Development of Chitosan and Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Blended scaffolds for cell culture using supercritical fluids technology

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Mestrado Integrado em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Development of biocompatible and “smart” porous structures using CO2-assisted processes

Dissertação apresentada para a obtenção do grau de Doutor em Engenharia Química, especialidade Engenharia da Reacção Química, pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

(7) ANAIS - Educação e Desenvolvimento

Publica-se agora o sétimo volume dos Anais da Unidade de Investigação de Educação e Desenvolvimenro (UIED) contendo as principais publicações dos diversos programas e linhas de investigação referentes à actividade do ano de 2006. Através desta publicação pode o leitor observar as valências fundamentais que integram este Centro de Investigação em educação -Educação e Ciência; Educação, Formação e Desenvolvimento; e Educação e Tecnologias -, centradas não só na área da Educação e Sociedade, problematizando o conceito de desenvolvimenro no mundo actual -com as suas vertentes no âmbito das políticas educarivas, da formação ao longo da vida, da relação entre a educação e o desenvolvimento pessoal -mas também na educação em ciência, e na relação da educação e as novas tecnologias. Uma informação complementar actualizada sobre a organização da UIED, bem como dos trabalhos de Teses de Doutoramento e de Mestrado realizados no Departamento de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa com o apoio de projectos de investigação desenvolvidos na Unidade, é inserida neste volume, tal como ocorreu em volumes anreriores.

Asthenopic symptoms and binocular vision of professional users of optical microscope

Desde 1935 que tem sido demonstrada a relação entre a execução de um trabalho de perto prolongado e o aparecimento de queixas visuais astenópicas. Anomalias da VB encontram-se significativamente aumentadas ao fim de um dia de trabalho com fixação de perto. Diminuição significativa da amplitude de acomodação e convergência depois de quatro dias a realizar uma atividade de perto. Objectivo geral: avaliar o estado da visão binocular dos profissionais de Anatomia Patológica utilizadores de microscópio ótico. Objectivos específicos: identificar as queixas astenópicas mais frequentes dos profissionais durante o trabalho com o microscópio ótico; comparar o estado da VB no início e no final de uma semana de trabalho; correlacionar o estado da VB com as queixas astenópicas sentidas pelos profissionais; correlacionar as queixas astenópicas com as horas e o número de anos de trabalho com o microscópio.

Deep structure of crust and mantle beneath Iberia and Western Mediterranean from P and S Receiver functions and SKS Waveforms

We have conducted a P and S receiver functions [PRFs and SRFs] analysis for 19 seismic stations on the Iberia and western Mediterranean. In the transition zone [TZ] the PRFs analysis reveals a band [from Gibraltar to Balearic] increased by 10-20 km relative to the standard 250 km. The TZ thickness variations are strongly correlated with the P660s times in PRFs. We interpret the variable depth of the 660-km discontinuity as an effect of subduction. Over the anomalous TZ we found a reduced velocity zone in the upper mantle. Joint inversion of PRFs and SRFs reveals a subcrustal high S velocity lid and an underlying LVZ. A reduction of the S velocity in the LVZ is less than 10%. The Gutenberg discontinuity is located at 65±5 km, but in several models sampling the Mediterranean, the lid is missing or its thickness is reduced to ~30 km. In the Gibraltar and North Africa this boundary is located at ~100 km. The lid Vp/Vs beneath Betics is reduced relative to the standard 1.8. Another evidence of the Vp/Vs anomaly is provided by S410p phase late arrivals in the SRFs. The azimuthal anisotropy analysis with a new technology was conducted at 5 stations and at 2 groups of stations. The fast direction in the uppermost mantle layer is ~90º in Iberian Massif. In Balearic is in the azimuth of ~120º. At a depth of ~60 km the direction becomes 90º. Anisotropy in the upper layer can be interpreted as frozen, whereas anisotropy in the lower layer is active, corresponding to the present-day or recent flow. The effect of the asthenosphere in the SKS splitting is much larger than the effect of the subcrustal lithosphere.

Lessing: arte popular culta

Congresso Internacional da Associação Portuguesa de Literatura Comparada, IV, actas

Aportes al conocimiento de la hidatidosis como zoonosis urbana

En la República Argentina, la hidatidosis constituye un serio problema que afecta a la salud publica y tiene graves repercusiones socioeconómicas. Las fuertes corrientes urbanisticas han traido consigo el traslado de algunas costumbres rurales hacia los centros poblados. A partir ae ello la hidatidosis en las areas endêmicas ha adquirido importância como zoonosis urbana. Si bien las cifras de infección canina halladas (1.12%) son significativamente inferiores que en las áreas rurales de la misma región, la capacidad potencial de infectar al hombre es muy superior en canes domiciliados en áreas de gran densidad demográfica. Las altas tasas de infección humana halladas son demostrativas de los aspectos señalados.

A multiplying-by-two CMOS amplifier for high-speed ADCs based on parametric amplification

15th International Conference on Mixed Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, pp. 177 – 180, Poznan, Polónia

New low-power 1.5-bit time-interleaved MDAC based on MOS capacitor amplification

15th IEEE International Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems, Malta

Age constraints on the late cretaceous alkaline magmatism on the West Iberian margin

Cretaceous Research 30 (2009) 575–586

Comparison study of procedures for aspiration of biopsy samples

Introduction: The samples obtained from fine needle aspiration in liquid base cytology (FNAC) are often limited by scarce cellularity compared to the amount of colloid and presence of blood. Accordingly, it was important to test alternative technical procedures so as to maximize the cellularity of each sample. Objective: To compare the morphological features and cellularity of the three procedures in the FNAC cytodiagnosis of the thyroid. Methods: A total of 31 cases were each subjected to a cell block and ThinPrep preparation as well as a routine smear. The observation and analysis was performed using an optical microscope. Cytological diagnosis of each cell block case was objectively analysed for cellularity, presence of background and cellular preservation. Each smear and ThinPrep case was analysed for the presence or absence of cells. The data was analysed with Microsoft Excel (Office 2010) and SPSS (Statistical Package of Social Science) version 15.0 for Windows. Results: Of 31 cases, only 20 had thyroid cells in the cell block and ThinPrep preparations, however, all smear cases contained thyroid cells. Some background was found in 30 Cell block cases with only 5 of these containing well preserved cells for cytodiagnosis. Conclusions: As indicated by the results, smear is the most appropriate procedure for FNAC of the thyroid.

The contribution of cellblock – histogel – in bronchial washing samples

Introduction: The cellblock is a technique that enables the pathologist to study the morphological detail of residual samples and can be used when it is necessary to perform additional diagnostic techniques. Objective: Demonstrate the processing of bronchial washings in liquid based cytology to cellblock using HistoGel in residual samples, evaluating the morphology and preservation of cytological material. Methods: There were used 40 residual samples from bronchial washings in liquid based cytology, after determination of the clinical diagnosis, being made subsequently 40 cellblocks using HistoGel. For each cellblock there was made one histological section for analysis of cell morphology, which was subsequently stained with the routine histological staining. After microscope observation, the morphology was evaluated by 3 experts in the field of pathology, based on the parameters: Cellularity, Preservation and Background. Results: The average final score of 3 evaluators, on a scale of 0 to 100, in assessing the morphology of the 40 samples was 55.6. From the 40 histological sections, 5 of them were considered not viable for evaluation. Conclusions: The results obtained indicate median quality maintenance of morphology. However, it is noted that in only 5 cases it was not possible to determine an evaluation, knowing from the outset that these are residual samples with a very scant cellularity. Thus, it is possible to say that the processing of bronchial washings to cellblock using HistoGel contributes to a concentration of the cytological material, allowing its evaluation and subsequent diagnosis. Additional diagnostic techniques are shown equally viable in these cellblocks.

Education for health: alcohol and young aged school teenagers

Introduction: Alcohol consumption starts at an early age in Portuguese people. Health problems and risk behavior associated with excessive consumption can be prevented or highly reduced through effective school programs. Health professionals, such as biomedical scientists, (BSc), are important in promoting healthy lifestyles through the transmission of knowledge. Objective: Explore the role of the BSc in promoting health via intervention and clarification actions, (ICA), with 9th grade students from Agrupamento de Escolas da Portela e Moscavide (AEPM) and Visconde Juromenha (AEVJ); Verify the relationship between participating in the ICA and the level of knowledge acquired from it. Methods: Behaviors and beliefs concerning alcohol consumption and knowledge about the repercussions of it in the human body, mainly regarding the liver, were assessed by questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed before and after the ICA, by the control group (CG) and the study group (SG), respectively. The answers concerning knowledge were given points, later converted to a score from 0 to 100%. Data was analyzed applying descriptive statistics and the t-student test using SPSS 20.0. Results: After statistical analysis, it was found an average score of 48.8% for SG and 46.2% for CG. The difference between groups was statistically significant only in AEPM where ICA included a practical methodology (microscopic and macroscopic observation of pork livers), contrary to AEVJ. Conclusions: BSc intervention through ICA’s improves teenagers’ knowledge. Theoretical knowledge associated with practical approaches improves the retention of information and the development of a conscious behavior about the consumption of alcohol.

Aspectos gerais da tectónica alpina no Algarve

The study of the tectonic strutures affecting the mesozoic and cenozoic deposits of Algarve's basin allows us to recognize the following phases of the Alpine orogeny: Jurassic (Upper Triassic at least)-Lower Cretaceous N-S distension; N-S compression during the setting-up of the Monchique syenite dome at the uppermost Cretaceous; Paleogene compression (?) (only locally? - at the Albufeira salt dome); Lower Miocene N-S distension; Upper Burdigalian to Lower Langhian N-S and E-W distension; N-S or NNW-SSE compression after the Middle Miocene; E-W compression after the Upper Tortonian; N-S compression during the Quaternary. NE-SW fractures affecting the Paleozoic basement are related with the first distension phases. The mesozoic N-S distension are the main cause of the two E-W flexures so far recognized. A tectonic inversion event did occur after the setting up of the Monchique syenite. If, the Lower Cretaceous Lower Miocene Albufeira's unconformity, is a local effect of halokinesis then, the true tectonic inversion of the Algarve basin, did occur in the Middle Miocene. These events correlate well with those knewn at Southern Spain and Morocco.