A política agrícola comum (PAC) e o comércio internacional - estudo econométrico do efeito da PAC sobre as exportações agrícolas portuguesas para a União Europeia (1975-2012)

Dissertação apresentada ao Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Empreendedorismo e Internacionalização Orientadora: Professora Doutora Maria Clara Ribeiro Coorientadora: Mestre Maria Luísa Verdelho Alves

The impact of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots in cells of Medicago sativa in suspension culture

Abstract Background: Nanotechnology has the potential to provide agriculture with new tools that may be used in the rapid detection and molecular treatment of diseases and enhancement of plant ability to absorb nutrients, among others. Data on nanoparticle toxicity in plants is largely heterogeneous with a diversity of physicochemical parameters reported, which difficult generalizations. Here a cell biology approach was used to evaluate the impact of Quantum Dots (QDs) nanocrystals on plant cells, including their effect on cell growth, cell viability, oxidative stress and ROS accumulation, besides their cytomobility. Results: A plant cell suspension culture of Medicago sativa was settled for the assessment of the impact of the addition of mercaptopropanoic acid coated CdSe/ZnS QDs. Cell growth was significantly reduced when 100 mM of mercaptopropanoic acid -QDs was added during the exponential growth phase, with less than 50% of the cells viable 72 hours after mercaptopropanoic acid -QDs addition. They were up taken by Medicago sativa cells and accumulated in the cytoplasm and nucleus as revealed by optical thin confocal imaging. As part of the cellular response to internalization, Medicago sativa cells were found to increase the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in a dose and time dependent manner. Using the fluorescent dye H2DCFDA it was observable that mercaptopropanoic acid-QDs concentrations between 5-180 nM led to a progressive and linear increase of ROS accumulation. Conclusions: Our results showed that the extent of mercaptopropanoic acid coated CdSe/ZnS QDs cytotoxicity in plant cells is dependent upon a number of factors including QDs properties, dose and the environmental conditions of administration and that, for Medicago sativa cells, a safe range of 1-5 nM should not be exceeded for biological applications.

Fábrica das artes como projecto educativo: relatório de estágio

Relatório de Estágio submetido à Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Teatro – especialização Produção.

The key role of coligands in novel ruthenium(II)-cyclopentadienyl bipyridine derivatives: Ranging from non-cytotoxic to highly cytotoxic compounds

A new family of eight ruthenium(II)-cyclopentadienyl bipyridine derivatives, bearing nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous and carbonyl sigma bonded coligands, has been synthesized. Compounds bearing nitrogen bonded coligands were found to be unstable in aqueous solution, while the others presented appropriate stabilities for the biologic assays and pursued for determination of IC50 values in ovarian (A2780) and breast (MCF7 and MDAMB231) human cancer cell lines. These studies were also carried out for the [5: HSA] and [6: HSA] adducts (HSA = human serum albumin) and a better performance was found for the first case. Spectroscopic, electrochemical studies by cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory calculations allowed us to get some understanding on the electronic flow directions within the molecules and to find a possible clue concerning the structural features of coligands that can activate bipyridyl ligands toward an increased cytotoxic effect. X-ray structure analysis of compound [Ru(eta(5)-C5H5)(bipy)(PPh3)][PF6] (7; bipy = bipyridine) showed crystallization on C2/c space group with two enantiomers of the [Ru(eta(5)-C5H5)(bipy)(PPh3)](+) cation complex in the racemic crystal packing. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved.

Rainwater harvesting case study: FCT/UNL campus

Dissertação apresentada para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente, Perfil Engenharia Sanitária

Immunohistochemical molecular phenotypes of gastric cancer based on SOX2 and CDX2 predict patient outcome

Background Gastric cancer remains a serious health concern worldwide. Patients would greatly benefit from the discovery of new biomarkers that predict outcome more accurately and allow better treatment and follow-up decisions. Here, we used a retrospective, observational study to assess the expression and prognostic value of the transcription factors SOX2 and CDX2 in gastric cancer. Methods SOX2, CDX2, MUC5AC and MUC2 expression were assessed in 201 gastric tumors by immunohistochemistry. SOX2 and CDX2 expression were crossed with clinicopathological and follow-up data to determine their impact on tumor behavior and outcome. Moreover, SOX2 locus copy number status was assessed by FISH (N = 21) and Copy Number Variation Assay (N = 62). Results SOX2 was expressed in 52% of the gastric tumors and was significantly associated with male gender, T stage and N stage. Moreover, SOX2 expression predicted poorer patient survival, and the combination with CDX2 defined two molecular phenotypes, SOX2+CDX2- versus SOX2-CDX2+, that predict the worst and the best long-term patients’ outcome. These profiles combined with clinicopathological parameters stratify the prognosis of patients with intestinal and expanding tumors and in those without signs of venous invasion. Finally, SOX2 locus copy number gains were found in 93% of the samples reaching the amplification threshold in 14% and significantly associating with protein expression. Conclusions We showed, for the first time, that SOX2 combined with CDX2 expression profile in gastric cancer segregate patients into different prognostic groups, complementing the clinicopathological information. We further demonstrate a molecular mechanism for SOX2 expression in a subset of gastric cancer cases.

Caracterização das actividades pedagógicas promotoras do desenvolvimento das competências visuais que influenciam a iniciação à leitura e à escrita

RESUMO: A presente tese de dissertação de mestrado visa a contribuição para o enriquecimento da organização curricular da Educação Pré-Escolar. Baseia-se num estudo de natureza estatística descritiva, desenvolvido junto de uma amostra de vinte e três Educadores de Infância, dos Jardins de Infância do Concelho de Lourinhã, através da aplicação de um questionário, que procura caracterizar as actividades promotoras de competências visuais, quanto ao grau de importância e de frequência, no que constituem os pré requisitos para a leitura e a escrita. Os resultados sugerem a necessidade de uma maior sistematização dessas actividades e demonstram que um número significativo de actividades são desenvolvidas, neste âmbito, pelos educadores de infância, havendo, no entanto, aspectos considerados lógicos por autores como a Barraga e a Chapman, que não são geralmente considerados. A ênfase das conclusões é colocada, na necessidade de alargar o leque de actividades promotoras dos pré-requisitos para a iniciação à leitura e escrita e às actividades previstas nos Programas Educativos Individuais, para crianças com baixa visão, através da articulação com o docente de educação especial, de forma a que a sua intervenção especializada envolva todos os aspectos considerados fundamentais no treino de visão destas crianças. ABSTRACT: This master’s degree thesis is based on a descriptive statistical study, conducted with a sample of twenty three preschool Teachers working in public kindergartens in Lourinhã, Portugal. The study was based on the results of a questionnaire aimed at contributing to enrich preschool Curricula. The study was based on the scientific knowledge of the precise classroom activities which contribute to develop visual abilities needed for reading and writing. The activities were characterized according to their importance and frequency. The results suggest that these activities should be more planned and more organised. It showed a significant number of activities which are prepared on a regular basis and considered important but, on the other hand; it also showed a significant number of activities which are prepared occasionally. The emphasis of the conclusions is on the fact that the Curricula should include a larger range of activities that promote visual abilities needed for reading and writing and that Individual Educational Programs for low vision children, which include specific activities for vision training, should be built in team with the classroom teacher. In addition, Special Education Teacher’s program should contemplate all the aspects that the Preschool teachers do not, in order to involve all the important aspects for vision training.

Sustainability and economic evaluation of microalgae grown in brewery wastewater

This article evaluates the sustainability and economic potential of microalgae grown in brewery wastewater for biodiesel and biomass production. Three sustainability and two economic indicators were considered in the evaluation within a life cycle perspective. For the production system the most efficient process units were selected. Results show that harvesting and oil separation are the main process bottlenecks. Microalgae with higher lipid content and productivity are desirable for biodiesel production, although comparable to other biofuel’s feedstock concerning sustainability. However, improvements are still needed to reach the performance level of fossil diesel. Profitability reaches a limit for larger cultivation areas, being higher when extracted biomass is sold together with microalgae oil, in which case the influence of lipid content and areal productivity is smaller. The values of oil and/or biomass prices calculated to ensure that the process is economically sound are still very high compared with other fuel options, especially biodiesel.

The key role of coligands in novel ruthenium(II)-cyclopentadienyl bipyridine derivatives: ranging from non-cytotoxic to highly cytotoxic compounds

A new family of eight ruthenium(II)-cyclopentadienyl bipyridine derivatives, bearing nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous and carbonyl sigma bonded coligands, has been synthesized. Compounds bearing nitrogen bonded coligands were found to be unstable in aqueous solution, while the others presented appropriate stabilities for the biologic assays and pursued for determination of IC50 values in ovarian (A2780) and breast (MCF7 and MDAMB231) human cancer cell lines. These studies were also carried out for the [5: HSA] and [6: HSA] adducts (HSA=human serum albumin) and a better performance was found for the first case. Spectroscopic, electrochemical studies by cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory calculations allowed us to get some understanding on the electronic flow directions within the molecules and to find a possible clue concerning the structural features of coligands that can activate bipyridyl ligands toward an increased cytotoxic effect. X-ray structure analysis of compound [Ru(η(5)-C5H5)(bipy)(PPh3)][PF6] (7; bipy=bipyridine) showed crystallization on C2/c space group with two enantiomers of the [Ru(η(5)-C5H5)(bipy)(PPh3)](+) cation complex in the racemic crystal packing.

Contribuição para o estudo da digestão anaeróbia de resíduos orgânicos

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Engenharia Sanitária, na especialidade de Sistemas de Tratamento, pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Bibliotecas da Administração Central do Estado - Que futuro(s)?

Estudo realizado por solicitação do INA. Concluído e entregue em outubro de 2015.

Estratégia de dinamização da comunicação interna num operador de cabo em ambiente virtual

Relatório de Estágio apresentado para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Novos Media e Práticas Web.

A primeira anotação da língua portuguesa

pp. 59-74