A preliminary report

This research presents the efforts, to help students, hindered during the COVID19 pandemic, to learn chemistry. With the pandemic, Portuguese students that enrolled in the 10th grade in September 2021, had lower experience in the experimental work, since practical classes at school were suspended from mars 2019 to September 2021. So, students had difficulties in measuring or working with simple laboratory apparatus. They had difficulties in giving meaning to the experimental procedure, describing an observation, collecting data, analyzing data, and interpreting the results. In this context, it was necessary to have a learning and teaching approach different from the one they had in the last three years, to develop the skills they need. The first proposal was to use “Practical work by laboratory stations but it was not enough in the present context. So, a new learning and teaching project that blended digital tools/platforms and practical work in the laboratory was conceived. This learning and teaching project uses hybrid learning environments, based on practical work by laboratory stations, developed according to the collaborative Peer Instruction approach in a flipped classroom environment. The project's main goals were to develop scientific skills (like planning, collecting data observing and measuring, classifying, quantifying, predicting, controlling variables, interpreting, forming conclusions, and communicating) and increase their motivation to learn Chemistry and Physics. But also study the impact of the flipped classroom with laboratory stations, on motivation, self-regulation of learning, the perception of self-efficacy to self-regulate learning and the perceived instrumentality of the self-regulation process. The study population is the students enrolled in the 10th grade (upper secondary school), in a school near Lisbon. The research project was implemented in two classes: one class were subject to the new approach (one in the 10 grade), and the other maintained the regular practice (the control group). In this paper, the results from the first year will be presented and discussed. The data were collected in two moments, in September 2021 and June 2020. The preliminary results, of this research, show that laboratory classes with the flipped room increase not only the motivation and involvement in the learning process but also, the learning outcomes as students become more involved in the tasks.publishersversionpublishe

Ação Externa

O capítulo aborda as principais dimensões da ação externa da União Europeia à luz das inovações trazidas pelo Tratado de Lisboa. Começa por descrever como se organiza institucionalmente a União para prosseguir os objetivos que norteiam a sua ação externa. Centra em seguida a atenção nos instrumentos que permitirem à UE projetar-se sobre o tríptico clássico da subjetividade dos sujeitos internacionais (ius belli, ius legationes e ius tractuum)

Role of the activating NK cell receptor NKG2D in models of liver inflammation and tumorigenesis

Inflammation is a fundamental protective immune response that is now accepted as one of the hallmarks of cancer as it can provide pro-tumorigenic signals and subvert immunosurveillance. The activating receptor NKG2D, expressed on both innate and adaptive immune cells, binds to several ligands expressed by target cells and it is known to be critical in the surveillance of ligand-expressing spontaneous tumours. NKG2D has recently emerged as an important player in inflammatory disorders but its precise relevance in inflammation-driven cancer remains elusive. In this study, the role played by NKG2D in a chemically induced model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is addressed by using NKG2D-deficient mice to provide evidence of a novel and unexpected role for NKG2D as a tumour promoter. The study shows that the presence of NKG2D in this model accelerates tumour growth, favours the recruitment of CD8+T cells to the inflamed liver tissue and exacerbates the pro-inflammatory milieu. NKG2D contributes to liver damage that drives chronic cycles of hepatocyte death and proliferation favouring tumour progression. The NKG2D/NKG2D ligand pathway provides an additional mechanism linking chronic inflammation to tumour development in the context of HCC exposing the need to selectively target the types of cancer that will benefit from NKG2D-based immunotherapy. In contrast with the HCC model, a NKG2D effect is not observed at early stages of liver inflammation in a short-term model of acute inflammation and liver damage. Mechanisms that regulate the recruitment and location of immune cells at sites of inflammation are poorly understood and no data are available regarding the importance of activating receptors in this mobilization process. For this reason a protocol for real time imaging of natural killer (NK) cells in the liver tissue using intravital confocal or two-photon laser-scanning microscopy (TPSLM) was established to address NK cell dynamics in vivo in the liver.Open Acces

Science Education PhD in Nova Lisbon University an overview

Doctoral supervision is quite important, as it involves the training of researchers at an early stage. Aiming at deepening knowledge about the doctoral student supervision experience in Nova Lisbon University, an exploratory study was conducted in the area of Science Education. The time to complete the doctoral degree in Educational Science at Nova Lisbon University (UNL) is not the ideal. This research work intends to bring some light to this issue and produce knowledge about it. The study focus the students‟ point of view regarding the doctoral supervision process. To accomplish the referred goal a survey was applied, to doctoral students that are enrolled in this doctoral program at UNL.authorsversionpublishe

An exploratory and a preliminary study about the supervisor point of view

It is well known that PhD attrition is high, and that is a problem for higher education systems, but also to the society. The scientific and technological development (the research enterprise) of a society is intimately related to the knowledge that is developed and produced in higher education systems. The attrition is an obstacle to science and technology improvements since students don’t develop and conclude their research project, which would bring new knowledge to society. From the students’ point of view, this attrition has personal but also financial and career consequences. On opposite side is the excellence in supervision, which reduce attrition, promote a holistic formation of the students, as a person and as a researcher, and is a facilitator of learning and a sponsor of knowledge. There are few studies in Portugal related to the third cycle, and fewer related to supervision practices and experience. In this context and trying to identify the supervision practices and experience lived by the PhD students and supervisors, an exploratory survey regarding PhD supervision was developed, applied to Science Education PhD students and supervisors and analysed. Based on this exploratory study we developed another more extensive one - a preliminary survey- that was applied to Universidade Nova de Lisboa students and supervisors. In this paper, we will present the results related to supervisors. The results from the two populations have significant differences related to the socialization/integration process in the research area, but above all it was not possible to perceive how supervisor monitor and evaluated the research process and progress.publishersversionpublishe

A (de)formed perception of the pathway to be taken during the PhD. The influence of time in the students’ eyes perception in becoming a researcher

The PhD journey is different from all other activities in higher education. It ́s a period of construction of the research and is also a time for integration in the academy, in the field of research, and at the higher education system. During the enrolment in the PhD, the person's growth and the live experience change the perception that the doctorate has of the PhD and the research journey. The experiences as a doctoral student and as a researcher under construction, who is supervised/oriented/ guided by a supervisor, shape the way of thinking and action regarding the institution and the academy but also influence the way they see and felt the PhD journey and their beliefs. It is argued in this paper that an initial (de)formed a perception of the real PhD journey and supervision, may influence the satisfaction of the students with it, and the disappointment impact the option to leave the academy or to continue. The current paper describes the change in the perception, motives, and of the curriculum quality and adequacy to doctoral personal journeys, during the doctorate. But it also reflects a PhD students’ personal journey and their perceptions concerning the PhD supervisors, host institutions, and the academy.publishersversionpublishe

Evidência empírica na abordagem sobre as consequências da exposição à violência interparental

As crianças expostas à violência interparental são vítimas indirectas mas igualmente vulneráveis. Neste artigo propomos fazer uma revisão da literatura empírica sobre o impacto nas crianças da exposição à violência interparental. Apresentamos o “estado da arte”, focando os principais resultados empíricos que documentam, de forma ampla, as múltiplas consequências, a curto e longo prazo, da exposição à violência interparental no ajustamento psicológico das crianças. No final tecemos algumas considerações de cariz conceptual, metodológico e interpretativo inerente à investigação e seus resultados. Children exposed to interparental violence are indirect victims and they are also vulnerable. In this article we propose a revision of the empiric literature about the impact that the exposure to interparental violence has on children. We present the “state of the art” in the phenomeno’s study, focusing our attention on the empirical results that widely document the multiple consequences, in the short and long term, of the exposure to interparental violence in the children’s psychological adjustment. In the end we will draw some conceptual, methodological and interpretational conclusions concerning our research and its results

A experiência de vitimação de crianças acolhidas em casa de abrigo

Este artigo apresenta um estudo qualitativo que analisou o ajustamento psicológico de nove crianças em acolhimento à luz dos significados atribuídos à experiência de violência familiar. O ajustamento da criança pode ser melhor compreendido se partirmos do seu ponto de vista e percebermos como atribui significado à sua experiência. Os resultados reforçam a posição inicial de que a exposição à violência interparental tem um impacto profundo e complexo no funcionamento psicológico da criança. This article presents a qualitative research that analyses the psychological adjustment of nine children in shelters in the light of the meanings attributed to the family violence experience. The child’s adjustment can be better understood if we take their point of view and consider the meaning they give to their experience. The results strengthen the initial belief that the exposure to interparental violence has a negative and complex impact in the child’s psychological adjustment

Canine hidrotherapy

A hidroterapia é um recurso que pode ser utilizado como meio terapêutico nos animais. Este artigo de revisão bibliográfica tem como finalidade dar a conhecer as propriedades físicas da água, os seus benefícios e indicações no tratamento de cães. São traçadas algumas considerações sobre o plano de tratamento dos cães e expostas as várias modalidades existentes, tal como apresentados alguns dos exercícios terapêuticos que se podem realizar e equipamentos utilizados. Finalmente são abordadas as questões relacionadas com as precauções e contraindicações da hidroterapia, assim como os cuidados com o tratamento da água. Em conclusão, sugere-se a realização de mais investigação nesta área, em que veterinários e fisioterapeutas devem colaborar em conjunto, com vista a beneficiar o melhor amigo do Homem, o cão.ABSTRACT - Hydrotherapy is a feature that can be used for therapeutic purposes in animals. This literature review article aims to make known the physical properties of water, its benefits and indications for the treatment of dogs. This review makes considerations about the treatment plan of dogs and presents the various therapeutic exercises and equipment currently available. We discuss the issues, precautions and contraindications of hydrotherapy, as well as water treatment requirements. In conclusion, it is recommended to carry out more research in this area, where veterinarians and physiotherapy professionals should work together in order to benefit man’s best friend, the dog

Burkholderia cepacia complex species differ in the frequency of variation of the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen expression during cystic fibrosis chronic respiratory infection

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) bacteria can adapt to the lung environment of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients resulting in the emergence of a very difficult to eradicate heterogeneous population leading to chronic infections associated with rapid lung function loss and increased mortality. Among the important phenotypic modifications is the variation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure at level of the 0-antigen (OAg) presence, influencing adherence, colonization and the ability to evade the host defense mechanisms. The present study was performed to understand whether the loss of OAg expression during CF infection can be considered a general phenomenon in different Bcc species favoring its chronicity. In fact, it is still not clear why different Bcc species/strains differ in their ability to persist in the CF lung and pathogenic potential. The systematic two-decade-retrospective-longitudinal-screening conducted covered 357 isolates retrieved from 19 chronically infected patients receiving care at a central hospital in Lisbon. The study involved 21 Bcc strains of six/seven Bcc species/lineages, frequently or rarely isolated from CF patients worldwide. Different strains/clonal variants obtained during infection gave rise to characteristic OAg-banding patterns. The two most prevalent and feared species, B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans, showed a tendency to lose the OAg along chronic infection. B. cenocepacia recA lineage IIIA strains known to lead to particularly destructive infections exhibit the most frequent OAg loss, compared with lineage IIIB. The switch frequency increased with the duration of infection and the level of lung function deterioration. For the first time, it is shown that the rarely found B. cepacia and B. contaminans, whose representation in the cohort of patients examined is abnormally high, keep the OAg even during 10- or 15-year infections. Data from co-infections with different Bcc species reinforced these conclusions. Concerning the two other rarely found species examined, B. stabilis exhibited a stable OAg expression phenotype over the infection period while for the single clone of the more distantly related B. dolosa species, the OAg-chain was absent from the beginning of the 5.5-year infection until the patient dead. This work reinforces the relevance attributed to the OAg-expression switch suggesting marked differences in the various Bcc species