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Coloboma ou agenesia palpebral é um defeito congénito comum em gatos. A ausência de segmentos palpebrais muitas vezes pode exibir distúrbios oculares secundários graves. O único tratamento eficaz é a correção cirúrgica. Diferentes técnicas cirúrgicas podem ser utilizadas para a correção do coloboma palpebral em gatos. Objetivou relatar o reparo de coloboma palpebral em um gato, utilizando a técnica cirúrgica de transposição da comissura labial. A técnica consiste na obtenção de um retalho mucocutâneo que simula uma pálpebra natural, originada da comissura labial e transposta até o defeito palpebral. A técnica foi eficaz na reparação do defeito palpebral, proporcionando bom resultado funcional, melhor proteção da córnea e cosmeticamente aceitável.

To gather hydrological measurements is a difficult task for Autonomous Surface Vessels. It is necessary for precise navigation considering underwater obstacles, shallow and fast water flows, and also mitigate misreadings due to disturbs caused by their propulsion system. To deal with those problems, this paper presents a new topology of an Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV) based on a catamaran boat with an aerial propulsion system with azimuth control. This set generates an over-actuated 3 Degree of Freedom (DoF) ASV, highly maneuverable and able of operating over the above-mentioned situations. To deal with the high computational cost of the over-actuated control allocation (CA) problem, this paper also proposes a Fast CA (FCA) approach. The FCA breaks the initial nonlinear system into partially-dependent linear subsystems. This approach generates smaller connected systems with overlapping solution spaces, generating fast and robust convergence, especially attractive for embedded control devices. Both proposals, i.e., ASV and FCA, are assessed through mathematical simulations and real scenarios.

The treatment for osteomyelitis consists of surgical debridement, filling of the dead space, soft tissue coverage, and intravenous administration of antimicrobial (AM) agents for long periods. Biomaterials for local delivery of AM agents, while providing controllable antibiotic release rates and simultaneously acting as a bone scaffold, may be a valuable alternative; thus, avoiding systemic AM side effects. V-HEPHAPC is a heparinized nanohydroxyapatite (nHA)/collagen biocomposite loaded with vancomycin that has been previously studied and tested in vitro. It enables a vancomycin-releasing profile with an intense initial burst, followed by a sustained release with concentrations above the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for MRSA. In vitro results have also shown that cellular viability is not compromised, suggesting that V-HEPHAPC granules may be a promising alternative device for the treatment of osteomyelitis. In the present study, V-HEPHAPC (HEPHAPC with vancomycin) granules were used as a vancomycin carrier to treat MRSA osteomyelitis. First, in vivo Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) toxicological tests were performed in a rabbit model, assuring that HEPHAPC and V-HEPHAPC have no relevant side effects. Second, V-HEPHAPC proved to be an efficient drug carrier and bone substitute to control MRSA infection and simultaneously reconstruct the bone cavity in a sheep model.

Introduction: Healthcare associated infections due to carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) are a major concern in Portuguese hospitals. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) can improve infection control, but this practice is not routinely used by hospital clinical laboratories in Portugal. We simulated the investigation of a CRKP outbreak based on WGS, with the aim of determining, in the minimum possible time, genetic relatedness between CRKP clinical and environmental isolates. Material and Methods: Ten CRKP clinical isolates routinely obtained in the hospital laboratory were used. Forty environmental samples - from sinks and sink drains of ward rooms - were collected. Environmental samples were plated on selective media and presumptive CRKP colonies were isolated. Total DNA was extracted from all putative CRKP isolates and sequenced. Clonal relatedness was determined by multi-locus sequence typing and core genome single nucleotide polymorphism analysis; the presence of carbapenemase genes was evaluated. Results: Clinical isolates were characterized in 48 hours: eight strains were confirmed as CRKP, of which six were of ST13 and carried blaKPC-3. Environmental samples results were obtained in six days: eight CRKP were isolated from which five were of ST13 and carried blaKPC-3. Clinical and environmental ST13 isolates were highly related: ten (of 11) isolates differed from each other in < 0.001% of 2 172 367 core nucleotides. Discussion: WGS can be used as a high-resolution effective tool to investigate healthcare associated infections and track routes of dissemination in real-time. Conclusion: In Portugal, routine use of WGS to improve infection control could thrive through collaborative initiatives between hospitals and research institutes.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in small animals’ oncology has been under research focus, pointing to new treatment possibilities. Moreover, several animal studies constitute experimental human disease models due to the similarity of tumor biology between animals and man. PDT uses photosensitizing compounds without toxicity per se. When subjected to a specific wavelength, the photosensitizers are activated, triggering the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that lead to cell death. Additionally, antiangiogenic effects and immune stimulation may also be elicited. PDT is minimally invasive, non-toxic, and does not induce carcinogenic or mutagenic side effects. Thus, it is safe for non-neoplastic tissues compared with other neoplasms treatment modalities. This review describes the applications of PDT in the cancer treatment of small animals, particularly dogs and cats, focusing on the respective photosensitizers and treatment protocols used in trials in this therapeutic modality.

Introdução: O baricitinib, uma das mais recentes alternativas terapêuticas para doentes com artrite reumatoide (AR), é um inibidor seletivo da janus quinase (JAK) – JAK1 e JAK2. Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma meta-análise de forma a avaliar o perfil de segurança do baricitinib nas doses de 2 e 4 mg, tendo por base a comparação com o placebo. Métodos: Recorreu-se às bases de dados PubMed e Clinicaltrails.gov para efetuar a pesquisa bibliográfica. Foi utilizado o programa RevMan versão 5.3 para calcular o risco relativo (RR) e intervalos de confiança de 95% (ICs) para todos os resultados ao longo da meta-análise, usando o modelo dos efeitos aleatórios Mantel-Haenszel. Resultados: Foram selecionados seis ensaios clínicos aleatorizados que avaliaram a segurança do baricitinib em doentes adultos com AR. O baricitinib 2 mg demonstrou não aumentar os eventos adversos totais (RR: 1,01; 95% IC: 0,92-1,11; p=0,80), os eventos adversos graves (RR: 0,69; 95% IC: 0,38-1,25; p=0,22), as infeções graves (RR: 0,97; 95% IC: 0,28-3,37; p=0,96) nem de herpes zoster (RR: 2,32; 95% IC: 0,27-19,93; p=0,44). O baricitinib 4 mg também não aumentou o risco de eventos adversos graves (RR: 1,11; 95% IC: 0,77-1,60; p=0,58), de infeções graves (RR: 1,00; 95% IC: 0,51-1,96; p=1,00) ou de eventos cardiovasculares graves (RR: 1,16; 95% IC 0,24-5,48; p=0,85). No entanto, existiu uma tendência de aumento dos eventos adversos totais (RR: 1,14; 95% IC: 1,04-1,24; p=0,005) e de herpes zoster (RR: 3,81; 95% IC: 1,35-10,71; p=0,01) comparativamente ao placebo. Conclusão: Os resultados desta meta-análise de ensaios clínicos demonstraram a dose mais elevada de baricitinib, 4 mg aumenta o risco de reações adversas totais e de herpes zoster face a placebo. Não foram identificados riscos acrescidos de novas reações adversas.

Introdução: Atualmente, as alterações demográficas e epidemiológicas vivenciadas em Portugal tornou-o um país envelhecido, conduzindo à necessidade de cuidar das pessoas dependentes. O cuidador informal se assume como um elemento fundamental, com responsabilidades acrescidas no cuidar dos idosos que se encontram em situação de dependência. Objetivo: Identificar os problemas experienciados / dificuldades percebidas pelos cuidadores informais de pessoas dependentes. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo transversal e analítico. O estudo decorreu entre janeiro e novembro de 2018 na cidade de Viseu, Portugal. A amostra foi constituída por 77 cuidadores informais, sendo a maioria do gênero feminino (88,3%), com idades compreendidas entre 22 e 96 anos (média de 57,03 ± 13,52 anos), 84,4% dos cuidadores eram casados/união de fato e 70,1% viviam no meio rural. Os dados foram recolhidos por meio de um questionário constituído por variáveis sociodemográficas, referentes aos cuidadores e à pessoa dependente, pelo carers assessment of difficulties index (CADI) para identificar as necessidades do cuidador informal e pelo índice de Barthel para identificar o grau de dependência. Resultados: Verificou-se que 32,5% dos indivíduos eram totalmente dependentes, 27,2% com dependência leve, 22,1% com dependência elevada e 18,2% com dependência moderada, totalizando 72,8% dos indivíduos da amostra com dependência moderada a elevada. Os cuidadores informais manifestaram como principais dificuldades os problemas relacionais, reações à prestação de cuidados, exigências de ordem física, restrições na vida social, deficiente apoio familiar, deficiente apoio profissional e os problemas financeiros. Conclusões: De acordo com os resultados verificamos que as dificuldades mais percecionadas pelos cuidadores informais estão relacionadas com as dimensões ‘Reações à prestação de cuidados’; ‘Exigências de ordem física na prestação de cuidados’ e ‘Problemas relacionais com a pessoa dependente’.

COVID-19 is the clinical expression of the highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral infection. Most patients have mild symptoms, but a significant proportion have severe or critical disease, which can include cardiac injury, sepsis, acute kidney failure and respiratory failure. It is also worth highlighting the increasing number of reported COVID-19 cases with dermatological disease/manifestations. The cutaneous clinical spectrum is wide and includes maculopapular, urticarial, varicelliform and petechial rashes, pseudo perniosis, livedo reticularis, and pityriasis rosea-like, violaceous and pustular lesions. Until the physiological mechanism is fully understood, it is important to describe these manifestations, which could help identify a typical pattern. This report describes a cutaneous manifestation in a COVID-19 patient.

Neoplasms of melanocytic origin are diseases relevant to dogs and cats’ ophthalmic oncology due to their incidence, potential visual loss, and consequent decrease in life quality and expectancy. Despite its non-specific clinical presentation, melanocytic neoplasms can be histologically distinguished in melanocytomas, which present benign characteristics, and malignant melanomas. The diagnosis often occurs in advanced cases, limiting the therapeutic options. Surgery, cryotherapy, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and laser are currently available therapeutic strategies. As no clinical guidelines are available, the treatment choice is primarily based on the clinician’s preference, proficiency, and the owner’s financial constraints. While surgery is curative in benign lesions, ocular melanomas present a variable response to treatments, besides the potential of tumour recurrences or metastatic disease. This review presents the currently available therapies for ocular melanocytic neoplasms in dogs and cats, describing the therapeutic, indications, and limitations. Additionally, new therapeutics being developed are presented and discussed, as they can improve the current treatment options.

In underwater navigation, sonars are useful sensing devices for operation in confined or structured environments, enabling the detection and identification of underwater environmental features through the acquisition of acoustic images. Nonetheless, in these environments, several problems affect their performance, such as background noise and multiple secondary echoes. In recent years, research has been conducted regarding the application of feature extraction algorithms to underwater acoustic images, with the purpose of achieving a robust solution for the detection and matching of environmental features. However, since these algorithms were originally developed for optical image analysis, conclusions in the literature diverge regarding their suitability to acoustic imaging. This article presents a detailed comparison between the SURF (Speeded-Up Robust Features), ORB (Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF), BRISK (Binary Robust Invariant Scalable Keypoints), and SURF-Harris algorithms, based on the performance of their feature detection and description procedures, when applied to acoustic data collected by an autonomous underwater vehicle. Several characteristics of the studied algorithms were taken into account, such as feature point distribution, feature detection accuracy, and feature description robustness. A possible adaptation of feature extraction procedures to acoustic imaging is further explored through the implementation of a feature selection module. The performed comparison has also provided evidence that further development of the current feature description methodologies might be required for underwater acoustic image analysis.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) ST398 was recovered from infections in humans exposed to animals, raising public health concerns. However, contact with food producing chain as a means of transmission of LA-MRSA to humans remains poorly understood. We aimed to assess if pork production chain is a source of MRSA ST398 for human colonization and infection. MRSA from live pigs, meat, the environment, and slaughterhouse workers were analyzed by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), spa, MLST typing, SNPs and for antibiotic resistance and virulence gene profiles. We compared core and accessory genomes of MRSA ST398 isolated from slaughterhouse and hospital. We detected MRSA ST398 (t011, t108, t1451) along the entire pork production chain (live pigs: 60%; equipment: 38%; meat: 23%) and in workers (40%). All MRSA ST398 were multidrug resistant, and the majority carried genes encoding biocide resistance and enterotoxins. We found 23 cross-transmission events between live pigs, meat, and workers (6–55 SNPs). MRSA ST398 from infection and slaughterhouse environment belonged to the same clonal type (ST398, t011, SCCmec V), but differed in 321–378 SNPs. Pork production chain can be a source of MRSA ST398 for colonization of human slaughterhouse workers, which can represent a risk of subsequent meat contamination and human infection.

Measuring and forecasting changes in coastal and deep-water ecosystems and climates requires sustained long-term measurements from marine observation systems. One of the key considerations in analyzing data from marine observatories is quality assurance (QA). The data acquired by these infrastructures accumulates into Giga and Terabytes per year, necessitating an accurate automatic identification of false samples. A particular challenge in the QA of oceanographic datasets is the avoidance of disqualification of data samples that, while appearing as outliers, actually represent real short-term phenomena, that are of importance. In this paper, we present a novel cross-sensor QA approach that validates the disqualification decision of a data sample from an examined dataset by comparing it to samples from related datasets. This group of related datasets is chosen so as to reflect upon the same oceanographic phenomena that enable some prediction of the examined dataset. In our approach, a disqualification is validated if the detected anomaly is present only in the examined dataset, but not in its related datasets. Results for a surface water temperature dataset recorded by our Texas A&M—Haifa Eastern Mediterranean Marine Observatory (THEMO)—over a period of 7 months, show an improved trade-off between accurate and false disqualification rates when compared to two standard benchmark schemes.

Successful colonization of the acidic vaginal niche by C. glabrata and C. albicans depends on their ability to cope with the presence of lactic and acetic acids produced by commensal microbiota. As such, the inhibitory effect of these acids at a low pH in growth of C. glabrata and C. albicans was investigated. The effect of the presence of these organic acids in tolerance of the two Candida species to azoles used in treatment of vaginal infections was also investigated including eventual synergistic effects. Under the different experimental conditions tested lactic acid exerted no significant inhibitory effect against C. albicans or C. glabrata, contrasting with the generalized impression that the production of this acid is on the basis of the protective effect exerted by vaginal lactobacilii. Differently, C. glabrata and C. albicans exhibited susceptibility to acetic acid, more prominent at lower pHs and stronger for the latter species. Synergism between acetic acid and azoles was observed both for C. albicans and C. glabrata, while lactic acid-azole synergism was only efficient against C. albicans. Altogether our in vitro results indicate that tolerance to acetic acid at a low pH may play a more relevant role than tolerance to lactic acid in determining competitiveness in the vaginal tract of C. albicans and C. glabrata including under azole stress. Treatment of vaginal candidiasis with azoles may depend on the level of acetic and lactic acids present and improvements could be achieved synergizing the azole with these acids.

Quando é mostrado a observadores humanos um objeto em movimento horizontal que desaparece subitamente, e se instruídos a indicar o local de desaparecimento, emerge sistematicamente um erro para diante na direção do movimento (Desfasamento M) e para baixo na direção da gravidade (Desfasamento O). Ainda que diversos determinantes do fenómeno estejam bem documentados, pouco é ainda sabido acerca do seu curso temporal. O presente estudo procura preencher esta lacuna. Objetos descrevendo movimentos horizontais foram mostrados a participantes instruídos a indicarem o seu local de desaparecimento, usando ou um mouse ou um ponteiro (num ecrã táctil), após um intervalo de retenção variado. Os resultados revelaram uma trajetória ordenada para os erros de localização em função do tempo, passível de ser descrita em duas fases - numa primeira, até cerca de 300ms, os erros progrediram para diante sem qualquer desfasamento vertical; após os 300ms o erro tende a aumentar na direção descendente sem qualquer incremento horizontal. Paralelos deste padrão com tarefas de física intuitiva (Física de Road Runner) e antecedentes na História Pré-Galilaica da Física são referidos e os resultados discutidos no âmbito de uma representação implícita de invariantes físicos na perceção de eventos dinâmicos.

The objective of this work was to determine the geographic origin of the Madeiran common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) gene pool. Phaseolin patterns of 50 accessions representing the diversity of common bean collected in Madeira, Portugal, and conserved in the ISOPlexis Germplasm Bank, were analysed using the Experion automated electrophoresis system, based on lab-on-a-chip technology. Five common bean standard varieties with typical phaseolin patterns were used to determine the phytogeographical origin of the Madeiran common bean accessions. Ninety two percent of the accessions exhibited a phaseolin pattern consistent with the one of common bean types belonging to the Andean gene pool, while the origin of the remaining 8% of the accessions was indistinguishable. The application of a similarity coefficient of 85%, based on Pearson correlations, increases the number of accessions with uncertain pattern. The analytical approach used permitted the determination of the origin of the common bean gene pool, which is Andean in 98% of the cases, and clustering of the observed variability among the Madeiran common beans.O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a origem geográfica do "pool" genético do feijoeiro-comum (Phaseolus vulgaris) da ilha da Madeira, Portugal. Os perfis de faseolinas de 50 acessos que representam a diversidade do feijoeiro-comum coletados na ilha da Madeira, conservados no banco de germoplasma ISOPlexis, foram analisados por meio do sistema de eletroforese automática Experion, baseado na tecnologia "lab-on-a-chip". Cinco variedades padrão de feijoeiro, com perfis típicos de faseolina, foram usadas para determinar a origem fitogeográfica dos acessos de feijoeiro-comum da ilha da Madeira. Noventa e dois por cento dos acessos exibiram um perfil consistente com o dos tipos pertencentes ao "pool" genético Andino, enquanto não foi possível determinar a origem de 8% dos acessos restantes. A aplicação de um coeficiente de similaridade de 85%, com base em correlações de Pearson, aumentou o número de acessos com perfil incerto. A abordagem analítica utilizada permitiu determinar a origem andina do "pool" genético em 98% dos casos, e o agrupamento da variabilidade observada entre os feijões da Madeira.

O futuro dos tradicionais intermediários turísticos assenta numa forte concorrência que passa não apenas por uma questão de sobrevivência mas também de liderança, dominado por modelos organizacionais virtuais com grande capacidade de resistência, de mudança e de sistemas interativos inovadores ancorados no potencial endógeno das pessoas, dos territórios e nas entidades que afirmam as diferenças legítimas e atraem os visitantes de forma sustentável. A enorme quantidade e informação a ser organizada, gerida, distribuída e comunicada, bem como a grande influência que a internet veio causar em termos de mudança profunda nos conceitos do negócio, nos métodos organizacionais e sobretudo na gestão de oferta das agências de viagens e operadores implica o estudo da articulação entre estas empresas e a via online. O presente trabalho visa obter e avaliar a opinião de diretores de agências de viagens sobre o nível de utilização das TIC no negócio e conhecer as suas preocupações quanto ao futuro do sector. O artigo está estruturado por uma fundamentação teórica composta por abordagens alusivas ao funcionamento dos intermediários turísticos tradicionais (operadores turísticos e agências de viagens) e uma componente empírica onde se descreve a metodologia utilizada que envolveu a aplicação presencial de inquéritos por entrevista a sete responsáveis de empresas de intermediação turística, a análise e interpretação dos dados e as respetivas conclusões.

Ao longo deste artigo são abordadas as diversas dimensões do conceito de fragmentação territorial bem como os instrumentos de análise espacial no seu estudo e avaliação. São igualmente afloradas as metodologias para a definição territorial de redes de corredores ecológicos. A utilização de indicadores de composição e configuração permite a monitorização dos efeitos da fragmentação territorial, causados pelas diferentes ações do homem na matriz territorial. Indicadores, que caracterizam as manchas territoriais tendo em conta a dimensão, a forma e o grau de conectividade das manchas do habitat na resistência e promoção dos movimentos das espécies de fauna e flora. O planejamento de redes de corredores ecológicos tem por objetivo minimizar os efeitos negativos da fragmentação territorial. A modelação geográfica e as metodologias de estatística espacial apresentam-se como um meio na identificação de soluções e alternativas de redes de corredores ecológicos para a articulação territorial.

Newton's cradle, a device consisting of a chain of steel balls suspended in alignment, has been used extensively in physics teaching to demonstrate the principles of conservation of momentum and kinetic energy in elastic collisions. The apparent simplicity of the device allows one to test commonly hold views regarding the intuitive understanding of physics by lay people. We present and discuss the results of two experiments wherein the extension of the chain, the height of release (experiment 1) and the material of the balls (experiment 2) were systematically varied in graphical depictions of the Newton's cradle. Participants had to estimate the height that the last ball in the chain would reach if a collision took place. The outcomes revealed a sophisticated cognitive model wherein the magnitude of the displacement of the target ball increased in direct proportion with the acceleration of the launcher and in inverse proportion with the number of balls in the chain. The results closely mimicked the predicted behavior of a Newton's cradle if the collisions were not perfectly elastic. This isomorphism shows that judgments of physical events are not detached from the environment, as one seldom sees a perfectly elastic collision, and it speaks unfavorably to the hypothesis that, in such tasks, people rely on simple heuristics.