Impact of parental cancer in offspring’s psychological development: literature review

O presente artigo engloba uma extensa revisão da literatura sobre a temática do câncer parental e as consequências pessoais e familiares desta vivência. Nesse sentido, são abordadas as principais consequências médicas e psicossociais do diagnóstico e tratamento do câncer e, usando o modelo sistémico, é descrita a influência (negativa e positiva) deste acontecimento no doente e noutros membros da família. É dado especial enfoque ao desenvolvimento psicológico dos filhos, incluindo os resultados dos estudos referentes ao stress traumático e crescimento pós-traumático, em particular no câncer da mama. São tecidas algumas implicações para a investigação nesta área, bem como sugestões para futuras investigações.The present paper includes an extended literature review about parental cancer and personal and family consequences of such experience. Some of the most important medical and psychosocial issues regarding the diagnosis and treatment of parental cancer are presented. Using a systemic theory as the background model it addresses the influences (negative and positive) of the event in the patient and in other family members. The present paper gives special focus on the offspring’s psychological development, including the results regarding traumatic stress and posttraumatic growth, particularly on breast cancer. Some implications and suggestions for future research are addressed.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Entrepreneurial artisan products as regional tourism competitiveness

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyse the role of entrepreneurial artisan products in regional tourism competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach – This study applies secondary data from different sources (Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira, the Madeira Institute of Wine, Embroideries and Handicrafts) covering a temporal period spanning the last 15 years (2001-2015). This deployed quantitative data analysis through an econometric approach with recourse to regression models and the Pearson’s correlation technique. Findings – According to the results, it is suggested that in terms of external support and funding, there should be a greater role and a boost in the number of projects carried out not only under the auspices of the European Union but also under the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Thus, participant companies may invest in greater business efficiency and entrepreneurship, in innovation, promotion and the internationalisation of their products, and thereby obtain greater overall regional competitiveness. Research limitations/implications – The generalisation of results remains to a certain extent limited, given the findings stem from only one particular region. The exclusive utilisation of secondary data may also undermine the robustness of the results obtained. Originality/value – The study provides empirical evidence that helps in identifying the role of artisan products within the capacity for regional tourism sector entrepreneurship and competitiveness. Furthermore, this also contributes to the knowledge of the scientific community particularly interested in artisan and cultural entrepreneurship and regional competitiveness in the tourism sector.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Feeding diversity index as complementary information in the assessment of ecological quality status

The feeding diversity of macroinvertebrates from the estuary of Mondego was estimated with Shannon–Wiener complementary evenness following the methodology presented in Gamito and Furtado (2009. Ecological Indicators, 9: 1009-1019). Results were compared with those from BAT (Benthic Assessment Tool; Teixeira et al., 2009. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 58: 1477-1786) applied to the same data set, obtained from sampling carried out in 14 estuarine subtidal stations in Spring of 1990, 1992, 1998, 2000 and 2002. The BAT is a multimetric methodology based on three indices, the Shannon-Wiener and Margalef diversity indices, applied in conjunction with AMBI (Marine Biotic Index). To determinate the feeding diversity, each invertebrate was assigned to a feeding group. Six trophic groups were considered: surface deposit feeders, subsurface deposit feeders, herbivores or grazers, suspension feeders and suspension/deposit feeders. The carnivorous, omnivorous and scavengers were all grouped together, forming the sixth group. The results obtained with both tools pointed out, in general, to the same tendencies. However, in few occasions the feeding diversity pointed out to a high or a bad ecological quality condition whereas the BAT indicated a moderate condition. Occasionally, in stations with average species richness, all individuals were assigned to only one to three 2 feeding groups, and the feeding diversity was low. Even if these taxa were included in the first two or three AMBI sensitive groups, with their presence indicating a possible good ecological condition, they all perform the same ecological function, for example, they are all omnivorous. In these cases the trophic functioning of the system is reduced and the lower trophic levels are missing, such as the suspension-feeders and the decomposers or deposit-feeders. On the contrary, a highly diverse trophic assemblage might be found, but composed of taxa assigned to AMBI ecological groups of species indifferent or tolerant to organic enrichment, and of second-order opportunistic species, indicating a moderate ecological condition, while the feeding diversity will be high. The feeding diversity is, therefore, useful as a complementary information index, measuring other aspects of the community organization, which are not required for ecological quality assessment by the WFD, and so not included in metrics such as BAT

The importance of habitat-type for defining the reference conditions and the ecological quality status based on benthic invertebrates: the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon (Southern Portugal) case study

Coastal lagoons are complex systems, with considerable habitat heterogeneity and often subject to high temporal dynamics, which constitutes a great challenge for ecological assessment programs. For defining reference conditions for benthic invertebrates, under the EU Water Framework Directive objectives, historical data from the Ria Formosa leaky lagoon (wet surface area of about 105 km2) located in Southern Portugal was used. The influence of habitat features, such as channel depth, sediment type and seagrass cover, on the expression of these biological communities was inferred by analysing subtidal data collected at stations with different environmental characteristics. Such heterogeneity effect was analysed at the community compositional and structural levels, and also for three indices included in a multimetric Benthic Assessment Tool (BAT). This tool for the assessment of ecological status includes the Margalef index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI). Significant variations associated with environmental features were reflected on specific reference conditions at four habitats in the lagoon. After habitat calibration, the Benthic Assessment Tool (BAT) revealed that, in general and for the period of time covered by this historical data set, the status of the lagoon corresponded to a good ecological condition, which is mainly due to its high water renewal rate. Such classification is in accordance with the majority of studies at the lagoon. However, at punctual sites with human induced high water residence times, significantly lower BAT values were registered. Such community degradation can be associated with physical stress due to salinity increase and to a degradation of water quality, with occurrence of occasional dystrophic crisis, triggered by low water renewal. Habitat 2 differentiation was a crucial step for a correct evaluation of the ecological condition of invertebrate communities across the lagoonal system

Must deacidification with an induced flocculant yeast strain of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The use of flocculant cells of the yeast strain SchizosaFcharomyces pombe for the deacidification of grape musts in continuous culture was developed. An external loop reactor was used to induce flocculation. The flocs obtained were stable in the pH range 3.0-6.0 and in the presence of several sugars. Some inhibition was observed for high (above 6.0) and low (below 3.0) pH values. Once induced, flocculation could no longer be completely inhibited. Vinho Verde, a typical Portuguese wine, has a relatively low ethanol content and a high acid concentration. The external loop reactor loaded with the flocculant cells was used to deacidify a synthetic medium with sugar and malic acid concentrations similar to the ones found in Vinho Verde grape must. A desirable malic acid decrease with moderate glucose consumption was obtained at a dilution rate of 0.7 h-1. Improved results were obtained when the synthetic medium was replaced by Vinho Verde grape must

Novel 1-hydroxy-1,1-bisphosphonates derived from indazole: synthesis and characterization

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are an important class of drugs used in the treatment of abnormal calcium metabolism diseases. The first syntheses of bisphosphonates derived from indazole, substituted at the N-1, N-2 and C-3 positions are reported. The 1-hydroxy-1,1-bisphosphonates were synthesized from the corresponding carboxylic acid or acyl chloride compounds, by two different methods. These BPs have a side chain with different lengths ((CH2)n, n = 0-5) between the indazole ring and the bisphosphonate group

Espirais e Hélices - Do Polímero mais abundante da natureza

A celulose é o polímero renovável mais abundante do mundo. É o principal constituinte das paredes celulares das plantas, as quais constituem a sua principal fonte

Feeding ecology of the Ruivaco Achondrostoma oligolepis, a Portuguese endemic cyprinid fish

This study assessed the feeding ecology of the ruivaco Achondrostoma oligolepis, a Portuguese endemic resident cyprinid fish whose dietary habits are virtually unknown. Samples were taken seasonally in three medium-sized rivers representing a gradient of temporality. The stomach contents of 97 individuals (42-126 mm total length, TL) were analysed. Although there was no significant overall variation in diet composition between rivers, differences were found among seasons. A broad range of food categories was identified, although a smaller subset of primarily detritus (77.6 %) and plant material (18.4 %) constituted the base diet. Of the animal prey, Coleoptera and Diptera were the most prevalent, occurring in 13.2 % and 9.8 % of the fish, respectively, and were consumed mainly in the spring. Based on the observed diet composition and feeding strategy, the ruivaco could be considered a generalist, foraging on the most abundant and available preyEste estudio evaluó la ecología alimentaria del ruivaco (Achondrostoma oligolepis), un ciprínido endémico de Portugal cuyos hábitos alimenticios son prácticamente desconocidos. Las muestras fueron recogidas estacionalmente, en tres ríos medianos representando un gradiente de temporalidad. Los contenidos estomacales de 97 individuos (42-126 mm de longitud total, LT) fueron analizados. Aunque en general no hubo variación significativa en la composición de la dieta entre ríos, sí se encontraron diferencias entre las estaciones. Se identificó una amplia gama de categorías de alimentos, aunque un subconjunto más pequeño conformó la base de la dieta, encontrándose principalmente dominada por detritus (77.6 %) y material vegetal (18.4 %). Los coleópteros y dípteros fueron los grupos más frecuentes entre las presas animales, siendo encontrados en el 13.2 % y el 9.8 % de los peces respectivamente, y consumidos principalmente en primavera. Con base en la composición de la dieta y en la representación de la estrategia trófica, el ruivaco puede ser considerado como generalista, alimentándose de las presas más abundantes y disponible

Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) stiffness design for mitigation of ankle inversion injury

Modelling and simulation of human movement has the potential to improve the design of medical devices and rehabilitation process by enabling the identification of cause-effect relationships in individuals suffering from neurological and musculoskeletal issues. The main goal of this work was to provide a simulation-based stiffness design for an Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) that can help to mitigate the risk of a sprain by ankle inversion during the landing in freefall which is known to occur for subtalar angles higher than 25 degrees. Computational simulations were performed using human movement models with and without a passive AFO, to access the AFO sensitivity for the translational stiffness that prevents the cuff from translating with respect to the footplate. The Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology was used to access sensitivities between the three principal directions of the AFO stiffness. Results revealed that the ankle inversion angle was less than 25 degrees when increasingly larger values of translational stiffness were used, although a nonlinear behaviour was observed between the three principal directions of the AFO stiffness, for which injury safe design configurations were obtained.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tourist events and satisfaction: a product of regional tourism competitiveness

Purpose – This study aims to analyze the contribution of tourist event and satisfaction with tourism events as a product of regional tourism competitiveness, as well as evaluate factors of competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach – The research followed a quantitative methodology by conducting a questionnaire on the four largest tourist events in Madeira (Carnival, Flower Festival, Atlantic Festival and Wine Festival), an insular island located in Portugal. Findings – The sample consisted of 2,262 tourists surveyed during the year 2017 and structural equation models were used as the statistical method. Results showed that satisfaction is reflected in the client’s loyalty to the choice of a tourist destination and also contributes directly and indirectly to the regional tourist competitiveness. Originality/value – This study contributes to the valorization of local and regional events, perceived by the level of satisfaction and loyalty of tourists, as products of regional competitiveness of a tourist destination.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio