Terrorismo na aviação civil : perspectivas para uma estratégia europeia de segurança aérea

Os ataques de 11 de setembro de 2001 impuseram um novo olhar sobre a ameaça terrorista contra a aviação civil e evidenciaram a vulnerabilidade da segurança aérea europeia pela inexistência de uma política comum nesse setor. A União Europeia desenvolveu, desde então, a prevenção do terrorismo e a proteção dos transportes (entendidos como infraestruturas críticas) através da ampliação do quadro normativo comunitário e da arquitetura institucional, securitizando assim o multifacetado setor da aviação civil. Este artigo pretende, numa primeira parte, analisar a evolução da segurança aérea enquadrando as ameaças, a dinâmica global e a arquitetura institucional europeia da aviação; e numa segunda parte, questionar, com base nos desafios para a segurança da aviação, da necessidade de uma Estratégia Europeia de Segurança Aérea

The importance of data analysis and the effect of sire line on the reproductive and production performance of an Irish pig farm

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária, na área científica de Produção Animal e Segurança AlimentarThis study aimed to analyse the reproductive performance of an Irish farrow-to-finish swine herd and to investigate the effect of a sire line change on the piglets’ production performance. Farrowing data over the course of one year, with a total of 222 sows and 375 parturitions, was collected and litter parameters per batch, per parity and per genetic line were analysed. Results showed that parity and average birthweight affected significantly the number of preweaning dead piglets (P <0.001) and the number of weaned pigs (P = 0.002 and P<0.001, respectively). Preweaning survival was also affected by parity and individual birthweight (P <0.001). The change in genetic line showed significant differences in preweaning survival and number of preweaning dead piglets (P <0.001) and had a tendency to be statistically different in the number of weaned pigs (P = 0.064). Preweaning death causes such as starvation and crushing by the sow also showed significant difference between genetic lines (P <0.001 and P = 0.012, respectively). Based on the results of this study, changing sire line genetics was not a helpful management strategy for this farm, since it led to higher preweaning mortality and lower total number of weaned pigs. This work highlights the importance of having robust data for internal benchmarking, monitoring and decision-making and the effect of sire line on the reproductive and productive performances of swine herdsRESUMO - A IMPORTÂNCIA DA ANÁLISE DE DADOS E O EFEITO DA LINHA PATERNA NO DESEMPENHO REPRODUTIVO E PRODUTIVO DE UMA EXPLORAÇÃO DE PORCOS NA IRLANDA. - Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o desempenho reprodutivo de uma exploração suína irlandesa e investigar o efeito da mudança da linha paterna no desempenho produtivo dos porcos. Dados relativos ao período de um ano, que contam com 222 porcas gestantes e 375 partos, foram colhidos e parâmetros de ninhada foram analisados por lote, por número de partos e por linha genética. Os resultados mostraram que o número de partos e o peso médio ao nascimento afetaram significativamente o número de leitões mortos antes do desmame (P <0.001) e o número de porcos desmamados (P = 0.002 e P <0.001, respetivamente). A sobrevivência no pré desmame também foi afetada pelo número de partos e pelo peso individual ao nascimento (P <0.001). A mudança de linha genética mostrou diferenças significativas na sobrevivência no pré desmame e no número de leitões mortos antes do desmame (P <0.001), tendo tendência a ser estatisticamente diferente no número de porcos desmamados (P = 0.064). As causas de morte no pré desmame, como fome e esmagamento pela porca, também mostraram ser significativamente diferentes entre linhas genéticas (P <0.001 e P = 0.012, respetivamente). Baseado nos resultados deste estudo, a mudança na genética da linha paterna não foi uma estratégia de gestão útil para esta exploração, visto ter levado a uma maior taxa de mortalidade pré desmame e um menor número total de porcos desmamados. Este trabalho realça a importância de ter dados robustos para avaliação corporativa interna, monitorização e tomada de decisões, assim como o efeito da linha paterna no desempenho reprodutivo e produtivo de explorações suínas.N/

Segurança do espaço aéreo

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Abscisic Acid (ABA) Regulation of Arabidopsis SR Protein Gene Expression

Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are major modulators of alternative splicing, a key generator of proteomic diversity and flexible means of regulating gene expression likely to be crucial in plant environmental responses. Indeed, mounting evidence implicates splicing factors in signal transduction of the abscisic acid (ABA) phytohormone, which plays pivotal roles in the response to various abiotic stresses. Using real-time RT-qPCR, we analyzed total steady-state transcript levels of the 18 SR and two SR-like genes from Arabidopsis thaliana in seedlings treated with ABA and in genetic backgrounds with altered expression of the ABA-biosynthesis ABA2 and the ABA-signaling ABI1 and ABI4 genes. We also searched for ABA-responsive cis elements in the upstream regions of the 20 genes. We found that members of the plant-specific SC35-Like (SCL) Arabidopsis SR protein subfamily are distinctively responsive to exogenous ABA, while the expression of seven SR and SR-related genes is affected by alterations in key components of the ABA pathway. Finally, despite pervasiveness of established ABA-responsive promoter elements in Arabidopsis SR and SR-like genes, their expression is likely governed by additional, yet unidentified cis-acting elements. Overall, this study pinpoints SR34, SR34b, SCL30a, SCL28, SCL33, RS40, SR45 and SR45a as promising candidates for involvement in ABA-mediated stress responses.FCT PostDoctoral Fellowships: SFRH/BPD/80073/2011, SFRH/BPD/81830/2011

On the physiological significance of alternative splicing events in higher plants

Alternative splicing, which generates multiple transcripts from the same gene and potentially different protein isoforms, is a key posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism for expanding proteomic diversity and functional complexity in higher eukaryotes. The most recent estimates, based on whole transcriptome sequencing, indicate that about 95 % of human and 60 % of Arabidopsis multi-exon genes undergo alternative splicing, suggesting important roles for this mechanism in biological processes. However, while the misregulation of alternative splicing has been associated with many human diseases, its biological relevance in plant systems is just beginning to unfold. We review here the few plant genes for which the production of multiple splice isoforms has been reported to have a clear in vivo functional impact. These case studies implicate alternative splicing in the control of a wide range of physiological and developmental processes, including photosynthetic and starch metabolism, hormone signaling, seed germination, root growth and flowering, as well as in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Future functional characterization of alternative splicing events and identification of the transcripts targeted by major regulators of this versatile means of modulating gene expression should uncover the breadth of its physiological significance in higher plants.FCT fellowship: (SFRH/BPD/80073/2011); Programa Ciência (QREN/MCTES)

Plan Recicla2: aprovechamiento de recursos y sostenibilidad

Esta propuesta educativa denominada “Plan Recicla2: Aprovechamiento de recursos y sostenibilidad” tiene como objetivo general trabajar el reciclaje en la escuela a través de actividades participativas, ya que la educación es la vía más adecuada para favorecer el pensamiento crítico y reflexivo sobre temas sociales, ayudando así al alumnado a desarrollarse plenamente. Por tanto, es necesario que los estudiantes conozcan las problemáticas actuales pudiendo ser partícipes de la solución de las mismas cambiando la realidad existente. Por todo lo anterior, el presente trabajo plantea partir de un análisis teórico previo para terminar diseñando un plan de centro relacionado con el reciclaje que favorezca la construcción de una conciencia ecosocial por parte del alumnado que permita avanzar hacia los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible.This educational proposal named “Plan Recycling: making the most of resources and sustainability” has, as main objective, working the process of recycling through active and participatory activities. This is due to considering education is the most accurate way to support critical and sensible thinking about social topics, helping the students to develop to the fullest. Therefore, it is necessary that the student body knows the actual difficulties allowing them to be part of the solution of them and changing our daily life. Because of this, the present assignment, based on an previous theoretical analysis, set out a school plan related to the recycling that assist the bounding of an ecosocial conscience in the student body that allows them to progress towards the Sustentable Developmente Objectives.Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Sociales y ExperimentalesGrado en Educación Primari

Elemental characterization of the airborne pollen surface using Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA)

Recent worldwide increase in pollinoses has been attributed to the synergy between pollen and pollutants. We used EPMA for the elemental characterization of the airborne pollen surface in order to find out what occurs to the wall of pollen grains when they are together with other atmospheric pollutants. Analyses were performed both to airborne pollen and to pollen that was collected from Acer spp., Platanus spp. and Pinus spp. trees. Airborne samples were assembled using a Hirst-type volumetric spore sampler set in the coastal city of Porto, Portugal. Airborne pollen samples showed major elemental differences when compared to the control pollen sample of the same species, namely in the amounts of Cl, Na and Mg, which very significantly increased on airborne samples, revealing an important influence of the ocean. Mineral dust also contributed to modify the pollen surface, by increasing Si contents on Acer spp. and Platanus spp. airborne pollen. Our results revealed consistent positive effects of the relative humidity and the precipitation in the increase of Cl, Na and Mg relative amounts on the pollen surface. This study shows that pollen grains have the ability to adsorb and/or absorb other materials, which may contribute to enhance pollen's harmful effects on people's health

Implementação da triagem telefónica e via e-mail como uma prática lean num serviço de urgência

O recurso a prestadores de cuidados de saúde menos adequado tem-se revelado uma das fontes de maior despesa no ramo da saúde e do bem-estar do doente/utente. Por ano são cada vez mais os utentes que recorrem aos serviços de urgência para tratar os seus problemas de saúde pela rapidez e comodidade de resolução, em parte devido ao fácil acesso a exames complementares de diagnóstico. Como tal, o presente estudo pretende avaliar a viabilidade da implementação dos sistemas de triagem telefónica e por e-mail como uma prática Lean. A metodologia baseia-se na realização de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, com objectivo de recolher informação aprofundada sobre a problemática em estudo. Os resultados foram obtidos através da análise de conteúdo das respostas dos entrevistados. As conclusões revelaram-se bastante promissoras, tendo-se verificado a mais-valia da implementação dos tipos de triagem em estudo como prática lean, no sentido de obter ganhos em saúde com menor desperdício e maior produtividade, sendo assim uma enorme vantagem para a nossa economia. A principal limitação do estudo encontra-se no tamanho da amostra e no método de selecção da mesma pelo que o desenvolvimento de mais estudos nesta área terão todo o interesse e demonstrar-se-ão essenciais para a fundamentação no sentido de implementar estas alterações.A less adequate use of health care providers has proved to be one of the greatest sources of expense in the field of health and well-being of the patient. Each year more and more patients resort to the emergency services to solve health problems because of its fast and comfortable way of resolution, partly due to an easy access to additional tests for diagnosis. Therefore the present study aims to evaluate the feasibility of implementation of systems for telephone screening and by e-mail as a Lean practice. The methodology is based on semi-structured interviews aiming to collect detailed information on the problem studied. The results were obtained through the analysis of the answers of the interviewees. The findings have proved to be very promising, concluding that the implementation of the types of screening studied as a Lean practice is an advantage, in order to make gains in health with less waste and greater productivity, thus it is a huge advantage to our economy. The main limitation of the study is the sample size and the method of its selection. As such further studies in this area are needed and will be essential support the implementation of these changes

Contribution to EPMA to airbone pollen analysis

As a component of aerosol, pollen is found in suspension with other mineralogical and anthropogenic particles that can adhere to the pollen wall. The aim of this study was to determine possible alterations that pollen grains suffer under different meteorological conditions in the coastal city of Porto, Portugal. For this study, 2 airborne pollen types were taken into account: Poaceae and Alnus spp sampled in July 2010 and February 2011, respectively. Quantitative analysis and X-ray map analysis were performed with a Field Emission Electron Probe Microanalyser (EPMA). Samples were mounted over adhesive carbon tape and carbon coated. Control pollen showed mainly the presence of C, O, N, P, K, Mg, S, Cl and Ca in different quantities, depending on the considered species. Airborne pollen consistently revealed a higher content of Mg and Cl than control pollen, while Si, Ca, K and P contents varied differently according to the samples. Our results show that during their “flight”, pollen grains acquire an external coating, become heavier and change significantly their composition