Individual characteristics and career exploration in adolescence

The effects of gender, age and school grade on several career exploration dimensions measured by the Career Exploration Survey were investigated. Subjects were high school students facing an imminent career decision. Regression analyses indicated that sex and grade-level were the most significant and prevailing individual characteristics related to the adolescents’ career exploration behaviours, reactions and beliefs. Implications for career exploration interventions are discussed.JNICT -Junta Nacional de Investigação Científica e Tecnológica(PSU436-92)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effect of xanthohumol-supplemented beer on angiogenic and inflammatory in vivo assays

Angiogenesis is a process by which new blood vessels are formed from pre-existing ones and can occur in adulthood during tissue regeneration. This process is closely related with inflammatory conditions. Due to their notable biological activities, phenolic compounds have an important role in nutrition and human health. Special attention has been given to xanthohumol (XN), a compound present in hops and beer [3]. Our purpose was to evaluate the effects of a XN-supplemented beer on angiogenesis and inflammation, in a rat skin-wound healing process. Six week old Wistar male rats drank water, 5% solution ethanol, stout beer or stout beer supplemented with 10 mg XN/L, during 4 weeks. Then, two incisions were created on the dorsal skin. Animals continued beverages consumption for 7 days. The number of vessels in the incision area (vWF staining), NO release, NAG activity and IL-1β content in serum were measured. Analyses of serum biochemical markers of hepatic function (AST, ALT and ALP activities) and of metabolic status (glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, VLDL, LDL and HDL) were evaluated. GSH/GSSG plasma levels were measured in plasma by HPLC. Statistical differences were evaluated by ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni test. Differences were considered significant whenever p< 0.05. The consumption of XN-supplemented beer led to decreased number of vessels in the wound area, and decreased NAG activity, NO and IL-1β content in the serum when compared to stout beer. Plasma biochemical markers of hepatic function and metabolic status did not change with the distinct beverages consumption. GSH/GSSG ratio increased with ethanol and beer consumption. Altogether, these findings suggest that gastrointestinal administration of XN-supplemented beer may affect the wound healing process, in what concerns inflammation and angiogenesis, without hepatotoxic effects. Ethanol consumption seems to improve plasma anti-oxidant protection. These health-promoting properties of XN can be interesting to the brewing community.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Medicines review in the elderly

Poster presented at the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) Working Symposium: Medication review, Drug-related problems, Standards and Guidelines, 2014, Sliema (Malta)Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior CRL; Ordem dos Farmacêuticos

Exploración vocacional en adolescentes: evaluación de una intervención en clase

Analisa-se o impacto de uma intervenção psicológica na exploração e tomada de decisão vocacional em adolescentes portugueses. Em contexto curricular e de classe, desenvolveram-se actividades de exploração do meio e do Eu com 39 alunos e 43 alunas do 9o ano, entre 13 e 17 anos (M=14,4, DP=0,95). Em um design pré/pós-teste, aplicaram-se o Career Exploration Survey (CES) e o Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ). Os resultados do teste do sinal evidenciaram ganhos significativos (p<0,01) nas dimensões de exploração e diminuição significativa da falta de informação profissional (p<0,01) e do total das dificuldades de decisão (p<0,05). Observou-se um padrão de correlações negativas (ró de Spearman) entre as duas medidas vocacionais, evidenciando uma relação entre a informação explorada na intervenção e a diminuição das dificuldades de decisão por falta de motivação. Em geral, os resultados suportam a importância do papel da exploração da carreira na diminuição das dificuldades de tomada de decisão.This study analyses the impact of a psychological intervention to promote vocational exploration and decisionmaking in Portuguese adolescents. Activities to foster exploration of self and environment were developed in a classroom program with 39 boys and 43 girls, all 9th grade students, between 13 and 17 years of age (M=14,4, SD=0.95). Following a pre/post-test design, the Career Exploration Survey (CES), and the Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ) were administered. Results of sign-test showed significant increments (p<0.01) in all of the exploration dimensions, significant reduction of lack of occupational information (p<0.01) and of the total of career decision-making difficulties (p<0.05). Negative correlations (Spearman’s rho) between the two career measures was observed, evidencing a relationship between information explored during intervention and decreased difficulty with decision-making due to lack of motivation. In general, results support the importance of career exploration on diminishing decision-making difficulties.Evalúa-se el impacto de una intervención psicológica que fomenta la exploración y la decisión vocacional en adolescentes portugueses. Fueran efectuadas actividades de exploración del medio ambiente y del yo en contexto curricular de clase con 39 alumnos y 43 alumnas del curso 3º ESO, 13 hasta 17 años (M=14,4, DP=0,95). Utilizó-se un diseño pre/posteste, con aplicación del Career Exploration Survey (CES) y Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ). Resultados del test del señal evidencian beneficios significativos (p<0,01) en las dimensiones de la exploración, reducción significativa de ausencia de información ocupacional (p<0,01) y total de dificultades de decisión (p<0,05). Ha sido observado un patrón de correlaciones negativas (ró de Spearman) entre las dos medidas vocacionales, mostrando relación entre la información explorada e la disminución de las dificultades de decisión por falta de motivación. En general, resultados sostienen la importancia de la exploración de carrera en la disminución de las dificultades de decisió

Physical modeling of sand-filled geosystems for coastal protection

Unidirectional irregular waves of varying significant wave-height and peak period but with aconstant spectral shape (JONSWAP spectrum, =3.3) were generated over a sandy 3:20 sloped planebeach to investigate scour fronting a dune erosion control system constructed from geotextiles, slopeinclined at 45º. Both passive (i.e., three dune erosion control systems with two configurations) and active(i.e., one nearshore submerged structure with four configurations) structures are investigated. A twodimensionalphysical movable-bed model simulating the prototype dune-beach systems of Estela, locatedalong the NW Portuguese coast, is employed in this study. The paper presents a brief characterization ofthe prototype conditions and discusses requirements and limitations on the choice of model scale for thewaves, the sediments, and the geotextile materials

Synonymous Substitution Rates Predict HIV Disease Progression as a Result of Underlying Replication Dynamics

Upon HIV transmission, some patients develop AIDS in only a few months, while others remain disease free for 20 or more years. This variation in the rate of disease progression is poorly understood and has been attributed to host genetics, host immune responses, co-infection, viral genetics, and adaptation. Here, we develop a new “relaxed-clock” phylogenetic method to estimate absolute rates of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution through time. We identify an unexpected association between the synonymous substitution rate of HIV and disease progression parameters. Since immune activation is the major determinant of HIV disease progression, we propose that this process can also determine viral generation times, by creating favourable conditions for HIV replication. These conclusions may apply more generally to HIV evolution, since we also observed an overall low synonymous substitution rate for HIV-2, which is known to be less pathogenic than HIV-1 and capable of tempering the detrimental effects of immune activation. Humoral immune responses, on the other hand, are the major determinant of nonsynonymous rate changes through time in the envelope gene, and our relaxed-clock estimates support a decrease in selective pressure as a consequence of immune system collapse

Phenological study of sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) in dystrophic yellow latosol under the savanna conditions of Roraima.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-12-11T18:13:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AJCSPhenologicalAnnona.pdf: 1017570 bytes, checksum: 6ba5d861fe590e4e46a171b01c501053 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019bitstream/item/206746/1/AJCS-Phenological-Annona-.pd

Epidemic history of hepatitis C virus genotypes and subtypes in Portugal

Any successful strategy to prevent and control HCV infection requires an understanding of the epidemic behaviour among the different genotypes. Here, we performed the first characterization of the epidemic history and transmission dynamics of HCV subtypes in Portugal. Direct sequencing of NS5B was performed on 230 direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA)-treatment naïve patients in Lisbon. Phylogenetic analysis was used for subtyping and transmission cluster identification. Bayesian methods were used to reconstruct the epidemic history of HCV subtypes. Sequences were analysed for resistance-associated substitutions (RAS). The majority of strains were HCV-GT1 (62.6%), GT3 (18.3%, all subtype 3a) and GT4 (16.1%). Among GT1, the most frequent were subtypes 1a (75.5%) and 1b (24.5%). Polyphyletic patterns were found in all but 12 lineages suggesting multiple introductions of the different subtypes in this population. Five distinct epidemics were identified. The first significant HCV epidemic in Portugal occurred between 1930s and 1960s, was caused almost exclusively by GT1b and was likely associated with blood transfusions. Rapid expansion of GT3a occurred in the 1960s and GT1a in the 1980s, associated with intravenous drug use. The most recent epidemics were caused by GT4a and GT4d and seem to be associated with the resurgence of opioid use. The C316N substitution was found in 31.4% of GT1b-patients. Close surveillance of patients bearing this mutation and undergoing dasabuvir-based regimens will be important to determine its impact on treatment outcome.publishersversionpublishe