Crianças e Risco Ambiental – Abordagem de um Grupo de Crianças

p. 39-46Considerando como principal objecto de estudo a noção de “risco ambiental”, inicia-se este trabalho explorando o enquadramento teórico que esta noção obriga. Assim, é apresentada uma breve revisão da noção de risco de desenvolvimento e abordam-se alguns dos modelos conceptuais a que actualmente se atribuí maior importância no âmbito desta temática. Seguidamente é descrito o estudo exploratório efectuado com o objectivo de melhor conhecer/compreender como se estrutura, do ponto de vista do risco ambiental, uma situação concreta de um grupo de crianças (2-5 anos) residentes num bairro social do Grande Porto

Recovery of Incomplete Data of Statistical Livestock Number Applying an Entropy Approach

Livestock Production/Industries, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

A minimum cross entropy model to generate disaggregated agricultural data at the local level

This work presents an entropy approach to disaggregate agricultural data at a local level. It comprises two different steps. In a first one, an information prior at disaggregated level based on experts’ opinions, available cartography of land use and biophysical data is created. In a second step, it’s used a minimum cross entropy process in order to manage these information inputs and to guaranty a solution compatible with all the different restrictions. The model was applied to the region of Algarve in the year of 1999, in order to disaggregate the data at the pixel and county level. Results show that the model was able to provide some satisfactory results since the estimated values obtained for the different areas revealed a good approximation to the true values. These results were then analyzed and provided a new insight about the policies’ consequences in the territory.Minimum cross entropy, data disaggregation, local level, Algarve, agricultural policies, Agricultural and Food Policy, C11, C81, Q15, R14,

Environmental impacts of an imidaclopridcontaining formulation: from soils to waters

The neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid is among the top sold agrochemicals worldwide. Due to its widespread use in mixtures with different solvents and co-adjuvants, studying the environmental impact of its derived commercial formulations has become mandatory. In this study we used laboratory ecotoxicological tests to quantify the impact of the imidacloprid-containing formulation Confidor® 20SL on the terrestrial and aquatic compartments. Lethal and sublethal effects of recommended application doses of the product were assessed on standard terrestrial invertebrates Eisenia fetida and Folsomia candida whereas the toxicity of leachates from contaminated soils was evaluated in the aquatic model organisms Daphnia magna and Raphidocelis subcapitata. The exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of imidacloprid causedno mortality to earthworms (LC50 of 4.23 mg imidaclopridkg-1 dry soil) but altered their behavior and reproductionpatterns (EC50 values for avoidance and reproduction testsof 0.43 and 1.40 mg imidacloprid kg-1 dry soil, respectively).Effects on collembolans F. candida were negligible.Imidacloprid presented moderate leachability, with recoveryrates that ranged from 25.4 to 50.4% of the amountpresent in soils and concentrations in water extracts from13.05 to 71.8 μg L-1. Standard aquatic ecotoxicity testswere not able detect chronic or acute toxicity in standardtest organisms. Nonetheless, concentrations of the insecticidein water extracts were high enough to pose a lethalthreat to several other non-standard aquatic organisms

Classification of multiple sclerosis clinical forms by 1H magnetic ressonance spectroscopy of cerebrospinal fluid

Postprint (published version

Determining Suitability of a Fly Ash for Silica Extraction and Zeolite Synthesis

Zeolitic material is obtained from fly ash both by direct conversion of the ash or from SiO2 extracts obtained from fly ash. This study focuses on determining the suitability of a fly ash for SiO2 extraction and for zeolite synthesis by direct conversion. The SiO2 extraction experiments from different fly ashes show that the main parameters governing the SiO2 extraction are: (a) a high bulk SiO2 content (\u3e 52%, for obtaining an extraction yield of 100 g SiO2 kg-1) in the starting fly ash, (b) a high proportion (\u3e 55%) of the bulk SiO2 present in the degradable glass matrix and the highly soluble opaline fraction, and (c) a high bulk SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (\u3e2.0) of the fly ash. The results from experiments of zeolite synthesis by direct conversion demonstrate that the most important criteria for the selection of a fly ash for this process are: (a) a high content of Al2O3 and SiO2(\u3e 65%) (b) a high glass content (\u3e 63%) and (c) relatively low SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (\u3c 2.0). Multivariate analysis confirms the importance of the above-mentioned variables and shows some additional variables that have influence on ash behaviour under alkaline conditions. It quantifies the use of those variables for determining the suitability of ashes for SiO2 extraction and zeolite synthesis and is able to distinguish between the two. © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

Comparative analysis of the child welfare systems of Portugal and Galician

Introdução: O sistema de proteção deve ser adaptado às necessidades específicas de dois jovens. Investigações anteriores indicam conveniência da administração de traçar políticas que facilitam a integração. Objetivo: Comparar as respostas que Galiza e Portugal dão às necessidades das crianças em situação de vulnerabilidade enquadradas no sistema de proteção. Métodos: Realizou-se uma análise das fontes estatísticas oficiais dos governos de Portugal, Espanha e da comunidade autónoma da Galiza. Resultados: Apontam a necessidade de reduzir, em ambos os países, o acolhimento residencial, priorizando a permanência nas famílias de acolhimento, especialmente no caso de Portugal. A família biológica, na qual a medida de proteção teve origem, é o principal destino após a saída do sistema proteção. Conclusão: Verificaram-se ainda défices de vagas nos recursos residenciais especializados em trabalhar o processo de transição para vida adulta.Introduction: The protection system must still adapt protective action to the specific needs of youth. Literature on the issue has indicated that the administration should design policies that facilitate the integration of vulnerable youth. Objetive: To compares Galiza and Portugal's response to the needs of vulnerable children who have an administrative protection case file. Methods: A analyze of the official statistical sources of the governments of Portugal, Spain, and the autonomous community of Galicia is carried out. Results: The results show the need to reduce residential care in both countries, giving priority to fixed residence in host families, especially in the case of Portugal. The biological family in which the protective measure originated is the main destination after leaving the protection system. Conclusion: A lack in places in residential resources specialized in addressing the process of transition to adult life are noted.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hàbitat en cova i espai pels ramats ca.6200-6000 BP:La Cova Colomera (Prepirineu de Lleida) durant el Neolític Antic.

En aquest treball es presenten les dades referents a la Cova Colomera (Sant Esteve de la Sarga, Pallars Jussà) durant el Neolític cardial final. A partir de diferents sondejos duts a terme des de l'any 2005, s'ha pogut observar la varietat d'usos i funcionalitats del jaciment en moments potencialment sincrònics. Per una banda,una zona on predominen les estructures de caire domètic (fogars, fosses i forats de pal)que ens mostren les dades entorn a l'hàbitat al jaciment; i per altra banda, un gran sector de la cavitat dedicat a l'estabulació dels ramats amb sediments de tipus fumier i probablement també a l'emmagatzematge. Tot això succeix en unes datacions d'entre 6180 +/- 40 i 6020 +/- 510BP. Aquestes dades es contextualitzen amb les d'altres jaciments de la zona pirinenca, un àmbit que sempre ha estat definit en la bibliografia com un espai de pas entre diferents biòtops ecològics, de les plantes fèrtils a les pastures de l'estiu

STEVENS-JOHNSON SYNDROME AND TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS – A 10-YEAR STUDY

A síndrome de Stevens-Johnson (SSJ) e a Necrólise Epidérmica Tóxica (NET) são dermatoses mucocutâneas pouco frequentes, potencialmente fatais, na grande maioria secundárias à administração de fármacos. O objectivo deste estudo retrospectivo foi a caracterização clínico-evolutiva dos doentes com SSJ e NET hospitalizados no Serviço de Dermatologia dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, entre Junho de 2000 a Junho de 2010. Incluíram-se 38 doentes (27 mulheres e 11 homens), com idade média de 58,5 anos (±21,63 anos, intervalo: 14-88 anos); 26 com SSJ, 4 com síndrome de sobreposição SSJ-NET e 8 com NET. O envolvimento das mucosas oral, ocular e genital ocorreu em 35, 30 e 13 doentes, respectivamente, envolvendo mais que uma mucosa em 31 doentes. Foi identificado um fármaco como provável desencadeante em 81,6% dos casos: alopurinol em 36%, antibiótico em 23%, anticonvulsivante em 19% e anti-inflamatório não esteróide em 10%. A taxa de mortalidade foi de 8.3% para o SSJ e de 37.5% para a NET. Constatou-se uma associação positiva entre desfecho fatal e condição imunossupressora, presença de acidose metabólica e envolvimento da mucosa genital. O uso ponderado e racional de fármacos é de crucial importância, e em particular do alopurinol, o desencadeante provável mais frequente, em 29% do total de casos, e presente em 40% dos casos com prognóstico fatal.PALAVRAS-CHAVE – Síndrome de Stevens-Johnson; Necrólise Epidérmica Tóxica; Alopurinol; Reacções Cutâneas Adversas a Fármacos.Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are uncommon mucocutaneous der- matosis with a potentially fatal outcome, mostly secondary to drug administration. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical and evolutive characteristics of the patients with SJS and TEN admitted to the Dermatology Department of Coimbra University Hospital, between June/2000 and June/2010. 38 patients (27 women and 11 men) were included, with a mean age of 58.5 years (±21,63 years, 14-88 years), 26 with SSJ, 4 with SJS-TEN overlap and 8 with TEN. Involve- ment of oral, ocular and genitalia mucous membranes were present in 35, 30 and 13 patients respectively, with involvement of at least two in 31 patients. Drugs were the causative factors in 81.6% of patients: allopurinol in 36%, antibiotics in 23%, anticonvulsants in 19% and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 10%. The mortality rate was 8.3% for SJS and 37.5% for TEN. There was a significant correlation between the fatal outcome and a state of immunosuppression, presence of me- tabolic acidosis and involvement of the genital mucosa. The reasonable and rational use of drugs is of crucial importance, particularly allopurinol, the most likely causative factor, in 29% of total, and present in 40% of patients with a fatal outcome.KEYWORDS – Stevens-Johnson Syndrome; Epidermal Necrolysis, Toxic; Allopurinol; Drug Eruptions; Pharmaceutical Preparations/Adverse Effects