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The presence of anthropogenic compounds, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), was studied in three salt marshes within the Tagus estuary, Portugal, along an anthropogenic pressure gradient. Results revealed differences in OCPs and PCBs among the marshes, with differing concentration levels. Specifically, one marsh, with surrounding agricultural activity, showed the highest OCP concentrations, while another, with a historical industrial past, exhibited elevated PCB levels. In contrast, a third marsh, part of a natural reserve, displayed comparatively lower concentrations of both substances. Sediment concentrations, likely influenced by agricultural practices, were found to be comparable to or higher than those observed in other Portuguese estuaries. The halophyte Spartina maritima was found to absorb OCPs, particularly in its aboveground tissues, suggesting bioaccumulation within the plant. Additionally, PCB levels appeared to be influenced by industrial history, with one marsh displaying notably higher concentrations. In conclusion, the persistence of organochlorine compounds in the salt marsh ecosystems notwithstanding the regulatory prohibitions implemented in the 1990s highlights the need for continuous monitoring and study of such sites and the necessity of remediation practices, which are imperative to mitigate ecological and health risks in these polluted salt marshes.

The maritime industry needs sustainable, low-emission fuels to reduce the environmental impact. Ammonia is one of the most promising alternative fuels because it can be produced from renewable energy, such as wind and solar. Furthermore, ammonia combustion does not emit carbon. This review article covers the advantages and disadvantages of using ammonia as a sustainable marine fuel. We start by discussing the regulations and environmental concerns of the shipping sector, which is responsible for around 2% to 3% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. These emissions may increase as the maritime industry grows at a compound annual growth rate of 4.33%. Next, we analyze the use of ammonia as a fuel in detail, which presents several challenges. These challenges include the high price of ammonia compared to other fossil fuels, the low reactivity and high toxicity of ammonia, NOx, and N2O emissions resulting from incomplete combustion, an inefficient process, and NH3 slipping. However, we emphasize how to overcome these challenges. We discuss techniques to reduce NOx and N2O emissions, co-combustion to improve reactivity, waste heat recovery strategies, the regulatory framework, and safety conditions. Finally, we address the market trends and challenges of using ammonia as a sustainable marine fuel.

Basiliximab (BAS) is an interleukin-2 monoclonal antibody initially used as induction therapy after liver and kidney transplantation. BAS use after lung transplantation (LTx) has supplanted antithymocyte globulin (ATG) as the main induction immunosuppression over the years, but few studies have compared them. In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between BAS and ATG in LTx. We performed a retrospective analysis of all LTx done in Portugal between January 2016 and December 2019. Three groups were made according to the initial induction status: BAS, ATG or no induction (NI). The occurrences of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, pneumonia, side effects, primary graft dysfunction (PGD), acute rejection, chronic allograft disfunction (CLAD) and death episodes were assessed during two years after LTx. A total of 124 patients were divided in 3 groups: 61 (49.2%) BAS; 43 (34.7%) ATG; 20 (16.1%) NI. The incidences of pneumonia and CMV were similar between induction groups. Additionally, there was no difference between the induction groups in PGD, acute rejection, CLAD, deaths and two-year survival. Side effects were reported only in ATG group (n = 20; 46.5%). In our study, BAS had a better safety profile than ATG in LTx with a similar efficacy.

Abstract The concept of Data Management Plan (DMP) has emerged as a fundamental tool to help researchers through the systematical management of data. The Research Data Alliance DMP Common Standard (DCS) working group developed a set of universal concepts characterising a DMP so it can be represented as a machine-actionable artefact, i.e., machine-actionable Data Management Plan (maDMP). The technology-agnostic approach of the current maDMP specification: (i) does not explicitly link to related data models or ontologies, (ii) has no standardised way to describe controlled vocabularies, and (iii) is extensible but has no clear mechanism to distinguish between the core specification and its extensions.This paper reports on a community effort to create the DMP Common Standard Ontology (DCSO) as a serialisation of the DCS core concepts, with a particular focus on a detailed description of the components of the ontology. Our initial result shows that the proposed DCSO can become a suitable candidate for a reference serialisation of the DMP Common Standard.

Natural hydraulic lime-based grouts are often used in the structural consolidation of old stone masonry walls, mainly to re-establish the monolithic behaviour of masonry constructions. To ensure an adequate grouting operation, it is essential to have good fresh and hardened grout properties. The motivation of the present study was to examine the fresh and hardened properties of natural hydraulic lime grouts with nano-silica (NS) and silica fume (SF). The contribution of these materials and the dosage of a high range water reducer admixture (HRWR) were investigated on the rheological properties, water capillarity, open porosity and mechanical strength of injection grouts. The effects on rheology were analysed through plastic viscosity and yield stress. The results indicated that, even for reduced NS content, an increase in plastic viscosity and yield stress occurred, which required a higher HRWR content in order to not compromise the grout’s rheological performance. The results also showed that, when NS and SF were combined, a beneficial joint effect occurred, resulting in a substantial and positive change on the mechanical strength and microstructure of the hardened injection grouts. Taguchi’s method was used to optimize the grout’s formulation and to fulfil the required performance concerning the fresh and hardened state.

Robust methods to compute tissue displacements in optical coherence elastography (OCE) data are paramount, as they play a significant role in the accuracy of tissue elastic properties estimation. In this study, the accuracy of different phase estimators was evaluated on simulated OCE data, where the displacements can be accurately set, and on real data. Displacement (∆d) estimates were computed from (i) the original interferogram data (Δφori) and two phase-invariant mathematical manipulations of the interferogram: (ii) its first-order derivative (Δφd) and (iii) its integral (Δφint). We observed a dependence of the phase difference estimation accuracy on the initial depth location of the scatterer and the magnitude of the tissue displacement. However, by combining the three phase-difference estimates (Δdav), the error in phase difference estimation could be minimized. By using Δdav, the median root-mean-square error associated with displacement prediction in simulated OCE data was reduced by 85% and 70% in data with and without noise, respectively, in relation to the traditional estimate. Furthermore, a modest improvement in the minimum detectable displacement in real OCE data was also observed, particularly in data with low signal-to-noise ratios. The feasibility of using Δdav to estimate agarose phantoms’ Young’s modulus is illustrated.

Resumo Este ensaio apresenta a interpretação hegemônica de “humano” na bioética e representa esse paradigma a partir do conceito de Dasein (ser-aí), de Martin Heidegger. A primeira parte do artigo discute de que maneira o “esquecimento do ser” (Seinsvergessenheit) possibilita emergir o “sujeito”, que encontra na razão e na metafísica modernas solo fértil para o predomínio do modelo dual, sujeito-objeto, em todos os fenômenos, e em específico na bioética. Buscando outro encaminhamento, na parte final do trabalho reflete-se acerca da originalidade da interpretação heideggeriana sobre a experiência humana enquanto Dasein. Pretende-se potencializar debate que possa alargar o horizonte da bioética ao desencobrir o conceito de “humano” e, com ele, toda uma gama de conceitos herdeiros”, integralmente submersos em camadas calcificadas de tradição.

Abstract Background Asthma affects the lives of hundred million people around the World. Despite notable progresses in disease management, asthma control remains largely insufficient worldwide, influencing patients’ wellbeing and quality of life. Poor patient handling of inhaling devices has been identified as a major persistent problem that significantly reduces inhaled drugs’ efficacy and is associated with poor adherence to treatment, impairing clinical results such as asthma control and increasing disease-related costs. We herein review key research and development (R&D) innovation in inhaler devices, highlighting major real-world critical errors in the handling and inhalation technique with current devices and considering potential solutions. Furthermore, we discuss current evidence regarding breath-triggered inhalers (BTI). Main body The two most common significant problems with inhalers are coordinating actuation and inhalation with pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs), and the need to inhale forcibly with a dry powder inhaler. BTI R&D plans were designed to overcome these problems. Its newest device k-haler® has several other important features, generating a less forceful aerosol plume than previous pMDIs, with efficient drug delivery and lung deposition, even in patients with low inspiratory flow. The local and systemic bioavailability of fluticasone propionate and formoterol (FP/FORM) administered via k-haler® has been shown to be therapeutically equivalent when administered via the previous FP/FORM pMDI. This device requires very few steps and has been considered easy to use (even at first attempt) and preferred by the patients in a randomized crossover study. In our country, FP/FORM k-haler is available without additional costs compared to FP/FORM pMDI. All devices continue to require education and regular checking of the correct inhalation technique. Conclusion BTI R&D can bring advantage over current available inhalers, avoiding the two most common identified critical errors in inhalation technique. K-haler® BTI is currently available, without an increased cost, and approved for adolescents and adults with asthma in whom treatment with inhaled combined therapy with long-acting beta2-agonists and corticosteroids is indicated. Its attractive and practical design to facilitate its use has been awarded. K-haler® represents added value through innovation to fulfill actual asthma patient needs, thus with potential relevant impact in asthma management and effective control.

Objetivos: Passaram alguns meses desde que foi confirmado o primeiro caso da doença COVID-19 em Portugal. A rápida progressão desta pandemia levou a diversas alterações no quotidiano dos utentes da Unidade de Saúde Familiar (USF) Santiago de Leiria, provavelmente com impacto na sua saúde mental. O objetivo deste trabalho é determinar os graus de ansiedade e depressão dos utentes da USF Santiago de Leiria durante o estado de emergência nacional. Tipo de estudo: Estudo transversal descritivo com componente analítica. Local: USF Santiago de Leiria. População: Utentes inscritos na USF Santiago de Leiria. Métodos: Estudo realizado através de um questionário online constituído por um inquérito sociodemográfico, a Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão e uma questão relativa ao apoio social, enviado a 1.000 utentes da USF em 9 de abril de 2020 e válido para submissão de respostas até 1 de maio de 2020. Resultados: Dos 285 indivíduos que participaram, 47% apresentavam sintomas de ansiedade e 32% sintomas depressivos. Indivíduos do género feminino apresentaram níveis mais elevados quer de sintomatologia ansiosa quer de sintomatologia depressiva. Indivíduos com níveis mais baixos de escolaridade, desempregados e trabalhadores em lay-off apresentaram uma maior prevalência de ansiedade. Entre os inquiridos, 89,1% referiu ter o apoio social necessário. Conclusão: Este trabalho demonstra uma elevada prevalência dos sintomas de ansiedade e depressão, com maior expressão no sexo feminino. Desta premissa, novas estratégias de melhoria da saúde mental dos utentes poderão surgir e evitar ainda mais danos provocados pela COVID-19.

The utilization of phosphate fertilizers for soybean growing on amazon soils is a challenge. Some soils are very clayed, which means they can easily fix phosphorus (P) from fertilizers. However, soybeans are very responsible to P since this nutrient has a direct relationship with nitrogen biological fixation and grain production. To understand the effect of P on plant nutrition and development, an experiment with soybeans was carried out in field conditions to evaluate the nutrient concentration in diagnostic leaves, P availability in soil, and grain yield of soybeans cultivated in a very clayey Oxisol. The objective was to evaluate the effect of phosphate fertilizer on the availability of P in the soil, as well as the concentration of N, P, and S in the diagnostic leaves, suggesting a proper rate of P2O5 for the first soybean crop in an area of ​​abandoned pasture in the eastern Amazon. The phosphate fertilization increased the availability of soil P and the concentrations of P, N, and S in the diagnostic leaves. The concentrations of P and S in the leaves were highly correlated with N concentration. The rates of P increased the grain yield, dry mass of one thousand grains, number of pods per plant, and plant height, attributes that were highly correlated with the concentration of P, S, and N in the leaves. We recommend the rate of P2O5 at 120 kg ha–1 for the first soybean cultivation in an abandoned pasture located in eastern Amazon.

The common standard for machine-actionable Data Management Plans (DMPs) allows for automatic exchange, integration, and validation of information provided in DMPs. In this paper, we report on the hackathon organised by the Research Data Alliance in which a group of 89 participants from 21 countries worked collaboratively on use cases exploring the utility of the standard in different settings. The work included integration of tools and services, funder templates mapping, and development of new serialisations. This paper summarises the results achieved during the hackathon and provides pointers to further resources.

This paper presents the application profile for machine-actionable data management plans that allows information from traditional data management plans to be expressed in a machine-actionable way. We describe the methodology and research conducted to define the application profile. We also discuss design decisions made during its development and present systems which have adopted it. The application profile was developed in an open and consensus-driven manner within the DMP Common Standards Working Group of the Research Data Alliance and is its official recommendation.

BackgroundHealth and fitness apps have potential benefits to improve self-management and disease control among patients with asthma. However, inconsistent use rates have been reported across studies, regions, and health systems. A better understanding of the characteristics of users and nonusers is critical to design solutions that are effectively integrated in patients’ daily lives, and to ensure that these equitably reach out to different groups of patients, thus improving rather than entrenching health inequities. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the use of general health and fitness apps by patients with asthma and to identify determinants of usage. MethodsA secondary analysis of the INSPIRERS observational studies was conducted using data from face-to-face visits. Patients with a diagnosis of asthma were included between November 2017 and August 2020. Individual-level data were collected, including age, gender, marital status, educational level, health status, presence of anxiety and depression, postcode, socioeconomic level, digital literacy, use of health services, and use of health and fitness apps. Multivariate logistic regression was used to model the probability of being a health and fitness app user. Statistical analysis was performed in R. ResultsA total of 526 patients attended a face-to-face visit in the 49 recruiting centers and 514 had complete data. Most participants were ≤40 years old (66.4%), had at least 10 years of education (57.4%), and were in the 3 higher quintiles of the socioeconomic deprivation index (70.1%). The majority reported an overall good health status (visual analogue scale [VAS] score>70 in 93.1%) and the prevalence of anxiety and depression was 34.3% and 11.9%, respectively. The proportion of participants who reported using health and fitness mobile apps was 41.1% (n=211). Multivariate models revealed that single individuals and those with more than 10 years of education are more likely to use health and fitness mobile apps (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.22, 95%CI 1.05-4.75 and aOR 1.95, 95%CI 1.12-3.45, respectively). Higher digital literacy scores were also associated with higher odds of being a user of health and fitness apps, with participants in the second, third, and fourth quartiles reporting aORs of 6.74 (95%CI 2.90-17.40), 10.30 (95%CI 4.28-27.56), and 11.52 (95%CI 4.78-30.87), respectively. Participants with depression symptoms had lower odds of using health and fitness apps (aOR 0.32, 95%CI 0.12-0.83). ConclusionsA better understanding of the barriers and enhancers of app use among patients with lower education, lower digital literacy, or depressive symptoms is key to design tailored interventions to ensure a sustained and equitable use of these technologies. Future studies should also assess users’ general health-seeking behavior and their interest and concerns specifically about digital tools. These factors may impact both initial engagement and sustained use.

Tendo como ponto de partida a expressão “Um humano [Mensch] logo que nasce já é bastante velho para morrer”, escrita por Martin Heidegger em Ser e Tempo, este artigo se apresenta como uma ousada tentativa de releitura do conceito de morte, dada a dificuldade de interpretação de sua magnum opus, em especial da segunda parte da obra. Esta empreitada se concentrou em buscar compreender a morte, o ser-para-a-morte e a antecipação, conceitos fundantes do pensamento heideggeriano e reunidos aqui sob uma nova perspectiva. Para além da interpretação cotidiana deste conceito - que deve ser de imediato colocada em suspenso - ou ainda de uma parte significativa das leituras especializadas de Heidegger, este trabalho entende que a morte, no horizonte do pensamento heideggeriano, é o processo cotidiano de atualização (ato) de possibilidades (potência) no interior da experiência humana. Tendo a fenomenologia como recurso de análise, e o fenômeno da morte como chave de acesso à questão do sentido da morte, foi possível reunir aqui um conjunto de notas e direção para se compreender todos os existenciais como sinônimos de morte, o que se evidencia na condição cotidiana de um Dasein impróprio, inautêntico, e no aparecimento (Erscheinung) de um mim-mesmo prevaricado com a-gente (das Man), à semelhança caricatural de um “morto-vivo”, um “zumbi”, tema muito em voga, nos dias de hoje, em filmes e séries. Embora o “humano” - cotidianamente sujeito a representações sucessivas - se atenha a isto ou aquilo, em ser-para-a-morte se está livre de todo apego a isto ou aquilo, na aquiescência tanto disto quanto daquilo, na proximidade de tudo e pertencimento a nada, no “deixar-ser” (Gelassenheit).

Background: Poor medication adherence is a major challenge in asthma and objective assessment of inhaler adherence is needed. InspirerMundi app aims to monitor inhaler adherence while turning it into a positive experience through gamification and social support.Objective: We assessed the medium-term feasibility of the InspirerMundi app to monitor inhaler adherence in real-world patients with persistent asthma (treated with daily inhaled medication). In addition, we attempted to identify the characteristics of the patients related to higher app use.Methods: Two real-world multicenter observational studies, with one initial face-to-face visit and a 4-month telephone interview, were conducted in 29 secondary care centers from Portugal. During an initial face-to-face visit, patients were invited to use the app daily to register their asthma medication intakes. A scheduled intake was considered taken when patients took a photo of the medication (inhaler, blister, or others) using the image-based medication detection tool. Medication adherence was calculated as the number of doses taken as a percentage of the number scheduled. Interacting with the app ≥30 days was used as the cut-off for higher app use.Results: A total of 114 patients {median 20 [percentile 25 to percentile 75 (P25–P75) 16–36] years, 62% adults} were invited, 107 (94%) installed the app and 83 (73%) completed the 4-month interview. Patients interacted with the app for a median of 18 [3–45] days, translated on a median use rate of 15 [3–38]%. Median inhaler adherence assessed through the app was 34 [4–73]% when considering all scheduled inhalations for the study period. Inhaler adherence assessed was not significantly correlated with self-reported estimates. Median adherence for oral and other medication was 41 [6–83]% and 43 [3–73]%, respectively. Patients with higher app use were slightly older (p = 0.012), more frequently taking medication for other health conditions (p = 0.040), and more frequently prescribed long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA, p = 0.024). After 4 months, Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) scores improved (p < 0.001), but no differences between patients interacting with the app for 30 days or less were seen.Conclusions: The InspirerMundi app was feasible to monitor inhaler adherence in patients with persistent asthma. The persistent use of this mHealth technology varies widely. A better understanding of characteristics related to higher app use is still needed before effectiveness studies are undertaken.

Background: In dentistry, cavities prepared with Erbium lasers present more advantages, compared to traditional methods, but there is still a lack of investigation about the adhesion in dentin surfaces prepared with Erbium lasers, especially with Erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser. Aim: The purpose of this systematic review was to find out which might be “The most adequate adhesive and laser parameters for adhesion in dentin prepared with Er,Cr:YSGG laser.” Methods: An electronic search was performed in the PubMed database. The search was limited to studies between 2009 and 2016. Results: Ten articles were selected to the systematic review according to TRANSPARENT REPORTING of Systematic Reviews and Meta-ANALYSES checklist. Conclusions: The adhesive that showed the best bond strength results in dentin prepared with Er,Cr:YSGG laser was the self-adhesive Clearfil™ SE (Kuraray), with preconditioning with 40% phosphoric acid. The settings 2 W, 75% water, 60% air, 140 μs pulse duration, and 20 Hz showed the best adhesion outcome.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition strongly associated with obesity and insulin resistance, is characterized by hepatic lipid accumulation and activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. The sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) protein deacetylase is emerging as a new player in metabolic homeostasis, but its role in the development of hepatic steatosis and its link with ER stress activation remains unknown. SIRT2-knockout (SIRT2-KO) and wild-type mice were fed either a control or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks. Genetic manipulation of SIRT2 levels was performed in human hepatic cells. Although apparently normal under a control diet, SIRT2-KO mice showed accelerated body weight gain and adiposity on a HFD, accompanied by severe insulin resistance. Importantly, SIRT2-KO mice exhibited worsened hepatic steatosis independently from diet, consistent with upregulated gene expression of lipogenic enzymes and increased expression of ER stress markers. Exposure of hepatic cells to palmitate induced lipid accumulation, increased ER stress, and decreased SIRT2 expression. Moreover, SIRT2-silenced cells showed enhanced lipid accumulation and ER stress activation under basal conditions, whereas SIRT2 overexpression abrogated palmitate-induced lipid deposition and ER stress activation. Our findings reveal a role for SIRT2 in the regulation of hepatic lipid homeostasis, potentially through the ER stress response, suggesting that SIRT2 activation might constitute a therapeutic strategy against obesity and its metabolic complications.

Texture analysis is a subject of intensive focus in research due to its significant role in the field of image processing. However, few studies focus on colored texture analysis and even fewer use information theory concepts. Entropy measures have been proven competent for gray scale images. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no well-established entropy methods that deal with colored images yet. Therefore, we propose the recent colored bidimensional fuzzy entropy measure, FuzEnC2D, and introduce its new multi-channel approaches, FuzEnV2D and FuzEnM2D, for the analysis of colored images. We investigate their sensitivity to parameters and ability to identify images with different irregularity degrees, and therefore different textures. Moreover, we study their behavior with colored Brodatz images in different color spaces. After verifying the results with test images, we employ the three methods for analyzing dermoscopic images of malignant melanoma and benign melanocytic nevi. FuzEnC2D, FuzEnV2D, and FuzEnM2D illustrate a good differentiation ability between the two—similar in appearance—pigmented skin lesions. The results outperform those of a well-known texture analysis measure. Our work provides the first entropy measure studying colored images using both single and multi-channel approaches.

Streptococcus oralis is part of the normal flora of the oropharyngeal, nasal, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Classically, it shows low pathogenicity and virulence, but can very rarely cause meningitis in patients who have undergone dental procedures and have poor oral hygiene. The purpose of this report is to highlight the importance of considering S. oralis as a cause of meningitis in patients with poor oral hygiene. A 53-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with high fever (39.4°C), headache and drowsiness. His mouth was unhygienic. He was diagnosed with meningitis and empiric antibiotics (ceftriaxone plus ampicillin) and dexamethasone were started. S. oralis was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid. Ampicillin and dexamethasone were stopped, while ceftriaxone was continued with full recovery of the patient.

A pimenta malagueta possui grande importância econômica e social para produtores devido sua crescente procura por agroindústrias que confeccionam molhos. Apesar disso, estudos sobre o manejo nutricional da pimenta malagueta são escassos, logo a adubação em cultivos é realizada, principalmente, de forma empírica. Diante disso, este trabalho objetivou verificar a influência de doses de nitrogênio na produtividade de pimenta malagueta. O experimento foi conduzido entre agosto de 2016 e maio de 2017 na área experimental do Campus Arapiraca, da Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Arapiraca, AL. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, e seis doses de nitrogênio (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 e 500 kg ha-1 N). A aplicação do N ocorreu de forma parcelada aos 108, 142, 172 e 202 dias após o plantio (DAP), utilizou-se ureia como fonte de N. A colheita de frutos iniciou-se 90 DAP, sendo realizada em uma frequência semanal. As variáveis avaliadas foram: altura de planta (m), diâmetro do dossel (cm), índice SPAD, número de frutos e produtividade (t ha-1). As doses não influenciaram na altura de plantas e diâmetro do dossel. O maior índice SPAD (53,11), maior produção de frutos totais ao final do período de colheita (2.773 frutos por planta-1) e maior produtividade (26,25 t ha-1) foram verificados com 500 kg ha-1 de N.

A significant dysfunction of another organ is usually considered an absolute contraindication for lung transplantation, unless multiorgan transplantation is indicated and practical, as is the case of combined lung-kidney transplantation. Few cases of combined lung-kidney transplantation have been described in the literature; however, it is known that, in certain cases, it is the only way to offer an opportunity to selected patients with renal and lung dysfunction. The authors are not aware of any previously published case of a patient receiving both extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration as a bridge for combined kidney-lung transplantation.The authors present the first case of combined lung-kidney transplantation performed in Portugal.

The lamina cribrosa (LC) is an active structure that responds to the strain by changing its morphology. Abnormal changes in LC morphology are usually associated with, and indicative of, certain pathologies such as glaucoma, intraocular hypertension, and myopia. Recent developments in optical coherence tomography (OCT) have enabled detailed in vivo studies about the architectural characteristics of the LC. Structural characteristics of the LC have been widely explored in glaucoma management. However, information about which LC biomarkers could be useful for the diagnosis, and follow-up, of other diseases besides glaucoma is scarce. Hence, this literature review aims to summarize the role of the LC in nonophthalmic and ophthalmic diseases other than glaucoma. PubMed was used to perform a systematic review on the LC features that can be extracted from OCT images. All imaging features are presented and discussed in terms of their importance and applicability in clinical practice. A total of 56 studies were included in this review. Overall, LC depth (LCD) and thickness (LCT) have been the most studied features, appearing in 75% and 45% of the included studies, respectively. These biomarkers were followed by the prelaminar tissue thickness (21%), LC curvature index (5.4%), LC global shape index (3.6%), LC defects (3.6%), and LC strains/deformations (1.8%). Overall, the disease groups showed a thinner LC (smaller LCT) and a deeper ONH cup (larger LCD), with some exceptions. A large variability between approaches used to compute LC biomarkers has been observed, highlighting the importance of having automated and standardized methodologies in LC analysis. Moreover, further studies are needed to identify the pathologies where LC features have a diagnostic and/or prognostic value.

Introduction: The chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), is a gall inducing insect original from China that attacks the Castanea genus and can significantly hinder production of chestnut trees. The most effective and used method of control of D. kuriphilus is based on the releases of Torymus sinensis Kamijo (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), a specific parasitoid of D. kuriphilus and native in its natural habitat of origin (China). Objectives: To evaluate T. sinensis ability to establish a population, its dispersion ability and the effect of the release density on the populations of D. kuriphilus in the Portuguese region of Minho. Methods: T. sinensis releases were made in three sites in the Barcelos and Viana do Castelo counties. Results: The presence of T. sinensis was found in three sites of release one year after the releases and in two sites two years after the releases. Presence of T. sinensis was also found at 200 meters distance from the release sites. Conclusion: The average parasitism rates found due to T. sinensis were between 1.3% and 3.9% in the first year, and 0.8% and 13% in the second year, which are within the range described in the international literature.

In this work, silazane-based polymer coating loaded with reactive TiB2 filler was applied onto a sintered steel substrate. Two thermal processing routes were investigated for the conversion of the precursor and filler into a composite ceramic coating: conventional pyrolysis (CP) and plasma-assisted pyrolysis (PAP), both performed at nitrogen atmosphere. The sample substrate and coatings were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrum, X-ray diffraction, and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy. Microstructural analysis revealed a denser ceramic composite coating with an improved conversion of TiB2 filler when the pyrolysis process was assisted by plasma. Interdiffusion between the steel substrate and filled PDC coating leads to the formation of new phases in the coating, which in contrast, were not observed when the process was performed by conventional pyrolysis.

Atendendo ao chamado de Heidegger por “outro início”, desde o pensamento originário grego, são reconsideradas as noções de paideia e de arete. À paideia exaustivamente investigada por Werner Jaeger é imposta a interpretação do próprio Heidegger e de Danielle Montet. Enquanto a arete é reexaminada através de uma nova luz lançada pela obra de António Caeiro. Enfim, devidamente preparado pelo pensamento inusual destes pensadores sobre paideia e arete, se reabre o debate sobre a possibilidade ou não da virtude ser ensinada. Concluímos com Sócrates que definitivamente ela não pode ser ensinada, não ao modo pretendido dos sofistas e dos “modernos” pensadores e educadores, mas que sim há certamente possibilidade de uma “paideia da arete”.

O mesotelioma pleural é uma doença associada à exposição ao amianto. Embora raro, é a principal neoplasia maligna da pleura, sendo o seu diagnóstico difícil e o seu prognóstico reservado. O caso clínico apresentado refere-se a um doente de 62 anos, do género masculino, com história ocupacional de exposição prolongada a amianto e clínica arrastada, com meses de evolução, de dispneia para pequenos esforços e tosse produtiva. Imagiologicamente, apresentava um envolvimento intersticial extenso com marcado espessamento dos septos interlobulares e centrilobulares, associado a ténues alterações pleurais. Várias hipóteses diagnósticas foram equacionadas tais como, asbestose, pneumonia organizativa criptogénica, pneumonia intersticial descamativa, metástases pleuropulmonares, e/ou patologia infeciosa broncopulmonar, mas o resultado histológico e imunohistoquímico foi compatível com mesotelioma pleural- uma neoplasia maligna rara, de origem pleural, com uma taxa de mortalidade elevada.

Como entender a vocação? Faz ainda algum sentido pensar em talento, vocação, dom? A partir do pensamento de Heidegger, investiga-se a vocação como possibilidade existencial, como ressonância do ser-aí. Retomamos também o pensamento grego antigo no que tange a virtude, relacionando-a com a vocação. Consideramos o entendimento da vocação como fundamental no atual sistema de trabalho que tanto valoriza qualificações e aptidões. Todavia, a questão da vocação parece não ter mais sentido na sociedade moderna, especialmente nos países desenvolvidos, onde se conjuga uma diversidade de atividades humanas como nunca vista na história da humanidade, uma ampla gama de possibilidades de formação educacional e um prestígio salarial muito insidioso para algumas profissões. Talvez esse seja mais um sintoma do “esquecimento do ser” e até de seu abandono a partir da Modernidade. Não havendo reconhecimento e valorização do “aí-ser”, em que somos, em que se é, não há a escuta necessária ao chamado, à vocação por ser o que se é, não só como si-mesmo, mas também, em decorrência, como mim-mesmo. Palavras-chave: Vocação. Ser-aí. Heidegger. Virtude. Dom.

Abstract Clinical practice guidelines are ubiquitous and are developed to provide recommendations for the management of many diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The development of these guidelines is burdensome, demanding a significant investment of time and money. In Europe, the majority of countries develop their own national guidelines, despite the potential for overlap or duplication of effort. A concerted effort and consolidation of resources between countries may alleviate the resource-intensity of maintaining individual national guidelines. Despite significant resource investment into the development and maintenance of clinical practice guidelines, their implementation is suboptimal. Effective strategies of guideline dissemination must be given more consideration, to ensure adequate implementation and improved patient care management in the future.

Abstract Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. This study aim to assess differences in changes in arterial stiffness of two groups of patients, defined as having daytime sleepiness or not, after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. Methods A selected cohort of consecutive male patients, under 65 years old, with moderate to severe OSA and without great number of comorbidities was studied. The diagnosis was confirmed by home respiratory poligraphy. Sleepiness was considered with an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) > 10. An ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) measurements were performed, before and after four months under CPAP. Compliant patients, sleepy and non-sleepy, were compared using linear mixed effects regression models. A further stratified analysis was performed with non-sleepy patients. Results Thirty-four patients were recruited, with mean age 55.2 (7.9) years, 38.2% were sleepy, 79.4% with hypertension, 61.8% with metabolic syndrome and 82.4% with dyslipidaemia. In univariable analysis, cf-PWV was strongly related to systolic BP parameters and age, but also to antihypertensive drugs (p = 0.030), metabolic syndrome (p = 0.025) and daytime sleepiness (p = 0.004). Sleepy patients had a more severe OSA, with AHI 44.8 (19.0) vs 29.7 (15.7) events/h (p = 0.018), but sleep study parameters were not associated with cf-PWV values. On multivariable regression, a significant interaction between time (CPAP) and sleepiness (p = 0.033) was found. There was a weak evidence of a cf-PWV reduction after CPAP treatment (p = 0.086), but the effects of treatment differed significantly between groups, with no changes in non-sleepy patients, while in sleepy patients a significant decrease was observed (p = 0.012). Evaluating non-sleepy patients group under CPAP therapy, results showed that both higher pulse pressure (p = 0.001) and lower LDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.015) at baseline were associated to higher cf-PWV changes. Conclusions Patients with daytime sleepiness had a more severe OSA and presented a greater arterial stiffness improvement after CPAP therapy, independently from age and BP. Besides sleepiness, cf-PWV reduction after CPAP therapy was mainly associated to CV risk factors, and less to sleep study parameters. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02273089 23.10.2014 retrospectively registered.

A nanostructured Cr11Ge19 phase was produced by mechanical alloying for 15 h. Decomposition occurred for larger milling times, yielding Cr, Ge, Cr2O3 and GeO2. According to the Cr-Ge phase diagram, the Cr11Ge19 phase is stable up to ≈ 928 oC, but, when submitted to milling, a structural instability causes its decomposition. We studied this structural instability using the coordination numbers and interatomic distances of bulk Cr11Ge19 to simulate the structure factors SCrCr(K), SCrGe(K), and SGeGe(K). The radial distribution functions RDFCrCr(R), RDFCrGe(R) and RDFGeGe(R) were obtained by Fourier transforming the Sij(K) factors, and an important chemical disorder up to ≈7 Å was observed in the RDFCrGe(R) and RDFGeGe(R) functions. This chemical disorder was quantified using Cowley-Warren α ij CW parameter. The thermoelectric properties of the Cr11Ge19 phase were also studied.

O presente trabalho elabora uma reflexão sobre a insuficiência no modus operandi da ciência. A partir da meditação de Heidegger sobre a "metafísica da modernidade" e as maneiras de determinar o ente estabelecidas ao longo da história, esta investigação discorre sobre a fundamentação do “sujeito” moderno, lançado no universo infinito pela implosão da esfera cósmica e suas subesferas, que outrora lhe concediam morada, guarda e, sobretudo, sentido. A contribuição aportada por esta análise, não tem por objetivo o abandono da ciência, mas tão-somente lançar uma luz sobre a aridez da cientificidade frente à necessidade humana de se situar perante o real, contribuindo assim, para que torne a “honrar” inteligência humana, o ser humano, em contraposição a um humanismo depreciante, desde o Renascimento.

Abstract Background The purpose of this case report is to describe a conjunctiva and eyelid Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) as the initial manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which led to the diagnosis of HIV infection. There are only 3 reported cases of ocular KS as an initial manifestation of HIV infection. Case presentation A 32-year old white man presented to our department with a 1 month history of eye redness. The patient had an enlarged violet-coloured mass on the right superior eyelid which had evolved over the course of 1 week. There was also a mobile bulbar conjunctival lesion with a bright red colour, approximately 5 mm × 5 mm, in the superior temporal quadrant of his left eye. The lesions looked like a chalazion and a subconjunctival haemorrhage, respectivly. Presumed KS diagnosis was confirmed with HIV-1 positive testing and histopathology from tissue biopsy. The patient’s CD4 count was 23/mm3 and viral RNA load 427,000/ml. Further systemic evaluation showed a diffuse sarcoma. Conclusion This case report demonstrates the importance of recognizing the ocular manifestations of AIDS in establishing the correct diagnosis of KS and subsequently diagnosing occult HIV infection. Although ocular KS as the initial manifestation of HIV-AIDS is an extremely rare event, a proper diagnosis may contribute to prompt management with personal and social relevance.

Abstract One of the most common causes of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN). In the majority of cases, this condition has a positive serologic marker, the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), but in approximately 10% there are no circulating ANCAs, and this subgroup has been known as the ANCA-negative pauci-immune CrGN. RPGN can be associated with systemic diseases, but there are only few case reports describing the association with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). The authors report a case of ANCA-negative CrGN associated with a MCTD.

Moisture content is a quality issue raised by recycling plants in the acceptance of paper and cardboard coming from waste streams. The current way to measure this parameter is by the oven drying method, which is a slow and invasive process, costing time and resources for the recyclers to do this type of quality control. An alternative to such a measurement technique is the use of plate-form devices which indirectly measure the moisture content using the dielectric properties of water and paper. This study has tested this method and developed a representative equation for the use of devices with these properties in the Portuguese market. For that, 48 wastepaper and cardboard bales were tested with both the traditional (oven drying) method and a commercial device equipped with dielectric technology. An equation that fits the studied reality (R2 = 0.76) was achieved, and possible problems regarding the use of this device were tested. The results showed that this type of device could be used as a time- and cost-saving, non-destructive and reliable method in the quality control of wastepaper and cardboard bales.

Presently, saving natural resources is increasingly a concern, and water scarcity is a fact that has been occurring in more areas of the globe. One of the main strategies used to counter this trend is the use of new technologies. On this topic, the Internet of Things has been highlighted, with these solutions being characterized by offering robustness and simplicity, while being low cost. This paper presents the study and development of an automatic irrigation control system for agricultural fields. The developed solution had a wireless sensors and actuators network, a mobile application that offers the user the capability of consulting not only the data collected in real time but also their history and also act in accordance with the data it analyses. To adapt the water management, Machine Learning algorithms were studied to predict the best time of day for water administration. Of the studied algorithms (Decision Trees, Random Forest, Neural Networks, and Support Vectors Machines) the one that obtained the best results was Random Forest, presenting an accuracy of 84.6%. Besides the ML solution, a method was also developed to calculate the amount of water needed to manage the fields under analysis. Through the implementation of the system it was possible to realize that the developed solution is effective and can achieve up to 60% of water savings.

En el Sistema de Siembra Directa (SSD), uno de los principales desafíos es el manejo de las plantas de cobertura, contexto donde el vinagre (ácido acético) constituye una alternativa viable. Este trabajo evalúa el efecto del vinagre triple en la desecación de plantas de cobertura (avena negra), así como el impacto sobre el pH y la actividad microbiana del suelo. Se evaluó la desecación de la avena negra según la escala de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Malezas-ALAM y el pH del suelo a los 2,15 y 30 días después de la aplicación de los tratamientos (DDA). Además, fueron evaluados la tasa respiratoria, el carbono de la biomasa microbiana (CBM) y el cociente metabólico (qCO ) en muestras de suelo colectadas a los 7, 28 y 56 DDA. Los resultados indican que el vinagre triple, en la dosis de1 120 L ha-1, proporcionó una desecación de 99.33 % de la avena negra y mayor producción de CO del suelo. Por otro lado, no hubo alteración del CBM, qCO y del pH del suelo, concluyéndose que el vinagre es una alternativa viable como herbicida natural, sin causar impactos en el pH y en la actividad microbiana del suelo. Palabras clave: ácido acético, carbono de la biomasa microbiana, desecación, cociente metabólico.

Objetivo: Correlacionar a densidade de pigmento macular em indivíduos sem patologia ocular com fatores de risco para a DMLI Desenho do estudo: Estudo transversal. Métodos: 119 olhos de 60 doentes (34 mulheres e 26 homens) sem patologia ocular e com fatores de risco para DMLI identificados em consulta de 1ª vez do Serviço de Oftalmologia do Hospital Garcia de Orta entre Junho e Agosto de 2013. Avaliou-se a densidade de pigmento macular com fotometria heterocromática de Flicker (QuantifEYE) de ambos os olhos dos participantes. Realizou-se um exame oftalmológico completo e foi realizado um questionário para obtenção de dados sobre o estado de saúde atual, estilo de vida e dados demográficos dos participantes. Resultados: A média de densidade de pigmento macular foi de 0,4450 ± 0,09932. Detetou-se correlações negativas e estatisticamente significativas entre a densidade de pigmento e os seguintes fatores: idade, HbA1c dos diabéticos, colesterolémia, pressão arterial sistólica, unidade de maços de tabaco/ano nos fumadores e exfumadores (p

Adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle for adolescent students, seems to be impaired and influenced by several factors, among them stand out environmental, psychological and social factors. Thus, the general objectives of this study were submitted to study and understand the extent to which these environmental, social and personal factors help and influence the level of physical activity (PA) by the adolescents in school age. More specifically, we will study: (1) the possible association between level of physical activity, age and gender; (2) consider and determine whether there is an association between socioeconomic variables and physical activity level of the population sample; (3) assess on the possible association between environmental variables and perceived physical activity of the adolescents. The sample consisted of 286 high school students, male gender (n = 125) and female (n = 161) aged between 15 and 18 years of age. As an instrument of study, a questionnaire was used. The main results of this study demonstrate a possible relationship between gender and level of PA, while boys tend to be more active than girls and also an association between socioeconomic variables and level of physical activity.

This paper introduces a new way of managing water in irrigation systems, which can be applied to gardens or agricultural fields, replacing human intervention with Wireless Sensor Networks. A typical irrigation system wastes on average 30% of the water used, due to poor management and configuration. This sustainable irrigation system allows a better efficiency in the process of irrigation that can lead to savings for the end user, not only monetary but also in natural resources, such as water and energy, leading to a more sustainable environment. The system can retrieve real time data and use them to determinate the correct amount of water to be used in a garden. With this solution, it is possible to save up to 34% of water when using sensor data from temperature, humidity and soil moisture, or up to 26% when using only temperature inputs. Besides a detailed system architecture, this paper includes a real case scenario implementation and results discussion.

The interaction of natural reactive phosphate with poultry litter may increase the production of forage grasses as a result of phosphorus (P) uptake. This study’s goal was to analyze growth, production and P concentration of diagnostic leaves of forage grasses fertilized by an Arad reactive phosphate + poultry litter association. The experiment employed a 23 factorial, with the following factors: forage grasses (Urochloa brizanthaand Panicum maximum), Arad rates (0 and 50 mg dm-3 P2O5), and poultry litter (0 and 7.5 g dm-3). At the first harvest, the highest dry-matter production of leaves, sheaths + stems and shoots occurred in the interaction P. maximum × Arad × poultry litter. P concentrations in diagnostic leaves as well as number of leaves were similar between forage grasses, but higher in the interaction between Arad + poultry litter when compared to isolated fertilizers. At the second harvest, dry-matter production of shoots and sheaths + stems was higher in the U. brizantha + poultry litter interaction than in other interactions. Compared to the other fertilizers, P concentration in the diagnostic leaves at second harvest was higher in grasses fertilized with poultry litter. At second harvest, the number of leaves and tillers was highest in the U. brizantha + Arad + poultry litter interaction, followed by the Arad + poultry litter interaction. The association of Arad and poultry litter promotes adequate P nutrition and biomass production of forage grasses, and can therefore be considered an important instrument for the establishment of these grasses.

A nanostructured SnTe phase was produced by mechanical alloying after 2 h of milling. Part of the as-milled powder was annealed and its X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern was recorded. The XRD patterns of the as-milled and annealed samples were refined using the Rietveld method. After annealing, partial decomposition of the SnTe phase was observed and corroborated by estimating the mean crystallite size using a Willianson-Hall plot. The Cowley-Warren parameter α SnTe CWfor the first coordination shell was calculated, showing a preference for homopolar pairs. This preference is consistent with the partial decomposition observed. According to the optical absorbance spectra, the band gap energy is inversely proportional to crystallite size, following a decaying exponential function. From the photoacoustic absorption spectroscopy measurements, the thermal diffusivity parameter and the transport properties of as-milled and annealed SnTe powder were determined.

Pleural involvement is the most frequent thoracic complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), usually occurring in patients with known RA. Typical rheumatoid pleural effusion is an exudate characterized by low pH and glucose levels and high LDH activity. Rarely, it has features of pseudochylothorax. Other uncommon complications are pneumothorax, hydropneumothorax, empyema, and bronchopleural fistula. The case of a 51-year-old man with a spontaneous, small, and asymptomatic hydropneumothorax with features of pseudochylothorax is presented. After careful clinical and laboratory evaluation, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and we admitted that the pleural changes were secondary to the connective tissue disease. He started immunosuppressive treatment and maintained stability during follow-up, without need of specific pleural treatment. We hypothesized that the pleural nodule found on the chest computed tomography scan was related with the simultaneous occurrence of pleural effusion and pneumothorax. This is a rare presentation and complication of RA, highlighting the utility of a comprehensive clinical and laboratory evaluation and focusing on the importance of pleural rheumatoid nodules in the pathogenesis of RA pleural disease.

Introduction – A radioactive contamination needs to be quantified in case it eventually occurs. Therefore it is necessary to ensure that the operating conditions of a surface contamination monitor are characterized by determining its detection efficiency. This experimental study aims to determine the detection efficiency of a contamination monitor and evaluate the distance and surface emission rate influence on the detection efficiency. Methodology – A contamination monitor Thermo Mini 900E was tested with reference radiation sources of Carbon – 14 (C-14), Cesium – 137 (Cs-137), Strontium – 90 (Sr-90), Chlorine – 36 (Cl-36) and Americium – 241 (Am-241) with its emission rate traced to the Physikalish Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB). Sources of Sr-90 and C-14 with two different emission rates for each one and distances of 1 to 20mm were used to study its influence in the detection efficiency. Results – With the increasing of distance, the detection efficiency decreases. The most energetic radiation sources have higher detectionefficiency, boasting a 15% decrease over 20mm whereas the sources bearing a smaller efficiency decrease 10%. No influence of the surface emission rate in the detection efficiency was verified. Conclusion – Thus, it is concluded that the detection efficiency of a contamination monitor is dependent of the distance between it and the contamination as well as the type and energy of the radioisotopes present in the contamination.

Introduction – The measurement of occupational exposure to radiation doses can be completed with an electronic personal dosemeter that allows a direct reading and alarm function of the received radiation dose. Due to the energy and dose rate dependence already reported for this type of dosemeter, it is intended, with this work, to determine the response linearity of an Electronic Personal Dosemeter and to study its response behavior to the dose rate and radiation energy. Methodology – The electronic personal dosemeter Vertec Bleeper Sv energy dependency was evaluated by its irradiation with 500 μSv from the radionuclides Cobalt – 60 (60C) and Cesium – 137 (137Cs) as well as by the radiation qualities of the Narrow (N) series: N‑30, N‑40, N‑60, N‑80, N‑100 e N‑120. To investigate the dose rate dependency, the intensities of electric current of 1 mA, 5 mA, 10 mA, 15 mA and 20 mA were applied to the X‑ray tube. Results – There is no relationship between the response of the detector and the radiation energy. For energies below 33 keV there is an underestimation over 50% of the radiation dose measured but the detector presents a linear response for energies under 100 μSv. A dependency on the dose rate is perceived since as the dose rate increases, the response of the individual monitor decreases. There is a smaller decrease for the radiation qualities of N‑30 (1.1%), N‑40 (4.1%) and N‑120 (20.0%). Conclusion – It is concluded that there is a strong dependence of radiation energy and dose rate on the response of an electronic personal dosemeter.

Objective: this work is aimed at knowing the level of physical aptitude and its degree of association, regarding an urban and a rural area, in children from the primary education schools. Methodology:the sample consisted of six schools from the primary education of the county of Fundão: Santa Teresinha school (a central school), and the schools of Valverde, Fatela, Enxames, Alcaria and Peroviseu (peripheral schools). The sample has been selected in order to have a certain number of pupils from a peripheral area and another one from a central area of the city. The total sample is represented by 161 pupils, 76 are female and 85 are male and they are aged between 6 and 10. 85 come from an urban area and 76 come from a rural area. The analysis of the physical aptitude had as a reference the battery Prudential Fitnessgram (2002). Results: According to the results obtained in the anthropometry, boys and girls from rural areas are heavier and taller than the boys and girls from urban areas. Regarding the BMI and body fat, it is males in rural areas that show a higher number of pupils in the healthy zone. As far as females are concerned, it is the urban area that has more pupils in that zone. It was also noticed that there are a huge percentage of girls from the rural area in the thin zone. In the differentiation between genders, boys have better results in physical aptitude and obesity levels. Regarding the influence of the living area, there are obviously better results in the urban area than in the rural area. Our study reveals that there are significant differences in the physical aptitude tests when they were applied at two different moments. Conclusions: After the analysis and interpretation of the results, we can conclude that boys and girls coming from rural areas are taller and heavier than the ones from urban areas and that they exhibit a lower body mass index. When defining the percentage of subjects classified in the “healthy zone”, the BMI numbers in boys from rural areas that are in the healthy zone are higher than those of boys from urban areas. Regarding girls, the ones from urban areas as well as those from rural areas have almost the same percentage in the healthy zone. Concerning fat, it is males in the rural areas that have more pupils in the healthy zone. As for girls, the ones from the urban areas have better results in the three zones, being the healthy zone that has a higher percentage of girls. In the relationship between the genders, boys have better results in the levels of physical aptitude and obesity. In the relationship between the areas, the urban one shows better results. The existence of two periods of analysis allowed us to notice an improvement in all the tests.

Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, a worldwide disease. Experimentation with pigs is necessary for the development of new therapeutic approaches to human diseases. BR-1 mini pigs were intramuscularly infected with T. gondii with tachyzoites (RH strain) or orally infected with cysts (ME-49 strain). Haematology and serum biochemistry were analysed and buffy coat cells were inoculated in mice to determine tachyzoite circulation. No alterations were observed in erythrocyte and platelet values; however, band neutrophils increased seven days after infection with ME-49. Serology of the mice inoculated with pig blood leucocytes revealed circulating ME-49 or RH strain tachyzoites in the pigs' peripheral blood at two and seven or nine days post-infection. The tachyzoites were also directly observed in blood smears from the infected pigs outside and inside leucocytes for longer periods. Alanine-aminotransferase was high at days 21 and 32 in the RH infected pigs. After 90 days, the pigs were euthanised and their tissue samples were processed and inoculated into mice. The mice serology revealed the presence of parasites in the hearts, ileums and mesenteric lymph nodes of the pigs. Additionally, cysts in the mice were only observed after pig heart tissue inoculation. The infected pigs presented similar human outcomes with relatively low pathogenicity and the BR-1 mini pig model infected with ME-49 is suitable to monitor experimental toxoplasmosis.

A characterisation of the dust transported from North Africa deserts to the Cape Verde Islands, including particle size distribution, concentrations and optical properties, for a complete annual cycle (the year 2011), is presented and discussed. The present analysis includes annual simulations of the BSC-DREAM8b and the NMMB/BSC-Dust models, 1-yr of surface aerosol measurements performed within the scope of the CV-DUST Project, AERONET direct-sun observations, and back-trajectories. A seasonal intrusion of dust from North West Africa affects Cape Verde at surface levels from October till March when atmospheric concentrations in Praia are very high (PM10 observed concentrations reach hourly values up to 710 µg/m3). The air masses responsible for the highest aerosol concentrations in Cape Verde describe a path over the central Saharan desert area in Algeria, Mali and Mauritania before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. During summer, dust from North Africa is transported towards the region at higher altitudes, yielding to high aerosol optical depths. The BSC-DREAM8b and the NMMB/BSC-Dust models, which are for the first time evaluated for surface concentration and size distribution in Africa for an annual cycle, are able to reproduce the majority of the dust episodes. Results from NMMB/BSC-Dust are in better agreement with observed particulate matter concentrations and aerosol optical depth throughout the year. For this model, the comparison between observed and modelled PM10 daily averaged concentrations yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.77 and a 29.0 µg/m3 ‘bias’, while for BSC-DREAM8b the correlation coefficient was 0.63 and ‘bias’ 32.9 µg/m3. From this value, 12–14 µg/m3 is due to the sea salt contribution, which is not considered by the model. In addition, the model does not take into account biomass-burning particles, secondary pollutants and local sources (i.e., resuspension). These results roughly allow for the establishment of a yearly contribution of 42% of dust from North African deserts for PM10 levels observed in Cape Verde.

Este artigo analisa os sentidos dos termos que compõem a palavra bioética e entende que esses sentidos têm consequências nas dimensões de investigação para a disciplina. Nossa argumentação pretende demonstrar uma tautologia na composição do termo “bioética”, seja na composição do termo usando palavras do antigo pensamento grego, como bios e ethos, seja usando termos como bio e ética, já consagrados no século XVIII e assim incorporados à ciência moderna em consolidação. Não propomos nenhum outro termo em substituição, mas indicamos a possibilidade de uma leitura empobrecida do sentido da Bioética, por conta de uma tautologia “viciosa” na composição moderna. Nossa proposta é escutar de maneira grega as palavras gregas buscando o significado “perdido” de êthos e bios de maneira que se possa fazer ressoar seus sentidos originais no programa da Bioética. Uma tautologia ainda, no entanto, virtuosa.