Physical Fitness Variables, General Health, Dementia and Quality of Life in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Study

The average life expectancy of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) is increasing. However, living more years does not mean living better, leading to the need for research on comorbidities associated with the aging process. Associated with this process are the physical characteristics most prevalent in an individual with IDD: low levels of all physical capacities, the accumulation of central fat, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, variables considered to be some of the main risk factors of the onset of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and variables that can negatively impact quality of life (QoL). Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate a sample of 21 institutionalized adults with IDD (42.81 ± 10.99 years old) in terms of their anthropometric characteristics, body composition, general health status, functional capacity, neuromuscular capacity, and dementia/cognitive function, and the possible associations with QoL. All assessments were performed in the laboratory of the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education—University of Coimbra. Participants, in the present study, have low levels of physical fitness and high metabolic and cardiovascular markets, which need to be improved. On the other hand, functional and neuromuscular ability seems to be associated with QoL (p ≤ 0.05). This study highlights the role of primary and secondary care providers in diagnosis, prevention, and supporting individuals with IDDs to promote QoL.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Métodos físicos y químicos de marcaje del erizo de mar Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

The sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) is an important economic resource in Europe, but intense harvesting has led to the collapse of several natural populations. Echinoculture, associated with restocking and stock enhancement practices, is an alternative to this problem. In these procedures, reliable individual identification through tagging is a valuable source of information. However, very few studies address the effect of tagging methods on P. lividus and the tagging of marine invertebrates still presents several challenges: decreased growth, high mortality rates and low tag retention rates. Under laboratory conditions, the present study evaluated the effectiveness of three tagging methods (passive integrated transponders [PIT-tags], coded wire tags [CWTs] and calcein) on wild P. lividus for 60 days in terms of total wet weight, total weight gain (mg ind.−1 day−1), survival and tag retention. The final total wet weight was significantly higher in the untagged (control) group than in the PIT-tagged group. Survival rate was 100% for the PIT-tag, calcein and control groups, and 97% for the CWT group. Tag retention differed significantly according to the tagging method: 100% in the calcein group, 76.7% in the PIT-tag group and 38.0% in the CWT group.El erizo de mar Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) representa un recurso económico relevante en Europa, pero su intensa explotación ha llevado al colapso de varias poblaciones naturales. La acuicultura de erizos de mar, asociada a las prácticas de repoblación y mejora del stock son alternativas a este problema. En estos procedimientos, una identificación individual fiable, a través de métodos de marcaje, representa una valiosa fuente de información. Sin embargo, muy pocos estudios abordan el efecto de los métodos de marcaje en P. lividus y el marcaje de invertebrados marinos aún presenta varios desafíos: disminución del crecimiento, altas tasas de mortalidad y bajas tasas de retención de las marcas. En condiciones de laboratorio, el presente estudio evaluó la eficacia de tres métodos de marcaje (passive integrated transponders - PIT-tags, coded wire tags - CWT y calceína) en P. lividus silvestre, durante 60 días, en términos de peso húmedo total, ganancia de peso (mg ind.−1 día−1), supervivencia y retención de etiquetas. El peso húmedo total final fue significativamente mayor en el grupo sin marcar (control), en comparación con los individuos marcados con PIT-tags. La tasa de supervivencia fue del 100% para los grupos PIT-tag, Calceína y Control, y del 97% para el grupo CWT. La retención de etiquetas fue significativamente diferente según el método de etiquetado: 100% en el grupo Calceína, 76,7% en el grupo PIT-tag y 38,0% en el grupo CWT

Depression and Anxiety of Portuguese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study about Prevalence and Associated Factors

ABSTRACT: The mental health of university students has worsened over time, and it is young people who have suffered the most from the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of mental health. Anxiety and depression are the most common symptoms reported by university students and are often the cause of disabilities, either in academic performance or in other spheres of life. Aim. The aim of this study was to both assess the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in Portuguese university students and analyze the factors associated with these symptoms. Methods. A quantitative cross-sectional study with a sample of 3,399 university students from seven Portuguese higher education institutions was conducted. The following questionnaires were used: the generalized anxiety disorder assessment scale (GAD-7), the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), and a study-created sociodemographic questionnaire. The Kendall correlation coefficient, chi-square test of independence, Spearman correlation coefficient, Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann–Whitney-Wilcoxon test, and Kruskall-Wallis test were used to analyze the association between variables. The statistical analysis was done using the software R Statistics (Version 4.0.4), using a significance level of 0.05. Results. Mild to severe anxiety symptoms were reported by 75% of the participants, and 61.2% described mild to severe depressive symptoms. Of the sample, 19.5% reported a previous diagnosis of a mental disorder, with 38.7% diagnosed after the pandemic began. Additionally, 23% reported taking medication for mental health issues, and 26.7% had considered self-harm or harbored thoughts of being “better off dead.” The study found lower anxiety and depressive symptoms (p < 0 05) among men, students with higher socioeconomic status, those who frequently traveled home, individuals without prior mental health diagnoses, those with better academic performance, and those who avoided substances like coffee, tobacco, cannabis, and other illegal psychoactive substances. Interestingly, students in romantic relationships exhibited more anxiety symptoms (p < 0 05). Moreover, participants who believed they had experienced moral or sexual harassment displayed higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms (p < 0 001). Conclusions. There was a decrease in the mental health of university students after the pandemic compared to prepandemic studies, and the proportion of students with anxiety and depressive symptoms was alarming. There is an urgent need to implement programs in universities to promote students’ mental health.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mitochondrial diseases in the next generation sequencing era: study of 450 patients

As doenças mitocondriais (DM) são doenças raras, clínica e geneticamente heterogéneas, de difícil diagnóstico, para as quais não existe uma terapia eficaz. O desenvolvimento da tecnologia de sequenciação de nova geração (NGS) revolucionou o diagnóstico molecular deste grupo de doenças, permitindo a identificação de novos genes associados a estas patologias. Nesta nova era genética, através da utilização da tecnologia de NGS, estudamos um grupo de 450 doentes suspeitos de DM, sem etiologia molecular. A nossa estratégia combinada de NGS, englobou a sequenciação de um painel de 213 genes nucleares associados a DM e do DNA mitocondrial completo. Neste estudo, identificamos variantes causais em 134 (30%) doentes analisados, 88 dos quais apresentaram variantes no DNA nuclear e 46 no DNA mitocondrial, tratando-se na maioria de doentes pediátricos (66%). Neste grupo de doentes, identificamos 72 variantes patogénicas descritas na literatura e 20 novas variantes provavelmente patogénicas, assim como 62 variantes de significado indeterminado. Como laboratório nacional de referência para o estudo e investigação das DM, demonstramos o contributo da tecnologia de NGS para esclarecer a etiologia molecular destes doentes, para expandir o espectro mutacional associado a estas patologias e oferecer um diagnóstico pré-natal e aconselhamento genético aos casais em risco.Mitochondrial diseases (MD) are rare disorders, clinically and genetically heterogeneous, making their diagnosis a challenge and with hither to no ef fective therapy options. The development of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies has revolutionized the understanding of many genes involved in the pathogenesis of MD. In this new genetic era, using a NGS approach, we studied a cohor t of 450 Por tuguese patients suspected of MD, and without a molecular etiology. Our combined NGS approach was first based on analysis of a custom-made targeted mitochondrial panel of 213 nuclear genes followed by the whole mitochondrial genome. In this study, we identif ied disease related variants in 134 (30%) analyzed patients, 88 with nuclear DNA and 46 with mitochondrial DNA variants, being most of them pediatric patients (66%). The molecular analysis of this cohor t revealed 72 already described pathogenic and 20 novel probably pathogenic variants, as well as 62 variants of unknown signif icance. As a national laboratory for the study and research of MD, we demonstrated the power of NGS to achieve a molecular etiology of these patients, to expand the mutational spectrum associated to MD and to propose a prenatal diagnosis as well as an accurate genetic counseling for af fected families.Fundação da Ciência e Tecnologia (PTDC/DTP-PIC/2220/2014, Genetic Defects of Mitochondrial Diseases: a Next Generation Sequencing Approach); Ao Programa Nor te 2020 (NORTE-01-0246- -FEDER-000014, DESVENDAR “DEScobrir, VENcer as Doenças rARas”)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications

Effects of a 24-week exercise program on anthropometric, body composition, metabolic status, cardiovascular response, and neuromuscular capacity, in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased in the last decades, including in people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This is even more concerning when it is globally accepted that a low physical condition contributes to the deterioration of functionality and increases the risk of developing chronic diseases during life, with effective implications for health and well-being. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of two physical exercise intervention programs on institutionalized individuals with IDD. Methods: Twenty-one adults with IDD (43.04 ± 11.18 years) were split by convenience into three groups: i) an indoor training group (IG; N = 7; 24-week machine-based gym intervention), ii) an outdoor training group (OG; N = 7; 24-week outdoor intervention with low-content materials), and iii) a control group (CG; N = 7). Assessed outcomes included indicators of health and neuromuscular capacity. The ShapiroWilk (n < 50) and Levene tests were used to verify data normality and homoscedasticity. A Kruskal-Walli test was performed to understand if there were differences between the groups. For comparison purposes and to assess hypothetical differences between groups, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Friedman test were used. The respective effect size was calculated, and the significance level was defined at 0.05. Results/Discussion: There was a difference in fat mass in OG (initial ≠ intermediate; Bonferroni corrected: t = 2.405; p = 0.048; W = 0.08 and initial ≠ final moments; Bonferroni corrected: t = 2.405; p = 0.048; W = 0.08). Indoor intervention programs seem to be more effective than outdoor intervention programs for reducing heart rate rest (t = −2.912; p = 0.011; W = −0.104) when compared with CG. Conclusion: A low-cost outdoor intervention in contact with nature appears to be more effective for fat mass reduction. The results for heart rate variability are not clear and robust. Finally, an indoor intervention using weight-training machines appears to be a good method to promote neuromuscular capacity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Conhecendo a Baía de Guanabara: O aprendizado de Meteorologia através do estudo da Baía de Guanabara e do seu entorno.

A Baía de Guanabara (BG) é um importante ecossistema costeiro que representa um ícone histórico, cultural, paisagístico e turístico no Rio de Janeiro e apresenta características fisiográficas, bióticas e atmosféricas bastante complexas. O programa “Sistemas de Informação Geográfica como suporte ao Estudo integrado de Problemas Ambientais” tem como proposta promover a troca de conhecimentos entre a universidade e a comunidade através da realização de atividades lúdicas, com objetivo de levantar discussões sobre as principais questões ambientais da BG e com os residentes do entorno estão inseridos e podem solucioná-las. Uma de suas etapas consiste na formulação de uma apostila com enfoque na BG abordando temas como Geografia, Meteorologia, Geologia, História, Biologia e Turismo. Este material em construção, usa fontes, tais como livros, artigos científicos, monografias, sites e acervos fotográficos, sendo transcrito para uma linguagem mais adequada ao público alvo, para melhor didática e compreensão, para que os alunos possam fixar, consultar e estudar os conteúdos de forma mais lúdica. Objetiva-se ainda estruturar um banco de dados socioambientais para a elaboração de Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIG) relacionados à BG, à Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas e também à ilha de Paquetá. Os seguintes conteúdos encontram-se consolidados na apostila e apresentados aos alunos participantes do programa: Geologia: foram inseridas imagens e mapas gerados em uma plataforma SIG de uso público onde destacou-se a formação geológica da BG; Meteorologia: apresentou-se conceitos sobre os fenômenos e sistemas meteorológicos comumente observados na BG; História: foram utilizados acervos de imagens e foi destacada a história do desenvolvimento da RMRJ e sua relação com os ciclos econômicos e no capítulo de biologia destacou-se os principais ecossistemas da BG. Esse material didático tem sido utilizado como suporte a atividades de ensino de alunos do Colégio Pedro II e CAP/UFRJ. Além disso, busca-se que o público atendido torne-se agente difusor da cultura e informação sobre a BG em outros espaços. Pode-se concluir que, apesar de incompleto, a elaboração do material servirá como uma base complementar para o ensino de ciências, atendendo a proposta de uso como material para professores que desejem exemplificar casos e estudos científicos mais próximos a realidadeos dos alunos.