Deteção remota e o Algarve: cartografia, usos do território e paisagem

A informação obtida por deteção remota sustenta um domínio de conhecimento que tem sofrido grande evolução nos últimos anos, abrindo cada vez mais o leque de potenciais aplicações relacionadas com a observação da superfície da terra recorrendoà deteção remota. Os satélites LANDSAT 8 e SENTINEL-2, dois dos mais recentes a entrar em órbita, estão na vanguarda da tecnologia de Observação da Terra por deteção remota, apresentado melhor resolução espacial, espetral e temporal em relação a satélites anteriores. A informação obtida por deteção remota tem vindo a ser aplicada em diversas áreas de estudo e torna-se agora relevante compreender qual a potencialidade dessa informação para Portugal e, mais especificamente, para o Algarve. Surge assim um estudo de caso da análise temporal e espacial da presença de stress hídrico da vegetação, com a utilização do Índice e NDVI

Curadoria como interpretação e interpretação sem curadoria : um ensaio sobre arte

Um conhecido curador descreveu-se uma vez como um «fazedor de ligações» entre pessoas, objectos artísticos, conceitos e muitos outros tipos de coisas. Segundo esta posição, fazer ligações é uma actividade produtiva que dá origem a novos entendimentos quando se juntam diferentes elementos. Este ensaio examina algumas actividades levadas a cabo sempre que se fazem observações sobre um objecto (sobretudo sobre uma obra de arte), designadamente contar uma história, reconhecer identidades, descrever, ligar elementos, prestar atenção e categorizar. Todas estas tarefas partilham um interesse comum pelo alvo das suas observações, ao invés de uma tentação para extrapolar grandes conclusões: fazem interpretações sem interesses prévios e sem curadoria. De modo oposto, a noção contemporânea de curadoria parece estar fundada na demanda de interacções e mediações entre um objecto interpretável e muitas espécies de ligações com elementos a ele extrínsecos. A fronteira que separa estas duas teses contrastantes será o assunto da discussão.A well-known curator once described himself as a “junction maker” between people, art objects, concepts, and several other kinds of things. According to this claim, making connections is a productive task that gives birth to new understandings when one merges different elements. This essay examines some operations carried out every time someone makes remarks about an object (above all about an art work), namely telling a history, recognizing identities, making descriptions, connecting elements, paying attention, and categorizing. All these exercises share a common interest in their observations’ target rather than a temptation to extrapolate great conclusions: they make interpretations without previous concerns and without curatorship. Conversely, the contemporary idea of curatorship seems to be founded on the quest for interplays and mediations between an interpretable object and many sorts of connections with elements extrinsic to it. The border separating these two contrasting theses will be the subject of the discussion

Prevalence of systemic diseases among patients requesting dental consultation in the public and private systems

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and aetiology of systemic disease among patients requesting dental treatment in public and private practice. Study Design: A retrospective analysis was performed of the medical histories of 2000 patients requesting dental treatment during the year 2009. One thousand patients came from the Fontiñas Primary Care Oral and Dental Health Unit of the Galician Health Service (SERGAS), Spain, and the other thousand from a private clinic; both clinics were situated in Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña, Spain. The data collected were the following: demographic data (age and sex), presence or absence of systemic diseases and the nosologic categories, and drug history (type and number of drugs). Results: The prevalence of systemic disease was significantly higher among patients seen in the public system (35.2% in the public system versus 28.1% in the private system; p= 0.003). The differences between the two systems were more marked when considering patients aged under 65 years, particularly with respect to rheumatic and endocrine-metabolic (diabetes) disorders. The prevalence of patients receiving polypharmacy (>4 drugs/day) was significantly higher among patients seen in the public system (5.7% in the public system versus 2.7% in the private system; p= 0.009). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of medical disorders and of patients receiving polypharmacy among individuals requesting dental care, particularly in the public health system. Dentists must have adequate training in medical disease and must be fully integrated into primary care health teams in order to prevent or adequately resolve complications. © Medicina Oral S. L

Prognostic significance of cyclins A2, B1, D1, and E1 and CCND1 numerical aberrations in oral squamous cell carcinomas

We analysed the expression of cyclins A2, B1, D1, and E1 by immunohistochemistry and numerical aberrations in CCND1 gene by fluorescence in situ hybridization technique in 67 primary oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). Cyclin A2 expression was observed in 54 (83.1%) tumours, cyclin D1 in 58 (89.2%), cyclin B1 in 39 (60%), and cyclin E in 21 (32.8%). CCND1 region analysis revealed 26 (43.3%) tumours with the presence of numerical aberrations which were correlated with cyclin D1 high expression (Rho = 0.48; p < 0 001). Twenty-nine (45.3%) tumours were classified as high proliferative tumours assessed by Ki-67 protein expression and correlated with tumours with high expression of cyclin A2 (Rho = 0.30; p = 0 016) and cyclin B1 (Rho = 0.37; p = 0 003). In multivariate analysis for an overall five-year survival (OS), we found an adverse independent prognostic value for cyclin A2 high expression (p = 0 031) and for advanced tumour stage (p < 0 001). Our results confirm that several cyclins are commonly expressed in OSCC. CCND1 gene is abnormal in more than one-third of the cases and is frequently associated with cyclin D1 high expression. Moreover, cyclin A2 high expression is an independent indicator of worse OS suggesting that this protein may serve as a reliable biological marker to identify high-risk subgroups with poor prognosis.This study was supported by a grant from the Fundación de Investigación Médica Mutua Madrileña (Spain) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI 061902). The authors also thank the Biobanco del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago and IINFACTS in CESPU (BubOral CESPU 2017; MacrOral CESPU 2017)S

Influence of Cracking on the Durability of Reinforced Concrete with Carbon Nanotubes

This study focuses on the influence of natural and artificially induced cracks on the durability of concrete reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNT). Pre-cracked concrete mixes, unreinforced or reinforced with 0.1% CNT, are characterized in terms of capillary absorption, carbonation, and chloride penetration resistance, and compared to the uncracked reference concrete. The mechanical strength and durability properties were improved in uncracked CNT-reinforced concrete, without significantly affecting its density and workability. The efficiency of CNT was higher when the concrete was previously subjected to drying conditions. For all tested properties, the incorporation of CNT was effective in reducing the influence of artificial and natural cracks on concrete durability. The main contribution of CNT occurred in the crack surrounding region. Depending on the analyzed property and cracking conditions, the significant reduction of durability in cracked concrete may be 10–30% attenuated when CNT is incorporated. The effect was more pronounced in mechanically induced natural cracks, where CNT may better participate in their vicinity