Humanity is being driven ashore : a juridical and political essay on marine plastic pollution

Since its invention, in the 1950s, plastic can be found in almost every object or structure. It has created numerous opportunities in many fields, boosting markedly mankind’s development and even its life span. However, combined with modern consumption patterns, in a world that is more and more urban and technological, plastic amounts have reached proportions never seen before. Consequently, plastic waste quantities are also exceeding all the limits reached so far and it is ending in our oceans for two main reasons: reckless behaviour of consumers and improper waste management. National waste management systems worldwide are facing severe challenges, especially at the moments of collection and disposal. That happens particularly in Asia and the causes are lack of money and structures, and governments and citizens lack of interest. Marine plastic pollution has been affecting all humanity for several decades but only recently it has been recognised. Each year, at least eight million tonnes of plastics leak into the oceans. Its sources are numerous and can be land-based (80%) – dumps, littering, sewage, industrial activities – or sea-based (20%) – commercial fisheries and offshore oil and gas platforms. Ironically, the characteristics that make plastic so useful – lightness, durability, low cost and malleability – are the same that transform plastic in a long-term problem for the environment. Once in nature, plastics never disappear, they just disintegrate into smaller and smaller particles, while they quickly spread across all the geographic divisions and layers of the ocean. Plastics from all sizes can entangle marine animals and/or can be ingested by them, causing injuries, gut obstructions and death. Plastic waste is even responsible for heavy economic losses. Furthermore, microplastics are entering the human food chain and the consequences are unknown. Several existing legal instruments, of regional and international scope, are capable of addressing different aspects of marine litter. Some national initiatives are of utility as well. Nevertheless, few countries or regions have an overarching legal framework to tackle the problem. It is clear though that it is impossible to maintain the actual production and consumption patterns, and that is imperative to implement effective plastic waste management

VGLib2D: class library for the 2D graphic visualisation of large volumes of data

This article presents the implementation of a class library in C# language, which uses the recent .Net technologies, aimed at the creation of documents or images in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format, for the representation, visualisation and printing of large volumes of two-dimensional (2D) data. The goal is to take advantage of SVG for applications implementation effects that, for instance, are Web based and where the graphical representation of large volumes of data, both dynamically and in real time, is necessary, along with its immediate availability for the purposes of visualisation, printing and downloading

Infertility

Infertility affects 9% of the worldwide childbearing population and is defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Most people with fertility problems show resilience throughout their infertility and treatment experience. However, around one-fifth of people who undergo fertility treatment develop clinically significant emotional problems. Only these patients will need specialized psychological care but all patients can benefit from the integration of psychosocial support in the routine care they receive at fertility clinics and in the aftermath of treatment

Self-regulation and wellbeing when facing a blocked parenthood goal: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Developmental regulation theories claim that continuing to pursue a goal when it becomes blocked contributes to poorer wellbeing. This consequence is expected to lead to the use of self-regulation strategies in the form of higher disengagement from the goal and higher reengagement in other meaningful goals. The use of these strategies is expected to lead to better wellbeing. A systematic-review and meta-analyses were conducted to test the major predictions of developmental regulation theories for blocked parenthood goal and to investigate possible moderator variables, particularly type and degree of blockage. A total of eight meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models. Moderation was tested with subgroup analysis. After searching eight databases, 4977 potential relevant manuscripts were identified but only six met inclusion criteria. From the eight meta-analyses conducted, only two were significant. In line with prediction, higher goal blockage was related to higher negative mood and reengagement in other life goals was associated to higher positive mood (p < .001). From a total of eight subgroup analyses performed, results showed that disengaging had a positive impact on wellbeing for people experiencing an unanticipated type of blockage (i.e., infertility) but not for those with an anticipated one (i.e., postponing parenthood; X2 = 4.867, p = .03). From the total of twelve sensitivity analyses performed only one suggested that results might differ. The association between disengagement and mood varied according to study quality. When only average studies were included this association was negative, although non-significant. The evidence obtained did not fully support developmental regulation theories for the pursuit of parenthood goal, but primary research had too many methodological limitations to reach firm conclusions. Future studies aimed at investigating blocked parenthood goal are required to evaluate the value of developmental regulation theories

Patient centred care in infertility health care: Direct and indirect associations with wellbeing during treatment

Objective To investigate whether different dimensions of patient centred care (PCC) were directly associated with wellbeing or indirectly, via lower concerns about medical procedures and/or increased tolerability of treatment. Methods Cross-sectional study with 322 women and 111 men undergoing fertility diagnosis or treatment recruited online and in clinical setting. Participants completed questionnaires that assess PCC (PCQ-Infertility), individual (BSI Anxiety and Depression subscales) and relational wellbeing (FertiQoL Relational Domain), treatment concerns (CART Procedural Concerns scale) and tolerability (FertiQoL Tolerability Domain) and they filled a socio-demographic and fertility data file. Results All dimensions of PCC were positively associated with better wellbeing except for organization of care. Information provision and continuity of care were indirectly associated with better individual wellbeing, the first via lower treatment concerns and the second via higher treatment tolerability. Competence, accessibility, continuity and communication were indirectly associated with better relational wellbeing via higher treatment tolerability. Conclusions Patient centred care promotes wellbeing during treatment. PCC is directly associated to wellbeing but also indirectly. The mode of action of the different PCC dimensions on wellbeing varies. Practical implications To promote patients’ wellbeing during treatment clinics should provide treatment related information and allow patients to establish a stable clinical relationship with a trustworthy and competent physician

Música de conjunto: perceções e aprendizagens em jovens do 3º ciclo

Mestrado em Ensino de Educação Musical no Ensino BásicoA temática deste trabalho centra-se na música de conjunto e de que forma é que esta pode potenciar aprendizagens de diversas tipologias, tendo como plano central as diferenças que os alunos apresentam não só no que toca dificuldades dos alunos no ensino regular mas também como forma de trabalhar e ajudar na evolução de estudantes com outros tipos de dificuldades e problemáticas, como é o caso de crianças e jovens no ensino especial. Neste contexto realizou-se um projeto educativo, e um projeto de investigação, com uma turma de 8º ano de escolaridade, ou seja 3ºciclo do ensino básico, constituída por 22 alunos, sendo 4 deles inseridos no ensino especial, num período de 10 semanas onde foram realizadas atividades onde se colocaram em prática atividades de música de conjunto de uma forma adaptada, estando estas centradas nas dificuldades dos alunos, quer do ensino regular, mas principalmente, dos alunos do ensino especial a fim de se promover uma participação mais ativa por parte de todos os alunos. O trabalho desenvolvido vem também suscitar a importância de se estimular não só para as aprendizagens musicais que daqui advêm mas também para as aprendizagens sociais e perceções que podem surgir ao se trabalhar neste tipo de temáticas. A literatura utilizada focou-se nos três pontos referidos tendo havido todo um processo de pesquisa para que se encontrassem os autores que melhor correspondessem e fundamentassem estes três fatores. Os resultados deste estudo reflete não só a forma como as coisas foram trabalhadas mas também a maneira com que os outros vêm este tipo de trabalho, sendo ele considerado importante para o desenvolvimento dos jovens também a nível cultural e cívico, na sua vertente social e de constante comunicação para com os outros.The theme of this work focuses on music together and how it can best enhance learning of different types , with the central plan differences that students have not only as regards difficulties of students in regular education but also as a way to work and help in the development of students with other types of difficulties and problems , as is the case of children and youth in special education . In this context was held an educational project and a research project with a group of 8th grade , or 3rd cycle of basic education , consisting of 22 students , 4 of them inserted in special education , a 10-week period where activities where they put into practice activities music together in an adapted form were made , these being centered on the difficulties students or regular education , but mainly of students in special education in order to foster more active participation by of all students . The work has also raise the importance of stimulating not only to musical learning that come here but also for social learning and perceptions that can arise when working on this type of subject . The used literature has focused on the three points mentioned having had a whole search process for authors and substantiate that best matched these three factors met. The results of this study reflects not only the way things were worked but also the way that others see this kind of work , it is considered important to the development of young people also cultural and civic levels, the social aspect and constant communication to others

Análise dos questionários de satisfação do cliente no Hotel Moliceiro

Mestrado em Línguas e Relações EmpresariaisO presente relatório resulta do estágio curricular realizado no Hotel Moliceiro, no âmbito do Mestrado em Línguas e Relações Empresariais e tem como objectivo divulgar as actividades desenvolvidas ao longo do mesmo, entre Fevereiro e Junho de 2011, bem com o fazer uma análise dos questionários de satisfação dos hóspedes do Hotel. Inicialmente farei uma contextualização do Hotel e a sua envolvência, as características dos seus quartos temáticos e os programas que oferece aos clientes, seguida da descrição das tarefas que desempenhei, como Recepcionista e Assistente de Direcção. De seguida apresento os resultados da análise que fiz aos questionários de satisfação dos hóspedes do Hotel, bem como sugestões para melhorar os seus serviços. Em jeito de conclusão farei uma reflexão de todo o trabalho desenvolvido, e relaciono também o estágio com os conhecimentos adquiridos no curso.This report is the result of the curricular internship carried out at the Hotel Moliceiro, between February and June 2011, for the Master’s Degree in Languages and Business Management, and has the purpose of showing the activities developed during the internship as well as making an analysis of the questionnaires answered by the hotel guests measuring their satisfaction with the hotel’s services. First I will contextualize the Hotel, its rooms’ characteristics and the programmes it offers to the guests, and also a description of the tasks I carried out as Receptionist and Director’s Assistant. Next I will present the results of the analysis of the satisfaction questionnaires, as well as suggestions of how to improve the Hotel’s services. In conclusion, after summing up the work, I relate the Internship with the knowledge acquired during the course