A importância dos sentidos para o design de comunicação: a experiênciação sensorial para uma melhor perceção das mensagens nos suportes de comunicação de carácter informativo

O designer deve estar atento e preparado para reconhecer as condições de formação de tendências e respetivos problemas. Neste pressuposto, este trabalho debate-se os problemas da demasiada oferta visual, como pensar tendo em conta as várias propriedades sensoriais num contexto de comunicação, em específico, nos folhetos pode ajudar a criar uma comunicação mais efectiva. Relacionando noções de diferentes áreas científicas com bibliografia específica do tema em estudo, este trabalho aborda a importância dos sentidos para o design de comunicação fazendo uma incidência sobre a experienciação sensorial para uma melhor perceção das mensagens nos suportes de comunicação de carácter informativo, os flyers, extendendo a atenção a mais sentidos para além da visão como o toque, paladar, audição e olfacto. ### ABSTRACT: Every designer should be aware and be prepared to recognize the formation of trends and their problems. In this paper we go through problems of overloaded visual offers, and how thinking through senses in communication in specific flyers can be helpful to create a more effective means of communication. Thinking through the sensorial properties of the support of communication in a way to transmit a more effective message. Relating concepts of different areas and with specific bibliography of this theme, this paper develops the importance of the senses for Communication Design. Making its focus on the sensory experience for a better perception of messages in informative supports such as flyers, extending attention to other senses beyond vision such as touch, taste, hearing and smell

Equity considerations in outcome measures of the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis care continuum in high-income countries: a systematic review protocol

Introduction: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective intervention to reduce acquisition of HIV. PrEP provision has increased in recent years, however, it is not known whether PrEP implementation has been equitably implemented across all risk groups, particularly groups experiencing high levels of health inequity. A PrEP care continuum (PCC) has been proposed to evaluate the success of PrEP implementation programmes, but the extent to which health equity characteristics are currently taken into account in the PCC has not been described. The objectives of this proposed systematic review are to (i) identify and collate outcome measure definitions for the main stages of the PCC (awareness, acceptability, uptake, adherence and retention), (ii) describe how equity characteristics are considered in outcome definitions of the PCC and (iii) describe data sources for capturing equity characteristics. Methods and analysis: Quantitative studies published between 1 January 2012 and 3 March 2020 will be included. Five databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts) will be searched to identify English language publications that include an outcome measure definition of at least one of the five main stages of the PCC. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Data on outcome measure definitions and equity characteristics will be extracted. Results will be presented in a narrative synthesis and all findings will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required. The results will be disseminated via submission for publication to a peer-reviewed journal when complete. The review findings will have relevance to healthcare professionals, policymakers and commissioners in informing how to best evaluate PrEP implementation programmes and inform new implementation strategies for vulnerable and less advantaged populations

How do we measure unmet need within sexual and reproductive health? A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Addressing health inequality with sexual and reproductive health requires an understanding of unmet need within a range of populations. This review examined the methods and definitions that have been used to measure unmet need, and the populations most frequently assessed. METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Health Management and Policy Database (HMIC)) were searched for studies that described quantitative measurement of unmet need within sexual and/or reproductive health between 2010 and 2021. A narrative synthesis was then undertaken to ascertain themes within the literature. RESULTS: The database search yielded 19,747 papers; 216 papers were included after screening. 190 studies assessed unmet reproductive health need, of which 137 were analyses of trends among people living in low/lower-middle income countries; 181 used cross-sectional data, with only nine analyses being longitudinal. Eighteen studies analysed unmet sexual health need, of which 12 focused on high and upper-middle income populations. 16 papers used cross-sectional analyses. The remaining 10 studies examined unmet need for a combination of sexual and reproductive health services, eight among populations from upper-middle or high income countries. All were cross-sectional analyses. 165 studies used the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) definition of unmet need; no other standardised definition was used among the remaining papers. DISCUSSION: There is a significant focus on unmet need for contraception among women in low income countries within the published literature, leaving considerable evidence gaps in relation to unmet need within sexual health generally and among men in particular, and unmet reproductive health need in high income settings. In addition, using an increased range of data collection methods, analyses and definitions of unmet need would enable better understanding of health inequality in this area

Diagnóstico de avarias em sistemas de conversão de energia eólica

Atualmente, a procura por energia eólica tem vindo a crescer a uma taxa tão exponencial que a produção deste tipo de energia vê-se confrontada com a necessidade de garantir elevados padrões de fiabilidade e de qualidade do serviço prestado, bem como de reduzir os correspondentes custos de manutenção. Esta dissertação surge neste âmbito e pretende como objetivos finais e através do uso do Matlab: estabelecer seis modelos para diferentes componentes da turbina eólica, definir parâmetros para estes, hierarquizar eventuais falha e testar os modelos nesses mesmos cenários de falhas

Microplastics and copper induce apoptosis, alter neurocircuits, and cause behavioral changes in zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain

The knowledge regarding the neurological and behavioral toxic effects associated with microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals exposure is still scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential chronic (30 days) toxic effects of MPs (2 mg/L) and copper (Cu, 25 μg/L), alone or combined, in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain antioxidant system, cell proliferation/death, cholinergic-, serotonergic- and dopaminergic pathways and, consequently, in locomotor, anxiety, and social behaviors. Our findings showed that MPs and Cu exposure modulated the antioxidant system of zebrafish brain, with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) having higher activity in the Cu25 +MPs group, but glutathione peroxidase (GPx) being inhibited in MPs, Cu25 and Cu25 +MPs. Moreover, an increase in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was observed in all exposed groups. When considering neurogenesis genes, a downregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna) was noticed in zebrafish exposed to the mixture treatment, while for dopaminergic system-related genes (th and slc6a3) an upregulation was observed in MPs, Cu25 and Cu25 +MPs groups. An increase in apoptosis-related genes expression (casp8, casp9 and casp3) was observed in the MPs exposed group. Changes in zebrafish behavior, particularly in mean speed, total distance moved, inactivity in the aquaria, and social/shoaling behavior was also observed in the MPs and Cu exposed groups. Overall, our results highlight the multiplicity of toxic effects of MPs, alone or combined with Cu, in zebrafish brain, namely apoptosis and alterations in adult neurogenesis, neurocircuits and, consequently, behavior.Versión del editor2,29

Approaches for combining primary care electronic health record data from multiple sources: a systematic review of observational studies

OBJECTIVE: To identify observational studies which used data from more than one primary care electronic health record (EHR) database, and summarise key characteristics including: objective and rationale for using multiple data sources; methods used to manage, analyse and (where applicable) combine data; and approaches used to assess and report heterogeneity between data sources. DESIGN: A systematic review of published studies. DATA SOURCES: Pubmed and Embase databases were searched using list of named primary care EHR databases; supplementary hand searches of reference list of studies were retained after initial screening. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies published between January 2000 and May 2018 were selected, which included at least two different primary care EHR databases. RESULTS: 6054 studies were identified from database and hand searches, and 109 were included in the final review, the majority published between 2014 and 2018. Included studies used 38 different primary care EHR data sources. Forty-seven studies (44%) were descriptive or methodological. Of 62 analytical studies, 22 (36%) presented separate results from each database, with no attempt to combine them; 29 (48%) combined individual patient data in a one-stage meta-analysis and 21 (34%) combined estimates from each database using two-stage meta-analysis. Discussion and exploration of heterogeneity was inconsistent across studies. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing patterns and trends in different populations, or in different primary care EHR databases from the same populations, is important and a common objective for multi-database studies. When combining results from several databases using meta-analysis, provision of separate results from each database is helpful for interpretation. We found that these were often missing, particularly for studies using one-stage approaches, which also often lacked details of any statistical adjustment for heterogeneity and/or clustering. For two-stage meta-analysis, a clear rationale should be provided for choice of fixed effect and/or random effects or other models

Avaliação da precisão e fidelidade do método de impressão digital vs. convencional : e a influência da direção de digitalização, tipo de scanner e experiência adquirida do operador

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a influência do tipo de técnica de impressão, tipo de scanner intraoral, direção de digitalização e experiência adquirida do operador na exatidão do modelo final. Material e Métodos: Um modelo mestre parcial foi usado como referência. Foram obtidas 128 digitalizações, divididas em dois grupos: o método convencional (n = 32) e o método digital (n = 96). O grupo digital foi dividido em três grupos: Trios 3 (n = 32), Omnicam (n = 32) e CS 3600 (n = 32). Cada um desses grupos foi subdividido de acordo com a direção da digitalização (n = 16), e cada uma foi sobreposta ao modelo de referência digital para medir a fidelidade e precisão dos procedimentos. Resultados: Os valores de precisão para o tipo de impressão obtidas foram de 59,89 ± 13,08μm para a técnica convencional e 13,42 ± 4,28 μm para digital (p 0,05); os valores de fidelidade da direção de digitalização foram 53,05 ± 4,36 μm para a técnica contínua e 54,03 ± 5,52 μm para a segmentada (p >0,05); e os valores de precisão foram 14,18 ± 4,67 μm para contínua e 12,67 ± 3,75 μm para segmentada (p> 0,05). Para o tipo de scanner, os valores de fidelidade foram de 50,06 ± 2,65 μm para o Trios 3, 57,45 ± 4,63 μm para a Omnicam e 52,57 ± 4,65 μm para o CS 3600 (p> 0,05); e os de precisão foram 11,7 ± 2,07 μm para o Trios 3, 10,09 ± 2,24 μm para a Omnicam e 18,49 ± 2,42 μm para o CS 3600 (p <0,05). Conclusões: O método de impressão digital é o método mais favorável em relação à precisão; em termos de fidelidade, não há diferenças entre os dois tipos de impressões.Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of the type of impression technique, type of intraoral scanner, scanning direction and operator experience on the accuracy of the final cast. Material and Methods: A partial master cast was used as a reference. A total of 128 scans were obtained to be separed into two groups: the conventional method (n=32) and the digital method (n=96). The digital group was divided into three groups: TRIOS 3 (n=32), Omnicam (n=32) and CS 3600 (n=32). These these groups were subdivided according to the scanning direction (n=16), and each scan was superimposed to the digital reference cast to measure the trueness and precision of the procedures. Results: The overall precision values for the type of impression were 59.89 ± 13.08 μm for conventional and 13.42 ± 4.28 μm for digital (p 0,05); the scanning direction trueness values were 53.05 ± 4.36 μm for continuous and 54.03 ± 5.52 μm for segmented (p >0,05); and the precision values were 14.18 ± 4.67 μm for continuous and 12.67 ± 3.75 μm for segmented (p> 0.05). For the scanner type, the trueness values were 50.06 ± 2.65 μm for Trios 3, 57.45 ± 4.63 μm for Omnicam, and 52.57 ± 4.65 μm for CS 3600 (p >0,05); and those for precision were 11.7 ± 2.07 μm for Trios 3, 10.09 ± 2.24 μm for Omnicam, and 18.49 ± 2.42 μm for CS 3600 (p <0.05). Conclusions: The digital impression method is the most favorable method regarding precision; in terms of trueness, there are no differences between the types of impressions

The role of aquatic ecosystems (River Tua, Portugal) as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant Aeromonas spp.

The inappropriate use of antibiotics, one of the causes of the high incidence of antimicrobialresistant bacteria isolated from aquatic ecosystems, represents a risk for aquatic organisms and the welfare of humans. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance rates among riverine Aeromonas spp., taken as representative of the autochthonous microbiota, to evaluate the level of antibacterial resistance in the Tua River (Douro basin). The prevalence and degree of antibiotic resistance was examined using motile aeromonads as a potential indicator of antimicrobial susceptibility for the aquatic environment. Water samples were collected from the middle sector of the river, which is most impacted area by several anthropogenic pressures. Water samples were plated on an Aeromonas-selective agar, with and without antibiotics. The activity of 19 antibiotics was studied against 30 isolates of Aeromonas spp. using the standard agar dilution susceptibility test. Antibiotic resistance rates were fosfomycin (FOS) 83.33%, nalidixic acid (NA) 60%, cefotaxime (CTX) 40%, gentamicin (CN) 26.67%, tobramycin (TOB) 26.67%, cotrimoxazole (SXT) 26.67%, chloramphenicol (C) 16.67%, and tetracycline (TE) 13.33%. Some of the nalidixic acid-resistant strains were susceptible to fluoroquinolones. Multiple resistance was also observed (83.33%). The environmental ubiquity, the natural susceptibility to antimicrobials and the zoonotic potential of Aeromonas spp. make them optimal candidates for studying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic environments may provide an ideal setting for the acquisition and dissemination of antibiotic resistance because anthropogenic activities frequently impact them. The potential risk of multi- and pan-resistant bacteria transmission between animals and humans should be considered in a “One Health-One World” concept.This research was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Operational Competitiveness Programme (COMPETE), under the projectsUIDB/04033/2020 (CITAB-UTAD) and the UIDB/00690/2020 (CIMO-IPB).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Ras-Erk-ETS-signaling pathway is a drug target for longevity

Summary Identifying the molecular mechanisms that underlie aging and their pharmacological manipulation are key aims for improving lifelong human health. Here, we identify a critical role for Ras-Erk-ETS signaling in aging in Drosophila. We show that inhibition of Ras is sufficient for lifespan extension downstream of reduced insulin/IGF-1 (IIS) signaling. Moreover, direct reduction of Ras or Erk activity leads to increased lifespan. We identify the E-twenty six (ETS) transcriptional repressor, Anterior open (Aop), as central to lifespan extension caused by reduced IIS or Ras attenuation. Importantly, we demonstrate that adult-onset administration of the drug trametinib, a highly specific inhibitor of Ras-Erk-ETS signaling, can extend lifespan. This discovery of the Ras-Erk-ETS pathway as a pharmacological target for animal aging, together with the high degree of evolutionary conservation of the pathway, suggests that inhibition of Ras-Erk-ETS signaling may provide an effective target for anti-aging interventions in mammals. Video Abstrac

Multi-scale approach using phytoplankton as a first step towards the definition of the ecological status of reservoirs

The growing need to analyse the present state of ecosystems and predict their rate of change has triggered a demand to explore species environment relationships for assessing alterations under anthropogenic influence. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the definition of different types of water bodies which are of relevance when assessing their ecological status. The main aim of this study was to define of the types of Portuguese reservoirs located in the North and Centre of Portugal and to assess their ecological status using phytoplankton as water quality indicators. In this study, sampling was carried out in 34 reservoirs during four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter), through a period of 8 years (1996-2004).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6W87-4ST4CF7-1/1/911b46293dcdcf046f40a1c1863a619