Fast thermal cis-trans isomerization of heterocyclic azo dyes in PMMA polymers

Em publicaçãoA series of heterocyclic azo dyes were dispersed in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix and the photochromic properties of the coloured films studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Visible irradiation of the coloured films lead to a fast decrease in the colour intensity due to the trans-cis photoisomerization reaction. When the light source was removed the spontaneous thermal cis-trans reverse isomerization occurred bringing the absorbance back to initial value with variable speed. Contrary to common azobenzenes that after photoisomerization with UV or visible light exhibit very slow thermal cis-trans back re-isomerization, that can last for hours or days, azo dyes bearing pyrrole, thiophene, thiazole or thiadiazole heterocycles display very fast switching between the two isomers (few seconds) even when dispersed in PMMA polymers.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Life design and career counseling: contributions to social justice

The chapter begins with the presentation of LDC framework. In the second section, considerations are given on LDC possibilities for enhancing decent work and social justice. From this perspective of social exclusion, designated social integrationist, participation in paid work is viewed as the key to social inclusion (Watts, 2001). At the end of this section the relevance of contextual factors in career development of disadvantaged populations is referred to highlight the importance of these interventions not be exclusively focused on inter- and intrapersonal career development factors, but also take into consideration social action at the institutional, community, public policy and international/global levels (Cook, 2017). In the next section, the process of balancing the focus on the self-determination of the individual with a focus on a transformation of contextual factors that reinforce the disadvantaged position (Blustein, et al., 2005; Prilleltensky, 1997) is illustrated by presenting an intervention in which LDC was integrated into supported employment approach. Our proposal focuses exclusively on collaborative activities at the individual, institutional and communal level, with these being the tiers which the counselor can more easily influence as part of their more routine interaction with disadvantaged populations in general. The chapter concludes with an overview of the subject and a reference on LDC limitations for the intervention with disadvantaged populations in general

Rhinitis associated with asthma is distinct from rhinitis alone: TARIA‐MeDALL hypothesis

Asthma, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis (AD) are interrelated clinical phenotypes that partly overlap in the human interactome. The concept of “one-airway-one-disease,” coined over 20 years ago, is a simplistic approach of the links between upper- and lower-airway allergic diseases. With new data, it is time to reassess the concept. This article reviews (i) the clinical observations that led to Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA), (ii) new insights into polysensitization and multimorbidity, (iii) advances in mHealth for novel phenotype definitions, (iv) confirmation in canonical epidemiologic studies, (v) genomic findings, (vi) treatment approaches, and (vii) novel concepts on the onset of rhinitis and multimorbidity. One recent concept, bringing together upper- and lower-airway allergic diseases with skin, gut, and neuropsychiatric multimorbidities, is the “Epithelial Barrier Hypothesis.” This review determined that the “one-airway-one-disease” concept does not always hold true and that several phenotypes of disease can be defined. These phenotypes include an extreme “allergic” (asthma) phenotype combining asthma, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fast and fully reversible photochromic performance of hybrid sol-gel films doped with a fused-naphthopyran

A new type of photochromic naphthopyran with a fused structure was embedded in an organic–inorganic amine–alcohol–silicate hybrid gel producing colourless, transparent and flexible photochromic films. Under UV-vis light these materials developed, in less than 30 s, intense yellow-orange colours that faded completely in the dark in 3 min. This behaviour contrasts with the usual performance of common naphthopyrans that always generate two coloured species which fade with different kinetics, leading to the formation of a residual colour that persists for several minutes/hours. The structural design of this new naphthopyran prevents the formation of the long-lived coloured species and therefore fully reversible photo-switchable materials can be easily obtained.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Clotrimazole-Loaded Mediterranean Essential Oils NLC: A Synergic Treatment of <i>Candida</i> Skin Infections

The increasing development of resistance of Candida species to traditional drugs represents a great challenge to the medical field for the treatment of skin infections. Essential oils were recently proposed to increase drug effectiveness. Herein, we developed and optimized (23 full factorial design) Mediterranean essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula x intermedia &#8220;Sumian&#8222;, Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) lipid nanoparticles for clotrimazole delivery, exploring the potential synergistic effects against Candida spp. Small sized nanoparticles (&lt;100 nm) with a very broad size distribution (PDI &lt; 0.15) and long-term stability were successfully prepared. Results of the in vitro biosafety on HaCaT (normal cell line) and A431 (tumoral cell line), allowed us to select Lavandula and Rosmarinus as anti-proliferative agents with the potential to be used as co-adjuvants in the treatment of non-tumoral proliferative dermal diseases. Results of calorimetric studies on biomembrane models, confirmed the potential antimicrobial activity of the selected oils due to their interaction with membrane permeabilization. Nanoparticles provided a prolonged in vitro release of clotrimazole. In vitro studies against Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida parapsilosis, showed an increase of the antifungal activity of clotrimazole-loaded nanoparticles prepared with Lavandula or Rosmarinus, thus confirming nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) containing Mediterranean essential oils represent a promising strategy to improve drug effectiveness against topical candidiasis

Eliciting reconceptualization innovative moments to foster change in Career Construction Counseling

This study tests an add-on procedure to foster change in Career Construction Counseling by eliciting reconceptualization innovative moments. After the career counseling intervention with 42 participants, 21 participants were allocated to the add-on procedure, consisting of two additional sessions focused on eliciting reconceptualization innovative moments In turn, participants in the comparison group attended two extra intervention sessions in which the lifetime task was used. Outcome measures assessing vocational behavior and psychological distress were applied at the onset, at the end of counseling and after the two additional sessions. The findings show that Career Construction Counseling was effective, allowing a significant increase in vocational certainty, vocational identity, career decision-making, and a decrease in psychological distress. After counseling, participants in the add-on intervention fostering reconceptualization innovative moments revealed greater gains in vocational identity and psychological distress than those in the comparison group. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.- Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, Grant/Award Numbers :UIDB/04007/2020, UID/PSI/01662/201

Síndrome Cerebro-Costo-Mandibular. A Propósito de Um Caso Clínico

A Síndrome Cerebrocostomandibular é caracterizada logo ao nascimento por unia sequência de Pierre Robin grave (micrognatia grave, fenda do palato e glossoptosis) e defeitos posteriores da grade costal, ocorrendo atraso mental em 50% dos casos que sobrevivem.A morte por complicações respiratórias ocorre em 40% dos casos antes do primeiro ano de vida. Os autores descrevem um caso de Síndrome Cerebrocostomandibular com evolução clínica favorável. A Síndrome Cerebrocostomandibular é unia situação rara com cerca de 50 casos descritos mundialmente cuja etiopatogenia e mecanismo de hereditariedade são ainda pouco conhecidos