EU Security Discourse: Creating New Regional Boundaries in the Mediterranean and Gulf Regions

The European Union (EU) as an international actor has slowly been incorporated into geopolitical reality, by academics and other international actors. This makes it all the more important to understand how the EU sees the world in which it interacts and what role security matters play in this construction. In this article we will analyse how the EU constructs regions. We will be looking at how the Mediterranean and the Gulf in particular are represented as regions by the EU. The EU relationship with the Mediterranean is quite developed, but as to the Gulf there is still much to do. This is slowly changing; recently the EU began considering a regional approach due to increasing security concerns. The current trend in discourse incorporates the Gulf countries into a wider Middle East, perhaps signalling the beginning of a coherent regional strategy for what could become another area of insecurity in EU eyes.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Scholarship SFRH/BD/30283/2006

Variability of heart rate in athletes and non athletes

Introduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) consists of measuring the time interval between beats. This describes oscillations in the interval between consecutive heart beats (R-R intervals) that reflect changes in heart rate as a function of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. Regular practice of physical activity is a factor responsible for the increase in vagal tone due to increased cardiac work, since there is a reduction in the sensitivity of the beta receptors. The HRV analysis can be performed in the time domain and frequency domain. Cardiofrequency meters, electrocardiogram and Holter are the instruments used to obtain their indices, where a high variability corresponds to a good physiological adaptation, while a low variability is an indicator of possible cardiovascular complications. Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the R-R intervals obtained during rest for 6 minutes, in supine position, between a group of athletes and a group of non-athletes using the Polar RS800CX heart rate monitor and to analyze heart rate variability in time and frequency domain. Methods: A total of 26 women athletes and non-athletes aged 18 to 33 years underwent electrocardiogram at rest and for 6 minutes while simultaneously using the Polar RS800CX heart rate monitor. Results: Significant differences were observed in some HRV parameters obtained between the group of athletes with the non-sports control group, in the time domain, in the frequency domain no differences were observed. Conclusions: The regular practice of physical activity provides an increase in HRV, indicating that athletes have a lower risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, unlike sedentary individuals, because in these the risk will be significantly greater.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Demystifying “absolute truths” of additive manufacturing

Authors received funding from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) \u2013 Project Smart WAAM: Microstructural Engineering and Integrated Non-Destructive Testing. This body of the European Union receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The AuthorsThe hype around additive manufacturing technologies suggests that any complex shaped structure can be fabricated regardless of the type of material used. Moreover, it is often suggested that additive manufacturing processes will certainly disrupt the supply chain logistics and that everyone will be able to print on the demand at the comfort of their home. In this viewpoint, we describe and demystify some of the common assumptions associated with these set of technologies. We also show that conventional manufacturing processes cannot be fully replaced by additive manufacturing technologies, but rather there is a need for a complementarity between well-consolidated manufacturing technologies and additive manufacturing. While some of the contents presented here are basic for specialists working in the manufacturing field, we expect that this viewpoint can aid researchers working on topics related to additive manufacturing, but with less focus on the manufacturing aspects, helping them understand the actual limitations and advantages associated to these technologies. The four key issues that are addressed in this viewpoint, and their consequences, also intend to shape and mold future entrepreneurial efforts on additive manufacturing, as well as define future impacts (environmental, logistics, commercial and disruptive) associated to additive manufacturing technologies.publishersversionpublishe

Effect of occupational activity on ambulatory blood pressure behaviour

Hypertension (HBP) is a key risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, being strongly associated with behavioral and environmental aspects of living. Professional activities, amongst others that take place throughout the day, are responsible for important blood pressure (BP) variations and may increase it. Objective: This study aims at ascertaining the blood pressure profile and variation in teachers, during a typical teaching session. Methods: Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) was performed in a cohort of 21 university teachers during a typical professional day, comprising the following periods: 24-hour period, day period, night period, morning period, 2 hours before class, during class, 2 hours after class, aerobic exercise period and 1 hour after exercise period. Results: Teachers demonstrated higher BP during the occupational activities (137.71 / 88.57 mmHg) compared to the period before (128.81 / 82.43 mmHg) and after the class (132,38 / 85, 19 mmHg) (p <0.05). It was found that systolic BP has the greatest variability across the considered activities and time periods. In a gender analysis, men had higher systolic BP compared to women (141.55 mmHg / 133.50 mmHg, respectively), and demonstrated greater variability across activities. Conclusions: The results clearly demonstrated the existence of important variations in BP due to different daily activities. The occupational period produced a significant increase in the different components of BP and heart rate. The long-term effects of repeated exposure to this increase in BP related with the occupational contexts remains to be demonstrated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Randomized study of the effect of cocoa, on the blood pressure of healthy young individuals

Introduction: Since ancient times, chocolate is a food highly appreciated by people and, therefore, is present in varied eating patterns. When rich in cocoa, it has a higher concentration of flavonoids. The consumption of foods rich in flavanols has been associated with a reduction in some risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of frequent consumption of a fixed dose of cocoa-rich chocolate on the blood pressure of healthy young individuals. Methods: Thirty healthy individuals of both sexes, aged between 18 and 35 years, were randomized, but only 28 people completed the intervention. A baseline blood pressure assessment was performed. After this the different types of chocolate were distributed by the control group (55% cocoa) and the intervention group (90% cocoa). The daily consumption of 20 grams of chocolate ran for thirty days. Two days after finishing the ingestion of the chocolate, the second evaluation was carried out. For the different evaluations, the oscillometric method was used. Results: In the different variables studied, there was a general improvement in both groups (control and intervention). However, there were only statistically significant differences in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.01) and pulse pressure (p = 0.001), in the control group. In the baseline assessment, it was found that there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: This study showed that chocolate, with 55% cocoa, has beneficial effects on the blood pressure of healthy young individuals, when consumed frequently. Further research is needed with regard to the mechanisms associated with these effects, so that we can clarify the role of flavonoids.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dielectric Characterization of Soil Samples by Microwave Measurements

Northern high-latitude wetlands are well known to seasonally emit methane gas into the atmosphere, and therefore contribute to greenhouse effects. While these gas emissions are well documented, their causes are not well understood. The method described in this work can be used to analyze the changes happening in the soil during gas emissions, and therefore help the understanding of the sub-surface gas dynamics. We have monitored a sample of peat soil through an artificial freezing and thawing cycle, using both a gas detector to measure the methane flux at the soil surface and a vector network analyzer to measure the transmission of microwaves through the soil. It was observed that the results from the two measurement approaches had a very good match under specific microwave signal conditions. In addition, from the microwave measured data, the dielectric properties of the soil and the volumetric fractions of its constituents were also calculated based on a dielectric mixing model

Micro wire and arc additive manufacturing (µ-WAAM)

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s) This activity has received funding from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) – Project Smart WAAM: Microstructural Engineering and Integrated NonDestructive Testing. This body of the European Union receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.In this work we explore the wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process scale limits by using a wire diameter of 250 µm and about 2 mm stickout. This WAAM variant, named µ-WAAM, aims at competing with laser powder bed fusion technology, by enabling the fabrication of smaller parts with significantly higher deposition rates. The main issues of descaling the WAAM process are discussed and an acceptable parameter window to fabricate thin walls is presented. Several depositions were successfully performed with ASTMA 228 steel using a wire feed speed ranging from 75 to 90 mm/s, travel speed from 7 to 10 mm/s, a current intensity of 16 A RMS and power of ≈ 35 W RMS.publishersversionpublishe

VALIDAÇÃO DA VERSÃO EM PORTUGUÊS DA ESCALA DE AUTO-CUIDADO PARA A PESSOA COM INSUFICIÊNCIA CARDÍACA

Trata-se de uma investigação já realizada anteriormente em seres Humanos. É uma escala desenvolvida por Barbara Riegel, Professora, na Universidade da Pensilvânia Departamento de Enfermagem e aplicada nos Estados Unidos. Encontra-se traduzida em várias línguas: em Chinês e é aplicada em Hong Kong e Taiwan; em Italiano; em Espanhol e em Alemão. Por não existir nenhuma escala desta natureza em Portugal, consideramos importante a sua tradução em Português para poder ser utilizada pelos profissionais de saúde aos doentes com insuficiência cardíaca. Assim definimos como objectivo Validar a escala de auto-cuidado para a pessoa com insuficiência cardíaca, na população Portuguesa. Quanto ao método o estudo foi autorizado pela autora da versão original em inglês e começou com a tradução e adaptação cultural do questionário para a língua portuguesa. A população do estudo será de 300 participantes de dois hospitais que tem consulta de enfermagem à pessoa com insuficiência cardíaca. Os dados serão processados através do software SPSS®. Consideramos que a Escala De Auto-Cuidado Para A Pessoa Com Insuficiência Cardíaca é uma importante ferramenta de trabalho. Pois permite fazer o levantamento de informação pertinente que ajuda a centrar as intervenções e a promover intervenções mais adequadas

Euro-Mediterranean Securitization and EU Foreign and Defence Policy: Challenges for Mediterranean Regional Security

The emergence of the European Union (EU) as an international actor is an important development for Europeans, but also for the international community. The EU constitutes a new actor in international affairs. It goes beyond the nation state and seeks to construct a new international order based on rules. This new international actor must deal with a complex security environment, in particular in the Mediterranean region. This thesis seeks to determine how security perceptions in the region will influence the EU’s roles and responsibilities in the Mediterranean region as a new security actor. A detailed analysis of security discourse from both the EU and Southern Mediterranean shows that there are similar security concerns throughout the Mediterranean. Issues like terrorism or illegal immigration are securitised across the region, whereas issues like regional conflicts or weapons of mass destruction are considered security threats in specific areas, in particular the Eastern Mediterranean. Furthermore, security discourse also coexists with strong references to a common Mediterranean identity. This sharing of security perceptions and references to a common identity allows us to conclude that there is indeed a regional security complex in the Mediterranean. After determining the existence of a regional security complex in the Mediterranean, an analysis of the individual actors participating in the Euro- Mediterranean RSC, at different levels, was conducted. This analysis shows that the EU occupies a central role in the region as a global great power. Moreover, an analysis of the RSC in the Mediterranean region shows that it is an unstable security complex, susceptible to internal and external transformation in the medium to long term. As such, the EU could play a more substantial role in the Mediterranean, exercising greater influence to stabilise the region; leading the region away from instability and moving it towards a more institutional framework for conflict resolution. In this role, the EU will need to be more active throughout the region, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean. It must assume its position as a great power but with its particular capabilities and characteristics. The EU must then emphasise mediation and regional integration, including south-south integration in its policies towards the Southern Mediterranean.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologi