Challenging gendered and ageing normative stereotypes on Instagram

UIDB/05021/2020 UIDP/05021/2020This chapter aims to analyse how a collective appropriation of active ageing occurs on the Instagram platform in posts that use hashtags on active ageing in Portuguese (#EnvelhecimentoAtivo) and Spanish (#EnvejecimientoActivo). Due to a lack of research in the field, we were particularly interested in gender representation, but we approached it intersectionally, considering the relation to class, sexuality and ethnicity. By using digital methods, qualitative analysis – textual and visual, in addition to co-tag network analysis, it was possible to identify that the most common categories of posts, regardless of the community studied, reproduce traditional values of sexuality (heteronormative) and unique patterns of class (middle), gender (binary) and skin colour (Caucasian). Nevertheless, there is an advance in the perspective of older people as responsible and capable of taking care of themselves, in a less infantilised or inept view of older men and women.publishersversionpublishe

práticas mediadas de jovens adultos em aplicações móveis

Considerando o grupo específico de jovens adultos(as) em Portugal, o artigo visa perceber se e de que forma as aplicações móveis interferem com as identidades de género e as práticas sexuais. A abordagem metodológica adotada é quantitativa, operacionalizada através de um inquérito por questionário a uma amostra representativa (N=1500) de jovens (18-30 anos). Os resultados indicam que a orientação sexual influencia os comportamentos relacionados com a intimidade e os imaginários das identidades sexuais e de género. Atendendo à forma como as aplicações móveis são incorporadas no quotidiano, constata-se a relevância do género com 66,2% dos(as) participantes a designar o género nas aplicações e 37,9% a afirmar que este é a representação da sua identidade. Os resultados mostram ainda que 19,2% dos(as) inquiridos(as) menciona que não há opção para o género com que se identifica, pelo que é possível inferir que as interfaces digitais podem limitar ou impor imaginários normativos. Considering the specific group of young adults in Portugal, the article aims to understand if and how mobile applications interfere with gender identities and sex-ual practices. The methodological approach adopted is quantitative, operationalised through a questionnaire survey of a representative sample (N=1500) of young peo-ple (18-30 years old). The results indicate that sexual orientation influences behav-iours related to intimacy and imaginaries of sexual and gender identities. Regarding the way in which mobile applications are incorporated into daily life, the relevance of gender is observed with 66.2% of the participants designating gender in the applica-tions and 37.9% affirming that this is the representation of their identity. The results also show that 19.2% of those interviewed mention that there is no option for the gender they identify with, so it is possible to infer that digital interfaces may limit or impose normative imaginariespublishersversionpublishe

IsomiR_Window : a system for analyzing small‑RNA‑seq data in an integrative and user‑friendly manner

Research Areas: Biochemistry & Molecular ; Biology Biotechnology & Applied ; Microbiology ; Mathematical & Computational BiologyBackground: IsomiRs are miRNA variants that vary in length and/or sequence when compared to their canonical forms. These variants display differences in length and/or sequence, including additions or deletions of one or more nucleotides (nts) at the 5′ and/or 3′ end, internal editings or untemplated 3′ end additions. Most available tools for small RNA-seq data analysis do not allow the identification of isomiRs and often require advanced knowledge of bioinformatics. To overcome this, we have developed IsomiR Window, a platform that supports the systematic identification, quantification and functional exploration of isomiR expression in small RNA-seq datasets, accessible to users with no computational skills. Methods: IsomiR Window enables the discovery of isomiRs and identification of all annotated non-coding RNAs in RNA-seq datasets from animals and plants. It comprises two main components: the IsomiR Window pipeline for data processing; and the IsomiR Window Browser interface. It integrates over ten third-party softwares for the analysis of small-RNA-seq data and holds a new algorithm that allows the detection of all possible types of isomiRs. These include 3′ and 5′end isomiRs, 3′ end tailings, isomiRs with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or potential RNA editings, as well as all possible fuzzy combinations. IsomiR Window includes all required databases for analysis and annotation, and is freely distributed as a Linux virtual machine, including all required software. Results: IsomiR Window processes several datasets in an automated manner, without restrictions of input file size. It generates high quality interactive figures and tables which can be exported into different formats. The performance of isomiR detection and quantification was assessed using simulated small-RNA-seq data. For correctly mapped reads, it identified different types of isomiRs with high confidence and 100% accuracy. The analysis of a small RNA-seq data from Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCCs) using isomiR Window confirmed that miR-183-5p is up-regulated in Nodular BCCs, but revealed that this effect was predominantly due to a novel 5′end variant. This variant displays a different seed region motif and 1756 isoform-exclusive mRNA targets that are significantly associated with disease pathways, underscoring the biological relevance of isomiR-focused analysis. IsomiR Window is available at https ://isomi r.fc.ul.pt/.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Communication Design and Space Narratives

The experience with space is achieved through projects developed according to a design perspective. In addition to collaborating on the creation of spatial narratives by promoting the experience, the design also acts in the sense of enhancing accessibility in both the physical and cognitive domain. Wayfinding systems as well as informational technological systems are informative elements that communicate with citizens, fostering experiences of greater accessibility and the creation of social space. This paper discusses the concept of space from its social dimension, questioning on how spatial narratives, places, and paths can create individual or collective experiences within urban space through Communication Design by the use of technology

Massive hypereosinophilia and vasculitis associated with major expansion of interleukin-5-producing CD8+ T cells in HIV-1 infection

© 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & WilkinsThis work was supported by ‘Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia’ (FCT) and by ‘Programa Operacional Ciência e Inovação 2010’ [POCI2010][PIC/IC/82712/2007 to AES], as well as by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian to AES. RBF and RT received scholarships from FCT

Impact of gestational weight gain on obstetric and neonatal outcomes in obese diabetic women

Both obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus are increasing in prevalence, being a major health problem in pregnancy with independent and additive impact on obstetrics outcomes. It is recognized that inadequate gestational weight gain is an independent risk factor for pregnancy-related morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gestational weight gain on obstetric and neonatal outcomes in obese women with gestational diabetes

Direct tissue-sensing reprograms TLR4+ Tfh-like cells inflammatory profile in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients

Funding Information: We thank Cláudia Andrade for technical support and Juliana Gonçalves for testing samples for SARS-CoV-2 exposure. We are extremely grateful to all the participants of the study and to the whole rheumatology department at Hospital Egas Moniz that made this study possible. This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) PTDC/MEC-REU/29520/2017, by iNOVA4Health UID/Multi/04462 and by Portuguese Society for Rheumatology (SPR) grants to H.S. H.S. is supported by FCT through IF/01722/2013 and CEECIND/01049/2020, DAS and RCT were supported by FCT through PD/BD/137409/2018 and UID/Multi/04462, respectively. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).CD4+ T cells mediate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis through both antibody-dependent and independent mechanisms. It remains unclear how synovial microenvironment impinges on CD4+ T cells pathogenic functions. Here, we identified a TLR4+ follicular helper T (Tfh) cell-like population present in the blood and expanded in synovial fluid. TLR4+ T cells possess a two-pronged pathogenic activity whereby direct TLR4+ engagement by endogenous ligands in the arthritic joint reprograms them from an IL-21 response, known to sponsor antibody production towards an IL-17 inflammatory program recognized to fuel tissue damage. Ex vivo, synovial fluid TLR4+ T cells produced IL-17, but not IL-21. Blocking TLR4 signaling with a specific inhibitor impaired IL-17 production in response to synovial fluid recognition. Mechanistically, we unveiled that T-cell HLA-DR regulates their TLR4 expression. TLR4+ T cells appear to uniquely reconcile an ability to promote systemic antibody production with a local synovial driven tissue damage program.publishersversionpublishe