Spontaneous melanotic lesions in axillary seabream, Pagellus acarne (Risso)

In this paper, we describe spontaneous melanotic lesions in the skin of axillary seabream, Pagellus acarne (Risso) from a defined area of the Portuguese Coast, located in Cabo da Roca and Foz do Arelho. The lesions corresponded to black pigmentation spots on the skin of the head, fins, lips and conjunctiva and, additionally, black nodules on the skin of the head and lips. In some specimens, the nodular formations in the head changed their anatomical conformation. Histologically, there were melanophores scattered along the basement membrane or forming aggregates in the dermis, infiltrating the subcutaneous tissue but not invading the adjacent muscle tissue. The aim of this study was to characterize the macroscopic and microscopic features of the pigmented lesions. These fish show sessile hyperpigmented lesions (spots) that correspond to proliferative lesions of melanophores in the dermis and nodular lesions that correspond to neoplastic lesions, melanophoromas. The melanophores in such lesions showed high concentration of melanin in the cytoplasm, moderate pleomorphism and compact distribution throughout all of the dermis

Postural Control in Preschool Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder, in Sitting Position During a Functional Task

The developmental coordination disorder is a motor disorder that affects 5 to 6% of children at school-age. The postural control deficit is one of the most prevalent problems affecting 73 to 87% of these children. The present research aims to analyze and compare postural control in probable (p-DCD) and at- risk of developmental coordination disorder children and in typical children in a sitting position during a functional task. p-DCD children were tendentially less recurrent, less periodic, simpler and more regular. These children oscillated more and faster in conditions with visual information; with a visual focus they had more stability and oscillated less and slowler campared to the baseline; without visual information they reduced their oscillations and velocity and become less recurrent, periodic, stable and simpler, possibly freenzing more degrees of freedom in order to respond to absence of external information. p-DCD seem to be more dependent on external stimulus like visual information to auto organize their own balance. The greater the task’s complexity, the lesser and slower their oscillations were but also more recurrent and periodic. Despite oscillating, more and faster in all conditions and being tendentially more recurrent and periodic, in risk children revealed a behaviour pattern similar to typical in both variables. p-DCD, at-risk and typical children reveal the same manner of action without visual information, less and slower oscillations. Most likely, the problem with p-DCD is not in motor control, but on perception-action cycles’ effectivness; and, where stimulation must be focused.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sequencing and expression of two arsenic resistance operons with different functions in the highly arsenic-resistant strain Ochrobactrum tritici SCII24T

Background: Arsenic (As) is a natural metalloid, widely used in anthropogenic activities, that can exist in different oxidation states. Throughout the world, there are several environments contaminated with high amounts of arsenic where many organisms can survive. The most stable arsenical species are arsenate and arsenite that can be subject to chemically and microbiologically oxidation, reduction and methylation reactions. Organisms surviving in arsenic contaminated environments can have a diversity of mechanisms to resist to the harmful effects of arsenical compounds. Results: The highly metal resistant Ochrobactrum tritici SCII24 was able to grow in media with arsenite (50 mM), arsenate (up to 200 mM) and antimonite (10 mM). This strain contains two arsenic and antimony resistance operons (ars1 and ars2), which were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis indicated that ars1 operon contains five genes encoding the following proteins: ArsR, ArsD, ArsA, CBS-domain-containing protein and ArsB. The ars2 operon is composed of six genes that encode two other ArsR, two ArsC (belonging to different families of arsenate reductases), one ACR3 and one ArsH-like protein. The involvement of ars operons in arsenic resistance was confirmed by cloning both of them in an Escherichia coli ars-mutant. The ars1 operon conferred resistance to arsenite and antimonite on E. coli cells, whereas the ars2 operon was also responsible for resistance to arsenite and arsenate. Although arsH was not required for arsenate resistance, this gene seems to be important to confer high levels of arsenite resistance. None of ars1 genes were detected in the other type strains of genus Ochrobactrum, but sequences homologous with ars2 operon were identified in some strains. Conclusion: A new strategy for bacterial arsenic resistance is described in this work. Two operons involved in arsenic resistance, one giving resistance to arsenite and antimonite and the other giving resistance to arsenate were found in the same bacterial strain

A odisseia da transformação do Direito da Família (1974-2010): um contributo da Sociologia Política do Direito

A odisseia da transformação e da regulação jurídica da família em Portugal segue as tendências europeias, tendo, contudo, começado o seu percurso mais tardiamente, designadamente após 25 de abril de 1974. No presente texto, analisamos, desde 1974 até 2010, as relações entre a transformação socioeconómica das famílias portuguesas e as mudanças e opções políticas dominantes nestas matérias, bem como as decorrentes mutações no Direito da Família ocorridas em Portugal. E concluímos que a vontade de mudança política e as ações político-institucionais são aceleradoras da transformação do Direito da Família, mais do que as mutações das famílias

Cultura, diversidade e desconstrução de preconceitos nas escolas

Objective. This research paper is aimed at identifying and analyzing relevant aspects concerning concepts as well as cultural and pedagogical practices related to the intended deconstruction of prejudices proposed by a project in the context of a public elementary school. Method. Participant observation procedures were adopted to investigate activities related to the project and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six educators. Furthermore, one focus group session was conducted with a class of 25 students in the 9th grade. Results. indicated successful work to achieve the intended objectives, as well as aspects that were obstacles. It was concluded that lectures are not enough to address sensitive issues linked to the deconstruction of prejudices, for educators’ deep affective-laden values and beliefs can negatively interfere with their dialogical dispositions towards students. Conclusion. We claim that dialogical practices are crucial to help deconstruct prejudices and develop constructive relations among everyone, as they may work to foster social justice and democracy within schools and beyond.Objective. This research paper is aimed at identifying and analyzing relevant aspects concerning concepts as well as cultural and pedagogical practices related to the intended deconstruction of prejudices proposed by a project in the context of a public elementary school. Method. Participant observation procedures were adopted to investigate activities related to the project and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six educators. Furthermore, one focus group session was conducted with a class of 25 students in the 9th grade. Results. indicated successful work to achieve the intended objectives, as well as aspects that were obstacles. It was concluded that lectures are not enough to address sensitive issues linked to the deconstruction of prejudices, for educators’ deep affective-laden values and beliefs can negatively interfere with their dialogical dispositions towards students. Conclusion. We claim that dialogical practices are crucial to help deconstruct prejudices and develop constructive relations among everyone, as they may work to foster social justice and democracy within schools and beyond.Escopo. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar e analisar aspectos relevantes de conceitos, práticas culturais e pedagógicas relacionadas à desconstrução de preconceitos propostos por um projeto em uma escola. Metodologia. Adotaram-se procedimentos de observação participante para pesquisar as atividades relacionadas ao projeto e entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas com seis professores. Além disso, foi realizada uma sessão de grupo focal com uma turma de 25 alunos. Resultados. Os resultados indicaram um trabalho bem-sucedido para alcançar os objetivos planejados, bem como aspectos que os impediram. Concluiu-se que as palestras não são suficientes para abordar questões delicadas relacionadas à desconstrução de preconceitos, uma vez que os valores e crenças carregados afetivamente dos professores podem interferir negativamente em suas disposições dialógicas para com os estudantes. Conclusão. Afirmamos que as práticas dialógicas são fundamentais para ajudar a desconstruir preconceitos e desenvolver relações construtivas entre todos, pois podem promover a justiça social e a democracia

The role of stiffness in the proliferation of brain tumors

In this paper we present a mathematical model to describe the evolution of glioma cells taking into account the viscoelastic properties of brain tissue. A theoretical stability analysis gives information to design protocols which efficiency is illustrated by a number of numerical simulations

Nanoplastics activate a TLR4/p38-mediated pro-inflammatory response in human intestinal and mouse microglia cells

© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.The crescent presence of nanoplastics in the environment raises concerns regarding their potential impact on health. This study exposed human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT29) and microglia cells (N9) to nanoplastics (25 nm, 50 nm, and 100 nm Polystyrene) to investigate their inflammatory responses, which are vital for body's defence. Although cytotoxicity remained generally low, HT29 cells exhibited a notable upregulation of p50 and p38 expression, concomitant with elevated TLR4 expression, in contrast with N9 cells that showed a less pronounced upregulation of these proteins. Additionally, nanoplastic exposure increased IL-1ß levels, partially attenuated by pre-exposure to TLR4 or p38 inhibitors. Intriguingly, N9 cells exposed to nanoplastics exhibited substantial increases in iNOS mRNA. This effect was entirely prevented by pre-exposure to TLR4 or p38 inhibitors, while TNF-α mRNA levels remained relatively stable. These findings underscore the potential of nanoplastics to activate inflammatory pathways, with response kinetics varying depending on the cell type.This research was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P, through: the Ph.D grant (SFRH/BD/144333/2019), JA; Norma Transitória - DL57/2016/CP1376/CT002, VB; through the Scientific Employment Stimulus - Institutional Call (CEECINST/00102/2018), MM; Nanoplastox Project – Nanoplastic Toxicity: from gut inflammation to systemic effects (2022.04884. PTDC); PAHMIX project - Mixtures of Environmental Carcinogens: a molecular approach to improve environmental risk assessment strategies (PTDC/CTA-AMB/29173/2017); MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre Strategic Project (UIDB/04292/2020), Associate Laboratory ARNET (LA/P/0069/2020) and iMed. ULisboa’s Strategic Project (UID/DTP/04138/2020). The authors acknowledge Isabella Bramatti, Beatriz Matos and Neusa Figueiredo from the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre and Carolina Carola Alfenim from University of Lisbon for their important assistance. Thanks is due to Katherine Mahoney, for revising the text. The authors acknowledge iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon for providing the cells tested in the present study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efficient protocols to control glioma growth

In this paper we consider a mathematical model to describe glioma evolution. The model is established combining the viscoelastic behaviour of the brain tissue with a mass conservation law that takes into account the effect of chemotherapy. For the non Fickian model we establish an upper bound for the tumor mass that leads to a sufficient condition to control tumor growth. Based on the theoretical upper bound, protocol for chemotherapy treatment are proposed. Numerical experiments are included to illustrate the behaviour of the model as well as the efficiency of the presented protocols

Estágio na empresa Raji Sociedade Comercial de Confeções, Lda. : “Portfólio- divulgação dos produtos de uma confeção de vestuário”

O presente relatório consiste na exposição dos projetos realizados ao longo de um período de nove meses de estágio, na empresa têxtil Raji - Sociedade Comercial de Confeções, Lda., sediada em Castelo Branco, especializada em vestuário de criança, mulher e homem, design de uniformes escolares e vestuário exterior. Este relatório está dividido em três capítulos. No primeiro são descritos os objetivos gerais e específicos assim como os benefícios e a metodologia de investigação adotada. É ainda estabelecido o contexto histórico e de investigação da indústria de vestuário, o tipo de empresas e portfólios, dando assim resposta à questão da investigação. O segundo versa a exposição das experiências e projetos em contexto de estágio na empresa Raji. O terceiro capítulo foca um projeto de criação de portfólio, em formato físico e digital (PDF), para facilitar a comunicação da empresa com os clientes. Ao longo do estágio foi possível aplicar os conhecimentos adquiridos durante a formação académica numa experiência a nível profissional, mas também adquirir novas competências teóricas e práticas. A realização deste relatório assentou em metodologias mistas de base não-intervencionista e intervencionista, tendo incluído técnicas de observação direta, através de pesquisa e realização dos projetos práticos propostos ao longo do estágio. O estágio foi uma experiência fundamental que contribuiu para a realização de um projeto de desenvolvimento do portfólio, assim como para a reflexão da sua importância no ambiente empresarial e como o mesmo pode contribuir para a divulgação dos produtos de uma confeção de vestuário. Este estudo veio complementar a formação e possibilitar um contributo da estagiária para com a empresa.Abstract : This report consists of the exhibition of the projects conducted over a period of nine months of internship, in the textile company Raji - Sociedade Comercial de Confeções, Lda., based in Castelo Branco, specialized in children's clothing, women and men, design of school uniforms and outdoor clothing. This report is divided into three chapters. In the first are described the geriatric and specific aims as well as the benefits and the research method adopted. It is made the historical and research context of the garment industry, the type of companies and portfolios, thus responding to the question of research. The second in the exhibition of experiences and projects in internship context at Raji company. The third chapter focuses on a portfolio creation project, in physical and digital format (PDF), to help the company's communication with customers. Throughout the internship it was possible to apply the knowledge got during academic training in a professional experience, but also getting new theoretical and practical skills. The method applied in the realization of this report were mixed methodologies of noninterventionist and interventionist basis and applied techniques of direct observation through research and realization of practical projects proposed throughout the internship. The internship was a fundamental experience that contributed to the realization of a portfolio development project, and reflection of its importance in the business environment and how it can contribute to the dissemination of the products of a clothing confection. This study complemented the training and contributed to the company