How do current term structure model behave beyond the last liquid point?: A comparison of the DNS and Smith-Wilson methods

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Master’s Double Degree in Finance from Maastricht University and NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Modelo hidrogeológico e rede de monitorização da água subterrânea na Zona Industrial e Logística de Sines (ZILS)

Na Zona Industrial e Logística de Sines (ZILS) estão instaladas empresas e indústrias que interferem na quantidade e qualidade da água subterrânea de aquíferos da região. Estas utilizam e libertam poluentes que, consequentemente, quando não cumpridas as normas de segurança, podem causar impactes no ambiente. A ZILS situa-se no Sistema Aquífero de Sines, na Massa de Água 032-Sines, este é constituído por dois aquíferos, um superficial detrítico livre e outro carbonatado profundo confinado. Apesar de se encontrarem separados em grande parte da sua extensão, na região sul, estes aquíferos encontram-se em conexão hidráulica. Esta ocorre a este da falha da Maria das Moitas onde, a partir da qual e até ao limite com o Paleozóico, não foi reconhecida a unidade argilosa do Miocénico, aumentado assim a vulnerabilidade do sistema e a pertinente otimização da rede de monitorização. Para a realização de um estudo mais aprofundado e avaliação dos efeitos sobre as águas subterrâneas na área de estudo, definiu-se uma metodologia de trabalho que engloba 4 etapas: (i) revisão bibliográfica; (ii) recolha de dados geológicos e hidrogeológicos dos arquivos da aicep Global Parques, S.A., SNIRH e LNEG; (iii) tratamento e análise dos dados obtidos em ArcGIS e traçado de perfis geológicos interpretativos; (iv) realização do modelo geológico e hidrogeológico e respetiva adequação da rede de monitorização. O modelo hidrogeológico concebido mostra que o escoamento no Sistema Aquífero de Sines se processa, predominantemente, de E para W a partir do limite situado no contacto por falha entre as unidades do Paleozóico e Meso-Cenozóico com orientação, quase perpendicular, à ribeira dos Moinhos. A este deste alinhamento é assinalada a presença de um aquífero fissurado sob as areias do Plio-Plistocénico localizado na Formação de Mira. O escoamento neste aquífero faz-se de NE para SW, em direção ao oceano, para a praia de S. Torpes.

Embedded Through-Section shear strengthening technique using steel and CFRP bars in RC beams of different percentage of existing stirrups

The Embedded Through-Section (ETS) technique is a promising technique for the shear strengthening of existing (RC) elements. According to this technique, holes are drilled through the beam section, and bars of steel or FRP material are introduced into these holes and bonded to the concrete with adhesive materials. An experimental program was carried out with RC T-cross section beams strengthened in shear using the ETS steel bars and ETS CFRP rods. The research is focused on the evaluation of the ETS efficiency on beams with different percentage of existing internal transverse reinforcement (ρsw=0.0%, ρsw=0.1% and ρsw=0.17%). The effectiveness of different ETS strengthening configurations was also investigated. The good bond between the strengthening ETS bars and the surrounding concrete allowed the yield initiation of the ETS steel bars and the attainment of high tensile strains in the ETS CFPR rods, leading to significant increase of shear capacity, whose level was strongly influenced by the inclination of the ETS bars and the percentage of internal transverse reinforcement.

Aspectos florísticos e fitossociológicos de um trecho de Floresta Estacional Perenifólia na Fazenda Trairão, Bacia do rio das Pacas, Querência-MT

A borda sul da região amazônica apresenta um tipo peculiar de floresta, denominada de Floresta Estacional Perenifólia, que atualmente vem sofrendo severos impactos ambientais devido à expansão da fronteira agrícola no Norte do Estado de Mato Grosso. Diante da falta de estudos neste tipo florestal, objetivou-se identificar a composição florística e a estrutura fitossociológica do componente arbóreo de um trecho florestal na Fazenda Trairão em Querência-MT. A amostragem da vegetação consistiu na distribuição de 200 pontos-quadrantes, sendo considerados os quatro indivíduos mais próximos de cada ponto que tivessem DAP (diâmetro à altura do peito) igual ou superior a 10 cm. A densidade total foi de 728 ind./ha, distribuídos em 49 espécies, 39 gêneros e 24 famílias. A família que apresentou maior riqueza foi Fabaceae (cinco espécies), seguida por Burseraceae e Euphorbiaceae, cada uma com quatro espécies, consideradas também as mais ricas em trechos de Floresta Amazônica. As espécies de maior Valor de Importância (VI) foram Ocotea leucoxylon (Sw.) Laness., Xylopia amazonica R.E. Fr., Myrcia multiflora (Lam.) DC., Chaetocarpus echinocarpus (Baill.) Ducke e Protium pilosissimum Engl., mas não tiveram a mesma representatividade em outros trechos de Floresta Estacional Perenifólia, evidenciando diferenças estruturais desta unidade fitogeográfica. A comunidade avaliada possui porte fino, pois a maioria dos indivíduos concentra-se nas classes de diâmetro entre 10 e 14,9 cm e altura entre 10,6 e 16,5 m. O índice de Shannon (3,17) é considerado baixo por se tratar de floresta amazônica, na qual a diversidade é superior a 4,0.

Teores de As, Pb, Cd e Hg e fertilidade de solos da região do Vale do Alto Guaporé, sudoeste do estado de Mato Grosso

O diagnóstico da fertilidade e teores de elementos-traço (ETs) em solos é importante, pois estes dados são escassos na literatura para áreas de transição Pantanal-Cerrado-Floresta Amazônica. Esse trabalho avaliou diversos parâmetros relacionados à fertilidade, teores biodisponíveis de Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu e B e semitotais de As, Cd, Hg e Pb de solos do Vale do Alto Guaporé, região sudoeste do estado de Mato Grosso. Foram coletadas amostras de solos (0-0,20 e 0,20-0,40 m de profundidade) em áreas de vegetação nativa (VN), pastagem (AP), cultura anual (CA) e garimpo de ouro (G). As amostras foram analisadas conforme métodos de rotina para avaliação da fertilidade do solo e ETs pelo método SW-3051A e os resultados médios comparados com os valores de referência de qualidade (VRQ) para solos estipulados pela Companhia de Tecnologia de Saneamento Ambiental (CETESB). Teores mais elevados de As e Hg foram verificados em VN e G com médias, respectivamente, iguais a 43,9 e 101,13 para o As; e 0,12 e 0,14 mg kg-1 para o Hg. Exceto Pb, vários locais de amostragem apresentaram teores dos ETs superiores ao VRQ: 46% em VN; 60% em G; 28% em CA; e 44% em AP, para o As; 20,8; 50; 55; e 22% em VN, G, CA e AP, respectivamente, para o Cd; 75; 65 e 67% das áreas de VN, G e CA e AP, respectivamente, para o Hg. A saturação por bases foi alta (60-80%) em 51,5% das amostras, enquanto o P foi baixo em todas áreas. Valores de referência de qualidade de solo para o As e Hg devem ser estipulados para solos dessa região, tendo em vista que os teores observados em áreas nativas foram superiores ao VRQ.

Evaluating balance, stability and gait symmetry of stroke patients using kinematic and dynamic gait lab data

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Biomédica

Introducing resistance genes against ToMV, TYLCV and TSWV infections in two tomato varieties (Muchamiel and De la Pera)

Dissertação de mestrado em Biologia Molecular, Biotecnologia e Bioempreendedorismo em Plantas

A new species of Aleiodes (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rogadinae) from Brazil, with biological notes

Aleiodes Wesmael is the most diverse rogadine genus, with koinobiont endoparasitic development in Lepidoptera caterpillars resulting in mummification of the host remains. Aleiodes japi sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Type specimens of the new species were reared from Physocleora grosica and Ischnopteris sp. (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) larvae. Host larvae were collected on Alchornea triplinervia (Euphorbiaceae) at the Reserva Biológica Municipal da Serra do Japi, Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil. This is the second species of circumscriptus/gastritror group described from Brazil.

New species of Lopesia (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) associated with Eichhornia azurea (Pontederiaceae) from Brazil

A new species of gall midge, Lopesia eichhorniae sp. nov. (Cecidomyiidae, Diptera), associated with rhizomes of Eichhornia azurea (Sw.) Kunth (Pontederiaceae) is described. This is the first record of Lopesia galls in this species of macrophyte, quite common in natural and artificial lakes in Southeast Brazil. Illustrations of the adults (male and female), pupa, larva, and gall of the new species are presented.

Plancto e hidrobiologia sanitária de tanques tropicais com dáfnias e rotíferos

The engineers of the modern University City are constructing a graceful bridge, named PONTE OSWALDO CRUZ, that crosses a portion of the Guanabara Bay (Fig. 1). The work at west pillar stopped for 3 years (The concret structure in Est. 1). As it will be seen from n.º 1 — 5 of the fig. 1, Est. I, the base of the structure will have five underground boxes of reinforcement, but, to-day they are just like as five uncovered water ponds, until at present: May 1963. (Est. I — fig. 3, n.º 3 — pond n.º 3; A. — old level of the water; B.— actual level of the water; c.— green water; E.— mass of bloom of blue algae Microcystis aeruginosa). Soon after SW portion, as 5 cells in series, of the pillar abutments, and also the NE portion nearly opposite in the Tibau Mount will be filled up with earth, a new way will link Rio City and the University City. We see to day Est. I, fig. 1 — the grasses on the half arenous beach of the Tibau Point. These natural Cyperaceae and Gramineae will be desappear because of so a new road, now under construction, when completed will be 33 feet above the mean sea level, as high as the pillar, covering exactly as that place. Although rainfall was the chief source of water for these ponds, the first water (before meterorological precipitations of whatever first rain it might fall) was a common tap water mixed with Portland Cement, which exuded gradually through the pores of the concret during its hardenning process. Some data of its first cement water composition are on the chemical table, and in Tab. n.º 4 and "Resultado n.º 1". The rain — receiving surface of each pond were about 15 by 16 feet, that is, 240 square feet; when they were full of water, their depth was of 2 feet 3", having each pond about 4,000 gallons. Climatic conditions are obviously similar of those of the Rio de Janeiro City: records of temperature, of precipitation and evaporation are seen on the graphics, figs. 2, 3, 4. Our conceptions of 4 phases is merely to satisfy an easy explanation thus the first phase that of exudation of concrete. We consider the 2nd. phase formation of bacterian and cyanophycean thin pellicel. 3rd. phase - dilution by rains, and fertilisation by birds; the 4th phase - plankton flora and fauna established. The biological material arrived with the air, the rains, and also with contaminations by dusts; with big portion of sand, of earth, and leaves of trees resulted of the SW wind actions in the storming days (See - Est. I, fig. 3, G. - the mangrove trees of the Pinheiro Island). Many birds set down and rest upon the pillar structure, its faeces which are good fertilizers fall into the ponds. Some birds were commonly pigeons, black ravens, swallows, sparrows and other sea mews, moor hens, and a few sea birds of comparatively rare occurence. We get only some examples of tropical dust contaminated helioplankton, of which incipient observations were been done sparcely. See the systematic list of the species of plankters. Phytoplankters - Cyanophyta algae as a basic part for food of zooplankters, represented chiefly by rotiferse, water-fleas Moinodaphnia and other Crustacea: Ostracoda Copepoda and Insecta: Chironomidae and Culicidae larvae. The polysaprobic of septic irruptions have not been done only by heating in summer, and, a good reason of that, for example: when the fifth pond was in polysaprobic phase as the same time an alike septic phase do not happened into the 3rd. pond, therefore, both were in the same conditions of temperature, but with unlike contaminations. Among the most important aquatic organisms used as indicatiors of pollution - and microorganisms of real importance in the field of sanitary science, by authorities of renown, for instance: PALMER, PRESCOTT, INGRAM, LIEBMANN, we choose following microalgae: a) The cosmopolite algae Scenedesmus quadricuada, a common indicator in mesosaprobio waters, which lives between pH 7,0 and it is assimilative of NO[3 subscripted] and NH[4 subscripted]. b) Species of the genus Chlamydomonas; it is even possible that all the species of theses genus inhabit strong-mesosaprobic to polysaprobic waters when in massive blooms. c) Several species of Euglenaceae in fast growing number, at the same time of the protozoa Amoebidae, Vorticellidae and simultaneous with deposition of the decaying cells of the blue algae Anacystis cyanea (= Microcystis) when the consumed oxygen by organic matter resulted in 40 mg. L. But, we found, among various Euglenacea the cosmopolite species (Euglena viridis, a well known polysaprobic indicatior of which presence occur in septic zone. d) Analcystis cyanea (= M. aeruginosa) as we observed was in blooms increasing to the order of billions of cells per litter, its maximum in the summer. Temperatures 73ºF to 82ºF but even 90ºF, the pH higher than 8. When these blue algae was joined to the rotifer Brachionus calyflorus the waters gets a milky appearance, but greenished one. In fact, that cosmopolite algae is used as a mesosaprobic indicator. Into the water of the ponds its predominance finished when the septic polysaprobic conditions began. e) Ankistrodesmus falcatus was present in the 5th pond from 26the. April untill the 26th July, and when N.NH[4 subscripted] gets 1.28 mg. L. and when chlorinity stayed from 0.034 to 0.061 mg. L. It never was found at N.NH[4 subscripted] higher than 1 mg. L. The green algae A. falcatus, an indicatior of pollution, lives in moderate mesosaprobic waters. f) As everyone knows, the rotifer eggs may be widely dispersed by wind. The rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli in our observation seemed like a green colored bag, overcharged by green cells and detritus, specially into its spacious stomach, which ends blindly (the intestine, cloaca, being absent). The stock of Asplanchna in the ponds, during the construction of the bridge "PONTE OSWALDO CRUZ" inhabits alkaline waters, pH 8,0 a 8,3, and when we observed we noted its dissolved oxygen from 3.5 to 4 mg. L. In these ponds Asplanchna lived in 0,2 P.PO[4 subscripted]. (Remember the hydobiological observations foreign to braslian waters refer only from 0.06 to 0,010 mg. L. P.PO[4 subscripted]; and they refer resistance to 0.8 N.NH[4 subscripted]). By our data, that rotiger resist commonly to 1.2 until 1.8 mg. L.N.NH[4 subscripted]; here in our ponds and, when NO[2 subscripted] appears Asplanchna desappears. It may be that Asplanchna were devoured by nitrite resistant animals of by Culicidae or other mosquitoes devoured by Due to these facts the number and the distribution of Asplanchna varies considerabley; see - plates of plankton successions. g) Brachionus one of the commonest members of class Rotatoria was frquently found in abundance into the ponds, and we notice an important biological change produce by the rotifer Brachonus colyciflorus: the occurence of its Brachionus clayciflorus forms pallas, is rare in Brazil, as we know about this. h) When we found the water flea MOinodaphnia we do not record simultanous presence of the blue algae Agmenellun (= Merismopedia).

Acquired resistance of mice against S. mansoni and lung granulomatous reaction induced by BCG

Studies carried out in Sw outbred mice showed that there is no correlation between the degree of lung granulomatous reaction and the level of acquired resistance against S. mansoni infection induced by BCG.

Some characteristics of hyperreactivity to bacterial lipopolysaccharide induced in mice by Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Mice infected with T. cruzi strain, acquire a high level of susceptibility to the effects of bacterial gram-negative LPS. The LD50 of adult female SW mice to LPS from S. typhosa, decreases from 450 to 2,5 mcg 10-12 days after T. cruzi infection. This hyperreactivity to LPS induced by T. cruzi presents all the characteristics of that found in infection caused by many other agents. During the acaute phase of experimental infection with T. cruzi Y strain, mice generally die with a hypovolemic shock very similar to that induced in uninfected animals injected with an adequate dose of bacterial endotoxin. There is evidence for and against the hypothesis that LPS absorbed from the instestinal tract may be involved in the mechanism of death of mice during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection.

Properties of functional brain networks correlate with frequency of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

Abnormalities in the topology of brain networks may be an important feature and etiological factor for psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). To explore this possibility, we applied a graph theoretical approach to functional networks based on resting state EEGs from 13 PNES patients and 13 age- and gender-matched controls. The networks were extracted from Laplacian-transformed time-series by a cross-correlation method. PNES patients showed close to normal local and global connectivity and small-world structure, estimated with clustering coefficient, modularity, global efficiency, and small-worldness (SW) metrics, respectively. Yet the number of PNES attacks per month correlated with a weakness of local connectedness and a skewed balance between local and global connectedness quantified with SW, all in EEG alpha band. In beta band, patients demonstrated above-normal resiliency, measured with assortativity coefficient, which also correlated with the frequency of PNES attacks. This interictal EEG phenotype may help improve differentiation between PNES and epilepsy. The results also suggest that local connectivity could be a target for therapeutic interventions in PNES. Selective modulation (strengthening) of local connectivity might improve the skewed balance between local and global connectivity and so prevent PNES events.

The age of movements along the insubric line West of Locarno (Northern Italy and southern Switzerland)

Permo-Mesozoic Canavese sediments are pinched in between the pre-Alpine high-grade metamorphic Ivrea Zone and the Alpine metamorphosed Sesia Zone along the Insubric Line W of Locarno. According to the ``illite crystallinity'' these sediments were deformed under anchi- and epizonal conditions. Synkinematically formed white mica in the mylonitized Canavese sediments yields the following K-Ar age ranges: 60-76 Ma at the southwestern end, 28-43 Ma in the central part and 19-26 Ma in the northeastern part of the Insubric Line W of Locarno. The youngest age group dates the main uplift and dextral strike-slip movements of the Insubric Line, comprising mylonites in the NE and cataclasites in the SW. This activity correlates with Late Oligocene to Early Miocene rapid cooling and uplift of the Central Alps.

The anabolic androgenic steroid fluoxymesterone inhibits 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2-dependent glucocorticoid inactivation.

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are testosterone derivatives used either clinically, in elite sports, or for body shaping with the goal to increase muscle size and strength. Clinically developed compounds and nonclinically tested designer steroids often marketed as food supplements are widely used. Despite the considerable evidence for various adverse effects of AAS use, the underlying molecular mechanisms are insufficiently understood. Here, we investigated whether some AAS, as a result of a lack of target selectivity, might inhibit 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β-HSD2)-dependent inactivation of glucocorticoids. Using recombinant human 11β-HSD2, we observed inhibitory effects for several AAS. Whereas oxymetholone, oxymesterone, danazol, and testosterone showed medium inhibitory potential, fluoxymesterone was a potent inhibitor of human 11β-HSD2 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC(50)] of 60-100nM in cell lysates; IC(50) of 160nM in intact SW-620, and 530nM in MCF-7 cells). Measurements with rat kidney microsomes and lysates of cells expressing recombinant mouse 11β-HSD2 revealed much weaker inhibition by the AAS tested, indicating that the adverse effects of AAS-dependent 11β-HSD2 inhibition cannot be investigated in rats and mice. Furthermore, we provide evidence that fluoxymesterone is metabolized to 11-oxofluoxymesterone by human 11β-HSD2. Structural modeling revealed similar binding modes for fluoxymesterone and cortisol, supporting a competitive mode of inhibition of 11β-HSD2-dependent cortisol oxidation by this AAS. No direct modulation of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) function was observed. Thus, 11β-HSD2 inhibition by fluoxymesterone may cause cortisol-induced MR activation, thereby leading to electrolyte disturbances and contributing to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.