Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-03-12"
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- Pre-hospital ultrasonography screening for biliary disease in remote settingsPublication . Miravent, Sérgio; Cármen Jimenez; Manuel Lobo; Figueiredo, Teresa; Almeida, RuiScreening ultrasound, including Point of Care Ultrasonography (POCUS), is widely utilized for rapid clinical guidance in diverse healthcare settings. In this case report, a 34-year-old male with recurrent biliary colic symptoms underwent a Basic Emergency Service ultrasound, revealing a 13 mm gallbladder calculus and signs of inflammation, and was promptly referred to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Medical specialist confirmation at the hospital underscored the significance of early detection through POCUS. Despite inconclusive laboratory results, the detailed ultrasound assessment provided a comprehensive understanding, emphasizing the tool's value in averting complications. Thus, screening ultrasound played a pivotal role in justifying the hospital referral, showcasing its vital role in healthcare, especially in resource-limited settings. The judicious use of POCUS can lead to superior outcomes, avoiding unnecessary referrals for non-emergent cases.
- Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of indigenous wine yeastsPublication . Sobral, Sónia Isabel Amador; Soares, Margaret Bento; Faleiro, Maria LeonorKiller yeasts represent a very interesting part of microbiology, they are yeasts that can produce toxins that kill sensitive strains. They have various mechanisms of action such as: damaging the cell wall, permeabilising the cell membrane, disrupting the cell cycle and fragmenting RNA. This phenotype was first described in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but various studies have shown that it extends to several other yeast species, and they can be present in various ecosystems such as soil, plants, animals or vineyards. Since killer yeasts are present in wine, indigenous yeasts from must have been studied for their antimicrobial capabilities, which could have various applications in terms of biocontrol, potential substitutes for commonly used antimicrobial agents. Moreover, in the winemaking, these yeasts could be substitutes for sulphites, which are commonly used to inhibit spoilage yeasts like Pichia guilliermondii that can negatively affect the wine’s aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel. This study focused on screening and identifying killer yeasts from wine must isolates. Mestchnikowia pulcherrima, a yeast with a killer phenotype, stood out among the isolates under study. It exhibits a killer phenotype not through conventional toxins but via a pigment known as pulcherrimin, which targets strains reliant on iron for survival. It was possible to identify two proteins that are involved in the killer phenotype, the Ski3 and Ski8 proteins., that are part of a protein complex that promotes the degradation of mRNA, thus interfering with the cell cycle of sensitive microorganisms. The results of this study highlight the potential of killer yeasts as new, natural antimicrobial agents that can be used to improve wine fermentation and preservation as well as protect wine from spoilage organisms. Furthermore, this research highlights their potential to treat pathogenic microorganisms, resistant to antimicrobial agents, suggesting a more natural, healthy, and sustainable strategy in the context of basic medicine.
- Sustentabilidade energética em infraestruturas aeroportuáriasPublication . Domingos, Anselmo Luís; Oliveira, Luís Manuel deO presente relatório de estágio documenta o trabalho desenvolvido na ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, focando-se no desenvolvimento de um sistema de painéis fotovoltaicos adaptado ao diagrama de carga do Aeroporto Gago Coutinho. O objetivo deste modelo visa otimizar a produção de energia ao longo do dia, sem comprometer de forma significativa o pico de produção. Foram utilizados sistemas computacionais, como o PVGIS e o SAM, além de um sistema de teste experimental, para realizar simulações que quantificam a produção de energia fotovoltaica. Os dados foram processados em MATLAB para calcular a variação da produção de energia em diferentes cenários e identificar as respetivas relações causa-efeito. Durante o estágio, foi também acompanhada a substituição de lâmpadas convencionais por tecnologia LED, com o intuito de aumentar a eficiência energética e reduzir os custos operacionais. Este processo envolveu a seleção de tecnologias adequadas, promovendo a sustentabilidade nas instalações do aeroporto. Outro projeto relevante foi a remodelação de um posto de transformação, que incluiu a escolha de novas tecnologias para substituir equipamentos, bem como a definição da sua disposição, considerando a expansão das infraestruturas do edifício. Esse trabalho colaborativo visou melhorar a eficiência e funcionalidade das instalações. Além disso, o relatório aborda a participação no programa AFIF, cujo objetivo é a substituição de equipamentos movidos a combustíveis fosseis por alternativas elétricas, em alinhamento com as políticas de descarbonização da União Europeia. As implementações bem-sucedidas desses projetos representam um passo importante em direção à sustentabilidade ambiental e energética dos aeroportos portugueses, contribuindo para um futuro mais sustentável.
- Tracking major changes in wildfire regimes during MIS 12 and MIS 16 in the western Iberian PeninsulaPublication . Schlüter, Anni Henrike; Daniau, Anne-Laure; Veiga-Pires, CristinaGlobal warming and a predicted unprecedented increase in CO2 by 2100 underscore the urgent need for an enhanced understanding of the climate system. Accelerated global warming is impacting ice sheet melting and intensifying climate hazards, particularly in vulnerable regions. Transitional periods between glacial and interglacial states, including glacial terminations, have historically seen rapid temperature and CO2 increases every 100 kyr, accompanied by abrupt climate shifts occurring over millennial to century scales. The main objective of this master project is to document changes in biomass burning and wildfire regimes during glacial periods (Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 16 and 12) in the western Iberian Peninsula and explore its relationship with vegetation type and climate conditions obtained in the framework of the Hydroshifts project (PTDC/CTA-CLI/4297/2021). These periods offer a unique opportunity to understand the non-linear behaviour of the climate system, serving as valuable benchmarks for testing the forecasted climate. Through microcharcoal analysis, variations of fire regimes during dry (glacial) was determined and compared with vegetation data, obtained by other researchers in the framework of the Hydroshifts project. The main findings showed that under drier (colder) conditions as modulated by orbital factors and AMOC shut-down during MIS 12 increased fire activity is stronger associated with semi-desert vegetation. During wetter conditions as found in MIS 16 due to higher amplitude of precession and AF position further north, fire activity was lower and more associated with heathland vegetation. Albeit both being strong glacials, these differences in relative wetness can be attributed to the strength of the Atlantic meriodional overturning circulation (AMOC) and its influence on the location of the Arctic Front (AF) which modulates the climate on the western-Iberian Peninsula and leads to different fire activity behaviour.