Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation by Theta Burst

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic technique used to stimulate the brain in several neurological and psychiatric diseases, even though the main bases underlying its action are not fully understood. Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS), a patterned form of repetitive TMS, has been assuming particular importance due to its faster application. Research of TBS effects on some higher cortical functions such as cognition after stimulation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), or its possible influence in some less studied cortical regions (as the temporal cortex) has been limited and revealed inconsistent results. One of the problems assessing the cognitive TBS after-effects relates to the use of multiple evaluation methods, with different sensitivities. In this matter, the use of neurophysiology studies such as the auditory P300, a cognitive evoked potential, may be of particular importance. To date, studies addressing the association between auditory P300 and TBS are scarce, and some contradictory results were found. The study of other higher cognitive domains such as creativity is even rarer, but it may be relevant given that part of the neural networks involved in creative processing are associated with the PFC. The effect of TMS over the PFC, studying the modulation of functions mediated by the autonomic nervous system has also been reported, but there is still a significant disagreement between the rare studies performed. So far, the extent of the modulatory effects associated with TBS at the sensory level is still poorly known, and research with TBS over the auditory cortex, despite showing some positive results, remains inconclusive, with some reports of sound hypersensitivity after sessions with higher intensity stimulation. It should also be noted that a significant part of the knowledge about the effects of TBS derives from studies in patients, with dysfunctional neuronal networks or hemispheric lesions, which add challenges to the search for scientific evidence in healthy individuals. Given the uncertainties that remain regarding the extent of the neuromodulatory effects of TBS, the primary objective of this thesis focused on increasing the scientific knowledge related to the use of TBS in the healthy brain. Therefore, we intended to study the neurophysiological responses (such as auditory P300), the functional responses (such as auditory thresholds), and the physiological responses (such as cerebral oximetry and blood pressure) associated with the application of TBS in the prefrontal and temporal cortices. All studies used a target population of healthy young adults, with an average age of approximately 23 years, and similar education. TBS was performed accordingly to the 600-pulse paradigm described by Huang et al. (continuous and intermittent). Sham-controlled, double-blind intervention protocols were used, with random distribution by the respective groups. The main objective of the study in chapter III was to evaluate the effect of TBS on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of both cerebral hemispheres in cognitive processing. The objective was to assess if the auditory P300 would be influenced by the stimulation type. Results revealed that the mean P300 peak latency after TBS decreased only after leftward iTBS. A significant delay in P300 latency was originated from both right and left cTBS. Amplitude response did not change significantly. The results covered in chapter IV derived from the use of TBS on the left DLPFC, studying the possibility of a relationship between the post-TBS auditory P300 and the post-TBS neuropsychological tests: Trail Making Test (TMT) and the Stroop Test of Words and Colours. Results revealed that cTBS led to a delay of the P300, also significantly influencing the expected performance on Stroop C and Stroop Interference when compared to the groups submitted to iTBS and sham stimulation. No significant results were found in the TMT tests for any type of TBS stimulation. In Chapter V, we studied the cerebral oximetry using Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy, blood pressure, and heart rate, after applying TBS to the right and left DLPFC. We found a significant reduction in oximetry in the left frontal region after ipsilateral cTBS and a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure after cTBS to the right DLPFC. Chapter VI covered the evaluation of the effects of TBS over the left temporal cortex, specifically studying the auditory thresholds in the ear closest to the coil. Results showed no major side effects after iTBS, cTBS, or sham stimulation. It was also found that iTBS led to lower hearing thresholds, especially when comparing the iTBS and sham groups at 500Hz and between the iTBS and cTBS groups at 4000Hz. Chapter VII addresses a patent concerning the technique and possible use of iTBS as a method to influence creative processing. After iTBS over the right DLPFC, results of an adapted selection of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking suggest that divergent thinking, originality and fluency improved significantly compared to the sham group. An integrative analysis of the results shows that TBS seems to effectively influence the underlying cortical neurons and cortico-subcortical networks. The findings thus support the existence of a trans-synaptic effect advocated initially for the classic repetitive TMS, which after the publication of our research can continue to be extended with greater confidence to TBS protocols. Our results also support the most consensual theory about the modulatory effects of the two main forms of TBS – intermittent (excitatory) and continuous (inhibitory) – particularly on the prefrontal and temporal cortices. The effects of TBS seem to be intrinsically correlated with the hemispheric lateralization and this may be related to the specific functions or dominance of each hemisphere and the specific stimulated cortical regions. The combined results of this investigation also seem to suggest that the inhibition induced by cTBS seems more effective when compared to the excitatory effect of iTBS, which seemed stronger in the left hemisphere. After all our research with TBS in more than one cortical region, we can infer that this is a safe technique, with rare and incipient side effects. The encouraging results after using iTBS in the auditory cortex opens new perspectives regarding future implementations of the technique and should be replicated in patients, particularly with mild sensorineural hearing loss, in order to assess whether this stimulation protocol can be a valid therapeutic technique in these cases. We also conclude that the techniques used to study TBS-related effects, as the P300 or the NIRS, can be very useful in the future, as an attempt to identify the effectiveness of the therapeutic use of TBS protocols, possibly allowing to adapt and modify the idealized interventions, leading to a personalized patient intervention. Our findings provide relevant information, necessary to increase the technical and scientific credibility required for achieving a more comprehensive and reliable clinical use of TBS. This is crucial at a time when transcranial magnetic stimulation use as an off-label therapy for numerous neurological and psychiatric diseases grows unregulated, and the patient best interests must be defended.A estimulação magnética transcraniana (EMT) é uma técnica de diagnóstico e terapêutica não invasiva, que tem vindo a evoluir nos últimos 35 anos. A aplicação terapêutica da forma repetitiva da EMT (EMTr), tem vindo a demonstrar a sua utilidade científica e clínica, com aplicação em várias doenças neurológicas e psiquiátricas como a depressão major, a perturbação obsessivo-compulsiva, dor e reabilitação em doentes com acidentes vasculares cerebrais, ainda que as principais bases subjacentes à sua acção não sejam totalmente compreendidas. A EMT baseia-se no princípio da indução magnética e na sua capacidade de induzir correntes elétricas no tecido cortical. Esses campos magnéticos (pulsos) originados por uma bobina adjacente ao couro cabeludo originam um fluxo iónico intracraniano que irá provocar a despolarização da membrana neuronal, desencadeando assim um potencial de ação. Embora a EMT exerça os seus efeitos predominantemente na área cortical adjacente à bobina, os potenciais de ação induzidos espalham-se trans-sinapticamente, originando a propagação da ativação para regiões corticais e subcorticais vizinhas pertencentes à rede neuronal em questão. Parece ocorrer ainda a aparente capacidade de influenciar a função do hemisfério contralateral à estimulação possivelmente por mediação calossal. Os efeitos da EMTr ao nível da modulação da excitabilidade neuronal estão intrinsecamente dependentes das características da estimulação, nomeadamente ao nível da frequência e padronização dos estímulos. A aplicação de frequências inferiores ou iguais a 1 Hz (EMTr de baixa frequência) são associadas à indução de um efeito inibitório neuronal, enquanto que a aplicação de frequências acima de 1 Hz, normalmente acima dos 5 Hz (EMTr de alta frequência), podem induzir um efeito excitatório. Em 2005 surgiu uma forma padronizada de aplicação dos pulsos magnéticos, denominada Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS), na qual grupos de 3 pulsos com alta frequência (bursts de 50Hz) são enviados a cada 200 milissegundos (5 Hz – frequência teta), implicando normalmente a aplicação de 600 pulsos por cada sessão de estimulação. Este é um protocolo que assume particular importância pela sua rápida aplicação, levando menos de 3 minutos a executar, sendo significativamente mais célere do que os protocolos clássicos de EMTr (que podem exceder 30 minutos). Efeitos neuromodulatórios opostos podem ser igualmente induzidos com TBS, sendo que a aplicação ininterrupta da estimulação durante 40 segundos – TBS contínua (cTBS) – parece originar uma diminuição na excitabilidade cortical com uma duração de até 50 minutos pós-estimulação, enquanto que a aplicação de apenas 2 segundos de TBS intervalada por 8 segundos de pausa – TBS intermitente (iTBS) – durante 190 segundos, terá a capacidade de induzir aumento na excitabilidade cortical até cerca de 60 minutos pós-estimulação. Apesar do volume significativo de investigação acumulada na estimulação com EMTr e TBS, demonstrando a sua capacidade modulatória e a sua aplicabilidade na prática clínica, a investigação dos seus efeitos sobre algumas funções corticais superiores como a cognição ou os efeitos da aplicação em algumas regiões corticais menos estudadas como a região temporal tem sido mais limitada (principalmente com a TBS) e apresentado alguns resultados contraditórios. O córtex pré-frontal assume particular importância associado à aplicação da EMTr/TBS dada a extensa rede de conexões com outras regiões corticais (como o córtex motor, o córtex sensitivo, a amígdala, o tálamo e o hipocampo), importantes em doenças como a depressão (desequilíbrio inter-hemisférico pré-frontal verificado por neuroimagem), e ainda pela sua aparente capacidade de influenciar funções autonómicas e cardiovasculares. Meta-análises como a de Lowe et al. 2018, avaliando os efeitos da TBS sobre o córtex pré-frontal, revelam que parece existir um efeito negativo no desempenho das tarefas de função executiva após estimulação com cTBS e um efeito positivo mas em menor grau após estimulação com iTBS. No entanto, o efeito mais definido da estimulação sobre as várias dimensões cognitivas permanece envolto em alguma dúvida, dado que por um lado têm surgido alguns resultados negativos e por outro lado a maioria dos estudos tem usado populações relativamente pequenas, com infrequente recurso a grupos sham. Um dos principais problemas na avaliação dos possíveis efeitos da estimulação magnética repetitiva prende-se com o uso de diversos métodos de avaliação, com diferentes sensibilidades para o estudo das várias dimensões cognitivas, ou ainda com técnicas com menor resolução temporal (como os estudos de imagem cerebral funcional) comparativamente a técnicas neurofisiológicas. Neste ponto, a utilização de estudos no âmbito da neurofisiologia, como os potenciais de longa latência, pode assumir particular importância. O P300 auditivo, é um potencial evocado cognitivo, dependente da atenção e capacidade de discriminação do sujeito, traduzindo estadios mais superiores ou avançados de processamento associado a uma tarefa. As origens neuronais do P300 são múltiplas e bi-hemisféricas, associando-se a regiões como o hipocampo, o córtex pré-frontal ventrolateral e o córtex cingulado posterior. Até à data, são raros os estudos que abordaram a associação entre o P300 auditivo e a EMTr e ainda mais raros combinando a estimulação com TBS e o P300. A avaliação dos resultados prévios sugere que a estimulação magnética pode ser capaz de influenciar o processamento cognitivo e que as alterações podem ser monitorizadas pelo P300, mas são encontrados alguns resultados contraditórios, existindo significativas discrepâncias na metodologia usada. […

A política comum de segurança e defesa e o Conselho Europeu de Dezembro de 2013

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

SARS-CoV-2 introductions and early dynamics of the epidemic in Portugal

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal was rapidly implemented by the National Institute of Health in the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, in collaboration with more than 50 laboratories distributed nationwide. Methods By applying recent phylodynamic models that allow integration of individual-based travel history, we reconstructed and characterized the spatio-temporal dynamics of SARSCoV-2 introductions and early dissemination in Portugal. Results We detected at least 277 independent SARS-CoV-2 introductions, mostly from European countries (namely the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland), which were consistent with the countries with the highest connectivity with Portugal. Although most introductions were estimated to have occurred during early March 2020, it is likely that SARS-CoV-2 was silently circulating in Portugal throughout February, before the first cases were confirmed. Conclusions Here we conclude that the earlier implementation of measures could have minimized the number of introductions and subsequent virus expansion in Portugal. This study lays the foundation for genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, and highlights the need for systematic and geographically-representative genomic surveillance.We gratefully acknowledge to Sara Hill and Nuno Faria (University of Oxford) and Joshua Quick and Nick Loman (University of Birmingham) for kindly providing us with the initial sets of Artic Network primers for NGS; Rafael Mamede (MRamirez team, IMM, Lisbon) for developing and sharing a bioinformatics script for sequence curation (https://github.com/rfm-targa/BioinfUtils); Philippe Lemey (KU Leuven) for providing guidance on the implementation of the phylodynamic models; Joshua L. Cherry (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health) for providing guidance with the subsampling strategies; and all authors, originating and submitting laboratories who have contributed genome data on GISAID (https://www.gisaid.org/) on which part of this research is based. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. This study is co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica (234_596874175) on behalf of the Research 4 COVID-19 call. Some infrastructural resources used in this study come from the GenomePT project (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022184), supported by COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), Algarve Portugal Regional Operational Programme (CRESC Algarve2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications

A guerra da Ucrânia

Conferência Internacional realizada no dia 24 de Março de 2022. Sessão de abertura realizada pela diretora do Instituto da Defesa Nacional, Prf. Dra Helena Carreiras e pelo Ministro da Defesa Nacional, João Gomes Cravinho. Evento coordenado pelo Coronel Paulo Tavares, Relações Públicas do IDN. Moderadora do Painel 1 : Luísa Meireles, Lusa. Moderador do Painel 2 : Manuel Carvalho, Público. Moderadora do Painel 3 : Licínia Simão, Centro do Atlântico. Moderador do Painel 4 : Ricardo Alexandre, TSF. Interveio na sessão de encerramento a Diretora do Instituto da Defesa Nacional.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ciência, Crise e Mudança. 3.º Encontro Nacional de História das Ciências e da Tecnologia. ENHCT2012

III Encontro Nacional de História das Ciências e da Tecnologia. O Centro de Estudos de História e Filosofia da Ciência, organiza o 3.º Encontro Nacional de História da Ciência e da Técnica, sob o tema «Ciência, Crise e Mudança» que tem lugar na Universidade de Évora, nos dias 26, 27 e 28 de Setembro de 2012. O Primeiro Encontro Nacional de História da Ciência teve lugar em 21 e 22 Julho de 2009, no seguimento do programa de estímulo ao de¬senvolvimento da História da Ciência em Portugal e de valorização do património cultural e científico do País, lançado pelo Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES) em 31 de Janeiro desse ano. A sua organização coube a investigadores do Instituto de História Contemporânea (IHC), da FCSH da UNL, e do Centro Científico e Cultural de Macau (CCCM), em cujas instalações se realizou. De en¬tre as conclusões do Encontro, destacou-se a de realizar periodicamen¬te novos Encontros Nacionais, a serem organizados de forma rotativa por diferentes centros e núcleos de investigadores. Na sequência deste Primeiro Encontro, o Centro Interuniversitário de História das Ciências e da Tecnologia (CIUHCT) organizou, entre 26 e 28 de Julho de 2010, o II Encontro, dedicado ao tema “Comunicação das Ciências e da Tecnologia em Portugal: Agentes, Meios e Audiências”. Cabe agora ao CEHFCi cumprir o que foi decidido no final deste Encontro. Na situação económica e política que hoje vivemos torna-se particularmente urgente aprofundar o estudo e o debate sobre a interação entre a Sociedade, a Ciência e a sua História. Coordenação Científica e Executiva do encontro estiveram a cargo de dois investigadores CEHFCi: Maria de Fátima Nunes, José Pedro Sousa Dia

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved