Structural redox control in a 7Fe ferredoxin isolated from Desulfovibrio alaskensis - Grazina, R.; de Sousa, P. M.; Brondino, C. D.; Carepo, M. S.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J. (Bioelectrochemistry, 2011)
The redox behaviour of a ferredoxin (Fd) from Desulfovibrio alaskensis was characterized by electrochemistry. The protein was isolated and purified, and showed to be a tetramer containing one [3Fe-4S] and one [4Fe-4S] centre. This ferredoxin has high homology with FdI from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki and Hildenborough and FdIII from Desulfovibrio africanus. From differential pulse voltammetry the following signals were identified: [3Fe-4S](+1/0) (E(0')=-158+/-5mV); [4Fe-4S](+2/+1) (E(0')=-474+/-5mV) and [3Fe-4S](0/-2) (E(0')=-660+/-5mV). The effect of pH on these signals showed that the reduced [3Fe-4S](0) cluster has a pK'(red)(')=5.1+/-0.1, the [4Fe-4S](+2/+1) centre is pH independent, and the [3Fe-4S](0/-2) reduction is accompanied by the binding of two protons. The ability of the [3Fe-4S](0) cluster to be converted into a new [4Fe-4S] cluster was proven. The redox potential of the original [4Fe-4S] centre showed to be dependent on the formation of the new [4Fe-4S] centre, which results in a positive shift (ca. 70mV) of the redox potential of the original centre. Being most [Fe-S] proteins involved in electron transport processes, the electrochemical characterization of their clusters is essential to understand their biological function. Complementary EPR studies were performed.
1878-562X (Electronic)1567-5394 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/isolation & purification; Desulfovibrio/*chemistry; Electrochemical Techniques; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Electron Transport; Ferredoxins/*chemistry/isolation & purification; Oxidation-Reduction

System zur erkennung und quantifizierung biologischer materie aus einem oder mehreren optischen sensoren und einer oder mehreren lichtquellen, entsprechendes verfahren und anwendungen dafür - Martins, Rodrigo Ferrão De Paiva; Baptista, Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana; Fortunato, Elvira Maria Correia (2011)
n/a
AT505729T; G01N 33/ 543 A I

The medium-term role of renewable energy sources in climate change mitigation in Portugal - Simões, Sofia; Júlia Seixas; Patrícia Fortes; Luís Dias; Gouveia, João Pedro; Bárbara Mauricio (WREC 2011 - World Renewable Energy Congress 2011, 2011)

Electric Vehicles in the European Union: Conditions for Success, Impacts on the Power System and on CO2 Emissions - Júlia Seixas; Simões, Sofia; Amit Kanudia; Gargiulo, Maurizio; Dias, Luis; Gouveia, João Pedro; Patrícia Fortes (IEW - International Energy Workshop 2011,, 2011)

Oeiras Masterplan: A Methodology to Approach Urban Design to Sustainable - Amado, Miguel; Poggi, Francesca (CISBAT, 2011)
This paper describes a new methodology for the conception of urban plans in order for them to fit the principles of Sustainable Development. The methodology herein presented makes use of different software for designing, calculations and dynamic modelling of buildings and urban spaces. The results from these assessments are then interpreted and incorporated in the urban design solutions. This methodology was applied in a case study in Oeiras, Portugal, in the conception phases of the Oeiras Master Plan. The overall objective of the implementation of this process in this case study was to be able to foresee the area’s final makeover and predict the impacts of the plan on the context through the integrated use of environmental analysis (ArcGIS), simulations of future scenarios (3dsMax) and 3d modelling studies (Revit, Ecotect). Factors such as geomorphology, solar exposure, prevailing winds and rail and road traffic noise provided information on how to capitalize all favourable conditions of the site, which is a fundamental base for an appropriate land use transformation. This methodology contributes to the control of urban design solutions and outcomes, and promotes the creation of an interface between urban planning, landscape and architecture projects. The development of a “City Information Modelling”, similar to BIM, which has been successfully applied to Architecture and Engineering projects, is therefore seen as an answer to the new challenges presented by the present and future cities. This strategy delivers the maximum benefits at all spatial scales by embracing the logic of sustainability so that urban design can be the first tool to optimize future building and infrastructure projects.

Application of Eddy Current techniques to inspect friction spot welds in aluminium alloy AA2024 and a composite material - Santos, T.G.; Vilaça, P.; Quintino, L.; dos Santos, J.; Miranda, R.M. (Welding in the World, 2011)
n/a
Cited By :2Export Date: 27 February 2015CODEN: WDWRA

Chemical Behavior of Methylpyranomalvidin-3-O-glucoside in Aqueous Solution Studied by NMR and UV-Visible Spectroscopy - Oliveira, J.; Petrov, V.; A. J. Parola; Pina, F; Azevedo, J.; Teixeira, N.; Bras, N. F.; Fernandes, P. A.; Mateus, N.; Ramos, M. J.; de Freitas, V. (Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2011)
In the present work, the proton-transfer reactions of the methylpyranomalvidin-3-O-glucoside pigment in water with different pH values was studied by NMR and UV-visible spectroscopies. The results showed four equilibrium forms: the methylpyranomalvidin-3-O-glucoside cation, the neutral quinoidal base, the respective anionic quinoidal base, and a dianionic base unprotonated at the methyl group. According to the NMR data, it seems that for methylpyranomalvidin-3-O-glucoside besides the acid base equilibrium between the pyranoflavylium cation and the neutral quinoidal base, a new species is formed at pD 4.88-6.10. This is corroborated by the appearance of a new set of signals in the NMR spectrum that may be assigned to the formation of hemiketal/cis-chalcone species to a small extent. The two ionization constants (pK(a1) and pK(a2)) obtained by both methods (NMR and UV-visible) for methylpyranomalvidin-3-O-glucoside are in agreement (pK(a1) = 5.17 +/- 0.03; pK(a2) = 8.85 +/- 0.08; and pK(a1) = 4.57 +/- 0.07; pK(a2) = 8.23 +/- 0.04 obtained by NMR and UV-visible spectroscopies, respectively). Moreover, the fully dianionic unprotonated form (at the methyl group) of the methylpyranomalvidin-3-O-glucoside is converted slowly into a new structure that displays a yellow color at basic pH. On the basis of the results obtained through LC-MS and NMR, the proposed structure was found to correspond to the flavonol syringetin-3-glucoside.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 717SBTimes Cited: 7 Cited Reference Count: 47 Oliveira, Joana Petrov, Vesselin Parola, A. Jorge Pina, Fernando Azevedo, Joana Teixeira, Natercia Bras, Natercia F. Fernandes, Pedro A. Mateus, Nuno Ramos, Maria Joao de Freitas, Victor Oliveira, Joana/G-8108-2012; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Fernandes, Pedro/D-6327-2013; Bras, Natercia/D-5493-2013; Ramos, Maria/D-6183-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; de Freitas, Victor/H-7789-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia-Praxis), Portugal [BPD/65400/2009]; FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia), Portugal [PTDC/AGR-ALI/65503/2006, PTDC/QUI/67681/2006, REDE/1517/RMN/2005]; FEDER We thank Dr. Zelia Azevedo and Dr. Mariana Andrade for the LC/DAD-MS and NMR analysis, respectively. This research was supported by a postdoctoral grant from FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia-Praxis BPD/65400/2009) and a grant from FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia-PTDC/AGR-ALI/65503/2006, PTDC/QUI/67681/2006, REDE/1517/RMN/2005) all from Portugal and by FEDER funding. Amer chemical soc Washington

Electrical conductivity field analysis for evaluation of FSW joints in AA6013 and AA7075 alloys - Santos, T.G.; Vilaa, P.; Miranda, R.M. (Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 2011)
n/a
Cited By :12Export Date: 27 February 2015CODEN: JMPTE

Electrical conductivity measurement to assess structural modifications in FSW joints in Aluminium alloys - Santos, T.G.; Miranda, R.M.; Vilaça, P. (Annals of "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Fascicle XII, Welding Equipment and Technology, 2011)
n/a
Export Date: 27 February 2015

Influence of heat treatment on the colour of Au and Ag glasses produced by the sol-gel pathway - Ventura, M. G.; A. J. Parola; de Matos, A. P. (Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2011)
In this work, coloured glasses were produced based on the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles by the sol-gel process having in mind their application in art works. Gold and silver were used separately or as a mixture by varying the mole fractions in order to get a range of colours from yellow to red. The gold and silver nanoparticles were prepared by the reduction of tetrachloroauric acid and silver nitrate with sodium citrate in aqueous solutions which were further introduced in the sol-gel system. Attention was focused on the thermal treatment of the sol-gel samples. Different temperatures were used in order to determine their influence on the obtained colour. The glasses were characterized by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and the size of the nanoparticles was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The range of colours mentioned above is obtained either by preparing nanoparticles of each metal and mixing them or by preparing nanoparticles from solutions containing initially ions of both metals. In the former case, two surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands were observed for temperatures below 200 degrees C while higher temperatures promote the formation of alloys between the Ag and Au nanoparticles. In the latter case, only one SPR band is observed and the nanoparticle size distribution is narrower. The results were explained by nanoparticle aggregation promoted by temperature. Glasses containing only Ag did not present the typical yellow colour above 300 degrees C but it was shown that the colour could be stabilized if Au was added in small amounts (Au/Ag molar ratio 0.1). (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 728WKTimes Cited: 0 Cited Reference Count: 28 Ventura, M. G. Parola, A. J. Pires de Matos, A. 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.). Dr. Antonio Goncalves from ITN (Portugal) is acknowledged for the performance of XRD measurements. Elsevier science bv Amsterdam

Microstructural mapping of friction stir welded AA 7075-T6 and AlMgSc alloys using electrical conductivity - Santos, T.G.; Miranda, R.M.; Vilaça, P.; Teixeira, J.P.; dos Santos, J. (Science and Technology of Welding and Joining, 2011)
n/a
Cited By :5Export Date: 27 February 2015

Modification of electrical conductivity by friction stir processing of aluminum alloys - Santos, T.G.; Miranda, R.M.; Vilaça, P.; Teixeira, J.P. (International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2011)
n/a
Cited By :9Export Date: 27 February 2015CODEN: IJATE

Modification of electrical conductivity by friction stir processing of aluminum alloys - Santos, T.G.; Miranda, R.M.; Vilaça, P.; Teixeira, J.P. (2011)
n/a
Cited By :1Export Date: 27 February 2015Article in PressCODEN: IJATE

Phase transition thermochromism based on C-H acidity of 4-alkylflavylium compounds in Pluronic F-127 - Avo, J.; A. J. Parola; J. C. Lima; Pina, F; Cunha-Silva, L. (Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011)
In moderately acidic water/ethanol solutions, 7-(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)-5,6-dihydrobenzo[c]xanthen12-ium perchlorate shows C-H proton acidity giving rise to an ethylenic base species, instead of the hydration products of the typical flavylium network of chemical reactions, hemiketal, cis-chalcone and trans-chalcone. The kinetics of this acid-base process is much slower, k(obs)(s(-1)) = 3.5 x 10(-3) + 0.16[H(+)], than those commonly observed for O-H deprotonation. In the presence of the triblock copolymer Pluronic F-127, the ethylenic base is dramatically stabilized shifting the pK(a) from 1.35 (in ethanol : water (1 : 1) to -0.35. Taking profit from the well-described temperature dependence of this polymer, a phase transition thermochromic system was achieved. The system was cycled between 5 and 35 degrees C with negligible changes in absorbance after 20 cycles.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 831LWTimes Cited: 0 Cited Reference Count: 60 Avo, Joao Jorge Parola, A. Lima, Joao C. Pina, Fernando Cunha-Silva, Luis Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Cunha-Silva, Luis/A-8765-2012; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Avo, Joao/C-6939-2013; Caparica, PTNMR/E-5112-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; Lima, Joao/F-3658-2010 Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; Lima, Joao/0000-0003-0528-1967 Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia [PTDC/QUI-QUI/104129/2008, PTDC/QUI/67786/2006]; programme "Ciencia"; [SFRH/BD/65127/2009] This work was supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia through projects PTDC/QUI-QUI/104129/2008 and PTDC/QUI/67786/2006, programme "Ciencia 2008" (LCS) and PhD grant SFRH/BD/65127/2009 (JA). Royal soc chemistry Cambridge

Phase-Dependent Photochromism of a Lactone-Stabilized Chromene from a Flavylium Reaction Network - Leydet, Y.; Gavara, R.; Cunha-Silva, L.; A. J. Parola; Pina, F (Chemistry-a European Journal, 2011)
New trans-2-hydroxychalcones bearing a carboxylate group at position 2' (Ct(-)) were synthesized (compounds 2 and 3). These compounds lead to a network of chemical reactions depending on pH value, light, and solvent. In water, when the pH value is lowered, the ionized trans-chalcone is protonated and the flavylium cation AH(+) is formed at very acidic pH values through hemiketal B and cis-chalcone Cc, with global acidity constants of pK'(a) <= -1 and approximate to 0.1, respectively, for 2 and 3. The electron-acceptor character of the carboxylic substituent not only increases the observed acidity of the flavylium cation, but also decreases the rate of the ring-opening/closing from a subsecond timescale to hours relative to model compound 1 (without carboxylate). The photochemistry of the network was studied in detail by means of continuous irradiation, monitored by UV/Vis absorption and H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopic analysis. Although compound 3 is only slightly photoactive, compound 2 (Ct(-)) reacts in aqueous solutions (lambda(irr) = 313 nm) to form B- and Cc(-), with a global quantum yield of 0.15, and fully reverts back to Ct(-) with a rate constant of k = 6.7 x 10(-5) s(-1). The flavylium cation is no longer formed in methanol, and irradiation of Ct(-) leads to the formation of B- and the new lactone-trapped chromene species La. The formation of La takes place through a sequence of three photochemical steps: photoisomerization of Ct(-), photo-ring-closing reaction of Cc , and photolactonization of B-. Only the cis/trans isomerization and ring-closing reactions are thermally reversible on a timescale of seconds and hours, respectively. A photochromic system was achieved in rigid matrices of methanol (at 77 K) and 1-dodecanol (5 degrees C) by irradiating lactone La to give a red ortho-quinone allide through a photo-ring-opening reaction; the color disappears with a rate constant of k = 1.25 x 10(-2) s(-1) in 1-dodecanol at 5 degrees C.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 737JTTimes Cited: 2 Cited Reference Count: 48 Leydet, Yoann Gavara, Raquel Cunha-Silva, Luis Jorge Parola, A. Pina, Fernando Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Cunha-Silva, Luis/A-8765-2012; 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; FCT-MCTES, Portugal [PTDC/QUI/67786/2006, PTDC/QUI-QUI/104129/2008]; Ciencia 2008 program; [SFRH/BPD/44230/2008]; [SFRH/BPD/44639/2008] We thank Dr. V. Petrov (REQUIMTE) for the ab initio calculations, Prof. L. Rodriguez (University Barcelona) and Dr. Conceicao Oliveira for the MALDI and ESI MS measurements, and LabRMN at FCT-UNL and Rede Nacional de RMN (supported with funds from FCT-MCTES, Portugal) for access to the facilities. FCT-MCTES is also acknowledged for financial support through projects PTDC/QUI/67786/2006 and PTDC/QUI-QUI/104129/2008, the Ciencia 2008 program (L.C.-S.), and postdoctoral grants SFRH/BPD/44230/2008 (Y.L.) and SFRH/BPD/44639/2008 (R.G.). Wiley-v c h verlag gmbh Weinheim

Synthesis and Characterization of a Symmetric Bis(7-hydroxyflavylium) Containing a Methyl Viologen Bridge - Diniz, A. M.; Pinheiro, C; Petrov, V.; A. J. Parola; Pina, F (Chemistry-a European Journal, 2011)
A symmetric bis(flavylium) constituted by two 7-hydroxyflavylium moieties linked by a methylviologen bridge was synthesized. The thermodynamic and kinetics of the network of chemical reactions involving bis(flavylium) and the model compound 7-hydroxy-4'-methylflavylium was completely characterized by means of direct and reverse pH jumps (stopped flow) and flash photolysis. Both compounds follow the usual pH-dependent network of chemical reactions of flavylium derivatives. The equilibrium species of the model compound are the flavylium cation (acidic species) and the trans-chalcone (basic species) with an apparent pK(a)' = 2.85. In the case of the bis(flavylium) it was possible to characterize by (1)H NMR spectroscopy three species with different degrees of isomerization: all flavylium, flavylium-trans-chalcone, and all trans-chalcone. Representation of the time-dependent mole fraction distribution of these three forms after a pH jump from equilibrated solutions of all-flavylium cation (lower pH values) to higher pH values, shows that formation of trans-chalcone is not completely stochastic (two independent isomerizations), the isomerization of one flavylium showing a small influence on the isomerization of the other. The radical of the methyl viologen bridge is formed upon reduction of the bis(trans-chalcone) with dithionite. The system is reversible after addition of an oxidant in spite of the occurrence of some decomposition.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 783PGTimes Cited: 2 Cited Reference Count: 28 Diniz, Ana M. Pinheiro, Carlos Petrov, Vesselin Jorge Parola, A. Pina, Fernando Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; Diniz, Ana /C-6705-2013; 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; FCT-MCTES [PTDC/QUI/67786/2006, PTDC/QUI-QUI/104129/2008, SFRH/BD/48226/2008, SFRH/BPD/18214/2004] We thank J. C. Lima and C. A. T. Laia for fruitful discussions and LabRMN at FCT-UNL and Rede Nacional de RMN (supported with funds from FCT-MCTES, Portugal) for access to the facilities. FCT-MCTES is also acknowledged for financial support through projects PTDC/QUI/67786/2006 and PTDC/QUI-QUI/104129/2008 and grants SFRH/BD/48226/2008 (A.D.) and SFRH/BPD/18214/2004 (V.P.). Wiley-blackwell Malden

Tumor angiogenesis: molecular pathways and therapeutic targets - Weis, S. M.; Cheresh, D. A. (2011)
n/a
n/a

Greenhouse gas emissions cap: a new paradigm for energy dependence in the long term? - Júlia Seixas; Patrícia Fortes; Simões, Sofia; Dias, Luis; Gouveia, João Pedro; Bárbara Mauricio (34th IAEE International Conference - Institutions, Efficiency and Evolving Energy Technologies., 2011)

Green Build Design Process - Lopes, Tânia; Amado, Miguel; Correia de Freitas, João (SB11 World Sustainable Building Conference, 2011)
All the buildings promote impacts on the environmental and in human health who impose more attention in the evaluation of sustainable performance in building design. The difficulty to identify the better design process to answer to all conflicting factors in special the economical and environmental performance impose the research of the issue. To assist the research in the way to find the best process to the promotion of design alternatives the life cycle analysis methodology is the more adapted the deal with all the three factors of sustainable development. The promotion of a new process to design phase of green build is the goal of this paper.

Indicators to measure sustainability in urban developments - Amado, Miguel; Lopes, Tânia; Correia de Freitas, João (SB11 World Sustainable Building Conference, 2011)
The use of indicators to measure sustainability in urban development’s is the most efficient tool to help local authorities in the regulation of new and existing urban areas. The demographic grow in developing countries impose a utilization of a tool who make possible have a clear image of the process of land use change and the evaluation of the capacity of charge is the way to archive a effective sustainable development of the urban areas and regions. The selection of the correct indicators to apply to the process of land use transformation in Cabo Verde is the objective of the paper.

Urban Sprawl promoted through Master Planning Process - Amado, Miguel; Ribeiro, Rosário (SB11 World Sustainable Building Conference, 2011)
The urban sprawl phenomenon has been raise in the last three decades. In the same time all municipalities have adopted the methodology of the master planning to program the land use. In the same time the well-being in cities have decreased and the life quality of population is dreadful so is urgent the promotion of a new process to planning the transformation of existing urban areas and program new areas. The aim of this paper is the proposal of a new process to be adopted to the master planning.

Avaliação da Sustantabilidade do Plano Director Municipal - Amado, Miguel; Lopes, Tânia; Correia de Freitas, João; Ribeiro, Rosário (6º Congresso Luso-Moçambicano de Engenharia, 2011)

Long-term biosignals visualization and processing - Gomes, R (FCT, 2011)

All-cellulosic based composites - Borges, João Paulo; Godinho, Maria Helena; Figueirinhas, Joao Luis; de Pinho, MN; Belgacem, Mohamed Naceur (Cellulose Fibers: Bio-and Nano-Polymer Composites, 2011)
The use of cellulosic fibers as load bearing constituents in composite materials has increased over the last decade due to their relative cheapness compared to conventional materials such as glass and aramid fibers, their ability to recycle, and because they compete well in terms of strength per weight of material. All-cellulosic based composites prepared from cellulose derivatives based matrices and microcrystalline cellulosic fibers made by direct coupling between fibers and matrix present interesting mechanical and gas permeation properties, thus being potential candidates for packaging materials. Both the cellulosic matrix and the reinforcing fibers are biocompatible and widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, which is very important for the envisaged application. In addition to their biocompatibility, cellulosic systems have the ability to form both thermotropic and lyotropic chiral nematic phases, and the composites produced from the latter show improved mechanical properties due to fiber orientation induced by the anisotropic matrix. The preparation and characterization (morphological, topographical, mechanical, gas barrier properties) of all-cellulosic based composites are described in this chapter.

Amorphous Ibuprofen Confined in Nanostructured Silica Materials: A Dynamical Approach - A. R. Brás; E. G. Merino; P. D. Neves; I. M. Fonseca; M. Dionísio; A. Schonhals; N. T. Correia (The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2011)

ARMA Modelling of Sleep Spindles - Costa, J.C.; Ortigueira, M.D.; Batista, A.G. (Second IFIP WG 5.5/SOCOLNET Doctoral Conference on Computing, Electrical and Industrial Systems, 2011)
n/a

Backbone, side chain and heme resonance assignments of the triheme cytochrome PpcA from Geobacter sulfurreducens - Leonor Morgado; Vitor B Paixão; Salgueiro, , Carlos A.; Bruix, Marta (Biomolecular NMR Assignments, 2011)
Gene knock-out studies on Geobacter sulfurreducens cells showed that the periplasmic triheme cytochrome PpcA is involved in respiratory pathways leading to the extracellular reduction of Fe(III) and U(VI) oxides. The crucial role of this protein in bridging the electron transfer between the cytoplasm and cell exterior was further supported by proteomics studies. In comparison with non-heme proteins, the presence of numerous proton-containing groups in the heme groups causes additional challenges to the full protein assignment and structure calculation. Here, we report the complete assignment of the heme proton signals together with the 1H and 15N backbone and side chain assignments of the reduced form of PpcA.

Biochemical characterization of purified OmcS, a c-type cytochrome required for insoluble Fe(III) reduction in Geobacter sulfurreducens - Qian, Xinlei; Mester, Tünde; Leonor Morgado; Tsutomu Arakawa; Manju L. Sharma; Inoue, Kengo; Crisjoe Joseph; Salgueiro, , Carlos A.; Michael J. Maroney; Lovley, Derek R. (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics, 2011)
Previous studies with Geobacter sulfurreducens have demonstrated that OmcS, an abundant c-type cytochrome that is only loosely bound to the outer surface, plays an important role in electron transfer to Fe(III) oxides as well as other extracellular electron acceptors. In order to further investigate the function of OmcS, it was purified from a strain that overproduces the protein. Purified OmcS had a molecular mass of 47 015 Da, and six low-spin bis-histidinyl hexacoordinated heme groups. Its midpoint redox potential was −212 mV. A thermal stability analysis showed that the cooperative melting of purified OmcS occurs in the range of 65–82 °C. Far UV circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that the secondary structure of purified OmcS consists of about 10% α-helix and abundant disordered structures. Dithionite-reduced OmcS was able to transfer electrons to a variety of substrates of environmental importance including insoluble Fe(III) oxide, Mn(IV) oxide and humic substances. Stopped flow analysis revealed that the reaction rate of OmcS oxidation has a hyperbolic dependence on the concentration of the studied substrates. A ten-fold faster reaction rate with anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) (25.2 s− 1) was observed as compared to that with Fe(III) citrate (2.9 s− 1). The results, coupled with previous localization and gene deletion studies, suggest that OmcS is well-suited to play an important role in extracellular electron transfer.

BIONANOCONJUGATES OF TYROSINASE AND PEPTIDE-DERIVATISED GOLD NANOPARTICLES FOR BIOSENSING OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS - J. Cortez; E. Vorobieva; D. Gralheira; I. Osório; L. Soares; N. Vale; Pereira, E.; P. Gomes; Franco, R. (J. Nanopart. Res., 2011)

Characterisation of medieval yellow silver stained glass from Convento de Cristo in Tomar, Portugal - J. Delgado; Ruivo, A.; V. Corregidor; R.C. da Silva; L.C. Alves; Vilarigues, M. (Nuclear Instruments and Methods B, 2011)

Classification of Chemical Reactions and Chemoinformatics Approaches to Enzymatic Transformations - D. A. R. S. Latino; J. Aires-de-Sousa (Chemoinformatics and Computational Chemical Biology, 2011)

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Technology With and On Paper - R. Martins; A. Nathan; R. Barros; L. Pereira; P. Barquinha; N. Correia; R. Costa; A. Ahnood; Ferreira, I.; E. Fortunato (Adv. Mater., 2011)

Construção Sustentável - Propostas de Melhoria da Eficiência Energética em Edíficios de Habitação - Ganhão, António (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2011)
Currently, there is high energy consumption in the buildings sector, in Portugal, which implies an obstacle to the accomplishment of purposes intrinsic to the assumptions of sustainable development and construction. Therefore, efforts should be made to allow the construction of energy efficient buildings, which is based on the adoption of a set of passive and/or active techniques that strive to reduce the energy consumption of buildings throughout its life cycle, while ensuring comfort for its occupants. The main objective of this dissertation is to evaluate passive and active proposals for improving energy efficiency in residential buildings, based on the calculation of energy savings associated with air conditioning and the payback period. To this end it was established a case study, using as a base model a building unit of a multifamily building. The initial assessment of energetic performance of this case study and its comparison after the implementation of improvement strategies was done through a dynamic analysis using the EnergyPlus software. The following solutions were evaluated: application of thermal insulation inside the cavity wall, application of ETICS, more efficient glazing solutions, changing the building's solar orientation, fixed shading devices application, definition of a pattern of night ventilation in the summer and use of more efficient electrical equipment and lighting. It was found that the use of these systems improves the energy efficiency of buildings, such as the case study, despite of having different payback periods.

Contemporary stained glass using luminescent materials - F. Quintas; Ruivo, A.; C. Queiroz; A. Pires de Matos (Proceedings Glass Science in Art and Conservation, 2011)

Contribuição para a Reabilitação Sustentável de Edifícios de Habitação - Rita Dinis (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2011)

Cooperative use of cytochrome cd1 nitrite reductase and its redox partner cytochrome c552 to Improve the selectivity of nitrite biosensing - Serra A.S.; Jorge S.; Silveira C.; Moura J.J.G.; Jubete E.; Ochoteco E.; Almeida M. G. (Anal Chim Acta, 2011)

Critérios para o planeamento de equipamentos de saúde. Análise de Caso de Estudo no contexto urbano da AML - Amado, Miguel; Colaço, Piedade (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2011)

Decision making processes based on innovation indicators: which implications for technology assessment? - Nuno Boavida (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2011)

Decision making processes based on innovation indicators: which implications for technology assessment? - Nuno Boavida (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2011)
The present work deals with the use of innovation indicators in the decision-making process. It intends to contribute to the discussion on the construction, use and analysis of indicator systems and also to evaluate its weight on decision-making in innovation. The goal is to help understand how innovation indicators can influence technology policy and through it, society at large. This work will start by analysing the use of indicators (their problems and consistency) and other sources of information that contribute to build the opinions of innovation decision makers. This will be followed by a survey and interviews with main innovation actors. The results will shed light on the impact of the use of indicators by the innovation community – both in terms of technology policy and in the social sphere. Proposals and implications for the future will be advanced, hopefully adding new contributions to the governance of the science, technology and innovation field.
Based on the report for “Project IV” unit of the PhD programme on Technology Assessment. This thesis research has the supervision of António Moniz (FCT-UNL and ITAS-KIT) and Manuel Laranja (ISEG-UTL). Other members of the thesis committee are Stefan Kuhlmann (Twente University), Leonhard Hennen (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology-ITAS), Tiago Santos Pereira (Universidade de Coimbra/CES) and Cristina Sousa (FCT-UNL).

Decision-making process in radiology: the magnetic resonance example in the TA context - Maia, Maria João (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2011)
In order to understand the decision-making process in a Radiology Department, taking the Magnetic Resonance Equipment as an example, this paper reports a project to be followed. It is a guideline for future work development regarding Technology Assessment in Radiology. The Theoretical Framework is divided is three big issues. The first is “Technology Assessment”. Starting with the definition of some important concepts, the history and development of Technology Assessment will be addressed. The aim of this issue is to give a general main idea concerning TA contextualization. Doing a transposition of this subject to health area, it is also important to understand the particularities of Health Technology Assessment, second issue. Portugal framework on this subject will also be addressed. As so, the Portuguese National Health System is characterized and the decision-making stakeholders identified, has well as the competences for the decision-making process in general. The third issue is Decision-Making and its aim is to give a general elucidation on decision-making matters. To accomplish this, a research methodology was outlined, so that six research questions could be answered and five hypotheses could be accepted or refuted, in the future. With this research methodology, the Portuguese state of the art Magnetic Resonance equipment existence will be studied, using a survey as a resource. In the future, a mapping stakeholder technique will be used to identify the decision making key stakeholders and a survey will be applied to map theirs skills and competences in the process, where a pre-test was already applied. The results of this pre-test are presented.
Based on the report for “Project IV” unit of the PhD programme on Technology Assessment (Doctoral Conference) at Universidade Nova de Lisboa (December 2011). This thesis research has the supervision of António Moniz (FCT-UNL and ITAS-KIT) and Michael Decker (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology-ITAS). Other members of the thesis committee are Carlos Alberto da Silva (University of Évora), José Maria de Albuquerque (Institute of Welding and Quality), Lotte Steuten (University of Twente), Mário Forjaz Secca (FCT-UNL) and Nelson Chibeles Martins (FCT-UNL).

Design of Adaptive PCA Controllers for SISO Systems - Palma, L. B.; Coito, F. V.; Gil, P.S.; Neves-Silva, R. (18th IFAC World Congress, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Design of Adaptive PCA Controllers for SISO Systems - Brito, Palma; Coito, F.J.; Gil, P.; Neves-Silva, R.; L.F.F. (World Congress. 18:5483–5488., Number 1, 2011)
n/a

Detecting concurrency anomalies in transactional memory programs - João M. Lourenço; Sousa, Diogo; Teixeira, Bruno C.; Ricardo J. Dias (Comput. Sci. Inf. Syst., 2011)
Software transactional memory is a promising programming model that adapts many concepts borrowed from the databases world to control concurrent accesses to main memory (RAM). This paper discusses how to support revertible operations, such as memory allocation and release, within software libraries that will be used in software memory transactional contexts. The proposal is based in the extension of the transaction life cycle state diagram with new states associated to the execution of user-defined handlers. The proposed approach is evaluated in terms of functionality and performance by way of a use case study and performance tests. Results demonstrate that the proposal and its current implementation are flexible, generic and efficient
n/a
Keywords: compensation actions; revertible operations; software transactional memory; transactions

Development of imatinib and dasatinib resistance: dynamics of expression of drug transporters ABCB1, ABCC1, ABCG2, MVP, and SLC22A1 - Gromicho, M.; Dinis, J.; Magalhaes, M.; Fernandes, A. R.; Tavares, P; Laires, A.; Rueff, J.; Rodrigues, A. S. (Leuk Lymphoma, 2011)

Development of vertebral metrics: an intrument to study the vertebral column - A. Jordão; P. Duque; C.Quaresma; P. Vieira (Proceedings of Biosignals - International Conference on Bio-inspired Systems and Signal Processing (BIOSTEC 2011), 2011)

Di-Ureasil Hybrids Doped with LiBF4: Attractive Candidates as Electrolytes for "Smart Windows" - Barbosa, P. C.; M. Fernandes; S. M. F. Vilela; A. Goncalves; M. C. Oliveira; E. Fortunato; Silva, M. M.; Smith, M. J.; R. Rego; V. D. Bermudez (Int. J. Electrochem. Sci., 2011)

EEG artifact removal with ICA analysis - Carneiro, M; Batista, A.G.; Ortigueira, M.D. (Doctoral Conference on Computing, Electrical and Industrial Systems, DoCEIS 2011, 2011)
n/a

EEG Features Extraction for Sleep Classification and Spindle Detection - Cardoso, N.V; Batista, A.G.; Ortigueira, M.D. (Doctoral Conference on Computing on Computing, Electrical and Industrial Systems, 2011)
n/a

Effect of Li3+ heavy ion irradiation on the Mo doped In2O3 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique - S. Parthiban; E. Elangovan; K. Ramamurthi; D. Kanjilal; K. Asokan; R. Martins; E. Fortunato (J. Phys. D-Appl. Phys., 2011)

Electronics with and on paper - R. Martins; Ferreira, I.; E. Fortunato (Phys. Status Solidi-Rapid Res. Lett., 2011)

Environmental, Optical, and Electrical Stability Study of Solution-Processed Zinc-Tin-Oxide Thin-Film Transistors - P. K. Nayak; J. V. Pinto; G. Goncalves; R. Martins; E. Fortunato (J. Disp. Technol., 2011)

Estimation of Mayr Electrophilicity with a Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship Approach Using Empirical and DFT Descriptors - F. Pereira; D. A. R. S. Latino; J. Aires-de-Sousa (J. Org. Chem., 2011)

Fast synthesis employing a microwave assisted neat protocol of new monomers potentially useful for the preparation of PDLC films - M. T. Barros; A. I. Mouquinho; K. T. Petrova; M. D. Saavedra; J. C. Sotomayor (Cent. Eur. J. Chem., 2011)

Films based on new methacrylate monomers: synthesis, characterisation and electro-optical properties - A. Mouquinho; M. Saavedra; A. Maiau; K. Petrova; M. T. Barros; J. L. Figueirinhas; J. Sotomayor (Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 2011)

Fractional Calculus for Scientists and Engineers - Ortigueira, MD. (84: Springer-Verlag, 2011)
n/a

The Fractional Quantum Derivative and the Fractional Linear Scale Invariant Systems - Ortigueira, M.D. (Fractional Calculus for Scientists and Engineers, 2011)
The normal way of introducing the notion of derivative is by means of the limit of an incremental ratio that can assume three forms, depending the used translations as we saw in Chaps. 1 and 4. On the other hand, in those derivatives the limit operation is done over a set of points uniformly spaced: a linear scale was used. Here we present an alternative derivative, that is valid only for t {\ensuremath{>}} 0 or t {\ensuremath{<}} 0 and uses an exponential scale

Functionalisation of terminal positions of sucrose - Part II: Preparation of 1’,2,3,3’,4,4’-hexa-O-benzyl sucrose and 6,6’-bis-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1’,2,3,3’,4,4’-hexa-O-benzylsucrose - B. Lewandowski; A. Listkowski; K. Petrova; S. Jarosz (Carbohydrate Chemistry: Proven Synthetic Methods, 2011)

Genetic diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using mass spectrometry DNA arrays and high resolution melting - Santos, S.; Lanca, V.; Oliveira, H.; Silveira, L.; Marques, V.; Brito, D.; Madeira, H.; Bicho, M.; Fernandes, A. R. (Rev Port Cardiol, 2011)

Implications of oxidovanadium (IV) binding to actin - Ramos, S.; Almeida, R. M.; Moura, J. J.; Aureliano, M. (Eur J Inorg Chem, 2011)

Library of Mild and Economic Protocols for the Selective Derivatization of Sucrose under Microwave Irradiation - M. T. Barros; K. T. Petrova; P. Correia-da-Silva; T. M. Potewar (Green Chem., 2011)

Luminescent enamels: palette of colours. An interface between art/science in the creation of glass works - T. Almeida; Ruivo, A.; de Matos, A. P. (Proceedings Glass Science in Art and Conservation, 2011)

Mechanical behaviour of Nd:YAG laser welded superelastic NiTi - "L. Alberty Vieiraa", "F.M. Braz Fernandes", "R.M. Miranda", "R.J.C. Silva", "L. Quintino", "A. Cuestad", "J.L. Ocanad" (Materials Science and Engineering A, 2011)

Modulations in effective work function of platinum gate electrode in metal-oxide-semiconductor devices - Chandra, S. V. Jagadeesh,; Fortunato; Martins; Choi, Chel-Jong (Thin Solid Films, 2011)

MOLinsight: A Web Portal for the Processing of Molecular Structures by Blind Students - F. Pereira; J. Aires-de-Sousa; Bonifacio, V. D. B.; Mata, P.; A. M. Lobo (J. Chem. Educ., 2011)

N170 asymmetry as an index of inferior occipital dysfunction in patients with symptomatic occipital lobe epilepsy - Ricardo Lopes; Pedro Cabral; Nuno Canas; Paula Breia; John P Foreid; Eulália Calado; Rita Silva; Alberto Leal (Clinical Neurophysiology, 2011)

Nanoparticles in molecular diagnostics - Pedro V. Baptista; Gonçalo Doria; Pedro Quaresma; Miguel Cavadas; Cristina S. Neves; Inês Gomes; Peter Eaton; Eulália Pereira; Ricardo Franco (Nanoparticles in Translational Science and Medicine, 2011)

Nickel(II) Chelatase Variants Directly Evolved from Murine Ferrochelatase: Porphyrin Distortion and Kinetic Mechanism - Neil R. McIntyre; Ricardo Franco; John A. Shelnutt; Gloria C. Ferreira (Biochemistry, 2011)

Nitrite biosensing using cytochrome c nitrite reductase: Towards a disposable strip electrode - Correia, C.; Rodrigues, M.; Silveira, C. M.; Moura, J. J. G.; Ochoteco, E.; Jubete, E.; Almeida, M. G. (Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies. Series: Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2011)

O Plano Director Municipal e o Desenvolvimento Sustentável - Maria Faísca (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2011)

Orientation of the axial ligands and magnetic properties of the hemes in the cytochromec7 family from Geobacter sulfurreducens determined by paramagnetic NMR - Joana M Dantas; Ivo H. Saraiva; Leonor Morgado; Silva, , Marta A.; Schiffer, Marianne; Salgueiro, , Carlos A.; Ricardo O. Louro (Dalton Transactions, 2011)
Geobacter sulfurreducens is a sediment bacterium that contains a large number of multiheme cytochromes. The family of five c7 triheme periplasmic cytochromes from Geobacter sulfurreducens shows structural diversity of the heme core. Structural characterization of the relative orientation of the axial ligands of these proteins by 13C-paramagnetic NMR was carried out. The structures in solution were compared with those obtained by X-ray crystallography. For some hemes significant differences exist between the two methods such that orientation of the magnetic axes obtained from NMR data and the orientation taken from the X-ray coordinates differ. The results allowed the orientation of the magnetic axes to be defined confidently with respect to the heme frame in solution, a necessary step for the use of paramagnetic constraints to improve the complete solution structure of these proteins.

Pathogen mimetic stealth nanocarriers for drug delivery: a future possibility - Miguel Cavadas; África González-Fernández; Ricardo Franco (Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, 2011)

Phase Transformations Undergone by Triton X-100 Probed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy - Esther G. Merino; Carla Rodrigues; M. Teresa Viciosa; Carlos Melo; João Sotomayor; Madalena Dionísio; Natália T. Correia (Physical Chemistry B, 2011)
The phase transformations of the surfactant Triton X-100 were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). In particular, crystallization was induced at different cooling rates comprised between 13 and 0.5 K min–1. Vitrification was detected by both DSC and DRS techniques with a glass transition temperature of 212 K (measured on heating by DSC) allowing classifying Triton X-100 as a glass former. A fully amorphous material was obtained by cooling at a rate ≥10 K min–1, while crystallization was observed for lower cooling rates. The temperature of the onset of melt-crystallization was found to be dependent on the cooling scan rate, being higher the lower was the scan rate. In subsequent heating scans, the material undergoes cold-crystallization except if cooled previously at a rate ≤1 K min–1. None of the different thermal histories led to a 100% crystalline material because always the jump typical of the glass transformation in both heat flux (DSC) and real permittivity (DRS) is observed. It was also observed that the extent/morphology of the crystalline phase depends on the degree of undercooling, with higher spherulites developing for lower undercooling degree (24 K ≤ Tm – Tcr ≤ 44 K) in melt-crystallization and a grain-like morphology emerging for Tm – Tcr ≈ 57 K either in melt- or cold-crystallization. The isothermal cold- and melt-crystallizations were monitored near above the calorimetric glass transition temperature by POM (221 K) and real-time DRS (Tcr = 219, 220, and 221 K) to evaluate the phase transformation from an amorphous to a semicrystalline material. By DRS, the α-relaxation associated with the dynamic glass transition was followed, with the observation that it depletes upon both type of crystallizations with no significant changes either in shape or in location. Kinetic parameters were obtained from the time evolution of the normalized permittivity according to a modified Avrami model taking in account the induction time. The reason the isothermal crystallization occurs to a great extent in the vicinity of the glass transition was rationalized as the simultaneous effect of (i) a high dynamic fragile behavior and (ii) the occurrence of catastrophic nucleation/crystal growth probably enabled by a preordering tendency of the surfactant molecules. This is compatible with the estimated low Avrami exponent (1.12 ≤ n ≤ 1.6), suggesting that relative short length scale motions govern the crystal growth in Triton X-100 coherent with the observation of a grainy crystallization by POM.

Planeamento Sustentável – Qual o modelo? - Nuno Gonçalves (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2011)

Potential of boronic acid functionalized magnetic particles in the adsorption of human antibodies under mammalian cell culture conditions - L. Borlido; A. M. Azevedo; Roque, A. C. A.; M. R. Aires-Barros (Journal of Chromatography A, 2011)
In this work, we systematically evaluated the potential of using boronic acid functionalized magnetic particles in the capturing of human immunoglobulin G under typical mammalian cell culture conditions. For comparison, Protein A coated magnetic particles were also used. The binding pH was found to significantly influence the adsorption isotherms of boronic acid particles with the higher capacities (0.216 g IgG/g support) being observed at pH 7.4. Comparatively, this value was 0.109 g IgG/g support, for Protein A particles under the same conditions. Both particles revealed very fast adsorption kinetics with more than 70% of the maximum binding capacity being achieved in a few seconds. The effect of glucose and lactate, which are known to interact with boronic acid, was evaluated. For glucose, the binding capacity was significantly influenced by the pH and decreased as pH increased. At pH 9.5, a 70% lower binding capacity was observed for glucose concentrations as low as 0.5 g/l. The effect of lactate was less pronounced and almost pH independent reaching at most 20% decrease in binding capacity. Nevertheless, the effect of both molecules was always lower at pH 7.4. The optimization of the elution conditions enabled complete recovery of bound IgG from boronic acid particles using 50mM Tris-HCl, 200 mM sorbitol, 200 mM NaCl at pH 8.5.

Practical Verification of Anomalies in Transactional Memory Programs - Pessanha, Vasco (FCT - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2011)
Transactional Memory (TM) is an approach to concurrency control in general pur- pose programming languages that inherits the concept of transaction from the database setting. Unlike other language constructs such as locks, TM has an optimistic approach to concurrency control by allowing more than one thread to access simultaneously the same critical section. A transaction always executes as if it is alone in the system, and in the end its effects are undone (rolled back) if it conflicts with another concurrent transac- tions. In spite of the potential for increasing scalability and performance, TM is a recent and developing programming model and still has a very limited impact in real-world applications. Designing and developing concurrent software is difficult and error prone. Concur- rent programs exhibit concurrency anomalies that originate faults and failures. Despite some claims that TM programs are less error prone, they still exhibit concurrency anoma- lies such as high-level dataraces, i.e., wrong delimitations of transactions’ scope, and stale-value errors, that occur when the value of a shared variable jumps from an atomic block to another. Programs with this kind of anomalies can exhibit unpredictable and wrong behaviour, not fulfilling the goals for which they were conceived. This work aims the detection of anomalies through static analysis of transactional Java ByteCode programs that execute in strong atomicity. A extensible and flexible framework is proposed, which can be extended with plugins that detect specific types of anomalies. With this framework we expect to prove that high-level dataraces and stale-value errors can be detected with reasonable precision through static analysis. Keywords: Atomicity Violation, High-Level Datarace, Static Analysis, Concurrency, Software Transactional Memory

Raman spectroscopy of racemic ibuprofen: Evidence of molecular disorder in phase II - Alain Hédoux; Yannic Guinet; Patrick Derollez; Emeline Dudognon; Natália T. Correia (International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2011)

Reabilitação Sustentável de Edifícios Industriais - Tiago Teixeira (Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2011)

Real-time detection of oscillations in control loops - Palma, L. B.; Coito, F. V.; Gil, P.S. (Power Engineering, Energy and Electrical Drives (POWERENG), 2011 International Conference on. :1–6.: IEEE, 2011)
n/a

Real-time monitoring of PCR amplification of proto-oncogene c-MYC using a Ta2O5 electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor sensor - R. Branquinho; B. Veigas; J. V. Pinto; R. Martins; E. Fortunato; P.V. Baptista (Biosens. Bioelectron., 2011)

Recent Experiences and Emerging Cooperation Schemes on TA and Education An Insight into Cases in Portugal and Germany - Moniz, António B.; Armin Grunwald (Technikfolgenabschätzung – Theorie und Praxis, 2011)
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.

Resonance Raman Spectroscopic Examination of Ferrochelatase-Induced Porphyrin Distortion - Ricardo Franco; Salam Al-Karadaghi; Gloria Ferreira (Journal of Porphyrins and Phtalocyanines, 2011)

Responsible innovation: bringing together technology assessment, applied ethics, and STS research - Armin Grunwald (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2011)
The ideas of ‘responsible development’ in the scientific-technological advance and of ‘responsible innovation’ in the field of new products, services and systems have been discussed for some years now with increasing intensity (Siune et al. 2009) and led to the phrase of ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’ (RRI). The postulate of responsible innovation adds explicit ethical reflection to Technology Assessment (TA) and science, technology and society (STS) studies and includes all of them into integrative approaches to shaping technology and innovation. Responsible innovation brings together TA with its experiences on assessment procedures, actor involvement, foresight and evaluation with ethics, in particular under the framework of responsibility, and also builds on the body of knowledge about R&D and innovation processes provided by STS and STIS studies (science, technology, innovation and society). Ethical reflection and technology assessment are increasingly taken up as integrative part of R&Dprogrammes (Siune et al. 2009). Science institutions, including research funding agencies, have started taking a pro-active role in promoting integrative research and development. Thus, the governance of science and of R&D processes is changing which opens up new possibilities and opportunities for involving new actors and new types of reflection. In this paper I want to demonstrate at a more conceptual level that Responsible Innovation can build on experiences and knowledge provided by the three mentioned fields of research: ethics, technology assessment, and STS respective STIS studies. To this end I will start by a brief analysis of the thematic dimensions included in the notion of responsibility and the respective disciplinary approaches to explore and investigate them (Sec. 2). The field of technology assessment is then introduced as a major origin of the Responsible Innovation movement including already some of the main ideas behind Responsible Innovation (Sec. 3). Based on the TA tradition Responsible Innovation may be characterized as a broadened extension of technology assessment complemented by ethics and STS (Sec. 4). As an illustration, the field of Synthetic Biology is introduced (Sec. 5).

Role of Room Temperature Sputtered High Conductive and High Transparent Indium Zinc Oxide Film Contacts on the Performance of Orange, Green, and Blue Organic Light Emitting Diodes - G. Goncalves; V. Grasso; P. Barquinha; L. Pereira; E. Elamurugu; M. Brignone; R. Martins; V. Lambertini; E. Fortunato (Plasma Process. Polym., 2011)

Sleep Spindles: Decomposition, Parameterization and Applications - Almeida, R; Ortigueira, M.D.; Batista, A.G.; Ktonas, P. (19th IEEE Conference on Signal Processing and Communications Applications, 2011)
n/a

Societal embedding in high-speed train technology development: dominant perspective from a case study - Susana Moretto (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2011)
The present article posits constructive technology assessment as the dominant perspective of societal embedding practices in the technical development process by the high-speed train manufacturing industry, resulting from a research study conducted in 2011 (Moretto 2011). The article covers the main elements of the study, being the high-speed train manufacturing industry’s strategic intelligence, technology pattern, knowledge exchange, technology trajectories; and finally presents the arguments justifying constructive technology assessment as the dominant approach.
The present article is based on the report for the Doctoral Conference of the PhD programme in Technology Assessment, held at FCT-UNL Campus, Monte de Caparica, June 9th, 2011. The PhD thesis has the supervision of Prof. António Moniz (FCT-UNL and ITAS-KIT), and co-supervision of Prof. Manuel Seabra Pereira and Prof. Rosário Macário (both from IST-UTL).

Splicing enhances recruitment of methyltransferase HYPB/Setd2 and methylation of histone H3 Lys36. - de Almeida, Sérgio Fernandes; Ana Rita Grosso; Koch, Frederic; Fenouil, Romain; Carvalho, Sílvia; Andrade, Jorge; Levezinho, Helena; Gut, Marta; Eick, Dirk; Gut, Ivo; Andrau, Jean-Christophe; Ferrier, Pierre; et al. (Nature structural & molecular biology, 2011)
Several lines of recent evidence support a role for chromatin in splicing regulation. Here, we show that splicing can also contribute to histone modification, which implies bidirectional communication between epigenetic mechanisms and RNA processing. Genome-wide analysis of histone methylation in human cell lines and mouse primary T cells reveals that intron-containing genes are preferentially marked with histone H3 Lys36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) relative to intronless genes. In intron-containing genes, H3K36me3 marking is proportional to transcriptional activity, whereas in intronless genes, H3K36me3 is always detected at much lower levels. Furthermore, splicing inhibition impairs recruitment of H3K36 methyltransferase HYPB (also known as Setd2) and reduces H3K36me3, whereas splicing activation has the opposite effect. Moreover, the increase of H3K36me3 correlates with the length of the first intron, consistent with the view that splicing enhances H3 methylation. We propose that splicing is mechanistically coupled to recruitment of HYPB/Setd2 to elongating RNA polymerase II.

Stability in Phase Transformation After Multiple Steps of Marforming in Ti-Rich Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy - "Andersandos Santos Paula", "Karimbi Koosappa Mahesh" "Francisco Manuel Braz Fernandes" (Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 2011)

Stained glass from the Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal: history and characterization - Vilarigues, Márcia; Delgado, Joana; Pedro Redol (Journal of Glass Studies, 2011)

StarTM: Automatic Verification of Snapshot Isolation in Transactional Memory Java Programs - Ricardo J. Dias; Dino Distefano; João M. Lourenço; João Costa Seco (Departamento de Informática FCT/UNL, 2011)
This paper presents StarTM , an automatic verification tool for transactional memory Java programs executing under relaxed isolation levels. We certify which transactions in a program are safe to execute under Snapshot Isolation without triggering the write-skew anomaly, opening the way to run-time optimizations that may lead to considerable performance enhancements. Our tool builds on a novel shape analysis technique based on Separation Logic to statically approximate the read- and write-sets of a transactional memory Java program. This technique is particularly challenging due to the presence of dynamically allocated memory. We implement our technique and apply our tool to a set of intricate examples. We corroborate known results, certifying some of the examples for safe execution under Snapshot Isolation by proving the absence of write-skew anomalies. In other cases we identify transactions that potentially trigger the write-skew anomaly.
n/a

Structure of a novel dodecaheme cytochrome c from Geobacter sulfurreducens reveals an extended 12 nm protein with interacting hemes - Pokkuluri, P.R.; Londer, Yuri Y.; Norma E.C. Duke; Miguel Pessanha; Yang, X.; Orshonsky, V.; L. Orshonsky; Erickson, J.; Y. Zagyanskiy; Salgueiro, C.A.; Schiffer, M. (Journal of Structural Biology, 2011)
Multiheme cytochromes c are important in electron transfer pathways in reduction of both soluble and insoluble Fe(III) by Geobacter sulfurreducens. We determined the crystal structure at 3.2 Å resolution of the first dodecaheme cytochrome c (GSU1996) along with its N-terminal and C-terminal hexaheme fragments at 2.6 and 2.15 Å resolution, respectively. The macroscopic reduction potentials of the full-length protein and its fragments were measured. The sequence of GSU1996 can be divided into four c7-type domains (A, B, C and D) with homology to triheme cytochromes c7. In cytochromes c7 all three hemes are bis–His coordinated, whereas in c7-type domains the last heme is His–Met coordinated. The full-length GSU1996 has a 12 nm long crescent shaped structure with the 12 hemes arranged along a polypeptide to form a “nanowire” of hemes; it has a modular structure. Surprisingly, while the C-terminal half of the protein consists of two separate c7-type domains (C and D) connected by a small linker, the N-terminal half of the protein has two c7-type domains (A and B) that form one structural unit. This is also observed in the AB fragment. There is an unexpected interaction between the hemes at the interface of domains A and B, which form a heme-pair with nearly parallel stacking of their porphyrin rings. The hemes adjacent to each other throughout the protein are within van der Waals distance which enables efficient electron exchange between them. For the first time, the structural details of c7-type domains from one multiheme protein were compared.

Study for Sustainable Traffic Strategy in Local Government Perspective: A Contribution Towards a Strategy for Mobility - Silva, Vitor; Amado, Miguel (The Sustainable World, 2011)

Study of electrochromic devices with nanocomposites polymethacrylate hydroxyethylene resin based electrolyte - Goncalves A.,; Costa C.,; Pereira S.,; Correia N.,; Silva M.M.; Barbosa P.C.,; Rodrigues L.C.; Henriques I.,; Martins R.; Fortunato E., (Polym. Adv. Technol., 2011)

Study of membrane ageing and grafting mechanisms using electron paramagnetic resonance - Oliveira, F. R. P.; Matos, C. T.; Moura, J. J. G.; Portugal, C. A. M.; Crespo, J. G. (Desalination Water Treatment, 2011)

Sucrose chemistry: Fast and Efficient Microwave-Assisted Protocols for the Generation of Sucrose-Containing Monomer Libraries - M. Teresa Barros; Krasimira T. Petrova; Paula Correia-da-Silva (Microwave Heating, 2011)

Suporte Transaccional para o Sistema de Ficheiros Btrfs - João E. Luís; João M. Lourenço; Lopes, Paulo A. (InForum 2011: Proceedings of InForum Simpósio de Informática, 2011)
Em caso de falha abrupta de um sistema, é imperativo garantir a consistência do Sistema de Ficheiros (SF). Actualmente existem várias soluções que visam garantir que tanto os dados como os metadados do SF se encontram num estado consistente, mas que não contemplam a garantia de consistência dos dados do ponto de vista das aplicações. Por exemplo, aplicações que pretendam alterar vários ficheiros de configuração terão de encontrar mecanismos para garantir que, ou todos os ficheiros são devidamente alterados, ou nenhum o é, evitando assim que numa situação de falha o conteúdo dos ficheiros fique inconsistente. Do ponto de vista da aplicação, pode não ser simples implementar este comportamento sobre um SF t{\'ıpico; e pode também não ser razoável utilizar um Sistema de Gestão de Bases de Dados (SGBD), que oferece propriedades ACID. Neste artigo propomos, testamos e avaliamos uma integração das propriedades ACID num SF. Partindo do suporte para snapshots do sistema de ficheiros Btrfs, oferece-se uma semântica transaccional às aplicações que operam sobre volumes (sub-árvores) do SF, sem comprometer a semântica POSIX do SF.
n/a

Synthesis of capsular polysaccharide at the division septum of Streptococcus pneumoniae is dependent on a bacterial tyrosine kinase - M. X. Henriques; T. Rodrigues; M. Carido; L. Ferreira; S. R. Filipe (Mol. Microbiol, 2011)

Technology Assessment and Education – Introduction - Moniz, António B.; Dusseldorp, Marc; Beecroft, Richard (Technikfolgenabschätzung – Theorie und Praxis, 2011)
“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”.

Thin and flexible bio-batteries made of electrospun cellulose-based membranes - Baptista, Ana Catarina; Martins, J. I.; Elvira Fortunato; Rodrigo Martins; Borges, João Paulo; Ferreira, Isabel (Biosens Bioelectron, 2011)
The present work proposes the development of a bio-battery composed by an ultrathin monolithic structure of an electrospun cellulose acetate membrane, over which was deposited metallic thin film electrodes by thermal evaporation on both surfaces. The electrochemical characterization of the bio-batteries was performed under simulated body fluids like sweat and blood plasma [salt solution–0.9% (w/w) NaCl]. Reversible electrochemical reactions were detected through the cellulose acetate structure. Thus, a stable electrochemical behavior was achieved for a bio-battery with silver and aluminum thin films as electrodes. This device exhibits the ability to supply a power density higher than 3 muW cm(-2). Finally, a bio-battery prototype was tested on a sweated skin, demonstrating the potential of applicability of this bio-device as a micropower source.
Keywords: *Bioelectric Energy Sources Cellulose/*chemistry Elastic Modulus *Electric Power Supplies Electrochemistry/methods Equipment Design Equipment Failure Analysis *Membranes; Artificial Rotation

Thin-Film Transistors Based on Indium Molybdenum Oxide Semiconductor Layers Sputtered at Room Temperature - E. Elangovan; K. J. Saji; S. Parthiban; G. Goncalves; P. Barquinha; R. Martins; E. Fortunato (IEEE Electron Device Lett., 2011)

Transparent scalability with clustering for Java e-science applications - Sampaio, Pedro; Ferreira, Paulo; Luís Veiga (Proceedings of the 11th IFIP WG 6.1 international conference on Distributed applications and interoperable systems, 2011)
The two-decade long history of events relating object-oriented programming, the development of persistence and transactional support, and the aggregation of multiple nodes in a single-system image cluster, appears to convey the following conclusion: programmers ideally would develop and deploy applications against a single shared global memory space (heap of objects) of mostly unbounded capacity, with implicit support for persistence and concurrency, transparently backed by a possibly large number of clustered physical machines. In this paper, we propose a new approach to the design of OODB systems for Java applications: (O3)2 (pronounced ozone squared). It aims at providing to developers a single-system image of virtually unbounded object space/heap with support for object persistence, object querying, transactions and concurrency enforcement, backed by a cluster of multi-core machines with Java VMs that is kept transparent to the user/developer. It is based on an existing persistence framework (ozone-db) and the feasibility and performance of our approach has been validated resorting to the OO7 benchmark.
n/a

Tuning PCA controllers based on manual control data - Palma, L. B.; Coito, F. V. (Emerging Technologies & Factory Automation (ETFA), 2011 IEEE 16th Conference on. :1–4.: IEEE, 2011)
n/a

Two-Modes Cyclic Biosignal Clustering based on Time Series Analysis - N. Nunes; T. Araújo; Gamboa, H. (Proceedings of Biosignals - International Conference on Bio-inspired Systems and Signal Processing (BIOSTEC 2011), 2011)

TxBtrfs — A Transactional Snapshot-based File System - João E. Luís (FCT - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2011)
Several decades ago, the file system was the container of choice for large bulks of related information, kept in hundreds of files, and relying on applications specifically created to handle them. These configurations weren't scalable and could easily become difficult to maintain, leading to the development and adoption of Database Management Systems (DBMS). These systems, capable of efficiently handling vast amounts of data, allowed heavy concurrency without requiring the programmer to deal with concurrency-control mechanisms, by encapsulating operations within transactions. The properties of Transactions rapidly became an object of desire by many, and efforts to bring them to general-purpose programming environments began. In recent years there have been breakthroughs in bringing the transactional semantics to memory, using Software Transactional Memory (STM), providing abstractions to concurrency-control on the application-level. However, STM failed to meet some expectations, specially regarding I/O operations, forcing the abstraction to go deeper in the system: directly to the file system. In this document we shall discuss file systems in general, their properties and common structure, although focusing in those with transactional or versioning capabilities. Later on, we will present our proposed enhancement of an existing Linux file system (Btrfs), in order to offer transactional semantics to applications, while detecting potential conflicts between concurrent flows of execution and reconciling their changes whenever possible.

Unfalsification based Fault Tolerant Controller - Coito, F.; Palma, L. B. (Emerging Technologies & Factory Automation (ETFA), 2011 IEEE 16th Conference on. :1–4.: IEEE, 2011)
n/a

Wall teichoic acids of Staphylococcus aureus limit recognition by the Drosophila Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein-SA to promote pathogenicity - M. L. Atilano; J. Yates; M. Glittenberg; S. R. Filipe*; P. Ligoxygakis* (PLoS Pathogens, 2011)

Where science fiction meets reality? With oxide semiconductors! - E. Fortunato; R. Martins (Phys. Status Solidi-Rapid Res. Lett., 2011)

Characterization and regulation of a bacterial sugar phosphatase of the haloalkanoate dehalogenase superfamily, AraL, from Bacillus subtilis - Lia M. Godinho; Isabel de Sá-Nogueira (FEBS Journal, 2011)
AraL from Bacillus subtilis is a member of the ubiquitous haloalkanoate dehalogenase superfamily. The araL gene has been cloned, over-expressed in Escherichia coli and its product purified to homogeneity. The enzyme displays phosphatase activity, which is optimal at neutral pH (7.0) and 65 °C. Substrate screening and kinetic analysis showed AraL to have low specificity and catalytic activity towards several sugar phosphates, which are metabolic intermediates of the glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathways. On the basis of substrate specificity and gene context within the arabinose metabolic operon, a putative physiological role of AraL in the detoxification of accidental accumulation of phosphorylated metabolites has been proposed. The ability of AraL to catabolize several related secondary metabolites requires regulation at the genetic level. In the present study, using site-directed mutagenesis, we show that the production of AraL is regulated by a structure in the translation initiation region of the mRNA, which most probably blocks access to the ribosome-binding site, preventing protein synthesis. Members of haloalkanoate dehalogenase subfamily IIA and IIB are characterized by a broad-range and overlapping specificity anticipating the need for regulation at the genetic level. We provide evidence for the existence of a genetic regulatory mechanism controlling the production of AraL.
n/a
Keywords: AraL; Bacillus subtilis; gene regulation; HAD superfamily (IIA); sugar phosphatase

An AFM contribution to the understanding of surface effects caused by ageing and cleaning on acrylic glass. The Shadows by Lourdes Castro, a case study - de Sa, M. H.; Ferreira, Joana L.; Melo, MJ; Ramos, Ana M. (Surface and Interface Analysis, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 0 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; Si 0

Ageing of vinyl emulsion paints - an atomic force microscopy study - de Sa, M. H.; Peter Eaton; Ferreira, Joana L.; Melo, MJ; Ramos, Ana M. (Surface and Interface Analysis, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 0 Melo, Maria Joao/C-8594-2011; Ramos, Ana Maria/C-9621-2013; Eaton, Peter/B-4906-2008; 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, FMN/M-5611-2013; REQUIMTE, NSF/N-1636-2013; REQUIMTE, UCIBIO/N-9846-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Melo, Maria Joao/0000-0001-7393-6801; Eaton, Peter/0000-0003-1821-1992; Si 0

Alloy metal nanoparticles for multicolor cancer diagnostics - Baptista, Pedro V; Gonçalo Doria; João Conde (Colloidal Quantum Dots/Nanocrystals for Biomedical Applications VI, 2011)
Cancer is a multigenic complex disease where multiple gene loci contribute to the phenotype. The ability to simultaneously monitor differential expression originating from each locus results in a more accurate indicator of degree of cancerous activity than either locus alone. Metal nanoparticles have been thoroughly used as labels for in vitro identification and quantification of target sequences. We have synthesized nanoparticles with assorted noble metal compositions in an alloy format and functionalized them with thiol-modified ssDNA (nanoprobes). These nanoprobes were then used for the simultaneous specific identification of several mRNA targets involved in cancer development - one pot multicolor detection of cancer expression. The different metal composition in the alloy yield different {"}colors{"} that can be used as tags for identification of a given target. Following a non-cross-linking hybridization procedure previously developed in our group for gold nanoprobes, these multicolor nanoprobes were used for the molecular recognition of several different targets including differently spliced variants of relevant genes (e.g. gene products involved in chronic myeloid leukemia BCR, ABL, BCR-ABL fusion product). Based on the spectral signature of mixtures, before and after induced aggregation of metal nanoparticles, the correct identification could be made. Further application to differentially quantify expression of each locus in relation to another will be presented. The differences in nanoparticle stability and labeling efficiency for each metal combination composing the colloids, as well as detection capability for each nanoprobe will be discussed. Additional studies will be conducted towards allele specific expression studies.
n/a
Keywords: Alloy nanoparticles; Cancer; chronic myeloid leukemia; Gene characterization; Gene Expression; Gold nanoparticles; mRNA; Multicolor nanoparticles; Splice variants

Applications of gold(I) alkynyl systems: a growing field to explore - Lima, Joao Carlos; Rodriguez, Laura (Chemical Society Reviews, 2011)
n/a
n/a

ARMA Modelling of Sleep Spindles - Costa, J.C.; Ortigueira, M.D.; Batista, A.G. (Second IFIP WG 5.5/SOCOLNET Doctoral Conference on Computing, Electrical and Industrial Systems, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Binding of ibuprofen, ketorolac and diclofenac to COX-1 and COX-2 studied by saturation transfer difference NMR - Viegas, Aldino; Manso, Joao; Corvo, Marta C.; Marques, M. Manuel B.; Cabrita, Eurico J. (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2011)
Saturation Transfer Difference-NMR (STD-NMR) spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful screening tool and a straightforward way to study the binding epitopes of active compounds in early stage lead discovery in pharmaceutical research. Here we report the application of STD NMR to characterize the binding of the anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen, diclofenac and ketorolac to COX-1 and COX-2. Using well-studied COX inhibitors and by comparing STD signals with crystallographic structures we show that there is a relation between the orientations of ibuprofen and diclofenac in the COX-2 active site and the relative STD responses detected in the NMR experiments. Based on this analysis we propose that ketorolac should bind to the COX-2 active site in similar orientation as that of diclofenac. We also show that the combination of STD NMR with competition experiments constitutes a valuable tool to address the recently proposed behavior of COX-2 as functional heterodimers and complement enzyme activity studies in the effort to rationalize COX inhibition mechanisms.
n/a

Binding of ibuprofen, ketorolac, and diclofenac to COX-1 and COX-2 studied by saturation transfer difference NMR - A. Viegas; Manso, J.; Corvo, Mc; M.M. Marques; E. J. Cabrita (J Med Chem, 2011)
Saturation transfer difference NMR (STD-NMR) spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful screening tool and a straightforward way to study the binding epitopes of active compounds in early stage lead discovery in pharmaceutical research. Here we report the application of STD-NMR to characterize the binding of the anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen, diclofenac, and ketorolac to COX-1 and COX-2. Using well-studied COX inhibitors and by comparing STD signals with crystallographic structures, we show that there is a relation between the orientations of ibuprofen and diclofenac in the COX-2 active site and the relative STD responses detected in the NMR experiments. On the basis of this analysis, we propose that ketorolac should bind to the COX-2 active site in an orientation similar to that of diclofenac. We also show that the combination of STD-NMR with competition experiments constitutes a valuable tool to address the recently proposed behavior of COX-2 as functional heterodimers and complements enzyme activity studies in the effort to rationalize COX inhibition mechanisms.
n/a
Keywords: Animals Binding; Competitive Catalytic Domain Cyclooxygenase 1/*chemistry Cyclooxygenase 2/*chemistry Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors/*chemistry Diclofenac/*chemistry Female Ibuprofen/*chemistry Ketorolac/*chemistry Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Male Sheep

Binding of ibuprofen, ketorolac, and diclofenac to COX-1 and COX-2 studied by saturation transfer difference NMR - Viegas, Aldino; Manso, João; Corvo, Marta C.; Marques, M. Manuel B.; Cabrita, Eurico J. (Journal of medicinal chemistry, 2011)
n/a
n/a

A biotechnological perspective on the application of iron oxide magnetic colloids modified with polysaccharides - Dias, A M G C; Hussain, A.; Marcos, A S; Roque, A. C. A. (Biotechnology Advances, 2011)
Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles {(MNPs)} alone are suitable for a broad spectrum of applications, but the low stability and heterogeneous size distribution in aqueous medium represent major setbacks. These setbacks can however be reduced or diminished through the coating of MNPs with various polymers, especially biopolymers such as polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are biocompatible, non-toxic and renewable; in addition, they possess chemical groups that permit further functionalization of the MNPs. Multifunctional entities can be created through decoration with specific molecules e.g. proteins, peptides, drugs, antibodies, biomimetic ligands, transfection agents, cells, and other ligands. This development opens a whole range of applications for iron oxide nanoparticles. In this review the properties of magnetic structures composed of MNPs and several polysaccharides {(Agarose}, Alginate, Carrageenan, Chitosan, Dextran, Heparin, Gum Arabic, Pullulan and Starch) will be discussed, in view of their recent and future biomedical and biotechnological applications.
{PMID:} 20959138
Keywords: Biomedical Technology; Biotechnology; Colloids; Ferric Compounds; Humans; Magnetite Nanoparticles; Polysaccharides

Characterization and Crystallization of Mouse Aldehyde Oxidase 3: From Mouse Liver to Escherichia coli Heterologous Protein Expression - Mahro, Martin; Coelho, Catarina; Trincao, Jose; Rodrigues, David; Terao, Mineko; Garattini, Enrico; Saggu, Miguel; Lendzian, Friedhelm; Hildebrandt, Peter; Romao, Maria Joao; Leimkuehler, Silke (Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 5 Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Coelho, Catarina /D-2073-2013; REQUIMTE, SMB/M-5694-2013; REQUIMTE, UCIBIO/N-9846-2013 Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Coelho, Catarina /0000-0003-1852-5406; 5

Characterization of the Singlet and Triplet Excited States of 3-Chloro-4-methylumbelliferone - Seixas de Melo, J. Sergio; Cabral, Catarina; Lima, Joao C.; Macanita, Antonio L. (Journal of Physical Chemistry a, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Chemical Behavior of Methylpyranomalvidin-3-O-glucoside in Aqueous Solution Studied by NMR and UV-Visible Spectroscopy - Oliveira, Joana; Vesselin Petrov; A. Jorge Parola; Pina, Fernando; Azevedo, Joana; Teixeira, Natercia; Bras, Natercia F.; Fernandes, Pedro A.; Mateus, Nuno; Ramos, Maria Joao; de Freitas, Victor (Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 9 Oliveira, Joana/G-8108-2012; Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Fernandes, Pedro/D-6327-2013; Bras, Natercia/D-5493-2013; Ramos, Maria/D-6183-2013; 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; Group, Photochem&SC/M-4665-2013; REQUIMTE, TCB/M-6190-2013; Parola, A. Jorge/F-4048-2010; REQUIMTE, UCIBIO/N-9846-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013; Mateus, Nuno/F-3019-2013 Oliveira, Joana/0000-0002-9996-1463; Pina, Fernando/0000-0001-8529-6848; Ramos, Maria/0000-0002-7554-8324; Parola, A. Jorge/0000-0002-1333-9076; Mateus, Nuno/0000-0002-9318-9732 9

Chiral Guanidinium Ionic Liquids for Asymmetric Dihydroxylation of Olefins with Recycling of the Catalytic System by Supercritical CO2 - Branco, Luis C.; Serbanovic, Ana; da Ponte, Manuel N.; Afonso, Carlos A. M. (Acs Catalysis, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 5 da Ponte, Manuel/B-3620-2010; Branco, Luis/C-6426-2013; 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; PTMS, RNEM/C-1589-2014; iMed.ULisboa, iMed.ULisboa/C-6292-2014; iMed.ULisboa, BioOrgChem /B-4209-2014 da Ponte, Manuel/0000-0003-4499-4521; Branco, Luis/0000-0003-2520-1151; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/0000-0002-7284-5948; 5

Complex Grünwald?Letnikov, Liouville, Riemann?Liouville, and Caputo derivatives for analytic functions - Manuel Duarte Ortigueira; Luis Rodríguez-Germá; Juan J. Trujillo (Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, 2011)
The well-known Liouville, Riemann?Liouville and Caputo derivatives are extended to the complex functions space, in a natural way, and it is established interesting connections between them and the Grünwald?Letnikov derivative. Particularly, starting from a complex formulation of the Grünwald?Letnikov derivative we establishes a bridge with existing integral formulations and obtained regularised integrals for Liouville, Riemann?Liouville, and Caputo derivatives. Moreover, it is shown that we can combine the procedures followed in the computation of Riemann?Liouville and Caputo derivatives with the Grünwald?Letnikov to obtain a new way of computing them. The theory we present here will surely open a new way into the fractional derivatives computation.
n/a

Convenient Synthesis of 3-Vinyl and 3-Styryl Coumarins - Gordo, Joana; Avo, Joao; A. Jorge Parola; Lima, Joao C.; Pereira, Antonio; Branco, Paula S. (Organic Letters, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Cooperative use of cytochrome cd1 nitrite reductase and its redox partner cytochrome c552 to improve the selectivity of nitrite biosensing - Serra, A. S.; Jorge, S. R.; Silveira, C. M.; Moura, J. J. G.; Jubete, E.; Ochoteco, E.; Cabañero, G.; Grande, H.; Almeida, M. G. (Analytica Chimica Acta, 2011)
n/a
n/a
Keywords: Cytochrome c552; Cytochrome cd1; Nitrite biosensor; Photopolymerizable PVA; Screen printed electrodes

CORM-3 Reactivity toward Proteins: The Crystal Structure of a Ru(II) Dicarbonyl-Lysozyme Complex - Santos-Silva, Teresa; Mukhopadhyay, Abhik; Seixas, Joao D.; Bernardes, Goncalo J. L.; Romao, Carlos C.; Romao, Maria J. (Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 28 Romao, Carlos /D-1162-2010; Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Mukhopadhyay, Abhik/D-2119-2013; 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, Carlos /0000-0001-5061-3743; Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Mukhopadhyay, Abhik/0000-0002-7755-0401; 29

Coupling single base extension to a spectral codification tool for increased throughput screening - Leticia Giestas; Lima, Joao Carlos; Pedro V. Baptista (Journal of Biotechnology, 2011)
n/a
n/a

The Crystal Structure of Cupriavidus necator Nitrate Reductase in Oxidized and Partially Reduced States - Coelho, Catarina; Gonzalez, Pablo J.; Moura, Jose J. G.; Moura, Isabel; Trincao, Jose; Romao, Maria Joao (Journal of Molecular Biology, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 18 Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Coelho, Catarina /D-2073-2013; Moura, Isabel/D-6339-2013; Moura, Jose/D-6426-2013; Gonzalez, Pablo/D-8200-2013; 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; Moura, Isabel/0000-0003-0971-4977; 18

Crystal structure of the zinc-, cobalt-, and iron-containing adenylate kinase from Desulfovibrio gigas: a novel metal-containing adenylate kinase from Gram-negative bacteria - Mukhopadhyay, A.; Kladova, A. V.; Bursakov, S. A.; Gavel, O. Yu; Calvete, J. J.; Shnyrov, V. L.; Moura, I.; Moura, J. J. G.; Romao, M. J.; Trincao, J. (Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 0 Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Mukhopadhyay, Abhik/D-2119-2013; Moura, Isabel/D-6339-2013; Moura, Jose/D-6426-2013; 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; Mukhopadhyay, Abhik/0000-0002-7755-0401; Moura, Isabel/0000-0003-0971-4977; 0

Design of Adaptive PCA Controllers for SISO Systems - Brito Palma, L.F.F.; Coito, F.J.; Gil, P.; Neves-Silva, R. (World Congress, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Development of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-based molecular recognition devices for controlled drug delivery using supercritical fluid technology - Mara Soares da Silva; Raquel Viveiros; Patrícia I. Morgado; Aguiar-Ricardo, Ana; Correia, Ilídio J; Casimiro, Teresa (International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2011)
This work reports the development of a novel potential body-friendly oral drug delivery system, which consists of a biocompatible molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), with pH sensitive character and low cross-linking degree (20.2 wt%), synthesized and processed in supercritical carbon dioxide. The \{MIP\} is synthesized using 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as cross-linker, and ibuprofen as molecular recognition template. The imprinted matrix was able to show a higher affinity towards ibuprofen than its corresponding non-imprinted polymer (NIP) meaning that the molecular imprinting in scCO2 was efficient even using a low crosslinking degree. \{MIP\} showed a significant molecular recognition towards the template, presenting higher drug uptake ability in the supercritical impregnation step, loading 33.1 wt% of ibuprofen compared to only 10.2 wt% for the \{NIP\} polymer. In vitro drug release experiments, simulating an oral administration, showed different release profiles at pH 2.2 and pH 7.4. Zeta potential measurements were performed to both \{MIP\} and \{NIP\} showing that the imprinting process has a significant influence on the charge of the polymeric particles. Cytotoxicity assays performed with human colorectal carcinoma-derived Caco-2 cells demonstrated that the polymers are biocompatible and could be potentially used in drug delivery applications.
n/a
Keywords: \{DMAEMA\}

Development of molecularly imprinted co-polymeric devices for controlled delivery of flufenamic acid using supercritical fluid technology - Mara Soares da Silva; Franklin L. Nobrega; Aguiar-Ricardo, Ana; Cabrita, Eurico J.; Casimiro, Teresa (The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2011)
This work reports the development of a novel class of affinity co-polymeric materials using supercritical fluid technology. Polymeric materials with molecular recognition to flufenamic acid, were first synthesized in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) using the drug as template. Molecularly imprinted co-polymers of methacrylic acid (MAA) or N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) crosslinked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were synthesized using different crosslinking degrees and template:monomer ratios, at 65 °C and 21 MPa. High-pressure \{NMR\} experiments confirmed that the nature of the interactions between the drug and the functional monomers during the polymerization step are mainly hydrogen bonds. scCO2-assisted impregnation revealed that the imprinted matrices were able to uptake higher amounts of flufenamic acid. This effect was particularly evidenced in the more crosslinked matrices, with P(MAA–EGDMA) imprinted copolymers binding up to 101.5 mg drug/g polymer against only 50.5 mg/g in the non-imprinted copolymer. In vitro drug delivery experiments showed that imprinted co-polymers release the drug in a more sustained way than the corresponding non-imprinted matrices. Overall it was shown that supercritical fluid technology is a viable approach for the development of self-assembly molecular recognition polymers with potential application in controlled drug delivery systems.
n/a
Keywords: Crosslinking

EEG artifact removal with ICA analysis - Carneiro, M; Batista, A.G.; Ortigueira, M.D. (Doctoral Conference on Computing, Electrical and Industrial Systems, DoCEIS 2011, 2011)
n/a
n/a

EEG Features Extraction for Sleep Classification and Spindle Detection - Cardoso, N.V; Batista, A.G.; Ortigueira, M.D. (Doctoral Conference on Computing on Computing, Electrical and Industrial Systems, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Electrochromic and magnetic ionic liquids - Branco, Aida; Branco, Luis C.; Pina, Fernando (Chemical Communications, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 22 Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Branco, Luis/C-6426-2013; 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; Branco, Luis/0000-0003-2520-1151; 22

Epoxidation of cyclooctene using soluble or MCM-41-supported molybdenum tetracarbonyl-pyridylimine complexes as catalyst precursors - Gomes, Ana C.; Bruno, Sofia M.; Gago, Sandra; Lopes, Rita P.; Machado, David A.; Carminatti, Anna P.; Valente, Anabela A.; Pillinger, Martyn; Goncalves, Isabel S. (Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 9 yan, peifang/G-2730-2011; Bruno, Sofia/F-1728-2010; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; Valente, Anabela/H-5922-2013; Machado da Silva, Jose/A-3937-2008; Gomes, Ana/G-2636-2010; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Bruno, Sofia/0000-0002-6961-4911; Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Machado da Silva, Jose/0000-0002-9160-9158; Gomes, Ana/0000-0001-9598-1275; 9

Experimental photophysical characterization of fluorophores in the vicinity of gold nanoparticles - J. P. Rosa; J. C. Lima; P.V. Baptista (Nanotechnology, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Experimental photophysical characterization of fluorophores in the vicinity of gold nanoparticles - Rosa, J. P.; Lima, J. C.; Baptista, P. V. (Nanotechnology, 2011)
We propose an experimental-based tool for dealing with fluorescence modulation close to nanoparticles for application in studies of fluorophores in the vicinity of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), typically addressed via theoretical models. We performed a photophysical characterization of fluorophores in the vicinity of AuNPs, showing that correct Phi(F) determination suffers from a local pH effect, and address the observed radiative enhancement. Our approach is based on the experimental assurance that the reference fluorophores are in the same optical conditions as those of the AuNP-fluorophore conjugates. We demonstrate the relevance for introducing corrections for the inner filter effect and the reabsorption of the emitted light caused by AuNPs. The proposed approach could circumvent the need for theoretical based corrections and allow for more accurate determination of fluorescence emission in the vicinity of gold nanoparticles.
n/a

Fractional Calculus for Scientists and Engineers - Ortigueira, M.D. (Fractional Calculus for Scientists and Engineers, 2011)
n/a
n/a

The Fractional Quantum Derivative and the Fractional Linear Scale Invariant Systems - Ortigueira, M.D. (Fractional Calculus for Scientists and Engineers, 2011)
The normal way of introducing the notion of derivative is by means of the limit of an incremental ratio that can assume three forms, depending the used translations as we saw in Chaps. 1 and 4. On the other hand, in those derivatives the limit operation is done over a set of points uniformly spaced: a linear scale was used. Here we present an alternative derivative, that is valid only for t {\ensuremath{>}} 0 or t {\ensuremath{<}} 0 and uses an exponential scale
n/a

Fucose-containing exopolysaccharide produced by the newly isolated Enterobacter strain A47 DSM 23139 - Freitas, Filomena; Alves, Vitor D.; Torres, Cristiana A. V.; Cruz, Madalena; Sousa, Isabel; Melo, Maria Joao; Ramos, Ana M.; Reis, Maria A M (Carbohydrate Polymers, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 7 Melo, Maria Joao/C-8594-2011; Freitas, Filomena/K-1828-2012; Ramos, Ana Maria/C-9621-2013; Reis, Maria/D-8303-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, CAT/M-4526-2013; REQUIMTE, CENG/M-4555-2013; REQUIMTE, NSF/N-1636-2013; Sousa, Isabel/N-3153-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Melo, Maria Joao/0000-0001-7393-6801; Freitas, Filomena/0000-0002-9430-4640; Sousa, Isabel/0000-0001-9384-7646; 7

Generalized Gru?nwald?Letnikov Fractional Derivative and Its Laplace and Fourier Transforms - Manuel Duarte Ortigueira; Juan J. Trujillo (Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics, 2011)
The generalized Grünwald?Letnikov fractional derivative is analyzed in this paper. Its Laplace and Fourier transforms are computed, and some current results are criticized. It is shown that only the forward derivative of a sinusoid exists. This result is used to define the frequency response of a fractional linear system.
n/a

Heterogeneous oxidation catalysts formed in situ from molybdenum tetracarbonyl complexes and tert-butyl hydroperoxide - Neves, Patricia; Amarante, Tatiana R.; Gomes, Ana C.; Coelho, Ana C.; Gago, Sandra; Pillinger, Martyn; Goncalves, Isabel S.; Silva, Carlos M.; Valente, Anabela A. (Applied Catalysis a-General, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 14 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; Gomes, Ana/G-2636-2010; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Gomes, Ana/0000-0001-9598-1275; 14

Implementação de um algoritmo de tipificação para linguagem concorrente com tipos comportamentais - Nuno Parreira (DI-FCT-UNL, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Implementação de uma linguagem intermédia e máquina virtual para linguagens concorrentes - Luís Miguel Lourenço (DI-FCT-UNL, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Ionic Liquids as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients - Ferraz, Ricardo; Branco, Luis C.; Prudencio, Cristina; Noronha, Joao Paulo; Petrovski, Zeljko (Chemmedchem, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 19 Ferraz, Ricardo/G-5639-2011; Branco, Luis/C-6426-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; Prudencio, Cristina/L-8398-2013; Noronha, Joao Paulo/C-6423-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; REQUIMTE, ANALYSIS/M-4644-2013; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Ferraz, Ricardo/0000-0002-1761-117X; Branco, Luis/0000-0003-2520-1151; Prudencio, Cristina/0000-0002-9920-936X; Noronha, Joao Paulo/0000-0002-1515-4518; 19

Ionic liquids for medieval stained glass cleaning: a new frontier - Machado, A.; Redol, P; Branco, L; Vilarigues, M. (ICOM-CC Lisbon, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Reactions of Chiral Imidazolidinones and Oxazolidinones: Insights on the Role of the Catalyst - Duarte, Filipe J. S.; Bakalova, Snezhana M.; Cabrita, Eurico J.; Santos, A. Gil (Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2011)
The mechanism proposed by Evans to justify the selectivity obtained in Lewis acid catalyzed Diels-Alder reactions of cyclopentadiene with acyloxazolidinones has been generalized and used in the rationalization of selectivities obtained in many other systems. However, we recently proposed an alternative mechanism, on the basis of open-chain mono- and bicomplexes, that avoids the need for chelates and explains the selectivity obtained by Evans. In this manuscript we apply our proposal to the catalyzed conjugated addition of amines to acylimidazolidinones, reported by Cardillo, and we clearly show that aluminum chelates are not involved in the reaction, as they induce no selectivity, while Cardillo observed high experimental selectivities. Our data equally show that bicomplexes with carbonyl parallel orientation, proposed by Cardillo to justify the experimental selectivity with nonchelating Lewis acids, indeed induce the opposite selectivity and have also to be dismissed. On the other hand, our mechanistic proposal allows for the full rationalization of the data obtained by Cardillo with aluminum, boron, or zinc Lewis acids and supports our previous proposal on DA cycloadditions of dienes to Evans chiral auxiliary derivatives.
n/a

A Linear Approach towards Modeling Human Behavior - Antunes, R.; Coito, F.; Duarte-Ramos, H. (Technological Innovation for Sustainability, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Linguagem Intermédia Tipificada para Máquina de Pilha Concorrente com Objectos - Luís Miguel Lourenço; João Costa Seco; Francisco Martins (Simpósio de Informática (INForum), 2011)
n/a
n/a

Low-Spin Heme b(3) in the Catalytic Center of Nitric Oxide Reductase from Pseudomonas nautica - Timoteo, Cristina G.; Pereira, Alice S.; Martins, Carlos E.; Naik, Sunil G.; Duarte, Americo G.; Moura, Jose J. G.; Tavares, Pedro; Huynh, Boi Hanh; Moura, Isabel (Biochemistry, 2011)
Respiratory nitric oxide reductase (NOR) was purified from membrane extract of Pseudomonas (Ps.) nautica cells to homogeneity as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified protein is a heterodimer with subunits of molecular masses of 54 and 18 kDa. The gene encoding both subunits was cloned and sequenced. The amino acid sequence shows strong homology with enzymes of the cNOR class. Iron/heme determinations show that one heme c is present in the small subunit (NORC) and that approximately two heme b and one non-heme iron are associated with the large subunit (NORB), in agreement with the available data for enzymes of the cNOR class. Mossbauer characterization of the as-purified, ascorbate-reduced, and dithionite-reduced enzyme confirms the presence of three heme groups (the catalytic heme b(3) and the electron transfer heme b and heme c) and one redox-active non-heme Fe (Fe-B). Consistent with results obtained for other cNORs, heme c and heme b in Ps. nautica cNOR were found to be low-spin while FeB was found to be high-spin. Unexpectedly, as opposed to the presumed high-spin state for heme b(3), the Mossbauer data demonstrate unambiguously that heme b(3) is, in fact, low-spin in both ferric and ferrous states, suggesting that heme b(3) is six-coordinated regardless of its oxidation state. EPR spectroscopic measurements of the as-purified enzyme show resonances at the g similar to 6 and g similar to 2-3 regions very similar to those reported previously for other cNORs. The signals at g = 3.60, 2.99, 2.26, and 1.43 are attributed to the two charge-transfer low-spin ferric heme c and heme b. Previously, resonances at the g similar to 6 region were assigned to a small quantity of uncoupled high-spin Fe-III heme b(3). This assignment is now questionable because heme b(3) is low-spin. On the basis of our spectroscopic data, we argue that the g = 6.34 signal is likely arising from a spin spin coupled binuclear center comprising the low-spin Fe-III heme b(3) and the high-spin Fe-B(III). Activity assays performed under various reducing conditions indicate that heme b(3) has to be reduced for the enzyme to be active. But, from an energetic point of view, the formation of a ferrous heme-NO as an initial reaction intermediate for NO reduction is disfavored because heme [FeNO](7) is a stable product. We suspect that the presence of a sixth ligand in the Fe-II-heme b(3) may weaken its affinity for NO and thus promotes, in the first catalytic step, binding of NO at the Fe-B(II) site. The function of heme b(3) would then be to orient the Fe-B-bound NO molecules for the formation of the N-N bond and to provide reducing equivalents for NO reduction.
n/a

Molecular Architecture and Structural Transitions of a Clostridium thermocellum Mini-Cellulosome - Garcia-Alvarez, Begona; Melero, Roberto; Dias, Fernando M. V.; Prates, Jose A. M.; Fontes, Carlos M. G. A.; Smith, Steven P.; Romao, Maria Joao; Carvalho, Ana Luisa; Llorca, Oscar (Journal of Molecular Biology, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 7 Carvalho, Ana Luisa/G-5638-2011; 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 Carvalho, Ana Luisa/0000-0002-3824-0240; Dias, Fernando/0000-0001-8109-2063; Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Prates, Jose/0000-0003-1032-5987; 8

Nanoparticles in molecular diagnostics - Baptista, Pedro V; Gonçalo Dória; Pedro Quaresma; Miguel Cavadas; Neves, Cristina S.; Inês Gomes; Peter Eaton; Eulália Pereira; Ricardo Franco (Nanoparticles in Translational Science and Medicine, 2011)
The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the available and emerging molecular diagnostic methods that take advantage of the unique nanoscale properties of nanoparticles (NPs) to increase the sensitivity, detection capabilities, ease of operation, and portability of the biodetection assemblies. The focus will be on noble metal NPs, especially gold NPs, fluorescent NPs, especially quantum dots, and magnetic NPs, the three main players in the development of probes for biological sensing. The chapter is divided into four sections: a first section covering the unique physicochemical properties of NPs of relevance for their utilization in molecular diagnostics; the second section dedicated to applications of NPs in molecular diagnostics by nucleic acid detection; and the third section with major applications of NPs in the area of immunoassays. Finally, a concluding section highlights the most promising advances in the area and presents future perspectives.
Funding Information: The authors wish to thank Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT/MCTES), especially project PTDC/CTM-NAN/109877/2009, Portugal and the Luso-American Foundation (FLAD), Portugal, for continuing support to their research. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords: Bionanotechnology; Gold nanoparticles; Immunoassay; Magnetic nanoparticles; Molecular diagnostics; Nucleic acid detection; Quantum dots

New spectroscopic and electrochemical insights on a class I superoxide reductase: evidence for an intramolecular electron-transfer pathway - Folgosa, Filipe; Cordas, Cristina M.; Santos, Joana A.; Pereira, Alice S.; Moura, Jose J. G.; Tavares, Pedro; Moura, Isabel (BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL, 2011)
SORs (superoxide reductases) are enzymes involved in bacterial resistance to reactive oxygen species, catalysing the reduction of superoxide anions to hydrogen peroxide. So far three structural classes have been identified. Class I enzymes have two ironcentre-containing domains. Most studies have focused on the catalytic iron site (centre II), yet the role of centre I is poorly understood. The possible roles of this iron site were approached by an integrated study using both classical and fast kinetic measurements, as well as direct electrochemistry. A new heterometallic form of the protein with a zinc-substituted centre I, maintaining the iron active-site centre II, was obtained, resulting in a stable derivative useful for comparison with the native all-iron from. Second-order rate constants for the electron transfer between reduced rubredoxin and the different SOR forms were determined to be 2.8 x 10(7) M(-1) . s(-1) and 1.3 x 10(6) M(-1) . s(-1) for SOR(Fe(IIII)-Fe(II)) and for SOR(Fe(IIII)-Fe(III)) forms respectively, and 3.2 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) for the SOR(Zn(II)-Fe(III)) form. The results obtained seem to indicate that centre I transfers electrons from the putative physiological donor rubredoxin to the catalytic active iron site (intramolecular process). In addition, electrochemical results show that conformational changes are associated with the redox state of centre I, which may enable a faster catalytic response towards superoxide anion. The apparent rate constants calculated for the SOR-mediated electron transfer also support this observation.
n/a

On the fractional signals and systems - Richard Magin; Manuel Duarte Ortigueira; Igor Podlubny; Juan Trujillo (Signal Processing, 2011)
A look into fractional calculus and its applications from the signal processing point of view is done in this paper. A coherent approach to the fractional derivative is presented, leading to notions that are not only compatible with the classic but also constitute a true generalization. This means that the classic are recovered when the fractional domain is left. This happens in particular with the impulse response and transfer function. An interesting feature of the systems is the causality that the fractional derivative imposes. The main properties of the derivatives and their representations are presented. A brief and general study of the fractional linear systems is done, by showing how to compute the impulse, step and frequency responses, how to test the stability and how to insert the initial conditions. The practical realization problem is focussed and it is shown how to perform the input?ouput computations. Some biomedical applications are described.
n/a

Overproduction, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization of a novel carbohydrate-binding module of endoglucanase Cel5A from Eubacterium cellulosolvens - Luis, Ana S.; Alves, Victor D.; Romao, Maria J.; Prates, Jose A. M.; Fontes, Carlos M. G. A.; Najmudin, Shabir (Acta Crystallographica Section F-Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 2 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 Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Prates, Jose/0000-0003-1032-5987; 4 2

Oxidation of Cyclohexene to trans-1,2-Cyclohexanediol Promoted by p-Toluenesulfonic Acid without Organic Solvents - Rosatella, Andreia A.; Afonso, Carlos A. M.; Branco, Luis C. (Journal of Chemical Education, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 2 Branco, Luis/C-6426-2013; Caparica, PTNMR/E-5112-2013; REQUIMTE, PHOTO/M-4229-2013; Rosatella, Andreia/M-5674-2013; 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; Rosatella, Andreia/0000-0002-2691-3110; Mateus Afonso, Carlos Alberto/0000-0002-7284-5948; 2

Oxidation of Ethylbenzene in the Presence of an MCM-41-Supported or Ionic Liquid-Standing Bischlorocopper(II) Complex - Gago, Sandra; Bruno, Sofia M.; Queiros, Diogo C.; Valente, Anabela A.; Goncalves, Isabel S.; Pillinger, Martyn (Catalysis Letters, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 2 Bruno, Sofia/F-1728-2010; 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; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Bruno, Sofia/0000-0002-6961-4911; Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; 2

Phosphine-Gold(I) Compounds as Anticancer Agents: General Description and Mechanisms of Action - Lima, Joao Carlos; Rodriguez, Laura (Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Photochromism of naphthoflavylium. On the role of 4-OH hemiketal in flavylium network - Gavara, Raquel; Vesselin Petrov; Lopez, Virginia; Pina, Fernando (Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology a-Chemistry, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 2 Pina, Fernando/C-8161-2011; Gavara, Raquel/C-6669-2013; 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; Gavara, Raquel/0000-0002-7198-9392; 2

Photophysical Study of Naphthalenophanes: Evidence of Adduct Formation with Molecular Oxygen - Rodriguez, Laura; Lima, Joao C.; Pina, Fernando; Cacciapaglia, Roberta; Di Stefano, Stefano; Ruggi, Albert (Journal of Physical Chemistry a, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization of the pentamodular arabinoxylanase CtXyl5A from Clostridium thermocellum - Bras, Joana L. A.; Correia, Marcia A. S.; Romao, Maria J.; Prates, Jose A. M.; Fontes, Carlos M. G. A.; Najmudin, Shabir (Acta Crystallographica Section F-Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 0 Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Correia, Marcia/D-2077-2013; 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; Correia, Marcia/0000-0003-0636-8095; Prates, Jose/0000-0003-1032-5987; 7 0

Real-time detection of oscillations in control loops - Palma, L. B.; Coito, F. V.; Gil, P.S. (Power Engineering, Energy and Electrical Drives (POWERENG), 2011 International Conference on, 2011)
n/a
n/a

RF integrated inductor modeling and its application to optimization-based design - P Pereira; Helena Fino, M.; Coito, F.; Ventim-Neves, M. (Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Sleep Spindles: Decomposition, Parameterization and Applications - Almeida, R; Ortigueira, M.D.; Batista, A.G.; Ktonas, P. (19th IEEE Conference on Signal Processing and Communications Applications, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Structural insights into a unique cellulase fold and mechanism of cellulose hydrolysis - Bras, Joana L. A.; Cartmell, Alan; Carvalho, Ana Luisa M.; Verze, Genny; Bayer, Edward A.; Vazana, Yael; Correia, Marcia A. S.; Prates, Jose A. M.; Ratnaparkhe, Supriya; Boraston, Alisdair B.; Romao, Maria J.; Fontes, Carlos M. G. A.; et al. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 16 Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Prates, Jose/K-9934-2013; Correia, Marcia/D-2077-2013; Carvalho, Ana Luisa/G-5638-2011; REQUIMTE, SMB/M-5694-2013; REQUIMTE, UCIBIO/N-9846-2013 Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Prates, Jose/0000-0003-1032-5987; Correia, Marcia/0000-0003-0636-8095; Carvalho, Ana Luisa/0000-0002-3824-0240; 16

Studying the Solubility of CO2 in Ionic Liquids Using High Pressure NMR - Corvo, Marta; de Menezes, Sonia Cabral; Magalhães, Tatiana O; Seferin, Marcus; Einloft, Sandra; Casimiro, Teresa; Cabrita, Eurico J. (2011)
n/a
n/a

Switched Unfalsified Multicontroller - Costa, F.; Coito, F.; Palma, L. (Technological Innovation for Sustainability, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Molybdenum(VI) Complexes with Tris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane - Neves, Patricia; Gago, Sandra; Balula, Salete S.; Lopes, Andre D.; Valente, Anabela A.; Cunha-Silva, Luis; Almeida Paz, Filipe A.; Pillinger, Martyn; Rocha, Joao; Silva, Carlos M.; Goncalves, Isabel S. (Inorganic Chemistry, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 14 Neves, Patricia/F-6098-2011; Cunha-Silva, Luis/A-8765-2012; Balula, Salete/B-7508-2012; Lopes, Andre/E-2136-2012; Rocha, Joao/A-2486-2010; Pillinger, Martyn/H-2639-2013; Goncalves, Isabel/H-3742-2013; Caparica, cqfb_staff/H-2611-2013; Valente, Anabela/H-5922-2013; REQUIMTE, AL/H-9106-2013; Chaves, Pedro/K-1288-2013; REQUIMTE, MAT/M-4540-2013; Gago, Sandra/H-5413-2012; REQUIMTE, NSF/N-1636-2013; CIQA, CIQA/N-6549-2013; Almeida Paz, Filipe/F-3430-2010; REQUIMTE, LAQV/N-9835-2013 Cunha-Silva, Luis/0000-0001-9229-1412; Balula, Salete/0000-0002-8984-0473; Lopes, Andre/0000-0002-9702-1216; Rocha, Joao/0000-0002-0417-9402; Pillinger, Martyn/0000-0002-6243-7692; Goncalves, Isabel/0000-0002-2836-7715; Gago, Sandra/0000-0003-0221-8508; Almeida Paz, Filipe/0000-0003-2051-5645; 14

Synthesis and characterization of versatile MgO-ZrO2 mixed metal oxide nanoparticles and their applications - Gawande, Manoj B; Branco, Paula S.; Parghi, Kalpesh; Shrikhande, Janhavi J.; Pandey, Rajesh Kumar; Ghumman, C. A. A.; Bundaleski, N.; Teodoro, O. M. N. D.; Jayaram, Radha V. (CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Towards Improved Therapeutic CORMs: Understanding the Reactivity of CORM-3 with Proteins - Santos-Silva, T.; Mukhopadhyay, A.; Seixas, J. D.; Bernardes, G. J. L.; Romao, C. C.; Romao, M. J. (Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2011)
n/a
Times Cited: 13 Romao, Carlos /D-1162-2010; Romao, Maria/A-4115-2013; Mukhopadhyay, Abhik/D-2119-2013; 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, Carlos /0000-0001-5061-3743; Romao, Maria/0000-0002-3004-0543; Mukhopadhyay, Abhik/0000-0002-7755-0401; 13

Tuning PCA controllers based on manual control data - Palma, L. B.; Coito, F. V. (Emerging Technologies & Factory Automation (ETFA), 2011 IEEE 16th Conference on, 2011)
n/a
n/a

Typing Dynamic Roles in Multiparty Interaction - P. Baltazar; V. T. Vasconcelos; H. T. Vieira (Simpósio de Informática (INForum), 2011)
n/a
n/a

Unfalsification based Fault Tolerant Controller - Coito, F.; Palma, L. B. (Emerging Technologies & Factory Automation (ETFA), 2011 IEEE 16th Conference on, 2011)
n/a
n/a

{ Away from silicon era: the paper electronics } - R. Martins; Brás, B.; Ferreira, I.; L. Pereira; P. Barquinha; N. Correia; R. Costa; T. Busani; Gonçalves, A; Pimentel, A.; E. Fortunato (2011)
n/a
n/a

{Away from silicon era: the paper electronics} - R. Martins; Brás, B.; Ferreira, I.; L. Pereira; P. Barquinha; N. Correia; R. Costa; T. Busani; Gonçalves, A; Pimentel, A.; E. Fortunato (2011)
Today there is a strong interest in the scientific and industrial community concerning the use of biopolymers for electronic applications, mainly driven by low-cost and disposable applications. Adding to this interest, we must recognize the importance of the wireless auto sustained and low energy consumption electronics dream. This dream can be fulfilled by cellulose paper, the lightest and the cheapest known substrate material, as well as the Earth's major biopolymer and of tremendous global economic importance. The recent developments of oxide thin film transistors and in particular the production of paper transistors at room temperature had contributed, as a first step, for the development of disposable, low cost and flexible electronic devices. To fulfil the wireless demand, it is necessary to prove the concept of self powered devices. In the case of paper electronics, this implies demonstrating the idea of self regenerated thin film paper batteries and its integration with other electronic components. Here we demonstrate this possibility by actuating the gate of paper transistors by paper batteries. We found that when a sheet of cellulose paper is covered in both faces with thin layers of opposite electrochemical potential materials, a voltage appears between both electrodes -paper battery, which is also self-regenerated. The value of the potential depends upon the materials used for anode and cathode. An open circuit voltage of 0.5V and a short-circuit current density of 1$μ$A/cm2 were obtained in the simplest structure produced (Cu/paper/Al). For actuating the gate of the paper transistor, seven paper batteries were integrated in the same substrate in series, supplying a voltage of 3.4V. This allows proper ON/OFF control of the paper transistor. Apart from that transparent conductive oxides can be also used as cathode/anode materials allowing so the production of thin film batteries with transparent electrodes compatible with flexible, invisible, self powered and wireless electronics.
n/a

{Competências para a Tomada de Decisão na Radiologia: Uma abordagem de Avaliação de Tecnologia [Competences for decision taking in Radiology: A Technology Assessment approach]} - Maia, Maria João; António Brandão Moniz (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET/CICS.NOVA-Interdisciplinary Centre on Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2011)
We are facing an era, where pressures on health costs are extremely high, and the reforms in health system are almost constant. But over time, one factor remains unchanged – Technology continues being the sustenance of health care. Manufacturers, clinicians, patients, diagnostic and therapeutic technicians, hospital managers, government leaders, among others, either in public or private sector, are increasingly demanding in the sustained seek for information that support its decisions. Those decisions are about different types of issues: if, or how the technology can be developed, whether a technology should or should not enter the market, whether to acquire and use certain technology, and so forth. Such demand is well implied in the growth and development of Health Technology Assessment (HTA). This specialised field is commonly understood according to the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA, 2003) as an multidisciplinary analysis and decisional field, which studies the implications of clinical, social, ethical and economic development, dissemination and use of health technologies, without neglecting its political analysis (Goodman, 2004). The political decisions made based on HTA reports should be based on scientific evidence, linking efforts between the technical, economic and political dimensions, resourcing to a participatory vision, so that we can translate the best possible decision (Novaes 2006). On the other hand, the success of these decisions depends critically on the skills of the researcher to convey wisdom and confidence in applying rules of argumentation (Grunwald, 2007). In this paper we analyse the technical and methodological aspects of HTA, seen as a tool for evaluating health procedures and techniques. And we analyse the needs for skills and qualifications development of the actors involved in this process.
n/a
Keywords: competences; decision-making; Magnetic Resonance; Radiology; stakeholders; Technology Assessment

{Complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology with and on paper.} - Rodrigo Martins; Nathan, Arokia; Barros, Raquel; Pereira, Lu\'ıs; Barquinha, Pedro; Correia, Nuno; Costa, Ricardo; Ahnood, Arman; Ferreira, Isabel; Elvira Fortunato (Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), 2011)
n/a
n/a
Keywords: Carbon; Carbon: chemistry; Metals; Metals: chemistry; Nanotubes; Oxides; Oxides: chemistry; Paper; Semiconductors; Silicon; Silicon: chemistry; Temperature; Tin Compounds; Tin Compounds: chemistry

{Innovation assessment in a local branch of a rail transport manufacture industry - 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, 2011)
In the context of the revitalization of the Portuguese railway sector with the construction of the high-speed railway network, the working paper proposes an analysis of the results found from the application of an innovation scoring to the Portuguese branch of a global multinational in the railway business. The aim of this exercise is to learn on the innovation management flow between the global corporation and the local branch in Portugal. It also aims to assess the degree of local innovation multinationals generate in view of such type of mega public investments. The working paper is structured in five chapters. In chapter one introduces the innovation scoring tool, instrument of work; chapter two covers the methodology used; the chapter tree presents the case study, subject of research; chapter four presents the findings; and chapter 5 closes with concluding remarks.
n/a
Keywords: global corporation; innovation scoring; Portugal; railway sector

{Innovation scoring no sector de serviços de saúde: um estudo de caso [Innovation scoring in the sector health services: a case study]} - Maia, Maria João (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET/CICS.NOVA-Interdisciplinary Centre on Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2011)
Nowadays, innovation has been understood as an overall strategy for a company. Thus, it should remain adapted, flexible and responsive to the market changes, where the company operates. For a company to succeed in the innovation process, it should be clear about their position on this issue. There are several dynamic systems of control and management innovation. One of these systems is the Innovation Scoring, developed by COTEC Portugal, a Corporate Association for Innovation supported by the Portuguese government. The Innovation Scoring is a support tool to encourage national companies to develop innovation in a more systematic, efficient and effective way, contributing to the strategic thinking of the company, about their innovation processes. It allows a more indepth knowledge about the different dimensions that sustain innovation processes. It allows also the identification of areas with potential improvement. In order to analyse and diagnose the innovative capabilities of a real organization, have applied the Innovation Scoring survey. One of the Central Hospital in the Greater Lisbon area (Public Business Entity), and more specifically, its Imaging Department was the case studied. Innovation Scoring System is a self-diagnosis survey and therefore self-fulfilled. However, to make the results more reliable and free from bias, it was decided to adapt the application method. Thus, interviews were conducted and the responses were used to complete the questionnaire later on. In the next step, we proceed to result analysis from the point of view of the innovation at the case studied. As a final result, the Hospital Imaging Department received a weighting of 224 in 1000, for the Innovation Index, which means that the Department has much to develop and work, regarding these issues. The results should serve as a basis of motivation and strategic thinking for the Imaging Department, in relation to their innovation processes. This working paper is structured into seven ch
n/a
Keywords: Imaging Department; innovation; innovation scoring

{Inovação Disruptiva: Reflexões sobre as suas características e implicações no mercado [Disruptive innovation: Reflexions about features and market implications]} - Ana Clara Cândido (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET/CICS.NOVA-Interdisciplinary Centre on Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2011)
The study aims at discussing the challenges companies face a highly competitive market, emphasizing the implications of disruptive innovations mainly for companies established in the market. In order to understand the origin of the concept of disruptive innovation, the study also presents the results of network analysis carried out considering the following information: journals in which articles were published, the country of affiliation of the authors, keywords and year of publication. The reflections presented in the study lead us to various conclusions, among them the perception that organizations need more attention to the anticipation of new trends and scenarios in order to fend off the effects of a disruptive innovation introduced.
n/a
Keywords: Competitiveness; Disruptive Innovation; Network Analysis; Strategy; Technology Management

Designing a Technology Assessment post-graduation programme: experiences, limits and needs - António Brandão Moniz (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, IET-Research on Enterprise and Work Innovation, Faculty of Science and Technology, 2010)
The post-graduation in the field of Technology Assessment (TA) is recent and that are several and different ways to be organised. Most experiences are related with the Masters diplom level (2nd cycle of graduation in high education). Just one in PhD level is explicit in the field of TA, and some other PhD courses include also TA topics in their programme structure. In this chapter we will analyse the problems related with the design of a post-graduation (MA, MSc or PhD) programme in the field of TA using as reference some international experiences. Hereby, the main conclusion seems to address labour market needs in the specialised knowledge of TA, of technology management or technology innovation. In this sense TA should be included as “minor” into post-graduation courses which may range from engineering disciplines to social sciences. As a graduation programme it can fill an expertise gap between technicians,engineers, scientists and the strategic decision makers or policy makers.
n/a
Keywords: decision making; high education; post-graduation; Technology Assessment

Au-nanoprobes for detection of SNPs associated with antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis - Bruno Veigas; Diana Machado; João Perdigão; Isabel Portugal; Isabel Couto; Miguel Viveiros; Baptista, Pedro Viana (Nanotechnology, 2010)
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of infection in humans, causing high morbility and mortality all over the world. The rate of new cases of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) continues to increase, and since these infections are very difficult to manage, they constitute a serious health problem. In most cases, drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been related to mutations in several loci within the pathogen's genome. The development of fast, cheap and simple screening methodologies would be of paramount relevance for the early detection of these mutations, essential for the timely and effective diagnosis and management of MDRTB patients. The use of gold nanoparticles derivatized with thiol-modified oligonucleotides (Au-nanoprobes) has led to new approaches in molecular diagnostics. Based on the differential non-cross-linking aggregation of Au-nanoprobes, we were able to develop a colorimetric method for the detection of specific sequences and to apply this approach to pathogen identification and single base mutations/single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) discrimination. Here we report on the development of Au-nanoprobes for the specific identification of SNPs within the beta subunit of the RNA polymerase (rpoB locus), responsible for resistance to rifampicin in over 95% of rifampicin resistant M. tuberculosis strains.
This work was partially supported by FCT/MCTES for CIGMH; Projects PTDC/SAU-BEB/66511/2006 and PTDC/BIA-MIC/71280/2006; SFRH/BD/65060/2009 for D Machado. PTDC/FIS/74274/2006 for B Veigas.

DNA damage and metal accumulation in four tissues of feral Octopus vulgaris from two coastal areas in Portugal - Raimundo, Joana; Costa, Pedro M.; Vale, Carlos; Costa, Maria Helena; Moura, Isabel (Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2010)
The alkaline comet assay has been employed for the first time to estimate the basal DNA damage in the digestive gland, gills, kidney and gonads of Octopus vulgaris. Octopuses were captured in two coastal areas adjacent to the cities of Matosinhos (N) and Olhao (S), Portugal. The area of Matosinhos is influenced by discharges of the Douro River, city of Porto, industries and intensive agriculture, while Olhao is an important fisheries port. Previous works point to contrasting metal availability in the two coastal areas. Among the analysed tissues digestive gland presented the highest levels of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb. Tissues of specimens from Matosinhos exhibited high levels of Cd and from Olhao enhanced Pb concentrations. The DNA damages in digestive gland, gills and kidney were more accentuated in specimens from Matosinhos than from Olhao, suggesting a stronger effect of contaminants. Elevated strand breakages were registered in digestive gland, recognised for its ability to store and detoxify accumulated metals. The DNA damages in kidney, gills and gonads were lower, reflecting reduced metal accumulation or efficient detoxification. The broad variability of damages in the three tissues may also mirror tissue function, specific defences to genotoxicants and cell-cycle turnover. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Times Cited: 1

Gum Arabic coated magnetic nanoparticles with affinity ligands specific for antibodies - Batalha, Iris L; Hussain, Abid; Roque, A. C. A. (Journal of Molecular Recognition, 2010)
A novel magnetic support based on gum Arabic {(GA)} coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles {(MNP)} has been endowed with affinity properties towards immunoglobulin G {(IgG)} molecules. The success of the in situ triazine ligand synthesis was confirmed by fluorescence assays. Two synthetic ligands previously developed for binding to IgG, named as ligand 22/8 (artificial Protein A) and ligand 8/7 (artificial Protein L) were immobilized on to MNPs coated with GA {(MNP_GA).} The dimension of the particles core was not affected by the surface functionalization with GA and triazine ligands. The hydrodynamic diameters of the magnetic supports indicate that the coupling of GA leads to the formation of larger agglomerates of particles with about 1 microm, but the introduction of the triazine ligands leads to a decrease on MNPs size. The non-functionalized {MNP_GA} bound 28 mg {IgG/g}, two times less than bare MNP (60 mg {IgG/g).} {MNP_GA} modified with ligand 22/8 bound 133 mg {IgG/g} support, twice higher than the value obtained for ligand 8/7 magnetic adsorbents (65 mg/g). Supports modified with ligand 22/8 were selected to study the adsorption and the elution of IgG. The adsorption of human IgG on this support followed a Langmuir behavior with a Q(máx) of 344 mg {IgG/g} support and K(a) of 1.5 x 10(5) M. The studies on different elution conditions indicated that although the 0.05 M citrate buffer {(pH} 3) presented good recovery yields (elution 64% of bound protein), there was occurrence of iron leaching at this acidic {pH.} Therefore, a potential alternative would be to elute bound protein with a 0.05 M {glycine-NaOH} {(pH} 11) buffer.
{PMID:} 20119950
Keywords: Adsorption; Animals; Antibodies; Antibody Affinity; Ferric Compounds; Fourier Transform Infrared; gum arabic; Humans; Ligands; Magnetics; Metal Nanoparticles; Molecular Structure; Particle Size; Sepharose; Spectroscopy; Triazines

Editorial Note - António Moniz; José Miquel Cabeças (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2010)
No abstract is available for this item.
n/a

Editorial Note - António Moniz; José Miquel Cabeças (Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies, 2010)
No abstract is available for this item.
n/a

A new insight on the hypochlorous acid scavenging mechanism of tryptamine and tryptophan derivatives - Carvalho, Luisa C.; Estevao, Monica S.; Ferreira, Luisa M.; Fernandes, Eduarda; Marques, M. Manuel B. (BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Antioxidant activity of unexplored indole derivatives: Synthesis and screening - Estevao, Monica S.; Carvalho, Luisa C.; Ribeiro, Daniela; Couto, Diana; Marisa Freitas; Ana Gomes; Ferreira, LM; Fernandes, Eduarda; Marques, M. Manuel B. (EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Association of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb with protein fractions and sub-cellular partitioning in the digestive gland of Octopus vulgaris living in habitats with different metal levels - Raimundo, J.; Vale, C.; Duarte, R.; Moura, I. (Chemosphere, 2010)
Zinc Cu Cd and Pb concentrations were determined in protein fractions of digestive gland and in the whole digestive gland of Octopus vulgaris collected from two areas of the Portuguese coast Approximately 95% of Zn 99% of Cu 85-96% of Cd and 77-86% of Pb were stored in the cytosol suggesting the predominance of cytosolic proteins in the trapping these elements Gel filtration chromatography evidenced the presence of two major groups of proteins with high molecular weight (HMW 144 000-130 000 Da) and low molecular weight (LMW 11 000-6000 Da) The following metal-protein associations were found Zn was distributed between HMW and LMW Cu and Cd in LMW proteins with a minor association with HMW and Pb in HMW proteins The strong positive correlations between Cd Zn and Cu and LMW proteins point to the presence of metalloproteins with high affinity to these elements A shift was registered between the maximum of the ratio 254 280 nm and metal concentrations in the chromatographic profiles This shift may result from metallothioneins having a small participation in the metal binding or protein purification was insufficient and various LMW proteins may be interfering (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved
Times Cited: 0

An efficient non-mediated amperometric biosensor for nitrite determination - Silveira, C. M.; Gomes, S. P.; Araujo, A. N.; Montenegro, M. C.; Todorovic, S.; Viana, A. S.; Silva, R. J.; Moura, J. J.; Almeida, M. G. (Biosens Bioelectron, 2010)
In this paper we propose the construction of a new non-mediated electrochemical biosensor for nitrite determination in complex samples. The device is based on the stable and selective cytochrome c nitrite reductase (ccNiR) from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, which has both high turnover and heterogeneous electron transfer rates. In opposition to previous efforts making use of several redox mediators, in this work we exploited the capacity of ccNiR to display a direct electrochemical response when interacting with pyrolytic graphite (PG) surfaces. To enable the analytical application of such bioelectrode the protein was successfully incorporated within a porous silica glass made by the sol-gel process. In the presence of nitrite, the ccNiR/sol-gel/PG electrode promptly displays catalytic currents indicating that the entrapped ccNiR molecules are reduced via direct electron transfer. This result is noteworthy since the protein molecules are caged inside a non-conductive silica network, in the absence of any mediator species or electron relay. At optimal conditions, the minimum detectable concentration is 120 nM. The biosensor sensitivity is 430 mA M(-1) cm(-2) within a linear range of 0.25-50 microM, keeping a stable response up to two weeks. The analysis of nitrites in freshwaters using the method of standard addition was highly accurated.
1873-4235 (Electronic)0956-5663 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: *Biosensing Techniques; Cytochromes a1; Cytochromes c1; Desulfovibrio desulfuricans/enzymology; Electrochemical Techniques; Enzymes, Immobilized; Fresh Water/analysis; Nitrate Reductases; Nitrites/*analysis; Silicon Dioxide; Spectrophotometry; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis

Development of a fast and efficient ultrasonic-based strategy for DNA fragmentation - Miguel Larguinho; Santos, Hugo M.; Gonçalo Doria; H. Scholz; Baptista, Pedro V; Capelo, José L. (Talanta, 2010)
Several ultrasound-based platforms for DNA sample preparation were evaluated in terms of effective fragmentation of DNA (plasmid and genomic DNA)-ultrasonic probe, sonoreactor, ultrasonic bath and the newest Vialtweeter device. The sonoreactor showed the best efficiency of DNA fragmentation while simultaneously assuring no cross-contamination of samples, and was considered the best ultrasonic tool to achieve effective fragmentation of DNA at high-throughput and avoid sample overheating. Several operation variables were studied-ultrasonication time and amplitude, DNA concentration, sample volume and sample pre-treatment-that allowed optimisation of a sonoreactor-based strategy for effective DNA fragmentation. Optimal operating conditions to achieve DNA fragmentation were set to 100% ultrasonic amplitude, 100 μL sample volume, 8 min ultrasonic treatment (2 min/sample) for a DNA concentration of 100 μg mL-1. The proposed ultrasonication strategy can be easily implemented in any laboratory setup, providing fast, simple and reliable means for effective DNA sample preparation when fragmentation is critical for downstream molecular detection and diagnostics protocols.
We thank FCT/MCTES for financial support: project PTDC/BIO/66514/2006; PTDC/SAU-BEB/66511/2006 and CIGMH: SRFH/BD/38509/2007 for H. M. Santos; SFRH/BD/64026/2009 for Miguel Larguinho. SFRH/BDE/15544/2005 and STAB Vida, Lda for G.Doria. FCGulbenkian ref. 76436. Dr. J.L. Capelo acknowledges Xunta de Galicia (Spain) for their Parga-Pondal Research contract and Universidade de Vigo (Spain) for Project ref. 2009-INOU-15.
Keywords: DNA fragmentation; Restriction enzyme; Sample preparation; Sonoreactor; Ultrasound

Rubredoxin mutant A51C unfolding dynamics: A Forster Resonance Energy Transfer study - Santos, Andrea; Duarte, Americo G.; Fedorov, Alexander; Martinho, Jose M. G.; Moura, Isabel (Biophysical Chemistry, 2010)
The unfolding dynamics of the rubredoxin mutant A51C (RdA51C) from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (DvRd) was studied on the temperature range from 25 degrees C to 90 degrees C and by incubation at 90 degrees C. By Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) the donor (D; Trp37) to acceptor (A; 1,5-IAEDANS) distance distribution was probed at several temperatures between 25 degrees C and 90 degrees C, and incubation times at 90 degrees C. From 25 degrees C to 50 degrees C the half-width distributions values (hw) are small and the presence of a discrete D-A distance was considered. At temperatures higher than 60 degrees C broader hw values were observed reflecting the existence of a distance distribution. The protein denaturation was only achieved by heating the solution for 2 h at 90 degrees C, as probed by the increase of the D-A mean distance. From Trp fluorescence it was shown that its vicinity was maintained until similar to 70 degrees C, being the protein hydrodynamic radius invariant until 50 degrees C. However, at similar to 70 degrees C a change in the partial unfolding kinetics indicates the disruption of specific H-bonds occurring in the hydrophobic core. The red shift of 13 nm, observed on the Trp37 emission, confirms the exposition of Trp to solvent after protein incubation at 90 degrees C for 2.5 h. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Times Cited: 0

Classificação automática do sono: contribuição utilizando distância de itakura-saito e wavelets - Eduardo Cardoso (FCT-UNL, 2010)
n/a
n/a

Gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous measurement of MDMA (ecstasy) and its metabolites, MDA, HMA, and HMMA in plasma and urine - da Silva, Daniel Gomes; de Pinho, Paula Guedes; Pontes, Helena; Ferreira, Luisa; Branco, Paula; Remiao, Fernando; Carvalho, Felix; Bastos, M. Lurdes; Carmo, Helena (JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY B-ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE BIOMEDICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES, 2010)
The investigation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA: ecstasy) abuse requires very robust methods with high sensitivity and wide linearity ranges for the quantification of this drug of abuse and its main metabolites in body fluids. An optimized gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry (GC-IT/MS) methodology with electron impact ionization addressing these issues is presented. The sample preparation involves an enzymatic hydrolysis of urine and plasma for conjugate cleavage, a SPE extraction, and a derivatization process. The method was fully validated in rat plasma and urine. Linearity for a wide concentration range was achieved for MDMA, and the metabolites 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA). Limits of quantification were 2 ng/mL in plasma and 3.5 ng/mL in urine using a Selected Ion Monitoring detection mode. Selectivity, accuracy, precision, and recovery met the required criteria for the method validation. This GC-IT/MS method provides high sensitivity and adequate performance characteristics for the simultaneous quantification of MDMA, MDA, HMA and HMMA in the studied matrices. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
n/a

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 Reimão Pinto De Franca; Flores, Alcino Orfeu de Leão (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.
US2010075335; C12Q 1/ 68 A I

An NMR structural study of nickel-substituted rubredoxin - Goodfellow, B. J.; Duarte, I. C.; Macedo, A. L.; Volkman, B. F.; Nunes, S. G.; Moura, I.; Markley, J. L.; Moura, J. J. (J Biol Inorg Chem, 2010)
The Ni(II) and Zn(II) derivatives of Desulfovibrio vulgaris rubredoxin (DvRd) have been studied by NMR spectroscopy to probe the structure at the metal centre. The beta CH(2) proton pairs from the cysteines that bind the Ni(II) atom have been identified using 1D nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) difference spectra and sequence specifically assigned via NOE correlations to neighbouring protons and by comparison with the published X-ray crystal structure of a Ni(II) derivative of Clostridium pasteurianum rubredoxin. The solution structures of DvRd(Zn) and DvRd(Ni) have been determined and the paramagnetic form refined using pseudocontact shifts. The determination of the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy tensor allowed the contact and pseudocontact contributions to the observed chemical shifts to be obtained. Analysis of the pseudocontact and contact chemical shifts of the cysteine H beta protons and backbone protons close to the metal centre allowed conclusions to be drawn as to the geometry and hydrogen-bonding pattern at the metal binding site. The importance of NH-S hydrogen bonds at the metal centre for the delocalization of electron spin density is confirmed for rubredoxins and can be extrapolated to metal centres in Cu proteins: amicyanin, plastocyanin, stellacyanin, azurin and pseudoazurin.
1432-1327 (Electronic)0949-8257 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: *Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry; Clostridium/chemistry; Cysteine/chemistry; Desulfovibrio vulgaris/*chemistry; Models, Molecular; Nickel/*chemistry; Rubredoxins/*chemistry

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)
Pseudoazurins are small type 1 copper proteins that are involved in the flow of electrons between various electron donors and acceptors in the bacterial periplasm, mostly under denitrifying conditions. The previously determined structure of Paracoccus pantotrophus pseudoazurin in the oxidized form was improved to a nominal resolution of 1.4 angstrom, with R and R(free) values of 0.188 and 0.206, respectively. This high-resolution structure makes it possible to analyze the interactions between the monomers and the solvent structure in detail. Analysis of the high-resolution structure revealed the structural regions that are responsible for monomer-monomer recognition during dimer formation and for protein-protein interaction and that are important for partner recognition. The pseudoazurin structure was compared with other structures of various type 1 copper proteins and these were grouped into families according to similarities in their secondary structure; this may be useful in the annotation of copper proteins in newly sequenced genomes and in the identification of novel copper proteins.
Times Cited: 2Part 6

Implications of oxidovanadium(IV) binding to actin - Ramos, S.; Almeida, R. M.; Moura, J. J.; Aureliano, M. (J Inorg Biochem, 2010)
Oxidovanadium(IV), a cationic species (VO(2+)) of vanadium(IV), binds to several proteins, including actin. Upon titration with oxidovanadium(IV), approximately 100% quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of monomeric actin purified from rabbit skeletal muscle (G-actin) was observed, with a V(50) of 131 muM, whereas for the polymerized form of actin (F-actin) 75% of quenching was obtained and a V(50) value of 320 muM. Stern-Volmer plots were used to estimate an oxidovanadium(IV)-actin dissociation constant, with K(d) of 8.2 muM and 64.1 muM VOSO(4), for G-actin and F-actin, respectively. These studies reveal the presence of a high affinity binding site for oxidovanadium(IV) in actin, producing local conformational changes near the tryptophans most accessible to water in the three-dimensional structure of actin. The actin conformational changes, also confirmed by (1)H NMR, are accompanied by changes in G-actin hydrophobic surface, but not in F-actin. The (1)H NMR spectra of G-actin treated with oxidovanadium(IV) clearly indicates changes in the resonances ascribed to methyl group and aliphatic regions as well as to aromatics and peptide-bond amide region. In parallel, it was verified that oxidovanadium(IV) prevents the G-actin polymerization into F-actin. In the 0-200 muM range, VOSO(4) inhibits 40% of the extent of polymerization with an IC(50) of 15.1 muM, whereas 500 muM VOSO(4) totally suppresses actin polymerization. The data strongly suggest that oxidovanadium(IV) binds to actin at specific binding sites preventing actin polymerization. By affecting actin structure and function, oxidovanadium(IV) might be responsible for many cellular effects described for vanadium.
1873-3344 (Electronic)0162-0134 (Linking)Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Keywords: Actins/*chemistry/metabolism; Adenosine Triphosphate/chemistry/metabolism; Animals; Binding Sites; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Kinetics; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism; Polymerization; Rabbits; Vanadates/*chemistry/*metabolism; Vanadium/*chemistry/metabolism

Relations between mercury, methyl-mercury and selenium in tissues of Octopus vulgaris from the Portuguese Coast - Raimundo, Joana; Vale, Carlos; Canario, Joao; Branco, Vasco; Moura, Isabel (Environmental Pollution, 2010)
Mercury, methyl-mercury (MeHg) and selenium were determined in digestive gland and mantle of Octopus vulgaris, from three areas of the Portuguese coast. To our knowledge these are the first data on MeHg in cephalopods. Concentrations were higher in the digestive gland and percentage of MeHg in mantle. Enhanced Hg and MeHg levels were obtained in digestive gland of specimens from Olhao (3.1-7.4 and 2.0-5.0 mu g g(-1) respectively). Differences between areas may be partially related to Hg availability. Relationships between concentrations in mantle and digestive gland pointed to proportional increases of Hg and MeHg in tissues of specimens from Matosinhos and Cascais, but relatively constant values in mantle of individuals from Olhao (higher contamination). Se:Hg molar ratio in digestive gland was 32 and 30 in octopus from Matosinhos and Cascais, respectively, and 5.4 from Olhao. The proximity to the unit suggests demethylation as response to elevated MeHg levels in digestive gland. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Times Cited: 1Si

Use of cyclodextrins as scavengers of inhibitory photo-products in light controlled in vitro synthesis of RNA - Vidal Pinheiro, André; João Conde; Parola, António Jorge; Lima, João Carlos; Baptista, Pedro Viana (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 μM [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 β-cyclodextrins allowed the assessment of its capability to remove free coumarin molecules from solution. The influence of β-cyclodextrin in transcription reaction was also assessed. Results show that β-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.
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.
Keywords: Caged nucleotides; Coumarin; Cyclodextrin; In vitro transcription; RNA

Recovery of lupanine from Lupinus albus L. leaching waters - Carmali, Sheiliza; Alves, Vitor D.; Coelhoso, Isabel M.; Ferreira, Luisa M.; Lourenco, Ana M. (SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, 2010)
n/a
n/a