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RESUMEN Introducción y objetivos: En pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (IAMCEST), el retraso en el tratamiento afecta de manera importante los resultados. El efecto del horario de atención en los pacientes con IAMCEST es dudoso cuando la intervención coronaria percutánea (ICP) es la estrategia de reperfusión preferida. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la asociación entre los resultados del IAMCEST y el momento de la admisión en un centro con ICP del suroeste de Europa. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo en el que se analizaron los datos electrónicos locales de 1.222 pacientes consecutivos con IAMCEST tratados con ICP. El horario de atención laboral se definió como la admisión de lunes a viernes de 8 a 18 horas, en días no festivos. Resultados: Un total de 439 pacientes (36%) ingresaron en horario laboral y 783 (64%) se admitieron fuera del horario. Las características iniciales estaban bien equilibradas entre los grupos, incluyendo el porcentaje de pacientes ingresados en shock cardiogénico (en horario laboral el 5% y fuera del horario laboral el 4%; p = 0,62). La mediana de tiempo desde el primer contacto médico hasta la reperfusión no fue diferente entre los 2 grupos (dentro del horario laboral 120 min y fuera del horario laboral 123 min; p = 0,54). No se observó asociación entre el tiempo de admisión y la mortalidad hospitalaria (dentro del horario laboral el 5% y fuera del horario laboral el 5%; p = 0,90) ni la mortalidad a 1 año (en horario laboral el 10% y fuera del horario el 10%; p = 0,97). El análisis de supervivencia no mostró diferencias entre la admisión dentro del horario laboral y la admisión fuera del horario laboral (HR = 1,1; IC95%, 0,74-1,64; p = 0,64). Conclusiones: En una red de código infarto contemporáneo, el horario de admisión de pacientes con IAMCEST no se asoció con retrasos en la reperfusión ni con un aumento de la mortalidad.

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treatment delay significantly affects outcomes. The effect of admission time in STEMI patients is unknown when percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred reperfusion strategy. This study aimed to determine the association between STEMI outcomes and the timing of admission in a PCI center in south-western Europe. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the local electronic data from 1222 consecutive STEMI patients treated with PCI. On-hours were defined as admission from Monday to Friday between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM on non-national holidays. Results: A total of 439 patients (36%) were admitted on-hours and 783 patients (64%) were admitted off-hours. Baseline characteristics were well-balanced between the 2 groups, including the percentage of patients admitted in cardiogenic shock (on-hours 5% vs off-hours 4%; P = .62). The median time from first medical contact to reperfusion did not differ between the 2 groups (on-hours 120 minutes vs off-hours 123 minutes, P = .54) and no association was observed between admission time and in-hospital mortality (on-hours 5% vs off-hours 5%, P = .90) or 1-year mortality (on-hours 10% vs off-hours 10%, P = .97). Survival analysis showed no differences in on-hours PCI vs off-hours...

Urban tourism has witnessed significant growth in recent years, driven by various factors that foster the transformation of urban areas into tourist hotspots. These factors include a rising interest in culture and heritage, ongoing urban redevelopment and conversion processes, and the introduction of new experiences and activities. Two particularly influential factors contributing to this growth are low-cost travel, which facilitates more accessible access to urban destinations, and the emergence of new types of accommodation, such as short-term rental (also known as local accommodation or Airbnb-type accommodation). The sudden and continuous growth of this type of tourist accommodation brings new challenges to cities and local communities. On the positive side, it contributes to job opportunities, the dynamism of the local economy, and urban revitalization. On the other hand, it also represents more difficulty in retaining the local population in city centers, as more and more buildings are converted into hostels and tourist apartments. In this context, it becomes essential to conduct studies evaluating the impacts of these dynamics in urban areas and how they influence residents’ and visitors’ perspectives. Therefore, this study aims to identify the main transformations resulting from short-term rental (STR) development, focusing on the impacts felt by tourists and residents in Porto. A questionnaire was distributed to tourists and residents in Porto’s city center in June 2023. The results reveal differences in opinions between tourists and residents, particularly concerning historical heritage preservation, local population relocation, and reduced housing availability for residents. Nevertheless, there is a similarity in their opinions regarding the stimulus that local accommodation brings to the economy and the rehabilitation of buildings and urban areas. This study reinforces the need to pay more attention to the future development of tourist accommodation in city centers, especially regarding local policies and territorial planning, to balance better tourism development and local communities’ quality of life.

Background Based on stoichiometric assumptions, and real-time assessment of expired carbon dioxide (%CO2) and flow rate, the Lumen device provides potential for consumers/athletes to monitor metabolic responses to dietary programs outside of laboratory conditions. However, there is a paucity of research exploring device efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate Lumen device response to: i) a high-carbohydrate meal under laboratory conditions, and ii) a short-term low- or high-carbohydrate diet in healthy volunteers. Methods Following institutional ethical approval, 12 healthy volunteers (age: 36 ± 4 yrs; body mass: 72.1 ± 3.6 kg; height: 1.71 ± 0.02 m) performed Lumen breath and Douglas bag expired air measures under fasted laboratory conditions and at 30 and 60 min after a high-carbohydrate (2 g·kg−1) meal, along with capilliarized blood glucose assessment. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA, with ordinary least squares regression used to assess the model between Lumen expired carbon dioxide percentage (L%CO2) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER). In a separate phase, 27 recreationally active adults (age: 42 ± 2 yrs; body mass: 71.9 ± 1.9 kg; height: 1.72 ± 0.02 m) completed a 7-day low- (~20% of energy intake [EI]; LOW) or high-carbohydrate diet (~60% of EI; HIGH) in a randomized, cross-over design under free-living conditions. L%CO2 and derived Lumen Index (LI) were recorded daily across morning (fasted and post-breakfast) and evening (pre/post meal, pre-bed) periods. Repeated measures ANOVA were employed for main analyses, with Bonferroni post-hoc assessment applied (P ≤ 0.05). Results Following the carbohydrate test-meal, L%CO2 increased from 4.49 ± 0.05% to 4.80 ± 0.06% by 30 min, remaining elevated at 4.76 ± 0.06% by 60 min post-feeding (P

Nowadays, SPOCs (Small Private Online Courses) have been used as complementary methods to support classroom teaching. SPOCs are courses that apply the usage of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), combining classroom with online education, making them an exciting alternative for contexts such as emergency remote teaching. Although SPOCs have been continuously proposed in the software engineering teaching area, it is crucial to assess their practical applicability via measuring the effectiveness of this resource in the teaching-learning process. In this context, this paper aims to present an experimental evaluation to investigate the applicability of a SPOC in a Verification, Validation, and Software Testing course taught during the period of emergency remote education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Therefore, we conducted a controlled experiment comparing alternative teaching through the application of a SPOC with teaching carried out via lectures. The comparison between the teaching methods is made by analyzing the students’ performance during the solving of practical activities and essay questions on the content covered. In addition, we used questionnaires to analyze students’ motivation during the course. Study results indicate an improvement in both motivation and performance of students participating in SPOC, which corroborates its applicability to the software testing teaching area.

Introduction: Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) requiring inter-hospital transfer for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) often have delays in reperfusion. The door in-door out (DIDO) time is recommended to be less than 30 min. Objectives: To assess the DIDO time of hospitals that transfer patients with STEMI to a PCI center and to assess its impact on total ischemia time and clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 523 patients with STEMI transferred to a PCI center for primary PCI between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2017. Results: Median DIDO time was 82 min (interquartile range, 61–132 min). Only seven patients (1.3%) were transferred in ≤30 min. Patients with DIDO times over 60 min had significantly longer system delays (207.3 min vs. 112.7 min; p60 min vs. ≤60 min (5.1% vs. 0%; p=0.006; adjusted odds ratio for in-hospital mortality, 1.27 [95% CI 1.062–1.432]). By the end of follow-up, patients belonging to the >60 min group had a higher mortality (p=0.016), and survival time was significantly shorter (p=0.011). Conclusion: A DIDO time ≤30 min was observed in only a small proportion of patients transferred for primary PCI. DIDO times of ≤60 min were associated with shorter delays in reperfusion, lower in-hospital mortality and longer survival times. Resumo: Introdução: Está recomendado que os doentes com enfarte agudo do miocárdio com supra de ST (EAMcSST) que necessitam de transferência inter-hospitalar para a intervenção coronária percutânea primária (ICPP) tenham um tempo de door in-door out (DIDO) ≤30 minutos. Objetivos: Avaliar o tempo DIDO dos hospitais que transferem pacientes com EAMcSST para ICP e o seu impacto no tempo total de isquemia e outcomes clínicos. Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo com 523 doentes com EAMcSST transferidos para a ICPP, entre 1 de janeiro de 2013 e 30 de junho de 2017. Resultados: A mediana do tempo DIDO foi de 82 minutos (intervalo interquartílico [IQ], 61-132 minutos). Apenas 7 pacientes (1,3%) foram transferidos em ≤30 minutos. Os pacientes com um tempo DIDO >60 minutos apresentavam atrasos de sistema (207,3 min versus 112,7 min; p60 minutos (5,1% versus 0%; p=0,006; odds ratio ajustada para a mortalidade intra-hospitalar, 1,27 [95% IC, 1,062-1,432]). Até à data de follow-up, os doentes pertencentes ao grupo “>60 min” apresentavam uma maior proporção de eventos de morte, p=0,016 e o tempo de sobrevivência era significativamente inferior, p=0,011. Conclusão: O tempo DIDO ≤30 minutos foi observado numa pequena proporção de doentes. DIDO ≤60 minutos associaram-se a menores atrasos na reperfusão, a menor mortalidade intra-hospitalar e a maiores tempos de sobrevivência.

IntroductionArtemisinin is a secondary metabolite well-known for its use in the treatment of malaria. It also displays other antimicrobial activities which further increase its interest. At present, Artemisia annua is the sole commercial source of the substance, and its production is limited, leading to a global deficit in supply. Furthermore, the cultivation of A. annua is being threatened by climate change. Specifically, drought stress is a major concern for plant development and productivity, but, on the other hand, moderate stress levels can elicit the production of secondary metabolites, with a putative synergistic interaction with elicitors such as chitosan oligosaccharides (COS). Therefore, the development of strategies to increase yield has prompted much interest. With this aim, the effects on artemisinin production under drought stress and treatment with COS, as well as physiological changes in A. annua plants are presented in this study.MethodsPlants were separated into two groups, well-watered (WW) and drought-stressed (DS) plants, and in each group, four concentrations of COS were applied (0, 50,100 and 200 mg•L-1). Afterwards, water stress was imposed by withholding irrigation for 9 days.ResultsTherefore, when A. annua was well watered, COS did not improve plant growth, and the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes hindered the production of artemisinin. On the other hand, during drought stress, COS treatment did not alleviate the decline in growth at any concentration tested. However, higher doses improved the water status since leaf water potential (YL) improved by 50.64% and relative water content (RWC) by 33.84% compared to DS plants without COS treatment. Moreover, the combination of COS and drought stress caused damage to the plant’s antioxidant enzyme defence, particularly APX and GR, and reduced the amount of phenols and flavonoids. This resulted in increased ROS production and enhanced artemisinin content by 34.40% in DS plants treated with 200 mg•L-1 COS, compared to control plants.ConclusionThese findings underscore the critical role of ROS in artemisinin biosynthesis and suggest that COS treatment may boost artemisinin yield in crop production, even under drought conditions.

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. Objective: To assess changes in the epidemiological profile of IE, to perform a time-trend analysis and to define short-term and long-term prognostic predictors of IE. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 173 patients admitted with a diagnosis of IE to a Portuguese level II Hospital between January 1998 and December 2013. The patients were divided into two groups according to the period of occurrence of the IE episode (1998-2007 vs. 2008-2013). The clinical event studied was the occurrence of death or the need for urgent surgery during hospitalization, and death in the follow-up period. Independent predictors of short-term and long-term prognosis were identified. Results: In the first portion of the study, IE occurred in younger individuals, often drug addicts, users of intravenous drugs and with gastrointestinal disease, human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B infection. In the second portion of the study, IE occurred more frequently in individuals of an older age with concomitant cardiovascular disease; enterococcus was isolated more frequently. The independent predictors of in-hospital death or need for urgent valve surgery were septic shock and the occurrence of peri-annular complications. The independent predictors of long-term mortality were age, chronic kidney disease and IE due to multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Conclusion: Differences were found in the epidemiological profile of IE during the study period. Referral for valve surgery increased slightly, but mortality remained high. Resumo: Introdução: A endocardite infeciosa (EI) associa-se a elevada morbimortalidade, apesar dos avanços no diagnóstico e tratamento desta entidade. Objetivos: Avaliar alterações no perfil epidemiológico da EI, realizar uma análise de tendência/evolução temporal e definir os preditores de prognóstico em curto e longo prazo. Métodos: Análise retrospetiva de 173 doentes internados com EI num hospital português nível II, entre janeiro de 1998 e dezembro de 2013. Os doentes foram divididos em dois grupos, de acordo com o período de ocorrência da EI (1998-2007 versus 2008-2013). O evento clínico estudado foi a ocorrência de morte ou necessidade de cirurgia urgente durante o período de internamento e a morte no período de follow-up. Identificados os preditores independentes de prognóstico em curto e longo prazo. Resultados: No primeiro período do estudo a EI ocorreu em indivíduos mais jovens, frequentemente toxicodependentes, utilizadores de drogas intravenosas e com doença gastrointestinal, infeção por HIV e HBV. No segundo período do estudo esta patologia ocorreu mais em indivíduos de idade mais avançada, com patologia cardiovascular concomitante e o Enterococcus foi isolado mais frequentemente. Os preditores independentes de morte no internamento ou necessidade de cirurgia valvular urgente foram o choque séptico e a ocorrência de complicações perianulares. Os preditores independentes de mortalidade em longo prazo foram a idade, a doença renal crónica e a EI por microrganismos multirresistentes. Conclusão: Verificaram-se diferenças no perfil epidemiológico da EI durante o período de estudo. A taxa de orientação para cirurgia valvular aumentou ligeiramente, mas a taxa de mortalidade manteve-se alta.

Resumo Fundamento Embora os resultados em pacientes com infarto do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (IAMCSST) submetidos a intervenções coronárias percutâneas (ICP) primárias tenham melhorado, as mulheres apresentam maior mortalidade. Objetivos: Avaliar as diferenças de gênero na apresentação, manejo e mortalidade hospitalar, em 30 dias, 6 meses e 1 ano após IAMCSST. Métodos Coletamos retrospectivamente dados de 809 pacientes consecutivos tratados com ICP primária e comparamos mulheres versus homens no banco de dados de cardiologia de intervenção local. O nível de significância utilizado foi p

We report the case of a 17-year-old athlete who resorted to the emergency department for palpitations and dizziness while exercising. He mentioned two exercise-associated episodes of syncope in the last six months. He was tachycardic and hypotensive. The electrocardiogram showed regular wide complex tachycardia, left bundle branch block morphology with superior axis restored to sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion. In sinus rhythm, it showed T-wave inversion in V1–V5. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed mild dilation and dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV) with global hypocontractility. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) revealed a RV end diastolic volume indexed to body surface area of 180 ml/m2, global hypokinesia and RV dyssynchrony, subepicardial late enhancement in the distal septum and in the middle segment of the inferoseptal wall. The patient underwent a genetic study which showed a mutation in the gene that encodes the desmocolin-2 protein (DSC-2), which is involved in the pathogenesis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). According to the modified Task Force Criteria for this diagnosis, the patient presented four major criteria for ARVC. Thus, a subcutaneous cardioverter was implanted, and the patient was followed up at the cardiology department.Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy diagnosis is based on structural, functional, electrophysiological and genetic criteria reflecting underlying histological changes. This case depicts the essential characteristics for disease recognition. Resumo: Reportamos o caso de um jovem desportista de 17 anos que recorreu ao serviço de urgência por palpitações e tonturas durante o exercício físico. Referia dois episódios de síncope com o exercício nos últimos seis meses. Na admissão apresentava-se taquicárdico e hipotenso. O eletrocardiograma mostrava taquicardia regular de complexos largos com morfologia de bloqueio completo de ramo esquerdo e eixo superior, com necessidade de cardioversão elétrica. Em ritmo sinusal evidenciava inversão da onda T de V1-V5. O ecocardiograma transtorácico demonstrava dilatação e disfunção ligeira do ventrículo direito (VD) por hipocontratilidade global. A RMC revelava um volume telediastólico do VD indexado para a superfície de área corporal de 180 ml/m2, hipocinésia global e dessincronia do VD, realce tardio subepicárdico no septo distal e no segmento médio da parede infero-septal. O doente realizou estudo genético que mostrou mutação no gene DSC2 que codifica a proteína desmocolina-2 implicada na patogénese da miocardiopatia arritmogénica do ventrículo direito (MAVD). De acordo com os critérios Task Force modificados de 2010, o doente apresentava quatro critérios major para o diagnóstico de MAVD. O doente implantou cardiodesfibrilhador subcutâneo, encontrando-se em seguimento na consulta de cardiologia.O diagnóstico de MAVD assenta em critérios estruturais, funcionais, genéticos e eletrofisiológicos que traduzam as alterações histológicas subjacentes. Este caso reflete as características essenciais ao seu reconhecimento.

Abstract The high variability and unpredictability of renewable energy resources require optimization of the energy extraction, by operating at the best efficiency point, which can be achieved through optimal control strategies. In particular, wave forecasting models can be valuable for control strategies in wave energy converter devices. This work intends to exploit the short‐term wave forecasting potential on an oscillating water column equipped with the innovative biradial turbine. A Least Squares Support Vector Machine (LS‐SVM) algorithm was developed to predict the air chamber pressure and compare it to the real signal. Regressive linear algorithms were executed for reference. The experimental data was obtained at the Mutriku wave power plant in the Basque Country, Spain. Results have shown LS‐SVM prediction errors varying from 9% to 25%, for horizons ranging from 1 to 3 s in the future. There is no need for extensive training data sets for which computational effort is higher. However, best results were obtained for models with a relatively small number of LS‐SVM features. Regressive models have shown slightly better performance (8–22%) at a significantly lower computational cost. Ultimately, these research findings may play an essential role in model predictive control strategies for the wave power plant.

Resumo: Introdução: O défice de ferro (DeF) é uma condição prevalente em doentes com patologia cardíaca. Naqueles com insuficiência cardíaca (IC) demonstrou‐se que esse défice se associa a pior prognóstico. Existem poucos dados na literatura relativamente ao impacto prognóstico do DeF nas síndromes coronárias agudas (SCA), sendo este o principal objetivo deste estudo. Métodos: Estudo observacional retrospetivo que incluiu 817 doentes admitidos por SCA. Definiram‐se dois grupos de acordo com a presença (n = 298) ou ausência de DeF (n = 519) à admissão. O evento clínico estudado foi a ocorrência de morte ou IC grave em longo prazo. Calcularam‐se os preditores independentes de prognóstico com base na análise de regressão logística. Resultados: Verificou‐se que 36% dos doentes tinham DeF. Estes doentes apresentaram maior taxa de mortalidade (p = 0,004) e de IC (p = 0,011) durante o follow‐up, bem como maior taxa de readmissões hospitalares (p = 0,048).O DeF foi preditor independente de morte ou IC grave no follow‐up, a par da anemia, da disfunção do ventrículo esquerdo, da disfunção renal e da ausência de revascularização.Além disso, o DeF permitiu estratificar adicionalmente o prognóstico dos doentes sem anemia em termos de ocorrência de morte ou IC grave e aqueles com classes de Killip mais baixas (≤ 2) em termos da ocorrência de morte. Conclusão: O DeF foi um fator preditor independente de morte ou IC grave nos doentes admitidos com SCA e permitiu estratificar adicionalmente aqueles sem anemia ou com classes de Killip ≤ 2 à admissão. Abstract: Background: Iron deficiency (IDef) is a prevalent condition in patients with heart disease and in those with heart failure (HF). Evidence has shown that this deficit is associated with a worse prognosis. There is only a small amount of data in the literature regarding the prognostic impact of IDef in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), which is the main objective of this study. Methods: Observational, retrospective study which included 817 patients admitted for ACS. Two groups were defined according to the presence (n = 298) or absence of IDeF (n = 519) on admission. The clinical event under study was the occurrence of death or severe HF in long term. Independent predictors of prognosis were determined with logistic regression analysis. Results: 36% of patients had IDef. These patients had a higher mortality rate (p = 0.004), higher incidence of HF (p = 0.011) during follow‐up and a higher rate of hospital readmissions (p = 0.048).IDef was an independent predictor of death or severe HF in follow‐up, along with anemia, left ventricular dysfunction, renal dysfunction and the absence of revascularization.Besides, IDef also enabled us to further stratify the prognosis of patients without anemia based on the occurrence of death or severe HF and those with lower Killip classes (≤2) based on the occurrence of death. Conclusion: IDef was an independent predictor of death or severe HF in patients admitted with ACS and enabled additional stratification for those without anemia on admission and in those with Killip classes ≤2.

Flood events are becoming more severe, causing significant problems to human communities, including physical, psychological, and material damage. For both flood forecasting in emergency response situations and flood mapping, georeferencing and data curation are paramount in the context of prevention or preparedness. Hence, data display, data management, and articulation with numerical simulation results must occur on GIS platforms. Our research is motivated by recent advances in Web and GIS technologies, social sensing and high-performance computing, and an envisaged wider availability of remote sensing data. This paper presents and discusses an innovative Web GIS platform named “RiverCure Portal” or “RCP” for short. This platform combines observations and hydrodynamic modelling tools to support various stages of the flood risk management cycle, including operational response, emergency preparedness, and risk assessment. RCP is a multi-organization, multi-context digital platform with flexible configuration features to define and support multiple sensor types and modelling options, satisfying the various needs of different organizations and stakeholders. In addition, this paper discusses the RiverCure Approach, which encompasses the following tasks directly supported by the RCP platform: defining the context and involved geometries, associating sensors to the context, pre-processing and generating the context mesh, defining the simulation event, running the simulation event, and analyzing the results from the simulation event. Thus, the RCP streamlines and simplifies data analysis and simulation procedures to meet decision-makers’ needs. The novelties discussed in this paper include the design and discussion of a Web GIS platform that allows (i) to manage flood data and results of simulations at several contextual levels by different stakeholders such as domain experts, decision-makers, researchers, or students; (ii) to process and curate sensed data obtained from physical and social sensors; and (iii) update the state and values of the parameters of simulation tools through continuous data assimilation techniques for forecasting purposes. Finally, this paper supports the explanation and discussion with a running example, “Águeda 2016 flood” event, which dataset is publicly available for further study and experimentation.

CASE RESOLUTION We decided to end the procedure because the patient became asymptomatic and the ST-segment elevation resolved. After the procedure, the blood test performed revealed a new increase of troponin I levels (4.4 ng/mL). The patient started therapy with dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers due to the observed vasospasm. While in observation, the patient remained asymptomatic. Five days later, she was discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy. One month later, the patient was readmitted to undergo an elective coronary angiography to reassess the lesion. The coronary angiography only revealed the presence of irregularities without further lesions (videos 1 and 2 of the supplementary data). Therefore, the most probable diagnosis was a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). The management of SCAD is still a matter of great discussion especially regarding left main coronary artery lesions and situations of hemodynamic instability as it is well-known that SCADs can heal spontaneously after 1 month.1-3 In this case, we decided not to proceed with the percutaneous coronary intervention because the patient became asymptomatic and the electrocardiographic alterations resolved after the administration of intracoronary nitrates and because we were not sure about the etiology of the severe vasospasm (SCAD vs atherosclerotic lesion). The reassessment coronary angiography performed...

O presente artigo aborda a possibilidade de utilização do modelo de compras públicas por Encomendas Tecnológicas (ETEC) na obtenção de sistemas complexos de defesa. Buscou-se, por meio de revisão bibliográfica e pesquisa documental, investigar se essa modalidade de obtenção favorece a autonomia tecnológica nacional, bem como qual é a segurança jurídica no seu emprego. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida à luz da literatura que aborda os processos de aquisição e obtenção de produtos de defesa, de forma a verificar como as ETEC poderiam beneficiar a base industrial de defesa nacional no desenvolvimento de soluções tecnológicas capazes de substituir opções fornecidas no mercado internacional, as quais, historicamente, são alvos restrições e embargos por parte dos países detentores do controle de tecnologias sensíveis. O estudo demonstra que apesar das possibilidades de emprego das ETEC, disponibilizadas pela legislação brasileira, poucos processos de obtenção de sistemas de defesa foram realizados por meio desse mecanismo de compras públicas, durante o período contemplado pela pesquisa. O estudo permitiu, ainda, concluir que em função da complexidade desse processo, a plena utilização das ETEC só será possível por meio da elaboração de uma regulamentação interna ao Ministério da Defesa, aprovada pelos órgãos de controle e com o devido detalhamento a ser seguido durante a contratação de um produto de defesa (PRODE).

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding small RNAs that play crucial roles in plant development and stress responses and can regulate plant interactions with beneficial soil microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). To determine if root inoculation with distinct AMF species affected miRNA expression in grapevines subjected to high temperatures, RNA-seq was conducted in leaves of grapevines inoculated with either Rhizoglomus irregulare or Funneliformis mosseae and exposed to a high-temperature treatment (HTT) of 40 °C for 4 h per day for one week. Our results showed that mycorrhizal inoculation resulted in a better plant physiological response to HTT. Amongst the 195 identified miRNAs, 83 were considered isomiRs, suggesting that isomiRs can be biologically functional in plants. The number of differentially expressed miRNAs between temperatures was higher in mycorrhizal (28) than in non-inoculated plants (17). Several miR396 family members, which target homeobox-leucine zipper proteins, were only upregulated by HTT in mycorrhizal plants. Predicted targets of HTT-induced miRNAs in mycorrhizal plants queried to STRING DB formed networks for Cox complex, and growth and stress-related transcription factors such as SQUAMOSA promoter-binding-like-proteins, homeobox-leucine zipper proteins and auxin receptors. A further cluster related to DNA polymerase was found in R. irregulare inoculated plants. The results presented herein provide new insights into miRNA regulation in mycorrhizal grapevines under heat stress and can be the basis for functional studies of plant-AMF-stress interactions.

Small Private Online Courses (SPOCs) são cursos voltados a um número reduzido de participantes que podem ser utilizados em cursos superiores. A aplicação de um SPOC pode contribuir na diminuição do índice de evasão e na formação e nivelamento de um grupo de estudantes, proporcionado um ensino e aprendizagem de qualidade. Atualmente, existem centenas de plataformas disponíveis, cada uma delas possuindo características como a regra de negócio e os recursos disponíveis, como fóruns, videoaulas e quizzes. Isso acentua a necessidade de um estudo sobre as plataformas existentes que visa apoiar os professores em seu SPOC, atendendo o máximo dos requisitos fundamentais do curso. Esse estudo apresenta um panorama das plataformas atuais, com foco naquelas que ofertam cursos de Computação, conduzindo o professor a selecionar para seu projeto a plataforma que suprirá as suas necessidades. A partir de um levantamento dos dados das plataformas atuais operantes, foi construído um catálogo contendo as informações relevantes na escolha da plataforma. Com isso, professores poderão ser capazes de analisar o conjunto de plataformas e seus recursos disponíveis, contribuindo no desenvolvimento de um SPOC de qualidade.

Abstract Species that the public knows and is willing to protect often do not align with international conservation priorities. Assessing perceptions on wildlife is thus essential to guide conservation initiatives, especially in island developing states where native and introduced species often have contrasting values for biodiversity. We used a game to assess the ability of third class students in São Tomé Island (São Tomé and Príncipe, central Africa) to identify wildlife and their conservation preferences. Students correctly identified 28% of the animals shown. Children who were poorer, male or from rural schools were more likely to correctly identify species. Urban children were less successful identifying species endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe than rural children. Conservation preferences were not associated with species identification and instead were justified by subjective species‐specific traits, such as attractiveness or profitability. Despite the low identification rates for endemic (10% correct identifications) and threatened birds (2%), children were keen on preserving endemic species, indicating that these might become effective flagships for the unique biodiversity of the island. These results illustrate the need to consider separately the attributes that affect knowledge and willingness to protect, and how both can be used to guide conservation strategies.

There is current scientific interest in naturally sourced phenolic compounds and their potential benefits to health, as well as the effective role polyphenols may provide in an exercise setting. This study investigated the chronic effects of supplementation with a biodynamic and organic olive fruit water phytocomplex (OliPhenolia® [OliP]), rich in hydroxytyrosol (HT), on submaximal and exhaustive exercise performance and respiratory markers of recovery. Twenty-nine recreationally active participants (42 ± 2 yrs; 71.1 ± 2.1 kg; 1.76 ± 0.02 m) consumed 2 × 28 mL∙d−1 of OliP or a taste- and appearance-matched placebo (PL) over 16 consecutive days. Participants completed a demanding, aerobic exercise protocol at ~75% maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) for 65 min 24 h before sub- and maximal performance exercise tests prior to and following the 16-day consumption period. OliP reduced the time constant (τ) (p = 0.005) at the onset of exercise, running economy (p = 0.015) at lactate threshold 1 (LT1), as well as the rating of perceived exertion (p = 0.003) at lactate turnpoint (LT2). Additionally, OliP led to modest improvements in acute recovery based upon a shorter time to achieve 50% of the end of exercise V˙O2 value (p = 0.02). Whilst OliP increased time to exhaustion (+4.1 ± 1.8%), this was not significantly different to PL (p > 0.05). Phenolic compounds present in OliP, including HT and related metabolites, may provide benefits for aerobic exercise and acute recovery in recreationally active individuals. Further research is needed to determine whether dose-response or adjunct use of OliP alongside longer-term training programs can further modulate exercise-associated adaptations in recreationally active individuals, or indeed support athletic performance.

The role of natural polyphenols in reducing oxidative stress and/or supporting antioxidant mechanisms, particularly relating to exercise, is of high interest. The aim of this study was to investigate OliPhenolia® (OliP), a biodynamic and organic olive fruit water phytocomplex, rich in hydroxytyrosol (HT), for the first time within an exercise domain. HT bioavailability from OliP was assessed in fifteen healthy volunteers in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled cross-over design (age: 30 ± 2 yrs; body mass: 76.7 ± 3.9 kg; height: 1.77 ± 0.02 m), followed by a separate randomized, double-blinded, cohort trial investigating the short-term impact of OliP consumption (2 × 28 mL∙d−1 of OliP or placebo (PL) for 16-days) on markers of oxidative stress in twenty-nine recreationally active participants (42 ± 2 yrs; 71.1 ± 2.1 kg; 1.76 ± 0.02 m). In response to a single 28 mL OliP bolus, plasma HT peaked at 1 h (38.31 ± 4.76 ng∙mL−1), remaining significantly elevated (p < 0.001) until 4 h. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and HT were assessed at rest and immediately following exercise (50 min at ~75% V˙O2max then 10 min intermittent efforts) and at 1 and 24 h post-exercise, before and after the 16-day supplementation protocol. Plasma HT under resting conditions was not detected pre-intervention, but increased to 6.3 ± 1.6 ng·mL−1 following OliP only (p < 0.001). OliP demonstrated modest antioxidant effects based on reduced SOD activity post-exercise (p = 0.016) and at 24 h (p ≤ 0.046), and increased GSH immediately post-exercise (p = 0.009) compared with PL. No differences were reported for MDA and CAT activity in response to the exercise protocol between conditions. The phenolic compounds within OliP, including HT, may have specific antioxidant benefits supporting acute exercise recovery. Further research is warranted to explore the impact of OliP following longer-term exercise training, and clinical domains pertinent to reduced oxidative stress.

Plant phenotyping is an emerging science that combines multiple methodologies and protocols to measure plant traits (e.g., growth, morphology, architecture, function, and composition) at multiple scales of organization. Manual phenotyping remains as a major bottleneck to the advance of plant and crop breeding. Such constraint fostered the development of high throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP), which is largely based on imaging approaches and automatized data retrieval and processing. Field phenotyping still poses major challenges and the progress of HTPP for field conditions can be relevant to support selection and breeding of grapevine. The aim of this review is to discuss potential and current methods to improve field phenotyping of grapevine to support characterization of inter- and intravarietal diversity. Vitis vinifera has a large genetic diversity that needs characterization, and the availability of methods to support selection of plant material (polyclonal or clonal) able to withstand abiotic stress is paramount. Besides being time consuming, complex and expensive, field experiments are also affected by heterogeneous and uncontrolled climate and soil conditions, mostly due to the large areas of the trials and to the high number of traits to be observed in a number of individuals ranging from hundreds to thousands. Therefore, adequate field experimental design and data gathering methodologies are crucial to obtain reliable data. Some of the major challenges posed to grapevine selection programs for tolerance to water and heat stress are described herein. Useful traits for selection and related field phenotyping methodologies are described and their adequacy for large scale screening is discussed.

Increasing temperatures and extended drought episodes are among the major constraints affecting food production. Maize has a relatively high temperature optimum for photosynthesis compared to C3 crops, however, the response of this important C4 crop to the combination of heat and drought stress is poorly understood. Here, we hypothesized that resilience to high temperature combined with water deficit (WD) would require efficient regulation of the photosynthetic traits of maize, including the C4–CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM). Two genotypes of maize with contrasting levels of drought and heat tolerance, B73 and P0023, were acclimatized at high temperature (38°C versus 25°C) under well-watered (WW) or WD conditions. The photosynthetic performance was evaluated by gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence, and in vitro activities of key enzymes for carboxylation (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase), decarboxylation (NADP-malic enzyme), and carbon fixation (Rubisco). Both genotypes successfully acclimatized to the high temperature, although with different mechanisms: while B73 maintained the photosynthetic rates by increasing stomatal conductance (gs), P0023 maintained gs and showed limited transpiration. When WD was experienced in combination with high temperatures, limited transpiration allowed water-savings and acted as a drought stress avoidance mechanism. The photosynthetic efficiency in P0023 was sustained by higher phosphorylated PEPC and electron transport rate (ETR) near vascular tissues, supplying chemical energy for an effective CCM. These results suggest that the key traits for drought and heat tolerance in maize are limited transpiration rate, allied with a synchronized regulation of the carbon assimilation metabolism. These findings can be exploited in future breeding efforts aimed at improving maize resilience to climate change.

Resumo: Introdução: Num programa de angioplastia primária, a transferência inter‐hospitalar dos doentes com enfarte agudo do miocárdio com elevação do segmento ST (EAMcEST) pode aumentar o tempo de isquemia relativamente aos doentes que são admitidos diretamente num laboratório de hemodinâmica. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da transferência inter‐hospitalar nos doentes submetidos a intervenção coronária percutânea primária (ICPp), no intervalo de tempo até à reperfusão e na mortalidade a um ano. Métodos: Estudo observacional, retrospetivo e longitudinal. Foram divididos em dois grupos 1222 doentes com EAMcEST admitidos no Hospital de Braga (HB), entre junho/2011 e maio/2016, tratados com sucesso nas primeiras 12 horas de evolução dos sintomas, consoante a admissão: direta ou transferência inter‐hospitalar. Resultados: Foram admitidos diretamente no HB 37,0% (n = 452) e 63,0% (n = 770) transferidos de outros hospitais. Apesar do aumento nos intervalos de tempo (em minutos) até à reperfusão nos doentes da transferência inter‐hospitalar (início dos sintomas‐primeiro contacto médico) (Mdn =76,5, AIQ (40,3‐150) versus Mdn = 91,0, AIQ (50‐180), p = 0,002), primeiro contacto médico‐reperfusão (Mdn = 87,5, AIQ (69,0‐114) versus Mdn = 145, AIQ (115‐199), p < 0,001) e início dos sintomas‐reperfusão (Mdn = 177, AIQ [125‐265] versus Mdn = 265, AIQ [188‐400], p < 0,001), a mortalidade a um ano não diferiu significativamente entre os grupos (53 [11,7%] versus 71 [9,2%], p = 0,193). Na análise multivariada, a idade, o tempo sintomas‐reperfusão e sobretudo a classe Killip IV à admissão (HR = 11,2, IC95% [6,35‐19,8], p < 0,001) revelaram‐se os principais preditores independentes de mortalidade a um ano. Conclusão: A transferência inter‐hospitalar dos doentes com EAMcEST aumentou de forma significativa o intervalo de tempo até à realização da ICPp. Relativamente à mortalidade a um ano, não se detetaram diferenças entre grupos. Isto pode estar relacionado com o facto de o grupo da admissão direta ter o dobro de doentes em Killip IV. Abstract: Introduction: In a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) program, interhospital transfer of patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can increase ischemic time, compared to patients who are admitted directly to a catheterization laboratory. Objectives: To assess the impact of interhospital transfer in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, in terms of time to reperfusion and one‐year mortality. Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, longitudinal study of patients with STEMI admitted to Hospital de Braga between June 2011 and May 2016, who were treated successfully within 12 hours of symptom onset. A total of 1222 patients were included and divided into two groups according to admission to Hospital de Braga: direct or interhospital transfer. Results: In this study, 37.0% (n=452) of the population were admitted directly to Hospital de Braga and 63.0% (n=770) were transferred from other hospitals. Although timings (in min) until reperfusion were longer in interhospital transfer patients (symptom onset‐first medical contact (median 76.5, IQR 40.3‐150 vs. 91.0, IQR 50‐180, p=0.002), first medical contact‐reperfusion (median 87.5, IQR 69.0‐114 vs. 145, IQR 115‐199, p

RESOLUCIÓN DEL CASO Se optó por finalizar la intervención tras la desaparición de los síntomas de la paciente (se obtuvo el consentimiento pertinente) y resolución de la elevación del segmento ST. Tras la intervención, la analítica sanguínea que se realizó reveló nuevas subidas de los niveles de troponina I (4,4 ng/ml). La paciente inició un tratamiento con bloqueadores del canal de calcio, concretamente dihidropiridinas, debido al vasoespasmo observado. La paciente siguió asintomática mientras estuvo en observación. Cinco días después fue dada de alta con tratamiento antiagregante plaquetario doble. Un mes después volvió a ser hospitalizada para realizársele una coronariografía y volver a valorar la lesión. La coronariografía solo reveló la presencia de irregularidades, no así de nuevas lesiones (vídeos 1 y 2 del material adicional). Por tanto, el diagnóstico más probable era ...

Este trabalho pretende apresentar o Programa de Residência Docente (PRD), desenvolvido pelo Colégio Pedro II. Abordar a Residência Docente é tratar também da questão da formação continuada, que permanece como uma das lacunas nas políticas públicas da Educação Brasileira. Assim, é necessário ter-se um professor que avalie e reflita sobre suas práticas pedagógicas e que encare o magistério como um eterno ‘vir a ser’. Nesse sentido, a formação continuada e, em última instância, o Programa de Residência Docente buscam a construção de um perfil de professor-pesquisador, o qual, além de investigar práticas e processos pedagógicos, avalia o contexto socioeducativo e se autoavalia. Abordamos no texto, questões como o histórico do Colégio Pedro II e sua tradição na pesquisa; as motivações que levaram à criação e execução do PRD; a presença do PRD no organograma institucional e as perspectivas do Programa de Residência Docente na politica educacional atual.

Background Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency has been noted in athletic populations, although less is known about recreationally active individuals. Biofortification of natural food sources (e.g. UV radiated mushrooms) may support vitamin D status and is therefore of current scientific and commercial interest. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a mushroom-derived food ingredient on vitamin D status in recreationally active, healthy volunteers. Methods Twenty-eight participants were randomly assigned to either: 25 μg (1000 IU) encapsulated natural mushroom-derived vitamin D2; matched-dose encapsulated vitamin D3 or placebo (PL) for 12 weeks. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline, week 6 and 12 for analysis of serum 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Habitual dietary intake and activity were monitored across the intervention. Results Vitamin D status (25(OH)DTOTAL) was significantly increased with vitamin D3 supplementation from 46.1 ± 5.3 nmol·L− 1 to 88.0 ± 8.6 nmol·L− 1 (p 0.05), which was not statistically different to D3. Vitamin D status was maintained with PL, following an initial − 15% reduction by week 6 (p ≤ 0.046 compared to both supplement groups). Conclusions The use of a UV radiated mushroom food ingredient was effective in maintaining 25(OH)DTOTAL in healthy, recreationally active volunteers. This may offer an adjunct strategy in supporting vitamin D intake. However, consistent with the literature, the use of vitamin D3 supplementation likely offers benefits when acute elevation in vitamin D status is warranted.

The physiology of the diel movements of epipelic microphytobenthic diatoms is not fully understood. As well, the evolutionary pressures that led to migratory behavior and the ecological role of vertical migrations remain unknown. The behavioral photoprotection hypothesis, according to which the diatoms move along the vertical light gradient to find their optimal light environment, is the most generally accepted. However, the motion is associated with an energy cost that has not been fully acknowledged before. To throw light on this issue, we looked at the mechanisms of diatom locomotion and reviewed their patterns of movement. Making use of published data, we estimated an energy cost of 0.12 pJ for a typical diatom cell to move upward (or downward) in a 400 μm photic zone. This amounts to 3.93 ×10−18 mol of ATP, which are released by the oxidation of 1.31 ×10−19 mol of glucose. This represents only 0.0001% of the daily net photosynthetic production of a typical microphytobenthic diatom cell, showing that diel vertical migrations have a negligible impact on cell and ecosystem energy budget. Even though the migration energy cost of individual cells may depart almost two orders of magnitude from the central value presented for a typical diatom (depending on cell size, velocity of displacement, and viscosity of the medium), the maximum value calculated is still negligible from the metabolic and ecologic point of view. Results show that behavioral photoprotection might be an energetically cheap mechanism, offering competitive advantages when compared with structural/physiological photoprotection.

As a result of the development of non-invasive optical spectroscopy, the number of prospective technologies of plant monitoring is growing. Being implemented in devices with different functions and hardware, these technologies are increasingly using the most advanced data processing algorithms, including machine learning and more available computing power each time. Optical spectroscopy is widely used to evaluate plant tissues, diagnose crops, and study the response of plants to biotic and abiotic stress. Spectral methods can also assist in remote and non-invasive assessment of the physiology of photosynthetic biofilms and the impact of plant species on biodiversity and ecosystem stability. The emergence of high-throughput technologies for plant phenotyping and the accompanying need for methods for rapid and non-contact assessment of plant productivity has generated renewed interest in the application of optical spectroscopy in fundamental plant sciences and agriculture. In this perspective paper, starting with a brief overview of the scientific and technological backgrounds of optical spectroscopy and current mainstream techniques and applications, we foresee the future development of this family of optical spectroscopic methodologies.

Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an unusual cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Better recognition and diagnosis has raised awareness of this condition. However, the pathophysiology of SCAD and its prognosis are still little understood. We aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of patients with SCAD, and subsequently performed a review of literature. Methods: Single-center, retrospective study performed in patients hospitalized from January 2010 to December 2016 with suspected ACS (n=5002) whose final diagnosis was SCAD (n=27; 0.5%). Results: Patients with SCAD were mainly female (81.5%; n=22), with median age of 56. Predisposing factors were identified in 12 (44%) patients and precipitating factors in three (11.1%). Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) was the main form of presentation (51.9%). The left anterior descending artery (LAD) territory was the most commonly involved (n=12, 44.4%). Type 2 dissection was the most prevalent angiographic pattern (n=17, 63%). The majority of patients (n=15; 55.6%) were managed medically and the remaining patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents. Seven patients re-infarcted while in the hospital. Over the median follow-up period of 20 months, 7.4% of patients (n=2) had symptoms of heart failure (HF) and 14.8% developed ACS (in three patients the event occurred in a coronary territory other than that of the index case, and in one patient it occurred in the previously affected territory). There were no deaths. Conclusion: In the studied population, SCAD was more prevalent in middle-aged women. Despite the high prevalence of in-hospital re-infarction or during follow-up, the prognosis was good overall. Resumo: Introdução: A disseção coronária espontânea (DCE) é uma causa infrequente de síndrome coronária aguda. O crescente reconhecimento e diagnóstico dessa entidade tem alertado os clínicos para a sua ocorrência. Porém, a fisiopatologia da DCE e o respetivo prognóstico ainda se encontram mal esclarecidos. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as características e o prognóstico dos doentes com DCE, efetuando-se, posteriormente, uma revisão da literatura. Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo, unicêntrico, realizado em doentes admitidos de janeiro de 2010 a dezembro de 2016, sob a suspeita de SCA (n = 5002), cujo diagnóstico final foi DCE (n = 27; 0,5%). Resultados: Os doentes com DCE eram na sua maioria mulheres (81,5%; n = 22), com mediana de 56 anos. Em 12 doentes (44%) foram identificados fatores predisponentes e em três (11,1%) fatores precipitantes. O enfarte sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST foi a forma mais frequente de apresentação (51,9%), o território da descendente anterior foi o mais frequentemente envolvido (n = 12, 44,4%). O padrão angiográfico de dissecção tipo 2 (n = 17, 63%) foi o mais prevalente. A maioria dos doentes (n = 15; 55,6%) foi tratada medicamente, os restantes fizeram angioplastia com stents revestidos com fármaco. Durante a hospitalização, sete doentes tiveram re-enfarte. Durante o período mediano de 20 meses de seguimento, 7,4% (n = 2) dos doentes apresentaram sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca e 14,8% apresentaram SCA (em três doentes o evento ocorreu num território coronário diferente do caso índex e em um doente no território coronário previamente afetado). Não ocorreram eventos mortais. Conclusão: Na população estudada, a disseção coronária espontânea foi mais prevalente nas mulheres de meia-idade. Apesar da prevalência de re-enfarte durante e após a hospitalização não ser insignificante, o prognóstico, globalmente, foi bom. Keywords: Spontaneous coronary dissection, Acute coronary syndrome, Intramural hematoma, Coronary angiography, Palavras-chave: Dissecção coronária espontânea, Síndrome coronária aguda, Hematoma intramural, Angiografia coronária

In the last decade, several works showed that even bryophytes from aquatic environments, if slowly dehydrated, can cope with desiccation in a response like the one from desert bryophytes. This led to the hypothesis that, if bryophytes from contrasting habitats can have similar responses, desiccation tolerance (DT) is partially inductive and not only constitutive as previously proposed and, therefore, colony morphology might be the key trait responsible for controlling dehydration rate essential for DT induction. Morphology and life form may be determinant traits in the adaptation of bryophytes to habitats with different water availabilities and corresponding predicted levels in the DT inducibility spectrum. Bryophytes from habitats with different water availabilities were dried as individual shoots and as a colony. The bryophyte Fontinalis antipyretica is fully aquatic presenting a streamer life form, while the three terrestrial species present turf life form with different sizes and degrees of space between individuals in the colony. Two species were collected under trees with moist soil presenting short turf (Tortella tortuosa) and long turf (Campylopus pyriformis) life forms. Another species was completely exposed to sun light with no surrounding trees and a tall turf life form (Pleurochaete squarrosa). We used chlorophyll a fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm (maximum potential quantum efficiency of Photosystem II) as a proxy to photosynthetic fitness throughout the contrasting dehydration rates (fast and slow). These bryophytes with different life forms were submitted to an X-ray computed microtomography (µ-XCT) to assess the three-dimensional inner structure and visualize locations for water storage. Shoots dried slow or fast according to the dehydration they were exposed to, as expected, but they presented similar dehydration rates across different species. However, the aquatic moss F. antipyretica, was unable to recover from fast drying, and after 24 h the recovery following slow drying was lower than the other species. The other three species presented full recovery after 24 h, either at the individual or colony level, and either from slow or fast drying. The only exception was the colonies of Campylopus pyriformis following fast drying that presented a slightly lower recovery, probably due to a looser colony structure.

Our goal is to analyze the advanced manufacturing (industry 4.0) and their impact on the organization of the world of work in standing between two extremes: the luddite pessimism and naive optimism. To do so, we will make an explanation about the current phase of industrial economy called the fourth industrial revolution and the importance of this type of industry in it. At this way, the concept of social precarization of labor is essential to understand the negative impacts of these innovations. In this context, we will try to answer, even preliminarily, the question of what possible and necessary policies are to prevent negative impacts on workers in general.

Introduction: Prompt identification of higher-risk patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is crucial to pursue a more aggressive approach. Objective: We aimed to assess whether the modified shock index (MSI), the ratio of heart rate to mean arterial pressure, could predict six-month mortality among patients admitted with STEMI. Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed in a single center including 1158 patients diagnosed with STEMI, without cardiogenic shock on admission, between July 2009 and December 2014. They were divided into two groups: group 1 – patients with MSI

Abstract Background We aimed to evaluate the impact of thrombus aspiration (TA) during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI) in ‘real-world’ settings. Methods We performed a retrospective study, using data from the National Registry of Interventional Cardiology (RNCI 2006–2012, Portugal) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with P-PCI. The primary outcome, in-hospital mortality, was analysed through adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results We assessed data for 9458 STEMI patients that undergone P-PCI (35% treated with TA). The risk of in-hospital mortality with TA (aOR 0.93, 95%CI:0.54–1.60) was not significantly decreased. After matching patients through the propensity score, TA reduced significantly the risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.58, 95%CI:0.35–0.98; 3500 patients). Conclusions The whole cohort data does not support the routine use of TA in P-PCI, but the results of the propensity-score matched cohort suggests that the use of selective TA may improve the short-term risks of STEMI.

Resumo: Introdução: Atualmente, não existem estudos prospetivos aleatorizados que permitam definir a estratégia de revascularização ideal quanto ao tipo e timing da sua realização, em doentes com síndrome coronária aguda (SCA) sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (SCAsSST) e doença coronária multivaso (DCMV). Objetivos: Comparar os eventos adversos a curto e a longo prazo da revascularização multivaso versus revascularização apenas da artéria culprit em doentes com SCAsSST e DCMV. Métodos: Este estudo observacional retrospetivo incluiu todos os doentes com SCAsSST e DCMV submetidos a intervenção coronária percutânea (ICP), entre janeiro de 2010 e junho de 2013 (n = 232). Após exclusão dos doentes com história de cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (n = 30), a estratégia de revascularização multivaso foi adotada em 35,1% (n = 71) dos doentes; nos restantes 64,9% (n = 131) procedeu‐se à revascularização apenas da artéria culprit. Após propensity score matching (PSM), obtiveram‐se dois grupos de 66 doentes, emparelhados de acordo com a estratégia de revascularização. Resultados: Durante o seguimento (1543 ± 545 dias), após PSM, os pacientes submetidos a revascularização multivaso tiveram menores taxas de reenfarte (4,5 versus 16,7%; log‐rank p = 0,018), revascularização não planeada (RVNP; 6,1 versus 16,7%; log‐rank p = 0,048), ICP não planeada (3,0 versus 13,6%; log‐rank p = 0,023) e do endpoint combinado de morte, reenfarte e RVNP (16,7 versus 31,8%; log‐rank p = 0,046). Conclusão: Nesta população de pacientes do mundo real com SCAsSST e DCMV, a revascularização multivaso associou‐se a menores taxas de reenfarte, RVNP e ICP não planeada, bem como a uma redução do endpoint combinado de morte, reenfarte e RVNP. Abstract: Introduction: There have been no prospective randomized trials that enable the best strategy and timing to be determined for revascularization in patients with non‐ST‐segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE‐ACS) and multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Objectives: To compare short‐ and long‐term adverse events following multivessel vs. culprit‐only revascularization in patients with NSTE‐ACS and multivessel CAD. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study that included all patients diagnosed with NSTE‐ACS and multivessel CAD who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between January 2010 and June 2013 (n = 232). After exclusion of patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 30), a multivessel revascularization strategy was adopted in 35.1% of patients (n = 71); in the others (n = 131, 64.9%), only the culprit artery was revascularized. After propensity score matching (PSM), two groups of 66 patients were obtained, matched according to revascularization strategy. Results: During follow‐up (1543 ± 545 days), after PSM, patients undergoing multivessel revascularization had lower rates of reinfarction (4.5% vs. 16.7%; log‐rank p = 0.018), unplanned revascularization (6.1% vs. 16.7%; log‐rank p = 0.048), unplanned PCI (3.0% vs. 13.6%; log‐rank p = 0.023) and the combined endpoint of death, reinfarction and unplanned revascularization (16.7 vs. 31.8%; log‐rank p = 0.046). Conclusions: In real‐world patients presenting with NSTE‐ACS and multivessel CAD, a multivessel revascularization strategy was associated with lower rates of reinfarction, unplanned revascularization and unplanned PCI, as well as a reduction in the combined endpoint of death, reinfarction and unplanned revascularization. Palavras‐chave: Síndrome coronária aguda sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST, Doença coronária multivaso, Revascularização multivaso, Propensity score matching, Keywords: Non‐ST‐segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, Multivessel coronary disease, Multivessel revascularization, Propensity score matching

Plant breeders and plant physiologists are deeply committed to high throughput plant phenotyping for drought tolerance. A combination of artificial intelligence with reflectance spectroscopy was tested, as a non-invasive method, for the automatic classification of plant drought stress. Arabidopsis thaliana plants (ecotype Col-0) were subjected to different levels of slowly imposed dehydration (S0, control; S1, moderate stress; S2, severe stress). The reflectance spectra of fully expanded leaves were recorded with an Ocean Optics USB4000 spectrometer and the soil water content (SWC, %) of each pot was determined. The entire data set of the reflectance spectra (intensity vs. wavelength) was given to different machine learning (ML) algorithms, namely decision trees, random forests and extreme gradient boosting. The performance of different methods in classifying the plants in one of the three drought stress classes (S0, S1 and S2) was measured and compared. All algorithms produced very high evaluation scores (F1 > 90%) and agree on the features with the highest discriminative power (reflectance at ~670 nm). Random forests was the best performing method and the most robust to random sampling of training data, with an average F1-score of 0.96 ± 0.05. This classification method is a promising tool to detect plant physiological responses to drought using high-throughput pipelines.

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot dry summers and frequent droughts. Mediterranean crops are frequently subjected to high evapotranspiration demands, soil water deficits, high temperatures, and photo-oxidative stress. These conditions will become more severe due to global warming which poses major challenges to the sustainability of the agricultural sector in Mediterranean countries. Selection of crop varieties adapted to future climatic conditions and more tolerant to extreme climatic events is urgently required. Plant phenotyping is a crucial approach to address these challenges. High-throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP) helps to monitor the performance of improved genotypes and is one of the most effective strategies to improve the sustainability of agricultural production. In spite of the remarkable progress in basic knowledge and technology of plant phenotyping, there are still several practical, financial, and political constraints to implement HTPP approaches in field and controlled conditions across the Mediterranean. The European panorama of phenotyping is heterogeneous and integration of phenotyping data across different scales and translation of “phytotron research” to the field, and from model species to crops, remain major challenges. Moreover, solutions specifically tailored to Mediterranean agriculture (e.g., crops and environmental stresses) are in high demand, as the region is vulnerable to climate change and to desertification processes. The specific phenotyping requirements of Mediterranean crops have not yet been fully identified. The high cost of HTPP infrastructures is a major limiting factor, though the limited availability of skilled personnel may also impair its implementation in Mediterranean countries. We propose that the lack of suitable phenotyping infrastructures is hindering the development of new Mediterranean agricultural varieties and will negatively affect future competitiveness of the agricultural sector. We provide an overview of the heterogeneous panorama of phenotyping within Mediterranean countries, describing the state of the art of agricultural production, breeding initiatives, and phenotyping capabilities in five countries: Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. We characterize some of the main impediments for development of plant phenotyping in those countries and identify strategies to overcome barriers and maximize the benefits of phenotyping and modeling approaches to Mediterranean agriculture and related sustainability.

Nowadays, SPOCs (Small Private Online Courses) have been used as complementary methods to support classroom teaching. SPOCs are courses that apply the usage of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), combining classroom with online education, making them an exciting alternative for contexts such as emergency remote teaching. Although SPOCs have been continuously proposed in the software engineering teaching area, it is crucial to assess their practical applicability via measuring the effectiveness of this resource in the teaching-learning process. In this context, this paper aims to present an experimental evaluation to investigate the applicability of a SPOC in a Verification, Validation, and Software Testing course taught during the period of emergency remote education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Therefore, we conducted a controlled experiment comparing alternative teaching through the application of a SPOC with teaching carried out via lectures. The comparison between the teaching methods is made by analyzing the students' performance during the solving of practical activities and essay questions on the content covered. In addition, we used questionnaires to analyze students' motivation during the course. Study results indicate an improvement in both motivation and performance of students participating in SPOC, which corroborates its applicability to the software testing teaching area.

This study aimed to find a suitable immunocastration protocol for male Bísaro pigs (BP) due to the breed and production system particularities. Twenty-five male BP were treated with Improvac® according to three protocols: using two (GrpE2 and L2) or three vaccinations (GrpL3) and starting at 9 (GrpE2) or 13 weeks old (GrpL2 and L3). Eleven animals were kept as intact males (GrpC). Scrotal measurements and the morphometry of the testes and epididymides collected at slaughter were used to survey the effectiveness of the immunocastration compared with the age-matched intact controls. Animals in groups E2 and L3 were kept until 57 weeks, after a second vaccination cycle at 49 and 53 weeks of age. Scrotal dimensions decreased to almost initial values in treated animals until 17 (GrpE2) and 21 weeks (GrpL2 and L3), thereafter increasing to post-pubertal values until around 29 or 37 weeks of age for groups E2 and L2, respectively, but only at 41 weeks in group L3. Between 41 and 49 weeks, scrotal dimensions were similar in treated and control animals, decreasing to the predicted pre-puberty size after the second cycle of vaccination. This study suggests the most suited protocol for males slaughtered at older ages includes three administrations of Improvac® starting at 3 months of age, followed by a second vaccination cycle.

Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: Foi nosso objetivo reportar a evolução da angioplastia coronária no tratamento do enfarte agudo do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (EAMCST), entre 2002‐2013. Métodos: Os dados prospetivos multicêntricos do Registo Nacional de Cardiologia de Intervenção (RNCI) e os dados oficiais da Direção Geral de Saúde (DGS) foram conjugados para estudar os procedimentos no EAMCST entre 2002 e 2013. Resultados: Em 2013 realizaram‐se 3524 angioplastias primárias (ICP‐P), representando um crescimento de 315% relativamente ao ano de 2002. Em 2002 a ICP‐P representava 16% do total de angioplastias coronárias, passando a representar 25% nos anos de 2012‐2013. Entre 2002‐2013 o número de procedimentos por milhão de habitantes aumentou de 106 para 338 e a angioplastia de recurso decresceu de 70,7 para 2%. Durante o período em análise, a utilização de stents eluidores de fármaco cresceu de 9,9 para 69,5%. Após 2008, observou‐se uma utilização crescente da trombectomia de aspiração, atingindo 46,7% em 2013. Os inibidores das glicoproteínas IIb/IIIa registaram um decréscimo no seu uso, sendo de 73,2% em 2002 e de 23,6% em 2013. O acesso radial cresceu de 8,3% em 2008 até 54,6% em 2013. Conclusões: Durante o período em análise, a taxa de angioplastia coronária por milhão de habitantes triplicou. A angioplastia de recurso foi ultrapassada pela angioplastia primária a partir de 2006. Observaram‐se novas tendências no tratamento do enfarte agudo do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST, salientando‐se a utilização de stents eluidores de fármacos e o acesso radial. Abstract: Introduction and Objectives: The aim of the present paper was to report trends in coronary angioplasty for the treatment of ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Portugal. Methods: Prospective multicenter data from the Portuguese National Registry of Interventional Cardiology (RNCI) and official data from the Directorate‐General for Health (DGS) were studied to analyze percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures for STEMI from 2002 to 2013. Results: In 2013, 3524 primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p‐PCI) procedures were performed (25% of all procedures), an increase of 315% in comparison to 2002 (16% of all interventions). Between 2002 and 2013 the rate increased from 106 to 338 p‐PCIs per million population per year. Rescue angioplasty decreased from 70.7% in 2002 to 2% in 2013. During this period, the use of drug‐eluting stents grew from 9.9% to 69.5%. After 2008, the use of aspiration thrombectomy increased, reaching 46.7% in 2013. Glycoprotein IIb‐IIIa inhibitor use decreased from 73.2% in 2002 to 23.6% in the last year of the study. Use of a radial approach increased steadily from 8.3% in 2008 to 54.6% in 2013. Conclusion: During the reporting period there was a three‐fold increase in primary angioplasty rates per million population. Rescue angioplasty has been overtaken by p‐PCI as the predominant procedure since 2006. New trends in the treatment of STEMI were observed, notably the use of drug‐eluting stents and radial access as the predominant approach. Palavras‐chave: Registo, Cardiologia de intervenção, Enfarte do miocárdio, Coronariografia, Angioplastia primária, Stent, Keywords: Registry, Interventional cardiology, Myocardial infarction, Coronary angiography, Primary angioplasty, Stent

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify development strategies for Business Tourism in territories where this segment is not always given due consideration, especially at the level of local and regional development policies. Design – The paper discusses the concepts of Business Tourism and analyses the characteristics of a delimited territory in the Central Region of Portugal that encompasses the cities of Coimbra, Aveiro and Viseu, located between the main Portuguese cities, Lisbon and Oporto. Methodology – A Delphi study was conducted to explore the prospects of destination stakeholders, with the aim of identifying proposals and product development measures in this territory. Findings – Despite the lower urban density and lower load capacity, when compared with the main urban centres of Lisbon and Oporto, this territory presents a qualified and diverse tourism offer that combined with the existence of differentiated venues and quality accommodation can contribute to provide a valued tourism experience associated with the Meetings Industry. Originality – The study presented here allows us to reflect on the potential of Business Tourism in territories with lower urban density and lower supply of facilities and services, when compared to the major cities that usually take the leading positions in international rankings. This is especially true, if we consider that smaller urban centres that are relatively near each other (as is the case of Coimbra, Aveiro and Viseu) may find interesting strategic advantages in joint action, taking into account that these three geographic areas complement each other in the integrated supply of tourism products, experiences, services and facilities.

Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: Foi nosso objetivo estudar as tendências da intervenção coronária percutânea entre 2004‐2013 e comparar Portugal com outros países europeus. Métodos: Análise dos procedimentos coronários efetuados entre 2004‐2013 com base num registo prospetivo, multicêntrico, voluntário, doente a doente – Registo Nacional de Cardiologia de Intervenção (RNCI) da Associação Portuguesa de Intervenção Cardiovascular da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia (APIC‐SPC) – e dos dados oficiais publicados pela Direção Geral de Saúde (DGS). Resultados: Em 2013 realizaram‐se 36 810 cateterismos diagnósticos (3529 coronariografias por milhão de habitantes), representando um aumento significativo de 34% relativamente ao ano de 2007 (p

Green roofs have been more thoroughly investigated in the last few years due to the potential benefits they offer to ecosystems in urban areas (e.g., carbon sequestration, particle retention, heat island effect attenuation). However, current climate change models predict an increase in desertification, with an increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall, which means there is an increasing demand for green roofs with lower water consumption. Vegetation with very little water requirements, such as desiccation-tolerant mosses, has shown a potential to complement or substitute for vascular species, increasing the sustainability of lower water use in green roofs. In this study, we use chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging to screen for bryophytes with adequate physiology to be used in green roofs placed in at-risk areas with prolonged drought episodes. Apart from Hypnum cupressiforme, all selected species presented a high potential for use in those conditions, particularly Didymodon fallax, Grimmia lisae, Pleurochaete squarrosa, and Targionia hypophylla. Chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging technology proved to be a simple and non-invasive tool for a fast screening of these poikilohydric organisms, to be used in future studies of bryophyte biology, but more importantly in the green roof industry.

When a dark-adapted leaf is illuminated with saturating light, a fast polyphasic rise of fluorescence emission (Kautsky effect) is observed. The shape of the curve is dependent on the molecular organization of the photochemical apparatus, which in turn is a function of the interaction between genotype and environment. In this paper, we evaluate the potential of rapid fluorescence transients, aided by machine learning techniques, to classify plant genotypes. We present results of the application of several machine learning algorithms (k-nearest neighbors, decision trees, artificial neural networks, genetic programming) to rapid induction curves recorded in different species and cultivars of vine grown in the same environmental conditions. The phylogenetic relations between the selected Vitis species and Vitis vinifera cultivars were established with molecular markers. Both neural networks (71.8%) and genetic programming (75.3%) presented much higher global classification success rates than k-nearest neighbors (58.5%) or decision trees (51.6%), genetic programming performing slightly better than neural networks. However, compared with a random classifier (success rate = 14%), even the less successful algorithms were good at the task of classifying. The use of rapid fluorescence transients, handled by genetic programming, for rapid preliminary classification of Vitis genotypes is foreseen as feasible.

In this paper, I argue that a reconciliation between science and nature is possible by way of the role played by ecological sciences on the aesthetical and ethical appraisal of natural diversity. First, I show that the aim of science – namely natural sciences – is to dominate nature and contend that environmental ethics was founded to support nature’s protection from the perils of science. I then show that when environmental ethics is supported by environmental aesthetics, a different role may be assigned to science. I start by building on Allen Carlson’s philosophical aesthetics to show that the aesthetical appraisal of nature requires a scientific understanding of the ecological processes. Finally, I refer to Holmes Rolston’s environmental ethics to show how nature’s ethical value may arise from Carlson’s peculiar aesthetic evaluation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is widely recognized as an adverse prognostic factor during acute myocardial infarction, although the impact of AF type – new-onset (nAF) or pre-existing (pAF) – is still controversial. Objectives: To identify the clinical differences and prognosis of nAF and pAF during acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study including 1373 consecutive patients (mean age 64 years, 77.3% male) admitted to a single center over a three-year period, with a six-month follow-up. Results: AF rhythm was identified in 14.5% patients, of whom 71.4% presented nAF and 28.6% pAF. When AF types were compared, patients with nAF more frequently presented with ST-elevation ACS (p=0.003). Patients with pAF, in turn, were older (p=0.032), had greater left atrial diameter (p=0.001) and were less likely to have significant coronary lesions (p=0.034). Regarding therapeutic strategy, nAF patients were more often treated by rhythm control during hospital stay (p

The Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) has been associated with sleep-disordered breathing, especially central sleep apnea syndrome. We report the case of a 44-year-old female with CM-I who was referred to our sleep laboratory for suspected sleep apnea. The patient had undergone decompressive surgery 3 years prior. An arterial blood gas analysis showed hypercapnia. Polysomnography showed a respiratory disturbance index of 108 events/h, and all were central apnea events. Treatment with adaptive servo-ventilation was initiated, and central apnea was resolved. This report demonstrates the efficacy of servo-ventilation in the treatment of central sleep apnea syndrome associated with alveolar hypoventilation in a CM-I patient with a history of decompressive surgery.

Aims: Portugal has one of the lowest rates of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI) in Western Europe. This study assessed the progress of Portuguese p-PCI performance indicators one year after Portugal joined the Stent for Life (SFL) initiative. Methods and Results: Two national surveys were carried out, each covering a period of one month: the first when Portugal joined the SFL in 2011 (Moment Zero), and the second one year later (Moment One). A total of 397 consecutive patients with probable ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction were enrolled (201 at Moment Zero and 196 at Moment One) from 15 centers. During this period, the number of patients who arrived at a local hospital without p-PCI decreased (62–47%; p=0.004) and transportation to a p-PCI hospital by the National Institute for Medical Emergencies (INEM) increased significantly (13–37%; p

Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: No laboratório de cardiologia de intervenção é possível efetuar avaliação do significado funcional de lesões coronárias com recurso à determinação da fração do fluxo de reserva coronária por guia de pressão (FFR) e assim ultrapassar uma das limitações principais da angiografia convencional.O objetivo foi analisar a evolução clínica a longo prazo de doentes submetidos a cateterismo cardíaco no qual se detetaram estenoses coronárias de gravidade intermédia (50-70%) e nas quais a intervenção foi diferida com base no resultado de FFR

As viagens motivadas pelos negócios e profissões referem-se a uma das mais antigas formas de viajar, tendo a sua evolução ocorrido ao longo dos tempos à medida que as sociedades se foram transformando económica e socialmente. Hoje em dia, não só falamos de viagens de negócios como também de Turismo de Negócios que, para muitos destinos, representa um importante setor económico. Com este trabalho pretende-se fazer uma breve análise à evolução dos conceitos de trabalho, lazer e viagens de negócios ao longo dos últimos séculos, de modo a melhor compreendermos este fenómeno relativamente recente.