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An essential aspect of higher education institutions' academic curricula for engineering courses is the students' industrial internship programs. In the literature, it is well accepted that such programs provide valuable learning outcomes and increase the graduates' employment prospects. Thus, it is paramount to evaluate the internship programs' quality to identify opportunities to improve their design and implementation. However, that evaluation typically depends on self-designed academic assessment surveys of questionable validity. The purpose of this paper is to assess engineering students' perceptions of their internship experiences. For that purpose, the validation of a recently adapted version of the Work Experience Questionnaire (WEQ) was carried out on a sample of 447 engineering students that participated in industrial internship programs offered by Portuguese public universities and polytechnic schools. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to confirm the suitability of the model proposed by the WEQ's authors on this study's sample. The psychometric qualities were evaluated through convergent and discriminant validity. The results showed that the model fit the sample well, and convergent and discriminant validity was established. The general competencies subscale was the most important for the participants--specifically, the competency of solving problems. Differences concerning the WEQ and gender, company size, and compensation were found and discussed. This study provides researchers in the field with a new tool validated explicitly for engineering students.

In light of ongoing controversies concerning expressive arts education in Portuguese primary schools, the life history of one primary-school teacher who lives and works in the city of Porto (Portugal) is the starting point for problematizing this issue from the perspective of lived experiences. Data collection comprises oral reports, visual materials, and emotional accounts. Feelings were shared in a relational environment framed by ethical commitments. Through these processes, it was possible to create a narrative within the framework of a biographical narrative research approach. The main purpose was to highlight the voice of one primary-school teacher whose life history is blended with the foundations and practices of artistic expression in basic education--such as language, communication, knowledge, and lived experiences--making it an important starting point for reconceptualizing expressive arts education. The results showed that this reconceptualization can be achieved through three dimensions: seducing people, mediating places, and governing senses.

The present work intends to analyse how pre-school aged children experience the re/construction of a 'gender identity' and the processes that create it as an essential, factual, and unchangeable reality -- therefore, suspect. Given the growing importance of 'gender identity development' in child development literature, as well as the arising voices of 'gender non-conforming' childhoods, this theme seems particularly relevant when faced with the limitations imposed by macrosocial discourses of cisheteronormativity. Using grounded theory and ethnography, the re/construction processes were observed in a mixed-age kindergarten classroom in Porto and analysed through the feminist lens of gender performativity. It was possible to observe the following dimensions: clothing and accessories as performative marks of gender; beauty and its role in constructing femininities; play as a regulatory fiction, that is both shaped by and constructs gender differences; gender borders and how they can be reinstated, negotiated or defied.

This paper assumes that formative processes are not limited to the school context or model but that other life contexts and experiences, even if not intentionally, have educational effects. These informal formative contexts and experiences can play a key role individual´s development, resulting not only in superficial changes, but also in deep changes in terms of subjectivity and identity. Our research involves clandestine militants of the Portuguese Communist Party during the dictatorship, and explores the type of knowledge acquired during their hiding experience (1940-1974) that allowed them to resist and survive over long periods. As our focus is the experience of women, based on narrative discourses of women (or about them) we will consider the role and status of women in hiding. The discourses were collected through several published autobiographical narratives and mainly interviews where we tried to identify the learning processes, the people seen as significant for knowledge acquisition, and also how knowing, knowing how to do and knowing how to be were constructed during living in hiding.

The Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production (TCT-DP, Urban & Jellen, 1986) is one of the most used instruments for the assessment of creative potential. Few studies exist regarding its factorial structure, and all of them were limited to using an exploratory approach. The aim of this research was to assess the factorial structure of the TCT-DP (Form A) for undergraduate and postgraduate Portuguese students. Two studies were performed, where Study 1 (967 participants) consisted of an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) that yielded a 2-factor solution and Study 2 (920 participants) consisted of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) used to test the fit and compare the suitability of the 2 factorial solutions with alternative models. The 2-factor model exhibited good and acceptable indices of fit. The factors represented Innovativeness and Adaptiveness. This model was called Two Tracks of Thought (TTT). Its structure suggests the importance of both non-conventional and conventional thinking for the creative process.

Individuals express their creativity through a variety of thinking and creating styles (Wechsler, 2006, 2007). These constructs underlie the Thinking and Creating Styles Scale (TCSS), which is used to identify individuals' creating styles. The aim of this research is to assess the factorial structure of the Portuguese version of the TCSS. Two studies were performed using 414 and 369 Portuguese participants with mean ages of 29.25 and 29.35 years, respectively. Study 1 consisted of an exploratory factor analysis that yielded a three-factor solution. Study 2 consisted of a confirmatory factor analysis used to test the fit and compare the suitability of several factorial solutions. The three-factor model (Non-Conforming/Transformer, Cautious/Reflexive, and Logical/Objective) with the best statistical fit was called the Troika Model. In this model, each factor had five items and showed good and acceptable indices of fit. This new three-factor structure results in a more efficient and attractive version of the TCSS: the Creating and Thinking Styles-Troika Scale (CTS-TS). Future studies should use the CTS-TS and other creativity assessment instruments to explore the creativity level and style dichotomy.

Objective assessment of physical activity (PA) using accelerometers and pedometers has become more accurate and common practice in the study of childhood overweight. The study aimed: i) to compare PA levels and body shape of boys and girls, and assess compliance of active children with the PA recommendation; ii) to analyse associations between the risk of overweight and the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in children. The sample comprised 395 children (198 girls) aged 6–10 years. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated subsequently. A tri-axial accelerometer was used to obtain seven consecutive days of MVPA, as well as the weekly time being sedentary. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the afore-mentioned relationship among the risk of obesity and MVPA, controlling for confounders. After controlling for wearing time, boys spent significantly more minutes in the moderate-to-vigorous portion of PA than their female counterparts. About 47% of boys were active on week days by achieve the mean value of 60 min/day of MVPA; corresponding percentage for the weekend was just 32%. Among girls, only 22% were active on week days and 29% at the weekend. MVPA was not significantly associated with the risk of being overweight nor in female neither in male children. The final regression model revealed that girls of mothers with high educational level were less likely to be classified as overweight girls. Findings revealed no significantly relation between MVPA and obesity risk among Portuguese children. Future research should extend similar design to other lifestyle features of children to clarify potential predictors of being overweight at early ages. • The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends active behaviours to manage the concerning prevalence of childhood obesity. • The majority of children of both sexes did not meet the current daily physical activity (PA) guidelines. • The worst prevalence rates of active children were observed at the weekend (i.e. just about 30% of children were active). • Girls of mothers with high educational level were less likely to be classified as overweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncertainties about COVID-19 require evaluating national responses to identify successes and failures in the pandemic control. This article analyzes Portugal´s response, particularly the contribution of its health and surveillance systems in dealing with the pandemic. An integrative literature review was conducted, including consultations of observatories, documents, and institutional websites. Portugal´s response was agile and showed unified technical and political coordination, including surveillance structure using telemedicine. The reopening was supported by high testing and low positivity rates and strict rules. However, the relaxation of measures as of November/2020 resulted in an increase in cases, collapsing the health system. The response involved a consistent surveillance strategy with innovative monitoring tools, which, combined with high population adherence to vaccination, led to overcoming that moment and kept hospitalization and death rates at new disease waves at low levels. Thus, the Portuguese case discloses the risks of disease resurgence with the flexibility of measures and the population´s exhaustion in the face of restrictive measures and new variants, but also the importance of articulation between technical coordination, the political sphere, and the scientific committee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflects on a collection of papers that examined the Association for Teacher Education in Europe's scenario model, suggesting that they indicated a trend toward a more pragmatic and individualistic approach in society that influences teacher education. However, these two trends (pragmatism and idealism) were not always strongly connected in the case studies, and the paper cautions against drawing strong conclusions from the different countries' reflections. (SM)

Background: Social Prescribing (SP) is an innovative strategy to respond to the non-clinical health needs of the population. A Social Prescribing Local System (SPLS) can be defined as a set of joined community, health, and social organizations to foster SP-oriented activities. This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of an SPLS implemented in a Mediterranean country, to promote health and wellbeing and contribute to active and healthy aging.Methods: A mixed-methods approach was followed, including three sequential components: 1) Cross-sectional online survey targeting health professionals (HP) working in a primary health care cluster, Portugal's southern region; 2) Pilot study implementing an on-the-job training program for HP, designed to meet identified training needs in the survey; 3) Focus group (FG) with the HP who participated in the pilot study, two individual interviews, with an elderly patient and a community provider for assessing the satisfaction with the pilot test.Results: Sixty-five HP completed the survey; of these, 13 completed the theoretical part of the on-the-job training program; and six (out of these 13) completed the full program. Five HP participated in the FG, one patient and one community provider were interviewed. The surveyed HP perceived as facilitators to implement SP: an automatic system of notifications to prompt the use of SP, contribute to patient satisfaction, human and community resources' stability. The survey also highlighted barriers to SP implementation: length of appointments, shortage of human resources, data records confidentiality, low patient adherence rates, bureaucratic issues, time constraints, and financial costs. Participants were satisfied with the training. Identified SPLS implementation benefits were grouped into four dimensions (from the qualitative approach): gains for patients' health and wellbeing, support for the health services, sustainability of the community resources, and HP' professional satisfaction.Conclusions: Our study took the first steps towards the implementation of an SPLS. Findings reinforce that training HP in SP and on-the-job training seems feasible. This approach was well received and appears to represent a suitable and sustainable strategy. It can promote professional satisfaction, support health services, contribute to the stability of community resources, improve health and promote active and healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The British Council Global Cataloging Service was initiated in 1980 to reduce duplication of cataloging same titles in council libraries abroad. Each of 56 council libraries participating in system receives list of new accessions and updated microfiche catalog. Portugal was one of the first six countries chosen to test the system. (EJS)

Copyright of Revista Española de Sociología is the property of Federacion Espanola de Sociologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The World Health Organization recommend the Equity-Focused Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as a means to assess the impact of social and economic policies on the health of populations, and acknowledges their contribution to health inequality. We describe the application of the Equity-focused Impact Assessment methodology on the Portuguese law on Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control (Law No. 37/2007). A rapid assessment was carried out to issue recommendations which could be incorporated into the law during a revision in 2014. Quantitative (consumption and health status indicators; equity analysis) and qualitative (Focus Group) approaches were taken to evaluate the impact of the law and formulate recommendations. Young people, men and women of low socioeconomic status, and pregnant women were identified as requiring specific and appropriate interventions to prevent smoking and support smoking cessation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six campaigns were performed in North Channel (CNOR), Barcas Channel (BC) and lower zones (EZ) of Tagus estuary to better understand methylmercury (MMHg) and mercury (Hg) transport and fate. Highest concentrations of particulate and dissolved MMHg were observed in CNOR in bottom waters and in the warmest months. The MMHg distribution coefficients between particulate and dissolved fractions were mainly influenced by particulate matter and dissolved organic carbon. The values were slightly higher in summer than in winter and in CNOR. Overall, results established that the tidal effect is a main driver on the transport and fate of Hg and MMHg from CNOR to outer areas, evidenced by the exportation of the Hg species from CNOR to the upstream station in high tide and to the downstream one in low tide. Therefore, CNOR may be considered a source of Hg and MMHg to the outer estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frailty is a state of increased vulnerability with multisystem loss of physiologic reserves and decreased response to stressors, predicting adverse health outcomes. The phenotype of frailty is characterized by unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, weakness (low grip strength), slow walking speed, and low physical activity. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence and characteristics of frailty in a sample of institutionalized older people to identify a target intervention group. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional and correlational study. Participants were 226 men and women living in nursing home facilities. Frailty was assessed using the phenotype of frailty. Sociodemographic, health status, physical and cognitive function, and depression data were collected. Relations between variables were analyzed using parametric (t test, Pearson coefficient) and nonparametric (chi-square and Spearman coefficient) tests. A multiple linear regression model was applied to assess the relationship between the frailty criteria and a set of predictor variables. Results: Assessment of frailty was possible in 35.3% of the subjects and 41.5% were found frail, 52.1% prefrail, and 6.4% nonfrail. Three frailty criteria had higher prevalence: weakness (76.6%), low physical activity (61.7%), and low walking speed (52.1%). The number of frailty criteria per subject was significantly correlated with cognitive status and depressive symptoms, and there was weak, though significant, correlation with the Barthel Index. Participants in frailty tests had a better functional and cognitive state than those unable to participate. No significant difference in depressive symptoms was found between these 2 groups. The multiple regression model explained only 21.6% of the variation of frailty. Conclusions: Subjects revealed low social status, advanced age comorbidity, and multifactorial incapacity. In a nursing home setting, frail and prefrail elderly stand out as a subset in the sample with higher functional status, as opposed to the usual findings in community-dwelling older adults. These facts should help recognize them as a target intervention group, as frail elderly are vulnerable and their needs might be underestimated in a setting where highly dependent people represent a huge burden for caretakers. Targeted interventions may improve their condition, prevent adverse health events, and preserve quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lactones belong to a class of organic compounds relevant to the flavors and fragrances industry by imparting fruity, creamy, and aromatic notes with application in various products in the food, beverage, and cosmetics. The aim of this review was providing the status of the published research and the panorama of patents filed under biotechnological production of aroma lactones (BPAL). Therefore, a bibliometric analysis and a technological prospection were carried out on the BPAL between 2000 and 2022. These tools permitted to identify relevant publications, research networks, and prominent journals, authors, institutions, and countries. One hundred and nine scientific publications were recovered in Scopus® and Web of Science™, while in 1161 patent documents were reviewed in The Lens platform. The results showed that both scientific and technological productions on BPAL have been developing in recent years. Biotechnology Letters and Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology were the two journals with more BPAL research publications. Portugal stood out in the number of scientific publications, and China had the highest number of patent applications. Shanghai Institute of Technology and Konkuk University have not only excelled in scientific production, but also in production technology. The low prevalence of international cooperation consolidated networks was observed. Initially, the research focused on the production of γ-decalactone from the biotransformation of methyl ricinoleate by Yarrowia lipolytica yeast. This review revealed that, in recent years, the researchers have also investigated the production of other lactones, e. g. γ-dodecalactone, from non-hydroxylated fatty acids using enzymatic hydrolysis. [Display omitted] • Lactones are aroma compounds used in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. • The number of scientific publications and patents on lactones has increased in recent years. • Prominent journals, authors, institutions, and countries were identified in the research field. • A small international cooperation network was observed in the field studied. • Potential new trends for research were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Portuguese Journal of Public Health / Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública is the property of Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública - Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Seasonal and spatial variations of dissolved and particulate methylmercury were evaluated for the first time in sediment cores from the Tagus Estuary. Results showed the highest MeHg concentrations in summer months indicating that the “seasonally” methylation process occurs not only at the topmost layers of the sediments but also in the deeper layers of the sediment column. The proportion of MeHg (up to 92%) in some of our pore water samples was higher than values reported in the literature for other estuaries suggesting that the sedimentary environment in the Tagus tends to favour Hg methylation. This work points to the importance of seasonal variation of the MeHg production in sediment cores. In physically dominated estuaries this enhances seasonal MeHg production in deeper sediments that can have serious ecological impacts due to resuspension or advection processes under extreme events by the increase of MeHg transported to the water column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Comunicaçõe Geológicas is the property of Laboratorio Nacional de Energia e Geologia, I.P. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management / Revista de Gestão Costeira Integrada is the property of Associacao Portuguesa dos Recursos Hidricos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article discusses the emergence of feminism in Portugal with special emphasis on the actions taken in confronting gender violence. Starting with the history of feminist movements and its implications for the development of the country, it maps public policies, legal measures and victim support institutions/services to better understand the phenomena of violence against women and to identify strategies, adopted in the last decades, to confront it.Presenting a synthesis of some Portuguese studies on women and violence, this article mirrors the increasing interest in the study of violence against women in the academic context and especially in the context of gender studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the development of activities for the dissemination of science and scientific work there are difficulties and challenges. People get in touch with science in different contexts, as in their workplace or their social life. However, it is in school that the largest number of interaction activities occurs, through communication and education practices. And high school is probably a key context to the promotion of science among young people. We have conducted an exploratory study on the image of science within Portuguese high school students, in order to collect useful data for communicating and attracting them to higher education. For this purpose, we have gathered a research team that includes two researchers of Basic Sciences (responsible for bringing to the project their vision and experience on science communication activities over the years) and two researchers of Communication Sciences (in charge of designing the study and its conceptual framework). This interdisciplinary team has been crossing experiences and knowledges gathered from their contact with communication science practices and their research in strategic communication. Within this context, we have developed a pilot survey that analyses the image of science and scientists hold by high school students within University of Minho's area of influence (north of Portugal). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Eletrônica de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Eletronica de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Relações Internacionais is the property of Relacoes Internacionais and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents a study on the microbiological quality of drinking water during the adoption of the European Drinking Water Directive 1998/83 between 1996 and 2005 in Bragança, Northwest Portugal. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined safe water as water that does not cause hazard to health during consumption. The 1998/89 directive brought in changes in the microbiological control of drinking water. The study used Bragança's Public Health Laboratory (BPHL) to analyze the microbiological quality of the water. Moreover, it detailed the materials, methods, and results of the study wherein microbiological quality improved.

Abstract: A whole body counting system is in operation at the Nuclear and Technological Institute, in Portugal. Computational methods were used to determine the detection efficiency; a well-known source of bias in modelling the behaviour of a HPGe detector is the insufficient knowledge regarding the thickness of the lithium dead layer. In order to accurately simulate the detection system and to achieve agreement between the Monte Carlo results and the performed measurements, the value for the dead layer thickness was optimized. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Portuguese Journal of Public Health / Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública is the property of Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública - Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: This paper analyses the impact of the 2003 European heatwave on excessive human mortality in Portugal, a country that presents a relatively high level of exposure to heatwave events. A total of 2399 excessive deaths are estimated in continental Portugal, which implies an increase of 58% over the expected deaths. When these values are split by gender, it is seen that women increase (79%), was considerably higher than that recorded for men (41%). The increment of mortality due to this heatwave was detected for all the 18 districts of the country, but its magnitude was significantly higher in the inner districts close to the Spanish border. When we split by gender all districts reveal significant mortality increments for women, while the impact in men''s excess deaths is not significant over 3 districts. Several temperature derived indices were used and evaluated in their capacity to explain, at the regional level, the excessive mortality (ratio between observed and expected deaths) by gender. It is shown that the best relationship is found for the total exceedance of extreme days, an index combining the length of the heatwave and its intensity. Both variables hold a linear relationship with r =0.79 for women and a poorer adjustment (r =0.50) for men. Additionally, availability of mortality data split by age also allowed obtaining detailed information on the structure of the population in risk, namely by showing that statistically significant increments are concentrated in the last three age classes (45–64, 65–74 and 75 or more). The use of air conditioning systems in some Portuguese hospitals had a major impact on the decrease (up to 40%) in excessive mortality values. A finer approach is relevant for prevention strategies, since it allows to identify better the target population of any preventive strategy regional and national authorities may be interested to implement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Portuguese Journal of Public Health / Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública is the property of Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública - Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study we evaluate the ability of an in situ bioassay with Chironomus riparius larvae, using larval development and growth as endpoints, to biomonitor water quality and to assess the biological recovery of metal contaminated freshwater ecosystems of mine areas that are subject of restoration measures. The bioassay was carried out in streams located near an abandoned goldmine in North Portugal, throughout an environmental rehabilitation of the mine (2002–2004). During this period, a decrease in the inhibition of larval growth in the metal contaminated stream was observed. The bioassay was also performed in streams located near an active tungsten mine in Central Portugal. Larval growth and development were highly inhibited in the stream that receives acid drainage from the tungsten mine and treated water from the AMD treatment station. The results indicate that the bioassay can be used to evaluate the efficiency of environmental restoration measures in mining areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Portuguese Journal of Public Health / Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública is the property of Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública - Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Portuguese Journal of Public Health / Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública is the property of Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública - Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The freshwater cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii has become increasingly prevalent in freshwaters worldwide. This species is a concern from a water quality perspective due to its known ability to produce a potent hepatotoxic alkaloid cylindrospermopsin, which has been implicated in outbreaks of human sickness and cattle mortality. C. raciborskii strains isolated from Brazil have also been found to produce the highly toxic paralytic shellfish poisons (PSPs). This article reports the toxicity of four strains of C. raciborskii taken from three reservoirs and one river in Portugal, as well as the occurrence of this species in other water bodies used for potable and recreational purposes. All four strains grown in pure culture in the laboratory were found to be toxic in the mouse bioassay at 8–24 h after intraperitoneal administration of single doses ranging from 1337 to 1572 mg kg−1 Histological examination indicated that liver damage was the primary lesion; in addition, there was inflammation in the intestine. HPLC/MS tests for the presence of cylindrospermopsin, microcystins, and PSP toxins were negative. The available evidence suggests that another toxin may be present. This constitutes the first report of toxic C. raciborskii in Europe and draws attention to the need for increased monitoring of this cyanobacterium in water bodies used for potable and recreational purposes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Revista Portuguesa de Ciências do Desporto is the property of Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Desporto and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Black shales are commonly spatially associated with metal-rich deposits, wherein organic matter in these rocks may condition or influence the processes related with the concentration of metals and formation of ore deposits. In the Ossa-Morena Zone (South of Portugal), namely in the Sousel-Barrancos metallogenic belt, several Cu mineralized veins occurs, being generally hosted in Silurian metasedimentary units mainly composed of black and grey shales, with interbedded lyddites and black quartzites. This research aims to contribute to the study of the association between those Silurian black shales and the Cu ore deposition in the Sousel-Barrancos metallogenic belt. The petrographic, geochemical and mineralogical analysis of black shales was performed to characterize the organic and inorganic fractions, to investigate elements concentration and its mode of occurrence. The data allow to identify the spatial pattern of thermal maturation of these black shales related to the variability of metamorphic processes, and the studied samples collected in drill cores from Miguel Vacas deposit also allow to identify an irregular pattern of maturation associated to the pathway of hydrothermal fluids. A significant Cu enrichment in black shales in the supergene enrichment domains were identified and data seems to indicate that Cu concentration is not directly related with organic carbon content, probably indicating a distinct source for Cu content. The mobilization of hydrothermal fluids, possibly of magmatic source, contributed to the discrepant maturation of organic matter in black shales. • Importance of organic matter in Silurian black shales related to ore deposits. • Relationship between black shales and ore forming processes. • Spatial pattern of thermal maturation of black shales related to metamorphic processes. • Mobilization of hydrothermal fluids contributed to the maturation of organic matter. • Black shales enriched in metals during post-depositional processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is driven by inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing. The National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS) is an Australian-developed auditing platform to assist in the assessments of antimicrobial quality by antimicrobial stewardship programmes using consensus-based definitions. The NAPS has demonstrated to be transferable to other countries. Its adaptation to Portugal could improve knowledge about the quality of antimicrobial prescribing in the country., Objectives: To translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Australian Hospital NAPS appropriateness assessment definitions of antimicrobial prescribing for Portugal., Methods: International recommendations on translation and adaptation of instruments were followed. Two panels of experts participated in the process, using Zoom® for discussions and interviews, and Google Forms® for assessing vignettes. A native English-speaking person proficient in Portuguese conducted the back-translation. SPSS v.28 and Excel® were used for validity calculation., Results: The Portuguese version was well accepted, its implementation being perceived as desirable and feasible by the experts. Validation process showed a Fleiss' κ score of 0.483 (95% CI, 0.415-0.551, P < 0.005) for appropriateness, and an average agreement with the Australian NAPS team of 0.8 and 0.9, respectively, for appropriateness and reasons for inappropriateness., Conclusions: The Portuguese version of the Australian Hospital NAPS appropriateness assessment definitions of antimicrobial prescribing, the first to be translated from English, was deemed non-inferior to the original, was well accepted, considered to be desirable and feasible, and could inspire other countries, particularly other Portuguese-speaking countries, to adapt and validate them in their own contexts, reinforcing the possibility of transferring NAPS use beyond Australia., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.)

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) continues to be a public health problem due to its epidemic potential, affecting mostly children. We aimed to present a detailed description of the epidemiology of IMD in Portugal, including insights into the genetic diversity of Neisseria meningitidis strains. Epidemiological analysis included data from the Portuguese National Reference Laboratory of Neisseria meningitidis during 2003 to 2020. Since 2012, N. meningitidis isolates have also been assessed for their susceptibility to antibiotics and were characterized by whole genome sequencing. During 2003-2020, 1392 confirmed cases of IMD were analyzed. A decrease in the annual incidence rate was observed, ranging from 1.99 (2003) to 0.39 (2020), with an average case fatality rate of 7.1%. Serogroup B was the most frequent (69.7%), followed by serogroups C (9.7%), Y (5.7%), and W (2.6%). Genomic characterization of 329 isolates identified 20 clonal complexes (cc), with the most prevalent belonging to serogroup B cc41/44 (26.3%) and cc213 (16.3%). Isolates belonging to cc11 were predominantly from serogroups W (77.3%) and C (76.5%), whereas cc23 was dominant from serogroup Y (65.7%). Over the past 4 years (2017-2020), we observed an increasing trend of cases assigned to cc213, cc32, and cc11. Regarding antimicrobial susceptibility, all isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone and 61.8% were penicillin-nonsusceptible, whereas 1.4% and 1.0% were resistant to ciprofloxacin and rifampicin. This is the first detailed study on the epidemiology and genomics of invasive N. meningitidis infections in Portugal, providing relevant data to public health policy makers for a more effective control of this disease., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Reflecting people with diabetes' self-management activities is often required in both research and clinical practice. This study evaluated the measurement properties of the Portuguese version of the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire-Revised (DSMQ-R) on a sample of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Methods: Translation and cultural adaptation were conducted according to guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation and validation of healthcare measurement instruments. A cross-sectional study was performed including 365 people with T2DM in primary care. Reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity were analyzed., Results: The total scale of the translated DSMQ-R revealed sufficient internal consistency (alpha = 0.82), and most of the subscales performed adequately. The exploratory factor structure was robust, and confirmatory analysis showed a good model fit with the scale structure of the original scale. The scale scores correlated with the participants' last HbA1c estimates, supporting convergent validity, and convergence was confirmed by the adequate average variance extracted., Conclusions: The Portuguese version of the DSMQ-R is a reliable and valid tool for gauging self-management behaviors in people with T2DM and their relationship with glycemic values., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Social prescribing (SP) is a non-clinical approach, most commonly based in healthcare units, that aims to address non-medical health-related social needs by connecting individuals with community-based services. This qualitative study explores the perception of Portuguese older adults regarding the benefits of SP and their willingness to participate in SP initiatives., Methods: Three face-to-face focus group sessions were conducted with 23 participants in different cities in Portugal. Open and semi-open questions were used to guide the discussions and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data., Results: The participants recognized the potential benefits of SP for older adults, including diversifying leisure activities, improving mental health, and complementing existing support systems. They highlighted the need for external support, usually in the form of link workers, to facilitate personalized referrals and consider individual characteristics and preferences. While some participants expressed reluctance to engage in SP due to their existing busy schedules and a perceived sense of imposition, others showed openness to having new experiences and recognized the potential value of SP in promoting activity. Barriers to participation, including resistance to change, mobility issues, and family responsibilities, were identified., Conclusions: The study emphasizes the importance of a person-centered and co-designed approach to SP, involving older adults in the planning and implementation of interventions. The findings provide valuable insights for the development of SP programs tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of older adults in Portugal, ultimately promoting active and healthy aging. Future research should consider the perspectives of family doctors and include a broader representation of older adults from diverse geographic areas., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Climate change has increased the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves, posing a serious threat to public health. Although the link between high temperatures and premature mortality has been extensively studied, the comprehensive quantification of heatwave effects on morbidity remains underexplored., Methods: In this observational study, we assessed the relationship between heatwaves and daily hospital admissions at a county level in Portugal. We considered all major diagnostic categories and age groups (<18 years, 18-64 years, and ≥65 years), over a 19-year period from 2000 to 2018, during the extended summer season, defined as May 1, to Sept 30. We did a comprehensive geospatial analysis, integrating over 12 million hospital admission records with heatwave events indexed by the Excess Heat Factor (EHF), covering all 278 mainland counties. We obtained data from the Hospital Morbidity Database and E-OBS daily gridded meteorological data for Europe from 1950 to present derived from in-situ observations. To estimate the effect of heatwaves on hospital admissions, we applied negative binomial regression models at both national and county levels., Findings: We found a statistically significant overall increase in daily hospital admissions during heatwave days (incidence rate ratio 1·189 [95% CI 1·179-1·198]; p<0·0001). All age groups were affected, with children younger than 18 years being the most affected (21·7% [20·6-22·7] increase in admissions; p<0·0001), followed by the working-age (19·7% [18·7-20·7]; p<0·0001) and elderly individuals (17·2% [16·2-18·2]; p<0·0001). All 25 major disease diagnostic categories showed significant increases in hospital admissions, particularly burns (34·3% [28·7-40·1]; p<0·0001), multiple significant trauma (26·8% [22·2-31·6]; p<0·0001), and infectious and parasitic diseases (25·4% [23·5-27·3]; p<0·0001). We also found notable increases in endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (25·1% [23·4-26·8]; p<0·0001), mental diseases and disorders (23·0% [21·1-24·8]; p<0·0001), respiratory diseases (22·4% [21·2-23·6]; p<0·0001), and circulatory system disorders (15·8% [14·7-16·9]; p<0·0001)., Interpretation: Our results provide statistically significant evidence of the association between heatwaves and increased hospitalisations across all age groups and for all major causes of disease. To our knowledge, this is the first study to estimate the full extent of heatwaves' impact on hospitalisations using the EHF index over a 19-year period, encompassing an entire country, and spanning 25 disease categories during multiple heatwave events. Our data offer crucial information to guide policy makers in effectively and efficiently allocating resources to address the profound health-care consequences resulting from climate change., Funding: None., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADR), both preventable and non-preventable, are frequent and pose a significant burden. This study aimed to produce up-to-date estimates for ADR rates in hospitals, in Portugal, from 2010 to 2018. In addition, it explores possible pitfalls when crosswalking between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM code sets for ADR identification., Methods: The Portuguese Hospital Morbidity Database was used to identify hospital episodes (outpatient or inpatient) with at least one ICD code of ADR. Since the study period spanned from 2010 to 2018, both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM codes based on previously published studies were used to define episodes. This was an exploratory study, and descriptive statistics were used to provide ADR rates and summarise episode features for the full period (2010-2018) as well as for the ICD-9-CM (2010-2016) and ICD -10-CM (2017-2018) eras., Results: Between 2010 and 2018, ADR occurred in 162,985 hospital episodes, corresponding to 1.00% of the total number of episodes during the same period. Higher rates were seen in the oldest age groups. In the same period, the mean annual rate of episodes related to ADR was 174.2/100,000 population. The episode rate (per 100,000 population) was generally higher in males, except in young adults (aged '15-20', '25-30' and '30-35' years), although the overall frequency of ADR in hospital episodes was higher in females., Conclusions: Despite the ICD-10-CM transition, administrative health data in Portugal remain a feasible source for producing up-to-date estimates on ADR in hospitals. There is a need for future research to identify target recipients for preventive interventions and improve medication safety practices in Portugal., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study aims to assess the active aging awareness of older adults in mainland Portugal and their levels of overall well-being and to identify social and health-related factors., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 613 older adults, aged 65 or older, who participated in the PROKnos - Knowing Social Prescribing needs of the elderly study in Portugal. The questionnaire consisted of the Active Ageing Awareness Questionnaire and the World Health Organization - Five Well-Being Index, as well as sociodemographic, economic, and health status questions. Correlation coefficients, t-tests for independent samples, and one-way ANOVA were used to explore potential associations between variables., Results: The active aging awareness levels were significantly higher for women ( p = 0.031), and those who were younger ( p = 0.011), more educated ( p < 0.001), had a better financial situation ( p < 0.001), and had better health ( p < 0.001). The same pattern was found for well-being, except in relation to gender, as men had higher levels ( p  = 0.016). These variables were found to be correlated., Discussion: Even though active aging is an important strategy to implement, it is indispensable to consider the perceptions and conditions that need to be in place before that. This study reveals that several social and health-related factors are associated with well-being and active aging awareness, as well as the differences between groups that exist in mainland Portugal in relation to that. This emphasizes how vital it is to address social inequalities in active aging efforts, which are not necessarily uncovered when only considering actual active aging measures., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Costa, Henriques, Alarcão, Henriques, Madeira, Virgolino, Sousa, Feteira-Santos, Arriaga, Rocha and Nogueira.)

Commuting flows and long-distance travel are important spreading factors of viruses and particularly airborne ones. Therefore, it is relevant to examine the association among diverse mobility scenarios and the spatial dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 cases. We intended to analyze the patterns of virus spreading linked to different mobility scenarios, in order to better comprehend the effect of the lockdown measures, and how such measures can be better informed. We simulated the effects of mobility restrictions in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 amongst the municipalities of two metropolitan areas, Lisbon (LMA) and Porto (PMA). Based on an adapted SEIR (Suscetible-Exposed-Infected-Removed) model, we estimated the number of new daily infections during one year, according to different mobility scenarios: restricted to essential activities, industrial activities, public transport use, and a scenario with unrestricted mobility including all transport modes. The trends of new daily infections were further explored using time-series clustering analysis, using dynamic time warping. Mobility restrictions resulted in lower numbers of new daily infections when compared to the unrestricted mobility scenario, in both metropolitan areas. Between March and September 2020, the official number of new infections followed overall a similar timeline to the one simulated considering only essential activities. At the municipal level, trends differ amongst the two metropolitan areas. The analysis of the effects of mobility in virus spread within different municipalities and regions could help tailoring future strategies and increase the public acceptance of eventual restrictions., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The knowledge of long-term informal care is particularly interesting for social and health measures related to ageing. This study aims to analyze how Portugal differs from Denmark regarding long-term informal care, specifically referring to personal care received by older people. A cross-sectional study was developed in Portugal and Denmark through the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 2015, with a total of 2891 participants. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were performed. The findings suggest a significant association for older people from Portugal who receive long-term informal care from non-household caregivers and household caregivers. Moreover, as they age and are from Portugal, their availability to receive long-term informal care from non-household caregivers increases. Furthermore, older people in Portugal are more likely to receive long-term informal care from a household caregiver. It is important to take a closer look at long-term informal care in both countries and think about healthy ageing policies in the current context of the ageing population. This study provides knowledge about disaggregated health data on ageing in the European region, helping to fill research gaps related to older people.