Challenges in educating museum professionals for The 21st century: the MU.SA - Museum Sector Alliance Project

This paper aims to present the Mu.SA - Museum Sector Alliance project, funded by the EuropeanCommission, more specifically by the Erasmus+ Program and the Key Action 2 (Cooperation forInnovation and Good Practice Exchange), which supports the Sector Competences Alliances (575907-EPP-1-2016- 1-EL-EPPKA2-SSA).Building on the results of a previous project (eCult Skills_2013-15), funded by the Lifelong LearningProgram, weaknesses in the museum sector were identified at the level of digital and transversalcompetences. The Mu.SA project intended to contribute to the mitigation of these fragilities, in order toempower museum professionals, as well as those who aspire to be, to better face the challenges ofInformation and Communication Technologies and to enhance their museums and Society bypromoting their development and sustainability, building on larger and stronger synergies betweendifferent sectors of education, training and youth, for the better articulated interaction betweenresearch, policies and practices and for the best use of references for recognition and validation ofcompetences and qualifications.Thus, based on the identification and characterization of a set of emerging professional profiles andrespective competences, the Mu.SA - Museum Sector Alliance aimed at, and has been, developing anOpen Educational Resources repository to support individual equipping in more than forty digital andtransversal competences. These duly structured resources are offered in different formats ofeducation and training courses: a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), certified and of a genericand introductory nature; and a Specialization Course, credited and structured considering e-learning,face-to-face and work-based learning contexts.The legitimate and reasoned expectation of building communities of practice will also contribute toensuring the sustainability of the results, beyond the duration of the project. Among the other positiveexpected results, at the level of those more or less directly involved in its activities, there may be anincrease in the spirit of initiative and entrepreneurship, a more active participation in Society, a greatercapacity for understanding, respect and response

Skeletal Anomalies in Senegalese Sole (Solea senegalensis), an Anosteocytic Boned Flatfish Species

Skeletal anomalies affect animal welfare and cause important economic problems in aquaculture. Despite the high frequency of skeletal problems in reared Solea senegalensis, there is lack of information regarding the histological features of normal and deformed vertebrae in this flatfish. The aim of this study was to describe the histopathological and radiographical appearance of vertebral body anomalies. Sixty-seven juvenile fish were radiographically examined 104 or 105 days after hatching. Through radiographic images, vertebral segments were selected and processed for histopathological examination from 7 normal and 7 affected fish. Alterations in bone shape and vertebral fusion were the most significant anomalies in the vertebral bodies. These alterations occurred most frequently between the last 3 abdominal vertebrae and the first 10 caudal centra. Radiographically, deformed vertebrae showed flattening of the endplates and narrowing of the intervertebral spaces. The radiographic findings concurred with the histological lesions where affected vertebrae exhibited irregular endplates and changes in trabecular bone. Radiolucent cartilaginous tissue was evident in the endplates of the deformed vertebra and, in some cases, the cartilaginous material extended from the growth zone into the intervertebral space. These changes were likely the primary alterations that led to vertebral fusion. Fused vertebrae were often reshaped and showed a reorganization of the trabeculae. The formation of metaplastic cartilage is frequent in a variety of anomalies affecting teleost speciesThe author(s) received the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was funded by “Consellería de Economía e Industria” of Xunta de Galicia (10MMA020E) and by “Programa de Consolidación e Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas GPC2015/034,” Spain. A. M. de Azevedo held a University Professorship Formation (FPU) grant from the Spanish Ministry of EducationS

New insight on vertebral anomalies in cultured Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) at early stages of development

Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) is a promising flatfish species in aquaculture. However, skeletal anomalies are still a great concern in sole farming. Investigation of this issue is crucial to improving larval quality and optimizing production. The aim of this study was to thoroughly assess anomalies in the rachis of reared sole at early developmental stages. Sole (n = 507) were sampled at 31 or 32 days after hatching (dah). The specimens were stained with alcian blue and alizarin red and evaluated for the detection of vertebral deformities. Most fish presented 9:34:3 vertebrae in abdominal, caudal and caudal complex regions, respectively. Remarkably, all specimens showed at least one spinal anomaly. Alterations of neural/haemal elements, as well as deformities of hypurals, parhypural and epural, were recurrent. Vertebral body anomalies and/or vertebral column deviations were identified in 52% of the individuals. Vertebral deformations and fusions were common, especially in caudal complex. ‘Minor’ anomalies were predominant, and some of the detected disorders might be a result of non-/low-pathological processes. These results contribute a new insight into the main skeletal anomalies affecting cultured sole larvae. Further research is required to determine their impact on fish welfare and external appearances at commercial stagesConselleria de Economía e Industria - Xunta de Galicia (10MMA020E) Programa de Consolidación e Estructuración de Unidades de InvestigaciónCompetitivas GPC2015/034 A.M. de Azevedo held a University Professorship Formation (FPU) grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education.S

Rendas têxteis artesanais nos ambientes de memória: a inclusão digital multiplicadora da informação

Esse artigo propõe apresentar e debater as possibilidades de comunicação das coleções têxteis, e de modo especial, dos acervos de rendas artesanais e suas rendilheiras nos espaços expositivos como a casa-museu, os centros de memória e memoriais contextualizando o patrimônio cultural e considerando as categorias de lugar. Nessa perspetiva, pretende-se ampliar a discussão sobre a inclusão digital como impulsionadora dos processos de reconhecimento, gestão e salvaguarda do património imaterial. O estudo é desenvolvido pela análise de projetos expositivos que se valem de abordagens híbridas incorporando as tecnologias digitais como multiplicadoras da abrangência, continuidade e (re)uso da informação. A abordagem conceitual inclui o debate sobre a curadoria contextualizada da produção artesanal no amplo espectro dos Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Portanto, os contextos de produção do bem cultural, com ênfase na capacidade de transmissão a partir dos processos tradicionais de formação, bem como os modos de organização social do trabalho artesanal, revelam-se norteadores do discurso adotado para apresentação dos acervos nos ambientes físicos e digitais

Skeletal anomalies in reared Senegalese sole Solea senegalensis juveniles: a radiographic approach

Reared Senegalese sole Solea senegalensis Kaup show a high incidence of vertebral anomalies; however, little is known about its skeletal anomaly profile in the later farming phases. The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed description and quantification of the most common skeletal anomalies in reared Senegalese sole in the juvenile stage by means of computed radiography. A total of 374 Senegalese sole were classified according to the external morphology of the fish as normal or altered and then radiographed in latero-lateral and in dorso-ventral projections. Radiographic evaluation of anomalies focused especially on vertebral body anomalies (VBA) and vertebral column deviations (VCD). The 2 orthogonal projections provided a more complete visualization of the skeleton. Approximately 75% of the individuals showed at least 1 anomaly, while VBA and/or VCD were detected in 48.9% of the specimens. Regarding external morphology, 88% of the fish were categorized as normal, although about 72% of these normal fish displayed abnormalities in radiographies. The most frequent anomalies consisted of deformations of the caudal complex plates (hypurals, parhypural and epural), preurals and caudal vertebrae. Scoliosis was the most prevalent among VCD, affecting the caudal area in almost 15% of the individuals. The anomaly profile at the juvenile stages showed some differences compared to what has been reported previously in earlier stages of development. In light of these results, further investigation into the progression of skeletal anomalies over time and the causative factors at later stages is requiredThis work was supported by Consellería de Economía e Industria of Xunta de Galicia (10MMA020E) and Programa de Consolidación e Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas GPC2015/034, Spain. A.M.A. held a University Professorship Formation (FPU) grant from the Spanish Ministry of EducationS

Perinatal palliative care following prenatal diagnosis of severe fetal anomaly: a new family-centered approach in a level III Portuguese hospital

Perinatal palliative care (PNPC) is an emerging field that aims to improve the quality of life of families affected by an antenatal diagnosis incompatible with long-term survival through a specialized, multidisciplinary approach and holistic and emotional support. An advance care planning begins at the moment of diagnosis and continues in the postpartum period addressing comfort measures to alleviate pain, psychological support for family members and the collection of mementos that allow parents to make lasting memories of their child. PNPC is also an integral part of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) in Obstetrics and Neonatology. Since 1997, there are more than 300 programs described, tailored to the newborn’s best interest. Up to now, providers often feel difficulties in the implementation of PNPC programs, given the lack of evidence-based quantitative empirical studies that are necessary to establish the best model of care. Obstacles to palliative care include diagnostic and prognostic uncertainty and logistic obstacles related to interdisciplinary collaboration. Literature also suggests a great discrepancy involving end-of-life decisions between different countries. This paper presents an overview of the first PNPC program implemented in a level III Portuguese neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with two case studies providing a distinctive perspective on the support and care needed.  It also seeks to serve as a resource for other institutions since there are no well-established and published guidelines regarding PNPC in Portugal. It is also important to include obstetric residents, midwives, medical students and nursing students in the provision of palliative care so this model of care can be incorporated into future practices