Effects of a large irrigation reservoir on aquatic and riparian plants: a history of survival and loss

Dammed rivers have unnatural stream flows, disrupted sediment dynamics, and rearranged geomorphologic settings. Consequently, fluvial biota experiences disturbed functioning in the novel ecosystems. The case study is the large irrigation reservoir Alqueva in Guadiana River, Southern Iberia. The study area was divided into three zones: upstream and downstream of the dam and reservoir. For each zone, species composition and land use and land cover (LULC) were compared before and after the Alqueva Dam implementation. Data consist of aquatic and riparian flora composition obtained from 46 surveys and the area (%) of 12 classes of LULC obtained in 90 riverine sampling units through the analysis of historical and contemporary imagery. There was an overall decrease of several endemic species and on the riparian shrublands and aquatic stands, although di erences in the proportion of functional groups were not significant. Nevertheless, compositional diversity shows a significant decline in the upstream zone while landscape diversity shows an accentuated reduction in the reservoir area and downstream of the dam, which is likely related to the loss of the rocky habitats of the ‘old’ Guadiana River and the homogenization of the riverscape due to the irrigation intensification. The mitigation of these critical changes should be site-specific and should rely on the knowledge of the interactions between surrounding lands, ecological, biogeomorphologic, and hydrological components of the fluvial ecosystemsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Emotional contagion of anxiety carer ‐ Child in pediatric dentistry

Este trabalho está licenciado sob uma Licença Creative Commons Atribuição-Não Comercial-Sem Derivações 4.0 Internacional. Para ver uma cópia desta licença, visite http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. A licença permite compartilhar — copiar e redistribuir o material em qualquer suporte ou formato, desde que seja atribuído o crédito aos autores, fornecido um link para a licença e indicado se foram efectuadas alterações ao original. Não é permitido o uso do material para fins comerciais. Não é permitida a distribuição de material resultante da transformação do original. (Este resumo não dispensa a consulta da licença).Versão depositada: "in Press, corrected proof "."Objetivo Avaliar a existência de contágio emocional de ansiedade no par relacional encarregado de educação/criança. Métodos Foram inquiridas 41 crianças (3‐6 anos) e respetivos encarregados de educação, que compareceram a uma consulta de odontopediatria da Clínica Dentária Universitária Egas Moniz, com o recurso à aplicação de um questionário demográfico e de 2 instrumentos de medição de ansiedade, específicos de contextos de consultas médico‐dentárias; o Venham Picture Test modificado (crianças) e a versão portuguesa da Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (encarregados de educação). Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análise estatística na versão 21 do Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, nomeadamente recorrendo aos testes de Spearman's Roh, Shapiro‐Wilk e Mann‐Whitney, considerando‐se um nível de significância de 0,05. Resultados Constatamos que não existe uma correlação significativa entre a ansiedade vivenciada pelos EE e a ansiedade manifestada pelas crianças, sendo a maioria das crianças consideradas como livres de ansiedade (56,1%) e a maioria dos encarregados de educação considerada como moderadamente ansiosa (56,1%). No mesmo registo, assinalamos o facto das crianças, em ambos os grupos, se manifestarem ligeiramente mais ansiosas nas consultas de controlo. Conclusão Apesar de não se verificar a existência de contágio emocional para a amostra estudada, é inegável a existência da problemática da ansiedade, nomeadamente quando equacionada no âmbito de consultas de medicina dentária.

Changes in Functional Fitness, Mood States and Salivary IgA Levels after Exercise Training for 19 Weeks in Elderly Subjects

This study analysed the influence of a 19 week exercise program in the functional fitness, salivary IgA and mood states of an elderly population. Thirty three subjects with ambulatory capacity and without any medical contraindications to exercise aged between 68 and 95 years old participated and were distributed into 2 groups: 15 subjects performed aerobic exercise that included low-impact rhythmic work sequences with music, three times a week, and 18 remained sedentary. The exercising group attained improvements in all components of functional fitness with significant differences registered for aerobic endurance, lower and upper body strength. The exercising group also showed improvements in the mood states, with statistically significant less depression, less tension, less fatigue, more vigour and less anger. On the other hand, the sedentary control group showed an increase in confusion and a loss of vigour. For the exercising group salivary IgA levels were higher after the 19 week exercise program with no changes for the control group. This study shows a positive effect of exercise on physical, psychological and mucosal immune parameters in elderly populations which may improve quality of lif

A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Information about factors underlying peripartum complications is needed to inform health programs in Mozambique. This retrospective study covered the period from January 2013 to December 2018 and was performed at three rural-district hospitals in southern Mozambique, aiming at assessing factors associated with caesarean and peripartum complications. Data were extracted by clinical criteria-based audits on randomly select clients’ files. Logistical regression was used to identify factors associated with peripartum complications. Amongst 5068 audited files, women mean age was 25 years (Standard Deviation (SD) = 7), gestational age was 38 weeks (SD = 2), 25% had “high obstetric-risk” and 19% delivered by caesarean. Factors significantly associated with caesarean included being transferred [Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) =1.8; 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) = 1.3–2.6], preeclampsia [aOR (95%CI) = 2.0 (1.2–3.3)], age [aOR (95%CI) = 0.96 (0.93– 0.99)] and “high obstetric-risk” [aOR (95%CI) = 0.54 (0.37–0.78)]. Factors significantly associated with neonatal complication included mother being transferred [aOR (95%CI) = 2.1 (1.8–2.6)], “high obstetric-risk” [aOR (95%CI) = 1.6 (1.3–1.96)], preeclampsia [aOR (95%CI) = 1.5 (1.2–1.8), mother’s age [aOR (95%CI) = −2% (−3%, −0.1%)] and gestational age [aOR (95%CI) = −8% (−13%, −6%)] increment. This study identified amendable factors associated with peripartum complications in rural referral health settings. Strengthening hospitals’ performance assurance is critical to address the identified factors and improve peripartum outcomes for mothers-neonate dyads.publishersversionpublishe

Analysis of the 2015 National Health Survey

Funding Information: Funding: This research received no external funding. S.C. was a doctoral scholar partially funded by Canada Aid through the International Development Research Center grant number 102278-001 to the Mozambique’s Instituto Nacional de Saúde. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Maternity health care services utilization determines maternal and neonate outcomes. Evidence about factors associated with composite non-utilization of four or more antenatal con-sultations and intrapartum health care services is needed in Mozambique. This study uses data from the 2015 nationwide Mozambique’s Malaria, Immunization and HIV Indicators Survey. At selected representative households, women (n = 2629) with child aged up to 3 years answered a standardized structured questionnaire. Adjusted binary logistic regression assessed associations between women-child pairs characteristics and non-utilization of maternity health care. Seventy five percent (95% confidence interval (CI) = 71.8–77.7%) of women missed a health care cascade step during their last pregnancy. Higher education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.46–0.91), lowest wealth (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.2–3.7), rural residency (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1–2.2), living distant from health facility (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1–1.9) and unknown HIV status (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.4–2.7) were factors associated with non-utilization of the maternity health care cascade. The study highlights that, by 2015, recommended maternity health care cascade utilization did not cover 7 out of 10 pregnant women in Mozambique. Unfavorable sociodemographic and economic factors increase the relative odds for women not being covered by the maternity health care cascade.publishersversionpublishe

Conceptualizing sexual and gender-based violence in European asylum reception centers

Background: Sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) is a major public health problem and a violation of human rights. Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are exposed to a constant risk for both victimization and perpetration. Yet, in the context of European asylum reception centers (EARF) professionals are also considered to be at risk. Our study explores the conceptualization of SGBV that residents and professionals have in this specific context. Further, we intent to identify key socio-demographic characteristics that are associated with SGBV conceptualization for both groups. Methods: We developed a cross-sectional study using the Senperforto project database. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with residents (n=398) and professionals (n=202) at EARF. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to variables related with knowledge on SGBV. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were applied to understand if significant statistical association exists with socio-demographic characteristics (significant level 0.5%). Results: The majority of residents were male (64.6%), aged from 19 to 29years (41.4%) and single (66.8%); for professionals the majority were women (56.2%), aged from 30 to 39years (42.3%) and married (56.8%). PCA for residents resulted in 14 dimensions of SGBV representing 83.56% of the total variance of the data, while for professionals it resulted in 17 dimensions that represent 86.92% of the total variance of the data. For both groups differences in SGBV conceptualization were found according to host country, sex, age and marital status. Specific for residents we found differences according to the time of arrival to Europe/host country and type of accommodation, while for professionals differences were found according to legal status and education skills. Conclusion: Residents and professionals described different conceptualization of SGBV, with specific types of SGBV not being recognized as a violent act. Primary preventive strategies in EARF should focus on reducing SGBV conceptualization discrepancies, taking into account socio-demographic characteristics

Mucorales strains with biotechnological use: a polyphasic approach identification

Background Mucorales are mostly terrestrial ubiquitous filamentous fungi with coenocytic hyphae and asexual reproduction based on specialized structures (sporangia). Most of these fungi formed zygospores as result of the sexual reproduction. The natural relationships of them are very poorly understood due to the lack of distinguishing morphological characters. Some Mucorales have an important role in nature as decomposers, namely the capacity to degrade xenobiotic or recalcitrant compounds, make them important candidates for biotechnological use in the bioremediation processes. In previous study, two Mucorales isolates, Gongronella sp. MUM 10.263 and Rhizopus sp. MUM 10.260, isolated from vineyard soils from Alentejo (Portugual), were submitted to a selective adaptation with metalaxyl, an acylalanine fungicide widely used against oomycetes causing downy mildews. Resulting adapted strains, Gongronella sp. MUM 10.262 and Rhizopus sp. MUM 10.261 showed high tolerance and capacity to degrade metalaxyl [1]. The aim of this study was to identify at species level the metalaxyl degrading strains using also several reference Mucorales strains from Absidia, Circinella, Gongronella and Rhizopus genera for a polyphasic approach. Method The approach combined classical morphology, molecular biology and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Intact Cell Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF ICMS), as described elsewhere [2]. Results & Conclusions The results of ITS phylogeny analysis showed that Rhizopus sp. is Rhizopus oryzae. The spectral analysis confirm that Rhizopus oryzae, grouping within other strains from that species. Gongronella sp. were grouped with the closely related species G. butleri and G. lacrispora but forming a distinct cluster. In addition, molecular data grouped Gongronella sp. in a separated cluster when compared with the newet specie G. guangdongensis, described by Liu et al (2015) [3]. Therefore, from the molecular and proteomic analyses the isolate MUM 10.263 seems to represent a putative new species of Gongronella.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluación funcional en la vejez

Este trabajo presenta los resultados de un estudio realizados con personas mayores usuarios del Centro de Saúde da Covilhã en el que se utilizó una muestra de conveniencia con el propósito de establecer el nivel de funcionalidad de personas mayores de 65 años. Se tomó como variable dependiente la capacidad de desempeño de las actividades de la vida diaria y de las actividades instrumentales y como variable independiente diversos aspectos sociodemográficos como edad, sexo, personas con las que conviven, hábitos, etc. A través de la aplicación del Índice de Katz y de la Escala de Lawton, obtuvimos resultados que nos permiten afirmar que las personas ancianas que no residen en una residencia de ancianos mantiene un alto nivel de independencia funcional. Este nivel de funcionalidad está relacionado con factores sociodemográficos o condiciones de vida, pero sin llegar a los niveles significativos esperados. El análisis detallado de cada una de los aspectos evaluados nos permite establecer un perfil más preciso de los factores influyentes, tal como puede verse en la discusión de este trabajo.This paper presents the results of an investigative study conducted with older people users of the Health Center of Covilhã, where a convenience sample was used with the aim to establish the functionality level of people over 65 years old. The dependent variable was the ability to perform the independent variable included sociodemographic aspects, such as age, gender, habits, etc. Through the application of the Katz Index and the Lawton Scales, allowed to state that those individuals living outside old people’s homes keep a high level of functional independence. This level of functionality is related to socio-demographic factors and quality of life. However, the significance levels expected were not found. A detailed analysis of each subscale allows to establish a more accurate profile of the influential factors, as it can be seen in the discussion provided in this study

Literature review of information technology adoption models at firm level

Today, information technology (IT) is universally regarded as an essential tool in enhancing the competitiveness of the economy of a country. There is consensus that IT has significant effects on the productivity of firms. These effects will only be realized if, and when, IT are widely spread and used. It is essential to understand the determinants of IT adoption. Consequently it is necessary to know the theoretical models. There are few reviews in the literature about the comparison of IT adoption models at the individual level, and to the best of our knowledge there are even fewer at the firm level. This review will fill this gap. In this study, we review theories for adoption models at the firm level used in information systems literature and discuss two prominent models: diffusion on innovation (DOI) theory, and the technology, organization, and environment (TOE) framework. The DOI found that individual characteristics, internal characteristics of organizational structure, and external characteristics of the organization are important antecedents to organizational innovativeness. The TOE framework identifies three aspects of an enterprise's context that influence the process by which it adopts and implements a technological innovation: technological context, organizational context, and environmental context. We made a thorough analysis of the TOE framework, analysing the studies that used only this theory and the studies that combine the TOE framework with other theories such as: DOI, institutional theory, and the Iacovou, Benbasat, and Dexter model. The institutional theory helps us to understand the factors that influence the adoption of interorganizational systems (IOSs); it postulates that mimetic, coercive, and normative institutional pressures existing in an institutionalized environment may influence the organization’s predisposition toward an IT-based interorganizational system. The Iacovou, Benbasat, and Dexter model, analyses IOSs characteristics that influence firms to adopt IT innovations. It is based on three contexts: perceived benefits, organizational readiness, and external pressure. The analysis of these models takes into account the empirical literature, and the difference between independent and dependent variables. The paper also makes recommendations for future research. (17) (PDF) Literature Review of Information Technology Adoption Models at Firm Level. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258821009_Literature_Review_of_Information_Technology_Adoption_Models_at_Firm_Level [accessed Aug 26 2020].publishersversionpublishe