Evaluation of the oxidative damage induced by MDMA and its metabolites in rat brain synaptosomes - Barbosa, D. J.; L. Ferreira; Serio Branco, P.; Fernandes, E; Carmo, H.; Remiao, F; Bastos, ML; Oliveira, J.; Capela, JP; F. Carvalho (TOXICOLOGY LETTERS, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Anthropocentric-based robotic and autonomous systems: assessment for new organisational options - António Brandão Moniz (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET-Research on Enterprise and Work Innovation, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2010)
Research activities at European level on the concept of new working environments offers considerable attention to the challenges of the increased competencies of people working together with automated technologies. Since the decade of 1980 the development of approaches for the humanization of work organization, and for the development of participative organizational options induced to new proposals related to the development of complex and integrated automated systems. From such parallel conceptual development emerged the concept of “anthropocentric robotic systems” and quickly it covered also other fields of automation. More recently, the debate also covers issues related to working perception of people dealing with autonomous systems (e.g. Autonomous robotics) in tasks related to production planning, to programming and to process control. In fact, today one can understand the wider use of the anthropocentrism concept of production architectures, when understanding the new quality of these systems. In this chapter the author analyses the evolution of these issues related to governance of ICT applied to manufacturing and industrial services in research programmes strengthening very much the ‘classical’ concept of anthropocentric-based systems. It is emerging a new value of the intuitive capacities and human knowledge in the optimization and flexibilization of the manufacturing processes. While this would be a pre-condition to understand the human-robot communication needs, there is also a need to take into consideration the qualitative variables in the definition and design of robotic systems, jobs and production systems.
n/a
Keywords: automation; Autonomous robotics; gove; participative options; work organization; working environment

{Anthropocentric-based robotic and autonomous systems: assessment for new organisational options} - António Brandão Moniz (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET/CICS.NOVA-Interdisciplinary Centre on Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2010)
Research activities at European level on the concept of new working environments offers considerable attention to the challenges of the increased competencies of people working together with automated technologies. Since the decade of 1980 the development of approaches for the humanization of work organization, and for the development of participative organizational options induced to new proposals related to the development of complex and integrated automated systems. From such parallel conceptual development emerged the concept of “anthropocentric robotic systems” and quickly it covered also other fields of automation. More recently, the debate also covers issues related to working perception of people dealing with autonomous systems (e.g. Autonomous robotics) in tasks related to production planning, to programming and to process control. In fact, today one can understand the wider use of the anthropocentrism concept of production architectures, when understanding the new quality of these systems. In this chapter the author analyses the evolution of these issues related to governance of ICT applied to manufacturing and industrial services in research programmes strengthening very much the ‘classical’ concept of anthropocentric-based systems. It is emerging a new value of the intuitive capacities and human knowledge in the optimization and flexibilization of the manufacturing processes. While this would be a pre-condition to understand the human-robot communication needs, there is also a need to take into consideration the qualitative variables in the definition and design of robotic systems, jobs and production systems.
n/a
Keywords: automation; Autonomous robotics; gove; participative options; work organization; working environment

AuAg-alloy-nanoprobes for specific nucleic acid detection - G. Doria; Dias, J. T.; M. Larguinho; Pereira, E.; Franco, R.; P. Baptista (Nanotechnology 2010: Bio Sensors, Instruments, Medical, Environment and Energy - Technical Proceedings of the 2010 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2010, 2010)
The derivatization of gold-silver alloy nanoparticles with thiol-ssDNA oligonucleotides (AuAg-alloy-nanoprobes) and their use in nucleic acid detection is presented. A non-cross-linking method has been previously developed by our group using gold nanoparticles, which is based on the colorimetric comparison of solutions before and after salt-induced nanoprobe aggregation. Only the presence of a complementary target stabilizes the nanoprobe, preventing aggregation and colorimetric change after salt addition. Through this approach, the AuAg-alloy-nanoprobes allowed to specifically detect a sequence derived from the RNA polymerase β-subunit gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiologic agent of human tuberculosis, with a 2.5-fold enhanced sensitivity (0.3 μg of total DNA) when compared to their gold counterparts.
2010 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2010 ; Conference date: 21-06-2010 Through 25-06-2010
Keywords: diagnostic; Gold; nanoparticles; Nucleic acid; Silver

Colorimetric method and kit for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences using metal nanoparticles functionalized with modified oligonucleotides - Tavares, Jose Ricardo Ramos Franco; Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana; Doria, Goncalo Maria Reimao Pinto De Franca; Flores, Alcino Orfeu De Leao (2010)
The present invention relates to a colorimetric method for the detection of specific nucleic acids sequences, including mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms within nucleic acid sequences, through the aggregation of nanoparticles functionalized with modified oligonucleotides, induced by an increase of the medium's ionic strength. Another aspect of the present invention relates with the development of a kit based on the method of the present invention, allowing for a quick and easy detection of specific nucleic acids sequences, including mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms within nucleic acid sequences.
EP2145023; C12Q 1/ 68 A I

Gold nanoprobe assay for the identification of mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex - Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana (Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Gold-silver-alloy nanoprobes for one-pot multiplex DNA detection - Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana; Ricardo Franco (Nanotechnology, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Inkjet printed and {"}doctor blade{"} TiO2 photodetectors for DNA biosensors - Martins, Rodrigo Ferrão de Paiva; Fortunato, Elvira Maria Correia; Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana; Águas, Hugo Manuel Brito (Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 2010)
A dye sensitized TiO2 photodetector has been integrated with a DNA detection method based on non-cross-linking hybridization of DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles, resulting in a disposable colorimetric biosensor. We present a new approach for the fabrication of dye sensitized TiO2 photodetectors by an inkjet printing technique-a non-contact digital, additive, no mask and no vacuum patterning method, ideal for cost efficient mass production. The developed biosensor was compared against a dye sensitized photodetector fabricated by the traditional {"}doctor blade{"} method. Detection of gold nanoparticle aggregation was possible for concentrations as low as 1.0 nM for the {"}doctor blade{"} system, and 1.5 nM for the inkjet printed photodetector. The demonstrated sensitivity limits of developed biosensors; are comparable to those of spectrophotometric techniques (1.0 nM). Our results show that a difference higher than 17% by traditional photodetector and 6% by inkjet printed in the photoresponses for the complementary and non-complementary gold nanoprobe assays could be attained for a specific DNA sequence from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiologic agent of human tuberculosis. The decrease of costs associated with molecular diagnostic provided by a platform such as the one presented here may prove of paramount importance in developing countries. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
n/a
Keywords: Detection; dioxide; DNA; Dye; EFFICIENCY; Gold; Inkjet; Nanoparticle; nanoparticles; photodetector; PLATFORM; printing; probes; sensitized; Sensors/Biosensors; solar-cells; Titanium

New insights into the use of magnetic force microscopy to discriminate between magnetic and nonmagnetic nanoparticles - Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana (Nanotechnology, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Optimizing Au-nanoprobes for specific sequence discrimination - DQ Group Author; Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana; Ricardo Franco (Colloids And Surfaces B-Biointerfaces, 2010)
Gold nanoparticles functionalized with thiol-oligonucleotides are ideal platforms for detection of specific DNA sequences. Here we evaluate the effect of single base mismatches in hybridization efficiency according to the position of the mismatch, base pairing combination and thiol-oligonucleotide density in terms of specificity and efficiency of target recognition. Hybridization efficiency and single-nucleotide polymorphism discrimination at room temperature is maximized at a density of 83 +/- 4 thiol-oligonucleotides per 13.5 nm gold nanoparticle (24 pmol/cm(2)), and when the mismatch is localized at the 3'-end of the Au-nanoprobe, i.e. away from the gold nanoparticle surface. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
n/a
Keywords: acid; diagnostic; DNA; Gold; hybridization; Molecular; mutation; Nanoparticle; nanoparticles; Nanoprobes; Nucleic; probes; SNP

Detection and quantification system of biological, matter constituted by one or more optical sensors and one or more light sources, associated process and related applications - Martins, Rodrigo Ferrão De Paiva; Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana; Fortunato, Elvira Maria Correia (2010)
The present invention relates to a system and process for detection and/or qualitative and quantitative identification of the biological material, such as specific sequences of nucleic acids or proteins as antibodies, present in biological samples. The system is composed by one or more light sources (1) combined with one or more integrated optical photo sensors, or not, and various electronic components (4), necessary for obtaining/processing of the signal emitted by the metal nanoprobes functionalized with a solution of biological composite, as well as also a micro-controller and a microprocessor, fixed or portable. This photosensor structure is able to detect and to quantify the colour variations produced by metal nanoprobes, being this preferentially gold, functionalized by oligonucleotides complementary to specific DNA/RNA sequences, proteins, as for instance antibodies and/or antigens related with certain disease, or other sample or solution of biological composite, that are to be investigated. The detection and quantification process is based on the response of a photosensor, singular or integrated, based on thin film technology of amorphous, nanocrystalline or microcrystalline silicon and their alloys, as well as the new active ceramic semiconductors, amorphous and not amorphous.
US2010041161; G01N21/00,G01N21/25, G01N33/00,G01N33/68

Preparation and characterization of a cellulose affinity membrane for human immunoglobulin G (IgG) purification - Barroso, Telma; Temtem, Márcio; Hussain, Abid; Aguiar-Ricardo, Ana; Roque, Ana Cecília A (Journal of Membrane Science, 2010)
This paper reports the design, preparation and characterization of cellulose affinity membranes for antibody purification using a new methodology. Cellulose membranes were prepared from polymer-ionic liquid solutions, namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride {([BMIM][Cl])}, by the water induced phase inversion process. After functionalization with a synthetic ligand 2-(3-aminophenol)-6-(4-amino-1-naphthol)-4-chloro-s-triazine (ligand 22/8), these were evaluated as affinity supports for human immunoglobulin G {(IgG).} Membranes were characterized in terms of morphology {(SEM)}, porosity (mercury porosimetry), hydrophilicity (contact angle measurement), transport properties (permeability) and mechanical performance {(DMA).} Membranes prepared with varying cellulose contents (5 and 10 wt.% cellulose in ionic liquid solutions) lead to films with different properties. The 10 wt.% cellulose membrane presented enhanced morphological and mechanical properties, however, the morphology of this membrane was significantly altered after ligand coupling. Adsorption isotherms for human IgG onto 10 wt.% matrix activated with ligand 22/8 were obtained. Preliminary results showed that the bovine serum albumin {(BSA)}, a model impurity, did not adsorb onto the membrane while up to 6 mg {IgG/g} was bound and 2 mg {IgG/g} recovered.
n/a
Keywords: Affinity membrane; Biomimetic ligand; Cellulose; Immunoglobulins purification; Ionic liquid

RNA quantification using gold nanoprobes - application to cancer diagnostics - João Conde; {de la Fuente}, Jesús M.; Baptista, Pedro V (Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2010)
Molecular nanodiagnostics applied to cancer may provide rapid and sensitive detection of cancer related molecular alterations, which would enable early detection even when those alterations occur only in a small percentage of cells. The use of gold nanoparticles derivatized with thiol modified oligonucleotides (Au-nanoprobes) for the detection of specific nucleic acid targets has been gaining momentum as an alternative to more traditional methodologies. Here, we present an Au-nanoparticles based approach for the molecular recognition and quantification of the BCR-ABL usion transcript (mRNA), which is responsible for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and to the best of our knowledge it is the first time quantification of a specific mRNA directly in cancer cells is reported. This inexpensive and very easy to perform Au-nanoprobe based method allows quantification of unamplified total human RNA and specific detection of the oncogene transcript. The sensitivity settled by the Au-nanoprobes allows differential gene expression from 10 ng/μl of total RNA and takes less than 30 min to complete after total RNA extraction, minimizing RNA degradation. Also, at later stages, accumulation of malignant mutations may lead to resistance to chemotherapy and consequently poor outcome. Such a method, allowing for fast and direct detection and quantification of the chimeric BCR-ABL mRNA, could speed up diagnostics and, if appropriate, revision of therapy. This assay may constitute a promising tool in early diagnosis of CML and could easily be extended to further target genes with proven involvement in cancer development.
n/a

Short communication: Effect of kefir grains on proteolysis of major milk proteins - Ferreira, I M P L V O; Pinho, O; Monteiro, D; Faria, S; Cruz, S; Perreira, A; Roque, A C; Tavares, P (JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE, 2010)
The effect of kefir grains on the proteolysis of major milk proteins in milk kefir and in a culture of kefir grains in pasteurized cheese whey was followed by reverse phase-HPLC analysis. The reduction of kappa-, alpha-, and beta-caseins (CN), alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA), and beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG) contents during 48 and 90 h of incubation of pasteurized milk (100 mL) and respective cheese whey with kefir grains (6 and 12 g) at 20 degrees C was monitored. Significant proteolysis of alpha-LA and kappa-, alpha-, and beta-caseins was observed. The effect of kefir amount (6 and 12 g/100 mL) was significant for alpha-LA and alpha- and beta-CN. alpha-Lactalbumin and beta-CN were more easily hydrolyzed than alpha-CN. No significant reduction was observed with respect to beta-LG concentration for 6 and 12 g of kefir in 100 mL of milk over 48 h, indicating that no significant proteolysis was carried out. Similar results were observed when the experiment was conducted over 90 h. Regarding the cheese whey kefir samples, similar behavior was observed for the proteolysis of alpha-LA and beta-LG: alpha-LA was hydrolyzed between 60 and 90% after 12 h (for 6 and 12 g of kefir) and no significant beta-LG proteolysis occurred. The proteolytic activity of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in kefir community was evaluated. Kefir milk prepared under normal conditions contained peptides from proteolysis of alpha-LA and kappa-, alpha-, and beta-caseins. Hydrolysis is dependent on the kefir: milk ratio and incubation time. beta-Lactoglobulin is not hydrolyzed even when higher hydrolysis time is used. Kefir grains are not appropriate as adjunct cultures to increase beta-LG digestibility in whey-based or whey-containing foods.
n/a

Enhanced Direct Electron Transfer of a Multihemic Nitrite Reductase on Single-walled Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrodes - Silveira, Celia M.; Baur, Jessica; Holzinger, Michael; Moura, Jose J. G.; Cosnier, Serge; Gabriela Almeida, M. (Electroanalysis, 2010)
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) deposits on glassy carbon and pyrolytic graphite electrodes have dramatically enhanced the direct electron transfer of the multihemic nitrite reductase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774, enabling a 10-fold increase in catalytic currents. At optimal conditions, the sensitivity to nitrite and the maximum current density were 2.4 +/- 0.1 A L mol(-1) cm(-2) and 1500 mu A cm(-2), respectively. Since the biosensor performance decreased over time, laponite clay and electropolymerized amphiphilic pyrrole were tested as protecting layers. Both coating materials increased substantially the bioelectrode stability, which kept about 90% and 60% of its initial sensitivity to nitrite after 20 and 248 days, respectively.
Times Cited: 2

In vitro transcription and translation inhibition via DNA functionalized gold nanoparticles - João Conde; De La Fuente, J. M.; Baptista, Pedro Viana (Nanotechnology, 2010)
The use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has been gaining momentum as vectors for gene silencing strategies, combining the AuNPs' ease of functionalization with DNA and/or siRNA, high loading capacity and fast uptake by target cells. Here, we used AuNP functionalized with thiolated oligonucleotides to specifically inhibit transcription in vitro, demonstrating the synergetic effect between AuNPs and a specific antisense sequence that blocks the T7 promoter region. Also, AuNPs efficiently protect the antisense oligonucleotide against nuclease degradation, which can thus retain its inhibitory potential. In addition, we demonstrate that AuNPs functionalized with a thiolated oligonucleotide complementary to the ribosome binding site and the start codon, effectively shut down in vitro translation. Together, these two approaches can provide for a simple yet robust experimental set up to test for efficient gene silencing of AuNP-DNA conjugates. What is more, these results show that appropriate functionalization of AuNPs can be used as a dual targeting approach to an enhanced control of gene expression-inhibition of both transcription and translation.
The authors thank Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (CIGMH, PTDC/SAU-BEB/66511/2006), Nanotruck-Action NanoSciEra+ and ARAID for funding. J Conde acknowledges grant number (SFRH/BD/62957/2009).

New Methodology for the Synthesis of 3-Substituted Coumarins via Palladium-Catalyzed Site-Selective Cross-Coupling Reactions - Martins, Sergio; Branco, Paula S.; de la Torre, Maria C.; Sierra, Miguel A.; Pereira, Antonio (SYNLETT, 2010)
n/a
n/a

PH effect on the photochemistry of 4-methylcoumarin phosphate esters: caged-phosphate case study - Pinheiro, André Vidal; Parola, A. Jorge; Baptista, Pedro V; Lima, J. C. (Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2010)
There are numerous reports of coumarin ester derivatives, in particular phosphate esters, as photocleavable cages in biological systems. Despite the comprehensive analysis of the photocleavage mechanism, studies of 4-methylcoumarin caged phosphates and/or nucleotides were always performed at constant pH. In this work, we present the study of the pH effect on the photochemistry of (7-diethylaminocoumarin-4-yl)methyl phosphate (DEACM-P). Fluorescence and photocleavage quantum yields, as well as the fluorescence decay times were measured as a function of the pH. It was found that the pH produces significant changes in the overall photochemical quantum yield of DEACM-P, and the observed changes are complementary to those obtained from the fluorescence quantum yield. Deprotonation of DEACM-HPO4 - to yield DEACM-PO4 2-, produces a decrease in the photochemical quantum yield (from 0.0045 to 0.0003) and an increase in the fluorescence quantum yield (from 0.072 to 0.092). Moreover, from the analysis of the decay times, we have also found that hydroxyl ion is not only relevant, but it is mechanistically involved in the photoreaction of DEACM-HPO4 -.
The authors would like to thank Dr. Joao Pina and Professor Sergio S. Melo for the fluorescence lifetime measurements and Dr. Laura Raurell for the help in DEACM-P synthesis. The authors would like to thank Dr. Cesar Laia for his help with the flash-flow setup and fruitful discussions. The authors would like to acknowledge Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia for A. Vidal Pinheiro scholarship SFRH/BD/24276/2005.
Keywords: Light; Photolabile protecting; Photolysis

Quantification of organic acids in beer by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based methods - Rodrigues, J. E. A.; Erny, G. L.; Barros, A. S.; Esteves, V. I.; Brandao, T.; Ferreira, A. A.; E. Cabrita; Gil, A. M. (Analytica Chimica Acta, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Metallothioneins and trace elements in digestive gland, gills, kidney and gonads of Octopus vulgaris - Raimundo, J.; Costa, P. M.; Vale, C.; Costa, M. H.; Moura, I. (Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C-Toxicology & Pharmacology, 2010)
Metallothionein-like proteins (MT) and V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Cu, As and Cd were determined in digestive gland, gills, kidney and gonads of Octopus vulgaris, from the Portuguese coast. To our knowledge these are the first data on MT in octopus. High concentrations (mu g g(-1), dry mass) of Zn (48050) and Cd (555) were found in digestive gland, and MT reached levels one order of magnitude above the ones registered in wild bivalves. Significantly higher levels of MT in digestive gland and gills of specimens from A and B were in line with elevated Cd concentrations. Principal component analyses (PCA) point to MT-Cd and MT-Cr associations in digestive gland and gills. Despite the high levels of Zn in specimens from B, association with Zn was not obtained. Due to the affinity of MT to various elements, it should not be excluded the possibility of Cd replacing Zn in Zn-MT. Kidney presented higher levels of Cd, Co, Ni and As than gills and gonads, and in the case of As surpassing the levels in digestive gland, but PCA showed no relation with MT. Likewise the MT levels in gonads had no correspondence to the metal concentration variation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Times Cited: 2

A new CuZ active form in the catalytic reduction of N(2)O by nitrous oxide reductase from Pseudomonas nautica - Dell'Acqua, S.; Pauleta, S. R.; Paes de Sousa, P. M.; Monzani, E.; Casella, L.; Moura, J. J.; Moura, I. (J Biol Inorg Chem, 2010)
The final step of bacterial denitrification, the two-electron reduction of N(2)O to N(2), is catalyzed by a multi-copper enzyme named nitrous oxide reductase. The catalytic centre of this enzyme is a tetranuclear copper site called CuZ, unique in biological systems. The in vitro reconstruction of the activity requires a slow activation in the presence of the artificial electron donor, reduced methyl viologen, necessary to reduce CuZ from the resting non-active state (1Cu(II)/3Cu(I)) to the fully reduced state (4Cu(I)), in contrast to the turnover cycle, which is very fast. In the present work, the direct reaction of the activated form of Pseudomonas nautica nitrous oxide reductase with stoichiometric amounts of N(2)O allowed the identification of a new reactive intermediate of the catalytic centre, CuZ degrees , in the turnover cycle, characterized by an intense absorption band at 680 nm. Moreover, the first mediated electrochemical study of Ps. nautica nitrous oxide reductase with its physiological electron donor, cytochrome c-552, was performed. The intermolecular electron transfer was analysed by cyclic voltammetry, under catalytic conditions, and a second-order rate constant of (5.5 +/- 0.9) x 10(5) M(-1 )s(-1) was determined. Both the reaction of stoichiometric amounts of substrate and the electrochemical studies show that the active CuZ degrees species, generated in the absence of reductants, can rearrange to the resting non-active CuZ state. In this light, new aspects of the catalytic and activation/inactivation mechanism of the enzyme are discussed.
1432-1327 (Electronic)0949-8257 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: *Biocatalysis; *Catalytic Domain; Copper/*metabolism; Cytochrome c Group/metabolism; Electrochemistry; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Electron Transport; Enzyme Activation; Kinetics; Nitrous Oxide/*metabolism; Oxidoreductases/*chemistry/*metabolism; Pseudomonas/*enzymology

{The impact of global forces on the individual: empirical evidence from the German clothing industry} - Nierling, Linda; Krings, Bettina (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET/CICS.NOVA-Interdisciplinary Centre on Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2010)
Starting from theoretical perspectives on globalisation, the following article analyses how current working conditions are affected by globalisation processes. For this purpose, recent developments in the German clothing sector are traced back to the power of economic globalisation processes. Characterising the German clothing sector as pioneer in economic globalisation, we use empirical findings to illustrate how current processes of globalisation influence the work place: At organisational level, corporate strategies aim at rationalisation, standardisation and flexibilisation of work in order to response to the economic pressure of global markets. At individual level these strategies, in turn, speed up working processes and intensify working processes for the employees. Although these developments form strong trends, we conclude that the local embeddedness of companies is still of high importance with regard to organisational and individual consequences of globalisation.
n/a
Keywords: clothing sector; corporate strategies; Germany; globalisation; working conditions

Application of HR-MAS NMR in the solid-phase synthesis of a glycopeptide using Sieber amide resin - Carvalho, Luisa R.; Corvo, Marta C.; Enugala, Ramu; Marques, M. Manuel B.; Cabrita, Eurico J. (Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Asymmetric Intramolecular Aldol Reactions of Substituted 1,7-Dicarbonylic Compounds. A Mechanistic Study - Duarte, F. J. S.; E. J. Cabrita; Frenking, G.; Santos, A. Gil (Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Ultrasonic multiprobe as a new tool to overcome the bottleneck of throughput in workflows for protein identification relaying on ultrasonic energy - Santos, H. M.; Carreira, R.; Diniz, M. S.; Rivas, M. G.; Lodeiro, C.; Moura, J. J.; Capelo, J. L. (Talanta, 2010)
We studied in this work the performance of the new ultrasonic multiprobe in terms of throughput, handling and robustness. The study was conducted using the multiprobe to speed two different proteomics workflows. The "classic" method relaying on overnight protein digestion (12h), was used as the standard procedure. This work clearly shows the importance of testing variables such as ultrasonic amplitude and ultrasonic time when adapting an ultrasonic-based treatment to a new ultrasonic device. The results here presented also shown and confirm the advantage of speed up sample treatment workflows with the aid of ultrasonic energy in combination with a 96-well plate. The methods compared were similar in terms of robustness, but the desalting free method was the fastest, requiring only 2 min/sample for completion. In addition it was also the simplest in terms of handling, since no desalting step was needed. The following standard proteins were successfully identified using the methods studied: bovine serum albumin, alpha-lactalbumin, ovalbumin, carbonic anhydrase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A, catalase, chymotrypsinogen A. As case study, the identification of the protein Split-Soret cytochrome c from D. desulfuricans ATCC 27774 was carried out.
1873-3573 (Electronic)0039-9140 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: *Ultrasonics; Animals; Cattle; Cytochromes c/analysis; High-Throughput Screening Assays/*methods; Peptide Mapping; Proteins/*analysis; Proteomics/*methods; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; Time Factors; Urea/chemistry

Metabolic interactions between ethanol and MDMA in primary cultured rat hepatocytes - Pontes, Helena; de Pinho, Paula Guedes; Fernandes, Eduarda; Branco, Paula Serio; Ferreira, Luisa Maria; Carmo, Helena; Remiao, Fernando; Carvalho, Felix; Bastos, Maria Lourdes (TOXICOLOGY, 2010)
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy), a drug of abuse commonly consumed at rave parties, is often taken in a polydrug abuse scenario, ethanol being one of the most associated drugs. Both MDMA and ethanol are mainly metabolized in the liver with formation of toxic metabolites. Our working hypothesis is that ethanol can modify the metabolism of MDMA through the cytochrome P450 system, and that this effect may be further potentiated by hyperthermia, a well-known consequence of MDMA abuse. To investigate these putative interactions we used primary rat hepatocyte cultures, which were exposed to 300 mM ethanol, 1.6 mM MDMA and the combination of both, at normothermic (36.5 degrees C) and hyperthermic (40.5 degrees C) conditions. After 24 h, the levels of MDA, HMA and HMMA in the cell culture medium were quantified by GC/MS. In addition, we repeated the same experimental design preceded by 1 h incubation with 0.18 mu M ketoconazole or 150 mu M diallyl sulphide (CYP3A and CYP2E1 inhibitors, respectively), to evaluate the putative role of these isoenzymes in the observed effects. The results obtained showed that ethanol exposure increases the formation of some MDMA metabolites such as HMA (1.8 times increase) and MDA (1.5 times increase). This effect was markedly increased under hyperthermic conditions (HMA, MDA and HMMA formation increased 10,6 and 16 times, respectively) and is mediated, at least partially, by CYP3A and CYP2E1. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
n/a

Simultaneous measurement of electrical resistivity and x-ray diffraction during R-phase formation on Ni-Ti SMA - F.M. Braz Fernandes, K.K. Mahesh, R.J.Cordeiro Silva and R.M. Santos Martins (Smart Structural Systems Technology - 2010, 2010)

Anthropocentric-based robotic and autonomous systems: assessment for new organisational options - Moniz, António B. (Conference "Autonomous systems: inter-relations of technical and societal issues", 2010)
Research activities at European level on the concept of new working environments offers considerable attention to the challenges of the increased competencies of people working together with automated technologies. Since the decade of 1980 the development of approaches for the humanization of work organization, and for the development of participative organizational options induced to new proposals related to the development of complex and integrated automated systems. From such parallel conceptual development emerged the concept of “anthropocentric robotic systems” and quickly it covered also other fields of automation. More recently, the debate also covers issues related to working perception of people dealing with autonomous systems (e.g. Autonomous robotics) in tasks related to production planning, to programming and to process control. In fact, today one can understand the wider use of the anthropocentrism concept of production architectures, when understanding the new quality of these systems. In this chapter the author analyses the evolution of these issues related to governance of ICT applied to manufacturing and industrial services in research programmes strengthening very much the ‘classical’ concept of anthropocentric-based systems. It is emerging a new value of the intuitive capacities and human knowledge in the optimization and flexibilization of the manufacturing processes. While this would be a pre-condition to understand the human-robot communication needs, there is also a need to take into consideration the qualitative variables in the definition and design of robotic systems, jobs and production systems.

Forecasting of Residential Energy Services Demand: The Portuguese Case for 2030 - Gouveia, João Pedro; Patrícia Fortes; Júlia Seixas (International Conference IAEE - 11th IAEE European Conference Energy Economy, Policies and Supply Security: Surviving the Global Economic Crisis., 2010)

The impact of Climate Change Mitigation Options on Air Pollutant Emissions in Portugal - Dias, L.; Gouveia, J.; Maurício, B.; Fortes, P.; Seixas, J. (Semiannual ETSAP Meeting 2010, 2010)

Advanced technique for non-destructive testing of friction stir welding of metals - Rosado, L.S.; Santos, T.G.; Piedade, M.; Ramos, P.M.; Vilaça, P. (Measurement: Journal of the International Measurement Confederation, 2010)
n/a
Cited By :22Export Date: 27 February 2015CODEN: MSRMD

Formation of a leuco Spirolactone from 4-(2-Carboxyphenyl)-7-diethylamino-4 '-dimethylamino-1-benzopyrylium: Design of a Phase-Change Thermochromic System Based on a Flavylium Dye - Gavara, R.; Laia, C. A. T.; A. J. Parola; Pina, F (Chemistry-a European Journal, 2010)
A phase-change thermochromic system was designed through the reversible transformation of the 4-substituted flavylium dye 4-(2-carboxyphenyl)-7-diethylamino-4'-dimethyl-amino-1-benzopyrylium into its leuco form, in the presence of a developer (ethyldiisopropylamine) and a suitable solvent (e.g., acetonitrile, n-pentadecanonitrile). The leuco form of the flavylium-based dye is a spirolactone species whose ring opens at low temperature (below the solvent melting point) to form the blue flavylium cation. Decarboxylation of the lactone to give 4-phenyl-7-diethylamino-4'-dimethylamino-1-benzopyrylium was observed upon irradiation of the system with UV light, erasing the thermochromic effect.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 632NRTimes Cited: 2 Cited Reference Count: 41 Gavara, Raquel Laia, Cesar A. T. Jorge Parola, A. Pina, Fernando Laia, Cesar/C-8651-2011; Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Gavara, Raquel/C-6669-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia [PTDC/QUI/67786/2006, SFRH/BPD/44639/2008] This work was supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Project PTDC/QUI/67786/2006. R.G. thanks FCT for financial support (Grant SFRH/BPD/44639/2008). Dr. Vesselin Petrov is kindly acknowledged by his technical support. Wiley-blackwell Malden

Formation of Eu(III) Nanoparticles on Borosilicate Sol-Gel Studied with Time-Resolved Luminescence Techniques - Ventura, M. G.; Laia, C. A. T.; A. J. Parola (Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2010)
The formation of Eu(III) nanoparticles in borosilicate sol-gels and the glass formation heat treatment effect on those particles were studied using luminescence techniques. The presence of the particles was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images followed by analysis with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). These experiments showed the presence of particles with a large quantity of europium and chlorine and only small amounts of oxygen with sizes ranging from 30 to 100 nm. Heat treatment at 400, 600, and 800 degrees C lead to glass samples in which those particles were no longer observed. Steady-state and time-resolved luminescence techniques allowed a detailed study of Eu(III) photophysics in sot-gel and glass samples. In sol-gel matrices, the (5)D(0) -> (7)F(0) transition is very weak, hinting at Eu(III) species experiencing a rather symmetric crystal field. The (5)D(0) -> (7)F(2) transition intensity is not very strong, which according to a Judd-Ofelt analysis indicates low interaction with the anions present in the sol-gel matrices. This picture reverses after heat treatment, indicating a replacement of chloride anions with oxygen as preferential ligands of Eu(III). Time-resolved luminescence shows in a more detailed way these aspects. Sol-gel samples display nonexponential kinetics, which are attributed to Eu(III) species present in the nanoparticles surface (bound to oxygen) and Eu(III) in the core of the nanoparticles (bound to chloride). Glass samples display single-exponential luminescence decays, in which the decay constant approaches the values calculated for the radiative rate constant with Judd-Ofelt analysis. It is concluded that, in sol-gel, mechanisms like electron-phonon coupling suppress the Eu(III) luminescence, which disappear as soon as the nanoparticles are disrupted after heat treatment.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 671PPTimes Cited: 2 Cited Reference Count: 41 Ventura, Marcia G. Laia, Cesar A. T. Jorge Parola, A. Laia, Cesar/C-8651-2011; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Ventura, Marcia/C-6702-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; FCT-MCTES (Portugal) [PTDC/EAT/67354/2006, SFRH/BPD/40008/2007] FCT-MCTES (Portugal) is acknowledged for financial support through project PTDC/EAT/67354/2006 and a postdoc grant SFRH/BPD/40008/2007 (M.V.). Ms. Catarina Miguel is acknowledged for assistance in FTIR measurements. Amer chemical soc Washington

Hydroxypyridinechromene and Pyridinechalcone: Two Coupled Photochromic Systems - Leydet, Y.; A. J. Parola; Pina, F (Chemistry-a European Journal, 2010)
Substitution of the phenyl group in 2-hydroxychalcones by a 4-pyridine unit dramatically changes the network of chemical reactions of this compound: trans-chalcone-type (Ct), cis-chalcone-type (Cc), and a hemiketal (hydroxy-4-pyridinechromene) (B) and their protonated forms are formed, but the presence of a flavylium-type cation could not be detected even at very acidic pH Values. Moreover, whereas in 2-phenyl-2-benzopyrylium compounds B and Cc are generally elusive species whose kinetic processes in aqueous solutions occur oil the sub-second time-scale, in the present compound these species equilibrate on a timescale four orders of magnitude lower. Complete characterization of the equilibrium and kinetics of the reaction network could thus be achieved by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and UV/Vis spectrophotometry. ne network of chemical reactions exhibits cis-trans photoisomerization, as well as photochromism between the hemiketal and the chalcone-type species. The irradiation of Ct in MeOH/ H(2)O (1:1) at 365 nm produces B almost quantitatively through two Consecutive photochemical reactions: Ct -> Cc photoisomerization followed by Cc -> B photo ring Closure with a global quantum yield of 0.02. On the other hand, irradiation of B at 254 nm leads to it photostationary state composed by 80% Ct and 20%, B. with a quantum yield of 0.21.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 552CSTimes Cited: 6 Cited Reference Count: 72 Leydet, Yoann Parola, A. Jorge Pina, Fernando Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; Fct-mctes [ptd/qui/67786/2006, sfrh/bpd/44230/2008] We acknowledge LabRMN at FCT-UNL and Rede Nacional de RMN (supported with funds from FCT-MCTES) for access to the facilities. The Portuguese FCT-MCTES is also acknowledged for financial support through project PTD/QUI/67786/2006 and a post-doc grant SFRH/BPD/44230/2008 (Y.L.). J. . Lima. C. Laia, and V Petrov are kindly acknowledged for fruitful discussions Wiley-v c h verlag gmbh Weinheim

Innovative eddy current probe for micro defects - Santos, T.G.; Vilaça, P.; dos Santos, J.; Quintino, L.; Rosado, L. (36th Annual Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, QNDE, 2010)
n/a
Export Date: 27 February 2015

pH Effect on the Photochemistry of 4-Methylcoumarin Phosphate Esters: Caged-Phosphate Case Study - Pinheiro, A. V.; A. J. Parola; P.V. Baptista; J. C. Lima (Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2010)
There are numerous reports of coumarin ester derivatives, in particular phosphate esters, as photocleavable cages in biological systems. Despite the comprehensive analysis of the photocleavage mechanism, studies of 4-methylcoumarin caged phosphates and/or nucleotides were always performed at constant pH. In this work. we present the study of the pH effect on the photochemistry of (7-diethylaminocoumarin-4-yl)methyl phosphate (DEACM-P). Fluorescence and photocleavage quantum yields, as well as the fluorescence decay times were measured as a function of the pH. It was found that the pH produces significant changes in the overall photochemical quantum yield of DEACM-P, and the observed changes are complementary to those obtained from the fluorescence quantum yield. Deprotonation of DEACM-HPO(4)(-) to yield DEACM -PO(4)(2-), produces a decrease in the photochemical quantum yield (from 0.0045 to 0.0003) and an increase in the fluorescence quantum yield (from 0.072 to 0.092). Moreover, from the analysis of the decay times, we have also found that hydroxyl ion is not only relevant, but it is mechanistically involved in the photoreaction of DEACM-HPO(4)(-).
ISI Document Delivery No.: 690GNTimes Cited: 6 Cited Reference Count: 30 Pinheiro, Andre Vidal Jorge Parola, A. Baptista, Pedro V. Lima, J. C. Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; Baptista, Pedro/A-1237-2009; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; Lima, Joao/F-3658-2010 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; Baptista, Pedro/0000-0001-5255-7095; Lima, Joao/0000-0003-0528-1967 Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia [SFRH/BD/24276/2005] The authors would like to thank Dr. Joao Pina and Professor Sergio S. Melo for the fluorescence lifetime measurements and Dr. Laura Raurell for the help in DEACM-P synthesis. The authors would like to thank Dr. Cesar Laia for his help with the flash-flow setup and fruitful discussions. The authors would like to acknowledge Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia for A. Vidal Pinheiro scholarship SFRH/BD/24276/2005. Amer chemical soc Washington

A reconfigurable digital signal processing system for eddy currents non-destructive testing - Rosado, L.S.; Ramos, P.M.; Piedade, M.; Santos, T.G.; Vilaça, P. (2010 IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, I2MTC 2010, 2010)
n/a
Conference code: 81822Cited By :7Export Date: 27 February 2015

Reversible Photorheology in Solutions of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide, Salicylic Acid, and trans-2,4,4 '-Trihydroxychalcone - Pereira, M.; Leal, C. R.; A. J. Parola; Scheven, U. M. (Langmuir, 2010)
We show photorheology in aqueous solutions of weakly entangled wormlike micelles prepared with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), salicylic acid (HSal), and dilute amounts of the photochromic multistate compound trans-2,4,4'-trihydroxychalcone (Ct). Different chemical species of Ct are associated with different colorations and propensities to reside within or outside CTAB micelles. A light-induced transfer between the intra- and intermicellar space is used to alter the mean length of wormlike micelles and hence the rheological properties of the fluid, studied in steady-state shear Bow and in dynamic rheological measurements. Light-induced changes of fluid rheology are reversible by a the relaxation process. at relaxation rates which depend on pH and which are consistent with photochromic reversion rates measured by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Parameterizing viscoelostic rheological states by their effective relaxation time tau(c) and corresponding response modulus G(c), we find the light and dark states of the system to fall onto a characteristic state curve defined by comparable experiments conducted without photosensitive components. These reference experiments were prepared with the same concentration of CTAB, but different concentrations of HSal or sodium salicylote (NaSal), and tested at different temperatures.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 675NQTimes Cited: 3 Cited Reference Count: 33 Pereira, M. Leal, C. R. Parola, A. J. Scheven, U. M. Leal, Catarina/A-2814-2009; Physics Department, ISEL/F-6664-2010; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Scheven, Ulrich/D-7582-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology FCT-MCTES [PTDC/ENR/65170/2006] Supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology FCT-MCTES under grant PTDC/ENR/65170/2006. Amer chemical soc Washington

Solid-State Electrochromic Cells Based on M(salen) -Derived Electroactive Polymer Films - Branco, A.; Pinheiro, C; Fonseca, J.; Tedim, J.; Carneiro, A.; A. J. Parola; Freire, C.; Pina, F (Electrochemical and Solid State Letters, 2010)
A systematic study of the electrochromic (EC) behavior of electropolymerized poly[M(salen)] films (M = Ni, Cu, and Pd) was performed by spectroelectrochemistry. Color contrast between oxidized and reduced states, stability under square wave potential cycling, coloration efficiency, and switching rate were evaluated. Five polymers were selected to assemble solid-state EC cells in a symmetrical configuration (electrode/poly[M(salen)] film/opaque electrolyte/poly[M(salen)] film/electrode). The best EC performance was found for poly[Pd(3-Mesalen)], poly[1], with 38% of initial diffuse reflectance variation and loss of 50% after 6769 cycles. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3457474] All rights reserved.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 624HATimes Cited: 0 Cited Reference Count: 32 Branco, Aida Pinheiro, Carlos Fonseca, Joana Tedim, Joao Carneiro, Andrea Jorge Parola, A. Freire, Cristina Pina, Fernando Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Freire, Cristina/F-4775-2010; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; Tedim, Joao/H-9053-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; FCT, Portugal [PTDC/QUI/67786/2006]; FCT The work was partially funded by FCT, Portugal, project Ref PTDC/QUI/67786/2006. J.F. thanks FCT for a fellowship. Electrochemical soc inc Pennington

Solid-state electrochromic devices using pTMC/PEO blends as polymer electrolytes - Barbosa, P. C.; Rodrigues, L. C.; Silva, M. M.; Smith, M. J.; A. J. Parola; Pina, F; Pinheiro, C (Electrochimica Acta, 2010)
Flexible, transparent and self-supporting electrolyte films based on poly(trimethylene carbonate)/poly(ethylene oxide) (p(TMC/PEO) interpenetrating networks doped with LiClO(4) were prepared by the solvent casting technique. These novel solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) systems were characterized by measurements of conductivity, cyclic voltammetry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. The incorporation of solid electrolytes as components of electrochromic devices can offer certain operational advantages in real-world applications. In this study, all-solid-state electrochromic cells were characterized, using Prussian blue (PB) and poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT) as complementary electrochromic compounds on poly(ethyleneterphthalate) (PET) coated with indium tin oxide (ITO) as flexible electrodes. Assembled devices with PET/ITO/PB/SPE/PEDOT/ITO/PET "sandwich-like" structure were assembled and successfully cycled between light and dark blue, corresponding to the additive optical transitions for PB and PEDOT electrochromic layers. The cells required long cycle times (>600 s) to reach full color switch and have modest stability towards prolonged cycling tests. The use of short duration cycling permitted the observation of changes in the coloration-bleaching performance in cells with different electrolyte compositions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 564TITimes Cited: 9 Cited Reference Count: 26 Barbosa, P. C. Rodrigues, L. C. Silva, M. M. Smith, M. J. Parola, A. J. Pina, F. Pinheiro, Carlos 11th International Symposium on Polymer Electrolytes Aug 31-sep 05, 2008 Ofir, PORTUGAL ISE, FAME, Global Off Naval Res, USAF Off Aerosp Res, CGD, TAP, Panibral, Municipio de Ponte de Lima, MacService Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Chang, Ting-Hsiang/B-1337-2012; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Silva, M. Manuela/H-6429-2013; Rodrigues, Luisa/I-7159-2013 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; Silva, M. Manuela/0000-0002-5230-639X; Pergamon-elsevier science ltd Oxford

Supramolecular host-guest flavylium-loaded zeolite L hybrid materials: network of reactions of encapsulated 7,4 '-dihydroxyflavylium - Gomes, R; Albuquerque, R. Q.; Pina, F; Parola, J.; De Cola, L. (Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2010)
We report a spectroscopic study of the network of reactions of a flavylium dye encapsulated in the one-dimensional channels of zeolite L. The positively charged 7,4'-dihydroxyflavylium (AH(+)) is easily incorporated and remains stable in zeolite L channels. Once encapsulated, the flavylium exhibits a red shift in the excitation spectrum comparative to aqueous solutions. Moreover, contrary to the observed behavior in water, no excited state proton transfer takes place in the loaded crystals, corroborating the encapsulation of AH(+). The trans-chalcone (Ct) form from the same flavylium network could also be encapsulated inside the zeolite L, using toluene with 20% triethylamine as solvent and K(+) as counter ion of the negative framework of the zeolite. The encapsulation of Ct is confirmed by changes on the excitation spectrum and by a blue shift in the emission. The encapsulated Ct was shown to generate AH(+) when the Ct-loaded crystals were suspended in water, which proves that isomerization, tautomerization and dehydration reactions take place inside the zeolite L.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 618WUTimes Cited: 10 Cited Reference Count: 35 Gomes, Raquel Albuquerque, Rodrigo Q. Pina, Fernando Parola, Jorge De Cola, Luisa Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Albuquerque, Rodrigo/A-8433-2013; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; Portuguese FCT-MCTES [PTDC/QUI/67786/2006, SFRH/BD/27282/2006]; Alexander von Humboldt foundation [SFB TRR 61] The Portuguese FCT-MCTES is acknowledged for financial support through project PTDC/QUI/67786/2006 and PhD grant SFRH/BD/27282/2006 (RG). RQA would like to acknowledge the Alexander von Humboldt foundation and SFB TRR 61 for financial support. Royal soc chemistry Cambridge

Use of cyclodextrins as scavengers of inhibitory photo-products in light controlled in vitro synthesis of RNA - Pinheiro, A. V.; J. Conde; A. J. Parola; J. C. Lima; P.V. Baptista (Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology a-Chemistry, 2010)
We recently reported on the use of caged nucleotides to attain full control of enzymatic polymerization of RNA solely by light. In the absence of light no RNA formation was possible due to the efficient caging by the coumarin moiety: after irradiation, caged ATP was released with quantitative precision and RNA polymerization was resumed. As photolabile protecting group [7-(diethylamino)coumarin-4-yl]methyl] (DEACM) was used due to its high absorbance in the visible region of the spectrum, fast deprotection kinetics and absence of radical intermediates. However, the 7-diethylamino-4-hydroxymethylcoumarin photo-product (DEACM-OH) was shown to inhibit the transcription reaction for concentrations higher than 30 mu M [5]. This inhibition has been associated with poor water solubility, which is commonly dealt with via cumbersome chemical modifications of the protecting moiety. To overcome inhibition, we evaluated the use of molecular scavengers to sequester DEACM-OH formed after irradiation. Determination of association constants of coumarin with beta-cyclodextrins allowed the assessment of its capability to remove free coumarin molecules from solution. The influence of beta-cyclodextrin in transcription reaction was also assessed. Results show that beta-cyclodextrin can be successfully used as scavenger as it increases the DEACM-OH threshold concentration for inhibition, amplifying the efficiency of light controlled in vitro transcription. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 634YWTimes Cited: 0 Cited Reference Count: 22 Pinheiro, A. Vidal Conde, J. Parola, A. J. Lima, J. C. Baptista, P. V. Conde, Joao/F-2231-2011; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; Baptista, Pedro/A-1237-2009; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; Lima, Joao/F-3658-2010 Conde, Joao/0000-0001-8422-6792; Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; Baptista, Pedro/0000-0001-5255-7095; Lima, Joao/0000-0003-0528-1967 Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia [SFRH/BD/24276/2005, SFRH/BD/62957/2009]; REQUIMTE; CIGMH [PTDC/SAU-BEB/66511/2006] The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Cesar Laia for fruitful suggestions. This work was supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia - A.V.P. (SFRH/BD/24276/2005) and J.C. (SFRH/BD/62957/2009), REQUIMTE, CIGMH, PTDC/SAU-BEB/66511/2006. Elsevier science sa Lausanne

Alpha rhythm onset detector based on localized EEG sensor - T. Araújo; N. Nunes; S. Palma; Gamboa, H. (Proceedings of ESBME & MEDICON 2010, 2010)

Anti-CD8 conjugated nanoparticles to target mammalian cells expressing CD8 - Bicho, A.; Peça, Inês N; Roque, A. C. A.; Cardoso, M Margarida (International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2010)
This work aimed at the development of targeted drug delivery systems using nanoparticles fused with antibodies. The antibody anti-human CD8 was coupled onto PLGA nanoparticles, and the ability of these particles to specifically target cells expressing CD8 was studied. The obtained particles were found to be of spherical shape exhibiting a size between 350 and 600 nm. In vitro experiments with different cellular cultures {(TE671}, CHO and {HEK293)} using unmodified nanoparticles containing rhodamine have shown that particles were present on their surface within 48 h of incubation. In vitro tests using {anti-CD8} conjugated nanoparticles in CHO cell cultures indicated that all transfected cells which express CD8 show these particles on their surface within 1h of incubation. These results demonstrated that, in a shorter time, the produced particles can target cells expressing CD8 on their surface which offers the ability to reduce drug side effects. The antibody-coupled nanoparticles represent a promising approach to improve the efficacy of active targeting for lymphoblastic leukaemia therapy.
{PMID:} 20696228
Keywords: Animals; Antibodies; Antigens; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Line; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; Drug Carriers; Electron; Fluorescence; Fourier Transform Infrared; Humans; Lactic Acid; Microscopy; Monoclonal; nanoparticles; Polyglycolic Acid; Scanning; Spectroscopy; Surface Properties; Transfection; Tumor; CD8; CHO Cells; Phase-Contrast

Caracterização estrutural, térmica e mecânica de ligas Ni-Ti com memória de forma para aplicação em engenharia civil - F.M. Braz Fernandes, C. Gaspar, K.K. Mahesh, I.D. Moldovan (Actas do Congresso Reabilitar-2010 - Conservação e Reabilitação de Estruturas, LNEC, 2010)

Comparison between the standard average muscle activation with the use of snorkel and without snorkel in breaskstroke techinique - A. Conceição; Gamboa, H.; S. Palma; T. Araújo; N. Nunes; D. Marinho; Costa, A.; A. Silva; H. Louro (Book of Abstracts of the 7688 XIth International Symposium for Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming, 2010)

Comparison of Fluorescence Labelling Techniques for the Selection of Affinity Ligands from Solid-Phase Combinatorial Libraries - Pina, A. S.; Lowe, C. R.; Roque, A. C. A. (Separation Science and Technology, 2010)
This study reports the comparison of fluorimetric techniques (fluorescence microscopy and spectrofluorimetry on a 96-well format) for the on-bead screening of combinatorial libraries of affinity ligands for chromatographic separations. Two solid-phase libraries of synthetic ligands based on distinct scaffolds were synthesized by combinatorial chemistry. The libraries comprising ligands representing different hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties and sizes were tested for binding to randomly selected biomolecules (labelled with a fluorophore). Fluorescence microscopy was revealed to be a reliable and reproducible technique for the detection of lead ligands which strongly bound the target biomolecule. Results obtained by fluorescence intensity measurements in a 96-well format were less consistent, mainly due to challenges related with the accurate dispensing of the solid support.
n/a
Keywords: Affinity Ligands; Combinatorial Chemistry; Hts

Concepção de um aparelho de medição 3D da coluna vertebral: Desenvolvimento de um software de detecção de apófises espinhosas e cálculo da distância ântero-posterior - A. Jordão (FCT, 2010)

Construção de Edíficios Sustentáveis - Contribuição para a definição de um Processo Operativo - Ferreira, Luís (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)
A presente Dissertação trata do tema da Construção Sustentável, dando especial enfoque aos Processos Operativos existentes e ao caminho a percorrer para a elaboração de um Processo Operativo enquadrado especificamente dentro dos princípios da Construção Sustentável. Através de uma revisão bibliográfica, procedeu-se ao resumo da evolução dos métodos, técnicas, materiais e fins da construção, desde o início da Humanidade até à actualidade. Apresentou-se, de seguida, o enquadramento geral da realidade nacional e internacional no que respeita à construção de edifícios sustentáveis, tendo em conta as novas premissas para a construção, os novos métodos e os novos processos associados à Construção Sustentável. Neste âmbito, foram analisadas as soluções legislativas vigentes e as propostas analíticas de diversas entidades que se debruçam sobre este tema da Construção Sustentável, enquanto vertente especializada da problemática mais abrangente intrínseca ao aperfeiçoamento e aplicação do conceito de Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Este estudo, integrando uma observação profunda do ciclo de vida do edifício e das especificidades de cada uma das fases que o integram, permitiu cumprir o já referido objectivo primordial da presente Dissertação, contribuindo para o estudo, análise e elaboração de um modelo de investigação que permita avaliar ou elaborar um Processo Operativo para a Construção Sustentável. Desta forma, a presente Dissertação representa um avanço no desenvolvimento de um Processo Operativo para a Construção Sustentável adaptado à realidade da construção em Portugal.

Construção sustentável - soluções comparativas para o uso eficiente da água nos edifícios de habitação - Barroso, Luís (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)
Sustainability has been one of society’s main objectives to ensure the satisfaction of present generations without compromising the satisfaction of future generations. Construction, being one of the most important industries, consumes an innumerous amount of materials and resources, and most of these, are non-renewable resources. This mismanagement of resources in construction has made it necessary to change the ways of traditional construction leading to sustainable construction. Water is one of the most important and essential resources to human life and all life on earth. The impact of buildings throughout their life cycle (planning, construction, operation and deconstruction), water consumption manly during the operation phase, and currently has very high consumption patterns. Presently there are already several certification systems for sustainable construction, systems like BREEAM and LEED. These are usually an international reference in the sustainable construction. In Portugal the LIDERA system is unique and includes a category for the use of water in dwellings. This study contains a set of measures to reduce water consumption leading to a more efficient use of this resource in residential buildings. The measures presented are based on user’s sensitivity and awareness, systems of rainwater and grey water recycling and use of efficient devices and leakage reduction. The measures are analyzed and compared in terms of consumption patterns for the device and its effective reduction in water consumption. There is also a proposal of equipment and systems to be installed in new buildings and existing buildings in order to reduce water consumption.

Construção Sustentável – O uso de Paredes de Trombe - Miguel Gomes (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)

Construção sustentável: contributo para o processo de construção na alteração de usos nos edifícios - Faria, Pedro (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)
The construction industry is currently undergoing a transition phase through which it is trying to correct the excess of resource consumption occurred during the last two centuries. This industry is responsible for the consumption of most non-renewable resources, a high consumption of energy and for and excessive production of waste in all phases of its production process. Thus, the existence of a building process based on the principle of Sustainable Development capable of reducing the negative impacts resulting from the current activity is of enormous importance to the society. One of the present solutions, which is wide spread nearly all over the world, is the process of rehabilitation of existing buildings with change in use. This process alone can reduce the creation of demolition waste and resource consumption associated with new construction. When complemented with a set of sustainable actions, it ensures the reduction of energy consumption and resources throughout the utilization phase and improves the health of the built environment. Thus, in order to contribute to the improvement of building´s characteristics and consequently to society´s quality of life, a building construction process of change in use, based on the principle of sustainable construction, is presented. This process consists of a set of actions that encompass all phases of the building’s lifecycle.

A Contribution for the Automatic Sleep Classification Based on the Itakura-Saito Spectral Distance - Cardoso, E; Batista, A.; Rodrigues, R; Ortigueira, M.; Bárbara, C.; Martinho, C.; Rato, R. (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation. 314:374–381, 2010)
Sleep staging is a crucial step before the scoring the sleep apnoea, in subjects that are tested for this condition. These patients undergo a whole night polysomnography recording that includes EEG, EOG, ECG, EMG and respiratory signals. Sleep staging refers to the quantification of its depth. Despite the commercial sleep software being able to stage the sleep, there is a general lack of confidence amongst health practitioners of these machine results. Generally the sleep scoring is done over the visual inspection of the overnight patient EEG recording, which takes the attention of an expert medical practitioner over a couple of hours. This contributes to a waiting list of two years for patients of the Portuguese Health Service. In this work we have used a spectral comparison method called Itakura distance to be able to make a distinction between sleepy and awake epochs in a night EEG recording, therefore automatically doing the staging. We have used the data from 20 patients of Hospital Pulido Valente, which had been previously visually expert scored. Our technique results were promising, in a way that Itakura distance can, by itself, distinguish with a good degree of certainty the N2, N3 and awake states. Pre-processing stages for artefact reduction and baseline removal using Wavelets were applied.

Debye Process in Ibuprofen Glass-Forming Liquid: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulation - F. Affouard; Natália T. Correia (The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2010)
By means of molecular dynamics simulations, dynamical properties of racemic ibuprofen glass-forming liquid are investigated at different temperatures from 360 to 500 K. The origin of the peculiar low amplitude Debye-type relaxation observed experimentally by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy is addressed (Bras, A. R.; Noronha, J. P.; Antunes, A. M. M.; Cardoso, M. M.; Schönhals, A.; Affouard, F.; Dionisio, M.; Correia, N. T. J. Phys. Chem. B 2008, 112, 11087). Single and total dipolar autocorrelation functions are calculated. It is found that the behavior of the total dipole correlation is dominated at short and long times by the single function. It mainly originates from the antiparallel dipoles correlations in agreement with a value of the Kirkwood correlation factor slightly smaller than unity. The simulation suggests that the long time Debye-type decay of the dipole−dipole correlation is dominated by the internal cis−trans conversion of the O═C—O—H group coupled to the change of the intermolecular linear/cyclic HB structures. The overall rotation of the molecules is about 1−2 decades faster than the cis to trans transformation, so all the O═C—O—H group environments are equal on average. The effective rotational potential energy barriers of the O═C—O—H groups due to the surroundings are thus averaged and dipolar relaxation follows a simple Debye law. It is found that cyclic dimers inhibit the cis to trans conversion unlike the linear dimers and trimers which favor this conversion and stabilize the trans isomer. It is well in line with the very low amplitude of the dielectric strength associated with the Debye relaxation observed experimentally and its increase when the liquid is maintained isothermally above the melting temperature since this amplitude mainly relates to the low fraction of ibuprofen molecules in the trans conformation. A comparison is made with the Debye-type relaxation found in microstructured monohydroxy alcohols.

Desenvolvimento de um sensor de electroencefalografia localizado - T. Araújo (FCT, 2010)

Dynamical Characterization of a Cellulose Acetate Polysaccharide - M. Sousa; A. R. Brás; H. I. M. Veiga; F. Castelo Ferreira; M. N. Pinho; N. T. Correia; M. Dionísio (The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2010)

Estudo de um vitral quatrocentista do Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória, Batalha: caracterização, fenómenos de degradação e processos de limpeza com Líquidos Iónicos - Andreia Machado (FCT-UNL, 2010)

Estudo de um vitral quatrocentista do Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória, Batalha: caracterização, fenómenos de degradação e processos de limpeza com Líquidos Iónicos - Andreia Machado (2010)
n/a
n/a

Finite Element Modelling of Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloys - "D.P.L. Silva", "R.F. Martins", "F.M. Braz Fernandes" (Materials Science Forum, 2010)

Finite element modelling of NiTi shape memory alloys - D.P.L. Silva, R.F. Martins and F.M.B. Fernandes (Materials Science Forum, 2010)

Fractional Filters: An Optimization Approach - Matos, C.; Ortigueira, M.D. (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation. 314:361–366, 2010)
The design and optimization of fractional filters is considered in this paper. Some of the classic filter architectures are presented and their performances relatively to an ideal amplitude spectrum evaluated. The fractional filters are designed using the differential evolution optimization algorithm for computing their parameters. To evaluate the performances of all the filters the quadratic error between the computed amplitude is calculated against an ideal (goal) response. The fractional filters have a better behavior, both in the pass and reject-band.

Geographical Classification of Weathered Crude Oil Samples with Unsupervised Self-Organizing Maps and a Consensus Criterion - Borges, C.; Gómez-Carracedo, M. P.; Andrade, J. M.; Duarte, M. F.; Biscaya, J. L.; J. Aires-de-Sousa (Chemom. Intell. Lab. Syst., 2010)

GOLD-SILVER ALLOY NANOPROBES FOR ONE-POT MULTIPLEX DNA DETECTION - G. Doria; M. Larguinho; J.T. Dias; Pereira, E.; Franco, R.; P.V. Baptista (Nanotechnology, 2010)

Human-machine control model approach to enhance operator skills - Antunes, R.M.; Coito, F. V.; Duarte-Ramos, H. (Mechanical and Electrical Technology (ICMET), 2010 2nd International Conference on. :403–407.: IEEE, 2010)
n/a

Identification of a panel of ten cell surface protein antigens associated with immunotargeting of leukemias and lymphomas by peripheral blood γδT cells - Gomes, Anita Q; Correia, Daniel V.; Ana Rita Grosso; Lança, Telma; Ferreira, Cristina; Lacerda, João F.; Barata, João T.; da Silva, Maria Gomes; Silva-santos, Bruno (Haematologica, 2010)
BACKGROUND: Vgamma9Vdelta2 T lymphocytes are regarded as promising mediators of cancer immunotherapy due to their capacity to eliminate multiple experimental tumors, particularly within those of hematopoietic origin. However, Vgamma9Vdelta2 T-cell based lymphoma clinical trials have suffered from the lack of biomarkers that can be used as prognostic of therapeutic success. DESIGN AND METHODS: We have conducted a comprehensive study of gene expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemias and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, aimed at identifying markers of susceptibility versus resistance to Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We employed cDNA microarrays and quantitative real-time PCR to screen 20 leukemia and lymphoma cell lines, and 23 primary hematopoietic tumor samples. These data were analyzed using state-of-the-art bioinformatics, and gene expression patterns were correlated with susceptibility to Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell mediated cytolysis in vitro. RESULTS: We identified a panel of 10 genes encoding cell surface proteins that were statistically differentially expressed between "gammadelta-susceptible" and "gammadelta-resistant" hematopoietic tumors. Within this panel, 3 genes (ULBP1, TFR2 and IFITM1) were associated with increased susceptibility to Vgamma9Vdelta2 T-cell cytotoxicity, whereas the other 7 (CLEC2D, NRP2, SELL, PKD2, KCNK12, ITGA6 and SLAMF1) were enriched in resistant tumors. Furthermore, some of these candidates displayed a striking variance of expression among primary follicular lymphomas and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that hematopoietic tumors display a highly variable repertoire of surface proteins that can impact on Vgamma9Vdelta2 cell-mediated immunotargeting. The prognostic value of the proposed markers can now be evaluated in upcoming Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell-based lymphoma/leukemia clinical trials.
Keywords: Biomarkers; Hematopoietic tumors; Lymphoma cell lines; V$γ$9v$δ$2 t-lymphocytes

Industry level foresight: designing foresight methods for Lithuanian energy sector - Paliokaité, Agné (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2010)
This paper has its starting point in the background analysis of the Lithuanian energy sector after closing down the only Lithuanian nuclear power plant in 2010. Based on the hypothesis that one of the main governance failures in this sector leading to weak industry level strategies is the lack of participatory debate and sufficient linkages between the different actors involved in the dynamic of the energy sector in Lithuania, this paper proposes industry level foresight as an instrument of long term planning. Foresight exercises could become an important instrument for reorienting energy sector policy, building new networks and linkages among the different actors, bringing new stakeholders into the strategic debate, exploring future opportunities State investment (including R&D), etc. The primary objective of this paper is therefore the design of a foresight exercise on energy sector with the aim of producing a long term strategy for this sector. The secondary objective is to address a topic on how to select foresight methods at industry level. The argument is that a better understanding of the fundamental attributes of foresight methods and their linkages to the core phases of a foresight process can provide useful insights as to how the selection of methods is carried out. The method applied in this paper is dual: firstly, the synthesis of the academic literature on the selection of foresight methods is carried out; secondly, the comparative case study analysis of three foresight cases in the Baltic Sea Region (Poland, Finland and Russia) is applied. Case study analysis allows to explore the usage of foresight methods at industry level in the Baltic Sea Region and to understand if there are any similarities in the approach, also to explore success factors and weaknesses. The analysis in this paper is comprised of four main parts. The first part provides a background analysis on the energy sector in Lithuania and justification for the foresight exercise. Second part describes the underlying frameworks and definitions in the field of foresight research. The third part develops a comparative analysis of case studies of industry level foresight. The third part provides recommendations for energy sector foresight methodology in Lithuania. The paper combines concepts and frameworks from literature (such as the Foresight Process and the Foresight Diamond) with comparative practical case study analysis. The results can be utilised by lecturers and students to describe and understand better the use of foresight methods at industry level, and by practitioners of foresight to better inform decisions during the design of more coherent methodological frameworks; as well as by the energy sector stakeholders in Lithuania and other countries.
Based on the report for the unit "Methods of Foresight Analysis", PhD programme on technology Assessment, 2010

Insight on the SU-8 resist as passivation layer for transparent Ga2O3-In2O3-ZnO thin-film transistors - A. Olziersky; P. Barquinha; A. Vila; L. Pereira; G. Goncalves; E. Fortunato; R. Martins; J. R. Morante (J. Appl. Phys., 2010)

A Integração da Componente Ambiental no Desenvolvimento dos Planos de Ordenamento do Território – o caso de Cabo Verde - João Carvalho da Silva (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)

Interview - Miguel Amado - Baptista, Luís; Melâneo, Paula (2010)

Joining process for shape memory alloys - A review - "R.M. Miranda", "L. Alberty Vieira", "F.M. Braz Fernandes" "L. Quintino" (Welding & Material Testing, 2010)

L'onda Oceanica Come Metafora Progettuale Del Ponte Per Il Campus Dell'Universitá Nova di Lisbona - Poggi, Francesca (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)

Low-temperature processed Schottky-gated field-effect transistors based on amorphous gallium-indium-zinc-oxide thin films - M. Lorenz; A. Lajn; H. Frenzel; H. V. Wenckstern; M. Grundmann; P. Barquinha; R. Martins; E. Fortunato (Appl. Phys. Lett., 2010)

Low-temperature sputtered mixtures of high-kappa and high bandgap dielectrics for GIZO TFTs - P. Barquinha; L. Pereira; G. Goncalves; D. Kuscer; M. Kosec; A. Vila; A. Olziersky; J. R. Morante; R. Martins; E. Fortunato (J. Soc. Inf. Disp., 2010)

MicroECG: An Integrated Platform for the Cardiac Arrythmia Detection and Characterization - Nascimento, B; Batista, A.; Alves, L.B.; Ortigueira, M.; Rato, R. (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation. 314:367–373., 2010)
A software tool for the analysis of the High-Resolution Electrocardiogram (HR-ECG) for Arrhythmia detection is introduced. New algorithms based on Wavelet analysis are presented and compared with the classic Simson protocol over the P and QRS segments of the Electrocardiogram (EEG). A novel procedure based on a two step wavelet analysis and synthesis is performed in order to obtain a frequency description of the P, T or QRS segments. This frequency ?signature? is useful for the detection of otherwise asymptomatic Arrhythmia patients. The tool has been developed in Matlab, and deployed for a standalone C application.

Mobilidade em Cidades Sustentáveis - Eduardo Leandro (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)

Molecular mobility of nematic E7 confined to molecular sieves with a low filling degree - A. R. Brás; S. Frunza; L. Guerreiro; I. M. Fonseca; A. Corma; L. Frunza; M. Dionísio; A. Schoenhals (The Journal of Chemical Physics, 2010)

MOLECULAR ORGANIZATION IN SELF-ASSEMBLED BINARY PORPHYRIN NANOTUBES REVEALED BY RESONANCE RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY - Franco, R.; J. L. Jacobsen; H. Wang; Z. Wang; K. István; N. E. Schore; Y. Song; C. J. Medforth; Shelnutt, J. A. (PhysChem, 2010)

Nitrite Biosensing via Selective Enzymes-A Long but Promising Route - Almeida, M. G.; Serra, A.; Silveira, C. M.; Moura, J. J. (Sensors, 2010)
The last decades have witnessed a steady increase of the social and political awareness for the need of monitoring and controlling environmental and industrial processes. In the case of nitrite ion, due to its potential toxicity for human health, the European Union has recently implemented a number of rules to restrict its level in drinking waters and food products. Although several analytical protocols have been proposed for nitrite quantification, none of them enable a reliable and quick analysis of complex samples. An alternative approach relies on the construction of biosensing devices using stable enzymes, with both high activity and specificity for nitrite. In this paper we review the current state-of-the-art in the field of electrochemical and optical biosensors using nitrite reducing enzymes as biorecognition elements and discuss the opportunities and challenges in this emerging market.
Almeida, M GabrielaSerra, AlexandraSilveira, Celia MMoura, Jose J GSwitzerlandSensors (Basel, Switzerland)Sensors (Basel). 2010;10(12):11530-55. Epub 2010 Dec 15.

Novos Produtos para a Reabilitação Sustentável de Edifícios de Habitação - Marcio Costa (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)

O Planeamento urbano Bio-climático nos Planos de Pormenor - Hélder Metello de Nápoles (Faculdade de Arquitectura, UTL, 2010)

O uso eficiente da água nos edifícios de habitação - Cardoso, Tiago (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)
he lack of drinking water involves the entire world population and should be viewed as an inherent reality that must be investigated and solved. This dissertation analyzes the implications that the consumption of drinking water has in the world and its consequences in Portugal. In order to focus the work in the area of Civil Engineering, the thesis studies the consumption of water and its efficiency in buildings, as well as measures that contribute to an increased efficiency for this consumption, both in terms of passive devices as in terms of water reuse, could it be rainwater or waste water. The study of the efficiency of water consumption in residential buildings is done separately for family buildings and for multifamily buildings, thus discriminating which are the most efficient measures to reduce consumption in each one. Based on this division it is possible to verify that the use of rainwater is a measure that can reduce water consumption and should be implemented in family buildings. Moreover, reuse of waste water shows that it is possible to reduce and even get a surplus of water for use in toilets and irrigation of green spaces adjacent. This measure despite being highly efficient needs normative studies in order to be properly dimensioned and ensure an acceptable water quality, i.e., colorless, odorless and without toxic waste to the population. The last chapter describes activities with the aim of increasing the efficiency of urban consumption, separately for each one of the phases of the building life cycle and finally presents a table summarizing the implementation of the different methodologies proposed.

One simple step in the identification of the cofactors signals, one giant leap for the solution structure determination of multiheme proteins - Leonor Morgado; Fernandes, Ana P.; Londer, Yuri Y.; Bruix, Marta; Salgueiro, , Carlos A. (Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2010)
Multiheme proteins play major roles in various biological systems. Structural information on these systems in solution is crucial to understand their functional mechanisms. However, the presence of numerous proton-containing groups in the heme cofactors and the magnetic properties of the heme iron, in particular in the oxidised state, complicates significantly the assignment of the NMR signals. Consequently, the multiheme proteins superfamily is extremely under-represented in structural databases, which constitutes a severe bottleneck in the elucidation of their structural–functional relationships. In this work, we present a strategy that simplifies the assignment of the NMR signals in multiheme proteins and, concomitantly, their solution structure determination, using the triheme cytochrome PpcA from the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens as a model. Cost-effective isotopic labeling was used to double label (13C/15N) the protein in its polypeptide chain, with the correct folding and heme post-translational modifications. The combined analysis of 1H–13C HSQC NMR spectra obtained for labeled and unlabeled samples of PpcA allowed a straight discrimination between the heme cofactors and the polypeptide chain signals and their confident assignment. The results presented here will be the foundations to assist solution structure determination of multiheme proteins, which are still very scarce in the literature.

OPTIMIZING Au-NANOPROBES FOR SPECIFIC SEQUENCE DISCRIMINATION - G. Doria; B. G. Baumgartner; Franco, R.; P.V. Baptista (Biointerfaces, 2010)

Orientation of the axial ligands and magnetic properties of the hemes in the triheme ferricytochrome PpcA from G. sulfurreducens determined by paramagnetic NMR - Leonor Morgado; Ivo H. Saraiva; Ricardo O. Louro; Salgueiro, , Carlos A. (FEBS Letters, 2010)
The geometry of the axial ligands of the hemes in the triheme cytochrome PpcA from Geobacter sulfurreducens was determined in solution for the ferric form using the unambiguous assignment of the NMR signals of the α-substituents of the hemes. The paramagnetic 13C shifts of the hemes can be used to define the heme electronic structure, the geometry of the axial ligands, and the magnetic susceptibility tensor. The latter establishes the magnitude and geometrical dependence of the pseudocontact shifts, which are crucial to warrant reliable structural constraints for a detailed structural characterization of this paramagnetic protein in solution.

Phase Transformation in Ni-Ti Shape Memory and Superelastic Alloys Subjected to High Pressure Torsion - "Karimbi K Mahesh", "Francisco M Braz Fernandes", "Gheorghe Gurau" (Advanced Materials Research, 2010)

Princípios Bio-climáticos para o Desenho Urbano no Algarve – Estratégias para as Cidades - Filipa Martins (Universidade Lusíada, 2010)

Probing the Chemotaxis Periplasmic Sensor Domains from Geobacter sulfurreducens by Combined Resonance Raman and Molecular Dynamic Approaches: NO and CO Sensing - Catarino, Teresa; Miguel Pessanha; Ariel G. De Candia; Gouveia, Zélia; Fernandes, Ana P.; Phani R. Pokkuluri; Murgida, Daniel; Marti, Marcelo A.; Todorovic, Smilja; Salgueiro, , Carlos A. (The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2010)
The periplasmic sensor domains encoded by genes gsu0582 and gsu0935 are part of methyl accepting chemotaxis proteins in the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens (Gs). The sensor domains of these proteins contain a heme-c prosthetic group and a PAS-like fold as revealed by their crystal structures. Biophysical studies of the two domains showed that nitric oxide (NO) binds to the heme in both the ferric and ferrous forms, whereas carbon monoxide (CO) binds only to the reduced form. In order to address these exogenous molecules as possible physiological ligands, binding studies and resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopic characterization of the respective CO and NO adducts were performed in this work. In the absence of exogenous ligands, typical RR frequencies of five-coordinated (5c) high-spin and six-coordinated (6c) low-spin species were observed in the oxidized form. In the reduced state, only frequencies corresponding to the latter were detected. In both sensors, CO binding yields 6c low-spin adducts by replacing the endogenous distal ligand. The binding of NO by the two proteins causes partial disruption of the proximal Fe-His bond, as revealed by the RR fingerprint features of 5cFe-NO and 6cNO-Fe-His species. The measured CO and NO dissociation constants of ferrous GSU0582 and GSU0935 sensors reveal that both proteins have high and similar affinity toward these molecules (Kd ≈ 0.04−0.08 μM). On the contrary, in the ferric form, sensor GSU0582 showed a much higher affinity for NO (Kd ≈ 0.3 μM for GSU0582 versus 17 μM for GSU0935). Molecular dynamics calculations revealed a more open heme pocket in GSU0935, which could account for the different affinities for NO. Taken together, spectroscopic data and MD calculations revealed subtle differences in the binding properties and structural features of formed CO and NO adducts, but also indicated a possibility that a (5c) high-spin/(6c) low-spin redox-linked equilibrium could drive the physiological sensing of Gs cells.

Procedimentos para uma certificação da construção sustentável - Espírito Santo, Hugo (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)
Increasing levels of environmental pollution and destruction of the planet, as well as the future of societies, have been prominent themes in our time. Concern about the sustainable future of ecosystems and future generations brings to each sector of activity the need to define a process of sustainable development and measures that ought to be implemented. In the construction sector this is a major issue, since it consumes a great part of natural resources, and leads to high emissions of pollutants. Likewise, this sector determines the mode of living of human beings, as well as their comfort and health. The work herein presented has the purpose to study how, and what systems and procedures should be implemented to ensure techniques for sustainable construction, and consequently achieve the principles of sustainable development into its components: environment, society and economy. The national reality of professionals will also be referred to, thus contributing to a practice of sustainable construction, complementary to what currently exists both national and internationally. Thus, this study aims to reflect on the importance of certification, systems and procedures, to ensure compliance of construction with the sustainability goals.

Process control based on PCA models - BRITO PALMA, L.; VIEIRA COITO, F.; Sousa Gil, P.; Neves-Silva, R. (Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA), 2010 IEEE Conference on. :1–4.: IEEE, 2010)
n/a

Properties of the interface between water and self-assembled > monolayers of neutral, anionic and cationic alkane thiols - Borys Szefczyk; M. Natália Cordeiro; Ricardo Franco; José A. N. F. Gomes (J. Mol. Struct. THEOCHEM, 2010)

Public Participation In Sustainable Urban Planning - Amado, Miguel; Silva, Vitor; Santos, Catarina; Moura, Eveline (International Journal of Human and Social Sciences, 2010)

Purification and Characterization of OmcZ, an Outer-Surface, Octaheme c-Type Cytochrome Essential for Optimal Current Production by Geobacter sulfurreducens - Inoue, Kengo; Qian, Xinlei; Leonor Morgado; Kim, Byoung-Chan; Mester, Tünde; Izallalen, Mounir; Salgueiro, , Carlos A.; Lovley, Derek R. (Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2010)
Previous studies have demonstrated that Geobacter sulfurreducens requires the c-type cytochrome OmcZ, which is present in large (OmcZL; 50-kDa) and small (OmcZS; 30-kDa) forms, for optimal current production in microbial fuel cells. This protein was further characterized to aid in understanding its role in current production. Subcellular-localization studies suggested that OmcZS was the predominant extracellular form of OmcZ. N- and C-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of purified OmcZS and molecular weight measurements indicated that OmcZS is a cleaved product of OmcZL retaining all 8 hemes, including 1 heme with the unusual c-type heme-binding motif CX14CH. The purified OmcZS was remarkably thermally stable (thermal-denaturing temperature, 94.2°C). Redox titration analysis revealed that the midpoint reduction potential of OmcZS is approximately −220 mV (versus the standard hydrogen electrode [SHE]) with nonequivalent heme groups that cover a large reduction potential range (−420 to −60 mV). OmcZS transferred electrons in vitro to a diversity of potential extracellular electron acceptors, such as Fe(III) citrate, U(VI), Cr(VI), Au(III), Mn(IV) oxide, and the humic substance analogue anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate, but not Fe(III) oxide. The biochemical properties and extracellular localization of OmcZ suggest that it is well suited for promoting electron transfer in current-producing biofilms of G. sulfurreducens.

Railscan: A Tool for the Detection and Quantification of Rail Corrugation - Gomes, R; Batista, A.; Ortigueira, M.; Rato, R.; Baldeiras, M. (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation. 314:401–408, 2010)
Rail corrugation is a phenomenon that leads to a waving in the rails with wavelengths typically between 3 cm and 100 cm and amplitude levels of several microns. The genesis of this waving is complex. Rail corrugation is a recognized problem that leads to excess vibration on the rails and vehicles to a point of reducing their life span and compromising safety. In urban areas excess vibration noise is also a problem. A software tool was developed to analyze accelerometer signals acquired in the boggies of rail vehicles in order to quantify the rail corrugation according to their frequency and amplitude. A wavelet packet methodology was used in this work and compared with the One Third Octave Filter (OTOF) power representations, which is currently used in the industry. It is shown that the former produces better results.

Reabilitação Sustentável em Edificíos de Habitação - Lopes, Tânia (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2010)
Currently, the buildings are one of the elements that mostly contribute to environmental degradation. Regarding the natural resources consumption and the environmental comfort, the building efficiency level means that, actually, the same residential built environment can be considered unsustainable. Thereby, it is important to know, determine and identify the specific residential buildings problems in order to contribute in solving this situation. After knowing the major residential buildings problems and those causes, it is needed to adapt the rehabilitation process to the traditional concept of sustainable construction, which can be achieved by the evaluation and certification systems of the construction sustainability. This thesis aims at contributing to the buildings rehabilitation process which it is intended to be conducted in a sustainable method, based on the presented issue.

Short communication: effect of kefir grains on proteolysis of major milk proteins - Ferreira, I M P L V O; Pinho, O; Monteiro, D; Faria, S; Cruz, S; Perreira, A; Roque, A. C. A.; Tavares, P (Journal of Dairy Science, 2010)
The effect of kefir grains on the proteolysis of major milk proteins in milk kefir and in a culture of kefir grains in pasteurized cheese whey was followed by reverse {phase-HPLC} analysis. The reduction of kappa-, alpha-, and beta-caseins {(CN)}, alpha-lactalbumin {(alpha-LA)}, and beta-lactoglobulin {(beta-LG)} contents during 48 and 90 h of incubation of pasteurized milk {(100mL)} and respective cheese whey with kefir grains (6 and 12 g) at 20 degrees C was monitored. Significant proteolysis of {alpha-LA} and kappa-, alpha-, and beta-caseins was observed. The effect of kefir amount (6 and 12 {g/100mL)} was significant for {alpha-LA} and alpha- and {beta-CN.} {alpha-Lactalbumin} and {beta-CN} were more easily hydrolyzed than {alpha-CN.} No significant reduction was observed with respect to {beta-LG} concentration for 6 and 12 g of kefir in {100mL} of milk over 48 h, indicating that no significant proteolysis was carried out. Similar results were observed when the experiment was conducted over 90 h. Regarding the cheese whey kefir samples, similar behavior was observed for the proteolysis of {alpha-LA} and {beta-LG:} {alpha-LA} was hydrolyzed between 60 and 90% after 12h (for 6 and 12 g of kefir) and no significant {beta-LG} proteolysis occurred. The proteolytic activity of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in kefir community was evaluated. Kefir milk prepared under normal conditions contained peptides from proteolysis of {alpha-LA} and kappa-, alpha-, and beta-caseins. Hydrolysis is dependent on the kefir:milk ratio and incubation time. {beta-Lactoglobulin} is not hydrolyzed even when higher hydrolysis time is used. Kefir grains are not appropriate as adjunct cultures to increase {beta-LG} digestibility in whey-based or whey-containing foods.
{PMID:} 20059900
Keywords: Animals; Bacteria; Cereals; Cheese; Cultured Milk Products; Food Technology; Milk; Milk Proteins; Yeasts

Synthesis and biodegradation studies of new copolymers based on sucrose derivatives and styrene - M. T. Barros; K. T. Petrova; R. P. Singh (Eur. Polym J., 2010)

Synthesis of Hydrophilic and Amphiphilic Acryl Sucrose Monomers and Their Copolymerisation with Styrene, Methylmethacrylate and α- and β-Pinenes - M. T. Barros; K. T. Petrova; R. P. Singh (Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2010)

Teichoic acids are temporal and spatial regulators of peptidoglycan cross-linking in Staphylococcus aureus - M. L. Atilano; P. M. Pereira; J. Yates; P. Reed; H. Veiga; M. G. Pinho*; S. R. Filipe* (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2010)

Textural Modifications during Recovery in Ti-Rich Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy Subjected to Low Level of Cold Work Reduction - "A.S. Paula", "K.K. Mahesh", "N. Schell" "and" "F.M. Braz Fernandes" (Materials Science Forum, 2010)

Thermodynamic Characterization of a Triheme Cytochrome Family from Geobacter sulfurreducens Reveals Mechanistic and Functional Diversity - Leonor Morgado; Bruix, Marta; Miguel Pessanha; Londer, Yuri Y.; Salgueiro, , Carlos A. (Biophysical Journal, 2010)
A family of five periplasmic triheme cytochromes (PpcA-E) was identified in Geobacter sulfurreducens, where they play a crucial role by driving electron transfer from the cytoplasm to the cell exterior and assisting the reduction of extracellular acceptors. The thermodynamic characterization of PpcA using NMR and visible spectroscopies was previously achieved under experimental conditions identical to those used for the triheme cytochrome c7 from Desulfuromonas acetoxidans. Under such conditions, attempts to obtain NMR data were complicated by the relatively fast intermolecular electron exchange. This work reports the detailed thermodynamic characterization of PpcB, PpcD, and PpcE under optimal experimental conditions. The thermodynamic characterization of PpcA was redone under these new conditions to allow a proper comparison of the redox properties with those of other members of this family. The heme reduction potentials of the four proteins are negative, differ from each other, and cover different functional ranges. These reduction potentials are strongly modulated by heme-heme interactions and by interactions with protonated groups (the redox-Bohr effect) establishing different cooperative networks for each protein, which indicates that they are designed to perform different functions in the cell. PpcA and PpcD appear to be optimized to interact with specific redox partners involving e−/H+ transfer via different mechanisms. Although no evidence of preferential electron transfer pathway or e−/H+ coupling was found for PpcB and PpcE, the difference in their working potential ranges suggests that they may also have different physiological redox partners. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to characterize homologous cytochromes from the same microorganism and provide evidence of their different mechanistic and functional properties. These findings provide an explanation for the coexistence of five periplasmic triheme cytochromes in G. sulfurreducens.

Thin-film transistors based on p-type Cu2O thin films produced at room temperature - E. Fortunato; V. Figueiredo; P. Barquinha; E. Elamurugu; R. Barros; G. Goncalves; S. H. K. Park; C. S. Hwang; R. Martins (Appl. Phys. Lett., 2010)

Transparent p-type SnOx thin film transistors produced by reactive rf magnetron sputtering followed by low temperature annealing - E. Fortunato; R. Barros; P. Barquinha; V. Figueiredo; S. H. K. Park; C. S. Hwang; R. Martins (Appl. Phys. Lett., 2010)

Unconstrained mining of transcript data reveals increased alternative splicing complexity in the human transcriptome - Mollet, I. G.; Ben-Dov, Claudia; Felício-Silva, Daniel; Ana Rita Grosso; Eleutério, Pedro; Alves, Ruben; Staller, Ray; Silva, Tito Santos; Carmo-fonseca, Maria (Nucleic Acids Research, 2010)
Mining massive amounts of transcript data for alternative splicing information is paramount to help understand how the maturation of RNA regulates gene expression. We developed an algorithm to cluster transcript data to annotated genes to detect unannotated splice variants. A higher number of alternatively spliced genes and isoforms were found compared to other alternative splicing databases. Comparison of human and mouse data revealed a marked increase, in human, of splice variants incorporating novel exons and retained introns. Previously unannotated exons were validated by tiling array expression data and shown to correspond preferentially to novel first exons. Retained introns were validated by tiling array and deep sequencing data. The majority of retained introns were shorter than 500 nt and had weak polypyrimidine tracts. A subset of retained introns matching small RNAs and displaying a high GC content suggests a possible coordination between splicing regulation and production of noncoding RNAs. Conservation of unannotated exons and retained introns was higher in horse, dog and cow than in rodents, and 64% of exon sequences were only found in primates. This analysis highlights previously bypassed alternative splice variants, which may be crucial to deciphering more complex pathways of gene regulation in human.

Unraveling Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Variability - Machado, C. M.; Couto, F.; Fernandes, A. R.; Santos, S.; Cardim, N.; Freitas, A. T. (2010)

Vitrais da Charola do Convento de Cristo em Tomar: história e caracterização - Delgado, Joana (FCT-UNL, 2010)

XRD study of the transformation characteristics of severely plastic deformed Ni-Ti SMAs - "Francisco M. Braz Fernandes", "Karimbi K. Mahesh", "Rui J. C. Silva", "Carmela Gurau" (P hys. Status Solidi C, 2010)

Zinc concentration dependence study of solution processed amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide thin film transistors using high-k dielectric - P. K. Nayak; T. Busani; E. Elamurugu; P. Barquinha; R. Martins; Y. Hong; E. Fortunato (Appl. Phys. Lett., 2010)

The 1.4 angstrom resolution structure of Paracoccus pantotrophus pseudoazurin - Najmudin, Shabir; Pauleta, Sofia R.; Moura, Isabel; Romao, Maria J. (Acta Crystallographica Section F-Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 6 Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Pauleta, Sofia/F-3619-2011; Moura, Isabel/D-6339-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, SMB/M-5694-2013; REQUIMTE, UCIBIO/N-9846-2013 Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Pauleta, Sofia/0000-0002-2149-9416; Moura, Isabel/0000-0003-0971-4977; 6

New evidence for the role of calcium in the glycosidase reaction of GH43 arabinanases - de Sanctis, Daniele; Inácio, José M.; Lindley, Peter F.; Isabel de Sá-Nogueira; Bento, Isabel (FEBS Journal, 2010)
Endo-1,5-α-L-arabinanases are glycosyl hydrolases that are able to cleave the glycosidic bonds of α-1,5-L-arabinan, releasing arabino-oligosaccharides and L-arabinose. Two extracellular endo-1,5-α-L-arabinanases have been isolated from Bacillus subtilis, BsArb43A and BsArb43B (formally named AbnA and Abn2, respectively). BsArb43B shows low sequence identity with previously characterized 1,5-α-L-arabinanases and is a much larger enzyme. Here we describe the 3D structure of native BsArb43B, biochemical and structure characterization of two BsArb43B mutant proteins (H318A and D171A), and the 3D structure of the BsArb43B D171A mutant enzyme in complex with arabinohexose. The 3D structure of BsArb43B is different from that of other structurally characterized endo-1,5-α-L-arabinanases, as it comprises two domains, an N-terminal catalytic domain, with a 3D fold similar to that observed for other endo-1,5-α-L-arabinanases, and an additional C-terminal domain. Moreover, this work also provides experimental evidence for the presence of a cluster containing a calcium ion in the catalytic domain, and the importance of this calcium ion in the enzymatic mechanism of BsArb43B.
n/a

A Multitask ATPase Serving Different ABC-Type Sugar Importers in Bacillus subtilis. - Ferreira, Mário José; Isabel de Sá-Nogueira (Journal of Bacteriology, 2010)
Bacillus subtilis is able to utilize arabinopolysaccharides derived from plant biomass. Here, by combining genetic and physiological analyses we characterize the AraNPQ importer and identify primary and secondary transporters of B. subtilis involved in the uptake of arabinosaccharides. We show that the ABC-type importer AraNPQ is involved in the uptake of α-1,5-arabinooligosaccharides, at least up to four L-arabinosyl units. Although this system is the key transporter for α-1,5-arabinotriose and α-1,5-arabinotetraose, the results indicate that α-1,5-arabinobiose also is translocated by the secondary transporter AraE. This broad-specificity proton symporter is the major transporter for arabinose and also is accountable for the uptake of xylose and galactose. In addition, MsmX is shown to be the ATPase that energizes the incomplete AraNPQ importer. Furthermore, the results suggest the existence of at least one more unidentified MsmX-dependent ABC importer responsible for the uptake of nonlinear α-1,2- and α-1,3-arabinooligosaccharides. This study assigns MsmX as a multipurpose B. subtilis ATPase required to energize different saccharide transporters, the arabinooligosaccharide-specific AraNPQ-MsmX system, a putative MsmX-dependent ABC transporter specific for nonlinear arabinooligosaccharides, and the previously characterized maltodextrin-specific MdxEFG-MsmX system.
n/a

Aliasing control with view-based typestate - Filipe Militão; Jonathan Aldrich; Luís Caires (Formal Techniques for Java Programs (FTfJP), 2010)
n/a
n/a

Analytical resolution of the reaction rates of flavylium network by Laplace transform - Vesselin Petrov; Pina, Fernando (Journal of Mathematical Chemistry, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 8 Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Pina, Fernando/0000-0001-8529-6848; 8

Application of HR-MAS NMR in the solid-phase synthesis of a glycopeptide using Sieber amide resin - Carvalho, L. R.; Corvo, Mc; Enugala, R.; M.M. Marques; E. J. Cabrita (Magn Reson Chem, 2010)
The solid-phase synthesis (SPS) of a structurally complex glycopeptide, using Sieber amide resin, was monitored by high resolution magic angle spinning NMR, demonstrating the further application of this technique. A synthetic peptidoglycan derivative, a precursor of a biologically active PGN, known to be involved in the cellular recognition, was prepared by SPS. The synthesis involved the preparation of an N-alloc glucosamine moiety and the synthesis of a simple amino acid sequence L-Ala-D-Glu-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala. Last step consisted the coupling, on solid-phase, of the protected muramyl unit to the peptide chain. Proton spectra with good suppression of the polystyrene signals in swollen resin samples were obtained in DMF-d(7) as a solvent and by using a nonselective 1D TOCSY/DIPSI-2 scheme, thus allowing to follow the SPS without losses of compound and cleavage from the resin. The assignment of the proton spectra of the resin-bound amino acid sequence and of the bound glycopeptide was achieved through the combination of MAS COSY, TOCSY and NOESY.
n/a
Keywords: Amides/*chemistry Glycopeptides/chemical synthesis/*chemistry Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/classification Molecular Structure Resins; Synthetic/*chemistry

Asymmetric alkene epoxidation by Mn(III)salen catalyst in ionic liquids - Teixeira, Jorge; Silva, Ana Rosa; Branco, Luis C.; Afonso, Carlos A. M.; Freire, Cristina (Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 8 Silva, Ana Rosa/F-6174-2011; Freire, Cristina/F-4775-2010; Branco, Luis/C-6426-2013; Caparica, PTNMR/E-5112-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, MAT/M-4540-2013; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/M-7833-2013; REQUIMTE, NSF/N-1636-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013; PTMS, RNEM/C-1589-2014; iMed.ULisboa, iMed.ULisboa/C-6292-2014; iMed.ULisboa, BioOrgChem /B-4209-2014 Silva, Ana Rosa/0000-0002-1673-2164; Freire, Cristina/0000-0003-1753-8678; Branco, Luis/0000-0003-2520-1151; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/0000-0002-7284-5948; 8

Biaxial nematic mesophases from shape-persistent mesogens with a fluorenone bending unit - Lehmann, M.; Kohn, C.; J. L. Figueirinhas; Feio, G.; C. Cruz; Dong, R. Y. (Chemistry, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Binding of H+ and Zn(II) ions with a new fluorescent macrocyclic phenanthrolinophane - Bazzicalupi, Carla; Biagini, Silvia; Bianchi, Antonio; Faggi, Enrico; Gratteri, Paola; Mariani, Palma; Pina, Fernando; Valtancoli, Barbara (Dalton Transactions, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 7 Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Pina, Fernando/0000-0001-8529-6848; 7

Bright Light: Microspectrofluorimetry for the Characterization of Lake Pigments and Dyes in Works of Art - Melo, Maria J.; Claro, Ana (Accounts of Chemical Research, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 14 Melo, Maria Joao/C-8594-2011; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Melo, Maria Joao/0000-0001-7393-6801; Si 14

Catalyst-free aziridination and unexpected homologation of aziridines from imines - Branco, Paula Serio; Raje, Vivek Prabhakar; Dourado, Jorge; Gordo, Joana (ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Catalytic olefin epoxidation with cationic molybdenum(VI) cis-dioxo complexes and ionic liquids - Gago, Sandra; Balula, Salete S.; Figueiredo, Sonia; Lopes, Andre D.; Valente, Anabela A.; Pillinger, Martyn; Goncalves, Isabel S. (Applied Catalysis a-General, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 19 Balula, Salete/B-7508-2012; Lopes, Andre/E-2136-2012; Figueiredo, Sonia/E-4355-2012; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; Valente, Anabela/H-5922-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, MAT/M-4540-2013; REQUIMTE, NSF/N-1636-2013; CIQA, CIQA/N-6549-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Balula, Salete/0000-0002-8984-0473; Lopes, Andre/0000-0002-9702-1216; Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; 19

Characterization of the 4 '-hydroxynaphthoflavylium network of chemical reactions - Gavara, Raquel; Vesselin Petrov; Pina, Fernando (Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 5 Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Gavara, Raquel/C-6669-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Pina, Fernando/0000-0001-8529-6848; Gavara, Raquel/0000-0002-7198-9392; 5

Clean synthesis of molecular recognition polymeric materials with chiral sensing capability using supercritical fluid technology. Application as \{HPLC\} stationary phases - Mara Soares da Silva; Eva R. Vão; Temtem, Márcio; Luís Mafra; Jorge Caldeira; Aguiar-Ricardo, Ana; Casimiro, Teresa (Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2010)
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) of poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) were synthesized for the first time in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), using Boc-l-tryptophan as template. Supercritical fluid technology provides a clean and one-step synthetic route for the preparation of affinity polymeric materials with sensing capability for specific molecules. The polymeric materials were tested as stationary \{HPLC\} phases for the enantiomeric separation of l- and d-tryptophan. \{HPLC\} results prove that the synthesized \{MIPs\} are able to recognize the template molecule towards its enantiomer which opens up potential applications in chromatographic chiral separation.
n/a
Keywords: \{HPLC\}

A Contribution for the Automatic Sleep Classification Based on the Itakura-Saito Spectral Distance - Eduardo Cardoso; Arnaldo Batista; Rui Rodrigues; Manuel Ortigueira; Cristina Bárbara; Cristina Martinho; Raul Rato (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation, 2010)
Sleep staging is a crucial step before the scoring the sleep apnoea, in subjects that are tested for this condition. These patients undergo a whole night polysomnography recording that includes EEG, EOG, ECG, EMG and respiratory signals. Sleep staging refers to the quantification of its depth. Despite the commercial sleep software being able to stage the sleep, there is a general lack of confidence amongst health practitioners of these machine results. Generally the sleep scoring is done over the visual inspection of the overnight patient EEG recording, which takes the attention of an expert medical practitioner over a couple of hours. This contributes to a waiting list of two years for patients of the Portuguese Health Service. In this work we have used a spectral comparison method called Itakura distance to be able to make a distinction between sleepy and awake epochs in a night EEG recording, therefore automatically doing the staging. We have used the data from 20 patients of Hospital Pulido Valente, which had been previously visually expert scored. Our technique results were promising, in a way that Itakura distance can, by itself, distinguish with a good degree of certainty the N2, N3 and awake states. Pre-processing stages for artefact reduction and baseline removal using Wavelets were applied.
n/a

Crystal and supramolecular structures of dioxomolybdenum(VI) and dioxotungsten(VI) complexes of dihydroxybenzoic acids - Monteiro, Bernardo; Cunha-Silva, Luis; Gago, Sandra; Klinowski, Jacek; Almeida Paz, Filipe A.; Rocha, Joao; Goncalves, Isabel S.; Pillinger, Martyn (Polyhedron, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 4 Cunha-Silva, Luis/A-8765-2012; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Monteiro, Bernardo/C-6940-2013; Rocha, Joao/A-2486-2010; Caparica, PTNMR/E-5112-2013; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, MAT/M-4540-2013; REQUIMTE, NSF/N-1636-2013; Almeida Paz, Filipe/F-3430-2010; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Cunha-Silva, Luis/0000-0001-9229-1412; Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Rocha, Joao/0000-0002-0417-9402; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Almeida Paz, Filipe/0000-0003-2051-5645; 4

Cyclopentadienyl molybdenum dicarbonyl eta(3)-allyl complexes as catalyst precursors for olefin epoxidation. Crystal structures of Cp ' Mo(CO)(2)(eta(3)-C3H5) (Cp ' = eta(5)-C5H4Me, eta(5)-C5Me5) - Neves, Patricia; Pereira, Claudia C. L.; Paz, Filipe A. Almeida; Gago, Sandra; Pillinger, Martyn; Silva, Carlos M.; Valente, Anabela A.; Romao, Carlos C.; Goncalves, Isabel S. (Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 19 Neves, Patricia/F-6098-2011; Romao, Carlos /D-1162-2010; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; Valente, Anabela/H-5922-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; Almeida Paz, Filipe/F-3430-2010; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Romao, Carlos /0000-0001-5061-3743; Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Almeida Paz, Filipe/0000-0003-2051-5645; 19

Dehydroindigo, the Forgotten Indigo and Its Contribution to the Color of Maya Blue - Rondao, Raquel; Seixas de Melo, J. Sergio; Bonifacio, Vasco D. B.; Melo, Maria J. (Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 17 Melo, Maria Joao/C-8594-2011; Seixas de Melo, Sergio/A-5388-2008; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Bonifacio, Vasco/A-8653-2008; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, ORG/M-4578-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Melo, Maria Joao/0000-0001-7393-6801; Seixas de Melo, Sergio/0000-0001-9708-5079; Bonifacio, Vasco/0000-0003-2349-8473; 17

Deuterium NMR Study of Orientational Order in Cellulosic Network Microfibers - Kundu, S; Feio, G.; Pinto, LFV; P. L. Almeida; J. L. Figueirinhas; M. H. Godinho (Macromolecules, 2010)
Deuterium NMR was used to investigate the orientational order in a composite cellulosic formed by liquid crystalline acetoxypropylcellulose (A PC) and demented nematic 4'-penty1-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB-4 alpha d(2)) with the per centage of 85% A PC by weight Three forms of the composite including electro spun microfibers, thin film and bulk samples were analyzed The NMR results initially suggest two distinct scenarios, one whet e the 503-alpha d(2), is confined to small droplets with dimensions smaller than the magnetic coherence length and the other where the 503-alpha d(2) molecules arc aligned with the A PC network chains Polarized optical microscopy (POW from thin film samples along with all the NMR results show the presence of 5CB-alpha d(2) droplets in the composite systems with a nematic wetting layer at the APC-5CB-alpha d(2) interface that experiences and order disorder transition driven by the polymer network N-I transition The characterization of the APC network I-N transition shows a pronounced subcritical behavior within a heterogeneity scenario
n/a
Keywords: liquid-crystals phase-transition nanofibers fibers layer

Establishment of the Chemical Equilibria of Different Types of Pyranoanthocyanins in Aqueous Solutions: Evidence for the Formation of Aggregation in Pyranomalvidin-3-O-coumaroylglucoside-(+)-catechin - Cruz, Luis; Vesselin Petrov; Teixeira, Natercia; Mateus, Nuno; Pina, Fernando; de Freitas, Victor (Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 10 Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; de Freitas, Victor/H-7789-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Cruz, Luis/J-4413-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013; Mateus, Nuno/F-3019-2013 Pina, Fernando/0000-0001-8529-6848; Cruz, Luis/0000-0003-2226-0404; Mateus, Nuno/0000-0002-9318-9732 10

Family 42 carbohydrate-binding modules display multiple arabinoxylan-binding interfaces presenting different ligand affinities - Ribeiro, Teresa; Santos-Silva, Teresa; Alves, Victor D.; Dias, Fernando M. V.; Luis, Ana S.; Prates, Jose A. M.; Ferreira, Luis M. A.; Romao, Maria J.; Fontes, Carlos M. G. A. (Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-Proteins and Proteomics, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 1 Dias, Fernando/I-4861-2012; Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; Prates, Jose/K-9934-2013; REQUIMTE, SMB/M-5694-2013; REQUIMTE, UCIBIO/N-9846-2013 Dias, Fernando/0000-0001-8109-2063; Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Prates, Jose/0000-0003-1032-5987; 1

Fractional Filters: An Optimization Approach - Carlos Matos; Manuel Duarte Ortigueira (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation, 2010)
The design and optimization of fractional filters is considered in this paper. Some of the classic filter architectures are presented and their performances relatively to an ideal amplitude spectrum evaluated. The fractional filters are designed using the differential evolution optimization algorithm for computing their parameters. To evaluate the performances of all the filters the quadratic error between the computed amplitude is calculated against an ideal (goal) response. The fractional filters have a better behavior, both in the pass and reject-band.
n/a

The fractional quantum derivative and its integral representations? - Manuel Duarte Ortigueira (Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, 2010)
The quantum fractional derivative is defined using formulations analogue to the common Grünwald?Letnikov derivatives. While these use a linear variable scale, the quantum derivative uses an exponential scale and is defined in R? or R?. Two integral formulations similar to the usual Liouville derivatives are deduced with the help of the Mellin transform.
n/a

GADISI–Genetic Algorithms Applied to the Automatic Design of Integrated Spiral Inductors - P Pereira; Fino, M.; Coito, F.; Ventim-Neves, M. (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Human-machine control model approach to enhance operator skills - Antunes, R.M.; Coito, F. V.; Duarte-Ramos, H. (Mechanical and Electrical Technology (ICMET), 2010 2nd International Conference on, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Identification of red colorants in van Gogh paintings and ancient Andean textiles by microspectrofluorimetry - Claro, Ana; Melo, Maria J.; Seixas de Melo, J. Sergio; van den Berg, Klaas Jan; Burnstock, Aviva; Montague, Meredith; Newman, Richard (Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 7 Melo, Maria Joao/C-8594-2011; Seixas de Melo, Sergio/A-5388-2008; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Melo, Maria Joao/0000-0001-7393-6801; Seixas de Melo, Sergio/0000-0001-9708-5079; 7

In vitro studies with mammalian cell lines and gum arabic‐coated magnetic nanoparticles - Bicho, Ana; Roque, Ana Cecília A; Cardoso, Ana Sofia; Domingos, Patrícia; Batalha, Íris Luz (Journal of Molecular Recognition, 2010)
Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles {(MNPs)} were synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method and coated with gum arabic {(GA)} by physical adsorption and covalent attachment. Cultures of mammalian cell lines {(HEK293}, CHO and {TE671)} were grown in the presence of uncoated and GA-coated MNPs. Cellular growth was followed by optical microscopy in order to assess the proportion of cells with particles, alterations in cellular density and the presence of debris. The in vitro assays demonstrated that cells from different origins are affected differently by the presence of the nanoparticles. Also, the methods followed for GA coating of MNPs endow distinct surface characteristics that probably underlie the observed differences when in contact with the cells. In general, the nanoparticles to which the GA was adsorbed had a smaller ability to attach to the cells' surface and to compromise the viability of the cultures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
n/a
Keywords: gum arabic; magnetic particles; mammalian cell lines; CHO; HEK293; TE671

Interfacial Properties, Densities, and Contact Angles of Task Specific Ionic Liquids - Carrera, Goncalo V. S. M.; Afonso, Carlos A. M.; Branco, Luis C. (Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 19 Branco, Luis/C-6426-2013; Carrrera, Goncalo/C-7536-2013; Caparica, PTNMR/E-5112-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/M-7833-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013; PTMS, RNEM/C-1589-2014; iMed.ULisboa, iMed.ULisboa/C-6292-2014; iMed.ULisboa, BioOrgChem /B-4209-2014 Branco, Luis/0000-0003-2520-1151; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/0000-0002-7284-5948; Iberian Meeting on Ionic Liquids (IMIL) Jun 15-16, 2009 Univ Aveiro, Aveiro, PORTUGAL 19

Investigation of Molybdenum Tetracarbonyl Complexes As Precursors to Mo-VI Catalysts for the Epoxidation of Olefins - Amarante, Tatiana R.; Neves, Patricia; Coelho, Ana C.; Gago, Sandra; Valente, Anabela A.; Paz, Filipe A. Almeida; Pillinger, Martyn; Goncalves, Isabel S. (Organometallics, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 24 Amarante, Tatiana/C-7816-2011; Neves, Patricia/F-6098-2011; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; Valente, Anabela/H-5922-2013; Coelho, Ana Catarina/J-3331-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; Almeida Paz, Filipe/F-3430-2010; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Almeida Paz, Filipe/0000-0003-2051-5645; 24

Ligand based nuclear magnetic resonance screening techniques - A. Viegas; Macedo, A. L.; E. J. Cabrita (Ligand Macromolecule Interactions in drug discovery, Methods in Molecular Biology, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Measuring the cytochrome c nitrite reductase activity-practical considerations on the enzyme assays - Silveira, C. M.; Besson, S.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J.; Almeida, M. G. (Bioinorg Chem Appl, 2010)
The cytochrome c nitrite reductase (ccNiR) from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774 is able to reduce nitrite to ammonia in a six-electron transfer reaction. Although extensively characterized from the spectroscopic and structural points-of-view, some of its kinetic aspects are still under explored. In this work the kinetic behaviour of ccNiR has been evaluated in a systematic manner using two different spectrophotometric assays carried out in the presence of different redox mediators and a direct electrochemical approach. Solution assays have proved that the specific activity of ccNiR decreases with the reduction potential of the electronic carriers and ammonium is always the main product of nitrite reduction. The catalytic parameters were discussed on the basis of the mediator reducing power and also taking into account the location of their putative docking sites with ccNiR. Due to the fast kinetics of ccNiR, electron delivering from reduced electron donors is rate-limiting in all spectrophotometric assays, so the estimated kinetic constants are apparent only. Nevertheless, this limitation could be overcome by using a direct electrochemical approach which shows that the binding affinity for nitrite decreases whilst turnover increases with the reductive driving force.
1687-479X (Electronic)Journal Article

Melting behaviour of ionic salts in the presence of high pressure CO2 - Serbanovic, Ana; Petrovski, Zeljko; Manic, Marina; Marques, Carolina S.; Carrera, Goncalo V. S. M.; Branco, Luis C.; Afonso, Carlos A. M.; da Ponte, Manuel Nunes (Fluid Phase Equilibria, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 10 da Ponte, Manuel/B-3620-2010; Branco, Luis/C-6426-2013; Carrrera, Goncalo/C-7536-2013; Caparica, PTNMR/E-5112-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, CENG/M-4555-2013; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/M-7833-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013; iMed.ULisboa, BioOrgChem /B-4209-2014; PTMS, RNEM/C-1589-2014; iMed.ULisboa, iMed.ULisboa/C-6292-2014 da Ponte, Manuel/0000-0003-4499-4521; Branco, Luis/0000-0003-2520-1151; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/0000-0002-7284-5948; Si 10

MicroECG: An Integrated Platform for the Cardiac Arrythmia Detection and Characterization - Bruno Nascimento; Arnaldo Batista; Luis Brandão Alves; Manuel Ortigueira; Raul Rato (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation, 2010)
A software tool for the analysis of the High-Resolution Electrocardiogram (HR-ECG) for Arrhythmia detection is introduced. New algorithms based on Wavelet analysis are presented and compared with the classic Simson protocol over the P and QRS segments of the Electrocardiogram (EEG). A novel procedure based on a two step wavelet analysis and synthesis is performed in order to obtain a frequency description of the P, T or QRS segments. This frequency ?signature? is useful for the detection of otherwise asymptomatic Arrhythmia patients. The tool has been developed in Matlab, and deployed for a standalone C application.
n/a

Microwave-assisted molybdenum-catalysed epoxidation of olefins - Abrantes, Marta; Neves, Patricia; Antunes, Margarida M.; Gago, Sandra; Almeida Paz, Filipe A.; Rodrigues, Alirio E.; Pillinger, Martyn; Goncalves, Isabel S.; Silva, Carlos M.; Valente, Anabela A. (Journal of Molecular Catalysis a-Chemical, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 20 Neves, Patricia/F-6098-2011; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Abrantes, Marta/C-5140-2009; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; Valente, Anabela/H-5922-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; Almeida Paz, Filipe/F-3430-2010; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Almeida Paz, Filipe/0000-0003-2051-5645; 20

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic investigations of phase biaxiality in the nematic glass of a shape-persistent V-shaped mesogen - J. L. Figueirinhas; Feio, G.; C. Cruz; Lehmann, M.; Kohn, C.; Dong, R. Y. (J Chem Phys, 2010)
Deuterium and carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy were used to study both the high temperature uniaxial nematic and the low temperature biaxial nematic glass of a shape-persistent V-shaped mesogen. It was found that biaxial ordering determined in the domains of the latter has symmetry lower than D(2h) and is compatible with C(2h) symmetry or lower. In particular, elements of the ordering matrix including biaxial phase order parameters were determined from (2)H NMR at two temperatures, one just below the glass transition, and the other deep inside the biaxial glass, which allowed for the characterization of the dominant molecular motions at these temperatures. (13)C NMR magic angle spinning sideband patterns, collected both in the high temperature nematic phase and in the nematic glass, clearly show the difference between them in terms of the phase symmetry.
n/a

On the Fractional Linear Scale Invariant Systems - Manuel Duarte Ortigueira (IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, 2010)
The linear scale invariant systems are introduced for both integer and fractional orders. They are defined by the generalized Euler-Cauchy differential equation. The quantum fractional derivatives are suitable for dealing with this kind of systems, allowing us to define impulse response and transfer function with the help of the Mellin transform. It is shown how to compute the impulse responses corresponding to the two half plane regions of convergence of the transfer function.
n/a

Picosecond Dynamics of Dimer Formation in a Pyrene Labeled Polymer - Costa, Telma; Sergio Seixas de Melo, J.; Castro, Catherine S.; Gago, Sandra; Pillinger, Martyn; Goncalves, Isabel S. (Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 10 Seixas de Melo, Sergio/A-5388-2008; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; Costa, Telma/C-9889-2010; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Seixas de Melo, Sergio/0000-0001-9708-5079; Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Costa, Telma/0000-0002-5342-3635; 11

Poly(vinyl acetate) paints in works of art: A photochemical approach. Part 1 - Ferreira, Joana Lia; Melo, Maria Joao; Ramos, Ana Maria (Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 7 Melo, Maria Joao/C-8594-2011; Ramos, Ana Maria/C-9621-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; Ferreira, Joana/C-7330-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, CAT/M-4526-2013; REQUIMTE, NSF/N-1636-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Melo, Maria Joao/0000-0001-7393-6801; 7

Process control based on PCA models - BRITO PALMA, L.; VIEIRA COITO, F.; Sousa Gil, P.; Neves-Silva, R. (Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA), 2010 IEEE Conference on, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Putting an N-terminal end to the Clostridium thermocellum xylanase Xyn10B story: Crystal structure of the CBM22-1-GH10 modules complexed with xylohexaose - Najmudin, Shabir; Pinheiro, Benedita A.; Prates, Jose A. M.; Gilbert, Harry J.; Romao, Maria J.; Fontes, Carlos M. G. A. (Journal of Structural Biology, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 9 Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Pinheiro, Benedita/D-2055-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; Prates, Jose/K-9934-2013; REQUIMTE, SMB/M-5694-2013; REQUIMTE, UCIBIO/N-9846-2013 Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Pinheiro, Benedita/0000-0002-3045-077X; Prates, Jose/0000-0003-1032-5987; 9

Railscan: A Tool for the Detection and Quantification of Rail Corrugation - Rui Gomes; Arnaldo Batista; Manuel Ortigueira; Raul Rato; Marco Baldeiras (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation, 2010)
Rail corrugation is a phenomenon that leads to a waving in the rails with wavelengths typically between 3 cm and 100 cm and amplitude levels of several microns. The genesis of this waving is complex. Rail corrugation is a recognized problem that leads to excess vibration on the rails and vehicles to a point of reducing their life span and compromising safety. In urban areas excess vibration noise is also a problem. A software tool was developed to analyze accelerometer signals acquired in the boggies of rail vehicles in order to quantify the rail corrugation according to their frequency and amplitude. A wavelet packet methodology was used in this work and compared with the One Third Octave Filter (OTOF) power representations, which is currently used in the industry. It is shown that the former produces better results.
n/a

A simple proof system for lock-free concurrency - Luís Caires; Carla Ferreira; António Ravara (International Workshop on Proof Systems for Program Logics (PSPL), 2010)
n/a
n/a

StarTM: Automatic Verification of Snapshot Isolation in Transactional Memory Java Programs - Ricardo J. Dias; Dino Distefano; João Costa Seco; João Lourenço (CITI / DI-FCT-UNL, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Supramolecular host-guest flavylium-loaded zeolite L hybrid materials: network of reactions of encapsulated 7,4 '-dihydroxyflavylium - Gomes, Raquel; Albuquerque, Rodrigo Q.; Pina, Fernando; Parola, Jorge; De Cola, Luisa (Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 10 Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Albuquerque, Rodrigo/A-8433-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; Group, Photochem&SC/M-4665-2013; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Pina, Fernando/0000-0001-8529-6848; Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; 10

Synthesis and properties of new functionalized guanidinium based ionic liquids as non-toxic versatile organic materials - Carrera, Goncalo V. S. M.; Frade, Raquel F. M.; Aires-de-Sousa, Joao; Afonso, Carlos A. M.; Branco, Luis C. (Tetrahedron, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 9 Branco, Luis/C-6426-2013; Carrrera, Goncalo/C-7536-2013; Aires-de-Sousa, Joao/C-7826-2013; Caparica, PTNMR/E-5112-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Frade, Raquel/J-4555-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, ORG/M-4578-2013; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/M-7833-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013; PTMS, RNEM/C-1589-2014; iMed.ULisboa, iMed.ULisboa/C-6292-2014; iMed.ULisboa, BioOrgChem /B-4209-2014 Branco, Luis/0000-0003-2520-1151; Aires-de-Sousa, Joao/0000-0002-5887-2966; Frade, Raquel/0000-0002-1200-2447; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/0000-0002-7284-5948; 10

Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Performance in Cyclooctene Epoxidation of a Molybdenum Oxide/Bipyridine Hybrid Material: { MoO3(bipy) MoO3(H2O) }n - Abrantes, Marta; Amarante, Tatiana R.; Antunes, Margarida M.; Gago, Sandra; Almeida Paz, Filipe A.; Margiolaki, Irene; Rodrigues, Alirio E.; Pillinger, Martyn; Valente, Anabela A.; Goncalves, Isabel S. (Inorganic Chemistry, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 20 Amarante, Tatiana/C-7816-2011; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Abrantes, Marta/C-5140-2009; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; Valente, Anabela/H-5922-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; Almeida Paz, Filipe/F-3430-2010; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Almeida Paz, Filipe/0000-0003-2051-5645; 20

System initial conditions vs derivative initial conditions - Manuel D. Ortigueira; Fernando J. Coito (Computers & Mathematics with Applications, 2010)
The alternative system initial conditions versus the derivative initial conditions is focused in this paper. It is shown that Riemann?Liouville and Caputo initial conditions result from the corresponding derivative and not necessarily from the system at hand. To setup the correct system initialization, a formulation generalizing the integer order approach is presented. This is based on a generalization to the fractional environment of the well known jump formula. The obtained scheme is very general and does not depend on any transform. Besides, it can also be used in the time variant case. The Riemann?Liouville and Caputo initial conditions are interpreted in terms of this general framework and deduced equations where they are correct.
n/a

System initial conditions vs derivative initial conditions - Ortigueira, M.D.; Coito, F.J. (Computers & Mathematics with Applications, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Tetrapyridinium mu-oxido-di-mu-sulfato-bis chloridodioxidomolybdate(VI) - Fernandes, Jose A.; Gomes, Ana C.; Figueiredo, Sonia; Gago, Sandra; Lopes, Andre D.; Pillinger, Martyn; Ribeiro-Claro, Paulo J. A.; Goncalves, Isabel S.; Almeida Paz, Filipe A. (Acta Crystallographica Section E-Structure Reports Online, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 1 Gomes, Ana/G-2636-2010; Ribeiro-Claro, Paulo/C-6705-2008; Fernandes, Jose/B-8073-2008; Lopes, Andre/E-2136-2012; Figueiredo, Sonia/E-4355-2012; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; CIQA, CIQA/N-6549-2013; Almeida Paz, Filipe/F-3430-2010; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Gomes, Ana/0000-0001-9598-1275; Ribeiro-Claro, Paulo/0000-0001-5171-2153; Lopes, Andre/0000-0002-9702-1216; Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Almeida Paz, Filipe/0000-0003-2051-5645; 8 1

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Properties of a Red Wine Pigment: Catechin-(4,8)-malvidin-3-O-glucoside - Nave, Frederico; Vesselin Petrov; Pina, Fernando; Teixeira, Natercia; Mateus, Nuno; de Freitas, Victor (Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 9 Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; de Freitas, Victor/H-7789-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013; Mateus, Nuno/F-3019-2013 Pina, Fernando/0000-0001-8529-6848; Mateus, Nuno/0000-0002-9318-9732 9

Tripyridinium cis-tetrachloridodioxidomolybdate(VI) chloride - Fernandes, Jose A.; Gomes, Ana C.; Figueiredo, Sonia; Gago, Sandra; Ribeiro-Claro, Paulo J. A.; Goncalves, Isabel S.; Almeida Paz, Filipe A. (Acta Crystallographica Section E-Structure Reports Online, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 1 Fernandes, Jose/B-8073-2008; Ribeiro-Claro, Paulo/C-6705-2008; Figueiredo, Sonia/E-4355-2012; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; Gomes, Ana/G-2636-2010; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; Almeida Paz, Filipe/F-3430-2010; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Ribeiro-Claro, Paulo/0000-0001-5171-2153; Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Gomes, Ana/0000-0001-9598-1275; Almeida Paz, Filipe/0000-0003-2051-5645; 7 1

The use of ionic liquids as crystallization additives allowed to overcome nanodrop scaling up problems: A success case for producing diffraction-quality crystals of a nitrate reductase - Coelho, Catarina; Trincao, Jose; Romao, Maria Joao (Journal of Crystal Growth, 2010)
n/a
Times Cited: 8 Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Coelho, Catarina /D-2073-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, SMB/M-5694-2013; REQUIMTE, UCIBIO/N-9846-2013 Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Coelho, Catarina /0000-0003-1852-5406; 8

Using Human Dynamics to Improve Operator Performance - Antunes, R.; Coito, F.; Duarte-Ramos, H. (Emerging Trends in Technological Innovation, 2010)
n/a
n/a

{ Floating gate memory paper transistor } - R. Martins; L. Pereira; P. Barquinha; N. Correia; Gonçalves, G.; Ferreira, I.; Dias, C.; E. Fortunato (2010)
n/a
n/a

{Análise do processo de participação pública no projecto de Alta Velocidade Ferroviária [Analysis of the public participation process in the High-Speed Railway project]} - Nuno Boavida; Nuno Cabrita; Susana Martins Moretto (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET/CICS.NOVA-Interdisciplinary Centre on Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2010)
The study focuses on the public participation during the decision-making process of the High Speed Rail Project (popularly known as TGV) in Portugal. The study analyzes the media references on the topic and its actors in a quantitative and qualitative way from September 2008 to November 2009 anchored in the 2009 Legislatives and Local elections. The work concludes that despite the political polarization around the High Speed Rail Project, contributing to bring it to public debate, it didn’t allow for an improvement in qualitative information that could allow the emergence of an active and informed citizen participation in the debate.
n/a
Keywords: High Speed Rail; leverage points; media; participative decision-making; Portugal

{Innovation Assessment of a Portuguese Railway branch of a foreign multinational - A case study} - Nuno Boavida; Susana Martins Moretto (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET/CICS.NOVA-Interdisciplinary Centre on Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2010)
This paper analyses the application of the Innovation Scoring model and its results to the railway business branch of a foreign multinational. Results confirm some enrolment in non-core Research & Development connected to the commercial activity of selling trains. Two main determinants were found to support this enrolment: the impact of a new Portuguese law imposing R&D investment for public contracts; and a certain degree of openness in the multinational’s innovation strategy based on predictable growth for the Portuguese market. The study also confirms the usefulness of the Innovation Scoring model, leaving some suggestions for improvement such as tailoring for multi-decision centres, implementing it through a third party, reducing the number of questions and introduction of a product evaluation methodology.
n/a
Keywords: Innovation Assessment; Multinational; Policy; Portugal; Railway; Scoring model

Hyponatremic effect caused by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) in rats: The role of metabolic bioactivation - Carmo, Helena; Gomes, Daniel; Carvalho, Felix; Remiao, Fernando; Branco, Paula; Ferreira, Luisa; de Pinho, Paula Guedes; Bastos, Maria de Lourdes (TOXICOLOGY LETTERS, 2009)
n/a
46th Congress of the European-Societies-of-Toxicology, Dreden, GERMANY, SEP 13-16, 2009

Propofol and metabolites monitoring in serum of patients with induced sedation - Cale, Rita; Aragao, Irene; Martins, Helena; Cardoso, Germano; Ferreira, Luisa M.; Branco, Paula S.; Bastos, M. Lourdes; de Pinho, Paula Guedes (TOXICOLOGY LETTERS, 2009)
n/a
46th Congress of the European-Societies-of-Toxicology, Dreden, GERMANY, SEP 13-16, 2009

Cobalt-, zinc- and iron-bound forms of adenylate kinase (AK) from the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio gigas: purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis - Kladova, A. V.; Gavel, O. Y.; Mukhopaadhyay, A.; Boer, D. R.; Teixeira, S.; Shnyrov, V. L.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J.; Romao, M. J.; Trincao, J.; Bursakov, S. A. (Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun, 2009)
Adenylate kinase (AK; ATP:AMP phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.4.3) is involved in the reversible transfer of the terminal phosphate group from ATP to AMP. AKs contribute to the maintenance of a constant level of cellular adenine nucleotides, which is necessary for the energetic metabolism of the cell. Three metal ions, cobalt, zinc and iron(II), have been reported to be present in AKs from some Gram-negative bacteria. Native zinc-containing AK from Desulfovibrio gigas was purified to homogeneity and crystallized. The crystals diffracted to beyond 1.8 A resolution. Furthermore, cobalt- and iron-containing crystal forms of recombinant AK were also obtained and diffracted to 2.0 and 3.0 A resolution, respectively. Zn(2+)-AK and Fe(2+)-AK crystallized in space group I222 with similar unit-cell parameters, whereas Co(2+)-AK crystallized in space group C2; a monomer was present in the asymmetric unit for both the Zn(2+)-AK and Fe(2+)-AK forms and a dimer was present for the Co(2+)-AK form. The structures of the three metal-bound forms of AK will provide new insights into the role and selectivity of the metal in these enzymes.
1744-3091 (Electronic)1744-3091 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: *X-Ray Diffraction; Adenylate Kinase/*chemistry/*isolation & purification; Cobalt/*metabolism; Crystallization; Crystallography, X-Ray; Desulfovibrio gigas/*enzymology; Iron/*metabolism; Oxidation-Reduction; Sulfates/metabolism; Zinc/*metabolism

Rubredoxin as a paramagnetic relaxation-inducing probe - Almeida, R. M.; Pauleta, S. R.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J. (J Inorg Biochem, 2009)
The paramagnetic effect due to the presence of a metal center with unpaired electrons is no longer considered a hindrance in protein NMR spectroscopy. In the present work, the paramagnetic effect due to the presence of a metal center with unpaired electrons was used to map the interface of an electron transfer complex. Desulfovibrio gigas cytochrome c(3) was chosen as target to study the effect of the paramagnetic probe, Fe-rubredoxin, which produced specific line broadening in the heme IV methyl resonances M2(1) and M18(1). The rubredoxin binding surface in the complex with cytochrome c(3) was identified in a heteronuclear 2D NMR titration. The identified heme methyls on cytochrome c(3) are involved in the binding interface of the complex, a result that is in agreement with the predicted complexes obtained by restrained molecular docking, which shows a cluster of possible solutions near heme IV. The use of a paramagnetic probe in (1)HNMR titration and the mapping of the complex interface, in combination with a molecular simulation algorithm proved to be a valuable strategy to study electron transfer complexes involving non-heme iron proteins and cytochromes.
1873-3344 (Electronic)0162-0134 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: *Models, Molecular; *Molecular Probe Techniques; *Protein Structure, Quaternary; Algorithms; Binding Sites; Computer Simulation; Cytochrome c Group/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism; Cytochromes/metabolism; Desulfovibrio gigas/enzymology; Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins/chemistry; Isotope Labeling; Least-Squares Analysis; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism; Nonheme Iron Proteins/metabolism; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; Protein Conformation; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism; Rubredoxins/*chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism; Titrimetry; Zinc/metabolism

Decavanadate interactions with actin: cysteine oxidation and vanadyl formation - Ramos, S.; Duarte, R. O.; Moura, J. J.; Aureliano, M. (Dalton Trans, 2009)
Incubation of actin with decavanadate induces cysteine oxidation and oxidovanadium(IV) formation. The studies were performed combining kinetic with spectroscopic (NMR and EPR) methodologies. Although decavanadate is converted to labile oxovanadates, the rate of deoligomerization can be very slow (half-life time of 5.4 h, at 25 degrees C, with a first order kinetics), which effectively allows decavanadate to exist for some time under experimental conditions. It was observed that decavanadate inhibits F-actin-stimulated myosin ATPase activity with an IC(50) of 0.8 microM V(10) species, whereas 50 microM of vanadate or oxidovanadium(IV) only inhibits enzyme activity up to 25%. Moreover, from these three vanadium forms, only decavanadate induces the oxidation of the so called "fast" cysteines (or exposed cysteine, Cys-374) when the enzyme is in the polymerized and active form, F-actin, with an IC(50) of 1 microM V(10) species. Decavanadate exposition to F- and G-actin (monomeric form) promotes vanadate reduction since a typical EPR oxidovanadium(IV) spectrum was observed. Upon observation that V(10) reduces to oxidovanadium(IV), it is proposed that this cation interacts with G-actin (K(d) of 7.48 +/- 1.11 microM), and with F-actin (K(d) = 43.05 +/- 5.34 microM) with 1:1 and 4:1 stoichiometries, respectively, as observed by EPR upon protein titration with oxidovanadium(IV). The interaction of oxidovanadium(IV) with the protein may occur close to the ATP binding site of actin, eventually with lysine-336 and 3 water molecules.
1477-9234 (Electronic)1477-9226 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: Actins/*metabolism; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism; Binding Sites; Cysteine/*chemistry; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Kinetics; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Myosins/metabolism; Oxidation-Reduction; Vanadates/chemistry/*metabolism

EPR studies of the Mo-enzyme aldehyde oxidoreductase from Desulfovibrio gigas: an application of the Bloch-Wangsness-Redfield theory to a system containing weakly-coupled paramagnetic redox centers with different relaxation rates - Gonzalez, P. J.; Barrera, G. I.; Rizzi, A. C.; Moura, J. J.; Passeggi, M. C.; Brondino, C. D. (J Inorg Biochem, 2009)
Electron transfer proteins and redox enzymes containing paramagnetic redox centers with different relaxation rates are widespread in nature. Despite both the long distances and chemical paths connecting these centers, they can present weak magnetic couplings produced by spin-spin interactions such as dipolar and isotropic exchange. We present here a theoretical model based on the Bloch-Wangsness-Redfield theory to analyze the dependence with temperature of EPR spectra of interacting pairs of spin 1/2 centers having different relaxation rates, as is the case of the molybdenum-containing enzyme aldehyde oxidoreductase from Desulfovibrio gigas. We analyze the changes of the EPR spectra of the slow relaxing center (Mo(V)) induced by the faster relaxing center (FeS center). At high temperatures, when the relaxation time T(1) of the fast relaxing center is very short, the magnetic coupling between centers is averaged to zero. Conversely, at low temperatures when T(1) is longer, no modulation of the coupling between metal centers can be detected.
1873-3344 (Electronic)0162-0134 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: Aldehyde Reductase/*chemistry; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry; Desulfovibrio gigas/*enzymology; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Molybdenum/*chemistry

Isolation and characterization of a new Cu-Fe protein from Desulfovibrio aminophilus DSM12254 - Rivas, M. G.; Mota, C. S.; Pauleta, S. R.; Carepo, M. S.; Folgosa, F.; Andrade, S. L.; Fauque, G.; Pereira, A. S.; Tavares, P; Calvete, J. J.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J. (J Inorg Biochem, 2009)
The isolation and characterization of a new metalloprotein containing Cu and Fe atoms is reported. The as-isolated Cu-Fe protein shows an UV-visible spectrum with absorption bands at 320 nm, 409 nm and 615 nm. Molecular mass of the native protein along with denaturating electrophoresis and mass spectrometry data show that this protein is a multimer consisting of 14+/-1 subunits of 15254.3+/-7.6 Da. Mossbauer spectroscopy data of the as-isolated Cu-Fe protein is consistent with the presence of [2Fe-2S](2+) centers. Data interpretation of the dithionite reduced protein suggest that the metallic cluster could be constituted by two ferromagnetically coupled [2Fe-2S](+) spin delocalized pairs. The biochemical properties of the Cu-Fe protein are similar to the recently reported molybdenum resistance associated protein from Desulfovibrio, D. alaskensis. Furthermore, a BLAST search from the DNA deduced amino acid sequence shows that the Cu-Fe protein has homology with proteins annotated as zinc resistance associated proteins from Desulfovibrio, D. alaskensis, D. vulgaris Hildenborough, D. piger ATCC 29098. These facts suggest a possible role of the Cu-Fe protein in metal tolerance.
1873-3344 (Electronic)0162-0134 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: *Copper; *Iron; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*isolation &; Desulfovibrio/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/drug effects/physiology; Metalloproteins/*chemistry/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism; Molybdenum/chemistry/pharmacology; Protein Structure, Quaternary/physiology; purification/metabolism

Isolation and characterization of a new Cu-Fe protein from Desulfovibrio aminophilus DSM12254 - Rivas, Maria G.; Mota, Cristiano S.; Pauleta, Sofia R.; Carepo, Marta S. P.; Folgosa, Filipe; Andrade, Susana L. A.; Fauque, Guy; Pereira, Alice S.; Tavares, Pedro; Calvete, Juan J.; Moura, Isabel; Moura, Jose J. G. (Journal Of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2009)
The isolation and characterization of a new metalloprotein containing Cu and Fe atoms is reported. The as-isolated Cu-Fe protein shows an UV-visible spectrum with absorption bands at 320 nm, 409 nm and 615 nm. Molecular mass of the native protein along with denaturating electrophoresis and mass spectrometry data show that this protein is a multimer consisting of 14 +/- 1 subunits of 15254.3 +/- 7.6 Da. Mossbauer spectroscopy data of the as-isolated Cu-Fe protein is consistent with the presence of [2Fe-2S](2+) centers. Data interpretation of the dithionite reduced protein suggest that the metallic cluster could be constituted by two ferromagnetically coupled [2Fe-2S](+) spin delocalized pairs. The biochemical properties of the Cu-Fe protein are similar to the recently reported molybdenum resistance associated protein from Desulfovibrio, D. alaskensis. Further-more, a BLAST search from the DNA deduced amino acid sequence shows that the Cu-Fe protein has homology with proteins annotated as zinc resistance associated proteins from Desulfovibrio, D. alaskensis, D. vulgaris Hildenborough, D. piger ATCC 29098. These facts suggest a possible role of the Cu-Fe protein in metal tolerance. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.
1st Latin American Meeting on Biological Inorganic Chemistry (LABIC2008), Iguazu Falls, BRAZIL, AUG 31-SEP 04, 2008

Technology Assessment and Education: Introduction - Dusseldorp, Marc; Beecroft, Richard; António Moniz (University Library of Munich, Germany, 2009)
“Theory and Practice” of TA, which is referred to in the title of this journal “TATuP”, is usually addressed as a question of TA research. But science is more than research: the field of teaching requires just as much attention, both practically and theoretically. Therefore, a mere collection of individual teaching experiences and best practice examples does not provide a strong enough basis to discuss questions of TA teaching, these must also be embedded in a theoretical context and discussed in their relation to research. In this special issue, we aim to contribute to a combination of theoretical and practical approaches to the relation of TA and “Bildung”.
n/a
Keywords: Education; high education; teaching; Technology Assessment

A variable temperature spectroscopic study on Paracoccus pantotrophus pseudoazurin: Protein constraints on the blue Cu site - Xie, Xiangjin; Hadt, Ryan G.; Pauleta, Sofia R.; Gonzalez, Pablo J.; Un, Sun; Moura, Isabel; Solomon, Edward I. (Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2009)
The blue or Type 1 (T1) copper site of Paracoccus pantotrophus pseudoazurin exhibits significant absorption intensity in both the 450 and 600 nm regions. These are sigma and pi S(Cys) to Cu(2+) charge transfer (CT) transitions. The temperature dependent absorption, EPR, and resonance Raman (rR) vibrations enhanced by these bands indicate that a single species is present at all temperatures. This contrasts the temperature dependent behavior of the T1 center in nitrite reductase [S. Ghosh, X. Xie, A. Dey, Y. Sun, C. Scholes, E. Solomon, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 106 (2009) 4969-4974] which has a thioether ligand that is unconstrained by the protein. The lack of temperature dependence in the T1 site in pseudoazurin indicates the presence of a protein constraint similar to the blue Cu site in plastocyanin where the thioether ligand is constrained at 2.8 angstrom. However, plastocyanin exhibits only pi CT. This spectral difference between pseudoazurin and plastocyanin reflects a coupled distortion of the site where the axial thiorether in pseudoazurin is also constrained, but at a shorter Cu-S(Met) bond length. This leads to an increase in the Cu(2+)-S(Cys) bond length, and the site undergoes a partial tetragonal distortion in pseudoazurin. Thus, its ground state wavefunction has both sigma and pi character in the Cu(2+)-S(Cys) bond. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Times Cited: 2Si1st Latin American Meeting on Biological Inorganic Chemistry (LABIC2008)Aug 31-sep 04, 2008Iguazu Falls, BRAZIL

{Technology Assessment and Education: Introduction} - Dusseldorp, Marc; Beecroft, Richard; António Moniz (University Library of Munich, Germany, 2009)
“Theory and Practice” of TA, which is referred to in the title of this journal “TATuP”, is usually addressed as a question of TA research. But science is more than research: the field of teaching requires just as much attention, both practically and theoretically. Therefore, a mere collection of individual teaching experiences and best practice examples does not provide a strong enough basis to discuss questions of TA teaching, these must also be embedded in a theoretical context and discussed in their relation to research. In this special issue, we aim to contribute to a combination of theoretical and practical approaches to the relation of TA and “Bildung”.
n/a
Keywords: Education; high education; teaching; Technology Assessment

Editorial Note - António Moniz; José Miquel Cabeças (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2009)
No abstract is available for this item.
n/a

Foresight studies on work in the knowledge society: a 2nd international conference at UNL - Moniz, António B. (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2009)
The 2nd International Conference on "Foresight Studies on Work in the Knowledge Society" was organised by IET, the Research Centre on Enterprise and Work Innovation, at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of "Universidade Nova de Lisboa" (FCT-UNL), and took place on January 26 and 27 of 2009 with the support of the European project WORKS-Work Organisation Re-structuring in the Knowledge Society (financed by the European Commission, and co-ordinated by HIVA Leuven)
n/a
Keywords: foresight; knowledge society; Portugal; Work

Synthesis about a collaborative project on “Technology Assessment of Autonomous Systems” - Moniz, António B. (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2009)
The project started in 2009 with the support of DAAD in Germany and CRUP in Portugal under the “Collaborative German-Portuguese University Actions” programme. One central goal is the further development of a theory of technology assessment applied to robotics and autonomous systems in general that reflects in its methodology the changing conditions of knowledge production in modern societies and the emergence of new robotic technologies and of associated disruptive changes. Relevant topics here are handling broadened future horizons and new clusters of science and technology (medicine, engineering, interfaces, industrial automation, micro-devices, security and safety), as well as new governance structures in policy decision making concerning research and development (R&D).
n/a
Keywords: Autonomous systems; Germany; Portugal; Robotic systems; Technology Assessment

Editorial Note - António Moniz; José Miquel Cabeças (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2009)
No abstract is available for this item.
n/a

{Foresight studies on work in the knowledge society: a 2nd international conference at UNL} - Moniz, António B. (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2009)
The 2nd International Conference on "Foresight Studies on Work in the Knowledge Society" was organised by IET, the Research Centre on Enterprise and Work Innovation, at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of "Universidade Nova de Lisboa" (FCT-UNL), and took place on January 26 and 27 of 2009 with the support of the European project WORKS-Work Organisation Re-structuring in the Knowledge Society (financed by the European Commission, and co-ordinated by HIVA Leuven)
n/a
Keywords: foresight; knowledge society; Portugal; Work

{Synthesis about a collaborative project on “Technology Assessment of Autonomous Systems”} - Moniz, António B. (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2009)
The project started in 2009 with the support of DAAD in Germany and CRUP in Portugal under the “Collaborative German-Portuguese University Actions” programme. One central goal is the further development of a theory of technology assessment applied to robotics and autonomous systems in general that reflects in its methodology the changing conditions of knowledge production in modern societies and the emergence of new robotic technologies and of associated disruptive changes. Relevant topics here are handling broadened future horizons and new clusters of science and technology (medicine, engineering, interfaces, industrial automation, micro-devices, security and safety), as well as new governance structures in policy decision making concerning research and development (R&D).
n/a
Keywords: Autonomous systems; Germany; Portugal; Robotic systems; Technology Assessment

The effect of the sixth sulfur ligand in the catalytic mechanism of periplasmic nitrate reductase - Cerqueira, N. M.; Gonzalez, P. J.; Brondino, C. D.; Romao, M. J.; Romao, C. C.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J. (J Comput Chem, 2009)
The catalytic mechanism of nitrate reduction by periplasmic nitrate reductases has been investigated using theoretical and computational means. We have found that the nitrate molecule binds to the active site with the Mo ion in the +6 oxidation state. Electron transfer to the active site occurs only in the proton-electron transfer stage, where the Mo(V) species plays an important role in catalysis. The presence of the sulfur atom in the molybdenum coordination sphere creates a pseudo-dithiolene ligand that protects it from any direct attack from the solvent. Upon the nitrate binding there is a conformational rearrangement of this ring that allows the direct contact of the nitrate with Mo(VI) ion. This rearrangement is stabilized by the conserved methionines Met141 and Met308. The reduction of nitrate into nitrite occurs in the second step of the mechanism where the two dimethyl-dithiolene ligands have a key role in spreading the excess of negative charge near the Mo atom to make it available for the chemical reaction. The reaction involves the oxidation of the sulfur atoms and not of the molybdenum as previously suggested. The mechanism involves a molybdenum and sulfur-based redox chemistry instead of the currently accepted redox chemistry based only on the Mo ion. The second part of the mechanism involves two protonation steps that are promoted by the presence of Mo(V) species. Mo(VI) intermediates might also be present in this stage depending on the availability of protons and electrons. Once the water molecule is generated only the Mo(VI) species allow water molecule dissociation, and, the concomitant enzymatic turnover.
1096-987X (Electronic)0192-8651 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: Catalysis; Catalytic Domain; Computer Simulation; Ligands; Models, Chemical; Molybdenum/*chemistry; Nitrate Reductase/chemistry/*metabolism; Nitrates/chemistry; Organometallic Compounds/*chemistry; Oxidation-Reduction; Sulfhydryl Compounds/*chemistry

Can ultrasonic energy efficiently speed (18)O-labeling of proteins? - Carreira, Ricardo J.; Lodeiro, Carlos; Diniz, Mario S.; Moura, Isabel; Capelo, Jose L. (Proteomics, 2009)
We report in this work on the robustness of ultrasonic energy as a tool to speed the isotopic labeling of proteins using the (18)O-decoupling procedure. The first part of the decoupling procedure, comprising protein denaturation, reduction, alkylation and digestion, is done in 8 min under the effects of an ultrasonic field whilst the second part, the isotopic labeling, was assayed with and without the use of ultrasonic energy. Our results clearly demonstrate that the (18)O-isotopic labeling in a decoupling procedure cannot be accelerated using an ultrasonic field.
Times Cited: 6

Can ultrasonic energy efficiently speed (18)O-labeling of proteins? - Carreira, Ricardo J.; Lodeiro, Carlos; Diniz, Mario S.; Moura, Isabel; Capelo, Jose L. (Proteomics, 2009)
We report in this work on the robustness of ultrasonic energy as a tool to speed the isotopic labeling of proteins using the (18)O-decoupling procedure. The first part of the decoupling procedure, comprising protein denaturation, reduction, alkylation and digestion, is done in 8 min under the effects of an ultrasonic field whilst the second part, the isotopic labeling, was assayed with and without the use of ultrasonic energy. Our results clearly demonstrate that the (18)O-isotopic labeling in a decoupling procedure cannot be accelerated using an ultrasonic field.
Times Cited: 6

Recent Experiences and Emerging Cooperation Schemes on TA and Education: An Insight into Cases in Portugal and Germany - António Moniz; Armin Grunwald (University Library of Munich, Germany, 2009)
At the beginning of the 21st century there are new expectations and challenges towards Technology Assessment (TA). Among these there is a new awareness on TA issues in education, in particular at universities. While TA was mainly an activity at extra-universitarian research institutions for a long time now there are new developments and initiative towards integrating TA issues in university courses. We will first give an insight into the international development. Secondly we will focus on the “TA and education” landscape in Germany and Portugal in more detail, followed by a description of new and emerging forms of cooperation between Portugal and Germany in this field which might serve as a model or an example for further cooperation between other partners.
n/a
Keywords: Education; Germany; Portugal; Technology Assessment

{Recent Experiences and Emerging Cooperation Schemes on TA and Education: An Insight into Cases in Portugal and Germany} - António Moniz; Armin Grunwald (University Library of Munich, Germany, 2009)
At the beginning of the 21st century there are new expectations and challenges towards Technology Assessment (TA). Among these there is a new awareness on TA issues in education, in particular at universities. While TA was mainly an activity at extra-universitarian research institutions for a long time now there are new developments and initiative towards integrating TA issues in university courses. We will first give an insight into the international development. Secondly we will focus on the “TA and education” landscape in Germany and Portugal in more detail, followed by a description of new and emerging forms of cooperation between Portugal and Germany in this field which might serve as a model or an example for further cooperation between other partners.
n/a
Keywords: Education; Germany; Portugal; Technology Assessment

Detection and quantification system of biological matter constituted by one or more optical sensors and one or more light sources, associated process and related applications - Martins, Rodrigo Ferrao De Paiva; Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana; Fortunato, Elvira Maria Correia (2009)
The present invention relates to a system and process for detection and/or qualitative and quantitative identification of the biological material, such as specific sequences of nucleic acids or proteins as antibodies, present in biological samples. The system is composed by one or more light sources (1) combined with one or more integrated optical photo sensors, or not, and various electronic components (4), necessary for obtaining/ processing of the signal emitted by the metal nanoprobes functionalized with a solution of biological composite, as well as also a micro-controller and a microprocessor, fixed or portable. This photosensor structure is able to detect and to quantify the colour variations produced by metal nanoprobes, being this preferentially gold, functionalized by oligonucleotides complementary to specific DNA/RNA sequences, proteins, as for instance antibodies and/or antigens related with certain disease, or other sample or solution of biological composite, that are to be investigated. The detection and quantification process is based on the response of a photosensor, singular or integrated, based on thin film technology of amorphous, nanocrystalline or microcrystalline silicon and their alloys, as well as the new active ceramic semiconductors, amorphous and not amorphous.
EP2059810; G01N33/543

Camelid nanobodies raised against an integral membrane enzyme, nitric oxide reductase - Conrath, K.; Pereira, A. S.; Martins, C. E.; Timoteo, C. G.; Tavares, P; Spinelli, S.; Kinne, J.; Flaudrops, C.; Cambillau, C.; Muyldermans, S.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J.; et al. (Protein Sci, 2009)
Nitric Oxide Reductase (NOR) is an integral membrane protein performing the reduction of NO to N(2)O. NOR is composed of two subunits: the large one (NorB) is a bundle of 12 transmembrane helices (TMH). It contains a b type heme and a binuclear iron site, which is believed to be the catalytic site, comprising a heme b and a non-hemic iron. The small subunit (NorC) harbors a cytochrome c and is attached to the membrane through a unique TMH. With the aim to perform structural and functional studies of NOR, we have immunized dromedaries with NOR and produced several antibody fragments of the heavy chain (VHHs, also known as nanobodies). These fragments have been used to develop a faster NOR purification procedure, to proceed to crystallization assays and to analyze the electron transfer of electron donors. BIAcore experiments have revealed that up to three VHHs can bind concomitantly to NOR with affinities in the nanomolar range. This is the first example of the use of VHHs with an integral membrane protein. Our results indicate that VHHs are able to recognize with high affinity distinct epitopes on this class of proteins, and can be used as versatile and valuable tool for purification, functional study and crystallization of integral membrane proteins.
1469-896X (Electronic)0961-8368 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: Animals; Antibody Affinity; Camelids, New World/*immunology; Crystallography, X-Ray; Epitope Mapping; Humans; Immunoglobulin Fragments/immunology; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/immunology; Kinetics; Models, Molecular; Oxidoreductases/*immunology; Peptide Library; Sequence Alignment; Surface Plasmon Resonance

Método para controlo de reacções enzimáticas de síntese de ácidos nucleicos através de nucleótidos funcionalizados com derivados de cumarina fotolábeis - Pinheiro, André Alexandre Cotta Guerra Vidal; De Lima, João Carlos Dos Santos Silva E Pereira; Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana (2009)
O presente invento relaciona-se com um método para controlo de reacções enzimáticas de síntese de ácidos nucleicos, recorrendo a nucleótidos funcionalizados com derivados de 4-metilcumarinas (1) protectores e fotolábeis. Quando ligado aos nucleótidos (2), o grupo cumarinico (3) impede que estes sejam utilizados como substrato por parte das enzimas, impossibilitando a ocorrência de reacção. Através de irradiação com radiação electromagnética, o grupo cumarinico é libertado, ficando o nucleótido disponível para a reacção. Desta forma, as reacções enzimáticas de síntese de ácidos nucleicos podem ser controladas através da luz.
PT103815; C09B 57/ 02 A I, B01J19/12, C12Q1/68

Processamento de sinais ECG: Variabilidade da frequência cardíaca - Pedro Baía (FCT-UNL, 2009)
Neste trabalho pretende-se estudar a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca através da implementação de vários métodos de análise de electrocardiogramas. Na primeira parte descrevem-se os métodos de análise espectral, bem como a representação tempo-frequência. A decomposição de sinais para detectar e isolar os batimentos cardíacos do electrocardiograma é implementada. Descrevem-se algoritmos de isolamento para detecção dos eventos interessantes e pontos fiduciais que os constituem. Na segunda parte estima-se a variação da frequência cardíaca e estabelece-se a sua relação com as variações temporais e espectrais das características encontradas pelos métodos implementados na primeira parte do trabalho.
n/a

Influence of feeding strategies of mixed microbial cultures on the chemical composition and microstructure of copolyesters P(3HB-co-3HV) analyzed by NMR and statistical analysis - Ivanova, G.; Serafim, L. S.; Lemos, P. C.; A. M. Ramos; Reis, M. A. M.; E. J. Cabrita (Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 2009)
n/a
n/a

Kinetic, structural, and EPR studies reveal that aldehyde oxidoreductase from Desulfovibrio gigas does not need a sulfido ligand for catalysis and give evidence for a direct Mo-C interaction in a biological system - Santos-Silva, T.; Ferroni, F.; Thapper, A.; Marangon, J.; Gonzalez, P. J.; Rizzi, A. C.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J.; Romao, M. J.; Brondino, C. D. (J Am Chem Soc, 2009)
Aldehyde oxidoreductase from Desulfovibrio gigas (DgAOR) is a member of the xanthine oxidase (XO) family of mononuclear Mo-enzymes that catalyzes the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids. The molybdenum site in the enzymes of the XO family shows a distorted square pyramidal geometry in which two ligands, a hydroxyl/water molecule (the catalytic labile site) and a sulfido ligand, have been shown to be essential for catalysis. We report here steady-state kinetic studies of DgAOR with the inhibitors cyanide, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and arsenite, together with crystallographic and EPR studies of the enzyme after reaction with the two alcohols. In contrast to what has been observed in other members of the XO family, cyanide, ethylene glycol, and glycerol are reversible inhibitors of DgAOR. Kinetic data with both cyanide and samples prepared from single crystals confirm that DgAOR does not need a sulfido ligand for catalysis and confirm the absence of this ligand in the coordination sphere of the molybdenum atom in the active enzyme. Addition of ethylene glycol and glycerol to dithionite-reduced DgAOR yields rhombic Mo(V) EPR signals, suggesting that the nearly square pyramidal coordination of the active enzyme is distorted upon alcohol inhibition. This is in agreement with the X-ray structure of the ethylene glycol and glycerol-inhibited enzyme, where the catalytically labile OH/OH(2) ligand is lost and both alcohols coordinate the Mo site in a eta(2) fashion. The two adducts present a direct interaction between the molybdenum and one of the carbon atoms of the alcohol moiety, which constitutes the first structural evidence for such a bond in a biological system.
1520-5126 (Electronic)0002-7863 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: Aldehyde Oxidoreductases/antagonists & inhibitors/*chemistry; Carbon/*chemistry; Catalysis; Crystallography, X-Ray; Cyanides/chemistry; Desulfovibrio gigas/*enzymology; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry; Ethylene Glycol/chemistry; Glycerol/chemistry; Ligands; Molybdenum/*chemistry; Protein Conformation

{The clothing industry as a globalized sector: implications for work organisation, quality of work and job content} - Moniz, António B.; Margarida R. Paulos (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET/CICS.NOVA-Interdisciplinary Centre on Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2009)
The clothing sector in several countries is still seen, in many aspects as a traditional sector with some average characteristics, nevertheless is a very important sector in terms of labour market. Globalization and de-localization are having a strong impact in the organisation of work and in occupational careers. Very few companies are able to keep a position in the market without changes in organisation of work and workers, founding different ways to face this reality according to size, capital and position. We could find two main paths: one where companies outsource production to another territory, close and/or dismissal the workers; other path, where companies up skilled their capacities. This paper will present some results from the European project WORKS – Work organisation and restructuring in the knowledge society (6th Framework Programme), focusing the Portuguese case studies in several clothing companies in a comparative analysis with some other European countries.
n/a
Keywords: clothing industry; knowledge society; restructuring; Work

Development of PMMA membranes functionalized with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrins for controlled drug delivery using a supercritical CO(2)-assisted technology - Temtem, M.; Pompeu, D.; Jaraquemada, G.; E. J. Cabrita; T. Casimiro; Aguiar-Ricardo, A. (International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2009)
n/a
n/a

Crystallization and crystallographic analysis of the apo form of the orange protein (ORP) from Desulfovibrio gigas - Najmudin, S.; Bonifacio, C.; Duarte, A. G.; Pauleta, S. R.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J.; Romao, M. J. (Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun, 2009)
The orange-coloured protein (ORP) from Desulfovibrio gigas is a 12 kDa protein that contains a novel mixed-metal sulfide cluster of the type [S(2)MoS(2)CuS(2)MoS(2)]. Diffracting crystals of the apo form of ORP have been obtained. Data have been collected for the apo form of ORP to 2.25 A resolution in-house and to beyond 2.0 A resolution at ESRF, Grenoble. The crystals belonged to a trigonal space group, with unit-cell parameters a = 43, b = 43, c = 106 A.
1744-3091 (Electronic)1744-3091 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: Apoproteins/*chemistry; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry; Crystallization; Crystallography, X-Ray; Desulfovibrio gigas/*chemistry; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel

Cross-Functioning between the Extraneuronal Monoamine Transporter and Multidrug Resistance Protein 1 in the Uptake of Adrenaline and Export of 5-(Glutathion-S-yl)adrenaline in Rat Cardiomyocytes - Costa, Vera Marisa; Ferreira, Luisa Maria; Branco, Paula Serio; Carvalho, Felix; Bastos, Maria Lourdes; Carvalho, Rui Albuquerque; Carvalho, Marcia; Remiao, Fernando (CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY, 2009)
n/a
n/a

High-pressure NMR characterization of triacetyl-beta-cyclodextrin in supercritical carbon dioxide - Ivanova, G. I.; Vao, E. R.; Temtem, M.; Aguiar-Ricardo, A.; T. Casimiro; E. J. Cabrita (Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 2009)
n/a
n/a

A novel nitrite biosensor based on conductometric electrode modified with cytochrome c nitrite reductase composite membrane - Zhang, Z.; Xia, S.; Leonard, D.; Jaffrezic-Renault, N.; Zhang, J.; Bessueille, F.; Goepfert, Y.; Wang, X.; Chen, L.; Zhu, Z.; Zhao, J.; Almeida, M. G.; et al. (Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 2009)
A conductometric biosensor for nitrite detection was developed using cytochrome c nitrite reductase (ccNiR) extracted from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774 cells immobilized on a planar interdigitated electrode by cross-linking with saturated glutaraldehyde (GA) vapour in the presence of bovine serum albumin, methyl viologen (MV), Nafion, and glycerol. The configuration parameters for this biosensor, including the enzyme concentration, ccNiR/BSA ratio, MV concentration, and Nafion concentration, were optimized. Various experimental parameters, such as sodium dithionite added, working buffer solution, and temperature, were investigated with regard to their effect on the conductance response of the biosensor to nitrite. Under the optimum conditions at room temperature (about 25 degrees C), the conductometric biosensor showed a fast response to nitrite (about 10s) with a linear range of 0.2-120 microM, a sensitivity of 0.194 microS/microM [NO(2)(-)], and a detection limit of 0.05 microM. The biosensor also showed satisfactory reproducibility (relative standard deviation of 6%, n=5). The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K(M,app)) was 338 microM. When stored in potassium phosphate buffer (100mM, pH 7.6) at 4 degrees C, the biosensor showed good stability over 1 month. No obvious interference from other ionic species familiar in natural waters was detected. The application experiments show that the biosensor is suitable for use in real water samples.
Zhang, ZhiqiangXia, SiqingLeonard, DidierJaffrezic-Renault, NicoleZhang, JiaoBessueille, FrancoisGoepfert, YvesWang, XuejiangChen, LingZhu, ZhiliangZhao, JianfuAlmeida, M GabrielaSilveira, Celia MEvaluation StudiesResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tEnglandBiosensors & bioelectronicsBiosens Bioelectron. 2009 Feb 15;24(6):1574-9. Epub 2008 Aug 15.
Keywords: *Electrodes; Biosensing Techniques/*instrumentation; Cytochromes a1/*chemistry; Cytochromes c1/*chemistry; Electric Conductivity; Electrochemistry/*instrumentation; Enzymes, Immobilized/chemistry; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Nitrate Reductases/*chemistry; Nitrites/*analysis/chemistry; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis/chemistry

Molybdenum induces the expression of a protein containing a new heterometallic Mo-Fe cluster in Desulfovibrio alaskensis - Rivas, M. G.; Carepo, M. S.; Mota, C. S.; Korbas, M.; Durand, M. C.; Lopes, A. T.; Brondino, C. D.; Pereira, A. S.; George, G. N.; Dolla, A.; Moura, J. J.; Moura, I. (Biochemistry, 2009)
The characterization of a novel Mo-Fe protein (MorP) associated with a system that responds to Mo in Desulfovibrio alaskensis is reported. Biochemical characterization shows that MorP is a periplasmic homomultimer of high molecular weight (260 +/- 13 kDa) consisting of 16-18 monomers of 15321.1 +/- 0.5 Da. The UV/visible absorption spectrum of the as-isolated protein shows absorption peaks around 280, 320, and 570 nm with extinction coefficients of 18700, 12800, and 5000 M(-1) cm(-1), respectively. Metal content, EXAFS data and DFT calculations support the presence of a Mo-2S-[2Fe-2S]-2S-Mo cluster never reported before. Analysis of the available genomes from Desulfovibrio species shows that the MorP encoding gene is located downstream of a sensor and a regulator gene. This type of gene arrangement, called two component system, is used by the cell to regulate diverse physiological processes in response to changes in environmental conditions. Increase of both gene expression and protein production was observed when cells were cultured in the presence of 45 microM molybdenum. Involvement of this system in Mo tolerance of sulfate reducing bacteria is proposed.
1520-4995 (Electronic)0006-2960 (Linking)Comparative StudyJournal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Keywords: Amino Acid Sequence; Bacterial Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics; Desulfovibrio/*chemistry/physiology; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology; Iron/*metabolism; Metalloproteins/*biosynthesis/genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Molybdenum/*chemistry/physiology

Are societal changes new? Questions or trends and future perceptions on knowledge-based economy - Margarida R. Paulos; Moniz, António B. (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET-Research on Enterprise and Work Innovation, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2009)
With the emergence of a global division of labour, the internationalisation of markets and cultures, the growing power of supranational organisations and the spread of new information technologies to every field of life, it starts to appear a different kind of society, different from the industrial society, and called by many as ‘the knowledge-based economy’, emphasizing the importance of information and knowledge in many areas of work and organisation of societies. Despite the common trends of evolution, these transformations do not necessarily produce a convergence of national and regional social and economic structures, but a diversity of realities emerging from the relations between economic and political context on one hand and the companies and their strategies on the other. In this sense, which future can we expect to the knowledge economy? How can we measure it and why is it important? This paper will present some results from the European project WORKS – Work organisation and restructuring in the knowledge society (6th Framework Programme), focusing the future visions and possible future trends in different countries, sectors and industries, given empirical evidences of the case studies applied in several European countries, underling the importance of foresight exercises to design policies, prevent uncontrolled risks and anticipate alternatives, leading to different ‘knowledge economies’ and not to the ‘knowledge economy’.
n/a
Keywords: Future trends; Knowledge-based economy; Work

{Are societal changes new? Questions or trends and future perceptions on knowledge-based economy} - Margarida R. Paulos; Moniz, António B. (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET/CICS.NOVA-Interdisciplinary Centre on Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2009)
With the emergence of a global division of labour, the internationalisation of markets and cultures, the growing power of supranational organisations and the spread of new information technologies to every field of life, it starts to appear a different kind of society, different from the industrial society, and called by many as ‘the knowledge-based economy’, emphasizing the importance of information and knowledge in many areas of work and organisation of societies. Despite the common trends of evolution, these transformations do not necessarily produce a convergence of national and regional social and economic structures, but a diversity of realities emerging from the relations between economic and political context on one hand and the companies and their strategies on the other. In this sense, which future can we expect to the knowledge economy? How can we measure it and why is it important? This paper will present some results from the European project WORKS – Work organisation and restructuring in the knowledge society (6th Framework Programme), focusing the future visions and possible future trends in different countries, sectors and industries, given empirical evidences of the case studies applied in several European countries, underling the importance of foresight exercises to design policies, prevent uncontrolled risks and anticipate alternatives, leading to different ‘knowledge economies’ and not to the ‘knowledge economy’.
n/a
Keywords: Future trends; Knowledge-based economy; Work