Food insecurity in children during the COVID-19 pandemic: literature review

Trabalho Complementar apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Licenciada em Ciências da NutriçãoIn 2020, it is estimated that 149.2 million children under 5 years of age were affected by short stature, 45.4 million suffered from wasting and 38.9 million were overweight. Despite although it's not yet possible to fully account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the estimated increase in 2020 is that it has been equal to the previous five years combined. Therefore, this study aims to analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic globally affected children’s food insecurity, after more than a year after the virus outbreak. This study is a literature review on the theme, using the PubMed and Science Direct databases that included 33 scientific articles. All associations between food insecurity in children and food consumption, home environment, socioeconomic conditions and mental aspects, were explored. The association between food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic in children is particularly strong. Most articles revealed an increase in children's food insecurity. The prevalence has increased since the beginning of the pandemic, especially in the most vulnerable communities and families with lower socio-economic status (p < 0.0001). Families with more than one child had a significantly higher risk of having FI (p=0.01) and a higher educational level proved to be protective factors against FI (p=0.001). Lessons from this COVID-19 pandemic must be learned to be well prepared for future crises by improving existing weaknesses; thus, the impact of a new public health crisis would be smaller.Em 2020, estima-se que 149,2 milhões de crianças menores de 5 anos sofreram de baixa estatura, 45,4 milhões sofreram de fome e 38,9 milhões apresentaram excesso de peso. Embora ainda não seja possível contabilizar totalmente o impacto da pandemia COVID-19, o aumento estimado em 2020 é que seja igual ao dos cinco anos anteriores combinados. Portanto, este estudo tem como objetivo analisar como a pandemia COVID-19 afetou globalmente a insegurança alimentar infantil, após mais de um ano após o surto do vírus. Este estudo é uma revisão da literatura sobre o tema, utilizando as bases de dados PubMed e Science Direct que incluíram 33 artigos científicos. Todas as associações entre a insegurança alimentar em crianças e o consumo alimentar, ambiente doméstico, condições socioeconômicas e aspetos mentais foram exploradas. A associação entre a insegurança alimentar e a pandemia de COVID-19 em crianças é particularmente forte. A maioria dos artigos revelou um aumento na insegurança alimentar das crianças. A prevalência aumentou desde o início da pandemia, especialmente nas comunidades mais vulneráveis e famílias com status socioeconômico mais baixo (p <0,0001). Famílias com mais de um filho apresentaram risco significativamente maior de apresentar IA (p = 0,01) e uma maior escolaridade mostrou ser um fator de proteção contra IA (p = 0,001). As lições desta pandemia de Covid-19 devem ser aprendidas, de maneira a estar bem preparado para futuras crises, pois ao melhorar as fraquezas existentes, o impacto de uma nova crise de saúde pública será muito menor.N/

Defining the mechanisms underlying reduced immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae with age

The increase in the elderly population is impacting the social and economic aspects of the modern world as increasing longevity is not matched by an increasing healthy lifespan. Increased infections are a major component of ill health in old age. The aged immune system fails to respond properly to many infections such as pneumonia, caused mainly by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is responsible for high rates of death among the elderly. Here we studied the impact of age on the function of neutrophils, immune cells crucial for immunity to S. pneumoniae. Blood from healthy young (n=3, 65 years) volunteers was stimulated by antibody or complement-bound live or dead S. pneumoniae serotype 4 (TIGR4 strain). The amount of bacteria taken up by neutrophils and their production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), used to kill bacteria, was measured by flow-cytometry. The ability of neutrophils to trap S. pneumoniae extracellularly using a web made of extruded DNA (neutrophil extracellular traps, NETs) was also analysed by counting the remaining viable bacteria after incubation with neutrophils. We found that elderly neutrophils phagocytosed and produced ROS less well in response to S. pneumoniae, but this could be overcome if complement was bound to the bacteria. Although only n=1, preliminary data showed that NETs trapping of S. pneumoniae was lower (40%) in the elderly compared to young neutrophils (57%). Our data indicate that neutrophils from the elderly can produce ROS and phagocytose S. pneumoniae but may have impaired NET trapping ability

Oureanafin group : Oureanafin and the struggle against bankruptcy

Este documento está dividido em três partes principais: o estudo de caso, a revisão bibliográfica e as linhas orientadoras para resolução do caso. Na primeira parte é descrito um caso real de um grupo de empresas portuguesas que operam maioritariamente no sector da construção, Oureanafin, desde o momento da sua formação até ao momento em que começou a apresentar problemas financeiros. Sentindo na pele as consequências da crise financeira mundial com enormes repercussões ao nível do sector da construção, e após o segundo processo em tribunal por parte de um credor por falta de pagamento, em 2011 a maior empresa do grupo – Aquino Construções, S.A. – sentiu-se forçada a abrir falência. Como uma bola de neve, e tendo em conta que as outras duas empresas mais importantes do grupo dependiam financeiramente da Aquino, a Casur Construções, S.A. e a Tresa – Construções do Algarve, S.A. ficaram numa situação debilitada, levando à necessidade de “reinventar” o seu negócio. É com este objectivo que a equipa de gestão do grupo se reúne em Dezembro de 2011, discutindo todas as opções possíveis para poder resistir a um período quase avassalador. A secção da revisão bibliográfica descreve os modelos e teorias desenvolvidas por vários autores que são cruciais para a análise deste caso e das questões colocadas no final do estudo de caso. A terceira secção incorpora a visão da autora do que poderia ser uma opção de resposta para discussão das questões colocadas, não sendo essas as únicas respostas possíveis.This document is divided into three main parts: the case study, the literature review and the teaching notes. The first part describes a real case of a group of Portuguese companies (Oureanafin), operating mainly in the construction sector, from the moment of its creation until the moment it started to face financial problems. Facing the impact of the global financial crisis and the enormous repercussions in the construction sector, and after the second court proceedings initiated by a creditor for lack of payment, in 2011 the largest company in the group - Aquino Construções, S.A. - filed for bankruptcy. As a snowball, and because they depended financially from Aquino, the other two major companies in the group (Casur Construções, S.A. and Tresa - Construções do Algarve, S.A.) found themselves in a rather fragile economic situation which forced them to "reinvent" their business. It is with this aim that the Group's management team meets in December 2011, discussing all possible options to overcome this difficult period. The literature review section describes the models and theories developed by various authors that are crucial in the analysis of this case and the questions placed at the end of the case study. The third section incorporates the author's proposal for possible (but not exhaustive) answers to the questions proposed for class discussion

A model to improve the Evaluation and Selection of Public Contest´s Candidates (Police Officers) based on AI technologies

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Science and Advanced Analytics, specialization in Business AnalyticsThe number of candidates applying to Public Contests is increasing compared to the number of Human Resources employees required for selecting them for Police Forces. This work intends to perceive how those Public Institutions can evaluate and select their candidates efficiently during the different phases of the recruitment process, and for achieving this purpose AI approaches will be studied. This paper presents two research questions and introduces a corresponding systematic literature review, focusing on AI technologies, so the reader is able to understand which are most used and more appropriate to be applied to Police Forces as a complementary recruitment strategy of the National Criminal Investigation Police agency of Portugal – Polícia Judiciária. Design Science Research (DSR) was the methodological approach chosen. The suggestion of a theoretical framework is the main contribution of this study in pair with the segmentation of the candidates (future Criminal Inspectors). It also helped to comprehend the most important facts facing Public Institutions regarding the usage of AI technologies, to make decisions about evaluating and selecting candidates. Following the PRISMA methodology guidelines, a systematic literature review and meta-analyses method was adopted to identify how can the usage and exploitation of transparent AI have a positive impact on the recruitment process of a Public Institution, resulting in an analysis of 34 papers published between 2017 and 2021. The AI-based theoretical framework, applicable within the analysis of literature papers, solves the problem of how the Institutions can gain insights about their candidates while profiling them; how to obtain more accurate information from the interview phase; and how to reach a more rigorous assessment of their emotional intelligence providing a better alignment of moral values. This way, this work aims to advise the improvement of the decision making to be taken by a recruiter of a Police Force Institution, turning it into a more automated and evidence-based decision when it comes to recruiting the adequate candidate for the place

Epigenetic regulation of intestinal stem cell aging in drosophila melanogaster

Mestrado em Tecnologias Clínico-LaboratoriaisABSTRACT - Aging is characterized by a decline in the organism’s physiological integrity. Adult stem cells are major regulators of organismal homeostasis and age-associated changes in stem cell populations have been proposed to be a major cause of the progressive deterioration of tissue health with aging. Studies indicate that aging-associated stem cell functional decline can be reversed by manipulating epigenetic factors that become dysregulated during aging. The goal of this project is to identify new epigenetic regulators of stem cell aging. We used Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to screen a set of new candidate epigenetic factors for a role in intestinal stem cell (ISC) aging. As a screening method, we used survival assays after multiple injuries. Positive hits were explored through the analysis of ISC behavior and morphology, including ISC proliferative capacity and differentiation potential in response to regenerative pressure, under conditions of gain or loss of candidate gene function. Three genes were found to affect fly recovery and survival after gut injury: Su(var)2-10, Velo, and Polo. Su(var)2-10 knockdown resulted in a phenotype of exacerbated proliferation of ISCs. Overexpression of Velo caused a deactivation defect and an irregular shape, size, and low number of cells. In Polo overexpression, we found that the stem cells differentiate at an early stage and do not proliferate. This work identified three genes altered in aged ISCs that affect stem cell function at distinct levels and regulate regenerative capacity.RESUMO - O envelhecimento é caracterizado por um declínio da integridade fisiológica do organismo. As células estaminais adultas são as principais reguladoras da homeostasia do organismo e as alterações associadas à idade nas populações destas células foram propostas como uma das principais causas da deterioração progressiva da saúde dos tecidos com o envelhecimento. Estudos indicam que o declínio funcional das células estaminais associado ao envelhecimento pode ser revertido pela manipulação de fatores epigenéticos que se tornam desregulados durante o envelhecimento. O objetivo deste projeto é identificar novos reguladores epigenéticos de células estaminais no envelhecimento. Usámos a Drosophila melanogaster como organismo modelo para rastrear um conjunto de novos fatores epigenéticos candidatos e perceber de que forma estão envolvidos no envelhecimento de células estaminais intestinais. Como método de triagem fizemos ensaios de sobrevivência após múltiplas lesões. Genes selecionados nesta triagem foram explorados através da análise do comportamento e morfologia das células estaminais intestinais, incluindo a capacidade proliferativa das células e a resposta do potencial de diferenciação à pressão regenerativa, sob condições de ganho ou perda da função do gene candidato. Três genes foram selecionados por afetarem a recuperação e sobrevivência da mosca após lesão intestinal: Su(var)2-10, Velo e Polo. Su(var)2-10 knockdown resultou num fenótipo de proliferação exacerbada de células estaminais intestinais. A subexpressão de Velo causou um defeito de desativação, e células com formato irregular, pequenas e em baixo número. Na subexpressão de Polo, descobrimos que as células estaminais se diferenciam num estágio inicial e não proliferam. Este trabalho identificou três genes alterados em células estaminais intestinais em envelhecimento que afetam a função das células estaminais em níveis distintos e regulam a capacidade regenerativa das mesmas.N/

Sleep and women intimate partner victimization: prevalence, effects and good practices in health care settings

Intimate Partner Violence is a global health issue with higher prevalence worldwide, mostly in women, higher social and economic costs and devastating physical and mental health consequences for the victims. Sleep disturbances has been associated with other mental health issues, being an important symptom when diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or anxiety. It can also constitute an important sign to help health professionals to identify potential victims of intimate partner violence. This review paper main objectives are to address the connection between intimate partner violence and sleep disruption, the role and barriers of health professionals in screening this type of violence when sleep problems are present, and to describe good practices in order to identify these victims and to provide support. It has been found that intimate partner victims commonly experience significant sleep disturbances that include truncated sleep, nightmares and less restful sleep. Health professionals are first-line professionals with a pivot role to screen and identify women victims. However, a set of personal (e.g., lack of knowledge and inadequate perceptions about violence, cultural issues) and organizational barriers (e.g., time constraints, lack of training, absence of institutional protocols) may limit the accurate reading of those symptoms. Accordingly, health professionals must be alert not only to physical health conditions associated with violence (acute physical injuries, chronic physical injuries, obstetric and genital injuries), but also psychological problems, like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol or drug misuse, sleep disturbances, insomnia and nightmares. In the presence of alert symptoms related to violence, health professionals become able to screen, identify and provide ongoing care for women, promoting a trusting relationship and assuming an attentive non-judgmental listening.- (undefined