Integração de equipamentos públicos e reabilitação da zona piscatória do Barreiro

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Arquitetura, com a especialização em Arquitetura apresentada na Faculdade de Arquitetura da Universidade de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre.Vivenciado - Integração de Equipamentos Públicos e Reabilitação da Zona Piscatória do Barreiro”, tem como principal objetivo o estudo e análise dos modos de vida daqueles que frequentam a área em questão: sudeste do Barreiro e local da atual terminal fluvial, particularizando os seus hábitos e vivências próprias, não descorando a questão da memória como base para a apropriação do território. Foram identificadas as problemáticas existentes, e as carências que deverão ser imediatamente assentes, sendo a estratégia de intervenção a mais adequada para o caso de estudo. Esta análise tornou-se essencial aquando da consequente proposta de intervenção no território, após uma cuidada requalificação urbana do mesmo. Torna-se importante revivificar o local (área piscatória - sudeste do Barreiro), sendo este um local de importante significado para aqueles que atualmente frequentam o espaço, mantendo as dinâmicas que possibilitam as vivências existentes, de modo a promover a reflexão e a partilha social das mesmas. A área de estudo trata-se de um território ilegal e desordenadamente ocupado, que é utilizado como espaço de apoio à atividade piscatória local (como armazenamento do material de apoio), bem como enquanto um ponto de convívio e de encontro para os que frequentam o lugar, ainda que apenas durante o dia. Propõe-se a requalificação urbana da área, e a reabilitação das atuais “cabanas dos pescadores”, aliada à proposta equipamentos aliados ao processo de reabilitação, procurando assim a criação de uma estrutura pública e o entendimento de como construí-la. Torna-se fulcral a memória do lugar, e um dos pontos a ter mais em conta aquando de uma reabilitação do espaço, bem como aquando de uma proposta de intervenção para equipamentos de apoio ao dia-a-dia e às funções pré-existentes.ABSTRACT: The present work entitled "Regenerating the Living Space - Integration of Public Equipment and Rehabilitation of the Barreiro Fishing Zone", has as primary objective the study and analysis of the livelihoods of the ones who use to attend that area: southeast of Barreiro and site of the fluvial terminal, particularizing their habits and experiences, not ignoring the issue of memory as essential for the appropriation of the territory. It is crucial to identify the existing problems, and the shortcomings that should be immediately established, and for the intervention strategy is the most appropriate for the study case. This analysis becomes essential in the following proposal of intervention in the occupied territory, after a careful urban requalification of it. It is necessary to revive the site (fishing area - southwest of Barreiro), which is a place of significance for the current goers of the neighbourhood, maintaining the dynamics that make possible the existing experiences, to promote reflection and social sharing in the space. The study area is an illegal and disorderly occupied territory, which is used as a space to support the local fishing activity (as storage of the support material), as well as a meeting point for those who attend the area, although only during the day. The urban requalification of the area is proposed as well as the equipment allied to the rehabilitation process, to create a public structure and the understanding of how to build it. It becomes central, the memory of the place, and one of the points to take more into account when in the rehabilitation of the space, as well as in a proposal of intervention for equipment of support to the day-to-day and the pre-existing functions.N/

A Knack to Know an Honest Man

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial disorder with several target proteins contributing to its etiology. In search for multifunctional anti-AD drug candidates, taking into account that the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and beta-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation are particularly important targets for inhibition, the tacrine and benzothiazole (BTA) moieties were conjugated with suitable linkers in a novel series of hybrids. The designed compounds (7a–7e) were synthesized and in vitro as well as in ex vivo evaluated for their capacity for the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Aβ self-induced aggregation, and also for the protection of neuronal cells death (SHSY-5Y cells, AD and MCI cybrids). All the tacrine–BTA hybrids displayed high in vitro activities, namely with IC50 values in the low micromolar to sub-micromolar concentration range towards the inhibition of AChE, and high percentages of inhibition of the self-induced Aβ aggregation. Among them, compound 7a, with the shortest linker, presented the best inhibitory activity of AChE (IC50 = 0.34 μM), while the highest activity as anti-Aβ42 self-aggregation, was evidenced for compound 7b (61.3%, at 50 μM. The docking studies demonstrated that all compounds are able to interact with both catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE. Our results show that compounds 7d and 7e improved cell viability in cells treated with Aβ42 peptide. Overall, these multi-targeted hybrid compounds appear as promising lead compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies and Risk Factor Investigation in Portuguese Veterinarians: A Matched Case–Control Study

Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread zoonotic agent that greatly impacts Public Health, being responsible for one of the most important parasitic zoonosis worldwide. T. gondii has a heteroxenous life cycle, with cats being the definitive hosts and all warm-blooded animals, including humans, being intermediate hosts. Veterinary practitioners (VP) may be at a higher risk than the general population for T. gondii infection, as they have direct and daily contact with many animal species. The aim of the present study was to ascertain if VP were more likely to be anti-T. gondii IgG seropositive than the general population, as well as to understand if age, accidents with blood-contaminated sharps (cross-blood contamination), gender, working years, and geographic regions play a role as risk factors for T. gondii infection. For this purpose, a case–control study using archived samples was performed. (2) Methods: A total of 350 veterinary practitioners were tested using a commercial semiquantitative enzyme immunoassay for anti-T. gondii IgG. From the general population, 175 anonymous volunteers (matched with cases by region, age, and gender) were studied for anti-T. gondii IgG. (3) Results: There was no statistical difference found between the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG in practitioners (26%; CI = 21.40–30.60%) and the general population (33.14%; CI = 26.17–40.12%) (p = 0.108). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that only age (older groups) was found to be associated with a higher prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG, with significant p values (p < 0.05) for both univariate and multivariate analysis. (4) Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case–control study fully focused on the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG in VP in Portugal, showing that there was no significant risk for T. gondii infection in veterinarians exposed daily and repeatedly to different species of animals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Matched Case–Control Study

Funding Information: This study was supported by FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., through research grant PTDC/CVT-CVT/0228/2020 and by funds from the Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM, UID/04413/2020), the Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization (VALORIZA, UIDB/05064/2020), the Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB, UIDB/04033/2020) and the Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (CERNAS, UIDB/00681/2020). This work was supported by national funds, through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology), under projects UIDB/04750/2020 and LA/P/0064/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.(1) Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread zoonotic agent that greatly impacts Public Health, being responsible for one of the most important parasitic zoonosis worldwide. T. gondii has a heteroxenous life cycle, with cats being the definitive hosts and all warm-blooded animals, including humans, being intermediate hosts. Veterinary practitioners (VP) may be at a higher risk than the general population for T. gondii infection, as they have direct and daily contact with many animal species. The aim of the present study was to ascertain if VP were more likely to be anti-T. gondii IgG seropositive than the general population, as well as to understand if age, accidents with blood-contaminated sharps (cross-blood contamination), gender, working years, and geographic regions play a role as risk factors for T. gondii infection. For this purpose, a case–control study using archived samples was performed. (2) Methods: A total of 350 veterinary practitioners were tested using a commercial semiquantitative enzyme immunoassay for anti-T. gondii IgG. From the general population, 175 anonymous volunteers (matched with cases by region, age, and gender) were studied for anti-T. gondii IgG. (3) Results: There was no statistical difference found between the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG in practitioners (26%; CI = 21.40–30.60%) and the general population (33.14%; CI = 26.17–40.12%) (p = 0.108). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that only age (older groups) was found to be associated with a higher prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG, with significant p values (p < 0.05) for both univariate and multivariate analysis. (4) Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case–control study fully focused on the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG in VP in Portugal, showing that there was no significant risk for T. gondii infection in veterinarians exposed daily and repeatedly to different species of animals.publishersversionpublishe

Tricarbonyl M(I) (M = Re, 99mTc) complexes bearing acridine fluorophores : synthesis, characterization, DNA interaction studies and nuclear targeting

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2010New pyrazolyl-diamine ligands with acridine derivatives at the 4-position of the pyrazolyl ring were synthesized and characterized (L1 and L2). Coordination towards the fac-[M(CO)3]+ (M = Re, 99mTc) led to complexes fac-[M(CO)3(κ3-L)] (L = L1: M = Re1, Tc1; L = L2: M = Re2, Tc2). The interaction of the novel pyrazolyl-diamine ligands (L1 and L2) and rhenium(I) complexes (Re1 and Re2) with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated by a variety of techniques, namely UV-visible , fluorescence spectroscopy and circular and linear dichroism . Compounds L1 and Re1 have moderate affinity to CT-DNA and bind to DNA by intercalation, while L2 and Re2 have a poor affinity for CT-DNA. Moreover, LD measurements showed that L1 and Re1 act as perfect intercalators . By confocal fluorescence microscopy we found that L1 and Re1 internalize and localize in the nucleus of B16F1 murine melanoma cells . The congener Tc1 complex also targets the cell nucleus exhibiting a time-dependent cellular uptake and a fast and high nuclear internalization (67.2% of activity after 30 min). Plasmid DNA studies have shown that Tc1 converts supercoiled (sc) puc19 DNA to the open circular (oc) form.Teresa Esteves and Sofia Gama thank the FCT for a doctoral and postdoctoral research grants (SFRH/BD/29154/2006 and SFRH/BPD/29564/2006, respectively). COST Action D39 is also acknowledge. The QITMS instrument was acquired with the support of the Programa Nacional de Reequipamento Científico (Contract>REDE/1503/REM/2005-ITN) of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and is part of RNEM - Rede Nacional de Espectrometria de Massa

The incidence of exposure to antibiotics in children less than 6 years of age: a survey in a Portuguese metropolitan Area

Background: The contact with antibiotics at an early age may lead to a number of nefarious consequences. Nevertheless, the amount of literature available on the usage of antibiotics in children is scarce. Taking into account the increasing emergence of resistant bacterial strains, it is imperative to study and make society aware of the excessive exposure of children to antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of antibiotic therapy in children under the age of six, in the metropolitan area of Oporto. Methods: Surveys (concerning children born in the metropolitan area of Oporto since 2010) were conducted in several nursery schools, and its answers (n=1031) were subsequently analysed. Our primary outcome was the incidence of exposure to antibiotics in children under 6 years of age in the metropolitan area of Oporto. Statistical significance was set as a p value inferior to 0.05. Results: We verified that 958 children (92.9%) were exposed to antibiotics before the age of six. Additionally, five associations were found between the considered variables: cessation of treatment and number of times the child has resorted to antibiotics in his/her lifetime (p<0,0001); cessation of treatment and average of intake per year (p=0,021, R=0,082); child with chronic disease and number of times of usage during his/her lifetime (p=0,02); eldest child’s age and cessation of treatment (p=0,018); eldest child’s age and number of times of usage during the child’s lifetime (p=0,014, R=0,096). Conclusion: Our study revealed that the exposure to antibiotics in children under six years of age is exceptionally high. Furthermore, the presence of chronic disease seems to be associated with a higher frequency of antibiotic intake. Couples with older children had better antibiotic therapy compliance, as well as higher frequency of antibiotic intake.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Virtual Physiology: A Tool for the 21st Century

Veterinary physiology is a basic curricular unit for every course within the veterinary field. It is mandatory to understand how the animal body works, and what to expect of a healthy body, in order to recognize any misfunction, and to be able to treat it. Classic physiology teaching involves wet labs, much equipment, many reagents, some animals, and a lot of time. But times are changing. In the 21st century, it is expected that the teaching and learning process can be more active and attractive, motivating students to learn better. It is necessary to understand what students like, and to introduce novelties into the school routine. The use of a game-based learning, using “new” technologies, creating virtual experiences and labs, reducing the costs of reagents, equipment, and especially reducing the use of animals, will be the future for physiology teaching

Parasitas Pulmonares em Pequenos Ruminantes: Mais Conhecimento, Melhor Diagnóstico

A pneumonia parasitária por nematodes da superfamília Trichostrongyloidea e Metastrongyloidea, também conhecida como estrongilose pulmonar, apresenta elevada prevalência nalgumas regiões geográficas, mas tem merecido pouca atenção por parte dos Médicos Veterinários e investigadores [1,2]. Os estudos de prevalência disponíveis assentam predominantemente na deteção de lesões pulmonares em matadouro e no diagnóstico in vivo, com recurso à técnica de Baermann. No entanto, a velocidade de processamento das carcaças no matadouro limita substancialmente a probabilidade de deteção de lesões características de estrongilose e a técnica de Baermann, apesar de ser considerada a gold standard para diagnóstico in vivo, apresenta uma sensibilidade que não ultrapassa os 90%, é demorada e exige conhecimentos técnicos para a sua correta execução [3,4,5]. Em Portugal, do ponto de vista clínico, estas parasitoses são subdiagnosticadas, na medida em que a pesquisa de parasitas pulmonares raramente é incluída nos testes parasitológicos de rotina, requisitados pelos Médicos Veterinários aos laboratórios [6], o que, associado à escassez de investigação científica na área, cria uma lacuna no conhecimento da distribuição geográfica e de outros aspetos da epidemiologia destas infeções, comprometendo o seu tratamento e controlo. Apesar da desparasitação regular (anual ou bianual) de pequenos ruminantes estar amplamente instituída, alguns princípios ativos frequentemente utilizados para o controlo de parasitas gastrointestinais são pouco eficazes nos nematodes pulmonares, particularmente nalgumas espécies da família Protostrongylidae, pelo que a abordagem terapêutica deve ser integrada e assente no diagnóstico parasitológico prévio. Assim, este trabalho, assente na revisão da bibliografia disponível e na experiência prática dos técnicos e investigadores do Laboratório de Anatomia Patológica da Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu (LAP, ESAV) e do Laboratório de Parasitologia Victor Caeiro da Universidade de Évora (LPVC, UE), pretende sensibilizar os profissionais de saúde animal e investigadores dedicados aos pequenos ruminantes para as infeções por nematodes pulmonares, fornecendo ainda ferramentas de diagnóstico laboratorial acessíveis e orientações para a abordagem terapêutica e profilática.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

EAIR 41st Annual Forum in Leiden, The Netherlands 25 till 28 August 2019

Trabalho apresentado em EAIR 41st Annual Forum, 25-28 agosto 2019, Leiden, Países Baixos.Polytechnic Institutes in Portugal: research on the impact of twelve institutes on the local economy Higher Education Institutions are recognized as important actors in regional development. The Portuguese higher education system comprises both Universities and Polytechnic Institutes, which face an increasing pressure to demonstrate that their presence has an impact on the surrounding communities contributing to their economic development. This paper presents the estimation of the economic impact of twelve Polytechnic Institutes, located in quite diverse regions, based on a shared model so that comparisons have a collective framework of analysis. The main results obtained show that the economic impact ranged from 1.8% to 10.6% of the local GDP and that these Institutes are major local employers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio