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 & Mitochondrion. The organization has 14318 authors who have published 43067 publications receiving 994733 citations. The organization is also known as: UC & Universidade dos Estudos Gerais.

Cognitive radio: survey on communication protocols, spectrum decision issues, and future research directions

Abstract: Currently, the radio spectrum is statically allocated and divided between licensed and unlicensed frequencies. Due to this inflexible policy, some frequency bands are growing in scarcity, while large portions of the entire radio spectrum remain unused independently of time and location. Cognitive Radio is a recent network paradigm that aims a more flexible and efficient usage of the radio spectrum. Basically, it allows wireless devices to opportunistically access portions of the entire radio spectrum without causing any harmful interference to licensed users. The present document surveys the literature on Cognitive Radio. It aims to provide a comprehensive and self-contained description of this research topic area, mainly focusing on communication protocols, spectrum decision issues, and future research directions. It is a tutorial in nature and consequently does not require any previous knowledge about Cognitive Radio. Readers are only required to have some general background on wireless data networks. Emphasis is put on Cognitive Radio genesis, issues that must be addressed, related technologies, standardization efforts, the state of the art, and future research directions according to the vision of the authors.

Determination of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in hospital and municipal wastewaters in Coimbra by liquid chromatography with a monolithic column and fluorescence detection.

Abstract: The main goal of this work was determination of residues of the antibiotics ofloxacin (OFLO), norfloxacin (NOR), ciprofloxacin (CIPRO), and enrofloxacin (ENRO) in wastewater samples. The samples, after acidification to pH 4.5 and addition of EDTA, were extracted on an anion-exchange cartridge in tandem with an Oasis HLB cartridge. The LC–FD method, developed in previous studies, was based on application of a monolithic C18 column. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method was 250 ng L−1 for OFLO, 25 ng L−1 for NOR and CIPRO, and 50 ng L−1 for ENRO. Mean recovery ranged between 75 and 121% for OFLO, NOR, CIPRO, and ENRO. A total of 14 wastewater samples were analyzed; these were collected from four hospitals and from influent and effluent from a wastewater-treatment plant in Coimbra, Portugal, during spring and autumn. CIPRO was present in all the samples, NOR was detected second most often, followed by OFLO. ENRO was found at concentrations under the LOQ in five hospital samples, and the highest level was found in influent from the WWTP.

Oral controlled-release dosage forms. I. Cellulose ether polymers in hydrophilic matrices

Abstract: An appropriately designed controlled-release drug delivery system can be a major advance towarb solving problems concerning the targeting of a drug to a specific organ or tissue and controlling the...