The Portuguese Special Operations Forces as Instrument of Foreign Policy: The Case Study of Afghanistan

The aim of this paper is to provide an exploratory overview of the Por- tuguese special operations forces as instrument of foreign policy. In doing so, we disclose new dynamics that Portugal employing in fragile states and we discuss its implications for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The research methodolog- ical approach falls into a qualitative case study research, which includes more than one method of data collection for triangulation and corroboration purposes. We have found that Portugal is trying to intensify its international relations within the EU, UN and the NATO, while the Portuguese special operations forces have been playing an important role to strengthen its presence within these international institutions. The new dynamics that Portugal is seeking are based on the democratic values, the rule of law and the human rights, to dissociate itself from the colonial legacy and thereby find new avenues of influence. Further research should focus on the new strategic priorities for the Afghan Government and NATO, as these priorities are changed at a relatively fast pace.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Síndrome de Wilkie : caso clínico

Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2016O síndrome de Wilkie ou síndrome da artéria mesentérica superior (SAMS) é uma situação clínica rara caracterizada pela obstrução parcial ou completa da terceira porção do duodeno pela artéria mesentérica superior na face anterior, e pela aorta e coluna vertebral posteriormente. Apresentamos um caso de clínico com dez anos de evolução, sendo diagnosticado SAMS através de meios complementares de diagnóstico. A terapêutica somente pôde ser cirúrgica devido à cronicidade. Após a cirurgia ficou assintomática e recuperou o peso. O síndrome de Wilkie é uma causa incomum de obstrução duodenal, com sintomas inespecíficos cujo diagnóstico requer um alto índice de suspeição pela equipa médica, pela história e sintomas clínicos, tendo maioria dos pacientes associado índice massa corporal baixo. As evidências imagiológicas fazem o diagnóstico definitivo.The Wilkie syndrome or superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SAMS) is a rare clinical situation characterized by partial or complete obstruction of the third portion of the duodenum by the superior mesenteric artery in the anterior face and by the aorta and spine on the posterior face. The following case presents a patient with ten years of evolution who was diagnosed with SAMS through complementary exams. Due to the chronicity of the disease, surgery was the only possible treatment. After surgery the patient became completely assymptomatic and recovered his weight. Wilkie syndrome is an uncommon cause of duodenal obstruction, with nonspecific symptoms, whose diagnosis depends on a high index of suspicion by the medical team, based on history and clinical symptoms, as the majority of cases present with a low body mass index. Imaging evidence make the definitive diagnosis

SIMULTANEOUS ANALYSIS OF P53 PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND CELL PROLIFERATION IN IRRADIATED HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES BY FLOW CYTOMETRY

P53 protein has an intrinsic role in modulating the cellular response against DNA radioinduced damages and has been pointed out as an indirect indicator of individual radiosensitivity. The rate of cell proliferation is also a parameter that has been related to tissue sensitivity to radiation. However, this feature is yet understudied. In this context, the aim of this work was to employ Flow Cytometry (FC) for simultaneously assessing of p53 protein expression levels together with cellular proliferation rate of irradiated human lymphocytes. From in vitro irradiated human blood samples, mononuclear cells were isolated and labeled with Carboxylfluorescein Diacetate Succinimidyl Ester (CFSE) prior to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation in culture for 96 hours. Cells were also labeled with anti-p53 monoclonal antibody PE-conjugated in order to analyze either proliferation rate or p53 expression levels by FC. It was verified a reduction in the proliferation rate of irradiated lymphocytes and, in parallel, a rise in the p53 expression levels, similar for quiescent and proliferating lymphocytes. The results emphasize the importance of the use of CFSE-stained lymphocytes in assays associated to proliferation rate and the use of this methodology in several studies, such as for evaluating individual radiosensitivity

Homens de Estado, crises políticas e guerra

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Homens de Estado, crises políticas e guerra

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Factors affecting the performance of Pantaneiro horses

This study aimed to assess the physical performance of Pantaneiro horses with and without equine infectious anemia (EIA) under functional conditions of cattle management. The horses were subjected to a performance test and split into two groups according to a completely randomized design: animals were chosen from populations testing positive and negative for EIA. Performance was measured as a function of a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model considering four outputs and one unitary input. The output measures were the distance achieved in the performance test, hematocrit as a weighted average over the test duration, respiratory rate as weighted average over the test duration, and the level of lactic acid at the test termination. Weights for the hematocrit and the respiratory rate output variables were determined by means of factor analysis. The performance score was a weighted average of the output variables with the weights defined by the averages of the optimum individual multipliers in the DEA analysis. Contextual variables of interest were age, horse weight, room temperature, and corporal temperature. Only groups and room temperature were statistically significant effects, as indicated by a bootstrap analysis. The performance of group positive for EIA is significantly lower than that of the group negative for EIA and room temperature has a negative effect.Instituto de Genética Veterinari

Factors affecting the performance of Pantaneiro horses

This study aimed to assess the physical performance of Pantaneiro horses with and without equine infectious anemia (EIA) under functional conditions of cattle management. The horses were subjected to a performance test and split into two groups according to a completely randomized design: animals were chosen from populations testing positive and negative for EIA. Performance was measured as a function of a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model considering four outputs and one unitary input. The output measures were the distance achieved in the performance test, hematocrit as a weighted average over the test duration, respiratory rate as weighted average over the test duration, and the level of lactic acid at the test termination. Weights for the hematocrit and the respiratory rate output variables were determined by means of factor analysis. The performance score was a weighted average of the output variables with the weights defined by the averages of the optimum individual multipliers in the DEA analysis. Contextual variables of interest were age, horse weight, room temperature, and corporal temperature. Only groups and room temperature were statistically significant effects, as indicated by a bootstrap analysis. The performance of group positive for EIA is significantly lower than that of the group negative for EIA and room temperature has a negative effect.Instituto de Genética Veterinari