Genetic structure of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C epidemic strains in South Brazil

In the present study we report the results of an analysis, based on serotyping, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE), and ribotyping of N. meningitidis serogroup C strains isolated from patients with meningococcal disease (MD) in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC) States, Brazil, as the Center of Epidemiology Control of Ministry of Health detected an increasing of MD cases due to this serogroup in the last two years (1992-1993). We have demonstrated that the MD due to N.meningitidis serogroup C strains in RS and SC States occurring in the last 4 years were caused mainly by one clone of strains (ET 40), with isolates indistinguishable by serogroup, serotype, subtype and even by ribotyping. One small number of cases that were not due to an ET 40 strains, represent closely related clones that probably are new lineages generated from the ET 40 clone referred as ET 11A complex. We have also analyzed N.meningitidis serogroup C strains isolated in the greater São Paulo in 1976 as representative of the first post epidemic year in that region. The ribotyping method, as well as MEE, could provide useful information about the clonal characteristics of those isolates and also of strains isolated in south Brazil. The strains from 1976 have more similarity with the actual endemic than epidemic strains, by the ribotyping, sulfonamide sensitivity, and MEE results. In conclusion, serotyping with monoclonal antibodies (C:2b:P1.3), MEE (ET 11 and ET 11A complex), and ribotyping by using ClaI restriction enzyme (Rb2), were useful to characterize these epidemic strains of N.meningitidis related to the increased incidence of MD in different States of south Brazil. It is mostly probable that these N.meningitidis serogroup C strains have poor or no genetic corelation with 1971-1975 epidemic serogroup C strains. The genetic similarity of members of the ET 11 and ET 11A complex were confirmed by the ribotyping method by using three restriction endonucleases.

Detection and identification of dengue virus isolates from Brazil by a simplified reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method

We show here a simplified RT-PCR for identification of dengue virus types 1 and 2. Five dengue virus strains, isolated from Brazilian patients, and yellow fever vaccine 17DD as a negative control, were used in this study. C6/36 cells were infected and supernatants were collected after 7 days. The RT-PCR, done in a single reaction vessel, was carried out following a 1/10 dilution of virus in distilled water or in a detergent mixture containing Nonidet P40. The 50 µl assay reaction mixture included 50 pmol of specific primers amplifying a 482 base pair sequence for dengue type 1 and 210 base pair sequence for dengue type 2. In other assays, we used dengue virus consensus primers having maximum sequence similarity to the four serotypes, amplifying a 511 base pair sequence. The reaction mixture also contained 0.1 mM of the four deoxynucleoside triphosphates, 7.5 U of reverse transcriptase, 1U of thermostable Taq DNA polymerase. The mixture was incubated for 5 minutes at 37ºC for reverse transcription followed by 30 cycles of two-step PCR amplification (92ºC for 60 seconds, 53ºC for 60 seconds) with slow temperature increment. The PCR products were subjected to 1.7% agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized by UV light after staining with ethidium bromide solution. Low virus titer around 10 3, 6 TCID50/ml was detected by RT-PCR for dengue type 1. Specific DNA amplification was observed with all the Brazilian dengue strains by using dengue virus consensus primers. As compared to other RT-PCRs, this assay is less laborious, done in a shorter time, and has reduced risk of contamination

Algorithms for time series clustering applied to biomedical signals

Thesis submitted in the fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master in Biomedical Engineering

Molecule: Sistema de organização e visualização de tags

No dia-a-dia existe regularmente a necessidade de rotular um item com informação adicional de forma a poder ser mais facilmente recuperado ou identificado posteriormente. Diversas plataformas permitem que os utilizadores rotulem recursos com tags que habitualmente são partilhadas com outros utilizadores. Assim, ao longo do tempo foram propostas várias formas de visualização das tags associados aos recursos, com o intuito de não só facilitar aos utilizadores a pesquisa dos mesmos, mas também permitir a visualização do tag space. A nuvem de tags destaca-se como a forma mais comum de visualização. Este documento apresenta um estudo efetuado sobre formas de visualização de tags, as suas vantagens e limitações, e propõe uma forma de visualização alternativa. Sugere-se também uma nova interpretação sobre como pesquisar e visualizar recursos com tags associadas: o sistema Molecule, uma solução viável e inovadora, para vários dos problemas associados à tradicional nuvem de tags que, para além de permitir aos seus utilizadores associem tags aos s recursos, proporciona uma abordagem multivista para os mesmos navegarem no tag space e pesquisarem informação.

Terminologia do direito processual civil em Cabo Verde

O presente trabalho tem como objectivo prioritário propor, a criação de uma base de dados terminológica e textual trilingue – Português – Inglês – Francês no domínio do direito processual civil em Cabo Verde. No entanto, tencionamos no futuro introduzir o caboverdiano como uma quarta língua na base de dados. Assim, os termos e as colocações terminológicas que iremos armazenar estarão na base da preparação dos recursos linguísticos e terminológicos para o ensino do português jurídico nas universidades e institutos superiores do arquipélago, além de ser uma ferramenta indispensável para os juristas, advogados, magistrados, tradutores, entre outros. Focalizámos a nossa análise nas colocações terminológicas nominais que na sua estrutura contemplem pelo menos um adjectivo: apreciação do Supremo Tribunal de Justiça, ampliação da competência territorial, intervenção do tribunal colectivo, etc

New Strategies on Molecular Biology Applied to Microbial Systematics

Systematics is the study of diversity of the organisms and their relationships comprising classification, nomenclature and identification. The term classification or taxonomy means the arrangement of the organisms in groups (rate) and the nomenclature is the attribution of correct international scientific names to organisms and identification is the inclusion of unknown strains in groups derived from classification. Therefore, classification for a stable nomenclature and a perfect identification are required previously. The beginning of the new bacterial systematics era can be remembered by the introduction and application of new taxonomic concepts and techniques, from the 50’s and 60’s. Important progress were achieved using numerical taxonomy and molecular taxonomy. Molecular taxonomy, brought into effect after the emergence of the Molecular Biology resources, provided knowledge that comprises systematics of bacteria, in which occurs great evolutionary interest, or where is observed the necessity of eliminating any environmental interference. When you study the composition and disposition of nucleotides in certain portions of the genetic material, you study searching their genome, much less susceptible to environmental alterations than proteins, codified based on it. In the molecular taxonomy, you can research both DNA and RNA, and the main techniques that have been used in the systematics comprise the build of restriction maps, DNA-DNA hybridization, DNA-RNA hybridization, sequencing of DNA sequencing of sub-units 16S and 23S of rRNA, RAPD, RFLP, PFGE etc. Techniques such as base sequencing, though they are extremely sensible and greatly precise, are relatively onerous and impracticable to the great majority of the bacterial taxonomy laboratories. Several specialized techniques have been applied to taxonomic studies of microorganisms. In the last years, these have included preliminary electrophoretic analysis of soluble proteins and isoenzymes, and subsequently determination of deoxyribonucleic acid base composition and assessment of base sequence homology by means of DNA-RNA hybrid experiments beside others. These various techniques, as expected, have generally indicated a lack of taxonomic information in microbial systematics. There are numberless techniques and methodologies that make bacteria identification and classification study possible, part of them described here, allowing establish different degrees of subspecific and interspecific similarity through phenetic-genetic polymorphism analysis. However, was pointed out the necessity of using more than one technique for better establish similarity degrees within microorganisms. Obtaining data resulting from application of a sole technique isolatedly may not provide significant information from Bacterial Systematics viewpoint

Relatório médico em imagiologia: estudo de práticas de criação e uso

Considerando como objeto de estudo o Relatório Médico em imagiologia, esta investigação encontra-se situada entre duas áreas do saber, a Ciência de Informação e as Ciências da Saúde (mais designadamente no âmbito da imagiologia). O Relatório Médico em imagiologia é um documento textual, físico e/ou digital, sigiloso, com caráter legal, que compreende informação médica relativa a um (ou vários) exame(s) médico(s) de um utente e que têm como principal objetivo fornecer dados/indicadores para o diagnóstico médico especializado. Com esta investigação, pretende-se posicionar o objeto de estudo, documentar a sua génese intelectual e material, refletir sobre todo o fluxo informacional do documento, revelar a importância das suas fases de produção e de normalização. Foram realizados levantamentos bibliográficos e abordagens reflexivas sobre a importância e produção do relatório médico, que depois foram cruzados com estudos de caso baseado em diferentes instituições, onde a experiência profissional do médico (produtor intelectual) e datilógrafo (produtor material) nos elucida sobre a temática apresentada e nos permitiu entender práticas e fluxos informacionais. No final do estudo analisamos o papel do datilógrafo como produtor material do relatório médico, salientando-se a sua consciência ética e profissional e sugerindo um conjunto de boas práticas no âmbito da elaboração e normalização de relatórios médicos em imagiologia.

Novel Secretion Apparatus Maintains Spore Integrity and Developmental Gene Expression in Bacillus subtilis

Plos Genetics, 5(7): ARTe1000566

Culture-dependent characterization of cyanobacterial diversity in the intertidal zones of the Portuguese coast: A polyphasic study

Cyanobacteria are important primary producers, and many are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen playing a key role in the marine environment. However, not much is known about the diversity of cyanobacteria in Portuguese marine waters. This paper describes the diversity of 60 strains isolated from benthic habitats in 9 sites (intertidal zones) on the Portuguese South and West coasts. The strains were characterized by a morphological study (light and electron microscopy) and by a molecular characterization (partial 16S rRNA, nifH, nifK, mcyA, mcyE/ndaF, sxtI genes). The morphological analyses revealed 35 morphotypes (15 genera and 16 species) belonging to 4 cyanobacterial Orders/Subsections. The dominant groups among the isolates were the Oscillatoriales. There is a broad congruence between morphological and molecular assignments. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 9 strains have less than 97% similarity compared to the sequences in the databases, revealing novel cyanobacterial diversity. Phylogenetic analysis, based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequences showed at least 12 clusters. One-third of the isolates are potential N2-fixers, as they exhibit heterocysts or the presence of nif genes was demonstrated by PCR. Additionally, no conventional freshwater toxins genes were detected by PCR screening.

Herberto Helder, Cobra, dispersão poética. Edição evolutiva

Trabalho de Projecto apresentado para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Edição de Texto

BAMoL Formalização da linguagem e validação sintática de modelos

A BAMoL (Business Application Modeling Language) é uma linguagem de domínio específico utilizada para o desenvolvimento de soluções para a plataforma myMIS, no âmbito dos sistemas de informação para a gestão. Esta linguagem carecia de dois aspetos, nomeadamente a sua formalização e a existência de mecanismos de validação sintática das soluções desenvolvidas. Estes problemas identificados tornam impossível a validação sintática das soluções desenvolvidas utilizando esta linguagem, aumentando assim a probabilidade de existência de erros, podendo fazer com que as mesmas sejam mais ineficientes e podendo até trazer um aumento de custos de manutenção da plataforma. De forma a resolver os problemas enunciados, foi realizada, para o primeiro, uma descrição textual de todos os constituintes da linguagem e criada uma gramática representativa da mesma, em que constam todos os seus elementos e regras. No caso do segundo problema, a sua resolução passou pela criação de uma ferramenta que utiliza a gramática criada e que permite validar sintaticamente e encontrar as falhas das soluções desenvolvidas. Desta forma, passa a ser possível detetar os erros existentes nas soluções, permitindo assim à equipa de desenvolvimento ter maior controlo sobre as mesmas, podendo torná-las mais corretas, na perspetiva das regras da linguagem.

Penicillium glabrum cork colonising isolates – preliminary analysis of their genomic similari

Cork stopper manufacturing process includes an operation, known as stabilisation, by which humid cork slabs are extensively colonised by fungi. The effects of fungal growth on cork are yet to be completely understood and are considered to be involved in the so called “cork taint” of bottled wine. It is essential to identify environmental constraints which define the appearance of the colonising fungal species and to trace their origin to the forest and/or as residents in the manufacturing space. The present article correlates two sets of data, from consecutive years and the same season, of systematic biologic sampling of two manufacturing units, located in the North and South of Portugal. Chrysonilia sitophila dominance was identified, followed by a high diversity of Penicillium species. Penicillium glabrum, found in all samples, was the most frequent isolated species. P. glabrum intra-species variability was investigated using DNA fingerprinting techniques revealing highly discriminative polymorphic markers in the genome. Cluster analysis of P. glabrum data was discussed in relation to the geographical location of strains, and results suggest that P. glabrum arise from predominantly the manufacturing space, although cork resident fungi can also contrib

NovaIntell - projecto de text-Mining para a língua portuguesa numa empresa de Gestão de Informação e Conhecimento

Dissertação apresentada como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Estatística e Gestão de Informação

Uma linguagem de domínio específico para AO

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Inform

Brokerage Platform for Media Content Recommendation

Near real time media content personalisation is nowadays a major challenge involving media content sources, distributors and viewers. This paper describes an approach to seamless recommendation, negotiation and transaction of personalised media content. It adopts an integrated view of the problem by proposing, on the business-to-business (B2B) side, a brokerage platform to negotiate the media items on behalf of the media content distributors and sources, providing viewers, on the business-to-consumer (B2C) side, with a personalised electronic programme guide (EPG) containing the set of recommended items after negotiation. In this setup, when a viewer connects, the distributor looks up and invites sources to negotiate the contents of the viewer personal EPG. The proposed multi-agent brokerage platform is structured in four layers, modelling the registration, service agreement, partner lookup, invitation as well as item recommendation, negotiation and transaction stages of the B2B processes. The recommendation service is a rule-based switch hybrid filter, including six collaborative and two content-based filters. The rule-based system selects, at runtime, the filter(s) to apply as well as the final set of recommendations to present. The filter selection is based on the data available, ranging from the history of items watched to the ratings and/or tags assigned to the items by the viewer. Additionally, this module implements (i) a novel item stereotype to represent newly arrived items, (ii) a standard user stereotype for new users, (iii) a novel passive user tag cloud stereotype for socially passive users, and (iv) a new content-based filter named the collinearity and proximity similarity (CPS). At the end of the paper, we present off-line results and a case study describing how the recommendation service works. The proposed system provides, to our knowledge, an excellent holistic solution to the problem of recommending multimedia contents.