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Este artigo apresenta uma abordagem sobre os aspectos religiosos, simbólicos e cúlticos presentes no festival romano das Saturnais. Foi destacada a estrutura social e religiosa da Roma antiga, a mitologia em torno do deus Saturno e a festa a ele dedicada. A pesquisa bibliográfica privilegiou a obra do escritor romano Macróbio, do século IV. Destaca-se a continuidade cultural entre antiguidade e contemporaneidade nas dimensões do sagrado e do festivo.

Prune dwarf virus (PDV) is an Ilarvirus systemically infecting almond trees and other Prunus species and spreading through pollen, among other means. We have studied strategies based on coat protein (cp) gene to block PDV replication in host plant cells. A Portuguese isolate of PDV was obtained from infected almond leaves and used to produce the cDNA of the cp gene. Various constructs were prepared based on this sequence, aiming for the transgenic expression of the original or modified PDV coat protein (cpPDVSense and cpPDVMutated) or for the expression of cpPDV RNA (cpPDVAntisense and cpPDVwithout start codon). All constructs were tested in a PDV host model, Nicotiana benthamiana, and extensive molecular characterization and controlled infections were performed on transformants and their progenies. Transgenic plants expressing the coat protein RNA were able to block the proliferation of a PDV isolate sharing only 91% homology with the isolate used for cpPDV cloning, as evaluated by DAS-ELISA on newly developed leaves. With cp expression, the blockage of PDV proliferation in newly developed leaves was only achieved with the construct cpPDV Mutated, where the coat protein has a substitution in the 14th aa residue, with arginine replaced by alanine. This result points to a possible role of the mutated amino acid in the virus ability to replicate and proliferate. This work reveals the possibility of achieving protection against PDV through either coat protein RNA or mutated cp sequence.

Background. We have previously reported a continuous activation of caspase-1 and increased interleukin (IL)-1βlevels in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These observations raised the hypothesis that drugs targeting the IL-1βpathway, in addition to tumour necrosis factor (TNF), may be particularly effective for early RA treatment. We have recently identified gambogic acid as a promising therapeutic candidate to simultaneously block IL-1βand TNF secretion. Our main goal here was to investigate whether gambogic acid administration was able to attenuate inflammation in antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) rats.Methods. Gambogic acid was administered to AIA rats in the early and late phases of arthritis. The inflammatory score, ankle perimeter, and body weight were evaluated during the period of treatment. Rats were sacrificed after 19 days of disease progression and paw samples were collected for histological and immunohistochemical evaluation.Results. We found that inflammation in joints was significantly suppressed following gambogic acid administration. Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of treated rats revealed normal joint structures with complete abrogation of the inflammatory infiltrate and cellular proliferation.Conclusions. Our results suggest that gambogic acid has significant anti-inflammatory properties and can possibly constitute a prototype anti-inflammatory drug with therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as RA.

We have previously reported an increase in interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-17 levels, and a continuous activation of caspase-1 in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. These results suggest that drugs targeting IL-1β regulatory pathways, in addition to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), may constitute promising therapeutic agents in early RA. We have recently used a THP-1 macrophage-like cell line to screen 2320 compounds for those that down-regulate both IL-1β and TNF secretion. Celastrol was one of the most promising therapeutic candidates identified in that study. Our main goal in the present work was to investigate whether administration of celastrol is able to attenuate inflammation in a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA). Moreover, since IL-1β is known to play a role in the polarization of Th17 cells, we also investigate whether administration of digoxin, a specific inhibitor of Th17 cells polarization, is able to attenuate inflammation in the same rat model. We found that celastrol administration significantly suppressed joint inflammation. The histological and immunohistochemical evaluation revealed that celastrol-treated rats had a normal joint structure with complete abrogation of the inflammatory infiltrate and cellular proliferation. In contrast, we observed that digoxin administration significantly ameliorated inflammation but only if administrated in the early phase of disease course (after 4 days of disease induction), and it was not efficient at inhibiting the infiltration of immune cells within the joint and in preventing damage. Thus, our results suggest that celastrol has significant anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties and can constitute a potential anti-inflammatory drug with therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as RA. Furthermore, we find that early inhibition of Th17 cells polarization ameliorates arthritis but it is not as effective as celastrol.

We have previously reported an increase in interleukin (IL)-1β levels and a continuous activation of caspase-1 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in the early phase of the disease. This result suggests that drugs targeting IL-1β regulatory pathways, in addition to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), may constitute promising therapeutic agents in early RA. We have recently used a THP-1 macrophage-like cell line to screen 2320 compounds for those which down-regulate IL-1β and TNF secretion. Gambogic acid, celastrol and pristimerin were three of the most promising therapeutic candidates identified in that study.

AIMS: To characterize the uncertainty in illness and the motivation for treatment and to evaluate the existing relation between these variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. METHOD: Descriptive, correlational study, using a sample of 62 individuals in diabetes consultation sessions. The Uncertainty Stress Scale and the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire were used. RESULTS: The individuals with type 2 diabetes present low levels of uncertainty in illness and a high motivation for treatment, with a stronger intrinsic than extrinsic motivation. A negative correlation was verified between the uncertainty in the face of the prognosis and treatment and the intrinsic motivation. DISCUSSION: These individuals are already adapted, acting according to the meanings they attribute to illness. Uncertainty can function as a threat, intervening negatively in the attribution of meaning to the events related to illness and in the process of adaptation and motivation to adhere to treatment. Intrinsic motivation seems to be essential to adhere to treatment. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar la incertidumbre ante la enfermedad y la motivación para el tratamiento y evaluar la relación existente entre estas variables en diabéticos tipo 2. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo, correlacional, en una muestra de 62 diabéticos atendidos en consulta. Usadas la Escala de Incertidumbre ante la Enfermedad y la Escala de Motivación para el Tratamiento. RESULTADOS: Los diabéticos tipo 2 presentan bajos niveles de incertidumbre ante la enfermedad y una elevada motivación para el tratamiento, siendo la motivación intrínseca más elevada que la extrínseca. Se verificó correlación negativa entre la incertidumbre frente al pronóstico y tratamiento y la motivación intrínseca para el tratamiento. DISCUSIÓN: Estos pacientes se encuentran adaptados actuando en conformidad con los significados que atribuyen a la enfermedad. La incertidumbre puede funcionar como amenaza interfiriendo negativamente en la atribución de significados de los acontecimientos relacionados con la enfermedad y con el proceso de adaptación y motivación para adherirse al tratamiento. La motivación intrínseca parece ser un aspecto fundamental en la motivación para el tratamiento. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar a incerteza na doença e a motivação para o tratamento e avaliar a relação existente entre estas variáveis, em diabéticos tipo 2. MÉTODO: Estudo descritivo, correlacional, numa amostra de 62 diabéticos atendidos em consulta. Aplicadas a Escala de Incerteza na Doença e a Escala de Motivação para o Tratamento. RESULTADOS: Os diabéticos tipo 2 apresentam baixos níveis de incerteza na doença e elevada motivação para o tratamento. A motivação intrínseca é mais elevada do que a extrínseca. Existe uma correlação negativa entre a incerteza face ao prognóstico e tratamento e a motivação intrínseca para o tratamento. DISCUSSÃO: Os resultados sugerem que estes indivíduos se encontram adaptados agindo em conformidade com os significados que atribuem à doença. A incerteza pode funcionar como ameaça interferindo negativamente na atribuição de significados aos acontecimentos relacionados com a doença e com o processo de adaptação e motivação para adesão ao tratamento. A motivação intrínseca parece ser um aspecto fundamental na motivação para o tratamento.

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Leaves of kiwifruit cv. Hayward micropropagated plantlets were used as a source of protoplasts for direct DNA transfer and plant regeneration. Leaf preculture for 5–6 days on a medium containing zeatine (S′) was found to improve the yield of viable protoplasts. An efficient purification method is described which is easy to perform and yields two protoplast populations that differ in both transient expression and regeneration ability. One population consisted of hyaline or light green protoplasts originating from epidermis and leaf veins, the other consisted of green protoplasts very dense in chloroplasts and originating from mesophyll. Cell division and plant regeneration could only be obtained from the former population. This same population was also found to efficiently express the GUS reporter gene introduced by direct DNA transfer. These results prove that it is possible to use kiwifruit leaves directly for protoplast isolation and that the selected protoplast population should be regarded as an alternative source of protoplasts competent for both plant regeneration and transient gene expression.

In this work we have studied the cycle of PDV and PNRSV, along the year in the two almond producing regions (Algarve and Tras-os-Montes) plus in a third one, in middle Portugal. The data were collected always from the same trees in each region ('Boa Casta' and 'Bonita de Sao Bras'). We have also studied virus distribution in tissue, using in situ RT-PCR, and found that in flower buds, PDV appears in all meristematic cells, located mostly around the nucleus and forming a ring-like structure. Interestingly, PDV was also found inside pollen grains, and again around the nuclear region. These data are discussed in terms of virus behaviour in orchards. To introduce virus resistance we have started to prepare and test several constructs. These constructs are based in the coat protein gene of PDV and PNRSV and include several variations in the fragment used (sense, antisense and a partially deleted gene sequence, plus a sense construct flanqued by nuclear matrix attachment regions). The cloned fragments were first transferred to transformation vectors provided by the John Innes Institute (pGREEN), then transferred to Agrobacterium, and are now being used in Nicotiana transformation for testing efficiency.

Dissertação de Mestrado em Engenharia Civil O elevado consumo de energia para aquecimento e arrefecimento dos edifícios e a excessiva dependência de combustíveis fósseis para a produção de energia elétrica, exige uma necessidade urgente do aumento da eficiência energética nos edifícios. A construção de um edifício energeticamente eficiente assenta na adoção de um conjunto de técnicas que visem reduzir os consumos energéticos do edifício ao longo do seu ciclo de vida, garantindo ao mesmo tempo conforto aos seus ocupantes. É portanto, fundamental uma nova abordagem na conceção de edifícios recorrendo à utilização de soluções bioclimáticas, nomeadamente os sistemas solares passivos. A urgência em encontrar soluções energeticamente eficientes tem levado a diversas investigações no domínio dos sistemas solares passivos, no sentido de inovar e identificar novos sistemas ou otimizar alguns já existentes, como é o caso da parede de Trombe. A parede de Trombe é um sistema solar passivo de ganho indireto que pode contribuir de forma significativa para a eficiência energética dos edifícios, desde que corretamente dimensionada. A constituição da parede de Trombe influencia de forma decisiva o desempenho térmico, sendo o sistema de ventilação um elemento fundamental que deve ser criteriosamente estudado. No sentido de contribuir para o aumento do conhecimento científico nesta área, este trabalho tem por objetivo o estudo experimental da influência do sistema de ventilação no desempenho térmico de uma parede de Trombe sujeita a condições climáticas reais na cidade de Vila Real. Para tal procedeu-se à instrumentação e monitorização de uma célula de teste contendo uma parede de Trombe na fachada orientada a sul. Durante o trabalho experimental foram definidos vários cenários baseados na alteração das características do sistema de ventilação, nomeadamente ao nível da área e da distância entre as aberturas. Foram obtidos e analisados valores de temperaturas nos ambientes exterior e interior da célula de teste, e nas diversas camadas constituintes da parede de Trombe. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que, o sistema de ventilação é um dos componentes mais importantes na parede de Trombe, influenciando o seu desempenho térmico. Conhecendo-se melhor este sistema e o seu funcionamento é possível contribuir, através da sua utilização, para a melhoria do conforto térmico dos utilizadores dos edifícios. Depois de análise detalhada dos vários cenários realizados no trabalho experimental, pôde-se concluir que o tipo de sistema de ventilação adotado em cada cenário influencia de forma decisiva os valores da temperatura dos diversos parâmetros influenciadores do desempenho térmico da parede de Trombe. Apesar de a área total do sistema de ventilação se manter na maioria dos cenários, por vezes a área e o número de aberturas varia, influenciando os valores obtidos. The high energy consumption for heating and cooling of buildings and over-reliance on fossil fuels for electricity production, requires an urgent need to increase energy efficiency in buildings. An energy efficient building is based on the adoption of a set of techniques aiming to reduce the energy consumption during its life cycle, while ensuring comfort to their occupants. It is therefore imperative that a new approach in the design of buildings through the use of bioclimatic solutions, including passive solar systems. The urgency of finding energy efficient solutions has led to several research works in the field of passive solar systems, to innovate and identify new systems or optimize existing ones, such as the Trombe wall. A Trombe wall is a passive solar system with indirect gain. It can contribute significantly to the energy efficiency of buildings, if properly sized. The constitution of the Trombe wall decisively influences the thermal performance, being the ventilation system a key elemento, that must be carefully studied. In order to contribute to the increase of scientific knowledge in this area, this thesis presents the experimental study of the influence of the ventilation system on the thermal performance of a Trombe wall, subjected to actual weather conditions in the city of Vila Real. The experimental setup used consists on the instrumentation and monitoring of a test cell containing a Trombe wall on the facade facing south was implemented. During the experimental work several scenarios were defined, based on the change in the characteristics of the ventilation system, particularly in terms of area and distance between the openings. For the air outdoor and indoor temperatures were measured as well as the temperature in the various layers of the Trombe wall. The results indicate that the ventilation system is one of the most important components in the Trombe wall, influencing its thermal performance. Better knowing of this system and its operation is possible to achieve the requirements of interior comfort for users in the compartment. After detailed analysis of the various scenarios conducted the experimental work, it was concluded that the type of ventilation system used in each scenario decisively influences the temperature values of the various parameters influencing the thermal performance of the Trombe wall. Although the total area of the ventilation system to keep in most scenarios, sometimes the area and the number of openings varies, influencing the values obtained.