Angolagate y: a shameful stain on the recent history of Angola

Conta-se que no século 18, um médico Vianés, ganhou fama por ter criado, o que se denominava na altura, por frenologia, um ramo do saber que, em vão, procurava determinar o carácter, as características da personalidade e os níveis de criminalidade de uma pessoa com o simples apalpar da cabeça e através da "leitura" das suas protuberâncias. A sua fama, ao chegar aos ouvidos do imperador, levou a que este o convidasse e lhe pedisse um exame a fim de ver como ele e os seus súbditos estavam nestes aspectos. Franz Joseph Gall, como se chamava o dito médico, assim que ia apalpando a cabeça do soberano e dos seus capangas mais entrava em pânico. Como iria dizer-lhes que as protuberâncias lhe diziam que estava diante dos maiores criminosos da história, e logo a eles os governantes da Áustria? O caso angolagate, talvez também me interesse por isso

In vivo Examination of Peripheral Drivers of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, and predominantly affects elderly populations. This disease is well known for its effects on the brain, but a wealth of clinical reports show that dementia can also modify, or be modified by, various peripheral and systemic processes. Yet, the pathological contribution of peripheral comorbidities to AD remains to be fully understood. In an attempt to address some knowledge gaps, we characterized the cerebral and peripheral pathology in mice with history of either liver injury or sepsis. In the former subjects, we found that even in the absence of genetic risk factors for AD, elderly mice submitted to recurrent hepatotoxicity since an adult age display memory impairment congruent with persistent, but not robust deleterious changes to AD-relevant regulators in the brain and periphery. In another study, our evaluation of septic AD mice revealed a worsened progression and severity of cognitive decline, neuropathology, and various gut-brain axis modulators. Altogether, this dissertation work crucially advances knowledge of two seldom examined potential risk factors for AD

Estratégias de Tolerância a Falhas em Computação Móvel na Nuvem

Apesar de os periféricos móveis possuírem cada vez mais capacidade de computação e armazenamento, a ligação da computação móvel com a computação na núvem (cloud) é também, cada vez mais, forte. Aplicações móveis que processem ou partilhem grandes quantidades de dados usam a nuvem para superar a limitação de recursos imposta por smartphones e tablets. Estes sistemas trazem novos desafios em termos de tolerância a falhas. Por um lado funcionam com baterias cuja carga tem duração limitada e por outro lado, a mobilidade do utilizador pode dificultar a obtenção de conectividade contínua e com largura de banda invariável como seria desejável. Neste trabalho propomos e avaliamos mecanismos de tolerância a falhas para dois tipos de falhas comuns em computação móvel na nuvem: Falha da carga da bateria e falhas na ligação à rede.Although mobile peripherals are increasingly capable of computing and storage, the link between mobile computing and cloud computing is also growing stronger. Mobile applications that process or share large amounts of data use the cloud to overcome the resource constraints imposed by mobile devices. These systems bring new challenges in terms of fault tolerance. On the one hand they work with batteries whose charge is of limited duration and on the other hand the mobility of the user may make it difficult to obtain continuous connectivity and with invariable bandwidth as would be desirable. In this work we propose and evaluate fault tolerance mechanisms for two types of common faults in mobile cloud computing: Battery charge failure and network connection failure.Operação Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000019 – C4 – Centro de Competências em Cloud Computing, co-financiada pelo Programa Operacional Regional do Centro (CENTRO 2020), através do Sistema de Apoio a Investigação Científica e Tecnológica – Programas Integrados de IC&DT; • FCT através de fundos nacionais e quando aplicável co-financiado pelo FEDER, no âmbito do Acordo de Parceria PT2020 no âmbito do projeto UID/EEA/50008/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fundamentação das decisões judiciais

A dissertação em questão remete-nos para uma análise sobre a fundamentação da decisão no âmbito do Direito Processual Civil. A atual exigência do dever de fundamentação decorrente, quer da Constituição da República, quer do Código de Processo Civil, consiste no critério da coerência e da completude. O que se espera do juiz é que este na altura de proferir a sentença sobre a decisão tomada, motive tais decisões. Para além da exigência da motivação de facto e de direito, o critério da completude exige que outras questões também sejam motivadas. O nosso contributo sobre estas questões consiste no facto de que o atual modelo de fundamentação não estabelece limites do dever de motivar, razões pela qual propomos um modelo de fundamentar as sentenças. Este consiste na fundamentação resumida ou redação resumida, tendo em vista tornar o processo menos extenso. A presente dissertação está estruturada em sete partes, nomeadamente: na primeira parte consta o dever de motivar no âmbito constitucional; a segunda parte trata sobre a exigência de fundamentar as decisões resultantes da CEDH; na terceira parte encontraremos a fundamentação das decisões judiciais, no âmbito do Direito Processual Civil; em quarto lugar faremos uma análise comparativa do dever de fundamentar em alguns países; em quinto lugar, a consequência da não fundamentação, em sexto lugar o estudo também irá incidir numa nova perspetiva do dever de fundamentar as decisões judiciais e, por ultimo, a conclusão.The dissertation in question refers us to an analysis of the reasoning of the decision in the scope of Civil Procedural Law. The current requirement of the obligation to state reasons arising both from the Constitution of the Republic and from the Code of Civil Procedure, consist of the criterion of consistency and completeness. What is expected of the judge is that this at the time of rendering the judgment on the decision taken must give reasons for such decisions. In addition to the requirement of de facto and de jure motivation, the criterion of completeness requires that other issues be motivated as well. Our contribution to these questions is that the current model of reasoning does not set limits on the duty to state reasons . Reasons why we propose a model to justify sentences. This consists of the summary statement or summary wording, with a view to making the process less extensive. This dissertation is structured in seven parts, namely: in the first part it is the duty to motivate in the constitutional sphere, in the second part it deals with the requirement to justify the decisions resulting from the ECHR, in the third part we will find the grounds of the judicial decisions in the scope of the Civil Procedure Law, fourthly we will make a comparative analysis of the duty to state in some countries, sisthly, the study will also focus on a new perpective on the duty to provide a basis for judicial decisions and, finally, the conclusion

Clinical Evidence of Human Pathogens Implicated in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology and the Therapeutic Efficacy of Antimicrobials: An Overview

A wealth of pre-clinical reports and data derived from human subjects and brain autopsies suggest that microbial infections are relevant to Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). This has inspired the hypothesis that microbial infections increase the risk or even trigger the onset of AD. Multiple models have been developed to explain the increase in pathogenic microbes in AD patients. Although this hypothesis is well accepted in the field, it is not yet clear whether microbial neuroinvasion is a cause of AD or a consequence of the pathological changes experienced by the demented brain. Along the same line, the gut microbiome has also been proposed as a modulator of AD. In this review, we focus on human-based evidence demonstrating the elevated abundance of microbes and microbe-derived molecules in AD hosts as well as their interactions with AD hallmarks. Further, the direct-purpose and potential off-target effects underpinning the efficacy of anti-microbial treatments in AD are also addressed

a systematic review

publishersversionpublishe

Empty rituals? A qualitative study of users’ experience of monitoring & evaluation systems in HIV interventions in western India

In global health initiatives, particularly in the context of private philanthropy and its ‘business minded’ approach, detailed programme data plays an increasing role in informing assessments, improvements, evaluations, and ultimately continuation or discontinuation of funds for individual programmes. The HIV/AIDS literature predominantly treats monitoring as unproblematic. However, the social science of audit and indicators emphasises the constitutive power of indicators, noting that their effects at a grassroots level are often at odds with the goals specified in policy. This paper investigates users' experiences of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems in the context of HIV interventions in western India. Six focus groups (totalling 51 participants) were held with employees of 6 different NGOs working for government or philanthropy-funded HIV interventions for sex workers in western India. Ten donor employees were interviewed. Thematic analysis was conducted. NGO employees described a major gap between what they considered their “real work” and the indicators used to monitor it. They could explain the official purposes of M&E systems in terms of programme improvement and financial accountability. More cynically, they valued M&E experience on their CVs and the rhetorical role of data in demonstrating their achievements. They believed that inappropriate and unethical means were being used to meet targets, including incentives and coercion, and criticised indicators for being misleading and inflexible. Donor employees valued the role of M&E in programme improvement, financial accountability, and professionalising NGO-donor relationships. However, they were suspicious that NGOs might be falsifying data, criticised the insensitivity of indicators, and complained that data were under-used. For its users, M& E appears an ‘empty ritual’, enacted because donors require it, but not put to local use. In this context, monitoring is constituted as an instrument of performance management rather than as a means of rational programme improvement

Microscopic and biomolecular result of survey filarias diagnostic in the community of Angola in Chicala province of Bié

Bié is referred to as an endemic location for filariasis and has never been selected for mass administration of ivermectin. To understand the situation, we did a study in the locality of Chicala, in Kuito, and evaluated the co-endemicity of human filariasis, to obtain data via calibrated thick droplet microscopy and subcutaneous biopsy of samples collected in Chicala in Kuito, Bié and samples collected and preserved on Wathman filter paper for molecular diagnosis of filariae; Material and methods; The research was approved by the ethics committee of the Agostinho Neto University medical school. in deliberation number: 17/2021 and the samples collected after free and informed consent, the universe was 6015 people, data obtained from the local administration and was selected probabilistically from an approximate value of n0 400, the sample of 320 participants distributed in 12 conglomerates where we did research prolectively; The field work involved 2 microscopes, to read the slides, 2 interviewers, 1 guide and 1 driver; The Oncocerca volvulus worm was isolated from subcutaneous cellular tissue extracted from the iliac crest and/or calf muscles and crushed on a glass slide, hydrated in 1 drop of saline and analyzed using a binocular microscope (HC Olympus®), with a 100x objective., regarding the presence or absence of the filaria Oncocerca volvulus and one drop of fresh blood was collected by digital puncture and applied to the slide in a smear and on top of the slide and stained with giemsa and analyzed under the Binocular microscope (HC Olympus®) for the presence or absence of the filariae Wuchereria bancrofty and Loa Loa. All survey data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2010 and IBM SPSS version 21 statistical software was used for analysis. Results The average age of participants in the study was 39.8 years, the findings found in the calibrated thick drop were 0.3%, (+) positive for Wuchereria Bancrofty and subcutaneous biopsy 52.8% (+) positive for Oncocerca volvulus, 169/320 tests, 62.8% of participants were female, 0.3% of male participants had a positive calibrated thick drop (+) for Wuchereria Bancrofty, no observation of the characteristic eye worm was not registered Loa loa and 35% of women had a positive biopsy (+) and 17% of men had a biopsy (+) for Oncocerca volvulus at the age of 46-61 years, 0.3% had a positive (+) for Wuchereria Bancrofty and, 17.5% positive (+) for Oncocerca volvulus, and from 14 -29 years old, 17.2%, (+) and 30-45 years old, 14.1% for Oncocerca volvulus. The results in the conglomerates were: Ngombakasi, 0.3% positive (+) for Wuchereria Bancrofty and Chilomba 8.1%, Lumbachagi, 7.2%, Kalale, 6.9%, and João Kapa 6.6% positive (+), for Oncocerca volvulus, the results of samples preserved on filter paper from the residents of Chikala are missing. Conclusions. The Chicala in the municipality of Kuito, province of Bié, is hyperendemic for Oncocerca volvulus, a prevalence above 50%, and hypoendemic for Wuchereria Bancrofty, a prevalence lower than 10% with Loiasis outbreaks in the province to be determined; which allows the provincial authorities to invest in the mass administration of ivermectin because the risk of side effects is minimal or irrelevant.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prevalence of abnormal cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings in athletes recovered from COVID-19 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Competitive sports and high-level athletic training result in a constellation of changes in the myocardium that comprise the ‘athlete’s heart’. With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been concerns whether elite athletes would be at higher risk of myocardial involvement after infection with the virus. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prevalence of abnormal cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) findings in elite athletes recovered from COVID-19 infection. Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science databases were systematically search from inception to 15 November 2023. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of abnormal cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings, including the pathological presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), abnormal T1 and T2 values and pericardial enhancement, in athletes who had recovered from COVID-19 infection. Results: Out of 3890 records, 18 studies with a total of 4446 athletes were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of pathological LGE in athletes recovered from COVID-19 was 2.0% (95% CI 0.9% to 4.4%, I2 90%). The prevalence of elevated T1 and T2 values was 1.2% (95% CI 0.4% to 3.6%, I2 87%) and 1.2% (95% CI 0.4% to 3.7%, I2 89%), respectively, and the pooled prevalence of pericardial involvement post COVID-19 infection was 1.1% (95% CI 0.5% to 2.5%, I2 85%). The prevalence of all abnormal CMR findings was much higher among those who had a clinical indication of CMR. Conclusions: Among athletes who have recently recovered from COVID-19 infection, there is a low prevalence of abnormal CMR findings. However, the prevalence is much higher among athletes with symptoms and/or abnormal initial cardiac screening. Further studies and longer follow up are needed to evaluate the clinical relevance of these findings and to ascertain if they are associated with adverse events