Rapid Evolution of the Sequences and Gene Repertoires

Proteins secreted to the extracellular environment or to the periphery of the cell envelope, the secretome, play essential roles in foraging, antagonistic and mutualistic interactions. We hypothesize that arms races, genetic conflicts and varying selective pressures should lead to the rapid change of sequences and gene repertoires of the secretome. The analysis of 42 bacterial pan-genomes shows that secreted, and especially extracellular proteins, are predominantly encoded in the accessory genome, i.e. among genes not ubiquitous within the clade. Genes encoding outer membrane proteins might engage more frequently in intra-chromosomal gene conversion because they are more often in multi-genic families. The gene sequences encoding the secretome evolve faster than the rest of the genome and in particular at non-synonymous positions. Cell wall proteins in Firmicutes evolve particularly fast when compared with outer membrane proteins of Proteobacteria. Virulence factors are over-represented in the secretome, notably in outer membrane proteins, but cell localization explains more of the variance in substitution rates and gene repertoires than sequence homology to known virulence factors. Accordingly, the repertoires and sequences of the genes encoding the secretome change fast in the clades of obligatory and facultative pathogens and also in the clades of mutualists and free-living bacteria. Our study shows that cell localization shapes genome evolution. In agreement with our hypothesis, the repertoires and the sequences of genes encoding secreted proteins evolve fast. The particularly rapid change of extracellular proteins suggests that these public goods are key players in bacterial adaptation.

Models and tools for value systems analysis in collaborative environments

Dissertation to obtain the degree of Doctor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, specialization of Collaborative Networks

A Random Access Protocol incorporating Multi-Packet Reception, Retransmission Diversity and Successive Interference Cancellation

8th International Workshop on Multiple Access Communications (MACOM2015), Helsinki, Finland.

Description of an injury in a human caused by a false tocandira (Dinoponera gigantea, Perty, 1833) with a revision on folkloric, pharmacological and clinical aspects of the giant ants of the genera Paraponera and Dinoponera (sub-family Ponerinae)

The authors observed an injury caused by the sting of a false tocandira ant in the hand of an amateur fisherman and they describe the clinical findings and the evolution of the envenoming, which presented an acute and violent pain, cold sweating, nausea, a vomiting episode, malaise, tachycardia and left axillary's lymphadenopathy. About three hours after the accident, still feeling intense pain in the place of the sting, he presented an episode of great amount of blood in the feces with no history of digestive, hematological or vascular problems. The intense pain decreased after eight hours, but the place stayed moderately painful for about 24 hours. In that moment, he presented small grade of local edema and erythema. The authors still present the folkloric, pharmacological and clinical aspects related to the tocandiras stings, a very interesting family of ants, which presents the largest and more venomous ants of the world.

Falso Aneurisma Traumático da Aorta Infrarenal. A Propósito de um Caso Clínico

Abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysms are rare, particularly when they are related to blunt abdominal trauma. The authors report the clinical case of a 65 years old man with an abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm related to a blunt abdominal trauma, that occurred three years ago. The patient complained of a diffuse abdominal pain, increased while walking. The diagnosis was confirmed by angiography and by angio-CT. An aortic resection and interposition graft was performed, according to the age of the patient and the low operative risk. A discussion on the therapeutic option was made, followed by a revision of the literature on the subject, and the authors conclude by emphasizing the need of a detection of this type of pathology, particularly in patients who had suffered in the past violent trauma.

Ambivalent Islam: the identity construction of Muslims under Portuguese colonial rule

This article wishes to contribute to the study of the historical processes that have been spotting Muslim populations as favourite targets for political analysis and governance. Focusing on the Portuguese archives, civil as well as military, the article tries to uncover the most conspicuous identity representations (mainly negative or ambivalent) that members of Portuguese colonial apparatus built around Muslim communities living in African colonies, particularly in Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique. The paper shows how these culturally and politically constructed images were related to the more general strategies by which Portuguese imagined their own national identity, both as ‘European’ and as ‘coloniser’ or ‘imperial people’. The basic assumption of this article is that policies enforced in a context of inter-ethnic and religious competition are better understood when linked to the identity strategies inherent to them. These are conceived as strategic constructions aimed at the preservation, the protection and the imaginary expansion of the subject, who looks for groups to be included in and out-groups to reject, exclude, aggress or eliminate. We think that most of the inter-ethnic relationships and conflicts, as well as the very experience of ethnicity, are born from this identity matrix.

Key-CRDT stores

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática

Há Vida no Bairro! Um Projeto de Educação e Intervenção Social

O presente Relatório reflete um Projeto de Educação e Intervenção Social realizado no Empreendimento Social Padre Américo, intitulado de “Há Vida no Bairro!” que teve inicio em outubro de 2014 e, à data de escrita deste relatório, ainda se encontra em desenvolvimento. O Projeto seguiu a Metodologia de Investigação Ação Participativa tendo sido desenvolvido com os moradores do Empreendimento Social, com a finalidade de melhorar a qualidade de vida dos residentes. Partiu-se de uma análise do contexto, do bairro e dos seus moradores e, percebeu-se que existiam quatro grandes problemas: sentimentos de isolamento e de exclusão/discriminação; conflitos relacionais entre os moradores; monotonia no quotidiano das pessoas e baixos recursos económicos. Assim foram definidos dois objetivos gerais: combater os sentimentos de exclusão social dos sujeitos e promover dinâmicas relacionais satisfatórias, entre os moradores, de forma a desenvolver uma maior coesão e espírito de comunidade. Neste sentido foram definidas três ações: “Entre dedal e agulha: atelier de costura”; “O Bairro a mexer” e “Os jovens e o Bairro”. Verificou-se que os moradores do Empreendimento desenvolveram e ampliaram as suas redes de vizinhança; ocuparam o seu tempo de uma forma satisfatória; desenvolveram estratégias de resolução de conflitos; desenvolveram competências pessoais, sociais e profissionais e desenvolveram o sentimento de pertença ao bairro.

Ambivalent Islam: the identity construction of Muslims under Portuguese colonial rule

This article wishes to contribute to the study of the historical processes that have been spotting Muslim populations as favourite targets for political analysis and governance. Focusing on the Portuguese archives, civil as well as military, the article tries to uncover the most conspicuous identity representations (mainly negative or ambivalent) that members of Portuguese colonial apparatus built around Muslim communities living in African colonies, particularly in Guinea- Bissau and Mozambique. The paper shows how these culturally and politically constructed images were related to the more general strategies by which Portuguese imagined their own national identity, both as ‘European’ and as ‘coloniser’ or ‘imperial people’. The basic assumption of this article is that policies enforced in a context of interethnic and religious competition are better understood when linked to the identity strategies inherent to them. These are conceived as strategic constructions aimed at the preservation, protection and imaginary expansion of the subject, who looks for groups to be included in and out-groups to reject, exclude, aggress or eliminate. The author argues that most of the inter-ethnic relationships and conflicts, as well as the very experience of ethnicity, are born from this identity matrix.

O contributo de Julián Marías para uma teoria da filosofia aplicada à questão da felicidade

Tese apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de doutor em filosofia

Information Society in Croatia, Landsc@pes of Knowledge for Development

Sabbatical Studies Report

Spatio-temporal analyses of the relationship between armed conflict and climate change in the eastern Africa

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

Visitor behaviours and visitor effects: a case study on the white-crowned mangabey (cercocebus atys lunulatus) of ZSL London Zoo

Tese de mestrado em Antropologia, especialização natureza e conservação

The African studies course of the Instituto de Estudos Superiores Militares. An analysis of the correlations and conflictive character inside the triangle - Development, environment and security - in Africa’s Nigeria

Relatório de Estágio de Mestrado em Ciência Política e Relações Internacionais Globalização e Ambiente

Fiscal adjustments and sovereign default in different government systems

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