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Environmental education should not only act in the context of formal education but can also be applied in informal contexts, allowing a multipurpose application, serving to raise awareness, and transmit knowledge, allowing individuals to develop attitudes and behaviors that go against a more eco-centric posture. Given this fact, we developed a series of activities within the spectrum of environmental education applied in a social IPSS (social solidarity private institution), Obra Social Padre Miguel in the City of Bragança in Portugal. In this work, we used a qualitative approach, specifically study of exploratory nature, since it involved users and employees of the entity in the developed action, subsequently, we collected statements through interviews. A short interview script was drawn up and validated by professionals. In the development of these actions, we collect some data, such as water saving, food waste, and testimonials from users and employees. In the development of this work, we can observe that there was a decrease in the ecological footprint of the institution, and these actions can serve as an example that can be replicated by other entities. Given the results of this work, we conclude that the application of these actions in environmental education in addition to helping those involved in environmental awareness, can help entities to reduce their ecological footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the impact that climate change is having on our planet and considering its consequences for future generations, much of the academic literature focuses on adolescent and adult perceptions, giving little relevance to children's perceptions. Children's voices have the potential to influence public opinion, which may in turn determine the direction of a new policy on the climate crisis. In this context, it is urgent that we understand how children perceive this problem. This quantitative study was based on the application of 245 questionnaires to children aged between 9 and 13 years old from five schools in north-eastern Portugal, more specifically in the region of Trás-os-Montes. We can say that this study was a convenience study because we delivered the surveys in the schools closest to the working area of the researchers. We used a questionnaire with 26 questions, 24 of which had closed responses (like the Likert type), one open response, and one with multiple choices. In this work, we conducted a descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, and prepared a database, using the statistical software IBM SPSS, which allowed us to conduct some statistical tests, selected according to variables. For the descriptive analysis, several parameters were used for the distribution of variables, namely, frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. We rejected the null hypothesis (H0) and assumed for the inferential analysis that the sample does not follow a normal distribution, considering the fulfillment of the necessary criteria for parametric tests and after performing the Kolmogorov–Smirnov normality test, whose null hypothesis (H0) is that data are normally distributed, and given that the p-value for the variables under study was p < 0.05. In this regard, non-parametric tests were used. The Mann–Whitney test was used to compare the degree of agreement with climate change statements as a function of the student's gender and year of schooling, which is a non-parametric test suitable for comparing the distribution functions of an ordinal variable measured in two independent samples. The results show that most of the children expressed concern about the study's potential problem, and (42%) said they are concerned about climate change. However, they show some doubts and a lack of knowledge about some of the themes, like (33.5%) cannot name only one consequence of climate change. We also found differences between the two study cycles, with children in the 6th grade having a higher average in their understanding of the phenomenon (p = 0.049), as well as the level of education of the parents being positively correlated with a more ecocentric posture, we can see this when we considering the variable parents. We also found that 46.6% of the students say that television is where they learn more about climate change. From the results obtained, we can open new paths for future research and contribute to the definition of policies and educational practices since the school has the responsibility to cooperate in the production of values, attitudes, and pro-environmental behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is an endangered subspecies, in Portugal. It is estimated that there are less than 300 wolves in Portugal. The main factors responsible for the regression of this species in the last centuries were the direct persecution moved by Man, the reduction of the populations of wild ungulates and the destruction and fragmentation of the habitat. It is important to understand how local communities know and understand an animal's behavior. These end up being inserted in the same habitat as the latter. The study of animal behavior has been relevant in seeking to improve conditions for animals. The present study has an exploratory nature and aims to understand the attitudes of the shepherds in the Bragança region, as well as the students of the ESEB, towards the existence of conservation of this subspecies Canis lupus signatus. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared - consisting essentially of an attitude scale - which will be submitted to the two groups mentioned (expected N = 51). The analysis of the data will be fundamentally quantitative and will allow exploring the similarities and significant differences in the attitudes in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Cloud to Ground lightning activity is analyzed for the Portugal mainland during the 2003–2009 period. Both inter-annual and intra-annual variability are clearly present. Winter months present a smaller number of Cloud to Ground discharges than the remaining warmer seasons. The highest density of discharges in the colder months is found in the coastal regions. On the contrary, for the remaining seasons, Cloud to Ground discharges tend to occur much more frequently in the interior areas of Portugal. A diurnal cycle of the Cloud to Ground discharges activity is clearly present in spring, summer and autumn, with maximum activity being found in the afternoon hours. The relationship between the Circulation Weather Types and Cloud to Ground discharges allowed us to distinguish which types are most frequently associated to lightning activity and also which types are the most favorable to present severe lightning episodes. Moreover, the analysis of additional meteorological fields allowed, at a seasonal scale, to discuss different mechanisms for lightning activity triggering: frontal activity, cut-off lows, and summer thermal lows are the most relevant in Portugal mainland. A case study is also provided for the most notorious event in terms of the total number of Cloud to Ground discharges (10th and 11th of September of 2007). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction and Objectives: The 2021 European Society of Cardiology guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention introduced the more accurate SCORE2 risk model as a replacement for the earlier SCORE, which is still used in primary care software in Portugal. Our objective is to determine whether the difference between risk assessment using SCORE and SCORE2, in the same patient population, is statistically significant., Methods: A total of 1642 patients aged 40-65 without previous CVD, from the medical records of two Family Health Units, were included in this cross-sectional study. SCORE and SCORE2 were calculated using the variables gender, age, smoking status, lipid profile and systolic blood pressure. A statistical analysis was performed on the results., Results: Using SCORE, 98% of the patients were in the low-moderate risk categories and 2% in the high or very high risk categories. When using SCORE2, the corresponding percentages were 55% and 45%, respectively. Reclassification with SCORE2 into higher categories was more often observed in younger (under 50 years of age) and male patients. With SCORE, 38.61% of patients were within the LDL-C target range; this figure fell to 20.28% with SCORE2. These differences are statistically significant (p<0.0001)., Conclusion: Our findings show that a significant number of patients in this cohort who were classified through SCORE at lower risk levels were reclassified into higher risk categories with SCORE2. Similarly, the number of patients within the LDL-C target range for LDL-C was also lower using SCORE2., (Copyright © 2024 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)