Search

Introduction: Recently, university counseling services have been faced with an increasing number of students seeking psychological support. However, human resources and time constraints limit the services to respond adequately. Recently, national guidelines for Mental Health Services in Higher Education recommended the stepped care approach to increase efficiency. The present study aimed to explore the implementation of a stepped care model in a Portuguese public university, analyzing students’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and presenting the flow of the stepped care approach and the students’ waiting periods in each step. Methods: An observational study was conducted in the University of Coimbra’s health services between May 2019 and June 2021. Descriptive statistics were performed to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the sample, the flow of the stepped care approach, and students’ waiting periods. Results: We enrolled 295 students in the present study. The findings of this study revealed that over 40% had a clinical diagnosis of anxiety or depressive disorders. In terms of students’ flow within the stepped care model, 82% of students sought psychological help through self-referral. Concerning the implementation of the stepped care model, results have shown that most students wait less than a month to access each step. Discussion/Conclusions: Although preliminary, our results suggest that the stepped care model might be a useful service organization, mainly in a community in which accessibility to services and speed of response are particularly important. Most students being self-referred highlight the importance of direct contact between the university community and the health services. Additionally, anxiety and mood disorders were the most prevalent diagnoses in our sample, which also points to the relevance of a stepped care approach, since other studies have highlighted its advantages for this kind of clinical population.

OBJECTIVES:. Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a major driver of morbidity after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Quantitative pupillometry has been shown to be of prognostic value after acute neurological injury. However, the evidence for the use of pupillometric features for the detection of DCI has been conflicting. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of frequent pupillometric monitoring for DCI detection. DESIGN:. Observational cohort study from a prospective aSAH registry. SETTING:. Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS:. Adult patients with confirmed aSAH admitted to the ICU between March 2019 and December 2023. INTERVENTIONS:. None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:. One hundred fourteen patients were included, of which 31 (27.2%) suffered from DCI. All patients underwent frequent pupillometry (every 3 hr). We determined the absolute value of the neurological pupil index (NPi) and constriction velocity (CV), and their value normalized to the maximal recorded value between the admission and the pupillometry measure to account for personalized baselines. The association between pupillometry values and the occurrence of DCI within 6–24 hours was investigated. Normalized CV had the best discriminative performance to identify DCI within 8 hours, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69–0.91). NPi, as well as non-normalized metrics, were not significantly associated with DCI. CONCLUSIONS:. Normalized CV has a clinically and statistically significant association with the occurrence of DCI after aSAH. Frequent quantitative pupillometry could improve the multimodal monitoring of patients after aSAH with the goal of improving the identification of patients likely to benefit from therapeutic interventions.

Kidney transplantation is the gold standard treatment for end-stage renal disease, improving survival and quality of life compared to dialysis. However, the use of immunosuppressive therapy to prevent allograft rejection renders recipients vulnerable to infections, a major concern in the posttransplant period. Prophylaxis strategies are indispensable in minimizing infectious risks and optimizing patient outcomes. This narrative review synthesizes current prophylaxis strategies across pretransplant, peritransplant, and posttransplant phases, providing a comprehensive overview of indications, timing, dosing, and adverse effects. Pretransplant prophylaxis involves thorough screening for infections, updating immunization status, and managing latent infections. Peritransplant prophylaxis focuses on tailored antimicrobial approaches to mitigate surgical and donor-related infection risks during the perioperative period. Posttransplant prophylaxis is a crucial component against opportunistic infections, particularly focusing on preventing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and cytomegalovirus infection. This discussion encompasses the nuances of prophylactic regimens, highlighting the efficacy and challenges associated with the agents available and used in clinical practice. This review emphasizes the pivotal role of prophylaxis in minimizing infectious risks and optimizing outcomes in kidney transplant recipients, advocating for a proactive and multifaceted approach to infectious disease management in the transplant setting.

INTRODUCTION: Chimney EVAR (ChEVAR) for the treatment of complex abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has been largely relegated for when fenestrated endografts are unavailable, especially due to durability concerns. However, the off-the-shelf nature of ChEVAR makes it a good option for emergent AAA repair. We report our institutional experience in ChEVAR in an urgent setting. METHODS: ChEVAR procedures were collected from 2019 to 2023 in a tertiary hospital, and a retrospective analysis was performed. This includes gathered information from electronic medical records, surgical reports and the picture archiving system. Descriptive statistics were applied. The main endpoints were technical success, 30-day and 1-year survival. RESULTS: Five patients were submitted to urgent aneurysm repair using the chEVAR technique. Average age was 73,4 years and all patients were male. Arterial hypertension was present in 100% patients and all patients were ASA 4. Indications for surgery were post EVAR type 1a endoleak with associated rupture or abdominal pain in two patients; symptomatic/contained rupture of pararenal AAA in two patients; and contained rupture of a thoracoabdominal aneurysm in one patient. A total of eight target vessels were catheterized: two patients required single-vessel chimney and the remainder two-vessel chimney. Target vessels were two superior mesenteric arteries and six renal arteries. Technical success rate was 100% and 30-day mortality was 0%. There were no major complications. Follow-up time is 20.2 months (4.7-38). Target vessel patency during the follow-up period was 87.5%. Three patients (60%) died due to non-aortic related pathologies, on average 18 months after surgery (4.7-38), with a 1-year survival of 80%. CONCLUSION: Our experience with ChEVAR for emergent AAA repair is satisfactory, with high technical success rates and low short-term mortality. Sac regression, low rates of target vessel occlusion and type 1a endoleaks reveal a favourable profile for aneurysm exclusion. ChEVAR is a viable option in emergent setting for patients unfit for open repair.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is recognized as the second most prevalent primary chronic neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Clinically, PD is characterized as a movement disorder, exhibiting an incidence and mortality rate that is increasing faster than any other neurological condition. In recent years, there has been a growing interest concerning the role of the gut microbiota in the etiology and pathophysiology of PD. The establishment of a brain–gut microbiota axis is now real, with evidence denoting a bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut microbiota through metabolic, immune, neuronal, and endocrine mechanisms and pathways. Among these, the vagus nerve represents the most direct form of communication between the brain and the gut. Given the potential interactions between bacteria and drugs, it has been observed that the therapies for PD can have an impact on the composition of the microbiota. Therefore, in the scope of the present review, we will discuss the current understanding of gut microbiota on PD and whether this may be a new paradigm for treating this devastating disease.

Portugal is one of the major fish consumers in Europe and the World. According to the FAO and the WHO, fish consumption should be increasingly recommended in a healthy and sustainable diet, not only for the diversity of species but also for its health benefits to consumers. Fish is an essential source of nutrients, as it is low in fat content and high level of protein, vitamins, and minerals. In recent decades, this food group's consumption has increased and become available to consumers far from coastal areas. This study aimed to compare Atlantic Bonito samples captured in two seasons (Spring and Autumn) to characterise the seasonality of this specie regarding nutritional, chemical and sensorial properties. Parameters such as pH, water activity, moisture, protein, lipids, carbohydrates, chlorides, fibre, and ash were determined using the fish’s muscular tissue. A quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA®) was carried out with six semi-trained panellists. The fish attributes evaluated by the panellists were: characteristic colour, odour, and flavour; superficial shine; chipping; off-odour; ammoniacal and sea odour; hardness; juiciness; fibrousness; acid, bitter and sea/algae taste; and off-flavour. In order to compare not only seasonality but also the effect of the time during cooking, samples were divided into two batches: 5 and 10 min of cooking time. Results showed no significant differences in water activity, carbohydrates, chlorides, and fibre between fish fillets’ capture in Spring and Autumn (p?0.05). On the contrary, significant differences were found for moisture, protein, and ash between the fish fillets’ capture in Spring and Autumn (p>0.05). Regarding lipids content, Autumn fish samples were 6.32-fold higher than Spring fish samples (p

The local press finds its vocation in the community it addresses and in its territory of deployment, taking proximity as the main news value in the choice of events. The war in Ukraine, as an international theme, has imposed itself on the national media agenda, and, as such, we have proposed to evaluate its presence in the regional media agenda. For this case study, we have selected the local daily newspapers Diário As Beiras and Diário de Viseu (located in the center region of Portugal) and analyzed twelve consecutive editions of each newspaper, starting on the first day of the conflict, 24 February 2022. The results point to an appreciation of the event, either from an international perspective or through a regional lens, essentially evident in the coverage of solidarity actions and tributes. The sources used by the newspapers are mostly institutional, which leads us to a “seated journalism” in line with previous studies specific to the local press. This analysis also highlights the emphasis on the information obtained from the prism of sources on the Ukrainian side of the conflict, which, in the case of Diário de Viseu, is underlined by biased discourse and some marks of subjectivity.

Abstract The degree to which the adult human visual cortex retains the ability to functionally adapt to damage at the level of the eye remains ill-understood. Previous studies on cortical neuroplasticity primarily focused on the consequences of foveal visual field defects (VFD), yet these findings may not generalize to peripheral defects such as occur in glaucoma. Moreover, recent findings on neuroplasticity are often based on population receptive field (pRF) mapping, but interpreting these results is complicated in the absence of appropriate control conditions. Here, we used fMRI-based neural modeling to assess putative changes in pRFs associated with glaucomatous VFD. We compared the fMRI-signals and pRF in glaucoma participants to those of controls with case-matched simulated VFD. We found that the amplitude of the fMRI-signal is reduced in glaucoma compared to control participants and correlated with disease severity. Furthermore, while coarse retinotopic structure is maintained in all participants with glaucoma, we observed local pRF shifts and enlargements in early visual areas, relative to control participants. These differences suggest that the adult brain retains some degree of local neuroplasticity. This finding has translational relevance, as it is consistent with VFD masking, which prevents glaucoma patients from noticing their VFD and seeking timely treatment.

Editorial Moda e Economia Criativa.

O desporto é vivido com uma paixão exacerbada, um fenómeno com clara expressão no jornalismo de desporto, razão que parece justificar a existência de três jornais diários desportivos – A Bola, O Jogo e o Record -, em Portugal, um país onde, segundo o último Bareme Imprensa (2022), existem cerca de 5,7 milhões de leitores de jornais e revistas. No contexto desportivo, há uma modalidade que se destaca das demais, o futebol. Por conseguinte, nesta modalidade o foco principal está direcionado para os denominados “três grandes” do futebol português: o Futebol Clube do Porto, o Sporting Clube de Portugal e o Sport Lisboa e Benfica, cujos jogos, independentemente de se realizarem no âmbito das competições nacionais ou internacionais, são dissecados pela imprensa desportiva. No âmbito desta investigação, propusemo-nos a avaliar o destaque que as conquistas de diferentes modalidades, que não o futebol masculino, tiveram nas primeiras páginas dos três jornais desportivos portugueses ao longo do ano de 2021. Concluímos que mesmo perante conquistas ímpares, e em períodos fora das competições nacionais de futebol, as outras modalidades não conseguem o mesmo destaque que o futebol, o que confirma a tendência de “futebolização” do espaço do jornalismo de desporto.

IntroductionSchool educators are likely to explain the poor educational trajectories of students with Roma backgrounds related to the lack of parental support and interest in children’s education. Aiming to understand further the patterns of Roma group’s parental involvement in children’s school life and their engagement experiences in school-related activities, the current research set an intervention supported by a culturally sensitive story-tool.MethodGrounded in the intervention-based research framework, 12 participants (i.e., mothers) from different Portuguese Roma groups participated in this study. Data was collected through interviews conducted pre-and postintervention. Eight weekly sessions were delivered in the school context, using a story-tool and hands- on activities to generate culturally significant meanings regarding attitudes, beliefs, and values toward children’s educational trajectories.ResultsThrough the lens of acculturation theory, data analysis provided important findings under two overarching topics: patterns of parental involvement in children’s school life and participants’ engagement in the intervention program.DiscussionData show the distinct ways Roma parents participate in children’s education and the relevance of mainstream contexts providing an atmosphere likely to build collaborative relationships with parents to overcome barriers to parental involvement.

Introduction and Objectives: Center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs have been forced to close due to COVID-19. Alternative delivery models to maintain access to CR programs and to avoid physical inactivity should be considered. The aim of this study was to assess physical activity (PA) levels after completing a home-based digital CR program. Methods: A total of 116 cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients (62.6±8.9 years, 95 male) who had been attending a face-to-face CR program were recruited and assessed (baseline and at three months) on the following parameters: PA, sedentary behavior, adherence, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular symptoms, feelings toward the pandemic, dietary habits, risk factor control, safety and adverse events. The intervention consisted of a multidisciplinary digital CR program, including regular patient assessment, and exercise, educational and psychological group sessions. Results: Ninety-eight CVD patients successfully completed all the online assessments (15.5% drop-out rate). A favorable main effect of time was an increase in moderate to vigorous PA and a decrease in sedentary time at three months. Almost half of the participants completed at least one online exercise training session per week and attended at least one of the online educational sessions. No major adverse events were reported and only one minor event occurred. Conclusion: During the pandemic, levels of moderate to vigorous PA improved after three months of home-based CR in CVD patients with previous experience in a face-to-face CR model. Diversified CR programs with a greater variety of content tailored to individual preferences are needed to meet the motivational and clinical requirements of CVD patients. Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: Os programas convencionais de reabilitação cardíaca (RC) foram forçados a encerrar devido à Covid-19. Modelos alternativos para que os doentes tenham acesso a um programa de RC evitando a inatividade física devem ser considerados. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os níveis de atividade física (AF) de um programa digital de RC em casa. Métodos: Foram recrutados e avaliados (inicialmente e aos três meses) 116 doentes cardiovasculares (CV) (62,6±8,9 anos, 95 homens) que frequentavam um programa presencial de RC, nos seguintes parâmetros: AF, comportamento sedentário, adesão, sintomas CV e não CV, sentimentos face à pandemia, hábitos alimentares, fatores de risco, segurança e eventos adversos. A intervenção consistiu num programa digital multidisciplinar de RC, inclusive acompanhamento regular, sessões de exercício, de ensino e de psicologia em grupo. Resultados: Completaram com sucesso todas as avaliações online (15,5% drop-out) 98 pessoas com doença CV. Houve um efeito favorável no aumento da AF moderada a vigorosa e diminuição do tempo sedentário aos três meses. Quase metade da amostra fez, pelo menos, mais de uma sessão de exercício físico online por semana e assistiu a pelo menos uma das sessões educacionais online. Não se verificaram eventos major e registou-se apenas um minor. Conclusão: Em tempo de pandemia, os níveis de AF moderada a vigorosa melhoraram após três meses em doentes CV que frequentavam previamente um modelo presencial de RC. São necessários mais programas de RC com maior variedade de conteúdos adaptados à preferência individual para dar resposta às necessidades motivacionais e clínicas dos doentes CV.

Abstract The extensive genetic diversity of HIV-1 is a major challenge for the prevention and treatment of HIV-1 infections. Subtype C accounts for most of the HIV-1 infections in the world but has been mainly localized in Southern Africa, Ethiopia and India. For elusive reasons, South Brazil harbors the largest HIV-1 subtype C epidemic in the American continent that is elsewhere dominated by subtype B. To investigate this topic, we collected clinical data and viral sequences from 2611 treatment-naïve patients diagnosed with HIV-1 in Brazil. Molecular epidemiology analysis supported 35 well-delimited transmission clusters of subtype C highlighting transmission within South Brazil but also from the South to all other Brazilian regions and internationally. Individuals infected with subtype C had lower probability to be deficient in CD4+ T cells when compared to subtype B. The HIV-1 epidemics in the South was characterized by high female-to-male infection ratios and women-to-child transmission. Our results suggest that HIV-1 subtype C probably takes advantage of longer asymptomatic periods to maximize transmission and is unlikely to outcompete subtype B in settings where the infection of women is relatively less relevant. This study contributes to elucidate factors possibly underlying the geographical distribution and expansion patterns of the most spread HIV-1 subtypes.

Introdução – O síndroma de deficiência postural é uma disfunção propriocetiva multifatorial, com sintomatologia variada, que inclui alterações com impacto na performance visual, como a insuficiência de convergência e a astenopia. A medição do ponto próximo de convergência é usada no seu diagnóstico e exploração clínica, sendo influenciada pela velocidade do teste e pelo tamanho do estímulo. Definir o método mais eficaz para medir o ponto próximo de convergência e o ponto de astenopia é pertinente, pois permitirá uma avaliação mais exata das alterações nestes casos. Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar a exatidão das medições do ponto próximo de convergência e ponto de astenopia em casos de síndroma de deficiência postural e variações dos seus valores consoante o método usado. Métodos – Estudaram-se 39 pessoas, 27 com e 12 sem síndroma de deficiência postural, medindo o ponto próximo de convergência e ponto de astenopia com dois estímulos (régua de RAF standard e régua de RAF modificada) a duas velocidades (1cm e 3cm/s). Resultados – Não foram obtidos valores estatisticamente significativos em nenhum dos métodos de medição do ponto próximo de convergência. A régua de RAF a uma velocidade lenta é mais sensível para alterações do ponto de astenopia (AUC 0,761±0,084 erro padrão, p=0,010). A velocidade lenta gera valores do ponto próximo de convergência e do ponto de astenopia superiores, sobretudo no grupo com síndroma de deficiência postural. Conclusão – O método de medição influencia os valores dos parâmetros estudados. Não se obtiveram valores estatisticamente significativos na medição do ponto próximo de convergência. O método de medição do ponto de astenopia com pistas visuais a uma velocidade lenta tem maior exatidão.

Este artigo parte das experiências e debates decorridos após a crise do modernismo para abordar os diferentes entendimentos dos conceitos de participação, cooperação e projeto. Nesse sentido, Sérgio Ferro acrescenta a esse debate um enfoque nos estudos da produção e do canteiro. Pensando em como essas questões ainda refletem na produção contemporânea e na economia neoliberal, apresento o exemplo das casas incrementais do escritório Elemental como um ponto de distorção do conceito de participação.

In the past decade, unprecedented progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAVs). International collaborations and input from several fields (e.g. immunology, rheumatology, and nephrology) have been critical for analyzing demographics, disease manifestations, and outcomes in clinical research studies. Such efforts opened new avenues for generating novel questions and rationale to design better clinical trials. In addition, clinical research has been a source of several biological discoveries and the starting point for knowledge seeking on the pathophysiology of AAV. Interestingly, the blending of clinical and basic research provides a platform for personalized medicine. Despite recent revisions on AAV classification, the incorporation of new findings on disease genetics and immunologic responses may soon result in changes in clinical practice. These advances will enhance the selection of more specific and targeted therapies. However, current unmet needs in the management of AAV are still sizable and heavily impact long-term survival. Especially, frequent relapses, damage accrual, and high morbidity contribute to poor outcomes. Finally, the lack of defined biomarkers for disease activity and the prognosis is a permanent challenge in AAV research. Our work provides an overview of the current state of the art in AAV literature and suggests bridges for the remaining knowledge gaps. It offers potential future directions for the clinical assessment, management, and research in the field toward a more personalized medicine approach.

The tiger-fly Coenosia attenuata Stein (Diptera: Muscidae: Coenosiini) is a generalist predator that preys on several pests of greenhouse crops and is considered a biological control agent in the Mediterranean region. Previous behavioural observations identified its preferred prey, but a more in-depth evaluation will benefit from using Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification of prey DNA remains in the gut of this predator. To evaluate the rate of decay and suitability of this method for use in the field assessments, we carried out a laboratory feeding calibration experiment on 355 females of C. attenuata, which were killed at different intervals of time after ingestion (10 time points from 0 to 48 h). The prey species tested were: Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae: Trialeurodini), Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Cirrospilini), Bradysia impatiens (Johannsen) (Diptera: Sciaridae) and Drosophila mercatorum Patterson & Wheeler (Diptera: Drosophilidae: Drosophilini). Based on a probit model, amplification success of prey DNA declined exponentially with increasing time after ingestion. The half-time molecular detection differed between species, ranging from an average of 5 h for T. vaporariorum and D. isaea, 6 h for B. impatiens, 15 h for L. huidobrensis to more than 40 h for D. mercatorum. This study confirmed the feasibility of using DNA based detection to identify prey species in the gut contents of C. attenuata and provided calibration curves for a better understanding of predation activity in this agroecosystem.

Preventing degeneration and the loss of dopaminergic neurons (DAn) in the brain while mitigating motor symptoms remains a challenge in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) treatment development. In light of this, developing or repositioning potential disease-modifying approaches is imperative to achieve meaningful translational gains in PD research. Under this concept, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has revealed promising perspectives in preserving the dopaminergic system capability and modulating PD mechanisms. Although NAC has been shown to act as an antioxidant and (neuro)protector of the brain, it has yet to be acknowledged how this repurposed drug can improve motor symptomatology and provide disease-modifying properties in PD. Therefore, in the present work, we assessed the impact of NAC on motor and histological deficits in a striatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model of PD. The results revealed that NAC enhanced DAn viability, as we found that it could restore dopamine transporter (DAT) levels compared to the untreated 6-OHDA group. Such findings were positively correlated with a significant amelioration in the motor outcomes of the 6-OHDA-treated animals, demonstrating that NAC may, somehow, be a modulator of PD degenerative mechanisms. Overall, we postulated a proof-of-concept milestone concerning the therapeutic application of NAC. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to understand the complexity of this drug and how its therapeutical properties interact with the cellular and molecular PD mechanisms.

Introduction: With the increase in longevity and decline in the physical, psychological and social function of the elderly, it is essential to understand the sociodemographic and health conditions that contribute to frailty. Objectives: To analyze the frailty profile of the elderly in a health unit in northern Portugal and to identify their willingness to join a specific program. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with 173 elderly people living at home and enrolled in a Health Unit. As a data collection instrument, a survey was carried out by telephone, containing sociodemographic and health data and the Tilburg frailty index (TFI). Results: A predominantly female sample with a mean age of 81.11 years, mostly married, with several comorbidities and polymedicates. The representation of frailty was 60.7%, with this condition significantly associated with gender, marital status, number of chronic diseases, polymedication and self-perceived health. For the majority of the elderly (83.8%), the condition of frailty is cumulatively influenced by physical, psychological and social dimensions. Conclusion: Fragility is a prevalent condition and the profile is associated with a set of characteristics in which it is possible to intervene, slowing the progression of fragility that occurs with aging.

An experimental study was designed to analyze the effect of school-based training in self-regulation learning strategies on academic performance (Mathematics, Sciences, Language, and English). Class-level variables (i.e., gender, the teacher’s teaching experience, class size) were considered and the effects of the intervention were measured at the end of the intervention and 3 months later. A sample of 761 students from 3rd and 4th grades (356 in the control condition and 405 in the experimental condition), from 14 schools, participated in the study. Data were analyzed using three-level analysis with within-student measurements at level 1, between-students within-classes at level 2, and between-classes at level 3. Data showed a positive effect of the intervention on student performance, both at post-test (d = 0.25) and at follow-up (d = 0.33) considering the four school subjects together. However, the effect was significant just at follow-up when subjects were considered separately. Student performance was significantly related to the students’ variables (i.e., gender, level of reading comprehension) and the context (teacher gender and class size). Finally, students’ gender and level of reading comprehension, as well as the teacher’s gender, were found to moderate the effect of the intervention on students’ academic performance. Two conclusions were highlighted: first, data emphasize the importance of considering time while conducting intervention studies. Second, more teaching experience does not necessarily translate into improvements in the quality of students’ instruction.

Abstract Analysis of refractive outcomes, using biometry data collected with a new biometer (Pentacam-AXL, OCULUS, Germany) and a reference biometer (Lenstar LS 900, HAAG-STREIT AG, Switzerland), in order to assess differences in the predicted and actual refraction using different formulas. Prospective, institutional study, in which intraocular lens (IOL) calculation was performed using the Haigis, SRK/T and Hoffer Q formulas with the two systems in patients undergoing cataract surgery between November 2016 and August 2017. Four to 6 weeks after surgery, the spherical equivalent (SE) was derived from objective refraction. Mean prediction error (PE), mean absolute error (MAE) and the median absolute error (MedAE) were calculated. The percentage of eyes within ± 0.25, ± 0.50, ± 1.00, and ± 2.00 D of MAE was determined. 104 eyes from 76 patients, 35 males (46.1%), underwent uneventful phacoemulsification with IOL implantation. Mean SE after surgery was − 0.29 ± 0.46 D. Mean prediction error (PE) using the SRK/T, Haigis and Hoffer Q formulas with the Lenstar was significantly different (p > 0.0001) from PE calculated with the Pentacam in all three formulas. Percentage of eyes within ± 0.25 D MAE were larger with the Lenstar device, using all three formulas. The difference between the actual refractive error and the predicted refractive error is consistently lower when using Lenstar. The Pentacam-AXL user should be alert to the critical necessity of constant optimization in order to obtain optimal refractive results.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multidimensional psychiatric disorder that is estimated to affect around 350 million people worldwide. Generating valid and effective animal models of depression is critical and has been challenging for neuroscience researchers. For preclinical studies, models based on stress exposure, such as unpredictable chronic mild stress (uCMS), are amongst the most reliable and used, despite presenting concerns related to the standardization of protocols and time consumption for operators. To overcome these issues, we developed an automated system to expose rodents to a standard uCMS protocol. Here, we compared manual (uCMS) and automated (auCMS) stress-exposure protocols. The data shows that the impact of the uCMS exposure by both methods was similar in terms of behavioral (cognition, mood, and anxiety) and physiological (cell proliferation and endocrine variations) measurements. Given the advantages of time and standardization, this automated method represents a step forward in this field of preclinical research.

The development of reading skills foresees fluency in reading. Prior research has shown that during periods of absence from school, students are prone to showing setbacks in their learning. However, the literature presents mixed findings, possibly explained by the families’ socioeconomic statuses. The present study aims to analyze fluctuations in learning acquisition, specifically in reading fluency, during the pandemic, when all students were absent from school for several months. Data were collected in two waves. The present study combines quantitative and qualitative data with an explanatory sequential approach. Participants were 52 3rd-graders and their teachers. The latter were enrolled in two-member check sessions. Statistically significant differences in speed (lower than expected) and prosody (higher than expected) were found between the two sessions. Considering ASE support (financial support for low-income families from the Portuguese government), data indicate that students benefiting from this support showed performances in accuracy and speed below the expected. Prosody scores were above the expected at both sessions. Findings may provide relevant insights to further understand fluctuations in students’ reading fluency during long periods of absence from school; for example, data could help prevent learning setbacks due to summer vacations.

Non-secretory multiple myeloma is a rare form of the disease that presents a diagnostic challenge. A 69-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a pathological fracture of the right clavicle, along with a history of asthenia and middle back pain in the preceding three months. Workup revealed multiple focal lytic bone lesions in the clavicles, ribs, skull and thoracic- lumbar-sacral spine, without evidence of anemia, hypercalcemia or renal failure, with no abnormal immunofixation in the serum or urine and with normal serum free light chain ratios. The Iliac crest bone marrow aspiration and biopsy revealed a scarcely involved marrow, However, biopsy of one of the focal bone lesions revealed a hypercellular bone marrow with phenotypically abnormal plasmocytes, along with an intriguing, albeit aberrant, cytokeratin expression. Non-secretory multiple myeloma is in itself a rare diagnosis. However, the combination of a patchy marrow involvement and aberrant cytokeratin expression makes this a noteworthy presentation.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. Clinically, it is characterized by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (DAn), resulting in severe motor complications. Preclinical and clinical studies have indicated that neuroinflammation can play a role in PD pathophysiology, being associated with its onset and progression. Nevertheless, several key points concerning the neuroinflammatory process in PD remain to be answered. Bearing this in mind, in the present review, we cover the impact of neuroinflammation on PD by exploring the role of inflammatory cells (i.e., microglia and astrocytes) and the interconnections between the brain and the peripheral system. Furthermore, we discuss both the innate and adaptive immune responses regarding PD pathology and explore the gut–brain axis communication and its influence on the progression of the disease.

The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is considered to be the main pest in the vineyards of the Douro Demarcated Region (DDR) due to the economic losses it can cause. Damage is caused by the larvae of this pest feeding on grape clusters, rendering them susceptible to Botrytis cinerea in mid-season and leading to the development of primary and secondary rot at harvest. Understanding this pest´s behaviour in the region under future climate scenarios is an increasing challenge. Hence, the present study aims to assess the potential effects of two likely climate change scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) on Lobesia botrana phenology, particularly at the beginning and at the peak of the three Lobesia botrana flights. Our findings show that the phenological events generally occur earlier in all locations and mostly during the long-term period of 2021–2080, being 7 to 12 days in advance in the RCP4.5 scenario, and 15 to 24 days in advance in RCP8.5, when compared to current values (2000–2019) and regardless of the flight number. These results suggest that a fourth complete flight is likely in the future, and that Lobesia botrana will become a tetravoltine species in the region. The flight (male catches) and infestation of Lobesia botrana over periods with daily temperatures above its upper limit of development (> 33 °C) were also analysed during the period 2000–2019 in the targeted sites. The upward trend in the number of days with maximum temperature above 33 °C tended to be accompanied by a decrease in the total number of male catches during the second and third flights, as well as a decrease in the percentage of attacked bunches by the second and third generations. Overall, climate change is expected to influence the phenology of this pest in the DDR.

Abstract Human‐mediated introductions of species may have profound impacts on native ecosystems. One potential impact with largely unforeseen consequences is the potential admixture of introduced with autochthonous species through hybridization. Throughout the world, bumblebees have been deliberately introduced for crop pollination with known negative impacts on native pollinators. Given the likely allochthonous origin of commercial bumblebees used in Portugal (subspecies Bombus terrestris terrestris and B. t. dalmatinus), our aim was to assess their putative introgression with the native Iberian subspecies B. terrestris lusitanicus. We analysed one mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) and genomic data involving thousands of genome‐wide restriction‐site‐associated DNA markers (RAD‐seq). In the mitochondrial COX1 analyses, we detected one relatively common haplotype in commercial bumblebees, also present in wild samples collected nearby the greenhouses where the commercial hives are used. In the RAD‐seq analysis, we found a clear genetic differentiation between native and commercial lineages. Furthermore, we detected candidate hybrids in the wild, as well as putatively escaped commercial bumblebees, some of which being potentially fertile males. Although we cannot assess directly the fitness effects of introgressed alleles, there is a risk of maladaptive allele introgression to the local bumblebee subspecies, which can negatively impact autochthon populations. One immediate recommendation to farmers is for the proper disposal of hive boxes, after their use in greenhouses, so as to minimize the risk of escapees contaminating native populations. On the other hand, the feasibility of using local subspecies B. t. lusitanicus, preferably with local production, should be evaluated.

The chestnut tree is an important forestry species worldwide, as well as a valuable food resource. Over recent years, Portugal has shown an increasing trend in chestnut tree area, as well as increases in production, hinting at the socioeconomic relevance of this agro-forestry species. In this study, bioclimatic indices are applied to analyse the spatial distribution of chestnut trees in mainland Portugal, namely growing degree days (GDD; 1900–2400 °C), annual mean temperature (AMT; 8–15 °C), summer days with maximum temperature below 32 °C (NTX), and annual precipitation (PRE; 600–1600 mm). These indices are assessed for the baseline (IBERIA01, 1989–2005) and future climates (EURO-CORDEX: 2021–2040, 2041–2060, and 2061–2080) under two forcing pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5), also taking into account the chestnut tree land cover. For the baseline, the GDD showed only 10% suitability for chestnut tree cultivation in southern Portugal, whereas much higher values are found in the north of the country, and at higher altitudes (50–90%). For the AMT, higher elevation areas in northern Portugal show almost 100% suitability. Concerning NTX, the suitability reduces from the west (100–90%) to the east (40%). Regarding PRE, the suitability is heterogeneous throughout the territory, with areas under 50%. A new Chestnut Suitability Index (CSI) was then computed, which incorporates information from the four previous indices. The CSI reveals a suitability ranging from 100 to 75% in the north, while central and southern Portugal show values from 25 to 50%. For future climates, a progressive reduction in CSI was found, particularly for RCP8.5 and in the long-term period. Changes in bioclimatic conditions may restrict the 100% suitability to a narrow area in the north of the country. These reductions in chestnut bioclimatic suitability may have socio-economic and ecological implications for the management of the important agro-forestry species.

.

As fontes de informação são um ativo fundamental para os meios de comunicação e permitem ao jornalista aceder aos acontecimentos. Face à situação vivida em Portugal entre 5 de março de 2020 e 7 de maio de 2020, período de confinamento motivado pelo novo coronavírus e pela doença COVID19, foi nosso objetivo tentar compreender de que forma a imprensa local abordou o assunto da doença, nomeadamente quais os géneros jornalísticos dominantes e qual a tipologia de fontes mais marcantes nas edições publicadas neste período. Centrámos a nossa análise no semanário Jornal da Bairrada e, de acordo com modelo taxonómico para a classificação das fontes de informação criado por Felisbela Lopes (2016), concluímos que existe uma dependência das fontes de informação, com uma primazia das fontes mais próximas e com um claro predomínio das fontes humanas. Esta análise envolveu dez edições, num total de 259 artigos, que abordavam direta ou indiretamente o vírus ou a doença, e entre as fontes humanas, evidencia-se também uma preferência pelas fontes profissionais, que falam em nome de um grupo, de um coletivo ou de uma classe profissional, bem como das fontes catalogadas como oficiais e que representam instituições públicas. No quadro de análise aos géneros jornalísticos, o estudo demonstrou, ainda, o recurso significativo a breves e a notícias como forma de comunicar os assuntos relativos às temáticas do novo coronavírus e da COVID19.

Objectives: To describe our experience with a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak within a large rheumatology department early in the pandemic.Methods: Symptomatic and asymptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) had a naso-oropharyngeal swab for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and were followed clinically. Reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR) was repeated to document cure, and serological response was assessed. Patients with risk contacts within the department in the 14 days preceding the outbreak were screened for COVID-19 symptoms.Results: 14/34 HCWs (41%; 40 ± 14 years, 71% female) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and 11/34 (32%) developed symptoms but were RT-PCR-negative. Half of RT-PCR-positive HCWs did not report fever, cough, or dyspnea before testing, which were absent in 3/14 cases (21%). Mild disease prevailed (79%), but 3 HCWs had moderate disease requiring further assessment, which excluded severe complications. Nevertheless, symptom duration (28 ± 18 days), viral shedding (31 ± 10 days post-symptom onset, range 15–51), and work absence (29 ± 28 days) were prolonged. 13/14 (93%) of RT-PCR-positive and none of the RT-PCR-negative HCWs had a positive humoral response Higher IgG indexes were observed in individuals over 50 years of age (14.5 ± 7.7 vs. 5.0 ± 4.4, p = 0.012). Of 617 rheumatic patients, 8 (1.3%) developed COVID-19 symptoms (1/8 hospitalization, 8/8 complete recovery), following a consultation/procedure with an asymptomatic (7/8) or mildly symptomatic (1/8) HCW.Conclusions: A COVID-19 outbreak can occur among HCWs and rheumatic patients, swiftly spreading over the presymptomatic stage. Mild disease without typical symptoms should be recognized and may evolve with delayed viral shedding, prolonged recovery, and adequate immune response in most individuals.

Cervical spinal cord trauma represents more than half of the spinal cord injury (SCI) cases worldwide. Respiratory compromise, as well as severe limb motor deficits, are among the main consequences of cervical lesions. In the present work, a Gellan Gum (GG)-based hydrogel modified with GRGDS peptide, together with adipose tissue-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) and olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), was used as a therapeutic strategy after a C2 hemisection SCI in rats. Hydrogel or cells alone, and a group without treatment, were also tested. Four weeks after injury, compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were performed to assess functional phrenic motor neuron (PhMN) innervation of the diaphragm; no differences were observed amongst groups, confirming that the PhMN pool located between C3 and C5 was not affected by the C2 injury or by the treatments. In the same line, the vast majority of diaphragmatic neuromuscular junctions remained intact. Five weeks post-injury, inspiratory bursting of the affected ipsilateral hemidiaphragm was evaluated through EMG recordings of dorsal, medial and ventral subregions of the muscle. All treatments significantly increased EMG amplitude at the ventral portion in comparison to untreated animals, but only the combinatorial group presented increased EMG amplitude at the medial portion of the hemidiaphragm. No differences were observed in forelimb motor function, neither in markers for axonal regrowth (neuronal tracers), astrogliosis (GFAP) and inflammatory cells (CD68). Moreover, using Von Frey testing of mechanical allodynia, it was possible to find a significant effect of the group combining hydrogel and cells on hypersensitivity; rats with a SCI displayed an increased response of the contralateral forelimb to a normally innocuous mechanical stimulus, but after treatment with the combinatorial therapy this behavior was reverted almost to the levels of uninjured controls. These results suggest that our therapeutic approach may have beneficial effects on both diaphragmatic recovery and sensory function.

Introdução: O fenómeno da tabloidização dos media, assente no predomínio de conteúdos leves, domínio do visual e hiperconcorrência tem uma expressão mais acentuada face às pressões comerciais que cercam o setor dos meios de comunicação social. Objetivos: Avaliar as capas dos quatro jornais diários generalistas portugueses durante um ano, de modo a compreender se as caraterísticas formais da tabloidização têm expressão nestes periódicos. Métodos: Através de uma análise direta de 54 capas de cada diário, e com base no esquema proposto por Colin Sparks (2000), quantificámos o número de destaques e de imagens nas primeiras páginas e categorizámos esses destaques face ao enfoque (público ou privado) e face à temática (leves ou sérias). Resultados: Concluímos que o Correio da Manhã e o Jornal de Notícias são os títulos de imprensa onde as caraterísticas do fenómeno da tabloidização são mais visíveis. Em sentido contrário, o Jornal i e o Público são os diários que apresentam menos indícios de tabloidização. Conclusões: A tabloidização está presente de forma mais visível nos dois jornais diários generalistas que são líderes de mercado, o que vai ao encontro da corrente que defende que o tratamento jornalístico de temáticas mais leves pode ser uma forma de contornar a crise dos media.

Recent evidence suggests that neural stem cell (NSC) fate is highly dependent on mitochondrial bioenergetics. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), an endogenous neuroprotective bile acid and a metabolic regulator, stimulates NSC proliferation and enhances adult NSC pool in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we dissected the mechanism triggered by this proliferation-inducing molecule, namely in mediating metabolic reprogramming. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based detection of differential proteomics revealed that TUDCA reduces the mitochondrial levels of the long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD), an enzyme crucial for β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids (FA). TUDCA impact on NSC mitochondrial proteome was further confirmed, including in neurogenic regions of adult rats. We show that LCAD raises throughout NSC differentiation, while its silencing promotes NSC proliferation. In contrast, nuclear levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP-1), a major transcription factor of lipid biosynthesis, changes in the opposite manner of LCAD, being upregulated by TUDCA. In addition, alterations in some metabolic intermediates, such as palmitic acid, also supported the TUDCA-induced de novo lipogenesis. More interestingly, a metabolic shift from FA to glucose catabolism appears to occur in TUDCA-treated NSCs, since mitochondrial levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase E1-α (PDHE1-α) were significant enhanced by TUDCA. At last, the mitochondria-nucleus translocation of PDHE1-α was potentiated by TUDCA, associated with an increase of H3-histones and acetylated forms. In conclusion, TUDCA-induced proliferation of NSCs involves metabolic plasticity and mitochondria-nucleus crosstalk, in which nuclear PDHE1-α might be required to assure pyruvate-derived acetyl-CoA for histone acetylation and NSC cycle progression.

Infections remain an important cause of death among hemodialysis patients. This population have a higher risk of candidemia. Candida endocarditis it´s a rare but frequently fatal complication of candidemia.A 64 year-old female presented with a purulent discharge at the insertion site of a hemodialysis tunneled cuff catheter. A catheter related bloodstream infection was suspected, cultures were obtained and wide-spectrum antibiotic therapy was administered. A multi sensitive Candida albicans was isolated. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a large vegetation located in the superior vena cava, in probable relation with a previous catheter. The first approach was antifungal treatment. Due to non-response, she did a surgical removal of the vegetation. Culture of the vegetation showed the same as the blood cultures. After one year she has no signs of relapse.To improve the prognosis of this high mortality condition a high index of suspicion is necessary for early diagnosis and timely intervention.

Superficial femoral artery (SFA) aneurysms are rare clinical disorders, with few case reports and small series published concerning atherosclerotic aneurysms. We report a clinical case a giant aneurysm of the SFA, in a patient previously submitted to extensive SFA endarterectomy and vein angioplasty. A 73-year-old man presented at a routine vascular surgery consultation. The patient had been submitted to a right SFA endartectomy and vein patch angioplasty, sixteen years ago, for intermittent claudication. Physical examination demon- strated a large pulsatile mass of the right thigh. His right pedal pulse was palpable. Ultrasound and computed tomography scan confirmed a 78x71x240mm aneurysm of the right superficial femoral artery. He was proposed to aneurysmectomy and femoro-popliteal bypass. During operative intervention, proximal and distal control was obtained and the aneurysm opened. A large amount of thrombus was removed and a femoro-popliteal bypass was performed using the ipsilateral great saphenous vein. The postoperative period was uneventful, as was the patient recovery. In our report, the aneurysmal area matched precisely to the endarterectomised area and no other aneurysms were found. So we are facing an uncommon case of a SFA degeneration into a giant aneurysm after extensive endarterectomy and vein angioplasty.

The European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana; Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775) is considered a key pest for grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) in the Douro Region, Portugal. The phenology of both the grapevine and the pest has changed in the last decades due to the increase in temperature. Here, we assess the potential impact of climate change on the (a)synchrony of both species. The results show that the phenological stages (budburst, flowering and veraison) undergo an advancement throughout the region (at an ~1 km resolution) under a climate change scenario (Representative Concentration Pathways, RCP8.5) for the period 2051–2080, with respect to the historic period (1989–2015). For cv. Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, the budburst advances up to 14 days, whereas for flowering and veraison the advancements are up to 10 days (mainly at low elevations along the Douro River). For the phenology of Lobesia botrana, earliness was also verified in the three flights (consequently there may be more generations per year), covering the entire region. Furthermore, the third flight advances further compared to the others. For both varieties, the interaction between the third flight (beginning and peak) and the veraison date is the most relevant modification under the future climate change scenario (RCP8.5, 2051–2080). The aforementioned outcomes from the phenology models help to better understand the possible shifts of both trophic levels in the region under future climate, giving insights into their future interactions.

The implications of weather and climate extremes on the viticulture and winemaking sector can be particularly detrimental and acquire more relevance under a climate change context. A four-member ensemble of the Regional Climate Model-Global Climate Model chain simulations is used to evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on indices of extreme temperature and precipitation, as well as on agroclimatic indices of viticultural suitability in the Douro Wine Region, Portugal, under current and future climate conditions, following the RCP8.5 anthropogenic radiative forcing scenario. Historical (1989–2005) and future (2051–2080) periods are considered for this purpose. Although model outputs are bias-corrected to improve the accuracy of the results, owing to the sensitivity of the climatic indicators to the specific bias correction method, the performance of the linear and quantile mapping methods are compared. The results hint at the importance of choosing the most accurate method (quantile mapping), not only in replicating extremes events but also in reproducing the accumulated agroclimatic indices. Significant differences between the bias correction methods are indeed found for the number of extremely warm days (maximum temperature > 35 °C), number of warm spells, number of warm spell days, number of consecutive dry days, the Dryness Index, and growing season precipitation. The Huglin Index reveals lower sensitivity, thus being more robust to the choice of the method. Hence, an unsuitable bias correction method may hinder the accuracy of climate change projections in studies heavily relying on derived extreme indices and agroclimatic indicators, such as in viticulture. Regarding the climate change signal, significant warming and drying trends are projected throughout the target region, which is supported by previous studies, but also accompanied by an increase of intensity, frequency, and duration of extreme events, namely heatwaves and dry spells. These findings thereby corroborate the need to adopt timely and effective adaptation strategies by the regional winemaking sector to warrant its future sustainability and enhance climate resilience.

The success of antiretroviral treatment (ART) is threatened by the emergence of drug resistance mutations (DRM). Since Brazil presents the largest number of people living with HIV (PLWH) in South America we aimed at understanding the dynamics of DRM in this country. We analyzed a total of 20,226 HIV-1 sequences collected from PLWH undergoing ART between 2008–2017. Results show a mild decline of DRM over the years but an increase of the K65R reverse transcriptase mutation from 2.23% to 12.11%. This increase gradually occurred following alterations in the ART regimens replacing zidovudine (AZT) with tenofovir (TDF). PLWH harboring the K65R had significantly higher viral loads than those without this mutation (p < 0.001). Among the two most prevalent HIV-1 subtypes (B and C) there was a significant (p < 0.001) association of K65R with subtype C (11.26%) when compared with subtype B (9.27%). Nonetheless, evidence for K65R transmission in Brazil was found both for C and B subtypes. Additionally, artificial neural network-based immunoinformatic predictions suggest that K65R could enhance viral recognition by HLA-B27 that has relatively low prevalence in the Brazilian population. Overall, the results suggest that tenofovir-based regimens need to be carefully monitored particularly in settings with subtype C and specific HLA profiles.

Aiming to discuss about social division of labour and how it appears in the fashion design field, in addition to debate about the social role of fashion designer in the production chain, this paper presents two opposing notions that aim to explain important changes that have occurred in industrial society in the second half of twentieth century: “post-industrial society” of the author Daniel Bell, and “late capitalism” from Ernst Mandel. Each of these theories come from different ideological positions and impacts on the field of design with regard to theoretical production and the professional qualification and practices of designers. Thus, through bibliographic research, we began this paper with a reflection on the materiality and immateriality production in design. Then we confront these two important theoretical currents and relate them to others that we believe to be arising from one of them – "end of work", "design as a process" – and to objective and concrete issues of one of the design branches in which material production and the huge number of workers are undeniable: the fashion design field. Among these issues are the social division of labour and the propagation of the mythical notion of the individual creator, even propagated by the education system.

Immune responses mediated by T cells are aimed at specific peptides, designated T cell epitopes, that are recognized when bound to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules. The HLA genes are remarkably polymorphic in the human population allowing a broad and fine-tuned capacity to bind a wide array of peptide sequences. Polymorphisms might generate neoepitopes by impacting the HLA-peptide interaction and potentially alter the level and type of generated T cell responses. Multiple algorithms and tools based on machine learning (ML) have been implemented and are able to predict HLA-peptide binding affinity with considerable accuracy. Challenges in this field include the availability of adequate epitope datasets for training and benchmarking and the development of fully integrated pipelines going from next-generation sequencing to neoepitope prediction and quality analysis metrics. Effectively predicting neoepitopes from in silico data is a demanding task that has been facilitated by ML and will be of great value for the future of personalized immunotherapies against cancer and other diseases.

Leadership is an essential element for promoting innovation. The literature has primarily focused on the effect of “constructive” leadership on innovation, although numerous studies point out that destructive leadership affects organizational performance. However, such literature pays little attention to the relationship between destructive leadership and innovation. This study uses an online survey of 210 employees from 80 Portuguese firms in different sectors, to test the effect of destructive leadership on behavioural innovation and how a caring climate influences such relationship. The analysis uses multiple linear regressions to test the hypotheses. Findings reveal that destructive leadership has a negative effect on innovation and on caring climate. The results show that a caring climate influences innovation in a positive way that mitigates the relationship between destructive leadership and innovation.

Wildlife-based ecotourism has been stated as an efficient tool to promote the conservation of endangered species and habitats. These activities also aim to create economic revenue for local communities. Likewise, ecotourism, intends to involve these communities in the management of the conservation programs and develop educational activities, either for children, locals, or tourists, in order to increase awareness about target species and habitats. This study addressed the recent ecotourism activities in the observation of sea turtles which are being developed in São Tomé and Príncipe. These charismatic marine reptiles are vulnerable or endangered due to human activities, such as meat and egg consumption, illegal trade, habitat loss, climatic change, pollution and fisheries bycatch. Therefore, ecotourism using flagship species, like a sea turtle, establishes a sustainable alternative to destructive activities, promoting the country’s environmental, economic and social development, the three pillars of sustainability. In this context, the objective of this study is to know the potential of São Tomé and Príncipe as a turtle watching-based ecotourism destination. An exploratory analysis was carried out through two questionnaires (one focused to the Morro Peixe’s local community and another to the tourists that were engaged in turtle watching activities), in order to know the perception of the inhabitants and tourists regarding the programs and initiatives for the conservation of sea turtles. Despite the awareness that already exists among inhabitants regarding the conservation of sea turtles, the results showed that they do not straightforwardly accept the prohibition for the capture of sea turtles, but most of the population of Morro de Peixe is receptive to changes in the community regarding their protection. In fact, the population is beginning to recognize that tourism, due to the protection given to these endangered species, may become (in the medium term) a sustainable source of income. Regarding tourists’ profile, these are mostly Portuguese, with a high level of education and income. They are well informed about the need for sea turtle conservation and seek to carry out tourism activities that pursue this protection. In fact, this also demonstrates the potential the country has as a turtle watching-based ecotourism destination.