Environmental risk assessment in a contaminated estuary: an integrated weight of evidence approach as a decision support tool

Environmental risk assessment of complex ecosystems such as estuaries is a challenge, where innovative and integrated approaches are needed. The present work aimed at developing an innovative integrative methodology to evaluate in an impacted estuary (the Sado, in Portugal, was taken as case study), the adverse effects onto both ecosystem and human health. For the purpose, new standardized lines of evidence based on multiple quantitative data were integrated into a weight of evidence according to a best expert judgment approach. The best professional judgment for a weight of evidence approach in the present study was based on the following lines of evidence: i) human contamination pathways; ii) human health effects: chronic disease; iii) human health effects: reproductive health; iv) human health effects: health care; v) human exposure through consumption of local agriculture produce; vi) exposure to contaminated of water wells and agriculture soils; vii) contamination of the estuarine sedimentary environment (metal and organic contaminants); viii) effects on benthic organisms with commercial value; and ix) genotoxic potential of sediments. Each line of evidence was then ordinally ranked by levels of ecological or human health risk, according to a tabular decision matrix and expert judgment. Fifteen experts scored two fishing areas of the Sado estuary and a control estuarine area, in a scale of increasing environmental risk and management actions to be taken. The integrated assessment allowed concluding that the estuary should not be regarded as impacted by a specific toxicant, such as metals and organic compounds hitherto measured, but by the cumulative risk of a complex mixture of contaminants. The proven adverse effects on species with commercial value may be used to witness the environmental quality of the estuarine ecosystem. This method argues in favor of expert judgment and qualitative assessment as a decision support tool to the integrative management of estuaries. Namely it allows communicating environmental risk and proposing mitigation measures to local authorities and population under a holistic perspective as an alternative to narrow single line of evidence approaches, which is mandatory to understand cause and effect relationships in complex areas like estuaries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Remote teaching in times of COVID-19: teachers adaptation and pupil level of participation

This article draws on data from a broader research study focusing on Portuguese teachers’ perceptions and experiences of remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 2638 teachers participated in the study. Data were collected through an online survey which included both closed- and open-ended questions. Findings suggest that, overall, teachers experienced a positive adaptation process and were able to teach according to what they had planned. However, difficulties were also found. These relate to reconciling work with family life and extra workload in the context of remote teaching. In addition, findings show that pupils from lower socioeconomic backgrounds presented a lower level of participation in learning tasks. Differences as a function of gender and age were identified. Implications of the findings are discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

In Vitro Wound Healing Improvement By Low-level Laser Therapy Application In Cultured Gingival Fibroblasts.

The aim of this study was to determine adequate energy doses using specific parameters of LLLT to produce biostimulatory effects on human gingival fibroblast culture. Cells (3 × 10(4) cells/cm(2)) were seeded on 24-well acrylic plates using plain DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. After 48-hour incubation with 5% CO(2) at 37°C, cells were irradiated with a InGaAsP diode laser prototype (LASERTable; 780 ± 3 nm; 40 mW) with energy doses of 0.5, 1.5, 3, 5, and 7 J/cm(2). Cells were irradiated every 24 h totalizing 3 applications. Twenty-four hours after the last irradiation, cell metabolism was evaluated by the MTT assay and the two most effective doses (0.5 and 3 J/cm(2)) were selected to evaluate the cell number (trypan blue assay) and the cell migration capacity (wound healing assay; transwell migration assay). Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney nonparametric tests with statistical significance of 5%. Irradiation of the fibroblasts with 0.5 and 3 J/cm(2) resulted in significant increase in cell metabolism compared with the nonrradiated group (P < 0.05). Both energy doses promoted significant increase in the cell number as well as in cell migration (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that, under the tested conditions, LLLT promoted biostimulation of fibroblasts in vitro.201271945

Portuguese higher education students adaptation to online teaching and learning in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: personal and contextual factors

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a global crisis affecting all sectors of society. Higher education is no exception. The closure of higher education institutions has dictated a sudden and unexpected transition from face-to-face to remote teaching to mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2. This paper draws upon a wider piece of research which aimed to understand how higher education students adapted to the closure of their institution and how they looked at their experience of online teaching and learning. In total, 2718 students from different Portuguese higher education institutions participated in the study. Findings showed that both personal and contextual factors explained students’ positive or negative adaptation to online teaching and learning as a result of the closure of higher education institutions. Institutional and pedagogical responses, individual selfregulatory and socio-emotional competencies and adequate resources were factors that led to either a more positive or negative student experience of online teaching and learning in times of COVID-19.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ibero-américa Egípcia

This article examines the appropriation of some cultural symbols ofAncient Egypt existing in the urban context of eight spanish-speaking and portuguese-speaking countries in South America, as well as in the countries of their settlers, ranging from monuments to advertisement and humoristic texts. Those examples are part of a data bank built during the development of a research project, sponsored by CNPq (Brazilian Research Council), whose results and perspectives are still questioned and not yet complete.O trabalho examina as apropriações de traços da cultura do EgitoAntigo, localizadas no mobiliário urbano de oito países de fala espanhola e portuguesa na América do Sul e nas antigas metrópoles, compreendendo achados que vão de monumentos a textos publicitários e de humor. Esses achados compõem um banco de dados estruturado no desenvolvimento de projeto de pesquisa, que contou com o apoio do CNPq, cujos resultados e perspectivas estão sendo questionados e complementados

Cytokeratin 7/19 expression inN-diethylnitrosamine-induced mouse hepatocellular lesions: implications for histogenesis International

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with poor clinical outcome, whose histogenesis is the subject of intense debate. Specifically, expression ofcytokeratins (CKs) 7 and 19, associated with aggressive biological behaviour, is proposed to reflect a possible progenitor cell origin or tumour dedifferentiation towardsa primitive phenotype. This work addresses that problem by studying CKs 7 and 19expression in N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced mouse HCCs. ICR mice weredivided into six DEN-exposed and six matched control groups. Samples were takenfrom each group at consecutive time points. Hyperplastic foci (13 lesions) occurredat 29-40 weeks (groups 8, 10 and 12) with diffuse dysplastic areas (19 lesions) andwith one hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) (at 29 weeks). HCCs (4 lesions) wereobserved 40 weeks after the first DEN administration (group 12). CKs 7 and 19showed identical expression patterns and located to large, mature hepatocytes, isolated or in small clusters. Hyperplastic foci and the single HCA were consistentlynegative for both markers, while dysplastic areas and HCCs were positive. Theseresults support the hypothesis that CKs 7 and 19 expression in hepatocellular malignancies results from a dedifferentiation process rather than from a possible progenitor cell origin

Development of a Questionnaire to Assess Knowledge and Perceptions about Edible Insects

Edible insects (EI) have been consumed as traditional foods in many parts of the globe, but in other regions, they are not readily accepted, particularly in Western countries. However, because EI are suggested to constitute a more sustainable protein food as compared with other sources of animal protein, they can be considered a future food that could help mitigate hunger and malnutrition. Additionally, new gastronomic trends are already targeting this area for exploring new potentialities. The objective of this work was to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess consumers’ perceptions and knowledge about EI in seven different domains: D1. Culture and Tradition, D2. Gastronomic Innovation and Gourmet Kitchen, D3. Environment and Sustainability, D4. Economic and Social Aspects, D5. Commercialization and Marketing, D6. Nutritional Aspects and D7. Health Effects. The 64 items were subjected to item analysis and reliability analysis for validation, and factor analysis was also conducted to identify a grouping structure. The results validated all the items of the seven subscales with high values of Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.732 for D1, α = 0.795 for D2, α = 0.882 for D3, α = 0.742 for D4, α = 0.675 for D5, α = 0.799 for D6 and α = 0.788 for D7). However, by eliminating 17 items, the final values of the alpha increased in all subscales. Factor analysis with extraction by principal component analysis with varimax rotation extracted 14 factors that explained, in total, 65% of the variance, although the first two factors were the most important (35.7% variance explained). In conclusion, the confirmed usefulness of the questionnaire has been hereby validated for assessing consumer perceptions of and knowledge about EI.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An engineered POSS drug delivery system for copper(II) anticancer metallodrugs in selective application toward melanoma cells

In this work, a polyhedral silsesquioxane (POSS) was used as an engineered drug deliverysystem for two oxindolimine-copper(II) anticancer complexes, [Cu(isaepy)]+ and[Cu(isapn)]+. The interest in hybrid POSS comes from the necessity of developing materialsthat can act as adjuvant to improve the cytotoxicity of non-soluble metallodrugs.Functionalization of POSS with a triazole ligand (POSS-atzac) permitted the anchorage ofsuch copper complexes, producing hybrid materials with efficient cytotoxic effects.Structural and morphological characterization of these copper-POSS systems wereperformed by using different techniques (IR, NMR, thermogravimetric analysis). Acombination of continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed EPR (HYSCORE) spectroscopiesconducted at X-band have enabled the complete characterization of the coordinationenvironment of the copper ion in the POSS-atzac matrix. Additionally, the cytotoxic effectsof the loaded materials, [Cu(isapn)]@POSS-atzac and [Cu(isaepy)]@POSS-atzac, wereassessed toward melanomas (SK-MEL), in comparison to non-tumorigenic cells (FibroblastP4). Evaluation of their nuclease activity or ability to cleavage DNA indicatedconcentrations as low as 0.6 μg/mL, while complete DNA fragmentation was observed at25 μg/mL. By using adequate scavengers, investigations on active intermediatesresponsible for their cytotoxicity were performed, both in the absence and in the presenceof ascorbate as a reducing agent. Based on the observed selective cytotoxicity of thesematerials toward melanomas, investigations on the reactivity of complexes andcorresponding POSS-materials with melanin, a molecule that contributes to melanomaresistance to chemotherapy, was carried out. Results indicated a main role of binuclearcopper species, formed at the surface of the silica matrix, in the observed reactivity andselectivity

O “louva-a-deus-de-cobra”, Phibalosoma sp. (Insecta, Phasmida), segundo a percepção dos moradores de Pedra Branca, Santa Terezinha, Bahia, Brasil

This paper discusses the way the dwellers from the town of Pedra Branca, located in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, perceive and relate with the stick insects (Insect, Phasmida). Part of the data was obtained in one day in May 2004 by performing open-ended interviews with 12 children and adolescents, whose ages ranged from 5 to 17 years old. Additional data was obtained from February to May 2001 by performing open-ended interviews with 25 men and 26 women, whose ages ranged from 24 to 82 years old. Results show that people usually gather insects from three different taxa (Phasmida, Mantodea, and Tettigoniidae) under the label “snake-mantis”. Interviewees have provided information related to the ethnotaxonomy, behavior, ontogeny, morphology, habitat, and food ecology of the stick insects. The most commented and widespread knowledge regarding these insects refers to their biotransformation or metamorphic process, where it is believed they originate from plants, and then change themselves into snakes locally known as “cobra-de-cipó”. The metamorphosis of the snake-mantis has significance in the way people understand and relate with it.Este artigo discute como os habitantes do povoado de Pedra Branca, localizado no estado da Bahia, nordeste do Brasil, percebem e se relacionam com os bichos-pau (Insecta, Phasmida). Parte dos dados foi obtida em um dia de trabalho de campo realizado em maio de 2004 através de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com 12 crianças e adolescentes, cujas idades variaram dos 5 aos 17 anos. A estes dados foram acrescentados aqueles obtidos de fevereiro a maio de 2001 por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas realizadas com 25 homens e 26 mulheres, cuja faixa etária variou de 24 a 82 anos. Os resultados mostram que os indivíduos costumam reunir insetos de três táxons diferentes (Phasmida, Mantodea e Tettigoniidae) sob o rótulo “louva-a-deus-de-cobra”. Os entrevistados forneceram informações sobre etnotaxonomia, comportamento, ontogenia, morfologia, habitat e ecologia trófica do bicho-pau. O conhecimento local mais marcante relacionado com esses insetos se refere a sua biotransformação ou processo metamórfico, onde se acredita que eles se originam de plantas e depois “se transformam” em cobras conhecidas localmente como “cobra-de-cipó”. Conclui-se que a metamorfose do bicho-pau resulta importante no modo como os indivíduos compreendem e se relacionam com esse inseto