Significance in replication of the terminal nucleotides of the Flavivirus genome

Point mutations that resulted in a substitution of the conserved 3'-penultimate cytidine in genomic RNA or the RNA negative strand of the self-amplifying replicon of the Flavivirus Kunjin virus completely blocked in vivo replication. Similarly, substitutions of the conserved 3'-terminal uridine in the RNA negative or positive strand completely blocked replication or caused much-reduced replication, respectively. The same preference for cytidine in the 3'-terminal dinucleotide was noted in reports of the in vitro activity of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) for the other genera of Flaviviridae that also employ a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) template to initiate asymmetric semiconservative RNA positive-strand synthesis. The Kunjin virus replicon results were interpreted in the context of a proposed model for initiation of RNA synthesis based on the solved crystal structure of the RdRp of phi6 bacteriophage, which also replicates efficiently using a dsRNA template with conserved 3'-penultimate cytidines and a 3'-terminal pyrimidine. A previously untested substitution of the conserved pentanucleotide at the top of the 3'-terminal stem-loop of all Flavivirus species also blocked detectable in vivo replication of the Kunjin virus replicon RNA.

Computational differentiation of N-terminal signal peptides and transmembrane helices

Signal peptides and transmembrane helices both contain a stretch of hydrophobic amino acids. This common feature makes it difficult for signal peptide and transmembrane helix predictors to correctly assign identity to stretches of hydrophobic residues near the N-terminal methionine of a protein sequence. The inability to reliably distinguish between N-terminal transmembrane helix and signal peptide is an error with serious consequences for the prediction of protein secretory status or transmembrane topology. In this study, we report a new method for differentiating protein N-terminal signal peptides and transmembrane helices. Based on the sequence features extracted from hydrophobic regions (amino acid frequency, hydrophobicity, and the start position), we set up discriminant functions and examined them on non-redundant datasets with jackknife tests. This method can incorporate other signal peptide prediction methods and achieve higher prediction accuracy. For Gram-negative bacterial proteins, 95.7% of N-terminal signal peptides and transmembrane helices can be correctly predicted (coefficient 0.90). Given a sensitivity of 90%, transmembrane helices can be identified from signal peptides with a precision of 99% (coefficient 0.92). For eukaryotic proteins, 94.2% of N-terminal signal peptides and transmembrane helices can be correctly predicted with coefficient 0.83. Given a sensitivity of 90%, transmembrane helices can be identified from signal peptides with a precision of 87% (coefficient 0.85). The method can be used to complement current transmembrane protein prediction and signal peptide prediction methods to improve their prediction accuracies. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acompanhamento da construção do projecto de expansão do terminal de GNL de Sines: PETS

O presente relatório de estágio está inserido no âmbito do Trabalho Final de Mestrado do perfil de Edificações, relativo ao curso de Engenharia Civil do Instituto de Engenharia de Lisboa. Foi realizado um estágio com o período de dezasseis semanas na Somague Engenharia, integrado na obra pública do Projecto de Expansão do Terminal de GNL de Sines. O documento compreende o estudo e o acompanhamento da construção dos elementos principais do terminal, nomeadamente, o novo sistema de água do mar e o tanque de armazenagem de GNL. O Capítulo 2 descreve o funcionamento e apresenta os principais sistemas constituintes do terminal. O objectivo primordial deste trabalho tem como base o estudo dos recursos e da metodologia construtiva envolvida no sistema de adução de água do mar, no tanque de armazenagem e no sistema de rejeição de água do mar, apresentando os Capítulos 3,4 e 5, respectivamente. Os Capítulos 6 e 7 desenvolvem, respectivamente, a evolução construtiva verificada durante o período de estágio e os trabalhos realizados enquanto estagiário. Os Capítulos 3 e 5 são complementados pelos Anexos I e II, assim como pelos Apêndices I e II, respectivamente. Os anexos são utilizados como referência para as peças desenhadas, enquanto os apêndices são utilizados para um complemento ao desenvolvimento pormenorizado de algumas soluções.

Costo-efectividad de intervenciones para insuficiencia renal crónica terminal

OBJETIVO: Analisó el costo-efectividad en intervenciones para pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica terminal (IRCT) en términos de los costos económicos de cada intervención, los años de vida ganados y la calidad de vida que generan tres alternativas comparables y mutuamente excluyentes: diálisis peritoneal contínua ambulatoria (DPCA), la hemodiálisis (HD) y el trasplante renal (TR). MÉTODO: El diseño del estudio fue de tipo longitudinal. Los costos de cada intervención se determinaron mediante la técnica de manejo de caso promedio. Las medidas para evaluar los criterios de efectividad elegidos fueron la probabilidad de sobrevida y el Año de Vida Ajustado por Calidad (QALY, Quality Adjusted Life Year) medido por el Indice de Rosser. RSULTADOS: Los costos de manejo anual de caso fueron: diálisis peritoneal $5,643.07, hemodiálisis $9,631.60 y trasplante $3,021.63. En cuanto a la efectividad, la sobrevida del injerto de trasplante renal resultó de 89,9% y 79,6% a uno y tres años respectivamente, mientras que los pacientes sometidos a DPCA tienen una sobrevida de 86,2% y 66,9% a un año y a tres años respectivamente. En cuanto a los QALY's, los resultados para cada intervención fueron: DPCA 0,879; HD 0,864; y para el TR 0,978. CONCLUSIÓN: La intervención más costo-efectiva resultó el trasplante renal con un coeficiente de 3,088.69, seguido de la DPCA y la hemodiálisis, cuyos coeficientes fueron de 6,416.95 y 11,147.68 respectivamente. Por lo tanto se recomienda promover y utilizar el trasplante renal como la intervención más costo-efectiva para pacientes con IRCT.

A two terminal optical signal and image processing p-i-n/p-i-n image and colour sensor

A two terminal optically addressed image processing device based on two stacked sensing/switching p-i-n a-SiC:H diodes is presented. The charge packets are injected optically into the p-i-n sensing photodiode and confined at the illuminated regions changing locally the electrical field profile across the p-i-n switching diode. A red scanner is used for charge readout. The various design parameters and addressing architecture trade-offs are discussed. The influence on the transfer functions of an a-SiC:H sensing absorber optimized for red transmittance and blue collection or of a floating anode in between is analysed. Results show that the thin a-SiC:H sensing absorber confines the readout to the switching diode and filters the light allowing full colour detection at two appropriated voltages. When the floating anode is used the spectral response broadens, allowing B&W image recognition with improved light-to-dark sensitivity. A physical model supports the image and colour recognition process.

Avaliação e optimização operacional: estudo do terminal de contentores de Alcântara

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica - Ramo Manutenção e Produção

Caracterização de estruturas portuárias: caso de estudo: ampliação do Terminal XXI, Sines

Relatório de Estágio para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil

Ensaio de síntese crítica acerca do Cretácico terminal e do Paleogénico de Portugal

A synthetic essay about portuguese Late Cretaceous (Upper Campanian-Maastrichtian) and Paleogene is presented. This does include most of the so far known data, a critical approach to the problems of such formations, and to previous works on them. Our viewpoints (party original) are exposed in a shorter text in French where most of the discussion was suppressed (see reference in Resumo).

Le Crétacé terminal de Beira Litoral, Portugal: remarques stratigraphiques et écologiques,étude complémentaire de Rosasia soutoi (Chelonii, Bothremydidae)

The synthetic study of the uppermost Cretaceous of the Beira Litoral (fauna, flora) confirms its upper Campanian-Maastrichtian age. It shows the presence of a tropical to subtropical climate in an area constituted by a low coastal plain only occasionally linked to the sea, saturated with fresh water and possessing accordingly, a predominantely freshwater fauna (Viso, Aveiro); this plain changed towards the interior into a drier more forested zone with a more abundant terrestrial fauna which includes mammals (Taveiro). A thorough study of the chelonian Rosasia, abundant on the coastal plain, was made possible thanks to the discovery of a skull: it demonstrates that the genus belongs to the family Bothremydidae, revalided here. The composition of this family is presented, its phylogenetic and paleobiogeographic relation with the other pleurodires are analyzed, and its diagnosis established. The family is constituted of three groups; Rosasia belongs to one of these, the Bothremys group.

Analyse paléoécologique des formations récifales du golfe de Skoura (bordure méridionale du sillon Sud rifain; SE de Fés; Maroc). Implications paléogéographiques: communications Atlantique - Méditerranée au Miocène Terminal

The reef levels of the gulf of Skoura belong to the reef formation of the Upper Miocene of the South-Rifan straits. A detailed analysis of the vertical distribution of various forms of colonies has led to the establishment of precise coral morphologies zonation. This palaeoecological approach leads us to distinguish between two environments in the Skoura gulf, probably corresponding to two reef episodes. The palaeogeographical implications (relationships between the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea) will be pointed out.

Eficiência energética no terminal multipurpose do porto de Sines

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente, perfil Gestão e Sistemas Ambientais

Reconfigurable antenna for mobile terminal

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestrado em Engenharia Electrónica e Telecomunicações

XtranX passenger: navegação inercial

Trabalho de Projecto para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática e de Computadores

Le Crétacé terminal de Beira Litoral, Portugal: remarques stratigraphiques et écologiques, étude complémentaire de Rosasia soutoi (Cbelonii, Bothremydidae)

The synthetic study of the uppermost Cretaceous of the Beira Litoral (fauna, floral confirms its upper Campanian-Maastrichtian age. It shows the presence of a tropical to subtropical climate in an area constituted by a low coastal plain only occasionally linked to the sea, saturared with fresh water and possessing accordingly, a predominantely freshwater fauna (Viso, Aveiro); this plain changed towards the interior into a drier more forested zone with a more abundant terrestrial fauna which includes mammals (Taveiro). A thorough study of the chelonian Rosasia, abundant on the coastal plain, was made possible thanks to the discovery of a skull: it demonstrates that the genus belongs to the family Bothremydidae, revalided here. The composition of this family is presented, its phylogenetic and paleobiogeographic relation with the other pleurodires are analyzed, and its diagnosis established. The family is constituted of three groups; Rosasia belongs to one of rhese, the Bothremys group.