Frameworks e Bibliotecas Javascript

This report describes a study based on a research and evaluation of platforms (JavaScript frameworks and libraries carried out under the discipline of Tese/Dissertação/Estágio in the Master Degree Computer Science - area of expertise in Arquitecturas Sistemas e Redes, in Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP). The JavaScript language is increasingly present in the development of software and particularly software for the web environment. For this reason there is a need to investigate the issue, as the platforms that are emerging in the market have a very low level of maturity compared to existing, it is crucial to identify the main differences so that we can save time, labor and other costs in research and experimentation developers. This project aims to inform a range of platforms and existing JavaScript libraries on the market. For further investigation, a study of use cases used at this point in the market was held. To assist the work were used qualitative research methods through the existing content of research related to the area, and quantitative research methods. It was thus conducted a survey sent via email to fifty regular users of the language, platforms, and JavaScript libraries, linking the functional and non-functional characteristics of the platforms and existing use cases in the market, in order to realize what is the use of these tools in his professional life. This study allowed developers to access information that will be compared and evaluated in order to achieve a more precise evaluation of the various analyzed platforms. It was also made an evaluation of adaptation of the various platforms to the various use cases.

Neuropsychological Abnormalities in Children with the Panayiotopoulos Syndrome Point to Parietal Lobe Dysfunction

Panayiotopoulos syndrome (PS) is a common epilepsy syndrome associated with rare clinical seizures and unknown localization of the epileptogenic area. Despite findings of normal development in patientswith PS, recent neuropsychological studies point to subtle and diverse cognitive impairments. No well-outlined hypothesis about the localization of the brain dysfunction responsible for these impairments has been proposed.We further explored the cognitive dysfunctions in PS andmade inferences on the most likely anatomical localization of brain impairment. A group of 19 patients (aged 6–12) with PS was rated according to spike activity and lateralization. The patients were submitted to a neuropsychological evaluation to assess general intelligence, memory, language, visual–perceptual abilities, attention, and executive functions. Using 35-channel scalp EEG recordings, the N170 face-evoked event-related potential (ERP)was obtained to assess the functional integrity of the ventral pathway. All patientswith PS showed normal IQ but subtle and consistent neurocognitive impairments. Namely, we found abnormalities in the copy task of the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure and in theNarrative Memory Test. There was no correlation between neuropsychological impairments with spike activity and hemispheric spike lateralization. The N170 ERP was normal in all patients except for one. Our neuropsychological findings demonstrate impairments in visual–perceptual abilities and in semantic processing. These findings, paired with the absence of occipital lobe dysfunction in all neuropsychological studies of PS performed to this date, support the existence of parietal lobe dysfunction.

Coreceptor Usage by HIV-1 and HIV-2 Primary Isolates: The Relevance of CCR8 Chemokine Receptor as an Alternative Coreceptor

The human immunodeficiency virus replication cycle begins by sequential interactions between viral envelope glycoproteins with CD4 molecule and a member of the seven-transmembrane, G-protein-coupled, receptors' family (coreceptor). In this report we focused on the contribution of CCR8 as alternative coreceptor for HIV-1 and HIV-2 isolates. We found that this coreceptor was efficiently used not only by HIV-2 but particularly by HIV-1 isolates. We demonstrate that CXCR4 usage, either alone or together with CCR5 and/or CCR8, was more frequently observed in HIV-1 than in HIV-2 isolates. Directly related to this is the finding that the non-usage of CXCR4 is significantly more common in HIV-2 isolates; both features could be associated with the slower disease progression generally observed in HIV-2 infected patients. The ability of some viral isolates to use alternative coreceptors besides CCR5 and CXCR4 could further impact on the efficacy of entry inhibitor therapy and possibly also in HIV pathogenesis.

Compositional and functional analysis of polycomb target chromatin

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Molecular Biology

Insights into the biological significance of alternative splicing in Arabidopsis: functional characterization of a dual-targeted E3 ligase and the SCL30a SR protein

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Molecular Biology

Developing Young Learners’ Logical/Deductive Thinking Skills and Second Language Skills through a CLIL approach

Trabalho de Projecto apresentado para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Teaching English as a Second / Foreign Language.

The HIF1A Functional Genetic Polymorphism at Locus +1772 Associates with Progression to Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Refractoriness to Hormonal Castration

The hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1a) is a key regulator of tumour cell response to hypoxia, orchestrating mechanisms known to be involved in cancer aggressiveness and metastatic behaviour. In this study we sought to evaluate the association of a functional genetic polymorphism in HIF1A with overall and metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) risk and with response to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The HIF1A +1772 C>T (rs11549465) polymorphism was genotyped, using DNA isolated from peripheral blood, in 1490 male subjects (754 with prostate cancer and 736 controls cancer-free) through Real-Time PCR. A nested group of cancer patients who were eligible for androgen deprivation therapy was followed up. Univariate and multivariate models were used to analyse the response to hormonal treatment and the risk for developing distant metastasis. Age-adjusted odds ratios were calculated to evaluate prostate cancer risk. Our results showed that patients under ADT carrying the HIF1A +1772 T-allele have increased risk for developing distant metastasis (OR, 2.0; 95%CI, 1.1-3.9) and an independent 6-fold increased risk for resistance to ADT after multivariate analysis (OR, 6.0; 95%CI, 2.2-16.8). This polymorphism was not associated with increased risk for being diagnosed with prostate cancer (OR, 0.9; 95%CI, 0.7-1.2). The HIF1A +1772 genetic polymorphism predicts a more aggressive prostate cancer behaviour, supporting the involvement of HIF1a in prostate cancer biological progression and ADT resistance. Molecular profiles using hypoxia markers may help predict clinically relevant prostate cancer and response to ADT.

The Oncological and Functional Risks of the Organ Preservation Experimental Treatment Approach

We increasingly face conservative surgery for rectal cancer and even the so called ‘wait and see’ approach, as far as 10–20% patients can reach a complete pathological response at the time of surgery. But what can we say to our patients about risks? Standard surgery with mesorectal excision gives a <2% local recurrence with a post operative death rate of 2–8% (may reach 30% at 6 months in those over 85), but low AR has some deterioration in bowel function and in low cancer a permanent stoma may be required. Also a long-term impact on urinary and sexual function is possible. Distant metastasis rate seem to be identical in the standard and conservative approach. It is difficult to evaluate conservative approach because a not clear standardization of surgery for low rectal cancer. Rullier et al tried to clarify, and they found identical results for recurrence (5–9%), disease free survival (70%) at 5y for coloanal anastomosis and intersphinteric resection. Other series have found local recurrence higher than with standard approach and functional results may be worse and, in some situations, salvage therapy is compromised or has more complications. In this context, functional outcomes are very important but most studies are incomplete in measuring bowel function in the context of conservative approach. In 2005 Temple et al made a survey of 122/184 patient after sphinter preserving surgery and found a 96.9% of incomplete evacuation, 94.4% clustering, 93.2% food affecting frequency, 91.8% gas incontinence and proposed a systematic evaluation with a specific questionnaire. In which concerns ‘Wait and see’ approach for complete clinical responders, it was first advocated by Habr Gama for tumors up to 7cm, with a low locoregional failure of 4.6%, 5y overall survival 96%, 72% for disease free survival; one fifth of patients failed in the first year; a Dutch trial had identical results but others had worse recurrence rates; in other series 25% of patients could not be salvaged even with APR; 30% have subsequent metastatic disease what seems equal for ‘wait and see’ and operated patients. In a recent review Glynne Jones considers that all the evaluated ‘wait and see’ studies are heterogeneous in staging, inclusion criteria, design and follow up after chemoradiation and that there is the suggestion that patients who progress while under observation fare worse than those resected. He proposes long-term observational studies with more uniform inclusion criteria. We are now facing a moment where we may be more aggressive in early cancer and neoadjuvant treatment to be more conservative in the subsequent treatment but we need a better stratification of patients, better evaluation of results and more clear prognostic markers.

Structural and functional studies of PpcA: a key protein in the electron transfer pathways of Geobacter sulfurreducens

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Bioquímica, ramo de Biotecnologia

The influence of animation on functional food intake in children

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

How to engage low category users through social media: The case of the make-up sector in Portugal

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

Smart metering consumer behavior study in the Republic of Ireland: Further analyses on the consumers’ electricity consumptions and usage perceptions

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

Structural and functional characterization of the gene products responsible for phototrophic iron oxidation by purple bacteria

Dissertação para a obtenção de grau de doutor em Bioquímica pelo Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica. Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Isolation and functional characterization of mononuclear phagocytes from human lepromatous lesions

In the present study, inflammatory cells from human lepromatous lesions were isolated by enzymatic dissociation of tissue. They were maintained in culture up to five days and their morphologic, cythochemicaland functional characteristics were described.

The use of corpora to the teach english as a foreign language in secondary education in Portugal

Trabalho de Projecto apresentado para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Didáctica Do Inglês