Repositório RCAAP

Thermoplastic synthetic polymers are present not only in everyday life, but also in the objects of museum collections and works of art, constituting our historical and cultural heritage. Given the experimental impetus of contemporary artists, they used and still use in their works diverse and unconventional materials, often construction materials, such as paints based on acrylic resins used in interior painting; plastic membranes for insulation and cover polyvinyl chloride (PVC); acrylic sheets of methyl polymethacrylate (PMMA) applied in place of common glass; or other plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), among many others. It is therefore necessary to identify these polymers, to study their characteristics and their behaviour towards some external agents, such as UV-V radiation, temperature, ambient humidity or even in some cases, liquid water and oxygen. The research presented here aims to identify the plastic used by the Portuguese painter Daniel Vasconcelos Melim as a support for his paintings in acrylic paint; to study its physical and chemical properties and identify the most frequent change phenomena; and still understand the artist's path, as well as his work. For the identification and comparative study of the synthetic polymer used by the artist, simple physical and chemical tests were used: density measurement and solubility tests in different solvents, pyrolysis and flame tests, immersion of the samples in distilled water and pH measurements and the Soxhlet organic solvent extraction method, on samples of thermoplastic membranes of the RENOLIT - SE brand of different years, namely 2011 and 2018. And for a more accurate identification it was applied Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR-FTIR) Aging tests were also carried out on membrane samples for 67 days, at room temperature of 21 oC and at 70 oC in order to identify some alteration phenomena, such as: colour change and loss of mass.

This paper proposes a risk score computed from ultrasound data that correlates to plaque activity. It has the twofold purpose of detecting symptomatic plaques and estimating the likelihood of the asymptomatic lesion to become symptomatic. The proposed ultrasonographic activity index (UAI) relies on the plaque active profile, which is a combination of the most discriminate ultrasound parameter associated with symptoms. These features are extracted by the automatic algorithm and also by the physician from the ultrasound images and from some transformations on it, such as monogenic decomposition, which is a novelty in this clinical problem. This information is used to compute a risk score from the conditional probabilities of either symptomatic or asymptomatic groups. Symptom detection performance is evaluated on a transversal dataset of 146 plaques, where UAI obtained 83.5% accuracy, 84.1% sensitivity, and 83.7% specificity. Performance is also assessed on a longitudinal study of 112 plaques, where UAI shows a significant improvement over the gold standard degree of stenosis, demonstrating higher power at predicting which asymptomatic plaques developed symptoms in an average follow-up of ten months. Results suggest that this score could have a positive impact on early stroke prevention and treatment planning.

INTRODUCTION: Symptomatic chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is an uncommon condition that usually presents with intestinal angina, sitophobia and unintentional weight loss. Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) has very rarely been described in the settings of CMI. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We describe a case of a 73 year old man that developed an AAC as a complication of CMI. The patient underwent a simultaneous cholecystectomy and open aortic revascularization which was successful. At 24 months of follow-up the patient is clinically well and regained weight.DISCUSSION: Ischemia has been considered an important etiology for the development of AAC. In the settings of CMI, an AAC might develop has a herald sign of progression to acute mesenteric ischemia and infarction, as the cystic artery is a terminal artery with no collateral network. Performing the aortic revascularization simultaneously with the cholecystectomy might prevent this possible fatal outcome. CONCLUSION: This case reinforces aortic and visceral occlusive disease as a possible risk factor for thedevelopment of AAC, and discusses the treatment controversies when managing both conditions simultaneously.

The present dissertation, in the course of Master’s degree in the Sciences of Conservation, Restauration and Production of Contemporary Art, at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lisbon, aims to explore volumetric reconstruction and its application to a work in gesso by the sculptor Simões de Almeida Júnior, O Órfão (1871). The Faculty of Fine Arts possesses in their archive an original gesso which is missing the right hand. The National Museum for Contemporary Art (MNAC) possesses another gesso copy of the same sculpture which is also missing part of the right hand and arm. In this work, we seek to familiarize ourselves with the life and work of Simões de Almeida (Tio) and, by way of the statue O Órfão, broadening the theme of volumetric construction in the practice of conservation and restoration. Firstly, we will present the trajectory of the artist and provide a general survey of the sculptural works which have survived. Following, ethical questions are addressed regarding the profession of the conservationist-restorer in a manner which leads us to the final part: examining the modus operandi of the profession, and the technical legitimacy of volumetric reconstruction. The research also investigates the topic of photogrammetry to better understand the process which allows the execution of a 3D replica which will be applied to the gesso. This process began with an original photograph of O Órfão, from the MNAC collection, in which the work is depicted in its entirety, and measurements taken from the original (of the left hand) of O Órfão, from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Lisbon. The final objective of this dissertation is volumetric reconstruction of the element which is completely missing (the right hand and wrist) and aims to achieve the interpretation and appreciation of the artwork as a whole.

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This project work reports, through a set of photographic images, a suburban reality, which was titled Nocturna: a suburban perception. Briefly, it begins with a description of the history of photography, based on Walter Benjamin's theoretical foundations on the various phases of the aura, with particular focus on photography. From his analysis of Eugène Atget's work, it appears that the concept of aura is associated with something more than the character of a unique and irreproachable object, situating the Benjamin´s reflections in the historical and sociological context in which they were written, proposing their critical evaluation. With the central question about the status of photography, André Rouillé's considerations on the boundaries where a photograph as a document transcends and invades the artistic field are explored. It describes the technical evolution of photography, which led to the pictorialist movement and its possible appreciation as art. Because photography has an intrinsic documentary character, it was used by the various sciences that emerged with the industrialization of the nineteenth century, including ethnography, to which particular attention is devoted, where its method of research can be compared with the way of acting of the flanêur. In ethnographic research, there is usually the need to “cut out” a given reality due to the multiplicity of subjects that can be studied, which refers to the work of August Sander, a photographer who inserts within the scope of artistic photography the notion of typology and his methodology was later adopted by Bernd and Hilla Becher in their photographic series (typologies). The context in which photography develops its singularities, along with economic growth and the expansion of cities, is also emphasized, translated into a new social structure, with an irreversible impact on the behavior of modern man, creating the foundations of consumer society, which would extend to the present day. In this sense, cities become a grand stage of theater, where each individual is simultaneously an actor and spectator before the other.Thus, the project Nocturna: a suburban perception is based on these issues, leaving the observer free to interpret their images as well as the consistency of their integration within their descriptive and conceptual part.

Human beings are increasingly subjected to risks and phenomena of natural or technological origin that can compromise the balance between the social and natural environments. The Knowledge Society of the 20th century is characterized by the intensification of risks associated with climate change. Potentially devastating risks are our society’s biggest problem. By definition, risk is the value obtained from the assessment of possible consequences (human losses, direct and indirect damages and costs) caused by incidents or accidents, together with the probability of occurrence of hazardous processes due to the conjunction of the factors involved. Risk is a combination of the probability of unfavorable scenarios and their consequences. In this context, it is possible, and advisable, to evaluate the expected value of these consequences, in order to establish, based on scenarios, procedures for forecasting, preventing, controlling and mitigating the effects of these hazardous processes to people and assets, associated with both natural and technological risks. Risk analysis, risk evaluation and risk management are the main pieces in the process known as ‘Risk Assessment’. Risk assessment can be understood as the joint effort of identifying and analysing potential future events, i.e., risk analysis, and evaluating the acceptability of risk based on the risk analysis, while considering influencing factors, i.e., risk evaluation. In short, risk assessment analyses what can go wrong, how likely it is to happen and, if it happens, what are the potential consequences. Since this is a multi-disciplinary domain involving various scientific areas, among which geography, Earth and environmental sciences, ecology, engineering, law, economics, sociology and political sciences, this book gathers contributions covering a wide spectrum of topics with regard to their theoretical background and field of application. As part of this process, the resulting assessment of risk may be expressed in both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Vulnerability to risks varies widely, primarily depending on the capacity of societies to integrate them in the management of their activities, to mitigate their effects and to recover from the disaster. Two major parameters are decisive for ensuring the development of these capacities and the consequent reduction in vulnerability - expert knowledge and planning. It is within the first parameter that one seeks to discern the magnitude of risks and to test new technologies to support the monitoring, evaluation and communication of threats. The concept of risk has, of course, evolved over time, and is now a basic principle in decision-making by politicians, managers, entrepreneurs, builders and civil protection services, in the definition of safety and security systems, completed in safety and emergency plans, and is integrated in crisis management programs associated with accident situations. Risk assessment is an inherent part of an overall risk management strategy, which attempts to introduce, after a risk assessment, control measures to eliminate or reduce any potential risk-related consequences. This concept is linked today to a new paradigm, in which the technological, social and communicational aspects gain even more relevance.

The objective of this research is to propose a theoretical model based on studies on residents’ quality of life in smart tourism destinations. Smart tourism destinations are territories based on information and communication technologies (ICT), which improve travelers’ tourist experiences as well as affect the quality of life of residents. To know the context of the relationships between tourism and quality of life, main studies and theories regarding these two phenomena are analyzed. Likewise, the relationship between smart places and quality of life is also studied. Therefore, a theoretical model on residents’ quality of life in smart tourism destinations is proposed based on a systematized analysis of the literature. From the theoretical model, it is perceived that residents’ overall life satisfaction results from the relationship between perceived tourism impacts and satisfaction with specific life factors, and they are measured by qualitative indicators. Also, it is identified that the quality of life of residents is clearly influenced by the impacts of tourism and ICTs. In addition, it is understood that the residents’ overall life satisfaction corroborates for the further development of the smart tourism destination. Finally, we understand that the knowledge of residents’ perception and satisfaction of their quality of life contribute to formulation and implementation of urban and tourism development policies in smart tourism destinations.

Introduction: The stent assisted balloon induced intimal disruption and relamination in aortic dissection repair (STABILISE) technique is being increasingly used for the treatment of complicated aortic dissections. However, as it is a fairly recent technique, the scientific information is limited. Report: In this paper we report two cases of the STABILISE technique associated with procedures in the ascending aorta and supra-aortic trunks, consisting of a “frozen elephant trunk” procedure in one case and in the other, a carotid endarterectomy associated with reimplantation of the vertebral artery and partial arch debranching. Discussion: In conclusion, while acknowledging the need for longer follow up and greater experience to support the safety and efficacy of this procedure, the two cases reported confirm that the STABILISE technique is a valid endovascular alternative in the treatment of complicated aortic dissections.

Introduction: Aneurysms of small abdominal vessels are extremely rare; however, even minor aneurysmal accessory arteries can rupture, leading to potentially fatal consequences. The purpose of this paper is to report a case of coil embolisation of an aneurysmal posterior gastric artery. Case presentation: The authors describe the case of a 66 year old female patient with an aneurysm of the posterior gastric artery. Coil embolisation was performed. The six month follow up computed tomography angiogram revealed exclusion of the aneurysm. Discussion: The presented case is exceedingly rare. This type of aneurysm has to be kept in mind as a possible cause of bleeding, despite the limited information regarding their natural history. Conclusion: Owing to the safety and applicability of the endovascular technique, it is nowadays probably the best treatment alternative for this type of aneurysm.

Mediterranean diet has been suggested to explain why coronary heart disease mortality is lower in southern than northern Europe. Dietary habits can be revealed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) measurement of carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) in biological tissues. To study if diet is associated with human plaque stability, atherosclerotic plaques from carotid endarterectomy on 56 patients (21 Portuguese and 35 Swedish) were analysed by IRMS and histology. Plaque components affecting rupture risk were measured. Swedish plaques had more apoptosis, lipids and larger cores, as well as fewer proliferating cells and SMC than the Portuguese, conferring the Swedish a more rupture-prone phenotype. Portuguese plaques contained higher δ(13)C and δ(15)N than the Swedish, indicating that Portuguese plaques were more often derived from marine food. Plaque δ(13)C correlated with SMC and proliferating cells, and inversely with lipids, core size, apoptosis. Plaque δ(15)N correlated with SMC and inversely with lipids, core size and apoptosis. This is the first observational study showing that diet is reflected in plaque components associated with its vulnerability. The Portuguese plaques composition is consistent with an increased marine food intake and those plaques are more stable than those from Swedish patients. Marine-derived food is associated with plaque stability.

Active carotid plaques are associated with atheroembolism and neurological events; its identification is crucial for stroke prevention. High‐definition ultrasound (HDU) can be used to recognize plaque structure in carotid bifurcation stenosis associated with plaque vulnerability and occurrence of brain ischemic events. A new computer‐assisted HDU method to study the echomorphology of the carotid plaque and to determine a risk score for developing appropriate symptoms is proposed in this study. Plaque echomorphology characteristics such as presence of ulceration at the plaque surface, juxta‐luminal location of echolucent areas, echoheterogeneity were obtained from B‐mode ultrasound scans using several image processing algorithms and were combined with measurement of severity of stenosis to obtain a clinical score—enhanced activity index (EAI)—which was correlated with the presence or absence of ipsilateral appropriate ischemic symptoms. An optimal cutoff value of EAI was determined to obtain the best separation between symptomatic (active) from asymptomatic (inactive) plaques and its diagnostic yield was compared to other 2 reference methods by means of receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Classification performance was evaluated by leave‐one‐patient‐out cross‐validation applied to a cohort of 146 carotid plaques from 99 patients. The proposed method was benchmarked against (a) degree of stenosis criteria and (b) earlier proposed activity index (AI) and demonstrated that EAI yielded the highest accuracy up to an accuracy of 77% to predict asymptomatic plaques that developed symptoms in a prospective cross‐sectional study. Enhanced activity index is a noninvasive, easy to obtain parameter, which provided accurate estimation of neurological risk of carotid plaques.

Objective: Aortic arch aneurysmal disease remains a therapeutic challenge. For patients unsuitable for standard open surgery, hybrid repair with debranching of the supra-aortic arteries followed by thoracic endovascular grafting has been shown to be an effective solution. The aim of this study was to report the clinical outcomes of a single-institution experience using hybrid aortic arch repair. Methods: The cases of all consecutive patients submitted to hybrid aortic arch repair between January 2010 and June 2018 were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. The outcomes of the study were 30-day mortality, perioperative complications, 2-year survival, endoleak, and reintervention rates. Results: A total of 35 patients with a median age of 71 years (interquartile range, 62-77 years) were submitted to hybrid aortic arch repair, with a median follow-up of 26.9 months (interquartile range, 2.4-63.6 months). Ten procedures (28.6%) were performed urgently for contained rupture. The most common etiology was degenerative (n ¼ 14 [40.0%]). The proximal landing zones according to the Ishimaru classification were zone 2 in 20 patients (57.1%), zone 1 in 12 patients (34.3%), and zone 0 in 3 patients (8.6%). Early endoleaks were observed in six patients (17.1%), equally distributed between type I and type II. Late endoleaks were identified in 4 of 24 patients (16.7%; type I, n ¼ 2 [8.3%]; type II, n ¼ 1 [4.2%]; and type III, n ¼ 1 [4.2%]). Thirty-day mortality rate was 14.3% (n ¼ 5) with an early death rate of 8.7% (2/23) in elective cases and 30.0% (3/10) in urgent cases (odds ratio [OR], 4.93; confidence interval [CI], 0.68-35.67; P ¼ .128). Except in one patient, 30-day mortality was associated with landing zone 0 or zone 1 (26.7% vs 5.0%; OR, 6.91; CI, 0.68-69.86; P ¼ .141). Three patients (8.6%) suffered a postoperative stroke, and no episodes of spinal cord ischemia were observed. Two-year survival rate was 67.8% (CI, 49.4%- 80.8%). Survival rates were significantly lower with increasing age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.10; CI, 1.03-1.18; P ¼ .004), urgent procedure (HR, 4.80; CI, 1.56-14.80; P ¼ .003), zone 0 or zone 1 (HR, 6.34; CI, 1.73-23.18; P ¼ .001), presence of arrhythmia (HR, 3.76; CI, 1.22-11.62; P ¼ .013), and cerebrovascular disease (HR, 4.12; CI, 1.38-12.35; P ¼ .006). A multivariate analysis identified age (HR, 1.11; P ¼ .047) and zone 0 or zone 1 (HR, 4.93; P ¼ .033) as the only predictors for overall mortality. Conclusions: Hybrid aortic arch repair seems to be an alternative for higher risk patients not suitable for open repair, but selection of patients is crucial and may benefit from further refinement. In this study, worse outcomes were seen in older patients and those who required more proximal landing zones.

Objective: Seat belt aorta is rare and difficult to manage. The lack of data and follow-up increases the complexity of treating such patients. We aimed to create a decision algorithm by reviewing our current experience and analyzing the presentation and management of our patients. Methods: We performed a descriptive case series based on retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosis of seat belt aorta from 2008 to 2018. Seat belt aorta was defined as any blunt abdominal aortic lesion resulting from a seat belt compression mechanism after a car accident. Results: Nine consecutive patients were admitted with the diagnosis of seat belt aorta, all of whom developed lesions in the infrarenal aorta. Eight patients were assessed in the acute phase and one patient presented with late-onset symptoms. Associated injuries were present in all acute patients, and seat belt sign and small bowel injury were present in 88%. One patient presented with a small intimal tear and was treated conservatively. All other patients diagnosed with large intimal flaps (seven patients) and pseudoaneurysm (one patient) underwent open repair in five cases and endovascular repair in three cases. In-hospital mortality for the acute cases was 38%, with no mortality seen during follow-up. Two patients submitted to endovascular repair required reinterventions. Conclusions: Seat belt aorta is a deadly condition, frequently associated with blunt thoracoabdominal trauma with concomitant injuries; the presence of a seat belt sign or lower limb ischemia must lead to a high diagnostic suspicion. Management must take into account the other concomitant injuries. Follow-up is crucial as most patients are young; they may develop complications and subsequently require further intervention.

Till macrofabric and grain-size analysis of glacial diamictons and landforms present in several valleys of the Serra da Estrela Mountains in central Portugal were used to interpret till types and to reconstruct the glacial paleoprocess history of this mountainous region. Supraglacial melt-out and flow tills are dominant in this range. Supraglacial melt-out tills, representative of periods of glacial stability and stagnation followed by recession, present weaker fabric data and coarser, poorly sorted sediments. Flow tills, mainly representative of glacial stability followed by recession, present crude layering, and soft-sediment deformation structures with moderate fabric data and coarser to fine, poorly sorted sediments. Glacial diamictons affected by post-glacial paraglacial activity in the form of landslides were also observed in three valleys. These present weaker to moderate fabric data and coarser, poorly sorted sediments. These glacial diamictons and landforms are of particular importance in the reconstruction of the glacial dynamics and history of the Serra da Estrela Mountains due to a scarcity of chronological data based on absolute dating methods. These mountains also represent the southernmost Atlantic range in Europe where significant glaciation took place, which makes it an interesting area to investigate mountain glacial dynamics in low elevation humid Atlantic coastal ranges and compare it with other Atlantic ranges.

Carob seedlings were grown at different proportions of nitrate NO3) and ammonium (NH4) supplied at a concentration of 3.5 mM nitrogen (N). The effect of five different combinations of NH4- and NO3-N on growth rates, N and carbon (C) content of the plant and dry matter distribution were studied. The presence of NH4 in the nutrient solution enhanced plant growth rate, although net photosynthesis rates per unit area were lower than in NO3-fed plants. Nitrate –fed plants exbibited the highest rates of carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation, water use, and N-use efficiency. Nevertheless, plants growing only with NO3 were more fragile and susceptible to fungus infections. The role of cotyledons on the regulation of the supply of photosynthates from leaves to roots in the different combinations of NO3- and NH4-N is described. Results suggest that the growth rates of carob may be improved using suitable combinations of NO3- and NH4-N. Equal concentrations of these two N sources allows good development and adequate allocation of low C and N to different developing sinks of the carob seedlings.

Thermokarst lakes result from the thawing of ice-rich permafrost and are widespread across northern landscapes. These waters are strong emitters of methane, especially in permafrost peatland regions, where they are stained black by high concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM). In the present study, we aimed to structurally characterize the DOM from a set of peatland thermokarst lakes that are known to be intense sites of microbial decomposition and methane emission. Samples were collected at different depths from three thermokarst lakes in the Sasapimakwananisikw (SAS) River valley near the eastern Hudson Bay community of Kuujjuarapik–Whapmagoostui (Nunavik, Canada). Samples were analyzed by spectrofluorometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and elemental analysis. Fluorescence analyses indicated considerable amounts of autochthonous DOM in the surface waters of one of SAS 1A, indicating a strong bioavailability of labile DOM, and consequently a greater methanogenic potential. The three lakes differed in their chemical composition and diversity, suggesting various DOM transformations phenomena. The usefulness of complementary analytical approaches to characterize the complex mixture of DOM in permafrost peatland waters cannot be overlooked, representing a first step towards greater comprehension of the organic geochemical properties of these permafrost-derived systems

In the increasingly competitive hotel environment, decision-makers must consider the risks and benefits of remaining independent or affiliating with a brand or consortium. This research sought to understand the level of importance associated with a set of motivating factors considered by Portuguese four- and five-hoteliers as it relates to remaining independent or affiliating. The study results suggest that independent hoteliers rank control over decision making and shorter decision making as most important in remaining independent, and increased sales and more aggressive marketing as most important in the decision to affiliate. Affiliated hoteliers rank shorter decision making and absence of fees as most important in remaining independent, and increased sales, brand value, and more aggressive marketing as most important in the decision to affiliate. Interestingly, independence and freedom were considered less important in the decision to remain independent, by all respondents. We apply Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory to explain some of the key findings.

Studies have suggested that material deprivation is strongly associated with negative health outcomes, and lower usage of various levels of healthcare. We aim to analyse geographical access to emergency medical services (EMSs) and hospital emergency units by EMS in relation to deprivation in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA), Portugal.

The book, as a means of artistic expression, has been explored since the beginning of editorial practices. Design, music, theatre, literature, cinema, among other forms of creative expression, are parts of a whole that constitute book art and independent publishing, whose expressivity is directly influenced by the rich mixture of participating areas and techniques. It is necessary to know the particular details of leading work in this area, so that the disruptive role of the artist´s book may be assimilated and understood. The primary forms of graphic communication, such as cave paintings, appeared spontaneously, fulfilling the needs of the prehistoric human being. Over the years, and as the language developed and became more complex, the mediums of inscription were also perfected. The Chinese and Egyptian cultures made the discovery and refinement of paper possible, as they were the first to apply bamboo and papyrus fibers, respectively, in a “leaf” manufacturing process. The "leaf," which is a finite plan is added on to another leaf and yet another until the user decides to finish its compilation. From the need for compilation emerges the codex, an ingenious page storage structure, which two thousand years later remains resilient. When travelling in time, it is possible to verify the potential of the codex as an object of art and expression, which has suffered constant experimentation over the years. Having as a starting point the Middle Ages, and throughout history, it can be concluded that the possibilities for innovation are inexhaustible, both graphically and conceptually. As such, it is estimated that the expedition of book art and author's publication will continue to progress, as the possibilities for exploration seem to multiply over time. The future of the printed culture may be tied to the knowledge of the current available technological means, allied to an innovative and conscious experimentation of tactile supports.