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The theme of this article is the official crisis communication of the Portuguese Presidency (Presidência da República Portuguesa -- PRP) during the forest fires that occurred in June and in October 2017, respectively known as the "tragedy of Pedrógão Grande" and the "October fires". The fires of 2017 were the most harmful in Portuguese history and received wide coverage in the international media. That year, Portugal was the country that most suffered with fires, according to an European Union report (2018), accounting for about 90% of deaths caused by this type of fire in the entire area covered by the report. The main theoretical basis of this study is situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) (Coombs, 2007). In SCCT, Coombs (2007) identified the variables involved in a crisis and presented the most appropriate response strategies to be applied to each crisis type. Through the discourse analysis method, we described and compared the Portuguese Presidency's communication on the management of these two crises of similar origins (forest fires), only four months apart (June and October 2017). Our aim is to contribute to an understanding of the response strategies proposed by Coombs (2007) when applied to communication exclusively based on the public information model (Grunig & Hunt, 1984). The research concluded that the PRP opted for the managing meaning strategy by adjusting information and predominance of the primary repair responses of the category "rebuild" and subcategory "compensation", producing an appropriate response according to SCCT (Coombs, 2007). However, we note that the PRP crisis communication for the 2017 fires is a case in which the personal characteristics of the sender and the variables -- crisis responsibility, crisis history and prior relationship reputation -- were more relevant to the effectiveness of crisis communication than the messages themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article results from research comprised of fieldwork ethnography, participant observation, collection of life stories, interviews and testimonials of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, living in Portugal. We focus on a particular experience of the research named Living in a Different Culture (LDC), which took place between 2017 and 2019, aimed at participants who shared the goal of becoming university students, before migration. LDC supported students who wanted to continue their academic training and those wanting to find alternative pathways of inclusion and autonomy, using new academic skills and knowledge. The project included a tailored course in Portuguese society and culture, created with an anthropological lens, Portuguese language classes and other disciplines. Several of the students who attended the course, in both academic years, continued their studies, or found work within their area of expertise. Obstacles highlighted in the paper perpetuated cycles of precarious living and structural violence. We argue that by devaluing migrants and refugees' knowledges and skills, host society loses important resources to its own development. We conclude by stating that projects such as LDC require a long-term commitment with interinstitutional support, a sustainability strategy, and a decolonial mindset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cicadomorpha (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) represent a group of concern in vineyards since they can cause damage directly through feeding or can be vectors for serious pathogens such as grapevine yellows or the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of Pierce's disease. Therefore, knowing the diversity and abundance of these insects in Portuguese vineyards is the first step for implementing appropriate measures to control these pathogens. Vineyards distributed in mainland Portugal were sampled to investigate species composition, richness, and diversity of the Cicadomorpha community, focusing on vectors and potential vectors of X. fastidiosa. A total of 11,834 individuals belonging to 81 different species/morphospecies were collected. Of these species, only two are confirmed vectors of X. fastidiosa (Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris), and three are considered potential vectors (Cicadella viridis, Lepyronia coleoptrata, and N. lineatus). Species that cause direct damage to vines and vectors of grapevine yellows' phytoplasmas were also collected. Cicadomorpha (Hemiptera) insects are currently responsible for a growing negative impact on the agricultural economy due to their ability to directly damage crops or through the capacity to act as vectors for plant pathogens. The phytopathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of Pierce's disease in vineyards, is exclusively transmitted by insects of this infraorder. Therefore, knowledge of the Cicadomorpha species and understanding their biology and ecology is crucial. In this work, in 2018 and 2019, the canopy and inter-row vegetation of 35 vineyards distributed in mainland Portugal were sampled to investigate species composition, richness, and diversity of the Cicadomorpha community, with a special focus given to vectors and potential vectors of X. fastidiosa. A total of 11,834 individuals were collected, 3003 in 2018 and 8831 in 2019. Of the 81 species/morphospecies identified, only five are considered vectors or potential vectors of this pathogen, namely, Cicadella viridis (Linnaeus, 1758), Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus, 1758), Neophilaenus campestris (Fallén, 1805), Lepyronia coleoptrata (Linnaeus, 1758), and N. lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758). Cicadella viridis was the most abundant xylem sap feeder, followed by P. spumarius. In addition, Cicadomorpha that cause direct damage to vines and vectors of grapevine yellows' phytoplasmas were also collected and identified in the sampled vineyards. The results suggested that vectors and potential vectors of X. fastidiosa and a large proportion of the population of Cicadomorpha have a positive correction with inter-row vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vineyards are a crop of great economic importance in Portugal, whose production of over 224 kha of vines may be affected by evolving global changes, as new pests arrive in greater numbers at more northern latitudes. Integrated pest management requires early recognition and assessment of pests to enable a proportionate response in control. Results: Using yellow sticky traps to catch green leafhoppers in the vineyards under attack, we could use the image of the traps and deep learning methods to evaluate with high accuracy the number of insects presents and establishes a procedure to assess any number of traps in a short period of time. Conclusions: Implementation is possible with ordinary laptop computers and could contribute to more extensive and more frequent coverage in surveillance, since the human labor required to count hundreds of insects in each trap is reduced to seconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the increasing touristic supply and demand, globalization, and the entailed increases in property prices, which strategies and instruments should urban planning use to take advantage of these higher prices and revert them on behalf of the local inhabitants to ensure them a good quality of life? This article will propose a planning instrument that is based on the capture of betterments that stem from municipal decisions, which will revert to the infrastructure's provision, maintenance, and renewal that result from urban interventions or to fulfill social goals, or both in traditional residential neighborhoods. In this article, this instrument will be applied to Planning Unit UP11 (UP11) of the Urban Development Plan for the Municipality of Lagoa, Algarve, Portugal. This article could contribute to the debate on the role of planning and tourism-oriented land use management strategies, policies, and instruments. It will attempt to assess the impact of public-engendered land betterments on local populations and could create value for local communities, which ensures their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demands for water for multiple purposes combined with climate change challenges are leading to water scarcity and quality deterioration. Portugal is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and therefore, the use of reclaimed waters has been identified as a suitable alternative water source for non-potable uses, such as irrigation, to overcome water shortages. In the last two years, new policies for water reuse have been approved at the Portuguese and European levels. The legal frameworks are supported in the international guidelines developed by the International Organization for Standardization, namely for irrigation, urban uses and health risk assessment. In this way, all reuse projects must follow a fit-for-purpose approach, i.e., the water quality needs to meet the requirements of its specific end-uses without compromising public health or the surrounding environment, and all reuse projects must conduct a risk assessment for health and the environment. Quantitative, qualitative or semiquantitative models can be used. Although a quantitative assessment may be desirable, these models tend to be complex and present high uncertainty. Furthermore, these usually require extensive data which are often not available. Accordingly, this study intended to develop a conceptual model to deal with the risk assessment for water resources, namely surface and ground waters. A semi-quantitative approach was employed for the risk characterization, using empirical qualitative judgment to assess the relative importance of hazards, exposure routes, scenarios and barriers in place. The use of a strategic assessment allows the quality standards that meet the needs of each project to be validated. The developed model was applied to a case study to illustrate its applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Menstrual symptoms are commonly cited barriers to physical activity in women. Delay or avoidance of menstruation through hormonal contraceptives may mitigate those barriers. Our purpose is to identify the uterine bleeding patterns of Portuguese athletes, their contraceptive choices and the impact of contraceptive methods in sports performance. We aim also to compare the outcomes between users and non-users of contraception.Methods: Observational, descriptive and comparative study based on a customised self-assessment online survey aimed at Portuguese athletes. Athletes had to be at least 16 years old and competing at a national, international or professional level.Results: A total of 256 athletes from 18 modalities were eligible. The mean age was 29 years and the mean age of menarche was 12.8 years. Monthly bleeding pattern was prevailing and 50% presented dysmenorrhoea. More than 85% experience fluctuations in sports performance throughout the month. The majority (71.5%) used contraceptive methods. Only 16% believed that contraception decreased sports performance. Contraceptive users exhibit a lower mean body mass index, blood loss and percentage of dysmenorrhoea than the non-users.Conclusion: Most athletes had the perception that performance varies throughout the month. The majority of participants do not report amenorrhoea and have monthly menses. The use of contraceptive methods is reportedly high, benefit cycle control and apparently without any physical inconvenience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of Diptera at the scene of a crime can provide essential information for the interpretation of evidence. Phylogeographic reconstruction could help differentiate haplotypes of a dipteran species in a geographical area, clarifying, for example, the details of a possible relocation of a corpse. In addition, inferring the ancestral areas of distribution helps to understand the current status of the species and its biogeographic history. One of the most important species in forensic entomology is Calliphora vicina Rovineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The aim of this work is to increase our knowledge of this species in the Iberian Peninsula using 464 specimens from Spain and Portugal. These samples were identified using morphological keys and by molecular methods using fragments of the cox1 , 16S and ITS2 genes. The phylogeographic history of these populations was inferred from haplotype networks and the reconstruction of ancestral areas of distribution. The molecular results corroborated the morphological identifications of the samples. Phylogeographic networks showed no geographical structure, as haplotypes are shared among almost all populations. reconstruct ancestral state in phylogenies analyses showed a high rate of movement among populations, possibly related to human activity. These results suggest that this species had a very rapid and recent spatial and demographic expansion throughout the Iberian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the results of the validation of the Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire (CASQ), in a cross-sectional sample of Portuguese adolescents. The psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the CASQ, a multidimensional self-report questionnaire that assesses daytime sleepiness versus day and nighttime alertness, were studied through exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), in adolescents from 11 to 17 years old (EFA sample: N = 732; CFA sample: N = 726). Results of the EFA indicate an exploratory factor solution of three factors which explain 53.26% of variance, with good reliability indices in factors (alpha between .83 and .68). Also, the CFA indicated that the three-factor solution proposed in EFA had better fit indices compared with two alternative models (χ²/df = 4.79; GFI = .93; CFI = .92; RMSEA = .72; ECVI =.662; RMR = .041). The obtained results support acceptable levels of validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of CASQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurses make up the major professional category in the National Health Service, and their work affects their musculoskeletal well-being. Objective: To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms of nurses and identify their risk factors. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study, conducted in a Portuguese hospital center, used a non-probabilistic sample by convenience of 260 nurses. A questionnaire was used as data collection instrument, divided into two parts (sociodemographic and professional data/Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire). Results: The majority of nurses (65.1%) manifests musculoskeletal symptoms, the lumbar spine being the most affected body segment. The female gender, aging, body mass index, time of professional experience, and workload are related to the worsening of symptoms. Conclusion: The results point out the need to raise awareness of the risk factors among nurses, as well as to promote the adoption of strategies, like workplace gymnastics, to minimize musculoskeletal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To understand the lived experience of sick people hospitalized in Home Hospitalization, the adoption of a qualitative methodology makes it possible to perceive the perception that people have about the care received and whether this innovative service is based on the philosophy of centered care on the patient. Objectives To identify and map the existing evidence on the lived experiences of sick adult people, about the care received and care philosophy, in Home Hospitalization. Review Method A scoping review was conducted according to the methodology recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Taking into account the specificity of the subject under study, there was no temporal restriction on the selection of articles.The inclusion criteria were: Type of participants: Adults with an acute illness or an acute chronic illness; Type of context: Home Hospitalization; Type of concept: Lived experience, as well as the philosophy of person- centered care. In the first step, an initial search was carried out limited to two online databases, CINAHL and MEDLINE, through the EBSCO host database aggregator platform. In the second step, a new search was carried out in the mentioned databases, using all the identified keywords and indexed terms. Research was carried out in other databases (Pubmed, Cochrane and Scopus). Results Three studies published between 2014 and 2019 were identified, which differed in the areas of operation of Home Hospitalization; none was carried out in Portugal. Two of the studies address the sick person's lived experience and the other study beyond this approach, evaluates the Home Hospitalization program. In none of the studies is it possible to deepen the philosophy of care. Conclusion The three studies were published over 5 years, presenting some elements of the lived experience by the sick person. Further studies should be carried out to understand the lived experience of the sick person on Home Hospitalization as well as to deepen and refine the philosophy of care that support Home Hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry meat has been a vehicle of antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes. Yet, the diversity of selective pressures associated with their maintenance in the poultry-production chain remains poorly explored. We evaluated the susceptibility of Enterococcus spp. from chicken meat collected 20 years apart to antibiotics, metals, acidic pH and peracetic acid-PAA. Contemporary chicken-meat samples (n = 53 batches, each including a pool of neck skin from 10 single carcasses) were collected in a slaughterhouse facility using PAA as disinfectant (March–August 2018, North of Portugal). Broilers were raised in intensive farms (n = 29) using CuSO 4 and organic acids as feed additives. Data were compared with that of 67 samples recovered in the same region during 1999–2001. All 2018 samples had multidrug resistant-MDR isolates, with >45 % carrying Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium or Enterococcus gallinarum resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, ampicillin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol or aminoglycosides. Resistance rates were similar (P > 0.05) to those of 1999–2001 samples for all but five antibiotics. The decrease of samples carrying vancomycin-resistant isolates from 46 % to 0 % between 1999-2001 and 2018 was the most striking difference. Isolates from both periods were similarly susceptible to acid pH [minimum-growth pH (4.5-5.0), minimum-survival pH (3.0-4.0)] and to PAA (MIC 90 = 100–120 mg/L/MBC 90 = 140–160 mg/L; below concentrations used in slaughterhouse). Copper tolerance genes (tcrB and/or cueO) were respectively detected in 21 % and 4 % of 2018 and 1999-2001 samples. The tcrB gene was only detected in E. faecalis (MIC CuSO4 > 12 mM), and their genomes were compared with other international ones of chicken origin (PATRIC database), revealing a polyclonal population and a plasmid or chromosomal location for tcrB. The tcrB plasmids shared diverse genetic modules, including multiple antimicrobial resistance genes (e.g. to tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B-MLS B , aminoglycosides, bacitracin, coccidiostats). When in chromosome, the tcrB gene was co-located closely to merA (mercury) genes. Chicken meat remains an important vehicle of MDR Enterococcus spp. able to survive under diverse stresses (e.g. copper, acid) potentially contributing to these bacteria maintenance and flux among animal-environment-humans. • Chicken-meat samples collected 20 years apart have multidrug-resistant Enterococcus. • Significant decrease of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus in recent years. • Plasmids with copper/antibiotic resistance genes and other adaptive features. • Enterococcus survive to low pH found in poultry production-chain. • Peracetic acid remains with good activity against multidrug resistant Enterococcus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Viruses are the major cause of acute respiratory infections in children, causing important morbimortality. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, in temperate regions, respiratory viruses displayed a typical seasonality in transmission. A disruption in this pattern was observed in several countries during the pandemic, with low prevalence during the typical season, and an interseasonal rise. We evaluated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the epidemiology of non-COVID viral respiratory infections in children, in a tertiary care hospital in Portugal. Methods: Between March 2020 and August 2022, nasopharyngeal samples from children with respiratory symptoms in the Emergency Department (ED) and the Pediatric Ward were tested for RSV, influenza and other respiratory viruses, by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Results: A seasonal variation was observed from 2018 to 2020, with prevalence increasing in winter (mainly RSV and influenza). In the winter of 2020/21, when measures to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission were stricter, there was a disruption of the seasonal pattern, with unusually low numbers. In the summer of 2021, when measures were being relaxed, there was an atypical rise. In June 2021, RSV was first detected and peaked in October. Influenza (Influenza A H3) was detected for the first time in February 2022, peaking in March/April. Conclusions: These findings show a disruption of the seasonality of viral respiratory infections in children during the pandemic, with a virtual elimination during the months of usually higher prevalence, and a subsequent out-of-season increase, coinciding with variations in the measures implemented to control the SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and confirming their efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary context of high competitiveness between organizations, organizational learning culture and knowledge management (KM) have been considered key concepts in both academic and managerial settings. This study aims to provide empirical support for the relationship between organizational learning culture and knowledge management, specifically concerning the prediction of learning culture on KM processes. Data collection was carried out through questionnaires in 50 Portuguese manufacturing firms. Data was analyzed at the organizational level using standard multiple regressions. The results showed a significant and positive relationship between learning culture and KM practices. Concerning the two dimensions of learning culture, internal integration was the main predictor for KM formal practices, KM informal practices and strategic management of knowledge, whereas the external adaptation dimension was shown to predict only the strategic management of knowledge. The present study contributes to theoretical and empirical findings concerning the relationship between learning culture and knowledge management processes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article attempts to draw a portrait of young Portuguese journalists. Who are these young professionals dedicated to a profession which is in turmoil? The reasons for the instability of the sector are many and varied. We could mention the trend towards media concentration into business groups: the resulting mergers lead to diminish the importance of journalists, which in turn leads to contraction of the job market. An issue which is proving intractable is the job insecurity affecting mainly younger journalists - those who actually get the jobs, since there are large numbers of journalism graduates who run up against almost insurmountable barriers to make an entry into the profession. Power relations in the editing rooms are also changing. Relations with supervisors become impersonal, mediated by editors or managers who may not have an access to the board of directors. Within the profession, there are certain facets which differentiate one generation of journalists from another. The new information technologies also play an important role here: in addition to exponentially strengthening the dominance of time management, they completely transform communication models based on the traditional media. The role of the journalist becomes more elusive. In other words, the traditional mediating role of the journalist is disappearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze changes in performance, muscle function, and stress-related biochemical markers in professional soccer players ( n = 14) at 4 timepoints (3 for performance and 4 for stress-related biochemical markers) during the soccer season preseason (E1), midseason (E2), end of the season (E3) and after the end of the recovery period (E4). Performance in 5- and 30-m sprints, countermovement jump, and agility, and maximal isokinetic knee extension and knee flexion strength were measured (E1 to E3). We observed increased in-season levels of myoglobin (E2 > E1 and E4; p < 0.05), a higher testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C), and increased levels of creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein, superoxide dismutase (SOD), protein sulfhydryls (-SH), and malondialdehyde (E2 and E3 > E1 and E4; p < 0.05). Lower cortisol concentrations (E3 < E1 and E4; p < 0.05) and glutathione reductase activity (E3 < E2 and E4; p < 0.05) were observed at the end of the season. T/C, CK, SOD, -SH, and malondialdehyde decreased during the off-season, and cortisol and glutathione reductase increased (E3 < E4; p < 0.05). Agility increased in E2 and E3 ( p < 0.01). Significant correlations were found during the season between hormonal and muscle function parameters ( r = 0.56-0.86; p < 0.05). In addition, in E2, significant associations were observed between match-accumulated time (MATE2; minutes played by each player during the competition period), performance, and hormonal and redox parameters ( r = 0.456-0.615; p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study shows that soccer players face significant changes in biomarkers of physiologic strain (muscle damage and oxidative stress-related markers) during the season, but values return to normal during the off-season. Additionally, MAT influences physical, hormonal, and oxidative stress-related parameters in professional soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Directive 2010/31/EU adopted that by the end of 2020 all new buildings should be nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEB) and Member States should achieve cost-optimal levels by ensuring minimum energy performance requirements for buildings. This paper discusses how low should be the energy required by a nZEB, in the context of housing energy consumption in a Mediterranean climate (Lisbon). For selected houses built after 1990, the calculated primary energy loads for regulated uses – heating, cooling and domestic hot water – are found to be below 90kWh/(m2 year). Applying the cost-optimal solutions of thermal insulation and glazing type and considering energy efficiency improved systems, this study concludes that housing energy loads are ‘low’ for the indicative range of 70kWh/(m2 year) for regulated uses or 100–110kWh/(m2 year) for total uses, taking primary energy indicators (PEI) from EN 15603. Assuming PEI from Passive House Planning Package or those to be assumed in Portugal for 2013, the threshold decreases to 60kWh/(m2 year) for regulated uses or 90–100kWh/(m2 year) for total uses. Only the first nZEB condition is explored by this paper. The second condition requires that the nZEB energy load is covered by a ‘significant’ part of renewable energy sources produced on-site or ‘nearby’. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness and technical skills of under-19 (U19) soccer players were compared by competitive level (elite, n = 95; non-elite, n = 85) and playing position (goalkeeper, central defender, fullback, midfield, forward). Fitness tests included 5- and 30-m sprints, agility, squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ), strength and Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test level 2 (Yo-Yo IE2). Soccer-specific skills included ball control and dribbling. Independent of position, elite players presented more hours of training per year than non-elite players ( d > 1.2). Stature and body mass discriminated elite from non-elite players among goalkeepers and central defenders ( d > 0.6). Major differences were noted between elite and non-elite goalkeepers for SJ, CMJ, Yo-Yo IE2, and ball control ( d > 1.2). Elite central defenders performed better than their non-elite counterparts in SJ and ball control tests ( d > 1.2). Elite players presented better agility and Yo-Yo IE2 performances than non-elite players within all positional roles ( d > 0.6). In conclusion, U19 players differed in anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness and technical skills by competitive level within field positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examined the diet of invasive clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, found at Lage stream in Oeiras, Lisbon, western Portugal. 70 frogs were captured and euthanized to study the contents of their stomach. Results of the study revealed that the diet of the clawed frogs was mostly benthic prey. Water snails (Physidae) was found to be most important diet. The frogs also ate native fish and amphibians. Male frogs were found to have higher diversity when it comes to their prey.

The research reported in this article aims to explain the residential and work location patterns of different groups of immigrants living in a particular metropolitan area, based on the following underlying causes: socio-spatial differentiation resulting from the characteristics of urban economies, the performance of housing and labour markets, spatial and socioeconomic/professional mobility, and immigrants’ own characteristics. Within this scope, census data are analysed and cartographically displayed, and classification trees are applied in order to understand the relationship between the residential and work locations of the different population groups and their respective demographic, economic and professional characteristics, on the one hand, and land occupation densities, on the other. Although this methodology is applied to the Oporto Metropolitan Area (Portugal), it can easily be used in other urban and metropolitan areas. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Characterization of water quality from indoor swimming pools, using chorine-based disinfection techniques, was performed during a 6-mo period to study the occurrence, distribution, and concentration factors of trihalomethanes (THM). Several parameters such as levels of water THM, water and air chloroform, water bromodichloromethane (BDCM), water dibromochloromethane (DBCM), water bromoform (BF), free residual chlorine (FrCl), pH, water and air temperature, and permanganate water oxidizability (PWO) were determined in each pool during that period. Chloroform (CFW) was the THM detected at higher concentrations in all pools, followed by BDCM, DBCM, and BF detected at 99, 34, and 6% of the samples, respectively. Water THM concentrations ranged from 10.1 to 155 μg/L, with 6.5% of the samples presenting values above 100 μg/L (parametric value established in Portuguese law DL 306/2007). In this study, air chloroform (CFAir) concentrations ranged from 45 to 373 μg/m3 with 24% of the samples presenting values above 136 μg/m3 (considered high exposure value). Several significant correlations were observed between total THM and other parameters, namely, CFW, CFAir, FrCl, water temperature (TW), and PWO. These correlations indicate that FrCl, TW and PWO are parameters that influence THM formation. The exposure criterion established for water THM enabled the inclusion of 67% of Lisbon pools in the high exposure group, which reinforces the need for an improvement in pool water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This survey reports the occurrence, diversity and similarity of marine fungi associated with five categories of drift substrates (Arundo donax, Phragmites australis, Spartina maritima, "other stems" and driftwood) collected on four sandy beaches of the western coast of Portugal. "Other stems" and driftwood are composite samples with a variety of identified and unidentified pieces of non-woody and woody substrates respectively. Fifty-six taxa were identified, including 38 Ascomycota and 18 anamorphic fungi. Twenty-six taxa were generalists; however several cases of "substrate recurrence" were identified. The very frequent fungi differed among the categories of studied substrates, with the exception of Corollospora maritima, very frequent on four categories. Except for S. maritima, P. australis and driftwood, cases of multiple fungal colonization were rare. S. maritima was the single substrate with five different marine fungi on one sample, as well as with the highest number of very frequent fungi, highest percentage of colonization and average number of fungi per sample. Driftwood presented the highest value of fungal richness (37 taxa) and A. donax the lowest (22 taxa). ANOSIM analysis of similarity showed that all substrates supported different fungal communities with the exception of the pair P. australis/"other stems". The effect of sample size on estimated fungal richness was tested, and the results let us conclude that, although most of the sporadic fungi (<1% occurrence) will be detected only in a very large number of samples, 60 samples of A. donax and "other stems" and 70 samples of all the other substrates may suffice to assess their respective representative marine mycota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experience of individuals taking on the role of informal adult caregivers after an unexpected event involving a relative. Background. The literature on the development of the role of informal caregivers widely recognises that protecting and promoting the quality of life of caregivers should be a priority for health professionals. However, knowledge about how individuals develop as sudden caregivers is scarce, with existing knowledge centring mainly on the physical aspects of caregiving. What it means to become a caregiver or to experience role redefinition remains largely unclear. Design. Hermeneutic phenomenology provided the framework that guided this study. Methods. Unstructured interviews were used for collecting data. We used Van Manen's approach to analyse data and to reveal themes. Reflexivity and collaborative analysis were used to address rigour. Results. From caregivers' interviews ( n = 14), four main themes were identified: losing control over time, feeling alone, failing expectations and taking over someone else's life. Conclusions. The caregiving experience is characterised as a transition process or a period of ongoing focussing and de-focussing. The extent to which caregivers feel connected with others, redefine their personal use of time and feel comfortable with their new responsibilities indicates how they are managing this transition and how well they are achieving balance in their new role, i.e. from feeling 'exclusively' a caregiver to being 'also' a caregiver. Relevance to clinical practice. Facilitating successful transitions is within the scope of the role of professional nurses. Information about the meaning that caregivers attribute to their experience - relationships, options and strategies - is crucial, as it will help nurses to plan, assess and design adequate nursing interventions to support informal caregivers, especially in unexpected situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tailored peloids are prepared by the maturation of selected clay minerals mixed with thermo-mineral waters. These dispersions are topically applied to the skin to treat different ailments because of their unique rheological and thermal properties. Colloidal dimensions of the dispersed clay mineral particles yielded stable and viscous dispersions capable of flowing when spread and stand in the area to be treated without flowing away. To be easily handled and cause a pleasant sensation during application, the clay mineral dispersions must have good consistency and cause no abrasion. As thermotherapeutic agents, these systems are heated before application being important to ensure that the clay paste has heat retention capacity and adequate cooling kinetics. On the basis of a previous detailed characterization of Portuguese clayey materials for medical hydrology applications, six clay raw materials were selected as candidates to be used in the preparation of tailored peloids. This study aims to obtain tailored peloids with suitable technical, rheological and thermal properties. Samples from “Serra de Dentro” and “Barracão Clays” formations exhibited adequate abrasivity and consistency. Regarding sedimentation volume and apparent viscosity, the majority of samples showed some difficulties as they were coagulated in the absence of a dispersing agent. Specific heat and cooling rate were adequate in samples from “Serra de Dentro” and “Luz Clays” formations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

About 4,000 journalists started their career after the year 2000; a generation who emerged during the financial and economic crisis. A generation facing a permanent downturn in the labour market: companies closing, merging, integrating in multimedia groups with the inherent reduction of employees. In this group of journalists, there are certainly those holding some hope of moving forward with the profession. There are also those, for the most varied reasons, who rapidly reached headship positions. But within the group of young people with the license issued by the Portfolio Committee for Professional Journalists, there are many who accumulate internships after internships without ever get to regularize their employment status. Likely to what is observed in other European countries, it rages, in these eternal interns, pessimism and bitterness, It rages also the disenchantment for a profession that has always been characterized by a privileged status in public space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the dynamic analysis of the footbridges in Aveiro, Portugal including modal identification, vibration measurements, and finite element (FE) modeling. It says that the bridge is made of a circular deck supported by stay-cables and a mast which is firmly connected by two steel strips. Meanwhile, the analysis carried out on the structure leads to the introduction of the appropriate forces in the cables as well as the identification whether excessive vibrations may occur.

Abstract: A research project on antiviral drug resistance of influenza viruses circulating in Portugal has been carried out since 2007. Here, the first results obtained regarding the evaluation of susceptibility to amantadine and oseltamivir are presented. Information about antiviral prescription and exposure was available through the National Influenza Surveillance Programme. Amantadine susceptibility was evaluated by pyrosequencing for known resistance markers on 178 influenza A strains from 2004/2005 to 2006/2007. Susceptibility to oseltamivir was evaluated by 50% inhibitory concentration determination on 340 virus strains from 2004/2005 to 2008/2009, 134 of which were further analyzed by sequencing of the neuraminidase gene. This study revealed that influenza antiviral drugs were rarely prescribed at national level. Resistance to amantadine was observed on only A(H3N2) strain isolated during 2005/2006 and on 38 (74.5%) of the 51 A(H3N2) strains from 2006/2007, all carrying the mutation S31N in their M2 sequence. Oseltamivir resistance was observed in 6 (20.7%) of the 29 A(H1N1) strains from 2007/2008 and in all strains from 2008/2009, which exhibited extremely high IC50 values and carrying the mutation H275Y in their neuraminidase sequence. The national data generated and analyzed in this study may contribute to increase the knowledge on influenza antiviral drug resistance which is a problem of global concern. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The University of Coimbra was founded in 1290. Erected between 1728 and 1733, the present Tower of the University is not only the symbol of the university, but the symbol of the city itself. A recent inspection of the tower, conducted to prepare restoration works, revealed some structural anomalies, including degradation of joints and cracking of stone blocks. In this paper we describe a study undertaken to assess rapidly the structural integrity of the tower, in order to minimize the delay of the previously planned non-structural intervention. A finite element model of the tower was built with ADINA software and calibrated with measured data obtained from ambient vibration, namely the mode shapes and the natural frequencies. Results point toward the probable non existence of structural problems. It was concluded that modal identification is a fast and reliable technique that can be used in-situ to establish the structural assessment of this type of construction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present research is focused on the performance evaluation of the nursing professional (Portugal). The goal is to identify the perceptions of raters and ratees with regards to the performance evaluation system, in order to have a more efficient and effective nursing appraisal system. The research design was in a survey format and was applied to 97 raters and ratees of a hospital (Portuguese region called Alto Alentejo). Results show agreement and satisfaction towards the existence of a performance evaluation system, as well as the legislated aspects. In a general sense the perception of the raters, with regard to a more efficient and effective system, must include management by objectives and the social validation of the final rate. On the other hand, the ratees prefer a closer monitoring process (critical incidents), management by objectives, and better interactional procedures. Results show the relevance of the distinction between the system and the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to determine biological fish production of a lagoon and relate this to the commercial fisheries yield. The fish community of an estuarine lagoon in the west coast of Portugal was sampled between November 1998 and November 2000 to estimate the production ecology of the community, including somatic production, population size, species richness, species diversity, and biomass. Using the Allen curve method of determination, the total annual fish production of all fish species in the lagoon was calculated at 90.3 tonnes or 2.1 g m−2 year−1 in the first year and 106.7 tonnes or 2.5 g m−2 year−1 in the second year. The marine seasonal migrant species, sardine, Sardina pilchardus, which colonises the lagoon during the juvenile period of its life stages, produced more than 35 tonnes in each year and accounted for >39 and >33%, in the first and second year respectively, of the total fish production in this lagoon. Sardine was numerically more abundant (18,217 specimens) but due to their small size contributed only 13% to the total biomass. Sardine was thus the most important fish species in terms of the consumption and production processes of the whole fish community in this system. Commercial fisheries’ records indicate that approximately 300 tonnes per annum of fish are taken from the lagoon, which corresponds to three times more than the estimated production in the lagoon. Thus, if it exists, the sustainability of the fishery appears to depend on the immigration of fish from the adjacent coastal area and it is questioned whether the fishery is sustainable in the long-term. The findings indicate that careful and effective management of the lagoon is required to ensure a long-term healthy aquatic environment and sustainable catches in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in interlaminar fracture testing of composite materials, with particular emphasis on the work performed in Portugal over the last 15 years. Early work, carried out within the ESIS Polymer and Composite Technical Committee, was concerned with improving test methods on unidirectional [0°]n specimens. The focus was on the mode I double cantilever beam (DCB) test and on mode II end-notched flexure (ENF) and end loaded split (ELS) tests. In spite of some remaining controversy on mode II testing, the main issue nowadays is fracture toughness measurement on multidirectional specimens. Remaining difficulties are discussed in the light of the most recent work. Guidelines for ongoing and future research are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth, mortality and sexual size dimorphism of Vipera latastei were investigated in northern Portugal. Size structure ranged from 16-58 cm of snout-vent length (SVL), with peaks between 40-45 cm for males and 35-40 cm for females. Age structure ranged between 0 and 14 years, with peaks at 4 and 5 years for males and at 4-6 years for females. Longevity was 11 and 14 years for males and females, respectively. Sexual maturity was attained approximately at four years in males, and one year later in females, however, at a similar body size. Growth rates decreased with increasing SVL; males grew faster than females at all ages; and asymptotic body size was larger in males than in females. Mortality was higher in males than in females and increased after sexual maturity in both sexes. The sexual differences in mortality annulled an age-specific sexual size dimorphism in favor of males and produced a minor sexual size dimorphism in mean adult body size of V. latastei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses site-tenacity and spatial distribution of site-tenacious individuals in a population of the terrestrial, ovoviviparous Salamandra salamandra from Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Portugal. Description of the study area; Association of site-tenacious individuals with tunnels in old stone walls; Explanation of site-tenacity in both sexes through age.

In the last ten years, a growing number of studies have focused on urban green areas as potential refuges for biodiversity, where private gardens, urban parks and green roofs have relatively high diversities of wild bees. However, the western Mediterranean is still poorly studied and is a biodiversity hotspot that is already suffering the consequences of climate change. It is essential to rectify this and understand how urban settings can support biodiversity. In this context, this study provides an assessment of the taxonomic and functional composition of bee assemblages in three allotments in downtown Lisbon, Portugal. Using only an entomological net, we collected 202 specimens from April to July 2018, belonging to five families, 20 genera and 58 species, of which six are rare species in Portugal and nine first records for the Lisbon district. Megachilidae was the most diverse family, comprising 15 species, while Apidae was the most abundant family. Most of the species identified were solitary and had a generalist pollen diet, with a low incidence of social and parasitic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last ten years, a growing number of studies have focused on urban green areas as potential refuges for biodiversity, where private gardens, urban parks and green roofs have relatively high diversities of wild bees. However, the western Mediterranean is still poorly studied and is a biodiversity hotspot that is already suffering the consequences of climate change. It is essential to rectify this and understand how urban settings can support biodiversity. In this context, this study provides an assessment of the taxonomic and functional composition of bee assemblages in three allotments in downtown Lisbon, Portugal. Using only an entomological net, we collected 202 specimens from April to July 2018, belonging to five families, 20 genera and 58 species, of which six are rare species in Portugal and nine first records for the Lisbon district. Megachilidae was the most diverse family, comprising 15 species, while Apidae was the most abundant family. Most of the species identified were solitary and had a generalist pollen diet, with a low incidence of social and parasitic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early Neolithic funerary practices and the meaning of complete ceramic vessels found isolated are poorly researched topics in western Iberia. However, recent archaeological salvage excavations at Armazéns Sommer and Palácio Ludovice in Lisbon have revealed individual burial pits of male individuals laid in a foetal position and directly associated with necked vessels. These discoveries suggest that finds of isolated vessels, known since the beginning of the twentieth century in Portugal and usually found fortuitously apparently without archaeological context, may also have originally belonged to similar burials, unnoticed by their finders. This hypothesis opens new perspectives for the interpretation of such finds, which are inventoried in the present article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simvastatin exposure in zebrafish affected behaviour through hiperactivity. • Simvastatin's antioxidant properties caused a decrease in biochemical biomarkers. • This antihyperlipidemic drug did not act as a reproductive disruptor. Due to their wide use, pharmaceuticals can be discarded, metabolized and excreted into the environment, potentially affecting aquatic organisms. Lipid-regulating drugs are among the most prescribed medications around the world, to control human cholesterol levels, in more than 20 million patients. Despite this massive use of lipid-regulating drugs, particularly simvastatin, the role of these drugs is not fully characterized and understood in terms of its potential toxicological effects at the environmental level. This work intended to characterize the toxicity of an acute (120 h post-fertilization) and chronic (60 days) exposure to the antihyperlipidemic drug simvastatin (in concentrations of 92.45, 184.9, 369.8, 739.6 and 1479.2 ng L−1), in the freshwater species zebrafish (Danio rerio). The concentrations hereby mentioned were implemented in both exposures, and were based on levels found in wastewater treatment plant influents (11.7 ± 3.2 μg L−1), effluents (2.65 ± 0.8 μg L−1) and Apies River (1.585 ± 0.3 μg L−1), located in Pretoria, South Africa and, particularly in the maximum levels found in effluents from wastewater treatment plants in Portugal (369.8 ng L−1). The acute effects were analysed focusing on behavioural endpoints (erratic and purposeful swimming), total distance travelled and swimming time), biomarkers of oxidative stress (the activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase), biotransformation (the activity of glutathione S-transferases) and lipid peroxidation (levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). Animals chronically exposed were also histologically analysed for sex determination and gonadal developmental stages identification. In terms of acute exposure, significant alterations were reported in terms of behavioural alterations (hyperactivity), followed by a general reduction in all tested biomarkers. Also, the analysis of chronically exposed fish evidenced no alterations in sex ratio and maturation stages. In addition, the analysis of chronically exposed fish evidenced no alterations in terms of sexual characteristics, suggesting that the chronic exposure of Danio rerio to simvastatin does not alter the sex ratio and maturation stages of individuals. This assumption suggests that simvastatin did not act as an endocrine disruptor. Moreover, the metabolism, neuronal interactions and the antioxidant properties of SIM seem to have modulated the hereby-mentioned results of toxicity. Results from this assay allow inferring that simvastatin can have an ecologically relevant impact in living organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early twentieth century in Portugal, nursing care was for the most part provided by religious women. Many doctors opposed this nursing care, such as the Republican Miguel Bombarda. However the religious nurses were absolutely necessary in order for health institutions to function, among these institutions, some of the Mercy hospitals stand out; however, not all of them had religious workers. Two examples were the Braga and Porto Mercy Hospitals. With this research I intend to understand the position of religious nursing detractors and identify the information that its defenders had. With this purpose, I used two existing sources at the Portugal National Library. Miguel Bombarda ́s work, A Enfermagem Religiosa, published in 1910, and the collection of testimonies collected by Rebelo Bastos in 1941, and published in 1974, under the title Para a História da Enfermagem Religiosa no Hospital da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lamego. When interpreting the data I used Catroga (1988), Silva (2008) and Moura (2010). The controversy between advocates of secular nursing and religious apologists nursing began in 1881, when the first nursing school was established in Coimbra. Defending secular nursing was the anticlerical and republican faction. This group understood that this work should be practiced by people with no connection to religious orders. Instead of professing a religious order, these people should have a degree in order to prepare them for the fulfilment of prescriptions and exclusive obedience to clinicians. Defending religious nursing were clerics; doctors, imbued with strong religiosity; and mercies managers. Those who worked with the religious praised their selflessness, tenderness and Christian spirit, in the nursing care. This controversy culminated in 1942 with the publication of Decree 32612. This edict forced the nurses both secular and religious, to possess a diploma in nursing. This was a requirement already demanded by Miguel Bombarda, three decades before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenoviruses (AdV) are pathogens capable of infecting animals and humans leading to a wide spectrum of diseases. They have a widespread geographical dissemination and infect several species, including red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). In the Iberian Peninsula, there are no reports of infection of red squirrels by AdV. In this study, we report for the first time the detection of squirrel AdV in a red squirrel trapped in central Portugal. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequences obtained for the hexon and the penton base genes were similar to the Korean squirrel AdV strain and strongly divergent from the strains present in red squirrels in Europe. These findings indicate the emergence of a new strain circulating in Europe and raise concerns regarding the conservation of the red squirrel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are RNA viruses capable of infecting a wide range of hosts, including mammals and birds, and have caused significant epidemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Bats, the second most diverse mammalian order, are hosts for various CoVs due to their unique immune responses and ecological traits. This study investigates CoV prevalence in crevice- and tree-dwelling bats in Portugal, a country with limited prior research on bat CoVs. Using nested RT-PCR and sequencing, we screened 87 stool samples from bats, identifying one sample (1.15%) that was positive for Alphacoronavirus, belonging to Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic relationships with Alphacoronavirus strains from the same bat species in Europe. The low prevalence suggests habitat-specific differences in viral transmission, with cave-dwelling bats exhibiting higher CoV prevalence due to population density and behaviour. These findings underscore the necessity for sustained surveillance efforts aimed at comprehending CoV dynamics within bat populations, especially concerning the risk of spillover events and viral evolution. Vital to this understanding is the monitoring of bat migration patterns, which serves as a crucial tool for elucidating CoV ecology and epidemiology. Such efforts are essential for ongoing research endeavours aimed at mitigating the potential for future zoonotic disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: There is currently no national plan for early intervention in first‐episode psychosis in Portugal. Consequently, there is some heterogeneity in the evaluation and treatment of first‐episode psychosis across the country. The aim of this article is to provide a complete description of the early intervention programme Programa de Intervenção nas Fases Iniciais da Psicose (PROFIP) in Lisbon, a pioneering team in Portugal for treating first‐episode psychosis (FEP) patients. We also describe the baseline socio‐demographic and clinical data obtained from new patients over a 1‐year period. PROFIP programme accepts all cases of FEP, taking a transdiagnostic approach. Methods: Description of PROFIP programme and baseline socio‐demographic and clinical data obtained from new patients over a 1‐year period. Results: The team was constituted to provide early detection, treatment and support to people aged 16 to 35 years with affective and non‐affective FEP. Over a 1‐year period, 39 patients were included in the PROFIP programme. The majority of patients were young male patients with a diagnosis of non‐affective psychosis, and with 56% of patients reporting cannabis use. Patients received pharmacological and psychosocial interventions based on evidence and individual needs. Conclusions: Our team allowed young people with early psychosis to receive effective care. We do need improvements, namely in referrals and the education of health professionals. More teams in our country should be constituted, allowing larger numbers of patients with early psychosis to be treated by specialized teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic palynology is a discipline used in criminal cases, the importance of which has been increasing within the forensic sciences worldwide over the past three decades. Palynological analysis of surface soil samples collected from crime scenes, items and individuals has already been proven to provide important evidence linking suspects, victims and items to specific locations. A palynological study of surface soil obtained in two Portuguese districts, Coimbra and Setubal, was undertaken. The main aim was to determine the value of soil samples regarding the plant community diversity in a given area of the country, based on the evaluation of palynomorph assemblages, and to determine whether any variation could be useful in a forensic palynology context. Five surface soil samples were obtained and processed from three representative types of habitat (dunes, mixed forest and scrub) within the two districts, providing 30 samples. In total, 5434 palynomorphs were analysed and 62 taxa identified, representing nine families, 42 genera and 11 species. Results show that both districts were generally characterised by high pollen taxa frequencies, by composition diversity and by distinct palynological profiles for each district, area and collection site. In conclusion, this study shows that different locations varied in their pollen profiles, which may be of use to forensic palynologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phenomenology has been gradually playing a more prominent role in nursing research at an international level. Objective: To map and characterize nursing doctoral theses with a phenomenological methodological approach. Methodology: Documentary research, with access to 273 doctoral theses completed between 2004 and 2018 and available in the open-access digital repositories of Portuguese universities. Results: Twenty-six doctoral theses were identified whose research studies used a phenomenological methodological approach. The analysis took into account the following aspects: a) participants - mainly adults and clients of nursing care; b) healthcare area - most of the theses did not fit into a specific health area; c) context - mainly hospital; d) and research method - phenomenological hermeneutic. Conclusion: Although still in small numbers, phenomenologically-oriented doctoral theses, by explaining the nature and meaning of lived experiences, become relevant to the development of the nursing discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that evaluates injuries that occur during the 2009 to 2010 preseason youth soccer players in Portugal. It states that 40 Portuguese soccer teams consist of 912 youths aged 12 to 19 years served as subjects of the study in which injury severity, time loss due to injury, and injury incidence were calculated. Results show total incidence of 2.5 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure. It also reveals that 7.2 percent of players sustained injuries during the preseason.

The aims of the study were to (1) analyse the activity profile of youth football players during competitive matches, and (2) examine the relationship between physical match performance and intermittent exercise performance as well as. Thirty youth male football players, aged 14–17 years, carried out a laboratory treadmill test for determination ofas well as the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) and Yo-Yo intermittent endurance level 2 (Yo-Yo IE2) tests. Time–motion analysis and heart rate (HR) recordings were performed during two competitive matches per player. Distance covered during the match was 6311±948 (range: 4435–8098) m, of which 12% were high-intensity activities (HIA; 759±437 [374–2062] m), and 5% was backwards running (309±205 [12–776] m). Mean match HR was 168±12 (140–187) bpm, corresponding to 85% (69–91) of maximum HR. The total distance covered in the last 13.3-min period of the match was 40%, 26% and 17% lower than in the first, second and fourth 13.3-min periods of the match, respectively (P<0.05). The distance covered in backwards running decreased by 31% and 37% from the first to the last 13.3-min periods of the first and second half, respectively (P<0.05). The Yo-Yo IR1 was significantly associated with the time spent with sprinting during the match (r=0.63;P=0.002) and during the last 13.3-min period (r=0.63;P=0.022). Both Yo-Yo IR1 and Yo-Yo IE2 were correlated with the time spent with match HIA (r=0.56 andr=0.57, respectively;P<0.05). No significant relationship was observed betweenand match time–motion variables (r=−0.13–0.25;P>0.05) or Yo-Yo test performances (r=0.09–0.26;P>0.05). In conclusion, youth football players have a high heart-rate loading during match play and a decreased running performance towards the end of the game. The intermittent exercise capacity, as determined in the Yo-Yo IR1 test, appears to be a valid indicator of high-intensity exercise performance in youth matches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of novel coronaviruses (CoVs) has emphasized the need to understand their diversity and distribution in animal populations. Bats have been identified as crucial reservoirs for CoVs, and they are found in various bat species worldwide. In this study, we investigated the presence of CoVs of four cavernicolous bats in six locations in the centre and south of Portugal. We collected faeces, anal, and buccal swab samples, as well as air samples from the locations using a Coriolis air sampler. Our results indicate that CoVs were more readily detected in faecal samples compared to anal and buccal swab samples. No CoVs were detected in the air samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the detected viruses belong to the Alphacoronavirus genus. This study represents the first report of Alphacoronaviruses circulating in bats in Portugal and highlights the importance of continuous surveillance for novel CoVs in bat populations globally. Ongoing surveillance for CoVs in bat populations is essential as they are a vital source of these viruses. It is crucial to understand the ecological relationships between animals, humans, and the environment to prevent and control the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases. Further ecological studies are needed to investigate the factors contributing to the emergence and transmission of zoonotic viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations of the Iberian Peninsula have been severely affected by the emergence of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2 (RHDV2/b). Bushflies and blowflies (Muscidae and Calliphoridae families, respectively) are important RHDV vectors in Oceania, but their epidemiological role is unknown in the native range of the European rabbit. In this study, scavenging flies were collected between June 2018 and February 2019 in baited traps at one site in southern Portugal, alongside a longitudinal capture-mark-recapture study of a wild European rabbit population, aiming to provide evidence of mechanical transmission of GI.2 by flies. Fly abundance, particularly from Calliphoridae and Muscidae families, peaked in October 2018 and in February 2019. By employing molecular tools, we were able to detect the presence of GI.2 in flies belonging to the families Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Fanniidae and Drosophilidae. The positive samples were detected during an RHD outbreak and absent in samples collected when no evidence of viral circulation in the local rabbit population was found. We were able to sequence a short viral genomic fragment, confirming its identity as RHDV GI.2. The results suggest that scavenging flies may act as mechanical vectors of GI.2 in the native range of the southwestern Iberian subspecies O. cuniculus algirus. Future studies should better assess their potential in the epidemiology of RHD and as a tool for monitoring viral circulation in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]