Development and implementation of in vivo models for evaluation of drugs with potential analgesic activity

Tese de mestrado. Engenharia Biomédica. Universidade do Porto. Faculdade de Engenharia. 201

Primeiros passeios ao jardim: estudo avaliativo do contacto das crianças em creche com a natureza na companhia dos seus pares

Atualmente, um crescente número de crianças passa os seus dias em contexto educativos formais, maioritariamente aliados a espaços fechados. Contudo, reconhece-se a importância de uma intervenção pedagógica de forma a assegurar respostas mais adequadas às necessidades das crianças, fortalecendo a base de todo o processo de desenvolvimento. Essas respostas aliciantes para o desenvolvimento são conseguidas pelo estímulo contínuo existente no meio natural do ecossistema do nosso planeta Terra. Os espaços naturais ao ar livre oferecem um ambiente desafiador e cativante para a prática de atividades lúdicas, essencialmente o brincar livre, caracterizando-se como instrumento principal que potencializa o desenvolvimento físico, o desenvolvimento cognitivo, o desenvolvimento social e o próprio desenvolvimento espiritual da criança. Pois além das necessidades básicas, a criança também tem a necessidade de reconhecimento e afirmação, de se sentir competente e de ter significado e valores. Todos esses componentes são fortemente promovidos pelo brincar na Natureza. Com o trabalho desenvolvido neste estágio, pretendeu-se comparar a evolução nas crianças em questão à relação entre elas e com o meio natural, bem como, em questão ao ímpeto exploratório. Para tal, recorreu-se às primeiras saídas a um espaço natural público, de um grupo de crianças com idades compreendidas entre o um e os dois anos, para efetuar passeios para brincar e explorar no meio natural do Jardim da Sereia na cidade de Coimbra. Ao longo do processo a Educadora Estagiária orientou-se e apoiou-se em métodos a serem explorados, tendo encontrado inspiração no modelo Forest Kindergarter, uma vez que incide na oportunidade de explorar a natureza ao seu próprio ritmo, sendo dada primazia ao brincar livre. Os resultados comprovaram os pressupostos pelos quais se tinham iniciado esta investigação: a exploração do meio natural por parte da criança propicia elementos positivos a vários níveis

INVENTÁRIO DE PEQUENOS MAMÍFEROS (RODENTIA E DIDELPHIMORPHIA) DA SERRA DE OURO BRANCO: PORÇÃO SUL DA CADEIA DO ESPINHAÇO, MINAS GERAIS, BRASIL

Serra do Ouro Branco is located at the south portion of Espinhaço Range, at a transition area between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Here, we surveyed small mammals communities from Parque Estadual Serra do Ouro Branco and Monumento Natural Estadual do Itatiaia, two protected areas, and compared them with the diversity recorded in the remaining Espinhaço mountain range. Sampling occurred over 24 months (2009-2010) using pitfall traps. Nineteen species, 13 rodents and six marsupials, were recorded in 6,664 traps /night. The study area has low similarity with other areas of Espinhaço Range; high dissimilarity was the main pattern found, as revealed by the large number of singletons (40%) and few species found at least in half of the areas (17%). Thus, the elevated richness and diversity registered allied to the singularity in composition of species in each area and the scarcity of data for the north and mainly for the central region of Espinhaço, reinforce the importance and urgency of more studies and inventories of small mammals in all mountain range extension.Serra do Ouro Branco is located at the south portion of Espinhaço Range, at a transition area between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Here, we surveyed small mammals communities from Parque Estadual Serra do Ouro Branco and Monumento Natural Estadual do Itatiaia, two protected areas, and compared them with the diversity recorded in the remaining Espinhaço mountain range. Sampling occurred over 24 months (2009-2010) using pitfall traps. Nineteen species, 13 rodents and six marsupials, were recorded in 6,664 traps /night. The study area has low similarity with other areas of Espinhaço Range; high dissimilarity was the main pattern found, as revealed by the large number of singletons (40%) and few species found at least in half of the areas (17%). Thus, the elevated richness and diversity registered allied to the singularity in composition of species in each area and the scarcity of data for the north and mainly for the central region of Espinhaço, reinforce the importance and urgency of more studies and inventories of small mammals in all mountain range extension.Serra do Ouro Branco is located at the south portion of Espinhaço Range, at a transition area between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Here, we surveyed small mammals communities from Parque Estadual Serra do Ouro Branco and Monumento Natural Estadual do Itatiaia, two protected areas, and compared them with the diversity recorded in the remaining Espinhaço mountain range. Sampling occurred over 24 months (2009-2010) using pitfall traps. Nineteen species, 13 rodents and six marsupials, were recorded in 6,664 traps /night. The study area has low similarity with other areas of Espinhaço Range; high dissimilarity was the main pattern found, as revealed by the large number of singletons (40%) and few species found at least in half of the areas (17%). Thus, the elevated richness and diversity registered allied to the singularity in composition of species in each area and the scarcity of data for the north and mainly for the central region of Espinhaço, reinforce the importance and urgency of more studies and inventories of small mammals in all mountain range extension

ETHNOZOOLOGY AS COMPLEMENTARY METHOD TO INVENTORY MEDIUM AND LARGE-BODIED MAMMALS: THE CASE STUDY OF SERRA DO OURO BRANCO, BRAZIL

We evaluated the use of both ethnozoological and conventional sampling methods to the inventory medium and large-bodied mammals. Our study was conducted at Serra do Ouro Branco, southern portion of Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Ethnozoological methods comprehended interviews and projective tests carried out with 107 residents of three communities, while the conventional sampling was 36 days of diurnal and nocturnal census. We registered 28 mammal species through ethnozoological methods and 20 through conventional methods. Considering the long coexistence of the residents with local fauna and the temporal limitations of conventional methods, it was expected to find a small richness through conventional methods. However, it is important to stress that these methods are complementary and species level identification in many cases would be not possible without conventional sampling. In addition, considering the difficulties to sample mammals, the union of these approaches was positive and had the advantage of involving the local population in the process. The interviews provided additional information that may contribute to understand the conservation status of the species locally and to elaborate conservation strategies based on the interactions of the local human population with the mammals

O girino, canto de anúncio e distribuição geográfica de Physalaemus maximus Feio, Pombal & Caramaschi, 1999 (Amphibia, Anura, Leiuperidae)

Herein we describe the tadpole and the advertisement call of Physalaemus maximus, based on specimens from the Municipality of Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Our data are compared with the information available on the P. olfersii species group. Updated data on geographic distribution are also presented.Descreve-se o girino e o canto de anúncio de Physalaemus maximus, baseado em espécimes provenientes do Município de Ouro Preto, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os dados são comparados com as informações disponíveis para o grupo de P. olfersii. Dados atualizados sobre distribuição geográfica também são apresentados

Esculpindo a formação docente

This article presents four film productions from different times and its main purpose was to investigate whether films could help "sculpting" the teacher training process. In order to approach and deal with the subject, we used literature and desk research. The theoretical references were based on Edgar Morin's complex thought. The goal was to raise awareness about the training potential of films that suggest reflections and may point to new ways of thinking and logics, different from the usual ones. We could observe close-minded and conflicting attitudes, both in teachers and pupils, but they were overcome when we invested in the creative capacity to invent other possibilities and to part with what was previously established.Este artículo presenta cuatro producciones cinematográficas de diferentes épocas y tiene como propósito central indagar si las películas pueden ayudar a esculpir la formación docente. Para abordar y tratar el tema fueron utilizadas fuentes de naturaleza bibliográfica y documental y las referencias teóricas se basaron en el pensamiento complejo de Edgar Morin. El objetivo fue sensibilizar para el potencial formativo de las películas que sugieren reflexiones y pueden apuntar nuevas lógicas y formas de pensar diferentes de las usuales. Fue posible percibir actitudes cerradas y conflictivas, recurrentes en profesores y alumnos, pero ellas fueran superadas cuando se invirtió en la capacidad creativa de inventar otras posibilidades y de romper con lo que estaba previamente establecido.Este artigo apresenta quatro produções cinematográficas de diferentes épocas, tendo, como indagação central, se os filmes podem ajudar a esculpir a formação docente. Para tratamento e abordagem do tema foram utilizadas fontes de natureza bibliográfica e documental. As referências teóricas pautaram-se no pensamento complexo de Edgar Morin. O objetivo foi sensibilizar para o potencial formativo dos filmes, que sugerem reflexões e podem apontar novas lógicas e formas de pensar, diferentes das usuais. Foi possível perceber posturas fechadas e conflituosas, recorrentes em professores e alunos, mas que foram superadas quando se investiu na capacidade criativa de inventar outras possibilidades e romper com o que estava previamente estabelecido

Protocol for a Scoping Review Abstract

©Sílvia Rego, Ana Rita Henriques, Sofia Silvério Serra, Teresa Costa, Ana Maria Rodrigues, Francisco Nunes. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 26.10.2023.BACKGROUND: Clinical trials often use digital technologies to collect data continuously outside the clinic and use the derived digital endpoints as trial endpoints. Digital endpoints are also being developed to support diagnosis, monitoring, or therapeutic interventions in clinical care. However, clinical validation stands as a significant challenge, as there are no specific guidelines orienting the validation of digital endpoints. OBJECTIVE: This paper presents the protocol for a scoping review that aims to map the existing methods for the clinical validation of digital endpoints. METHODS: The scoping review will comprise searches from the electronic literature databases MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus (including conference proceedings), Embase, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Xplore, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Digital Library, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), Web of Science Core Collection (including conference proceedings), and Joanna Briggs Institute Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports. We will also include various sources of gray literature with search terms related to digital endpoints. The methodology will adhere to the Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review and the Guidance for Conducting Systematic Scoping Reviews. RESULTS: A search for reviews on the existing evidence related to this topic was conducted and has shown that no such review was previously undertaken. This review will provide a systematic assessment of the literature on methods for the clinical validation of digital endpoints and highlight any potential need for harmonization or reporting of methods. The results will include the methods for the clinical validation of digital endpoints according to device, digital endpoint, and clinical application goal of digital endpoints. The study started in January 2023 and is expected to end by December 2023, with results to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSIONS: A scoping review of methodologies that validate digital endpoints is necessary. This review will be unique in its breadth since it will comprise digital endpoints collected from several devices and not focus on a specific disease area. The results of our work should help guide researchers in choosing validation methods, identify potential gaps in the literature, or inform the development of novel methods to optimize the clinical validation of digital endpoints. Resolving these gaps is the key to presenting evidence in a consistent way to regulators and other parties and obtaining regulatory acceptance of digital endpoints for patient benefit. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/47119.publishersversionpublishe

Distribuição Geográfica e Variação Fenotípica de Tantilla Boipiranga Sawaya & Sazima, 2003 (Serpentes, Colubridae)

The discovery of new specimens of Tantilla biopiranga from some new sites revealed morphological and chromatic variations from that previously known only based on Serra do Cipó, south part of Espinhaço Mountain Range, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The new sites are Ouro Preto and Alvorada de Minas, both in Minas Gerais State, and also in the same geographic complex of Espinhaço Mountain Range. This geographic distribution indicates that it is a probably endemic species to this region. The following morphological and chromatic variations were obtained from specimens from Ouro Preto: presence of a longitudinal vertebral black line, evident or vestigial in some individuals; a cephalic black region extending along the temporal region or a black spot in this region; presence of a narrow yellow collar on the neck after the black collar; smaller number of ventral scales (143-147 in males, 153-158 in females); smaller number subcaudal scales (56-67 in males, 51-58 in females). These variations allowed to differentiate two distinct populations of this species, one from Serra do Cipó and another from Ouro Preto. Based on our data we propose: T. boipiranga shows different metapopulation, with different states of characters in each population, or, the species presents a single population in the south of Espinhaço Mountain Range, presenting clinal variations in the characters analyzed. From the variations described, a new diagnose to T. boipiranga is presented.A partir da descoberta de novos exemplares de Tantilla biopiranga, são apresentadas novas localidades de registro e variações de morfologia e coloração da espécie, a qual era conhecida anteriormente apenas para a Serra do Cipó, ao sul da Cadeia do Espinhaço, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Tantilla boipiranga é aqui registrada em duas localidades, nos Municípios de Ouro Preto e Alvorada de Minas, em Minas Gerais. As novas localidades também se situam no sul da Cadeia do Espinhaço, o que indica tratar-se de espécie endêmica dessa formação. Foram obtidas as seguintes variações de coloração e morfologia nos exemplares de Ouro Preto: presença de linha longitudinal vertebral preta, evidente ou vestigial, em alguns exemplares; capuz cefálico preto estendendo-se até a região temporal ou presença de mancha preta isolada nessa região; presença de colar nucal branco estreito logo após o colar preto; menor número de escamas ventrais (143-147 nos machos, 153-158 nas fêmeas); menor número de subcaudais (56-67 nos machos, 51-58 nas fêmeas). As variações encontradas permitiram diferenciar as duas populações conhecidas da espécie, da Serra do Cipó e de Ouro Preto, sendo propostas duas hipóteses: T. boipiranga apresentaria sistema de metapopulações, com diferentes estados de caracteres em cada população, ou a espécie apresentaria uma única população no sul Cadeia do Espinhaço e exibiria variação clinal dos caracteres analisados. A partir das variações descritas, é apresentada uma nova diagnose para T. boipiranga