Superoxide reductase from the syphilis spirochete Treponema pallidum

Superoxide reductase is a 14 kDa metalloprotein containing a catalytic nonhaem iron centre [Fe(His)4Cys]. It is involved in defence mechanisms against oxygen toxicity, scavenging superoxide radicals from the cell. The oxidized form of Treponema pallidum superoxide reductase was crystallized in the presence of polyethylene glycol and magnesium chloride. Two crystal forms were obtained depending on the oxidizing agents used after purification: crystals grown in the presence of K3Fe(CN)6 belonged to space group P21 (unit-cell parameters a = 60.3, b = 59.9, c = 64.8 A ° , = 106.9 ) and diffracted beyond 1.60 A ° resolution, while crystals grown in the presence of Na2IrCl6 belonged to space group C2 (a = 119.4, b = 60.1, c = 65.6 A ° , = 104.9 ) and diffracted beyond 1.55 A ° . A highly redundant X-ray diffraction data set from the C2 crystal form collected on a copper rotating-anode generator ( = 1.542 A ° ) clearly defined the positions of the four Fe atoms present in the asymmetric unit by SAD methods. A MAD experiment at the iron absorption edge confirmed the positions of the previously determined iron sites and provided better phases for model building and refinement. Molecular replacement using the P21 data set was successful using a preliminary trace as a search model. A similar arrangement of the four protein molecules could be observed.

International Conference on “Foresight Studies on Work in the Knowledge Society“ in Monte de Caparica (FCT-UNL) on 19-20 October 2006

On 19 and 20 October 2006, the Research Centre on Enterprise and Work Organisation (IET) organised the first international conference on “Foresight Studies on Work in the Knowledge Society”. It took place at the auditorium of the new Library of FCT-UNL and had the support of the research project “CodeWork@VO” (financed by FCT-MCTES and co-ordinated by INESC, Porto). The conference related to the European research project “Work Organisation and Restructuring in the Knowledge Society” (WORKS), which is financed by the European Commission. The main objective of the conference was to analyse and discuss research findings on the trends of work structures in the knowledge society, and to debate on new work organisation models and new forms of work supported by ICT.

Fragmentation? The future of work in Europe in a global economy: the WORKS final International Conference debate

WORKS final conference report

On international cost-sharing of pharmaceutical R&D

Ramsey pricing has been proposed in the pharmaceutical industry as a principle to price discriminate among markets while allowing to recover the (fixed) R&D cost. However, such analyses neglect the presence of insurance or the fund raising costs for most of drug reimbursement. By incorporating these new elements, we aim at providing some building blocks towards an economic theory incorporating Ramsey pricing and insurance coverage. We show how coinsurance affects the optimal prices to pay for the R&D investment. We also show that under certain conditions, there is no strategic incentive by governments to set coinsurance rates in order to shift the financial burden of R&D. This will have important implications to the application of Ramsey pricing principles to pharmaceutical products across countries.

Overproduction, crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization of Abn2, an endo-1,5-alpha-arabinanase from Bacillus subtilis.

Acta Crystallographica F64 (2008) 636-638

Fundamentos teóricos e objectivos estratégicos de uma unidade de ética em saúde pública : caso de estudo : o gabinete de ética e responsabilidade da Direcção-Geral da Saúde

RESUMO - Este trabalho de projecto visa responder à questão de saber como gerir uma unidade de ética num serviço público central de saúde pública, “de forma racional e informada”, definindo os seus objectivos estratégicos (Baranger, citando Drucker, 1990) utilizando como caso de estudo o Gabinete de Assuntos Jurídicos, Ética e Responsabilidade, adiante designado por Gabinete, da Direcção‐Geral da Saúde. Para o efeito, fez‐se, em primeiro lugar, uma abordagem teórica descritiva das bases filosóficas da ética realçando a sua aplicação prática na determinação das características dos sistemas de saúde. Em seguida, analisa‐se a utilização do conceito de ética no âmbito da Saúde Pública, no contexto da bioética, verificando‐se elementos distintivos que parecem justificar a autonomização do conceito de ‘Ética em Saúde Pública’. Para tal, foram consultadas as principais fontes de princípios éticos em saúde, tais como a Declaração Universal dos Direitos do Homem, a Declaração de Helsínquia, bem como a Constituição da República Portuguesa e os Códigos Deontológicos das profissões de saúde. Nesta fase do trabalho é pesquisada, nas perspectivas nacional e internacional, a existência de unidades de ética, congéneres ou de âmbito similar, bem como respectivas áreas e níveis de intervenção, tendo‐se nesse sentido auscultado as entidades idóneas dos Estados‐Membros da União Europeia. Na segunda parte do trabalho de projecto, desenvolveu‐se o planeamento estratégico através da aplicação da metodologia balanced scorecard, apresentando‐se uma proposta de objectivos estratégicos e iniciativas a serem desenvolvidas pelo gabinete de ética sub judice, para um horizonte temporal fixado em três anos. Da utilização desta metodologia resultaram doze objectivos estratégicos, dos quais se destacam: ‘fomentar a discussão ética’; ‘promover a igualdade dos utentes do SNS’; e ‘identificar prioridades de actuação’. Entre as iniciativas a desenvolver salienta‐se o desenho de um questionário, a aplicar às comissões de ética do sistema de saúde com o objectivo de identificar prioridades de actuação do Gabinete. O trabalho finaliza‐se com as conclusões, recomendações e linhas de investigação que se considera deverem ser desenvolvidas, num futuro próximo, para o aprofundamento da matéria alvo deste estudo. ------------------ABSTRACT - This research‐project aims to answer the question of how to manage a unit of ethics within the directorate‐general of public health in a "rational and informed” way, defining their strategic goals (Baranger, quoting Drucker, 1990) using as case study the Office of Legal Affairs, Ethics and Responsibility, hereinafter referred as the Office, of the Directorate‐General of Health. For this purpose, the first part of the study, includes a framework description of the main philosophical basis of ethics, emphasizing that its practical application determines the characteristics of health systems; the use of the concept of ethics of Public Health in the context of bioethics was analyzed, and distinctive elements were found that seem to justify the autonomy of the concept of 'Ethics of Public Health'. The main sources of this part were the fundamental ethical principles in health, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Helsinki Declaration, and also the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic and the Codes of Ethics of the health professions. At this stage of the study a description is also made, at both a national and international perspective, on the existence of similar units of ethics or with similar scope, and their areas and levels of intervention. For the international dimension the appropriate bodies of the Member States the European Union were consulted. In the second part of the research‐project, a strategic planning for the Office was designed, using the balanced scorecard methodology, and a proposal of the strategic objectives and initiatives to be developed within a time schedule of three years are presented. The use of this method resulted in twelve strategic objectives, among which we note the following: 'to promote the ethical discussion'; 'to promote equality of users of the NHS'; and ‘to identify priorities for action’. The design of a questionnaire to be answered by the ethics committees for health of the Portuguese health system, in order to identify priorities for the Office’s activities is also presented in the study. The work ends with the conclusions and recommendations, as well as a suggestion of lines for future research to further investigate the subject of this study.

China's space program : a new tool for PRC "soft power" in international relations?

When China launched an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon in January 2007 to destroy one of its inactive weather satellites, most reactions from academics and U.S. space experts focused on a potential military “space race” between the United States and China. Overlooked, however, is China’s growing role as global competitor on the non-military side of space. China’s space program goes far beyond military counterspace applications and manifests manned space aspirations, including lunar exploration. Its pursuit of both commercial and scientific international space ventures constitutes a small, yet growing, percentage of the global space launch and related satellite service industry. It also highlights China’s willingness to cooperate with nations far away from Asia for political and strategic purposes. These partnerships may constitute a challenge to the United States and enhance China’s “soft power” among key American allies and even in some regions traditionally dominated by U.S. influence (e.g., Latin America and Africa). Thus, an appropriate U.S. response may not lie in a “hard power” counterspace effort but instead in a revival of U.S. space outreach of the past, as well as implementation of more business-friendly export control policies.

From the Lisbon strategy to EU2020: illusion or progress for european economies?

To be published at Krings, Bettina-J. ed. (2011), Brain Drain or Brain Gain? Changes of Work in Knowledge-based Societies, Berlin, Ed. Sigma. The author wants to thanks the comments and suggestions from Bettina Krings and Sylke Wintzer. They are not, however, responsible for the final result.

International Expectations: ICW - Prelúdio para o CNM

Neste artigo são abordadas as primeiras diligências internacionais para se formar o CNMP, Conselho Nacional das Mulheres Portuguesas. Procurámos identificar as figuras que estiveram envolvidas nesses contactos iniciais, delineando o relacionamento com a Rainha Sr.ª D. Amélia por parte de quem esteve envolvido. Tempo será ainda de apurar as razões do insucesso. Este estudo assinala uma antecipação em cerca de 10 anos no historial do CNMP, relevante pelas pessoas envolvidas, pelas relações com o feminismo internacional, com particular impacto pois sinaliza o sentido em que o mesmo ocorreu. A iniciativa partiu do ICW «International Council of Women» para Portugal, como acontecera antes estando na génese de outros Conselhos congé

Proceedings of the fifth international conference on Axiomatic Design (ICAD 2009)

FCT/UNL; UNIDEMI, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, CEST, MANO, Visteon, Axiomatic Design, Pionee

Foresight studies on work in the knowledge society: a 2nd international conference at UNL

The 2nd International Conference on "Foresight Studies on Work in the Knowledge Society" was organised by IET, the Research Centre on Enterprise and Work Innovation, at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of "Universidade Nova de Lisboa" (FCT-UNL), and took place on January 26 and 27 of 2009 with the support of the European project WORKS-Work Organisation Re-structuring in the Knowledge Society (financed by the European Commission, and co-ordinated by HIVA Leuven)

Cobalt-, zinc- and iron-bound forms of adenylate kinase (AK) from the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio gigas: purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2009 Sep 1;65(Pt 9):926-9

Crystallization and crystallographic analysis of the apo form of the orange protein (ORP) from desulfovibrio gigas

Acta Crystallographica Section F Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications Volume 65, Part 8

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of adenosine triphosphate sulfurylase (ATPS) from the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2008 Jul 1;64(Pt 7):593-5

Heterodimeric nitrate reductase (NapAB) from Cupriavidus necator H16: purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis

Acta Cryst. (2007). F63, 516–519