Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-12"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 385
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Originalidades no moderno colonial português em África: Um estudo tectónicoPublication . CARROLA GOMES, JOÃO; Mendes, Pedro António Martins; Almeida, Paulo Manuel dos Santos Pereira deA designação Moderno Colonial Português em África confrontou-nos com uma “alegação” de especificidade da Arquitectura Moderna produzida e projectada nos territórios em causa e dita “livre”, relativamente à Arquitectura Moderna também ali produzida no mesmo período, mas projectada a partir da Metrópole e apodada de “vinculada”. A diferenciação sugere uma eventual gradação na “sujeição” à ideologia do Estado Novo, presumindo que, nas ex-Colónias, ela fosse menor e, portanto, a atitude criativa mais aberta e inovadora. Face às características do Movimento Moderno, sobretudo na sua vertente Internacional e dada a conhecida qualidade de autores e métodos de trabalho envolvidos, a dúvida pareceu-nos legítima. O seu esclarecimento é o objecto desta investigação, no âmbito da qual pretendemos compreender o edificado em causa, em ambas as circunstâncias referidas. Uma vez que o Moderno colonial é já objecto de vasta produção historiográfica, para nós, o exercício faria mais sentido se baseado em critérios intrínsecos ao próprio acto de projectar Arquitectura. Assim, com base no conceito de Tectónica procedemos à desconstrução de um conjunto de casos concretos, representativos da alegada dualidade, de modo a compreender as eventuais diferenças. Foi, primeiro, necessário definir, justificar e operacionalizar um referencial teórico com base no qual procedemos à dita desconstrução, para avaliar de que modo o dito referencial está presente nas Arquitecturas em causa. Um trabalho que nos permitiu concluir que a alegada distinção não tem razão de ser. Simultaneamente, esboça-se uma reflexão sobre os desafios decorrentes da crise climática e da escassez de recursos. Desafios que, num quadro de soluções tecnológicas, como a Inteligência Artificial, que confrontam a Arquitectura com a obsolescência de muitos dos métodos actuais, tornam urgente, para lá de raciocínios de eficácia e produtividade, preservar a essência do acto arquitectónico. A generalização de uma Cultura Tectónica de projecto, é, parece-nos, o caminho a seguir.
- Interiorização das universidades : política pública de ensino superior e migração de docentes e investigadores no Estado de Pernambuco-BRPublication . Medeiros de Melo, Maria das Neves; Malheiros, Jorge da Silva Macaísta; Fusco, WilsonEsta tese investiga a política pública de interiorização das universidades no estado de Pernambuco observada a partir do fenômeno da migração qualificada de professores, com foco nas instituições públicas de ensino superior. O questionamento central da investigação é relacionado neste contexto ao papel da migração de docentes e da ação destes, enquanto catalisadores e promotores do papel das universidades no desenvolvimento regional e quais os limites a esta atuação. A pesquisa adota uma metodologia mista, combinando análise documental, levantamento bibliográfico e pesquisa de campo. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com professores e gestores das universidades, além de visitas a nove campi de instituições públicas de ensino superior em cinco cidades do interior pernambucano: Petrolina, Serra Talhada, Garanhuns, Caruaru e Vitória de Santo Antão. O desenvolvimento teórico desta investigação sustenta-se nas discussões sobre a relação entre universidades e desenvolvimento regional, destacando a formação de capital humano e a transferência de conhecimento como motores para o crescimento local. A tese aborda os desafios estruturais enfrentados por universidades em áreas menos desenvolvidas, especialmente no que tange à fixação de docentes. Os resultados indicam que a interiorização das universidades, embora tenha ampliado o acesso ao ensino superior e gerado transformações econômicas, ainda enfrenta obstáculos significativos. A falta de infraestrutura adequada, tanto nas instituições quanto nas cidades receptoras, dificulta a retenção de professores, comprometendo o pleno potencial das universidades como agentes de desenvolvimento regional. Além disso, observa-se que a rotatividade docente é mais acentuada nas instituições estaduais, onde as condições de trabalho são mais precárias. Conclui-se que, para que as universidades interiorizadas contribuam de forma sustentável para o desenvolvimento regional, é necessária uma maior articulação entre as políticas de educação, desenvolvimento local e infraestrutura, garantindo condições favoráveis para a fixação de docentes e a integração das instituições com as comunidades locais.
- Mass Timber Buildings: The associated risks of rainwater exposure during construction in the Portuguese climatePublication . Lima, Daniel F.; Duarte, Sónia; Branco, Jorge M.; Nunes, LinaThe increase in the number and complexity of wooden buildings creates a series of challenges, like moisture control and management during the construction phase. The risks associated with the direct exposure of timber elements to rain during construction depend on the severity of the climate and the specific details of each project and therefore must be analysed locally. In this context, the results of 16 weeks of moisture content monitorization of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) floor-wall connection specimens exposed to the outdoors are presented and evaluated. The monitorization demonstrated that end-grain surfaces are the most sensitive to the action and movement of water in CLT and within a few days of exposure to rain reached alarming moisture content (MC>30 %), with water entrapment at the interface between elements, preventing drying in a reasonable time for construction workflow (MC>30 % after 39 days of drying). On the other hand, zones with faster drying exhibited severe physical damage such as delamination and cracks. Additionally, the study evaluates the feasibility of using satellite-obtained meteorological data to develop a degradation risk map (Scheffer Climate Index) for mainland Portugal. The high coefficient of determination (R2 ≥ 0.81) and model efficiency (EF ~ 0.80–0.90) demonstrate the reliability of the data. Finally, two degradation risk maps for mainland Portugal are presented.
- Pacto de não concorrência e desvinculação unilateral do empregadorPublication . Vasconcelos, JoanaO lapso temporal que, com frequência, decorre entre a estipulação do pacto de não concorrência e a produção dos seus efeitos principais pode reduzir a sua utilidade para o empregador e o interesse deste na sua manutenção, a qual implica, em regra, o pagamento da quantia atribuída ao trabalhador. É neste contexto que surge a questão da admissibilidade da desvinculação unilateral do empregador, com base numa prerrogativa concedida pelo próprio pacto de não concorrência. Submetida em mais de uma ocasião aos nossos tribunais, e com frequência versada na nossa doutrina, a questão tem obtido resposta maioritariamente negativa, com base num vasto e variado elenco de motivos, que justificam uma análise mais detida.
- A compensação de antiguidade do trabalhador-administrador : punição fiscalPublication . Nascimento, André Pestana; Caldas, António CastroNão raras vezes, no decurso da sua relação laboral, os trabalhadores são chamados a ocupar cargos de administração no seio das respetivas entidades empregadoras. Mas o exercício destas funções pode trazer-lhes um forte dissabor no momento da cessação do contrato de trabalho, por força daquele que tem sido o entendimento da Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira acerca das regras de tributação previstas no artigo 2.º, n.º 4 do CIRS. Neste artigo, propomos demonstrar a ausência de fundamento da interpretação proposta por esta Autoridade e a inconsistência dos resultados que daí advêm.
- SPECTRE: Standardised Global Spatial Data on Terrestrial SPecies and ECosystems ThREatsPublication . Branco, Vasco V.; Capinha, César; Rocha, Jorge; Correia, Luís; Cardoso, PedroMotivation SPECTRE is an open-source database containing standardised spatial data on global environmental and anthropogenic variables that are potential threats to terrestrial species and ecosystems. Its goal is to allow users to swiftly access spatial data on multiple threats at a resolution of 30-arc seconds for all terrestrial areas. Following the standard set by Worldclim, these data allow full comparability and ease of use under common statistical frameworks for global change studies, species distribution modelling, threat assessments, quantification of ecosystem services and disturbance, among multiple other uses. A web user interface, a persistent online repository and an accompanying R package with functions for downloading and manipulating data are provided. Main Types of Variable Contained SPECTRE is a GIS product, currently with 21 geoTiff raster layers with an approximate 1 × 1 km resolution. Spatial Location and Grain Global (longitude −180–180, latitude −60–90) terrestrial database with a resolution of 30-arc seconds (approximately 1 × 1 km at the equator), converted from global sources of different original spatial grain, from 0.03 × 0.03to 10 × 10 km. Time Period and Grain The known time period for all sources present in SPECTRE varies from 1976 to 2020 (all but three after 1990), with a minimum temporal grain of 1 year. Major Taxa and Level of Measurement Non-taxa-specific. Software Format geoTiff and R.
- The impact of player transfers on european football clubs stock prices : an event study analysisPublication . Garcia, Maria Teresa; Raimundo, Tiago Miguel BatistaThis paper examines how player transfers influence the stock prices of publicly traded football clubs through an event study approach. The analysis focus on five prominent European teams—Manchester United, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Olympique Lyon, and Ajax—focusing on 230 player transactions that occurred between 2018 and 2023. The study assesses abnormal returns (AR) and cumulative abnormal returns (CAR) within a 10-day event window, encompassing five days prior to and following the announcements of transfers. Findings indicate that high-value transfers typically result in positive abnormal returns, which reflect investor optimism regarding the new player's potential impact on the team's success. In contrast, sales and loans of players tend to elicit negative reactions from the market, indicating concerns about possible adverse effects on team performance. These results support the Efficient Market Hypothesis by demonstrating that stock prices quickly adjust to new information such as player transfers. This research adds to the expanding literature at the intersection of sports events and financial markets, providing valuable insights for clubs operating in capital markets and investors aiming to understand the dynamics of football markets.
- Expanding the toolbox of four-membered rings to study Serine hydrolasesPublication . Félix, Rita; Moreira, Rui Ferreira Alves; Afonso, Carlos Alberto Mateus; Schofield, Christopher JosephSerine hydrolases comprise nearly 1% of all proteins in mammalian cells and play vital roles in relevant pathologies such as cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE), a serine hydrolase expressed in polymorphonuclear neutrophiles, is present in the tumour microenvironment and recent studies have shown it promotes tumour proliferation and metastasis. The role of HNE in the tumour microenvironment strongly suggests that this enzyme is an important therapeutic target for cancer therapy, and it has also the potential to be used as a biomarker. Thus, is of utmost importance to develop chemical tools capable of rigorously analyse the expression of HNE in tissues. This project was designed to address this goal by preparing activity-based probes (ABPs) that react covalently with the enzyme target through a reactive chemical group (also defined as warhead). By incorporating different tags, ABPs can be used for detection by fluorescence or protein separation for proteomic studies. In particular, we focused on quenched activity-based probes (qABPs). These are also called Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes, in which the activation by the enzymatic machinery increases the quencher and fluorophore distance enormously and produces an intensiometric readout useful to develop “turn-on” sensors. In the present work novel qABPs with different “turn-on” mechanisms were designed and synthesised, and the ability of the probes to detect and target HNE in biological media was also analysed. Using two different strategies, we started by optimising a synthetic strategy to obtain a series of qABPs using a β-lactam ring as a warhead that promotes the release of the quencher through a suicide-type mechanism of activation. The photophysical properties of these compounds were evaluated and the fluorescence quantum yield was calculated before and after activation. In general, the probes presented low fluorescence that increases significantly after activation. All qABPs showed displayed IC50 against HNE lower than 0.5 µM. The probes were incubated with proteomes of two different cell lines that were spiked with HNE to simulate an overexpression and type II probes could selectively target HNE even when the concentration of the spiked was decreased. Moreover, the probe that presented the best photophysical and biological properties was incubated with human neutrophils, and it was possible to observe that the probe was internalized into the cells and showed a fluorescence signal, probably by reaction with HNE. While the structural requirements for acylation and sulfonylation of catalytic amino acid residues by four-membered ring probes, phosphonylation remains largely unexplored. The second part of this thesis reports the efforts to develop ABPs based on phospholactam warheads. Four-membered phospholactams proved to be extremely challenging from a synthetic point-of-view, suggesting that these probes would be too reactive to develop useful ABPs. In contrast, we were able to synthesise a γ-phospholactam probe containing a “clickable” alkyne handle for chemical biology applications. This compound will be further tested against serine hydrolases to understand the potency and selectivity. Also, crystallographic studies will be performed to elucidate the phosphonylation of PPE by a γ-phospholactam. In summary, this thesis reports the synthesis of novel qABPs with different activation mechanisms, different quenchers, fluorophores, and linkers. Analysis of the fluorescence properties and the selectivity observed in-gel experiments showed that the synthesised compounds have excellent potential to detect HNE in biological matrices and to understand the role of this target in the tumour microenvironment. Moreover, we also report the synthesis of completely novel probes using as a warhead a phospholactam ring.
- The diazotrophic bacteria Azospirillum baldaniorum and A. brasilense improve wheat seedlings' nitrogen budget through ammonia scavengingPublication . Dias, Teresa; Azmaliyev, Kamran; Melo, Juliana; Santos, Ana Margarida; Correia, Patrícia; Cruz, CristinaBesides N2 fixation, we consider that other diazotrophic traits can be explored to increase plants' nitrogen (N) budget. Here, we report initial results of the capacity of the diazotrophic plant growth promoting rhizobacteria Azospirillum baldaniorum and A. brasilense to improve wheat seedlings' N budget through ammonia (NH3) scavenging. We inoculated wheat seedlings with two Azospirillum strains (A. baldaniorum Sp245 and A. brasilense ARG2) and determined its effect on plant biomass, N content and N isotopic signatures (i.e., δ15N). Furthermore, using bipartite Petri dishes, we grew the Azospirillum strains under increasingly alkaline conditions (from pH 7.5 to 10.0), which created a gradient of atmospheric NH3 concentrations ([NH3]), and we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants to explore the involvement of the AMT/MEP/Rh proteins in atmospheric NH3 scavenging. Wheat seedlings inoculated with A. baldaniorum Sp245 and A. brasilense ARG2 increased their N content by 65 and 94 % (respectively), and their negative N isotopic signatures (around −10 ‰, which contrasted with positive signatures in control plants) were compatible with NH3 transport through AMT/MEP/Rh transporters, but not with N2 fixation. Furthermore, increasing the atmospheric [NH3] stimulated the growth rate of the Azospirillum strains up to 5-fold in relation to ambient atmospheric [NH3], showing that both Azospirillum strains scavenged the atmospheric NH3 and used it to grow. Our data clearly show that: i) NH3 scavenging by A. baldaniorum Sp245 and A. brasilense ARG2 is involved in increasing plant's N budget; and ii) NH3 transport through AMT/MEP/Rh protein family transporters is involved in microbial NH3 scavenging. This overlooked microbial trait can be an interesting tool to mitigate atmospheric [NH3], especially in farming environments.
- Risco de adoecimento e indenização por dano moralPublication . Mallet, EstêvãoO artigo examina os pressupostos para o surgimento da obrigação de indenizar, concentrando-se, particularmente, na existência de dano, para afastar a configuração dessa obrigação no caso de dano meramente hipotético. Trata, a seguir, da indenização do dano moral, considerando indenizável apenas aquele que se mostre relevante. Por fim, examina-se a indenizabilidade ou não do dano relacionado com o receio de contrair-se alguma doença, à luz da jurisprudência brasileira e estrangeira.