Green marketing and the conscious consumers in Portugal

This study aims to understand the green consumer in Portugal by investigating their level of environmental concern and the ecological conscious consumer behaviour shown. Additionally, how they perceive the credibility of ecolabels, the characteristics they find most important in green products and, finally, what are the main obstacles to make green purchases. Furthermore, it was explored if the ecological conscious consumer behaviour in Portugal diverged by means of demographic variables (Gender, age, education, occupation and income level). An online survey was published, and 315 valid responses were gathered and analysed in the statistical program SPSS to make possible answering the research questions and hypothesis proposed for this investigation. The results obtained show that the Portuguese consumers are environmental concerned and show high ecological conscious consumer behaviour. It was concluded that women are more prone to show green behaviour than man, however, there were not found significant differences of ecological conscious consumer behaviour relatively to the other demographic variables in question. Also, the results show ecolabels to be considered credible through the eyes of green consumers in Portugal. Furthermore, environmental concern was found to have a positive impact on green behaviour, as well as the perceived credibility of ecolabels. In contrast, green barriers have a negative impact on green behaviour. Additionally, the most important characteristics of green products are identified in this paper, along with the main obstacles of green purchase.Este estudo pretende compreender o consumidor verde português, investigando o seu nível de preocupação ambiental, o comportamento ecológico consciente do consumidor. Adicionalmente, como este entende a credibilidade dos rótulos ecológicos, as características que considera mais importantes nos produtos verdes e, finalmente, quais são os principais obstáculos para fazer compras verdes. Além disso, foi explorado se o comportamento ecológico consciente do consumidor em Portugal divergia por meio de variáveis demográficas (sexo, idade, educação, ocupação e nível de rendimento mensal líquido). Foi publicado um inquérito online, tendo sido recolhidas 315 respostas válidas e posteriormente analisadas no programa estatístico SPSS, de forma a possibilitar a resposta às questões e hipóteses propostas para esta investigação. Os resultados obtidos mostram que os consumidores portugueses estão preocupados com o ambiente e apresentam um comportamento de consumo consciente do ponto de vista ecológico. Concluiu-se que as mulheres são mais propensas a mostrar comportamento ecológico do que os homens, no entanto, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas de comportamento ecológico consciente do consumidor em relação às restantes variáveis demográficas em questão. Os resultados mostram que os rótulos ecológicos são considerados credíveis aos olhos dos consumidores verdes em Portugal. Além disso, verificou-se que as preocupações ambientais têm um impacto positivo no comportamento ecológico, bem como na credibilidade percebida dos rótulos ecológicos. Em contraste, as barreiras ecológicas têm um impacto negativo no comportamento ecológico. Adicionalmente, as características mais importantes dos produtos verdes são identificadas neste documento, juntamente com os principais obstáculos à compra verde

Neuroprotection or neurotoxicity of illicit drugs on Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is currently the most rapid growing neurodegenerative disease and over the past generation, its global burden has more than doubled. The onset of PD can arise due to environmental, sporadic or genetic factors. Nevertheless, most PD cases have an unknown etiology. Chemicals, such as the anthropogenic pollutant 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and amphetamine-type stimulants, have been associated with the onset of PD. Conversely, cannabinoids have been associated with the treatment of the symptoms’. PD and medical cannabis is currently under the spotlight, and research to find its benefits on PD is on-going worldwide. However, the described clinical applications and safety of pharmacotherapy with cannabis products are yet to be fully supported by scientific evidence. Furthermore, the novel psychoactive substances are currently a popular alternative to classical drugs of abuse, representing an unknown health hazard for young adults who may develop PD later in their lifetime. This review addresses the neurotoxic and neuroprotective impact of illicit substance consumption in PD, presenting clinical evidence and molecular and cellular mechanisms of this association. This research area is utterly important for contemporary society since illicit drugs’ legalization is under discussion which may have consequences both for the onset of PD and for the treatment of its symptoms.publishersversionpublishe

As perceções de arguidos sobre a aplicação da suspensão provisória do processo (SPP)

Dissertação de Mestrado realizada sob a orientação de apresentada no Ispa – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia ForenseA Suspensão Provisória do Processo, como medida não privativa de liberdade, faz parte de um leque de alternativas às medidas privativas, com o objetivo de envolver não só o sistema de justiça, como também o ofendido e a sociedade, na decisão. O objetivo deste estudo passa por analisar as perceções de arguidos/as que estejam a cumprir esta medida, de maneira a auxiliar o sistema de justiça e seus/suas intervenientes a identificar mais eficazmente os fatores passíveis de maximizar a eficácia da reabilitação. Os resultados, de uma maneira global, demonstram satisfação com a medida, e capacidade de cumprir as injunções e regras de conduta, apesar de identificadas algumas falhas, nomeadamente a nível da comunicação entre os indivíduos e o sistema de justiça.ABSTRACT: The Provisional Process Suspension, as a non-custodial measure, is part of a range of alternatives to custodial measures, with the purpose of involving not only the justice system, but the victim and the society, in the decision. The aim of this study is to analyse the perceptions of defendants who are serving this sentence, in order to help the justice system and its agents identify more effectively the factors that may help achieve optimum rehabilitation. The results, in general, show satisfaction with the measure, and the ability to comply with the injunctions and rules of conduct, despite the identification of some weaknesses, particularly in terms of communication between individuals and the justice system

Doenças neurodegenerativas: uma visão gliocêntrica

Trabalho Final de Mestrado Integrado, Ciências Farmacêuticas, 2021, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia.As Doenças Neurodegenerativas compreendem um conjunto de entidades patológicas de apresentação clínica e fisiopatologia muito diversas, com uma prevalência crescente na sociedade moderna. A acentuada perda neuronal nestas doenças parece refletir os efeitos cumulativos de múltiplos fenómenos patológicos, incluindo a neuroinflamação, agregação de proteínas, stress oxidativo e disfunção mitocondrial. Atualmente, reconhece-se que a neurodegeneração ocorre, em parte, na sequência da perturbação do ambiente neuronal e da perda consequente de homeostasia no Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC). As células da glia, principalmente a microglia e os astrócitos, são reconhecidas como tendo uma contribuição vital para a excitabilidade neuronal, plasticidade sináptica e metabolismo energético, em muito ultrapassando o conceito de serem meros elementos do tecido conjuntivo entre neurónios. Estas desempenham um papel crítico no diálogo intercelular e na manutenção do equilíbrio entre a neuroproteção e a neurodegeneração. Neste sentido, a microgliose e a astrogliose reativas apresentam-se como características patológicas major, contribuindo para um estado exacerbado de inflamação que tende a persistir e a desencadear degeneração neural. A presente monografia procura consolidar o conhecimento e a investigação científica relativos à biologia glial no contexto de algumas das mais comuns doenças neurodegenerativas, como a Doença de Alzheimer, Doença de Huntington, Doença de Parkinson e Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA). É realizada uma abordagem centrada na diversidade e funções dos distintos tipos celulares da glia encontrados no SNC e nos principais fenómenos associadas a tais doenças, com foco nos papéis desempenhados pela microglia e pelos astrócitos, a par da complexa relação estabelecida entre ambos. Mais detalhadamente, identificam-se as consequências associadas à disfunção glial nas funções homeostáticas no âmbito das quatro doenças neurodegenerativas supracitadas, com enfâse particular na Doença do Neurónio Motor. Adicionalmente, indicam-se potenciais biomarcadores das células gliais, no contexto da ELA, bem como as perspetivas futuras relativas à investigação de estratégias terapêuticas.Neurodegenerative diseases comprise a set of pathological entities with heterogeneous clinical presentation and pathophysiology, which are rapidly rising in prevalence, particularly in our society’s aging population. The insidious loss of neurons in these disorders seems to reflect the cumulative effects of numerous pathological features such as neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. There is now also accumulating evidence that suggests neurodegeneration takes place in part because the neuron’s environment is affected and brain homeostasis is lost, highlighting a non–cell-autonomous process. Nowadays glial cells, mainly astrocytes and microglia, are recognized for their crucial contribution to a plethora of physiological processes like neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and energy metabolism, broadening the flawed concept that considered them merely as the connective tissue between neurons. Moreover, they display a central role in managing the intercellular crosstalk in both detrimental and beneficial ways. Accordingly, microgliosis and astrogliosis are now considered major pathological features, contributing to the heightened inflammatory state that persists and may lead to neurodegeneration. The present literature review consolidates the knowledge and research performed so far regarding the role of glia cells in several of the most encountered neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Firstly, it is addressed the diversity and function of glial cell types found in the central nervous system and major processes associated with neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on the contributions of microglia and astrocytes and their complex relationship. In specific, consequences of glial dysfunction on homeostatic functions in four of the major neurodegenerative diseases are identified, with special emphasis on ALS as a motor neuron disease. Additionally, potential biomarkers directed to glia in ALS are discussed, as well as the future and promising directions envisioned for the research of therapies targeting glial cells

CD4+ and CD8+ cell populations in HIV-positive women with cervical squamous intra-epithelial lesions and squamous cell carcinoma

Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to analyse cervix lymphocytic populations in HIV + and HIV- patients and correlate different cervical lesions with HIV viral load and presence of high-risk HPV types. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 132 histological specimens from 40 HIV + and 72 HIV- patients were evaluated for CD4+ and CD8+ T cell distribution, presence of high-risk HPV types, peripheral blood HIV viral load and CD4+/CD8+ ratio. RESULTS: High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from HIV + patients had lower CD4+ T cell scores compared with HIV- patients. In all lesion groups, HIV + patients presented higher epithelial and stromal CD8+ T cell scores. HIV viral load was more often detectable in patients with SCC than in those with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (p = 0.0409). HSIL HIV + patients had lower circulating CD4+ T cell counts (p = 0.0434) and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (p = 0.0378) compared with LSIL HIV + patients. High-risk HPV types other than 16 and 18/45 were more prevalent in the HIV + group. DISCUSSION: These results support an imbalance between cervical CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes of HIV + patients with SIL and SCC, with increased CD8+ infiltrate density with lesion severity, even in patients with immune system recovery under cART.proofpublishe

Examination of Grasmick et al.’slow Self-control Scale and of a Short Version With Cross-Gender Measurement Invariance

Grasmick et al.’s Low Self-Control Scale (LSCS) is considered the gold-standard of self-control measures due to the frequency of its use in criminology. The aim of the present study is to examine the psychometric properties of the LSCS from a more modern psychometric perspective and develop a shorter version. Our sample consisted of young adults (N=610, M=21.33years, SD=3.09) from Portugal. The six-factor intercorrelated model of the LSCS showed an adequate fit, but models that would legitimate using a total score could not be confirmed. The subscales’ intercorrelations revealed some low non-significant correlations. The six subscales showed distinctive correlates with other measures, with three subscales presenting some problematic correlations. Confirmatory factor analysis was subsequently used to develop a three-factor shorter version with strong cross-gender measurement invariance and good reliability. Findings have implications for the validity of the general theory of crime specifically which components of self-control have the greatest empirical linkages to conduct problems and related deviance.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cost-effective bioethanol production at low content of nitrogen source from carob syrup

Ethanol, as biofuel, has received great interest in the latest decades due to its potential as an alternative transport fuel. Nowadays, ethanol can be produced through fermentative processes, using sugar rich agricultural raw material and it may have a significant role in reducing environmental impact of fossil fuels

Impacto do ambiente na saúde pública

A ideia do e-book surgiu a partir do Foto-seminário: “Ambiente e saúde uma visão dos alunos de Enfermagem Veterinária” realizado durante a Unidade Curricular de Doenças Infecto-Contagiosas e Parasitárias do curso de Enferma-gem Veterinária. A metodologia foi apresentada aos discentes com a pergunta norteadora: “Qual o impacto do ambiente na saúde dos animais?” A turma foi dividida em equipes de no máximo 10 (dez) discentes e cada membro da equipe ficou responsável por registar uma fotografia a com a temática em questão. Cada equipe ficou responsável por se reunir e escolher 5 (cinco) fotografias com narra vas para apresentar em sala de aula. A apresentação foi realizada em dois dias com cada equipe apresentando as fotografias com as narrativas sobre o impacto do ambiente na saúde.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical squamous cell carcinoma of HIV-infected and non-infected patients

Funding: Open access funding provided by FCT|FCCN (b-on).Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is overexpressed in cervical carcinoma, hindering tumor destruction. The aim of this study was to assess PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) from human immunodeficiency virus–positive (HIV+) and human immunodeficiency virus-negative (HIV-) patients. A total of 166 SCC and SIL samples of HIV+ and HIV- patients were included and analyzed for PD-L1 expression through tumor proportion score (TPS), and results were stratified in five TPS groups using SP263 antibody and, combined positive score (CPS) using 22C3 antibody. In cohort 1 (SP263 clone), all HIV+ patients were negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM), and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) scored 1), which may be due to some samples being archival material, sample characteristics, or use of different methodologies, highlighting the need for standardization of PD-L1 assessment in SCC of the cervix. The fact that PD-L1 is overexpressed in SILs of HIV+ patients suggests potential additional applications for immunotherapy in this disease.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin