a Lisbon Parish council case study

UIDB/05021/2020 UIDP/05021/2020Introduction: Almost 50% of the European Union’s final energy consumption is used for heating and cooling, 80% of which in buildings. The European Commission recently issued the “Efficiency Energy First Principle,” a formal recommendation to EU countries prioritizing energy efficiency measures over other energy-related investments. Decarbonizing the aging housing stock represents a significant challenge to Southern Europe and the remaining Member States. This exploratory research aims to understand why Portuguese people fail to increase their energy efficiency; it then proposes potential interventions. Several studies have looked into the effect of technology-based and behavior-based strategies (individual, socioeconomic and demographic, as well as contextual factors) regarding residential energy consumption. Few, however, have brought all these factors together in one project as in this case. Methods: We used the integrative COM-B model to investigate three core influences of behavior, namely, capability, opportunity, and motivation in a qualitative analysis of a sample of citizens of one specific Lisbon, Portugal community. The Behavior Change Wheel model was then used to propose interventions that might promote energy-responsible behavior. Results: Our finding suggests that investments in structural strategies, and, above all, in behavioral strategies are needed to achieve efficient residential electricity consumption. Specifically, we found a lack of capability (i.e., people’s physical skills and strength, knowledge, and regulation skills) represented the greatest barrier to energy consumption efficiency. A lack of motivation (involving habits and self-conscious intentions or beliefs) was the least decisive factor in the adoption of efficient energy consumption behaviors. Discussion: We therefore recommend the following interventions: 1) training and enablement addressing residents’ physical capability (primarily the replacement of high consumption equipment); 2) training, restriction, environmental restructuring, and enablement would increase residents’ physical opportunity (arising from poor home insulation and citizens’ lack of financial resources to invest in energy solutions); and 3) education, training, and enablement to change psychological capability (regarding insufficient or confusing energy use information).publishersversionpublishe

New product development and entry process in a small firm: a case study

A pequena empresa apresenta singularidades, como limitação de recursos e informalidade na gestão, que contribuem para que altas taxas de insucesso no lançamento de novos produtos sejam observadas. Neste artigo, pretende-se, por meio de um estudo de caso, revelar como se dá o processo de desenvolvimento e de lançamento de um novo produto em uma pequena empresa, a partir do processo desenvolvido por Mattar e Santos (2003). Os resultados indicam que, de fato, algumas etapas do processo, que cabem muito bem à realidade da grande empresa, se submetem às particularidades do pequeno negócio e impelem a uma adaptação do processo. Entre os achados destaca-se, também, o fato de o processo, na pequena empresa, partir das necessidades dos clientes, da inexistência de formalização, da tendência de enfatizar a operação e a produção, até em detrimento do marketing, além de a falta de recursos ser o principal limitador do desenvolvimento de novos produtos. Essas características provavelmente estão ligadas às altas taxas de insucesso e, até, ao alto índice de mortalidade das pequenas empresas.La pequeña empresa presenta singularidades, tales como la limitación de recursos y la informalidad en la gestión, que contribuyen para las altas tasas de fracaso en el lanzamiento de nuevos productos. En este artículo se pretende, por medio de un estudio de caso, aclarar cómo se da el proceso de desarrollo y de lanzamiento de un nuevo producto en una pequeña empresa, con base en el proceso desarrollado por Mattar y Santos (2003). Los resultados muestran que, efectivamente, algunas etapas del proceso, que corresponden ampliamente a la realidad de la grande empresa, se someten a las particularidades del pequeño negocio y conducen a una adaptación del proceso. Entre los hallazgos, también resalta el hecho de que el proceso, en la pequeña empresa, parte de las necesidades del cliente; de la ausencia de formalidad; de la tendencia a enfatizar la operación y la producción, incluso en detrimento del marketing. Además, se observa que la limitación de recursos es el principal inhibidor del desarrollo de nuevos productos. Dichas características probablemente están relacionadas a las altas tasas de fracaso y, aún, al alto índice de mortalidad de las pequeñas empresas.The small firm shows particulars, as a resources limitation and informality, that contribute to the high failure rate in the new product entry. This article pretend, throughout a case study, reveal how is the new product development and entry process in a small firm, from the process developed by Mattar and Santos (2003). The results show that, in fact, some steps of the process, adjust to the reality of the big firms, subject to the particularities of the small business and conduct to process adaptation. Between the results, to be outstanding the fact of the process, on the small firm, departs from the customer necessities, be informal, tends to emphasize the operation and production, and suffered the resources limitation. These facts probably are link to the high failure rates and, even, to the high death rate of the small firms

Polimorfismos nos genes MyoD1, MyoG, MyF5, MyF6 e MSTN em ovinos Santa Inês

The objective of this work was to sequence the MyoD1, MyoG, MyF5, MyF6, and MSTN genes and to identify polymorphisms in Santa Inês sheep (Ovis aries). A total of 192 lambs with 240 days of age were evaluated, and these genes were sequenced to be compared with the reference sequence in the Ovis aries genome. Genotype and allele frequencies were estimated, and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested. Fragments containing 2,493 bp (MyoD1), 1,836 bp (MyoG), 2,813 bp (MyF5), 1,126 bp (MyF6), and 2,380 bp (MSTN) were obtained, and, in these sequences, 160 variants were identified. These polymorphisms were distributed as follows: 59 (MyoD1), 24 (MyoG), 63 (MyF5), 4 (MyF6), and 10 (MSTN). One hundred and four were novel polymorphisms, 45 in MyoD1, 2 in MyoG, 56 in MyF5, and 1 in MSTN. Regarding site, 61 were in intron (27 in MyoD1, 16 in MyoG, 5 in MyF5, 3 in MyF6, and 10 in MSTN), 87 in coding region (22 in MyoD1, 8 in MyoG, 56 in MyF5, and 1 in MyF6), and 12 on 3’UTR (10 in MyoD1 and 2 in MyF5). Therefore, the MyoD family and MSTN genes have several polymorphisms in Santa Inês sheep, which can be useful for association studies.O objetivo deste trabalho foi sequenciar os genes MyoD1, MyoG, MyF5, MyF6 e MSTN e identificar polimorfismos em ovinos Santa Inês (Ovis aries). No total, 192 cordeiros com 240 dias de idade foram avaliados, e estes genes foram sequenciados para comparação com a sequência-referência no genoma de Ovis aries. As frequências genotípicas e alélicas foram estimadas, e o equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg, testado. Foram obtidos fragmentos contendo 2.493 pb (MyoDl), 1.836 pb (MyoG), 2.813 pb (MyF5), 1.126 pb (MyF6) e 2.380 pb (MSTN), e, nessas sequências, foram identificadas 160 variantes. Esses polimorfismos foram distribuídos da seguinte forma: 59 (MyoD1), 24 (MyoG), 63 (MyF5), 4 (MyF6) e 10 (MSTN). Foram encontrados 104 novos polimorfismos, sendo 45 no MyoD1, 2 no MyoG, 56 no MyF5 e 1 no MSTN. Com relação ao local, 61 variantes estavam em íntron (27 no MyoD1, 16 no MyoG, 5 no MyF5, 3 no MyF6 e 10 no MSTN), 87 em região codificante (22 no MyoD1, 8 no MyoG, 56 no MyF5 e 1 no MyF6) e 12 na região 3’UTR (10 no MyoD1 e 2 no MyF5). Portanto, os genes da família MyoD e o MSTN possuem vários polimorfismos em ovinos da raça Santa Inês, os quais podem ser úteis em estudos de associação

An overview of migratory birds in Brazil

We reviewed the occurrences and distributional patterns of migratory species of birds in Brazil. A species was classified as migratory when at least part of its population performs cyclical, seasonal movements with high fidelity to its breeding grounds. Of the 1,919 species of birds recorded in Brazil, 198 (10.3%) are migratory. Of these, 127 (64%) were classified as Migratory and 71 (36%) as Partially Migratory. A few species (83; 4.3%) were classified as Vagrant and eight (0,4%) species could not be defined due to limited information available, or due to conflicting data.Fil: Somenzari, Marina. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Amaral, Priscilla Prudente do. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Cueto, Víctor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagóica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; ArgentinaFil: Guaraldo, André de Camargo. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Jahn, Alex. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Lima, Diego Mendes. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Lima, Pedro Cerqueira. Fundação BioBrasil; BrasilFil: Lugarini, Camile. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Machado, Caio Graco. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; BrasilFil: Martinez, Jaime. Universidade de Passo Fundo; BrasilFil: do Nascimento, João Luiz Xavier. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Pacheco, José Fernando. Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos; BrasilFil: Paludo, Danielle. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Prestes, Nêmora Pauletti. Universidade de Passo Fundo; BrasilFil: Serafini, Patrícia Pereira. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Silveira, Luís Fábio. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: de Sousa, Antônio Emanuel Barreto Alves. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: de Sousa, Nathália Alves. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: de Souza, Manuella Andrade. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Telino-Júnior, Wallace Rodrigues. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Whitney, Bret Myers. State University of Louisiana; Estados Unido

Influenza virus type/subtype and different infection profiles by age group during 2017/2018 season

DDI-INSA em colaboração com a Rede Portuguesa de Laboratórios para o Diagnóstico da GripeBackground: Influenza has a major impact in hospitalization during each influenza season. We analysed the influenza type/subtype distribution by age group and medical care wards (ambulatory, hospital, intensive care unit). Material and Methods: During 2017/2018 season, 14 hospitals from Portugal mainland and Atlantic Island (Azores and Madeira) reported to the National Influenza Centre 13747 cases of respiratory infection, all tested for influenza type and/or subtype. Epidemiological data: age, sample collection, hospital dwelling service and patient outcome were reported. Results: From the 13747 reported cases, 3717(27%) were influenza positive of which 2033 (55%) were influenza B, 722 (19%) A unsubtyped, 505 (14%) AH3, 442 (12%) AH1pdm09 and 15(0,1%) mixed infections. Influenza A was detected in 71% (204/208) of toddlers(<5 years) although in the remaining age groups influenza B was detected in more than 50% of the confirmed flu cases. Influenza B was the predominant virus in hospitalized and ICU influenza cases between 5-14 years (69% and 75%, respectively) and played a major role in elderly (65+ years) hospitalized and ICU cases(57% and 67%, respectively). AH1pdm09 virus was detected in 30% of the influenza confirmed ICU patients, 2.1 times more than in hospitalized cases in other wards and 3.3 times more than influenza AH1pdm09 cases in ambulatory care. Influenza mixed infection were detected sporadically,mainly in hospitalized and ICU patients. From 2080 known outcomes, 40(1.9%) patients deceased, influenza was confirmed in 11(28%) of these cases. Conclusions: Cocirculation of different influenza virus type/subtype may indicate different infection profiles by age groups and should guide influenza preventive/treatment measures.N/

Oca, origens, cultura e ambiente

Apresentamos um conjunto de ações, iniciadas em 2014 e hoje em andamento, no município de Gurupá, Pará. É um trabalho realizado pelo Projeto OCA – Origens, Cultura e Ambiente, do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Este texto discute formas de engajamento entre arqueólogos e a comunidade em torno de reflexões sobre a história, memória e do patrimônio cultural. Argumenta pela construção coletiva do conhecimento arqueológico

Influenza severe cases in hospitals, between 2014 and 2016 in Portugal

Rede Portuguesa de Laboratórios para o Diagnóstico da GripeBackground: Since 2009, the Portuguese Laboratory Network (PLNID) for Influenza Diagnosis has integrated 15 Laboratories in mainland and Atlantic Islands of Azores and Madeira. This PLNID added an important contribute to the National Influenza Surveillance Program regarding severe and hospitalized influenza cases. The present study aims to describe influenza viruses detected in influenza like illness (ILI) cases: outpatients (Outp), hospitalized (Hosp), and intensive care units (ICU), between 2014 and 2016. Methods: The PLNID performs influenza virus diagnosis by biomolecular methodologies. Weekly reports to the National Influenza Reference Laboratory ILI cases tested for influenza. Reports include data on detecting viruses, hospital assistance, antiviral therapeutics, and information on death outcome. Were reported during two winter seasons 8059 ILI cases,being 3560 cases in 2014/15 (1024 in Outp, 1750 Hosp, and 606 in ICU) and 4499 cases in 2015/2016 (1933 in Outp, 1826 Hosp, and 740 in ICU). Results: The higher percentage of influenza positive cases were detected in Outp in both seasons, 18% during 2014/15 and 20% in 2015/16. In 2014/15,influenza cases were more frequent in individuals older than 65 years old and these required more hospitalizations,even in ICU. In 2015/16,the influenza cases were mainly detected in individuals between 15-64 years old. A higher proportion of influenza positive cases with hospitalization in ICU were observed in adults between 45-64 years old.During the study period,the predominant circulating influenza viruses were different in the two seasons: influenza B and A(H3) co-circulated in 2014/15,and influenza A(H1)pdm09 was predominant during 2015/16. Even when influenza A is notthe dominant virus, A(H3) and A(H1)pdm09 subtypes correlate with higher detection rate in hospitalized cases (Hosp and UCI), with higher frequencies in adults older than 45. Influenza B,detected in higher proportion in outpatients, was frequently relatedwith influenza cases in younger age groups: 0-4 and 5-14 years old. Conclusions: This study highlights the correlation of theinfluenza virus type/subtype that circulates in each season with the possible need for hospitalization and intensive care in special groups of the population. Circulation of influenza A subtypes can cause more frequentdisease in individuals older than 45, with need of hospitalization including intensive care. On the other hand, influenza B is more frequently associated with less severe cases and with infection in children and younger adults. Influenza B circulation might predict lower number of hospitalizations.The identification of influenza type in circulation,byPLNID ineach season, could guide action planning measures in population health care.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Background Recent open-label trials show that psychedelics, such as ayahuasca, hold promise as fast-onset antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression. Methods To test the antidepressant effects of ayahuasca, we conducted a parallel-arm, double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial in 29 patients with treatment-resistant depression. Patients received a single dose of either ayahuasca or placebo. We assessed changes in depression severity with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating scale at baseline, and at 1 (D1), 2 (D2), and 7 (D7) days after dosing. Results We observed significant antidepressant effects of ayahuasca when compared with placebo at all-time points. MADRS scores were significantly lower in the ayahuasca group compared with placebo at D1 and D2 (p = 0.04), and at D7 (p < 0.0001). Between-group effect sizes increased from D1 to D7 (D1: Cohen's d = 0.84; D2: Cohen's d = 0.84; D7: Cohen's d = 1.49). Response rates were high for both groups at D1 and D2, and significantly higher in the ayahuasca group at D7 (64% v. 27%; p = 0.04). Remission rate showed a trend toward significance at D7 (36% v. 7%, p = 0.054). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first controlled trial to test a psychedelic substance in treatment-resistant depression. Overall, this study brings new evidence supporting the safety and therapeutic value of ayahuasca, dosed within an appropriate setting, to help treat depression. This study is registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02914769)