Diagnosis and Management of COVID-19 Disease

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that was identified in late 2019 as the causative agent of COVID-19 (aka coronavirus disease 2019). On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the world-wide outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. This document summarizes the most recent knowledge regarding the biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of COVID-19

Um referencial de identidade e cidadania na crise da primeira globalização

António Vieira (1608-1697), nascido há 400 anos, viveu, no século XVII, a crise de identidades e cidadanias decorrentes da primeira globalização, num país que se esvaíra no deslumbramento e ambição de metade do mundo, perdendo mesmo a independência política com a morte em serviço do rei fora de Portugal e da Europa. Foi esse mestiço de genes europeus e africanos que se tornou o profeta de uma identidade e cidadania a construir num futuro império onde todos teriam lugar e igual dignidade apesar das origens, culturas, religiões ou línguas. Esse humanista visionário, precursor dos direitos humanos, defensor da liberdade para todos mesmo para os escravizados, foi um pregador universal da construção da identidade do «ser» humano que é cada um nas suas diferenças étnicas, culturais ou linguísticas; foi um luso-afro-brasileiro que queria transformar pela educação de todos uma feira universal num quinto império para todos os seres humanos; foi um professor-educador precursor da cidadania multicultural e intercultural e que viveu como um cidadão do mundo, onde quer que estivesse, fosse na Europa ou na América, em Portugal ou no Brasil. Em plena segunda globalização, muitos problemas abordados por António Vieira merecem ser revistos e reflectidos, particularmente os referentes à identidade e cidadania, o que permitirá enriquecer a análise dos problemas de hoje com a comparação com as análises e propostas de solução elaboradas há quase quatro séculos atrás. Propõe-se aqui fazer-se uma contextualização e análise das consequências da crise da primeira globalização no século XVII, à volta do personagem António Vieira, dando relevo à questão da identidade em geral e à identidade do comunicador e do professor em particular («as ações são as que dão o ser») e à questão da cidadania («os grandes comem os pequenos»)

A reassessment of the taxonomic status of Paraglyptodon Castellanos, 1932 (Mammalia, Cingulata, Glyptodontia)

Castellanos described and published about new genera of glyptodonts, according to a phylogenetic scheme mainly based on the evolution of the external surface of the dorsal carapace. Among these new genera, Castellanos proposed Paraglyptodon as the predecessor of Glyptodon, and included within Paraglyptodon all known species of Glyptodontinae recovered from “horizontes pre-Ensenadenses”, and within Glyptodon all known species from “Horizontes pampeanos”, restricting the latter to the Quaternary. All the species that belong to Paraglyptodon, that is Paraglyptodon chapalmalensis, Paraglyptodon uquiensis, Paraglyptodon dubius, and Paraglyptodon paranensis were established based on one, two or few osteoderms, mostly from the dorsal carapace. Regarding P. paranensis and P. dubius, Oliva and collaborators consider the first as a nomen vanum, representing an indeterminate Glyptodontinae, and the second as a synonym of P. chapalmalensis. Upon re-examination of the holotypes of P. chapalmalensis and P. uquiensis together with their comparison with other well-known specimens of glyptodonts, mainly with Glyptodon (of both juvenile and adult stages), we found the same ornamentation in different sections of the dorsal carapaces, particularly in P. chapalmalensis and in juvenile stages of Glyptodon spp.We could not identify features that would allow us to make a distinction between the holotype of P. uquiensis and Glyptodon spp. Therefore, we consider that a new taxon guide for naming the Upper Chapadmalalan biozone is necessary. The biostratigraphic range of Glyptodon could possibly be extended to the late Pliocene. However, new records and studies are needed to verify the existence of this taxon in the Chapadmalalan Stage/Age in its type locality.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Developing a set of strategies, in Portugal, to monitor and prevent damages in animal housing, due to hot climate conditions

In Portugal, animal production (mainly meat and milk) represents 32% of the Agriculture Domestic Product and, in some regions, its socio-economic importance is quite relevant. Located in Southwestern Europe, Portugal has a mediterranean climate: Winter is cold and wet. Summer is hot and dry particularly in Alentejo and northeastern regions. Significantly high temperatures combined with dry air (or even wet air) may bring about serious problems or damage to livestock and losses to the farmer. In Portugal, it is estimated that 20% of the annual losses in animal production are due to adverse climatic factors or deficient regulation in indoor climatization of animal housing. The situation is most problematic in summer when very high temperatures occur. According to the HWDI (Heat Wave Duration Index) since 2000, in Portugal three heat waves have occurred, with temperatures over 40 degrees C. Generally, in all regions, these periods of very high temperatures are combined with dry air (low relative humidity). In most cases, the buildings are not suitable for animal housing under high temperatures. They lack appropriate equipment to control indoor environmental conditions. To minimize the effects of these adverse climatic situations on animal production, in Portugal, we intend to carry out a work project to tackle this problem. For that purpose, we intend to develop a set of strategies aiming at: - collecting information about animal breeding and animal housing; - identifying the climatic factors that affect livestock, in all portuguese regions; - evaluating the effects of the climatic factors on animal production, in different regions; - studying strategies and methods to help farmers cope with the problem; - establishing a web page to spread information; To carry out this work we have to organize a multidisciplinary team in order to embrace all different fields of interest related to this problem

Strategies to minimize effects of hot climate conditions on livestock in Portugal. A regional approach

In Portugal, animal production is of major significance, both economically and socially. Livestock are especially important to those regions in which agriculture is the main economic activity. Situated in Southwestern Europe, Portugal has a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry Summer. Livestock farmers have to deal with high temperatures and with their effects on animal production. In most cases, breeders are not prepared to handle animals under high temperatures; they lack facilities and/or knowledge about this problem. We have begun work with the aim of developing strategies to monitor and prevent harm to animals (housed or raised outdoors) during the summer months. We need to identify the Portuguese regions most seriously affected by this problem, as well as where and for how long high temperatures occur most frequently. Both individual days with very high temperatures and heat waves are becoming more and more common in Portugal. The past four summers have been among the hottest ever registered. Since 2003, eight heat waves have occurred. We chose two locations in Portugal's Northeast to carry out a preliminary study in order to evaluate the occurrence of hot climate conditions in recent years; to develop methods of obtaining that data; and to learn how climatic factors (mainly temperature) evolve over the course of the summer. We can conclude that in this region livestock are commonly exposed to high temperatures for long periods. It becomes clear that it is necessary to develop strategies to protect animals from the effects of such conditions

Monitorização, prevenção, comunicação e resolução dos riscos climáticos no sector pecuário. Estabelecimento de estratégias de implementação de um serviço de alerta e de combate ao problema

Na Europa do Sul ou nas regiões mediterrâneas, as temperaturas muito elevadas podem provocar dificuldades e danos na produção animal e aos produtores. Os fenómenos de ondas de calor ou de temperaturas muito elevadas, causam prejuízos avultados e perdas significativas na produção animal. Em Portugal, verificamos que são cada vez mais frequentes a ocorrência de situações com condições climáticas adversas, devidas a períodos de temperaturas elevadas. Verificaram-se, também, diversas ondas de calor, de acordo com o HWDI (Heat Wave Duration Index). Atendendo a estas questões e porque as ondas de calor coincidem com algumas regiões do país onde estão concentradas as actividades de produção animal, estamos a desenvolver um trabalho que pretende estudar e acompanhar estes fenómenos, no intuito de minimizar o seu impacto nas explorações pecuárias. Pretende-se identificar os factores climáticos que, nas diferentes regiões, podem afectar os animais; identificar a diversidade climática em cada região; avaliar os efeitos diferenciados da diversidade climática na produção animal. Para isso, preparou-se um conjunto de medidas e estratégias, envolvendo um trabalho interdisciplinar, para fazer face a este problema. In the South of Europe or mediterranean regions, significant high temperatures combined with dry air (or even wet air) may produce serious problems or damages to livestock and to the farmer. To understand and minimize the effects of this situation in Portugal, we intend to carry out a work project aiming to identify the climatic factors that affect livestock in all portuguese regions; the climatic diversity of the several regions; to evaluate the effects of the climatic factors in livestock; and to develop strategies to face these problems

Contributions to the debate on autonomy and freedom of expression in convergence times and Open Education

[PT] O objetivo deste texto é apresentar um contributo das novas formas de comunicação, expressão, interação, colaboração e integração para as potencialidades da construção do conhecimento, por meio dos recursos educacionais abertos, na atual cultura da mThis paper aims to present a contribution of new forms of communication, expression, interaction, collaboration and integration for the potential construction of knowledge, through open educational resources, in the current culture of mobility and conver