Sustainable production of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the Mediterranean region to support the European Green Deal

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) cultivation is an important economic activity in the Mediterranean region. Sporocarps from ECMF species such as Terfezia claveryi, Tuber melanosporum, Tuber aestivum and Lactarius delicious have been successfully culti- vated. Due to biotechnological advances, a considerable evolution in ECMF cultiva- tion techniques was observed in the last decade. New technologies and intensified Research and Development allow for a better understanding of the physiology of the plant-fungi symbioses and how climate change affects them. Studying forest manage- ment practices is also essential to optimise the natural production of ectomycorrhizal sporocarps and help develop sustainable production practices. This knowledge rev- ealed the importance of ECMF and their role in the rural bioeconomy and highlighted the need to establish sustainable cultivation practices. A successful example of ECMF cultivation is the production of Terfezia species, namely, Terfezia claveryi and Terfezia boudieri. Terfezia truffles are traditional delicacies with high socioeconomic relevance and numerous biotechnological applications. Furthermore, these Mediterranean native species are an important tool to develop the bioeconomy in rural areas by cre- ating new production strategies. Furthermore, exploiting these and other native Mediterranean species can promote sustainable practices in line with new European Green Deal strategies, such as the Farm to Fork strategy, the EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Climate Law. This work reviews ECMF cultivation practices and for- est management studies, presenting the case of Terfezia cultivation and how the sustainable production of wild and planted ECMF may contribute to achieving the European Green Deal objectives and to a more resilient Europe.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of Ballroom dancing in older adults: systematic review

The combination of scientific progress and improvement of public health status, housing and working conditions has led to a decrease in birth and death rates and an increase of the average life expectancy. As a result the world’s population is aging (NIS – “Projections of resident population from 2012 to 2060.”). This scenario urged the need to promote a healthy and active aging among the population through physical activity programs, for example cardiorespiratory, neuromotor, flexibility and endurance exercises. (Garber, et al. 2011). Ballroom dancing is an activity that combines cardiorespiratory, endurance, balance, coordination and flexibility training activities. Systematic revision is a very accurate way of summarising data and determining the methodologic quality of various research articles. Here we present the first systematic review of studies that investigated the effects of ballroom dancing on aging population. To assess the effectiveness of ballroom dancing in promoting healthy aging in the elderly. We searched 6 databases (Scielo, PEDro, Lilacs, PubMed, SportDiscus and Medline) for published research on the topic of ballroom dancing in the elderly using a selection of keywords: Dance, Ballroom, Elderly, Older adults, Age, Dança, Danças de Salão, Idoso e Sénior. The studies were selected according to the inclusion criterions and the quality and the strength of the evidence reported were assessed. Specifically, the methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and the strength of the evidence using an evidence synthesis grading system (Van Tulder, et al. 1997). Four articles were evaluated according to the PEDro scale, which obtained a mean score of 4.75, i.e. a low methodological quality. The papers showed improvements in terms of balance (3 of 4 articles analysed), strength, overall fitness, cognitive function, autonomy or gait speed. This systematic review showed, although with limited evidence, that ballroom dancing promotes the improvement of several variables such as balance, overall physical condition and gait. It is clear that the effects of Ballroom Dancing as a promoter of healthy aging, although a very promising area of research given the current status of the developed world’s population, is still in its infancy

Movement patterns during the process of standing up in children with spastic diplegia

A análise dos padrões de movimento de crianças com diplegia espástica (DE) durante o movimento de levantar pode contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do controle postural. O objetivo do estudo foi descrever os padrões de movimento durante esta tarefa em crianças com DE e com desenvolvimento típico e analisar as diferenças de acordo com a idade. Participaram 40 crianças (38-154 meses), 20 crianças com DE e 20 crianças com desenvolvimento típico. Os participantes foram instruídos para se deitarem em posição de decúbito dorsal e levantarem-se rapidamente (10 tentativas). As sessões foram gravadas e analisadas posteriormente. As crianças com DE apresentaram padrões de movimentos mais assimétricos e menos eficientes nos Membros Superiores (MS), Região Axial (RA) e Membros Inferiores (MI). As crianças mais velhas com DE não apresentaram padrões de movimento mais maduros e eficientes, e as mais velhas com desenvolvimento típico apresentaram padrões movimentos mais eficientes e maduros nos MS e RA

A gerontopsychomotor rehabilitation program can revert losses of motor and cognitive functioning on nursing home residentes.

NTRODUCTION European Union older adults number and old-age-dependency has increased (Eurostat, 2015). A frequent answer for their care needs is nursing home admission, although this solution tends to exacerbate older adults losses of cognitive and motor functioning (Frandin et al., 2016). OBJECTIVE To analyze the effect of a psychomotor intervention, accomplished by a multimodal exercise program alternating exercises mainly motor with exercises mainly cognitive, on executive and physical function of nursing homes residents. METHODS This study included 34 nursing home residents (82.4±6.3 yrs): 17 were allocated to the experimental group (EG: engaged on a 10- weeks multimodal exercise program), and 17 to a control group (maintained usual activities). Planning ability and selective attention were assessed by the Tower of London task and the attention Test d2, respectively. Physical function was assessed by the Senior Fitness Test and the Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment. RESULTS Comparison between groups evidenced that the EG improved planning ability variables from5% to 32%, attention variables from 19% to 67%, and physical function variables (aerobic endurance, lower body strength, agility, balance, gait, and mobility) from 11% to 41% (p<0.05), corresponding to an effect size ranging from 0.29 to 1.11. CONCLUSIONS The program induced improvements in the participants ́ executive functions (planning ability and attention) and physical functions, with a treatment effect from small to high. This shows that the psychomotor intervention was able to revert the usual loss of cognitive and motor functioning in old and very old institutionalized persons

Effects of a 10-week multimodal exercise program on physical and cognitive function of nursing home residents: a psychomotor intervention pilot study

Background Nursing home institutionalization tends to exacerbate loss of functioning. Aims Examine the feasibility and the effect of a psycho- motor intervention—a multimodal exercise program pro- moting simultaneous cognitive and motor stimulation—on the executive (planning ability and selective attention) and physical function of nursing home residents. Methods Seventeen participants engaged in a 10-week multimodal exercise program and 17 maintained usual activities. Results Exercise group improved planning ability (25– 32%), selective attention (19–67%), and physical function [aerobic endurance, lower body strength, agility, balance, gait, and mobility (19–41%)], corresponding to an effect size ranging from 0.29 (small) to 1.11 (high), p < 0.05. Discussion The multimodal exercise program was fea- sible and well tolerated. The program improved execu- tive and physical functions of the nursing home residents, reverting the usual loss of both cognitive and motor func- tioning in older adult institutionalized. Conclusions Multimodal exercise programs may help to maintain or improve nursing home residents’ functioning.FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (UID/DTP/04045/2013) - and the European Fund for regional development through Horizon 2020 - Portugal 2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Alentejo (ALT20-03-0145-FEDER-000007 - project: ESACA - Ageing Safely in Alentejo. Understanding for Action)

Teorias do desenvolvimento regional e suas implicações de política econômica no pós-guerra: o caso do Brasil

Discussions about the regional question gained new impetus in the post-war and its ideas influenced the regional economic planning in many countries, especially in Latin America. This paper describes the main characteristics of four theories developed in this period: The Theory of Growth Pole, the Theory of Circular Cumulative Causation, the Theory of Unbalanced Growth and the Export Base Theory. After that we analyze how these theories influenced the regional planning in Brazil between 1950 and 1980. The analysis of the main national plans of development shows that the policy makers tried to follow these theoretical recommendations. However, the results of these policies were limited by several misinterpretations, like the exaggerate emphasis on the import replacing without diversification of the exportations, and the national development of long-term has been compromised. After this period of state intervention, there were many changes in the economic environment, including in the mainstream about the regional development.Regional Development Theories, Economic Planning, Regional Development Policies

A critical review

Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Teixeira, Ferreira, Pereira-da-Silva and Ferreira.Atherosclerotic disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Atherosclerosis may be present in different arterial territories and as a single- or multi-territorial disease. The different phenotypes of atherosclerosis are attributable only in part to acquired cardiovascular risk factors and genetic Mendelian inheritance. miRNAs, which regulate the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, may also contribute to such heterogeneity. Numerous miRNAs participate in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis by modulating endothelial function, smooth vascular cell function, vascular inflammation, and cholesterol homeostasis in the vessel, among other biological processes. Moreover, miRNAs are present in peripheral blood with high stability and have the potential to be used as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis. However, the circulating miRNA profile may vary according to the involved arterial territory, considering that atherosclerosis expression, including the associated molecular phenotype, varies according to the affected arterial territory. In this review, we discuss the specific circulating miRNA profiles associated with atherosclerosis of different arterial territories, the common circulating miRNA profile of stable atherosclerosis irrespective of the involved arterial territory, and the circulating miRNA signature of multi-territorial atherosclerosis. miRNAs may consist of a simple non-invasive method for discriminating atherosclerosis of different arterial sites. The limitations of miRNA profiling for such clinical application are also discussed.publishersversionpublishe

How to break access control in a controlled manner

The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) integrates heterogeneous information within a Healthcare Institution stressing the need for security and access control. The Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Department from Porto Faculty of Medicine has recently implemented a Virtual EMR (VEMR) in order to integrate patient information and clinical reports within a university hospital. With more than 500 medical doctors using the system on a daily basis, an access control policy and model were implemented. However, the healthcare environment has unanticipated situations (i.e. emergency situations) where access to information is essential. Most traditional policies do not allow for overriding. A policy that allows for Break-The-Glass (BTG) was implemented in order to override access control whilst providing for non-repudiation mechanisms for its usage. The policy was easily integrated within the model confirming its modularity and the fact that user intervention in defining security procedures is crucial to its successful implementation and use