NATURE OF SERINA'S PROJECT RELATED WITH 2016 PORTO DECLARATION AND LINKED TO UNITED NATIONS SDGS

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - "a plan for people, planet and prosperity", which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that serve as a roadmap for the national and international policies that should be implemented to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Society, Economy, and Environment are recognized as the three pillars for sustainable development. After several attempts to identify and agree upon a global policy for a sustainable future, it is time for implementation. It is time now for global Engineers to get involved in order to bring results in the direction of the implementation of the SDGs. Two European Civil Engineering associations, the European Civil Engineering Education and Training Association (EUCEET) and the Association of European Civil Engineering Faculties (AECEF) join forces to investigate the very important issue of "The role of education for Civil Engineers in the implementation of the SDGs". The topics of the conference are related, but not limited, to the following SDGs: SDG4 - Quality education SDG6 - Clean water and sanitation SDG7 - Affordable and clean energy SDG8 - Decent work and economic growth SDG9 - Industry, innovation, and infrastructure SDG11 - Sustainable cities and communities SDG13 - Climate action SDG14 - Life below water SDG15 - Life on lan

BAY 41-2272, a soluble guanylate cyclase agonist, activates human mononuclear phagocytes

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ – CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOPhagocyte function is critical for host defense against infections. Defects in phagocytic function lead to several primary immunodeficiencies characterized by early onset of recurrent and severe infections. In this work, we further investigated the effects of BAY 41-2272, a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) agonist, on the activation of human peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) and THP-1 cells. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH THP-1 cells and PBM viability was evaluated by methylthiazoletetrazolium assay; reactive oxygen species production by lucigenin chemiluminescence; gene and protein expression of NAPDH oxidase components by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively; phagocytosis and microbicidal activity by co-incubation, respectively, with zymosan and Escherichia coli; and cytokine release by elisa. KEY RESULTS BAY 41-2272, compared with the untreated group, increased spreading of monocytes by at least 35%, superoxide production by at least 50%, and gp91PHOX and p67PHOX gene expression 20 to 40 times, in both PBM and THP-1 cells. BAY 41-2272 also augmented phagocytosis of zymosan particles threefold compared with control, doubled microbicidal activity against E. coli and enhanced the release of TNF-a and IL-12p70 by both PBM and THP-1 cells. Finally, by inhibiting sGC with ODQ, we showed that BAY 41-2272-induced superoxide production and phagocytosis is not dependent exclusively on sGC activation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS In addition to its ability to induce vasorelaxation and its potential application for therapy of vascular diseases, BAY 41-2272 was shown to activate human mononuclear phagocytes. Hence, it is a novel pro-inflammatory drug that may be useful for controlling infections in the immunocompromised host166516171630FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ – CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ – CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO06/51004-2; 06/52483-1470978/2008-

Phosphorus supply for the establishment of palisade grass and forage peanut grown in association.

Fósforo (P) é um nutriente-chave para o estabelecimento de consórcio de gramíneas e leguminosas forrageiras. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a necessidade de P para o estabelecimento de capim-braquiarão e amendoim forrageiro cultivados em associação sob condições controladas. Um experimento de vasos foi conduzido em casa de vegetação usando o delineamento em blocos completos ao acaso com oito tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram as seguintes doses de P: 0 mg dm-3 (controle), 80 mg dm-3, 160 mg dm-3, 240 mg dm-3, 320 mg dm-3, 400 mg dm-3 e 560 mg dm-3 [fonte: Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O]. Capim-braquiarão (Urochloa brizantha 'Marandu') e amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi 'BRS Mandobi') foram cultivados por 24 dias depois do corte de uniformização e então cortados a 10 cm de altura para determinação da matéria seca do topo da planta. O suprimento adequado de P para o crescimento do topo da planta diferiu entre as espécies. Capim-braquiarão necessitou de 80 mg dm-3 de P, ao passo que 160 mg dm-3 de P foram exigidos pelo amendoim forrageiro. O amendoim forrageiro necessitou de mais P do que o capim-braquiarão para o estabelecimento de ambas as espécies cultivadas em associação sob condições controladas

A resectorization of fire brigades in the north of Portugal

Sectorization can be regarded as a division of a territory into smaller regions to deal with a complex problem involving multiple-criteria. Resectorization intends to achieve another sectorization, according to some new conditions but avoiding substantial changes. An example of this can be the distribution of geographical areas by fire brigades. In Portugal, fire brigades must protect and rescue the population in the areas surrounding their fire stations. So we will use the current sectorization, the geographic and population characteristics of the areas and the fire brigades’ response capacity to provide an optimised resectorization, in order to decrease rescue time. To achieve that, we will use a decision support system using different optimisation methods, such as Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA II), which provides an effective sectorization concerning compactness and equilibrium criteria.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Vaccination with Recombinant Microneme Proteins Confers Protection against Experimental Toxoplasmosis in Mice

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is an important public health problem and veterinary concern. Although there is no vaccine for human toxoplasmosis, many attempts have been made to develop one. Promising vaccine candidates utilize proteins, or their genes, from microneme organelle of T. gondii that are involved in the initial stages of host cell invasion by the parasite. In the present study, we used different recombinant microneme proteins (TgMIC1, TgMIC4, or TgMIC6) or combinations of these proteins (TgMIC1-4 and TgMIC1-4-6) to evaluate the immune response and protection against experimental toxoplasmosis in C57BL/6 mice. Vaccination with recombinant TgMIC1, TgMIC4, or TgMIC6 alone conferred partial protection, as demonstrated by reduced brain cyst burden and mortality rates after challenge. Immunization with TgMIC1-4 or TgMIC1-4-6 vaccines provided the most effective protection, since 70% and 80% of mice, respectively, survived to the acute phase of infection. In addition, these vaccinated mice, in comparison to non-vaccinated ones, showed reduced parasite burden by 59% and 68%, respectively. The protective effect was related to the cellular and humoral immune responses induced by vaccination and included the release of Th1 cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12, antigen-stimulated spleen cell proliferation, and production of antigen-specific serum antibodies. Our results demonstrate that microneme proteins are potential vaccines against T. gondii, since their inoculation prevents or decreases the deleterious effects of the infection