Leishmaniose cutânea experimental. III- Aspectos histopatológicos do comportamento evolutivo da lesão cutânea produzida em Cebus apella (Primates: Cebidae) por Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni, L. (V.) braziliensis e L. (Leishmania) amazonensis

Estudaram-se os aspectos histopatológicos relativos à evolução da infecção experimental produzida em Cebus apella (Primates: Cebidae) por Leishmania (V.) lainsoni, L. (V.) braziliensis e L. (L.) amazonensis. O exame microscópico de biópsias seqüênciais, obtidas dos animais a intervalos definidos de tempo (a primeira, às 48 ou 72 horas após a inoculação, e as seguintes, a cada 30 dias), mostrou que o desenvolvimento das lesões, independentemente da espécie de Leishmania inoculada, passa por uma seqüência de etapas a nível tecidual - 1) infiltrado inespecífico crônico; 2) nódulo macrofágico (com numerosos parasitas); 3) necrose das células parasitadas; 4) granuloma epitelióide; 5) absorção da área necrosada (às vezes formando granuloma de corpo estranho); 6) infiltrado inespecífico crônico residual); e 7) cicatrização - que representaria a formação e a resolução das lesões. Discutiram-se também os prováveis mecanismos imunopatológicos que determinam esta seqüência de eventos e sua possível semelhança com a evolução das lesões na leishmaniose tegumentar humana.

Contributions to the Eocene palaeontology and stratigraphy of Beira Alta, Portugal III - Eocene plant remains from Naia and Sobreda (Beira Alta, Portugal)

The result of research conducted in trunk fragments from the Coja Arkoses Formation at Naia and Sobreda is reported. It is also reported the palynological study of the lutaceous black level surrounding the Naia trunk. Comparisons with trunks from Nave de Haver are established. Comments on palaeoecology and palaeoclimatology are presented.

Oxidovanadium complexes with tridentate aroylhydrazone as catalyst precursors for solvent-free microwave-assisted oxidation of alcohols

Aroylhydrazone oxidovanadium compounds, viz, the oxidoethoxidovanadium(V) [VO(OEt)L1] (1) (H2L =salicylaldehyde-2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone), the salt like dioxidovanadium(V) (NH3CH2CH2OH)(+) [VO2L](-) (2), the mixed-ligand oxidovanadium(V) [VO(hq)L](Hhq = 8-hydroxyquinoline) (3) and the vanadium(IV) [VO(phen)L] (phen=1,10-phenanthroline) (4) complexes (3 and 4 obtained by the first time), have been tested as catalysts for solvent-free microwave-assisted oxidation of aromatic and alicyclic secondary alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide. A facile, efficient and selective solvent-free synthesis of ketones was achieved with yields up to 99% (TON= 497, TOF= 993 h(-1) for 3) and 58% (TON =291, TOF= 581 h(-1) for 2) for acetophenone and cyclohexanone, respectively, after 30 min under low power (25W) microwave irradiation. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Utilization of food industry wastes for the production of zero-valent iron nanoparticles

The proper disposal of the several types of wastes produced in industrial activities increases production costs. As a consequence, it is common to develop strategies to reuse these wastes in the same process and in different processes or to transform them for use in other processes. This work combines the needs for new synthesis methods of nanomaterials and the reduction of production cost using wastes from citrine juice (orange, lime, lemon and mandarin) to produce a new added value product, green zero-valent iron nanoparticles that can be used in several applications, including environmental remediation. The results indicate that extracts of the tested fruit wastes (peel, albedo and pulp fractions) can be used to produce zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVIs). This shows that these wastes can be an added value product. The resulting nZVIs had sizes ranging from 3 up to 300 nm and distinct reactivities (pulp > peel > albedo extracts). All the studied nanoparticles did not present a significant agglomeration/settling tendency when compared to similar nanoparticles, which indicates that they remain in suspension and retain their reactivity.

Atlas des fossiles caractéristiques du Lias portugais* III a) Domérien (Ammonites)

This fascicle, dedicated to the Domerian (Late Pliensbachian) ammonites faunas, is the third part of the “Atlas des fossiles caractéristiques du Lias portugais“. It follows two previous publications about the Hettangian-Sinemurian and the Carixian (Lower fifty species are concisely described and illustrated. The other groups (nautilids, belemnites, brachiopods, bivalvia...) will be published afterwards. The principal objective of the “Atlas des fossiles caractéristiques du Lias portugais“ is to make the main liassic lusitanian fossils known to a wide public. It also aims to support field studies by giving a rich iconography dedicated to the lusitanian invertebrate macrofaunas. In the case of the ammonites, all the species are described and the “Atlas” can be used as an exhaustive database for biostratigraphic and paleobiogeographic studies.

Desidratação/oxidação seletiva de metanol recorrendo a catalisadores heterogéneos para a obtenção de biocombustíveis (DME e DMM)

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Biológica

The impact of the implementation of the Basel III recommendations on the capital of portuguese banks

This paper analyses the impact of the implementation of the Basel III recommendations, using the standard method, in Portugal. For our study, we used the annual reports of 31st of December of 2012, and found out that out of the fourteen banks that published annual reports, only six satisfied the minimum ratios laid out by BCBS. Till 2012, Portuguese banks used an internal ratings method based on the Basel II recommendations known as notice 6/2010 of the Portuguese central bank, Banco de Portugal. As the implementation of the recommendations of Basel III in the EU via the Credit Review Directive IV is scheduled for 2014 and later years, Portuguese banks may severely contract credit upon implementation, as that is the easiest, fastest and cheapest way for banks to satisfy the minimum ratio requirements as compared to an increase of capital or credit spreads.

ECO: argamassas de cal hidráulica para reabilitação de edifícios

Dissertação de Natureza Científica para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil na Área de Especialização de Edificações

Pozzolanic activity of oil-refining catalyst: evaluation by electron and atomic microscopy

The reuse of waste fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst as partial surrogate for cement can reduce the environmental impact of both the oil-refinery and cement production industries [1,2]. FCC catalysts can be considered as pozzolanic materials since in the presence of water they tend to chemically react with calcium hydroxide to produce compounds possessing cementitious properties [3,4]. In addition, partial replacement of cement with FCC catalysts can enhance the performance of pastes and mortars, namely by improving their compressive strength [5,6]. In the present work the reaction of waste FCC catalyst with Ca(OH)2 has been investigated after a curing time of 28 days by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with electron backscattered signal (BSE) combined with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) carried out with a JEOL JSM 7001F instrument operated at 15 kV coupled to an INCA pentaFetx3 Oxford spectrometer. The polished cross-sections of FCC particles embedded in resin have also been evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in contact mode (CM) using a NanoSurf EasyScan 2 instrument. The SEM/EDS results revealed that an inward migration of Ca occurred during the reaction. A weaker outward migration of Si and Al was also apparent (Fig. 1). The migration of Ca was not homogeneous and tended to follow high-diffusivity paths within the porous waste FCC catalyst particles. The present study suggests that the porosity of waste FCC catalysts is key for the migration/reaction of Ca from the surrounding matrix, playing an important role in the pozzolanic activity of the system. The topography images and surface roughness parameters obtained by atomic force microscopy can be used to infer the local porosity in waste FCC catalyst particles (Fig. 2).

Induction of iron regulated proteins during normal growth of Neisseria meningitidis in a chemically defined medium

The expression of iron regulated proteins (IRPs) in vitro has been obtained in the past by adding iron chelators to the culture after bacterial growth, in the presence of an organic iron source. We have investigated aspects concerning full expression of the meningococcal IRPs during normal growth, in defined conditions using Catlin medium, Mueller Hinton and Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB). The expression of IRPs varied between different strains with respect to Ethylenediamine Di-ortho-Hidroxy-phenyl-acetic acid (EDDA) concentrations, and according to culture medium, and also between different lots of TSB. For each strain, a specific set of IRPs were expressed and higher EDDA concentrations, or addition of glucose, or use of different culture media did not resulted in a differential expression of IRPs. We were not able to grow N. meningitidis under normal growth conditions using Desferal. We looked for a good yield of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) expressing IRPs in iron-deficient Catlin medium containing EDDA and Hemin. Culture for 32 h at 30ºC after growing for 16 h at 37ºC supported good bacterial growth. Bacterial lysis was noted after additional 24 h at 30ºC. Approximately 4 times more OMVs was recoverable from a culture supernatant after 24 h at 30ºC than from the cells after 16 h at 37ºC. The IRP were as well expressed in OMVs from culture supernatant obtained after 24 h at 30ºC as from the cells after 16 h at 37ºC.

Arylhydrazones of barbituric acid: synthesis, coordination ability and catalytic activity of their CoII, CoII/IIIand CuIIcomplexes toward peroxidative oxidation of alkanes

New ortho-substituted arylhydrazones of barbituric acid, 5-(2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hydrazono) pyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione (H4L1) and the sodium salt of 2-(2-(2,4,6-trioxotetra-hydropyrimidin-5(2H)-ylidene)hydrazinyl) benzenesulfonic acid (H4L2), [Na(H3L2)(mu-H2O)(H2O)(2)](2) (1), were used in the synthesis of Cu-II, Co-II and Co-II/III complexes, [Cu(H2L1)(H2O)(im)]center dot 3H(2)O (im = imidazole) (2), [Co(H2O)(6)] [Co(H2L1)(2)](2)center dot 8H(2)O (3), [Co(H2L2)(im)(3)] (4), [Cu(H2L2)(im)(2)]center dot H2O (5) and [Co(H2O)(6)][H3L2](2)center dot 8H(2)O (6). The complexes are water soluble and the mono-or di-deprotonated ligands display different coordination modes, depending on the synthetic conditions. The electrochemical behaviour of all the compounds was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis, revealing that the ligands are also redox active. All the compounds were evaluated as catalysts for the peroxidative (with H2O2) oxidation of cyclohexane at room temperature. The compounds 2 and 3 are the most active ones (yields up to 21% and TON up to 213 are achieved, in the presence of 3).

The alternative complex III from Rhodothermus marinus - a prototype of a new family of quinol: electron acceptor oxidoreductase

Dissertation presented to obtain a PhD degree in Biochemistry at the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Chagas' disease in the Brazilian Amazon: III. a cross-sectional sutdy

Two serological surveys for Chagas' infection were carried out, in 1991 and 1993, respectively, using a conglomerate family samples from the residents in the town of Barcelos (in the northern part of the State of Amazonas, on the right bank of the Rio Negro, 490 Km up-river from Manaus), using indirect immunofluorescent tests for anti-T. cruzi antibodies. In the first survey (1991), 628 blood samples from the residents of 142 dwellings were tested, showing positive in 12.7% for anti-T. cruzi antibodies and in 1993 an other 658 samples from residents of 171 dwellings showed positive in 13.7% of the tests, thus confirming the previous results. From 170 individuals with positive serology for T. cruzi antibodies, 112 (66%) were interviewed and submitted to electrocardiographic and clinical examinations; 82 (73.2%) of them gave consent for xenodiagnosis. From the 112 interviewed 52 (46.4%) recognized the triatomines as "piaçavas' lice", 48 (42.8%) knew the bugs from their work places being gatherers of piaçava fibers in rural areas and 19 (16.9%) said that have been bitten by bugs in their huts. Only 2 (2.4%) of 82 xenodiagnosis applied were positive for T. cruzi and 9 (8%) of the ECG had alterations compatible with Chagas' disease.

Estrutura metálica do teto falso da sala de comando da central Venda Nova III – acompanhamento da conceção, fabrico e montagem

O primeiro objetivo deste relatório, que adiante se desenvolve, é apresentar o trabalho realizado para a obtenção de conhecimentos que justifiquem a atribuição do grau de mestre em engenharia, no ramo das construções. O estágio, que a este trabalho dá sustentação, foi feito na empresa Metaloviana, onde foi possível acompanhar as várias fases de conceção, fabrico e montagem de um teto falso, designadamente na sala de comando da central Venda Nova III, de aproveitamento hidroelétrico. Tendo Portugal objetivos cada vez mais ambiciosos na utilização de energias renováveis, aproveitando, entre outros, os recursos hídricos para a produção de eletricidade, a EDP Produção fez estudos onde verificou que a realização de reforços de potência em aproveitamento já existentes, seria uma forma economicamente bastante atrativa e ao mesmo tempo responderia às crescentes solicitações energéticas. É neste âmbito que se insere o Reforço de Potência em Venda Nova III. A empresa Metaloviana, com instalações fabris em Viana do Castelo, tem todo um historial e capacidade, reconhecida nacional e internacionalmente. Este, confere a certeza de ter acompanhado um trabalho de ponta, devidamente creditado e fundamentado numa qualidade e mérito, por demais reconhecido.

The application of Basel III in Portugal: previsions based on 2012 and 2013 banking balance-sheets

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) introduced new regulations for banking supervision in December 2010, better known as Basel III recommendations that aimed at guaranteeing the solidity of banks worldwide and the mitigation of new banking crises risks. The European Union transposed these directives through the Credit Review Directives IV (CRD IV). Portugal adopted CRD IV by a new decree-law no. 157/2014, on 24 th October 2014, enforced from 24 th November 2014. While individual banks have been given the option of using the internal ratings based method, this study analyses the compliance levels of all Portuguese banking institutions using the standard method, also prescribed by BCBS. Our results show that out of thirteen banks on 31-12-2013 only five banks were in a comfortable position and the remaining eight could not reach the minimum requirements set up by BCBS for 1-1-2014.