RCAAP Repository

Kyotorphin (KTP, l-tyrosyl-l-arginine) is an endogenous analgesic neuropeptide first isolated from bovine brain in 1979. Previous studies have shown that kyotorphins possess anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. Six kyotorphins—KTP-NH2, KTP–NH2–DL, ibuprofen-conjugated KTP (IbKTP), IbKTP-NH2, N-methyl-D-Tyr-L-Arg, and N-methyl-L-Tyr-D-Arg—were designed and synthesized to improve lipophilicity and resistance to enzymatic degradation. This study assessed the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of these peptides. The antifungal activity of kyotorphins was determined in representative strains of Candida species, including Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida krusei ATCC 6258, and six clinical isolates—Candida dubliniensis 19-S, Candida glabrata 217-S, Candida lusitaniae 14-S, Candida novergensis 51-S, Candida parapsilosis 63, and Candida tropicalis 140-S—obtained from the oral cavity of HIV-positive patients. The peptides were synthesized by standard solution or solid-phase synthesis, purified by RP-HPLC (purity >95 %), and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance. The results of the broth microdilution assay and scanning electron microscopy showed that IbKTP-NH2 presented significant antifungal activity against Candida strains and antibiofilm activity against the clinical isolates. The absence of toxic activity and survival after infection was assessed after injecting the peptide in larvae of Galleria mellonella as experimental infection model. Furthermore, IbKTP-NH2 had strong antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi and was not toxic to G. mellonella larvae up to a concentration of 500 mM. These results suggest that IbKTP-NH2, in addition to its known effect on cell membranes, can elicit a cellular immune response and, therefore, is promising for biomedical application.

This work deals with the implementation of a fine and coarse tip-sample distance control as well as with the tuning of several other features that will make one AFM prototype more user friendly. The main goal was to design and integrate a PI (Proportional-Integral) Analog Controller with digitally controllable gains. The development of the controller started by identifying and characterizing the system, with emphasis on the Z-axis Scanner’s response, which in turn allowed to build models for all the different components that make up the AFM. The PI Controller’s gains were arranged to be independently tuned via a digital potentiometer in conjunction with an analog multiplexer. The digital potentiometer provides a fine gain adjustment while the analog multiplexer increments the gains by an order of magnitude. These devices receive instructions from a microcontroller. In parallel, several other important enhancements were carried out, which include an implementation of an Auto-Approach functionality that automatically approaches the probe and sample without crashing onto each other. In order to achieve this, it was conducted an experimental study of the instrument’s motorized coarse motion structure. All the new features developed here were integrated in the existing prototype via the Arduino platform. To interface the signals outputted by the AFM circuitry and the microcontroller, as well as providing robust tolerance against faulty use, additional circuitry was included. This allows the reading of important signals within the instrument’s context, such as the deflection signal, amplitude signal and controller output. By taking advantage of the microcontroller’s features, it was designed a voltage source that serves as an adjustable setpoint via the PWM outputs from the Arduino. Finally, it was design and developed a GUI providing the user direct control of the tasks mentioned above and also displaying some quantitative and qualitative data, acquired by the microcontroller, about the state of the AFM.

Abstract Context Wildfires have severe impacts on landscapes’ hydrological and sediment processes. They are linked to events such as flash floods and droughts, and high erosion rates which lead to loss of soil organic matter and detachment of seeds and seedlings. Mulching is an effective measure implemented directly after a fire to reduce soil erosion and increase soil water retention. However, its implementation has proved a challenge, mainly due to factors such as cost and public acceptance. Objectives This research aims to optimize the application of post-fire mulching by using decision-making criteria to select “how” and “where” the technique should be used. The specific objectives were to: (i) investigate the decision-making criteria on “how” to apply mulch by interviewing experts; (ii) define the cost-effectiveness relations of erosion modelling scenarios. Methods The Monchique 2003 wildfire in Southern Portugal was used as a case study Experts’ interviews and literature review were used to construct prioritization scenarios. Post-fire soil erosion was then modelled with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model and the Sediment Connectivity Index for the three resulting scenarios (the “Soil” scenario, considering the net potential erosion; the “Water” scenario, focusing on th1e protection of water bodies from sedimentation; and the “Road” scenario, focusing on road protection); and at two erosion thresholds (1 and 10 Mg ha−1 year−1). Results The interviews and the literature review highlighted the importance of socio-economic parameters when it comes to mulch application. Moreover, models showed that small interventions, aimed at areas nearby water bodies and road networks can be more cost-effective than large interventions. Conclusions Models helped to create a hierarchy of scenarios, enabling land managers to assess decision making tools at the landscape level, linking their priorities with practical issues of emergency stabilization practices.

No summary/description provided

Background. The models currently used to predict post-fire soil erosion risks are limited by high data demands and long computation times. An alternative is to map the potential hydrological and sediment connectivity using indices to express the general properties of the burnt landscape. Aims. In this study, we aimed to answer the question: Do these tools identify post-fire sediment mobilisation hotspots? Methods. To achieve this, we assessed the spatial variability distribution of the location of soil erosion hotspots using the Index of Connectivity, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation and the Sediment Export, and compared it with the simulation results of a more complex Landscape Evolution Model (LAPSUS model). Additionally, we evaluated statistical measures of association between the four tools. Key results. The three tools tested in this study are suitable for identifying sediment mobilisation hotspots, where the erosion rates are above the 95th percentile, and differences between their performance are small. Conclusions. The results indicate that these tools help locate extreme erosion locations in recently burnt areas. Implications. These results can be considered for post-fire and water contamination risk management, especially for fast prioritisation of areas needing emergency post-fire intervention

The conservation of long-distance migratory birds requires coordination between the multiple countries connected by the movements of these species. The recent expansion of tracking studies is shedding new light on these movements, but much of this information is fragmented and inaccessible to conservation practitioners and policy makers. We synthesized current knowledge on the connectivity established between countries by landbirds and raptors migrating along the African–Eurasian flyway. We reviewed tracking studies to compile migration records for 1229 individual birds, from which we derived 544 migratory links, each link corresponding to a species’ connection between a breeding country in Europe and a nonbreeding country in sub-Saharan Africa. We used these migratory links to analyze trends in knowledge over time and spatial patterns of connectivity per country (across species), per species (across countries), and at the flyway scale (across all countries and all species). The number of tracking studies available increased steadily since 2010 (particularly for landbirds), but the coverage of existing tracking data was highly incomplete. An average of 7.5% of migratory landbird species and 14.6% of raptor species were tracked per country. More data existed from central and western European countries, and it was biased toward larger bodied species. We provide species- and country-level syntheses of the migratory links we identified from the reviewed studies, involving 123 populations of 43 species, migrating between 28 European and 43 African countries. Several countries (e.g., Spain, Poland, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo) are strategic priorities for future tracking studies to complement existing data, particularly on landbirds. Despite the limitations in existing tracking data, our data and results can inform discussions under 2 key policy instruments at the flyway scale: the African–Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia.

Shorebird declines are occurring worldwide but the causes are not fully understood. Recent literature suggests that the deterioration of habitat quality at their non-breeding areas, mostly located in temperate and tropical coastal wetlands, might be a major contributing factor. However, most studies carried out so far tend to be restricted to a few regions. Remote sensing can help correct such geographical bias on knowledge by providing a standardized approach on how shorebird habitats have been changing over the last few decades at a global scale. Here we analyzed time series of remote sensing classifications of tidal flats and land cover to quantify worldwide habitat changes in coastal Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) relevant for non-breeding shorebirds over the last two decades. Globally, supratidal areas (used as roosting habitat) have changed more significantly than tidal flats (used as feeding habitat). Yet, we found striking losses of tidal flats in IBAs distributed in several regions of the East Asian - Australasian Flyway. At supratidal areas, there was a general expansion of marshland, grassland and urban areas, contrasting with a decline of barren land, woodland and cropland. The expansion of marshland occurred in IBAs of most regions of the world. Urban areas also expanded consistently in supratidal areas within the most populated regions of the world. The loss of barren land is particularly concerning as it may translate into a loss of high-quality roosts and it was highly frequent in IBAs of all migratory flyways. Overall, our results confirm the large losses of shorebird habitat in the East Asian - Australasian Flyway reported in the literature, and highlight unreported generalized changes in supratidal habitats, such as the expansion of marshland and the loss of barren land, that may have negative implications for shorebirds, deserving further research and consideration in conservation programs.

The drying process is an essential thermal process for preserving vegetables and can be used in developing dried products as healthy alternative snacks. The effects of air-drying conditions using a convection dryer with hot air at different temperatures (60°, 65°, 70°, 75°, and 80 °C, in the range 5–200 min, at a fixed air speed of 2.3 m/s) were tested on the quality of slices (2.0 ± 0.1 mm) of dried sweet potato (Bellevue PBR). For each time and temperature, drying condition, physicochemical parameters (moisture content, CIELab color, texture parameters, total phenolic and carotenoid contents) and a sensory evaluation by a panel at the last drying period (200 min) were assessed. Drying time was shown to have a more significant effect than temperature on the quality of dried sweet potato as a snack, except for carotenoid content. Given the raw tuber content, thermal degradation (p < 0.05) of total phenolic compounds (about 70%), regardless of tested conditions, contrasted with the higher stability of total carotenoids (<30%). The dried product, under optimal conditions (≥75 °C for 200 min), achieved a moisture content (≤10%) suitable for preservation, providing a crispy texture with favourable sensory acceptance and providing a carotenoid content similar to the raw product.

A RNT (Rede Nacional de Transporte) é constituída por um conjunto de linhas que fazem o transporte de energia desde os centros produtores até aos centros de distribuição. O operador da RNT definiu valores de capacidade sazonais para estas linhas utilizando uma metodologia conservadora uma vez que utiliza condições meteorológicas conservadoras para definir os valores de capacidade. Ao longo deste trabalho irá ser abordado o conceito de DLR (Dynamic Line Rating – Análise Dinâmica de Linhas) que, através de modelação numérica de variáveis atmosféricas e parâmetros físicos das linhas, estima a capacidade real das mesmas. Este modelo vai ser aplicado nas linhas de forma a calcular a real capacidade das mesmas e a estabelecer uma comparação entre a capacidade pré-estabelecida pelo operador da RNT e a capacidade obtida através do DLR. Também irá ser feita uma análise ao vento localizado na zona do Vale Cobrão uma vez que no local existe um Parque Eólico instalado. Esta análise visa a uma posterior aplicação do conceito de DLR com o intuito de se aceder à capacidade das linhas em momentos de alta produção vinda do Parque Eólico.

A produção de energia elétrica por meio de energias renováveis é cada vez mais uma preocupação mundial. Assim, é urgente que estas passem a ser a principal forma de produção de energia em detrimento da utilização de combustíveis fósseis. Dentro das energias renováveis, a energia solar fotovoltaica é uma das que tem maior potencial. Além da produção de energia outra grande preocupação da população mundial é a produção de alimentos, uma vez que o consumo mundial destes recursos é cada vez maior. É no seguimento destas duas grandes preocupações da população mundial que surgem algumas das motivações para o surgimento do conceito agroPV. Dentro dessas motivações estão: • a competição por terrenos que são favoráveis para a implementação tanto de centrais fotovoltaicas, como de pontos de cultivo de alimentos agrícolas; • a perceção social de que vai existir uma escassez de terreno para a produção agrícola se forem construídas grandes centrais fotovoltaicas. No entanto esta perceção não é justificada uma vez que coma tecnologia atual é possível produzir grandes quantidades de energia em pequenas áreas; • criação de outras fontes de rendimento para os agricultores; • criação de sinergias entre a produção de energia PV e a produção de alimentos agrícolas que juntas podem produzir mais que em separado. O conceito agroPV na sua definição original consiste na utilização do mesmo espaço de terreno para produção de energia e simultaneamente há produção de produtos agrícolas. Nos últimos anos este conceito tem ganho alguma relevância e é considerado uma opção cada vez mais viável de rentabilizar os terrenos. Assim, devido à crescente importância do conceito AgroPV e ao grande potencial da produção de energia fotovoltaica que surge o tema desta dissertação que consiste em desenvolver e otimizar um sistema agrofotovoltaico que será construído no campus solar da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL).

No summary/description provided

A man was admitted in the emergency room for asthenia, myalgias, diffuse abdominal pain, weight loss for six months and papular rashes. The patient was known to have HIV infection and did not comply with therapy. Analytically he presented: Haemoglobin 92 g/L; white blood cells 2.3×109 /L; platelets count 19×109 /L; alanine aminotransferase 28u/L; aspartate aminotransferase 102 u/L; bilirubin 1.67 mg/L; lactate dehydrogenase 236u/L; ferritin 1481ng/mL; C-reactive protein 693.3 nmol/L and procalcitonin 5.67ng/mL.

The political and economic administration of the Portuguese empire called for the use of new forms of economic language that could serve as instruments of deciphering new economic problems and realities. Territory, natural resources, capital and investment, slave labour, goods, prices, currency, international competition, tax revenue, productive innovations, colonial pact: it is from the reflection on these themes that some fresh ideas are presented on the way in which production hubs and exchange circuits were established, within the context of the management of colonial empires. At a time when economic discourse was yet to be a standardised conceptual language, it is from the description of everyday economic and financial practices that the emergence of a new way of capturing reality may be understood. It is also from political intervention purposes and projects which affect economic and financial practices that the scope of measures designed to contribute to the improvement of the relations between men and with the surrounding environment may be understood. To a large extent, the formation of economic ideas in colonial Brazil stemmed from the need to find explanations and solutions to improve the exploitation of productive resources and slave labour.

Asthma, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis (AD) are interrelated clinical phenotypes that partly overlap in the human interactome. The concept of "one-airway-one-disease," coined over 20 years ago, is a simplistic approach of the links between upper- and lower-airway allergic diseases. With new data, it is time to reassess the concept. This article reviews (i) the clinical observations that led to Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA), (ii) new insights into polysensitization and multimorbidity, (iii) advances in mHealth for novel phenotype definitions, (iv) confirmation in canonical epidemiologic studies, (v) genomic findings, (vi) treatment approaches, and (vii) novel concepts on the onset of rhinitis and multimorbidity. One recent concept, bringing together upper- and lower-airway allergic diseases with skin, gut, and neuropsychiatric multimorbidities, is the "Epithelial Barrier Hypothesis." This review determined that the "one-airway-one-disease" concept does not always hold true and that several phenotypes of disease can be defined. These phenotypes include an extreme "allergic" (asthma) phenotype combining asthma, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis. Rhinitis alone and rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity represent two distinct diseases with the following differences: (i) genomic and transcriptomic background (Toll-Like Receptors and IL-17 for rhinitis alone as a local disease; IL-33 and IL-5 for allergic and non-allergic multimorbidity as a systemic disease), (ii) allergen sensitization patterns (mono- or pauci-sensitization versus polysensitization), (iii) severity of symptoms, and (iv) treatment response. In conclusion, rhinitis alone (local disease) and rhinitis with asthma multimorbidity (systemic disease) should be considered as two distinct diseases, possibly modulated by the microbiome, and may be a model for understanding the epidemics of chronic and autoimmune diseases.

O RTEMS (Real Time Executive for Multiprocessor Systems) é um sistema operativo de tempo real (RTOS) que está a ser activamente desenvolvido e utilizado em aplicações de tempo real. Este facto motivou o desenvolvimento de um centro de investigação e desenvolvimento para o RTEMS, o Edisoft RTEMS Centre, com o intuito de dar suporte à comunidade espacial europeia. As primeiras actividades do RTEMS Centre consistiram na criação de ferramentas de suporte e auxílio à configuração e compilação do sistema operativo RTEMS. E ainda na criação de uma ferramenta que verifica o comportamento de uma aplicação em tempo de execução. Numa fase mais avançada do RTEMS Centre foi iniciado o projecto RTEMS Improvement, o qual visa disponibilizar uma versão ajustada do sistema operativo RTEMS (4.8.0) com o objectivo de ajudar e facilitar o processo da qualificação de aplicações baseadas no RTEMS para as missões espaciais. A versão produzida auxilia o processo de qualificação e inclui uma bateria de testes que rastreia os requisitos de software, estes testes cobrem o código fonte segundo a norma SW-DAL (SoftWare Development Assurence Level) nível B, o qual obriga a que todas as linhas do código fonte de uma aplicação sejam executadas e que todos os blocos de decisão tenham sido também executados. A qualificação de software que necessita de seguir as normas definidas no Galileo Software standards SW-DAL B (GSWS [RD1]) é um processo longo e complexo. O processo completo de qualificação das aplicações espaciais só pode ser concluído conjugando o sistema com os componentes de software da aplicação e com o hardware onde a mesma se executa. Uma vez que o hardware não se encontra disponível, o principal objectivo consiste em facilitar o processo de qualificação de aplicações que utilizem RTEMS fornecendo: a RTEMS tailored version com todas as modificações necessárias para corrigir os bugs detectados; a RTEMS Test Suite, que testa o RTEMS Tailored; e a documentação associada (documento de requisitos, documento de desenho detalhado, documento de configuração, manual do utilizador, etc). Numa fase mais avançada do projecto do RTEMS Improvement, e quando todas as etapas anteriores estiverem concluídas será desenvolvido um módulo de gestão de memória para o RTEMS para a classe de processadores LEON3.

A “Intolerance of Uncertainty” (IU) é definida como a “incapacidade predisposta de um indivíduo de suportar a resposta aversiva desencadeada pela perceção de ausência de informação saliente, chave ou suficiente, e sustentada pela perceção associada de incerteza” e tem sido considerada como um fator central para a vivência da doença. A IU tem sido uma das condições associadas a doenças do foro psicopatológico, nomeadamente a Perturbação de Ansiedade Generalizada (PAG), o Síndrome Depressivo (SD) e a Perturbação Obsessivo-Compulsiva (POC). Esta revisão de literatura visa proporcionar uma visão geral da literatura científica relacionada com o tema da IU e das psicopatologias associadas (RQ1), identificar os diferentes tipos de incerteza (RQ2) e explorar como a pandemia poderá ter afetado este fenômeno e a saúde mental da população (RQ3). Inclui estudos pulicados nos últimos onze anos (os estudos foram incluídos para o período de tempo que começa em 1º de janeiro de 2010 e dezembro de 2021) e a extração de dados para a revisão foi realizada usando as bases de dados MEDLINE e PsychNet. Dos 24 estudos finais selecionados (pelo título e resumo), 12 foram considerados importantes para responder à RQ1, nenhum foi importante para responder à RQ2, e 4 foram considerados importantes para ajudar a responder à RQ3. Assim, em toda a literatura verificada e em relação à RQ1, podemos concluir que uma IU elevada pode levar a uma maior prevalência de sintomas de PAG e possivelmente em outras psicopatologias. A discussão está dividida no tipo de intervenção selecionada para avaliar a IU como fator de risco, dividindo os estudos em dois tipos (aqueles que realizam intervenções psicoterapêuticas e aqueles com intervenções de informação em saúde). A RQ2 não foi respondida devido à falta de descrição quanto aos tipos de incerteza e ao responder à RQ3, foi apresentado que a pandemia, como potencial fator stressante, pode influenciar a saúde psicológica da população.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive motor neuron disorder usually caused by biallelic mutations in the SMN1 gene on chromosome 5q13.2, which leads to a progressive degeneration of lower motor neurons nuclei in the spinal cord and brainstem. It is characterized by a progressive atrophy and proximal muscle weakness, with a variable degree of bulbar and/or respiratory muscle involvement, depending on the phenotype severity.

Purpose: Cataract and glaucoma are two of the most common ocular comorbidities. Cataract surgery has been shown to influence intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma; nevertheless, the extent of this effect remains controversial, especially in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). The aim of this review is to determine the real effect of cataract surgery on IOP change in patients with OAG, focusing on data retrieved from randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: A systematic review was performed, including six different RCTs that studied the net effect of cataract surgery on IOP. Eligibility criteria required a full washout from hypotensive therapy, allowing accurate measurement of unmedicated IOP, both before and after surgery. Results: Included studies revealed a consistent reduction on IOP occurring after surgery, varying between 4.1 and 8.5 mmHg depending on the RCT. There was also a decrease in the number of glaucoma medications, with a mean reduction of 0.2-1.0 agents postoperatively. Evaluation of adverse outcomes of cataract surgery showed a very favourable safety profile. Conclusion: Although the role of cataract surgery in the algorithm of glaucoma treatment remains to be established, this review highlights a consistent decrease on IOP following surgery and a reduced dependency on glaucoma medications. Potential downgrade in medication can thus be considered in well-controlled glaucoma patients after phacoemulsification.

Esta Newsletter (NL) resulta de uma parceria entre o Instituto de Saúde Baseada na Evidência e a Cochrane Portugal, e tem como objectivo disponibilizar informação sobre áreas importantes para a prática clínica, com base na melhor evidência científica disponível. São incluídos estudos relevantes, criticamente avaliados pela sua validade, importância dos resultados e aplicabilidade prática, resumidos numa óptica de suporte à decisão. É dada prioridade a estudos de causalidade incluindo-se ainda, quando justificado, estudos qualitativos e metodológicos, assim como revisões científicas. O conteúdo da NL é da exclusiva responsabilidade do(s) seu(s) autor(es).

The main objective of this project is the development of a mobile application to use during the Festival de Almada 39th edition, an event organized every year by Companhia de Teatro de Almada, placed in Teatro Municiapal Joaquim Benite; the application will work as a connection with its public. The app development will require studies related to previous editions of Festival de Almada, since we need to understand which is the essential information, letting us adjust the project to its purpose. We consider using this application in the present edition, and it will be necessary to adapt the current contents to our software. It will be mandatory to examine similar works in order to develop this project from previous studies, following the technological developments at our disposal