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At the end of 2019, the coronavirus appeared and spread extremely rapidly, causing millions of infections and deaths worldwide, and becoming a global pandemic. For this reason, it became urgent and essential to find adequate tests for an accurate and fast diagnosis of this disease. In the present study, a systematic review was performed in order to provide an overview of the COVID-19 diagnosis methods and tests already available, as well as their evolution in recent months. For this purpose, the Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used to collect the data and three authors independently screened the references, extracted the main information, and assessed the quality of the included studies. After the analysis of the collected data, 34 studies reporting new methods to diagnose COVID-19 were selected. Although RT-PCR is the gold-standard method for COVID-19 diagnosis, it cannot fulfill all the requirements of this pandemic, being limited by the need for highly specialized equipment and personnel to perform the assays, as well as the long time to get the test results. To fulfill the limitations of this method, other alternatives, including biological and imaging analysis methods, also became commonly reported. The comparison of the different diagnosis tests allowed to understand the importance and potential of combining different techniques, not only to improve diagnosis but also for a further understanding of the virus, the disease, and their implications in humans.

In this work, we carried out a comparison between the dry machining of an aluminum block with conventional cutting oil and a block with vegetable oil. The two oils had different flow rates. Using the Taguchi method, it was possible to determine the matrices for optimizing the best parameters for each group of tests. Then, we studied the utility of using vegetable oil as a cutting lubricant. We found that the vegetable oil studied in this work had good properties in terms of reducing cutting temperatures but was less effective than conventional cutting oil in reducing the surface roughness of the machined part. Tribological tests were carried out to understand the influence of the selected lubricants in reducing friction and wear. After the sliding experiments, which were performed without lubrication in the presence of the same lubricants that were used in the machining tests and in the presence of distilled water, we concluded that vegetable oil has satisfactory lubricating properties that are similar to those of the conventional cutting fluid, indicating a potential for consideration as an effective alternative to the conventional cutting fluid, with economic, environmental, and health advantages.

Introduction: Guidewire fracture is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Retained fragments can cause thrombosis, dissection, perforation of the vessel or embolize. When is impossible to withdraw or to trap the fragment during the procedure, management is debatable between surgical removal or conservative approach. When choosing to leave the fragment in place, the patient remains at risk for all of the aforementioned complications. Clinical Case: 65-year-old male patient submitted to PCI with stenting of distal right coronary artery in 2017. A proximal optimization technique was performed, with a guidewire placed in the posterior descending artery (PDA). After stenting, the protection guidewire became entrapped and after several retrieval attempts, it fractured. Wire fragment remained within the RCA and ascending aorta with a free mobile distal part in the beginning of the innominate artery. Multiple attempts went in vain for wire retrieval and a conservative approach was adopted. Two and a half years later, the patient felt a sudden chest pain and then collapsed. He was transferred to our Hospital for emergent surgery due to cardiac tamponade. Intra-operatively, cardiac surgeons found the guidewire perforating the posterior descending artery. When trying to pull it out, the guidewire fractured again. Post-intervention CTA revealed migration of the fragmented guidewire now it was entrapped in a tortuous initial portion of the right internal carotid artery and a small pseudoaneurysm was visible at the distal portion of the wire. Surgical approach was performed revealing the presence of the wire within the carotid medial wall, in a subintimal plane. The 7 cm fragment was successfully withdrawn, through a common carotid transverse incision. Pseudoaneurismectomy was performed and carotid artery bifurcation reconstruction with internal carotid artery re-implantation into the bifurcation, end-to-end anastomosis. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. Conclusion: Although leaving the wire in place remains an option, coronary guidewire fractured fragments can be associated not only with immediate complications but also with potential adverse events in the long run.

Introduction: Anemia is associated with increased adverse outcomes during the early postoperative period because of high physiologic stress and increased cardiac demand. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between pre-operative anemia and morbi-mortality outcomes in patients undergoing elective carotid endarterectomy (CEA), open aortic repair (OAR) or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and infrainguinal bypass surgery in chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all elective patients between 2016-2018, who underwent: CEA, OAR, EVAR and infrainguinal bypass surgery in chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Emergency procedures and transfusion of more than 4 units of red blood cells (RBC) were excluded. Hemoglobin levels were categorized according to the WHO definition for anemia: severe (< 8 g/dL), moderate (8-10.9 g/dL), mild (11-11.9 g/dL in women and 11-12.9 g/dL in men) and no anemia (≥12 g/dL in women and ≥13 g/dL in men). Results: Our study population comprised 257 patients, of which 74 (28%) underwent EVAR, 26 (10.1%) OAR, 67 (26.1%) CEA and 90 (35%) infrainguinal bypass. Pre-operative anemia was identified in 37.4% (n = 96) of the patients. Of those, 67.7% (n = 65) had mild anemia and 32.3% (n = 31) had moderate-severe anemia. Anemic patients have longer length of stay when compared with non-anemic patients (16.61±16.5; 7.68±4.92, respectively) (p = 0.022) and also longer stay in the post-operative care unite in comparison with patients with hemoglobin within the normal range (average 2.08 days ± 1.12; 1.77 days ± 1.01, respectively) (p

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Introduction: Over the past decade, endovascular treatment (EVT) is taking over visceral arterial aneurysms treatment considering its effectiveness, safety and minimal invasiveness. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated our department experience in visceral arterial aneurysms endovascular approach from 2009 to 2019. Results: From 2009 to 2019, nineteen visceral artery aneurysms were submitted to EVT (mean age 62,5 years, 53% women). The addressed arterial segments were: the splenic artery (52%, n=10) followed by the renal artery (21%, n = 4), the hepatic artery (11%, n = 2), the superior mesenteric artery (11%, n = 2) and the celiac arrtery (5%, n = 1). Average diameter was 26,9 ± 5,4 mm [range 21–39 mm]. The majority were asymptomatic incidental findings (74%). Concomitant aneurysms were found in 3 patients (15,8%). EVT included: stent-graft exclusion (n = 9), aneurysm-sac coil embolization (n = 6), stent-assisted coil embolization (n=2) and segmental artery exclusion (n=2). Median radiological follow-up was 46,8 months [range 1,1–128 months]. Early SMA occlusion was reported in one case after stent-assisted coil embolization, however without ischemic symptoms. End-organ loss was reported in one case (renal artery coil embolization, without overall renal function worsening). Conclusion: Nowadays, endovascular approach is the first-line intervention for most visceral arterial aneurysms. Although still limited, the reported results are favourable and are in line with the current literature.

Treatment of aortic pathologies involving the aortic arch represents a great challenge for vascular surgeons. Endografting techniques, comparing to open surgery, are less invasive approaches. However, an adequate proximal landing zone remains a challenge and, regarding this issue, parallel graft techniques represent a viable endovascular treatment option in patients with challenging aortic arch pathology by extending the proximal landing zone while maintaining aortic side branches perfusion. Parallel graft techniques required a thorough planning and the clinical and imagiological follow-up are mandatory. They appear to be a safe and minimally invasive alternative techniques in selected fragile patients. The authors report three clinical cases that required the use for parallel grafts to treat complex pathology of aortic arch.

Introduction: Endovascular techniques have been revolutionizing the revascularization of patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI), showing consistently high limb salvage rates. However, endovascular recanalization of infrapopliteal occlusive disease can be technically demanding and the failure rate for these types of lesions is about 20%. In that case, an alternative vascular access may be required. We report our experience concerning CLTI patients who underwent retrograde access and recanalization of chronic occlusions after failure of anterograde attempts. Methods: Retrospective institutional review of consecutive patients requiring retrograde punctures to obtain endovascular revascularization (2013–2018) – 51 limbs in 50 patients. The primary outcome was to evaluate the technical success and the limb salvage - major-amputation free survival. The secondary outcomes were the rate of major and minor amputation, the global survival of this population and the characterization of the population and the endovascular procedures performed. Results and conclusion: The technical success was achieved in 76,5% of the procedures. The major amputation free-survival rate was 81,4% at 6 months. The femoro-popliteal and distal territories were concomitantly treated in 63,3% of the procedures and isolated distal territory was treated in 32,7%. Femoral approach was always initially performed (90,2% anterograde). Direct revascularization according to the angiosome concept was obtained in 64,6% of the cases. Anterior tibial artery was punctured in 33,3% of cases followed by pedal artery (27,5%), peroneal artery (19,6%), common plantar artery (7,8%), posterial tibial artery above the ankle (3,9%), supra-articular popliteal artery (3,9%), lateral plantar artery (2%) and metatarsal artery (2%). Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed in 69,4% of the procedures (2% with Drug Elluting Balloons) and PTA and stenting in 28,6%. During follow-up 19,4% of patients were submitted to major amputation and 29,4% to minor amputation. The rate of healing at 6 months was 43,3%. The results of the retrograde access and recanalization of chronic occlusions are comparable to data reported in the literature, confirming it as a valuable alternative. As so, the retrograde access approach for revascularization of CLTI patients appears to be a safe and effective alternative that expands revascularization options after the failure of a conventional endovascular anterograde approach, allowing the salvaging a greater number of limbs, particularly in patients with significant co-morbidities.

Intracranial aneurysms (IA) are dilations of the cerebral arteries and, in most cases, have no symptoms. However, it is a very serious pathology, with a high mortality rate after rupture. Several studies have been focused only on the hemodynamics of the flow within the IA. However, besides the effect of the flow, the development and rupture of the IA are also associated with a combination of other factors such as the wall mechanical behavior. Thus, the objective of this work was to analyze, in addition to the flow behavior, the biomechanical behavior of the aneurysm wall. For this, CFD simulations were performed for different Reynolds numbers (1, 100, 500 and 1000) and for two different rheological models (Newtonian and Carreau). Subsequently, the pressure values of the fluid simulations were exported to the structural simulations in order to qualitatively observe the deformations, strains, normal stresses and shear stress generated in the channel wall. For the structural simulations, a hyperelastic constitutive model (5-parameter Mooney–Rivlin) was used. The results show that with the increase in the Reynolds number (Re), the recirculation phenomenon is more pronounced, which is not seen for Re = 1. The higher the Re, the higher the strain, displacement, normal and shear stresses values.

Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (GNENs) are classified into three types according to their aetiology. We present a clinical case of a female patient of 66 years and a well-differentiated (grade 2), type 3 GNEN with late liver metastasis (LM). The patient underwent surgical excision of a gastric lesion at 50 years of age, without any type of follow-up. Sixteen years later, she was found to have a neuroendocrine tumour (NET) metastatic to the liver. The histological review of the gastric lesion previously removed confirmed that it was a NET measuring 8 mm, pT1NxMx (Ki67 = 4%). 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT reported two LM and a possible pancreatic tumour/gastric adenopathy. Biopsies of the lesion were repeatedly inconclusive. She had a high chromogranin A, normal gastrin levels and negative anti-parietal cell and intrinsic factor antibodies, which is suggestive of type 3 GNEN. She underwent total gastrectomy and liver segmentectomies (segment IV and VII) with proven metastasis in two perigastric lymph nodes and both with hepatic lesions (Ki67 = 5%), yet no evidence of local recurrence. A 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT was performed 3 months after surgery, showing no tumour lesions and normalisation of CgA. Two years after surgery, the patient had no evidence of disease. This case illustrates a rare situation, being a type 3, well-differentiated (grade 2) GNEN, with late LM. Despite this, it was possible to perform surgery with curative intent, which is crucial in these cases, as systemic therapies have limited efficacy. We emphasise the need for extended follow-up in these patients.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is one of the best known elastomers and has been used in several areas of activity, due to its excellent characteristics and properties, such as biocompatibility, flexibility, optical transparency and chemical stability. Furthermore, PDMS modified with other materials promotes the desired changes to broaden its range of applications in various fields of science. However, the heating, mixing and degassing steps of the manufacturing process have not received much attention in recent years when it comes to blending with solid materials. For instance, PDMS has been extensively studied in combination with waxes, which are frequently in a solid state at room temperature and as a result the interaction and manufacturing process are extremely complex and can compromise the desired material. Thus, in this work it is proposed a multifunctional vacuum chamber (MVC) with the aim to improve and accelerate the manufacturing process of PDMS composites combined with additives, blends and different kinds of solid materials. The MVC developed in this work allows to control the mixing speed parameters, temperature control and internal pressure. In addition, it is a low cost equipment and can be used for other possible modifications with different materials and processes with the ability to control those parameters. As a result, samples fabricated by using the MVC can achieve a time improvement over 133% at the heating and mixing step and approximately 200% at the last degassing step. Regarding the complete manufacturing process, it is possible to achieve an improvement over 150%, when compared with the conventional manufacturing process. When compared to maximum tensile strength, specimens manufactured using the MVC have shown a 39% and 65% improvement in maximum strain. The samples have also shown a 9% improvement in transparency at room temperature and 12% at a temperature of about 75 °C. It should be noted that the proposed MVC can be used for other blends and manufacturing processes where it is desirable to control the temperature, agitation speed and pressure.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an elastomer with excellent optical, electrical and mechanical properties, which makes it well-suited for several engineering applications. Due to its biocompatibility, PDMS is widely used for biomedical purposes. This widespread use has also led to the massification of the soft-lithography technique, introduced for facilitating the rapid prototyping of micro and nanostructures using elastomeric materials, most notably PDMS. This technique has allowed advances in microfluidic, electronic and biomedical fields. In this review, an overview of the properties of PDMS and some of its commonly used treatments, aiming at the suitability to those fields’ needs, are presented. Applications such as microchips in the biomedical field, replication of cardiovascular flow and medical implants are also reviewed.

In the present work, an analysis of different welding parameters was carried out on the welding of stainless-steel thin thickness tubes by the Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) process. The influence of three main parameters, welding voltage, movement angle, and welding current in the quality of the welds, was studied through a specifically designed experimental process based on the establishment of three different levels of values for each of these parameters. Weld quality is evaluated using destructive testing (macrographic analysis). Specifically, the width and root penetration of the weld bead were measured; however, some samples have been disregarded due to welding defects outside the permissible range or caused by excessive melting of the base metals. Data are interpreted, discussed, and analyzed using the Taguchi method and ANOVA analysis. From the analysis of variance, it was possible to identify the most influential parameter, the welding voltage, with a contribution of 43.55% for the welding penetration and 75.26% for the bead width, which should be considered in the designs of automatic welding processes to improve the quality of final welds.

Hemangiomas are usually diagnosed based on ultrasound findings. The presence of symptoms, rapid growth or atipical imagiological findings should make us consider other diagnoses, including malignant tumors such as angiosarcomas. We describe the case of a previously healthy 46-year-old female without a history of exposure to carcinogens who presented with abdominal pain for two months. Diagnostic work-up revealed elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels. Abdominal ultrasound described a large nodular lesion in the right lobe of the liver described as a hemangioma. One month later, a computed tomography-scan was made and revealed the same lesion, which had grown from 13.5 to 20 cm, maintaining typical imaging characteristics of a hemangioma. A right hepatectomy was performed and pathology revealed an angiosarcoma. After surgery, a positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan showed hepatic and bone metastasis. The patient started taxane-based chemotherapy and lumbar palliative radiotherapy, but died 10 months after surgery. This case shows how difficult it is to diagnose hepatic angiosarcoma relying only on imaging findings. Two abdominal computed tomography -scans were performed and none suggested this diagnosis. Angiosarcoma is a very aggressive tumour with an adverse prognosis. Surgery is the only curative treatment available. However, it is rarely feasible due to unresectable disease or distant metastasis.

Abstract Active video games (exergames) may provide short-term increase in energy expenditure. We explored the effects of gender and prior experience on aerobic and anaerobic energy systems contributions, and the activity profiles of 40 participants playing with a swimming exergame. We recorded oxygen consumption and assessed blood lactate after each swimming technique. We also filmed participants’ gameplays, divided them into different phases and tagged them as active or inactive. Anaerobic pathway accounted for 8.9 ± 5.6% of total energy expenditure and although experienced players were less active compared to novice counterparts (η²

Introduction: The prevalence of dementia has been increasing in recent years in parallel with an ageing population. Today it is a common pathology in primary care level. Objectives: To review the family physician’s role in diagnosing and following up on patients with dementia. Methods: Theoretical review based on researching clinical guidelines, systematic and original articles published in English and Portuguese in PubMed, Clinical Key, UpToDate, the Index of Portuguese Journals from January 2006 to September 2016 using the MeSH terms: “Dementia,” “Primary Health Care,” “Primary Care Nursing” and “Primary Care Physician.” Results: When dementia is suspected, it is important to resort to family members and/or caregivers’ cooperation, to conduct a thorough medical history of the patient, focusing on behavioural and cognitive symptoms and changes in daily activities. Subsequently, an objective examination should be carried out and an array of cognitive, psycho-affective and functional assessment tests applied. Finally, an analytical and imaging evaluation should be performed. Equally important is the role of the family physician in the patient’s subsequent treatment/guidance and support to families and caregivers in care management. Conclusions: The family physician is in a prime position for early detection of dementia. Clinical diagnosis is essential and is not always easy at an early stage. The role of doctors and other professionals in primary health care should not be limited to the initial assessment, but should extend to following up on and guiding the sick and their respective families.

Introduction: Peripheral artery aneurysms are a rare manifestation of Kawasaki disease (KD), with an estimated incidence of approximately 2% of all KD patients. The case of a 14-year-old girl with past clinical history suggestive of KD is reported; she presented with an aneurysm located in the brachial part of a superficial brachioulnoradial artery, still with the genuine brachial artery in place (an anatomical variation with a reported incidence of 0.14–1.3% in general population). Relevant medical data were collected from the hospital database. Report: This is a report of a case of a symptomatic superficial brachioulnoradial artery aneurysm, secondary to KD, treated with aneurysm exclusion and superficial brachioulnoradial to the genuine brachial artery transposition. Uneventful intra- and postoperative course with symptom resolution is reported. Discussion: The coexistence of a rare manifestation of KD (peripheral aneurysm) with an even rarer brachial artery variation allowed a simple but elegant solution, making this a unique case. Keywords: Kawasaki disease, Brachial artery aneurysm, Superficial brachioulnoradial artery, Brachial–antebrachial arterial pattern variations

Introduction: Type B aortic intramural hematoma (B-IMH) has a complex and variable natural history: it can remain stable and resolve spontaneously or progress to dissection, aneurysm, ulcer or even rupture. The possibility of disease progression, frequently with mild or no symptomatology, poses a significant treatment dilemma. Clinical Case: We report a case of a 60 year-old-female diagnosed with an acute B-IMH, initially treated medically. However, 1-month control CTA revealed disease progression (increased B-IMH thickness and evolution to an ulcer-like-projection with 20 mm diameter and 11 mm depth). She was submitted to a left carotid-subclavian bypass followed by TEVAR and left-subclavian ostial embolization. During follow-up (5 months) patient remain asymptomatic, demonstrating favorable aortic remodeling. Conclusion: Type B-IMH is a dynamic pathology. From presentation to late follow-up, patients remain at high risk for abrupt catastrophic complications. As reported, TEVAR seems to be a safe and effective approach in the event of unfavorable evolution.

Research has revealed how inherent self-organizing tendencies in athletes and sports teams can be exploited to facilitate emergence of dynamical patterns in synergy formation in sports teams. Here, we discuss how game models, and associated tactical principles of play, may be implemented to constrain co-existing global-to-local and local-to-global self-organization tendencies in team sports players during training and performance. Understanding how to harness the continuous interplay between these co-existing, bi-directional, and coordination tendencies is key to shaping system behaviors in sports training. Training programs are traditionally dominated by designs, which shape the self-organizing tendencies of players and teams at a global-to-local scale by coaches imposing a tactical/strategical plan with associated tactical principles of play. Nevertheless, recent research suggests that performers also need to be provided with opportunities to explore self-organizing tendencies that emerge at the local-to-global scale in training. This directional tendency in synergy formation can be facilitated by players being given opportunities to actively explore different adaptive and innovative performance solutions, coherent with principles of play circumscribed in an overarching game model. Developing methods (coaching sessions rooted on principles of dynamical systems theory that foment the development of such local-to-global relations) to exploit the continuous interplay between these co-existing tendencies within sports teams may promote more effective and efficient athlete skill training programs, in addition to enhancing performance.

Introduction: Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a self-limited, unknown-cause febrile vasculitis that predominantly addresses medium-sized arteries and most patients are under 5-years-old. In addition to life-threatening coronary artery involvement, aneurysms may develop in almost any medium-sized vessel, however systemic artery aneurysms (SAA) are described in only 2% of cases. The objective of this study was to identify cases of KD associated SAA and to analyze their frequency, anatomical distribution, treatment and outcomes. Methods: systematic literature review, performed using MEDLINE database. Results: Literature review retrieved a total of 9 reports corresponding to 38 patients and a total of 134 KD-SAA. The most affected arteries were the brachial artery (29.8%), the internal iliac artery (18,6%), the common iliac artery (16,4%) and the subclavian artery (11,2%) with bilateral involvement being a common feature. History of concomitant coronary involvement was present in almost every patients. Only 5 SAA (3,7%) required intervention. Medical therapy was associated with SAA regression in approximately half of the patients, with better results when initiated promptly after diagnosis. Worst outcomes were found in younger patients, showing higher rates of morbimortality. The underlying coronary sequelae dictated the prognosis. Conclusions: Considering their rarity, only multicenter collaboration and literature research can provide more insight about KD-SAA treatment and outcomes, defining the potential role of KD as a primary cause of late vascular lesion. Late presentation KD-SAA may present some diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in view of a more likely need for intervention once the benefit of medical treatment has been outweighed.

Introduction: Acute inpatient services continue to be key components in psychiatric care for patients in crisis. In an economic crisis context, investment in Psychiatry is scarce and limited. Thus, optimizing hospital resources is much needed, allowing patients to receive the best treatment available and not remain in the hospital after resolution of the acute episode. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of creating an Inpatient Team (IT), according to the most frequently used variables in published studies (length of stay and readmission rates). Methods: Analysis of hospitalization records during two periods (P1 and P2), before and after IT’s creation. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 20.0). Results: A statistically significant difference was confirmed in mean length of stay between the two periods, with a 21.47% reduction in P2 compared to P1. The difference in readmission rates was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the creation of an IT was associated with a decrease in the duration of hospitalization, confirming the importance of the optimization of human resources, particularly when these are scarce, aiming to improve the quality of inpatient care.

The present study aimed to investigate how team’s tactical behavior varies within and between age categories in different Small-Sided and Conditioned Games’ configurations and conditions. Twenty non-elite youth male soccer players (U15, n = 10, mean age = 13.5 ± 1.2 years; U17, n = 10, mean age = 16.3 ± 0.5 years) were selected. Thirty-six Small-Sided and Conditioned Games (SSCG) were played in both categories, namely three Representative SSCG (R-SSCG), three Maintaining Ball Possession Games (MBPG) and three Progression to Target Games (PTG) performed for each configuration (Gk+3vs3+Gk and Gk+4vs4+Gk). Teams’ tactical behavior was analyzed based on simple and composite performance indicators, as well as through Lag Sequential Analysis. Rules manipulation and SSCG configurations influenced teams’ tactical behavior on both categories, but in different ways. Teams composed by younger players presented greater difficulties in MBPG played in smaller games configuration, while Gk+4vs4+Gk configuration can be used to enhance teams’ tactical performance of younger players in R-SSCG and MBPG conditions. Moreover, increasing rules manipulations appeared to negatively impact on teams’ exploratory behavior. Therefore, practitioners should carefully manipulate key constraints to adapt task demands to players’ age category and training session’s goals in order to enhance tactical performance.

Introduction: Currently, the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in Portugal is 13,3% in adult population. Patients with DM have a 15-25% lifetime risk of developing a foot ulcer. Additionally, diabetic angiopathy is a unique vascular disease that has predilection for below-the-knee arteries. Meanwhile, endovascular techniques have been revolutionizing the revascularization of neuroischemic diabetic foot (NIDF) patients, showing consistently higher limb salvage rates. The survival of NIDF patients reaches 50% at 5 years after revascularization and limb salvage, but decreases to 50% at 2 years after a major amputation. With this study, the authors intend to describe their experience on endovascular revascularization for the treatment of NIDF patients. Methods: Retrospective institutional review of consecutive patients requiring endodistal revascularization (January 2010 - December 2017) - 464 limbs in 326 patients. We evaluated demographics and co-morbidities data and performed statistic analysis to determine factors and outcomes as limb salvage, major and minor amputation rates. The primary outcome was to evaluate the technical success, the limb salvage, the rate of major and minor amputation and the global survival of this population. The secondary outcomes were to characterize the population, the endovascular procedures performed and the evolution over the last years. Operative reports were reviewed to analyze the endovascular procedures and techniques. Results and conclusions: The technical success was achieved in 85% of the procedures. The iliac sector was only treated in 0,7% of the procedures and femoro-popliteal sector in 63,2%. Antegrade femoral approach, was obtained in 91, 3% of the procedures. A complementary retrograde distal approach was performed in 7,6% of procedures. Direct angiossomic revascularization was obtained in 60,9% of the cases. In the femoral and popliteal arteries, PTA was performed in 56,3% of the procedures and recanalization, PTA and stenting in 42,4%. During FU, 14,1% of patients was submitted to major amputation and 36,4% to minor amputation. The major amputation free-survival rate was 80,1% at 12 mo and the rate of healing at 12 mo was 63,2%. The 12 mo global survival was 79,8%. Direct angiossomic revascularization (p=0,014) and the number of tibial arteries recanalized (p=0,01) were both associated with a higher limb salvage rate and a faster healing of the ulcer. In the opposite side, there was an association between the increasing of renal dysfunction and poor healing (p=0,04). The endovascular reintervention rate was 20,4%. The results of the author’s study on endodistal revascularization, highlights the need to prioritize investigation and revascularization in NIDF patients to improve the outcome of foot ulcer, giving the possibility of salvaging a greater number of limbs.

Introduction: Unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been used for decades to prevent thrombotic events during vascular surgery. Although it is known that UFH has a complex and nonlinear pharmacokinetics, with great individual variability, anticoagulation monitorization in vascular surgery is not routine and a standard empirical dose is often used. Activated clotting time (ACT) has been shown to be a simple, reliable and inexpensive way to monitor UFH anticoagulant effect, being routinely used during cardiac surgery. However, heparinisation remains a dilemma in vascular surgery and few studies emphasized the role of anticoagulation monitoring in this setting. Objectives: To investigate whether a fixed heparin dose of 5000 IU in arterial vascular surgery results in adequate and homogeneous heparinisation in all patients. Secondary endpoints: to identify preoperative factors for heparin response, intraoperative events and outcomes. Methods: This observational prospective pilot study included 30 consecutive patients undergoing arterial vascular surgery. ACT monitoring was performed before clamping and at 3, 30 and 60 minutes after 5000 IU UFH bolus. Preoperative and intraoperative data were also accessed. A target ACT of ≥ 200 s was set, taking in account of the lowest ACT value admitted by vascular surgery recommendations. Results: The average ACT value increased to 210.20 ± 28.82 s (1.61 ± 0.25 times vs baseline) 3 minutes after bolus, then declined to 191.60 ± 21.86 s and 173.4 ± 21.37 s after 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. Three minutes after UFH bolus, 53% patients had ACT ≥ 200 s, decreasing to one third and 7% at 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. Even when weight-based, a correlation between heparin dose per kilogram and ACT change was not found (r = 0.187; p = 0.322). There was also no correlation between ACT values and preoperative hemoglobin, platelet count, creatinine clearance or INR. There was a positive correlation between preoperative aPTT and intraoperative ACT measurements (r = 0.432; p = 0.017). There was no difference between ACT values and previous antithrombotic/anticoagulant therapy and between intraoperative ACT and intraoperative blood loss. Conclusions: This study confirms that administrating a fixed or even a weight-based heparinisation is insufficient to provide consistent anticoagulation levels in all patients. Perioperative anticoagulation should be monitored and ACT-based. Larger clinical RCT's are warranted.

In the design of adhesive structures, it is extremely important to accurately predict their strength and fracture properties (critical strain energy release rate in tension, GIC, and shear, GIIC). In most cases, the loads occur in mixed-mode (tension plus shear). Thus, it is of great importance the perception of fracture in these conditions, namely of the strain energy release rates in tension, GI, and shear, GII, relative to different crack propagation criteria or fracture envelopes. This comparison allows to determine the most suitable energetic propagation criterion to be used in cohesive zone models (CZM). The main objective of this work is to verify, by CZM, which is the power parameter (a) that best suits the energetic crack propagation criterion for CZM modelling, using single-lap joints (SLJ) and double-lap joints (DLJ) with aluminium adherends and bonded with three different adhesives. With this purpose, numerical simulations of the SLJ and DLJ are carried out, and the maximum load (Pm) is compared with experiments. For the Araldite® AV138 and Araldite® 2015, the energetic criterion resulting from the experimental work provided matching numerical results and, thus, the fracture envelopes were validated. The Sikaforce® 7752 results were slightly offset due to CZM law shape issues.

Throughout the 20th century, several thinkers noticed that Technology was becoming a global phenomenon. More recently, US geologist Peter Haff claimed that a Technosphere is now in place and can be conceived as a new Earth geological system. This unprecedented situation is creating enormous challenges not only for our species, since more and more of its members are now dependent on the subsistence of this man-made sphere, but also for other species and natural ecosystems that have become increasingly dependent on it. Perhaps the most crucial of these challenges is the sustainability of the Technosphere itself. In the first part of the article, I attempted a critical reconstruction of Haff’s Technosphere concept. The second part is dedicated to analyzing how the unsustainability of the Technosphere represents a global catastrophic risk and ultimately an existential risk.

The use of the welding process on an industrial scale has become significant over the years and is currently among the main processes for joining metallic materials. Along the weld, structural changes occur in the vicinity of the joint. These thermal stresses and geometric distortions are mostly undesirable and are complex to predict with precision. Using S235JR steel as the base material, laboratory experiments were carried out using the multipass GMAW process, with the aim of investigating the influence of the welding direction on angular distortion. To measure the distortions, a methodology was applied using equipment to identify the coordinates in the operational space with metrological precision. Through metrological and statistical analyses, we found that the orientation factor significantly influenced the final distortions and that the alternated orientation sequence resulted in less distortions.

Planning is paramount in sport. Among different philosophical approaches to planning, periodization is a highly popular concept that refers to structured training periods with ensuing programs encompassing moments of progressively-loaded training, followed by recovery; it is normally deemed paramount to optimize adaptations and performance. While planning provides generic guidelines, periodization refers to the sequencing/ordering of training periods to enforce a given plan, therefore referring to longer temporal scales, and programming refers to more micro-scale aspects. In fact, similar periodization schemes may implement distinct programming strategies. Literature on the topic has used the linear and nonlinear terms to describe the content of periodized programs. However, these concepts have not been clearly defined in the literature, which may lead to inaccurate and misleading interpretations. Moreover, nonlinear periodization is usually using nonlinear programming, but with pre-stipulated sequencing of the training periods. Finally, it can be argued that nonlinearity has been an integral part of periodization since its inception, at least theoretically. In this essay, the literature was critically reviewed to better understand the validity of the linearity and nonlinearity concepts as applied in currently proposed periodization models. In addition, a novel approach for a de facto nonlinear periodization is presented.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) evaluation commonly requires immunohistochemistry (IHC) tests on breast cancer tissue, in addition to the standard haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining tests. Additional costs and time spent on further testing might be avoided if HER2 overexpression could be effectively inferred from H&E stained slides, as a preliminary indication of the IHC result. In this paper, we propose the first method that aims to achieve this goal. The proposed method is based on multiple instance learning (MIL), using a convolutional neural network (CNN) that separately processes H&E stained slide tiles and outputs an IHC label. This CNN is pretrained on IHC stained slide tiles but does not use these data during inference/testing. H&E tiles are extracted from invasive tumour areas segmented with the HASHI algorithm. The individual tile labels are then combined to obtain a single label for the whole slide. The network was trained on slides from the HER2 Scoring Contest dataset (HER2SC) and tested on two disjoint subsets of slides from the HER2SC database and the TCGA-TCIA-BRCA (BRCA) collection. The proposed method attained 83.3 % classification accuracy on the HER2SC test set and 53.8 % on the BRCA test set. Although further efforts should be devoted to achieving improved performance, the obtained results are promising, suggesting that it is possible to perform HER2 overexpression classification on H&E stained tissue slides.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is one of the most popular elastomers and has been used in different fields, especially in biomechanics research. Among the many interesting features of this material, its hyperelastic behavior stands out, which allows the use of PDMS in various applications, like the ones that mimic soft tissues. However, the hyperelastic behavior is not linear and needs detailed analysis, especially the characterization of shear strain. In this work, two approaches, numerical and experimental, were proposed to characterize the effect of shear strain on PDMS. The experimental method was implemented as a simple shear testing associated with 3D digital image correlation and was made using two specimens with two thicknesses of PDMS (2 and 4 mm). A finite element software was used to implement the numerical simulations, in which four different simulations using the Mooney–Rivlin, Yeoh, Gent, and polynomial hyperelastic constitutive models were performed. These approaches showed that the maximum value of shear strain occurred in the central region of the PDMS, and higher values emerged for the 2 mm PDMS thickness. Qualitatively, in the central area of the specimen, the numerical and experimental results have similar behaviors and the values of shear strain are close. For higher values of displacement and thicknesses, the numerical simulation results move further away from experimental values.

The centralization of purchases has been increasingly a strategic trend, particularly in the health sector. In Portugal, the SPMS, Serviços Partilhados do Ministério da Saúde, E.P.E., was established in 2010 as a central purchasing entity for the health sector. Centralized purchasing can bring advantages, such as increasing the efficiency of the purchasing process, but also disadvantages, such as the possibility of oligopoly by suppliers, generated by imperfect competition, and a diminished response to the most decentralized units. This theme was the subject of a reflection meeting, which aimed to promote a debate on the national framework aspects of this process, challenges of implementation for hospital medicines and suggestions for improvement of this process. The main ideas generated for a successful centralized purchasing indicate that the central purchasing entity should be dynamic and facilitator, should ensuring equity, safety, accessibility and quality of drugs. There should be better planning and rigorous procurement of drugs, and an integrated information system that allows sharing and networking among the central purchasing and the various health institutions, fostering a proximity policy, should be created. Professionals should be trained in the necessary technical procedures for the completion of the acquisition of drugs, and hospital pharmacists should be included as consultants in the development of specific procedures of centralized procurement, according to the hospital’s needs. Finally, this entire process must be followed by constant monitoring through an annual assessment of the economic and financial feasibility. The benefits of the activity performed annually should adequately quantify the quality and efficiency gains that demonstrate the financial impact achieved in scope of the reduction of expense in the National Health Service.

The paper discusses the North Sea – Mediterranean corridor, part of the Trans-European transport network. A brief discussion on the aspects of multimodality and the possible modes of transport involved in transporting inland freight is presented followed by an introduction to main IT systems that can be implemented to increase the efficiency of freight transport. Presented also is a description on the envisaged investments in freight corridors in Europe. An assessment of information flows is also offered. The study concludes that the concept of a freight corridor should be extended to a network in order for more global benefits to be experienced.

O presente estudo investigou a influência de plateia sobre o desempenho sensoriomotor na aprendizagem do arremesso de dardo de salão. O experimento foi conduzido em dois dias distintos, cada um com uma condição específica: 1) com plateia (10 tentativas); 2) sem plateia (10 tentativas). Os 18 universitários de menor e maior desempenho foram divididos em dois grupos: prejudicado (GP) e beneficiado (GB). Nas análises de desempenho e escores de ansiedade-estado (IDATE), a ANOVA two way e pairwise identificaram interação entre grupo e condição, sendo GP com pior desempenho e maior IDATE e GB com melhor desempenho e sem alteração no IDATE na condição com plateia. Já na frequência cardíaca, não houve interação, porém efeito principal para o fator condição para ambos os grupos. Pode-se inferir que, a plateia influencia no desempenho sensoriomotor podendo ocorrer piora ou melhora a depender de características individuais.

A centralização das compras tem vindo a ser cada vez mais uma tendência estratégica, nomeadamente no setor da saúde. Em Portugal, a SPMS, Serviços Partilhados do Ministério da Saúde, E.P.E., foi constituída em 2010 como uma central de compras para o setor da saúde. As compras centralizadas podem trazer vantagens, como o aumento da eficiência do processo de compras, mas também desvantagens, como a possibilidade de oligopólio por parte dos fornecedores, gerada pela concorrência imperfeita, e uma resposta mais demorada às unidades mais descentralizadas. Este tema foi objeto de uma reunião de reflexão, que teve como principal objetivo promover um debate sobre aspetos do enquadramento nacional deste processo, desafios da sua implementação, no que respeita aos medicamentos hospitalares, e sugestões de melhoria deste processo. As principais ideias geradas para o sucesso das compras centralizadas indicam que a central de compras deve ser facilitadora e dinâmica e garantir a equidade, segurança, acessibilidade e qualidade dos medicamentos. Deve existir um melhor planeamento e rigor na aquisição dos medicamentos e deve ser criado um sistema de informação integrado que permita a partilha e a comunicação em rede entre a central de compras e as diversas instituições de saúde, fomentando uma política de proximidade. Os profissionais devem ser formados nos procedimentos técnicos necessários para a realização da aquisição dos medicamentos e os farmacêuticos hospitalares devem ser incluídos como consultores no desenvolvimento de alguns procedimentos de aquisição centralizada, em função das necessidades das unidades hospitalares. Por fim, todo este processo deve ser acompanhado de uma constante monitorização, através de uma avaliação anual sobre a racionalidade económico-financeira e vantagens da atividade desenvolvida na perspetiva dos ganhos de qualidade e eficiência, devidamente quantificados e que demonstrem o impacto financeiro alcançado no âmbito da redução da despesa no Serviço Nacional de Saúde.

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar as dificuldades e rumos da criação de um Estado palestino e seus impactos para a consolidação da paz no oriente médio.

Many naturally occurring xanthones are chiral and present a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities. Some of them have been exhaustively studied and subsequently, obtained by synthesis. In order to obtain libraries of compounds for structure activity relationship (SAR) studies as well as to improve the biological activity, new bioactive analogues and derivatives inspired in natural prototypes were synthetized. Bioactive natural xanthones compromise a large structural multiplicity of compounds, including a diversity of chiral derivatives. Thus, recently an exponential interest in synthetic chiral derivatives of xanthones (CDXs) has been witnessed. The synthetic methodologies can afford structures that otherwise could not be reached within the natural products for biological activity and SAR studies. Another reason that justifies this trend is that both enantiomers can be obtained by using appropriate synthetic pathways, allowing the possibility to perform enantioselectivity studies. In this work, a literature review of synthetic CDXs is presented. The structures, the approaches used for their synthesis and the biological activities are described, emphasizing the enantioselectivity studies.

Xanthones represent a structurally diverse group of compounds with a broad range of biological and pharmacological activities, depending on the nature and position of various substituents in the dibenzo-γ-pyrone scaffold. Among the large number of natural and synthetic xanthone derivatives, carboxyxanthones are very interesting bioactive compounds as well as important chemical substrates for molecular modifications to obtain new derivatives. A remarkable example is 5,6-dimethylxanthone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA), a simple carboxyxanthone derivative, originally developed as an anti-tumor agent and the first of its class to enter phase III clinical trials. From DMXAA new bioactive analogues and derivatives were also described. In this review, a literature survey covering the report on carboxyxanthone derivatives is presented, emphasizing their biological activities as well as their application as suitable building blocks to obtain new bioactive derivatives. The data assembled in this review intends to highlight the therapeutic potential of carboxyxanthone derivatives and guide the design for new bioactive xanthone derivatives.

A liderança constitui um dos temas mais comuns no estudo das organizações em geral, ainda que esta prevalência não tenha atingido o mesmo protagonismo no caso das organizações educativas, de modo particular em alguns contextos geográficos. Não obstante assumirmos neste artigo que as escolas manifestam especificidades relativamente a outras organizações, também reconhecemos que os estudos situados no domínio educacional não podem ficar imunes às contribuições de outras áreas. É neste sentido que invocamos aqui o modelo da Direcção por Valores enquanto proposta que, rompendo como as vertentes mais técnico-instrumentais das teorias tradicionais da gestão, poderá contribuir para uma reflexão compartilhada com a liderança das organizações educativas, de modo especial tendo em conta a conceptualização da liderança como diálogo sobre valores.El liderazgo es uno de los temas más comunes en el estudio de las organizaciones en general, a pesar de esta prevalencia no ha alcanzado el mismo protagonismo en el caso de las organizaciones educativas, en particular en algunos contextos geográficos. Aunque asumamos en este artículo que las escuelas manifiestan especificidades en relación a otras organizaciones, también reconocemos que los estudios desarrollados en el ámbito educativo no pueden permanecer inmunes a las contribuciones de otras áreas. Es por esta razón que referimos aquí el modelo de la Dirección por Valores como propuesta que, rompiendo con las vertientes más técnico-instrumentales de las teorías tradicionales de la gestión, podrá contribuir para una reflexión compartida con el liderazgo de las organizaciones educativas, especialmente teniendo en cuenta la conceptualización de liderazgo como diálogo sobre valores.Leadership is one of the most common themes in the study of organisations in general, although this prevalence has not reached the same importance in educational organisations, particularly in some geographical contexts. Even though we assume in this article that schools have got some specificities in relation to other organizations, we also recognize that the studies in the education field cannot remain immune to the contributions of other areas. Due to this reason we refer here to the model of Management by Values as a proposal that by breaking away from the more technical-instrumental branches of traditional theories of management, could contribute to a shared reflection with the leadership of educational organisations, specially taking into account the conceptualisation of leadership as a dialogue on values.

Desenvolveu-se, este trabalho, em condições de campo na Estação Experimental da Embrapa/ Agroindústria Tropical, em Pacajus - CE, no período de setembro a dezembro de 2000, objetivando caracterizar a produtividade e a qualidade dos frutos de nove híbridos de melão amarelo, nas condições do litoral leste do Estado do Ceará. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com nove tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos dos híbridos comerciais de melão amarelo descritos a seguir: Gold Pride, Gold Star, TSX 32096, Yellow Queen, PX 4910606, AF 682, XPH 13021, AF 646 e Gold Mine. Avaliou-se produção total, massa média de frutos na primeira colheita, sólidos solúveis (SS), resistência de polpa e classificação dos frutos. Para todas as variáveis analisadas observaram-se diferenças significativas entre os híbridos, com exceção do teor de SS. Os híbridos Gold Pride, Gold Star, XPH 13021 e Gold Mine apresentaram maiores produtividades, com média de 32 t/ha. O Gold Mine apresentou maior massa média de fruto (1,5 kg), diferindo significativamente dos híbridos Gold Pride (1,14 kg), AF 646 (1,02 kg), AF 682 (1,09 kg) e PX 4910606 (1,11 kg), que apresentaram os menores valores médios. Os frutos dos híbridos Gold Mine, TSX 32096, PX 4910606, XPH 13021 e AF 682 apresentaram os maiores valores de SS e resistência de polpa, enquanto, o Yellow Queen e o AF 646 apresentaram os menores valores. Os híbridos Gold Mine, Gold Star, XPH 13021 e Gold Pride destacaram-se pelas maiores produtividades de frutos comercializáveis.In order to evaluate fruit yield and quality of yellow melon, an assay was carried out at EMBRAPA/ Tropical Agroindustry Research Station, in Pacajus-CE, in the period from September to December, 2000. Nine melon hybrids were screened under field conditions at the east coast of Ceará State. The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design with nine treatments and five replicates. The treatments were comprised of the following commercial hybrids: Gold Pride, Gold Star, TSX 32096, Yellow Queen, PX 4910606, AF 682, XPH 13021, AF 646 and Gold Mine. Fruit yield, average fruit weight at the first harvest, total soluble solids (SS) content, pulp firmness and fruit classification were evaluated. Significant differences between hybrids were observed for all the analyzed variables, except for SS content. The hybrids Gold Pride, Gold Star, XPH 13021 and Gold Mine presented the largest yields, 32 t/ha in average. Gold Mine had the largest average fruit weight (1.5 kg), statistically differing from those of Gold Pride (1.14 kg), AF 646 (1.02 kg), AF 682 (1.09 kg) and PX 4910606 (1.11 kg). Regarding to fruit total SS content and pulp firmness, Gold Mine, TSX 32096, PX 4910606, XPH 13021 and AF 682 had the best results, different from the Yellow Queen and AF 646 which showed the lowest values. The hybrids Gold Mine, Gold Star, XPH 13021 and Gold Pride had high marketable yield.

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de fatores de risco (FR) para doença arterial coronariana (DAC) e isquemia miocárdica em uma amostra de diabéticos assintomáticos atendidos ambulatorialmente. MÉTODOS: De 80 diabéticos tipo 2 inicialmente recrutados no ambulatório de endocrinologia do nosso Hospital Universitário, sem sintomas e/ou diagnóstico de DAC, apenas 61 completaram o protocolo da pesquisa, sendo 52,5% do sexo feminino, com uma média de idade de 56,3±10,9anos. Os pacientes foram submetidos a entrevista procurando-se identificar os FR e à realização de eletrocardiograma, ecocardiograma e cintilografia miocárdica perfusional (CMP), em repouso e sob estresse. De acordo com o resultado da CMP, foram distribuídos em dois grupos: um isquêmico e outro normal. RESULTADOS: Os FR identificados foram: sexo masculino (48%), idade > 55 anos (51%), história familiar de doença aterosclerótica precoce (16%), passado de tabagismo (46%), hipertensão arterial (44%), sedentarismo (62%), sobrepeso / obesidade (67%), HDL-colesterol < 45 mg/dl (69%), LDL-colesterol > 100 mg/dl (85%) e triglicérides > 150 mg/dl (54%). A CMP foi positiva para isquemia em 15% dos pacientes. As variáveis associadas a esse diagnóstico foram sexo masculino (p=0,007), HDL baixo (p=0,046), história de tabagismo (p=0,038), hipertrofia ventricular esquerda (HVE) (p=0,043) e fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (FEVE) < 60% (p=0,01). CONCLUSÃO: Observou-se uma alta prevalência de FR associados, bem como uma expressiva prevalência, de 15%, de isquemia miocárdica. Sexo masculino, HDL-colesterol baixo, passado de tabagismo, HVE e FEVE < 60% foram as variáveis identificadas como preditoras do diagnóstico de isquemia miocárdica.OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors (RF) and myocardial ischemia in a sample of asymptomatic diabetic patients treated on an outpatient basis. METHODS: From 80 type 2 diabetic patients initially recruited at an university outpatient endocrinology clinic, with no symptoms and/or CAD diagnosis, only 61 patients completed the study protocol, being 52,5% females, with a mean age of 56.3 ± 10.9 years. The patients were interviewed searching for RF and underwent electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and perfusional myocardial scintigraphy (PMS) at rest and under stress. According to the PMS results they were divided into two groups: an ischemic and a normal one. RESULTS: The RF identified were: male gender (48%), age > 55 years (51%), family history of premature atherosclerotic disease (16%), history of smoking (46%), hypertension (44%), sedentary lifestyle (62%), overweight / obesity (67%), HDL- cholesterol < 45 mg/dl (69%), LDL- cholesterol > 100 mg/dl (85%) and triglycerides > 150 mg/dl (54%). Ischemic MPS were diagnosed in 15% of the patients. The variables associated with this diagnosis were: male gender (p=0.007), low HDL levels (p=0.046), history of smoking (p=0.038), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (p=0.043) and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) < 60% (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of associated RF was observed, as well as a significant prevalence of 15% for myocardial ischemia. The variables identified as predictors of a myocardial ischemia diagnosis were: male gender, low HDL-cholesterol, past smoking, LVH and LVEF < 60%.

Knowledge about genetic parameters and trait control is fundamental for the success of any breeding program.This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters in an interpopulation of cashew using the REML/BLUP methods for vegetativegrowth, yield and nut quality traits. Results showed that plant height, canopy diameter, kernel weight and nut weight are understrong additive genetic control and do not present heterosis. The heritability of nut number and yield were higher in the broadthan in the narrow sense. This indicates dominance and heterosis of these traits that should be adequately exploited in cashewbreeding programs. Therefore, the best-suited breeding strategy to exploit heterosis is reciprocal recurrent selection usingindividual crosses between parents with high mean genotypic performance and high specific combining ability.

O treinamento físico militar e a Educação Física considerações filosóficas.

O ensaio com clones de cajazeira foi avaliado, na chapada do Apodi, em Limoeiro do Norte - CE. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial (cinco copas x dois porta-enxertos), com quatro repetições e quatro plantas por parcela. As copas foram obtidas de plantas adultas produtivas das localidades de Capuan, Caucaia-CE; Curimatã, Pacajus-CE; Gereau e Ladeira Grande, Maranguape-CE e Lagoa Redonda, Fortaleza-CE e os porta-enxertos de sementes de cajazeira e de umbuzeiro. O objetivo foi caracterizar o crescimento vegetativo e a produção de frutos dos clones de cajazeira. Os clones Gereau e Lagoa Redonda foram os mais vigorosos, tiveram as maiores alturas de planta (390 cm) e espessuras de caule (57 cm). O Ladeira Grande foi o menos vigoroso, com altura (220 cm) e espessura de caule (49 cm), diferindo significativamente dos demais. O porta-enxerto de cajazeira formou caule mais espesso que o de umbuzeiro. A razão entre os perímetros de caule (enxerto e porta-enxerto) foi menor que 1,0 no porta-enxerto de cajazeira e maior no de umbuzeiro. O número de frutos por cacho variou de 8 a 76. Algumas plantas dos clones Lagoa Redonda e Gereau sobre umbuzeiro produziram de 100 a 300 cachos de frutos por planta. Os clones formam plantas de porte baixo, vigorosas, com aspectos fenotípicos e morfológicos distintos a cada clone, não alterando o padrão de crescimento do caule principal e do formato de copa; o porta-enxerto de cajazeira forma plantas com troncos mais vigorosos do que os de umbuzeiro; as razões de perímetros de caule, enxerto e porta-enxerto são maiores nas combinações com umbuzeiro, mas sem indícios de incompatibilidade; o porta-enxerto de umbuzeiro aumenta o porte, precocidade e produtividade dos clones, notadamente do Gereau e Lagoa Redonda sendo que o clone Ladeira Grande é o de menor porte.The experiment was established, at the Apodi Plateau; in Limoeiro do Norte County, State of Ceará (Brazil). A randomized block design was used with a factorial 5x2 (5 scions on 2 rootstocks), with 4 replicates and 4 plants per plot. Scions stem from superior plants collected in the counties of Caucaia (Capuan locality), Pacajus (Curimatã locality), Maranguape (Gereau e Ladeira Grande localities) and Fortaleza (Lagoa Redonda locality). Rootstocks were prepared from seeds of S. mombin L. and S. tuberosa Arruda. All scions and rootstocks were collected in Ceará State. The parameters assessed were the vegetative growth and fruit setting. Clones Gereau and Lagoa Redonda were the most vigorous, higher (3.9 m) and with bigger stem girth (57 cm). Ladeira Grande showed the poorest peformance in hight (2.2 m) and stem girth (49 cm) and, being statistically different from the others. As far as the root-stocks are concerned those from S. mombim were superior to S. tuberosa. The stem girth ratio was less than 1.0 for S. mombin rootstocks and higher than 1.0 for S. tuberosa rootstocks. The number of fruits per bunch of studied clones presented values of raged from 8 to 76. Some plants of Lagoa Redonda and Gereau clones on S. tuberosa yielded from 100 to 300 bunches. Final results confirmed that scions of S. mombin grafted on rootstocks of S. mombin and S. tuberosa produced combinations with the following characterists: vigorous clones with distinct phenotypic and morphological features such as low hight, uniform canopies and standardized main stem growth; S. mombin rootstocks allowed the formation of plants with more vigorous stems compared with rootstocks of S. tuberosa; the stem girth, graft and rootstock ratios were higher for combinations on S. tuberosa, but without indications of grafting incompatibility; the rootstock of S. tuberosa increase plant hight, productive and precocious of clones Gereau e Lagoa Redonda, and clone Ladeira Grande showed the lowest hight.

Esse trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a heterose no cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale L.) anão precoce. O experimento foi composto por seis clones parentais (CCP 06, CCP 09, CCP 76, CCP 1001, C1P3 e P399E) e 18 combinações híbridas. Utilizou-se delineamento de blocos casualizados, com duas repetições e cinco plantas por parcela. A heterose média foi de 12,09%, 19,38%, 98,01%, 96,97% e -2,11%, respectivamente, para altura da planta, diâmetro da copa, número de castanha por planta, produtividade de castanha e peso médio de castanha, indicando presença de vigor híbrido nos cruzamentos, para todos os caracteres, exceto para peso médio de castanha, demonstrando a importância de sua exploração, com perspectivas de avanços genéticos sobre caracteres da cultura do caju. A conseqüência seria a obtenção de clones comerciais com características de produção desejáveis e a formação de populações-base para o programa de melhoramento populacional. Os híbridos CCP 06 x C1P3, CCP 09 x P399E e CCP 09 x CCP 06 são os mais promissores.The objective of this work was to evaluate the heterosis in dwarf cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.). The experiment had six parent clones (CCP 06, CCP 09, CCP 76, CCP 1001, C1P3, and P399E) and 18 hybrid plants. A randomized complete block experimental design with two replications and five plants per plot was used. The average heterosis was 12%, 19%, 98%, 97%, and -2%, for the parent clones, based on the traits plant height, canopy diameter, number of nuts per plant, nut yield, and nut weight. It should be pointed out the presence of hybrid vigor in all crosses for all traits, except nut weight. This stresses the importance of hybrid vigor exploration, with perspectives of significant genetic improvement of the cashew culture, by obtaining superior commercial clones and establishing base-populations for the population breeding program. The hybrid combinations CCP 06 x C1P3, CCP 09 x P399E, and CCP 09 x CCP 06 are the most promising.