Tumor cerebral: incidência, diagnóstico e tratamento

Relatório de estágio de licenciatura, Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade do Algarve, 2010O tumor cerebral é um tumor raro. A sua relevância incide no facto de pertencer aos tipos de tumores para os quais não existe cura, que provocam défices profundos nos doentes e cujos sintomas são muitas vezes negligenciados. Este estudo engloba doentes com diagnóstico de tumor cerebral maligno, internados no período de 1 de Junho de 2008 a 30 de Julho de 2010, no Hospital de Faro E.P.E.. Foram contabilizados 84 processos clínicos, porém apenas 52 destes puderam ser analisados. Destes 52 processos, 56% pertenciam ao sexo masculino sendo que a maior frequência foi encontrada na faixa etária dos 71 aos 75 anos. Apenas metade dos doentes realizou biopsia e o tipo de tumor cerebral maligno mais frequente foi o glioblastoma, contando com 32 diagnósticos, sendo que 81% da totalidade dos casos são tumores gliais. Somente 29% dos doentes ainda se encontram vivos até à data e o tempo de sobrevivência foi de apenas 1 mês para 24% dos doentes falecidos após diagnóstico de tumor cerebral maligno. Do total de diagnósticos analisados somente realizaram cirurgia 30 doentes, 18 fizeram radioterapia e 13 foram propostos a quimioterapia. Cefaleias, hemiparesia, convulsões, confusão, astenia, febre, afasia, paralisia facial, prostração, desorientação e vómitos, foram os sintomas constatados mais frequentemente.The brain tumor is a rare tumor. Its importance relies in the fact that it belongs to the tumor types for which there’s no cure and that causes profound deficits in patients, which symptoms are often, overlooked. This study includes patients whose malignant brain tumor diagnosis, was carried out from June 1st 2008 to July 30th 2010, in Hospital de Faro E.P.E.. 84 clinical cases were reported, but only 52 of these could be analysed. From these 52 cases, 56% were male and the highest frequency was found in the age range of 71 to 75 years. Only half of the patients performed biopsy and the malignant brain tumor glioblastoma was the most frequent, with 32 diagnoses, where 81% of all cases are glial tumors. Only 29% of patients are still alive so far and the survival time was only 1 month to 24% of deceased patients after diagnosis. In the total of diagnoses examined only 30 patients underwent surgery, 18 had radiotherapy and 13 were proposed to chemotherapy. Headache, hemiparesis, seizures, confusion, weakness, fever, aphasia, facial paralysis, prostration, disorientation and vomiting were the most observed symptoms

Stabilising selection in populations of drosophila

1. The work presented in this thesis is concerned with the study of stabilising selection for body size in D.melanogaster. 2. The method followed in this study was to create differences in body size through selection and observe the changes in fitness associated with these differences. Also, once the differences were created, we observed the effects of natural selection on the selected lines when selection was relaxed. 3. The consideration of this problem involves the choice of a suitable estimate of fitness as well as the definition of a suitable ecological system in which fitness should be measured. We decided that the best indicator of fitness available is the biomass produced per unit of time in competition with a standard competitor, in a live -yeast system. 4. The physiological changes responsible for the changes in body size may or may not affect fitness, tinder the conditions described. Given hypothetical differences in physiological parameters like feeding rate, efficiency of food conversion and critical size we were able to simulate in a computer the outcome of competition between strains differing in one or more of these parameters. This allowed us to make predictions of the changes in competitive ability and the productivity of the cultures. Therefore we were able to analyse our results in terms of a system rather than in terms of individual characters. 5. It was found that the physiological changes responsible for the changes in body size of the selected lines were probably changes in feeding rate associated with changes in the critical size. However, the "nature" of growth is affected in this case since we can detect differences in body size in flies exhibiting the same development time. This change in the "nature" of growth can be explained if we postulate an unbalance of growth in the selected lines. 6. Although the changes iñ body size obtained by selection are quite sùbstantial, it was difficult to detect a consistent change in compeitive ability measured against a standard competitor. It is suggested that this difficulty might be due to changes in the variance of the growth parameters correlated with changes in their mean. Within the range of deviations of body size from the unselected value these changes in variance would counteract the possible changes in fitness which are a consequence of selection. 7. Relaxation of selection for lines selected for large and small body size had little effect in bringing the mean fialue of the character back to the unselected level. One possible exception was verified when selection was relaxed in a population cage. Back selection had an immediate response, similar to that of forward selection. The experiments which tested the competitive ability of the back selected lines were not conclusive. Selection for short development time in the selected lines did not affect body size;,the changes in competitive ability were not well defined. Selection for fast and slow development had some response when development time was measured under pure culture conditions. Under competitive conditions the apparent advantage of the fast line disappeared but the disadvantage of the slow line persisted. The response to selection for fast and slow development was accompanied by a reduction in body size below the unselected level in the fast line and an increase in the slow line above the same level. 8. Selection for large and small body size under competitive conditions showed some response in both directions though less well marked than when selection was carried out under optimal conditions. 9. Inbreeding caused a proportionally equal decrease in body size in all the lines. This decrease was more accentuated when body size was measured under competitive conditions. Competitive ability was affected differentially in the 1st generation of inbreeding, but this difference disappeared subsequently. Viability was reduced below the non -inbred level. 10. The experiments on egg production of the selected and unselected flies grown under different conditions in the larval stage fed different amounts of food in the adult stage revealed a superiority of the unselected over the selected lines. 11. The crosses between the Pacific and the Kaduna populations showed no breakdown or improvement in competitive ability in the Fl or the F2, suggesting that the genes controlling the growth ability which is correlated with competitive ability are the same in the two populations

Calagem e parcelamento da adubação fosfatada em porta-enxertos de seringueira.

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Experiments in square lattice with a common treatment in all blocks

O Instituto Agronômico de Campinas vem, há muitos anos, utilizando, nos seus ensaios de milho, reticulados quadrados com k² tratamentos em blocos de k + 1 parcelas, sendo a parcela extra de cada bloco cultivada com um cultivar padrão (variedade ou híbrido), não incluído entre os k² tratamentos originais. Conclui-se, pois, que esses delineamentos incluem k² + 1 tratamentos, em blocos de k + 1 parcelas. O presente trabalho deduz fórmulas para a análise da variância desses delineamentos, e para a estimação das médias ajustadas de tratamentos. Fórmulas para a variância de diversos contrastes são deduzidas. Finalmente, apresenta-se um exemplo, detalhadamente analisado, de um ensaio em reticulado quadrado com k² = 25, e 4 repetições ortogonais, instalado corn 26 cultivares, em blocos de 6 parcelas.This paper deals with a generalization of square lattice designs, with k² treatments in blocks of k + 1 plots, the extra plot in each block receiving a standard treatment, the same for all blocks. The new design leads to lower variances for contrasts between adjusted treatment mean

Numerical solution of linear models in economics: The SP-DG model revisited

In general, complex and large dimensional models are needed to solve real economic problems. Due to these characteristics, there is either no analytical solution for them or they are not attainable. As a result, solutions can be only obtained through numerical methods. Thus, the growing importance of computers in Economics is not surprising. This paper focuses on an implementation of the SP-DG model, using Matlab,developed by the students as part of the Computational Economics course. We also discuss some of our teaching/learning experience within the course, given for the first time in the FEP Doctoral Programme in Economics.SP-DG Model, Output, Inflation, Numerical Simulation, Teaching of Economics

Inland or Coastal: That s the Question! Different Impacts of COVID-19 on the Tourism Sector in Portugal

The COVID-19 pandemic had severe implications in different economic sectors, among them tourism, with countries where tourism has a relevant economic role, such as Portugal, being greatly affected. However, the impact was different in the various regions of the country, which could be related to some tourism units, being more isolated or with fewer rooms, being seen as more attractive and safer. Based on data from Portuguese firms, and distinguishing their location between coastal and inland, it is possible to conclude that inland tourism units were less affected than coastal ones, which could be related to tourists seeking less densely populated areas, a relevant conclusion for the different agents.N/

Processamento das sementes de cupuaçu para a obtenção de cupulate.

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IoT-based systems for soil nutrients assessment in horticulture

Soil nutrients assessment has great importance in horticulture. Implementation of an information system for horticulture faces many challenges: (i) great spatial variability within farms (e.g., hilly topography); (ii) different soil properties (e.g., different water holding capacity, different content in sand, sit, clay, and soil organic matter, different pH, and different permeability) for different cultivated plants; (iii) different soil nutrient uptake by different cultivated plants; (iv) small size of monoculture; and (v) great variety of farm components, agroecological zone, and socio-economic factors. Advances in information and communication technologies enable creation of low cost, efficient information systems that would improve resources management and increase productivity and sustainability of horticultural farms. We present an information system based on different sensing capability, Internet of Things, and mobile application for horticultural farms. An overview on different techniques and technologies for soil fertility evaluation is also presented. The results obtained in a botanical garden that simulates the diversity of environment and plant diversity of a horticultural farm are discussed considering the challenges identified in the literature and field research. The study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the development of technologies that enable horticultural farmers to improve resources management.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Multi-Cloud Warm-Absorber Model for NGC 4051

A multi-cloud model is presented which explains the soft X-ray excess in NGC 4051 and, consistently, the optical line spectrum and the SED of the continuum. The clouds are heated and ionized by the photoionizing flux from the active center and by shocks. Diffuse radiation, partly absorbed throughout the clouds, nicely fits the bump in the soft X-ray domain, while bremsstrahlung radiation from the gaseous clouds contribute to the fit of the continuum SED. Debris of high density fragmented clouds are necessary to explain the absorption oxygen throats observed at 0.87 keV and 0.74 keV. The debris are heated by shocks of about 200-300 km/s. Low velocity (100 km/s)-density (100 cm-3) clouds contribute to the line and continuum spectra, as well as high velocity (1000 km/s)-density (8000 cm-3) clouds which are revealed by the FWHM of the line profiles. The SED in the IR is explained by reradiation of dust, however, the dust-to-gas ratio is not particularly high. Radio emission is well fitted by synchrotron radiation created at the shock front by Fermi mechanism.Comment: 19 pages + 3 figures PostScrip

Estuarine production of resident and nursery fish species: Conditioning by drought events?

The production of resident (Pomatoschistus minutus and Pomatoschistus microps) and marine juvenile fish species using the Mondego estuary (central Portugal) as nursery grounds (Dicentrarchus labrax, Platichthys flesus, Solea solea), was assessed in order to: (1) understand the potential of the estuary for fish production; (2) know the production of nursery fish species likely to be exported to the coastal stocks; and (3) how anthropogenic and natural stress could influence the estimated production. Sampling occurred from June 2003 to May 2006 and together the 5 species in study comprised around 70% of the whole fish community numbers and biomass. Increasing drought conditions were observed, starting with a normal hydrological year in 2003 until attaining a severe drought in 2005, which resulted in low river discharges (1/3 of the mean river discharges in 2003). Additionally, high water temperatures were observed in 2003 and 2005 (24 and 26 °C, night temperatures). The secondary production was estimated using the increment summation method, after recognition of the cohorts. Production was in general lower in the Mondego estuary when compared to other systems, which was associated to the estuary's small area (only 3.4 km2, less than 1/4 of area compared to other studied systems). Dicentrarchus labrax was among the most productive species. Production decreased in the drought year for all species, especially evident for D. labrax, P. minutus and P. flesus. No direct effects could be attributable to the salinity and temperature variations and to the low freshwater discharges (resulting from the drought and high temperatures), yet these were pointed as probable major reasons for the decreased production. A significant reduction (15-45% reduction in the estuarine production) was also concluded for the potential production to be exported for coastal areas by the nursery species in the drought conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WDV-4R9GGXS-2/1/663d5981f8928a75fea6999bf328f16