ONG de mulheres e a luta contra a violência contra as mulheres e crianças no seio da família: o contributo da UMAR

Galvão Walnice Nogueira. Patrick Chabal et al., The postcolonial literature of Lusophone Africa. In: Lusotopie, n°6, 1999. Dynamiques religieuses en lusophonie contemporaine. p. 532

Oxidative stress and damage induced by Hypobaric Hypoxia : Effects of the acute and chronic exposure to simulated and real high-altitude environments in blood and skeletal muscle of humans and mice

Dissertação de Doutoramento, área de especialização em Ciências do Desporto, apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e de Educação Física da Universidade do Port

A Hands-on Approach on Botnets for Behavior Exploration

A botnet consists of a network of computers that run a special software that allows a third-party to remotely control them. This characteristic presents a major issue regarding security in the Internet. Although common malicious software infect the network with almost immediate visible consequences, there are cases where that software acts stealthy without direct visible effects on the host machine. This is the normal case of botnets. However, not always the bot software is created and used for illicit purposes. There is a need for further exploring the concepts behind botnets and network security. For this purpose, this paper presents and discusses an educational tool that consists of an open-source botnet software kit with built-in functionalities. The tool enables anyone with some computer technical knowledge, to experiment and find out how botnets work and can be changed and adapted to a variety of useful applications, such as introducing and exemplifying security and distributed systems' concepts. Copyrigh

Formulation and characterization of potential composites filaments from PLA and tobacco stems for application in additive manufacturing

A tecnologia de fabricação por filamento fundido (FFF) utilizando polímeros como PLA e ABS é bem conhecida. Contudo, o desenvolvimento de filamentos compósitos para esta tecnologia de manufatura aditiva, bem como a determinação dos parâmetros de processamento e das propriedades resultantes na extrusão e na impressão 3D, ainda requerem pesquisa. Esse estudo exploratório analisa as propriedades químicas, térmicas e a morfologia de filamento de matriz polimérica de PLA e talos de tabaco, visando sua utilização no processo FFF. Os materiais utilizados foram talos de tabaco moídos e PLA. As partículas de tabaco, com tamanho médio de 50 m, apresentaram-se aleatoriamente distribuídas no filamento. No entanto, aglomerados de partículas, bolhas e porosidades foram observados no centro do filamento. Ensaios por espectroscopia no infravermelho por transformada de Fourier mostraram que o filamento compósito apresentou interação mecânica entre os materiais. A análise térmica permitiu verificar que não houve degradação do pó de talos de tabaco, mantendo a integridade química e física do filamento compósito a temperatura de extrusão de 180 °C. A calorimetria exploratória diferencial revelou que as partículas de pó de talos de tabaco podem ter atuado como agente nucleante, aumentando o grau de cristalinidade do filamento compósito. Sugere-se para estudos futuros o aumento do percentual de pó de talos de tabaco, a investigação de outros métodos de preparação de compósitos, bem como um estudo da adição de plastificantes ou agentes compatibilizantes para aprimorar a ligação entre a interface do PLA e as partículas de tabaco.Fused filament fabrication (FFF) using polymers such as PLA and ABS are well known. However, the development of composite filaments for this type of additive manufacturing technology, as well as the study of processing parameters and properties resulting from extrusion process and printing still require investigation. This exploratory research aims to analyze chemical and thermal properties and the morphology of a composite filament from PLA polymer matrix and tobacco stems to seek its use in the FFF process. The materials used were waste of tobacco stems powder and PLA. Tobacco particles, with an average size of 50 m, have distribution on the filament. However, clusters of particles, bubbles and porosities were observed in the center of the filament. Fourier Transform Infrared analyses showed that the composite filament presented mechanical interaction between the materials. Thermal analyses allowed to verify that there was no degradation of tobacco stem powder. Therefore, chemical and physical integrity of the composite filament was kept at an extrusion temperature of 180 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that micronized particles of tobacco stems may have acted as nucleating agents for crystallization, increasing the crystallinity degree of the composite filament. It is recommended for future studies to increase the percentage of tobacco stems powder, the investigation of other methods for composites preparation, as well as a study of the addition of plasticizers or coupling agents to improve the interface between PLA and tobacco particles

Overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity in middle-age adults in an inland region of Northeast Portuguese: a pilot study

The prevalence of central and abdominal obesity has been increasing over last decades in developed countries. As well, the high prevalence of obesity in Portugal has already been documented, however it is need to better understand the prevalence in each region of the country. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity in middle-age in an inland region of Northeast Portuguese. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional community sample was collected from two Portuguese primary health care centres between January 2019 and December 2020. A total of 673 individuals aged 40–65 years were included for analysis, among which 400 women (53.34 ± 7.33 years) and 273 men (53.01 ± 7.20 years). Prevalence of overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity were analysed across sexes using body mass index and waist circumference. Categorical variables were expressed by counts and proportions with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Chi-squared test or fisher exact test were applied whenever appropriate. To compare continuous variables independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test were used. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity in this cross-sectorial sample were 41.01%, 30.61% and 67.20%, respectively. Significant differences among men and women were found for abdominal obesity (p < 0.001). Women presented a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (67.5%). Men have higher prevalence of overweight (48.72%) and central obesity (31.14%) than women (35.75% and 30.25%, respectively). However, differences were not statistically significant between sexes for overweight and central obesity (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: A higher prevalence of overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity was reported for middle- age adults in this inland region of Northeast Portuguese. Our data suggest a higher prevalence of all three clinical conditions, comparing previous Portuguese epidemiological studies. Current report provides the study pilot for a more detailed epidemiological research. Also, preliminary findings emphasise the importance of implementing physical activity programmes and promoting healthy lifestyles to tackling this growing public health problem.Project “GreenHealth – Digital strategies in biological assets to improve well-being and promote green health” (Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042), supported by North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prevalence of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a middle-age North-East Portuguese population: an exploratory and preliminary study

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease with a growing impact on morbidity and mortality worldwide. Previous studies detected a high prevalence of T2DM in Portugal, however the latest Portuguese epidemiological reports about Diabetes were performed in 2010 and 2015. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of T2DM in a middle-age Portuguese population from a North-East Portuguese region. Methods: An exploratory study was conducted between January 2019 and December 2020 from two primary health care centers in a North-East Portuguese region. A total of 673 individuals aged 40–69 years were analyzed, among which 400 women (53.34 ± 7.33 years) and 273 men (53.01 ± 7.20 years). T2DM diagnosis were based on World Health Organization (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria (2006). Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was included for analysis (≥110.0mg/dLand<126.0 mg/dL). Categorical variables were expressed by counts and proportions with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Chi-squared test or fisher exact test was applied whenever appropriate. Results: The prevalence of T2DMin this middle-age Portuguese population was 14.9%. Significant differences among sexes were found (p<0.05) with a higher prevalence for men (17.9%) than women (12.8%). Also, T2DM prevalence was significant different among age-groups with an increase with age (p < 0.001). T2DM prevalence represented 5.8%, 16.0% and 25.5% of the cases on age groups 40–49 years, 50–59 years and 60–69 years, respectively. Analyzing the prevalence of T2DM in each age group according to sex, women had 4.7%, 12.4% and 24.5% diabetic cases in the age groups 40–49 years, 50–59 years and 60–69 years, respectively. Otherwise, men had 7.4%, 21.6% and 26.9% of the diagnosed T2DM for the same age groups. Regarding to IFG, 5.1% of the non-diabetics presented some degree of change in fasting glucose in the blood. Of those, the higher percentage of IFG cases was present in men (4.5%) than women (0.6%). Individuals with 60–69 years have higher percentage of IFG (12.5%) than other age-groups (4.3% and 5.0% for 40–49 and 50–59 years, respectively). Women had ab normal-values for fasting glucose in 4.9%, 1.3% and 8.5% of the 40–49 years, 50–59 years and 60–69 years’ age-groups, respectively. Conversely, men presented 3.4%, 11.5% and 18.4% of IFG prevalence for the same age-groups. Conclusion: A high prevalence of T2DM was reported in the studied middle-age North-East Portuguese population. Men have a higher number of diabetics, however an age-related increase for both sexes. The results also suggest potential cases of pre-diabetes, which should be carefully monitored. Further epidemiological reports should include the influence of socio-demographic factors, physical activity patterns and health-risk behaviors on prevalence of T2DM.Project “Green Health -Digital strategies in biological assets to improve well-being and promote green health” (Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042), supported by North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)”.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity in middle-age adults in an inland region of northeast Portuguese: a pilot study

The prevalence of central and abdominal obesity has been increasing over last decades in developed countries. As well, the high prevalence of obesity in Portugal has already been documented, however it is need to better understand the prevalence in each region of the country. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity in middleage in an inland region of Northeast Portuguese. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional community sample was collected from two Portuguese primary health care centres between January 2019 and December 2020. A total of 673 individuals aged 40–65 years were included for analysis, among which 400 women (53.34 ± 7.33 years) and 273 men (53.01 ± 7.20 years). Prevalence of overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity were analysed across sexes using body mass index and waist circumference. Categorical variables were expressed by counts and proportions with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Chi-squared test or fisher exact test were applied whenever appropriate. To compare continuous variables independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test were used. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity in this cross-sectorial sample were 41.01%, 30.61% and 67.20%, respectively. Significant differences among men and women were found for abdominal obesity (p < 0.001). Women presented a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (67.5%). Men have higher prevalence of overweight (48.72%) and central obesity (31.14%) than women (35.75% and 30.25%, respectively). However, differences were not statistically significant between sexes for overweight and central obesity (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: A higher prevalence of overweight, central obesity and abdominal obesity was reported for middle-age adults in this inland region of Northeast Portuguese. Our data suggest a higher prevalence of all three clinical conditions, comparing previous Portuguese epidemiological studies. Current report provides the study pilot for a more detailed epidemiological research. Also, preliminary findings emphasise the importance of implementing physical activity programmes and promoting healthy lifestyles to tackling this growing public health problem.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prosecutorial decision-making regarding offenders’ social reintegration programs in intimate partner violence cases. A Portuguese study

Intimate partner violence is one of the most challenging and demanding problems that the criminal justice system has to face. Given the severe consequences of intimate partner violence, it is imperative that intervention from the criminal justice system, regarding perpetrators, be effective to prevent further victimization and recurrences. In Portugal, it is up to the state prosecutor to decide which cases will be subject to a social reintegration program as a pretrial diversion program. This study aims to explore the variables that might influence the state prosecutor’s decision-making process. We have examined 283 intimate partner violence cases in which provisional suspension of criminal proceedings was applied. The decision as to whether defendants should be referred for social reintegration program attendance (G1) or not (G2) was made by the state prosecutor. Differences between G1 and G2 were identified: the victim’s age, couple living in a current relationship, drug-addicted defendant, intimate partner violence child exposure. However, defendants’ unemployment and drug abuse were the only two variables identified as a determinant for state prosecutor decisions. We believe that the effectiveness of state prosecution decision-making would benefit from: (a) systematically taking into account all intimate partner violence risk factors; (b) an index or checklist detailing what science reveals useful in intimate partner violence offenders’ social reintegration; (c) rehabilitation solutions based on the needs of each offender instead of a “one-size-fits-all” approachS