Uma questão de espaço: protótipo de alojamento mínimo flexível

Em pleno século XXI, qualquer pessoa atenta, espectadora desse filme tão aclamado chamado “vida”, tem noção da permanente transformação da sociedade e dos seus hábitos, sustentada pelos recentes conceitos de mobilidade, portabilidade e rentabilização total do tempo. Estas alterações sociais e a sua forma de pensar reflectem-se no modo de vida das pessoas, na economia, na política, na educação, na história, e acima de tudo, na arquitectura, sendo que esta última tem que ser capaz de se adaptar e acompanhar esta progressiva mudança da sociedade. Assim, a arquitectura contemporânea surge como o ponto de transição, devendo ser considerada como um elemento impulsionador da criatividade arquitectónica conceptual, formal e material, aproveitando os recursos naturais, de modo a ser criada uma arquitectura económica e sustentável. Neste sentido, e numa tentativa de aproximação da arquitectura às necessidades permanentes do Homem, a escolha do tema desta dissertação tem por base o espaço mínimo habitável, considerando o arquitecto como criador do espaço com capacidade de perceber estas problemáticas, de forma a apresentar com soluções viáveis, intemporais e/ou em conformidade com a época em que vive. Deixamos para trás os grandes espaços arquitectónicos sobre os quais existe já uma grande quantidade de teorias, reflexões e informação. Para além disso, e uma vez que nos encontramos numa época de contenção, torna-se oportuno nesta dissertação, desenvolver a arquitectura de espaço mínimo conjugada com a sua consequente flexibilidade. Assim, nesta dissertação pretende-se estudar os hábitos e actividades exercidas na casa, bem como as funções que esta deve desempenhar, prevendo as actividades praticadas nos espaços internos sociais e nos privados. Deste modo, pretende-se levar à mínima expressão a questão da habitação, devendo esta ser funcional e flexível para que rapidamente o habitante se movimente e realize as suas necessidades enquanto Ser Humano. Apesar de apenas recentemente se ter começado a estudar intensa e internacionalmente o espaço mínimo, este é um tema que na prática aparece desde os primórdios da arquitectura, sendo a cabana primitiva o exemplo de excelência. Segundo Vitrúvio: Uns começaram a fazer cabanas com folhas, e outros a escavar cavidades nas montanhas; outros, imitando o engenho das andorinhas, realizavam, com pequenos galhos de árvore e terra mole, locais em que pudessem abrigar-se, e cada um, considerando a obra de seu vizinho, aperfeiçoava suas próprias invenções sobre as observações que fazia sobre a dos outros; e a cada dia faziam-se progressos na maneira de construir cabanas, pois os homens, cuja natureza viii é dócil e voltada à imitação, glorificando-se das suas invenções, comunicavam todos os dias aquilo que haviam inventado de novo.1 Verifica-se, portanto, que o conceito de cabana foi evoluindo, associando-se hoje em dia a habitações de espaço mínimo. Perceber a lógica desta evolução para a aplicar em futuras propostas implica, necessariamente, estudar as dimensões antropométricas do Homem como utilizador desse espaço mínimo, de modo a que haja uma adaptação da arquitectura ao Homem e não o contrário. Podem-se destacar dois casos de excelência, onde se manifesta a preocupação da adaptação da arquitectura ao Homem: 1) Leonardo Da Vinci, por volta de 1490 realiza o então conceituado desenho do Homem Vitruviano, onde se encontram previstas as diversas relações e proporções entre o corpo humano e as suas partes, tendo-se por esse motivo tornado o símbolo do Renascimento, em que o Homem apresenta o papel central, quer na arquitectura, quer em todas as outras actividades humanas; 2) Le Corbusier, baseando-se nas regras do número de ouro, nos números de Fibonacci, bem como nas dimensões médias humanas, desenvolveu um sistema de medição, o “Modulor”, permitindo assim a projecção de uma arquitectura para o Homem, de acordo com as medidas humanas. Exemplos de obras de espaços mínimos onde Le Corbusier aplica estas teorias são a Célula de 14m2, o Cabanon e até os “apartamentos-célula” que inclui no programa das villas que projectou desde os anos 20 até aos 50. Com o estudo aprofundado destas temáticas pretende-se criar um sistema que permita integrá-las numa arquitectura mínima, e consequentemente flexível e adaptável ao Homem e às suas necessidades. A proposta resultará na conceptualização de um protótipo de uma célula habitacional mínima, onde estará prevista uma distribuição flexível e funcional do espaço, adaptada ao Homem, de modo a reflectir assim a base teórica em estudo.In the XXI century, any attentive person spectator of the so acclaimed movie called ‘life’ is aware of the ongoing transformation of society and its habits, supported by recent concepts of mobility, portability and total time economy. These social changes and their way of thinking are reflected in people lifestyles, economy, politics, education, history, and above all, architecture, and these last one must be able to adapt and follow this progressive change in society. Thus, contemporary architecture appears as a transition point, and should be considered as a leading element for conceptual architectural creativity, formal and material, taking advantage of natural resources in order to be created an economic and sustainable architecture. In this sense and in an attempt to approach architecture to the permanent human needs, the choice of the subject of this dissertation is based on the minimum habitable space, considering the architect has a creator of the space with the ability to understand these issues, presenting viable solutions, timeless and/or in accordance with the time in which he lives. We leave behind the great architectural spaces about which there is already a huge amount of theory, reviews and information. Furthermore, and since we are in a time of restraint, it is opportune in this thesis to develop the minimum space architecture coupled with its resulting flexibility. Thus, this dissertation aims to study the habits and activities executed at such a house, as well as the functions it should perform, foreseeing the activities practiced in social internal spaces and in private spaces. In this way, it is intended to lead to the minimum expression the issue of housing, which must be functional and flexible so that the inhabitant quickly moves and performs its needs as human being. Despite only recently having started studying intensively and internationally the minimum space, this is a subject that appears from the very beginning of architecture, being the primitive hut the example of its pinnacle. According to Vitruvius: Some made them of green boughs, others dug caves on mountain sides, and some, in imitation of the nests of swallows and the way they built, made places of refuge out of mud and twigs. Next, by observing the shelters of others and adding new details to their own inceptions, they constructed better and better kinds of huts as time went on. And since they were of an imitative and teachable nature, they would daily point out to each other the results of their building, boasting of the novelties in it; and thus, with their natural gifts sharpened by emulation, their standards improved daily. 1 It appears therefore, that the concept of hut has been evolving, linking up today to minimum housing space. To understand the logic of this development to be implemented in future proposals, necessarily implies to study the anthropometric dimensions of Man as a user of this minimal space, so that there is an adjustment of the architecture to the Man and not the opposite. We can point out two cases of excellence, which express concern about the adaptation of architecture to Man: 1) Leonardo Da Vinci, around 1490 performs the prestigious drawing of the Vitruvian Man, where the various relations and proportions between the human body and its parts are found foreseen, having therefore been made the symbol of the Renaissance, wherein Man features the central role both in architecture, or in any other human activities; 2) Le Corbusier, based on the rules of the golden ratio, the Fibonacci numbers, as well as the average human dimensions, developed a system of measurement, the "Modulor", thus enabling the deployment of an architecture for Man in according to human measures. Examples of minimum space works by Le Corbusier where these theories are applied are the 14m2 cell, Le Cabanon and even the "cell-apartments" which include the program of the villas that were projected from the 20s to 50. With the detailed study of these issues it is intended to create a system that allows to integrate them in a minimal architecture, and consequently flexible and adaptable to Man and its needs. The proposal will result in the conceptualization of a prototype for a minimal cell housing, where will be planned a flexible and functional distribution of space, so that it suits Man

Papel da histeroscopia diagnóstica na avaliação da metrorragia pós-menopausa

Mestrado Integrado em MedicinaMaster Degree in Medicin

Children's emotional understanding of death: response to Silva et al paper

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identification of Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) medicae based on a specific genomic sequence unveiled by M13-PCR fingerprinting

A collection of nodule isolates from Medicago polymorpha obtained from southern and central Portugal was evaluated by M13-PCR fingerprinting and hierarchical cluster analysis. Several genomic clusters were obtained which, by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of selected representatives, were shown to be associated with particular taxonomic groups of rhizobia and other soil bacteria. The method provided a clear separation between rhizobia and co-isolated non-symbiotic soil contaminants. Ten M13-PCR groups were assigned to Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) medicae and included all isolates responsible for the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules upon re-inoculation of M. polymorpha test-plants. In addition, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR fingerprinting indicated a high genomic heterogeneity within the major M13-PCR clusters of S. medicae isolates. Based on nucleotide sequence data of an M13-PCR amplicon of ca. 1500 bp, observed only in S. medicae isolates and spanning locus Smed_3707 to Smed_3709 from the pSMED01 plasmid sequence of S. medicae WSM419 genome’s sequence, a pair of PCR primers was designed and used for direct PCR amplification of a 1399-bp sequence within this fragment. Additional in silico and in vitro experiments, as well as phylogenetic analysis, confirmed the specificity of this primer combination and therefore the reliability of this approach in the prompt identification of S. medicae isolates and their distinction from other soil bacteria. [Int Microbiol 2009; 12(4):215-225

Applications of Essential Oils as Antibacterial Agents in Minimally Processed Fruits and Vegetables - A Review

Microbial foodborne diseases are a major health concern. In this regard, one of the major risk factors is related to consumer preferences for “ready-to-eat” or minimally processed (MP) fruits and vegetables. Essential oil (EO) is a viable alternative used to reduce pathogenic bacteria and increase the shelf-life of MP foods, due to the health risks associated with food chlorine. Indeed, there has been increased interest in using EO in fresh produce. However, more information about EO applications in MP foods is necessary. For instance, although in vitro tests have defined EO as a valuable antimicrobial agent, its practical use in MP foods can be hampered by unrealistic concentrations, as most studies focus on growth reductions instead of bactericidal activity, which, in the case of MP foods, is of utmost importance. The present review focuses on the effects of EO in MP food pathogens, including the more realistic applications. Overall, due to this type of information, EO could be better regarded as an added value to the food industryinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

potential for soil health improvement anwd plant growth promotion

Funding text: This work was supported by funds from Camões, Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through the research unit UIDB/00239/2020 (CEF), the PhD grant SFRH/BD/113951/2015 (Ivete Sandra Maquia), and the contribution to the International Rice Research Institute.(1) Aims: Assessing bacterial diversity and plant-growth-promoting functions in the rhizosphere of the native African trees Colophospermum mopane and Combretum apiculatum in three landscapes of the Limpopo National Park (Mozambique), subjected to two fire regimes. (2) Methods: Bacterial communities were identified through Illumina Miseq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene amplicons, followed by culture dependent methods to isolate plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Plant growth-promoting traits of the cultivable bacterial fraction were further analyzed. To screen for the presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the promiscuous tropical legume Vigna unguiculata was used as a trap host. The taxonomy of all purified isolates was genetically verified by 16S rRNA gene Sanger sequencing. (3) Results: Bacterial community results indicated that fire did not drive major changes in bacterial abundance. However, culture-dependent methods allowed the differentiation of bacterial communities between the sampled sites, which were particularly enriched in Proteobacteria with a wide range of plant-beneficial traits, such as plant protection, plant nutrition, and plant growth. Bradyrhizobium was the most frequent symbiotic bacteria trapped in cowpea nodules coexisting with other endophytic bacteria. (4) Conclusion: Although the global analysis did not show significant differences between landscapes or sites with different fire regimes, probably due to the fast recovery of bacterial communities, the isolation of PGPB suggests that the rhizosphere bacteria are driven by the plant species, soil type, and fire regime, and are potentially associated with a wide range of agricultural, environmental, and industrial applications. Thus, the rhizosphere of African savannah ecosystems seems to be an untapped source of bacterial species and strains that should be further exploited for bio-based solutions.publishersversionpublishe

Dialogues with parents: a parental support and empowerment program based on the Touchpoints Model

“Dialogues with Parents-welcoming, listening, and empowering” aimed to understand the impact of an innovative approach supporting parents with identified social/emotional vulnerabilities. Program goals included the promotion of positive parenting, the expansion of parents' knowledge and skills, and the enhancement of parent–child interactions. Based on the Brazelton Touchpoints Developmental-Relational Frameworks, the program applied strength-based assumptions and relationship-based practices to underpin empathic and collaborative relationships with families, seeking to strengthen their confidence in parenting. Two modalities were offered with a modular structure from prenatal–newborn to 6 years. Both included 10 modules, one in which the same group of parents carried out the complete sequence of sessions (Continuous Group) and a second in which parents selected one Touchpoint according to their needs and “drop in” to the session(s) of their choice (Touchpoints 1 by 1 Group). Data were gathered through satisfaction questionnaires at the end of each encounter. A focus group was also held with parents from the Continuous Group. The difference between applications (248) and total participation (99) indicates that parent's interest in participating is high but only a third managed to join the groups. Nevertheless, the results were very positive, highlighting the quality of the Touchpoints approach and program implementation, namely its impact on improving parents' understanding of children's development and of their own role in parenting. Parents particularly valued the opportunity to actively participate in the encounters and, in the Continuous Group, the usefulness of the encounters for themselves as a person and as parents

Livro Verde dos Montados

O Livro Verde dos Montados apresenta diversos objectivos que se interligam: Em primeiro lugar, o Livro Verde pretende reunir e sistematizar, de uma forma simples e acessível ao público, o conhecimento produzido em Portugal pelos investigadores e técnicos de várias instituições de investigação ou de gestão que estudam o Montado. Assume-se como uma oportunidade de caracterizar o sistema tendo em conta as suas várias dimensões, identificando as principais ameaças à sua preservação assim como os caminhos que podem ajudar à sua sustentabilidade. Não sendo um documento científico, baseia-se no conhecimento científico e pretende constituir a base para uma plataforma de organização, tanto dos investigadores como do conhecimento científico actualmente produzido em Portugal sobre o Montado.Em segundo lugar, o Livro Verde deverá contribuir para um entendimento partilhado do que é o Montado, por parte do público, de técnicos e de especialistas, conduzindo a uma classificação mais clara do que pode ser considerado Montado e de quais os tipos distintos de Montados que podem ser identificados. Em terceiro lugar, o Livro Verde estabelece as bases para uma estratégia coordenada de disponibilização de informação sobre o sistema Montado, visando o seu conhecimento, apreciação e valorização pela sociedade portuguesa no seu conjunto. Deste modo, o Livro Verde poderá constituir um instrumento congregador e inspirador para a realização de acções de sensibilização e informação sobre o Montado. Em quarto lugar, pretende-se que o Livro Verde contribua para um maior reconhecimento e valorização do Montado como sistema, a nível do desenho das políticas nacionais por parte dos vários sectores envolvidos.Finalmente, o Livro Verde constituirá um documento parceiro do Livro Verde das Dehesas, produzido em Espanha em 2010, de forma a reforçar o reconhecimento e a devida valorização destes sistemas silvo-pastoris no desenho das estratégias e políticas relevantes pelas instituições europeias. Em suma, os autores pretendem que o Livro Verde dos Montados se afirme como o primeiro passo para uma efectiva definição e implementação de uma estratégia nacional para os Montados

Adapting the Portuguese dignity question framework for adolescents: ages 10-18.

OBJECTIVE: Dignity therapy (DT) is well established in adult populations, and it is likely that it could benefit younger people. This study aimed to adapt the adult Portuguese DT question framework for adolescents (DT-QF-Adol) (ages 10-18). METHOD: Five stages were followed: (1) the Portuguese DT-QF for adults was adapted for adolescents with the original author's collaboration, (2) an expert committee provided feedback on the adapted version, (3) an initial consensus version of the DT-QF-Adol was created, (4) expert committee consult affirmed final consensus, and (5) validation stage with a sample of 17 adolescents followed in ambulatory psychology clinic. RESULTS: DT's original author endorsed the final Portuguese DT-QF-Adol, reinforcing that it captures the fundamental dimensions of DT. There was 100% agreement on the final consensus version and defined age group (10-18 years old). Twenty adolescents were invited to participate, and 17 were included after informed consent was obtained; 53% were female. The average age was 12.7 years. The interviewed adolescents reported that the DT-QF-Adol was clear, and they did not identify any ambiguity or difficulty in answering any of the questions. They assumed that this information could positively affect the way parents and friends see and cared for them, permitting others to understand their concerns and preferences. Participants felt that the DT-QF-Adol could be a good starting point for a conversation with their loved ones. Although they did not consider vital for health professionals to access their answers, they strongly felt that the DT-QF-Adol might be essential to sick adolescents and they would recommend it to others. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: We developed a DT-QF of nine questions for Portuguese adolescents (DT-QF-Adol), coined Protocolo de Perguntas da Terapia da Dignidade para Adolescentes - 10-18 anos. This tool can potentially be considered a good addition for pediatric palliative care

Colonization and beneficial effects on annual ryegrass by mixed inoculation with plant growth promoting bacteria

Multi-strain inoculants have increased potential to accomplish a diversity of plant needs, mainly attributed to its multi-functionality. This work evaluated the ability of a mixture of three bacteria to colonize and induce a beneficial response on the pasture crop annual ryegrass. Pseudomonas G1Dc10 and Paenibacillus G3Ac9 were previously isolated from annual ryegrass and were selected for their ability to perform multiple functions related to plant growth promotion. Sphingomonas azotifigens DSMZ 18530T was included due to nitrogen fixing ability. The effects of the bacterial mixture were assessed in gnotobiotic plant inoculation assays and compared with single and dual inoculation treatments. Triple inoculation with 3 × 108 bacteria significantly increased plant dry weight and leaf pigments, indicating improved photosynthetic performance. Plant lipid biosynthesis was enhanced by 65%, mainly due to the rise of linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid with high dietary value. Electrolyte leakage, an indicator of plant membrane stability under stress, was decreased pointing to a beneficial effect by inoculation. Plants physiological condition was more favoured by triple inoculation than by single, although benefits on biomass were only evident relative to non-inoculated plants. The colonization behaviour and coexistence in plant tissues were assessed using FISH and GFP-labelling, combined with confocal microscopy and a cultivation-based approach for quantification. The three strains occupied the same sites, localizing preferentially along root hairs and in stem epidermis. Endophytic colonization was observed as bacteria entered root and stem inner tissues. This study reveals the potential of this mixture of strains for biofertilization, contributing to improve crop productivity and nutritional value