Carbon monoxide, autophagy and cytoprotection in response to cerebral ischemia

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Genética Molecular e BiomedicinaThere is an increasing need for promoting neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia, which is the main cause of brain damage in adults. Astrocytes are the most abundant cells inboard the central nervous system (CNS), being known as key glial cell for promoting neuronal survival and homeostasis. It is more established in nowdays that astrocytic dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative processes. Although, carbon monoxide is a well renown as a lethal and toxic gas due to its high affinity to hemoglobin, CO exerts anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative functions. Recent studies showed likewise that CO induces autophagy, promoting therefore cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Autophagy is a major catabolic pathway, known as an autodigestive process that degrades cellular organelles and proteins, playing an important role in cellular homeostasis during environmental stress. Due to the great interest on the signaling and cytoprotective actions of CO, novel strategies have been put forward to exploit the potential therapeutic effects of this gaseous molecule. One of these approaches consist on the development of CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs), compounds that deliver small quantities of CO to tissues and first identified by the group of Motterlini and co-workers. The aim of this Master thesis was to study the action of CORM-A1, a boron-containing compound that spontaneously releases CO, against cell death in primary culture of astrocytes. In particular, we examined the role of CORM-A1 in autophagy, mitophagy and cell metabolism. Here, we demonstrated that CORM-A1 promotes the induction of autophagy in primary culture of astrocytes. Furthermore,autophagy is directly involved in the cytoprotective effect of CORM-A1 against cell death. In some preliminary experiments we have shown that CORM-A1 also induced mitophagy, while autophagy and inhibition of cell death promoted by CORM-A1 seem to occur under hypoxia (5% of oxygen). This master thesis has addressed several important questions on the role of CO in astrocyte function but also opened to many other important questions on the mechanism of action of CO. For instance, future work must be undertaken in order to explore whether CO-mediated induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play an important role in cell signaling, which are the factors directly involved in mitophagy and the cross-talk between apoptosis and modulation of autophagy.e-COST,(COST Action BM1005

How to Predict the Innovation to SMEs? Applying the Data Mining Process to the Spinner Innovation Model

Funding: This paper is financed by National Funding awarded by the FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology to the project «UIDB/04928/2020» and NECE-UBI, R&D unit funded by the FCT —Portuguese Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Science, University of Beira Interior, Management and Economics Department, Estrada do Sineiro, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal.Despite the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for the growth and development of companies, the high failure rate of these companies persists, and this correspondingly demands the attention of managers. Thus, to boost the company success rate, we may deploy certain approaches, for example predictive models, specifically for the SME innovation. This study aims to examine the variables that positively shape and contribute towards innovation of SMEs. Based on the Spinner innovation model, we explore how to predict the innovation of SMEs by applying the variables, namely knowledge creation, knowledge transfer, public knowledge management, private knowledge management and innovation. This study applied the data mining technique according to the cross industry standard process for data mining (CRISP-DM) method while the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS_Version28) served to analyze the data collected from 208 SME employees in Oporto, Portugal. The results demonstrate how the Spinner innovation model positively influences the contributions of the SMEs. This SME-dedicated model fosters the creation of knowledge between internal and external interactions and increases the capacity to predict the SME innovation by 56%.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Project Management in Engineering Education: Providing Generation Z With Transferable Skills

Expository approaches in project management education do not seem to be engaging engineering students. Although the students acquire remarkable theoretical knowledge throughout their coursework, they lack transferable competences, such as soft skills, which are scarcely attended in the teaching of project management. Generation Z's characteristics differ from previous generations and should be considered in new project management education approaches and methods. This article reviews the project management competencies, Generation Z profile, and teaching methods trends reported in the literature. It presents a study involving 147 engineering students, through a self-report questionnaire, to explore their profile's self-awareness and compare it with the literature. A correlational study links the Generation Z's personality traits with project management soft skills. Findings reveal interesting personality characteristics of Generation Z engineering students for the project management field. However, this sample showed low recognition of their individualism, less personal relationships, and did not value their creative potential. There were also differences in Electronic, Electrical, and Computer Science engineering students, namely, lower emotional intelligence. Some highlighted traits have a significant effect on critical project management soft skills. Other soft skills were not supported in personality traits. This work suggests implications for re-think educational approaches to Generation Z engineering students.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Construction of scientific knowledge and meaning: perceptions of Portuguese doctoral students

AbstractThis research focuses on how doctoral education is promoting, or can promote, levels of cognitive and psychosocial development that allow students to solve problems in creative, autonomous and cooperative ways. This goal is considered highly relevant for doctoral education, given its focus on the production of scientific knowledge. Following a qualitative design we analyse the preliminary results of a group of interviews carried out with recent PhD holders aimed at eliciting their retrospective thoughts about the PhD experience and the cognitive and psychosocial gains arising from this process

The Relationship between Market Sentiment Index and Stock Rates of Return: a Panel Data Analysis

This article analyzes the relationship between market sentiment and future stock rates of return. We used amethodology based on principal component analysis to create a sentiment index for the Brazilian market withdata from 1999 to 2008. The sample consisted of companies listed on BM&FBOVESPA which were groupedinto quintiles, each representing a portfolio, according to the magnitude of the following characteristics: marketvalue, total annualized risk and listing time on BM&FBOVESPA. Next, we calculated the average return of eachportfolio for every quarter. The data for the first and last quintiles were analyzed via two-factor ANOVA, usingsentiment index of the previous period (positive or negative) as the main factor and each characteristic ascontrolling factors. Finally, the sentiment index was included in a panel data pricing model. The results indicatea significant and negative relationship between the market sentiment index and the future rates of return. Thesefindings suggest the existence of a reversion pattern in stock returns, meaning that after a positive sentimentperiod, the impact on subsequent stock returns is negative, and vice-versa

Programa Nacional de Acesso ao Ensino Técnico e Emprego (PRONATEC):a interseção entre a base legal e a oferta no município de Criciúma/SC

Dissertação apresentada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Socioeconômico da Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense – UNESC, como requisito parcial para a obtenção do título de Mestre em Desenvolvimento Socioeconômico.O Programa Nacional de Acesso ao Ensino Técnico e Emprego (PRONATEC) foi proposto pelo Ministério da Educação no ano de 2011 e pertencente à Política de Educação Profissional e Técnica de nível médio. Desde o surgimento do programa, o mesmo foi tema de diversas pesquisas. Entre as pesquisas descritivas, observou-se que a base legal, qual seja, os documentos oriundos desde a sua criação em 2011 a 2015, está desprovida de uma análise mais acurada, bem como a oferta municipal do programa por todas as instituições públicas e privadas que compõem a rede de educação profissional brasileira. Isto posto, surge a hipótese de que o PRONATEC tem se tornado efetivo a partir da base legal que o sustenta; ao mesmo tempo em que há um discurso da não efetividade do programa a partir dos dados apresentados pelos ofertantes e demandantes que compõem a Política de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica e a Política de Trabalho, Emprego e Renda. Portanto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a interseção entre a base legal e a oferta do programa no município de Criciúma/SC. Deste modo, o procedimento metodológico do presente estudo se deu a partir de uma pesquisa documental e da aplicação de um questionário aos ofertantes do município de Criciúma. A análise qualitativa proporcionou observar as contradições que incidem sobre o programa, tanto a partir da base legal quanto dos demandantes e ofertantes

Foeniculum vulgare Essential Oils: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

The essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare commercial aerial parts and fruits were isolated by hydrodistillation, with different distillation times (30 min, I h, 2 h and 3 h), and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The antioxidant ability was estimated using four distinct methods. Antibacterial activity was determined by the agar diffusion method. Remarkable differences, and worrying from the quality and safety point of view, were detected in the essential oils. trans-Anethole (31-36%), alpha-pinene (14-20%) and limonene (11-13%) were the main components of the essentials oil isolated from F. vulgare dried aerial parts, whereas methyl chavicol (= estragole) (79-88%) was dominant in the fruit oils. With the DPPH method the plant oils showed better antioxidant activity than the fruits oils. With the TBARS method and at higher concentrations, fennel essential oils showed a pro-oxidant activity. None of the oils showed a hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity >50%, but they showed an ability to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase. The essential oils showed a very low antimicrobial activity. In general, the essential oils isolated during 2 h were as effective, from the biological activity point of view, as those isolated during 3 h.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial about efficacy of homeopathic treatment in children with obstructive adenoid

AIM: the efficacy and security of homeopathic treatment was investigated on children with obstructive adenoid justifying an operation. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prospective. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial included 40 children between the ages of 3 to 7 years old, 20 children were treated with homeopathic medication, based in the principle of similarity (Simillimum), and 20 children with placebo. All the children of the homeopathic group/ adenoid, were treated daily with Agraphis nutans 6 CH, Thuya 6 CH and Adenoid 21CH, and the patients of the placebo group received daily placebo medication. The duration of the study of each children was 4 months. The evaluation of the results was clinical, and it was made by questionnaire standard, clinical examination and direct flexible fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy, in the first and last day of treatment. The criterion of selection was the adenoid that occuped more than 70% of the coanal space. RESULTS: From the group of 20 children treated with homeopathic treatment, 13 did not show any change on the size of adenoid after nasopharyngoscopy, and 7 children had their adenoid decreased; from another group of 20 children that have treated with placebo for 4 months, 11 did not show any change on the size of their adenoid, 4 had their adenoid decreased and 5 had their adenoid increased. The statistical analysis showed a not significant difference (P= 0,069). The clinical evaluation of the patients showed that from the group of 20 patients treated with homeopathy, 17 kept unchanging, with oral breathing and snoring, one patient got better, eliminating the snoring and two were cured, which mean that their oral breathing turned to nasal breathing without snoring. From the group of 20 patients treated with placebo, 17 kept unchanging, one eliminated the snoring and two were cured; and these differences were not statistically significant (P> 0,999). CONCLUSIONS: the homeopathic treatment was not efficient in the patients with obstructive adenoid, remaining it surgical indication in 85% of the children. The homeopathic remedies did not provoke adverse events in the children.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia e segurança do tratamento homeopático em crianças com adenóide obstrutiva, com indicação cirúrgica. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico prospectivo. Material e método: Estudo prospectivo, duplo-cego, randomizado, em que foram incluídas 40 crianças com idade variando de 3 a 7 anos, 20 crianças foram tratadas com medicação homeopática individualizada (Simillimum), baseada no princípio da similitude e 20 crianças receberam placebo. Todas as crianças do grupo medicação homeopática foram medicadas diariamente com Agraphis nutans 6 CH, Thuya 6 CH e Adenóide 21CH; e as do grupo placebo receberam diariamente medicamentos sem o princípio ativo. A duração do estudo de cada paciente foi de 4 meses. A avaliação dos resultados foi clínica, por meio de questionário padrão, de exame otorrinolaringológico e nasofaringoscopia direta com fibroscópio flexível, no primeiro e no último dia de tratamento. Utilizou-se como critério de inclusão a adenóide que ocupou mais do que 70% da luz coanal. RESULTADOS: Das 20 crianças tratadas com medicamento homeopático, 13 não apresentaram alteração no tamanho da adenóide nos exames nasofaringoscópicos e 7 tiveram diminuição da adenóide; das 20 crianças que receberam placebo por 4 meses, 11 não apresentaram alterações no tamanho da adenóide, 4 tiveram diminuição da adenóide e 5 crianças tiveram aumento. Não houve diferença estatística significante entre os grupos (P= 0,069). Na avaliação clínica da evolução dos pacientes, dos 20 pacientes tratados com medicamento homeopático, 17 se mantiveram inalterados, com respiração oral e ronco, um paciente melhorou, ficando sem ronco e dois foram curados, isto é, a respiração alterou-se de oral para nasal e sem ronco. Dos 20 pacientes tratados com placebo, 17 pacientes se mantiveram inalterados, um paciente melhorou do ronco e dois foram curados, não tendo havido diferença estatística significante entre os grupos (P>0,999). CONCLUSÕES: O tratamento homeopático não foi eficaz nas crianças com adenóide obstrutiva, mantendo-se a indicação cirúrgica em 85% dos pacientes. O medicamento homeopático não provocou eventos adversos nas crianças.Instituto Brasileiro de Estudos Homeopáticos Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de São PauloUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Doctoral education, personal epistemology and autonomy: a mixed method for competency evaluation

Doutoramento em EducaçãoA questão acerca do desenvolvimento de competências, nomeadamente nas dimensões intelectual e psicossocial contempla um imperativo de grande importância para que sejam cumpridas as metas assumidas para a Educação Doutoral. Constatando-se a escassez de estudos sobre o desenvolvimento deste tipo de competências durante os anos do doutoramento, em particular no contexto português, assumiu-se como objetivo central uma investigação que contribuísse para a compreensão e avaliação de competências de Autonomia. Especificamente, pretende-se explorar como são experienciados e como se relacionam, os processos de desenvolvimento da complexidade epistemológica (compreendida como autonomia intelectual) e da autonomia (ao nível pessoal e no domínio da aprendizagem) durante o percurso de Educação Doutoral. Neste sentido, considerando uma metodologia mista, efetuou-se um plano sequencial onde se recolheram, primeiramente, dados qualitativos que informaram, seguidamente, a recolha de dados quantitativos. Na vertente qualitativa, analisaram-se narrativas acerca do percurso de doutoramento e desenvolvimento de competências de 19 recém-doutorados. Esta fase informou o desenvolvimento e a adaptação de instrumentos de medida de competências de Epistemologia Pessoal e Autonomia na Aprendizagem. Na vertente quantitativa, uma amostra alargada de estudantes de doutoramento de instituições de ensino superior portuguesas (n=478) respondeu a um protocolo estandardizado acerca da experiência de desenvolvimento dos seus estudos até ao momento. Os resultados, na perspetiva dos recém-doutorados, revelaram a perceção de que experiência doutoral implicou desenvolvimento em diferentes aspetos da epistemologia pessoal e da autonomia. Estas narrativas, a par da revisão da literatura, permitiram a disponibilização após estudos de validade em três propostas de instrumentos de medida: (1) Escala de Posicionamento Epistemológico -EPE, (2) Questionário de Suporte Social Académico – SSQA e (3) Questionário de Suporte na Academia. Uma outra medida foi traduzida e testada na população de estudantes de doutoramento portugueses: Escala de Autonomia na Aprendizagem (ALS). As respostas dos doutorandos permitiram, ainda, observar a relação entre variáveis de epistemologia pessoal, autonomia na aprendizagem, suporte social e indicadores globais de avaliação da experiência de doutoramento. Por fim, através de modelos multivariados reforçou-se a importância das variáveis de autonomia na aprendizagem e de suporte social na explicação da satisfação e das expetativas com o doutoramento.The issue of skill development, namely the intellectual and psychosocial dimensions is of great importance to the achievement of the goals set for Doctoral Education. Because of the lack of studies focusing on the development of these competencies during a PhD, particularly in Portugal, it is assumed as a central goal of a investigation the contribution for understanding and evaluating autonomy competencies. More specifically, the understanding of how the Epistemological Complexity (defined as intellectual autonomy) and Autonomy (in personal and learning domains) processes are experienced and how they relate to each other throughout the course of Doctoral Education. Following a mixed methodology approach, considering a sequential design in which qualitative data was gathered upfront and used to determine the quantitative data gathered afterwards. In the qualitative strand were analyzed narratives of recent 19 PhD holders, which described the process up to the completion of their PhD, including competency development. These phase inform the development and adapting of a set of measurement instruments for the personal epistemology and autonomy learning competencies. In the quantitative strand a survey was conducted among a large sample of PhD Students and Candidates from Portuguese higher Education Institutions (n=478) who were requested to complete a standardized questionnaire covering their PhD experience up to that point. The results, in the PhD holder’s perspective, revealed the perception that doctoral experience implied development of different aspects of personal epistemology and autonomy. These narratives, along with the literature review, allowed the release after validation studies of three proposals of measurement instruments: (1) Epistemological Position Scale – EPE, (2) Academic Social Support Questionnaire (SSQA), and (3) Support in Academia Questionnaire. One other measure was translated and tested on Portuguese PhD students: Autonomous Learning Scale (ALS). The PhD students’ answers allowed the observation of the relationship between variables of personal epistemology, learning autonomy, social support and global indicators of evaluation of the PhD experience. To conclude, the multivariate models strengthen the importance of learning autonomy and social support on explain satisfaction and expectations of the PhD