A população residente de Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821) num quadro de gestão integrada do estuário do Sado:proposta de um acordo voluntário

Tese de mestrado, Ciências e Tecnologias do Ambiente, 2008, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de CiênciasResumo disponível no document

Roteiro metodológico para o estudo dos moinhos e aproveitamentos hidráulicos no concelho de Lousada

A Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente é possuidora de um valioso arquivo, resultante da atividade centenária desenvolvida pelos diferentes organismos com tutela sobre a gestão da água e o planeamento dos recursos hídricos, que importa conhecer e divulgar. O Arquivo Histórico dos Serviços Hidráulicos é um dos mais ricos acervos locais do País, reunindo um conjunto de milhares de documentos, que vão do século XIX à atualidade, constituindo um repositório documental com características ímpares e um testemunho da identidade, memória e história dos Serviços Hidráulicos. Os processos arquivados contam casos de estudo que percorrem os usos das águas públicas para diferentes fins e as modalidades da sua utilização, das quais queremos destacar os aproveitamentos hidráulicos e a laboração de moinhos. Com este artigo, pretendemos apresentar um roteiro metodológico para o estudo das formas de organização dos processos existentes no arquivo sobre os moinhos e aproveitamentos hidráulicos, no concelho de Lousada, no que respeita aos documentos e peças anexas, bem como aos modelos administrativos subjacentes.The Portuguese Environment Agency is in possession of a valuable resulting file of the centennial activities carried out by different agencies with supervising responsibilities over water management and planning of water resources which is important to know and publicize. The Historical Archives of Hydraulic Services is one of the richest local collections in the Country, bringing together a set of thousands of documents ranging from the 19th century to the present, constituting a document repository with unique features and a testimony of identity, memory and history of Hydraulic Services. The archived files include case studies that run through the uses of public waters for different purposes and their methods of use, of which we highlight the hydroelectric plants and the working of mills. With this article, we aim to provide a methodological guide for the study of organizational forms of the existing processes about the hydraulic mills and exploitations in the municipality of Lousada, regarding documents and attached pieces as well as the underlying administrative template

A Livelihood and Farming System approach for effective conservation policies in Protected Areas of Developing Countries: The case study of the Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique

Effective conservation requires that conservation policies and management decisions first target local actors who are dependent on natural resource use in Protected Areas (PA) of Developing Countries (DC). In rural areas of DCs, these actors are mainly farmers who also rely on off-farm activities such as harvest of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) to complement their livelihoods. Here, we propose a novel approach to support the development of policy interventions aimed at achieving conservation goals through the sustainable development of local people in PAs of DCs. The approach consists in identifying the main Livelihood and Farming Systems (LFS) and select those that are more conservation-friendly, and that may contribute to solve conservation and development problems such as Human-wildlife conflict. Identifying the existing LFS can also help in searching for conservation-relevant improvements that can contribute to local people wellbeing, considering the existing FS as the starting point for a sustainable development strategy in PAs of DC. Data from the Niassa National Reserve (NNR), the largest PA in Mozambique, were used to develop this LFS approach. Measures of effort applied in harvesting NTFPs and in managing agricultural inputs and outputs were collected from 329 households through a structured survey. Cluster analysis was performed to identify and characterise the main LFS in the NNR. Based on the cluster results, we have identified four livelihood systems (LS): gatherers, hunters, farmers and employees; four farming systems (FS): specialized in maize, rice and sorghum, and a mixed FS. A Multinomial Logistic Model was also applied to understand the drivers of LFS choice. Livelihood systems were mainly driven by householdlevel socio-economic factors, while FS were driven by village-level biophysical conditions. Households who were employed and had diversified farming and off-farm activities were better off and more resilient to climate change and crop-raiding animals. Intensification appears to occur gradually but has found to be limited by rainfall availability. Based on our findings, we propose that conservation experts and policy-makers should use a LFS approach to re-frame the conservation narrative in PAs of DCs and promote the existing practices that can better protect biodiversity while improving livelihood and welfare of local peopleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dataset from 55 experts engaged in nature conservation in Mozambique

Data ArticleThe data of this article is related to the original article entitled “An expert-based approach to assess the potential for local people engagement in nature conservation: The case study of the Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique” [1], published in Journal for Nature Conservation. The dataset is from an online and selfadministrated survey with 55 experts aware of conservation policies and incentives under implementation in the Niassa National Reserve (NNR), the largest protected area in the country and thirdlargest in Africa. The survey included four sections of both compulsory and non-compulsory questions, mostly in closedended Likert-scale. In the first section, experts were asked about the main practices that threaten biodiversity conservation in the NNR, the actors who are directly and indirectly responsible for each practice, and the reasons for local people's involvement with those practices. The second section was about the effectiveness and limitations of the current compensation measures to engage local residents with conservation-friendly practices. In the third section, respondents were asked to select new measures to enhance the current conservation status and engage local people more effectively in conservation. The last section was about the socio-economic profile of respondents. The survey was conducted from June to September 2017. The paper includes the survey itself, raw data in an Excel spreadsheet, descriptive analysis, crosstabulation and Post Hoc cellwise tests (goodness of fit). Data are provided for public use and can serve as a benchmark for collaboration in order to conduct more comprehensive research, comparative analysis as well as panel data can be derived. This data can also have applications in other fields such as mathematics, statistics, and computationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Candida tropicalis biofilm is highly influenced by the environmental human pH

In the last decades, the increase of candidiasis has been accompanied by an intensification of infections caused by Candida tropicalis.Indeed, C. tropicalis has been described as able to colonize and infect several anatomically distinct sites, including the skin, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory tracts. Adaptation to diverse pH that exists in each human niche has been shown to be critical for virulence in many commensal pathogens, but there are no reports concerning C. tropicalis. Biofilm formation ability is one of the most important virulence factors that have important clinical repercussions due to its increased resistance to antifungal therapy. Thus, the aim of the current study was to characterize the influence of pH on C. tropicalis biofilm formation, structure and composition. The effect of pH (3, 4, 7 and 8) on C. tropicalis biofilms was evaluated by enumeration of culturable cells, total biomass quantification and matrix composition. Biofilm structure and the morphology of its cells were analysed through scanning electron microscopic and confocal laser microscopy. The resultsrevealed an intensification of C. tropicalis capacity to form biofilm at neutral and alkaline conditions, with an increased on number of culturable cells and total biomass and in its structural complexity, comparatively to acid conditions. For the first time, we have demonstrated that C. tropicalis biofilm formation is highly influenced by the environmental human pH, which has an important clinical impact, which may partly explain the increase incidence of candidiasis

Morphological transition of Helicobacter pylori adapted to water

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www. futuremedicine.com /doi/full/10.2217/fmb-2016-0174.Aim: This study aims to investigate the morphological transition of Helicobacter pylori during adaptation to water. Materials \& methods: Different strains were adapted to water. Changes regarding cultivability and cellular morphology were recorded. Expression of 11 genes involved in H. pylori morphological changes was evaluated by real-time PCR. Results: H. pylori presented increased cultivability in water after adaptation. The permanent loss of the spiral shape was observed, but no transition into coccoid form has occurred. Expression levels of genes involved in peptidoglycan assembly of H. pylori 26695 have shown significant changes between adapted and nonadapted strains. Conclusion: Adaption to water favors the culturable phenotype and the morphological transition to the rod shape, into a process that implicates the peptidoglycan turnover.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the project ‘Heliwater’ (PTDC/BIA-MIC/108811/2008), the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 – Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Qualidade dos instrumentos de autorresposta que medem a funcionalidade do membro superior em condições músculo-esqueléticas do ombro : revisão sistemática

Contextualização: Dada a prevalência de disfunções no ombro, os registos de avaliação segundo a perspetiva do utente constituem ferramentas úteis na seleção das estratégias de intervenção. A escolha do instrumento adequado deve-se basear em grande parte na força das suas propriedades psicométricas, contudo não existem estudos que analisem sistematicamente a qualidade destas medidas. Objetivo: Análise de estudos referente às propriedades psicométricas de instrumentos de autorresposta na funcionalidade do ombro. Metodologia: Revisão da literatura em inglês/português, nas bases de dados: PubMed, PEDro, Google Académico, B-On e RCAAP. Foram analisados estudos realizados até 2015. A qualidade metodológica e as propriedades psicométricas foram avaliadas e resumidas através de dois critérios padronizados, seguindo a ideologia COSMIN. Resultados: Nesta revisão foram incluídos 6 estudos. O Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) e o Neck and Upper Limb Index (NULI-20) demonstram boas propriedades psicométricas e uma metodologia de fraca a excelente; o Shoulder Pain And Disability Index (SPADI) e o Weelchair User’s Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI) exibem boas propriedades psicométricas e qualidade metodológica fraca; tanto no Shoulder Rating Questionnaire (SRQ-PT) como no Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) não foram avaliadas propriedades psicométricas relevantes, contudo as analisadas apresentam boas propriedades psicométricas e uma metodologia fraca. Conclusão: Devido às falhas na metodologia dos estudos incluídos, não é possível inferir qual o questionário mais apropriado à prática clínica. São necessários mais estudos de validação de instrumentos de autorresposta com melhor qualidade metodológica

Colonization dynamics of subgingival microbiota in recently installed dental implants compared to healthy teeth in the same individual: a 6-month prospective observational study

Objectives: To evaluate the colonization dynamics of subgingival microbiota established over six months around newly installed dental implants in periodontally healthy individuals, compared with their corresponding teeth. Methodology: Seventeen healthy individuals assigned to receive single dental implants participated in the study. Subgingival biofilm was sampled from all implant sites and contralateral/ antagonist teeth on days 7, 30, 90, and 180 after implant installation. Microbiological analysis was performed using the Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization technique for detection of classical oral taxa and non-oral microorganisms. Significant differences were estimated by Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests, while associations between implants/teeth and target species levels were assessed by linear regression analysis (LRA). Significance level was set at 5%. Results: Levels of some species were significantly higher in teeth compared to implants, respectively, at day 7 ( V.parvula , 6 × 105 vs 3 × 105 ; Milleri streptococci , 2 × 106 vs 6 × 105 ; Capnocytophaga spp., 2 × 106 vs 9 × 105 ; E.corrodens , 2 × 106 vs 5 × 105 ; N. mucosa , 2 × 106 vs 5 × 105 ; S.noxia , 2 × 106 vs 3 × 105 ; T.socranskii , 2 × 106 vs 5 × 105 ; H.alvei , 4 × 105 vs 2 × 105 ; and Neisseria spp., 6 × 105 vs 4 × 104 ), day 30 ( V.parvula , 5 × 105 vs 105 ; Capnocytophaga spp., 1.3 × 106 vs 6.8 × 104 ; F.periodonticum , 2 × 106 vs 106 ; S.noxia , 6 × 105 vs 2 × 105 ; H.alvei , 8 × 105 vs 9 × 104 ; and Neisseria spp., 2 × 105 vs 106 ), day 120 ( V.parvula , 8 × 105 vs 3 × 105 ; S.noxia , 2 × 106 vs 0; and T.socranskii , 3 × 105 vs 8 × 104 ), and day 180 ( S.enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi, 8 × 106 vs 2 × 106 ) (p<0.05). Implants showed significant increases over time in the levels of F.nucleatum , Gemella spp., H.pylori , P.micra , S.aureus , S.liquefaciens , and T.forsythia (p<0.05). LRA found that dental implants were negatively correlated with high levels of S. noxia and V. parvula (β=-0.5 to -0.3; p<0.05). Conclusions: Early submucosal microbiota is diverse and only a few species differ between teeth and implants in the same individual. Only 7 days after implant installation, a rich microbiota can be found in the peri-implant site. After six months of evaluation, teeth and implants show similar prevalence and levels of the target species, including known and new periodontopathic species

UGT1A1 gene variations in individuals with and without clinical diagnosis of Gilbert Syndrome

UGT1A1 gene variations in individuals with and without clinical diagnosis of Gilbert Syndrome Bilirubin is a non-polar metabolite, results from catabolism of haemoglobin and is bound to glucuronic acid in the liver by the uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) activity. Molecular studies showed that the presence of two extra bases (TA duplication) in the promoter region of the UGT1A1 gene is responsible for the reduced UGT1A1 glucuronization activity and is the main cause of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia observed in patients with Gilbert Syndrome (GS). However, individuals with normal bilirubin levels and no clinical symptoms of SG may also present this polymorphism in homozygosity 1,2,3. Consequently, the aim of this work is to determine the presence of other mutations in the UGT1A1gene, downstream of the TA duplication, and how they may contribute towards the inter-individual variation of serum bilirubin levels. This study was carried out in two groups: one comprising 36 individuals without clinical diagnosis of GS (14 with 6/6TA, 11 with 6/7TA, and 11 with 7/7TA repeats); the other group consisting of 36 patients clinically diagnosed with GS. In both, bilirubin levels were determined and direct sequencing of the UGT1A1 was performed. Among the individuals without clinical diagnosis of GS, two new sequence variants were found in heterozygosity (c.643A>G, and c.1156G>A), in the 6/6TA group. No additional mutations were detected in the 6/7 and 7/7 TA groups. In patients clinically diagnosed with GS, 28 were homozygous and 7 heterozygous for the TA duplication, and one with a normal number of repeats. Molecular analysis showed that one (3,6%) of the 7/7TA patients had another mutation in the UGT1A1 gene (c.674T>G). In the 6/7TA group, one additional mutation was also found in three patients (43%), two of which had been previously described (c.674T>G and c.923G>A) and a new one (c.1423C>T). No further mutations were detected in the 6/6TA group. Additionally, 4 polymorphisms were found (c.864+89C>T; c.997-37T>C; c.997-82A>C; c.997-87A>C). In conclusion, we can infer that homozygosity for the TA duplication is associated with GS. In the group without GS, no further mutations were detected in the 6/7 and 7/7 clusters, but in the 6/6 group, two new mutations were found in heterozygosity. These mutations are not associated with increased bilirubin levels. However, they could be associated with GS in the presence of other UGT1A1 mutations. Furthermore, in the GS group with heterozygosity for the TA duplication, we found mutations in 43% of the patients, emphasizing the importance of complete UGT1A1 analysis

Impact of UGT1A1 gene variants on total bilirubin levels in Gilbert syndrome patients and in healthy subjects

A significant different allelic distribution, in Gilbert patients and in controls, was found for two promoter polymorphisms. Among patients, 82.2% were homozygous and 17.8% heterozygous for the c.− 41_ − 40dupTA allele; in control group, 9.9% were homozygous and 43.5% heterozygous for this promoter variant, while 46.6% (n = 75) presented the [A(TA)6TAA]. For the T>G transition at c.− 3279 promoter region, in patients, 86.7% were homozygous and 13.3% heterozygous; in control group, 33.5% were homozygous for the wild type allele, 44.1% were heterozygous and 22.4% homozygous for the mutated allele. The two polymorphisms were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in both groups. Sequencing of UGT1A1 coding region identified nine novel variants, five in patients and four in controls. In silico analysis of these amino acids replacements predicted four of them as benign and three as damaging. In conclusion, we demonstrated that total bilirubin levels are mainly determined by the TA duplication in the TATA-box promoter and by the c.− 3279T>G variant. Alterations in the UGT1A1 coding region seem to be associated with increased bilirubin levels, and, therefore, with Gilbert syndrome.A PhD grant (SFRH/BD/42791/2007) attributed to Carina Rodrigues, from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and Fundo Social Europeu (FSE), supported this work