Influência da rota dos vinhos no enoturismo do Algarve

This article aims to approach the Wine Route in Algarve, while fueling the Enotourism in the Region. In methodological therms, secondary sources were consulted, including literature considered relevant, as well the analysis of the case Tenerife, as a destination where Enotourism was successfully implemented. The primary sources used for the case study were based on an analysis of interviews to the producers associates to the Algarve Wine Route (AWR) and an interview with the head of AWR, which led to the view and vision of the leaders in the implementation of this project. In order to give greater depth to the theme addressed the issue of external promotion of wine tourism, verifying which markets to consider in attracting tourists for using such statistics and information listed on the Portuguese Tourism Website. The main results point to the need for continuity the consolidation and reinforcing the AWR, increasing the collaboration between partners and among economic actors. In the opinion of the respondents, the external markets are the major destination for both the flow of wine production, as for attracting new customers and as such should be treated as strategic markets.O presente artigo visa averiguar de que modo a Rota dos Vinhos do Algarve (RVA) pode constituir-se como um contributo para o desenvolvimento do Enoturismo, enquanto produto turístico atrativo e competitivo na região. Metodologicamente, apoia-se em fontes secundárias, nomeadamente bibliografia relevante e estudo de experiencias de desenvolvimento de Enoturismo em destinos de Sol e Mar (com enfoque no caso de Tenerife). Recorre também a fontes primárias, as quais assentam na análise de conteúdo de entrevistas ao coordenador e a produtores vitivinícolas membros da Rota, visando-se determinar a perspetiva dos principais responsáveis na dinamização da RVA. Abordou-se ainda a questão da promoção externa no sentido de verificar os mercados a considerar na captação de turistas, com recurso a estatísticas. Os principais resultados apontam para o facto dos mercados externos serem determinantes no escoamento da produção vitivinícola e para a captação de novos clientes, sem esquecer que é de extrema importância cativar o cliente que já se encontra no destino, a usufruir das valências associadas ao Enoturismo. Paralelamente, ressaltam a necessidade de um esforço de consolidação e de uma maior divulgação da RVA assente na colaboração entre parceiros e agentes económicos. É realçada ainda a importância da criação de um espaço físico para a sede da RVA e a necessidade de apostar na inovação tecnológica, como a criação de uma enoteca, uma loja virtual, e um site apelativo e interativo

Controlo de reacções de polimerização em miniemulsão através de técnicas de espectroscopia NIR e Raman

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e BioquímicaO presente trabalho foi realizado no Departamento de Engenharia Química da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Teve como objectivo o controlo de reacções de polimerização em miniemulsão de acrilamida e de estireno, recorrendo às técnicas de espectroscopia de Raman e Infravermelho Próximo (NIR) tendo como variáveis de acompanhamento do processo a conversão da reacção e o diâmetro médio das partículas da miniemulsão. Para isso realizaram-se várias reacções de polimerização, nas quais, no caso da acrilamida, se variou a temperatura e o tipo de surfactante e, no caso do estireno, se variou o teor de surfactante. Os espectros de NIR foram recolhidos in-line utilizando uma sonda de NIR no interior do reactor, em contacto com o meio reaccional. Paralelamente recolheram-se amostras para cálculos gravimétricos e para a análise do diâmetro médio das partículas, através da técnica de dispersão dinâmica da luz bem como para obter off-line os espectros de Raman. Pretendeu-se calcular a conversão obtida por espectroscopia Raman e compará-la com a obtida por gravimetria. Os dados espectroscópicos obtidos foram tratados normalizando a área da banda correspondente à dupla ligação C=C do monómero com a área da banda correspondente a um grupo funcional comum ao monómero e ao polímero. Esta técnica mostrou-se adequada ao controlo de reacções em miniemulsão, sem haver necessidade de recorrer a um método de referência. No entanto, é relevante afirmar que o ideal é que os espectros sejam recolhidos at-line (durante a reacção) para evitar que as miniemulsões percam estabilidade. Relativamente à espectroscopia NIR utilizou-se o método da regressão dos mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS) na elaboração do modelo de calibração, usando o diâmetro de partículas como referência. O modelo obtido acompanhou o comportamento dos dados experimentais, no entanto não é possível concluir que exista uma total eficiência deste método porque o número de espectros obtido foi insuficiente

A linguagem como instrumento de mediação na construção interativa de significados científicos no 1º CEB

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Educação Pré-escolar Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino BásicoO presente relatório resulta de um projeto de intervenção pedagógica realizado no âmbito da unidade curricular de Prática de Ensino Supervisionada II, do plano de estudos do 2.º ano do Mestrado em Educação Pré-escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. A intervenção pedagógica incorporou uma prática de ensino experimental das ciências, abordando-se tópicos da área curricular de Estudo do Meio, numa turma com 24 alunos, do 4.º ano do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. O projeto foi desenvolvido tendo como metodologia uma abordagem de investigação-ação cujos objetivos foram: a) promover uma prática de Ensino Experimental das Ciências no 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico; b) estimular e desenvolver, no contexto dessa prática, a capacidade de exprimir, fundamentar e discutir ideias pessoais sobre fenómenos e problemas do meio físiconatural; c) promover contextos de aprendizagem colaborativa, como espaços de interação social que estimulam o pensamento e a reconstrução do conhecimento científico escolar; d) analisar e ilustrar alguns processos que evidenciem a importância da linguagem, oral e escrita, na (re)construção de significados científicos, por parte dos alunos; e) avaliar o impacto dessa abordagem pedagógica nas aprendizagens realizadas pelos alunos. De forma a compreender e analisar todo o processo, foram elaborados diários de aula, resultado de uma observação participante, onde é apresentado o processo de construção de significados. A análise dos diários, para além de ilustrar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem ocorrido na sala de aula, revela alguns aspetos relativos à importância da linguagem como instrumento de mediação na construção social do conhecimento científico escolar. . Foi, ainda, aplicada uma ficha de avaliação individual. Os resultados mostram que os alunos desenvolveram uma boa compreensão dos tópicos abordados.The present statement results from a project of pedagogical intervention accomplished within the course Teaching Supervised Practice II, from the study plan of the second year on the master’s degree of Preschool and 1st cycle of Basic Education. The pedagogical intervention has incorporated an experimental teaching practice of the sciences, and the topics of the social studies curriculum area were broached, with a 24 student’s class of the 4th grade of the 1st Cycle of the Basic Education. The project was developed using the action research methodology, which goals were: a) to promote an experimental teaching practice of the sciences in the 1st cycle of Basic Education; b) to stimulate and develop, in that practice context, the ability to express, to evidence and to discuss personal idea on phenomena and problems of the physical-natural environment; c) to promote contexts of collaborative learning as spaces of social interaction that stimulate the thought and the reconstruction of the scientific school knowledge; d) to analyse and instance some processes that evidence the importance of the oral and written language in the (re)construction of scientific meanings by the students; to assess the impact of that pedagogical approach in the students learning. In order to understand and analyse the all process, class diaries were worked out, in result of a participant observation, where the process of the meanings construction is reported. The diaries analysis, in addition to illustrate the teaching and learning process occurred in the classroom, reveals some aspects relative to the importance of the language as an instrument of mediation in the social construction of the scientific educational knowledge.. Was, also, applied an individual evaluation form. The results show that the students developed a good understanding of the addressed topics

Development of stacked porous tantalum oxide layers by anodization

Interest in nanoporous tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) has been increasing due to its high variety of applications, from protective coatings, photocatalysts to biomedical devices. Anodization is a surface modification technique, which is inexpensive, versatile, easily scalable and widely used to produce these nanostructures. In this study, Ta2O5 nanoporous surfaces were produced by anodization in HF-free electrolyte composed of ethylene glycol, water and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) with different anodization parameters (electrolyte concentration, applied potential and time). The surface morphology of each sample was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the sample with the more uniform porous nanostructure was characterized in terms of cross-section morphology, chemical composition and crystalline structure. The concentration of NH4F and applied potential demonstrated a significant impact on current-density-time curve, and thereafter in surface morphology. Multiple thin porous nanolayers were formed under strong electrochemical conditions (very high current density and electrolyte temperature). Through chemical analysis, it was possible to detect the presence of fluoride, which is consistent with an amorphous Ta2O5 layer with fluoride ions incorporation. Thereby, managing the electrochemical conditions is crucial to control the morphology of an anodic Ta2O5 layer.This research was supported by Norte2020, through European Social Fund (FSE), under the National Doctoral Program in “Surfaces Engineering and Protection”, NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000047. The authors also thank the financial support by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the HEALTHYDENT (co-financed via FEDER (PT2020) POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030708 and FCT (PIDDAC)), On-Surf (co-financed via FEDER (PT2020) POCI-01-0247-FEDER-024521) and Strategic Funding (co-financed via UID/FIS/04650/2019 and FCT) projects

Impact of tuberculosis treatment length and adherence under different transmission intensities

Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia-FAPESB (PNX 0006/2009); Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico-CNPq (410498/2006-8); Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior-CAPES and Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia-FCT (AUX-PE-FCT 1171/2009); European Commission (EC-ICT-231807); INCT-Citecs (57386/2008-9); National Institutes of Science and Technology Programme (MCT-CNPq, Brazil); Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (PEst-OE/MAT/UIO297/2014; EXPL/MAT-CAL/0794/2013); FAPESB (B0L0143/2008)Tuberculosis(TB) is a leading cause of human mortality due to infectious disease.Treatmentdefault is a relevant factor which reduces therapeutic success and increases the risk of resistant TB. In this work we analyze the relation betweentreatmentdefault andtreatmentlengthalong with its consequence on the disease spreading. We use a stylized model structure to explore, systematically, the effects of varyingtreatmentduration and compliance. We find that shorteningtreatmentalone may not reduce TB prevalence, especially in regions wheretransmissionintensity is high, indicating the necessity of complementing this action with increased compliance. A family of default functions relating the proportion of defaulters to thetreatmentlengthis considered and adjusted to a particular dataset. We find that the epidemiological benefits of shortertreatmentregimens are tightly associated with increases intreatmentcompliance and depend on the epidemiological background.authorsversionpublishe

Association of chronic hepatitis C with major depressive disorders: irrespective of interferon-alpha therapy

Abstract Background Mood and anxiety symptoms in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) may be related to the patient awareness of the diagnosis and prognosis, to side effects induced by interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment, as well as to substance abuse. However, the observation of metabolic alterations in patients with CHC has led to hypothesize a direct effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on brain function. This study was aimed at elucidating whether CHC is associated with specific anxiety or mood disorders independently of confounding factors. Methods Patient cohort: consecutive patients, 135 with CHC and 76 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Exclusion criteria: previous treatment with IFN-alpha, co-infection with HCV and hepatitis B virus, infection with human immunodeficiency virus, drug or alcohol abuse, or malignancies. Controls: subjects without evidence of hepatitis randomly extracted from the database of a previous epidemiological study; they were divided into two groups of 540 (332 males) and 304 (220 males) as controls for patients with CHC and CHB, respectively. The psychiatric diagnosis was formulated by means of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Simplified carried out by a physician according to DSM-IV criteria. Results A higher lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) was observed among CHC compared to CHB or controls. The risk of MDD was not statistically different between CHB and controls. Both the CHC and CHB groups showed a significantly higher frequency of panic disorder when compared to controls. No statistical differences were observed in the prevalence of general anxiety disorder and social phobia when CHC or CHB were compared to controls. Conclusion The present study provides the first evidence of an association between CHC and MDD, diagnosed on the basis of well-defined international criteria. This association is independent of treatment with IFN-alpha and is not influenced by substance or alcohol abuse. By contrast, anxiety disorders do not appear to be specifically associated with CHC

Preclinical assessment of mesenchymal-stem-cell-based therapies in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3

The low regeneration potential of the central nervous system (CNS) represents a challenge for the development of new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases, including spinocerebellar ataxias. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3)—or Machado–Joseph disease (MJD)—is the most common dominant ataxia, being mainly characterized by motor deficits; however, SCA3/MJD has a complex and heterogeneous pathophysiology, involving many CNS brain regions, contributing to the lack of effective therapies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proposed as a potential therapeutic tool for CNS disorders. Beyond their differentiation potential, MSCs secrete a broad range of neuroregulatory factors that can promote relevant neuroprotective and immunomodulatory actions in different pathophysiological contexts. The objective of this work was to study the effects of (1) human MSC transplantation and (2) human MSC secretome (CM) administration on disease progression in vivo, using the CMVMJD135 mouse model of SCA3/MJD. Our results showed that a single CM administration was more beneficial than MSC transplantation—particularly in the cerebellum and basal ganglia—while no motor improvement was observed when these cell-based therapeutic approaches were applied in the spinal cord. However, the effects observed were mild and transient, suggesting that continuous or repeated administration would be needed, which should be further tested.This research was funded by the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) and by Portuguese national funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—projects UIDB/50026/2020, UIDP/50026/2020, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029206, and through the Santa Casa Neuroscience Awards (Santa Casa da Misericórdia Lisboa)—project MC-04/17. Additionally, this project was funded by the ICVS Scientific Microscopy Platform, a member of the national infrastructure PPBI—Portuguese Platform of Bioimaging (PPBI-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122). S.C.S. received an individual fellowship within the project TUBITAK/0007/2014. The FCT funded individual fellowships to J.S C., A.N.-C., B.M.- P., F.G.T., R.L., S.M., N.A.S., C.S.-C., and S.D.-S. (SFRH/BD/140624/2018, SFRH/BPD/118779/2016, SFRH/BD/120124/2016, SFRH/BPD/118408/2016, PD/BDE/127836/2016, CEECIND/01902/2017, CEECIND/04794/2017, CEECIND/03887/2017, and CEECIND/00685/2020)

EURRECA-Estimating Zinc Requirements for Deriving Dietary Reference Values

Zinc was selected as a priority micronutrient for EURRECA, because there is significant heterogeneity in the Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) across Europe. In addition, the prevalence of inadequate zinc intakes was thought to be high among all population groups worldwide, and the public health concern is considerable. In accordance with the EURRECA consortium principles and protocols, a series of literature reviews were undertaken in order to develop best practice guidelines for assessing dietary zinc intake and zinc status. These were incorporated into subsequent literature search strategies and protocols for studies investigating the relationships between zinc intake, status and health, as well as studies relating to the factorial approach (including bioavailability) for setting dietary recommendations. EMBASE (Ovid), Cochrane Library CENTRAL, and MEDLINE (Ovid) databases were searched for studies published up to February 2010 and collated into a series of Endnote databases that are available for the use of future DRV panels. Meta-analyses of data extracted from these publications were performed where possible in order to address specific questions relating to factors affecting dietary recommendations. This review has highlighted the need for more high quality studies to address gaps in current knowledge, in particular the continued search for a reliable biomarker of zinc status and the influence of genetic polymorphisms on individual dietary requirements. In addition, there is a need to further develop models of the effect of dietary inhibitors of zinc absorption and their impact on population dietary zinc requirements.This is the peer-reviewed version of the article: Lowe Nicola M., Dykes Fiona C., Skinner Anna-Louise, Patel Sujata, Warthon-Medina Marisol, Decsi Tamas, Fekete Katalin, Souverein Olga W., Dullemeijer Carla, Cavelaars Adrienne E., Serra-Majem Lluis, Nissensohn Mariela, Bel Silvia, Moreno Luis A., Hermoso Maria, Vollhardt Christiane, Berti Cristiana, Cetin Irene, Gurinović Mirjana A., Novaković Romana, Harvey Linda, Collings Rachel, Hall-Moran Victoria, "EURRECA-Estimating Zinc Requirements for Deriving Dietary Reference Values" 53, no. 10 (2013):1110-1123, [https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2012.742863

Beta-Blocker Use in Older Hospitalized Patients Affected by Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Italian Survey From the REPOSI Register

Beta (β)-blockers (BB) are useful in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nevertheless, the use of BBs could induce bronchoconstriction due to β2-blockade. For this reason, both the ESC and GOLD guidelines strongly suggest the use of selective β1-BB in patients with HF and COPD. However, low adherence to guidelines was observed in multiple clinical settings. The aim of the study was to investigate the BBs use in older patients affected by HF and COPD, recorded in the REPOSI register. Of 942 patients affected by HF, 47.1% were treated with BBs. The use of BBs was significantly lower in patients with HF and COPD than in patients affected by HF alone, both at admission and at discharge (admission, 36.9% vs. 51.3%; discharge, 38.0% vs. 51.7%). In addition, no further BB users were found at discharge. The probability to being treated with a BB was significantly lower in patients with HF also affected by COPD (adj. OR, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.37-0.67), while the diagnosis of COPD was not associated with the choice of selective β1-BB (adj. OR, 95% CI: 1.33, 0.76-2.34). Despite clear recommendations by clinical guidelines, a significant underuse of BBs was also observed after hospital discharge. In COPD affected patients, physicians unreasonably reject BBs use, rather than choosing a β1-BB. The expected improvement of the BB prescriptions after hospitalization was not observed. A multidisciplinary approach among hospital physicians, general practitioners, and pharmacologists should be carried out for better drug management and adherence to guideline recommendations