Genetics of berry colour and anthocyanin content variation in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.subsp. vinifera)

Dissertation presented in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology (Molecular Genetics) at the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Natural antioxidants extraction and their incorporation into model pharmaceutical systems

Dissertation to obtain a Master Degree in Biotechnology

Serologic survey for hantavirus infections among wild animals in rural areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

A serosurvey was conducted in wild animals captured close to two areas where hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) occurred in São Paulo State, Brazil. Serum samples from a total of 43 mammals were tested for antibodies reactive with Sin Nombre (SN) hantavirus using a strip immunoblot assay. RNAs from the blood clots of the positive samples were submitted to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Two rodents of the genus Oligoryzomys were positive for hantavirus antibodies. These animals were captured in the Iguape region and represented 16.7% (2/12) of the sera from rodents and 100.0% (2/2) of the Oligoryzomys captured in that area. RT-PCR failed to amplify any viral cDNA. These results are in agreement with other data that suggest that members of this genus are important reservoirs of hantaviruses in Brazil.

Recommending media content based on machine learning methods

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática

The clothing industry as a globalized sector: implications for work organisation, quality of work and job content

The clothing sector in several countries is still seen, in many aspects as a traditional sector with some average characteristics, nevertheless is a very important sector in terms of labour market. Globalization and de-localization are having a strong impact in the organisation of work and in occupational careers. Very few companies are able to keep a position in the market without changes in organisation of work and workers, founding different ways to face this reality according to size, capital and position. We could find two main paths: one where companies outsource production to another territory, close and/ or dismissal the workers; other path, where companies up skilled their capacities. This paper will present some results from the European project WORKS – Work organisation and restructuring in the knowledge society (6th Framework Programme), focusing the Portuguese case studies in several clothing companies in a comparative analysis with some other European countrie

Brokerage Platform for Media Content Recommendation

Near real time media content personalisation is nowadays a major challenge involving media content sources, distributors and viewers. This paper describes an approach to seamless recommendation, negotiation and transaction of personalised media content. It adopts an integrated view of the problem by proposing, on the business-to-business (B2B) side, a brokerage platform to negotiate the media items on behalf of the media content distributors and sources, providing viewers, on the business-to-consumer (B2C) side, with a personalised electronic programme guide (EPG) containing the set of recommended items after negotiation. In this setup, when a viewer connects, the distributor looks up and invites sources to negotiate the contents of the viewer personal EPG. The proposed multi-agent brokerage platform is structured in four layers, modelling the registration, service agreement, partner lookup, invitation as well as item recommendation, negotiation and transaction stages of the B2B processes. The recommendation service is a rule-based switch hybrid filter, including six collaborative and two content-based filters. The rule-based system selects, at runtime, the filter(s) to apply as well as the final set of recommendations to present. The filter selection is based on the data available, ranging from the history of items watched to the ratings and/or tags assigned to the items by the viewer. Additionally, this module implements (i) a novel item stereotype to represent newly arrived items, (ii) a standard user stereotype for new users, (iii) a novel passive user tag cloud stereotype for socially passive users, and (iv) a new content-based filter named the collinearity and proximity similarity (CPS). At the end of the paper, we present off-line results and a case study describing how the recommendation service works. The proposed system provides, to our knowledge, an excellent holistic solution to the problem of recommending multimedia contents.

Centros de atividades ocupacionais: uma análise das atividades desenvolvidas

Em Portugal, os Centros de Atividades Ocupacionais (CAO) representam uma das principais respostas de apoio a jovens e adultos em situação de incapacidade. Contudo, a informação sistematizada sobre o teor das atividades desenvolvidas neste contexto, bem como sobre o significado que lhes é atribuído pelos técnicos e utilizadores destes serviços é reduzida. Este estudo teve por intenção caracterizar - através de uma pesquisa por inquérito -, o perfil de funcionalidade dos indivíduos apoiados nos CAO e descrever - com recurso também a um estudo de caso - as atividades promovidas por estes serviços quanto à sua natureza e diversidade, bem como quanto à sua significância para os utilizadores. Para o efeito, foram inquiridos - através de um questionário - técnicos de 23 instituições, e foram objeto de análise três instituições - através de observações em contexto a 109 utilizadores dos serviços, bem como entrevistas a três técnicos e seis utilizadores. A respeito do perfil de funcionalidade dos utilizadores dos CAO, observou-se, como denominador comum, a existência de deficiências e limitações/ restrições em vários domínios de funcionalidade, registando-se, maioritariamente, restrições severas no caso dos indivíduos predominantemente envolvidos em atividades estritamente ocupacionais, e restrições ligeiras e moderadas naqueles envolvidos em atividades socialmente úteis. As atividades cobrem vários domínios de atividades e participação e enquadram também respostas de natureza reabilitativa e de bem estar, notando-se preponderância do domínio de recreação e lazer - o que coincide com as preferências e interesses apurados na entrevista aos indivíduos. As atividades são desenvolvidas predominantemente em contexto de CAO. Nas atividades de recreação e lazer verifica-se maior recurso ao contexto comunitário, bem como maior diferenciação das estratégias de suporte usadas.

The perception, beliefs and practices toward genitourinary schistosomiasis by inhabitants of selected endemic areas (Edo/Delta States) in south-eastern Nigeria

Well-structured questionnaire on the perception, impression and response to genitourinary bilharziasis (Genitourinary schistosomiasis) was administered and explained in local languages: 'Igbo' 'Esan' 'Ezon' Itshekiri and Bini to 33815 inhabitants of selected endemic areas in south-eastern Nigeria from January, 1999 to December, 2001. Out of this number, 3815 (11.3%) were properly filled and returned. About 42.0% of the inhabitants admitted knowledge of the disease, while 14 (0.4%) knew about the aetiologic agent. About 181 (5.0%) who responded, admitted procuring treatment, while 100 (5.0%) declined to seek treatment of any sort. The relationships between water-bodies and human activities, and infection were well discussed. Amongst those who admitted knowledge of the disease but no knowledge of its etiologic agent, declined seeking treatment of any kind, but believe the disease is a natural phenomenon in ones developmental stage and therefore of no morbidity and mortality. Laboratory analysis of urine, faeces, semen and HVS was employed to assess questionnaire responses, and in some cases, physical examination was utilized to augment laboratory analysis in confirming urinal diagnosis. Haematuria was only directly related to egg count in the early part of life. Females were significantly haematuric and excreted more ova than males (p < 0.05). Headache (43.0%) and fever (31.0%) were major clinical signs while sexual pains (22.0%) were the least.

Platform for Smart Car to Car Content Delivery: Results of CISTER Research Centre within CarCoDe project

Poster presented in Redes de Veiculos nas sociedades do futuro (RVSF 2015). 3, Jun, 2015. Castelo Branco, Portugal.

Toxoplasma-IgM and IgG-avidity in single samples from areas with a high infection rate can determine the risk of mother-to-child transmission

Anti-Toxoplasma IgG-avidity was determined in 168 serum samples from IgG- and IgM-positive pregnant women at various times during pregnancy, in order to evaluate the predictive value for risk of mother-to-child transmission in a single sample, taking the limitations of conventional serology into account. The neonatal IgM was considered the serologic marker of transmission. Fluorometric tests for IgG, IgM (immunocapture) and IgG-avidity were performed. Fifty-one of the 128 pregnant women tested gave birth in the hospital and neonatal IgM was obtained. The results showed 32 (62.75%) pregnant women having high avidity, IgM indexes between 0.6 and 2.4, and no infected newborn. Nineteen (37.25%) had low or inconclusive avidity, IgM indexes between 0.6 and 11.9, and five infected newborns and one stillbirth. In two infected newborns and the stillbirth maternal IgM indexes were low and in one infected newborn the only maternal parameter that suggested fetal risk was IgG-avidity. In the present study, IgG-avidity performed in single samples from positive IgM pregnant women helped to determine the risk of transmission at any time during pregnancy, especially when the indexes of the two tests were analysed with respect to gestational age. This model may be less expensive in developing countries where there is a high prevalence of infection than the follow-up of susceptible mothers until childbirth with monthly serology, and it creates a new perspective for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis.

Utilização de Cabos de alta Temperatura em linhas Aéreas em Média Tensão

A presente dissertação teve como objetivo fazer uma análise da viabilidade técnica da utilização dos condutores de alta temperatura nas linhas aéreas de MT, identificar vantagens, analisar inconvenientes, e estabelecer um comparativo a custos médios com as soluções convencionais. Foi efetuado o estudo de um caso real da EDP Distribuição que consistia na necessidade do aumento da capacidade de transporte de energia da linha aérea a 15 kV Espinho-Sanguedo. Neste foi ponderada a solução onde se poderia efetuar passagem de linha simples para linha dupla em alumínio-aço (AA) 160 mm2 ou a solução alternativa e inovadora de substituição dos condutores existentes por condutores de alta temperatura ACCC 182 mm2. Para isso foram efetuados cálculos e também criada uma ferramenta de apoio à decisão, para validação dos mesmos, com o intuito de mais tarde poder ser aplicada nas linhas aéreas em Média Tensão em todo o país e, sempre que necessário, se possa fazer um estudo de ponderação técnica de forma sistemática e estruturada. Neste trabalho estão identificadas as vantagens, foram relatados os inconvenientes, e estabeleceu-se um comparativo a custos médios da utilização de condutores de alta temperatura com as soluções convencionais. Antes de poder ser realizado um estudo do caso concreto da Linha aérea Espinho-Sanguedo foi necessário um aprofundamento do estado da arte no que diz respeito à comparação entre o cabo de alta temperatura ACCC e o cabo convencional ACSR, sendo este o mais utilizado nas linhas aéreas em MT. Os cabos de alta temperatura trouxeram inovações neste tema de transporte de energia, e como tal surgiu a necessidade de um estudo mais aprofundado da sua constituição, destacando o seu núcleo formado pelo compósito de fibra de carbono e fibra de vidro. Foi também analisado vantagens e desvantagens do cabo de alta temperatura e até mesmo situações onde a sua aplicação poderá ser vantajosa, de modo a tirar proveito das suas caraterísticas em que se destacam altas temperaturas de funcionamento e flechas reduzidas. Para elaborar um projeto de uma linha aérea em média tensão é necessário considerar a legislação em vigor, os aspetos ambientais e económicos, respeitando e garantindo as premissas do cálculo elétrico e mecânico. Economicamente este tipo de cabo (ACCC) é mais dispendioso do que os convencionais, no entanto o estudo realizado permitiu perceber que a sua implementação técnica é vantajosa em linhas aéreas de elevada capacidade de transporte de energia, sobretudo nos casos onde serão necessárias instalar linhas duplas ou linhas simples de seções elevadas. Devido às suas caraterísticas mecânicas, estes cabos permitem melhorar as linhas na sua dimensão, podendo diminuir o número de apoios a instalar, podendo diminuir a robustez dos apoios e permitir maior facilidade na montagem. Estas vantagens traduzem-se em menores impactos ambientais e permitem sobretudo reduzir os constrangimentos com os proprietários dos terrenos onde os apoios são implantados.

Effects of Soil Compaction and Organic Carbon Content on Preferential Flow in Loamy Field Soils

Abstract: Preferential flow and transport through macropores affect plant water use efficiency and enhance leaching of agrochemicals and the transport of colloids, thereby increasing the risk for contamination of groundwater resources. The effects of soil compaction, expressed in terms of bulk density (BD), and organic carbon (OC) content on preferential flow and transport were investigated using 150 undisturbed soil cores sampled from 15 × 15–m grids on two field sites. Both fields had loamy textures, but one site had significantly higher OC content. Leaching experiments were conducted in each core by applying a constant irrigation rate of 10 mm h−1 with a pulse application of tritium tracer. Five percent tritium mass arrival times and apparent dispersivities were derived from each of the tracer breakthrough curves and correlated with texture, OC content, and BD to assess the spatial distribution of preferential flow and transport across the investigated fields. Soils from both fields showed strong positive correlations between BD and preferential flow. Interestingly, the relationships between BD and tracer transport characteristics were markedly different for the two fields, although the relationship between BD and macroporosity was nearly identical. The difference was likely caused by the higher contents of fines and OC at one of the fields leading to stronger aggregation, smaller matrix permeability, and a more pronounced pipe-like pore system with well-aligned macropores.

Human infection by Angiostrongylus costaricensis in Venezuela: first report of a confirmed case

A proven case of human infection caused by Angiostrongylus costaricensis is reported for the first time in Venezuela. The patient was a 57-year-old female surgically operated because of signs of peritonitis with a palpable mass at the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. WBC count reported 16,600 cells/mm³, with 46% eosinophils. The tumoral aspect of ileocolic area and peritoneal lymph nodes prompted the resection of a large area of the terminal ileum, cecum, part of the ascending colon and a small part of the jejunum, where a small lesion was found. The pathology showed thickened areas of the intestinal wall with areas of hemorrhage and a perforation of the cecum. Histology showed intense eosinophil infiltration of the whole intestinal wall, granulomas with giant cells and eosinophils. Some of the granuloma surrounded round or oval eggs with content characterized by a large empty area, cells or embryo in the center, and sometimes nematode larvae. A cross section of an adult nematode worm was observed inside a branch of mesenteric artery. The intestinal affected area, the characteristics of the lesions, the presence of eggs in the submucosa with nematode larvae inside, and the observation of a nematode inside a mesenteric artery, makes sufficient criteria for the diagnosis of an infection by Angiostrongylus costaricensis.

QuEChERS: a sample preparation for extraction of carbaryl from rat feces

Carbamate compounds are an important group of cholinesterase inhibitors. There is a need for creating awareness regarding the risks of the inadequate carbamate use in the residential areas due to potential adverse human effects. Carbaryl is a commonly used pesticide worldwide. A simple, fast, and high throughput method was developed employing liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector to determine carbaryl residues in rat feces. The extraction was performed by using a rapid, easy, cheap, effective, reliable, and safe (QuEChERS) method, using acetonitrile as the extracting solvent. The parameters for the performance of the extraction method were optimized, such as ratio of mass of sample per volume of extraction solvent, QuEChERS content, and cleanup columns. Linear response was obtained for all calibration curves (solven and matrix-matched) over the established concentration range (5 500 mg/L) with a correlation coefficients higher than 0.999. The achieved recovery was 97.9% with relative standard deviation values of 1.1% (n D 4) at 167 mg/kg fortified concentration level and the limits of detection and quantification were 27.7 and 92.3 mg/kg respectively.

Desenvolvimento de Frameworks de Testes Automáticos de Software

O objetivo deste trabalho é o desenvolvimento de frameworks de testes automáticos de software. Este tipo de testes normalmente está associado ao modelo evolucionário e às metodologias ágeis de desenvolvimento de software, enquanto que os testes manuais estão relacionados com o modelo em cascata e as metodologias tradicionais. Como tal foi efetuado um estudo comparativo sobre os tipos de metodologias e de testes existentes, para decidir quais os que melhor se adequavam ao projeto e dar resposta à questão "Será que realmente compensa realizar testes (automáticos)?". Finalizado o estudo foram desenvolvidas duas frameworks, a primeira para a implementação de testes funcionais e unitários sem dependências a ser utilizada pelos estagiários curriculares da LabOrders, e a segunda para a implementação de testes unitários com dependências externas de base de dados e serviços, a ser utilizada pelos funcionários da empresa. Nas últimas duas décadas as metodologias ágeis de desenvolvimento de software não pararam de evoluir, no entanto as ferramentas de automação não conseguiram acompanhar este progresso. Muitas áreas não são abrangidas pelos testes e por isso alguns têm de ser feitos manualmente. Posto isto foram criadas várias funcionalidades inovadoras para aumentar a cobertura dos testes e tornar as frameworks o mais intuitivas possível, nomeadamente: 1. Download automático de ficheiros através do Internet Explorer 9 (e versões mais recentes). 2. Análise do conteúdo de ficheiros .pdf (através dos testes). 3. Obtenção de elementos web e respetivos atributos através de código jQuery utilizando a API WebDriver com PHP bindings. 4. Exibição de mensagens de erro personalizadas quando não é possível encontrar um determinado elemento. As frameworks implementadas estão também preparadas para a criação de outros testes (de carga, integração, regressão) que possam vir a ser necessários no futuro. Foram testadas em contexto de trabalho pelos colaboradores e clientes da empresa onde foi realizado o projeto de mestrado e os resultados permitiram concluir que a adoção de uma metodologia de desenvolvimento de software com testes automáticos pode aumentar a produtividade, reduzir as falhas e potenciar o cumprimento de orçamentos e prazos dos projetos das organizações.