Da Europa para Évora e de Évora para o Mundo. A Universidade Jesuítica de Évora 1559-1759

Parte-se do impacto que as comemorações dos 450 anos da fundação da Universidade de Evora tiveram no contexto nacional. Deste registo de erudição e de nacionalismo regional surgiu a organização de um congresso internacional sobre o assunto, realizado em Coimbra em 1959. Pretende-se com este livro analisar os matizes da historiografia sobre a Universidade de Évora no último meio século na sociedade portuguesa, tentando entender como se manteve silenciosa a agenda nacional/internacional de fazer inserir a Universidade de Évora na rede universitária da Europa moderna, moldada pelo Renascimento e pelo Humanismo, a partir de um conjunto diversificado de contributos de história da cultura, história das ideias,filosofia, linguística e estudos teatrais

Gradient jump penalty stabilisation of spectral/hp element discretisation for under-resolved turbulence simulations

One of the strengths of the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method has been its balance between accuracy and robustness, which stems from DG’s intrinsic (upwind) dissipation being biased towards high frequencies/wavenumbers. This is particularly useful in high Reynolds-number flow simulations where limitations on mesh resolution typically lead to potentially unstable under-resolved scales. In continuous Galerkin (CG) discretisations, similar properties are achievable through the addition of artificial diffusion, such as spectral vanishing viscosity (SVV). The latter, although recognised as very useful in CG-based high-fidelity turbulence simulations, has been observed to be sub-optimal when compared to DG at intermediate polynomials orders (P ≈ 3). In this paper we explore an alternative stabilisation approach by the introduction of a continuous interior penalty on the gradient discontinuity at elemental boundaries, which we refer to as a gradient jump penalisation (GJP). Analogous to DG methods, this introduces a penalisation at the elemental interfaces as opposed to the interior element stabilisation of SVV. Detailed eigenanalysis of the GJP approach shows its potential as equivalent (sometimes superior) to DG dissipation and hence superior to previous SVV approaches. Through eigenanalysis, a judicious choice of GJP’s P-dependent scaling parameter is made and found to be consistent with previous apriori error analysis. The favourable properties of the GJP stabilisation approach are also supported by turbulent flow simulations of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation, as we achieve high-quality flow solutions at P = 3 using GJP, whereas SVV performs marginally worse at P = 5 with twice as many degrees of freedom in total

Different cell disruption methods for astaxanthin recovery by Phaffia rhodozyma

Astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-b,b'-carotene-4,4'-dione) is carotenoid of high market value whose demand has increased in such fields as aquaculture, pharmaceutical supplements and natural coloring. Cell disruption is the first step for isolating intracellular materials and it depends on the cell wall permeability. In order to maximize the  recovery of astaxanthin from Phaffia rhodozyma NRRL-Y17268, drying and freeze pretreatments were tested by different cell disruption methods: abrasion with celite, glass pearls in vortex agitator, ultrasonic waves, sodium  carbonate (Na2CO3) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The method with Na2CO3 was not effective; meanwhile, the agitator with glass pearls, the abrasion with celite and the ultrasonic waves were found as promising for future  studies. As a result, the DMSO in freeze-dried biomass with 4 process cycles and biomass/DMSO relation of 0.025 g/ml was found to be the most efficient for analytical determination, increasing about up to 25 times the astaxanthin recovery.Key words: Carotenoids, yeast, chemical disruption, dimethyl sulfoxide

Deletion of ameloblastin exon 6 is associated with amelogenesis imperfecta

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) describes a heterogeneous group of inherited dental enamel defects reflecting failure of normal amelogenesis. Ameloblastin (AMBN) is the second most abundant enamel matrix protein expressed during amelogenesis. The pivotal role of AMBN in amelogenesis has been confirmed experimentally using mouse models. However, no AMBN mutations have been associated with human AI. Using autozygosity mapping and exome sequencing, we identified genomic deletion of AMBN exon 6 in a second cousin consanguineous family with three of the six children having hypoplastic AI. The genomic deletion corresponds to an in-frame deletion of 79 amino acids, shortening the protein from 447 to 368 residues. Exfoliated primary teeth (unmatched to genotype) were available from family members. The most severely affected had thin, aprismatic enamel (similar to that reported in mice homozygous for Ambn lacking exons 5 and 6). Other teeth exhibited thicker but largely aprismatic enamel. One tooth had apparently normal enamel. It has been suggested that AMBN may function in bone development. No clinically obvious bone or other co-segregating health problems were identified in the family investigated. This study confirms for the first time that AMBN mutations cause non-syndromic human AI and that mouse models with disrupted Ambn function are valid

Impact of the Health Gym Program on hospital admissions for stroke in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Health Gym Program (HGP) on hospital admissions for stroke in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. This policy impact evaluation used a quasi-experimental approach consisting of a difference-in-differences estimator, weighted by propensity score matching to deal with potential confounding variables. The study comprised socioeconomic, demographic, and epidemiological data from official Brazilian databases from 2010 to 2019. The treatment group was composed of the 134 municipalities that implemented the HGP since 2011. The 51 municipalities that did not were allocated to the comparison group. The nearest neighbor algorithm (N5) was used to pair treatment and comparison group municipalities and create the weights to evaluate the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) in the difference-in-differences estimator. In 2010, 2,771 people were hospitalized for stroke (0.51% of all hospitalizations) and in 2019, 11,542 (2%). Municipalities that implemented the HGP had 18.37% fewer hospitalizations than their counterparts in the comparison group. The program’s impact in reducing hospitalization rates was incrementally greater among men (ATT: -0.1932) and those aged 71 to 80 years (ATT: -0.1911). All results were statistically significant at the 5% level. The HGP reduced hospitalization for stroke in several population groups, but primarily in those whose underlying prevalence of stroke is highest, reinforcing the importance of public investments in health promotion policies designed to encourage lifestyle changes.Resumo: O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto do Programa Academia da Saúde (PAS) nas internações hospitalares por acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) no Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Esta avaliação de impacto das políticas utilizou uma abordagem quase-experimental que consiste em um estimador de diferença-em-diferenças, ponderado pelo pareamento por escore de propensão para lidar com possíveis fatores de confusão. O estudo foi composto por dados socioeconômicos, demográficos e epidemiológicos de bases de dados oficiais brasileiras entre os anos de 2010 e 2019. O grupo de tratamento foi composto pelos 134 municípios que implantaram o PAS a partir de 2011, e os 51 municípios que não implantaram foram alocados no grupo de comparação. O algoritmo do vizinho mais próximo (N5) foi utilizado para emparelhar os municípios tratados e comparar aos municípios do grupo controle, criando os pesos que foram utilizados para avaliar o efeito médio do tratamento sobre o tratado (ATT) no estimador de diferença- -em-diferenças. Houve 2.771 internações por AVC em 2010 (0,51% de todas as internações) e 11.542 (2%) em 2019. Os municípios que implementaram o PAS tiveram 18,37% menos internações em comparação com seus homólogos no grupo de comparação. O impacto do programa na redução das taxas de internação foi maior entre os homens (ATT: -0,1932) e naqueles com idade entre 71 e 80 anos (ATT: -0,1911). Todos os resultados foram estatisticamente significativos em um nível de 5%. O PAS reduziu a hospitalização por AVC em vários grupos populacionais, mas principalmente naqueles em que a prevalência subjacente de AVC é mais alta, reforçando a importância dos investimentos públicos em políticas de promoção da saúde destinadas a estimular mudanças nos estilos de vida. Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde; Doença Crônica; Promoção da Saúde; Pontuação de Propensão; Acidente Vascular CerebralResumen: El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar el impacto del Programa Academia de la Salud (PAS) en los ingresos hospitalarios por accidente cerebrovascular (ACV) en el estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Esta evaluación del impacto de la política utilizó un enfoque cuasi-experimental que consiste en un estimador de diferencias en diferencias, ponderado por el emparejamiento de puntuación de propensión para hacer frente a posibles factores de confusión. El estudio incluyó datos socioeconómicos, demográficos y epidemiológicos de bases de datos oficiales brasileñas de 2010 a 2019. El grupo de tratamiento se compuso de los 134 municipios que implementaron el PAS a partir de 2011 y los 51 municipios que no lo hicieron se asignaron al grupo de comparación. Se utilizó el algoritmo del vecino más próximo (N5) para emparejar los municipios tratados y los del grupo de comparación y crear las ponderaciones que se emplearon para evaluar el efecto medio del tratamiento sobre los tratados (ATT) en el estimador de diferencias en diferencias. Hubo 2.771 hospitalizaciones por ACV en 2010 (0,51% de todas las hospitalizaciones) y 11.542 (2%) en 2019. Los municipios que aplicaron el PAS tuvieron un 18,37% menos de hospitalizaciones en comparación con sus homólogos del grupo de comparación. El impacto del programa en la reducción de las tasas de hospitalización fue gradualmente mayor entre los hombres (ATT: -0,1932) y entre las personas de 71 a 80 años (ATT: -0,1911). Todos los resultados fueron estadísticamente significativos al nivel del 5%. El PAS redujo la hospitalización por ACV en varios grupos de población, pero principalmente en aquellos en los que la prevalencia subyacente de ACV es mayor, lo que refuerza la importancia de las inversiones públicas en políticas de promoción de la salud diseñadas para impulsar cambios en los estilos de vida. Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud; Enfermedad Crónica; Promoción de la Salud; Puntaje de Propensión; Accidente CerebrovascularPernambuco State Foundation for the Support of Science and Technology (FACEPE), and the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq)

Effect of Dietary Components on Larval Life History Characteristics in the Medfly (Ceratitis capitata: Diptera, Tephritidae)

Background: The ability to respond to heterogenous nutritional resources is an important factor in the adaptive radiation of insects such as the highly polyphagous Medfly. Here we examined the breadth of the Medfly’s capacity to respond to different developmental conditions, by experimentally altering diet components as a proxy for host quality and novelty. Methodology/Principal Findings: We tested responses of larval life history to diets containing protein and carbohydrate components found in and outside the natural host range of this species. A 40% reduction in the quantity of protein caused a significant increase in egg to adult mortality by 26.5%±6% in comparison to the standard baseline diet. Proteins and carbohydrates had differential effects on larval versus pupal development and survival. Addition of a novel protein source, casein (i.e. milk protein), to the diet increased larval mortality by 19.4%±3% and also lengthened the duration of larval development by 1.93±0.5 days in comparison to the standard diet. Alteration of dietary carbohydrate, by replacing the baseline starch with simple sugars, increased mortality specifically within the pupal stage (by 28.2%±8% and 26.2%±9% for glucose and maltose diets, respectively). Development in the presence of the novel carbohydrate lactose (milk sugar) was successful, though on this diet there was a decrease of 29.8±1.6 µg in mean pupal weight in comparison to pupae reared on the baseline diet. Conclusions: The results confirm that laboratory reared Medfly retain the ability to survive development through a wide range of fluctuations in the nutritional environment. We highlight new facets of the responses of different stages of holometabolous life histories to key dietary components. The results are relevant to colonisation scenarios and key to the biology of this highly invasive species

Stem cell factor and its soluble receptor (c-kit) in serum of asthmatic patients- correlation with disease severity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>SCF (stem cell factor) is a pleiotropic cytokine exerting its role at different stages of bone marrow development and affecting eosinophil activation, mast cells and basophil chemotaxis and survival. The aim of the study was to assess concentration of SCF and its soluble receptor c-kit (sc-kit) in peripheral blood of patients with asthma referring it to asthma severity and phenotype.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study involved 107 patients with bronchial asthma, well characterized with respect to severity and 21 healthy controls. Concentration of SCF and sc-kit in the patients serum were measured by ELISA method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean serum SCF level in the group of asthmatics (n = 88) was significantly higher as compared to healthy controls (1010 pg/ml ± 37 vs 799 ± 33; p < 0,001). The level of SCF was higher in patients with severe asthma as compared to patients with non-severe asthma (1054 +/- 41 pg/ml vs 819 +/- 50; p < 0,01) and correlated with dose of inhaled glucocorticosteroids taken by the patients to achieve asthma control (R = 0,28; p < 0,01). The mean sc-kit serum level did not differ between asthmatic patients and healthy controls, however the level of sc-kit in non-severe asthmatics was significantly higher as compared to patients with severe asthma and healthy controls. In asthmatic patients (n = 63) the level of sc-kit correlated positively with FEV1% predicted value (R = 0,45; p < 0,001) and MEF25% predicted value (R = 0,33; p < 0,01). The level of sc-kit inversely correlated with the dose of inhaled glucocorticosteroids taken by the patients (R = -0,26; p < 0,01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Serum levels of SCF and its soluble receptor c-kit seem to be reflect asthma severity suggesting a role for these molecules in asthmatic inflammation.</p

Women’s pelvic floor muscle strength and urinary and anal incontinence after childbirth: a cross-sectional study

Abstract OBJECTIVE To analyse pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS) and urinary and anal incontinence (UI and AI) in the postpartum period. METHOD Cross-sectional study carried out with women in their first seven months after child birth. Data were collected through interviews, perineometry (Peritron™), and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). RESULTS 128 women participated in the study. The PFMS mean was 33.1 (SD=16.0) cmH2O and the prevalence of UI and AI was 7.8% and 5.5%, respectively. In the multiple analyses, the variables associated with PFMS were type of birth and cohabitation with a partner. Newborn’s weight, previous pregnancy, UI during pregnancy, and sexual activity showed an association with UI after child birth. Only AI prior to pregnancy was associated with AI after childbirth. CONCLUSION Vaginal birth predisposes to the reduction of PFMS, and caesarean section had a protective effect to its reduction. The occurrence of UI during pregnancy is a predictor of UI after childbirth, and women with previous pregnancies and newborns with higher weights are more likely to have UI after childbirth.AI prior to pregnancy is the only risk factor for its occurrence after childbirth. Associations between PFMS and cohabitation with a partner, and between UI and sexual activity do not make possible to conclude that these variables are directly associated

Computer simulation of simultaneous evolution of individual texture components During recrystallization of an IF steel

Computer simulation of simultaneous evolution of individual texture components during recrystallization of an IF steel is carried out. A new methodology has been developed that takes as its starting point experimental data of each texture component evolving during recrystallization. In particular, Magnusson et al. data on IF steel was analyzed in a previous work with the help of the exact analytical tools developed by Rios and Villa for simultaneous transformations. From this analysis parameters such as number of nuclei of each texture component per unit of volume could be obtained and were employed as input for the present computer simulation. From this input 3-d microstructures could then be generated. The methodology proposed here combines experimental data, exact analytical methods and computer simulation and may be employed to extract the maximum information from the experimental data