Informação, conhecimento e serviço público: um estudo de caso exploratório com contributos para a gestão da informação e do conhecimento na Câmara Municipal de Viseu.

A “Sociedade da Informação e do Conhecimento” colocou às organizações novos desafios e a necessidade de mudança e inovação contínuas, revelando-se vital a sua capacidade para a criação, armazenamento, disseminação e utilização do Conhecimento, e a integração, nesse processo, de pessoas e de tecnologias da informação. Verifica-se que a Informação e o Conhecimento se apresentam como recursos fundamentais para a competitividade das organizações. É neste contexto que surge a Gestão do Conhecimento, inicialmente estudada e aplicada do ponto de vista empresarial, mas que cada vez mais integra os projetos das instituições públicas, progressivamente mais atentas à modernização administrativa e à satisfação dos seus clientes. O estudo que se apresenta visa identificar as premissas da Gestão do Conhecimento; analisar o impacto das práticas de modernização administrativa e da utilização de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC) na Câmara Municipal de Viseu; e apresentar propostas que integrem e potencializem as ferramentas existentes, e que constituam o ponto de partida para uma nova abordagem da Gestão da Informação e do Conhecimento na organização, a saber: a criação de um portal corporativo, que congregue os vários instrumentos colaborativos identificados; a constituição de uma unidade de missão para a gestão do arquivo corrente e a elaboração de um plano de classificação parcial, ao nível da macroestrutura, que estabelece as subclasses e as séries documentais da classe “Licenciamentos”

Experiment K-6-16. Morphological examination of rat testes. The effect of Cosmos 1887 flight on spermatogonial population and testosterone level in rat testes

Testes from rats flown on Cosmos 1887 for twelve and a half days were compared to basal control, synchronous control and vivarium maintained rats. When the mean weights of flight testes, normalized for weight/100 gms, were compared to the vivarium controls they were 6.7 percent lighter. Although the flight testes were lighter than the synchronous, the difference is not significant. Counts of spermatogonial cells from 5 animals in each group revealed a 4 percent decrease in flight compared to vivarium controls. In both cases the t-Test significance was less than 0.02. The serum testosterone levels of all animals (flight, synchronous and vivarium) were significantly below the basal controls

The ART of performance: engaging young people with assisted reproductive technologies

More children than ever before are conceived with the use of assisted reproductive technologies and many are raised in families that are structurally different from most. Research on the experiences of children growing up in diverse families has shown that children may face disapproval, a lack of understanding, and in some cases, bullying by those outside of their home environment, including from their peers at school This study evaluated the use of theatrical performance and post-performance discussions as a method of informing young people about different families. Findings indicated that performance was an effective and engaging learning tool, as it presented first-hand experiences of family diversity. Post-performance discussions were important in enabling young people to improve their understanding of different methods of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and diverse family forms. Young people were found to value engagement activities that are unbiased, interactive, and do not make them feel awkward or uncomfortable

Comparison of disturbance wave parameters with flow orientation in vertical annular gas-liquid flows in a small pipe

The interfacial wave structure of the liquid film in both upward and downward annular gas-liquid flows in an 11.7 mm pipe were investigated using the Brightness Based Laser Induced Fluorescence technique (BBLIF). Film thickness measurements were carried out with high spatial and temporal resolution between 330 and 430 mm from the inlet, where the properties of disturbance waves are almost stabilised. Using a tracking algorithm to detect disturbance waves, a full characterisation in terms of their velocity, frequency, longitudinal size and spacing was carried out. Direct comparison between both flow orientations while testing the same flow conditions shows that although the flow orientation does not affect the velocity of disturbance waves, the fraction of film surface occupied by the disturbance waves is smaller in upwards flow. Thus, more liquid travels in the base film in upwards flow, which is consistent with the base film thickness measurements. These observations, together with qualitatively different behaviour of ripple wave velocity in upwards and downwards flows, studied using 2D Fourier analysis, indicate that the role of gravity is much more important on the base film than on disturbance waves. This supposedly occurs due to a local decrease in the interfacial shear stress on the base film surface because of the resistance of the disturbance waves to the gas stream in upward flow

Post-fire Regeneration Traits of Understorey Shrub Species Modulate Successional Responses to High Severity Fire in Mediterranean Pine Forests

Recurrent fires can impede the spontaneous recruitment capacity of pine forests. Empirical studies have suggested that this can lead to a prolonged replacement of pine forest by shrubland, especially if shrub species are pyrophytic. Model-based studies, however, have suggested that post-fire succession of pine forest under current climatic conditions will eventually tend towards the dominance of oaks under high fire severity and recurrence. These previous modelling studies did not address the role of the various post-fire regeneration traits of the understory shrub species. Considering the dichotomy of obligate seeder vs. resprouter species, either obligate or facultative resprouter, we hypothesized that when the shrubs present are post-fire seeders, the oaks steadily occupy the forest, whereas resprouter shrub species might compete with oaks and delay or arrest post-fire succession. To test this hypothesis, we developed a dynamic, cellular automaton model for simulating post-fire successional transitions in pine forests, including shrubs, pines and oaks, and stochastic fires of regular frequency. Our results showed a strong tendency towards oak dominance as final model state and a very reduced role of fire recurrence in this final state, with low yearly acorn input delaying oak dominance. Most relevantly, and in line with our hypothesis, the trend towards oak dominance depended markedly on the two types of shrub species, being delayed by resprouter species, which extended the shrub-dominated succession stage for several centuries. Our simulation results supported the view that the type of understorey species should be a key consideration in post-fire restoration strategies aiming to enhance fire resilience.This research has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under the grant agreement no. 283068 (CASCADE project). Thanks are due to FCT/MCTES for the financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020), through national funds and the post-doctoral research contract of Jacob Keizer (FCT-IF/01465/2015), and to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for financial support (CGL2017-89804-R) of the work of Susana Bautista. The work of Paula Maia was partially supported by the project SuSPiRe (PTDC/ASP-SIL/30983/2017) funded by FCT, through COMPETE2020—Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI)

Consistent Long-Term Therapeutic Efficacy of Human Umbilical Cord Matrix-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells After Myocardial Infarction Despite Individual Differences and Transient Engraftment

Human mesenchymal stem cells gather special interest as a universal and feasible add-on therapy for myocardial infarction (MI). In particular, human umbilical cord matrix-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UCM-MSC) are advantageous since can be easily obtained and display high expansion potential. Using isolation protocols compliant with cell therapy, we previously showed UCM-MSC preserved cardiac function and attenuated remodeling 2 weeks after MI. In this study, UCM-MSC from two umbilical cords, UC-A and UC-B, were transplanted in a murine MI model to investigate consistency and durability of the therapeutic benefits. Both cellular products improved cardiac function and limited adverse cardiac remodeling 12 weeks post-ischemic injury, supporting sustained and long-term beneficial therapeutic effect. Donor associated variability was found in the modulation of cardiac remodeling and activation of the Akt-mTOR-GSK3ß survival pathway. In vitro, the two cell products displayed similar ability to induce the formation of vessel-like structures and comparable transcriptome in normoxia and hypoxia, apart from UCM-MSCs proliferation and expression differences in a small subset of genes associated with MHC Class I. These findings support that UCM-MSC are strong candidates to assist the treatment of MI whilst calling for the discussion on methodologies to characterize and select best performing UCM-MSC before clinical application.This work was funded by European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), under Lisbon Portugal Regional Operational Programme and National Funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) ([POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030985], [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016385]); by FCT/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação in the framework of individual funding [CEECINST/00091/2018] to DN and by QREN funds through the project ClinUCX (QREN 30196) and individual fellowships: [PD/BD/127997/2016] to TL, [SFRH/BD/144490/2019] to RG and [SFRH/BD/111799/2015] to VS-P. The funding bodies other than ECBio had no role in design, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication

Quantification of (-) hydroxycitric acid in marketed extracts of Garcinia cambogia by high performance liquid chromatography

O extrato de Garcinia cambogia (GC), utilizado no tratamento da obesidade, é padronizado por quantificação de ácido hidroxicítrico (AHC) em sua forma salina (CaAHC). Assim, objetivou-se quantificar AHC em duas amostras comerciais de GC (A e B) com 50 % de AHC, de acordo com os laudos de origem. O rendimento extrativo por maceração foi 23,83 % (A) e 22,37 % (B). O teor do analito, quantificado por CLAE-DAD utilizando calibração com padrão de CaAHC, foi 36,09 % (A) e 41,57 % (B) sobre a fração hidrossolúvel e 8,82 % (A) e 9,70 % (B) sobre o extrato inicial. Na quantificação sobre a fração hidrossolúvel, os resultados encontram-se similares aos especificados pelos distribuidores. Entretanto, considerando o extrato inicial, os resultados encontram-se significativamente abaixo dos especificados. Visto que parte considerável do extrato não é solúvel em meio aquoso, dosear o analito apenas em relação à fração hidrossolúvel pode ser um viés para a adequação de doses deste fitoterápico.Garcinia cambogia extract, used in the treatment of obesity, is standardized by quantification of hydroxycitric acid (HCA) in its salt form (CaHCA). The aim of this study was to quantify HCA in two samples of marketed GC extracts (A and B) containing 50 % of HCA, as origins specifications. The maceration extraction yield was 23.83 % (A) and 22.37 % (B). The quantification, performed by HPLC-DAD using calibration with CaHCA standard, was 36.09 % (A) and 41.57 % (B) related to the water-soluble portion and 8.82 % (A) and 9.70 % (B), related to the initial extract. On the water-soluble portion quantification, results are similar to those specified by the distributors. However, considering the quantification over the initial extract, results are significantly below of the specified values. Observing that part of the extract is insoluble in water, to quantify the analyte considering only the water-soluble portion could lead to considerable error for the adequacy of dose of this phytotherapic.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Increased aridity drives post‐fire recovery of Mediterranean forests towards open shrublands

Recent observations suggest that repeated fires could drive Mediterranean forests to shrublands, hosting flammable vegetation that regrows quickly after fire. This feedback supposedly favours shrubland persistence and may be strengthened in the future by predicted increased aridity. An assessment was made of how fires and aridity in combination modulated the dynamics of Mediterranean ecosystems and whether the feedback could be strong enough to maintain shrubland as an alternative stable state to forest. A model was developed for vegetation dynamics, including stochastic fires and different plant fire‐responses. Parameters were calibrated using observational data from a period up to 100 yr ago, from 77 sites with and without fires in Southeast Spain and Southern France. The forest state was resilient to the separate impact of fires and increased aridity. However, water stress could convert forests into open shrublands by hampering post‐fire recovery, with a possible tipping point at intermediate aridity. Projected increases in aridity may reduce the resilience of Mediterranean forests against fires and drive post‐fire ecosystem dynamics toward open shrubland. The main effect of increased aridity is the limitation of post‐fire recovery. Including plant fire‐responses is thus fundamental when modelling the fate of Mediterranean‐type vegetation under climate‐change scenarios

Neonatal Apex Resection Triggers Cardiomyocyte Proliferation, Neovascularization and Functional Recovery Despite Local Fibrosis

So far, opposing outcomes have been reported following neonatal apex resection in mice, questioning the validity of this injury model to investigate regenerative mechanisms. We performed a systematic evaluation, up to 180 days after surgery, of the pathophysiological events activated upon apex resection. In response to cardiac injury, we observed increased cardiomyocyte proliferation in remote and apex regions, neovascularization, and local fibrosis. In adulthood, resected hearts remain consistently shorter and display permanent fibrotic tissue deposition in the center of the resection plane, indicating limited apex regrowth. However, thickening of the left ventricle wall, explained by an upsurge in cardiomyocyte proliferation during the initial response to injury, compensated cardiomyocyte loss and supported normal systolic function. Thus, apex resection triggers both regenerative and reparative mechanisms, endorsing this injury model for studies aimed at promoting cardiomyocyte proliferation and/or downplaying fibrosis. In this article, Nascimento and colleagues demonstrate that neonatal apex resection stimulates cardiomyocyte proliferation and permanent scarring in the apex. Newly formed cardiomyocytes compensate muscle loss by resection, and resected hearts recover functional competence in adulthood. These findings endorse this model for studies aiming to block cardiac fibrosis and/or favoring CM proliferation

Corrosividade de sais de lítio para armazenamento de energia em centrais de concentração solar

RESUMO: O presente trabalho tem como objetivo estudar a corrosão de um aço inoxidável em contacto com um fluido de transferência de calor alternativo, para que possa ser utilizado como material estrutural no sistema de armazenamento de energia térmica numa central de energia solar de concentração (CSP). A atividade experimental envolveu a imersão do aço AISI 316L, em condições estáticas, numa mistura de sal ternário com Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3 (32,1; 33,4; 34,5 % m/m) durante 3000 h a 650 °C. A perda de massa ao longo do tempo de exposição é elevada com um aumento linear a partir das 120 horas de exposição. Através das técnicas SEM/EDS e DRX foi possível verificar a existência de várias camadas de óxidos com diferentes composições químicas, o que aliado ao aumento das suas espessuras ao longo do tempo, permitiu compreender os mecanismos de corrosão envolvidos. As amostras de sal retiradas ao longo do tempo foram caracterizadas por DSC e comparadas com a mistura pura de modo avaliar a sua estabilidade.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio