Predicting future coastal land use/cover change and associated sea-level impact on habitat quality in the Northwestern Coastline of Guinea-Bissau

The assessment of coastal land use/cover (LULC) change is one of the most precise techniques for detecting spatio-temporal change in the coastal system. This study, integrated Land Change Modeler, Habitat Quality Model, and Digital Shoreline Analysis System, to quantify spacio-temporal coastal LULC change and driving forces between 2000 and 2020. Combined the CA-Markov Model with Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM), merged local SLR data with future representative concentration pathway (RCP8.5) scenarios, and predicted future coastal LULC change and associated sea-level rise (SLR) impact on the coastal land use and habitat quality in short-, medium- and long-term. The study area had significant coastal LULC change between 2000 and 2020. The tidal flats, whose change was driven mainly by sea level, registered a total net gain of 57.93 km2 . We also observed the significant loss of developed land whose change was influenced by tidal flat with a total loss of − 75.58 km2. The tidal flat will experience a stunning net gain of 80.55 km2 between 2020 and 2060, making developed land the most negatively impacted land in the study area. The study led to the conclusion that the uncontrolled conversion of saltmarshes, mixed-forest, and mangroves into agriculture and infrastructures were the main factors affecting the coastal systems, including the faster coastal erosion and accretion observed during a 20-year period. The study also concluded that a low coastal elevation of − 1 m and a slope of less than 2◦have contributed to coastal change. Unprecedented changes will unavoidably pose a danger to coastal ecological services, socioeconomic growth, and food security. Timely efforts should be made by establishing sustainable mitigation methods to avoid the future impact.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Histamine and cholesterol lowering abilities of lactic acid bacteria isolated from artisanal Pico cheese

Aims: This study was designed to select lactic acid bacteria with histamine- and cholesterol-reducing abilities to be used as potential probiotics. Methods and Results: Thirty strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from an artisanal raw milk cheese were screened for their abilities to degrade histamine, reduce cholesterol and hydrolyse bile salts. Strains were also screened for safety and probiotic traits, such as resistance to gastrointestinal conditions, adhesion to Caco-2 cells, resistance to antibiotics and presence of virulence genes. Two Lactobacillus paracasei strains presented high cholesterol- and histamine-lowering abilities, tested negative for the presence of virulence genes and showed susceptibility to most important antibiotics. These strains were also shown to possess desirable in vitro probiotic properties, revealed by tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions and high adhesion to intestinal cells. Conclusions: Among the screened strains, Lb. paracasei L3C21M6 revealed the best cholesterol and histamine reducing abilities together with desirable probiotic and safety features to be used in food applications. Significance and Impact of the Study: The strain L3C21M6 is a good candidate for use as a probiotic with histamine-degrading activity and cholesterol lowering effect. In addition, this strain could be use in dairy foods to prevent histamine food poisoning

Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of extracts obtained form cherry seeds.

Annual cherry production in Portugal is around 19,000 tonnes, in an area of about 6,450 ha and covering about 11,100 farms, concentrated in some northern and central interior territories. It is also in these regions that in recent decades there has been a significant increase in farms specialized in the production of cherry, using new cultivars and new technologies in a business production model. Apart from being consumed in fresh form, cherries are used for many food preparations, like sweets, jellies or confectionary. In the plants that transform cherries, a significant amount of cherry seeds (also called cherry pits) is generated as residue or waste. The possible usage of these residues as raw material for extraction of compounds with antioxidant properties is beneficial in term of economic value as well as environmental impact. Hence, the objective of this work was to obtain extract rich in compounds with antioxidant activity from cherry seeds. The cherry seeds were obtained from a local waste management company, Nutrofertil, located in Tondela, in the district of Viseu (Portugal). They were grinded and then submitted to extraction procedures testing different operating conditions: magnetic stirrer versus ultrasound, different solvents (methanol, ethanol, water) and temperatures (from 35 ºC to 80 ºC). For the obtained extracts antioxidant activity was evaluated through spectrophotometric methods, using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonic acid)) radicals, and also the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay (FRAP). All measurements were replicated at least trice, and were expressed as mg Trolox equivalents per gram (mg TE/g). The results obtained for the different experimental conditions indicated that least efficient extractions at ambient temperature were obtained with methanol using magnetic stirrer and with water using ultrasounds, for which the antioxidant activities measured by the DPPH method were 0.26 and 0.33 mg TE/g and by the ABTS method were 0.82 and 0.86 mg TE/g, respectively. Most efficient methods were water:ethanol (at 50% concentration) and water (100%), using magnetic stirrer in both cases. Highest antioxidant activity was obtained for water:ethanol by the DPPH method (0.72 mg TE/g) and for water (100%) by the ABTS method (1.25 mg TE/g). Tests with different concentrations for the aqueous solutions of ethanol and at different temperatures revealed that with increasing concentration of water the antioxidant diminished, from 0.62 to 0.27 mg TE/g at 35 ºC using the DPPH method. Additionally, the variation in temperature allowed reaching a maximum extraction of compounds with antioxidant activity at 70 ºC and decreasing thereafter. The maximum values obtained were registered at 70 ºC for all cases and were 0.74 mg TE/g for the water:ethanol 50:50 (v/v) by the DPPH method, 2.16 mg TE/g for the water:ethanol 60:40 (v/v) by the ABTS method and 3.43 mg TE/g for the water:ethanol 60:40 (v/v) by the FRAP method. The results obtained by the different methods were concordant in terms of the observed trends but giving different values of the measured antioxidant activity, which is a common characteristic observed in these types of evaluation techniques. This research allowed establishing some operational conditions that should be selected in order to maximize the extraction of compounds with antioxidant activity from cherry seeds. The use of ultrasounds was not found beneficial and the magnetic stirrer technique revealed to be more useful. Also the use of methanol was not found suitable, which is a good point given that this solvent is more pollutant and has more problems of toxicity. With respect to temperature, it was found that temperatures higher than 70 ºC are not beneficial because they induce the degradation of some bioactive compounds thus reducing the antioxidant activity of thee extracts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The MK2 cascade mediates transient alteration in mGluR-LTD and spatial learning in a murine model of Alzheimer's disease

YesA key aim of Alzheimer disease research is to develop efficient therapies to prevent and/or delay the irreversible progression of cognitive impairments. Early deficits in long-term potentiation (LTP) are associated with the accumulation of amyloid beta in rodent models of the disease; however, less is known about how mGluR-mediated long-term depression (mGluR-LTD) is affected. In this study, we have found that mGluR-LTD is enhanced in the APPswe /PS1dE9 mouse at 7 but returns to wild-type levels at 13 months of age. This transient over-activation of mGluR signalling is coupled with impaired LTP and shifts the dynamic range of synapses towards depression. These alterations in synaptic plasticity are associated with an inability to utilize cues in a spatial learning task. The transient dysregulation of plasticity can be prevented by genetic deletion of the MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), a substrate of p38 MAPK, demonstrating that manipulating the mGluR-p38 MAPK-MK2 cascade at 7 months can prevent the shift in synapse dynamic range. Our work reveals the MK2 cascade as a potential pharmacological target to correct the over-activation of mGluR signalling.Wellcome Trust, Grant/Award Number: 200646/Z/16/

Suppression of a charge density wave ground state in high magnetic fields: spin and orbital mechanisms

The charge density wave (CDW) transition temperature in the quasi-one dimensional (Q1D) organic material of (Per)$_2$Au(mnt)$_2$ is relatively low (TCDW = 12 K). Hence in a mean field BCS model, the CDW state should be completely suppressed in magnetic fields of order 30 - 40 T. To explore this possibility, the magnetoresistance of (Per)$_2$Au(mnt)$_2$ was investigated in magnetic fields to 45 T for 0.5 K < T < 12 K. For fields directed along the Q1D molecular stacking direction, TCDW decreases with field, terminating at about ~ 37 T for temperatures approaching zero. Results for this field orientation are in general agreement with theoretical predictions, including the field dependence of the magnetoresistance and the energy gap, $\Delta_{CDW}$. However, for fields tilted away from the stacking direction, orbital effects arise above 15 T that may be related to the return of un-nested Fermi surface sections that develop as the CDW state is suppressed. These findings are consistent with expectations that quasi-one dimensional metallic behavior will return outside the CDW phase boundary.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Tabela Nacional de Funcionalidade (adulto em idade ativa com doença crónica). RELATÓRIO FINAL

Na sequência da Resolução da Assembleia da República n.º 90/2010, de 10 de agosto, o Ministério da Saúde incumbiu a Direção-Geral da Saúde de elaborar uma tabela nacional de funcionalidade para pessoas com doenças crónicas, de acordo com a Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF) da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS). A Direção-Geral da Saúde, ainda em 2010, através do Departamento de Qualidade na Saúde, criou um grupo de trabalho, para a elaboração da proposta de construção de uma Tabela Nacional de Funcionalidade para pessoas adultas com doença crónica. A população alvo, nesta tabela, são adultos em idade ativa, entre os 18 e os 64 anos. Um dos fatores que justifica não incluir a população com idade igual ou superior a 65 anos, no desenho e validação desta tabela, é o facto de estarem a decorrer estudos nacionais que responderão a esta necessidade (Lopes M. J., et al., 2012 e 2013). Para a identificação das doenças crónicas, a utilizar no desenvolvimento desta tabela, os critérios utilizados foram a prevalência de doenças crónicas, o grau de incapacidade associado à doença crónica e a evidência disponível. Foram incluídas as seguintes entidades clínicas: doença cardíaca isquémica crónica, depressão, diabetes mellitus, obesidade, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica, acidente vascular cerebral, esclerose múltipla, esclerose lateral amiotrófica, doença de parkinson, paralisia cerebral, dor crónica generalizada, osteoartrose, osteoporose, artrite reumatóide, lombalgia, espondilite anquilosante e cancro da mama. As doenças crónicas, conforme descrito pela OMS, acarretam custos identificados e sentidos por toda a sociedade, nomeadamente para doentes e família. Os custos associados às doenças crónicas incluem por um lado os gastos monetários com os cuidados de saúde e por outro toda a despesa invisível associada à doença crónica como sejam a diminuição da esperança média de vida, a condição de incapacidade e participação diminuída de alguns grupos mais vulneráveis, a redução dos dias de trabalho, o absentismo, o desemprego e a diminuição da qualidade de vida. Uma sociedade saudável é uma sociedade que consegue optimizar todo o seu potencial de saúde, contribuindo de forma integrada e ativa para o seu desenvolvimento. Um dos aspetos inovadores deste projeto está associado ao facto de se tentar desenvolver um mecanismo de registo em saúde, centrado na pessoa e nas suas dimensões de funcionalidade, de forma a complementar os registos de doença, realizados por recurso à Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID) e à Tabela Nacional de Funcionalidade. Um outro aspeto considerado inovador deste projeto centra-se no facto de se caracterizar a funcionalidade da pessoa com doença crónica em idade adulta, potencialmente produtiva e ativa e, não de uma doença ou de um conjunto de procedimentos, em particular. A implementação do registo sistemático da funcionalidade do adulto em idade ativa permite, ao longo do tempo, medir a evolução da funcionalidade, como indicador de saúde, contribuindo assim para uma mais adequada e racional alocação de recursos, monitorização de resultados das intervenções de saúde e sociais, assim como para uma melhoria da equidade na atribuição de benefícios fiscais e prestações sociais (Parrish, 2010). Bierman e Bickenbach (2003) defendem que o estado funcional, além de ser um indicador do estado de saúde, é um ótimo indicador de previsão dos custos dos cuidados de saúde. O Instituto de Estatísticas da Saúde do Canadá refere, desde 2001, que os cuidados de saúde de qualidade devem estar centrados na otimização do estado funcional, sendo esta a principal preocupação dos doentes e das suas famílias (Clauser, 2003). Referindo a experiência do Canadá, um dos países que contribuiu para a construção da Classificação Internacional da Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF), Bickenbach (2003) menciona que a introdução da CIF no sistema estatístico canadiano, permitiu expandir a informação de saúde das populações e, ainda, tratar a funcionalidade como uma variável demográfica. A variável funcionalidade é, também, usada para analisar o grau de participação do adulto com incapacidade em vários contextos de vida, incluídos nos inquéritos sociais, como educação, emprego e transportes. Atualmente, em alguns países membros da OMS, como a Austrália, Holanda e Itália, a avaliação da funcionalidade integra os programas de saúde e de ação social, com o objetivo de ser utilizada não só como indicador de necessidades e ganhos em saúde mas, também, como indicador do desempenho dos serviços e avaliação das consequências da deficiência. A longo prazo, esta informação de saúde sobre a funcionalidade da população adulta em idade ativa com doença crónica, possibilitará decisões políticas transversais aos diferentes setores

Use of antipsychotic drugs. A multicentric study of inpatients with acute psychotic disorders

Com o objectivo de caracterizar o padrão e os determinantes de utilização de fármacos antipsicóticos por via intra-muscular em indivíduos hospitalizados por perturbação psicótica aguda, efectuou-se um estudo retrospectivo de 244 indivíduos, admitidos em sete unidades hospitalares de internamento psiquiátrico. Foram seleccionados dois grupos, IM (Intra Muscular) e PO (Via Oral), que nos primeiros três dias de internamento receberam respectivamente medicação antipsicótica por via intramuscular ou por via oral, tendo-se explorado as eventuais diferenças nas áreas demográfica, clínica e terapêutica (com revisão dos casos aos 6 e 12 meses após a alta hospitalar). Os dois grupos foram homogéneos quanto à idade, raça, sexo, idade do início da doença e diagnóstico, tendo-se verificado um número maior de internamentos compulsivos no grupo IM. As perturbações psicóticas mais prevalentes em ambos os grupos foram a esquizofrenia e a perturbação bipolar, não se tendo encontrado qualquer associação entre os diagnósticos iniciais e a via de administração dos fármacos. O tempo de hospitalização foi igual entre grupos, embora nos doentes do grupo IM tivesse sido necessário tomar medidas de precaução especiais com maior frequência. A medicação ansiolítica foi superior no grupo PO nos dias um e dois de hospitalização e igual nos dois grupos no dia três e no dia de alta. A terapêutica anticolinérgica foi semelhante entre os dois grupos. O número de novas hospitalizações, bem como a percentagem de doentes a utilizar medicação antipsicótica, ansiolítica e anticolinérgica, foi semelhante nos dois grupos após 6 e 12 meses de seguimento. Neste estudo, a presença de agitação psicomotora e de comportamentos agressivo/destrutivo na fase inicial do internamento no grupo IM (incluindo o primeiro contacto, maioritariamente feito no serviço de urgência) foram os elementos estatisticamente determinantes da utilização da via intramuscular para a administração dos fármacos antipsicóticos. With the objective of determining the pattern and decision making process in using antipsychotic drugs in patients admitted to hospital for acute psychotic disorder we have made a retrospective analysis in 244 in-patients in 7 hospitals for mental disorders. We have selected two groups, IM and PO, that in the first three days of internment have received either intravenous antipsychotic medication or oral medication; the demographical, clinical and therapeutical differences have been considered (with a review of the cases at 6 and 12 months after discharge from hospital). Homogeneity was considered regarding age, race, gender, age at the onset of the disease and diagnosis; in the IM group there were a larger number of compulsive admissions. The most prevalent psychotic disorders in both groups were schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; with no association being made between the initial diagnosis and drug administration. The hospitalization period was the same for both groups, although in the patients in the IM group the need for special precautions was more frequent. Medication with anxiolytics was higher in the PO group on day 1 and 2 of the hospitalization and the same for the two groups on day 3 and on discharge. The number of new admissions, as well as the percentage of patients taking antipsychotic, anxiolytic and anticholinergic medication was similar in both groups after a period of 6 and 12 months follow-up. In this study, agitation and aggressive/destructive behaviours in the initial phase of hospitalization in the IM group (including the first contact, most of the times on admission at the ER) were statistically significant factors for the use of intramuscular administration of antipsychotic drugs.publishersversionpublishe