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Therapeutic plasmapheresis is a therapeutic procedure in which the patient's blood is passed through a medical device which separates out plasma from other components of blood. The plasma is removed and replaced with a replacement solution. Studies on the use of plasmapheresis in critically ill patients are scarce. The aim of this study was to review all therapeutic plasmapheresis sessions carried out in the Hospital Beatriz Ângelo intensive care unit.An observational retrospective study was conducted between April 2012 and March 2019. All patients who underwent therapeutic plasmapheresis in the intensive care unit were included, and plasmapheresis sessions held outside the intensive care unit were excluded.Of 46 patients, 63% were men (n = 29), with a median age of 53 years. The most frequent diagnoses were hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis, vasculitis, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, and atypical haemolytic-uremic syndrome. A total of 198 plasmapheresis sessions were carried out in the intensive care unit. Most of the used replacement solutions were fresh frozen plasma (34.4%), albumin/crystalloid (24.2%), and albumin/fresh frozen plasma (19.2%). The most common complications were hydroelectrolytic changes (84; 42.4%) and coagulation disorders/thrombocytopenia (65; 32.8%). There was no need to interrupt any plasmapheresis session due to complications related to the patient.Therapeutic plasmapheresis is an urgent procedure that can reduce morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. This justifies that 37% of patients started the technique before the diagnostic confirmation. The indications for plasmapheresis and the choice of replacement solution were in agreement with the guidelines. Despite the risk of bleeding, no haemorrhagic complications were recorded.Therapeutic plasmapheresis is a complex technique that requires specific training. The indications are diverse, and some are not consensual. Complications were frequent, but they did not increase morbidity.Introdução: A plasmaferese terapêutica é um procedimento em que o sangue passa por um circuito extracorpóreo que separa o plasma dos outros componentes do sangue. O plasma removido é substituído por soluções de reposição. Os estudos sobre a utilização de plasmaferese terapêutica no doente crítico são escassos. O objetivo do estudo foi rever todas as sessões de plasmaferese realizadas no serviço de Medicina Intensiva do Hospital Beatriz Ângelo. Material e Métodos: Estudo observacional retrospetivo de todos os doentes admitidos no serviço de Medicina Intensiva entre abril de 2012 e março de 2019. Foram selecionados os doentes submetidos a plasmaferese e excluídas as sessões realizadas fora do serviço de Medicina Intensiva. Resultados: No período de estudo foram incluídos 46 doentes. A maioria eram homens (n = 29; 63%) com uma idade mediana de 53 anos. Os diagnósticos mais frequentes foram pancreatite secundária a hipertrigliceridemia, vasculite, anemia hemolítica autoimune e síndrome hemolítica urémica atípica. Foram realizadas 198 sessões de plasmaferese no serviço de Medicina Intensiva. As soluções de substituição mais utilizadas foram plasma fresco congelado (34,4%), albumina/cristalóide (24,2%) e albumina/plasma (19,2%). As complicações mais comuns foram alterações hidroeletrolíticas (84; 42,4%), e distúrbios da coagulação/plaquetas (65; 32,8%). Em nenhum dos casos a técnica teve que ser interrompida por complicações relacionadas com o doente. Discussão: A plasmaferese terapêutica é um procedimento urgente capaz de reduzir a morbilidade e mortalidade no doente crítico. Isto justifica que 37% dos doentes tenham iniciado a técnica antes da confirmação diagnóstica. As indicações e soluto de reposição escolhido foram de acordo com as recomendações. Apesar do risco hemorrágico, nenhuma complicação desta natureza foi reportada. Conclusão: A plasmafere terapêutica é uma técnica complexa que requer treino específico. As indicações são diversas e algumas não consensuais. As complicações foram frequentes, mas não condicionaram morbilidade associada.

Os bioindicadores ambientais são espécies de organismos que podem ser utilizados para monitorar a qualidade do meio ambiente e dessa forma monitorar o impacto das ações antrópicas sobre os ecossistemas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar a contribuição brasileira nos últimos 5 anos sobre as pesquisas à respeito de bioindicadores ambientais. Para possibilitar tal identificação foram realizadas buscas no portal de Periódicos da CAPES no período de 2018 a 2023, selecionando as contribuições mais recentes referentes ao tema. Foram identificados 29 trabalhos, observando os critérios de inclusão e exclusão estabelecidos como artigos duplicados; artigos que estivessem disponíveis para download; artigos do tipo estudo de caso de algum bioindicador ambiental e artigos que apresentassem estudos de caso em território brasileiro. Destaca-se grande contribuição de pesquisas desenvolvidas no estado de Minas Gerais, além de maior incidência de resultados em invertebrados bentônicos como bioindicadores de qualidade da água.

Revealing the place addresses the referential role of sacred architecture elements that dot the Portuguese Atlantic coastline in contemporary architectural pedagogy and in the practice of architecture. The long Portuguese coastline, the case study of the research, is dotted with sacred architectural elements—sanctuaries, churches, chapels and crosses—oriented according to both compositional and canonical cosmological principles. The character of the space of articulation between the land and the sea is made evident by the tension between the sacred elements and the landscape. This paper addresses this relation, resorting to decomposition interpretative drawings and arguments that uncover the formal relationships between sacred architecture and the landscape, proposing an interpretative reading of the built elements that combines type and place. Furthermore, it discusses the transposition of composition principles from sacred to secular architecture, building an analogy for the typological transfer process, considering the transference of existing qualities in sacred architecture for contemporary architectural projects. The hypothesis discussed is that the decoding of the architectural composition of sacred elements in the landscape remains useful both in the pedagogy and practice of architecture. Finally, it is evidenced that this exercise allows us to transfer formal relations established between sacred buildings and the landscape for contemporary architectural practice, revealing type and topos.

Background health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important patient-centred outcome in patients surviving ICU admission for COVID-19. It is currently not clear which domains of the HRQoL are most affected. Objective to quantify HRQoL in order to identify areas of interventions. Design prospective observation study. Setting admissions to European ICUs between March 2020 and February 2021. Subjects patients aged 70 years or older admitted with COVID-19 disease. Methods collected determinants include SOFA-score, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), number and timing of ICU procedures and limitation of care, Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) dependence score. HRQoL was assessed at 3 months after ICU admission with the Euro-QoL-5D-5L questionnaire. An outcome of ≥4 on any of Euro-QoL-5D-5L domains was considered unfavourable. Results in total 3,140 patients from 14 European countries were included in this study. Three months after inclusion, 1,224 patients (39.0%) were alive and the EQ-5D-5L from was obtained. The CFS was associated with an increased odds ratio for an unfavourable HRQoL outcome after 3 months; OR 1.15 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71–1.87) for CFS 2 to OR 4.33 (95% CI: 1.57–11.9) for CFS ≧ 7. The Katz ADL was not statistically significantly associated with HRQoL after 3 months. Conclusions in critically ill old intensive care patients suffering from COVID-19, the CFS is associated with the subjectively perceived quality of life. The CFS on admission can be used to inform patients and relatives on the risk of an unfavourable qualitative outcome if such patients survive.

Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. This study was endorsed by the ESICM. Free support for running the electronic database and was granted from the dep. of Epidemiology, University of Aarhus, Denmark. Bruno et al. Annals of Intensive Care (2022) 12:26 Page 10 of 11 The support of the study in France by a grant from Fondation Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris pour la recherche is greatly appreciated. In Norway, the study was supported by a grant from the Health Region West. In addition, the study was supported by a grant from the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). EOSCsecretariat.eu has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Programme call H2020-INFRAEOSC-05-2018-2019, grant agreement number 831644. This work was supported by the Collaborative Research Center SFB 1116 (German Research Foundation, DFG) and by the Forschungskommission of the Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf and No. 2020–21 to RRB for a Clinician Scientist Track. No (industry) sponsorship has been received for this investigator-initiated study. PURPOSE: Critically ill old intensive care unit (ICU) patients suffering from Sars-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) are at increased risk for adverse outcomes. This post hoc analysis investigates the association of the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) with the outcome in this vulnerable patient group. METHODS: The COVIP study is a prospective international observational study that recruited ICU patients ≥ 70 years admitted with COVID-19 (NCT04321265). Several parameters including ADL (ADL; 0 = disability, 6 = no disability), Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), SOFA score, intensive care treatment, ICU- and 3-month survival were recorded. A mixed-effects Weibull proportional hazard regression analyses for 3-month mortality adjusted for multiple confounders. RESULTS: This pre-specified analysis included 2359 patients with a documented ADL and CFS. Most patients evidenced independence in their daily living before hospital admission (80% with ADL = 6). Patients with no frailty and no disability showed the lowest, patients with frailty (CFS ≥ 5) and disability (ADL

Resumo Descreve-se uma atividade pedagógica com estudantes do Mestrado e Pós-Licenciatura em Enfermagem de Saúde Materna e Obstetrícia, aplicando princípios da prática simulada na realização da sutura perineal após o parto. Este procedimento causa muita insegurança e gera grande ansiedade nos estudantes, quando iniciam estágio em bloco de partos. Os objetivos deste artigo são desenvolver competências psicomotoras nos estudantes para a reconstituição cirúrgica perineal; aumentar a autoconfiança dos estudantes para o procedimento. Metodologia qualitativa, com 2 momentos de recolha de dados aplicados a dois cursos. Questionário com perguntas abertas, sessão de “focus group” e filmagem. Análise de conteúdo das respostas às perguntas abertas e verbatim do “focus group”. Como Resultados destaca-se uma estreita relação entre a simulação e o desenvolvimento de competências. Os estudantes salientaram a importância da atividade pedagógica na aquisição de competências de sutura, reforço da autoconfiança e na diminuição da ansiedade inicial. O uso da investigação qualitativa permitiu identificar o impacto da prática simulada no desenvolvimento de competências dos estudantes, identificar aspetos a aperfeiçoar na metodologia, contribuindo para a melhoria das práticas pedagógicas. Abstract A pedagogical activity with Master’s Degree and Postgraduate students in Maternal Health and Obstetrics Nursing is described, applying principles of simulated practice in perineal suturing after delivery. This procedure causes a lot of insecurity and generates great anxiety in the students, when they start the internship in a delivery room. Objectives: to develop the psychomotor skills in students for perineal surgical reconstruction; increase students’ self-confidence to perform the procedure. Methodology: qualitative, with 2 moments of data collection applied to two courses. Questionnaire with open questions, focus group session and filming. Content analysis of the answers to the questions and verbatim of the focus group. Results: a close relationship was observed between simulation and skills development. Conclusion: the students emphasized the importance of the pedagogical activity in the acquisition of suturing skills, improving their self-confidence and reducing the initial anxiety. The use of the qualitative research allowed identifying the impact of the simulated practice on the development of the students’ skills and to identify aspects to be improved, contributing to the progress of pedagogical practices.

Background Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a promising alternative to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) with a particular importance amidst the shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the use of NIV in Europe and factors associated with outcomes of patients treated with NIV. Methods This is a substudy of COVIP study—an international prospective observational study enrolling patients aged ≥ 70 years with confirmed COVID-19 treated in ICU. We enrolled patients in 156 ICUs across 15 European countries between March 2020 and April 2021.The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality. Results Cohort included 3074 patients, most of whom were male (2197/3074, 71.4%) at the mean age of 75.7 years (SD 4.6). NIV frequency was 25.7% and varied from 1.1 to 62.0% between participating countries. Primary NIV failure, defined as need for endotracheal intubation or death within 30 days since ICU admission, occurred in 470/629 (74.7%) of patients. Factors associated with increased NIV failure risk were higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (OR 3.73, 95% CI 2.36–5.90) and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) on admission (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.06–2.00). Patients initially treated with NIV (n = 630) lived for 1.36 fewer days (95% CI − 2.27 to − 0.46 days) compared to primary IMV group (n = 1876). Conclusions Frequency of NIV use varies across European countries. Higher severity of illness and more severe frailty were associated with a risk of NIV failure among critically ill older adults with COVID-19. Primary IMV was associated with better outcomes than primary NIV. Clinical Trial RegistrationNCT04321265, registered 19 March 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov.

Carcinomas de glândula acrircrina são neoplasias malignas raras que ocorrem em gatos. O tratamento disponível é cirúrgico, e geralmente recorrente [1,2] e, neste caso, levaria à ablação total do meatus acústico externo. Em dezembro de 2020, foi relatada uma consulta homeopática do felino, masculino, persa, 13 anos, histórico da doença, iniciada em 2015, somando seis recidivas dos processos tumorais nas pálpebras e formação recente no canal auditivo esquerdo. Análise histopatológica do adenocarcinoma acritorino. Intervenções cirúrgicas e aplicação de ácido tricloroacético para prevenir recidivas. No entanto, foram observadas formações remanescentes nas pálpebras e no canal auditivo. Tem uma forma arredondada enevada na pálpebra superior direita medindo 0,4 cm e a inferior de 0,2 cm, redonda. No canal auditivo esquerdo, cerca de 1,6 cm, além de 4 pontos espalhados nas dobras auditivas. O tratamento homeopático foi iniciado por dois meses com o álbum Arsênico 30 cH, duas vezes ao dia; Carcinosinum 200 cH, uma vez por dia, e complexo contendo Avena sativa 4 cH, Echinacea angustifolia 4 cH, Conium maculatum 6 cH, Thuja officinalis 6 cH e Silicea terra 6 cH, quatro vezes ao dia. A cada dois meses, o quadro era reavaliado, poderes e frequências reajustados. Em poucos meses, houve remissão completa do tumor, recuperação do bem-estar e melhora no humor e apetite. O termo de consentimento livre e informado foi assinado. Não houve recidiva de tumores e cistite até março de 2022. Este estudo mostrou-se eficaz, documentado com fotos e exames. Abordar um caso raro pode fornecer uma nova possibilidade terapêutica. A credibilidade dos relatos de casos homeopáticos de qualidade vem aumentando devido às exigências metodológicas utilizando ferramentas desenvolvidas em estudos recentes. Tais critérios acabam extinguindo relatórios por não atingirem alta qualidade devido a variáveis não controláveis pelo pesquisador.

Isotherapics prepared from toxic substances have been described as attenuation factors for heavy metal intoxication in aquatic animals. Herein, Artemia salina and mercury chloride were used as a model to identify treatment-related bioresilience. The aim was to describe the effects of Mercurius corrosivus (MC) in different potencies on Artemia salina cyst hatching and on mercury bioavailability. Artemia salina cysts were exposed to 5.0 µg/mL of mercury chloride during the hatching phase. MC 6cH, 30cH, and 200cH were prepared and poured into artificial seawater. Different controls were used (nonchallenged cysts and challenged cysts treated with water, succussed water, and Ethilicum 1cH). Four series of nine experiments were performed for 4 weeks to evaluate the percentage of cyst hatching considering all moon phases. Soluble total mercury (THg) levels and precipitated mercury content were also evaluated. Solvatochromic dyes were used to check for eventual physicochemical markers of MC biological activity. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with mixed models was used for evaluating the effect of different treatments and the simultaneous influence of the moon phases on the cysts hatching rate, at both observation times (24 and 48 hours). When necessary, outliers were removed, using the Tukey criterion. The level of significance α was set at 5%. Significant delay (p

Introduction: Artemia salina, an ecotoxicity bioindicator, is a microcrustacean belonging to the order Anostraca. Glyphosate is an herbicide widely used to control weeds. However, its intoxication can cause serious damage to human health and the balance of the environment, given its effects as an endocrine disruptor. Objective: verify the possible protection of the artemia exposed to glyphosate by the addition of its isotherapic into water, by means of the evaluation of the behavioral and morphological features of nauplii and of the physical properties of remedies and treated water, to elucidate the involved mechanisms. Methods: Artemia salina cysts were kept in culture bottles containing artificial seawater containing glyphosate at LC 10 (lethal concentration 10%), to promote hatching within 48 hours. The isotherapic preparations were inserted in each bottle in a 10% of the total water volume. Part of the nauplii was distributed in transparent tubes, being 10 nauplii per tube and 6 tubes per group, for behavioral analysis, and part were collected for a detailed morphological analysis, under an optical microscope. About 80 to 270 nauplii were analyzed per group. The reserved water was divided into aliquots for physicochemical analysis, that is, evaluation of the water dipole behavior by Cartwright´s method. Results: Gly 6cH presented selective effects on nauplii hatching (p=0.02) and on defected/healthy ratio (p=0.001), representing some protective action. This result was dependent of the salinity of water and presented correspondence with the effects on solvatochromic dyes, indicating that charges and ions can be critical factors involved in the mechanism of action. We concluded that the use of isotherapics could be a plausible tool to reduce the environmental impact of the indiscriminate use of glyphosate, since these results can be reproduced in further studies.

Auteurs : COVIP study group; International audience; Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led highly developed healthcare systems to the brink of collapse due to the large numbers of patients being admitted into hospitals. One of the potential prognostic indicators in patients with COVID-19 is frailty. The degree of frailty could be used to assist both the triage into intensive care, and decisions regarding treatment limitations. Our study sought to determine the interaction of frailty and age in elderly COVID-19 ICU patients. Methods A prospective multicentre study of COVID-19 patients ≥ 70 years admitted to intensive care in 138 ICUs from 28 countries was conducted. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality. Frailty was assessed using the clinical frailty scale. Additionally, comorbidities, management strategies and treatment limitations were recorded. Results The study included 1346 patients (28% female) with a median age of 75 years (IQR 72–78, range 70–96), 16.3% were older than 80 years, and 21% of the patients were frail. The overall survival at 30 days was 59% (95% CI 56–62), with 66% (63–69) in fit, 53% (47–61) in vulnerable and 41% (35–47) in frail patients ( p

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de mestre em Desporto - Atividades desportivas para crianças Submitted by Dina Rocha (dir.biblioteca@ipsantarem.pt) on 2021-01-13T01:22:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MD_Luis Gordinho_Luis Gordinho_relatoriofinal.pdf: 5580386 bytes, checksum: b273ab2ea085a6658895c821dc9ac688 (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Dina Rocha (dir.biblioteca@ipsantarem.pt) on 2021-01-13T01:22:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 MD_Luis Gordinho_Luis Gordinho_relatoriofinal.pdf: 5580386 bytes, checksum: b273ab2ea085a6658895c821dc9ac688 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2021-01-13T01:23:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MD_Luis Gordinho_Luis Gordinho_relatoriofinal.pdf: 5580386 bytes, checksum: b273ab2ea085a6658895c821dc9ac688 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020-09-14 N/A

A pedagogical activity with Master's Degree and Postgraduate students in Maternal Health and Obstetrics Nursing is described, applying principles of simulated practice in perineal suturing after delivery. This procedure causes a lot of insecurity and generates great anxiety in the students, when they start the internship in a delivery room.to develop the psychomotor skills in students for perineal surgical reconstruction; increase students' self-confidence to perform the procedure.qualitative, with 2 moments of data collection applied to two courses. Questionnaire with open questions, focus group session and filming. Content analysis of the answers to the questions and verbatim of the focus group.a close relationship was observed between simulation and skills development.the students emphasized the importance of the pedagogical activity in the acquisition of suturing skills, improving their self-confidence and reducing the initial anxiety. The use of the qualitative research allowed identifying the impact of the simulated practice on the development of the students' skills and to identify aspects to be improved, contributing to the progress of pedagogical practices.Descreve-se uma atividade pedagógica com estudantes do Mestrado e Pós-Licenciatura em Enfermagem de Saúde Materna e Obstetrícia, aplicando princípios da prática simulada na realização da sutura perineal após o parto. Este procedimento causa muita insegurança e gera grande ansiedade nos estudantes, quando iniciam estágio em bloco de partos. Os objetivos deste artigo são desenvolver competências psicomotoras nos estudantes para a reconstituição cirúrgica perineal; aumentar a autoconfiança dos estudantes para o procedimento. Metodologia qualitativa, com 2 momentos de recolha de dados aplicados a dois cursos. Questionário com perguntas abertas, sessão de “focus group” e filmagem. Análise de conteúdo das respostas às perguntas abertas e verbatim do “focus group”. Como Resultados destaca-se uma estreita relação entre a simulação e o desenvolvimento de competências. Os estudantes salientaram a importância da atividade pedagógica na aquisição de competências de sutura, reforço da autoconfiança e na diminuição da ansiedade inicial. O uso da investigação qualitativa permitiu identificar o impacto da prática simulada no desenvolvimento de competências dos estudantes, identificar aspetos a aperfeiçoar na metodologia, contribuindo para a melhoria das práticas pedagógicas.

Introduction: Different environmental conditions can influence the effects of toxic agents on living beings. Recently, a series of experiments performed in Artemia salina submitted to different kinds of intoxication have shown that both, isotherapic and succussed water can change Artemia salina´s bio resilience at different levels. Moreover, it seems to vary according to the circalunar cycle. Objective: To verify if circalunar phases and water agitation can modify the toxicity of lead chloride on Artemia salina in vitro. Methodology: Artemia salina cysts were exposed to seawater containing 0.04% of lead chloride (equal to EC10 or 10% effective concentration, previously determined in a pilot study) in 96-well culture plates. Thirty-six experimental repetitions were performed in four series to observe the possible effects of adding stirred water, the so-called succussed water, and the moon phases. The hatched cysts were recorded after 48 hours using a digital microscope (1000x magnification) to identify the hatching percentage and the viability and mobility of the born nauplii. Results: The exposition of cysts to PbCl2 led to an increase in the hatching rate, and it was more evident during the full moon (p = 0.00014) The addition of succussed water into the seawater medium reduced this effect to the baseline levels. An increase in mobility was seen in nauplii born from exposed cysts during the full moon (p = 0.00077), but this effect was not affected by the treatment with succussed water. Discussion: Although the effects of lead chloride EC10 on the increase of nauplii hatching were expected, two environmental variables changed the sensitivity of cysts to this harmful stimulus. The circalunar cycle varied the hatching rate according to the moon phase, even in laboratory conditions, and the addition of succussed water into the medium reduced the hatching rate, even with different intensities according to the moon phase. The organization of nano and microbubbles generated after the succussion of water could be related to this protective effect and can explain, at least partially the effects of high diluted preparations on this biological context. Conclusion: Environmental factors, such as the circalunar cycle and products of water agitation, can modulate the adaptative control of hatching in Artemia salina exposed to lead chloride at EC10.

Introduction: Solvatochromic dyes are probes to detect variations on the dipole moment of solvents after the insertion of homeopathic potencies. Recent studies have shown they can be useful tools in laboratory and field studies to detect the activity of homeopathic remedies. Objective: Determine whether solvatochromic dyes can be a diagnostic tool for cells infected by different agents and/or markers to identify the activity of homeopathic medicines. Methods: Ethilicum 1cH, Silicea terra 6, 30, 200cH; Zincum metallicum 6, 30, 200cH and Phosphorus 6, 30 and 200cH were analyzed by pouring the samples (in a 1:60 rate) into a series of seven dyes (rhodamine, ET 33, ET 30, coumarin 7, NN DMIA, Nile red, methylene violet) diluted in absolute ethanol using pre-established working concentrations. Oscillations of dye absorbance were observed at visible light spectrophotometry according to the remedy and potency. Water and succussed water were used as controls. In a second moment, the absorbance profile of the remedies will be compared with those of biological samples (supernatants) and checked with the biological effect previously obtained from each treatment. Supernatants of RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated by Calmette-Guérin bacilli (BCG) or infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi will be analyzed. Results: Preliminary results have shown that Silicea terra 6cH, Phosphorus 30 and 200cH and Zincum metallicum 6, 30 and 200cH reduced the absorbance of methylene violet (p=0.01). Repetitions and analysis of supernatants are expected to be performed in the next steps of the study. Future perspectives: Establish a pattern of reactivity of the studied medicines with different dyes and the putative relation with the corresponding supernatants, as an attempt to obtain a “physicochemical signature” for each kind of infection and/or treatment.

Considering that there are few published studies that specifically address the exclusive use of Carcinosinum in different potencies and, most of them focused on genotypic and clinical effects, the present study was proposed to identify possible phenotypic changes, including viability, expression of HER-2 and metastatic abilities, using 4T1 cells in vitro as a model. Carcinosinum was tested in different homeopathic potencies (12cH; 30cH; 200cH) mechanically prepared using sterile pure water. The time space between preparing the potencies and using them was 24 hours.The final dilutions were inserted into the culture medium in a volume equal to 10%, at the time of cell seeding. The same succussed vehicle used to prepare the drugs (70% ethanol) diluted 1:100 in sterile pure water was used as control. All treated cells were cultured in 25 mL flasks, with cell density of 5 x 105 cells/mL. After 24 hours of treatment, cells were analyzed for apoptosis index using Annexin V kit and the Countess® system. The morphology of 4T1 cells was monitored by staining cell smears with hematoxylin-eosin and Giemsa methods. HER-2 expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry and metalloproteinase activity was assessed by zymography. The determination of the cytokine profile was performed using Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). The samples were evaluated in quadruplicate and the data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Carcinosinum 30cH presented the highest apoptotic index and reduction of MMP-9-Pro expression; Carcinosinum 200cH produced the highest positivity for HER-2 and no specific effect was seen after the treatment with Carcinosinum 12cH. No change in cytokine expression was seen among treatments. We conclude that Carcinosinum 30cH and 200cH can change phenotypic features important to tumor development in vitro. The clinical meaning of these data deserves further investigation.

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A 47-year-old Caucasian man with arterial hypertension was admitted after a seizure. At the emergency department, he presented with high blood pressure, bilateral vision loss (evidenced by unresponsiveness to threatening stimuli), right hemiplegia and severe agitation. The brain CT angiography showed a diffuse basal cisterns subarachnoid haemorrhage with a ruptured basilar aneurysm. He was admitted for neurovascular procedure and embolisation. The patient’s neurological examination improved but blindness persisted. A funduscopic examination revealed a left eye vitreous haemorrhage and diffuse retinal haemorrhages in the posterior pole. Assuming the haemorrhages were the cause of blindness, Terson syndrome was diagnosed. The patient underwent vitrectomy surgery being discharged 5 days later maintaining left eye blindness and able to count fingers from 1 m distance with the right eye. Two months after discharge, he was re-evaluated at our clinic with left eye blurred vision and almost normal right eye visual acuity.

Acoustic divergence among populations may result in assortative mating, behavioral isolation, and speciation. In birds, the recogni- tion of suitable mates depends to a large extent on learning, generally resulting in a tendency to discriminate against nonlocal stimuli. However, there may be geographical variation in the discrimination against nonlocal stimuli, and this may allow inferring the mechanisms behind the evolution of vocal recognition. We tested territorial males of 3 west European subspecies of reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus schoeniclus, Emberiza schoeniclus lusitanica, and Emberiza schoeniclus witherbyi) using song playback to determine the level of song discrimination. We found that witherbyi and, to some extent lusitanica, males largely ignored schoeniclus songs. However, witherbyi reacted less strongly to the songs of lusitanica than lusitanica did to songs of witherbyi. In contrast, schoenic- lus males did not discriminate the songs of the different subspecies, reacting strongly to all. Differential territorial defense behavior suggest that intruding males with different songs do not represent the same competitive threat, and provide evidence of premating reproductive isolation among these recently evolved subspecies. The high discrimination exhibited by witherbyi and lusitanica seems associated with the high level of local adaptation. Overall, the pattern of premating reproductive isolation appears to agree more with the ecological than with the neutral genetic divergences between subspecies, suggesting that there is an ongoing process of ecological speciation in this study system.

Song divergence between populations of a species can lead to reproductive isolation and speciation. However, birds may have different singing styles used in distinct social contexts, and songs of each style may change at different rates over time and space. Here, we tested whether song divergence between subspecies of reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, differs with singing style, by comparing song traits of its three singing styles among three subspecies breeding in northern and western Europe. We show that the two singing styles under sexual selection (dawn and fast songs, related to obtaining extrapair and social mates, respectively) diverged significantly more than the slow songs (used as an all-clear signal to nest- attending social females). Multiple song traits differed significantly between the subspecies in all singing styles, with E. s. lusitanica generally being intermediate between E. s. schoeniclus and E. s. witherbyi, and the pattern of song complexity opposing the expected latitudinal gradient (of increasing complexity with increasing latitude). Cluster analyses of populations indicate that sexually selected singing styles are better for discriminating subspecies, describing a scenario of a major split in song features between the migratory, northern E. s. schoeniclus and the two resident, southern subspecies, rather than a clinal variation. The greater song divergence in fast and dawn singing styles suggests that sexual selection may be playing an important role in the incipient speciation of reed buntings. (Less)

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease, most commonly presenting with sicca symptoms—xerostomia and xerophthalmia. Up to one-half of affected individuals also develop extra-glandular involvement. Early diagnosis is important to prevent further complications. This paper describes an atypical case of SS in a 21-year-old woman who presented first with neuropsychiatric symptoms and fever. She was diagnosed and treated for a presumed psychotic episode. However, because she remained febrile, a thorough investigation resulted in the challenging diagnosis of SS. LEARNING POINTS Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) may be an under-recognized cause of central nervous system and neuropsychiatric involvement. Neuropsychiatric manifestations of primary SS can be variable. Patients may be treated incorrectly if the diagnosis is not rapidly established, so a clinical history and thorough examination are very important.

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Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus subspecies vary considerably in bill size and shape and seem to be at an early stage of speciation, in which bill might be indirectly causing reproductive isolation. Hence, we evaluated whether bill size, as well as age and sex, are associated with foraging niche in three west European subspecies of reed bunting: the thin-billed schoeniclus, the intermediate-billed lusitanica and the thick-billed witherbyi. Blood sampling was undertaken at three sites in southwest Europe during the winter (when these subspecies co-occur), and stable isotope analyses (carbon and nitrogen) were performed to assess their foraging niches. Stable isotope analyses of potential food items confirmed uniform baseline isotopic composition among sites. schoeniclus showed a significantly broader isotopic niche than lusitanica and witherbyi, which seemed otherwise similar despite the fact that witherbyi is more divergent in bill traits. Stable isotope ratios were consistent with the latter two subspecies feeding on C3-plant-feeding insects, whereas schoeniclus diet also included C4 plant material. Despite its lower sexual dimorphism, sex and age differences were found only in schoeniclus, but these differences vary between locations in a complex manner. Our results suggest that bill size and shape differentiated between northern, migratory and southern, resident subspecies as a consequence of natural selection through competition during the winter, which is now reflected in isotopic niche divergence between subspecies. The potential roles of sexual selection, reed thickness and summer temperature on the difference in bill size (and greater sexual dimorphism) between lusitanica and witherbyi are discussed.

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Mestrado em Ciências do Mar e da Atmosfera Ria de Aveiro is a shallow lagoon, located in the Northwest of Portugal, separated from the sea by a barrier island, with which is connected through an artificial channel fixed by breakwaters. This work aims to study the tidal changes induce by geomorphologic modifications occurred in Ria de Aveiro between 1987/88 and 2017, analysing the variations on the tidal amplitude and phase of tidal constituents: 𝑀2, 𝑆2, 𝑀4, 𝑀6 and 𝑀𝑆𝑓. This work also aims to determine the frequency of storm surge phenomena occurrence, between 2012 and 2017, determining which factors influence the generation of the storm - variation in atmospheric pressure, intensity and direction of the wind and precipitation - and verify the increase of the water level in Ria de Aveiro caused by these meteorological events. Data were collected on tidal gauges in the main channels of the lagoon. Annual amplitude and phase variation graphics of tidal constituents: 𝑀2, 𝑆2, 𝑀4, 𝑀6 and 𝑀𝑆𝑓 (which were computed using the T-Tide Matlab package), were drawn for the different years. This allowed to observe the annual tidal evolution and to verify if there had been any relevant changes during the time interval in which the data collection took place. Annual series of the residual meteorological tide were determined for each year between 2012 and 2017, by subtracting the astronomical predicted tides from the measured tidal signal, and to identify the distribution of the positive and negative anomalies in each station studied, and find the relationship between meteorological variables and the generation of tidal elevations. For this purpose, were drawn graphs of the atmospheric pressure, wind intensity and direction, precipitation and water level and residual graphs. From the results obtained, in general and for each station, the annual amplitude values are increasing while the phase is decreasing. Between 1987/88 and 2002/03 there was an increase in amplitude in the studied stations. This change is a consequence of the increase in the depth of the navigation channels due to dredging operations in 1998. From 2012 to 2017 and after the North breakwater extension there are no significant variations in tidal amplitude or phase. Thus, the extension of the North breakwater did not produce appreciable changes in the tidal dynamics in Ria de Aveiro. By the analysis of the meteorological tide was verified that positive anomalies are more frequent than negative. From the different events occurring between 2012 and 2017, only two positive storm surges influenced the entire lagoon, having been generated by adverse meteorological conditions verified at national level. The remaining were manifested only locally. The events with negative anomalies occurred in a smaller number. From the analysis of all the studied events, it was verified that the higher values of the level of the sea water did not result from the existence of meteorological tides, but from the spring tides. Therefore, the joining of a positive storm event at high tide of spring tides will constitute a high risk for the marginal areas of the lagoon, which may be flooded. A Ria de Aveiro é um sistema lagunar pouco profundo situado na costa noroeste portuguesa, separado do mar por uma ilha barreira e está ligado ao mar por um canal fixado pelos molhes Norte e Sul. Neste trabalho pretende-se estudar as alterações das marés induzidas por modificações geomorfológicas entre 1987/88 a 2017, verificando as alterações na amplitude e fase dos constituintes de maré: 𝑀2, 𝑆2, 𝑀4, 𝑀6 e 𝑀𝑆𝑓, durante esse intervalo de tempo. Este trabalho também visa a determinação da frequência das sobre-elevações da maré de origem meteorológica na Ria de Aveiro, entre 2012 e 2017, determinando quais os fatores que mais as influenciam - variação na pressão atmosférica, intensidade e direção do vento e precipitação. Os dados utilizados neste trabalho foram recolhidos por marégrafos localizados nos principais canais da laguna. Foram elaborados gráficos de variação anual da amplitude e da fase dos constituintes de maré: 𝑀2, 𝑆2, 𝑀4, 𝑀6 e 𝑀𝑆𝑓 (determinados por análise harmónica usando a aplicação T-Tide do Matlab), para estudar a sua evolução entre 1987/88 e 2017, permitindo assim, verificar a existência de alterações relevantes ao longo do tempo. Séries anuais da maré meteorológica foram determinadas para cada ano entre o período de 2012 a 2017, subtraindo ao nível da água medido nos marégrafos a previsão da maré astronómica, para se fazer o estudo da distribuição das anomalias positivas e negativas em cada estação estudada, e compreendendo a relação entre as variáveis meteorológicas e a formação da sobre-elevação das marés. Com esta finalidade, foram elaborados gráficos da pressão atmosférica, intensidade e direção do vento, precipitação, o nível da água medido e com as residuais. A partir dos resultados obtidos, verifica-se que, para cada estação, de uma forma geral, os valores anuais de amplitude dos constituintes estudados, estão a aumentar enquanto a fase está a diminuir. Entre 1987/88 e 2002/03 houve um aumento de amplitude nas estações estudadas, sendo esta mudança uma consequência do aumento da profundidade dos canais de navegação devido às operações de dragagem realizadas em 1998. De 2012 a 2017, e após o aumento do molhe Norte, os valores anuais permitem concluir que não há variações significativas na amplitude ou fase. Assim, o aumento do molhe Norte não produziu mudanças significativas na dinâmica da maré na Ria de Aveiro. Através da análise da maré meteorológica, verificou-se que as anomalias positivas são mais frequentes do que anomalias negativas. Dos diferentes eventos ocorridos entre 2012 e 2017, apenas dois influenciaram toda a laguna, tendo sido determinados pelas condições meteorológicas adversas verificadas a nível nacional. Os restantes apenas ocorreram localmente. Os eventos de anomalias negativas ocorreram em menor número. Verificou-se ainda, que os valores mais altos do nível da água do mar registados não resultaram da existência de marés meteorológicas, mas foram devidos às marés vivas. Portanto, a ocorrência conjunta de marés vivas e condições meteorológicas extremas será um risco para as zonas envolventes à laguna, já que poderão ficar sujeitas a inundações.

The European turtle dove is both a highly valued game species and a species of conservation concern, which is declining due probably to a combination of habitat degradation and unsustainable hunting. Although declines seem to be less severe in the Mediterranean region, it remains uncertain the extent to which ongoing land use changes will negatively affect this species. This study examined this issue, by estimating the effects of landscape composition on the broad scale abundance pattern of breeding turtle doves in continental Portugal. Turtle doves were surveyed in the breeding seasons of 2002 and 2003, from 3160 point counts spaced at about 1-km intervals along 158 transects of about 20 km, evenly covering the country. The frequency of occurrence of turtle doves at each transect was used as a proxy of species abundance, and related using GAM modelling to 21 variables describing land cover and woody linear features (e.g., hedgerows and riparian galleries). Turtle doves were most abundant in north- and central-eastern Portugal, with high abundances also recorded in the regions around Lisbon and along the Guadiana valley. Abundances were positively related to forest cover, particularly by broadleaved forests and by pine stands without woody understory, to cover by permanent crops, and to the density of woody linear habitats. Results suggest that conservation of Mediterranean turtle doves requires policies and management strategies reversing the pervasive trends of forest management neglect and agricultural abandonment, while preserving hedgerows and riparian galleries in more intensive agricultural landscapes.

In Iberian cereal-steppes, decoupling of payments from current production levels through the Single Farm Payment raised concerns regarding the potential for land abandonment and replacement of sheep by cattle, with eventual negative consequences for declining grassland birds. This study addressed this issue by analysing the responses of five grassland bird species of conservation concern to spatial land use gradients, which are expected to reflect changes potentially associated with the CAP reform. Our results show that both habitat fragmentation and grazing regimes were major drivers of breeding bird densities, though responses to these factors were species-specific. Thekla larks were most abundant in landscapes with small grassland patches and high edge density, whereas calandra larks were abundant only in large expanses of continuous open farmland habitat. Little bustard and short-toed lark densities declined in highly fragmented landscapes, but they appeared to tolerate or even benefit from low to moderate levels of open habitat fragmentation. Corn buntings were little affected by landscape patterns. At the field scale, little bustard and corn bunting densities were highest in fields grazed by cattle, whereas short-toed larks were mostly associated with sheep pastures. Short-toed larks and Thekla larks were most abundant in old fallow fields where cattle was largely absent, whereas corn buntings showed the inverse pattern. These results confirm the view that the same agricultural policies may be favourable for some species of conservation concern but detrimental to others, and so they cannot be assumed to bring uniform conservation benefits.

The interaction between hunting interests and legally protected predators is often a contentious conservation problem, requiring detailed understanding of predator responses to game management. This issue was addressed in southern Portugal in a treatment-control natural experiment, whereby the abundances of small game, corvids, birds of prey and carnivores were compared in 12 game estates (>500 ha) and 12 matching areas with similar sizes and land uses but no game management. European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) and, less so, red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) were far more numerous in game estates than elsewhere. Among legally controlled species, there were less Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius) but more red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in game estates, though the latter were primary targets of predator culling. Fox abundance within game estates varied inversely with an index of management intensity (density of small game feeding sites) and increased along with hare abundance. As for protected species, only common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and genets (Genetta genetta) were fewer in game estates. The abundance of raptors within game estates varied inversely with gamekeeper density, whereas that of common buzzards (Buteo buteo) increased along with rabbit abundance. Overall, there was little evidence that game management reduced local predator abundances, except in the most intensively managed estates. Game estates provided concentrations of prey that was scarce elsewhere, which may have favoured increased abundances of some predators. Further investigations are needed to find out whether high prey densities may attract predators to game estates with increased mortality risk, which may thus become population sinks for protected species.

O presente relatório de estágio relativo ao tema “Revisão e Monitorização de um Sistema de Controlo Interno” integra a fase final do Mestrado em Gestão Financeira do Instituto Superior de Gestão. Este tem como objetivo, complementar e integrar a componente teórica do curso através da investigação, aquisição de conhecimentos práticos relativos ao controlo interno através das tarefas desenvolvidas, enquanto estagiária da área financeira, (Finance Trainee), que se prendem com a Revisão do Sistema de Controlo Interno e com a Monitorização dos Controlos existentes. O relatório de estágio tem início numa componente teórica sobre a auditoria interna, o controlo interno e a relação existente entre estes dois conceitos. Segue-se a caraterização da empresa onde decorreu o estágio, e nos últimos capítulos é exposto todo o trabalho realizado na empresa durante o período de estágio que teve lugar na AstraZeneca Produtos Farmacêuticos Lda, com duração de 6 meses.

Com a evolução das teorias de gestão, verifica-se uma cada vez maior atenção prestada aos colaboradores das empresas, na medida em que se percebe que constituem fator preponderante no que concerne à produtividade, eficiência e qualidade do serviço prestado. Daí que se coloque no centro das preocupações dos atuais gestores a criação de estímulos que possam potenciar a motivação dos seus colaboradores e equipas, alinhando os objetivos individuais com os da Instituição, por forma a que ambos sejam alcançados. Considera-se fulcral fazer um enquadramento teórico sobre a motivação e as teorias motivacionais desenvolvidas ao longo dos tempos, por forma a definir um quadro conceptual que contribua para o entendimento do tema. Tendo como objetivo melhorar a motivação dos colaboradores das empresas e consequentemente a eficiência destas, o team building traduz-se na realização de atividades que melhor se adequem à situação, no caso e no momento em concreto. Sendo cada vez mais utilizadas nas empresas de hoje, contribuem para um bom ambiente de trabalho, identificam e resolvem problemas, proporcionando assim bons níveis de desempenho das organizações. Na expectativa então de percecionar possíveis contributos do team building para a motivação nas Equipas de Intervenção Rápida, em concreto do Comando Distrital de Santarém, foi efetuada ampla pesquisa bibliográfica, realizaram-se atividades de team building para os indivíduos que constituíram a amostra e efetuou-se um estudo de caso qualitativo. With the evolution of management theories, increasing attention is paid to employees of companies, as they are now considered a major factor when it comes to productivity, efficiency and quality of service. Therefore, creating stimuli that can trigger the motivation of employees, individuals and teams has become a main concern for managers; by aligning individual goals with the institution’s goals, the chances to achieve both increase. To have a complete picture that allows us to fully understand the subject, it is vital to explore the theoretical background on motivation and motivational theories developed until now. The Team Building activities aim at improving employees’ motivation and effectiveness, and should be adapted to the situation and the moment in question. Increasingly used in businesses today, they contribute to a good working environment and help to identify and solve problems, thus providing good levels of performance in organizations. With the objective of identifying the contributions of Team Building for the motivation of specific Police Teams, in particular for the District Command of Santarém, extensive research was carried out, Team Building activities were organised for the sample group and a qualitative study was undertaken. N/A

This study examined the multi-scale effects of farmland management on the assemblages of grassland wintering birds in Southern Portugal, evaluating the potential influences on bird conservation of ongoing transformations in agricultural landscapes. The bird assemblages of 42 grassland fields were characterised and related to three sets of variables reflecting field management, landscape context and large-scale spatial trends. Birds showed responses to the three sets of variables, with variation partitioning indicating that species richness was primarily influenced by landscape context, whereas abundances were mostly determined by field management. In general, high species richness was associated with small patches of arable land, diverse landscapes, high stream density and forest and shrub cover, which probably acted as sources of non-agricultural species to grassland fields. In contrast, fields located in homogenous arable landscapes tended to be species poor, though they were the most favourable for open farmland species of conservation concern (e.g. skylark, calandra lark and little bustard). Old grazed fallows were generally associated with the highest abundances of both invertebrate and seed-eating birds, particularly that of winter visitors. Seed-eating winter visitors were also associated with stubble fields. The results indicated that conservation of Iberian grasslands for wintering birds requires management at both the landscape and field scales. At the landscape level, large blocks of open farmland habitat need to be maintained. At the field level, conservation management should strive to maintain both stubble fields and old grazed fallows. The application of such prescriptions would require a combination of agri-environmental programs and land planning policies, whereby the financial support to individual farmers should be conditional on the maintenance of adequate landscape contexts at larger spatial scales.

Stroke remains one of the most serious complications of sickle cell disease. Almost 11% of the patients will have a stroke before the age of 20. The etiology is hemorrhagic in a small part of the cases, which is associated with a high mortality. We present the case of a 19 year-old patient, with sickle cell disease and multiple associated complications. The patient was admitted with acute chest syndrome and developed a hemorrhagic stroke while hospitalized.

Hunting and its associated management have significant costs and benefits for biodiversity conservation,which makes this socio-economic activity highly controversial at both international and regional levels. We investigated relationships between management for small game species (mainly Red-legged Partridges Alectoris rufa and rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus ) and both abundance and richness of farmland and scrubland songbirds, raptors and ground-nesting birds, and on the abundance of three species of conservation concern (Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax , Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus and Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus ) in southern Portugal farmland. We compared 12 game estates and 12 matching areas with similar sizes and land uses but no game management. Richness and abundance were estimated from fixed point counts, and were related to game regime (managed or unmanaged), habitat characteristics and census period. Our results showed that game management was associated, albeit weakly, with higher abundance of raptors and ground-nesting birds, but no relationship (either positive or negative) was found for other guilds and species. Habitat was generally the most important factor explaining bird species richness and abundance. Our results suggest possibilities for promoting management systems that could maximize both hunting sustainability and conservation value of managed areas, particularly when management helps to improve or maintain beneficial habitats or practices for farmland birds., This study was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (PRAXIS/C/AGR/11062/1998) and by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development through the project HUNT(212160, FP7- ENV-2007-1), and contributes to the project CGL2009-13029 from the Spanish Ministry of Science.

[EN] Divergent selection and local adaptation are responsible for many phenotypic differences between populations, potentially leading to speciation through the evolution of reproductive barriers. Here we evaluated the morphometric divergence among west European populations of Reed Bunting in order to determine the extent of local adaptation relative to two important selection pressures often associated with speciation in birds: migration and diet. We show that, as expected by theory, migratory E. s. schoeniclus had longer and more pointed wings and a slightly smaller body mass than the resident subspecies, with the exception of E. s. lusitanica, which despite having rounder wings was the smallest of all subspecies. Tail length, however, did not vary according to the expectation (shorter tails in migrants) probably because it is strongly correlated with wing length and might take longer to evolve. E. s. witherbyi, which feed on insects hiding inside reed stems during the winter, had a very thick, stubby bill. In contrast, northern populations, which feed on seeds, had thinner bills. Despite being much smaller, the southern E. s. lusitanica had a significantly thicker, longer bill than migratory E. s. schoeniclus, whereas birds from the UK population had significantly shorter, thinner bills. Geometric morphometric analyses revealed that the southern subspecies have a more convex culmen than E. s. schoeniclus, and E. s. lusitanica differs from the nominate subspecies in bill shape to a greater extent than in linear bill measurements, especially in males. Birds with a more convex culmen are thought to exert a greater strength at the bill tip, which is in agreement with their feeding technique. Overall, the three subspecies occurring in Western Europe differ in a variety of traits following the patterns predicted from their migratory and foraging behaviours, strongly suggesting that these birds have became locally adapted through natural selection., Some fieldwork in Portugal was supported financially by ICETA, University of Porto. LG and JMN were supported financially by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through grants SFRH/BD/64645/2009 and SFRH/BPD/40667/2007, respectively. JSM and EJB were funded by the projects CGL2005-02041/BOS and CGL2010-21933-C02-02 granted by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Spain). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Summary 1. Mechanical management of forest fuels is increasingly used in the Euro-Mediterranean region in response to the abandonment of traditional agroforestry and the concurrent increase in fire hazard. Although fuel management may have positive side effects for biodiversity, its long-term impacts remain largely unknown. 2. We used a 70-year post-management chronosequence to investigate the influence of time since fuel management and management frequency on bird assemblages in cork oak Quercus suber forests. 3. Fuel management strongly affected bird species richness, abundances and assemblage composition, with rapid changes often occurring during the first 10–20 years, followed in the next decades by a slow convergence to pre-management levels. 4. In winter, overall species richness and abundance, and that of frugivores and shrub foragers, were negatively affected by recent and recurrent management, only recovering in stands unmanaged for >50 years. In spring, insectivore abundance and the richness and abundance of shrub foragers declined immediately following management, increased to a maximum about 20 years later, and declined thereafter. Breeding granivores and ground foragers were the only groups that benefitted from fuel management. There were no overall effects on species of conservation concern, although a few species with unfavourable status benefitted from fuel management. 5. Synthesis and applications. Our study confirmed that mechanical fuel management has positive effects on some early-successional bird species of conservation concern, although its effects were limited. These benefits should be compared with the strong negative impacts on key bird species such as wintering frugivores, which play a pivotal role in ecosystems by promoting seed dispersal. To reconcile the positive and negative aspects, fuel management should be used to create heterogeneous mosaics of forest patches encompassing a range of sizes (10–100 ha) and successional stages of understorey vegetation, including stands undisturbed for >50 years. This management strategy will likely maintain conditions for a wide range of species with contrasting ecological requirements while also reducing fire hazard.

Resumen del trabajo presentado a la International Conference on Hunting for Sustainability: "Ecology, Economics and Society", celebrada en Ciudad Real (España) del 27 al 29 de marzo de 2012., In Europe, hunting and its associated management has been performed for centuries and has potentially had profound effects on landscapes and on the biodiversity they hold. We investigated the effect of hunting management on non-target bird species. For doing so, we explored the relationship between hunting management and different groups of birds of conservation concern. We conducted the study with two different approximations. In a first step, we assessed whether there were a higher abundance or species richness in hunting estates with game management than in those without management. This survey was conducted in 24 game estates in South Portugal in spring and summer 2001-2002. Twelve of the hunting estates performed game management activities for small-game species while the other 12 corresponded to areas open to hunters but where no game management was undertaken. Groups of species considered in the study were passerines, steppe-birds, ground-nesting birds and endangered birds. We modelled the abundance and number of species of each bird group in each estate according to the game management regime (with/without game management) and to habitat variables with GLMMs and selected the models with lowest AICc. Our results show that all groups of species considered (except passerines) were more abundant or more diverse in hunting estates where game management was performed. In a second step, we aimed to know if our previous result was also relevant in another study area, as well as to disentangle which management activities could specifically affect bird diversity. We surveyed 54 small-game hunting estates in Central Spain with varying management intensity in spring and/or summer 2006-2010. Groups of species considered were raptors and steppe-birds. Information about game management was gathered through interviews with game managers. We modelled the abundance and species richness of each bird group in each estate according to habitat and game management variables (type of hunting regime, artificial feeding, predator control, number of keepers and partridge abundance) with GLMMs and selected the models with lowest AICc. Our results showed that management implemented for red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) did not seem to have neither positive nor negative effects on the abundance of their predators (raptors), but having good densities of partridges had a positive effect on the number of raptor species. However, some activities leading to improve red-legged partridges (in particular, supplementary feeding and predator control) had a positive effect on steppe-birds, which share habitat requirements with them. Therefore, we conclude that game management activities have positive effects on different groups of bird species in the Iberian Peninsula. All models are affected by habitat variables, so it is very important to maintain the habitat that allows those high densities and that has a positive effect on biodiversity.

Conserving grassland birds in farmed landscapes requires the maintenance of favourable agricultural land uses over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Here we examined the field and landscape-scale habitat requirements of the calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra), an obligate grassland bird often associated with open Mediterranean farmland. Breeding and wintering lark densities were assessed in 42 fallow fields in southern Portugal, and related to three sets of variables reflecting field, landscape and neighbourhood effects. Variation partitioning was used to isolate the unique and shared contributions of sets of variables to explained variation in lark distribution and abundance models. At the field scale, the presence of trees and shrubs showed the strongest negative effects on calandra lark. At the landscape scale there were strong positive response of larks to the amount and patch size of open farmland habitats, and negative responses, albeit weaker, to drainage and road densities. Calandra lark distribution and abundance was also positively related to that of conspecifics in surrounding fields, particularly in spring. Results suggest that calandra larks are highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation, requiring fallow fields with no shrubs or trees, embedded in large expanses of open farmland. This supports the view that grassland bird conservation in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes may require a combination of land-use regulations and agri-environment schemes preventing ongoing shrub encroachment and afforestation of marginal farmland.

In Iberian cereal-steppes, decoupling of payments from current production levels through the Single Farm Payment raised concerns regarding the potential for land abandonment and replacement of sheep by cattle, with eventual negative consequences for declining grassland birds. This study addressed this issue by analysing the responses of five grassland bird species of conservation concern to spatial land use gradients, which are expected to reflect changes potentially associated with the CAP reform. Our results show that both habitat fragmentation and grazing regimes were major drivers of breeding bird densities, though responses to these factors were species-specific. Thekla larks were most abundant in landscapes with small grassland patches and high edge density, whereas calandra larks were abundant only in large expanses of continuous open farmland habitat. Little bustard and short-toed lark densities declined in highly fragmented landscapes, but they appeared to tolerate or even benefit from low to moderate levels of open habitat fragmentation. Corn buntings were little affected by landscape patterns. At the field scale, little bustard and corn bunting densities were highest in fields grazed by cattle, whereas short-toed larks were mostly associated with sheep pastures. Short-toed larks and Thekla larks were most abundant in old fallow fields where cattle was largely absent, whereas corn buntings showed the inverse pattern. These results confirm the view that the same agricultural policies may be favourable for some species of conservation concern but detrimental to others, and so they cannot be assumed to bring uniform conservation benefits.

Mestrado em Design Os primeiros seis anos de vida de uma criança são a chave que permitem a esta experienciar o mundo, no mundo e com o mundo. Perante a importância que os novos media têm no quotidiano das crianças e jovens e, consequentemente, na sua formação, pretendese criar algumas estratégias de comunicação e de experiência de ludicidade suportadas por um artefacto electrónico, a programação Scratch e contextualizá-las para a educação de infância. Sendo assim e enquadrada por um universo de estudos ligado ao design, à comunicação, ludicidade e infância desenvolveu-se um conjunto de meios (tutoriais) em Scratch para promover a manifestação da ludicidade, condição de comunicação privilegiada da infância e induzir, na acção das crianças, à aquisição de várias competências de aprendizagem, nomeadamente, a construção da atitude e capacidade criativa, a autonomia, a partilha e a cooperação. O Scratch ao potenciar a utilização por diversas comunidades pode ser um meio adequado para a educação de infância. Contando com cooperação dos educadores poderá promover-se e desenvolver-se a sua utilização e, com isso, contribuir para uma cultura divertida na comunicação com as crianças. A finalidade da dissertação que se apresenta é tirar partido de uma tecnologia inovadora e em expansão para a educação da infância. O objectivo central é utilizar a mediação tecnológica do Scratch criando um conjunto de personagens e de cenários que possam incentivar a utilização desta programação pelas crianças entre os 3 e os 6 anos de idade para brincriarem socialmente entre si e construírem novos projectos com ou sem a mediação das educadoras. ABSTRACT: The first six years of a child's life are the key to enabling the child to experience the world, in the world and with the world. Given the importance of the new media (have) in present daily life of children and adolescents and consequently on their education we!re trying to create some communication strategies and some “ludicidade” experiences supported by an electronic artefact such as Scratch and contextualize them for the Childs education. Therefore, and for being framed within a universe of studies of design, communication, playfulness and childhood, it has been developed a set of resources (tutorials) of communication and “Ludicidade”, which are a privileged expression of communication that Induces the acquisition of various kinds of learning, namely, the construction of attitude and creative ability, autonomy, sharing, and cooperation. Promoting the use of Scratch by different communities can be a way that fits the strategy of Childhood Education. Counting on the cooperation of educators we can promote and develop their use and thereby contribute to create a fun culture of communication with the children. The main Goal of this thesis is to take advantage of innovative and expanding technology to educate. The central objective is to use a technological mediation such as Scratch to create a set of characters and scenarios that might encourage the use of this kind of program, by children between 3 and 6 years of age, to play and create socially with each other and build new projects with or without the mediation of the educators.

Tem sido afirmado nos últimos anos pelo discurso político de que existe um número reduzido de trabalhadores qualificados disponíveis no mercado de trabalho na área das TIC face às necessidades empresariais existentes no sector. É muitas vezes proferido a inexistência de uma atractividade por parte dos alunos para ingressarem em cursos TIC. Por um lado, estamos perante um campo de oportunidades, por outro lado estamos perante vários constrangimentos. Este artigo procura compreender este dilema do sistema de educação com uma breve ilustração da realidade. In recent years, political discourse has stated that there is a limited number of skilled workers available on the IT market in relation to the business needs of the sector. The notion is regularly expressed that there is no attraction on the part of students to enrol in IT courses. On the one hand, we are dealing with a field of opportunities and, on the other, we are facing a series of constraints. This article seeks to understand this dilemma in the educational system, with a brief illustration of the situation in reality.