Monitoring an ocean outfall using an AUV

The wastewater plumes show to be very difficult to observed in detail. The several studies already conducted exhibit very complex and patchy structures both in vertical and horizontal sections. It is not clear if this plume patchiness is due to physical processes or measurement limitations. Rapid tow-yo sampling is expected to reduce the time variability during and between transects. The AUVs may be a useful instrument to map and detect wastewater plumes. This paper presents several prediction studies using time series files of actual in-situ measurements integrated in a near field model. The model predictions of the plume characteristics at the end of near field support the definition of the best sampling strategy for an AUV monitoring mission in a Portuguese west coast outfall

A GIS-MCDA Approach Addressing Economic-Social-Environmental Concerns for Selecting the Most Suitable Compressed Air Energy Storage Reservoirs

This article presents an assessment of the most suitable compressed air energy storage (CAES) reservoirs and facilities to better integrate renewable energy into the electricity grid. The novelty of this study resides in selecting the best CAES reservoir sites through the application of a multi-criteria decision aid (MCDA) tool, specifically the simple additive weighting (SAW) method. Besides using geographic information systems (GIS) spatial representation of potential reservoir areas, for the MCDA method, several spatial criteria, environmental and social constraints, and positive incentives (e.g., the proximity to existing power generation facilities of renewable energy sources) were contemplated. As a result, sixty-two alternatives or potential reservoir sites were identified, and thirteen criteria (seven constraints and six incentives) were considered. The final stage of this study consisted of conducting a sensitivity analysis to determine the robustness of the solutions obtained and giving insights regarding each criterion’s influence on the reservoir sites selected. The three best suitable reservoir sites obtained were the Monte Real salt dome, Sines Massif, and the Campina de Cima—Loulé salt mine. The results show that this GIS-MCDA methodological framework, integrating spatial and non-spatial information, proved to provide a multidimensional view of the potential reservoir CAES systems incorporating both constraints and incentives

Prospective e memory impairment related to cancer: a systematic review

Cognitive complaints and alterations related to cancer may reduce well-being, quality of life, and daily functioning. More recently, prospective memory (PM), i.e., the ability to plan a future intention, to maintain it during a variable delay time in which people are typically engaged in other tasks, and to retrieve it when the expected circumstances arise, has fostered increased attention in cancer research. Examples are to remember to ask for a certain information during a medical appointment (event-based PM/EBPM) or to take medication at certain hours (time-based PM/TBPM). This work aimed to provide an overview of the main findings related to PM functioning in people with history of cancer. A qualitative systematic review of the literature was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and 20 articles published between 2000 and 2020 were included. People with cancer history (vs. healthy controls) tended to report more PM complaints and worst objective PM performance, especially when considering EBPM tasks. Some treatments such as chemotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, and radiotherapy negatively impacted PM. Importantly, changes in PM were associated with lower quality of life. Also, fatigue and depression appeared to contribute to PM impairment. A puzzling finding was the lack of association between objective and subjective measures of PM, which implies that different facets might underly cancer-related PM changes. Taken together, the inclusion of PM measures when probing cancer-related cognitive impairment is relevant not only to better assess and characterize the cancer experience across time, but also to inform interventions and cognitive rehabilitation approaches

Análise Social: seis décadas de temas e problemas

Este artigo analisa estatisticamente os títulos dos artigos publicados na Análise Social (1963-2022), comparando as palavras utilizadas ao longo de seis décadas. Parte-se da premissa de que a escolha de determinadas palavras é reveladora de diversos “mundos do texto”, organizados em função de motivações e interesses distintos. Enunciadas em determinados contextos históricos e mediadas pelo trabalho das sucessivas equipas editoriais, as palavras constituintes dos léxicos da revista mostram linhas de continuidade e mudança temática ao longo do tempo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mineralization of Sialoliths Investigated by Ex Vivo and In Vivo X-ray Computed Tomography

The fraction of organic matter present affects the fragmentation behavior of sialoliths; thus, pretherapeutic information on the degree of mineralization is relevant for a correct selection of lithotripsy procedures. This work proposes a methodology for in vivo characterization of salivary calculi in the pretherapeutic context. Sialoliths were characterized in detail by X-ray computed microtomography (μCT) in combination with atomic emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Correlative analysis of the same specimens was performed by in vivo and ex vivo helical computed tomography (HCT) and ex vivo μCT. The mineral matter in the sialoliths consisted essentially of apatite (89 vol%) and whitlockite (11 vol%) with average density of 1.8 g/cm3. In hydrated conditions, the mineral mass prevailed with 53 ± 13 wt%, whereas the organic matter, with a density of 1.2 g/cm3, occupied 65 ± 10% of the sialoliths' volume. A quantitative relation between sialoliths mineral density and X-ray attenuation is proposed for both HCT and μCT.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

EVALUATION OF COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN OLDER ADULT RESIDENTS OF A RURAL AREA

The aim of this study was to describe the cognitive performance of older adults living in a rural area.This was a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study, with older adults, aged 60 or more, living in the rural area of a municipality in the south of Brazil, which took place between July and October 2014. The study sample was 806 older adults.The majority of the older adults participants were aged 60-69 years, with 4-7 years of schooling and 450 (55.83%) were female.The mean in the Mini-Mental State Examination was 23.59, standard deviation 5.21. The men presented a higher mean in this scale than the women (p<0.001). Differences in the mean for age were not significant (p=0.8). These results may serve to support health professionals and managers in the creation of cognitive decline prevention strategies.Estudio cuya finalidad fue describir el desempeño cognitivo de los ancianos que viven en espacio rural. Es una investigación cuantitativa descriptiva de cohorte trasversal, con ancianos de 60 años o más que viven en el espacio rural de un municipio del extremo sur de Brasil. Fue realizada entre los meses de julio y octubre de 2014. La muestra del estudio fue de 806 ancianos y los participantes de la investigación totalizaron 450 (55,83%) del sexo femenino, ancianos jóvenes, con edades entre 60 y 69 años y escolaridade de 4 a 7 años. La media en el Mini Examen del Estado Mental fue de 23,59, desvío patrón 5,21. La media de los hombres en esta escala fue mayor que de mujeres (p<0,001). Las diferencias en las medias referentes a la edad no fueron significativas (p=0,8). Los resultados obtenidos podrán ser utilizados como subsidios para que los profesionales y gestores del área de salud puedan crear estrategias de prevención al declinio cognitivo.O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o desempenho cognitivo dos idosos residentes na zona rural. Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa descritiva de corte transversal, com idosos de 60 anos ou mais residentes na zona rural de um município do extremo sul do Brasil e ocorreu entre os meses de julho e outubro de 2014. A amostra do estudo foi de 806 idosos. Os participantes da pesquisa foram 450 (55,83%) do sexo feminino, idosos jovens, com idades entre 60 a 69 anos e possuíam 4 a 7 anos de escolaridade. A média no Mini-Exame do Estado Mental foi de 23,59, desvio padrão 5,21. Homens tiveram média nesta escala maior que mulheres (p<0,001). As diferenças nas médias em relação à idade não foram significativas (p=0,8). Estes resultados poderão servir de subsídios para os profissionais e gestores da área da saúde criem estratégias de prevenção ao declínio cognitivo

Chemical Composition and Effect against Skin Alterations of Bioactive Extracts Obtained by the Hydrodistillation of Eucalyptus globulus Leaves

Eucalyptus globulus is planted extensively for pulp, paper and wood production. Although bioactive compounds obtained from its biomass are used as cosmetics ingredients, the skin effects were not yet fully explored. In order to fill this gap, this work aimed to study the protective effect against skin damage provided by the essential oil (EO) obtained from the hydrodistillation of Eucalyptus globulus leaves, and by an extract obtained from the hydrodistillation residual water (HRW). The major compound identified in the EO was 1,8-Cineole, and the phenolic acids in the HRW included gallic acid as the main phenolic constituent. Moreover, non-toxic EO and HRW concentrations were shown to have anti-aging skin effects in vitro, decreasing age-related senescence markers, namely β-galactosidase and matrix metalloproteinases activation, as well as collagen type 1 upregulation. In addition, EO and HRW were found to exhibit depigmenting effects by inhibiting tyrosinase and melanin production, along with potent anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, the absence of skin irritation and sensitization in cells exposed to EO and HRW revealed the safety of both extracts for topical use. Taken together, these results highlight the beneficial effects of extracts obtained from Eucalyptus globulus biomass for skin aesthetic and health purposes, which should be explored deeply for the prediction of future pharmaceutical and dermocosmetics industrial applications

Rotarian’s perception on substances alcohol consumption Percepção de rotarianos sobre o consumo de substâncias alcoólicas

Objetivo: compreender a percepção de integrantes do Rotary Clube sobre o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas. Métodos: estudo fenomenológico em Maurice Merleau-Ponty; realizado em duas unidades do Rotary Clube no interior da Bahia, Brasil, nos meses de setembro a dezembro de 2014, com 12 participantes. As descrições vivenciais foram produzidas mediante Grupo Focal e submetidas à técnica Analítica da Ambiguidade. Resultados: os participantes revelaram: reconhecer o álcool como uma droga apenas se consumido de forma excessiva, cotidiana e que cause danos à saúde; que o consumo da substância encontra-se naturalizado, ao ponto de passar despercebido diante de vários contextos sociais; e que a mídia tem contribuído para essa naturalização. Conclusão: trata-se de uma situação preocupante no contexto da saúde, uma vez que situa as pessoas que consomem bebidas alcoólicas de forma “sociável” à margem das políticas de prevenção e enfrentamento, o que torna necessário fomentar debates públicos sobre a temática.

Rotarian’s perception on substances alcohol consumption Percepção de rotarianos sobre o consumo de substâncias alcoólicas

Objetivo: compreender a percepção de integrantes do Rotary Clube sobre o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas. Métodos: estudo fenomenológico em Maurice Merleau-Ponty; realizado em duas unidades do Rotary Clube no interior da Bahia, Brasil, nos meses de setembro a dezembro de 2014, com 12 participantes. As descrições vivenciais foram produzidas mediante Grupo Focal e submetidas à técnica Analítica da Ambiguidade. Resultados: os participantes revelaram: reconhecer o álcool como uma droga apenas se consumido de forma excessiva, cotidiana e que cause danos à saúde; que o consumo da substância encontra-se naturalizado, ao ponto de passar despercebido diante de vários contextos sociais; e que a mídia tem contribuído para essa naturalização. Conclusão: trata-se de uma situação preocupante no contexto da saúde, uma vez que situa as pessoas que consomem bebidas alcoólicas de forma “sociável” à margem das políticas de prevenção e enfrentamento, o que torna necessário fomentar debates públicos sobre a temática.