Deliberative journalism and citizenship: principles and practices in the Portuguese regional press

FR: Quelle est la perception que les journalistes ont du rôle des lecteurs dans la vie démocratique? Quel rôle jouent les journalistes par rapport à l'espace public et le débat politique? L'objectif global de cette étude consiste à enquêter la relation entre la presse locale, les citoyens et les pratiques civiques. Il a comme point de départ une double approche théorique, la théorie de la démocratie délibérative et le mouvement du journalisme publique, afin d'évaluer le champ d'application d'une conception du «journalisme délibérative." Dans le projet "Agenda des citoyens: journalisme et participation politique dans les médias portugais", un questionnaire a été donné à 45 journalistes de huit journaux régionaux au Portugal. Les résultats révèlent qu, bien que les journalistes apprécient les principes qui sous-tendent le mouvement du journalisme public et délibérative (ce qui suggère que la conscience délibérative émerge), ils expriment aussi une orientation journalistique conventionnelle.What is the perception that journalists have about the citizens' role in democratic life? What is the role of journalists in relation to public sphere and political debate? The main goal of this study is to investigate the relationship between the local press, citizens and civic practices. It takes as starting point a dual theoretical approach, the theory of deliberative democracy and the movement of public journalism, to assess the scope of a conception of "deliberative journalism." Under the project "Citizens' Agenda: journalism and political participation in the Portuguese media ", a questionnaire was delivered to 45 journalists from eight regional newspapers in Portugal. The results show that although the journalists appreciate the principles underlying the public and deliberative journalism movements (which suggests that a deliberative consciousness is emerging), also express an conventional journalism approach

Concentrations of available heavy metals in mediterranean agricultural soils and their relation with some soil selected properties: a case study in typical mediterranean soils

The characterization of the content of trace metals in soils is an instrument in many programs of environmental protection, including the establishment of regional-level standards to detect sites affected by contamination. The objectives of the present study were to study the available levels of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in surface horizons of agricultural soils in a typical European Mediterranean region, to establish the geochemical baseline concentration (GBC), background level (BL), and reference value (RV) of each of these available metals, and to investigate their possible correlations with soil properties. To establish the GBC and RV values, we used the " standard threshold method". Topsoil samples (0-20 cm) were collected from 630 sites, and extracted with Diethylene Triamine Pentaacetic Acid (DTPA) to determine their available heavy metal concentrations. The GBC values established were: 0.04 to 0.90 mg kg(-1), 0.70 to 2.50 mg kg(-1), 0.10 to 6.30 mg kg(-1), 0.30 to 7.90 mg kg(-1), 0.29 to 4.50 mg kg(-1), and 0.18 to 2.50 mg kg(-1) for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively. Soil properties were found to be correlated with the available heavy metal content, suggesting that the enhanced mobility of heavy metals are related to anthropic activities.Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics (CIEO); Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mycobacterium tuberculosis associated with severe tuberculosis evades cytosolic surveillance systems and modulates IL-1β production

Genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis affects immune responses and clinical outcomes of tuberculosis (TB). However, how bacterial diversity orchestrates immune responses to direct distinct TB severities is unknown. Here we study 681 patients with pulmonary TB and show that M. tuberculosis isolates from cases with mild disease consistently induce robust cytokine responses in macrophages across multiple donors. By contrast, bacteria from patients with severe TB do not do so. Secretion of IL-1β is a good surrogate of the differences observed, and thus to classify strains as probable drivers of different TB severities. Furthermore, we demonstrate that M. tuberculosis isolates that induce low levels of IL-1β production can evade macrophage cytosolic surveillance systems, including cGAS and the inflammasome. Isolates exhibiting this evasion strategy carry candidate mutations, generating sigA recognition boxes or affecting components of the ESX-1 secretion system. Therefore, we provide evidence that M. tuberculosis strains manipulate host-pathogen interactions to drive variable TB severities

Toxicological and anti-tumor effects of a linden extract (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) in a HPV16-transgenic mouse model

Tilia platyphyllos Scop. is a popular broad-leaved tree, native to Central and Southern Europe. Hydroethanolic extracts rich in phenolic compounds obtained from T. platyphyllos Scop. have shown in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties. The aim of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic properties of a hydroethanolic extract obtained from T. platyphyllos in HPV16-transgenic mice. The animals were divided into eight groups according to their sex and phenotype. Four groups of female: HPV+ exposed to linden (HPV linden; n = 6), HPV+ (HPV water; n = 4), HPV- exposed to linden (WT linden; n = 5) and HPV- (WT water; n = 4) and four groups of male: HPV+ exposed to linden (HPV linden; n = 5), HPV+ (HPV water; n = 5), HPV- exposed to linden (WT linden; n = 5) and HPV- (WT water; n = 7). The linden (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) extract was orally administered at a dose of 4.5 mg/10 mL per animal (dissolved in water) and changed daily for 33 days. The hydroethanolic extract of T. platyphyllos consisted of protocatechuic acid and (-)-epicatechin as the most abundant phenolic acid and flavonoid, respectively, and was found to be stable during the studied period. In two male groups a significant positive weight gain was observed but without association with the linden extract. Histological, biochemical, and oxidative stress analyses for the evaluation of kidney and liver damage support the hypothesis that the linden extract is safe and well-tolerated under the present experimental conditions. Skin histopathology does not demonstrate the chemopreventive effect of the linden extract against HPV16-induced lesions. The linden extract has revealed a favourable toxicological profile; however, additional studies are required to determine the chemopreventive potential of the linden extract. This journal isThis work was supported by the project IBERPHENOL, project number 0377_IBERPHENOL_6_E; Interact R&D project, operation number NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000017, National Funds by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UIDB/04033/2020 (CITAB), and project UIDB/ CVT/00772/2020 (CECAV) and the post-graduation grant SFRH/ BD/136747/2018 and 2020.04789.BD; the authors are also grateful to FCT, Portugal and FEDER under programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and L. Barros acknowledges the national funding by FCT, P. I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract. The authors would like to thank Cantinho das Aromáticas organic farmers from Vila Nova de Gaia (Portugal) for providing the samples. This work was financially supported by: Base Funding - UIDB/00511/2020 of the Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy – LEPABE - funded by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Why, school, why? Gifted students with academic failure.

Neste estudo de caso, de caráter descritivo-interpretativo, pretende-se identificar fatores de desenvolvimento e (in)sucesso escolar de jovens com características de sobredotação, na escolaridade obrigatória (12 a 16 anos). As narrativas apresentadas pelos investigadores revelam as relações entre características individuais e orientações escolares nem sempre aceites. A análise clarifica o tédio, frustração e fracasso que enfrentam estes alunos no cotidiano, tomada de decisão de alheamento, confronto ou ‘crise de identidade’ para a homogeneização e cumprimento de tarefas rotineiras que a escola oferece. Revelam ainda o relevo dos papéis do professor na diferenciação curricular e, em certos casos, no sucesso escolar dos estudantes.In this case study of a descriptive and interpretive nature it is intended to identify developmental factors and the success/failure at school of gifted youngsters (aged 12 to 16 years old) in compulsory education. The narratives presented by researchers show that the relationships between individual characteristics and school guidance are not always accepted. The analysis clarifies the boredom, frustration and failure facing these students in their everyday life, absent-minded decision-making, opposition or ‘identity crisis’ related to their standardization and compliance with routine tasks that the school requires today. They also reveal the importance of the role of the teacher in terms of curriculum differentiation and, in some cases, the academic success of the students.CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, IE, UMinho (UI 317 da FCT), Portugal. Fundos Nacionais através da FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) e cofinanciado pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) através do COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) com a referência POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Desempenho motor. Um estudo normativo e criterial em crianças da Região Autónoma da Madeira, Portugal

O objectivo central do presente estudo foi construir valores de referência para os ‘skills’ locomotores e de controlo dos objectos em crianças da Região Autónoma da Madeira, Portugal. A amostra envolveu 853 sujeitos, 426 rapazes e 427 raparigas, que participaram na pesquisa ‘Crescer com Saúde na Região Autónoma da Madeira’. Os ‘skills’ motores fundamentais foram avaliados através do ‘Test of Gross Motor Development’. As crianças madeirenses apresentaram uma melhoria de resultados com a idade, na quase totalidade dos ‘skills’ motores fundamentais. Os rapazes foram mais proficientes do que as raparigas nos ‘skills’ de controlo dos objectos. O maior número de crianças madeirenses foi classificado na categoria ‘médio’ nos ‘skills’ locomotores (51.5%) e nos ‘skills’ de controlo dos objectos (37.7%). As crianças madeirenses apresentaram equivalentes etários abaixo da média nos ‘skills’ locomotores (86.5%) e nos skills’ de controlo dos objectos (87.7%). Um aumento de mestria com a idade foi observado na corrida, galope, deslocamento lateral, drible, agarrar e lançamento por cima do ombro. As crianças madeirenses apresentaram desempenhos inferiores relativamente às Norte-Americanas. O conhecimento do desempenho motor das crianças madeirenses deve fomentar a investigação e conduzir à implementação de programas na escola e demais instituições

estudos artísticos

O tropicalismo arranca em 1967, através do corpo: a música de Caetano Veloso e Gilberto Gil, os vestíveis de Hélio Oiticica, as propostas teatrais de José Celso Martinez Corrêa e os cenários de Hélio Eichbauer. Hoje as coisas são um pouco mais complexas. Em tempo de redes sociais, os aspirantes ao poder fazem uso da sua imediatez para suscitarem reações epidérmicas, superficiais, populistas e de grande instantaneidade. A boçalidade triunfa nas caixas de comentários, e com mais alguns perfis falsificados podem manipular-se plebiscitos, movimentos secessionistas, ou, e também censurar-se exposições de arte. Nesta variação do fascismo, a epiderme eletrificada das redes sociais estrutura-se como uma poderosa arena onde se aparenta uma falsa democracia. Talvez a arte continue a ser um reduto para reflexão, mas vemos que a censura se manifesta hoje de modo talvez mais eficaz, silenciando artistas e professores, através da pressão mediatizada, da emoção do momento. Para isto é necessária a atenção consciente da arte, dos artistas, e também dos arte-educadores: enfrenta-se uma massa cada vez mais informe, alienada e despojada de reflexão para além do imediato.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Age-Related Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mechanical Reperfusion and 30-Day Mortality for STEMI : Results of the ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 Registry

Background: The constraints in the management of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been suggested to have severely impacted mortality levels. The aim of the current analysis is to evaluate the age-related effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mechanical reperfusion and 30-day mortality for STEMI within the registry ISACS-STEMI COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective multicenter registry was performed in high-volume PPCI centers on four continents and included STEMI patients undergoing PPCI in March–June 2019 and 2020. Patients were divided according to age (< or ≥75 years). The main outcomes were the incidence and timing of PPCI, (ischemia time longer than 12 h and door-to-balloon longer than 30 min), and in-hospital or 30-day mortality. Results: We included 16,683 patients undergoing PPCI in 109 centers. In 2020, during the pandemic, there was a significant reduction in PPCI as compared to 2019 (IRR 0.843 (95%-CI: 0.825–0.861, p < 0.0001). We found a significant agerelated reduction (7%, p = 0.015), with a larger effect on elderly than on younger patients. Furthermore, we observed significantly higher 30-day mortality during the pandemic period, especially among the elderly (13.6% vs. 17.9%, adjusted HR (95% CI) = 1.55 [1.24–1.93], p < 0.001) as compared to younger patients (4.8% vs. 5.7%; adjusted HR (95% CI) = 1.25 [1.05–1.49], p = 0.013), as a potential consequence of the significantly longer ischemia time observed during the pandemic. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the treatment of patients with STEMI, with a 16% reduction in PPCI procedures, with a larger reduction and a longer delay to treatment among elderly patients, which may have contributed to increase in-hospital and 30-day mortality during the pandemic