Anesthesia for ex utero intrapartum treatment: renewed insight on a rare procedure

AbstractThe ex utero intrapartum treatment is a rare surgical procedure performed in cases of expected postpartum fetal airway obstruction. The technique lies on a safe establishment of a patent airway during labor in anticipation of a critical respiratory event, without interrupting maternal–fetal circulation.Anesthetic management is substantially different from that regarding standard cesarean delivery and its main goals include uterine relaxation, fetal anesthesia and preservation of placental blood flow.We present the case of an ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure performed on a fetus with a large cervical lymphangioma and prenatal evidence of airway compromise. Modifications to the classic ex utero intrapartum treatment management strategies were successfully adopted and will be discussed in the following report

Perfil compósito para colector solar, respectivo método de produção e utilização

A presente invenção diz respeito a um perfil compósito para caixa modular utilizada em colectores solares para aquecimento de águas para uso doméstico ou industrial cujas principais vantagens passam pela: produção através de um processo de extrusão, redução das perdas energéticas do colector solar devido ao design com perfil alveolar, fácil portabilidade devido a redução do peso por metro quadrado de painel, utilização de compósitos recicláveis na sua composição usando entre outros: borracha de pneu usado reciclada, redução dos tempos de montagem dos colectores solares, eliminação da necessidade de colocação de isolantes adicionais à caixa modular e redução dos custos de produção

Evaluation of the protective effect of Hypericum perforatum phenolics compounds, in the toxicity induced by heterologous expression of α-synuclein

Parkinson’s disease (PD), first described by James Parkinson in 1817, is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The pathologic hallmark is a deterioration of the substantia nigra of yet unknown causes, resulting in a deficiency of dopamine, an important neurotransmitter for the basal ganglia circuit and the presence of cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions named Lewy bodies, in which α-synuclein is the major constituent. Recent work implicates abnormal protein accumulation, protein phosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress as common pathways implicated in PD pathogenesis. Polyphenolic compounds are commonly found in both edible and medicinal plants, and they have been reported to have multiple biological effects, including antioxidant activity. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model to study several neurodegenerative diseases, including biological function of α-synuclein, as well as its toxicity. The heterologous expression of wild-type and A53T mutant form of α-synuclein causes toxicity in cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of Hypericum perforatum phenolic compounds (quercetin, kaempferol and biapigenine), in the toxicity induced by the heterologous expression of α-synuclein, using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model. Preliminary results indicate that the presence of these phenolic compounds decrease the protein accumulation in cells expressing α-synuclein. We concluded that these phenolic compounds apparently have beneficial biological properties that consequently could have a potential use in preventing Parkinson’s disease.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Hypericum perforatum phenolics compounds: protective role in the toxicity induced by heterologous expression of α-synuclein

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with high prevalence and is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the presence of cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions named Lewy bodies, in which α-synuclein is the major constituent. Several studies implicate abnormal protein accumulation, protein phosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress as common pathways implicated in PD pathogenesis. Polyphenolic compounds are commonly found in both edible and medicinal plants, and they have been reported to have multiple biological effects, including antioxidant activity. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model to study several neurodegenerative diseases, including biological function of α-synuclein, as well as its toxicity. The heterologous expression of wild-type and A53T mutant form of α-synuclein causes toxicity in cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of Hypericum perforatum phenolic compounds (quercetin, kaempferol and biapigenine), in the toxicity induced by the heterologous expression of α-synuclein, using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model. Preliminary results indicate that the presence of these phenolic compounds decrease the toxicity observed in cells expressing α-synuclein without the presence of the compounds. We concluded that these phenolic compounds apparently have beneficial biological properties that consequently could have a potential use in preventing Parkinson’s disease.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) - (PTDC/BIA-MIC/114116/2009) e (SFRH/BD/41674/2007

Material compósito de granulado de borracha de pneus usados reciclado numa matriz polimérica

A presente invenção apresenta uma solução que incorpora e melhora a adesão entre o granulado de borracha de pneu usado e a matriz polimérica, pela adição de um agente compatibilizador que para além de compatibilizar os materiais, promove a homogeneidade da mistura e consequentemente obtém-se um material com boas propriedades mecânicas e com bom aspecto superficial. A presente invenção consiste na apresentação de novas formulações de materiais que incorporam borracha de pneu usado em matrizes poliméricas termoplásticas utilizando um agente compatibilizador. Desta mistura obtêm-se produtos com composição de borracha de pneu usado com uma matriz polimérica, recorrendo a aditivos para melhorar as propriedades finais do compósito. O custo é primordial para competir com produtos feitos de matérias virgens e como tal, este processo visa reduzir o custo do produto bem como a quantidade relativa da matéria virgem utilizada e o reaproveitamento da borracha reciclada

Spatial variability of water infiltration rate in soil under pasture as a function of cattle trampling intensity

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da intensidade de pisoteio do gado na variabilidade espacial da infiltração de água no solo. O experimento foi conduzido em um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo, com pastagem de Urochloa brizantha dividida em seis piquetes de 1 ha, cada um com 50 pontos de amostragem, em grade de 10x10 m. Em cada local de amostragem, foi medida a taxa de infiltração tridimensional de água em solo saturado, nas profundidades de 0,10 e 0,20 m. As medições foram realizadas na primeira, décima primeira e décima quinta passagens do gado pelos piquetes. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise geoestatística, para avaliação da variabilidade espacial das propriedades do solo. As 15 passagens do gado pelos piquetes resultaram em diminuição da taxa de infiltração de água no solo de 73,3% a 0,10 m e de 64,6% a 0,20 m de profundidade. O estudo da variabilidade espacial da taxa de infiltração de água no solo, por meio da geoestatística, possibilita a construção de mapas para a avaliação dos efeitos da intensificação do pisoteio do gado sobre as propriedades físicas do solo. A taxa de infiltração de água no solo apresenta estrutura de dependência espacial que aumenta em função da intensidade do pisoteio do gado.The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of cattle trampling intensity on the spatial variability of soil-water infiltration rate. The experiment was carried out on an Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo (Ultisol) under a Urochloa brizantha pasture, divided into six one-hectare plots, each with 50 sampling points in a 10x10 m grid. In each sampling site, the saturated three-dimensional infiltration rate at 0.10 and 0.20-m depths was measured. Measurements were made in the first, eleventh and fifteenthcattle passages on the plots. Data were submitted to geostatistics for the study of the spatial variability of the saturated infiltration rate. The 15 cattle passages on the plots caused a decrease of 73.3% in the soil water infiltration rate, at 0.10-m depth, and 64.4% at 0.20-m depth. The study of spatial variability of soil-water infiltration rate with geostatistics permits the construction of maps for assessing the effects of cattle trampling intensification on soil physical properties. Water infiltration rate in soil has a spatial dependency structure which increases as a function of trampling intensity

Nutritional and phytochemical composition of Vaccinium padifolium Sm wild berries and radical scavenging activity

Blueberries have a well-deserved reputation as a potential functional food, supported by studies which have identified and quantified various nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals with known benefits for human diet and health. Wild blueberries have attracted particular attention due to the levels and concentrations of those phytonutrients. This study aims to evaluate for the first time the chemical composition of Madeira Island's endemic Vaccinium padifolium Sm wild berry. Results show that this fruit contains high values of total soluble phenolic content (around 4 g GAE kg-1 FW), as well as significant values of total monomeric anthocyanin content (around 3 g eq. cyanidin kg-1 FW) and DPPH scavenging activity (around 86.72%). Additionally, results reveal that this fruit has water content of about 88% as well as low sugar content (17.98 and 29.73 g kg-1 for glucose and fructose, respectively). Results also confirm that this wild blueberry is a good source of dietary fiber, fat and minerals. The high level of terpenoid compounds stands out in the aroma profile analysis.Ana C. Pereira acknowledges Agencia Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI) for financial support through her grant, M1420-09-5369-FSE- 000001.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Abordagem multi-física ao comportamento em serviço das estruturas de betão: monitorização dos campos intermos de humidade

No âmbito do projeto de investigação denominado SeLCo – “Comportamento em serviço de estruturas de betão: uma abordagem multi-física das tensões autoinduzidas” – está a ser realizado um conjunto de trabalhos conducentes ao estabelecimento de abordagens de simulação higro-mecânica para estudo do carácter não uniforme das tensões associadas à retração de secagem em estruturas de betão armado. De facto, a secagem do betão ocorre de forma progressiva da superfície para o interior, originando deformações impostas. Para que possam ser simuladas as tensões decorrentes destes processos é primeiramente necessário dispor de modelos capazes de simular os campos de humidade, devidamente fundamentados em resultados obtidos através de medições experimentais. O presente artigo dedica atenção ao último aspeto, apresentando um conjunto de trabalhos realizados com o intuito de melhor compreender os desafios envolvidos na monitorização da humidade interna no betão. Apesar de haver vários trabalhos na bibliografia relativamente a este assunto, são escassos os que comparam o desempenho de metodologias e sensores para medição da humidade interna no betão. Neste trabalho são apresentados vários conjuntos de experiências que comparam o desempenho de sensores e de procedimentos de monitorização, explanando-se as principais ilações e estratégias a adotar no contexto do programa experimental a conduzir no âmbito da investigação sobre tensões autoinduzidas no betão

Epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder in Portugal: prevalence, clinical characterization, and medical conditions

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and identify its clinical characterization, and medical conditions in a paediatric population in Portugal. A school survey was conducted in elementary schools, targeting 332,808 school-aged children in the mainland and 10,910 in the Azores islands. Referred children were directly assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn), the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Clinical history and a laboratory investigation was performed. In parallel, a systematic multi-source search of children known to have autism was carried out in a restricted region. The global prevalence of ASD per 10,000 was 9.2 in mainland, and 15.6 in the Azores, with intriguing regional differences. A diversity of associated medical conditions was documented in 20%, with an unexpectedly high rate of mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders

Evaluation of the maize (Zea mays L.) diversity on the Archipelago of Madeira

The variability of 43 open-pollinated populations of maize (Zea mays L.), representing a wide range of ecological conditions on the Archipelago of Madeira, was evaluated based on the morphological and reproductive traits. Individual data of 41 traits related to earliness, plant and tassel structure and the shape of the ear and grain were analysed using multivariate analysis. The populations belonging to two major maize varieties were grouped into four groups by their degree of dissimilarity, based on discriminant analysis. The dissimilarity of these groups was confirmed by the values of the Tukey test. The racial rank of these groups was proposed and a brief description of the maize landraces was presented. This work represents the first morphological characterization and analysis of diversity of maize germplasm for the Archipelago of Madeira where the traditional agricultural practices are still keeping this Portuguese region free from corn hybrids. The description of the Madeiran corn landraces allows us to preserve the existing corn biodiversity and could be used for their registration as conservation landraces or for conservation and breeding proposes worldwide.Portuguese Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT, Fundac¸a˜o para a Cieˆncia e Tecnologia) has sponsored this work, through the Centre of Macaronesian Studies (CEM) and the project POCTI no35003/AGR/2001. The Authors are grateful to the Madeiran farmers who assisted with collection of maize samples.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio