A dimensão ontológica do conceito estratégico nacional português

ResPublica : Revista Lusófona de Ciência Política, Segurança e Relações InternacionaisO presente ensaio pretende responder ao desafio de tentar, de alguma formar, testar a validade do esquema tridimensional do Conceito Estratégico Nacional. Assim sendo, optou-se por centralizar a análise na dimensão ontológica do conceito e respetivos elementos, com particular enfoque na Identidade Nacional. Neste sentido, inicia-se o ensaio com uma breve introdução sobre o Conceito Estratégico Nacional, distinguindo-o do Conceito Estratégico de Defesa Nacional; seguidamente, aborda-se a questão da Identidade Nacional, nomeadamente o processo de construção, com enfoque no caso português; em terceiro, debruçamo-nos sobre o processo de construção do Conceito Estratégico Nacional, tratando com algum detalhe a sua dimensão ontológica; por fim, apresentam-se algumas breves considerações em jeito de conclusão.The present paper aims to give response to the challenge of validate the tridimensional scheme of the National Strategic Concept. Bearing this in mind, the option was to focus the analysis in the ontological dimension of the concept and its elements, particularly the National Identity. In this way, the paper begins with a brief introduction about the National Strategic Concept, distinguishing it from the National Defense Strategic Concept; next we discuss the subject of National Identity, namely its construction process, focused in the Portuguese case; in third, we will discuss the construction process of the National Strategic Concept, detailing its ontological dimension; last but not least, we will present some brief conclusions

IN-SIGHTSEEING HERITAGE VS TOURISTING

Instead of a destination, this article aims to draw an approach path to meaning. In this sense, we will build up our answer through five senses, with the intention of emphasizing architectural experience formative effect; paradoxically, focusing on re-placing what could be ephemeral for something more permanent and powerful for our everyday lives. The chosen place is Santa Bárbara Inn, at Oliveira do Hospital, designed by Manuel Tainha, about to be reopened after being renovated under contemporary hospitality requirements. Time will be challenged through landscape contemplation; as a result, we will share several instants – in-sights of embodied affection. We believe that, in opposite to the flash shots from tourists cameras, capturing the instant during the architectural experience – in-sightseeing – allows us to expand consciousness and re-create new bonds; from this particular place to other places. By fulfilling our baggage with a strengthened consciousness, hopefully, we decrease heritage burden, after all, all we need is to develop simple and sustainable strategies to move forward

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER PEOPLE

Gerontological research has shown that there is a marked decline in health with age and an associated demand for expensive medical services (Shepard, 1993). Some previous studies underline sedentary lifestyle as main responsible factor for hypokinetic diseases and reduction in quality of life (Rejeski et al, 1996). By contrast, among the elderly evidences show a positive relationship between regular physical activity and a high physical fitness on reduction of anxiety and depression levels, improving older peopleʼs quality of life (ACSM, 1998, 2000; Blair et al, 1995). Otherwise, the acquisition and maintenance of motor skills are critical to the preservation of an independent lifestyle and quality of life in the elderly (Rikli and Edwards, 1991). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between physical activity levels, physical fitness and quality of life among institutionalized and non-institutionalized older people. • Older people with institutional community dwelling had lower physical activity levels than non-institutionalized similar individuals. • Physical activity influences older people's functional capacity especially aerobic capacity, and quality of life in several domains. • The above results suggest that caring elderly in their own homes seems to provide higher activity patterns, functional capacities and quality of life

An Approach to Tactical Performance Optimization in a Big Data World

The amount of data collected from an individual player during a football match has increased significantly in recent years, following technological evolution in positional tracking. However, given the short time that separates competitions, the common analysis of these data focuses on the magnitude of actions of each player, while considering either technical or physical perform- ance. This focus leads to a considerable amount of information not being taken into account in performance optimization, particularly while considering a sequence of different matches of the same team. In this presentation, we will present a tactical performance indicator that considers players’ overall positioning and their level of coordination during the match. This performance indicator will be applied in different time scales, with a particular focus on possible practical applications

O modelo geopolítico de Cohen e a geoeconomia

ResPublica : Revista Lusófona de Ciência Política, Segurança e Relações InternacionaisO objetivo do presente ensaio é caraterizar o pensamento geopolítico de Saul B. Cohen (com particular enfoque nos principais conceitos teóricos que este apresenta), bem como as visões mais recentes da geoeconomia, de forma a identificar eventuais pontos de contacto. Assim, na primeira parte começamos por descrever, em termos gerais, o modelo geopolítico preconizado por Cohen, desde as suas origens até ao presente. A segunda parte é dedicada à geoeconomia e às suas principais características, nomeadamente no que se refere à relação entre os fatores económicos e os fatores geopolíticos. Na terceira parte são identificados alguns dos pontos em comum entre o modelo de Cohen e a Geoeconomia, recorrendo à análise e observação de mapas e gráficos. Por fim, serão apresentadas as principais conclusões resultantes da análise efetuada.The present essay’s purpose is to describe the geopolitical thought of Saul B. Cohen (particularly focused on his theoretical concepts), as well as the most recent geoeconomic views, in order to identify possible points of coincidence. Thus, in the first part we will start by describing in broad terms the geopolitical model advocated by this author. The second part is devoted to geoeconomy and its main features, specifically regarding the link between economic and geopolitical factors. In the third part we will identify some of the main common points between Cohen’s geopolitical model and the recent geoeconomic approaches, using and analyzing charts and graphics. In the end, we will present the main conclusions from the conducted analysis

Dynamic Match Analysis

Recent technological development has enabled research- ers to gather data from different performance scenarios while considering players positioning and action events within a specific time frame. This technology varies from global positioning systems to radio frequency devices and computer vision tracking, to name the most common, and aims to collect players’ time motion data and enable the dynamical analysis of performance. Team sports—and in particular, invasion games—present a complex dynamic by nature based on the interaction between 2 opposing sides trying to outperform 1 another. During match and training situations, players’ actions are coupled to their performance context at different interaction levels. As expected, ball, teammates’, and opponents’ positioning play an important role in this interaction process. But other factors, such as final score, teams’ development level, and players’ expertise, seem to affect the match dynamics. In this symposium, we will focus on how different constraints affect invasion games dynamics during both match and training situations. This relation will be established while underpinning the importance of these effects to game teaching and performance optimization. Regarding the match, different performance indicators based on spatial-temporal relations between players and teams will be presented to reveal the interaction processes that form the crucial component of game analysis. Considering the training, this symposium will address the relationship of small-sided games with full- sized matches and will present how players’ dynamical interaction affects different performance indicators

La energía al servicio del desarrollo sostenible: Una reflexión

Se asume con carácter universal que es necesario replantear el modelo energético basado en productos fósiles, que ha sido fuente de progreso durante los últimos 150 años, pero también causa principal de las emisiones GEI a niveles incompatibles con el desarrollo sostenible. La reducción sustancial de esas emisiones para evitar el colapso climático es el gran desafío con medidas sobre todo para ganar en eficiencia energética y sustituir progresivamente los productos fósiles, carbón y productos petrolíferos, por fuentes renovables en la producción y uso de la energía. Sobre esa base, una mayor electrificación, especialmente del transporte, centra los esfuerzos de desarrollo tecnológico donde China parece estar asumiendo el liderazgo mundial. España reúne condiciones objetivas para salir beneficiada con el nuevo modelo energético sostenible si se alcanza un pacto de estado al respecto, se establece una buena gobernanza en su desarrollo y seguimiento y se exige que se cumplan los objetivos de nuevas interconexiones eléctricas con el resto de Europ

Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (IRS2): a role in Hepatic Stellate Cells

[EN] Insulin resistance (IR) is a feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus and, in many cases, IR in liver is associated with reduced expression of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins, specifically IRS1 and IRS-2. Recent studies have revealed a close relationship between IR and the progression of chronic liver diseases, such as liver dysfunction, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are central to the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and are thought to contribute to liver repair and fibrogenesis. These cells are the principal producers of the connective tissue in a fibrotic liver, but they are also responsible for directing epithelial repair by expression of paracrine factors, including fibroblast growth factor 7. Quiescent HSCs are activated by injury; they migrate to the location of damage, transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts and participate in the resolution of fibrosis by undergoing apoptosis or reverting back to a quiescent phenotype. However, the molecular events that regulate the HSC injury cycle are not completely understood and, for this reason, the aim of this project was to evaluate how changes in insulin sensitivity affected them. This was studied by overexpressing IRS2 in human HSC-derived-LX2 cells. Irs2 functions as an intracellular scaffold that couples the insulin/IGF-1 receptors to signalling effector molecules. Cell signalling analysis was performed by Western blot, whilst immunofluorescence, MTT assays and RT-PCR analysis were used to characterize stable cell lines with the aim to quantify survival, proliferation and phenotypic changes that could help to understand how insulin signalling affects HSCs. Results showed that mouse Irs2 overexpression increased insulin sensitivity of LX2 cells, and this lead into a reduced survival of cells. Therefore, conclusions suggested that fibrogenic reversion could be promoted by improving insulin sensitivity.[ES] La resistencia a la insulina (IR) es una característica de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y, en muchos casos, la IR en el hígado se asocia con una expresión reducida de las proteínas del sustrato receptor de insulina (IRS), concretamente IRS-1 e IRS-2. Estudios recientes han revelado una estrecha relación entre la IR y la progresión de las enfermedades hepáticas crónicas, como la disfunción hepática, la fibrosis y la cirrosis. Las células estrelladas hepáticas (HSC) son fundamentales para la patogénesis de la cirrosis hepática y se cree que contribuyen a la reparación del hígado y a la fibrogénesis. Estas células son las principales productoras de tejido conectivo en un hígado fibrótico, pero también son responsables de dirigir la reparación epitelial mediante la expresión de factores paracrinos, incluido el factor 7 de crecimiento de fibroblastos. Las HSCs quiescentes se activan por lesión; migran al sitio donde se ha producido el daño, se diferencian en miofibroblastos productores de matriz y participan en la resolución de la fibrosis sufriendo apoptosis o volviendo a un fenotipo quiescente. Sin embargo, los eventos moleculares que regulan el ciclo de lesión de las HSCs no se comprenden completamente y, por esta razón, el objetivo de este proyecto fue evaluar cómo los cambios en la sensibilidad a la insulina les afectaba. Esto se estudió sobreexpresando IRS2 en células humanas derivadas de HSC-LX2. Irs2 funciona como un andamio intracelular que acopla los receptores de insulina/IGF-1 a las moléculas efectoras de señalización. El análisis de señalización celular se realizó por Western blot, mientras que las técnicas de inmunofluorescencia, MTT y RT-PCR se utilizaron para caracterizar líneas celulares estables con el objetivo de cuantificar la supervivencia, la proliferación y los cambios fenotípicos que podrían ayudar a comprender cómo la señalización de insulina afecta a las HSCs. Los resultados mostraron que la sobreexpresión de Irs2 aumentó la sensibilidad a la insulina de las células LX2, y esto condujo a una reducción de su supervivencia. Finalmente, las conclusiones sugieren que la reversión fibrogénica podría promoverse mejorando la sensibilidad a la insulina.Badía Folgado, P. (2018). Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (IRS2): a role in Hepatic Stellate Cells. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/107728TFG

Protocolo e segurança

ResPublica : Revista Lusófona de Ciência Política, Segurança e Relações InternacionaisA aplicabilidade de qualquer tipo de protocolo exige um ambiente seguro e funcional. Da área da segurança espera-se proteção e eficácia. Qualquer protocolo precisa de segurança para desenvolver a sua atividade, assim como a segurança precisa de ferramentas protocolares para se fazer cumprir. Sendo o Protocolo do Estado e o Protocolo Oficial, instrumentos máximos nas designações formais dos relacionamentos institucionais, deles derivam: ordem, obediência e segurança. Este triângulo virtuoso do Protocolo do Estado impõe-se pela ação que é desenvolvida tendo como matriz a previsibilidade dos atos, a antecipação de constrangimentos e o afastamento dos conflitos. A segurança tem como primeiro objetivo a proteção das pessoas e instituições. A este primeiro conceito de defesa da integridade geral associa-se o da assunção da garantia da independência. Numa época de fortes ameaças, espera-se o reforço de medidas de segurança que não dispensem normas e regras protocolares. Setor público e privado partilham a gestão de competências securitárias e, por isso, é premente aprofundar estratégias de convivência onde os instrumentos do protocolo terão sempre um papel galvanizador e conciliador entre os agentes.The applicability of any type of protocol requires a safe and functional environment. From the security area we expect protection and efficiency. Any protocol needs security to develop his actions as well as the security needs protocol tools to be enforced. Being the State Protocol and the Official Protocol maximum instruments in the formal designations of the institutional relationships, from them derive: order, obedience and security. This virtuous triangle of the State Protocol is based on the predictability of acts, the anticipation of constraints and the conflict avoidance. Security has as its first objetive the protection of people and institutions. This first concept of general integrity defence is associated with the promotion of independence. In a time of strong threats, it is expected the increment of the security measures that do not exempt protocol norms and rules. The public and private sectors share the management of security competencies and, therefore, it is urgent to deepen strategies of coexistence where the instruments of the protocol will always have a conciliatory role among the agents