Moretto, SM, Moniz AB, Robinson D.
2015.
Visions on high-speed trains: a methodological analysis, WPS05/2015. :27., Monte de Caparica: IET Working Papers Series
AbstractFuture Oriented Technology Analysis (FTA) has been visible in railway planning since 2001. Over a dozen reports have been produced in the past thirteen years, the majority being descriptive endogenous technocentric visions. They have played a role in the revitalization of the sector, predominantly relating to collective alignments and interdependencies in choice and form of the technological path the various stakeholders’ follow to achieve policy goals. A striking example is the case of ERRAC visions, where strategic agendas and roadmaps greatly impacted the high-speed train technology transition from the second to the third generation of vehicles. However, today’s socio-economic events have revealed the limitations of previously applied FTA fall short for railways. In particular, there is an inability to bridge technocentric visions with the societal challenges that are becoming increasingly prominent on the policy agenda. To fill this FTA-need in railways it is here proposed a role for constructive technology assessment as bridging function towards achieving success in the transition to a next generation of high-speed trains. The findings here presented result from the analysis of reports and interviews with their commissioning institutions and drafters.
Mendo, {AS}, Figueiredo S, Roma-Rodrigues C, Videira {PA }, Ma Z, Diniz M, Larguinho M, Costa PM, Lima {JC }, Pombeiro {AJL }, Baptista {PV}, Fernandes {AR}.
2015.
Characterization of antiproliferative potential and biological targets of a copper compound containing 4'-phenyl terpyridine, sep. JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry. 20:935–948., Number 6: Springer
AbstractSeveral copper complexes have been assessed as anti-tumor agents against cancer cells. In this work, a copper compound [Cu(H2O){OS(CH3)(2)}L](NO3)(2) incorporating the ligand 4'-phenyl-terpyridine antiproliferative activity against human colorectal, hepatocellular carcinomas and breast adenocarcinoma cell lines was determined, demonstrating high cytotoxicity. The compound is able to induce apoptosis and a slight delay in cancer cell cycle progression, probably by its interaction with DNA and induction of double-strand pDNA cleavage, which is enhanced by oxidative mechanisms. Moreover, proteomic studies indicate that the compound induces alterations in proteins involved in cytoskeleton maintenance, cell cycle progression and apoptosis, corroborating its antiproliferative potential.
Martins, P, Jesus J, Santos S, Raposo {LR }, Roma-Rodrigues C, Baptista {PMRV}, de Fernandes {MANCR}.
2015.
Heterocyclic anticancer compounds: Recent advances and the paradigm shift towards the use of nanomedicine's tool Box, sep. Molecules. 20:16852–16891., Number 9: MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
AbstractThe majority of heterocycle compounds and typically common heterocycle fragments present in most pharmaceuticals currently marketed, alongside with their intrinsic versatility and unique physicochemical properties, have poised them as true cornerstones of medicinal chemistry. Apart from the already marketed drugs, there are many other being investigated for their promising activity against several malignancies. In particular, anticancer research has been capitalizing on the intrinsic versatility and dynamic core scaffold of these compounds. Nevertheless, as for any other promising anticancer drugs, heterocyclic compounds do not come without shortcomings. In this review, we provide for a concise overview of heterocyclic active compounds and families and their main applications in medicine. We shall focus on those suitable for cancer therapy while simultaneously addressing main biochemical modes of action, biological targets, structure-activity relationships as well as intrinsic limitation issues in the use of these compounds. Finally, considering the advent of nanotechnology for effective selective targeting of drugs, we shall discuss fundamental aspects and considerations on nanovectorization of such compounds that may improve pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of heterocycles.
De Schutter, A, Correia HD, Freire DM, Rivas MG, Rizzi A, Santos-Silva T, González PJ, Van Doorslaer S.
2015.
Ligand Binding to Chlorite Dismutase from Magnetospirillum sp, October. The journal of physical chemistry. B. 119:13859—13869., Number 43
Abstractn/a
Rodrigues, J, Mata D, Pimentel A, Nunes D, Martins R, Fortunato E, Neves AJ, Monteiro T, Costa FM.
2015.
{One-step synthesis of ZnO decorated CNT buckypaper composites and their optical and electrical properties}, may. Materials Science and Engineering: B. 195:38–44.
Abstractn/a
Veigas, B, Fortunato E, Baptista {PV }.
2015.
Mobile based gold nanoprobe TB diagnostics for point-of-need, jan. Mobile Health Technologies: Methods and Protocols. Part 1(
Rasooly, {Avraham }, Herold, {Keith E. }, Eds.).:41–56., United States: Humana Press
AbstractNanotechnology based diagnostics has provided improved tools for pathogen detection and sensitive and specific characterization of antibiotic resistance signatures. Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) and, according to the World Health Organization, is one of the most serious infectious diseases in the world. Recent advances in molecular diagnostics of TB have improved both the detection time and sensitivity but they still require specialized technical personnel and cumbersome laboratory equipment. Diagnostics at point-of-need is crucial to TB control as it may provide rapid identification of pathogen together with the resistance profile of TB strains, originated from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in different loci , allowing for a more accurate indication of the adequate therapy.Gold nanoparticles have been widely used in molecular diagnostics platforms. Here, we describe the use of gold nanoprobes (oligonucleotide functionalized gold nanoparticles) to be used in a non-crosslinking colorimetric method for the direct detection of specific DNA targets. Due to the remarkable optical properties of gold nanoparticles, this detection system provides colorimetric detection of the pathogen together with the potential of identification of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involved in TB resistance to antibiotics. For point-of-need use, we adapted this strategy to a low-cost mobile scheme using a paper based revelation platform and where the spectral signature is transposed to RGB data via a smartphone device. This way, identification of pathogen and characterization of resistance signatures is achieved at point-of-need.
Pavan, M, Rühle S, Ginsburg A, Keller DA, Barad H-N, Sberna PM, Nunes D, Martins R, Anderson AY, Zaban A, Fortunato E.
2015.
{TiO2/Cu2O all-oxide heterojunction solar cells produced by spray pyrolysis}, jan. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 132:549–556.
AbstractHere we present for the first time a TiO2/Cu2O all-oxide heterojunction solar cell entirely produced by spray pyrolysis onto fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) covered glass substrates, using silver as a back contact. A combinatorial approach was chosen to investigate the impact of the TiO2 window layer and the Cu2O light absorber thicknesses. We observe an open circuit voltage up to 350mV and a short circuit current density which is strongly dependent of the Cu2O thickness, reaching a maximum of {\~{}}0.4mA/cm2. Optical investigation reveals that a thickness of 300nm spray pyrolysis deposited Cu2O is sufficient to absorb most photons with an energy above the symmetry allowed optical transition of 2.5eV, indicating that the low current densities are caused by strong recombination in the absorber that consists of small Cu2O grains.
Restani, {RB }, Conde J, Pires {RF }, Martins P, Fernandes {AR}, Baptista {PV}, Bonifacio {VDB }, Aguiar-Ricardo A.
2015.
POxylated Polyurea Dendrimers: Smart Core-Shell Vectors with IC50 Lowering Capacity, aug. Macromolecular Bioscience. 15:1045–1051., Number 8: WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
AbstractThe design and preparation of highly efficient drug delivery platforms using green methodologies is at the forefront of nanotherapeutics research. POxylated polyurea dendrimers are efficiently synthesized using a supercritical-assisted polymerization in carbon dioxide. These fluorescent, pH-responsive and water-soluble core-shell smart nanocarriers show low toxicity in terms of cell viability and absence of glutathione depletion, two of the major side effect limitations of current vectors. The materials are also found to act as good transfection agents, through a mechanism involving an endosomal pathway, being able to reduce 100-fold the IC50 of paclitaxel.