University of Coimbra

About: University of Coimbra is a education organization based out in Coimbra, Portugal. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 14318 authors who have published 43067 publications receiving 994733 citations. The organization is also known as: UC & Universidade dos Estudos Gerais.

A defined Oct4 level governs cell state transitions of pluripotency entry and differentiation into all embryonic lineages

Abstract: Using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) expressing controlled levels of Oct4 (a master transcription factor for pluripotency and reprogramming), Silva and colleagues show that although ESC levels of Oct4 are needed for pluripotency entry, Oct4 levels can decrease once pluripotency is established, without affecting self-renewal. However, ESC levels of Oct4 are required for differentiation to all lineages, as cells with low levels of Oct4 during differentiation remain in a naive pluripotent state.

Seismic vulnerability and risk assessment: case study of the historic city centre of Coimbra, Portugal

Abstract: Seismic risk evaluation of built-up areas involves analysis of the level of earthquake hazard of the region, building vulnerability and exposure. Within this approach that defines seismic risk, building vulnerability assessment assumes great importance, not only because of the obvious physical consequences in the eventual occurrence of a seismic event, but also because it is the one of the few potential aspects in which engineering research can intervene. In fact, rigorous vulnerability assessment of existing buildings and the implementation of appropriate retrofitting solutions can help to reduce the levels of physical damage, loss of life and the economic impact of future seismic events. Vulnerability studies of urban centres should be developed with the aim of identifying building fragilities and reducing seismic risk. As part of the rehabilitation of the historic city centre of Coimbra, a complete identification and inspection survey of old masonry buildings has been carried out. The main purpose of this research is to discuss vulnerability assessment methodologies, particularly those of the first level, through the proposal and development of a method previously used to determine the level of vulnerability, in the assessment of physical damage and its relationship with seismic intensity. Also presented and discussed are the strategy and proposed methodology adopted for the vulnerability assessment, damage and loss scenarios for the city centre of Coimbra, Portugal, using a GIS mapping application.

De lo sólido a lo líquido: Las nuevas alfabetizaciones ante los cambios culturales de la Web 2.0

Abstract: En este articulo se propone un modelo de nuevas alfabetizaciones para la formacion de la ciudadania de la sociedad digital. Usando la metafora de Baumman se hace referencia a la oposicion entre la cultura «solida» predominante en los siglos XIX y XX con la cultura de la informacion «liquida» en la que la Web 2.0 tiene efectos muy relevantes sobre multiples planos de nuestra cultura actual. En un primer momento, se examinan las principales caracteristicas de la Web 2.0 definiendola en relacion a seis grandes dimensiones o planos que se entrecruzan y son simultaneos: la Web 2.0 como la biblioteca universal, como mercado global, como un puzzle gigante de hipertextos, como una plaza publica de comunicacion e interaccion social, como un territorio de expresion multimedia y audiovisual, y como multiples entornos virtuales interactivos. En una segunda parte, se propone un modelo teorico de la alfabetizacion del ciudadano ante esta cultura digital que consta de dos ejes o planos basicos: el primero referido a los ambitos o dimensiones de la alfabetizacion, y el segundo a las competencias de aprendizaje (instrumentales, cognitivo-intelectuales, sociocomunicacionales, emocionales y axiologicas) a desarrollar en los sujetos. Por ultimo, se defiende que las nuevas alfabetizaciones son un derecho de los individuos y una condicion necesaria para un desarrollo social y democratico de la sociedad en el siglo XXI.

Measurements of Higgs boson production and couplings in the four-lepton channel in pp collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Abstract: The final ATLAS Run 1 measurements of Higgs boson production and couplings in the decay channel H -> ZZ* -> l(+)l(-)l(+)l'(-), where l, l' = e or mu, are presented. These measurements were performed using pp collision data corresponding to integrated luminosities of 4.5 and 20.3 fb(-1) at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, respectively, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The H -> ZZ* -> 4l signal is observed with a significance of 8.1 standard deviations, with an expectation of 6.2 standard deviations, at m(H) = 125.36 GeV, the combined ATLAS measurement of the Higgs boson mass from the H -> gamma gamma and H -> ZZ* -> 4l channels. The production rate relative to the Standard Model expectation, the signal strength, is measured in four different production categories in the H -> ZZ* -> 4l channel. The measured signal strength, at this mass, and with all categories combined, is 1.44(-0.33)(+0.40). The signal strength for Higgs boson production in gluon fusion or in association with (tt) over bar or (bb) over bar pairs is found to be 1.7(-0.4)(+0.5), while the signal strength for vector-boson fusion combined with WH/ZH associated production is found to be 0.3(-0.9)(+1.6).