode vir a ser parte de uma estratégia de comunicação de marketing social integrada, criada por um organismo, com ou sem fins lucrativos, ou simplesmente existir enquanto portal de informação online independente. O público-alvo definido para este projecto são os jovens com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 34 anos, a frequentar o ensino superior ou que já possuam habilitação superior. Com o intuito de atingir os objectivos propostos elaborou-se um inquérito por questionário, o qual foi analisado quantitativamente. A amostra para esta investigação é constituída por 272 inquiridos. Concluiu-se com este projecto que o processo de planeamento de um website deve ser meticulosamente delineado, quer seja parte integrante de uma campanha, quer actue de forma isolada; e que, quanto melhor se investigarem as disposições do público-alvo, a alteração de comportamentos dos utilizadores, induzida pelo website, será tanto mais possível.

Modelos de supervisão/regulação bancária: enquadramento internacional e desenvolvimentos mais recentes

Mestrado em Contabilidade e Análise Financeira

Arte d’escrita desenvolvimento da escrita em alunos de língua materna e alunos de língua não materna

Projeto de Intervenção apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de Mestre em Didática da Língua Portuguesa no 1.º e 2.º Ciclos do Ensino Básico

Avaliação e optimização operacional: estudo do terminal de contentores de Alcântara

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica - Ramo Manutenção e Produção

Electrodeposition and characterization of nickel–copper metallic foams for application as electrodes for supercapacitors

Nickel-copper metallic foams were electrodeposited from an acidic electrolyte, using hydrogen bubble evolution as a dynamic template. Their morphology and chemical composition was studied by scanning electron microscopy and related to the deposition parameters (applied current density and deposition time). For high currents densities (above 1 A cm(-2)) the nickel-copper deposits have a three-dimensional foam-like morphology with randomly distributed nearly-circular pores whose walls present an open dendritic structure. The nickel-copper foams are crystalline and composed of pure nickel and a copper-rich phase containing nickel in solid solution. The electrochemical behaviour of the material was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry (charge-discharge curves) aiming at its application as a positive electrode for supercapacitors. Cyclic voltammograms showed that the Ni-Cu foams have a pseudocapacitive behaviour. The specific capacitance was calculated from charge-discharge data and the best value (105 F g(-1) at 1 mA cm(-2)) was obtained for nickel-copper foams deposited at 1.8 A cm(-2) for 180 s. Cycling stability of these foams was also assessed and they present a 90 % capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles at 10 mA cm(-2).