Analysis of Natural and Artificial Phenomena Using Signal Processing and Fractional Calculus

In this paper we study several natural and man-made complex phenomena in the perspective of dynamical systems. For each class of phenomena, the system outputs are time-series records obtained in identical conditions. The time-series are viewed as manifestations of the system behavior and are processed for analyzing the system dynamics. First, we use the Fourier transform to process the data and we approximate the amplitude spectra by means of power law functions. We interpret the power law parameters as a phenomenological signature of the system dynamics. Second, we adopt the techniques of non-hierarchical clustering and multidimensional scaling to visualize hidden relationships between the complex phenomena. Third, we propose a vector field based analogy to interpret the patterns unveiled by the PL parameters.

Linguagem e selec����o natural

Talvez que nenhuma outra tem��tica divida hoje a chamada comunidade cient��fica tanto quanto a origem e evolu����o da linguagem e correlativas controv��rsias sobre a sua perten��a exclusiva, ou n��o, �� subesp��cie Homo sapiens sapiens, na qual se inclui o ��ltimo homin��deo presente na biosfera. Encontrando-se as ci��ncias sociais e humanas divididas por paradigmas fortemente personalizados, acontece que esses modelos se fundam, na sua maioria, em postulados que separam o homem actual dos outros seres vivos, com base no crit��rio do monop��lio humano da linguagem.

Caracteriza����o de argamassas de cal hidr��ulica natural com metacaulino

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil ��� Perfil de Constru����o

A ventila����o natural como melhoria do desempenho energ��tico de edif��cios residenciais

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil - Perfil Constru����o

Induction of phagocytic activity and nitric-oxide production in natural populations of Trypanosoma Cruzi I and II from the state of Paran��, Brazil

Twelve strains of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from wild reservoirs, triatomines, and chronic chagasic patients in the state of Paran��, southern Brazil, and classified as T. cruzi I and II, were used to test the correlation between genetic and biological diversity. The Phagocytic Index (PI) and nitric-oxide (NO) production in vitro were used as biological parameters. The PI of the T. cruzi I and II strains did not differ significantly, nor did the PI of the T. cruzi strains isolated from humans, triatomines, or wild reservoirs. There was a statistical difference in the inhibition of NO production between T. cruzi I and II and between parasites isolated from humans and the strains isolated from triatomines and wild reservoirs, but there was no correlation between genetics and biology when the strains were analyzed independently of the lineages or hosts from which the strains were isolated. There were significant correlations for Randomly Amplified Polymorphic Deoxyribonucleic acid (RAPD) and biological parameters for T. cruzi I and II, and for humans or wild reservoirs when the lineages or hosts were considered individually.

A voz natural

H�� um combate surdo entre os estudos liter��rios, que estudam o objecto liter��rio, e os autores de objectos de estudo liter��rios propriamente ditos. Esse combate surdo (essa surdez combativa) perdura mesmo quando h�� coincid��ncia parcial entre ambas as partes, por exemplo, quando poeta e ensa��sta coincidem numa mesma pessoa. Esse combate participa, como todos os conflitos, de um equ��voco: a) os estudiosos convencem-se ami��de que o seu objectivo, ao estudar os textos, �� desmistificar; b) os autores julgam que se protegem melhor (das unhas da cr��tica e das esfoladelas do tempo) mistificando. 2 Dos estudos cient��ficos espera-se rigor. Em princ��pio, um trabalho cient��fico (ou imbu��do de caracter cient��fico, como acontece nos estudos liter��rios) fomece aos seus leitores "a lenha com que se h��-de queimar", os elementos suficientes para o leitor ou o estudioso poderem p��r em causa o que �� dito. �� um dos tra��os distintivos da ci��ncia e, sendo tra��o distintivo, n��o �� partilhado por... bem, nomeadamente pela arte. Uma verdade como punhos tem de ser dita, por mais dolorosa que seja. Mas podemos suaviz��-la, n��o? Sejamos, ent��o, caridosamente eufem��sticos: a honestidade n��o �� propriamente o melhor talento de um escritor.

Evaluation of different natural ingredients as satiety inductors

Dissertation to obtain a Master���s Degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Diversidade gen��tica e resist��ncia natural ao Maraviroc em estirpes do v��rus da imunodefici��ncia humana Tipo 1 (HIV-1) em circula����o em utilizadores de drogas por via endovenosa na Grande Lisboa

RESUMO: O maraviroc (MVC) �� o ��nico anti-retroviral antagonista do co-receptor CCR5 licenciado e interage com as ansas transmembranares de CCR5, induzindo uma altera����o da sua conforma����o e impedindo a interac����o com gp120. O MVC �� activo apenas contra estirpes R5 de HIV-1, sendo utilizado em terapia de recurso. Neste trabalho, foi estudada a diversidade gen��tica da regi��o C2V3C3 do gene env de estirpes de HIV-1 de oxicodependentes por via endovenosa da Grande Lisboa, pesquisando-se tamb��m a presen��a de polimorfismos gen��ticos naturais. Foram utilizadas 52 amostras de plasma e para 35 destas foi amplificado por RT-nested PCR um produto de 565 pb. A an��lise filogen��tica revelou a seguinte distribui����o de gen��tipos: 23 B (incluindo, provavelmente, 2 CRF14_BG), 8 A, 3 G e 1 F1. Ap��s tradu����o, e por compara����o com a sequ��ncia consenso B, verificou-se uma elevada frequ��ncia de polimorfismos gen��ticos, sendo encontradas algumas ���assinaturas de amino��cidos��� relativas aos subtipos n��o-B. Realizou-se ainda uma pesquisa de locais de N-glicosila����o e a previs��o da utiliza����o de co-receptores (abordagem genot��pica), com recurso ��s regras 11/25 e da carga l��quida da ansa V3 e aos programas PSSM e geno2pheno[coreceptor]. Observou-se uma conserva����o gen��rica do n��mero de locais de N-glicosila����o e foram identificadas 5 sequ��ncias com tropismo X4 ou duplo. Por fim, com base na literatura, realizou-se uma pesquisa de polimorfismos gen��ticos associados a resist��ncia ao MVC presentes na ansa V3. Foi observado um n��mero elevado destas muta����es. A presen��a dos padr��es 11S+26V e 20F+25D+26V, num total de 3 sequ��ncias, �� relevante, visto estes estarem inequivocamente associados �� resist��ncia in vivo ao MVC. Apesar de n��o estar ainda definido um perfil de resist��ncia para o MVC, a presen��a das muta����es encontradas, em indiv��duos sem contacto pr��vio com o f��rmaco, trar�� implica����es relevantes na sua gest��o cl��nica, considerando a introdu����o do MVC na terapia de recurso.---------- ABSTRACT: Maraviroc (MVC) is the only CCR5 inhibitor licensed today. This drug interacts with the transmembrane helices of CCR5 co-receptor, inducing a conformation change of its extracellular loops and preventing the interaction with gp120. MVC is only active against R5 strains of HIV-1 and is currently used in salvage therapy. The genetic diversity of the env C2V3C3 region of HIV-1 strains from injecting drug users in the Greater Lisbon was studied, along with the presence of natural genetic polymorphisms. 52 plasma samples were used and the amplification by RT-nested PCR of a 565 bp-product was possible in 35 of them. The phylogenetic analysis revealed 23 sequences classified as subtype B (probably including 2 CRF14_BG), 8 A, 3 G and 1 F1. After translation, the presence of natural genetic polymorphisms was studied by comparison to a subtype B consensus. A high frequency of genetic polymorphisms was observed and significant ���amino acid signatures��� were found in association with non-B subtypes. A full characterization of the N-glycosylation sites was also performed and a coreceptor prediction (genotypic approach) was accomplished using the 11/25 and the V3 net charge rules and the programs PSSM and geno2pheno[coreceptor]. The number of N-glycosylation sites was generically preserved. Five sequences were defined as X4 or dual-tropic. Based on published data, a search for genetic polymorphisms, present in V3loop, associated to MVC resistance was finally undertaken. Several of such mutations were observed, being particularly interesting the presence of the patterns 11S+26V and 20F+25D+26V, in a total of 3 sequences, since these patterns have unequivocally been associated with MVC resistance in vivo. Although a resistance profile for MVC is not yet defined, the presence of these mutations in MVC-na��ve populations may have significant impact in their clinical management in the future, especially considering the introduction of this drug in salvage therapy.

NATURAL INFECTION BY Trypanosoma cruzi IN ONE DOG IN CENTRAL WESTERN BRAZIL: A CASE REPORT

SUMMARY It is estimated that about 10 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi worldwide, mostly in Latin America and more than 25 million are at risk of acquiring this infection in endemic areas. Dogs are an important reservoir for this pathogen and thus, considered a risk factor for human populations. This report describes one case of Chagas disease in a dog from Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The diagnosis was obtained by direct examination of trypomastigote forms in blood smears. Amastigotes forms were visualized in microscopy of the bone marrow, lymph nodes, kidneys, liver and brain. The T. cruzi (ZIII) infection was confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction, and sequencing. The animal presented multisystemic failure and died. Although acute Chagas disease in humans is not reported in Cuiabá, this is the first report of a canine case in this region. This case represents a warning, to health professionals and authorities, to the possibility of transmission of this zoonosis in Cuiabá.

Desenvolvimento de um prot��tipo de uma m��quina perfuradora de rocha natural

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mec��nica

Incorpora����o do fosfogesso como substituto do gesso natural no processo de fabrico de cimento Portland

Disserta����o apresentada na Faculdade de Ci��ncias e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Qu��mica e Bioqu��mica

Caracteriza����o de argamassas de cal a��rea e de cal hidr��ulica natural com metacaulino. Evolu����o com a idade

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil ��� Perfil Constru����o

Estudo da influ��ncia da luz natural na qualidade da ilumina����o e na efici��ncia energ��tica

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil - Perfil Constru����o

Caracteriza����o de argamassas de cal hidr��ulica natural NHL 3.5 de fabrico nacional

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil ��� Perfil de Constru����o