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Dissertação de Mestrado em Biotecnologia para as Ciências da Saúde

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ, This article has been corrected since it first published. The authors would like to notify that title of the article has been changed to:Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: state of the art on clinical practice guidelines. RMD Open 2019;5:e000784corr1. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2018-000784cor, Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) encompass a heterogeneous group of rare autoimmune diseases characterised by muscle weakness and inflammation, but in antisynthetase syndrome arthritis and interstitial lung disease are more frequent and often inaugurate the disease. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been proposed for IIMs, but they are sparse and heterogeneous. This work aimed at identifying: i) current available CPGs for IIMs, ii) patients’ and clinicians’ unmet needs not covered by CPGs. It has been performed in the framework of the European Reference Network on rare and complex connective tissue and musculoskeletal diseases (ReCONNET), a network of centre of expertise and patients funded by the European Union’s Health Programme. Fourteen original CPGs were identified, notably recommending that: i) extra-muscular involvements should be assessed; ii) corticosteroids and methotrexate or azathioprine are first-line therapies of IIMs. iii) IVIG is a treatment of resistantDM that may be also used in other resistant-IIMs; iv) physical therapy and sun protection (in DM patients) are part of the treatment; v) tumour screening for patients with DM include imaging of chest, abdomen, pelvis and breast (in woman) along with colonoscopy (in patients over 50 years); vi) disease activity and damages should be monitor using standardised and validated tools. Yet, only half of these CPGs were evidence-based. Crucial unmet needs were identified both by patients and clinicians. In particular, there was a lack of large multidisciplinary working group and of patients’ preferences. The following fields were not or inappropriately targeted: diagnosis; management of extra-muscular involvements other than skin; co-morbidities and severe manifestations., This publication was funded by the European Union’s Health Programme (2014-2020), Framework Partnership Agreement number: 739531 – ERN ReCONNET. The content of this publication represents the views of the authors only and it is their sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (CHAFEA) or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.

International audience; Environmental change often combined with selective harvesting has profound and diverse impacts on marine fish populations. Unlocking the biological consequences of these effects on wild fish is notoriously challenging, especially in highly productive but naturally variable systems with uncertain futures such as Eastern Boundary current systems. Here, we developed otolith increment-based growth chronologies covering half a century (53 years) for a small pelagic fish (Atlantic horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus) in the northern limb of the Canary current upwelling system. We used increasingly complex mixed-effects models to partition individually resolved growth variation among intrinsic (Age and Age-at-capture) and extrinsic (biotic and abiotic factors) sources in four complementary data sets: a general population chronology, and three chronologies derived from age groups that reflect ontogenetic habitat shifts. First, we investigated the timing and scale of growth phase shifts and assessed the effects of extrinsic factors on inter-annual growth variation. Second, we quantified among and within cohort growth variability over time. Our results provided strong evidence for inter-annual SST and primary productivity variation impacting on Atlantic horse mackerel growth. We also identified phase shifts in growth that point to larger ecosystem-wide changes (regime shifts), potentially driven by large-scale climatic indices, such as North Atlantic Oscillation and East Atlantic pattern. Cohort-dependent growth effects likely reflect persistent environmental influences and density dependence. Further, we found evidence for carryover effects in growth whereby a poor start in life tended to persist despite compensatory growth being observed in some individuals. We show how population productivity can be impacted by multiple, interacting environmental and biotic factors leading to potential ecosystem regime shifts. Such information is key to understand recruitment dynamics and population persistence, and will have important implications for fisheries management and to those seeking to understand the effects of large-scale climate change on marine productivity.

We analysed the ovarian dynamics of the anadromous semelparous allis shad Alosa alosa for which our working hypothesis was that mature pre-spawning females would have very low or even exhausted primary growth (PG) oocyte reserves; semelparity has been linked with the depletion of the pool of PG oocytes. To test this hypothesis, the PG oocytes were enumerated, their recruitment pattern to the secondary growth (SG) phase was analysed and their potential replenishment from the pool of oogonia was examined in females caught very close to the Mondego River mouth, in central Portugal and along the river. The development of the SG oocytes was also analysed, the fecundity (batch, total and annual) values were estimated and the intensity of atresia was quantified. Ovarian samples and histological sections were investigated in parallel. A dynamic recruitment pattern of PG oocytes to the SG phase was revealed, where all PG oocytes were recruited and were not replenished by oogonia. Annual fecundity was subject to down-regulation due to atresia prior to spawning and its size was multiple times higher than the size of batch fecundity. Lack of population synchronicity in ovarian development and spawning migration was also observed. This multifaceted analysis of the ovarian dynamics of this species will contribute to management efforts for this critically endangered and economically important fish throughout its geographical distribution. The results reported in this study will also assist in unravelling the complexity of the early processes of oogenesis in fish.

A adolescência é uma fase de mudança. A sexualidade, enquanto aspeto central do ser humano, é, nos adolescentes, origem de stress e preocupação. Por isso, deve ser um foco para os enfermeiros nos contextos escolares, onde as atividades de promoção da saúde são essenciais. A intervenção comunitária teve como objetivo promover comportamentos saudáveis relacionados com a sexualidade e foi realizada na Escola Secundária Dr. José Afonso, na freguesia da Arrentela, Seixal. Foi utilizada a metodologia do Planeamento em Saúde e o referencial teórico foi o Modelo de Promoção da Saúde (MPS) de Nola Pender. Este estudo é do tipo descritivo, exploratório e transversal. Recorreu-se ao questionário, "Promoção de uma Sexualidade Saudável em Adolescentes", desenvolvido pela Unidade de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Enfermagem (UIDE), na área de investigação Promoção da Saúde & Literacia Emocional, no âmbito do projeto Sexualidade e Afetos, para obter um diagnóstico da situação de saúde na comunidade estudantil. Selecionaram-se múltiplas estratégias, entre elas, a promoção da saúde, educação para a saúde e de incentivo à participação. Após comparação das respostas dadas pelos alunos, antes e depois das intervenções, os resultados mostraram que houve uma melhoria dos conhecimentos relacionados com comportamento sexual e namoro. Considera-se que os objetivos desta intervenção comunitária foram cumpridos, enquanto permitiram à mestranda o desenvolvimento de competências específicas em Enfermagem de Saúde Comunitária.

Background Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with colonic involvement increases colorectal cancer risk. However, the distinction between IBD related and sporadic dysplasia in IBD patients is difficult. Some data favours the importance of abnormal DNA methylation in IBD-related carcinogenesis. Our study aimed to define methylation patterns in patients with a colonic cancer or dysplasia diagnosis following an IBD diagnosis. Methods Multicentric cross-sectional study- 91 samples from colonic mucosa with/without dysplasia from 9 patients with IBD-related dysplasia/cancer and 26 patients with IBD and sporadic dysplasia/cancer were included. Methylation patterns of CpG islands in the promoter regions of 67 genes were studied by Methylation-specific Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification. Results Mean age at IBD diagnosis: 42±16 years; at dysplasia diagnosis: 56± ± 14 years. Twenty-nine patients had ulcerative colitis. Twenty-five patients had at least 1 lesion endoscopically described as adenoma-like, 4 at least 1 non-adenoma like, 3 had cancer and 3 had dysplasia in flat mucosa. No patient had both adenoma-like and non-adenoma-like lesions. Patients with an IBD-related lesion were significantly younger at IBD diagnosis (p = 0.003) and at dysplasia/cancer diagnosis (p = 0.039). Promoter methylation of IGF2, RARB, ESR1, CHFR, CDH13, WT1, GATA5, WIF1 genes was significantly associated to dysplasia/cancer; methylation of MSH6, TIMP3 was significantly associated to IBD-related dysplasia/cancer. Promoter methylation of MSH6, MSH3, RUNX3, CRABP1, TP73, RARB, CDH13, PAX5, WT1, THBS1, TP53, SFRP1, WIF1, APAF1, BCL2 genes was significantly associated to active IBD. Conclusion Methylation analysis, namely of MSH6, may contribute to the classification of dysplastic lesions in IBD– to be further tested in prospective studies.

O principal objetivo do presente relatório de estágio profissionalizante é a avaliação do potencial para valorização agrícola do efluente tratado proveniente de Estações de Tratamento de Águas Residuais (ETAR) localizadas nas regiões do Vale do Mondego e do Vale do Lis. Para tal realizou-se a análise das condições de operação das ETAR do Município de Montemor-o-Velho e da ETAR Norte de Leiria/Coimbrão, no período de 2014 a 2016. As principais culturas nos casos de estudo, arroz e milho, foram caracterizadas, por serem aquelas com maior expressão agrícola a nível regional, quanto às necessidades de azoto e fósforo nos seus ciclos, permitindo avaliar se o efluente tem potencial fertilizante ou poluente. A análise das condições de operação permitiu avaliar a capacidade de utilização hidráulica das ETAR, percentagem de remoção da carga poluente e qualidade do efluente tratado, face aos requisitos de descarga no meio recetor natural. Conclui-se que, apenas para três ETAR do Município de Montemor-o-Velho e para a ETAR Norte de Leiria/Coimbrão o efluente apresenta características que permitem a sua reutilização em meio agrícola. A inclusão de sistemas de desinfeção nas restantes ETAR permitirá aumentar a qualidade do efluente rejeitado e consequente valorização agrícola. Palavras-Chave: Estação de Tratamento de Águas Residuais Urbanas (ETAR); Condições de Operação; Reutilização de Águas Residuais Urbanas Tratadas; Valorização Agrícola. Abstract The main objective of this internship report is to assess the potential for agricultural valorization of the treated effluent originated from Wastewater Treatment Plants located in Vale do Mondego and Vale do Lis regions. For this purpose, it was carried out an analysis regarding the operational conditions of WWTPs located in the Municipality of Montemor-o- Velho and WWTP Norte de Leiria/Coimbrão, between years 2014 to 2016. The main crops in the case studies, rice and maize, were outlined, since they are those with higher agricultural expression at regional level, regarding nitrogen and phosphorus needs in their cycles, enabling to evaluate if the treated effluent has a potential fertilizer or a pollutant effect. The operating conditions analysis allowed to evaluate the hydraulic use capacity of the WWTP, the percentage of pollutant load removal and the treated effluent quality, in light of the discharge requirements in the natural receiving environment. It was concluded that, for three WWTPs of the Municipality of Montemor-o-Velho and for the WWTP Norte de Leiria/Coimbrão, the effluent presents characteristics that allow its reuse in an agricultural environment. The inclusion of disinfection systems in the remaining WWTPs would increase the quality of the rejected effluent, thus resulting in an agricultural improvement. Keywords: Urban Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP); Operational Conditions; Reuse of Treated Urban Wastewater; Agricultural Valorization.

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ., Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a complex overlap disease with features of different autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs) namely systemic sclerosis, poly/dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematous in patients with antibodies targeting the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle. In this narrative review, we summarise the results of a systematic literature research which was performed as part of the European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases project, aimed at evaluating existing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) or recommendations. Since no specific CPGs on MCTD were found, other CPGs developed for other CTDs were taken into consideration in order to discuss what can be applied to MCTD even if designed for other diseases. Three major objectives were proposed for the future development of CPGs: MCTD diagnosis (diagnostic criteria), MCTD initial and follow-up evaluations, MCTD treatment. Early diagnosis, epidemiological data, assessment of burden of disease and QOL aspects are among the unmet needs identified by patients., This publication was funded by the European Union’s Health Programme (2014-2020)

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Arquitetura apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia O azulejo caracteriza a arquitectura portuguesa, sendo um material de revestimento que se reinventa ao longo dos séculos através das variadas produções e interpretações. A modularidade do azulejo de ne espaços arquitectónicos, atribui escalas e acentua perspectivas, por conseguinte tem um papel de destaque na reinterpretação do azulejo. A presente dissertação de mestrado pretende recriar a modularidade do azulejo através da utilização de uma nova matéria-prima: o plástico. Aliado à crescente procura de novas formas arquitectónicas, o azulejo de plástico pretende ser uma reinterpretação do azulejo de cerâmica, providenciando soluções para as problemáticas actuais derivadas da colocação do azulejo de cerâmica. Para verificar a fiabilidade deste estudo, procedeu-se a uma análise da evolução das mesmas, prevendo o futuro de acordo com as capacidades da matéria-prima, assim como a sustentabilidade associada. A customização presente em cada Indústria incide no artesanato e na impressão 3D, a par da possibilidade de expansão de acordo com as exigências arquitectónicas actuais e futuras. O material de revestimento pode ser desenhado em paralelo com a concepção do edifício, resultando numa evolução da modularidade associada ao azulejo e, paralelamente, dando destaque às potencialidades do plástico relativamente à criação de superfícies inteligentes. Esta dissertação é o resultado de uma investigação prática aliada à criação de uma Startup TailoredTile , que possui como objectivo a comercialização do azulejo em plástico e a evolução do mesmo para a criação de superfícies inteligentes. The tile gives character to Portuguese architecture, being a coating material that reinvents itself century after century through the most various productions and interpretations. Its modularity defines architectural spaces, creating different perspectives and scales. This characteristic will have a major role on tile reinterpretation.The present dissertation intends to recreate the tile modularity through the use of a new raw material: plastic. Hand to hand with the search for new architectural shapes, the plastic tile can evolve in parallel. To verify the reliability of this study, an analysis of architecture evolution was carried out, in an attempt to predict the future according to raw material capabilities and its sustainability.The customization present on both plastic and ceramic industries is focused on craftsmanship and 3D printing, associated to the possibility of expansion, according to the present and future architectural demands.The coating material can be designed in parallel with the building concept, resulting in a symbiotic evolution, where the tile modularity and the plastic limitless shape possibility, have a decisive role. With an ever growing concern about product sustainability, the use of plastic will allow us to produce tiles using recycled polymers. This possibility, associated to the ability to create the most complex shapes with plastic, as well as the low cost of the raw material, gives the project a side that converges to the sustainability policy . the future, these tiles may even create intelligent surfaces, giving movement to a once static building.This dissertation is the result of a practical investigation associated to the creation of a startup designated “TailoreTile”, that has the objective of selling, develop and integrate technology on plastic tiles.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an orphan disease characterised by autoimmunity, fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, and vasculopathy. SSc may be associated with high morbidity and mortality. In this narrative review we summarise the results of a systematic literature research, which was performed as part of the European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases project, aimed at evaluating existing clinical practice guidelines or recommendations. Only in the domains ‘Vascular & Ulcers’ (ie, non-pharmacological approach to digital ulcer), ‘PAH’ (ie, screening and treatment), ‘Treatment’ and ‘Juveniles’ (ie, evaluation of juveniles with Raynaud’s phenomenon) evidence-based and consensus-based guidelines could be included. Hence there is a preponderance of unmet needs in SSc referring to the diagnosis and (non-)pharmacological treatment of several SSc-specific complications. Patients with SSc experience significant uncertainty concerning SSc-related taxonomy, management (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological) and education. Day-to-day impact of the disease (loss of self-esteem, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and occupational, nutritional and relational problems) is underestimated and needs evaluation.

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Biomédica (área de especialização em Informática Médica), Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are the damages caused to the retina and are complications that can affect the diabetic population. Diabetic retinopathy (DR), is the most common disease due to the presence of exudates and has three levels of severity, such as mild, moderate and severe, depending on the exudates distribution in the retina. For screening of diabetic retinopathy or a population-based clinical study, a large number of digital fundus images are captured and to be possible to recognize the signs of DR and DME, it is necessary that the images have quality, because low-quality images may force the patient to return for a second examination, wasting time and possibly delaying treatment. These images are evaluated by trained human experts, which can be a time-consuming and expensive task due to the number of images that need to be examined. Therefore, this is a field that would be hugely benefited with the development of an automated eye fundus quality assessment and analysis systems. It can potentially facilitate health care in remote regions and in developing countries where reading skills are scarce. Deep Learning is a kind of Machine Learning method that involves learning multi-level representations that begin with raw data entry and gradually moves to more abstract levels through non-linear transformations. With enough training data and sufficiently deep architectures, neural networks, such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), can learn very complex functions and discover complex structures in the data. Thus, Deep Learning emerges as a powerful tool for medical image analysis and evaluation of retinal image quality using computer-aided diagnosis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to automatically assess all the three quality parameters alone (focus, illumination and color), and then an overall quality of fundus images assessment, classifying the images into the classes “accept” or “reject with a Deep Learning approach using convolutional neural networks (CNN). For the overall classification, the following results were obtained: test accuracy=97.89%, SN=97.9%, AUC=0.98 and 𝐹1-score=97.91%., A retinopatia diabética (RD) e o edema macular diabético (EMD) são patologias da retina e são uma complicação que pode afetar a população diabética. A retinopatia diabética é a doença mais comum devido à presença de exsudatos e possui três níveis de gravidade, como leve, moderado e grave, dependendo da distribuição dos exsudatos na retina. Para triagem da retinopatia diabética ou estudo clínico de base populacional, um grande número de imagens digitais de fundo do olho são capturadas e para ser possível reconhecer os sinais da RD e EMD, é necessário que as imagens tenham qualidade, pois imagens de baixa qualidade podem forçar o paciente a retornar para um segundo exame, perdendo tempo e, possivelmente, retardando o tratamento. Essas imagens são avaliadas por especialistas humanos treinados, o que pode ser uma tarefa demorada e cara devido ao número de imagens que precisam de ser examinadas. Portanto, este é um campo que seria enormemente beneficiado com o desenvolvimento de sistemas automatizados de avaliação e análise da qualidade da imagem do fundo de olho. Pode potencialmente facilitar a assistência médica em regiões remotas e em países em desenvolvimento, onde as habilidades de leitura são escassas. Deep Learning é um tipo de método de Machine Learning que envolve a aprendizagem de representações em vários níveis que começam com a entrada de dados brutos e gradualmente se transformam para níveis mais abstratos através de transformações não lineares, para se obterem as previsões. Com dados de treino suficientes e arquiteturas suficientemente profundas, as redes neuronais, como as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), podem aprender funções muito complexas e descobrir estruturas complexas nos dados. Assim, o Deep Learning surge como uma ferramenta poderosa para analisar imagens médicas para avaliação da qualidade da retina, usando diagnóstico auxiliado por computador a partir do fundo do olho. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo é avaliar automaticamente a qualidade geral das imagens do fundo, classificando as imagens em “aceites” ou “rejeitadas”, com base em três parâmetros principais, como o foco, a iluminação e cor com abordagem de Deep Learning usando convolutional neural networks (CNN). Para a classificação geral da qualidade das imagens, obtiveram-se os seguintes resultados: acurácia do teste = 97,89%, SN = 97,9%, AUC = 0,98 e 𝐹1-score=97.91%.

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Educação (área de especialização em Formação, Trabalho e Recursos Humanos), O presente relatório, produto do estágio inserido no contexto EFA (Entidade Formadora Anónima), no âmbito do Mestrado em Educação, Área de Especialização Formação, Trabalho e Recursos Humanos aborda a temática da avaliação de impacto da formação: potencialidades e constrangimentos. É indubitável que, numa economia global, onde a competitividade, exigência, flexibilidade eficiência, versatilidade, são palavras de ordem, todos temos de estar preparados e apetrechados, se porventura, quisermos singrar no mercado de trabalho. Neste sentido, é atribuído à variável formação um grande destaque. Tendo em conta este panorama, torna-se fundamental que a mesma tenha impacto na vida dos formandos quer seja a nível pessoal, social ou profissional. O objetivo deste estudo passa então por perceber e analisar até que ponto a frequência da formação numa entidade formadora no período de 2015/2016 causou ou não impacto nos formandos nas diferentes esferas das suas vidas, quer a nível pessoal/social e profissional. Em termos empíricos, a investigação tem como público-alvo vinte formandos que concluíram com sucesso formações no período referenciado, tendo como técnica privilegiada o recurso a um inquérito por questionário, adotando uma metodologia de natureza quantitativa, embora recorrendo também a técnicas qualitativas. Com base na análise dos dados, apesar de a amostra ser bastante reduzida, pode afirmar-se que, na perspetiva dos formandos, a formação, de uma forma geral foi positiva e encarada como uma aprendizagem importante para os que a frequentaram, contudo há aspetos que merecem especial atenção., The present report, a product of the stage in the context Forming anonymous Entity (EFA), in the Master's Degree in Education, area of specialization Training, Labor and Human Resources deals with the theme of the impact assessment of training: potential and constraints. There is no doubt that in a global economy, where the competitiveness, demand, flexibility, efficiency, are words of order for which we must all be prepared and equipped, to which we should not be indifferent if we want to thrive in the labor market. In this sense, it is assigned to variable training a major highlight. Taking into account this panorama, it is essential that it has impact on the lives of trainees either on a personal level, social or professional. The objective of this study is then passed to perceive and analyze the extent to which the frequency of training in an entity in the period 2015/2016 caused or did not impact on trainees in different spheres of their lives both, personal/social and professional lives. In terms of empirical research has as target audience twenty trainees who have successfully completed training in the period referred to, having as a privileged technique using a survey by questionnaire, adopting a methodology of nature quantitative, while also making use qualitative techniques. Based on the analysis of the data, although the sample is rather small, it can be said that the training and generally was positive and seen as a major learning for trainees who responded to the survey, however there are aspects which deserve special attention.

The diet and feeding behaviour of the forkbeard Phycis phycis was studied based on 246 stomachs collected between May 2011 and April 2012 from a commercial fleet operating off the central west coast of Portugal. A total of 44 prey items were identified in the stomachs which were merged into major groups to avoid problems with low expected frequencies. The following taxonomic categories were considered: non-decapod Crustacea, Caridea, Anomura, Munida spp., Processa spp., Brachyura, Pisces, Trisopterus luscus. In order to investigate possible diet differences between fish size classes, a cluster analysis was performed using the mean abundance of each prey group by forkbeard 5 cm length class, and three length groups (LG) were obtained: 42.5 cm. Seasonally, Caridea was the main prey group during winter and autumn while Pisces was predominant during the rest of the year. Caridea was the most important prey group for LG1 and LG2 while in LG3 Pisces was the principal one. The forkbeard feeding behaviour may be characterized as presenting a shift pattern from a more generalist diet (small Crustacea, mainly Caridea) in the young adults to a more specialist strategy (teleosts) in the adults.

The stock structure of forkbeard, Phycis phycis, in the Northeast Atlantic is still unknown. The knowledge of the stock structure of a species is essential to effectively assess the stock and manage fisheries. Otolith shape analysis has been successfully applied in stock identification using the elliptic Fourier analysis. This method was used to evaluate the presence of possible differences in otolith shape of forkbeard caught off the mainland Portugal, and Madeira and Azores archipelagos. A total of 221 otoliths from specimens ranging between 40.0 and 58.7 cm total length were analysed. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) performed on the otolith normalised elliptic Fourier descriptors (NEFDs) revealed significant differences for area, sex and interaction between both. In the canonical discriminant analysis, an overall classification success of 93.9 and 87.5% was achieved for females and males, respectively. These results suggest the usefulness of otolith shape analysis for stock differentiation of forkbeard in the Northeast Atlantic and seem to indicate the existence of more than one stock unit in these waters.

The nearshore ecosystem is an important nursery ground for many fish species. Considering that these areas have a considerable economic value because they support a wide variety of highly valuable species, it is essential to study the structure of their fish communities and the factors that may inlfuence them. The nearshore fish assemblages were studied from March to November of 2015 at 15 sandy beaches, arranged in 6 seaports, along 700 Km in the coast of Portugal. This Atlantic coastline is an important geographical transition area between cold-temperate and warm-temperate regions. Sampling was performed by the beach seine fishery, an artisenal fishery that operates in these areas. The fish assemblage was studied according to its species richness, biogeographical origin, habitat use and resource exploitation, in both biomass and number of individuals. The nearshore fish assemblage was diverse with 70 species belonging to 32 families, though a few species dominated the community: Engraulis encrasicolus, Trachurus trachurus, Sardina pilchardus and Scomber colias. Results indicated that the structure and composition of the fish assemblage from northern and southern seaports are different. Overall, species richness was higher in the southern seaports. Planktivorous species dominated the community in the northernmost seaport, and piscivorous species dominated the community in the remaining seaports. As expected, cold-temperate species presented higher abundance in the northern seaports, and both warm-temperate and sub-tropical species increased in number towards the southern limits. Tropical species were only present in the southernmost area. The main driver for variations in the fish community structure and composition was the water temperature gradient imposed by latitude, highlighting the environmental control in shaping marine biological communities.

The forkbeard, Phycis phycis, is an important commercial species in Portugal; however, little information is available on its biology. Age and growth of the forkbeard from Portuguese continental waters were studied using 687 otoliths from specimens caught between May 2011 and December 2012. Otoliths were transversally sectioned, and assigned ages were validated by marginal increment analysis and edge analysis, and indices of precision were also calculated to corroborate ageing within and between readers. Validation techniques showed that an annual growth increment is formed every year, corresponding to the succession of an opaque and a translucent growth zone. Specimens ranged from 15.5 to 67.1 cm total length (TL), and their estimated ages ranged between 0 and 18 years. The forkbeard is a relatively slow growing, long lived species, that does not show sexual dimorphism in growth. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated for forkbeard from the Portuguese continental waters were L∞ = 75.14 cm TL, k = 0.10 yr−1 and t0 = −2.09 yr.

Age and growth of Mora moro and Epigonus telescopus were studied using 634 and 232 otoliths, respectively, from specimens caught in the Azores between 1999 and 2009. Otoliths of both species were sectioned through the nucleus, a preparation method that improved the age assignment. Marginal increment analysis showed that, for both species, growth increments (consisting of as single set of translucent and opaque growth increments) were formed annually. M. moro specimens ranged from 22 to 76 cm fork length, were aged from 8 to 59 years, and showed a sexual dimorphism in growth. E. telescopus specimens ranged from 32 to 70 cm fork length which corresponds to ages between 12 and 39 years. No differences in growth between sexes were observed. Growth behaviour of M. moro was better explained by the three parameter von Bertalanffy model. The five parameter model provided a better fit to the E. telescopus data. Under this model a change in growth at 26 years for females and 25 years for males may be related to the onset of sexual reproduction.

The knowledge of the reproductive strategy is essential for the comprehensive understanding of the population dynamics of any fish species. This study intends to define the spawning season, verify the type of fecundity regulation and estimate relative annual fecundity for Serranus atricauda inhabiting the south-west of Portugal seamounts (Gorringe, Ampere and Lion). Monthly samples, between September 2010 and December 2011, were obtained from commercial vessels. This species is synchronously hermaphroditic, and mature individuals were found all year round, with gonadosomatic index peak from February to September. No clear relation between hepatosomatic index and Fulton’s condition factor and gonadal development was found, and therefore, it is probable that reproductive success depends more on environmental conditions and food availability during the spawning season than on body energy reserves. No gap exists between pre-vitellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes and the oocyte size-frequency distribution during the main spawning season show no dominant cohort progressing through time. The number of standing stock of advanced vitellogenic oocytes showed an increase trend along the spawning season decreasing only at its end and the relative intensity of α-atresia was always low throughout this period with an increase towards the end. All these criteria corroborate the indeterminate fecundity type assigned to S. atricauda in previous studies. Mean relative annual fecundity estimated was 5,655 ± 4,321 oocytes per gram of gutted weight.

Several studies on bluemouth age and growth have been published over the last two decades, but they show inconsistent differences in maximum age estimates, suggesting interpretation differences in reading whole or sectioned otoliths. In order to clarify this issue, the present study was carried out to assess bias and precision of age reading between three age readers using three aging procedures (the ventral face of sectioned otoliths, the ventral face of whole otoliths, and the posterior region of whole otoliths) in the same individuals of the same statistical sample covering a wide total body length range (10–44 cm). Good precision between – reader comparisons and aging procedures was detected with coefficients of variation and average percent errors below 6.70% and 4.17%, respectively. The lowest total agreement between readers was obtained for the ventral face of sectioned otoliths (40.00%) and the highest for the posterior region of whole otoliths (64.17%) increasing to 83.48% and 88.33%, respectively, within ±1 year. The percentage of agreement within ±1 year between aging methodologies was above 90%. No systematic disagreement between readers was detected (p > 0.05) as also no significant differences between readers (U, p > 0.82) and aging procedures (U, p overall = 0.92, p by 5 cm length class >0.55). The results of this study indicate that both sectioned and whole otoliths can be used for aging bluemouth across its length range.

Age and growth of Pontinus kuhlii were studied using otoliths of 153 males and 148 females, with males having a greater length (and age) than females. A high level of agreement was achieved among readers. Due to gear selectivity, only ages above 7 years (males) and 8 years (females) were estimated in whole otoliths. To estimate length-at-age in younger specimens, backcalculation was also considered but its use in otoliths with ages greater than 22 years was not possible because the growth rings were too close to each other. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated by sex using each of these methods and also using an approach that combines mean length-at-age obtained from backcalculation and direct reading on the otoliths. The likelihood ratio test showed significant differences between sexes in the three approaches and Akaike’s information criterion suggests that the backcalculation approach was the best one for describing P. kuhlii growth: TL=38.89[1-e(-0.07(t+1.96))] and TL=56.50[1-e(–0.04(t+1.87))] for females and males, respectively. Natural mortality estimates varied around 0.15 year–1 and 0.07 year–1 for females and males, while the total mortality estimated for 2011 was 0.33 year–1 for females and 0.21 year–1 for males. La edad y crecimiento de Pontinus kuhlii se ha estudiado a partir de otolitos de 153 machos y 148 hembras, alcanzando los machos una talla mayor (y edad) que las hembras. Un alto nivel de acuerdo fue alcanzado entre los lectores. Debido a la selectividad del arte de pesca, sólo las edades de más de 7 años (machos) y 8 años (hembras) pudieron ser estimadas en otolitos enteros. Para la estimación de la talla por edad en los ejemplares más jóvenes, el retrocálculo también fue considerado, pero su uso en los otolitos con edades mayores de 22 años no fue posible, ya que los anillos de crecimiento se encontraban demasiado cerca unos de los otros. Los parámetros de crecimiento, ajustados a la ecuación de Von Bertalanffy, fueron estimados por sexo con ambos métodos, y también a partir de otro que combina la talla media por grupo de edad obtenida a partir del retrocálculo y de la lectura directa en los otolitos. La prueba de máxima verosimilitud mostró diferencias significativas entre sexos en los tres métodos y el criterio Akaike de información sugiere que el retrocálculo fue el mejor para describir el crecimiento de P. kuhlii: TL=38.89[1–e(–0.07(t+1.96))] y TL=56.50[1–e(–0.04(t+1.87))] para las hembras y machos, respectivamente. La estimación de la mortalidad natural varió entre 0.15 año–1 y 0.07 año–1 para hembras y machos, mientras que la mortalidad total estimada para 2011 fue de 0.33 año–1 para las hembras y 0.21 año–1 para los machos.

Age and growth of Pontinus kuhlii were studied using otoliths of 153 males and 148 females, with males having a greater length (and age) than females. A high level of agreement was achieved among readers. Due to gear selectivity, only ages above 7 years (males) and 8 years (females) were estimated in whole otoliths. To estimate length-at-age in younger specimens, backcalculation was also considered but its use in otoliths with ages greater than 22 years was not possible because the growth rings were too close to each other. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated by sex using each of these methods and also using an approach that combines mean length-at-age obtained from backcalculation and direct reading on the otoliths. The likelihood ratio test showed significant differences between sexes in the three approaches and Akaike’s information criterion suggests that the backcalculation approach was the best one for describing P. kuhlii growth: TL=38.89[1-e (-0.07(t+1.96)) ] and TL=56.50[1-e (–0.04(t+1.87)) ] for females and males, respectively. Natural mortality estimates varied around 0.15 year –1 and 0.07 year –1 for females and males, while the total mortality estimated for 2011 was 0.33 year –1 for females and 0.21 year –1 for males.

ResumoA imunossupressão prolongada e as doenças inflamatórias crónicas são reconhecidos fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças linfoproliferativas. Estas podem, na fase inicial, ter manifestações clínicas pouco exuberantes, obrigando a uma especial atenção para a sua deteção precoce.Apresenta-se o caso de uma mulher de 69 anos, com passado de cirurgia e radioterapia pélvicas por adenocarcinoma do endométrio e com artrite reumatóide, tratada com metotrexato e prednisolona, referenciada à consulta por dor abdominal. A dor, inicialmente difusa e posteriormente localizada na fossa ilíaca direita (FID), acompanhava-se de astenia, anorexia e perda ponderal. Havia anemia e elevação da velocidade de sedimentação. A colonoscopia mostrou úlcera no cego e ulcerações superficiais no íleon terminal que foram biopsadas, tendo sido sugerido o diagnóstico de doença de Crohn. Verificou-se agravamento clínico com perda ponderal acentuada, episódios de suboclusão intestinal e aparecimento de massa na FID. Após realização de enterografia por ressonância magnética (RM) e nova colonoscopia, foi estabelecido o diagnóstico de linfoma B difuso de grandes células. A doente suspendeu a imunossupressão e foi submetida a quimioterapia sistémica com R-CHOP, tendo sido conseguida remissão completa.AbstractLong-term immunosuppressive therapies and chronic inflammatory diseases are both recognized as risk factors for the development of lymphoproliferative disorders. These can progress without obvious symptoms, delaying diagnosis and treatment.We describe a 69 year-old female, with a past history of hysterectomy and radiation therapy for endometrial carcinoma, on immunosuppressive treatment with methotrexate and prednisolone due to long-standing rheumatoid arthritis. She was referred to the Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic due to diffuse abdominal pain, with weight loss, anorexia and weakness. The pain became located at the right lower quadrant. A moderate anemia was found, and the colonoscopy showed an ulcer at the cecum and superficial ulcerations in the distal ileum. Biopsies were compatible with Crohn's disease. Symptoms worsened, with marked weight loss and suboclusion episodes. A right lower abdominal mass was found. Additional investigations (MRI enterography and colonoscopy) disclosed a diffuse large-cell B lymphoma. Immunosuppression was stopped and chemotherapy (R-CHOP) was started. Complete remission was achieved.

Tese de mestrado, Psicologia (Secção de Psicologia da Educação e da Orientação), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, 2016 Submitted by Biblioteca FPIE-ULisboa (bibliorul@fpie.ulisboa.pt) on 2017-06-01T15:17:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ulfpie051334_tm.pdf: 2370046 bytes, checksum: 3c6d7496ee462776c17804902f9c6fcf (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T15:18:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ulfpie051334_tm.pdf: 2370046 bytes, checksum: 3c6d7496ee462776c17804902f9c6fcf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016

pedagógica realizada em jardim-de-infância e em escola do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, integrada na formação de futuros educadores/professores. A intervenção em contexto de Educação Pré-Escolar teve a duração de 180 horas, com um grupo de 20 crianças, com idades de 3 e 4 anos. A intervenção em contexto de 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico teve igual duração e realizou-se com 23 crianças que integravam o 3.º ano de escolaridade, maioritariamente com 9 anos de idade. Ambos os contextos pertenciam à rede pública Para a realização das atividades, nestes contextos, partimos da curiosidade, interesse e necessidades dos grupos baseando-nos, entre outros suportes, em documentos oficiais que regem estes níveis de ensino, respetivamente, as Orientações Curriculares para a Educação Pré-Escolar e o Programa Nacional do 3.º ano do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e as Metas Curriculares de Aprendizagem. Esta intervenção orientou-se para dar resposta à seguinte questão problema: qual a importância da motivação no processo ensinoaprendizagem? Decorrente desta questão formulámos um conjunto de objetivos que nortearam a intervenção: (i) perceber quais as experiências de aprendizagem que mais motivavam o grupo; (ii) perceber se a afetividade professor aluno influenciava a motivação e o processo ensino e aprendizagem. Os dados foram, maioritariamente, recolhidos através do registo de notas de campo. Como técnica de análise de dados recorremos à análise de conteúdo A apresentação das atividades realizadas e análise dos dados recolhidos traduziu-se num processo descritivo e interpretativo que enquadramos numa abordagem qualitativa. Em termos de resultados podemos concluir que, quer num contexto, quer no outro procuramos atender aos interesses e motivações das crianças, não só no espaço sala de atividades/aula, mas também em espaços exteriores à sala. Relativamente às dimensões pedagógicas evidenciaram-se as interações e o modo como a criança se envolveu na tarefa, percebendo-se que nas ações educativas onde a criança estava diretamente envolvida na atividade a motivação e o interesse evidenciaram-se de forma significativa. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Comber is an important bycatch species in the trawl fishery both in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Age and growth studies have been restricted to the eastern Mediterranean and no methodologies were ever applied to ensure accuracy and precision. In this study a total of 471 otoliths from specimens ranging from 12 to 26 cm were used. Precision indices showed a high level of agreement between readers and no evidence of systematic disagreement was obtained. To estimate fish growth and due to the absence of individuals smaller than 12 cm, three approaches were used to estimate the von Bertalanffy growth parameters: whole otolith readings, back calculation and a combination of both methodologies. Akaike’s information criterion suggests that the back calculation approach was the best one for describing comber growth: TL = 25.26 [1−e(−0.21(t+1.72)]. Natural mortality estimates varied between M = 0.44 year−1 and M = 0.48 year−1 while estimates of the fishing mortality varied between 0.12 year−1 and 0.16 year−1 and the exploitation rate between 0.20 and 0.27.

In order to investigate the feeding habits of Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus along the continental Portuguese coast, a total of 619 individuals were sampled of which 60% contained food in their stomach and 35% had more than one prey item. Among the 81 prey items that were identified in the stomachs, benthic and benthopelagic prey prevail on this species diet. Acantephyra sp, Pasiphaea sp, mysidacea, and teleostei n.i. were the prey with the higher percent index of relative importance (%IRI) value. Three length groups (5–20 cm, 21–27 cm, and 28–48 cm) were defined through cluster analysis of the mean abundance of prey items. A permutational MANOVA detected significant differences in the diet and stomach fullness index for TLG, season, and maturation stage. Smaller fishes had a generalized diet, feeding mainly on mysidacea changing their diet above 20 cm TL, where a major consumption of natantia was found. The larger individuals, >28 cm TL, present a less generalized diet with pisces as dominant prey group. Seasonally, natantia and pisces were the principal prey groups during spring and winter, respectively, while mysidacea and other crustaceans were predominant during the rest of the year. Mysidacea were also the main prey group for immature individuals while natantia and pisces were the principal prey groups to the other maturity stages. The results of this study indicate that H. d. dactylopterus has a diverse diet focused on small crustaceans such as misyds and as specimens grow shrimps and fishes become more consumed, with larger specimens having a more specialized diet. The different nutritional needs during spawning season also seemed to influence the feeding habits of H. d. dactylopterus.

The bluemouth, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Pisces: Sebastidae), is a zygoparous species with internal fertilization that stores the spermatozoa in crypts within the female ovaries. It spawns gelatinous egg masses that were investigated in this study. Histological analysis confirmed that the ovarian wall and peduncular epithelia play an important role in the production of this gelatinous matrix that contained both oocytes and embryos. Cleavage and blastulae were the most frequent embryonic development stages observed and the tail bud was the latest stage reached. The chemical composition of the matrix was also investigated, revealing that water and proteins are the major components of this substance. This is the first study exclusively dedicated to the investigation of the composition, function and importance of the gelatinous matrix of H. d. dactylopterus in the context of its reproductive strategy.

The understanding of the stock structure of a species is essential to effectively manage fisheries. Otolith shape analysis has been successfully applied in stock identification using the elliptic Fourier analysis. This method was used to assess possible differences in the otolith shape of Helicolenus dactylopterus caught around the Azores, Madeira and mainland Portugal. A total of 294 individuals ranging from 23 to 29 cm in total length, equally distributed by sex and area, were analysed. The multivariate analysis of variance performed on the otolith normalized elliptic Fourier descriptors (NEFDs) revealed significant differences for both area and sex, but no interaction was found between the two factors. In the canonical discriminant analysis an overall classification success of 69.4% and 66.7% was achieved for females and males respectively. These results suggest the usefulness of otolith shape analysis for stock differentiation of bluemouth from Portuguese waters.

Total mercury (THg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations were investigated in muscle, liver and gonad tissue of black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) from the southern northeast Atlantic at three Portuguese locations: the mainland and the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. Particular emphasis was placed on the comparison of metal levels between geographic locations. Other factors such as size, sex and sexual maturity were also investigated. The median concentrations (mg/kg ww) of THg showed a decreasing trend in the order liver>muscle>gonad. Cadmium levels decreased in the order liver>gonad>muscle and Pb levels decreased in the order gonad>liver>muscle. According to the EU limits, the concentration observed in some specimens, particularly those of THg, raises some food safety concerns. In all the tissues the concentrations of each toxic metal differed between locations. In particular: i) THg concentrations in specimens from Madeira were significantly higher than those from the Azores and the mainland; ii) Cd levels in specimens from the mainland were significantly higher than those from Madeira and the Azores; and iii) for all analysed tissues Pb levels were significantly higher in specimens from the Azores than in those from the mainland. The differences in toxic metal levels between locations were further discussed in relation to aspects of species dynamics and the influence of the main environmental features at each location.

Though whole otoliths are commonly adopted in age assignment of black scabbardfish, this study showed that sectioned otoliths are more appropriate because growth increments are more evident and ageing of larger specimens is easier. Vertebrae are not the most appropriate structure for ageing but, in the absence of otoliths, this structure may be useful in age assignment of this species. To verify possible differences between age and growth among specimens from the southern NE Atlantic, 1075 sectioned otoliths from specimens from mainland Portugal, 436 from Madeira and 107 from the Azores were analysed and the distribution of length-at-age obtained for each sex and region was determined. Significant differences were obtained in the comparison of the distribution of length-at-age between Madeira, the mainland and the Azores. The von Bertalanffy growth model was applied to back-calculated mean length-at-age data from Madeira (Lt = 1586 [1 – e –0.119(t+2.282) ] females; Lt = 1461 [1 – e –0.146(t+1.441) ] males) and mainland (Lt = 1354 [1 – e –0.170(t+2.040) ] females; Lt = 1240 [1 – e –0.208(t+1.654) ] males), and significant differences in the growth equations were obtained. Furthermore, a regression tree model was used to investigate how growth is conditioned by reproduction. The results showed a clear separation between individuals from the two areas, both females and males from the mainland (non-reproductive individuals) being characterised by a lower gonadosomatic index and a lower age.

Black scabbardfish stock structure is still unknown in European waters where, due to the scarcity of biological information, the ICES considers that there is a single stock unit. This study is the final outcome of a scientific project that applies a holistic approach to research on the population structure of the black scabbardfish and aims to define the most appropriate strategy for the conservation of this resource in southern NE Atlantic waters. The factors studied include life history parameters, otolith shape analysis, parasites, landings-and-effort data and contaminants. Sampling was conducted between 2005 and 2007 in three areas of the southern NE Atlantic: mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores. The mainland and the Azores have an established commercial fishery, whereas the Azores has only an exploratory fishery. The majority of results indicated the existence of different stocks of black scabbardfish in the study area. Of the 8 parameters, 6 were in agreement with separate stocks between the mainland and Madeira, 5 were in agreement with separate stocks between the mainland and the Azores, and 4 were in agreement with separate stocks between Madeira and the Azores.

Total mercury (THg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations were investigated in muscle, liver and gonad tissue of black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) from the southern northeast Atlantic at three Portuguese locations: the mainland and the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. Particular emphasis was placed on the comparison of metal levels between geographic locations. Other factors such as size, sex and sexual maturity were also investigated. The median concentrations (mg/kg ww) of THg showed a decreasing trend in the order liver>muscle>gonad. Cadmium levels decreased in the order liver>gonad>muscle and Pb levels decreased in the order gonad>liver>muscle. According to the EU limits, the concentration observed in some specimens, particularly those of THg, raises some food safety concerns. In all the tissues the concentrations of each toxic metal differed between locations. In particular: i) THg concentrations in specimens from Madeira were significantly higher than those from the Azores and the mainland; ii) Cd levels in specimens from the mainland were significantly higher than those from Madeira and the Azores; and iii) for all analysed tissues Pb levels were significantly higher in specimens from the Azores than in those from the mainland. The differences in toxic metal levels between locations were further discussed in relation to aspects of species dynamics and the influence of the main environmental features at each location. Se investigaron las concentraciones de mercurio total (THg), cadmio (Cd) y plomo (Pb) en músculo, hígado y gónada de sable negro en muestras recogidas en tres regiones del sur del Atlántico noreste: Portugal continental y archipiélagos de Madeira y Azores. Se puso especial énfasis en la comparación entre regiones. También fueron analizados los factores talla, sexo y madurez sexual. Una tendencia decreciente fue observada en las concentraciones medias (mg/kg ww) de THg entre hígado, músculo y gónadas. Los niveles de Cd decrecieron entre hígado, gónadas y músculo, y en caso de los niveles de Pb, decrecieron entre gónadas, hígado y músculo. De acuerdo con las regulaciones de la UE sobre el consumo de esta especie, las concentraciones observadas en algunos especímenes, particularmente de THg, han suscitado inquietudes relacionadas con la seguridad alimentaria. El factor región fue significativo en las diferencias entre los tres metales para todos los tejidos. Particularmente: i) la concentración de THg en especímenes de Madeira fue significativamente más alta que en Azores y en el continente; ii) los niveles de Cd en especímenes del Continente fueron significativamente más altos que en Madeira y en Azores; y iii) en todos los tejidos analizados, los niveles de Pb fueron significativamente más elevados en Azores que en el continente. Estas discrepancias en los niveles tóxicos entre localizaciones son discutidas en relación con aspectos de dinámica de la especie y la influencia de características ambientales de cada región.

The importance of cephalopods in marine ecosystems is well recognized as they serve as important predators and prey in many food chains. During a 1-year period, cuttlefish were monthly sampled in five areas throughout the Sado estuary, and the stomachs of 445 individuals were examined. Significant changes in the diet according to their life stage were revealed, but similar food habits were presented by males and females. Juvenile individuals (the smaller ones with no visible distinct gonads) preyed mainly upon small crustaceans, while the immature ones (maturity stages I and II) had the most diverse diet with brachyurans as the major prey group. The mature individuals (maturity stages III and IV) showed a clear preference for larger crabs and fishes. Although the cuttlefish are known for their opportunistic feeding behaviour, a preference for some prey according to length and behaviour could be perceived during this study. Seasonal differences in the diet were mostly due to the variation of individuals according to their maturity stage during the year.

Sequeira, V., Neves, A., Vieira, A. R., Figueiredo, I., and Gordo, L. S. 2009. Age and growth of bluemouth, Helicolenus dactylopterus, from the Portuguese continental slope. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 524–531. In all, 933 bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus) were obtained from bottom-trawl research surveys along the Portuguese continental slope between October 2005 and February 2007 and from commercial landings. Age was determined by reading whole sagittal otoliths, and age estimates were validated by daily growth increment (DGI) analysis. Fish ranged from 5.2 to 44.9 cm, which corresponded to fish between 0 and 30 years old. The mean total length obtained from DGI analysis for age class 1 fish was 8.6 cm, corresponding to otoliths with a mean radius of 1.8 mm. As no statistical differences between sex were observed, the von Bertalanffy growth equation fitted was Lt = 45.50[1 − e−0.05(t+4.01)]. Comparisons with other studies using Hotelling's T2 test and the growth perform index (Ф) are drawn. The growth rates estimated in this study using whole otolith readings were the lowest of all the studies available, and the estimated L∞ is lower then those obtained for Azorean waters and higher than those published for the Mediterranean.

The cultivar of irrigated rice BRSMG Predileta has high grain yield, resistance to the main rice diseases and produces good quality grains for industry and cooking. It was recommended in 2007 by the Genetic Improvement Program for lowland rice in Minas Gerais, developed by EPAMIG in partnership with Embrapa Arroz e Feijao.

Dissertação apresentada à Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra no âmbito do 2º Ciclo de Estudos em Direito (conducente ao grau de Mestre), na área de especialização em Ciências Jurídico-Políticas/Menção em Direito Administrativo

Bluemouth, Helicolenus dactylopterus is zygoparous species with internal fertilization spawning multiple batches of early-celled embryos in gelatinous masses. Its unusual reproductive strategy required methodological adjustments to estimate potential annual fecundity. The present study applied an adaptation of the gravimetric method, estimated batch fecundity based on different spawning fraction criteria (gestation, early-celled, and blastula females), and compared these estimates with the number of developing oocytes (NDOR) in the beginning of spawning to clarify the oocyte development pattern. Spawning fraction estimation based on the gestation criterion was considered the most reliable given its low variance and the subjectivity of staging early-celled embryos. On average, 87 batches were spawned with a mean spawning interval estimated at 1.73 days, and a mean relative annual total fecundity of 1,773 embryos g−1 carcass. The inexistence of a clear decreasing trend in the NDOR throughout the spawning season, and the lower NDOR estimates in females in the beginning of spawning comparing with relative annual fecundity (gestation criterion) suggests vitellogenic oocyte recruitment supporting previous results of indeterminate fecundity in Portuguese coast. The method proposed can be considered in fecundity studies of other commercial important species which extrudes gelatinous egg masses.

O presente relatório foi realizado no âmbito da unidade curricular de Prática de Ensino Supervisionada (PES), inserida no plano de estudos do curso de Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, da Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico de Bragança. A intervenção em contexto de Educação Pré-Escolar teve a duração de 180 horas, das quais 24 horas foram em contexto Creche. A intervenção em contexto de 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico teve a duração de 180 horas. O principal objetivo deste relatório é apresentar o trabalho desenvolvido com as crianças ao longo da nossa PES em ambos os contextos, investigando, descrevendo e refletindo sobre a ação educativa. A nossa prática pedagógica foi desenvolvida na Educação Pré-Escolar (EPE), com um grupo de 20 crianças, com idades de 3 e 4 anos, e no 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (1.º CEB), com um grupo de 23 crianças que integravam o 3.º ano de escolaridade. Ambos os contextos pertenciam à rede pública. Para a realização das atividades nestes contextos, partimos da curiosidade, interesse e necessidades do grupo com apoio nas Orientações Curriculares para a Educação Pré-Escolar e no Programa Nacional do 3.º ano do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, tendo em conta a nossa questão problema: Qual a importância da motivação no processo ensino-aprendizagem? Com os objetivos: (i) Perceber quais as experiências de aprendizagem que motivam mais o grupo; (ii) Perceber se as interações entre aluno e aluno influenciam a motivação; (iii) Perceber se a afetividade professor aluno influencia a motivação. Os dados foram, maioritariamente, recolhidos através do registo de notas de campo. Como técnica de análise de dados recorremos à análise de conteúdo. Para além disso, a reflexão sobre a prática educativa esteve sempre presente na PES e na escrita deste relatório. Na apresentação que fizemos das experiências de ensino aprendizagem, consideramos que se traduziu num processo descritivo e interpretativo que enquadramos numa abordagem qualitativa. Em termos de resultados pensamos poder concluir que quer num contexto, quer no outro procuramos atender aos interesses e motivações das crianças, não só no espaço sala de atividades/aula, mas também em espaços exteriores à sala. Relativamente às dimensões pedagógicas evidenciaram-se as interações e o modo de como a criança se envolveu na tarefa. This report was carried out within the course of Supervised Teaching Practice (PES), inserted in the Master's course curriculum in Pre-School Education and the 1st cycle of basic education, the Higher Education School Polytechnic Institute of Bragança. The intervention in the context of pre-school education lasted 180 hours, of which 24 hours were in baby nursery context. The intervention in the context of 1st cycle of basic education lasted for 180 hours. The aim of this report is to present the work with the children throughout our PES in both contexts, investigating, describing and reflecting. Our pedagogical practice was developed in Pre-School Education (EPE), with a group of 19 children, ages 3 and 4 years old , and the 1st cycle of basic education (1st CEB), a group of 23 children who were part of the 3rd grade. Both contexts are public institution. To carry out activities in these contexts, we start with the curiosity, interest and group needs with support of the Curriculum Guidelines for Pre-School Education and the National Program of the 3rd year of the 1st cycle of basic education, taking about of our problem question: What is the importance of motivation in the teaching-learning process? With the objectives: (i) To understand which learning experiences that motivate more the group; (ii) To understand if the interactions between student and student influence motivation; (iii) To understand if the teacher student affective influences motivation. Noteworthy that perform content analysis to the information contained in the field notes we record along the Supervised Teaching Practice, in order to meet our experiences and the experiences of children. In addition, we are planning to reflect on the educational practice developed in the submission we make of educational learning experiences, we consider that resulted in a descriptive and interpretive process that obviously we fit a qualitative approach. In terms of results we think we can conclude that either in the context of pre-school education, whether in the context of 1st cycle of basic education we seek to answer the interests and motivations of the children, not only in the activity room space / class, but also in outer space to the room. With regard to pedagogical dimensions showed the interactions and the way how the child was involved in the task.

Samples of boarfish Capros aper, small red scorpionfish Scorpaena notata and comber Serranus cabrilla were collected from monthly by-catch samples on board commercial trawlers off the western coast of Portugal. A histological approach was undertaken to study each species’ reproductive strategy and annual sexual cycle. Temporal variations of the gonadosomatic index and of two condition indices (hepatosomatic and Fulton's K) were also analysed. Results showed that C. aper and S. notata are gonochoristic whilst S. cabrilla is a simultaneous hermaphrodite. Fertilization is external and development of secondary growth follicles is asynchronous in the three species. Mass atresia characterized the end of the spawning season in S. notata and S. cabrilla. In C. aper a high prevalence of atresia was observed throughout the year and was not attributed to regressing or regenerating phases or skip spawning events. The main spawning season of the three species was in the summer and it is suggested that spawning is related to upwelling. During the summer, the spawning interval was 1.09, 1.23 and 1.84 days for S. cabrilla, S. notata and C.aper, respectively. The results of this study indicate potential plasticity and environmental adaptation of sexual strategies.

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Dissertação de Mestrado, Educação Pré-Escolar, Escola Superior de Educação e Comunicação, Universidade do Algarve, 2016 O presente relatório descreve o estudo realizado no âmbito da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada do Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar. Este estudo desenvolveu-se num jardim de infância privado da cidade de Faro, entre 17 de novembro de 2014 e 14 de maio de 2015. Após a definição das questões iniciais «Como direcionar a prática pedagógica no jardim de infância, de maneira a promover, nas crianças, comportamentos adequados durante os momentos da refeição» e «Como melhorar os hábitos alimentares das crianças promovendo a educação para a saúde» considerou-se como objetivo geral, a promoção de estratégias que permitissem ajudar a criança a estabelecer uma boa relação com o momento da refeição e com os alimentos que as compõem. Posto isto, estabeleceu-se o processo de investigação/intervenção, com recurso a uma metodologia de natureza qualitativa, que se enquadra nalguns dos procedimentos definidos para o método de investigação-ação. Após ter sido feita uma avaliação, com caráter de diagnóstico, que permitiu perceber que a maioria das crianças do grupo rejeitava as hortícolas à hora do almoço, e que, mais de metade, tinha um comportamento não adequado durante este momento da rotina, delinearam-se estratégias de intervenção educativa que fossem ao encontro das necessidades educativas do grupo. Pretendia-se, desta forma, adequar os comportamentos das crianças ao ato da refeição e às práticas alimentares, dando relevância a um momento da rotina diária que é tão importante para o seu desenvolvimento. Após a ação educativa observaram-se alterações nos comportamentos das crianças durante o momento da refeição, registando-se atitudes que refletiam as práticas consideradas mais adequadas. Observou-se, também, que passou a haver um número menor de crianças a rejeitar as hortícolas, à hora do almoço. Uma vez que uma alimentação equilibrada é um dos fatores determinantes para o normal desenvolvimento da criança, considera-se importante a promoção de uma boa relação da criança com os alimentos e com o momento da refeição, num ambiente de respeito pelo ato, pelos outros e pelos alimentos, de interação, de carinho e de assertividade.