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Arthrospira platensis is a microorganism that is produced worldwide. Its industrial cultivation requires a large quantity of alkaline medium with high salinity that could pollute the environment if discharged with no further treatment. The combined effects of the physicochemical processes of flocculation and adsorption were applied to reuse the spent modified Schlösser medium for seven days of A. platensis fed-batch cultivation using urea as nitrogen source. Different concentrations of both powdered activated carbon and ferric chloride were evaluated at different contact times to remove organic matter and pigments from the spent medium. The efficiency of the process was measured by evaluating the removal of both organic matter and pigments. The best conditions of treatment that maximized the cell growth were 24.4 mg L − 1 powdered activated carbon, 20.3 mg L − 1 ferric chloride and 30.4 min of contact time. Under such conditions, organic matter removal was 92.3 ± 0.6%, pigment removal was 95.3 ± 0.6% and the maximum cell concentration was (4.89 ± 0.03) × 10 3 mg L − 1 , approximately 135% higher than in the standard medium [(2.09 ± 0.05) × 10 3 mg L − 1 ]. This biomass had 36.1 ± 0.6% protein content, which was also higher than those values obtained in the standard medium (25.8 ± 0.9%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chronological limits of this work are defined by the publication of the Law of Electrification of the Country, in December 1944 and by the establishment of the company EDP - Electricidade de Portugal, in June 1976, after the nationalization of the electricity sector, in the previous year. That legal statute defined the basis of electrification in almost all aspects, the definition of the national electrical network concept; the rules for transportation and large energy distribution; rules for the concessions' operations the establishment of production centrals, lines of transportation and large and small distribution; the definition of the various price systems and subsystems, and the conditions according to which private initiatives might relate to the public networks of energy distribution. In the definition of the concept of national electrical network was implied a new understanding of what the State role should be in the sector; until then its action was confined to the production of legislation and supervision of various production systems and the establishment of networks; with this legal statute the State will establish the conditions to an increased involvement, assuming, in the future, the leadership of the energy production and distribution. To assume this role, the State will establish partnerships with the major electric companies in the country, invest on the constitution of power companies with mixed capital, for the construction of large hydroelectric and thermo producers that profited from national resources and for the establishment of a national transportation system, connecting the production and consumption centers. The State involvement, divided by shareholdings in five companies, which were the largest companies in the sector, originated an extraordinary increase of all important indicators in the sector until the mid-1970s, while areas linked to its development established conditions for national and international assertion. On this point, it is worth mentioning the engineers, who projected and executed major projects, the companies which provided materials, an area in which they will also position themselves as significant producers and suppliers, and major construction companies in the country that will assert themselves, in Portugal and abroad, largely by the experience gained in these business ventures. In the late 1960s, the State will take another step the definition of a model able to carry out the implementation of the electrification of the country, sponsoring the merger of all companies in the sector in which the State was a shareholder and creating, instead of those, a new one - the Companhia Portuguesa de Electricidade (CPE); through it the State had now a direct control over the largest production centers in the country, along with the transport network, now integrated into a single entity. Other ways in which the State action was decisive was the massive investment made in this sector, within the framework of the development plans (Planos de Fomento), both directly and through agencies and entities over which it had authority, specifically the social security institutions, the Banco de Fomento Nacional and the Caixa Geral de Depósitos, and even the reimbursements (comparticipações) an instrument through which the State supported the initiatives of small distribution. Moreover, the State was stipulating "decreasing scale tariffs", imposing a new tariff model to retailers who it supplied in high voltage, promoting gradual tariff harmonization. Around 1970, and as a consequence of these options, electricity production was concentrated in a company that represented more than 90% of the energy produced in Portugal at that time, besides being the owner of almost all the transport network for high voltage. At the same time a decrease in the number of dealers was observed through redemption, refusal of time extension of the concessions, or the concentration of these concessions in the Municipalities Federations (Federações de Municípios), with a particular focus on the northern and central interior of the country and in the south. At the same time the regional distribution to industrial customers and some concessions, were still in charge of larger companies and larger concession areas. But these companies depended entirely of the State policy for the sector, as the CPE, that supplied them, determined energy prices and tariff systems, allowing them a very circumscribed role, disguised through shareholdings in the CPE, which the State encouraged by giving them an apparent importance in the sector, which they no longer had. That appearance ended with the nationalization of the largest producers and distributors of electricity in the country, in April 1975 and the subsequent establishment of EDP - Electricidade de Portugal, in June 1976. This measure, along with another decision which determined that the entire national electricity sector - small dealers of production and distribution, Municipalities Federations, Municipal Services, and other agents with responsibilities in this sector -were gradually integrated into EDP, leaving only selfsupply systems appart; through EDP the State would control the entire strategic national electrical sector. If the planned integration of concessions operated by small businesses and the Municipalities Federations was relatively easy, the same didn't happen with the municipal services in many Municipalities, which saw these services as an important source of revenue and power, and resisted to the integration, in some cases, until to the beginning of the 1990s.After nearly three decades of implementing Law2002, all indicators in the electricity sector had incomparably greater values, whether they were on the installed capacity, the electricity production, the consumption per capita or on the exploitation of national resources in electricity generation. The concentration of the electricity sector in EDP, culminates the process of the State intervention, that began to rise in the 1940s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to generate prediction models to estimate the chemical composition of fresh and dry Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã grass using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Chemical analyses of 249 samples were performed to determine oven-dried sample (ODS), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), cellulose (CEL) and total digestible nutrients (TDN). The samples were scanned in an NIRS spectrometer and different percentages were used to compose and develop the models (100% fresh; 100% dry; 25% fresh:75% dry; 50% fresh:50% dry and 75% fresh:25% dry). The purpose of these mixed models is to know if it is possible to obtain reliable predictions from fresh samples in a database that contains dry samples. The calibration models were developed using modified partial least squares (MPLS) and evaluated by statistical parameters, including coefficient of determination (R²) and residual predictive deviation (RPD). The model with 100% dry samples obtained the best results in R² and RPD validations, for CP (0.94; 3.98), NDF (0.92; 3,49) and TDN (0.90; 3.12). The 100% fresh samples produced the best R² results in ODS (0.83), CP (0.85), ADF (0.84) and ADL (0.83). A screening model was validated to predict the characteristics and components of the fresh samples. The model using 100% dry grass was suitable for predicting all the variables, except ODS, DM and CEL.HighlightsPrediction models can be used for assessment of fresh forage, allowing producers to make quicker decisions, thereby saving time and money.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease that is clinically manifested by progressive muscle atrophy, followed by loss of strength, motor coordination and functional impairment. In the final stages of the disease, the patient has severe difficulty in breathing mechanics, due to the involvement of the muscles involved with the mechanics of breathing, including the diaphragm. The present study sought to identify the effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation in MDX mice on the morphology, morphometry and stereology of the striated muscle tissue of the diaphragm of these animals. The results indicate that, despite not influencing the increase in cell volume, supplementation acts in an anti-inflammatory way, reducing the progressive process of fibrosis that occurs in these animals in the face of muscle atrophy followed by the replacement of muscle parenchyma by connective tissue. in this way, supplementation provides a better condition for tissue maintenance, enabling more survival of MDX mice. Monohydrate creatine supplementation has been shown to be a complementary therapeutic alternative, especially for muscular dystrophies and severe myopathies.

Taking into account the worrying scenario of water scarcity, it is essential to enable more efficient technologies for wastewater treatment. Wastewater may be treated by conventional biological processes that remove pathogenic organisms, particulate and soluble organic compounds, and other components. However, secondary effluents from treatment plants may still contain toxic elements or high concentrations of inorganic nutrients (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus), which enable the growth of photosynthetic microorganisms in water bodies, resulting in eutrophication. In this context, cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms in secondary wastewater from sewage treatment allows the removal of nutrients from such wastewater, reducing the possibility of eutrophication. Moreover, microalgal biomass, produced in this tertiary wastewater treatment, may be harvested by different methods with the potential for different applications, such as fertilizer and biofuel.

This review aimed to present Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as an alternative for heterologous protein production, especially for biopharmaceuticals, and its general characteristics when compared with other expression systems. The need to produce heterologous proteins for industrial interest, therapeutic ends, and diagnostic kits has led to the development of recombinant microalgal technology. This technology presents some interesting features, such as rapid growth and low transgene dispersion compared to plants, the ability to fold complex proteins compared to bacteria, and low production costs compared to other expression systems, such as yeast and mammalian cells. Overall, C. reinhardtii heterologous protein expression is coming of age with several research groups focused on developing an optimal producer strain.

Abstract The degree of exposure of fishing communities to environmental changes can be partially determined by the vulnerability of the target species and the landings composition. Hence, identifying the species that ecologically most contribute to the vulnerability of the landings are key steps to evaluate the risk posed by climate change. We analyse the temporal variability in intrinsic sensitivity and the ecological vulnerability of the Portuguese fisheries landings, considering the species proportions derived both from the weights and revenues. To account for the diversification of species of each fleet, we explored the species dependence of the fishery in combination with the vulnerability of them. The analyses were carried out separately for three fleet typologies and three regions. Opposite to what has been observed at a global scale, the ecological sensitivity of the fisheries landings between 1989 and 2015 did not display a decline across areas or fishing fleets. Considering each fleet independently, for trawling, where average vulnerability was lower than in the other fleets, the sensitivity of the landings increased since the 2000s. On the other hand, the high vulnerability found in multi-gear fleets was compensated by diversification of the species caught, while purse-seine fleets targeted low vulnerability species but presented a high fishery dependence on few species. The results highlight the importance of combining information on ecological vulnerability and diversification of fishing resources at a regional scale while providing a measure of the ecological exposure to climate change.

Abstract Background Due to the complexity of ruminant digestion, cannulation of organs of the digestive tract has been carried out in order to advance the understanding of digestive physiology, nutrient degradability, gastrointestinal diseases and biotechnological research. The abomasal cannulation is interesting for nutritional studies, especially in suckling calves, to obtain fluid and abomasal content, evaluation of abomasal flow and function, and infusion of nutrients and drugs when it is intended to reach high concentrations in the organ. Conventionally, access and cannulation of digestive organs of ruminants has been performed by laparotomy, a method often criticized and classified as cruel by some sectors related to ethics and animal welfare. The aim of this present study is to describe and standardize a minimally invasive by laparoscopy assisted abomasal cannulation in bovine fetuses (cadavers), which had been previously slaughtered by accident and would be discarded in local slaughterhouses. Results The abomasal cannulation technique was feasible, simple and did not present major difficulties. The surgical time for cannulation of the abomasum, from the insertion of the trocars to the completion of the technique with fixation of the organ to the abdominal wall, ranged from 9 to 27 min, with an average of 15.5 ± 6.62 min. Conclusions The Laproscopic assisted abomasal cannulation in bovine fetuses was feasible and safe with minimal tissue injury to the abdominal wall and with short surgical time. More studies in the clinical routine related to minimally invasive abomasal content collection, abomasopexy and abomasotomy are required in order to demonstrate its impact and importance in bovine clinic.

Electronic decision-support tools are becoming an essential component of government strategies to tackle non-native species invasions. This study describes the development and application of a multilingual electronic decision-support tool for screening terrestrial animals under current and future climate conditions: the Terrestrial Animal Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (TAS-ISK). As an adaptation of the widely employed Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK), the TAS-ISK question template inherits from the original Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) and related WRA-type toolkits and complies with the ‘minimum requirements’ for use with the recent European Regulation on invasive alien species of concern. The TAS-ISK consists of 49 basic questions on the species’ biogeographical/historical traits and its biological/ecological interactions, and of 6 additional questions to predict how climate change is likely to influence the risks of introduction, establishment, dispersal and impact of the screened species. Following a description of the main features of this decision-support tool as a turnkey software application and of its graphical user interface with support for 32 languages, sample screenings are provided in different risk assessment areas for one representative species of each of the main taxonomic groups of terrestrial animals supported by the toolkit: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, annelids, insects, molluscs, nematodes, and platyhelminths. The highest-scoring species were the red earthworm Lumbricus rubellus for the Aegean region of Turkey and the New Zealand flatworm Arthurdendyus triangulatus for Croatia. It is anticipated that adoption of this toolkit will mirror that of the worldwide employed AS-ISK, hence allowing to share information and inform decisions for the prevention of entry and/or dispersal of (high-risk) non-native terrestrial animal species – a crucial step to implement early-stage control and eradication measures as part of rapid-response strategies to counteract biological invasions.

Cantoneiras enrijecidas de aço formadas a frio podem apresentar três modos críticos de instabilidade. Entretanto, barras em seção composta podem apresentar outros modos de acordo com o tipo, a disposição e a configuração das conexões. Barras compostas em dupla cantoneira com travejamento em quadro são constituídas por duas seções idênticas, dispostas de forma paralela e ligadas, em apenas alguns pontos ao longo do seu comprimento, por chapas separadoras. Apesar de ser um sistema bastante utilizado, não existem especificações nas normas para dimensionamento preciso desse componente estrutural. Posto isso, este trabalho objetivou avaliar a influência da inserção de travejamentos ao longo do comprimento na força normal resistente das barras compostas e verificar se os resultados obtidos estão compatíveis com os das hipóteses adotadas com base nos procedimentos normativos. Para tanto, foi realizada uma análise numérica não linear pelo Método dos Elementos Finitos no software Ansys, utilizando-se seções caracterizadas experimentalmente e disponíveis na literatura. Nesse sentido, observou-se que a adição de chapas separadoras aumentou significativamente a força normal resistente dos elementos, sendo os arranjos com uma ou duas chapas os mais efetivos. Os resultados foram intermediários, considerando as normativas adotadas, e indicaram a necessidade a necessidade de um modelo de cálculo próprio para o arranjo de cantoneiras enrijecidas compostas, ligadas por travejamentos em quadro.

Background The Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a spongiform encephalopathy that manifests as a rapidly progressive dementia syndrome. Currently, CJD has no cure, and many patients die within the first year, but some drugs are being studied as options for managing this condition.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND New therapies have revolutionized the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD), but in some countries, the surgery rate has not changed, the frequency of emergency surgery is underestimated, and surgical risk is poorly studied. AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors and clinical indications for primary surgery in CD patients at the tertiary hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort of a prospectively collected database of 107 patients with CD from 2015 to 2021. The main outcomes were the incidence of surgery treatment, types of procedures performed, surgical recurrence, surgery free time, and risk factors for surgery. RESULTS: Surgical intervention was performed in 54.2% of the patients, and most of the procedures were emergency surgeries (68.9%). The elective procedures (31.1%) were performed over 11 years after diagnosis. The main indications for surgery were ileal stricture (34.5%) and anorectal fistulas (20.7%). The most frequent procedure was enterectomy (24.1%). Recurrence surgery was most common in emergency procedures (OR 2.1; 95%CI 1.6–6.6). Montreal phenotype L1 stricture behavior (RR 1.3; 95%CI 1.0–1.8, p=0.04) and perianal disease (RR 1.43; 95%CI 1.2–1.7) increased the risk of emergency surgeries. The multiple linear regression showed age at diagnosis as a risk factor for surgery (p=0.004). The study of surgery free time showed no difference in the Kaplan-Meier curve for Montreal classification (p=0.73). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for operative intervention were strictures in ileal and jejunal diseases, age at diagnosis, perianal disease, and emergency indications.

Understanding the relationship between environmental temperature and the biological traits of organisms is fundamental to inferring the potential impacts of climate change. In the case of marine poikilotherm species, seawater temperature is one of the main driving forces of biological processes, with consequences at higher levels of organization such as population and ecosystem. In this study, we analysed differences in maximum carapace width (CWmax), size at maturation, relative size at maturation, and duration of the reproductive season for the green crab (Carcinus maenas) along a temperature gradient. An extensive review of bibliographic data was performed on studies published between 1962 and 2020, gathering C. maenas data from 55 different populations, spread over 20 degrees of latitude and 14.2 °C of sea surface temperature (SST). In addition, green crab data were collected at five different lagoons and estuaries along the continental Portuguese coast. The relationship between average SST and CWmax, age of maturation, reduction of size at maturation, and duration of egg bearing was analysed to understand the role of SST in driving variation in these C. maenas characteristics across a latitudinal gradient. There was a significant relationship between SST and CWmax for males and SST and CW of females at maturation, respectively. The results extrapolate for each local projected temperature increase caused by climate change and suggest an effect on the morphometric and reproductive traits of C. maenas across regions. These changes comprise an overall reduction in C. maenas body size, an enlargement of the reproductive season, a shortening in the duration of larval developmental time, and a decrease in the relative size of crabs at maturation. Secondary consequences on the fecundity and connectivity of populations are discussed.

Abstract Background Endosurgery is a surgical subspecialty that has been widely used in production animals, because it enables good visualization of abdominal organs and the diagnosis and treatment of several conditions in a minimally invasive manner, while preserving the animal’s well-being and causing a lower impact on animal production. Rumenostomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in ruminants. This procedure is used to allow access to the rumen for various purposes, especially nutritional and therapeutic studies, and it can be performed either in a conventional way or in a minimally invasive video-assisted manner. Another possibility of access to ruminants is through the rumenoscopy technique. The objective of this study is to describe a minimally invasive technique for rumenostomy using an endoscope, working on a bovine fetal corpse as an experimental model. Results The execution of the endoscopy-guided rumenostomy technique was simple and did not present major difficulties. The endoscope, its lighting and air pump, and the decubitus used provided a good anatomical visualization of the rumen, and it was possible to evaluate several regions of the organ. The mean duration of the procedure was 11.15 min. Conclusions The endoscopic rumenostomy technique using anatomical pieces of calves was shown to be feasible. It was performed in a simple and efficient way, particularly regarding the premise of preserving the animal’s well-being, due to its minimally invasive nature.

Abdominal wall defects in calves are commonly diagnosed and treated via laparotomy. This technique has witnessed several advancements in the management of these disorders. This study aimed to create a study model and evaluate the feasibility of video-assisted percutaneous correction of abdominal wall defects in bovine fetuses (corpses) compared with the conventional technique. Sixteen bovine fetuses from pregnant cows slaughtered in slaughterhouses were included in this study. The fetuses were categorized into the control group (CG, n = 8), which was subjected to umbilical abdominorrhaphy via laparotomy, and the video-surgical group (VG, n = 8), which received video-assisted percutaneous sutures with two lateral accesses on the right flank. An abdominal wall defect was created in the VG group to generate a study model, which was corrected using the laparoscopic technique. The procedures were performed in two steps. The first step consisted of creating an abdominal wall defect in the umbilical region by laparoscopic approach in an iatrogenic manner (Step 1: E1). The second stage consisted of conventional abdominorrhaphy of the umbilical region wall defect in the CG group and video-assisted percutaneous suturing of the edges of the iatrogenic abdominal wall defect in the VG group, until reversal of the laparoscopic accesses (Step 2: E2). Step 1 showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. However, a significant statistical difference (p < 0.0001) was observed between the two groups in step 2. The surgical time of step 2 was longer in the CG group (33.10 ± 0.43 minutes) than that in the VG group (10.13 ± 0.68 minutes, p < 0.0001), and the total surgical time was also longer in the CG group (38.48 ± 0.35 minutes) than that in the VG group (15.86 ± 0.67 minutes). The proposed laparoscopic technique allowed the creation of a study model for video-assisted percutaneous suturing with two portals and reduced the surgical time compared with the conventional technique. However, this method needs to be studied further in live animals.

Introduction: Infection prevention in dental practice is a principle of utmost importance aiming to protect patients, the dental team, and ultimately, public health. The recent pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has instigated worldwide public concern. This highly contagious disease has called for profound changes in patient care around the world. The goal of this article is to review the current literature and introduce essential knowledge about COVID-19, recommend management protocols and adequate protection for dental professionals during the outbreak. Material and methods: The literature search was conducted from April to June 2020. After full-text screening a total of 85 studies were included. Results: Given the novelty of SARS-CoV-2, some characteristics of the virus remain yet unknown. The virus is aerosol-transmissible and, because of the nature of dental procedures, this puts dental professionals and patients at a high risk of contamination by this pathogen. Adequate management protocols and specific protective approaches are essential to minimise the spread of COVID-19 in dental settings during the outbreak. Discussion: The overall impact of COVID-19 in health care worldwide is yet to be determined. This constitutes a significant limitation to this review because the information obtained risks being outdated as the pandemic progresses. The prudent practitioner will use this review as a starting point and continue to proactively update themselves as the outbreak continues. Further studies are required to investigate the potential impact of infections with SARS-CoV-2 within dental settings.

Resumo Fundamento De acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde, países emergentes terão um crescimento considerável no número de ataques cardíacos e mortes relacionadas. Um dos principais problemas médicos no Brasil é a mortalidade causada por infarto agudo do miocárdio com supra de ST (IAMCSST). A Sociedade de Cardiologia do Estado de São Paulo nunca treinou não-cardiologistas para atendimentos de emergência. Os pacientes normalmente buscam ajuda em prontos-socorros, em vez de chamar a ambulância. Objetivo Nosso objetivo foi reduzir as taxas de mortalidade hospitalar causada por infarto agudo do miocárdio ao treinar profissionais da emergência na cidade de São Paulo. Métodos Utilizamos um programa de treinamento para as equipes de cinco hospitais com > 100 pacientes internados com IAMCSST por ano, e pelo menos 15% de mortes hospitalares relacionadas ao IAMCSST. Realizamos treinamentos online, organizamos de dois a quatro eventos para até 400 participantes, fizemos folders e panfletos informativos. A análise estatística utilizou o teste para comparação de duas proporções, com p

Secondary wastewaters from the dairy industry may cause eutrophication of water bodies when not properly treated, mainly because they contain nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Tertiary treatment using microalgae could be an adequate solution for Minas Gerais State, the largest Brazilian milk producer, contributing to the reduction of environmental impacts, as well as providing biomass for oil extraction, and obtaining active compounds and inputs (including proteins) for animal feeding. In this work, dilutions (with distilled water) of the secondary wastewater from the dairy industry were evaluated to cultivate Chlorella vulgaris in a bench-scale tubular photobioreactor. Theresults indicate the feasibility of using wastewater from the dairy industry, after secondary treatment, to cultivate microalgae, showing cell growth like that obtained in control cultures (Bold basal medium). The secondary wastewater without dilution (100% wastewater) provided the best condition for biomass production. The biomass obtained in wastewater showed no differences from the biomass obtained in the Bold basal medium (control) in terms of protein, lipid content, or fatty acid profile.

Abstract Surgical intervention for umbilical diseases in calves, when indicated, is a complementary and indispensable therapeutic resource for the treatment of umbilical conditions and is commonly performed using celiotomy. However, laparoscopy has demonstrated feasibility in many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of the techniques and the surgical time of laparoscopy and celiotomy used in intra-abdominal resection of the umbilical vein and urachus of bovine fetuses (cadavers). Resection of the umbilical vein and urachus using laparoscopy and celiotomy was performed in 26 anatomical specimens (bovine fetuses obtained from an official slaughterhouse). Resection of umbilical structures was feasible with both techniques, but shorter surgical time and minimal tissue damage were achieved using laparoscopy. Laparoscopy requires specialized training and appropriate instruments and is an important tool for diagnostic and therapeutic exploration of the umbilical structures, liver, bladder, and associated/adjacent structures.

Abstract This work focuses on the scientific research conducted by women at Portugal’s Institute of Tropical Medicine between 1943 and 1966. The Institute’s scientific journal documents the participation of women in tropical medicine during this period. Their publications addressed a variety of subjects and resulted from research carried out in the metropolis as well as Portugal’s overseas colonies. Most of the articles written by these women were are co-authored by their male colleagues, reflecting the incorporation of female researchers into scientific networks already established by men. This work in progress provides a starting point to lend visibility to a group of scientific actors who are practically absent from the historiography of tropical medicine.

Background: Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major challenge, especially in communities of low- and middle-income countries with poor medical assistance influenced by distinct local, financial, infrastructural, and resource-related factors. Objective: This a community-based study aimed to determine the proportion and prevalence of uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) in Brazilian communities. Methods: The EPICO study was an observational, cross-sectional, and community clinic-based study. Subjects were living in Brazilian communities and were of both sexes and ≥18 years old, without a history of a stroke or myocardial infarction but presenting at least one of the following cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia. The study was carried out in Brazil, including 322 basic health units (BHU) in 32 cities. Results: A total of 7,724 subjects with at least one CRF were evaluated, and one clinical visit was performed. Mean age was 59.2 years-old (53.7% were >60 years old). A total of 66.7% were women. Of the total, 96.2% had hypertension, 78.8% had diabetes mellitus type II, 71.1% had dyslipidemia, and 76.6% of patients were overweight/obese. Controlled hypertension (defined by

The application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in bone tissue regeneration can have unpredictable results due to the low survival of cells in the process since the lack of oxygen and nutrients promotes metabolic stress. Therefore, in this work, polymeric membranes formed by organic–inorganic hybrid materials called ureasil-polyether for modified glucose release were developed in order to overcome the problems posed by a of lack of this nutrient. Thus, membranes formed by polymeric blend of polypropylene oxide (PPO4000) and polyethylene oxide (PEO500) with 6% glucose incorporation were developed. Physical–chemical characterization techniques were performed, as well as tests that evaluated thermal properties, bioactivity, swelling, and release in SBF solution. The results of the swelling test showed an increase in membrane mass correlated with an increase in the concentration of ureasil-PEO500 in the polymeric blends. The membranes showed adequate resistance when subjected to the application of a high compression force (15 N). X-ray diffraction (XRD) evidenced peaks corresponding to orthorhombic crystalline organization, but the absence of glucose-related peaks showed characteristics of the amorphous regions of hybrid materials, likely due to solubilization. Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses showed that the thermal events attributed to glucose and hybrid materials were similar to that seen in the literature, however when glucose was incorporated into the PEO500, an increase in rigidity occurs. In PPO400, and in the blends of both materials, there was a slight decrease in Tg values. The smaller contact angle for the ureasil-PEO500 membrane revealed the more hydrophilic character of the material compared to other membranes. The membranes showed bioactivity and hemocompatibility in vitro. The in vitro release test revealed that it is possible to control the release rate of glucose and the kinetic analysis revealed a release mechanism characteristic of anomalous transport kinetics. Thus, we can conclude that ureasil-polyether membranes have great potential to be used as a glucose release system, and their future application has the potential to optimize the bone regeneration process.

Abstract This is the first attempt to apply an expert-based ecological vulnerability assessment of the effects of climate change on the main marine resources of Portugal. The vulnerability, exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and expected directional effects of 74 species of fish and invertebrates of commercial interest is estimated based on criteria related to their life-history and level of conservation or exploitation. This analysis is performed separately for three regions of Portugal and two scenarios of climate change (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). To do that, the fourth assessment report IPCC framework for vulnerability assessments was coupled to the outputs of a physical-biogeochemical model allowing to weight the exposure of the species by the expected variability of the environmental variables in the future. The highest vulnerabilities were found for some migratory and elasmobranch species, although overall vulnerability scores were low probably due to the high adaptive capacity of species from temperate ecosystems. Among regions, the highest average vulnerability was estimated for the species in the Central region while higher vulnerabilities were identified under climate change scenario RCP 8.5 in the three regions, due to higher expected climatic variability. This work establishes the basis for the assessment of the vulnerability of the human activities relying on marine resources in the context of climate change.

Abstract Understanding the complex factors and mechanisms driving the functioning of coastal ecosystems is vital towards assessing how organisms, ecosystems, and ultimately human populations will cope with the ecological consequences of natural and anthropogenic impacts. Towards this goal, coastal monitoring programs and studies must deliver information on a range of variables and factors, from taxonomic/functional diversity and spatial distribution of habitats, to anthropogenic stress indicators such as land use, fisheries use, and pollution. Effective monitoring programs must therefore integrate observations from different sources and spatial scales to provide a comprehensive view to managers. Here we explore integrating aerial surveys from a low-cost Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) with concurrent underwater surveys to deliver a novel approach to coastal monitoring. We: (i) map depth and substrate of shallow rocky habitats, and; (ii) classify the major biotopes associated with these environmental axes; and (iii) combine data from i and ii to assess the likely distribution of common sessile organismal assemblages over the survey area. Finally, we propose a general workflow that can be adapted to different needs and aerial platforms, which can be used as blueprints for further integration of remote-sensing with in situ surveys to produce spatially-explicit biotope maps.

Considering the worrying emergence of multidrug resistance, including in animal husbandry and especially in food-producing animals, the need to detect antimicrobial resistance strains in poultry environments is relevant, mainly considering a One Health approach. Thus, this study aimed to conduct longitudinal monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in broiler chicken farms, with an emphasis on evaluating the frequency of resistance to fosfomycin and β-lactams. Escherichia coli was isolated from broiler chicken farms (cloacal swabs, meconium, poultry feed, water, poultry litter, and Alphitobius diaperinus) in northern Paraná from 2019 to 2020 during three periods: the first period (1st days of life), the second period (20th to 25th days of life), and third period (40th to 42nd days of life). Antibiogram tests and the detection of phenotypic extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) were performed, and they were confirmed by seaching for genes from the blaCTX–M group. The other resistance genes searched were mcr-1 and fosA3. Some ESBL blaCTX–M–1 group strains were selected for ESBL identification by sequencing and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction analysis. To determine the transferability of the blaCTX–M–1– and fosA3-carrying plasmids, strains were subjected to conjugation experiments. A total of 507 E. coli were analyzed: 360 from cloacal swabs, 24 from meconium samples, 3 from poultry feed samples, 18 from water samples, 69 from poultry litter samples, and 33 from A. diaperinus samples. Among the strain isolate, 80% (406/507) were multidrug-resistant (MDR), and 51% (260/507) were ESBL-positive, with the blaCTX–M–1 group being the most frequent. For the fosA3 gene, 68% (344/507) of the strains isolated were positive, deserves to be highlighted E. coli isolated from day-old chickens (OR 6.34, CI 2.34–17.17), when compared with strains isolated from other origins (poultry litter, A. diaperinus, water, and poultry feed). This work alerts us to the high frequency of the fosA3 gene correlated with the CTX-M-1 group (OR 3.57, CI 95% 2.7–4.72, p < 0.05), especially the blaCTX–M–55 gene, in broiler chickens. This profile was observed mainly in day-old chicken, with a high percentage of E. coli that were MDR. The findings emphasize the importance of conducting longitudinal monitoring to detect the primary risk points during poultry production.

Fish larviculture exert great influence in the subsequent phases, in which nutrition is a basic prerequisite for success. Therefore, when it is in an intensified production system, it promotes the limitation of some minerals, making it necessary to supplement selenium in diets for post-larvae. The objective of this study was to evaluate selenium levels and sources in post-larvae Nile tilapia diets on muscle performance and histology. A total of 1,260 post-larvae with an initial average weight of 0.010 g were used, distributed in a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme with four supplementation levels (0.6; 0.9; 1.2 and 1.5 mg of Se/Kg) and two sources (sodium selenite and selenium yeast), plus the negative control, with 35 post-larvae Nile tilapia used per experimental unit. The physical-chemical parameters of water quality were within those recommended for tilapia cultivation. Feed consumption (p < 0.05) and hepatosomatic index (p < 0.05) were affected by the source used. Effects of supplemented selenium levels and sources were not observed for the other performance variables. Higher values for final height, final width, specific development rate and protein efficiency rate were found (p < 0.05) when comparing the control diet with diets containing the sodium selenite source. No effects on muscle fiber morphometry were observed (p > 0.05) in the studied variables. It is concluded that 0.6 mg of selenium in the diet, regardless of the source used, met the mineral requirement for post-larvae Nile tilapia.

Mapping the distribution and evaluating the impacts of marine non-indigenous species (NIS) are two fundamental tasks for management purposes, yet they are often time consuming and expensive. This case study focuses on the NIS gilthead seabream Sparus aurata escaped from offshore farms in Madeira Island in order to test an innovative, cost-efficient combined approach to risk assessment and georeferenced dispersal data collection. Species invasiveness was screened using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK), and revealed a high invasion risk. Occurrences of S. aurata were assessed involving citizens in GIS participatory mapping and data from recreational fishing contests. A probability map showed that S. aurata is well dispersed around Madeira Island. This assessment proved to be a cost-efficient early warning method for detecting NIS dispersal, highlighting the urgent need for additional surveys that should search for sexually mature individuals and assess the direct and indirect impacts in the native ecosystem.

The synergistic effects of biological invasions have long been considered significant causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. Therefore, early detection monitoring is crucial in mitigating nonindigenous species (NIS) threats. In the marine environment, settlement plates were used as monitoring devices in ports, but this method was mainly applied to assess the sessile benthic community and is less efficient in collecting the mobile biota and accessing its diversity. Moreover, as the potential expansion of NIS to the surrounding coastal environment is still poorly understood, a pilot study was conducted focusing on two aspects: (i) improving the feasibility of the settling method under different environmental contexts and (ii) enhancing the capacity of the developed prototypes to collect more representative samples (i.e., sessile and mobile biota). Three different prototypes were designed: a box prototype consisting of PVC plates encapsulated by a plastic bottle, a CD prototype with CDs surrounded by a net, and a PVC prototype with uncovered PVC plates. The prototypes were deployed inside a marina and in an outside area on Madeira Island, Portugal. Results indicate that the PVC prototype was the most efficient regarding monitoring the sessile community, whereas the box prototype showed the highest abundance of the mobile fauna. The location influenced both the sessile community composition and the number of mobile taxa. Our findings suggest combining features from prototypes to encompass the whole benthic community better.

Monitoring marine contamination by floating litter can be particularly challenging since debris are continuously moving over a large spatial extent pushed by currents, waves, and winds. Floating litter contamination have mostly relied on opportunistic surveys from vessels, modeling and, more recently, remote sensing with spectral analysis. This study explores how a low-cost commercial unmanned aircraft system equipped with a high-resolution RGB camera can be used as an alternative to conduct floating litter surveys in coastal waters or from vessels. The study compares different processing and analytical strategies and discusses operational constraints. Collected UAS images were analyzed using three different approaches: (i) manual counting (MC), using visual inspection and image annotation with object counts as a baseline; (ii) pixel-based detection, an automated color analysis process to assess overall contamination; and (iii) machine learning (ML), automated object detection and identification using state-of-the-art convolutional neural network (CNNs). Our findings illustrate that MC still remains the most precise method for classifying different floating objects. ML still has a heterogeneous performance in correctly identifying different classes of floating litter; however, it demonstrates promising results in detecting floating items, which can be leveraged to scale up monitoring efforts and be used in automated analysis of large sets of imagery to assess relative floating litter contamination.

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the ruminal degradation kinetics of carbohydrates in diets with different roughage:concentrate ratios and dosages of garlic and rosemary essential oils, in order to find the most suitable dosage to supply feedlot lambs. Three roughage:concentrate ratios (50:50, 40:60, and 20:80) and six dosages of garlic and rosemary essential oils (0.0, 0.10, 0.25, 1.0, 1.50, and 2.0 g L−1) were tested. Kinetic parameters for carbohydrate breakdown were estimated using a semi-automated in vitro gas production technique. Ruminal degradation parameters were subjected to variance analysis and then regression analysis at a 5% significance level. There was no interaction between the roughage:concentrate ratios and the dosage of rosemary essential oil. The roughage:concentrate ratios in diets with rosemary oil affected the non-fiber carbohydrate degradation rate (Kdnfc), colonization time (L), gas volume and breakdown rate from the degradation of fiber carbohydrates (Vfc and Kdfc, respectively), and final gas volume of both fiber and non-fiber carbohydrates (Vfinal). Rosemary dosages affected Vnfc and Vfc, which presented a quadratic response with a peak at 0.71 g L−1 and a nip at 1.17 g L−1, respectively. Bacterial colonization time was quadratic, reaching a maximum value at 1.18 g L−1. Vfinal showed a decreasing linear trend, such that each gram of rosemary essential oil added to the diet could reduce gas production by 30.312 mL. Therefore, rosemary essential oil has an effect on carbohydrate degradation kinetics. There was no interaction between roughage:concentrate ratios and different garlic oil dosages, except for colonization time. Roughage:concentrate ratios with garlic oil had affected the Vnfc, Kdnfc, and L. Garlic oil dosages affected Vfc and Vfinal in a quadratic manner, with the lowest values of gas production at 1.35 and 1.54 g L−1, respectively. L was affected by the garlic oil dosage and roughage:concentrate ratios in a decreasing linear trend for a 50:50 ratio and quadratic response for a 40:60 ratio, peaking at 0.14 g L−1. Based on these in vitro results, a ruminal content of 1.0 g L−1 is recommended for both rosemary and garlic essential oils.

Abstract A 56‐year‐old woman entered the emergency department due to worsening dyspnea. Severe mitral regurgitation and pulmonary artery dilation with flow compatible with fistula were observed by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. The patient had history of an ALCAPA (anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery) syndrome having undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (saphenous venous graft to left anterior descending artery) 30 years before. Coronary angiography and computed tomography revealed patency of the graft, with the dilated vein running across the front of the ascending aorta and being responsible for the perfusion of the left anterior descending artery and circumflex artery. We resent this case for discussion of which surgical strategy/options are available in order to treat the mitral valve and avoid injuring the patent graft.

The applications of microalgae biomass have been widely studied worldwide. The classical processes used in outdoor cultivations of microalgae, in closed or open photobioreactors, occur in the presence of bacteria. Understanding how communication between cells occurs through quorum sensing and evaluating co-cultures allows the production of microalgae and cyanobacteria to be positively impacted by bacteria, in order to guarantee safety and profitability in the production process. In addition, the definition of the effects that occur during an interaction, promotes insights to improve the production of biomolecules, and to develop innovative products. This review presents the interactions between microalgae and bacteria, including compounds exchanges and communication, and addresses the development of new pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food bioproducts from microalgae based on these evaluations, such as prebiotics, vegan skincare products, antimicrobial compounds, and culture media with animal free protein for producing vaccines and other biopharmaceutical products. The use of microalgae as raw biomass or in biotechnological platforms is in line with the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Macroalgal forests play a key role in shallow temperate rocky reefs worldwide, supporting communities with high productivity and providing several ecosystem services. Sea urchin grazing has been increasingly influencing spatial and temporal variation in algae distributions and it has become the main cause for the loss of these habitats in many coastal areas, causing a phase shift from macroalgae habitats to barren grounds. The low productive barrens often establish as alternative stable states and only a major reduction in sea urchin density can trigger the recovery of macroalgal forests. The present study aims to assess if the 2018 disease outbreak, responsible for a strong reduction in the sea urchin Diadema africanum densities in Madeira Island, was able to trigger a reverse shift from barren grounds into macroalgae-dominated state. By assessing the diversity and abundance of benthic sessile organisms, macroinvertebrates and fishes before, during and after that particular mass mortality event, we evaluate changes in benthic assemblages and relate them to variations in grazer and herbivore densities. Our results revealed a clear shift from barren state to a macroalgae habitat, with barrens characterized by bare substrate, sessile invertebrate and Crustose Coralline Algae (CCA) disappearing after the mortality event. Overall variations in benthic assemblages was best explained by four taxa (among grazers and herbivores species). However, it was the 2018 demise of D. africanum and its density reduction that most contributed to the reverse shift from a long stable barren state to a richer benthic assemblage with higher abundance of macroalgae. Despite this recent increase in macroalgae dominated habitats, their stability and persistence in Madeira Island is fragile, since it was triggered by an unpredictable disease outbreak and depends on how D. africanum populations will recover. With no control mechanisms, local urchin populations can easily reach the tipping point needed to promote a new shift into barren states. New conservation measures and active restoration are likely required to maintain and promote the local stability of macroalgal forests.

Azadirachta indica (Neem) is a large tree that is native to India and is traditionally used due to its several properties, mainly to treat skin diseases, as well as its “herbicidal” activity. Its bark, leaves, seeds, fruits and flowers are widely used in medicinal treatment due to the presence of active secondary metabolites with biological effects, mainly limonoids and tetranortriterpenoids, such as azadirachtin. Thus, A. indica was studied in a variety of conditions, such as anticancer, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive agents, as well as a biopesticide. Furthermore, differentiated cell tissue in A. indica cultivation was reported to produce active metabolites for different purposes. However, only a few studies have been developed regarding its potential use in cosmetics. For instance, most studies explained the antimicrobial properties in health conditions, such as acne, dandruff and personal health care. Here, we summarized not only the most common cosmetic claims to treat acne but also mitigating other skin disorders related to inflammatory and oxidant processes in recent in vivo studies and patents to aid researchers and industrialists to select A. indica derivatives as novel cosmetic ingredients.

O objetivo do presente estudo é demonstrar a conformação do instituto da liquidação de sentença no novo Código de Processo Civil. O tipo de pesquisa empregado é operatório, acompanhado de técnicas bibliográfica e documental, pautado em método indutivo, que visa à análise crítica das normas relativas ao tema, para propiciar, como síntese geral, um estudo de aproveitamento na solução de problemas práticos verificados na praxe forense. O objetivo é tratar de algumas das questões mais polêmicas sobre o assunto à luz das novas disposições legais. Embora a sistemática procedimental e as hipóteses de cabimento da liquidação de sentença não tenham sido alteradas, algumas modificações demonstram a pertinência de revisitar o tema, em razão de sua relevância para a ciência processual.

The present article focuses on the work of João Miguel dos Santos Simões (1907-1972), a researcher, historian, scholar and promoter of Portuguese azulejos and their use in Portugal, as well as the founder of the National Azulejo Museum. Santos Simões played a very important role in the identification both of the azulejo’s specific characteristics and of their use in Portugal. He was, in the 20th century, one of the most important promoters of the azulejo as a distinctly Portuguese art form. His main theoretical contribution concerns the recognition of the azulejo’s unique expression in Portugal — and, by extension, in Brazil. Its use gave rise to monumental decorations and helped shape the architecture in original ways. Apart from identifying the main characteristics of the use of azulejos in Portugal, Santos Simões also compared it to the situation in other countries, namely in Spain. Moreover, he studied the azulejo as a touristic phenomenon, a subject whose topicality warrants, according to the author of the present article, a detailed examination.

Marinas are a gateway for the introduction and establishment of non-indigenous species (NIS). In these habitats, competition and predation are crucial determinants for NIS establishment and invasiveness. However, fish trophic preferences and biotic effects inside marinas are poorly known. This study proposes a novel method that combines the deployment of settlement plates to recruit different assemblages, followed by their use as bait in remote underwater video systems. This combined approach, addressed as a remote video foraging system (RVFS), can record fish foraging behaviour, including feeding choices and their impacts on fouling assemblage composition. An experimental RVFS trial carried out in a marina of Madeira Island, Portugal (NE Atlantic), identified the Mediterranean parrotfish, Sparisoma cretense, as the most important fouling grazer in the area. S. cretense behaved as a generalist and increased the heterogeneity of fouling assemblages, which can hamper NIS dominance of the fouling and reduce the pressure of propagules from the marina to the natural environment. The RVFS tool was useful to understand the trophic links between foragers and fouling and has the potential to provide relevant information for the management of NIS introductions, establishment and spread.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne bunyavirus endemic to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, which causes diseases in humans and livestock. C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) represent a superfamily of pattern recognition receptors that were reported to interact with diverse viruses and contribute to antiviral immune responses but may also act as attachment factors or entry receptors in diverse species. Human DC-SIGN and L-SIGN are known to interact with RVFV and to facilitate viral host cell entry, but the roles of further host and vector CLRs are still unknown. In this study, we present a CLR–Fc fusion protein library to screen RVFV–CLR interaction in a cross-species approach and identified novel murine, ovine, and Aedes aegypti RVFV candidate receptors. Furthermore, cross-species CLR binding studies enabled observations of the differences and similarities in binding preferences of RVFV between mammalian CLR homologues, as well as more distant vector/host CLRs.

A produção de mudas com qualidade é influenciada por diversos fatores, sendo o substrato um dos mais importantes para as espécies frutíferas. Assim, objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar e selecionar substratos alternativos para a produção de mudas de maracujazeiro-amarelo em Roraima. O trabalho foi realizado em Boa Vista na Universidade Federal de Roraima. Os substratos utilizados foram: solo, composto comercial OrganoAmazon®, vermicomposto PuroHumus®, casca de arroz carbonizada, casca de arroz in natura e pó-de-serra. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 × 18, sendo duas cultivares de maracujazeiro-amarelo (Golden Star e Imperial) e dezoito substratos confeccionados por meio de misturas. As variáveis analisadas após 60 dias foram: altura da parte aérea (H), diâmetro do caule (DC), comprimento radicular (CR), número de folhas (NF), matéria seca total (MST), matéria seca da parte aérea (MSA), matéria seca das raízes (MSR) e os índice de qualidade das mudas. Os substratos confeccionados com 50% PuroHumus® + 50% Solo (S5) e 25% OrganoAmazon® + 25% PuroHumus® + 50% Solo (S12) favorecem a obtenção de mudas de maior qualidade na cultivar Golden Star. Os substratos formulados com 25% PuroHumus® + 25% pó-de-serra + 50% Solo (S18), 50% PuroHumus® + 50% Solo (S5) e 25% OrganoAmazon® + 25% PuroHumus® + 50% Solo (S12) são indicados para a produção de mudas da cultivar Imperial. A utilização de solo puro ou em mistura com casca de arroz (carbonizada ou in natura), pó-de-serra ou OrganoAmazon® não é indicada para a produção de mudas de maracujazeiro-amarelo.

A combination treatment (CT) of proinsulin and IL-10 orally delivered via genetically modified Lactococcus lactis bacteria combined with low-dose anti-CD3 (aCD3) therapy successfully restores glucose homeostasis in newly diagnosed non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Tolerance is accompanied by the accumulation of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the pancreas. To test the potential of this therapy outside the window of acute diabetes diagnosis, we substituted autoimmune diabetic mice, with disease duration varying between 4 and 53 days, with syngeneic islets at the time of therapy initiation. Untreated islet recipients consistently showed disease recurrence after 8.2 ± 0.7 days, while 32% of aCD3-treated and 48% of CT-treated mice remained normoglycemic until 6 weeks after therapy initiation (P < 0.001 vs. untreated controls for both treatments, P < 0.05 CT vs. aCD3 therapy). However, mice that were diabetic for more than 2 weeks before treatment initiation were less efficient at maintaining normoglycemia than those treated within 2 weeks of diabetes diagnosis, particularly in the aCD3-treated group. The complete elimination of endogenous beta cell mass with alloxan at the time of diabetes diagnosis pointed toward the significance of continuous feeding of the islet antigen proinsulin at the time of aCD3 therapy for treatment success. The CT providing proinsulin protected 69% of mice, compared to 33% when an irrelevant antigen (ovalbumin) was combined with aCD3 therapy, or to 27% with aCD3 therapy alone. Sustained tolerance was accompanied with a reduction of IGRP+CD8+ autoreactive T cells and an increase in insulin-reactive (InsB12–20 or InsB13–2) Foxp3+CD4+ Tregs, with a specific accumulation of Foxp3+ Tregs around the insulin-containing islet grafts after CT with proinsulin. The combination of proinsulin and IL-10 via oral Lactococcus lactis with low-dose aCD3 therapy can restore tolerance to beta cells in autoimmune diabetic mice, also when therapy is started outside the window of acute diabetes diagnosis, providing persistence of insulin-containing islets or prolonged beta cell function.

A QUESTÃO DA QUALIDADE DE VIDA ESTÁ PRESENTE EM TODO O LIVRO COMO ALGO DE EXTREMA IMPORTÂNCIA PARA ALCANÇAR O DESENVOLVIMENTO SOCIAL. ESTE DESENVOLVIMENTO É VISTO DE FORMA DIFERENTE DO DESENVOLVIMENTO ECONÔMICO LIGADO À PRODUÇÃO MATERIAL, TENDO A BOA QUALIDADE DE VIDA COMO NECESSÁRIA PARA QUALQUER SER HUMANO. QUALIDADE ESTA QUE NÃO SE REFLETE NAS FAVELAS DAS QUATRO METRÓPOLES ESTUDADAS PELO AUTOR: RIO DE JANEIRO, SÃO PAULO, RECIFE E CURMBA.

“Vegan” and “sustainable” characteristics are strong claim trends behind the development of innovative skincare, fragrances, and makeup products. This created a need in the market for compliant ingredients. To date, there have been no records evidencing the use of the microalgae Neochloris oleoabundans (NA) in dermocosmetics. Therefore, we studied the applicability of such a natural compound in this context. NA was cultivated, and the scavenging activity (SA) of the NA extracts was evaluated. The highest SA was from the aqueous extract (54.8% ± 2.1%), being higher than that of the positive control. Two hydrogels were prepared with 1.0% ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP copolymer: (1) control gel; and (2) gel with a 1.0% NA aqueous extract. In vivo experiments were performed in healthy male and female volunteers with skin phototypes of II–IV. The stratum corneum (SC) hydration and the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured in the forearm of participants to determine their biocompatibility. This parameter was determined by skin bioengineering measurements, confirming that SC hydration and TEWL were not affected by the samples. The laser Doppler measurements results showed a delayed erythema onset in the sites, where the NA hydrogel was applied. The results confirmed the biocompatibility and the anti-inflammatory activity of an innovative ingredient derived from microalgae suitable for a natural and vegan lifestyle.

Current trends in the global climate facilitate the displacement of numerous marine species from their native distribution ranges to higher latitudes when facing warming conditions. In this work, we analyzed occurrences of a circumtropical reef fish, the spotfin burrfish, Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1958), in the Madeira Archipelago (NE Atlantic) between 1898 and 2021. In addition to available data sources, we performed an online survey to assess the distribution and presence of this species in the Madeira Archipelago, along with other relevant information, such as size class and year of the first sighting. In total, 28 valid participants responded to the online survey, georeferencing 119 C. reticulatus sightings and confirming its presence in all archipelago islands. The invasiveness of the species was screened using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit. Five assessments rated the fish as being of medium risk of establishing a local population and becoming invasive. Current temperature trends might have facilitated multiple sightings of this thermophilic species in the Madeira Archipelago. The present study indicates an increase in C. reticulatus sightings in the region. This underlines the need for updated comprehensive information on species diversity and distribution to support informed management and decisions. The spread of yet another thermophilic species in Madeiran waters provides further evidence of an ongoing tropicalization, emphasizing the need for monitoring programs and the potential of citizen science in complementing such programs.

The objective of this research is to estimate the genetic parameters and covariance components for growth characteristics in cattle from Tabapuã breed through random regression models (RRM). The estimates of covariance functions are considered nowadays, interesting alternatives to work with longitudinal data that allow the description of covariances changes due to time and prediction of variances and covariances along the growth curve. The RRM has been used to estimate the variance components and genetic parameters of milk production on the control day of the lactation curve and meat production in many species, including bodyweight of beef cattle and among these the cattle from Tabapuã breed, enabling us to work with features of growth curves that are measured repeatedly during the animal's life, known as longitudinal data. These models used in genetic evaluation in cattle are considered special cases of covariance functions that allow estimation of coefficients of genetic covariance functions directly through the method of restricted maximum likelihood.

From the theoretical point-of-view, the azulejo has been studied in Portugal since the second half of the nineteenth century through a perspective that increasingly highlights the idea of originality and, more recently, the identity factor. Actually, today the azulejo is regarded as one of the arts that best identifies Portuguese heritage. However, is it truly so? Is it reasonable to associate identity narratives with azulejo or is this idea connected only to issues of national marketing? Included in the Month of the Azulejo and the European Year of Cultural Heritage, AzLab#42 special seminar, entitled Identity(ies) of the azulejo in Portugal [1], aimed at debating issues of identity related to glazed tiles, focusing its attention both on the historiographic construction of this (these) concept(s) and on the different points that distinguish the Portuguese usage of the glazed tile from how other countries understand this art form. Following a protocol signed between the Rede de Investigação em Azulejo (Azulejo Research Network – ARTIS-IHA/FLUL) and the Amigos do Museu Nacional do Azulejo Association (Friends of the National Azulejo Museum), AzLab#42 took place at Amphitheater III of the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon on October 4, 2018. The international call for papers had a significant number of proposals, from which, after a blind peer-review process, six were selected. To the latter, three other sessions were added with guest-speakers whose work has been acknowledged in this field of study, which in turn led to vigorous discussions in the several debates held during the seminar. For the reasons given, because it secures contributes of the several authors with different educational backgrounds and nationalities, the conference proceedings now published are enormously relevant for the future. In addition, this volume also fulfills one of the initial goals of this initiative: to introduce the scientific community’s perspective of this matter and contribute to the theoretical support of the Portuguese azulejo’s application to UNESCO World Heritage. ARTis ON’s special number mirrors AzLab#42 seminar’s program. As a result, it starts with a set of articles related to historiography, featuring studies dedicated to general themes which are followed by more specific ones. Nuno Rosmaninho’s article opens this volume with a study entitled “Portuguese azulejos and other national arts” in which the author seeks to “link the identity appropriation of the azulejo to a source common to most artistic discourse in the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries”. Focusing on differentiating issues, Alexandra Gago da Câmara and Rosário Salema de Carvalho list originality facts identified by European historiography until the mid-twentieth century, observing how these spring from seemingly diverse ideas to actually embody a set of well-defined points. From an even more funnelled perspective, Sandra Leandro explores Joaquim de Vasconcelos’ role in this context while João Pedro Monteiro addresses one of the most significant researchers in the glazed tile field of study – João Miguel dos Santos Simões. The appreciation of the convergent and divergent points between Portuguese and Spanish tiles, understood as focal loci for the azulejo’s universal reach, is presented by Jaume Coll Conesa. Following this study, there is a set of articles that, addressing the call for papers’ theme “azulejo: what identity(ies)”, considers certain distinctive characteristics. Fátima Rodrigues and Pedro J. Freitas analyse patterned tiles using mathematical models of classification; Cristina Carvalho examines advertising panels; Shelley Miller shows how her artistic interventions call the concept of identity into question and, continuing with contemporaneous studies, Inês Leitão ends this section by analysing how artists perceive identity issues associated with the azulejo. However, there is still plenty to debate and clarify. Indeed, one of the most interesting points concerning AzLab#42, and the articles now published, rests on the range of topics that arise as future research perspectives. Nevertheless, is the importance acknowledged to the azulejo today, how it distinguishes national landscape – whether by its physical presence or as a key element in the Portuguese collective imaginary – as well as its role as a reference to a broad set of other cultural and artistic displays, ranging from fashion to cuisine, enough to grant it the status of a culture’s identity defining art form? Or are we sometimes witnessing a discourse that aims to subordinate Portuguese tiles to a wider narrative, making them fit into a set of supposedly distinctive factors, which actually intends to build a national image for foreign consumption? Since we believe this volume is a contribution to the future and that from this initiative several others might be held, for the moment we must thank all participants and AzLab#42’s Scientific and Executive Committee. In addition, we would like to highlight the support given by Inês Leitão in terms of graphic design and organisation as well as by Rafaela Xavier and Fábio Ricardo. --- [1] AzLab is a monthly seminar organised by the Az group – Azulejo Research Network, of ARTIS – Instituto de História da Arte da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (Art History Institute of the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon), in collaboration with the National Azulejo Museum (https://blogazlab.wordpress.com). AzLab’s goal is to create new analysis perspectives on issues related to the azulejo, among which are research, inventory, collecting, safeguarding, creating or divulging. The idea of developing a research lab on azulejo, which addresses experimental procedure concepts associated with these spaces, is applied to the discussion AzLab wishes to promote. It also introduces a concept foreign to art history, aiming at developing a multidisciplinary research. Every month a theme is submitted to public debate, which may stem from research projects, masters’ dissertations, PhD thesis, among others. National researchers, who are connected to the most diverse institutions, are invited to participate as well as, whenever possible, foreign scholars. AzLab#42 special Identity(ies) of the Azulejo in Portugal was a one-day conference, which was co-organised by the Amigos do Museu Nacional do Azulejo Association and also supported by Centro Atlântico publisher.

Facial recognition under uncontrolled acquisition environments faces major challenges that limit the deployment of real-life systems. The use of 2.5D information can be used to improve discriminative power of such systems in conditions where RGB information alone would fail. In this paper we propose a multimodal extension of a previous work, based on SIFT descriptors of RGB images, integrated with LBP information obtained from depth scans, modeled by an hierarchical framework motivated by principles of human cognition. The framework was tested on EURECOM dataset and proved that the inclusion of depth information improved significantly the results in all the tested conditions, compared to independent unimodal approaches.