Modes of standardisation for postgraduate teaching in economics in a semi-peripheral country: The case of Portugal

Since the first postgraduate program in economics was created in Portugal in 1978, there has been a marked standardisation in the provision of this training. A narrowing of the curricula took place around an increasingly restricted number of courses that may be called 'core', excluding or relegating a wide variety of courses to peripheral areas of economics or to other fields, reducing the chances of pluralist teaching in economics. As this process happened throughout the world, we examine how it took place in Portugal through interviews with those responsible for the said programs. Classifying the modes of dissemination into emulation, coercion, and normative we conclude that imitation of what are considered the best practices in the Anglo-Saxon world can best explain the initial stage of standardisation. Recently, as institutions sought national and international recognition for postgraduate programs, coercion and normative followed in the form of assessment and certification processes.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The gastropod statolith elemental composition by EPMA

Gastropods statoliths are biogenic structures of CaCO3, analogous to fish otoliths. Their application in sclerochronology is recent and may be advantageous comparing to the most traditional organisms used hitherto. Moreover, since elements bind within calcified structures, statoliths theoretically incorporate chemical information from the surrounding environment over time. So, besides being used for age estimation and growth studies, statoliths elemental fingerprinting is recognized as natural tag to track larval dispersal and may also be considered as a potential marker of environmental change and/or pollution. However there is a lack of information on the elemental composition of adult gastropod statoliths. Here we characterize Nassariusreticulatus (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda) statoliths elemental composition by electron microprobe analysis (EMPA).One statolith from each of 3 adults was prepared for EMPA (Figure 1) and showed the same structural pattern: a nucleus circled by a metamorphic ring and, in addition to this core, 4 other rings delineating 5 increments (Figure 1F). General composition was assessed by Energy and Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy revealing C, Ca, O, Sr, Na, S and Mg as the most representative elements. These were then quantified in 3 points per increment. Carbon was not determined since surfaces were C-coated and the amount of oxides of Ca, Sr, Na, S and Mg was estimated from the valence. In addition, Ba – trace element in statoliths of some gastropods larvae – and Al, Cu, Hg, Sn – known as environmental pollutants – were also sought in one of the statoliths. For such, mean values for Ca, Sr, Na, S, Mg and O were set as the sample matrix. Standards and mean detection limits by element and statolith are indicated in Table 1.Concentrations of Ca, O, Na, Sr and S varied between 3.7x105-4.2x105, 1.5x105-1.7x105, 2.5x103-6.1x103, 1.3x103-8.9x103 and 4.7x102-1.3x103 ppm, respectively; Mg, which was not always detected, ranged from 2.0x102-8.6x102 ppm. No significant differences in these elements mean concentrations were found between increments, except Na in one statolith between increments 1 and 5 (higher at the edge; Dunn’s test s=2.014, p&gt;0.05). Thus the general elemental composition is nearly constant throughout lifespan (i.e. along statoliths radiuses). Regarding trace elements: Sn was never detected; Al and Hg were at 22.2% of the punctual analyses conducted while Cu was at 66.7% and Ba at 88.9%. Concentrations of Al, Hg, Cu and Ba varied between 55-71, 176-180, 183-302 and 647-969 ppm, respectively.EMPA proved to be a useful technique in sclerochronology, allowing the characterization of the overall composition of gastropods statoliths and the quantification of elements in specific locations with high resolution.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the grant SFRH/BPD/70368/2010.</jats:p

When agriculture rules over the territory: Drystone walls

The objectives of this paper are mainly the dissemination of knowledge about drystone walls, a “minor heritage”, and the awareness of its importance in the territory characterization. These objectives are achieved when this theme is disclosed and explained. Heritage is protected and appreciated only if it is understood. The expected practical impact is essentially related to the recognition of this type of heritage. The main methodology consists of bibliographical and iconography collection, field surveys and exchange of ideas with the local people. The approach is made from the point of view of how the practiced agriculture characterizes the territory, not only its structure, because is also necessary to know the local typologies of drystone walls to allow to characterize them. Some characteristics of drystone walls were discovered in this investigation, which are directly related to the territory where they are inserted. The following limitations were found: the gradual replacement of drystone walls with masonry walls; changes in the type of agriculture; the difficulty of finding masters who have the know-how about drystone walls; the recognition of this heritage by the local population; and the gradual local population diminution. Practical implications are an improved sense of belonging and identity as the knowledge and appreciation of this heritage increases the pride of the population which was verified in the field surveys. The originality of this paper is the object of study, the Parish of Cernache do Bonjardim, Portugal, since there are very few works about it, also with added value to the dissemination of this type of heritage and its potential exploitation and protection by local population. It is possible to renew theterritory of these walls and use it for touristic, educational and cultural purposes, encouraging the local economy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Inclusionary Populist Communication Style on Facebook: The Case of Ada Colau in Barcelona

Communication is one of the core elements of populism, especially in social media. Through such digital platforms, political leaders can communicate directly with citizens and build both their discourse and their political leadership. Although the literature has so far identified the existence of a populist political communication style, the expansion of populism and its connection with social media are extending and diversifying the concept, as well as adding new repertoires. In order to analyse this, we propose a study of the communication strategy of the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau who, with a background of citizen activism, became mayor of the city in 2015 thanks to a political organisation situated as left populist. The methodology is based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of the content of Colau’s Facebook profile. A total of 226 posts between 2015 and 2017 are analysed. The results make it possible to identify a new specific modality within the populist style of political communication, namely the inclusionary populist type. This focuses on issues related to defense of the rights of the weakest social groups and works within a framework of social justice and solidarity with others. Likewise, the study confirms how Facebook is configured as a preferred platform for the construction of political leadership

Electrophysiological characterization of the human Na(+)/nucleoside cotransporter 1 (hCNT1) and role of adenosine on hCNT1 function.

We previously reported that the human Na(+)/nucleoside transporter pyrimidine-preferring 1 (hCNT1) is electrogenic and transports gemcitabine and 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, a precursor of the active drug 5-fluorouracil. Nevertheless, a complete electrophysiological characterization of the basic properties of hCNT1-mediated translocation has not been performed yet, and the exact role of adenosine in hCNT1 function has not been addressed either. In the present work we have used the two-electrode voltage clamp technique to investigate hCNT1 transport mechanism and study the kinetic properties of adenosine as an inhibitor of hCNT1. We show that hCNT1 exhibits presteady-state currents that disappear upon the addition of adenosine or uridine. Adenosine, a purine nucleoside described as a substrate of the pyrimidine-preferring transporters, is not a substrate of hCNT1 but a high affinity blocker able to inhibit uridine-induced inward currents, the Na(+)-leak currents, and the presteady-state currents, with a K(i) of 6.5 microM. The kinetic parameters for uridine, gemcitabine, and 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine were studied as a function of membrane potential; at -50 mV, K(0.5) was 37, 18, and 245 microM, respectively, and remained voltage-independent. I(max) for gemcitabine was voltage-independent and accounts for approximately 40% that for uridine at -50 mV. Maximal current for 5'-DFUR was voltage-dependent and was approximately 150% that for uridine at all membrane potentials. K(0.5)(Na(+)) for Na(+) was voltage-independent at hyperpolarized membrane potentials (1.2 mM at -50 mV), whereas I(max)(Na(+)) was voltage-dependent, increasing 2-fold from -50 to -150 mV. Direct measurements of (3)H-nucleoside or (22)Na fluxes with the charge-associated revealed a ratio of two positive inward charges per nucleoside and one Na(+) per positive inward charge, suggesting a stoichiometry of two Na(+)/nucleoside

Electrogenic uptake of nucleosides and nucleoside-derived drugs by the human nucleoside transporter 1 (hCNT1) expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes

AbstractThe concentrative pyrimidine-preferring nucleoside transporter 1 (hCNT1), cloned from human fetal liver, was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique, it is shown that translocation of nucleosides by this transporter generates sodium inward currents. Membrane hyperpolarization (from −50 to −150 mV) did not affect the K0.5 for uridine, although it increased the transport current approximately 3-fold. Gemcitabine (a pyrimidine nucleoside-derived drug) but not fludarabine (a purine nucleoside-derived drug) induced currents in oocytes expressing the hCNT1 transporter. The K0.5 value for gemcitabine at −50 mV membrane potential was lower than that for natural substrates, although this drug induced a lower current than uridine and cytidine, thus suggesting that the affinity binding of the drug transporter is high but that translocation occurs more slowly. The analysis of the currents generated by the hCNT1-mediated transport of nucleoside-derived drugs used in anticancer and antiviral therapies will be useful in the characterization of the pharmacological profile of this family of drug transporters and will allow rapid screening for uptake of newly developed nucleoside-derived drugs

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization of 1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase from the human pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae

1,3-Propanediol dehydrogenase from K. pneumoniae has been overexpressed in E. coli, purified and crystallized. Diffraction data have been collected to 2.7 Å resolution

Antibacterial and antioxidant potential of aqueous extracts of bio-residues from agrocybe cylindracea and pleurotus ostreatus mycelium

The production of fresh mushrooms results in a large quantity of bio-residues, which may account for more than 20% of a crop volume and contributes to production costs and environmental impact, if not used. These products consist mainly of stalks, mushrooms of irregular dimensions and shape and basal material. Thus, the main objective of MicoBioExtract project is the valorisation of these bio-residues and the development of add-value by-products with bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides and phenolic compounds produced by mushrooms. In the present work, the aqueous extracts from Agrocybe cylindracea byproducts (ACB) and Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium (POM) were evaluated for potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Water soluble substances were extracted from mushrooms according to two different methods. In method 1 it was performed a hot extraction (extract 1A; 90 °C; 1 h; 500 rpms). In method 2, the biomass was submitted to an extraction at room temperature (extract 2B) and the resulting residue was extracted with hot water (extract 2C; 90 °C; 1 h; 500 rpms). The aqueous extracts from POM were obtained only by method 1. Extracts were lyophilized and their bioactivity evaluated measuring the antioxidant (ABTS, DPPH and ORAC) and antimicrobial (determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration – MIC) activities. The mutagenicity was also tested (Ames assay with and without S9). Moreover, it was determined the total phenolics content of the extracts and α and β – glucans (Folin Ciocalteu and Beta-Glucan Assay methods, respectively). The results obtained from antioxidant methods showed that all extracts from both mushrooms are a potential source of natural antioxidant and phenolic compounds. According to ABTS, extract 2B from ACB showed the best value with 8.48±0.33 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/g dry extract and 4.14±0.52 mg AAE/g dry extract for POM. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, MIC results showed that ACB and POM extracts inhibited the growth of Gram- (Salmonella enteritidis) and Gram+ (Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes). Concerning the mutagenicity, the results showed no toxic effect except for extract 1A from ACB. Regarding the β-glucan content, the extracts from ACB presented higher content of β-glucan than the C extracts from POM. Thus, aqueous extracts from mushroom bio-residues showed potential antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and to develop a circular bioeconomy approach.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio