Blockchain-based Decentralized Application for Electronic Voting using an Electronic ID

An electronic voting system that fully mimics real-world systems has long been desired. Until recently, it had not been possible to fully address the mandatory properties of a real-world voting scheme, simultaneously. Recently, with the onset of new technologies and research, however, it is not only possible to fulfill these very properties, but also to improve the anonymity and convenience of voting. A decentralized and self-tallying electronic voting protocol that substantially enhances the privacy of voters and diminishes centralization is developed in this work and presented in this dissertation. These properties are accomplished through a symbiotic relationship between the Ethereum Blockchain and the Portuguese electronic ID. Unlike previously proposed Blockchain e-voting protocols, this is the first implementation that more closely fulfills most of the security requirements of a real-world voting scheme. Furthermore, this system improves currently in-use e-Voting systems by using a self-tallying protocol. Thus, each voting citizen is able to compute the tally of the election and has complete control over their own vote. The execution of this protocol is enforced using the consensus mechanism that safeguards the Ethereum Blockchain. To prove its feasibility, its implementation was tested on the official Proof of Work (PoW) test network of Ethereum (known as Ropsten). The financial and computational breakdowns are on par with the leading Blockchain e-voting protocol.Um sistema de votação eletrónica que reproduza eficazmente sistemas eleitorais utilizados no mundo é há muito desejado. Até recentemente, não era possível satisfazer, simultaneamente, as propriedades intrínsecas de um sistema de votação tradicional. Recentemente, com o advento de novas tecnologias e investigação, não só é possível cumprir estas propriedades, como também melhorar o anonimato, acessibilidade e a própria estrutura do processo eleitoral. Neste trabalho, apresentamos um protocolo de votação eletrónica descentralizada e auto contável, que aumenta a privacidade dos eleitores e diminui a centralização. Estas propriedades são alcançadas através de uma relação simbiótica entre a Blockchain de Ethereum e o cartão de cidadão eletrónico Português. Ao contrário de protocolos eleitorais de recurso a Blockchain propostos anteriormente, esta é a primeira implementação que de mais perto atende à maioria dos requisitos de segurança de um esquema de votação real. Além disso, este sistema aperfeiçoa os sistemas de votação eletrónica utilizados atualmente, através da utilização de um protocolo auto contável. Desta forma, cada eleitor é capaz de fazer a contagem eleitoral por si mesmo, e verificar que todos os intervenientes agem de acordo com o protocolo. A execução do protocolo é compelida através do mesmo mecanismo de consenso distribuído que protege a Blockchain de Ethereum. Por forma a provar a sua viabilidade, a implementação foi testada na rede oficial de testes Proof of Work (PoW) de Ethereum (Ropsten). Os custos financeiros e computacionais estão ao mesmo nível do mais importante protocolo de e-voting associado a Blockchai

Evaluation of tissue and circulating mir-21 as potential biomarker of response to chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer

This research received funding from European Structural & Investment Funds through the COMPETE Programme—Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa—Programme Grant LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-016405,and from National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia—Programme Grant SAICTPAC/0019/2015.Response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) is quite variable and it is urgent to find predictive biomarkers of response. We investigated miR-21 as tissue and plasma biomarker of response to CRT in a prospective cohort of RC patients; The expression of miR-21 was analyzed in pre-and post-CRT rectal tissue and plasma in 37 patients with RC. Two groups were defined: Pathological responders (TRG 0, 1 and 2) and non-responders (TRG 3). The association between miR-21, clinical and oncological outcomes was assessed; miR-21 was upregulated in tumor tissue and we found increased odds of overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 0.40–6.63, p = 0.498) and pre-CRT plasma (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 0.45–7.19, p = 0.414) of non-responders. The overall recurrence risk increased with miR-21 overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (HR: 2.175, p = 0.37); Significantly higher miR-21 expression is observed in tumor tissue comparing with non-neoplastic. Increased odds of non-response is reported in patients expressing higher miR-21, although without statistical significance. This is one of the first studies on circulating miR-21 as a potential biomarker of response to CRT in RC patients.publishersversionpublishe

Evaluation of Tissue and Circulating miR-21 as Potential Biomarker of Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Cancer

Response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) is quite variable and it is urgent to find predictive biomarkers of response. We investigated miR-21 as tissue and plasma biomarker of response to CRT in a prospective cohort of RC patients; The expression of miR-21 was analyzed in pre- and post-CRT rectal tissue and plasma in 37 patients with RC. Two groups were defined: Pathological responders (TRG 0, 1 and 2) and non-responders (TRG 3). The association between miR-21, clinical and oncological outcomes was assessed; miR-21 was upregulated in tumor tissue and we found increased odds of overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 0.40–6.63, p = 0.498) and pre-CRT plasma (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 0.45–7.19, p = 0.414) of non-responders. The overall recurrence risk increased with miR-21 overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (HR: 2.175, p = 0.37); Significantly higher miR-21 expression is observed in tumor tissue comparing with non-neoplastic. Increased odds of non-response is reported in patients expressing higher miR-21, although without statistical significance. This is one of the first studies on circulating miR-21 as a potential biomarker of response to CRT in RC patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Potential of miR-21 to Predict Incomplete Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Adenocarcinoma

Funding: This work has received funding from European Structural and Investment Funds through the COMPETE Programme Grant LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-016405, from National Funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia Programme grant SAICTPAC/0019/2015 and by a cholar from the Portuguese Society of Coloproctology as Investigation in Coloproctology Research Prize 2016–2018.Background: Patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC) are treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). However, biomarkers for patient selection are lacking, and the association between miRNA expression and treatment response and oncological outcomes is unclear. Objectives: To investigate miRNAs as predictors of response to neoadjuvant CRT and its association with oncological outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed miRNA expression (miR-16, miR-21, miR-135b, miR-145, and miR-335) in pre- and post-chemoradiation rectal adenocarcinoma tissue and non-neoplastic mucosa in 91 patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT (50.4 Gy) and proctectomy. Two groups were defined: a pathological complete responders group (tumor regression grade—TRG 0) and a pathological incomplete responders group (TRG 1, 2, and 3). Results: miR-21 and miR-135b were upregulated in tumor tissue of incomplete responders comparing with non-neoplastic tissue (p = 0.008 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed significant association between miR-21 in pre-CRT tumor tissue and response, with a 3.67 odds ratio (OR) of incomplete response in patients with higher miR-21 levels (p = 0.04). Although with no significance, patients treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) presented reduced odds of incomplete response compared with those treated with capecitabine (OR = 0.19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–1.12, p = 0.05). Moreover, significant differences were seen in overall survival (OS) in relation to clinical TNM stage (p = 0.0004), cT (p = 0.0001), presence of distant disease (p = 0.002), mesorectal tumor deposits (p = 0.003), and tumor regression grade (p = 0.04). Conclusion: miR-21 may predict response to CRT in rectal cancer (RC).publishersversionpublishe

Potential of miR-21 to Predict Incomplete Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Adenocarcinoma

Background: Patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC) are treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). However, biomarkers for patient selection are lacking, and the association between miRNA expression and treatment response and oncological outcomes is unclear. Objectives: To investigate miRNAs as predictors of response to neoadjuvant CRT and its association with oncological outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed miRNA expression (miR-16, miR-21, miR-135b, miR-145, and miR-335) in pre- and post-chemoradiation rectal adenocarcinoma tissue and non-neoplastic mucosa in 91 patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT (50.4 Gy) and proctectomy. Two groups were defined: a pathological complete responders group (tumor regression grade—TRG 0) and a pathological incomplete responders group (TRG 1, 2, and 3). Results: miR-21 and miR-135b were upregulated in tumor tissue of incomplete responders comparing with non-neoplastic tissue (p = 0.008 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed significant association between miR-21 in pre-CRT tumor tissue and response, with a 3.67 odds ratio (OR) of incomplete response in patients with higher miR-21 levels (p = 0.04). Although with no significance, patients treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) presented reduced odds of incomplete response compared with those treated with capecitabine (OR = 0.19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–1.12, p = 0.05). Moreover, significant differences were seen in overall survival (OS) in relation to clinical TNM stage (p = 0.0004), cT (p = 0.0001), presence of distant disease (p = 0.002), mesorectal tumor deposits (p = 0.003), and tumor regression grade (p = 0.04). Conclusion: miR-21 may predict response to CRT in rectal cancer (RC).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Facilitação do processo de ensino aprendizagem: tutoria entre estudantes

Nos modelos de ensino aprendizagem, do tipo de Problem Based Learning (PBL), aplicado na licenciatura em Terapia Ocupacional (TO) da ESS, visa-se uma participação mais activa dos discentes no processo de ensino-aprendizagem e a promoção de uma maior autonomia dos estudantes. Inclusive, o estudante pode ser um professor de outros estudantes. Assim, a tutoria entre estudantes pode ser um processo associado a autorregulação da aprendizagem e ao desen volvimento de competências para saber aprender. A tutoria entre os pares parece estimular uma melhor aprendizagem colaborativa e ativa, possibilitando também a metacognição. Neste relato, mais qualitativo, pretende-se partilhar a mais valia de uma expe riência colaborativa pedagógica de tutoria entre estudantes da licenciatura em TO, onde os estudantes tutores apoiam pedagogicamente, online e de forma regular, outros estudantes mais novos, através de diversas estratégias (por exemplo métodos de estudo ativo baseados na neurociência) e atividades (por exemplo cartões de conteúdos).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

HELICOBACTER PYLORI AND THE ATHEROGENIC PROCESS IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Background: Conventional risk factors do not explain completely the atherogenic process. Chronic Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection may cause arterial inflammation and has been epidemiologically linked to the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Studies about the association of HP infection with peripheral arterial disease are limited. Objective: Evaluate the presence of HP using a monoclonal antibody anti-HP in the atherosclerotic plaques of the superficial femoral artery in patients submitted to amputation above-knee. Material and methods: We searched for the presence of HP in 29 non-consecutive patients with Leriche-Fontaine grade IV lower limb ischemia, submitted to amputation above-knee. Femoral artery was isolated and an atherosclerotic plaque specimen immediately distal to the amputation level, was removed, fixed in formalin and evaluated for HP, using a mono clonal antibody, anti-HP. Results: The mean age of the 29 patients was 82 years. 18 were men (62.1 %). Risk factors for cardiovascular disease were present in the majority of patients. Only one patient had known history of HP infection in the past. Morbidity rate was 30%. The mortality rate was 13.8 % (4 cases). In all cases, anti-HP showed no evidence of HP at the atherosclerotic plaque. Discussion/Conclusion: HP infection has been associated both epidemiologically and pathogenetically with atherosclerosis. However, HP was not found in this study at the atherosclerotic plaques of the superficial femoral artery

Neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio and c-reactive protein are predictors of surgery in acute diverticulitis

Background: Patients with acute diverticulitis (AD) and Hinchey&lt;III may also need surgery. Therefore, as other markers are needed to help deciding which patients should be operated on, we tried to test the value of the C-reactive protein (CRP) and of blood cell count (and their ratios). Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients admitted to our surgical department between 2009 and 2011 with the diagnosis of AD. Only cases with a computed tomography confirmation were included in the study.Results: 174 patients (147 men, 27 women, age range 24-93 years) presented with AD. 161 patients had a modified Hinchey classification &lt;III and 17 patients were submitted to surgery (7 had Hinchey III or IV and 10 had Hinchey&lt;III). The neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER) had the best discriminant value in deciding for a surgical procedure in the ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve. NER discriminated non-surgical and surgical treatment with an area under the ROC curve of 0.86 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.79-0.92). The cut-off&gt;244.25 yielded a sensitivity of 80% (95% CI, 44-98%), a specificity of 86% (95% CI, 79-92%), a positive likelihood ratio of 5.85 (95% CI, 3.40-10.10) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.23 (95% CI, 0.07-0.80). In fact, NER&gt;244.25 successfully predicted 15 out of 17 cases that were operated on in our sample. Conclusions: NER is a good marker in discriminating those that should be operated on regardless of the Hinchey category. However, more studies are needed to confirm these data