Infeções em Cateteres de Hemodialisados

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas

Frutas e produtos hortícolas na prevenção do cancro

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas

Interaction of Cryptococcus neoformans Rim101 and protein kinase A regulates capsule.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a prevalent human fungal pathogen that must survive within various tissues in order to establish a human infection. We have identified the C. neoformans Rim101 transcription factor, a highly conserved pH-response regulator in many fungal species. The rim101 multiply sign in circle mutant strain displays growth defects similar to other fungal species in the presence of alkaline pH, increased salt concentrations, and iron limitation. However, the rim101 multiply sign in circle strain is also characterized by a striking defect in capsule, an important virulence-associated phenotype. This capsular defect is likely due to alterations in polysaccharide attachment to the cell surface, not in polysaccharide biosynthesis. In contrast to many other C. neoformans capsule-defective strains, the rim101 multiply sign in circle mutant is hypervirulent in animal models of cryptococcosis. Whereas Rim101 activation in other fungal species occurs through the conserved Rim pathway, we demonstrate that C. neoformans Rim101 is also activated by the cAMP/PKA pathway. We report here that C. neoformans uses PKA and the Rim pathway to regulate the localization, activation, and processing of the Rim101 transcription factor. We also demonstrate specific host-relevant activating conditions for Rim101 cleavage, showing that C. neoformans has co-opted conserved signaling pathways to respond to the specific niche within the infected host. These results establish a novel mechanism for Rim101 activation and the integration of two conserved signaling cascades in response to host environmental conditions.

Olfactory conditioning facilitates diet transition in human infants.

We evaluated whether Pavlovian conditioning methods could be used to increase the ingestion of non-preferred solutions by formula-fed human infants. In baseline measures, 5-7 month old infants sucked less frequently and consumed less water than regular formula. During a 3-day olfactory conditioning period, parents placed a small scented disk, the conditioned stimulus, on the rim of their infants' formula bottle at every feeding. Following this training, infants' responses to water were tested when their water bottles had a disk scented with the training odor, a novel odor, or no odor. Infants tested with the training odor sucked more frequently and consumed significantly more water than they had at baseline. Infants tested with no odor or a novel odor consumed water at or below baseline levels. These data demonstrate that olfactory conditioning can be used to enhance ingestion in infants and suggest that such methods may be useful for infants experiencing difficulty when making transitions from one diet to another.

Moisture Effects on the Reliability of Anisotropic Conductive Film Interconnection for Flip Chip on Flex Applications

Anisotropic conductive film (ACF) which consists of an adhesive epoxy matrix and randomly distributed conductive particles are widely used as the connection material for electronic devices with high I/O counts. However, for the semiconductor industry the reliability of the ACF is still a major concern due to a lack of experimental reliability data. This paper reports the investigations into the moisture-induced failures in Flip-Chip-on-Flex interconnections with Anisotropic Conductive Films (ACFs). Both experimental and modeling methods were applied. In the experiments, the contact resistance was used as a quality indicator and was measured continuously during the accelerated tests (autoclave tests). The temperature, relative humidity and the pressure were set at 121°C, 100%RH, and 2atm respectively. The contact resistance of the ACF joints increased during the tests and nearly 25% of the joints were found to be open after 168 hours’ testing time. Visible conduction gaps between the adhesive and substrate pads were observed. Cracks at the adhesive/flex interface were also found. For a better understanding of the experimental results, 3-D Finite Element (FE) models were built and a macro-micro modeling method was used to determine the moisture diffusion and moisture-induced stresses inside the ACF joints. Modeling results are consistent with the findings in the experimental work.

Novel inclusion complex of ibuprofen tromethamine with cyclodextrins: Physico-chemical characterization

Guest-host interactions of ibuprofen tromethamine salt (Ibu.T) with native and modified cyclodextrins (CyDs) have been investigated using several techniques, namely phase solubility diagrams (PSDs), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD). scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular mechanics (MM). From the analysis of PSD data (A(L)-type) it is concluded that the anionic tromethamine salt of ibuprofen (pK(a) = 4.55) forms 1: 1 soluble complexes with all CyDs investigated in buffered water at pH 7.0, while the neutral form of Ibu forms an insoluble complex with beta-CyD (B-S-type) in buffered water at pH 2.0. Ibu.T has a lower tendency to complex with beta-CyD (K-11 = 58 M-1 at pH 7.0) compared with the neutral Ibu (K-11 = 4200 M (1)) in water. Complex formation of Ibu.T with beta-CyD (Delta G degrees = -20.4 kJ/mol) is enthalpy driven (Delta H degrees = -22.9 kJ/mol) and is accompanied by a small unfavorable entropy (Delta S degrees = -8.4 J/mol K) change. H-1 NMR studies and MM computations revealed that, on complexation, the hydrophobic central benzene ring of lbu.T and part of the isobutyl group reside within the beta-CyD cavity leaving the peripheral groups (carboxylate, tromethamine and methyl groups) located near the hydroxyl group networks at either rim of beta-CyD. PSD, H-1 NMR, DSC, FT-IR, XRPD, SEM and MM studies confirmed the formation of Ibu.T/beta-CyD inclusion complex in solution and the solid state. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Proof of polar ejection from the close-binary core of the planetary nebula Abell 63

We present the first detailed kinematical analysis of the planetary nebula Abell 63, which is known to contain the eclipsing close-binary nucleus UU Sge. Abell 63 provides an important test case in investigating the role of close-binary central stars on the evolution of planetary nebulae. Longslit observations were obtained using the Manchester echelle spectrometer combined with the 2.1-m San Pedro Martir Telescope. The spectra reveal that the central bright rim of Abell 63 has a tube-like structure. A deep image shows collimated lobes extending from the nebula, which are shown to be high-velocity outflows. The kinematic ages of the nebular rim and the extended lobes are calculated to be 8400 +/- 500 and 12900 +/- 2800 yr, respectively, which suggests that the lobes were formed at an earlier stage than the nebular rim. This is consistent with expectations that disc-generated jets form immediately after the common envelope phase. A morphological-kinematical model of the central nebula is presented and the best-fitting model is found to have the same inclination as the orbital plane of the central binary system; this is the first proof that a close-binary system directly affects the shaping of its nebula. A Hubble-type flow is well-established in the morphological-kinematical modelling of the observed line profiles and imagery. Two possible formation models for the elongated lobes of Abell 63 are considered, (i) a low-density, pressure-driven jet excavates a cavity in the remnant asymptotic giant branch (AGB) envelope; (ii) high-density bullets form the lobes in a single ballistic ejection event.

Investigation Into The Subambient Behavior Of Aqueous Mannitol Solutions Using Temperature-controlled Raman Microscopy

Abstract The aim was twofold; to demonstrate the ability of temperature-controlled Raman microscopy (TRM) to locate mannitol within a frozen system and determine its form; to investigate the annealing behavior of mannitol solutions at -30 °C. The different polymorphic forms of anhydrous mannitol as well as the hemihydrate and amorphous form were prepared and characterized using crystal or powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD) as appropriate and Raman microscopy. Mannitol solutions (3% w/v) were cooled before annealing at -30 °C. TRM was used to map the frozen systems during annealing and was able to differentiate between the different forms of mannitol and revealed the location of both ß and d polymorphic forms within the structure of the frozen material for the first time. TRM also confirmed that the crystalline mannitol is preferentially deposited at the edge of the frozen drop, forming a rim that thickens upon annealing. While there is no preference for one form initially, the study has revealed that the mannitol preferentially transforms to the ß form with time. TRM has enabled observation of spatially resolved behavior of mannitol during the annealing process for the first time. The technique has clear potential for studying other crystallization processes, with particular advantage for frozen systems.

Cavity-Enhanced Photoacoustic Detection Using Acoustic and Fiber-Optic Resonators

A wineglass has been used as an acoustic resonator to enhance the photoacoustic signal generated by laser excitation of absorbing dyes in solution. The amplitude of the acoustic signal was recorded using a fiber-optic transducer based on a Fabry-Pérot cavity attached to the rim of the wineglass. The optical and acoustic properties of the setup were characterized, and it was used to quantify the concentration of phosphomolybdenum blue and methyl red solutions. Detection limits of 1.2 ppm and 8 muM were obtained, respectively.

Head-SAR dependence on spectacle frame shape for operator of 450 MHz personal radio

Power deposition in the head of a user wearing metal-framed spectacles was calculated with a 450 MHz personal radio transmitting in close proximity. Peak tissue SAR in the head depended on lens shape whether circular half-rim or rectangular with 70 and 174% increases, respectively, compared to the spectacle-free case. However, localised screening occurred with square frames, with a 40% reduction of peak SAR in the eye closest to the antenna.

Narrow bandwidth red electroluminescence from solution-processed lanthanide-doped polymer thin films

Narrow bandwidth red electroluminescence from OLED devices fabricated using a simple solution-based approach is demonstrated. A spin-casting method is employed to fabricate organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices comprising a poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) host matrix doped with a europium beta-diketonate complex, Eu(dbM)(3)(Phen) (dibenzoylmethanate, dbm; 1,10-phenanthroline, Phen) on glass/ indium tin oxide (ITO)/3,4-polyethylene-dioxythiophene-polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT) substrates. Saturated red europium ion emission, based on the (5)Do ->F-7(2) transition, is centered at a wavelength of 612 nm with a full width at half maximum of 3.5 rim. A maximum external quantum efficiency of 6.3 x 10(-2) cd/A (3.1 X 10(-2)%) and a maximum luminance of 130 cd/M-2 at 400 mA/cm(2) and 25 V is measured for ITO/PEDOT/PVK:Eu(dbM)3(Phen)/Ca/Al devices. This measured output luminance is comparable to that of devices fabricated using more sophisticated small molecule evaporation techniques. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

A work-based research assessment of the impact of 'lean manufacturing' on health and safety education within an SME

Globalisation has had a major impact on the engineering industry as pacific Rim countries undercut manufacturing costs and provide a more cost-effective location for many businesses. Engineering in Nortehrn Ireland has mostly declined owing to increased competition from these countries. Engineering companies are now forced to streamline their production processes and employ cost-reducing practices in order to meet customer demands at reduced prices. This article aims to analyse the effects of one such streamlining endeavour which was first introduced after World War II in Japan- 'lean manufacturing' . 'Lean manufacturing' aims to reduce all wasteful activities within the production process in order to improve productivity, while reducing manufacturing costs. The work-based project under consideration was concerned with the impact 'lean manufacturing' may have on health and safety performance and education within an engineering company. The focus of the project was to determine through work-based research, and quantitative analysis, the employee perception on health and safety: has it changed (either positively or negatively), as a consequence of implementing 'lean manufacturing'.