Full-scale biological phosphorus removal: quantification of storage polymers, microbial performance and metabolic modelling

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Correlation between the mechanical cycling behavior and microstructure in laser welded joints using NiTi memory shape alloys

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia de Materiais

Mecanismos de inflamação brônquica resultantes da exposição a factores ambientais

RESUMO Tratando-se a asma de uma doença respiratória, desde há várias décadas que tem sido abordada a hipótese de que factores ambientais, nomeadamente os relacionados com a qualidade do ar inalado, possam contribuir para o seu agravamento. Para além dos aeroalergenos, outros factores ambientais como a poluição atmosférica estarão associados às doenças respiratórias. O ar respirado contém uma variedade de poluentes atmosféricos, provenientes quer de fontes naturais quer de origem antropogénica, nomeadamente de actividades industriais, domésticas ou das emissões de veículos. Estes poluentes, tradicionalmente considerados como um problema de foro ambiental, têm sido cada vez mais encarados como um problema de saúde pública. Também a qualidade do ar interior, tem sido associada a queixas respiratórias, não só em termos ocupacionais mas também em exposições domésticas. Dentro dos principais poluentes, encontramos a matéria particulada (como as PM10), o O3, NO2, e os compostos orgânicos voláteis (COVs). Se é verdade que os três primeiros têm como principais fontes de exposição a combustão fóssil associada aos veículos automóveis, já os COVs (como o benzeno, tolueno, xileno, etilbenzeno e formaldeído) são poluentes mais característicos do ar interior. Os mecanismos fisiopatológicos subjacentes à agressão dos poluentes do ar não se encontram convenientemente esclarecidos. Pensa-se que após a sua inalação, induzam um grau crescente de stress oxidativo que será responsável pelo desenvolvimento da inflamação das vias aéreas. A progressão do stress oxidativo e da inflamação, associarse- ão posteriormente a lesão local (pulmonar) e sistémica. Neste trabalho pretendeu-se avaliar os efeitos da exposição individual a diversos poluentes, do ar exterior e interior, sobre as vias aéreas, recorrendo a parâmetros funcionais, inflamatórios e do estudo do stress oxidativo. Neste sentido, desenvolveu-se um estudo de painel na cidade de Viseu, em que foram acompanhadas durante 18 meses, 51 crianças com história de sibilância, identificadas pelo questionário do estudo ISAAC. As crianças foram avaliadas em quatro Visitas (quatro medidas repetidas), através de diversos exames, que incluíram execução de espirometria com broncodilatação, medição ambulatória do PEF, medição de FENO e estudo do pH no condensado brônquico do ar exalado. O estudo dos 8-isoprostanos no condensado brônquico foi efectuado somente em duas Visitas, e o do doseamento de malonaldeído urinário somente na última Visita. Para além da avaliação do grau de infestação de ácaros do pó do colchão, para cada criança foi calculado o valor de exposição individual a PM10, O3, NO2, benzeno, tolueno, xileno, etilbenzeno e formaldeído, através de uma complexa metodologia que envolveu técnicas de modelação associadas a medições directas do ar interior (na casa e escola da criança) e do ar exterior. Para a análise de dados foram utilizadas equações de estimação generalizadas com uma matriz de correlação de trabalho uniforme, com excepção do estudo das associações entre poluentes, 8-isoprostanos e malonaldeído. Verificou-se na análise multivariável a existência de uma associação entre o agravamento dos parâmetros espirométricos e a exposição aumentada a PM10, NO2, benzeno, tolueno e etilbenzeno. Foram também encontradas associações entre diminuição do pH do EBC e exposição crescente a PM10, NO2, benzeno e etilbenzeno e associações entre valores aumentados de FENO e exposição a etilbenzeno e tolueno. O benzeno, o tolueno e o etilbenzeno foram associados com maior recurso a broncodilatador nos 6 meses anteriores à Visita e o tolueno com deslocações ao serviço de urgência. Os resultados dos modelos de regressão que incluíram o efeito do poluente ajustado para o grau de infestação de ácaros do pó foram, de uma forma geral, idênticos ao da análise multivariável anterior, com excepção das associações para com o FENO. Nos modelos de exposição com dois poluentes, com o FEV1 como variável resposta, somente o benzeno persistiu com significado estatístico. No modelo com dois poluentes tendo o pH do EBC como variável resposta, somente persistiram as PM10. Os 8-isoprostanos correlacionaram-se com alguns COVs, designadamente etilbenzeno, xileno, tolueno e benzeno. Os valores de malonaldeído urinário não se correlacionaram com os valores de poluentes. Verificou-se no entanto que de uma forma geral, e em particular mais uma vez para os COVs, as crianças mais expostas a poluentes, apresentaram valores superiores de malonaldeído na urina. Verificou-se que os poluentes do ar em geral, e os COVs em particular, se associaram com uma deterioração das vias aéreas. A exposição crescente a poluentes associou-se não só com obstrução brônquica, mas também com FENO aumentado e maior acidez das vias aéreas. A exposição crescente a COVs correlacionou-se com um maior stress oxidativo das vias aéreas (medido pelos 8-isoprostanos). As crianças com exposição superior a COVs apresentaram maiores valores de malonaldeído urinário. Este trabalho sugere uma associação entre exposição a poluentes, inflamação das vias aéreas e stress oxidativo. Vem reforçar o interesse dos poluentes do ar, nomeadamente os associados a ambientes interiores, frequentemente esquecidos e que poderão ser explicativos do agravamento duma criança com sibilância.-----------ABSTRACT: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that could be influenced by environmental factors, as allergens and air pollutants. The air breathed contains a diversity of air pollutants, both from natural or anthropogenic sources. Atmospheric pollution, traditionally considered an environmental problem, is nowadays looked as an important public health problem. Indoor air pollutants are also related with respiratory diseases, not only in terms of occupational exposures but also in domestic activities. Particulate matter (such as PM10), O3, NO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the main air pollutants. The main source for PM10, O3, NO2 exposure is traffic exhaust while for VOCs (such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene and phormaldehyde) the main sources for exposure are located in indoor environments. The pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the aggression of air pollutants are not properly understood. It is thought that after inhalation, air pollutants could induce oxidative stress, which would be responsible for airways inflammation. The progression of oxidative stress and airways inflammation, would contribute for the local and systemic effects of the air pollutants. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of individual exposure to various pollutants over the airways, through lung function tests, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. In this sense, we developed a panel study in the city of Viseu, that included 51 children with a history of wheezing. Those children that were identified by the ISAAC questionnaire, were followed for 18 months. Children were assessed four times (four repeated measures) through the following tests: spirometry with bronchodilation test, PEF study, FENO evaluation and exhaled breath condensate pH measurement. 8-isoprostane in the exhaled breath condensate were also measured but only in two visits. Urinary malonaldehyde measurement was performed only in the last visit. Besides the assessment of the house dust mite infestation, we calculated for each child the value of individual exposure to a wide range of pollutants: PM10, O3, NO2, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene and formaldehyde. This strategy used a complex methodology that included air pollution modelling techniques and direct measurements indoors (homes and schools) and outdoors. Generalized estimating equations with an exchangeable working correlation matrix were used for the analysis of the data. Exceptions were for the study of associations between air pollutants, malonaldehyde and 8-isoprostanes. In the multivariate analysis we found an association between worsening of spirometric outcomes and increased exposure to PM10, NO2, benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene. In the multivariate analysis we found also negative associations between EBC pH and exposure to PM10, NO2, benzene, ethylbenzene and positive associations between FENO and exposure to ethylbenzene and toluene. Benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene were associated with increased use of bronchodilator in the 6 months prior to the visit and toluene with emergency department visits. Results of the regression models that included also the effect of the pollutant adjusted for the degree of infestation to house dust mites, were identical to the previous models. Exceptions were for FENO associations. In the two-pollutant models, with the FEV1 as dependent variable, only benzene persisted with statistical significance. In the two pollutant model with pH of EBC as dependent variable, only PM10 persisted. 8-isoprostanes were well correlated with some VOCs, namely with ethylbenzene, xylene, toluene and benzene. Urinary malonaldehyde did not present any correlation with air pollutants exposure. However, those children more exposed to air pollutants (namely to VOCs), presented higher values of malonaldehyde. It was found that air pollutants in general, and namely VOCs, were associated with deterioration of the airways. The increased exposure to air pollutants was associated not only with airways obstruction, but also with increased FENO and higher acidity of the airways. The increased exposure to VOCs was correlated with increased airways oxidative stress (measured by 8-isoprostane). Children with higher levels of exposure to VOCs had higher values of urinary malonaldehyde. This study suggests a relation between air pollution, airways inflammation and oxidative stress. It suggests also that attention should be dedicated to air quality as air pollutants could cause airways deterioration.

Heat recovery from wastewater: numerical modelling of sewer systems

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente, perfil Engenharia Sanitária

Neuroendocrine Tumours of the Female Genital Tract: a Case-Based Imaging Review with Pathological Correlation

BACKGROUND: Both primary and secondary gynaecological neuroendocrine (NE) tumours are uncommon, and the literature is scarce concerning their imaging features. METHODS: This article reviews the epidemiological, clinical and imaging features with pathological correlation of gynaecological NE tumours. RESULTS: The clinical features of gynaecological NE tumours are non-specific and depend on the organ of origin and on the extension and aggressiveness of the disease. The imaging approach to these tumours is similar to that for other histological types and the Revised International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Staging System also applies to NE tumours. Neuroendocrine tumours were recently divided into two groups: poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) and well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). NECs include small cell carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, while NETs account for typical and atypical carcinoids. Cervical small cell carcinoma and ovarian carcinoid are the most common gynaecological NE tumours. The former typically behaves aggressively; the latter usually behaves in a benign fashion and tends to be confined to the organ. CONCLUSION: While dealing with ovarian carcinoids, extra-ovarian extension, bilaterality and multinodularity raise the suspicion of metastatic disease. NE tumours of the endometrium and other gynaecological locations are very rare. TEACHING POINTS: • Primary or secondary neurondocrine (NE) tumours of the female genital tract are rare. • Cervical small cell carcinoma and ovarian carcinoids are the most common gynaecological NE tumours. • Cervical small cell carcinomas usually behave aggressively. • Ovarian carcinoids tend to behave in a benign fashion. • The imaging approach to gynaecological NE tumours and other histological types is similar.

Modelling resilience in supply chain

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Industrial

3D GIS modelling using ESRI's CityEngine: a case study from the University Jaume I in Castellon de la Plana Spain

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Virtual Campus for the University of Jaume I, Castelló, Spain: 3D Modelling of the Campus Buildings using CityEngine

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Disturbed Correlation Between Arterial Resistance and Pulsatility in Glaucoma Patients

PURPOSE: (i) To investigate whether pulsatility index (PI) and mean flow velocities (MFV) are altered in glaucoma patients. (ii) To evaluate the significance of PI in retrobulbar autoregulation capacity. METHODS: Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG; n = 49), normal tension glaucoma (NTG; n = 62) and healthy controls (n = 48) underwent colour Doppler imaging measurements of the retrobulbar vasculature. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare variables between the three diagnostic groups. Restricted cubic splines were used to determine nonlinearities between the resistive index (RI) and PI correlations. RESULTS: Mean flow velocities (MFV) were lower in both short posterior ciliary arteries (SCPA) and central retinal arteries (CRA) from the two glaucoma groups (p < 0.04 versus healthy controls). No differences were detected in RI or PI in any arteries of the three diagnostic groups (p > 0.08). In healthy individuals, correlations between RI and PI were linear in all arteries. In both POAG and NTG patients, CRA presented a nonlinear curve with a cutpoint at RI 0.77 (p < 0.001) and 0.61 (p = 0.03), respectively, above which the slope increased nearly five- and tenfold (POAG: 1.96 to 10.06; NTG: -0.46-4.06), respectively. A nonlinear correlation in the ophthalmic artery was only observed in NTG patients, with a cutpoint at RI 0.82 (p < 0.001), above which the slope increased from 3.47 to 14.03. CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma patients do not present the linear relationships between RI and PI observed in healthy individuals. Their nonlinear relations may be indicative of an altered autoregulation and suggest a possible threshold RI could be determined above which autoregulatory disturbances become more relevant.

Dynamics of Epileptic Activity in a Peculiar Case of Childhood Absence Epilepsy and Correlation with Thalamic Levels of GABA

Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is a syndrome with well-defined electroclinical features but unknown pathological basis. An increased thalamic tonic GABA inhibition has recently been discovered on animal models (Cope et al., 2009), but its relevance for human CAE is unproven. METHODS: We studied an 11-year-old boy, presenting the typical clinical features of CAE, but spike-wave discharges (SWD) restricted to one hemisphere. RESULTS: High-resolution EEG failed to demonstrate independent contralateral hemisphere epileptic activity. Consistently, simultaneous EEG-fMRI revealed the typical thalamic BOLD activation, associated with caudate and default mode network deactivation, but restricted to the hemisphere with SWD. Cortical BOLD activations were localized on the ipsilateral pars transverse. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy, using MEGA-PRESS, showed that the GABA/creatine ratio was 2.6 times higher in the hemisphere with SWD than in the unaffected one, reflecting a higher GABA concentration. Similar comparisons for the patient's occipital cortex and thalamus of a healthy volunteer yielded asymmetries below 25%. SIGNIFICANCE: In a clinical case of CAE with EEG and fMRI-BOLD manifestations restricted to one hemisphere, we found an associated increase in thalamic GABA concentration consistent with a role for this abnormality in human CAE.

Modelling and Forecasting Mortality Patterns

Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Statistics and Information Management

Modelling lean and green supply chain

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Industrial

Predisposition assessment modelling

Dissertation submitted for obtaining the degree of Master in Environmental Engineering

Understanding the microbial ecology and ecophysiology of enhanced biological phosphorus removal processes through metabolic modelling and experimental studies

Dissertation to obtain the degree of Master in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Monitoring and modelling of membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment incorporating 2D fluorescence spectroscopy

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica, Especialidade em Engenharia Bioquímica