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Abstract The NA60 experiment has studied low-mass muon pair production in proton–nucleus collisions with a system of Be, Cu, In, W, Pb and U targets, using a 400 GeV proton beam at the CERN SPS. The transverse momentum spectra of the $$\rho /\omega $$ ρ/ω and $$\phi $$ ϕ mesons are measured in the full $$p_{\mathrm {T}}$$ pT range accessible, from $$p_{\mathrm {T}}= 0$$ pT=0 up to $$2 \, {\hbox {GeV/c}}$$ 2GeV/c . The nuclear dependence of the production cross sections of the $$\eta $$ η , $$\omega $$ ω and $$\phi $$ ϕ mesons has been found to be consistent with the power law $$\sigma _{\mathrm {pA}} \propto {\mathrm {A}}^\alpha $$ σpA∝Aα , with the $$\alpha $$ α parameter increasing as a function of $$p_{\mathrm {T}}$$ pT for all the particles, and an approximate hierarchy $$\alpha _\eta \approx \alpha _\phi > \alpha _\omega $$ αη≈αϕ>αω . The cross section ratios $$\sigma _\eta /\sigma _\omega $$ ση/σω , $$\sigma _\rho /\sigma _\omega $$ σρ/σω and $$\sigma _\phi /\sigma _\omega $$ σϕ/σω have been studied as a function of the size A of the production target, and an increase of the $$\eta $$ η and $$\phi $$ ϕ yields relative to the $$\omega $$ ω is observed from p–Be to p–U collisions.

Abstract Clostridioides difficile causes a wide range of intestinal diseases through the action of two main cytotoxins, TcdA and TcdB. Ingested spores germinate in the intestine establishing a population of cells that produce toxins and spores. The pathogenicity locus, PaLoc, comprises several genes, including those coding for TcdA/B, for the holin-like TcdE protein, and for TcdR, an auto-regulatory RNA polymerase sigma factor essential for tcdA/B and tcdE expression. Here we show that tcdR, tcdA, tcdB and tcdE are expressed in a fraction of the sporulating cells, in either the whole sporangium or in the forespore. The whole sporangium pattern is due to protracted expression initiated in vegetative cells by σD, which primes the TcdR auto-regulatory loop. In contrast, the forespore-specific regulatory proteins σG and SpoVT control TcdR production and tcdA/tcdB and tcdE expression in this cell. We detected TcdA at the spore surface, and we show that wild type and ΔtcdA or ΔtcdB spores but not ΔtcdR or ΔtcdA/ΔtcdB spores are cytopathic against HT29 and Vero cells, indicating that spores may serve as toxin-delivery vehicles. Since the addition of TcdA and TcdB enhance binding of spores to epithelial cells, this effect may occur independently of toxin production by vegetative cells.

This review explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into kidney transplantation (KT), set against the backdrop of a significant donor organ shortage and the evolution of ‘Next-Generation Healthcare’. Its purpose is to evaluate how AI and ML can enhance the transplantation process, from donor selection to postoperative patient care. Our methodology involved a comprehensive review of current research, focusing on the application of AI and ML in various stages of KT. This included an analysis of donor–recipient matching, predictive modeling, and the improvement in postoperative care. The results indicated that AI and ML significantly improve the efficiency and success rates of KT. They aid in better donor–recipient matching, reduce organ rejection, and enhance postoperative monitoring and patient care. Predictive modeling, based on extensive data analysis, has been particularly effective in identifying suitable organ matches and anticipating postoperative complications. In conclusion, this review discusses the transformative impact of AI and ML in KT, offering more precise, personalized, and effective healthcare solutions. Their integration into this field addresses critical issues like organ shortages and post-transplant complications. However, the successful application of these technologies requires careful consideration of their ethical, privacy, and training aspects in healthcare settings.

Este artigo tem por objetivo identificar, na literatura, formações continuadas – que abordem metodologias ativas – para docentes das licenciaturas na modalidade de Educação a Distância. Cuida-se de uma pesquisa exploratório-descritiva com levantamento bibliográfico e análise qualitativa dos resultados, tendo por referência autores como Abrucio, Masetto, Moriconi e Valente. Devido às dificuldades encontradas, revisaram-se estudos similares à temática. Verificou-se que as formações costumam ocorrer pontualmente, sem uma sistematização dos dados que permita atestar práticas replicáveis e pontos de melhoria. Assim, para futuras pesquisas, espera-se das instituições e dos profissionais da Educação a Distância uma reflexão de como pretendem garantir qualidade ao processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Palavras-chave: Ensino Superior. Educação a Distância. Formação continuada. Metodologias ativas.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an invasive tumor with similar incidence and mortality rates. Pancreaticoduodenectomy has morbidity and mortality rates of up to 60% and 5%, respectively. The purpose of our study was to assess preoperative features contributing to unfavorable 1-year survival prognosis. Study Design: Retrospective, single-center study evaluating the impact of preoperative features on short-term survival outcomes in head PDAC patients. Forty-four prior features of 172 patients were tested using different supervised machine learning models. Patient records were randomly divided into training and validation sets (80–20%, respectively), and model performance was assessed by area under curve (AUC) and classification accuracy (CA). Additionally, 33 patients were included as an independent revalidation or holdout dataset group. Results: Eleven relevant features were identified: age, sex, Ca-19-9, jaundice, ERCP with biliary stent, neutrophils, lymphocytes, lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio, neoadjuvant treatment, imaging tumor size, and ASA. Tree regression (tree model) and logistic regression (LR) performed better than the other tested models. The tree model had an AUC = 0.92 and CA = 0.85. LR had an AUC = 0.74 and CA = 0.78, allowing the development of a nomogram based on absolute feature significance. The best performance model was the tree model which allows us to have a decision tree to help clinical decisions. Discussion and conclusions: Based only on preoperative data, it was possible to predict 1-year survival (91.5% vs. 78.1% alive and 70.9% vs. 76.6% deceased for the tree model and LR, respectively). These results contribute to informed decision-making in the selection of which patients with PDAC can benefit from pancreatoduodenectomy. A machine learning algorithm was developed for the recognition of unfavorable 1-year survival prognosis in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This will contribute to the identification of patients who would benefit from pancreatoduodenectomy. In our cohort, the tree regression model had an AUC = 0.92 and CA = 0.85, whereas the logistic regression had an AUC = 0.74 and CA = 0.78. To further inform decision-making, a decision tree based on tree regression was developed.

Delirium presents a significant clinical challenge, primarily due to its profound impact on patient outcomes and the limitations of the current diagnostic methods, which are largely subjective. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this challenge was intensified as the frequency of delirium assessments decreased in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), even as the prevalence of delirium among critically ill patients increased. The present study evaluated how the serum molecular fingerprint, as acquired by Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy, can enable the development of predictive models for delirium. A preliminary univariate analysis of serum FTIR spectra indicated significantly different bands between 26 ICU patients with delirium and 26 patients without, all of whom were admitted with COVID-19. However, these bands resulted in a poorly performing Naïve-Bayes predictive model. Considering the use of a Fast-Correlation-Based Filter for feature selection, it was possible to define a new set of spectral bands with a wider coverage of molecular functional groups. These bands ensured an excellent Naïve-Bayes predictive model, with an AUC, a sensitivity, and a specificity all exceeding 0.92. These spectral bands, acquired through a minimally invasive analysis and obtained rapidly, economically, and in a high-throughput mode, therefore offer significant potential for managing delirium in critically ill patients.

Robust data normalization and analysis are pivotal in biomedical research to ensure that observed differences in populations are directly attributable to the target variable, rather than disparities between control and study groups. ArsHive addresses this challenge using advanced algorithms to normalize populations (e.g., control and study groups) and perform statistical evaluations between demographic, clinical, and other variables within biomedical datasets, resulting in more balanced and unbiased analyses. The tool’s functionality extends to comprehensive data reporting, which elucidates the effects of data processing, while maintaining dataset integrity. Additionally, ArsHive is complemented by A.D.A. (Autonomous Digital Assistant), which employs OpenAI’s GPT-4 model to assist researchers with inquiries, enhancing the decision-making process. In this proof-of-concept study, we tested ArsHive on three different datasets derived from proprietary data, demonstrating its effectiveness in managing complex clinical and therapeutic information and highlighting its versatility for diverse research fields.

A genomic signature for endosporulation includes a gene coding for a protease, YabG, which in the model organism Bacillus subtilis is involved in assembly of the spore coat. We show that in the human pathogen Clostridioidesm difficile, YabG is critical for the assembly of the coat and exosporium layers of spores. YabG is produced during sporulation under the control of the mother cell-specific regulators σE and σK and associates with the spore surface layers. YabG shows an N-terminal SH3-like domain and a C-terminal domain that resembles single domain response regulators, such as CheY, yet is atypical in that the conserved phosphoryl-acceptor residue is absent. Instead, the CheY-like domain carries residues required for activity, including Cys207 and His161, the homologues of which form a catalytic diad in the B. subtilis protein, and also Asp162. The substitution of any of these residues by Ala, eliminates an auto-proteolytic activity as well as interdomain processing of CspBA, a reaction that releases the CspB protease, required for proper spore germination. An in-frame deletion of yabG or an allele coding for an inactive protein, yabGC207A, both cause misassemby of the coat and exosporium and the formation of spores that are more permeable to lysozyme and impaired in germination and host colonization. Furthermore, we show that YabG is required for the expression of at least two σK-dependent genes, cotA, coding for a coat protein, and cdeM, coding for a key determinant of exosporium assembly. Thus, YabG also impinges upon the genetic program of the mother cell possibly by eliminating a transcriptional repressor. Although this activity has not been described for the B. subtilis protein and most of the YabG substrates vary among sporeformers, the general role of the protease in the assembly of the spore surface is likely to be conserved across evolutionary distance.

After the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 BA.5 Omicron lineage in Portugal, we developed a seroepidemiologic survey based on a sample of 3,825 residents. Results indicated that from April 27 through June 8, 2022, the estimated seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid or spike IgG was 95.8%, which indicates a high level of protection.

Obesity and global warming are two major challenges that affect communities’ health and quality of life. Providing good walking environments, with appropriate pedestrian infrastructure, green areas and access to commercial retail and transport hubs favour liveable, healthy, and sustainable cities. The Lisbon City Hall has implemented an intervention program in the public space as a strategy to improve environmental quality and mitigate the effects of climate change. The program “A square in each neighbourhood” intends not only to reinforce the economic base of Lisbon, namely tourism, restaurants, commerce, and creative activities but also to promote physical activity and improve the quality of living of all citizens. For studying the impact of the public space quality on the walking environment, Campolide, a typical Lisbon neighbourhood, Portugal, which includes one of the requalified squares, was selected. A two-step methodology based on spatial modelling is proposed. In the first step, the public space quality was evaluated based on a set of 13 urban quality attributes. Attributes, intended for the street level, were collected from open data platforms and complemented with a field survey. Then, through spatial analysis, these attributes were used to build the Pedestrian Environment Quality Indicator and the Priority Intervention Indicator. Using these indicators, walking-friendly streets were mapped and the most critical sites that require priority intervention were identified to prepare for the requalification planning process. The street with the highest quality in the study area according to the dimensions evaluated - connectivity, convenience, comfort, cleanliness, and conviviality - has a great offer of trees, bus stops, commercial establishments, commercial diversity, crossings, paper bins/eco points and esplanades. On the opposite side of the rank, the street with the lowest quality has no trees or green areas, transport stops, benches and tables, or commercial activity. The urban quality indicators constitute a helpful tool for city planners and policymakers when planning sustainable living neighbourhoods.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has an important bearing (top five) on cancer incidence and mortality in the world. The etiology of sporadic CRC is related to the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations that result in the appearance of cancer hallmarks such as abnormal proliferation, evasion of immune destruction, resistance to apoptosis, replicative immortality, and others, contributing to cancer promotion, invasion, and metastasis. It is estimated that, each year, at least four million people are diagnosed with CRC in the world. Depending on CRC staging at diagnosis, many of these patients die, as CRC is in the top four causes of cancer death in the world. New and improved screening tests for CRC are needed to detect the disease at an early stage and adopt patient management strategies to decrease the death toll. The three pillars of CRC screening are endoscopy, radiological imaging, and molecular assays. Endoscopic procedures comprise traditional colonoscopy, and more recently, capsule-based endoscopy. The main imaging modality remains Computed Tomography (CT) of the colon. Molecular approaches continue to grow in the diversity of biomarkers and the sophistication of the technologies deployed to detect them. What started with simple fecal occult blood tests has expanded to an armamentarium, including mutation detection and identification of aberrant epigenetic signatures known to be oncogenic. Biomarker-based screening methods have critical advantages and are likely to eclipse the classical modalities of imaging and endoscopy in the future. For example, imaging methods are costly and require highly specialized medical personnel. In the case of endoscopy, their invasiveness limits compliance from large swaths of the population, especially those with average CRC risk. Beyond mere discomfort and fear, there are legitimate iatrogenic concerns associated with endoscopy. The risks of perforation and infection make endoscopy best suited for a confirmatory role in cases where there are positive results from other diagnostic tests. Biomarker-based screening methods are largely non-invasive and are growing in scope. Epigenetic biomarkers, in particular, can be detected in feces and blood, are less invasive to the average-risk patient, detect early-stage CRC, and have a demonstrably superior patient follow-up. Given the heterogeneity of CRC as it evolves, optimal screening may require a battery of blood and stool tests, where each can leverage different pathways perturbed during carcinogenesis. What follows is a comprehensive, systematic review of the literature pertaining to the screening and diagnostic protocols used in CRC. Relevant articles were retrieved from the PubMed database using keywords including: “Screening”, “Diagnosis”, and “Biomarkers for CRC”. American and European clinical trials in progress were included as well.

Introduction: Following a COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign, it is important to evaluate the population level of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence rate of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies acquired due to infection or vaccination in the Portuguese population. Material and Methods: The National Serological Survey (third wave – ISN3COVID-19) is a cross-sectional nationwide epidemiological study developed on a sample of 4545 Portuguese residents aged one year or older, between the 28th September 2021 and the 19th November 2021. The SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleoprotein and anti-spike IgG antibody levels were determined in serum samples using Abbott Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassays. Seroprevalence estimates were stratified by age group, sex, administrative region and self-reported chronic conditions. Medians and respective 95% confidence intervals were used to describe the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in specific population subgroups. Results: The total seroprevalence rate of SARS-CoV-2 was 86.4% (95% CI: 85.2% to 87.6%). A higher seroprevalence rate was estimated for women (88.3%), 50 to 59 years-old (96.5%) and in those with two or more self-reported chronic conditions (90.8%). A higher IgG (anti-Spike) concentration was observed in individuals vaccinated with the booster dose (median = 1 2601.3 AU/mL; 95% CI: 4127.5 to 19 089.1). Conclusion: There was a significant increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence following the mass vaccination campaign in Portugal. It is important to continue to monitor the distribution of specific SARS-COV-2 antibody at the population level to further inform public health policies.

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease that has a grim prognosis, highlighting the need for improved screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Currently, the sole biomarker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is CA 19-9, which proves to be the most beneficial in tracking treatment response rather than in early detection. In recent years, proteomics has emerged as a powerful tool for advancing our understanding of pancreatic cancer biology and identifying potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This review aims to offer a comprehensive survey of proteomics’ current status in pancreatic cancer research, specifically accentuating its applications and its potential to drastically enhance screening, diagnosis, and treatment response. With respect to screening and diagnostic precision, proteomics carries the capacity to augment the sensitivity and specificity of extant screening and diagnostic methodologies. Nonetheless, more research is imperative for validating potential biomarkers and establishing standard procedures for sample preparation and data analysis. Furthermore, proteomics presents opportunities for unveiling new biomarkers and therapeutic targets, as well as fostering the development of personalized treatment strategies based on protein expression patterns associated with treatment response. In conclusion, proteomics holds great promise for advancing our understanding of pancreatic cancer biology and improving patient outcomes. It is essential to maintain momentum in investment and innovation in this arena to unearth more groundbreaking discoveries and transmute them into practical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the clinical context.

Aims: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a debilitating condition with a substantial socioeconomic burden. A novel autologous blood glue (ABG) has been developed, which can be prepared during surgery and sprayed onto prostheses at the time of implantation. The ABG can potentially provide an antimicrobial coating which will be effective in preventing PJI, not only by providing a physical barrier but also by eluting a well-known antibiotic. Hence, this study aimed to assess the antimicrobial effectiveness of ABG when impregnated with gentamicin and stem cells. Methods: Gentamicin elution from the ABG matrix was analyzed and quantified in a time-dependent manner. The combined efficiency of gentamicin and ABG as an anti-biofilm coating was investigated on titanium disks. Results: ABG-gentamicin was bactericidal from 10 μg/ml and could release bactericidal concentrations over seven days, preventing biofilm formation. A concentration of 75 μg/ml of gentamicin in ABG showed the highest bactericidal effect up to day 7. On titanium disks, a significant bacterial reduction on ABG-gentamicin coated disks was observed when compared to both uncoated (mean 2-log reduction) and ABG-coated (mean 3-log reduction) disks, at days 3 and 7. ABG alone exhibited no antimicrobial or anti-biofilm properties. However, a concentration of 75 μg/ml gentamicin in ABG sustains release over seven days and significantly reduced biofilm formation. Its use as an implant coating in patients with a high risk of infection may prevent bacterial adhesion perioperatively and in the early postoperative period. Conclusion: ABG’s use as a carrier for stem cells was effective, as it supported cell growth. It has the potential to co-deliver compatible cells, drugs, and growth factors. However, ABG-gentamicin’s potential needs to be further justified using in vivo studies.

Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy of serum and plasma has been highly explored for medical diagnosis, due to its general simplicity, and high sensitivity and specificity. To evaluate the plasma and serum molecular fingerprint, as obtained by FTIR spectroscopy, to acquire the system metabolic state, serum and plasma spectra were compared to characterize the metabolic state of 30 human volunteers, between 90 days consumption of green tea extract rich in Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Both plasma and serum spectra enabled the high impact of EGCG consumption on the biofluid spectra to be observed, as analyzed by the spectra principal component analysis, hierarchical-cluster analysis, and univariate data analysis. Plasma spectra resulted in the prediction of EGCG consumption with a slightly higher specificity, accuracy, and precision, also pointing to a higher number of significant spectral bands that were different between the 90 days period. Despite this, the lipid regions of the serum spectra were more affected by EGCG consumption than the corresponding plasma spectra. Therefore, in general, if no specific compound analysis is highlighted, plasma is in general the advised biofluid to capture by FTIR spectroscopy the general metabolic state. If the lipid content of the biofluid is relevant, serum spectra could present some advantages over plasma spectra.

Renal transplantation is currently the treatment of choice for end-stage kidney disease, enabling a quality of life superior to dialysis. Despite this, all transplanted patients are at risk of allograft rejection processes. The gold-standard diagnosis of graft rejection, based on histological analysis of kidney biopsy, is prone to sampling errors and carries high costs and risks associated with such invasive procedures. Furthermore, the routine clinical monitoring, based on urine volume, proteinuria, and serum creatinine, usually only detects alterations after graft histologic damage and does not differentiate between the diverse etiologies. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new biomarkers enabling to predict, with high sensitivity and specificity, the rejection processes and the underlying mechanisms obtained from minimally invasive procedures to be implemented in routine clinical surveillance. These new biomarkers should also detect the rejection processes as early as possible, ideally before the 78 clinical outputs, while enabling balanced immunotherapy in order to minimize rejections and reducing the high toxicities associated with these drugs. Proteomics of biofluids, collected through non-invasive or minimally invasive analysis, e.g., blood or urine, present inherent characteristics that may provide biomarker candidates. The current manuscript reviews biofluids proteomics toward biomarkers discovery that specifically identify subclinical, acute, and chronic immune rejection processes while allowing for the discrimination between cell-mediated or antibody-mediated processes. In time, these biomarkers will lead to patient risk stratification, monitoring, and personalized and more efficient immunotherapies toward higher graft survival and patient quality of life.

O presente artigo explora a aproximação do ensino da arquitetura à relação entre o património edificado e paisagístico das comunidades através de projetos que intervêm diretamente no território, criando soluções construtivas e materiais que estabelecem pontos de diálogo com a identidade dos lugares. O artigo incide em particular na conceção e materialização de um projeto de caráter temporário para o Festival Materiais Diversos, que teve lugar em Minde, em setembro de 2019. A escolha dos materiais, das soluções construtivas e da própria execução em obra refletem de um modo evidente a relação com o património cultural e natural desta região. Por outro lado, a flexibilidade do sistema e a sua capacidade de reutilização permitem que este diálogo ganhe novos significados na sua relação com o território. O artigo pretende contribuir para o debate sobre a importância de explorar a relação entre o território e o património local aquando da construção de estruturas destinadas a eventos temporários, de forma a obter resultados que, quer do ponto de vista dos materiais, quer da sua forma e função, contribuam para dinâmicas locais de valorização territorial.

We contribute to the literature of monetary policy evaluation by proposing a concept and a measurement process of monetary policy velocity. Furthermore, we develop a theoretical model explaining how changes in such a velocity index are accompanied by effects in stock prices. Based on the case of Brazil’s economy from February 2003 to December 2016, our empirical findings indicate that the Brazilian Central Bank robustly affected the domestic stock market level by adjusting monetary policy velocity over time, although such effects were performed in asymmetric ways. JEL codes: E43, E52

Housing development has become one of the main strategies to alleviate impoverished communities in developing countries. In the past, policies and programs focused on either economic or social aspects, and numerous imported solutions had failed to produce satisfactory results. At present, holistic approaches integrating all dimensions of human activity and environmental impact are gaining recognition as suitable alternatives for various experiences in developing nations. However, these approaches do not properly consider the local context, which is different for each case, thereby leading to inadequate models and unsuccessful implementations. This paper presents a context-driven and integrated approach for rural areas in developing nations for one of the most basic human endeavors, i.e., constructing a house. The self-building process utilized in constructing houses is a major strategy to help communities overcome poverty. Such a house must be capable of accommodating economic activities; must be durable yet flexible in layout and size; and must offer all basic services, including water, sanitation, and energy. Consequently, the Inclusive Housing Program is developed and employed in Oé-Cusse, a remote region of East Timor, as an integral part of the Regional Plan.

Introduction to "English Literary Studiest Today: From Theory to Activism".

O caráter desigual da (re)produção e (re)apropriação do(s) território(s) induz conflitos entre os atores públicos e privados, pelo acesso diferenciado aos recursos territoriais. Na lógica do Estado Social as intervenções públicas visam a promoção da equidade nos territórios e nos cidadãos. Porém, estes objetivos muitas vezes não estão salvaguardados, pois a intervenção do Estado, influenciada pelos interesses dos grupos dominantes e pela escassez de recursos, nem sempre privilegia os territórios menos favorecidos. Das intervenções descritas emergem situações de (in)justiça espacial, que comprometem a equidade e a coesão, princípios subjacentes às políticas territoriais. O caso de estudo, localizado em contexto metropolitano, ilustra uma ocupação de génese ilegal, onde as carências urbanísticas se têm perpetuado, apesar das iniciativas da administração para as superar.

Este trabalho é parte integrante de pesquisa desenvolvida em livros didáticos do ciclo inicial de alfabetização (1º, 2º e 3º anos) da Coleção Porta-Aberta Língua Portuguesa, edição do ano de 2011, caracterizando-se, pois, do ponto de vista metodológico, como uma pesquisa documental. Tem como objetivo central de investigação compreender como a alfabetização e o letramento são inseridos no livro e como a Lei 10.639/2003 (Altera a Lei no 9.394, de 20 de dezembro de 1996, que estabelece as diretrizes e bases da educação nacional, para incluir no currículo oficial da Rede de Ensino a obrigatoriedade da temática "História e Cultura Afro-Brasileira", e dá outras providências.) está materializada no corpus mencionado, a partir de uma perspectiva teórico-metodológica vinculada ao pensamento de Claúdia Gontijo (2005) Alain Choppin (2004), de Kabengele Munanga (2005 e 2012), Nilma Lino Gomes (2010) e de Ana Célia da Silva (2001). Como resultados, esta pesquisa, por meio de evidências, revela que os livros ora mencionados possuem pouquíssimos textos em relação ao tema, sendo que, quando estes são inseridos nas produções, são meramente pretextos para o ensino gramatiqueiro e acartilhado sem uma visão crítica dos assuntos inerentes à afrobrasilidade.

Harrod under analysis: path-dependence, historic time and endogenous structural change. The article aims to demonstrate how the Harrod's approach (1937, 1938, 1948) can offer theoretical elements to form a complex, historicists and non-determinist view of the economic system. The relaxation of the constant warranty rate hypothesis make possible the system suffers endogenous qualitative change. It results in the notion of path-dependence and historic time. By the endogenization of the expectations and the existence of turn-points mechanisms, this approach allows a synthesis between non-convergency and economic regulation.

The aim of the study was to identify and characterize outcome measures for objective and subjective assessment in persons with Rett syndrome (RS). A systematic review was conducted consulting the EBSCO, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scielo, MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases for published studies describing the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and other outcome measures in persons with RS. Validation studies and observational studies were included. The PROMs were first described, and then the measurement properties were evaluated using predefined criteria according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). The outcome measures were then grouped according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to establish a relationship between outcome measures and ICF domains. Twenty out of 2327 articles were appraised, and seventeen different outcome measures were identified and described. Ten outcome measures corresponded to evaluation questionnaires, while the remaining seven assessed functional outcomes: walking distance, physical activity level and ability to interact visually. A relation between these outcome measures that assess RS and the ICF allows understanding that most of the instruments (fifteen) include the assessment of activity limitations. The findings of this study seem to be promising for their use by clinicians and researchers, although they have methodological limitations. The accuracy and quality of these individual outcome measures should continue to be assessed in an attempt to gather a consensus on the best tools used in RS. • Most outcome measures have poor evidence of their psychometric properties and should be used with caution in Rett Syndrome. • Robust methods to obtain higher quality outcome measures should be designed and implemented for Rett Syndrome. • The benefits from any treatment should be assessed via ICF-based outcome measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introdução: Existem vários factores que afectam a distribuição do fármaco nas vias áreas inferiores, onde podemos destacar os factores associados ao próprio dispositivo de inalação. Este trabalho tem como objectivo avaliar o desempenho da libertação de fármaco em três câmaras de expansão, assim como a quantidade de agente activo depositada no seu interior. Materiais e Métodos: Foi utilizado o Impinger Líquido de vários estágios (MSLI) de modo a avaliar o comportamento das partículas da suspensão Ventilan®HFA acoplado a três câmaras de expansão (Volumatic®, AeroChamber MAX® e NebuChamber®), de acordo com a Farmacopeia Portuguesa. A massa de sulfato de salbutamol recolhida nos diferentes compartimentos do impinger e no corpo da câmara foi determinada por espectrofotometria de modo a determinar a percentagem de massa cumulativa para cada câmara, determinando-se a fracção de partículas finas. Utilizou-se a Análise de Variância simples (One-way ANOVA) com o teste Post-Hoc de Bonferroni para a comparação dos resultados. Resultados: A deposição do sulfato de salbutamol ocorreu fundamentalmente no corpo das três câmaras, aproximadamente entre 40 a 50 %. Esta deposição é ligeiramente inferior na NebuChamber® (média±desvio-padrão: 43,8 % ± 11,6 %), mas não significativa relativamente à Volumatic® (p=0,351) ou à AeroChamber MAX® (p=0,115). A fracção de partículas finas assume valores de: 28,2 % ± 4,1 %, 29,6 % ± 2,4 % e 30,9 % ± 6,7 % para a Volumatic®, AeroChamber MAX® e NebuChamber®, respectivamente. Conclusão: As câmaras de expansão estudadas apresentam eficácias semelhantes na veiculação de sulfato de salbutamol aos estágios mais inferiores, não tendo sido encontrada relação entre os resultados e as suas características de volume, forma e material constituinte. Deste modo, a Volumatic® aparenta ser a câmara ideal para um hospital, uma vez que o seu grande volume não constitui uma desvantagem, sendo que o seu preço, inferior relativamente às anteriores, constitui uma vantagem de extrema importância para os hospitais públicos.

Neste ensaio proponho-me elaborar uma leitura da peça Hamletmaschine (1977), de Heiner Müller, entendendo-a como um exercício radical de reescrita de Hamlet, de William Shakespeare. No seguimento da sua tradução de Hamlet para alemão, Müller escreve esta peça de apenas nove páginas como um comentário à situação política da Europa de Leste nas décadas de 1960 e 1970. A peça, pela sua brevidade, surge também como uma forma densa e próxima do fragmento, confi gurando a aproximação ao pós-modernismo que caracterizará a escrita de Müller nas décadas seguintes. Hamletmaschine será, assim, considerada como fragmentação e substituição da peça de Shakespeare, focando-se sobretudo a importância da fi gura da substituição para a compreensão da peça de Müller.

This article begins by addressing a persistent question about creativity in literary criticism: can literary criticism ever be a creative industry or is it condemned to be an uncreative one, locked in a repetitious secondary place in relation to the texts that it writes about? As a way out of this problem, this article proposes that literary criticism can be best understood as a form of imitative writing, in the specific terms used by Sir Philip Sidney in his Defence of Poesy. It is argued that Sidney’s definition of poesy can be used to describe important aspects of the forms and purposes of literary criticism today. This argument is illustrated by a recent instance of “imitative literary criticism,” Stephen Greenblatt’s Tyrant: Shakespeare on Power (2018), which intervenes in North-American politics through an analysis of tyrants and their enablers in Shakespeare. In a dramatic tour-de-force, Greenblatt’s book focuses indirectly on the figure of Donald Trump without ever naming the then President of the United States. This article discusses why this is done and focuses on issues of imitation, exemplarity, and emulation in his book, while taking into account the history of Greenblatt’s engagement with Shakespeare’s “oblique angles.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing development has become one of the main strategies to alleviate impoverished communities in developing countries. In the past, policies and programs focused on either economic or social aspects, and numerous imported solutions had failed to produce satisfactory results. At present, holistic approaches integrating all dimensions of human activity and environmental impact are gaining recognition as suitable alternatives for various experiences in developing nations. However, these approaches do not properly consider the local context, which is different for each case, thereby leading to inadequate models and unsuccessful implementations. This paper presents a context-driven and integrated approach for rural areas in developing nations for one of the most basic human endeavors, i.e., constructing a house. The self-building process utilized in constructing houses is a major strategy to help communities overcome poverty. Such a house must be capable of accommodating economic activities; must be durable yet flexible in layout and size; and must offer all basic services, including water, sanitation, and energy. Consequently, the Inclusive Housing Program is developed and employed in Oé-Cusse, a remote region of East Timor, as an integral part of the Regional Plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]