Epigenetic and cell cycle control of centromere inheritance

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology, Cell Biology

Recursive neuro fuzzy techniques for online identification and control

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores

The Role of Small RNAs and Ribonucleases in the Control of Gene Expression in Salmonella Typhimurium

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

Interplay of Exoribonucleases, Hfq and Small RNAs Structural Determinants in the Control of Gene Expression

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

Data-centric concurrency control on the java programming language

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática

eVentos 2 - Autonomous sailboat control

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores

Identification of atmospheric pollutants control mechanisms during co-combustion of coal and non-toxic wastes

Doctoral dissertation for Ph.D. degree in Sustainable Chemistry

O biofeedback cinemático na realização de exercícios escápulo-torácicos

RESUMO: O Biofeedback cinemático na realização de exercícios escápulo-torácicos Patrícia Ribeiro; Ricardo Matias Desenho do estudo: Estudo quantitativo, experimental, prospetivo de fator único. Objetivos: Determinar a efetividade do biofeedback cinemático tridimensional (3D) em tempo real, como informação de retorno extrínseca, no reconhecimento da zona neutra da omoplata, em indivíduos saudáveis; medir o desempenho temporal, através do tempo que os sujeitos demoram a atingir a posição pretendida, e o desempenho no percurso, através da diferença entre o percurso efetuado e aquele que seria o percurso mais curto, sem Informação de Retorno Extrínseca (IRE), com Informação de Retorno Extrínseca clinica verbal e palpatória (IRE-VP) e com informação de retorno extrínseca visual cinemática (IRE-VC). Enquadramento: Reconhecer aquela que deve ser a posição adequada da omoplata e tomar consciência da importância dessa posição para a estabilidade e correto funcionamento da articulação gleno-umeral é uma tarefa difícil, pois a grande maioria do indivíduos não têm os conhecimentos necessários. É reconhecido o contributo que a IRE tem na reaprendizagem motora, em especial na primeira fase da aprendizagem motora – a consciencialização. Vários estudos se têm debruçado em avaliar a influencia da IRE na reabilitação de indivíduos com disfunção do ombro, tendo-se limitado ao formato electromiográfico. No sentido de encontrar novas estratégias para facilitar o processo de reaprendizagem motora nestes indivíduos, foi escolhido biofeedback cinemático tridimensional. Métodos: Participaram no estudo 60 sujeitos, sem queixas de dor no ombro, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 54 anos, com um valor médio de 21,66 anos (±5.89), divididos aleatoriamente em três grupos com uma tarefa comum: o reconhecimento da zona neutra da omoplata. Um grupo não recebeu qualquer tipo de IRE - Grupo Controlo (GC), outro grupo recebeu IRE-VP e outro recebeu IRE-VC. Para efeitos de análise da performance foram consideradas duas variáveis: tempo e qualidade da execução. A abordagem estatística destas variáveis consistiu numa análise de variância simples e num teste de comparações múltiplas. Resultados: Observámos que o grupo controlo e o grupo IRE-VC efetuaram a tarefa pedida em menos tempo que o grupo IRE-VP (p<0.01) e que o grupo IRE-VC obteve melhores resultados no que respeita à qualidade da execução da tarefa do que o GC e o grupo IRE-VP (p<0.01). Conclusão: Pelos resultados obtidos, na tarefa de reconhecimento da zona neutra da omoplata, podemos concluir que o biofeedback cinemático é mais efetivo na facilitação da obtenção de melhor qualidade de execução da tarefa do que o feedback clinico ou a inexistência de feedback e igualmente efetivo à inexistência de IRE no que respeita ao tempo demorado a reconhecer essa posição. -------------- ABSTRACT:Study Design: Single factor experimental design. Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of real time cinematic biofeedback as extrinsic information in the recognition of the neutral zone of the scapula in healthy subjects; to measure the temporal performance and quality of the execution without extrinsic feedback, with clinical feedback and with cinematic feedback. Background: To recognize the proper scapula position and to be aware of the importance of this position to the stability and correct function of the gleno-umeral joint is a difficult task, because most people don’t have the necessary knowledge. It is known that extrinsic feedback is effective in motor learning, specially in the early stages. There are several studies that evaluated the influence of extrinsic feedback in rehabilitation of shoulder dysfunctions, but only in the electromyography format. Material and Methods: Sixty healthy subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups that received no feedback (group 1 – control group), verbal and palpatory feedback (group 2) and real time cinematic feedback (group 3). The performance variables considered – time and quality of execution - were statistically analyzed with ANOVA one-way and multiple comparisons test. Results: Control group and group 3 executed the task in less time that group 2 (p<0.01) and group 3 executed the task with better quality than control group and group 2 (p<0.01). Conclusions: From the results of this study we conclude that in the studied task, the cinematic feedback is more effective to facilitate a better quality of execution than no feedback or clinical feedback and, regarding to time taken to attain the requested position, equally effective to no feedback.

Prevención y control de alcohol y drogas en la gestión de riesgos laborales

Memoria presentada para optar al grado de Doctor en Higiene, Salud y Seguridade en el Trabajo

The impact of national and international observers in democratic elections: A randomized control trial from the Mozambican elections of 2009

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Economics from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Electrodialytic remediation of two types of air pollution control residues and their applicability in construction materials

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente Perfil de Engenharia de Sistemas Ambientais

Service-oriented infrastructure to support the control, monitoring and management of a shop floor system

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores

A distributed platform for the volunteer execution of workflows on a local area network

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Computer Science

Size-Control Regulation during Regeneration

Functional regeneration of organs upon injury is a key process for animals survival. Contrary to humans, some vertebrates are remarkably competent in regenerating after acute organ or appendage lesions. This advantageous skill allows overcoming limitations in repair even in adult stages, when tissues are fully developed, via a process of epimorphic regeneration. One such organism is the zebrafish, which can regenerate several organs, namely its heart, retina, spinal cord and fins. (...)

Photochemical control of rheology

The main objective of the research work developed in the framework of this PhD thesis was the preparation and development of novel photorheological fluids. This was pursued following two distinct strategies. The first one focused on the synthesis of tripodal compounds functionalized with photodimerizable moieties of cinnamic acid, coumarin and anthracene. Two sets of compounds were prepared, varying the central unit as well as spacers resulting in molecules with different solubilities and molecular weight. All compounds were characterized towards their photochemical properties and all exhibited photoreactivity upon irradiation with ultra-violet light. In particular, both coumarin derivatives exhibited the greatest photopolymerization reactivity, resulting in the formation of dendrimeric nanoparticles or in the increase of viscosity of organic solutions. The second strategy was focused on the careful design of photosensitive ionic liquids, based on the results of several quantitative structure-property relationship studies. Thus, photosensitive ionic liquids were synthesized bearing cinnamic acid or coumarin moieties in the organic cation. Upon irradiation, all compounds exhibited reactivity, which resulted in changes in their physical properties, such as melting point or viscosity. In addition, novel coumarin chromophores with different photophysical and photochemical properties were developed. It is expected that these compounds may find application in the preparation of new photosensitive ionic liquids.