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The Arctic is among the most climatically sensitive environments on Earth, and the disappearance of multiyear sea-ice in the Arctic Ocean is predicted within decades. As apex predators, polar bears are sentinel species for addressing the impact of environmental variability on Arctic marine ecosystems. By integrating genomics, isotopic analysis, morphometrics, and ecological modelling, we investigate how Holocene environmental changes affected the evolutionary ecology of polar bears around Greenland. We show that throughout the last ∼11,000 years, Greenlandic polar bears have been heavily influenced by changes in sea-surface temperature (SST) and sea-ice cover. Most notable are major reductions in effective population size at the beginning of the Holocene and during the Holocene Thermal Maximum ∼6 kya, which coincide with increases in annual mean SST, reduction in sea-ice covers, declines in suitable habitat, and shifts in suitable habitat northwards. Furthermore, we show how individuals sampled from west and east Greenland are genetically, morphologically, and ecologically distinct. We find bears sampled in west Greenland to be larger, more genetically diverse and have diets dominated by ringed seals, whereas bears from east Greenland are smaller and less diverse with more varied diets, putatively driven by regional biotic differences. Taken together, we provide novel insights into the vulnerability of polar bears to environmental change, and how the Arctic marine ecosystem plays a vital role in shaping the evolutionary and ecological trajectories of its inhabitants.TeaserMultivariate investigations of the environment’s role in the evolutionary ecology of Greenlandic polar bears.

Human-wildlife coexistence may increase the potential risk of direct transmission of emergent or re-emergent zoonotic pathogens to humans. Intending to assess the occurrence of three important foodborne pathogens in wild animals of two wildlife conservation centers in Portugal, we investigated 132 fecal samples for the presence of

The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), an extensively vascularized extraembryonic membrane, has been widely used to study several aspects of tumor development including tumor-induced angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation, and metastasis. Based on the tumor cell/CAM system, we focused here on the identification and quantification of cancer stem cells. We validated the CAM model as a suitable model to evaluate stem cell activity in a given mixed cell population.

A crescente relevância e utilidade dos recursos geológicos, nomeadamente, das argilas e dos minerais argilosos, por parte do Homem e da sociedade é cada vez mais notável. A relação da geologia com a medicina/cosmética é antiga, na medida em que o uso das argilas e/ou dos minerais argilosos é tão primórdio como a existência da própria humanidade. Os efeitos terapêuticos destes materiais na saúde e a sua aplicabilidade em cosmética são amplamente reconhecidos. A peloterapia consiste na aplicação de argilas em tratamentos de doenças, onde as suas propriedades analgésica, antiinflamatória, cicatrizante, tonificadora, vitalizante e antitóxica, são cruciais no processo de cura. A presente dissertação remete a um estudo da caracterização da potencialidade de aplicação das lamas da Marinha da Noeirinha, uma antiga salina da Ria de Aveiro, recentemente adaptada a uma área de praia artificial com SPA, em tratamentos terapêuticos de peloterapia. Trata-se de uma área com predominância de aluviões modernos, que sofreu contribuições de efluentes industriais durante mais de 50 anos. Para o estudo foram colhidas 6 amostras de sedimentos/lamas e 8 amostras de água, em duas áreas, em épocas sazonais distintas. Nas amostras de sedimentos foi feita a caracterização granulométrica (peneiramento, sedigraph e superfície específica), morfológica (SEM-EDS), físico-química (pH, CE, MO e cor), mineralógica (DRX), química (FRX e CTC) e tecnológica (abrasividade, absorção de óleo, calor específico, expansibilidade, limites de consistência e índice de plasticidade, tempo de arrefecimento e viscosidade). Nas amostras de águas fez-se uma análise dos parâmetros físico-químicos de campo (pH, CE, T, Sal e OD), e química (espectrofotometria de luz visível), para além da quantificação da matéria total em suspensão e a sua análise morfológica (SEM-EDS). A análise das amostras de sedimento antes e após os trabalhos de melhoramento da praia artificial mostram que as intervenções tiveram impacte nas propriedades dos materiais. Quimicamente, as amostras sugerem uma possível acumulação de Elementos Potencialmente Tóxicos (EPTs). De forma geral, as amostras de sedimentos colhidas previamente aos trabalhos de beneficiação, são as amostras mais adequadas para aplicação em peloterapia. A análise química das amostras de águas revelou a existência de concentrações de elementos químicos acima dos limites de deteção, o que sugere a acumulação de EPTs. The increasing relevance and usefulness of geological resources, namely clays and clay minerals, to man and society is becoming more and more notable. The association between geology and medicine/cosmetics is not new, being the use of clays and/or clay minerals as primordial as the existence of mankind. The therapeutical effects of these materials on health and their applicability in cosmetics are widely recognized. Pelotherapy consists in the use of clays in disease treatments, where their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, healing, toning, vitalizing, and antitoxic properties, are crucial in the healing process. The present dissertation aims to do the characterization of the potential application of muds from Marinha da Noeirinha, an old salt pan in the Ria de Aveiro, recently adapted to an artificial beach area with SPA, in pelotherapy therapeutic treatments. This is an area with a predominance of modern alluvium, which has suffered contributions of industrial effluents for over 50 years. For this study, 6 sediment samples and 8 water samples were collected in two sampling areas at different seasonal periods. In the sediment samples the granulometric (sieving, sedigraph and specific surface), morphological (SEM-EDS), physicochemical (pH, EC, OM and color), mineralogical (XRD), chemical (XFR and CEC) and technological (abrasiveness, oil absorption, specific heat, expansibility, consistency limits, cooling time and viscosity) characterization was performed. Water samples were analyzed for characterization of physical parameters (pH, EC, T, Salt and DO), and chemical composition (visible light spectrophotometry), and total suspended matter was quantified, and morphologically (SEM-EDS) accessed. The analysis of the sediment samples before and after an artificial beach improvement, showed that these interventions had an impact on materials properties. Chemically, the samples suggested a possible accumulation of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs). In general, sediment samples collected before improvement works, were the most suitable samples for pelotherapy. Chemical analysis of the water samples revealed the existence of concentrations of chemical elements above the detection limits, which also suggested the accumulation of PTEs. Mestrado em Engenharia Geológica

Mestrado Bolonha em Gestão e Estratégia Industrial Dado que o setor segurador tem passado por mudanças significativas nos últimos anos, nomeadamente, com o aumento da exigência dos clientes em relação à qualidade dos serviços prestados, o setor tem focado a sua atenção na eficiência operacional. Para isso, as empresas de seguros têm adotado uma abordagem mais holística para fortalecer a sua posição no mercado. Uma destas abordagens corresponde à metodologia do Lean Management. Esta metodologia, através de várias ferramentas e técnicas que lhes são associadas, é capaz de simplificar e otimizar processos, envolver colaboradores e chefias, e aumentar níveis de produtividade, o que, consequentemente, conduz à eficiência operacional desejada. O presente estudo analisa a forma como um programa de Lean Management foi implementado na Seguradora X, mais concretamente, numa equipa de trabalho pertencente ao Departamento Operacional, responsável pela emissão e gestão de apólices. Os principais objetivos do estudo são: entender a motivação que levou à adoção desta filosofia, enumerar as principais dificuldades sentidas durante a adoção, identificar as ferramentas e técnicas Lean utilizadas, assim como identificar os benefícios e resultados do programa de Lean Management ao nível dos processos. Através da análise documental/arquivo e de entrevistas semiestruturadas, a autora concluiu que a adoção do Lean se deu por decisão do Grupo ao qual a Seguradora X pertence, e que a resistência à mudança e o não acreditar na metodologia foram as principais dificuldades sentidas ao longo do programa. As principais ferramentas e técnicas Lean utilizadas foram: SOP, Gestão Visual, CommCell, VoE e o 1-2-1 coaching. Por fim, o programa trouxe transparência na comunicação, nos processos, e na produtividade da equipa Y. Given that the insurance industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, notably with increased customer demand for the quality of services provided, the industry has focused its attention on operational efficiency. To this end, insurance companies have taken a more holistic approach to strengthen their market position. One such approach is the Lean Management methodology. This methodology, through various tools and techniques associated with them, is capable of simplifying and optimizing processes, involving employees and managers, and increasing productivity levels, which consequently leads to the desired operational efficiency. This study analyzes how a Lean Management program was implemented in Insurer Company X, more specifically, in a work team belonging to the Operational Department, responsible for issuing and managing policies. The main objectives of the study are: to understand the motivation that led to the adoption of this philosophy, to list the main difficulties experienced during the adoption, to identify the lean tools and techniques used, as well as to identify the benefits and results of the Lean Management program at the level of processes. Through the documental/archive analysis and semi-structured interviews, the author concluded that lean's adoption was due to the decision of the Group to which the Insurer Company X belongs, and that resistance to change and not believing in the methodology were the main difficulties felt throughout the program. The main lean tools and techniques used were: SOP, Visual Management, CommCell, VoE and the 1-2-1 coaching. Finally, the program brought transparency in communication, processes, and productivity of team Y. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The Fram Strait is one of the largest gateways through which meltwater and sea ice are exported to thesubarctic North Atlantic, transiting the North-East Greenland shelf via the southward flowing EastGreenland Current. Observations indicate a recent freshening of the East Greenland Current that mayhave implications for wider oceanic circulation regimes. The North-East Greenland shelf is an opportuneregion to assess these changes back through time. Paleoceanographic reconstructions from the North-East Greenland shelf are sparse and their temporal coverage is limited to the Holocene, limiting ourability to assess the impact of rapid climatic variations on marine conditions, such as during the YoungerDryas/Holocene transition. Here, we present data from a well-dated marine sediment core retrieved fromthe North-East Greenland shelf (74N; east of Young Sound-Tyrolerfjord system) that captures the lateYounger Dryas Stadial through to the Mid-Holocene at sub-centennial resolution. We apply a multi-proxyapproach to reconstruct changes in productivity, surface and bottom ocean conditions. We show that at74 N the presence of warm Atlantic waters on the inner North-East Greenland shelf was limited to thelate Younger Dryas, as the Greenland Ice Sheet retreated landward and isostatic rebound caused the areato uplift. A unique dimension to this record is its location within one of the few biological hotspots on theEast Greenland shelf today; the Sirius Water polynya. Archaeological studies indicate the polynya wasforming as early as 4500 years ago, but nothing is known about its evolution from a marine perspective.Cooling of bottom waters, increasing sea-surface productivity and more frequent open water conditionsindicate an Early Holocene onset of the Sirius Water (ca. 10e8.7 ka BP).

Expansion of mcr-carrying Enterobacteriaceae (MCR-E) is a well-recognized problem affecting animals, humans and the environment. Ongoing global control actions involve colistin restrictions among food-animal production, but their impact on poultry-derived products is largely unknown, justifying comprehensive farm-to-fork studies. Occurrence of MCR-E among 53 chicken-meat batches supplied from 29 Portuguese farms shortly after colistin withdrawal was evaluated. Strains (FT-IR/MLST/WGS), mcr plasmids and their adaptive features were characterized by cultural, molecular and genomic approaches. We found high rates of chicken-meat batches (80%-100% - 4 months; 12% - the last month) with multiple MDR + mcr-1-carrying Escherichia coli (Ec-including ST117 and ST648-Cplx) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp-ST147-O5:K35) clones, some of them persisting over time. The mcr-1 was located in the chromosome (Ec-ST297/16-farms) or dispersed IncX4 (Ec-ST602/ST6469/5-farms), IncHI2-ST2/ST4 (Ec-ST533/ST6469/5 farms and Kp-ST147/6-farms) or IncI2 (Ec-ST117/1-farm) plasmids. WGS revealed high load and diversity in virulence, antibiotic resistance and metal tolerance genes. This study supports colistin withdrawal potential efficacy in poultry production and highlights both poultry-production chain as a source of mcr-1 and the risk of foodborne transmission to poultry-meat consumers. Finally, in the antibiotic reduction/replacement context, other potential co-selective pressures (e.g., metals-Cu as feed additives) need to be further understood to guide concerted, effective and durable actions under 'One Health' perspective.

Tese de doutoramento em Estudos da Criança (especialidade em Educação Artística), O teatro para e com bebés, que se caracteriza pelo desenvolvimento de experiências teatrais para bebés e crianças até aos três anos, inspira-se, muitas vezes, no jogo natural e espontâneo da criança, no brincar e num trabalho de carácter experimental, com estéticas pós-dramáticas e performativas. Atravessa conceitos de arte participativa os quais colocam o foco num espetador ativo e emancipado e centra-se, ainda, na ideia de bebé e criança competente e capaz, pleno de direitos, nomeadamente, o direito ao teatro. O espetáculo de teatro para e com bebés “Eu brinco” desenvolvido nesta investigação-ação resultou de um processo participativo e interdisciplinar que envolveu a investigadora, a encenadora e os atores de uma companhia de teatro, educadoras de infâncias e bebés e crianças até aos três anos. Neste processo participativo de criação foram planeados e experimentados métodos e técnicas para o desenvolvimento de um trabalho teatral que permitisse e respeitasse a participação dos bebés e das crianças. A sua receção, observada em diferentes creches, permitiu analisar e compreender as diferentes formas de envolvimento dos bebés e das crianças, que iam desde um nível contemplativo, assistindo ao desenrolar da ação dramática, até um nível proativo, no qual jogavam e brincavam livremente. A receção da performance por parte dos bebés e das crianças foi influenciada por diversos fatores, nomeadamente: os recursos cénicos e o trabalho do ator; a participação das suas acompanhantes e a informação que lhes era transmitida; o contexto familiar e educativo; as suas características individuais; e o espaço e o número de crianças por sessão. O processo de criação e receção da performance “Eu brinco” deu-se através do diálogo entre investigação, teatro e educação de infância, realizado num constante vaivém entre a teoria e a prática que, por um lado, trouxe desafios e dificuldades aos atores e, por outro, tal como pretendido, provocou mudanças no seu trabalho e no da encenadora. Tais mudanças resultaram numa nova imagem de bebé, capaz e competente, espetador ativo e emancipado, cocriador da experiência teatral. Essa nova imagem traduziu-se na valorização da voz dos bebés, para a qual foram essenciais alguns dos elementos-chave do trabalho para e com bebés, nomeadamente, a comunicação não verbal e a capacidade de escuta e de presença ativa., Theatre for and with babies, which involves developing theatre experiences for babies and children under the age of three, is often inspired by the child’s natural and spontaneous play, while also building on playing and experimental work, with post-dramatic and performative aesthetics. Moreover, theatre for and with babies goes through concepts of interactive art, which focus on an active and emancipated audience. It also concentrates on the idea of competent and capable baby and child, enjoying a full set of rights, namely the right to theatre. “Eu brinco”, the theatre performance for and with babies developed in this action-research, is the result of a participatory and interdisciplinary process that involved the researcher, the director and the actors of a theatre company, the nursery teachers as well as babies and children under the age of three. This participatory creation process included methods and techniques that were planned and experimented in order to develop a theatre performance that would allow for and respect the participation of babies and children. The reception of this performance, which was observed in different nursery schools, made it possible to analyse and understand the different ways babies and children would get involved, from an observing level, watching the story unfold, to a proactive level, where they played freely. The reception of the performance by babies and children was influenced by many factors, including: the props and the work of the actor; the participation of the children’s caregivers and the information they were provided; the family context and the educational settings; the children’s individual characteristics; and the setting and number of children in each session. Through dialogue between research, theatre and early childhood education, the creative and reception process of the performance “Eu brinco” has carried out a constant back-and-forth between theory and practice that, on one side, brought challenges and difficulties to the actors and, on the other side, as intended, led to changes in the work of the actors and in the work of the director of the theatre company. With these changes, a new image of baby has emerged, a baby that is capable and competent, an active and emancipated spectator and a co-creator of the theatre experience. This new image has resulted in the appreciation of babies’ voice, where some key elements of the work for and with babies were essential, including non-verbal communication and the ability to listen and be actively present., Este trabalho foi financiado por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) com a referência SFRH/BD/129738/2017 e cofinanciado pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) através do COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) no âmbito do CIEC (Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança da Universidade do Minho) com a referência POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562.

The need for new therapeutic approaches for triple-negative breast cancer is a clinically relevant problem that needs to be solved. Using a multi-targeting approach to enhance cancer cell uptake, we synthesized a new family of ruthenium(II) organometallic complexes envisaging simultaneous active and passive targeting, using biotin and polylactide (PLA), respectively. All compounds with the general formula, [Ru(η5-CpR)(P)(2,2'-bipy-4,4'-PLA-biotin)][CF3SO3], where R is -H or -CH3 and P is P(C6H5)3, P(C6H4F)3 or P(C6H4OCH3)3, were tested against triple-negative breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 showing IC50 values between 2.3-14.6 µM, much better than cisplatin, a classical chemotherapeutic drug, in the same experimental conditions. We selected compound 1 (where R is H and P is P(C6H5)3), for further studies as it was the one showing the best biological effect. In a competitive assay with biotin, we showed that cell uptake via SMVT receptors seems to be the main transport route into the cells for this compound, validating the strategy of including biotin in the design of the compound. The effects of the compound on the hallmarks of cancer show that the compound leads to apoptosis, interferes with proliferation by affecting the formation of cell colonies in a dose-dependent manner and disrupts the cell cytoskeleton. Preliminary in vivo assays in N: NIH(S)II-nu/nu mice show that the concentrations of compound 1 used in this experiment (maximum 4 mg/kg) are safe to use in vivo, although some signs of liver toxicity are already found. In addition, the new compound shows a tendency to control tumor growth, although not significantly. In sum, we showed that compound 1 shows promising anti-cancer effects, bringing a new avenue for triple-negative breast cancer therapy., This work was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), I.P./MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC)—UIDB/00100/2020 and LA/P/0056/2020. This work was also funded in the scope of the project PTDC/QUI-QIN/28662/2017 (FCT). Andreia Valente acknowledges CEEC-IND 2017 (CEECIND/01974/2017; acknowledging FCT, as well as POPH and FSE—European Social Fund). Leonor Côrte-Real, Ana Rita Brás and Adhan Pilon thank FCT for their Ph.D. Grants (SFRH/BD/100515/2014, SFRH/BD/139271/2018 and SFRH/BD/139412/2018, respectively).

Dissertação de mestrado em Gestão de Projetos de Engenharia, Em 2016, a Comissão Europeia disponibilizou publicamente uma metodologia de gestão de projetos. Esta metodologia é gratuita, tem acesso público online, é adaptável a qualquer projeto, e é mais simples do que as metodologias amplamente difundidas. Infelizmente, a metodologia de gestão de projetos PM², agora com seis anos de existência pública, continua pouco difundida e com pouca análise por parte da comunidade académica. O presente trabalho versa sobre a aplicação da metodologia de gestão de projetos PM², num contexto prático, na criação do Observatório Português de Gestão de Projetos. Pretendeu-se perceber como aplicar a metodologia ao projeto, nomeadamente, como aplicar os processos e artefactos disponibilizados, quais os ajustes necessários e que lições aprendidas seriam obtidas ao longo do processo. Por fim, pretendeu-se inferir sobre o sucesso do projeto, incluindo a análise do sucesso da gestão do projeto. O método de investigação utilizado foi o de investigação-ação. O trabalho desenvolveu-se em contexto prático, com a análise das necessidades, desenvolvimento da opção escolhida, análise do output e aplicação de ajustes, em sucessivas iterações, até ao fim do projeto. A estrutura do Observatório Português de Gestão de Projetos foi desenvolvida e foram finalizados oito dos dez entregáveis previamente definidos. Os benefícios para as partes interessadas determinados na fase inicial do projeto foram alcançados e a metodologia de gestão de projetos PM² adequou-se ao projeto. Esta apresenta uma base para a gestão do projeto, mas grande liberdade para adequar à necessidade do projeto. A metodologia de gestão de projetos PM² é simples e fácil de usar, especialmente para novos gestores de projeto. Quase todos os artefactos foram úteis ao projeto, e tiveram orientações adequadas para sua correta aplicação. A metodologia fornece uma base de trabalho, contudo, alguns processos foram ajustados, principalmente na fase inicial, com inclusão de ferramentas que permitem atender às necessidades das partes interessadas, definição de requisitos e priorização., In 2016, the European Commission made available publicly a project management methodology. This methodology is free, has public online access, is tailorable to any project, and is more straightforward than the widely spread methodologies. Unfortunately, the PM² project management methodology, now in the sixth year of public existence, remains little widespread with little analysis by the academic community. The present work analyses the application of the PM² project management methodology, in a practical context, in the creation of the Portuguese Project Management Observatory. The aim was to understand how to apply the methodology to the project, namely, how to apply the processes and artefacts provided, what adjustments were necessary and what lessons learned would be obtained throughout the process. Finally, it is intended to infer on the success of the project, including analysis of the success of project management. The research method used was action-research. The work was carried out in a practical context, with the analysis of needs, development of the chosen option, analysis of the output and application of adjustments, in successive iterations, until the end of the project. The Portuguese Project Management Observatory structure was developed, and eight of the ten previously defined deliverables were finalised. The stakeholder benefits determined in the project’s initial phase were achieved, and the PM² project management methodology suited the project. This presents a basis for project management but great freedom to adapt to the project’s needs. PM² project management methodology is simple and easy to use, especially for new project managers. Almost all artefacts were useful to the project and had adequate guidance for their correct application. The methodology provides a work base, however, some processes have been adjusted, mainly in the initial phase, with the inclusion of tools that enable reaching stakeholders' needs, requirement definition and prioritisation.

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All rights reserved. Up to 27 May 2022, Portugal has detected 96 confirmed cases of monkeypox. We describe 27 confirmed cases (median age: 33 years (range: 22–51); all males), with an earliest symptom onset date of 29 April. Almost all cases (n = 25) live in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley health region. Most cases were neither part of identified transmission chains, nor linked to travel or had contact with symptomatic persons or with animals, suggesting the possible previously undetected spread of monkeypox. publishersversion published

Climate warming is rapidly reshaping the Arctic cryosphere and ocean conditions, with consequences for sea ice and pelagic productivity patterns affecting the entire marine food web. To predict how ongoing changes will impact Arctic marine ecosystems, concerted effort from various disciplines is required. Here, we contribute multi‐decadal reconstructions of changes in diatom production and sea‐ice conditions in relation to Holocene climate and ocean conditions off northwest Greenland. Our multiproxy study includes diatoms, sea‐ice biomarkers (IP25 and HBI III) and geochemical tracers (TOC [total organic carbon], TOC:TN [total nitrogen], δ13C, δ15N) from a sediment core record spanning the last c. 9,000 years. Our results suggest that the balance between the outflow of polar water from the Arctic, and input of Atlantic water from the Irminger Current into the West Greenland Current is a key factor in controlling sea‐ice conditions, and both diatom phenology and production in northeastern Baffin Bay. Our proxy record notably shows that changes in sea‐surface conditions initially forced by Neoglacial cooling were dynamically amplified by the shift in the dominant phase of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) mode that occurred at c. 3,000 yr BP, and caused drastic changes in community composition and a decline in diatom production at the study site. In the future, with projected dominant‐positive AO conditions favored by Arctic warming, increased water column stratification may counteract the positive effect of a longer open‐water growth season and negatively impact diatom production., We present the first continuous and high‐resolution diatom record from northeastern Baffin Bay spanning the last c. 9,000 years. Our data show that the variability in sea ice and primary production on the northwest Greenland shelf is linked to modulations in millennial‐scale Arctic Oscillation. The phenology and diatom community structure is largely controlled by water‐column stratification and sea‐ice conditions.

Emergence and expansion of frequent multidrug-resistant (MDR) major Salmonella clones/serotypes has been a significant threat in the last years. Metal compounds, such as copper, commonly used in animal-production settings, have been pointed out as possible contributors for the selection of such strains/clones. However, the scarcity of studies limits our understanding of the impact of other metal environmental contaminants as arsenic (used in insecticides/herbicides/coccidiostats). We analysed arsenic tolerance (AsT) dispersion by phenotypic and genotypic (PCR/sequencing/I-CeuI/S1/XbaI-PFGE/hybridization) assays among Salmonella with diverse epidemiological and genetic backgrounds. Then, to better understand ars operon genetic contexts, the whole genome of five representative strains was sequenced. We found a high dispersion of ars operons conferring AsT, especially among copper-tolerant and relevant serotypes/clones related to pig-production setting. The acr3-type was found dispersed in the chromosome of diverse serotypes, including the emergent S. Rissen. Conversely, arsBII was almost confined to the MDR ST34 European clone of S. Typhimurium/S. 4,[5],12:i:-, always along with copper/silver tolerance sil + pco clusters in an integrative conjugative element. These data suggest that AsT is an essential adaptive feature for the ecological success of these epidemic clones/serotypes and alerts for global strategies to reduce arsenic-based compounds' impact thus preventing environmental/food contamination with frequent MDR foodborne pathogens.

DNA can be preserved in marine and freshwater sediments both in bulk sediment and in intact, viable resting stages. Here, we assess the potential for combined use of ancient, environmental, DNA and timeseries of resurrected long-term dormant organisms, to reconstruct trophic interactions and evolutionary adaptation to changing environments. These new methods, coupled with independent evidence of biotic and abiotic forcing factors, can provide a holistic view of past ecosystems beyond that offered by standard palaeoecology, help us assess implications of ecological and molecular change for contemporary ecosystem functioning and services, and improve our ability to predict adaptation to environmental stress., Ellegaard et al. discuss the potential for using ancient environmental DNA (eDNA), combined with resurrection ecology, to analyse trophic interactions and evolutionary adaptation to changing environments. Their Review suggests that these techniques will improve our ability to predict genetic and phenotypic adaptation to environmental stress.

Introduction: The approach of acute tissue injury with the application of ice is routine practice, however, there is still no consensus on what is the ideal application time for the target temperatures to be obtained, the frequency of application and the duration of treatment. acute lesions with cryotherapy so that results are maximized. Objective: To verify the parameters of the use of cryotherapy in acute musculoskeletal injuries. Materials and methods: A search was performed in the electronic databases. Results: 22 articles were selected that fit the objectives and inclusion criteria for the elaboration of the results tables. Conclusion: Despite the methodological limitations it was observed that it is reasonable to indicate cryotherapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and prevention of unwanted effects of resistance exercise. Most evidence points to a treatment time of 10 to 15 minutes. It was also noted that most studies indicate a gradual return to activity performed in the immediate post-cryotherapy period, and warm-up is suggested before complete return. Evidence on the anti-inflammatory effects of cryotherapy was inconclusive and further studies are needed to clarify this issue. Keywords: Cryotherapy. Musculoskeletal system. Injuries Physiotherapy.

Introdução: A doença de Alzheimer é a forma mais comum de demência, apresentando uma prevalência estimada em 50 milhões a nível mundial. A insónia é a perturbação do sono mais frequente, sendo que as benzodiazepinas constituem a classe farmacológica mais utilizada no tratamento de alterações do sono. Considerando a tendência crescente da prevalência de insónia, verificou-se, consequentemente, um aumento significativo do uso de hipnóticos. O tratamento crónico com benzodiazepinas associa-se ao desenvolvimento de declínio cognitivo. Objetivo: Avaliar o recurso a benzodiazepinas aquando da presença de insónia, bem como o tempo de duração do tratamento, e a sua associação ao desenvolvimento de demência, nomeadamente doença de Alzheimer. Métodos: Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura até agosto de 2021 através de pesquisa nas bases de dados MEDLINE e EMBASE usando uma combinação de diferentes termos relacionados com doença de Alzheimer, insónia e benzodiazepinas. A revisão foi elaborada de acordo com a metodologia PRISMA-P 2020. A doença de Alzheimer foi o principal outcome avaliado. Resultados: Identificaram-se dois estudos que enquadravam o objetivo da revisão após análise de 840 resumos. Os dois artigos eram estudos de coorte, nomeadamente um estudo retrospetivo e um estudo prospetivo. Os participantes tinham idade igual ou superior a 50 anos e o uso de benzodiazepinas foi superior a um mês. A amostra que realizou tratamento com benzodiazepinas incluía um maior número de pessoas do sexo feminino, apresentava um maior número de comorbilidades, bem como um menor nível socioeconómico e menor nível de escolaridade. Os dois estudos apresentaram resultados contraditórios. No primeiro estudo verificou-se a associação entre o uso de benzodiazepinas e a doença de Alzheimer. No segundo estudo esta relação não se verificou apesar de ter sido demonstrada uma associação significativa entre o uso de benzodiazepinas e o declínio cognitivo sem demência associada. Conclusão: Face ao número reduzido de estudos realizados neste contexto e atendendo à relevância desta temática, conclui-se que é necessária investigação futura de forma a compreender a relação estudada, através da realização de estudos com uma amostra mais abrangente e com um tempo de follow-up mais alargado. Área temática: Clínica médica Formato desejado de apresentação: resumo - apresentação oral PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Alzheimer, Benzodiazepinas, Insónia

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is classified as a rheumatologic syndrome of clinical diagnosis based on the patient's complaint regarding the presence of diffuse pain, without trauma, noninflammatory, associated with cognitive and sleep disorders, as well as fatigue and stiffness. Described as the second most commonly found diagnosis in rheumatologic diseases, it triggers a negative impact on patients' functional capacity due to the complexity of its etiopathogenesis and its sequelae. Epidemiological data of this disease in patients from northern Brazil are nonexistent. General Objective: To outline the epidemiological profile of fibromyalgia in patients diagnosed at the rheumatology referral department of Gurupi-TO. Materials and Methods: We selected women aged 18 to 75 years, with a medical diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Through interviews, they answered the epidemiological survey questionnaires (with characterization of the sociodemographic profile and history of the disease) and level of disability (QIFR-Br). Results: The fibromyalgic sample from Southern Tocantins State presented an epidemiological profile and level of disability similar to the rest of Brazil, characterized by: women, with low education and high level of pain intensity and disability. Introducción: La fibromialgia se clasifica como un síndrome reumatológico de diagnóstico clínico basado en la queja del paciente respecto a la presencia de dolor difuso por más de tres meses, sin traumatismos, de carácter no inflamatorio, asociado a trastornos cognitivos y del sueño, además de fatiga. y rigidez. Descrito como el segundo diagnóstico más común en las enfermedades reumatológicas, impacta negativamente en la capacidad funcional de los pacientes debido a la complejidad de la etiopatogenia y sus secuelas. Los datos epidemiológicos sobre esta enfermedad en pacientes de la región norte de Brasil son escasos, lo que hace relevante esta investigación. Objetivo General: Trazar el perfil epidemiológico de la fibromialgia en pacientes diagnosticados en el servicio de referencia en reumatología de la ciudad de Gurupi-TO. Materiales y Métodos: Se seleccionaron 60 mujeres con edades entre 18 y 75 años, diagnosticadas con fibromialgia. A través de entrevistas, los voluntarios respondieron los cuestionarios de la encuesta epidemiológica (con caracterización del perfil sociodemográfico y la historia de la enfermedad). Resultados: La muestra de pacientes con fibromialgia del sur del Estado de Tocantins presentó un perfil epidemiológico similar al resto de Brasil, con baja escolaridad y altos niveles de intensidad del dolor. Introdução: A fibromialgia é considerada como uma síndrome reumatológica de diagnóstico clínico a partir do relato do paciente em relação à presença de algia difusa por mais de três meses, sem trauma, de caráter não inflamatório, associada a distúrbios cognitivos e do sono, além de fadiga e rigidez. Classificada como o segundo diagnóstico mais encontrado em doenças reumatológicas, impacta negativamente na capacidade funcional dos pacientes devido à complexidade da etiopatogenia e suas sequelas. Dados epidemiológicos desta enfermidade em pacientes do norte do Brasil são escassas, tornando tal pesquisa de relevância. Objetivo Geral: Traçar o perfil epidemiológico da fibromialgia em pacientes diagnosticadas do departamento de referência em reumatologia do município de Gurupi-TO. Materiais e Métodos: Foram selecionadas 60 mulheres com idade entre 18 e 75 anos, diagnosticadas com fibromialgia. Por meio de entrevista, as voluntárias responderam aos questionários de levantamento epidemiológico (com caracterização do perfil sociodemográfico e do histórico da doença). Resultados: A amostra de fibromiálgicas do Sul do Estado do Tocantins apresentou perfil epidemiológico similar ao restante do Brasil, com baixa escolaridade e elevados níveis de intensidade álgica.

Objective: Dornase alfa (rhDNase) reduces the viscosity of purulent sputum in the lungs. The use in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is proven. However, the evidence of its applicability to other conditions is limited. This study aims to present the authors’ experience with the use of rhDNase in non-CF patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). At the study center, rhDNase was used during flexible bronchoscopies in 24 cases, of which 20 (83%) had atelectasis and seven (29%) were admitted to PICU. Four patients (57%) were on invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). Case description: Two cases of daily rhDNase administration at PICU are presented: patient A was an 8-year-old boy admitted with septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The patient required mechanical ventilation with aggressive settings and experienced several clinical complications. On D50, he started rhDNase treatment with an improvement in FiO2, PaCO2 and PaO2/FiO2 ratio according to radiologic findings. He was extubated on D23 of treatment. Patient B was a 17-month-old girl admitted with a convulsive status epilepticus who experienced respiratory complications (infectious and barotrauma) with ARDS, requiring aggressive ventilation. She initiated rhDNase treatment on D60. During the treatment an improvement in FiO2, PaO2/FiO2 ratio and a tendency of PaCO2 decrease were found. She had radiological improvement. No complications were described. Comments: RhDNase may be a helpful and safe tool to use in PICU prolonged intubated patients with ventilator-induced lung injury. Further studies are needed to assess and propose valid indications.

The chapter “Definition of a Digital Tool to Create Physical Artifacts: The Case of the Gamers4Nature Project” was previously published non-open access. It has now been changed to open access under a CC BY 4.0 license and the copyright holder updated to ‘The Author(s)’. The book has also been updated with this change.

Collective excitations in regular structures of strongly interacting driven dipoles have been found to lead to strongly antibunched statistics of the emitted photons [g(2)(0)≪0.5], but precise control of the number of emitters and their spatial distribution is in general a complex experimental task. We overcome this limitation by showing quantum light emission from densely packed driven dipoles does not require their arrangement in any specific structure, pointing strongly towards possible single-photon sources based on hot thermal vapors confined within nanocells, or on irregular quantum dot ensembles., We would like to acknowledge support from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Grant No. EP/R002061/1, and Charles S. Adams and Thomas F. Cutler for fruitful discussions.

Public health measures adopted due to the COVID-19 pandemic made emergency remote learning the designated higher education delivery model under lockdowns, causing several transformations in the sector. Based on an online survey of 1009 students aged between 16 and 24 years old during 2021, this article examines the perceptions and experiences of distance education of a cohort dealing with the second lockdown in Portugal. It explores how young people perceived their student lives during the lockdown. More specifically, the study focuses on higher education experience, from learning conditions to pedagogical quality; expectations regarding academic life; and main concerns about academic (and professional) futures due to the lockdown’s effects. The results show that while some students adapted well to remote teaching, stressing its advantages in terms of time management and convenience, the majority disliked it because they had greater difficulty in following classes, not due to material and technical limitations, but rather for lack of socialisation and peer support. We discuss the value of a hidden curriculum for student engagement.

Assiste-se na atualidade a um vasto conjunto de desafios, que demonstram a fragilidade do planeta Terra e a efetiva necessidade do desenvolvimento humano ser sustentável (Begum et al., 2022). Para atenuar as muitas décadas de uso exaustivo dos recursos (OECD, 2022) e sentindo-se as consequências das alterações climáticas, torna-se necessário reforçar a adoção de um conjunto de ações, globais, integradas e integradoras, de modo a atenuar os efeitos do desenvolvimento humano (Begum et al., 2022). As ações para combater este problema têm de envolver a comunidade e ser estruturadas a nível local (UNESCO, 2020). Devem também decorrer em ambiente outdoor, em contacto direto com a realidade local, antecipando-se vantagens ao nível das aprendizagens (MEC, 2017) e ao nível do próprio bem-estar de quem delas beneficia (OECD, 2022; UNESCO, 2020). Assim, é importante promover ações que explorem o meio local e que façam dele um espaço de efetivas e proveitosas aprendizagens, consciencializando para a necessidade de um equilíbrio entre o ser humano e o planeta (MEC, 2017). published

Most humans carry mites in the hair follicles of their skin for their entire lives. Follicular mites are the only metazoans that continuously live on humans. We propose that Demodex folliculorum (Acari) represents a transitional stage from a host-injuring obligate parasite to an obligate symbiont. Here, we describe the profound impact of this transition on the genome and physiology of the mite. Genome sequencing revealed that the permanent host association of D. folliculorum led to an extensive genome reduction through relaxed selection and genetic drift, resulting in the smallest number of protein-coding genes yet identified among panarthropods. Confocal microscopy revealed that this gene loss coincided with an extreme reduction in the number of cells. Single uninucleate muscle cells are sufficient to operate each of the three segments that form each walking leg. While it has been assumed that the reduction of the cell number in parasites starts early in development, we identified a greater total number of cells in the last developmental stage (nymph) than in the terminal adult stage, suggesting that reduction starts at the adult or ultimate stage of development. This is the first evolutionary step in an arthropod species adopting a reductive, parasitic, or endosymbiotic lifestyle. Somatic nuclei show under-replication at the diploid stage. Novel eye structures or photoreceptors as well as a unique human host melatonin-guided day/night rhythm are proposed for the first time. The loss of DNA repair genes coupled with extreme endogamy might have set this mite species on an evolutionary dead-end trajectory., This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain, and co-financed by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (PGC2018-099344-B-I00 to A.L.) and Conselleria d’Educació, Generalitat Valenciana, Spain (PROMETEO/2018/133 to A.M.). SYNTAX-2010 from BBSRC, co-financed by The Linnean Society (UK) to M.A.P.

The expansion of mcr-carrying bacteria is a well-recognized public health problem. Measures to contain mcr spread have mainly been focused on the food-animal production sector. Nevertheless, the spread of MCR producers at the environmental interface particularly driven by the increasing population of gulls in coastal cities has been less explored. Occurrence of mcr-carrying Escherichia coli in gull's colonies faeces on a Portuguese beach was screened over 7 months. Cultural, molecular and genomic approaches were used to characterize their diversity, mcr plasmids and adaptive features. Multidrug-resistant mcr-1-carrying E. coli were detected for 3 consecutive months. Over time, multiple strains were recovered, including zoonotic-related pathogenic E. coli clones (e.g. B2-ST131-H22, A-ST10 and B1-ST162). Diverse mcr-1 genetic environments were mainly associated with ST2/ST4-HI2 (ST10, ST131, ST162, ST354 and ST4204) but also IncI2 (ST12990) plasmids or in the chromosome (ST656). Whole-genome sequencing revealed enrichment of these strains on antibiotic resistance, virulence and metal tolerance genes. Our results underscore gulls as important spreaders of high-priority bacteria and genes that may affect the environment, food-animals and/or humans, potentially undermining One-Health strategies to reduce colistin resistance. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia, A personalidade é uma dimensão amplamente estudada na psicologia nomeadamente no que concerne à sua influência no contexto social e consequentemente, nas dificuldades existentes no funcionamento interpessoal. A investigação sugere forte influência de um traço específico na experiência de problemas interpessoais generalizados, o Neuroticismo. Porém afirmam que todos os traços têm um papel importante no que diz respeito às relações interpessoais. Posto isto, o presente estudo utiliza uma amostra de 413 alunos universitários portugueses para perceber quais são as implicações da personalidade na experiência de problemas interpessoais no contexto relacional. Utiliza o Structural Summary Method, um método intermédio, para correlacionar os dados obtidos através dos dois instrumentos chave para este estudo: O BFI-2, para avaliar a personalidade tendo por base o Big-Five Personality Model e o IIP-32, para avaliar os problemas interpessoais tendo por base o Modelo do Circumplexo Interpessoal. Os resultados apontam para a presença de fortes qualidades interpessoais em especial na Extroversão e na Amabilidade, dado o seu excelente enquadramento no circumplexo interpessoal. Para além disso, confirmam os resultados de estudos prévios na medida em que o Neuroticismo parece estar em grande parte relacionado com a alta gravidade na experiência de problemas interpessoais no geral., Personality is a widely studied dimension in psychology, namely regarding its influence on the social context and, consequently, on the existing difficulties in interpersonal functioning. Research suggests a strong influence of a specific trait on the experience of generalized interpersonal problems, Neuroticism. However, they claim that all traits play an important role in interpersonal relationships. So, the present study uses a sample of 413 portuguese university students to understand the implications of personality in the experience of interpersonal problems in the relational context. It uses the Structural Summary Method, an intermediate method, to correlate the data obtained through the two key instruments for this study: The BFI-2, to assess personality based on the Big-Five Personality Model and the IIP-32, to assess interpersonal problems based on the Interpersonal Circumplex Model. The results point to the presence of strong interpersonal qualities, especially in Extraversion and Agreeableness, given their excellent framework in the interpersonal circumplex. Furthermore, they confirm the results of previous studies in that Neuroticism seems to be largely related to the high severity in the experience of interpersonal problems in general.

Climate warming and the resulting acceleration of freshwater discharge from the Greenland Ice Sheet are impacting Arctic marine coastal ecosystems, with implications for their biological productivity. To accurately project the future of coastal ecosystems and place recent trends into perspective, palaeo-records are essential. Here, we show runoff estimates from the late 19th century to the present day for a large sub-Arctic fjord system (Nuup Kangerlua, southwest Greenland) influenced by both marine- and land-terminating glaciers. We followed a multiproxy approach to reconstruct spatial and temporal trends in primary production from four sediment core records, including diatom fluxes and assemblage composition changes and biogeochemical and sedimentological proxies (total organic carbon, nitrogen, C/N ratio, biogenic silica, δ13C, δ15N, and grain-size distribution). We show that an abrupt increase in freshwater runoff in the mid-1990s was reflected by a 3-fold increase in biogenic silica fluxes in the glacier-proximal area of the fjord. In addition to increased productivity, freshwater runoff modulates the diatom assemblages and drives the dynamics and magnitude of the diatom spring bloom. Our records indicate that marine productivity is higher today than it has been at any point since the late 19th century and suggest that increased mass loss of the Greenland Ice Sheet may continue promoting high productivity levels at sites proximal to marine-terminating glaciers. We highlight the importance of palaeo-records in offering a unique temporal perspective on ice–ocean–ecosystem responses to climate forcing beyond existing remote sensing or monitoring time series.