The role of co-colonization in pneumococcal ecology and evolution

Streptococcus pneumoniae (or pneumococcus) is a frequent colonizer of the nasopharynx and an important cause of infectious diseases, with a high rate of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly among young children, the elderly and the immunocompromised. Despite this high burden of morbidity and mortality, invasive pneumococcal disease is incidental. Nasopharyngeal colonization is the preferred lifestyle for the pneumococcus, its prevalence being particularly high among young children.(...

Gestão e desenvolvimento de carreira : um estudo exploratório focado em narrativas individuais

Dissertação de mestrado em Gestão de Recursos HumanosO interesse que a temática da carreira suscita reside na variedade de aspetos que carecem ainda de exploração, apesar do tema fazer já parte da tradição investigativa em gestão. A gestão individual de carreira tem sido alvo de inúmeros estudos e contributos embora permaneçam ainda, de certo modo, por explicar e compreender na sua plenitude. Esta dissertação ter por objetivo fornecer mais um contributo para a compreensão do conceito da carreira, através da clarificação da sua conceção e da compreensão das práticas de gestão e desenvolvimento confinantes. Nesse sentido, desenvolveu-se um estudo de natureza qualitativa onde foram realizadas, para a recolha de dados empíricos, 20 entrevistas semiestruturadas a um conjunto de jovens graduados que se encontrassem profissionalmente ativos há menos de 5 anos. A análise dos dados provenientes das entrevistas permitiu entender os percursos de carreira dos participantes e a noção de carreira que apresentam, assim como as iniciativas de gestão de carreira que desenvolvem e os fatores que dificultam e facilitam tal gestão. Os resultados extraídos da análise dos dados empíricos revelam que os indivíduos apresentam maioritariamente uma noção de carreira emergente embora deem, paralelamente, primazia a valores tradicionais de carreira e respetivos critérios de sucesso objetivos, e não a critérios subjetivos, estes sim, consonantes com a noção emergente de carreira que descrevem. As narrativas revelam ainda que a adoção do conceito emergente de carreira não é consensual entre os participantes e que também as atuações de carreira são variadas e oscilam entre práticas mais tradicionais e mais híbridas. O principal contributo deste estudo passa então pela evidente necessidade de adoção de um entendimento de carreira que respeite a evolução das perceções e atuações individuais, já que os modelos estandardizados atualmente difundidos não respeitam a complexidade das ideias de noção e de gestão de carreira presentes nas narrativas deste estudo.The interest that raises the issue of a career relies in the variety of aspects that need further exploration, despite the long tradition of investigation in management. The individual career management has already targets of innumerous studies and contributions, but they still remain, somehow, without adequate explanation in their entirety. The main purpose of this dissertation is to provide a further contribution to the understanding of the concept of career, by clarifying its concept and understanding of management and development practices. Therefore, a qualitative study was conducted based on 20 semi-structured interviews of a group of young graduates professionally active for less than five years. The analysis of the data coming from the interviews helped to understand not only the career paths of the participants and the notion of career they represent, but also the career management initiatives that they develop and the factors that can either facilitate or make such management more difficult. The results taken from the analysis of the empirical data revealed that individuals have a sense of an emerging career giving priority to the traditional values of a career in its objective successful criteria rather than in its subjective criteria that would be in accordance with the emerging concept of career that they describe. The narratives also revealed that the adoption of the emerging concept of career is not consensual among the participants and that the career performances are varied and vacillate from more traditional to more hybrid practices. This study underlines the obvious need to adopt an understanding of the concept of a career that respects the development of different perception and individual attitudes, as the standardized models currently issued do not respect the complexity of the ideas of concept and of career management presented in the narratives of this study

Políticas de Integração Social Cigana em Coimbra : A Importância da Mulher Cigana

Dissertação de Mestrado em Antropologia Social e Cultural, apresentada ao Departamento de Ciências da Vida da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra.A presente dissertação apresenta, de uma forma geral, algumas formas de exclusão social dos ciganos por parte da comunidade maioritária e as consequentes medidas de inserção praticadas pelo Estado, abordando especificamente, no caso de Coimbra, as políticas de integração social através do realojamento no Centro de Estágio Habitacional. Por fim, pretende-se perceber até que ponto a mulher cigana é essencial para a inclusão das suas comunidades na restante sociedade, a partir do ponto de vista das técnicas sociais e mediadores que com elas trabalham.This dissertation presents, in general, some forms of social exclusion of gypsies from the majority community and the consequent activation measures applied by the State, addressing specifically in the case of Coimbra, policies for social integration through relocation at the Center Stage Housing. Finally, we intend to understand how the gypsy woman is essential to the inclusion of their communities in the majority society, from the point of view of social workers and mediators working with them

Evaluation of cell disruption methods in the oleaginous yeasts Yarrowia lipolytica QU21 and Meyerozyma guilliermondii BI281A for microbial oil extraction

Abstract The interest for oleaginous yeasts has grown significantly in the last three decades, mainly due to their potential use as a renewable source of microbial oil or single cell oils (SCOs). However, the methodologies for cell disruption to obtain the microbial oil are considered critical and determinant for a large-scale production. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate different methods for cell wall disruption for the lipid extraction of Yarrowia lipolytica QU21 and Meyerozyma guilliermondii BI281A. The two strains were separately cultivated in 5 L batch fermenters for 120 hours, at 26 ºC and 400 rpm. Three different lipid extraction processes using Turrax homogenizer, Ultrasonicator and Braun homogenizer combined with bead milling were applied in wet, oven-dried, and freeze-dried biomass of both strains. The treatment with the highest percentage of disrupted cells and highest oil yield was the ultrasonication of oven-dried biomass (37-40% lipid content for both strains). The fact that our results point to one best extraction strategy for two different yeast strains, belonging to different species, is a great news towards the development of a unified technique that could be applied at industrial plants

Regional differences in the quality of maternal and neonatal care during the COVID ‐19 pandemic in Portugal: Results from the IMAgiNE EURO study

Objective: To compare women's perspectives on the quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) around the time of childbirth across Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics 2 (NUTS- II) regions in Portugal during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Methods: Women participating in the cross- sectional IMAgiNE EURO study who gave birth in Portugal from March 1, 2020, to October 28, 2021, completed a structured questionnaire with 40 key WHO standards- based quality measures. Four domains of QMNC were assessed: (1) provision of care; (2) experience of care; (3) availability of human and physical resources; and (4) reorganizational changes due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. Frequencies for each quality measure within each QMNC domain were computed overall and by region. Results: Out of 1845 participants, one- third (33.7%) had a cesarean. Examples of high- quality care included: low frequencies of lack of early breastfeeding and rooming- in (8.0% and 7.7%, respectively) and informal payment (0.7%); adequate staff professionalism (94.6%); adequate room comfort and equipment (95.2%). However, substandard practices with large heterogeneity across regions were also reported. Among women who experienced labor, the percentage of instrumental vaginal births ranged from 22.3% in the Algarve to 33.5% in Center; among these, fundal pressure ranged from 34.8% in Lisbon to 66.7% in Center. Episiotomy was performed in 39.3% of noninstrumental vaginal births with variations between 31.8% in the North to 59.8% in Center. One in four women reported inadequate breastfeeding support (26.1%, ranging from 19.4% in Algarve to 31.5% in Lisbon). One in five reported no exclusive breastfeeding at discharge (22.1%; 19.5% in Lisbon to 28.2% in Algarve). Conclusion: Urgent actions are needed to harmonize QMNC and reduce inequities across regions in Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE ADESÃO À MEDICAÇÃO PARA O HIV E ASPECTOS SOCIODEMOGRÁFICOS, ECONÔMICOS, COMPORTAMENTAIS E CLÍNICOS

Objetiva-se analisar os aspectos sociodemográficos, econômicos, comportamentais e clínicos e a associação entre a adesão à terapia antirretroviral para o HIV. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, das quais participaram 114 pessoas em terapia antirretroviral para o HIV. Para a coleta de dados utilizou-se um instrumento contendo aspectos sociodemográficos, econômicos, comportamentais e clínicos e o Cuestionário para la Evaluación de la Adhesión al Tratamiento Antiretroviral. Realizou-se análises bivariadas e de regressão de Poisson. Foi possível identificar melhor probabilidade de apresentar adesão em pessoas com idade superior a 40 anos, que estão de um a três anos em tratamento, que manifestaram facilidade em realizar o acompanhamento no serviço de saúde, que já apresentaram alguma doença oportunista e as pessoas que não apresentavam alguma condição psiquiátrica. Conclui-se a idade, o tempo de tratamento, o acompanhamento no serviço de saúde, apresentar alguma doença oportunista e não ter nenhuma condição psiquiátrica estão associados significativamente com a adesão à terapia antirretroviral

Evaluation of commercial myxomatosis vaccines against recombinant myxoma virus (ha-MYXV) in Iberian hare and wild rabbit

Research Areas: Immunology ; Research & Experimental MedicineThe recent emergence of a new myxoma virus capable of causing disease in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) has resulted in numerous outbreaks with high mortality leading to the reduction, or even the disappearance, of many local populations of this wild species in the Iberian Peninsula. Currently, the available vaccines that prevent myxomatosis in domestic rabbits caused by classic strains of myxoma virus have not been assessed for use in Iberian hares. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of commercial rabbit vaccines in Iberian hares and wild rabbits against the natural recombinant myxoma virus (ha-MYXV), bearing in mind its application in specific scenarios where capture is possible, such as genetic reserves. The study used a limited number of animals (pilot study), 15 Iberian hares and 10 wild rabbits. Hares were vaccinated with Mixohipra-FSA vaccine (Hipra) and Mixohipra-H vaccine (Hipra) using two different doses, and rabbits were vaccinated with the Mixohipra-H vaccine or the Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS (MSD Animal Health) using the recommended doses for domestic rabbits. After the vaccination trials, the animals were challenged with a wild type strain of ha-MYXV. The results showed that no protection to ha-MYXV challenge was afforded when a commercial dose of Mixohipra-FSA or Mixohipra-H vaccine was used in hares. However, the application of a higher dose of Mixohipra-FSA vaccine may induce protection and could possibly be used to counteract the accelerated decrease of wild hare populations due to ha-MYXV emergence. The two commercial vaccines (Mixohipra-H and Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS) tested in wild rabbits were fully protective against ha-MYXV infection. This knowledge gives more insights into ha-MYXV management in hares and rabbits and emphasises the importance of developing a vaccine capable of protecting wild populations of Iberian hare and wild rabbit towards MYXV and ha-MYXV strainsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

BENZENE AS A CARCINOGEN: IDENTIFICATION AND PREVENTION OF RISKS TO WORKER HEALTH

Objetivos: identificar os riscos do trabalhador exposto ao benzeno e descrever medidas preventivas e de controle considerando a carcinogenicidade desse agente. Método: pesquisa  qualitativa, do tipo revisão bibliográfica, tendo como fonte o acervo da Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS). A coleta de dados foi realizada no período compreendido entre agosto e dezembro de 2008. Foram selecionados 11 artigos, pertencentes às bases de dados da LILACS e SCIELO. As categorias após análise das produções foram: 1) Benzeno: risco no ambiente de trabalho; 2) Saúde dos trabalhadores: medidas preventivas e de controle. Resultados: a confirmação da eficácia da orientação, em torno dos riscos em questão, a esses trabalhadores como forma de educação preventiva e a importância do uso de equipamentos de proteção individual visando um controle, é extremamente bem sucedido nesse contexto.  Conclusão: O trabalhador que utiliza o benzeno como matéria-prima, está exposto ao agente por contato, na forma líquida e ao vapor, que pode provocar efeitos locais e sistêmicos agudos e crônicos. Medidas de controle devem ser tomadas imediatamente a fim de prevenir possíveis danos à saúde desses trabalhadores, através da conscientização dos mesmos e de campanhas que incentivem a substituição do agente.  Descritores: Benzeno; Saúde do Trabalhador; Leucemia Mielóide Aguda; Risco ocupacional

Decrease in Pneumococcal Co-Colonization following Vaccination with the Seven-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

Understanding the epidemiology of pneumococcal co-colonization is important for monitoring vaccine effectiveness and the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer between pneumococcal strains. In this study we aimed to evaluate the impact of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) on pneumococcal co-colonization among Portuguese children. Nasopharyngeal samples from children up to 6 years old yielding a pneumococcal culture were clustered into three groups: pre-vaccine era (n = 173), unvaccinated children of the vaccine era (n = 169), and fully vaccinated children (4 doses; n = 150). Co-colonization, serotype identification, and relative serotype abundance were detected by analysis of DNA of the total bacterial growth of the primary culture plate using the plyNCR-RFLP method and a molecular serotyping microarray-based strategy. The plyNCR-RFLP method detected an overall co-colonization rate of 20.1%. Microarray analysis confirmed the plyNCR-RFLP results. Vaccination status was the only factor found to be significantly associated with co-colonization: co-colonization rates were significantly lower (p = 0.004; Fisher's exact test) among fully vaccinated children (8.0%) than among children from the pre-PCV7 era (17.3%) or unvaccinated children of the PCV7 era (18.3%). In the PCV7 era there were significantly less non-vaccine type (NVT) co-colonization events than would be expected based on the NVT distribution observed in the pre-PCV7 era (p = 0.024). In conclusion, vaccination with PCV7 resulted in a lower co-colonization rate due to an asymmetric distribution between NVTs found in single and co-colonized samples. We propose that some NVTs prevalent in the PCV7 era are more competitive than others, hampering their co-existence in the same niche. This result may have important implications since a decrease in co-colonization events is expected to translate in decreased opportunities for horizontal gene transfer, hindering pneumococcal evolution events such as acquisition of antibiotic resistance determinants or capsular switch. This might represent a novel potential benefit of conjugate vaccines

Regional differences in the quality of maternal and neonatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal: results from the IMAgiNE EURO study

Objective: To compare women's perspectives on the quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) around the time of childbirth across Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics 2 (NUTS-II) regions in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Women participating in the cross-sectional IMAgiNE EURO study who gave birth in Portugal from March 1, 2020, to October 28, 2021, completed a structured questionnaire with 40 key WHO standards-based quality measures. Four domains of QMNC were assessed: (1) provision of care; (2) experience of care; (3) availability of human and physical resources; and (4) reorganizational changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequencies for each quality measure within each QMNC domain were computed overall and by region. Results: Out of 1845 participants, one-third (33.7%) had a cesarean. Examples of high-quality care included: low frequencies of lack of early breastfeeding and rooming-in (8.0% and 7.7%, respectively) and informal payment (0.7%); adequate staff professionalism (94.6%); adequate room comfort and equipment (95.2%). However, substandard practices with large heterogeneity across regions were also reported. Among women who experienced labor, the percentage of instrumental vaginal births ranged from 22.3% in the Algarve to 33.5% in Center; among these, fundal pressure ranged from 34.8% in Lisbon to 66.7% in Center. Episiotomy was performed in 39.3% of noninstrumental vaginal births with variations between 31.8% in the North to 59.8% in Center. One in four women reported inadequate breastfeeding support (26.1%, ranging from 19.4% in Algarve to 31.5% in Lisbon). One in five reported no exclusive breastfeeding at discharge (22.1%; 19.5% in Lisbon to 28.2% in Algarve). Conclusion: Urgent actions are needed to harmonize QMNC and reduce inequities across regions in Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio