Repositório RCAAP

Atendendo a que o ensino do Pensamento Crítico é um objectivo a atingir no quadro do ensino das ciências, delineou-se o presente estudo com a finalidade de construir e avaliar materiais curriculares que promovam nos alunos capacidades de Pensamento Critico, passíveis de serem usados em contexto de sala de aula, concretamente na disciplina de ciências da natureza do 2° Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Para a concepção dos referidos materiais curriculares, para se ter a certeza que estes efectivamente apelavam a capacidades de Pensamento Critico, adoptou-se como quadro teórico a definição de Pensamento Crítico de Ennis e o trabalho de investigação realizado por Tenreiro Vieira (1994). Dos materiais curriculares desenvolvidos fazem parte integrante uma história, um manual do professor e um manual para o aluno. Optou-se por este formato tendo por base o programa Filosofia para Crianças de Mathew Lipman, pois tendo em consideração a idade a quem os materiais se destinam, pensa-se que é uma forma diferente e mais interessante de abordar conteúdos aliados à promoção de capacidades de Pensamento Crítico. Através da história criaram-se actividades de discussão e de questionamento que apelam a conhecimentos de ciências da natureza - 5° Ano e a capacidades de Pensamento Crítico. Para a aplicação dos materiais curriculares escolheu-se alunos de uma turma do 5° Ano de escolaridade e a professora que leccionava a disciplina de Ciências da Natureza à referida turma. A investigação foi de natureza qualitativa. Os dados recolhidos através de vários instrumentos e técnicas permitiram verificar que os alunos ao utilizarem os materiais curriculares manifestavam o uso de capacidades de Pensamento Crítico. Para tal análise conceberam-se instrumentos próprios. Após o trabalho desenvolvido conclui-se que, efectivamente, os alunos manifestaram o uso de capacidades de Pensamento Critico durante a aplicação dos materiais curriculares. Salienta-se que, construir materiais curriculares que apelem a capacidades de Pensamento Critico não é tarefa fácil, mas é sem dúvida gratificante investir nesta área. Este trabalho é um pequeno contributo para os professores que pretendam promover capacidades de pensamento Critico nos alunos, numa área em que ainda há muito para fazer e espera-se que futuras investigações lhe dêem continuidade.

O sofrimento é uma constante na vida das pessoas com doença hemato-oncológica, pelas representações sociais ligadas à doença, pela incerteza na trajetória da doença, bem como pelos efeitos secundários inerentes ao tratamento medicamentoso. Perante estes sobreviventes a intervenção de enfermagem decorre do diagnóstico de enfermagem que permite assegurar cuidados que visam minimizar o sofrimento. Os enfermeiros despendem muito tempo na administração de protocolos terapêuticos e na sua vigilância. Estes cuidados repetem-se ao longo do dia em interações de proximidade podendo ter potencial terapêutico se forem desenvolvidos com intencionalidade e respeito pela individualidade do doente. Pretendemos avaliar o resultado da “administração de quimioterapia como intervenção de enfermagem individualizada” no alívio do sofrimento da pessoa adulta internada com doença hemato-oncológica. Utilizamos um desenho multimétodo, seguindo os estádios da estrutura metodológica para investigar intervenções complexas. Os participantes dos estudos foram os enfermeiros e doentes internados. Decorrente do estudo exploratório (estudo 1) e descritivo (estudo 2) identificaram as atividades de enfermagem desenvolvidas para aliviar o sofrimento e a perceção dos enfermeiros sobre cuidados individualizados. Em seguida foram criadas condições formativas para a implementação da intervenção modulada num estudo quasi-experimental (estudo 3). Como medidas do resultado da intervenção desenhada utilizamos o Inventario das Experiências Subjetivas do Sofrimento na Doença, o Termómetro do Distress e a Escala visual da Dor. Verificamos que independentemente do momento de avaliação (pré e pós – interação) o sofrimento, distress e a dor foram mais baixos no grupo experimental do que no grupo controle. A intervenção individualizada de enfermagem na administração de quimioterapia antineoplásica condiciona positivamente a diminuição do sofrimento. Os dados apurados permitem sublinhar a importância de o cuidado de enfermagem ser intencional, centrado na pessoa, com respeito pela sua individualidade e autonomia. Concluímos também que as utilizações de métodos mistos de investigação otimizaram a compreensão dos componentes da intervenção.

The main goal of this work was the analysis and interpretation of experimental data obtained for the reaction (p,pn) of the one neutron halo nucleus 15C on a proton target. The measurement, performed at the GSI laboratory, was part of an experimental campaign (Experiment S393) of the R3B collaboration and the first step towards the measurement of fully exclusive reaction cross sections on exotic nuclei. The so-called halo nuclei are of high interest as they consist of bound nuclei characterized by one or more valence nucleons orbiting at larger distances from a core. These are novel quantum systems appearing at the limits of the dripline. Furthermore, halo nuclei are characterized by low separation energies, resulting in very narrow momentum distributions of the core in nucleon knockout reactions at relativistic energies. One neutron-halo nucleus of particularly high interest is 15C, which has a neutron separation energy of Sn = 1.218 MeV. Ground state and spectroscopic information have been extracted experimentally from Coulomb dissociation studies resulting in a consistent picture with a dominant (14C(0+) x 2s1/2) configuration. Momentum distributions of the core extracted from single neutron knockout reactions exhibited a width of 67 MeV/c, consistent with larger separation energy and the same dominant configuration. However, calculations failed to reproduce the tail of the measured momentum distributions. The momentum distributions are inclusive measurements and thus it is desirable to measure exclusive observables which incorporate more physics information. The Faddeev/AGS formalism is a non-relativistic three-body multiple scattering framework that treats equally all opening channels (elastic, breakup and transfer) and has been used to assess the validity of approximations considered in traditional scattering frameworks. This has highlighted that traditional reaction approaches may not be adequate to study the nuclei under consideration. It was also successfully applied to the study of reactions involving halo nuclei as well as light/medium nuclear systems. The 15C case, due to its dominant ground state configuration of 14C core in its ground state and a s-wave valence neutron (14C(0+) x 2s1/2), constitutes a very suitable case to apply the Fadeev/AGS reaction formalism to the study of the 15C.

Population declines of sea turtles worldwide, driven by overhunting, habitat loss, and other anthropogenic factors have made these animals a global conservation priority. Sea turtle species are particularly susceptible to anthropogenic and natural disturbances due to their complex life traits: female homing and migration, migrations of juveniles and males that remain poorly known, and a strong climatic influence on resources, breeding success and clucth sexratio. São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, hosts at least four species of sea turtles, for three of which life-history traits, reproductive behavior and dispersal were assessed for this study: the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the most abundant species, the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), which is considered the most threatened population in the Atlantic (both species common to both islands), and the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), which only occurs in São Tomé island. In this study I integrated various tools and techniques, including site-based monitoring (e.g. on nesting beaches or foraging areas), genetic analyses for both adult and juvenile populations, mark-recapture studies, dispersal simulations as well as stable isotopes analysis, which complemented each other in the assessment of the conservation of each species in the archipelago, including little understood groups such as juveniles and males. Specifically, I showed that São Tomé island hosts important foraging areas that offer a variety of food sources for green turtle juveniles, which are recruited directly from this rookery. For the olive ridley turtle, I characterized the reproductive behavior of the adult population using paternal assessments and showed that males are important mediators of gene flow in this genetically depressed population. Finally, I conducted the first full characterization of spatial and temporal characterization of hawksbill nesting in the archipelago, identifying the key nesting habitats and assessing the levels of human impact that they are exposed to. Overall, the results of this study highlight the high vulnerability of the three species studied in light of limited dispersal, high genetic distinctiveness and exposure to threats.

Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common autosomal recessive disease in Caucasians, is a multi-organ disease, affecting the epithelial tissues in the lungs, sweat glands, pancreas, intestine, liver and in the male reproductive tract. CF is caused by mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes a Cl- channel expressed at the apical membrane of epithelial cells. Besides the CFTR genotype, other factors influence the heterogeneity of CF lung disease, including environmental and socioeconomic factors and genetic modifiers. Understanding the genetic modifiers will help to unveil their role in disease progression and identify novel therapeutic targets. Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β1, besides being a gene modifier of CF lung disease in F508del homozygous patients, has been shown to interfere with the modulators-based functional rescue of F508del-CFTR. Lemur tyrosine kinase 2 (LMTK2), which mediates the inhibitory phosphorylation of CFTR and protein phosphatase 1 catalytic subunit (PP1c), has also been suggested to play a role in CF. This project aims to establish a relation between LMTK2 and the TGF-β1 signaling pathway and understand the role of the interaction in the CF airway. Here, we first observed that TGF-β1 increases LMTK2 abundance at the apical membrane of CFBE41o- cells by increasing Rab11-dependent LMTK2 recycling. Next, we unveiled for the first time that LMTK2 mediates activation of the TGF-β1 signaling pathway. Indeed, TGF-β1 induced the LMTK2-mediated inhibitory phosphorylation of PP1c-Thr320 to promote the activation of its canonical signaling pathway. At last, we increased the knowledge by identifying the LMTK2 networks of genes, proteins, and signaling pathways and elucidated novel molecular and cellular mechanisms of the LMTK2 function in human airway epithelial cells. Our studies may lead to novel therapeutic targets blocking abnormal TGF-β1 signaling, thereby improving the modulators-based functional rescue of CFTR bearing F508del, the most common CF-causing mutation.

A monitorização vestigial de contaminantes e substâncias de abuso emergentes em matrizes ambientais e biológicas é uma tarefa de grande relevância na sociedade contemporânea, exigindo sempre uma etapa de ‘preparação da amostra’ prévia à análise instrumental. Neste contexto, são recorrentemente adotadas técnicas de microextração que promovam o enriquecimento dos analitos alvo por forma a incrementar a sensibilidade e a seletividade das metodologias analíticas. As técnicas de microextração estática têm vindo a adquirir notoriedade, uma vez que, para além de apresentarem bom desempenho e custo-benefício adequado, contemplam ainda os princípios da Química Analítica Verde. A técnica de microextração adsortiva em barra (BAμE), em particular, destaca-se das demais, uma vez permitir selecionar a melhor fase sorvente para determinada aplicação, apresentar elevada simplicidade e robustez, para além de comprovada eficácia no enriquecimento de classes de compostos com diferentes propriedades físico-químicas em diversos tipos de matrizes. A presente dissertação propõe metodologias analíticas inovadoras baseadas em BAμE para a monitorização vestigial de contaminantes (ex., produtos farmacêuticos e de higiene pessoal, etc.), bem como de substâncias de abuso (ex., canabinóides sintéticos, etc.) emergentes em matrizes ambientais (ex., água estuarina, etc.) e biológicas (ex., urina, etc.). Durante o desenvolvimento, foram introduzidos diversos avanços por forma a melhorar o desempenho analítico da técnica, em particular com recurso a novos materiais sorventes (ex., hidrocarbonizados porosos, etc.) para revestimento dos dispositivos, assim como a introdução de uma nova configuração experimental, a BAμE de alto rendimento (HT-BAμE). Esta abordagem inovadora possibilita, de forma simples e conveniente, a microextração e subsequente retroextração de até 100 amostras em simultâneo. Globalmente, os resultados demonstraram que as metodologias propostas são simples, amigas do ambiente e com custobenefício vantajoso. As inovações propostas evidenciaram grande abrangência, versatilidade, eficiência e robustez, sendo alternativas inequívocas sempre que as aplicações exijam tomadas de decisão rápidas.

Plant extracts have been used as alternatives to the conventional chemical water treatment. Moringa oleifera Lam. is one of the plants used for this purpose due to its antimicrobial and coagulant properties. However, there is no systematization of Moringa’s application methodology. Different parts of the plant, extraction methods and concentrations can be applied to remove several pathogens present in contaminated drinking water. In the present work, reported Moringa applications with antimicrobial effect were systematically reviewed, in order to identify effective methodology(ies) for water treatment. Forty-nine articles were screened for: (1) part of the plant used, (2) extraction method, (3) extract concentration, (4) targeted pathogens, and (5) inhibition zone obtained. Nine articles complied with these criteria and were carefully analyzed; eight of them reported on leaf extracts and only one on seed extracts. Two approaches were used: analysis by pathogen and overall analysis. A total of eight different extraction methods were reported. Extract concentrations used ranged from 0.02 to 800 mg mL−1 and were tested on twenty pathogens. Our analysis revealed that none of such methods is effective against all the tested pathogens. However, leaf extracts obtained with distilled water or with 95% ethanol were the most effective ones for a higher number of pathogens such as Escherichia coli and, possibly, Vibrio cholerae. Moreover, Moringa’s extract concentration of 30 mg mL−1 obtained by the 95% ethanol extraction method was the most efficient. Findings suggest an effective procedure to use Moringa, reinforcing its importance as an environmentally friendly alternative for water treatment in areas lacking a water supply system.

A field survey in Guinea-Bissau revealed the present uses of Moringa and the knowledge of rural populations about its properties in thisWest African country. Also, a market survey in Bissau assessed the moringa products traded there. The species is planted all over the country,mainly as a living fence in homegardens. The leaves are the most commonly used part of the plant, primarily as food and in traditional medicine. The seeds are used to treat a few ailments. Only in recent years began the seeds and ground dried leaves to be traded in the markets and the local knowledge on the medicinal and dietary properties of moringa to increase. However, many of the uses reported in other parts of Africa remain unknown or undocumented in Guinea-Bissau.Much further potential use and dissemination of the qualities of this plant seem possible in the country.

No presente trabalho estudaram-se as potencialidades catalíticas de materiais de carbono em reacções de interesse industrial. Os materiais de carbono usados foram, um carvão comercial o GL-50 da Norit e um carvão mesoporoso preparado a partir de moldes de sílica mesoporosa SBA-15, usando sacarose como precursor, CMK-3. Foram efectuados tratamentos oxidativos ao carvão comercial com o objectivo de modificar a química superficial dos materiais. A deposição de platina, em ambos os materiais, de modo a adequá-los à utilização catalítica realizou-se por dois métodos, impregnação e permuta iónica. Os carvões, GL-50 e CMK-3, foram caracterizados texturalmente por adsorção de N2 a -196 ºC e a sua química superficial foi estudada por determinação do pH no ponto de carga zero, pHPZC. Quantificou-se ainda o seu conteúdo de platina por análise química e avaliou-se a localização das partículas metálicas e a sua dispersão por TEM. Os ensaios catalíticos foram realizados para a reacção de hidrogenação do tolueno à temperatura de 110 ºC e na reacção de hidroisomerização do n-decano a diferentes temperaturas. Ambas as reacções se realizaram à pressão atmosférica num reactor dinâmico de leito fixo e os produtos de reacção analisados por cromatografia gasosa. Os carvões testados demonstraram possuir algumas potencialidades catalíticas, quer como suportes quer como catalisadores bi-funcionais.

The realization that human activities have a major influence on ecosystems from local to global scales has given rise to the concept of the Anthropocene. However, although the influence of human activities on biodiversity is clearly significant, it remains unclear to what extent the rate and magnitude of biodiversity changes differ from pre-human dynamics. Islands are ideal model systems for understanding the relative contribution of environmental and societal variables to biodiversity change because the onset of human activities on islands can generally be clearly defined. The aim of this PhD thesis is to place human-environment interactions on islands in the context of environmental fluctuations over the Quaternary. The thesis consists of two parts. First, I quantify how island area and isolation have changed over the Quaternary as a result of climate-driven sea-level fluctuations, and analyse how these dynamics have shaped modern biodiversity patterns. Secondly, I study how human activities in the past and present have shaped island ecosystems and landscapes, and compare their rate and magnitude to pre-human dynamics. Overall, the findings of my thesis indicate that modern biodiversity patterns show legacies of past human activities but are also imprinted by environmental dynamics in deep-time. Furthermore, the rate of change following human settlement on islands can largely exceed Quaternary background rates. Therefore, my findings are in line with studies that indicate that human activities have become a major driver in shaping biodiversity across scales. Nonetheless, my comparison of islands worldwide also highlights the diverse ways in which abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic variables have interacted across individual islands. Therefore, future studies should acknowledge that global biodiversity change can manifest differently across localities. Finally, I emphasize the importance of strengthening interdisciplinary approaches in island biogeography to enhance our understanding of biodiversity changes in the Anthropocene, and how they relate to deeptime dynamics.

O estudo em curso tem como pretensão compreender de que forma as culturas juvenis urbanas foram sendo integradas na escola visionada e no meio envolvente, através da arte de graffitar, Esta investigação é um estudo de caso de carácter qualitativo e de teor interpretativo, centrado numa escola multicultural do Município do Seixal. Foram desenvolvidas entrevistas semi-estruturadas, abertas, longas e realizadas individualmente a alunos graffiters da escola em estudo e a dois responsáveis pela comunidade escolar (Presidente e antigo Presidente do Conselho Executivo). Foram realizadas, ainda, entrevistas a dois elementos do Departamento de Juventude do Município e a um graffiter profissional do Concelho. Assim, com o objectivo de compreender as culturas juvenis urbanas que se expressam pelo graffiti e subsequentemente, a identidade dos jovens graffiters, salienta-se, a definição de espaços de intervenção por parte dos grupos-alvo, bem como a avaliação do grau de integração dos graffitis na escola e no meio. Os resultados apurados revelaram que as culturas juvenis urbanas sofrem influências de bairros periféricos das grandes cidades e grupos de amigos. Estes jovens vêem-se como pessoas comuns, pacíficas, com características próprias, cultivando um espírito inovador, criativo, no qual a liberdade de expressão é importante, mas, no entanto, afirmando os seus próprios códigos de honra e hierarquias nas suas representações. A instituição escolar e o Município consideram que a permissão de graffitar em espaços pré-definidos, ganha estatuto na preservação e no embelezamento dos mesmos. Ambas as instituições fazem uma avaliação positiva das estratégias encontradas, o interagir e o integrar nos seus espaços esta arte de rua, face aos resultados positivos que têm obtido. Esta aceitação (aparente por parte das instituições, segundo a óptica de alguns graffiters) desvirtua o carácter rebelde e provocador que caracteriza o graffiti.

The main focus of this PhD thesis is the study of minors of Toeplitz, Hankel and Toeplitz±Hankel matrices. These can be expressed as matrix models over the classical Lie groups G(N) = U(N); Sp(2N);O(2N);O(2N + 1), with the insertion of irreducible characters associated to each of the groups. In order to approach this topic, we consider matrices generated by formal power series in terms of symmetric functions. We exploit these connections to obtain several relations between the models over the different groups G(N), and to investigate some of their structural properties. We compute explicitly several objects of interest, including a variety of matrix models, evaluations of certain skew Schur polynomials, partition functions and Wilson loops of G(N) Chern-Simons theory on S3, and fermion quantum models with matrix degrees of freedom. We also explore the connection with orthogonal polynomials, and study the large N behaviour of the average of a characteristic polynomial in the Laguerre Unitary Ensemble by means of the associated Riemann-Hilbert problem. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through its LisMath scholarship PD/BD/113627/2015, which made this work possible.

Este estudo tem como finalidade conhecer as culturas profissionais dos professores em relação ao computador e à sua utilização em sala de aula. Pretende-se, por um lado, conhecer as percepções dos professores sobre a utilização pedagógica do computador e, analisar as relações entre as percepções e as suas práticas. A metodologia adoptada é de natureza qualitativa e interpretativa. Para o estudo tomámos quatro grupos de análise constituídos por professores e desenvolvidos a partir do conhecimento que tínhamos da sua formação na utilização do computador e das suas escolhas na sala de aula, numa escola que participou no Projecto Minerva e, presentemente, colabora no Projecto Nónio. Os grupos foram organizados da seguinte forma: a) aqueles que após formação no Projecto Minerva continuam hoje a utilizar o computador como um instrumento pedagógico preferido nas suas práticas; b) os professores que tendo realizado algumas experiências em sala de aula desistiram posteriormente dessa prática; c) um grupo que se interessou pela formação mas nunca utilizou; finalmente d) um último grupo de professores que nem realizou formação neste âmbito, nem o utilizam. Foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos de trabalho: entrevistas semi-estruturadas, observação de aulas aos professores utilizadores e uma reflexão por escrito sobre a temática da entrevista a todos os docentes. Como principais resultados do estudo são apontados que: l) as percepções manifestadas por estes professores parecem ser evidenciadas em campos que não se contradizem e que indicam que a formação que frequentaram contribuiu para a importância da utilização do computador na sala de aula; 2) manifestam a necessidade do professor sentir que controla aquilo que se passa dentro da sala de aula com uma margem grande de segurança tanto no que diz respeito aos alunos como ao equipamento; 3) lidar com o imprevisto e a necessidade de em qualquer momento ter de o ultrapassar, conjugado com poucos conhecimentos que possuem na área da Informática, parece ser algo que assusta os professores não utilizadores do computador em sala de aula; 4) estes professores referem ainda as percepções de que a utilização do computador envolve alterações nas suas práticas, e, a necessidade de repensar essas práticas para poder utilizar este artefacto, envolveria um desgaste de tempo que j á não estão habituados a contabilizar; 5) os professores não utilizadores privilegiam, sobretudo a segurança relativamente às actividades que desenvolvem, e às rotinas bem delineadas que usam, ano após ano no decurso das suas práticas lectivas. Só com uma mudança na perspectiva do que é ser professor no sentido de não sentir necessidade de segurança total na sala de aula, e, a construção de um novo papel onde este possa ser mais dinamizador das actividades propostas aos alunos, bem como um desenvolvimento na capacidade de lidar com o imprevisto de modo a que isso não constitua um impedimento à inovação no ensino com a utilização do computador.

In this thesis, we study smooth representations of algebra groups, involutive algebra groups and unit groups of split basic algebras. We prove that every smooth irreducible representation of such a group is induced by a smooth representation of dimension one, which correspond to a continuous character of a subgroup of the same type. We also prove results about admissibility and unitarisability. This work generalises work of C. André and Z. Halasi who proved similar results in the case of finite fields, and is based on a method introduced by M. Boyarchenko for the case of algebra groups over local non-Archimedean fields.

The goal of this thesis is the extension of a construction of a supercharacter theory (first established for finite groups) to the context of infinite countable discrete groups, namely, for amenable countable discrete algebra groups. By an algebra group we mean a group of the form G = 1+A where A is an associative nil algebra over a field K, which generalize the group Un(K) consisting of all unipotent uppertriangular n_n-matrices over K. We may think about a supercharacter theory for a finite group as an approximation of the usual irreducible character theory, and it as been proved to provide a rich alternative to deal with the group representation theory. The success of supercharacter theories for finite groups motivates its generalization to infinite countable discrete groups, since there is a well defined character theory for these groups. We develop a standard supercharacter theory that simultaneously extends the standard finite supercharacter theory, and allows us to deal with different types of algebra groups (depending on the the characteristic of K and on the K-dimension of A) for which “typical” approaches do not work. Our supercharacter theory translates into an ergodic framework, where supercharacters are defined by certain ergodic measures on the Pontryagin dual group of the abelian additive group A+. This identification makes possible to present, not only integral expressions (over orbital closures) for supercharacter values, but also canonical unitary representations affording supercharacters. We pay special attention to algebra groups realized as direct limits of finite algebra groups, which are locally nilpotent groups. For these groups, there is an innermost relationship with the finite standard supercharacter theory. Furthermore, our supercharacter theory establishes a link between the usual methods used when dealing either with nilpotent discrete groups or direct limits of finite groups. This is exemplified with the two infinite unitriangular groups of positive characteristic: the unitriangular group Un(F) over an algebraic closed field of prime characteristic, and the locally finite unitriangular group U∞(Fq) over a finite field.

All optical fields that we encounter in nature or in the laboratory have random fluctuations. Although light emerging from lasers can be considered as “well-behaved” electromagnetic fields, that is certainly not the case of natural sources such as stars. Thus, they must be treated statistically using the theory of coherence, in particular, second-order statistics. The Mutual Coherence Function (MCF) and the Cross-Spectral Density Function (CSDF) are central quantities in the space-time and space-frequency domains, respectively, in the theory of coherence. Both quantities are connected through a Fourier transform. Moreover, all second order-optical quantities can be extracted from these central functions, for example, the intensity distribution and the spectral degree of coherence. Since, in general, the MCF and the CSDF change throughout propagation, all second-order optical quantities, such as the spectral density, also change throughout propagation. When the far-field normalized spectrum of light changes due to source correlations, we say that coherenceinduced spectral changes occurred. This is known as the Wolf effect and it is the driving force of this dissertation. In this thesis, we have investigated the use of heterogeneous computing for the propagation of partially coherent light, namely, the propagation of the CSDF. The main goal was to reduce the computation time. By defining the CSDF at the source plane, the software built is able to propagate the CSDF and retrieve second-order optical quantities such as the spectral density and the spectral degree of coherence. The implementation of this software was then used to perform numerical simulations of the propagation of the far-field normalized spectrum of planar sources. The main goal was to evaluate the presence of the Wolf effect in specific source models. The results obtained suggest that the far-field spectrum of source models, which do not have analytical solutions, can be computed using our implementation. We next designed to first-order a conceptual space-based instrument, named Solar Coherence Instrument (SCI), capable of performing spatial coherence measurements of individual solar granular cells (granules), present in the photosphere of the Sun. Two digital micromirror devices, which are reflective-type spatial light modulator, form the basis of our design. A signal-to-noise ratio estimation (> 102) was performed and the results point to the feasibility of such instrument. We then validated experimentally two crucial subsystems of SCI, namely, the subsystems responsible for selective imaging of a single solar granule and another responsible for spatial coherence measurements. In both cases, two experiments were designed and constructed, and the results obtained are presented and discussed. By comparing the spatial coherence measurement results with those expected from the van Cittert-Zernike theorem, we have obtained a good agreement, suggesting that such configuration is possible.

Speech processing can be disturbed by primary brain tumors (PBT). Improvement of presurgical planning techniques decrease neurological morbidity associated to tumor resection during awake craniotomy. The aims of this work were: 1. To perform Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging based tractography (DKI-tract) in the detection of brain tracts involved in language; 2. To investigate which factors contribute to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) maps in predicting eloquent language regional reorganization; 3. To determine the technical aspects of accelerometric (ACC) recording of speech during surgery. DKI-tracts were streamlined using a 1.5T magnetic resonance scanner. Number of tracts and fiber pathways were compared between DKI and standard Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) in healthy subjects (HS) and PBT patients. fMRI data were acquired using task-specific and resting-state paradigms during language and motor tasks. After testing intraoperative fMRI’s influence on direct cortical stimulation (DCS) number of stimuli, graph-theory measures were extracted and analyzed. Regarding speech recording, ACC signals were recorded after evaluating neck positions and filter bandwidths. To test this method, language disturbances were recorded in patients with dysphonia and after applying DCS in the inferior frontal gyrus. In contrast, HS reaction time was recorded during speech execution. DKI-tract showed increased number of arcuate fascicle tracts in PBT patients. Lower spurious tracts were identified with DKI-tract. Intraoperative fMRI and DCS showed similar stimuli in comparison with DCS alone. Increased local centrality accompanied language ipsilateral and contralateral reorganization. ACC recordings showed minor artifact contamination when placed at the suprasternal notch using a 20-200 Hz filter bandwidth. Patients with dysphonia showed decreased amplitude and frequency in comparison with HS. ACC detected an additional 11% disturbances after DCS, and a shortening of latency within the presence of a loud stimuli during speech execution. This work improved current knowledge on presurgical planning techniques based on brain structural and functional neuroimaging connectivity, and speech recording

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the most valuable non-climacteric fruit crops worldwide and is susceptible to several pathogens. Powdery Mildew (PM) is one of the most widespread diseases and is caused by the biotrophic fungus Erysiphe necator. This pathogen relies on the host metabolism to complete its life cycle. PM can affect all green tissues, such as leaves and green berries, frequently resulting in a negative effect on grape production. Despite the several studies performed so far, the mechanisms behind grapevine defense are very complex, and responses against PM remain unclear in infected fruits. In order to study the mechanisms involved in grape berries response to PM infection in the early stages of ripening, naturally infected and control grapes from ‘Carignan’ variety were collected at green (EL33) and véraison (EL35) stages and metabolic, transcriptomic and hormonal changes upon PM infection were analyzed. Results demonstrated that PM-susceptible grape berries were able to induce defense mechanisms and accumulate defense-associated metabolites, such as resveratrol, catechins, gallic acid, and long-chain saturated fatty acids, which could be explored as markers of infection at earlier ripening stages on field conditions. Induction of defenses was also previously observed in leaves, but certain responses seem to be organ-specific, such as the reprogramming of fatty acid metabolism and isoprenoid biosynthesis. This study was the first to quantify jasmonates’ levels in PM infected berries suggesting an involvement of specific jasmonates in response to PM. These growth regulators are classically associated with response to necrotrophic fungi. Some LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES (LOB) domain (LBD) and GRAS genes were responsive to powdery mildew and/ or modulated at véraison stage. LBD constitute a family of plant-specific transcription factors with important roles in several plant processes. In this work, a genome-wide analysis was performed to identify and map the LBD genes in the grapevine genome. Fifty LBD genes were identified and grouped in two classes. Expression profiling suggests the involvement of LBD transcription factors in grapevine development, berry ripening and stress responses. GRAS transcription factor family has also been reported as involved in multiple processes; however, their role in fruit ripening is poorly studied. Tomato SlGRAS10 and its grapevine ortholog VviPAT6 were previously suggested as putative regulators of fruit ripening in both climacteric and non-climacteric plants. In this work, preliminary studies and targeted mutagenesis using CRISPR-Cas9 technology were developed in order to study the role of SlGRAS10 in fruit ripening.

The current scientific environment has experimentalists and system administrators allocating large amounts of time for data access, parsing and gathering as well as instrument management. This is a growing challenge since there is an increasing number of large collaborations with significant amount of instrument resources, remote instrumentation sites and continuously improved and upgraded scientific instruments. DAQBroker is a new software designed to monitor networks of scientific instruments while also providing simple data access methods for any user. Data can be stored in one or several local or remote databases running on any of the most popular relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle). It also provides the necessary tools for creating and editing the metadata associated with different instruments, perform data manipulation and generate events based on instrument measurements, regardless of the user’s know-how of individual instruments. Time series stored in a DAQBroker database also benefit from several statistical methods for time series classification, comparison and event detection as well as multivariate time series analysis methods to determine the most statistically relevant time series, rank the most influential time series and also determine the periods of most activity during specific experimental periods. This thesis presents the architecture behind the framework, assesses the performance under controlled conditions and presents a use-case under the CLOUD experiment at CERN, Switzerland. The univariate and multivariate time series statistical methods applied to this framework are also studied.

A presente dissertação inscrita nas áreas dos estudos da Linguagem dos Jovens versa a análise de textos de hip-hop alemão dos grupos Fünf Sterne Deluxe e Die Fantastischen Vier enquanto evidências de um novo paradigma cultural de importância crescente no espaço europeu. Após caracterização do hip-hop como paradigma cultural/musical de índole globalizante, a análise cognitiva, focalizada nos enquadramentos poéticos e culturais, envereda quer pela desconstrução das imagens metafóricas, quer pela segmentação das construções híbridas alemão inglês. Em última análise, o trabalho visa determinar posturas textuais e culturais emblemáticas deste movimento cultural no contexto alemão e aquilatar, de algum modo, o alcance destes desenvolvimentos no quadro das correntes do hip-hop internacional, descortinável a partir da análise das imagens metafóricas em metáforas criativas, convencionalizadas e de hipertexto.