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Introduction Paliperidone Palmitate (PP) is an atypical antipsychotic, approved by the FDA for acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. It has a relatively safety profile, and reported cases of paliperidone palmitate-induced angioedema or anaphylaxis are uncommon. Objectives We intend to present a case of paliperidone palmitate-induced anaphylaxis to alert clinicians regarding this rare, but possible complication. Methods Non-systematic review of the literature and report of a case study. Results Long-acting injectable Paliperidone Palmitate (LAIPP) is a safe and effective alternative to oral Paliperidone, with less incidence of disease relapse related to medication non-compliance. Substance use disorder (SUD) is highly prevalent in first-episode psychosis (FEP), and it is associated to decreased treatment compliance, which impairs the outcomes of these patients. Therefore, several authors have been recommended long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI-AP), such the LAIPP, as a first line for treatment of FEP-SUD patients. The most common side effects associated with LAIPP are injection site reactions, extrapyramidal symptoms, hyperprolactinemia, sedation, hypersalivation, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, and weight gain. Hypersensitivity reactions have rarely been reported and may be dose-dependent. We report a case of a 20-year-old female, without medical history and no history of allergies, who was medicated with once-monthly LAIPP at dose 100 mg for the maintenance treatment of a first psychotic episode associated with cannabis abuse. Approximately 24 hours after the first monthly injection dose, she was admitted in the emergency room (ER) presenting an increasing angioedema associated with stridor, requiring endotracheal intubation and administration of adrenaline, clemastine and hydrocortisone during the assessment in the ER. After clinical stabilization, she was transferred to the internal medicine ward, and following a full recovery, she was discharged 6 days later while being medicated with Olanzapine 15 mg/day, Lorazepam 3 mg/day and Sertraline 50 mg/day. LAIPP was suspected as the etiology of the anaphylaxis reaction due to temporal relationship of its onset with therapy administration and by the exclusion of other potential causes. Consequently, LAIPP was discontinued at discharge. Conclusions This report shows the possibility of a late and potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to LAIPP. So, all physicians should be aware of this potential complication, which requires timely recognition and management. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

This study aims to assess wildfire hazard in northern Portugal by combining landscape-scale wildfire spread modeling and connectivity analysis to help fuel management planning. We used the Minimum Travel Time (MTT) algorithm to run simulations under extreme (95th percentile) fire weather conditions. We assessed wildfire hazard through burn probability, fire size, conditional flame length and fire potential index wildfire descriptors. Simulated fireline intensity (FLI) using historical fire weather conditions were used to build landscape networks and assess the impact of weather severity in landscape wildfire connectivity (Directional Index of Wildfire Connectivity, DIWC). Our results showed that 27 % of the study area is likely to experience high-intensity fires and 51 % of it is susceptible to spread fires larger than 1000 ha. Furthermore, the increase in weather severity led to the increase in the extent of high-intensity fires and highly connected fuel patches, covering about 13 % of the landscape in the most severe weather. Shrublands and pine forests are the main contributors for the spread of these fires, and highly connected patches were mapped. These are candidates for targeted fuel treatments. This study contributes to improving future fuel treatment planning by integrating wildfire connectivity in wildfire management planning of fire-prone Mediterranean landscapes.

Thirty Holstein cows were arranged in a randomised block design for 287 days and fed rations of five forage systems: Italian ryegrass in rotation with corn (S1), hybrid ryegrass mixtures with three legumes in rotation with corn (S2) or sorghum (S3), red clover with hybrid (S4), and Perennial (S5) ryegrass pastures. In systems S1, S2, and S3, the cows remained in the barn throughout the study period and were fed total mixed ration (TMR). In systems 4 and 5, the cows grazed in a pasture and were only fed at the barn when grazing was not possible. All rations were balanced with a low quantity of concentrate at a forage/concentrate ration of approximately 80/20. Feed intake, milk quantity, and milk quality test data were entered in the program CAP2’er® to calculate the test-related carbon footprint. Results, based on 287 days trial, expressed as grams of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM), were 724 (S1), 701 (S2), 764 (S3), 507 (S4), and 528 (S5). Actually, the lower results in S4 and S5 than results for S1, S2 and S3 seem more related to the inclusion of the carbon sequestration and land-use change issues than more inputs/more but not enough milk production. When soybean meal is imported, the findings highlight that soybean meal emission factor due to land use change (LUC) strongly affected CO2 equivalent emissions in systems S1, S2 and S3 where 670, 625 and 628 kilograms of soybean meal were consumed by cows in the trial.Highlights The higher productivity of double-cropping systems does not compensate for the higher amount of greenhouse gases that they emit, measured as CO2-equivalent emissions per kilogram of FPCM. Pasture-based systems emit lower quantities of greenhouse gases per kilogram of FPCM, but their milk yield is lower than that of more intensive systems. Emission factors differ considerably due to differences in soil use. The result of greenhouse gas emissions from the system will largely depend on how these emission factors are analysed.

Introduction The concept of cycloid psychosis has a long tradition in European psychiatry since it was introduced by Kleist in 1926. Nevertheless, this concept is not included explicitly in modern classifications, leading to a controversial discussion about its utility in current psychiatry. Objectives Starting from a case study, we intend to review the evolution of cycloid psychosis concept and analyze its role in modern psychiatry. Methods Non-systematic review of the literature and report of a case study. Results Following Kleist’s work, Leonhard described the three overlapping subtypes, and later Perris developed the first operational diagnostic criteria. Since then, this entity has shown a high diagnostic stability, validity and a good predictive diagnostic and prognostic value. We report a case of a 30-year-old woman, previous heathy, without regular medication, living with her parents and 5-year-old son, until she emigrated alone to Switzerland. After 10 days abroad, she was sent back to Portugal, and after organic disease and drug misuse exclusion, she was admitted in our inward with a clinical picture of perplexity, anxiety, thinking and behavioral disturbance with persecutory and poisoning delusions, auditory hallucinations, and total insomnia. Following rapid and full recovery, she was discharged 14 days later while being medicated with Paliperidone 3 mg/day and Lorazepam 4 mg/day, which was abandoned by her 2 months later, without relapse of the symptoms. Conclusions The current lack of a satisfactory system for categorizing acute, and remittent psychoses seems to be reason enough to remain awareness of this unique diagnostic entity, which is worthy of further investigation. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Water infrastructure investment planning must consider the interdependencies within the water–energy–food nexus. Moreover, uncertain future climate, evolving socio-economic context, and stakeholders with conflicting interests, lead to a highly complex decision problem. Therefore, there is a need for decision support tools to objectively determine the value of investments, considering the impacts on different groups of actors, and the risks linked to uncertainties. We present a new open-source hydro-economic optimization model, incorporating in a holistic framework, representations of the water, agriculture, and power systems. The model represents the joint development of nexus-related infrastructure and policies and evaluates their economic impact, as well as the risks linked to uncertainties in future climate and socio-economic development. We apply the methodology in the Zambezi River basin, a major African basin shared by eight countries, in which multiple investment opportunities exist, including new hydropower plants, new or resized reservoirs, development of irrigation agriculture, and investments into the power grid. We show that it is crucial to consider the links between the different systems when evaluating the impacts of climate change and socio-economic development, which will ultimately influence investment decisions. We find that climate change could induce economic losses of up to USD 2.3 billion per year in the current system. We show that the value of the hydropower development plan is sensitive to future fuel prices, carbon pricing policies, the capital cost of solar technologies, and climate change. Similarly, we show that the value of the irrigation development plan is sensitive to the evolution of crop yields, world market crop prices, and climate change. Finally, we evaluate the opportunity costs of restoring the natural floods in the Zambezi Delta; we find limited economic trade-offs under the current climate, but major trade-offs with irrigation and hydropower generation under the driest climate change scenario.

This work evaluates the influence of land use and land cover (LUC) data with different properties on the landslide susceptibility zonation of the road network in the Zêzere watershed (Portugal). The information value method was used to assess the landslide susceptibility using two models: one including detailed LUC data (the Portuguese Land Cover Map – COS) and the other including more generalized LUC data (the CORINE Land Cover – CLC). A set of fixed independent layers was considered as landslide predisposing factors (slope angle, slope aspect, slope curvature, slope-over-area ratio, soil, and lithology) while COS and CLC were used to find the differences in the landslide susceptibility zonation. A landslide inventory was used as a dependent layer, including 259 shallow landslides obtained from the photointerpretation of orthophotos from 2005, and further validated in three sample areas. The landslide susceptibility maps were assigned to the road network data and resulted in two landslide susceptibility road network maps. The models' performance was evaluated with prediction and success rate curves and the area under the curve (AUC). The landslide susceptibility results obtained in the two models present a high accuracy in terms of the AUC (>90 %), but the model with more detailed LUC data (COS) produces better results in the landslide susceptibility zonation on the road network with the highest landslide susceptibility.

Introduction Animal hoarding is characterized by hoarding of a large number of animals without providing minimum conditions of nutrition and sanitation, accompanied by lack of insight for the behavior and by social isolation. Despite studies detecting an increasing incidence, the behavior is still poorly understood. Objectives To review clinical evidence on animal hoarding and to report a clinical case. Methods We report a clinical case based on patient’s history and clinical data, along with a review of the literature on animal hoarding. The terms “Noah syndrome” and “animal hoarding disorder” were searched on PubMed® database. Results We present the case of a 51-years-old woman, living alone, with higher education. His first contact with psychiatry was in August 2019 upon aggravated self-neglect and behavioral disorganization. She was living with around 40 cats, her home was extremely deteriorated. In December 2019 she was admitted to a psychiatric unit. A schizophrenia diagnosis was established and pharmacological treatment was initiated. She was discharged to a chronic psychiatric institution. Studies found out that animal hoarders are typically middle age/older women living alone in squalid conditions. Animal hoarding is characterized by a chronic course and intense emotional attachment to animals. It seems to be associated with traumatic situations, as well as mental disorders such as schizophrenia or dementia. Published data on intervention and treatment is still limited. Conclusions Animal hoarding phenomenon requires further investigation, regarding developmental risk factors and co-morbid mental disorders. Comprehensive approaches to clinical intervention and management strategies in animal hoarding are necessary.

Introduction The psychiatric care paradigm has shifted towards community-centered models. Yet, prolonged hospitalizations are still a reality, with debated impact at healthcare systems and patients. Objectives This work aims to describe prolonged hospitalizations in acute psychiatric wards through patients’ sociodemographic and clinical data. Methods We analyzed a national hospitalization database that contained all hospitalization episodes registered in Portuguese public hospitals from 2008 to 2015. All episodes with a primary diagnosis of mental disorder defined as ICD-9-CM codes 290.x-319.x were included. Prolonged hospitalizations were defined as having a LoS ≥ P97.5; LOS ≥180 days or LOS ≥1 year. Age, sex, lengh of stay, in-hospital mortality were analysed. Results The LoS ≥ P97.5(≥62 days) group comprised 3911 hospitalizations (2.3% of all psychiatric hospitalizations) and 1755 patients. The median LOS was 81 days and the mean age was 51 years. Sex was equally distributed, though a higher frequency of male patients was found on the ≥180 days (n=364) and ≥ 1 year (n=121) groups. Psychotic disorders were the main diagnosis at discharge (n= 1769, 45.2%), followed by mood disorders (n=1057, 27.0%) and dementia (n=451, 11.5%). In-hospital mortality increased in the higher LoS groups (1.1%; 4.4%; 9.1%, respectively). Conclusions Overall, middle aged patients with psychotic disorders represent most of the prolonged hospitalizations occurring in acute psychiatric wards. Community-based programs require further development to meet the existing needs. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Introduction Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), usually caused by a parathyroid adenoma, is characterized by a pathologically high secretion of parathyroid hormone and consequent hypercalcemia. PHPT has a high prevalence among elderly patients and might be responsible for neuropsychiatric symptoms. Objectives We aim to report the rare manifestation of acute psychosis accompanying a PHPT diagnosis, and to discuss the neurobiological relationship between hyperparathyroidism, hypercalcaemia and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Methods We present a clinical case based on patient’s history and clinical data, along with a literature review on PHPT neuropsychiatric symptons. Results We present the case of a 68-year-old man diagnosed with PHPT in November 2019. He was brought up to psychiatric evaluation for the first time in May 2020 upon behavioral changes (aggressiveness and bizarre rituals). The patient described the sensation of burns scattered throughout the body since January 2020, felling anxious and frightened, sleeping poorly and progressive social isolation. He presented delusional ideas of mystical and paranoid content. No significant cognitive impairments were found. The patient’s psychosis was partially responsive to atypical antipsychotics. He’s waiting for surgery. Hypercalcaemia might manifest as mood disorders, cognitive changes and rarely as acute psychosis. Although there is not yet a clear mechanism to explain it, high calcium levels seem to cause neurotoxicity and neurotransmission dysfunction. Restoration of normal calcium levels tend to resolve neuropsychiatric symptoms, but in PHPT parathyroidectomy is usually recommended. Conclusions Neuropsychiatric symptoms are responsible for great disability, and demand an organic in-depth investigation. A multidisciplinary team approach must always be considered in the management of such conditions.

Epicuticular waxes (EW) are important for plant physiology as a protective barrier against water loss. Thus, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the ecophysiological performance of Cynophalla flexuosa, an evergreen woody species, under different foliar EW contents. The study was conducted during three periods throughout the year in a seasonally dry tropical forest area. The xylem water potential decreased to 70% at midday. The main EW components were n-alkane chains, effective in keeping the cuticle impermeability. We analyzed intact leaves and leaves with EW removed. C. flexuosa did not alter its photosynthetic performance throughout the day in leaves where EW was removed, except under the lowest soil water balance. Furthermore, foliar biochemical metabolism activity also was maintained. Thus, photochemical and gas-exchange values showed a high resilience, although soil water availability decreased. These findings highlight that this evergreen woody species performed under semiarid conditions with high foliar dynamic traits.

This work proposes a comprehensive method to assess rainfall thresholds for landslide initiation using a centenary landslide database associated with a single centenary daily rainfall data set. The method is applied to the Lisbon region and includes the rainfall return period analysis that was used to identify the critical rainfall combination (cumulated rainfall duration) related to each landslide event. The spatial representativeness of the reference rain gauge is evaluated and the rainfall thresholds are assessed and calibrated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) metrics. Results show that landslide events located up to 10 km from the rain gauge can be used to calculate the rainfall thresholds in the study area; however, these thresholds may be used with acceptable confidence up to 50 km from the rain gauge. The rainfall thresholds obtained using linear and potential regression perform well in ROC metrics. However, the intermediate thresholds based on the probability of landslide events established in the zone between the lower-limit threshold and the upper-limit threshold are much more informative as they indicate the probability of landslide event occurrence given rainfall exceeding the threshold. This information can be easily included in landslide early warning systems, especially when combined with the probability of rainfall above each threshold.

Between the late Little Ice Age (LIA) cold stage and the early 20th century warmer scenario, a transitional regime characterized by an unstable climatic pattern generated a series of climate extremes affecting mid-latitude mountainous areas, as the Asturian Massif. There, the 1888 snow avalanche cycle appears as the most significant event, standing out among the rest of avalanche cycles recorded in this area during the 1800-2015 period both in terms of the number of damaging avalanches and damages caused by them. Among the factors that explain this event stands out the orographic precipitation phenomenon; the interaction of a cold and wet air mass originating from the North Atlantic with the relief of the Massif, which led to extraordinary snow thicknesses (2 m) at very low altitudes (500 m a.s.l.), especially in the north-facing, Asturian versant of the Cantabrian Mountains. This allowed the triggering of avalanches in slopes gentler and in lower altitudes than usual, covering longer distances; consequently, avalanches reached more easily the settlements, generally placed at the bottom of the valley or in middle slope positions. The greater impact on the settlements, which suffered 84% of the damages, was the cause of this episode’s high socioeconomic impact (29 people dead, 34 injured, 123 heads of cattle dead, 124 buildings destroyed). These events occurred at a time when the mountain villages were highly populated and subjected to intense exploitation, coinciding with the development of new communication infrastructures in the upper parts of the Massif. Therefore, the 1888 episode constitutes a good example of both the impact of hydrometeorological events in mountain environments under high demographic pressure, and of climate extremes involved in a transition period from cold to warmer weather conditions.

The two main events occurred during the 2012 seismic sequence on the Po Plain in Northern Italy (May 20 Mw 5.9 and May 29 Mw 5.8) induced widespread coseismic surface effects (CSEs), mostly liquefaction phenomena, which caused severe damages. To prevent risks related to CSE, an important non-structural measure is to assess locations susceptible to liquefaction, which is usually done at site scale by means of deterministic approaches in micro-zonation studies. This paper brings a novel methodological contribution in the field of CSE susceptibility mapping at regional scale, by testing and comparing bivariate (Weights of Evidence) and multivariate (Logistic Regression) methods that, so far, have not yet been used for such purpose. In a study area of 1480 km², the computation used an inventory of CSE as supporting evidence and a set of maps with geologic, geomorphic, hydrogeological and topographic factors as causal variables. Both methods provided susceptibility maps with a significant predictive capability and a fairly good spatial agreement between each other. In conclusion, this application of data-driven spatial modelling approaches indicates that such methods can be effectively used for liquefaction susceptibility zonation at regional scale, which can be of significant support for spatial planning over large areas.

The concept of co-amorphous systems is introduced in an integrated laboratory experiment, designed for advanced chemistry students, using solvent-free, environmentally friendly mechanochemistry. The dual-drug naproxen-cimetidine co-amorphous system (NPX-CIM) is investigated as an example of the emergent field of medicinal mechanochemistry. Students are trained in solid-state characterization techniques including X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry. This lab experiment also provides an opportunity to discuss the relevance of different solid forms of pharmaceutics, emphasizing particular properties of disordered materials. This experiment can easily fit the curriculum of any Chemistry or Pharmacy master level degree in courses dealing with instrumental analysis, solid state chemistry, or green chemistry, for classes of 6 to 18 students, in a 5-h lab session. Suggestions to adapt it to the use of a single characterization technique are provided.

The number of bronchiectasis diagnoses has increased in the last two decades due to several factors.Research carried out over the last years showed that an aetiological diagnosis could change the approach and treatment of a relevant percentage of patients and consequently the prognosis.Currently, systematic investigation into aetiology, particularly of those disorders that can be subject to specific treatment, is recommended.Given the complexity of the aetiological diagnosis, the Pulmonology Portuguese Society Bronchiectasis Study Group assembled a working group which prepared a document to guide and standardize the aetiologic investigation based on available literature and its own expertise. The goal is to facilitate the investigation, rationalize resources and improve the delivery of care, quality of life and prognosis of patients with bronchiectasis. Keywords: Bronchiectasis, Recommendations, Aetiological diagnosis

This study offers a semi-quantitative assessment of the physical vulnerability of buildings to landslides in a Portuguese municipality (Loures), as well as the quantitative landslide risk analysis computed as the product of the landslide hazard by the vulnerability and the economic value of the buildings. The hazard was assessed by combining the spatiotemporal probability and the frequency–magnitude relationship of the landslides. The physical vulnerability assessment was based on an inquiry of a pool of European landslide experts and a sub-pool of landslide experts who know the study area, and the answers' variability was assessed with standard deviation. The average vulnerability of the basic geographic entities was compared by changing the map unit and applying the vulnerability to all the buildings of a test site, the inventory of which was listed on the field. The economic value was calculated using an adaptation of the Portuguese Tax Services approach, and the risk was computed for different landslide magnitudes and different spatiotemporal probabilities. As a rule, the vulnerability values given by the sub-pool of experts who know the study area are higher than those given by the European experts, namely for the high-magnitude landslides. The obtained vulnerabilities vary from 0.2 to 1 as a function of the structural building types and the landslide magnitude, and are maximal for 10 and 20 m landslide depths. However, the highest risk was found for the landslides that are 3 m deep, because these landslides combine a relatively high frequency in the Loures municipality with a substantial potential damage.

According to the DISASTER database the 20–28 December 1909 event was the hydro-geomorphologic event with the highest number of flood and landslide cases that occurred in Portugal in the period 1865–2010 (Zêzere et al., 2014). This event also caused important social impacts over the Spanish territory, especially in the Douro Basin, having triggered the highest floods in more than 100 years at the river's mouth in the city of Oporto. This work has a dual purpose: (i) to characterize the spatial distribution and social impacts of the December 1909 hydro-geomorphologic DISASTER event over Portugal and Spain; (ii) to analyse the meteorological conditions that triggered the event and the spatial distribution of the precipitation anomalies. Social impacts that occurred in Portugal were obtained from the Disaster database (Zêzere et al., 2014) whereas the data collection for Spain was supported by the systematic analysis of Spanish daily newspapers. In addition, the meteorological conditions that triggered the event are analysed using the 20th Century Reanalysis data set from NOAA and precipitation data from Iberian meteorological stations. The Iberian Peninsula was spatially affected during this event along the SW-NE direction spanning from Lisbon, Santarém, Oporto, and Guarda (in Portugal), to Salamanca, Valladolid, Zamora, Orense, León, and Palencia (in Spain). In Iberia, 134 DISASTER cases were recorded (130 flood cases; 4 landslides cases) having caused 89 casualties (57 due to floods and 32 due to landslides) and a further total of 3876 affected people, including fatalities, injured, missing, evacuated, and homeless people. This event was associated with outstanding precipitation registered at Guarda (Portugal) on 22 December 1909 and unusual meteorological conditions characterized by the presence of a deep low-pressure system located over the NW Iberian Peninsula with a stationary frontal system striking the western Iberian Peninsula. The presence of an upper-level jet (250 hPa) and low-level jet (900 hPa) located SW–NE oriented towards Iberia along with upper-level divergence and lower-level convergence favoured large-scale precipitation. Finally, associated with these features it is possible to state that this extreme event was clearly associated with the presence of an elongated Atmospheric River, crossing the entire northern Atlantic Basin and providing a continuous supply of moisture that contributed to enhance precipitation. This work contributes to a comprehensive and systematic synoptic evaluation of the second most deadly hydro-geomorphologic DISASTER event that has occurred in Portugal since 1865 and will help to better understand the meteorological system that was responsible for triggering the event.

The CALIPSO Level 3 (CL3) product is the most recent data set produced by the observations of the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) instrument onboard the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) space platform. The European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET), based mainly on multi-wavelength Raman lidar systems, is the most appropriate ground-based reference for CALIPSO calibration/validation studies on a continental scale. In this work, CALIPSO data are compared against EARLINET monthly averaged profiles obtained by measurements performed during CALIPSO overpasses. In order to mitigate uncertainties due to spatial and temporal differences, we reproduce a modified version of CL3 data starting from CALIPSO Level 2 (CL2) data. The spatial resolution is finer and nearly 2° × 2° (latitude × longitude) and only simultaneous measurements are used for ease of comparison. The CALIPSO monthly mean profiles following this approach are called CALIPSO Level 3*, CL3*. We find good agreement on the aerosol extinction coefficient, yet in most of the cases a small CALIPSO underestimation is observed with an average bias of 0.02 km−1 up to 4 km and 0.003 km−1 higher above. In contrast to CL3 standard product, the CL3* data set offers the possibility to assess the CALIPSO performance also in terms of the particle backscatter coefficient keeping the same quality assurance criteria applied to extinction profiles. The mean relative difference in the comparison improved from 25 % for extinction to 18 % for backscatter, showing better performances of CALIPSO backscatter retrievals. Additionally, the aerosol typing comparison yielded a robust identification of dust and polluted dust. Moreover, the CALIPSO aerosol-type-dependent lidar ratio selection is assessed by means of EARLINET observations, so as to investigate the performance of the extinction retrievals. The aerosol types of dust, polluted dust, and clean continental showed noticeable discrepancy. Finally, the potential improvements of the lidar ratio assignment have been examined by adjusting it according to EARLINET-derived values.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of seasonality on the chemical composition of the essential oil from Hyptis dilatata leaves, to perform biological activity assays such as antimicrobial, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme and to evaluate the toxicity of the essential oil using Artemia salina as indicator on the test. Hyptis dilatata leaves were collected in rainy and dry seasons, in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. It was extracted by hydrodistillation using the extractor of Clevenger condenser double Spell model. The essential oil analysis resulted in 22 chemical components. The major constituents of the dry and rainy periods were a-pinene (18.7% in the night and 12.9% in the afternoon), 3-carene (26.5% and 19.9% in the night), fenchone (43% and 33.7% in the morning) and ß-caryophyllene 9.1% in the afternoon and 6.1% in the morning. The essential oil in vitro inhibited the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in 99.9% in the afternoon (rainy period) and 96.4% in the morning (dry period). Between the dry and rainy seasons, the lowest LC50 microbial activity in vitro was obtained for leaves collected during rainy season, in the morning period testedagainst the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (LC50 78.1 mg mL-1). The cytotoxic activity of the essential oil ofdilatata on Artemia salina showed LC50 results below 100 µg mL-1 and in the afternoon during the rainy period and at night in the dry period the results are above this value. Therefore, the chemical characterization and biological activities tests of essential oils showed promising results in the search for new active substances and the development of bioproducts of vegetable origin.

In the framework of ACTRIS (Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure Network) summer 2012 measurement campaign (8 June–17 July 2012), EARLINET organized and performed a controlled exercise of feasibility to demonstrate its potential to perform operational, coordinated measurements and deliver products in near-real time. Eleven lidar stations participated in the exercise which started on 9 July 2012 at 06:00 UT and ended 72 h later on 12 July at 06:00 UT. For the first time, the single calculus chain (SCC) – the common calculus chain developed within EARLINET for the automatic evaluation of lidar data from raw signals up to the final products – was used. All stations sent in real-time measurements of a 1 h duration to the SCC server in a predefined netcdf file format. The pre-processing of the data was performed in real time by the SCC, while the optical processing was performed in near-real time after the exercise ended. 98 and 79 % of the files sent to SCC were successfully pre-processed and processed, respectively. Those percentages are quite large taking into account that no cloud screening was performed on the lidar data. The paper draws present and future SCC users' attention to the most critical parameters of the SCC product configuration and their possible optimal value but also to the limitations inherent to the raw data. The continuous use of SCC direct and derived products in heterogeneous conditions is used to demonstrate two potential applications of EARLINET infrastructure: the monitoring of a Saharan dust intrusion event and the evaluation of two dust transport models. The efforts made to define the measurements protocol and to configure properly the SCC pave the way for applying this protocol for specific applications such as the monitoring of special events, atmospheric modeling, climate research and calibration/validation activities of spaceborne observations.

The aim of this study is to identify the landslide predisposing factors' combination using a bivariate statistical model that best predicts landslide susceptibility. The best model is one that has simultaneously good performance in terms of suitability and predictive power and has been developed using variables that are conditionally independent. The study area is the Santa Marta de Penaguião council (70 km2) located in the Northern Portugal. In order to identify the best combination of landslide predisposing factors, all possible combinations using up to seven predisposing factors were performed, which resulted in 120 predictions that were assessed with a landside inventory containing 767 shallow translational slides. The best landslide susceptibility model was selected according to the model degree of fitness and on the basis of a conditional independence criterion. The best model was developed with only three landslide predisposing factors (slope angle, inverse wetness index, and land use) and was compared with a model developed using all seven landslide predisposing factors. Results showed that it is possible to produce a reliable landslide susceptibility model using fewer landslide predisposing factors, which contributes towards higher conditional independence.

Introduction: gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are specific, generally KIT (CD117)-positive, mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract displaying KIT or PDGFRA gene mutations. Clinically, they tend to present as solitary tumors of the intestinal wall; more rarely, multiple tumors may occur in one or more organs. Objective: to review the morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular features of multiple, non-metastatic forms of GIST. Sources: review of the literature on Medline, and authors' own experience. Conclusions: multiples GISTs may occur in three different contexts: as spontaneous lesions (in both adults and children); due to familial GIST syndrome (autosomal dominant inheritance); or in association with specific syndromes (e.g. Carney's triad, Carney-Stratakis syndrome, type I neurofibromatosis). Outside these contexts, the existence of multiple GISTs is deemed to be the result of tumor metastasis, and therefore indicative of advanced-stage disease. Clinicians need to be aware of these variants, whose prognosis and treatment differ.Introducción: los tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) son neoplasias mesenquimales del tubo digestivo que generalmente expresan el receptor KIT (CD117) y muestran mutaciones en los genes KIT o PDGFRA. Aunque la forma de presentación clínica habitual es como una neoplasia mural solitaria, excepcionalmente pueden presentarse formas múltiples en el mismo o diferente órgano. Objetivo: revisar las características morfológicas, inmunohistoquímicas y moleculares de las formas de GIST múltiples no metastásicos. Fuentes: revisión de la literatura en Medline y la propia experiencia. Conclusiones: los GIST múltiples pueden presentarse en tres contextos diferentes: lesiones espontáneas (del adulto o de la edad infantil); síndrome familiar propio (transmitido con herencia autosómica dominante); y lesiones asociadas a síndromes específicos (tríada de Carney, síndrome de Carney-Stratakis, y neurofibromatosis tipo I). Fuera de estos ámbitos, se interpreta que todo GIST múltiple es el resultado de siembras tumorales metastásicas y, por tanto, corresponde a enfermedad avanzada. Estas variantes deben ser conocidas por el clínico dado las connotaciones pronósticas y terapéuticas que ello conlleva.

Introduction and objectives: this study compared the accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors in patients with several degrees of clinical suspicion. Material and methods: we recruited patients that were suspect for gastrointestinal neoplasia but with no evidence of localizing symptoms (group A), and patients that were suspect for colon cancer (group B) or for gastric cancer (group C). Accuracy in the diagnosis was compared for: gastric cancer in groups A and C, and for colon cancer in groups A and B. The comparison was made by using the contingency coefficient, which quantifies coincidence of endoscopic and ultrasonographic diagnoses. Results: seventy-nine patients were included in group A (48 males), wherein 12 colon and 5 gastric neoplasms were detected. Group B was comprised of 153 patients (78 males) and included 66 patients with colorectal cancer (CCR). Group C contained 58 patients (35 males), 31 of whom were diagnosed with gastric cancer. The accuracy of sonography for diagnosing colon cancer was 95.5% for group A and 87.5% for group B. The contingency coefficient for endoscopy vs. ultrasonography was greater for group A: 0.658 than for group B: 0.549. The diagnostic accuracy for gastric cancer was 97.4% for group A and 86.2% for group C. The contingency coefficient between endoscopic and ultrasonographic diagnoses was also greater in group A (0.618) than in group C (0.588). Conclusions: the accuracy of ultrasonography in diagnosing colon and gastric cancer is not lower in patients without localizing symptoms.Introducción y objetivos: en todos los estudios publicados hasta la fecha se ha evaluado la precisión de la ecografía en el diagnóstico del cáncer de colon y del cáncer gástrico en pacientes en los que esta era la sospecha diagnóstica o ya con un diagnóstico establecido de esta patología. Nosotros, en este estudio, comparamos la sensibilidad de la ecografía en pacientes con diferentes grados de sospecha clínica. Material y método: reclutamos pacientes con sospecha de neoplasia digestiva, sin evidencia de síntomas localizadores (grupo A), pacientes con sospecha de cáncer de colon (grupo B) y pacientes con sospecha de cáncer gástrico (grupo C). Comparamos la precisión de la ecografía en el diagnóstico del cáncer gástrico en los grupos A y C, y la precisión en el diagnóstico del cáncer de colon en los grupos A y B. El parámetro usado en la comparación es el coeficiente de contigencia que cuantifica la coincidencia de diagnóstico endoscópico y ecográfico. Resultados: se han incluido 79 pacientes en el grupo A (48 varones y 31 mujeres, con una edad media de 69,3 años), en los que se han diagnosticado 12 neoplasias colónicas y 5 gástricas. El grupo B se compone de 153 pacientes (78 varones y 75 mujeres, con una edad media de 66,5 años) e incluye 66 pacientes con CCR. Finalmente, el grupo C está formado por 58 pacientes (35 varones y 23 mujeres, con una edad media de 67,4 años), siendo diagnosticados de cáncer gástrico 31 pacientes. La precisión de la ecografía en el diagnóstico del cáncer de colon fue del 95,5% en el grupo A y del 87,5% en el grupo B. El coeficiente de contingencia entre los diagnósticos endoscópico y ecográfico también fue superior en el grupo A: 0,658 frente a 0,549. La precisión de la ecografía en el diagnóstico del cáncer gástrico fue del 97,4% en el grupo A y del 86,2% en el grupo C. El coeficiente de contingencia entre los diagnósticos endoscópico y ecográfico también fue mayor en el grupo A (0,618) que en el grupo C (0,588). Conclusiones: la precisión de la ecografía digestiva en el diagnóstico del cáncer de colon y del cáncer gástrico no es inferior en los pacientes en los que no hay una sospecha específica de estas patologías.

Introducción: el hallazgo de lesiones endoscópicas severas en un paciente con colitis ulcerosa desaconseja la realización de una exploración completa del colon. No obstante el conocimiento de la extensión precisa de la enfermedad tiene gran importancia en las decisiones terapéuticas a tomar y también en el pronóstico de la enfermedad. Por todo ello, la validación de una técnica no invasiva para el estudio de extensión de la colitis ulcerosa cobra gran interés e importancia. Material y método: se incluyen en el estudio pacientes con diagnóstico previo de colitis ulcerosa o en el debut de la enfermedad y, de forma prospectiva y ciega se evalúa la precisión de la ecografía digestiva en la valoración de la extensión de la colitis ulcerosa. Las exploraciones ecográficas son realizadas todas ellas por el mismo explorador y siempre con anterioridad al estudio endoscópico completo, que se usa como patrón oro. No se emplea la técnica hidrocolónica en ningún caso. Resultados: han sido incluidos en el estudio 20 pacientes, 13 varones (65%) y 7 mujeres (35%), con una edad media de 51,7 años (rango de 24 a 82 años). Los estudios endoscópicos mostraron una afectación severa en 5 casos (25%), moderada en 12 pacientes (60%) y lesiones leves en los 3 casos restantes (15%). El estudio ecográfico del colon fue considerado satisfactorio en 18 casos (90%) y la extensión de la enfermedad establecida en el estudio ecográfico coincide en todos los casos con la determinada por la colonoscopia: 3 pacientes (16,6%) presentaban una proctitis ulcerosa, 9 (50%) una colitis izquierda y 6 (33,3%) una colitis extensa. Conclusiones: la ecografía digestiva permite el estudio del marco colónico en la mayoría de los pacientes, especialmente si existe actividad inflamatoria, permitiendo establecer con gran precisión la extensión de la colitis ulcerosa, independientemente del grado de actividad de la misma.Introduction: a full examination of the colon should be avoided upon finding severe endoscopic lesions in patients with ulcerative colitis. However, knowledge of the precise extent of disease is quite important for disease prognosis and the making of therapeutic decisions. Therefore, any validation of a non-invasive technique to assess the extent of ulcerative colitis gains a lot of interest and importance. Material and method: the study included patients that were previously diagnosed of having ulcerative colitis or were beginning to suffer from the disease. A prospective and blind evaluation was carried out to determine the precision of digestive ultrasonography in assessment of ulcerative colitis extent. All ultrasonography was carried out by the same person and was always performed prior to carrying out a full endoscopic study, which is used as the gold standard. The hydrocolonic ultrasonograpy technique was not used in any of the cases. Results: a total of 20 patients -13 males (65%) and 7 females (35%), with an average age of 51.7 years (aged between 24-82 years)- were included in the study. Endoscopic studies revealed severe disease in 5 cases (25%), moderate disease in 12 patients (60%), and mild lesions in the 3 remaining cases (15%). A colonic ultrasonogram was considered satisfactory in 18 cases (90%), and the extent of disease as established by ultrasonography was in all cases consistent with that established through colonoscopy: 3 patients (16.6%) had ulcerative proctitis, 9 patients (50%) had left-sided ulcerative colitis, and 6 (33.3%) had extensive colitis. Conclusions: digestive ultrasonography allows to study the colon in most patients, especially when inflammatory activity is present, and provides a greater accuracy in assessing ulcerative colitis extent, which is independent of its activity level.

The use of seed byproducts from fruit processes has contributed to increase the supply of vegetable oils rich in bioactive compounds regarding consolidated cosmetics and functional foods. The aim of this study was to identify the volatile compounds present in the species P. setacea BRS Pérola do Cerrado and P. alata BRS Doce Mel passion fruit seed oil. Both species come from research studies of Embrapa Cerrado (Brazil), where genetic modification were conducted in order to select species that meets the standard requirements regarding size, skin color, flesh color, number of seeds and a more sweet pulp flavor. In addition the species selected is more resistant to pests typical of passion fruit cultivation in Brazil. To evaluate the oil content in seeds, the lipid determination was carried out by Soxhlet method. The seeds were dried at 50 °C in aconvective dryer until the equilibrium moisture was achieved. The crude oil was obtained by crushing in continuous press expeller-type. The pressing processes were made at room temperature at 26 ± 2 oC (cold pressing) or above 50 °C (hot pressing). For the heating an electric resistance was coupled to the pressoutput. For comparative purposes, passion fruit oil was also obtained using anhydrous ethanol (PA) as solvent. The volatile compounds analysis of passion fruit seed oil was performed by gas chromatography using Solid-Phase Microextraction technique (SPME) in Dynamic Headspace (HS) mode. The chromatograph was attached to mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Identification of the peaks was performed by comparing the mass spectra obtained with those of the device library (Wiley 6th edition) by comparison of the retention index calculated (Kovatz Index) with values reported in the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Discrimination among samples was performed by Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of the absolute chromatographic areas of identified individual compounds obtained by Dynamic Headspace/Solid-Phase Microextraction/Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detector (HS-SPME-GC-FID) using gray fiber Divinylbenzene/Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CA/PDMS). The Unscrambler software version 10.3 (CAMO CORP) was used for PCA. The PCA shows separation among samples obtained applying different pressing temperatures (hot and cold) and by ethanol extraction. The most abundant volatile compounds from P.setacea oils were terpens (23 %), esters (23 %), alcohols (19 %), aldehydes and ketons (8 %). Regarding P. alata oils, the volatile compounds were in majority esters (35 %), aldehydes (30 %), alcohols (23 %), terpenes and carboxylic acids (9 %). Therefore the volatile profile depends not only on the species, but also on the process used for oil extraction.

RESUMO: Introdução â A Síndroma de Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono (SAOS) está associada a efeitos deletérios sobre a fisiologia cardiovascular. Alguns estudos têm demonstrado a existência de associação significativa entre esta patologia e a Doença Cardiovascular (DCV).Objectivo â Determinar a prevalência de DCV em indivíduos com diferentes graus de gravidade de SAOS e verificar a existência de associação significativa entre as duas entidades nosológicas.Material e Métodos â Estudo retrospectivo baseado em dados informatizados de 155 doentes consecutivos com SAOS, enviados à consulta de Patologia Respiratória do Sono do Hospital de São João durante o ano de 2001.Resultados â A maioria dos doentes estudados (83,2%) era do sexo masculino, a média de idades foi de 53,6±11,9 anos. Apresentavam SAOS grave 52,9% dos doentes, 20% moderada e 27,1% ligeira (Ãndice de Apneia Hipopneia-IAH médio de 35,2±23,8/hora).Dos indivíduos em análise 52,3% apresentavam DCV, sendo a patologia mais prevalente (45,8%) a Hipertensão Arterial (HTA), seguida do Enfarte Agudo do Miocárdio (6,5%) e da Angina de Peito (3,9%). Obesidade (Ãndice de Massa Corporal-IMC> 30) estava presente em 67,1% dos indivíduos, sendo a média de IMC=33,1±6,34. Um grupo significativo (31%) de doentes apresentava Dislipidemia e 11% Diabetes mellitus. A maioria dos doentes (51,3%) apresentava hábitos tabágicos.A gravidade da SAOS (avaliada pelo IAH) era significativamente superior nas mulheres com HTA e significativamente menor nos doentes com Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC) (p=0,033 e p=0,036, respectivamente).Conclusão â A população estudada de doentes com SAOS apresenta elevada prevalência de DCV, sendo a gravidade da SAOS significativamente superior nas mulheres com HTA. O aumento da prevalência de DCV em doentes com SAOS tem sido também documentada em estudos epidemiológicos recentes. Os mecanismos fisiopatológicos subjacentes merecerão estudos mais detalhados no futuro.REV PORT PNEUMOL 2003; IX (4): 327-335 ABSTRACT: Introduction â Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is associated with adverse effects in cardiovascular physiology. Some studies have connected this pathology with Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).Aim â Determine the prevalence of CVD in patients with OSA of different severity and verify the association between CVD and OSA.Material and Methods â Retrospective study based on data from 155 consecutive patients with OSA referred to a Sleep Disordered Breathing Clinic in an University Hospital during the year of 2001.Results â The majority of patients were male (83,2%), the mean age was 53,6±11,9 years. Severe OSA was observed in 52,9% patients, moderate in 20% and mild in 27,1% patients (mean Apnea Hypopnea Index of 35,2±23,8/hour).Among the studied individuals 52,3% showed CVD, being Arterial Hypertension (AH) the most common disease (45,8%). Acute Myocardial Infarction appeared in 6,5% and Angina in 3,9% cases. The majority of the patients (67,1%) were obese (Body Mass Index- BMI>30). The mean BMI was 33,1±6,34.A significant (31%) number of patients reported Lipid Disorders and 11% reported Diabetes mellitus. The majority (51,3%) of patients referred smoking habits.Severity of OSA (evaluated by AHI) was significantly higher in women with AH (p=0,033) and significantly lower in patients who developed Cerebrovascular Disease (CeVD) (p=0,036).Conclusions â The studied population presented a high prevalence of CVD, being the severity of OSA significantly higher in women with AH. The increased prevalence of CVD in patients with OSA has been documented in recent epidemiologic studies. The physiopathologic mechanisms underlying this association, certainly, deserve further investigation.REV PORT PNEUMOL 2003; IX (4): 327-335 Palavras-Chave: Síndroma de Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono, Doença Cardiovascular, factor de risco, Key-words: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Cardiovascular Disease, risk factor

El presente artículo examina algunas cuestiones relacionadas con los recursos humanos que actúan en el sistema de salud brasileño. Identifica, inicialmente, cuestiones de recursos humanos que se expresan como tendencia en el sector salud en los últimos años. A continuación, se hace un breve comentario sobre la reforma del sistema de salud, apuntando cambios en el diseño del modelo de salud por medio de la implementación del Programa de Salud de la Familia, que busca reorientar el modelo asistencial a partir de la atención básica, en sustitución del modelo tradicional de asistencia dirigido hacia la cura de enfermedades y el hospital. Señala cambios importantes en las condiciones de trabajo de médicos, odontólogos, etc., tales como bajos salarios, pluriempleo, consultas pagadas por seguro-salud, flexibilización de los contratos de trabajo o pérdida de las garantías laborales. Por último, identifica problemas serios con relación a este Programa de Salud de la Familia, especialmente los que se refieren a la inestabilidad del proceso de trabajo y a la disminución de la protección social de los trabajadores que actúan en el programa.This article discusses some questions related to human resources that act on Brazilian health system. At the beginning, it identifies the trends on health human resources in the last years. Then it shows on a brief discussion the health system reform, pointing out changes in the health model design through the implementation of the Family Health Program. This program tries to reorder the health care model, bringing the primary health care, in order to substitute the traditional model, designed to the cure of diseases and centered on hospitals. It also points out important changes on work conditions, such as: doctors' and dentists' no liberal work, low salaries, consultations paid by the HMO's, flexibilization of work, loss of work guarantees. Finally, it identifies serious problems in the Family Health Program, especially those related to the instability of work process and decreasing of social protection of workers who act on this program.

Foi desenvolvido um experimento com as fontes uréia e uran aplicadas superficialmente ou incorporadas (5-7 cm) na cobertura nitrogenada de milho, no sistema plantio direto, com o objetivo de efetuar, na colheita, um balanço do N-uréia (15N) e quantificar as perdas por volatilização de N-NH3 nesses tratamentos, assim como nos adicionais, testemunha e misturas de uréia + KCl (sólida) e uran + KCl (fluida), na formulação 6-0-9 (N-P2O5-K2O), aplicadas somente em superfície. Os tratamentos originaram-se de um fatorial 1 + (2 x 2) + 2, sendo a testemunha + o fatorial 2 x 2 (duas fontes; uréia e uran x duas formas de localização) + dois tratamentos adicionais, misturas uréia + KCl (sólida) e uran + KCl (fluida), dispostos em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. O ensaio foi realizado em Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro muito argiloso fase cerrado relevo plano, no Centro de Pesquisa Novartis - Seeds do município de Uberlândia (MG). Cerca de 100 kg ha-1 de N foram aplicados no estádio fenológico de seis a oito folhas. Após 26 dias da adubação, as perdas acumuladas de N-NH3 nos tratamentos em superfície foram de 54, 41, 17 e 14% do N aplicado, para uréia, uréia + KCl, uran e uran + KCl, respectivamente. Quando a uréia e o uran foram incorporados ao solo, as perdas acumuladas de N-NH3 foram de 5,0 e 3,5% do N aplicado, respectivamente. Na colheita, o N da uréia absorvido pela planta (raízes + colmos + folhas + grãos) foi de 19,9 kg ha-1 (20,8% do N aplicado) e de 29,5 kg ha-1 (29,5% do N aplicado), quando aplicado na superfície e incorporado, respectivamente. O N-uréia do uran absorvido pela planta foi de 11,4 kg ha-1 (26,1% do N aplicado) e de 11,7 kg ha-1 (26,8% do N aplicado), quando aplicado na superfície ou incorporado, respectivamente. O N da uréia imobilizado na camada de 0-45 cm de profundidade foi, em média, de 9,9 kg ha-1 (10,0% do N aplicado), da aplicação superficial ou incorporada, e do N-uréia do uran foi de 3,3 kg ha-1 (7,6% do N aplicado). O N-mineral no solo derivado do N da uréia e do N-uréia do uran aplicados na superfície, no perfil de 0-150 cm, foi, respectivamente, de 2,4 e 3,2%, e de 5,9 e 2,5%, com as fontes incorporadas. No balanço global de N, em média, 13,7 e 50,3% do N da uréia não foram recuperados no sistema solo-planta, respectivamente, para a aplicação superficial ou incorporada; para o N-uréia do uran, obtiveram-se, respectivamente, 47,7 e 57,6%.

Chestnut was introduced to the Canary Islands at the beginning of the 16th century during the time of the Spanish Conquest. It was utilised by the conquerors as a means of claiming property for communal lands. From that time until today, chestnut has been an important crop in the Canary Islands. It is important both as a source of food and timber and has contributed to the subsistence of the population, particularly at times when both resources were scarce. Nowadays it is mainly cultivated on the Islands of Tenerife (around 1300 ha) and La Palma. On other islands, such as Gran Canaria, La Gomera and El Hierro, semi-wild chestnut forests and small plots where farmers collect fruit still exist. Morphological and molecular marker (SSRs) studies have shown a great variability within the local population of chestnut trees in the Canaries. The main use for chestnut is fruit consumption, but it was also utilised in the past as an exchange commodity to obtain fish and other food. The fruit is consumed in many different ways, mainly toasted or roasted, but also cooked in soups, fish or meat dishes and even as an ingredient for the typical Canary Islands’ sweet ‘morcillas’ (a type of sausage). The wood of the tree has been used for furniture, with some shoots being utilised for basket making, and also as cattle food. The trunk of the chestnut has also been used to obtain cork or as a bee hive. Recent efforts to add value to chestnut cultivation in the Canary Islands have included the creation of a Chestnut Farmers Association in Tenerife that commercializes their products under a brand name.

An optimized thermoset gel polymer electrolyte based on Bisphenol A ethoxylate dimethacrylate and Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (BEMA/PEGMA) was prepared by facile photo-induced free radical polymerisation technique and tested for the first time in electrochromic devices (ECD) combining WO3 sputtered on ITO as cathodes and V2O5 electrodeposited on ITO as anodes. The behaviour of the prepared ECD was investigated electrochemically and electro-optically. The ECD transmission spectrum was monitored in the visible and near-infrared region by varying applied potential. A switching time of ca. 2 s for Li+ insertion (coloring) and of ca. 1 s for Li+ de-insertion (bleaching) were found. UV-VIS spectroelectrochemical measurements evidenced a considerable contrast between bleached and colored state along with a good stability over repeated cycles. The reported electrochromic devices showed a considerable enhancement of switching time with respect to the previously reported polymeric ECD indicating that they are good candidates for the implementation of intelligent windows and smart displays.

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