Patient-physician discordance in assessment of adherence to inhaled controller medication: a cross-sectional analysis of two cohorts

We aimed to compare patient's and physician's ratings of inhaled medication adherence and to identify predictors of patient-physician discordance.(SFRH/BPD/115169/2016) funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT); ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) through the operations: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029130 ('mINSPIRERS—mHealth to measure and improve adherence to medication in chronic obstructive respiratory diseases—generalisation and evaluation of gamification, peer support and advanced image processing technologies') cofunded by the COMPETE2020 (Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização), Portugal 2020 and by Portuguese Funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Weighted Sobolev theorem with variable exponent for spatial and spherical potential operators

We prove Sobolev-type p((.)) -> q ((.))-theorems for the Riesz potential operator I-alpha in the weighted Lebesgue generalized spaces L-p(.)(R-n, p) with the variable exponent p (x) and a two-parametrical power weight fixed to an arbitrary finite point and to infinity, as well as similar theorems for a spherical analogue of the Riesz potential operator in the corresponding weighted spaces L-p(.)(S-n, p) on the unit sphere S-n in Rn+1. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

COPD and cardiovascular disease

COPD is one of the major public health problems in people aged 40 years or above. It is currently the 4th leading cause of death in the world and projected to be the 3rd leading cause of death by 2020. COPD and cardiac comorbidities are frequently associated. They share common risk factors, pathophysiological processes, signs and symptoms, and act synergistically as negative prognostic factors. Cardiac disease includes a broad spectrum of entities with distinct pathophysiology, treatment and prognosis. From an epidemiological point of view, patients with COPD are particularly vulnerable to cardiac disease. Indeed, mortality due to cardiac disease in patients with moderate COPD is higher than mortality related to respiratory failure. Guidelines reinforce that the control of comorbidities in COPD has a clear benefit over the potential risk associated with the majority of the drugs utilized. On the other hand, the true survival benefits of aggressive treatment of cardiac disease and COPD in patients with both conditions have still not been clarified. Given their relevance in terms of prevalence and prognosis, we will focus in this paper on the management of COPD patients with ischemic coronary disease, heart failure and dysrhythmia.Novartis Portugal Novartisinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nannochloropsis oceanica cultivation in pilot-scale raceway ponds—from design to cultivation

Raceways ponds are the microalgal production systems most commonly used at industrial scale. In this work, two di erent raceway configurations were tested under the same processing conditions to compare their performance on the production of Nannochloropsis oceanica. Biomass productivity, biochemical composition of the produced biomass, and power requirements to operate those reactors were evaluated. Water depths of 0.20 and 0.13 m, and culture circulation velocities of 0.30 and 0.15 m s1 were tested. A standard configuration, which had a full channel width paddlewheel, proved to be the most energy e cient, consuming less than half of the energy required by a modified configuration (had a half channel width paddlewheel). The later showed to have slightly higher productivity, not enough to o set the large di erence in energetic consumption. Higher flow velocity (0.30 m s1) led to a 1.7 g m2 d1 improvement of biomass productivity of the system, but it increased the energy consumption twice as compared to the 0.15 m s1 flow velocity. The latter velocity showed to be the most productive in lipids. A water depth of 0.20 m was the most suitable option tested to cultivate microalgae, since it allowed a 54% energy saving. Therefore, a standard raceway pond using a flow velocity of 0.3 m s1 with a 0.20 m water depth was the most e cient system for microalgal cultivation. Conversely, a flow velocity of 0.15 m s1 was the most suitable to produce lipids.Portugal 2020 Program (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-035234; LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-035234; ALG-01-0247-FEDER-035234)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of trace element pollution and its environmental risk to freshwater sediments influenced by anthropogenic contributions: The case study of Alqueva reservoir (Guadiana Basin)

The Guadiana Basin.(SW Iberian Peninsula) is affected by acid mine drainage (AMD), a consequence of ancient mining activities in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). Consequently, the sedimerits at the Alqueva reservoir (SE Portugal) in the Guadiana Basin are potentially contaminated by trace elements, which make important: (i) to characterize the status of trace element pollution of the sediments; (ii) to evaluate the mobility and the bioavailability of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn; and (iii) to assess the environmental risk associated with the total and bioavailable concentrations of trace elements, using the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and the risk assessment code (RAC). Metal enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation indexes (I-geo), determined taking into account the regional background levels, revealed that, among the metals analyzed, Cd contributed the highest to pollution levels followed by Pb and As. Despite the trace element contamination of the Alqueva sediments, the sequential extraction showed that Most of them are found in the oxidizable and residual fractions, which indicates that they are sparingly bioavailable, with exception of Cd (acid-labile fraction) and Pb (reducible fraction). Based on the RAC, Cd was the only metal that presented a high risk, while Pb, As and Zn showed a medium risk. Moreover, the SQGs revealed the existence of certain areas of extremely high risk, particularly related to high concentrations of total As and, in less extent, of Pb and Cd, associated with AMD, wastewater discharges and runoff of plant protection products from agricultural fields located near the reservoir. (C) 2015 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) [PTDC/AAC-AMB/103547/2008]; FEDER, through POFC (Eixo I - Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade) from QREN [COMPETE Re: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-008582]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chitosan-Hyaluronic acid hybrid vectors for retinal gene therapy

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A 60-year time series analyses of the upwelling along the Portuguese Coast

Coastal upwelling has a significant local impact on marine coastal environment and on marine biology, namely fisheries. This study aims to evaluate climate and environmental changes in upwelling trends between 1950 and 2010. Annual, seasonal and monthly upwelling trends were studied in three different oceanographic areas of the Portuguese coast (northwestern-NW, southwestern-SW, and south-S). Two sea surface temperature datasets, remote sensing (RS: 1985-2009) and International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS: 1950-2010), were used to estimate an upwelling index (UPWI) based on the difference between offshore and coastal sea surface temperature. Time series analyses reveal similar yearly and monthly trends between datasets A decrease of the UPWI was observed, extending longer than 20 years in the NW (1956-1979) and SW (1956-1994), and 30 years in the S (1956-1994). Analyses of sudden shifts reveal long term weakening and intensification periods of up to 30 years. This means that in the past 60 years a normal climate UPWI occurred along the Portuguese coast. An intensification of UPWI was recorded in recent decades regardless of the areas (RS: 1985-2009). Such an intensification rate (linear increase in UPWI) is only significant in S in recent decades (increase rate: ICOADS = 0.02 degrees C decade-1; RS = 0.11 degrees C decade-1) while in NW and SW the increase rate is meaningless. In NW more stable UPWI conditions were recorded, however average UPWI values increased in autumn and winter in NW in recently decades (RS: 1985-2009). An intensification rate of UPWI was recorded during summer (July, August and September) in SW and S in latter decades (RS: 1985-2009). The average UPWI values increased in recent decades in autumn in S. Marked phenological changes were observed in S in summer (before downwelling conditions prevail whilst recently when UPWI regimes prevail) with UPWI seasonal regime in S in recent decades becoming similar to those found in SW and NW. Results of this work can contribute to a better understanding of how upwelling dynamics affect/are correlated with biological data.Agência financiadora FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology UID/Multi/04326/2019 CLIMFISH project-A framework for assess vulnerability of coastal fisheries to climate change in Portuguese n2/SAICT/2017t-SAICTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A haplotype-resolved draft genome of the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus)

The European sardine (Sardina pilchardus Walbaum, 1792) is culturally and economically important throughout its distribution. Monitoring studies of sardine populations report an alarming decrease in stocks due to overfishing and environmental change, which has resulted in historically low captures along the Iberian Atlantic coast. Important biological and ecological features such as population diversity, structure, and migratory patterns can be addressed with the development and use of genomics resources.Agência financiadora Portuguese national funds from FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology: UID/Multi/04326/2016; European Regional Development Fund (FEDER): 22153-01/SAICT/2016; ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121; ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022231; MAR2020 operational programme of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (project SARDI-NOMICS): MAR-01.04.02-FEAMP-0024; European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme: 654008info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Using Molinspiration as a didactic complement into teaching subjects of Medicinal Chemistry

Medicinal Chemistry has high rates of failure and abandonment at the beginning of the courses where this disciplines are taught, as occurs in pharmaceutical sciences. In University of Algarve (UAlg), there has been an effort to avoid school failure in these topics by increasing student motivation, a very important issue for the students get success. For this has been used in teaching Medicinal Chemistry, the web application called Molinspiration. This website/tool allows one to input a chemical structure and then after, view predicted properties of structure and its bioactivity against six different common drug targets. Using this application, students are transported to a virtual laboratory which making easier to understand and practice the basic scientific knowledge that has been previously explained in theoretical classes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Relationships between nutrient composition of flowers and fruit quality in orange trees grown in calcareous soil

To determine if flower nutrient composition can be used to predict fruit quality, a field experiment was conducted over three seasons (1996-1999) in a commercial orange orchard (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. 'Valencia Late', budded on Troyer citrange rootstock) established on a calcareous soil in southern Portugal. Flowers were collected from 20 trees during full bloom in April and their nutrient composition determined, and fruits were harvested the following March and their quality evaluated. Patterns of covariation in flower nutrient concentrations and in fruit quality variables were evaluated by principal component analysis. Regression models relating fruit quality variables to flower nutrient composition were developed by stepwise selection procedures. The predictive power of the regression models was evaluated with an independent data set. Nutrient composition of flowers at full bloom could be used to predict the fruit quality variables fresh fruit mass and maturation index in the following year. Magnesium, Ca and Zn concentrations measured in flowers were related to fruit fresh mass estimations and N, P, Mg and Fe concentrations were related to fruit maturation index. We also established reference values for the nutrient composition of flowers based on measurements made in trees that produced large (> 76 mm in diameter) fruit.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio