Defective protein folding and function in metabolic disorders: studies on the mitochondrial flavoenzyme ETF

Dissertation presented to obtain the PhD degree in Biochemistry at the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa

The influence of task design on upper limb muscles fatigue during low-load repetitive work: A systematic review

Ergonomic interventions such as increased scheduled breaks or job rotation have been proposed to reduce upper limb muscle fatigue in repetitive low-load work. This review was performed to summarize and analyze the studies investigating the effect of job rotation and work-rest schemes, as well as, work pace, cycle time and duty cycle, on upper limb muscle fatigue. The effects of these work organization factors on subjective fatigue or discomfort were also analyzed. This review was based on relevant articles published in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. The studies included in this review were performed in humans and assessed muscle fatigue in upper limbs. 14 articles were included in the systematic review. Few studies were performed in a real work environment and the most common methods used to assess muscle fatigue were surface electromyography (EMG). No consistent results were found related to the effects of job rotation on muscle activity and subjective measurements of fatigue. Rest breaks had some positive effects, particularly in perceived discomfort. The increase in work pace reveals a higher muscular load in specific muscles. The duration of experiments and characteristics of participants appear to be the factors that most have influenced the results. Future research should be focused on the improvement of the experimental protocols and instrumentation, in order to the outcomes represent adequately the actual working conditions. Relevance to industry: Introducing more physical workload variation in low-load repetitive work is considered an effective ergonomic intervention against muscle fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders in industry. Results will be useful to identify the need of future research, which will eventually lead to the adoption of best industrial work practices according to the workers capabilities.

Zero-Time Kidney Histology Predicts Early Graft Function

Our purposes are to determine the impact of histological factors observed in zero-time biopsies on early post transplant kidney allograft function. We specifically want to compare the semi-quantitative Banff Classification of zero time biopsies with quantification of % cortical area fibrosis. Sixty three zero-time deceased donor allograft biopsies were retrospectively semiquantitatively scored using Banff classification. By adding the individual chronic parameters a Banff Chronic Sum (BCS) Score was generated. Percentage of cortical area Picro Sirius Red (%PSR) staining was assessed and calculated with a computer program. A negative linear regression between %PSR/ GFR at 3 year post-transplantation was established (Y=62.08 +-4.6412X; p=0.022). A significant negative correlation between arteriolar hyalinosis (rho=-0.375; p=0.005), chronic interstitial (rho=0.296; p=0.02) , chronic tubular ( rho=0.276; p=0.04) , chronic vascular (rho= -0.360;P=0.007), BCS (rho=-0.413; p=0.002) and GFR at 3 years were found. However, no correlation was found between % PSR, Ci, Ct or BCS. In multivariate linear regression the negative predictive factors of 3 years GFR were: BCS in histological model; donor kidney age, recipient age and black race in clinical model. The BCS seems a good and easy to perform tool, available to every pathologist, with significant predictive short-term value. The %PSR predicts short term kidney function in univariate study and involves extra-routine and expensive-time work. We think that %PSR must be regarded as a research instrument.

Safety function analysis in an industrial production process

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Using gold nanoparticles in protein crystallography: studies in crystal growth and derivatization

Dissertation for the Master Degree in Structural and Functional Biochemistry

Structure-function relationships in a glycosyltransferase, a phosphatase and an oxidoreductase

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry

Printed electronics for ubiquitous computing applications

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Química

The compliance function in banking: Perspective and future in the age of globalization

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

Range of motion measurements based on depth camera for clinical rehabilitation

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Biomédica

STRUCTURE-FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF MULTI-COPPER OXIDASES

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry, Structural Biochemistry

Regulation and function of the cell wall polymer lipoteichoic acid in staphylococcus aureus

A thesis submitted for the Degree of Master in Medical microbiology

Cardiovascular function in elderly patients with chronic chagasic cardiopathy

The objective of this work was to verify the degree and type of heart damage of elderly chagasic patients seen at an outpatient referral center and to compare them with the changes found in young chagasic patients with a similar degree of heart damage. Elderly and young patients without advanced cardiopathy presented good functional behavior. Elderly patients with advanced cardiopathy had more ventricular premature beats (VPB) in 24 h and less functional capacity in the exercise test than young patients of the same subgroup. There was a higher occurrence of effort-induced VPB and a lower prevalence of severe forms in elderly men, suggesting that Chagas' disease may have a worse evolution in males. The association of cardiac damage characteristic of aging with the secondary damage due to Chagas' disease could explain the greater functional damage found in elderly chagasic patients. Thus, it appears that the physiopathological components of Chagas' disease do have an influence on the clinical course of cardiopathy in the elderly population.

Development of population-specific function assessment intrument in Lebanon

RESUMO: Contexto: O funcionamento tem sido reconhecido como um dos principais indicadores de resultados para avaliar se as pessoas beneficiam das intervenções destinadas a melhorar a sua saúde mental. O funcionamento refere-se à forma como um indivíduo consegue responder às suas tarefas e solicitações, dos seus familiares e da sua comunidade, de acordo com os requisitos do local e a cultura em que vive (eg, tarefa de cozinhar e limpar para as mulheres em algumas culturas ). O funcionamento é altamente dependente da cultura - por isso, tem sido recomendado o desenvolvimento de medidas de funcionamento específicas de cada cultura. Desenvolver localmente os instrumentos de medida evita problemas de adequação, associados com a adaptação de instrumentos ocidentais. Embora os instrumentos criados desta forma sejam específicos de um meio cultural, eles são simultaneamente "transculturais", no sentido em que cada um se refere às tarefas mais importantes para a população local . Esta abordagem mostrou-se útil para investigadores e agências de ajuda (eg, ONGs) que trabalham em países não-ocidentais . Este estudo descreve o trabalho da agência International Medical Corps (IMC) na criação e validação de um questionário de funcionamento específico nas dimensões cultura e gênero, no Líbano, destinado a avaliar eventuais melhorias em pessoas que receberam intervenções de para problemas de saúde mental, a nível dos cuidados primários de saúde. Método: O instrumento foi desenvolvido usando um método que é uma alternativa à abordagem existente de adaptação de instrumentos ocidentais a outras culturas e situações; esta abordagem é rápida e exequível, tendo já demonstrado ser útil no desenvolvimento de instrumentos válidos e fidedignos. Inicialmente, foi solicitado que as pessoas identificassem, de uma lista livre, as tarefas mais importantes para cuidar de si próprias, da sua família e da sua comunidade; as tarefas identificadas foram posteriormente usadas como base para um instrumento de avaliação de funcionamento culturalmente válido. A partir daqui, foram desenvolvidos questionários específicos da comunidade em questão, posteriormente testados no terreno nas vertentes da validade (de conteúdo, facial e de constructo) e da fiabilidade (teste-reste e inter-entrevistadores). Resultados. O estudo resultou na criação e validação de um questionário de funcionamento específico de cultura e gênero capaz de medir efectivamente a capacidade de execução de tarefas importantes do quotidiano,como parte da avaliação de resultados levada a cabo por profissionais da CSP previamente treinados na identificação, suporte e encaminhamento de pessoas com problemas de saúde mental no Líbano. Conclusão. Neste trabalho descreve-se o desenvolvimento de um questionário de funcionamento específico de cultura e gênero, orientado para a avaliação de resultados, num contexto mais lato de um sistema abrangente de avaliação e monitorização de um serviço comunitário. --------------ABSTRACT: Background. Functioning has been recognized as one of the most important key outcomes to assess whether people benefit from interventions aimed to improve their mental health. Functioning refers to how well na individual can complete the tasks and demands for themselves, their family, and their community which are required by them depending on the setting and the culture they live in (e.g. task of cooking and cleaning for women in some cultures). Functioning is highly dependent on culture. Therefore, it has been recommended to develop culture-specific measures of function. Developing instruments locally avoids the problems of limited local relevance and appropriateness associate with adapting western instruments. Although each instrument created in this way is culturally bound, they are “cross cultural” in the sense that each refers to the tasks most important to local people. This approach proves useful for both researchers and aid agencies working in non-western countries. This study describes International Medical Corps’ (IMC) work in Lebanon to create and validate a culture and gender specific functioning questionnaire to assess improvements in people who received treatment interventions for mental health problems at the primary health care (PHC) level. Method. The measure was developed using a method that is an alternative to the existing approach of adapting western function instruments to other cultures and situations; an approach which has been demonstrated as rapid, feasible and which can yield valid and reliable instruments. Function was assessed by first asking local people what tasks are important to care for themselves, their family and their community using free listing, then using these tasks as the basis for a culturally valid function assessment instrument. Community specific function questionnaires based on these tasks were then created, and field-tested for validity using content, face and construct validity methods, and also field tested for reliability using inter-rater and test retest reliability methods. Results. The study resulted in the creation and validation of a culture and gender specific functioning questionnaire that would effectively measure the ability to do tasks important to daily existence, as part of assessing client level outcomes where PHC providers were trained in the identification, management and referral of people with mental health problems in Lebanon. Conclusion. The paper describes a successful pilot for developing culture and gender specific functioning questionnaires that evaluate client level outcomes as part of a more comprehensive system for monitoring and evaluation of community based case management supports and services.

The Evolution of Function in the Rab family of Small GTPases

Dissertation presented to obtain the PhD degree in Computational Biology.

Development of a satellite based PM10 concentration product for urban areas

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia do Ambiente