Can the BBC keep giving the public what it wants?

The BBC is facing multiple pressures to change its structure and even its funding, but what about its editorial values? In the latest #PolisSummer School guest post, Leonor Gomes responds to a talk by BBC Academy editor Matthew Eltringham. The BBC is funded by a licence fee, which essentially means funds are provided by the audience itself. This has helped fund an exponential growth in audience involvement, but is also supposed to reassure viewers that their interests are being taken into account. But what is the audience really getting out of all is

DCK Boardshorts : competitive advantage through hybrid strategy implementation in the Portuguese Swimwear Industry

The thesis hereby presented aims to analyze the implications and challenges faced by the Portuguese company DCK due to the implementation of a hybrid strategy and how it fits into future business plans. This case study enables students to apply fundamental frameworks and concepts of strategy to a real situation. DCK is a Portuguese company that has been selling men's swimwear since 2009. The production takes place mostly in Portugal and is distinguished by offering a product that combines quality and variety at a low price. The business is growing and once established in the fashion industry, it requires a constant ability to accompany and adapt to the surrounding dynamic environment in order to ensure its expansion and success. Thus, it focuses on the importance of simultaneously considering the company’s internal and external context and identifying the opportunities and threats of the market. This enables them to define its strategy and consequently to reach a competitive advantage. This study allows a clearer understanding of the relationship between a company's resources and capabilities and its role in preventing competitors from replicating the business model.A presente tese pretende analizar as implicações e os desafios enfrentados pela empresa portuguesa DCK decorrentes da implementação de uma estratégia hibrída, e de que forma é que esta se enquadra nos planos futuros do negócio. Este estudo de caso possibilita aos alunos aplicar modelos e conceitos fundamentais de estratégia a uma situação real. DCK é uma empresa portuguesa que vende calções de banho para homem desde 2009. A produção ocorre maioritariamente em Portugal e distingue-se por oferecer um produto que combina qualidade e variedade a um preço baixo. O negócio encontra-se em crescimento e uma vez inserido na indústria da moda, requer uma capacidade constante de acompanhamento e adaptação ao ambiente dinâmico envolvente no sentido de assegurar a sua expansão e sucesso. Assim, foca a importância de considerar simultaneamente o contexto interno e externo da empresa e da identificação das oportunidades e ameaças do mercado, para a definição da sua estratégia e consequentemente, alcançar uma vantagem competitiva. Este estudo permite uma compreensão mais clara relativamente à relação entre os recursos e capacidades de uma empresa e o seu papel em evitar que os concorrentes repliquem o modelo de negócio

Alkaline treatments to render starch-based biodegradable polymers self-mineralizable

The present research aims to develop a new route for surface functionalization of biodegradable polymers. The method is based on a wet chemistry modification, resulting in etching and/or hydrolysis in order to increase the amount of polar groups, such as hydroxyl (--OH) and carboxylic (--COOH) groups on the surface of the polymer. The polymer used as substrate was a corn starch-ethylene vinyl alcohol biodegradable blend (SEVA-C). For that purpose it was used in two different types of activation: (a) calcium hydroxide solution [Ca(OH)(2)] and (b) sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH). These treatments lead to the formation carboxylic acid-rich SEVA-C surfaces. Then, the samples were soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different time periods of time until 7 days. After 1 day in SBF, the surface of SEVA-C was fully covered with spherulite particles. As the soaking time increased, the particles increased and coalesced, leading to the formation of a dense and uniform layer. Furthermore, thin-film X-ray diffraction confirms that the layer formed on the surface of the polymer was an apatite-like layer. These results suggest that this rather simple treatment is a good method for surface functionalization and subsequent mineral nucleation and growth on biodegradable polymeric surfaces to be used for bone-related applications

Profiling european countries on COVID–19 prevalence and association with non–pharmaceutical interventions

© 2020 Tallon et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.Introduction: It is essential to understand, on a large geographical scale, the dimension of the COVID–19 pandemic by identifying the most affected countries, knowing that all the world is suffering an unusual disruption regarding several health impacts, but also heavy economic, financial and social effects. A key role is reserved to Data Science to understand the present and to deepen a prospective analysis at COVID–19 day after. Objective: The main objective of the present study is to describe the COVID–19 prevalence in EU and five other OECD countries using five epidemiological variables. Secondly their association with non–pharmaceutical measures taken in some countries to control and attenuate the evolution of the epidemic was analyzed. Methods: The COVID–19 study covers twenty–six EU countries and additionally Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Israel and United Kingdom. Five epidemiologic variables were analyzed by 100.000 inhabitants at the beginning of May 2020: total number of cases, total number of deaths, total number of active cases, total number of critical or serious cases and total number of tests. Also, eight non–pharmaceutical measures were selected for association purposes. A multivariate statistical exploratory approach with principal components, hierarchical and non–hierarchical (k–means) cluster analyses was applied. Results: A COVID–19 prevalence typology of four country clusters was identified regarding EU countries and five OECD countries on early May. In the two clusters, with a total of ten countries where the pandemic seemed to evolve more seriously, different patterns regarding the number of tests are observed. Two other clusters, with 12 and 9 countries, show an intermediate or low prevalence but differences in testing patterns. For EU countries of both clusters more affected, COVID–19 containment strategies were studied considering three modalities of implementation timing for eight non–pharmaceutical measures. The three different behaviors mirrored the clusters findings. Countries previously classified into cluster 1 appear together again, as do countries belonging to cluster 2. In spite of a common behavior for some measures, generally countries of cluster 2 implemented other interventions later in time. Sweden is a “special case”, taking just a few of these measures, most of them later than other countries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estudo do valor prognóstico da oncoproteína p53 no adenocarcinoma do cólon e reto e a sua correlação com o grau de diferenciação histológico, localização e prognóstico

Introdução: Atualmente o cancro é uma das maiores causas de morbilidade e mortalidade mundial. É imperativo o estudo aprofundado da doença oncológica de forma a obter-se um diagnóstico mais precoce, tratamentos mais eficazes e prognóstico mais fiável. O cancro colorretal (CCR) é o terceiro mais comum a nível mundial e é o terceiro mais mortal tanto em mulheres como em homens. Nas passadas décadas, a taxa global de sobrevivência do CCR não evoluiu favoravelmente e os fatores de prognóstico até à data são insuficientes (estadiamento TNM, a presença/ausência de doença residual pós-cirurgia, classificação histológica, presença/ausência de invasão ganglionar e/ou metástases à distância). No sentido de melhorar a previsão da evolução clínica e determinar a abordagem terapêutica mais adequada, torna-se crucial investigar a existência de novos marcadores moleculares que sirvam como fatores de prognóstico isolados ou em combinação com os dados clínico-histopatológicos. A oncoproteína p53 regula vários processos metabólicos como a apoptose, a reparação do ADN e o ciclo celular. A perda desta proteína em 50% dos cancros sugere um papel importante na carcinogénese. Este marcador molecular tem sido alvo de exploração e investigação científica com o intuito de se perceber o seu papel na carcinogénese e estabelecimento como fator de prognóstico independente para diversos tipos de cancro. No entanto, no que concerne ao adenocarcinoma colorretal (ACR), a literatura existente revela resultados controversos quanto ao seu valor prognóstico. Objetivos: 1) Detetar através do método de coloração imunohistoquímica a expressão da oncoproteína p53. 2) Analisar a expressão imunohistoquímica da oncoproteína p53 e dos parâmetros clinico-histopatológicos em estudo. 3) Determinar o valor prognóstico da expressão da proteína p53 em pacientes com ACR e a sua correlação com os parâmetros clínico-histopatológicos: grau de diferenciação, localização, prognóstico dos pacientes. Métodos: Estudo clínico-patológico retrospectivo realizado nas peças cirúrgicas de 32 doentes com mais de 50 anos que foram submetidos a (uma) resseção cirúrgica do cancro do cólon e reto no Serviço de Cirurgia do Centro Hospitalar da Cova da Beira (CHCB) na Covilhã entre 2002-2005. As amostras foram processadas histologicamente no serviço de Anatomia Patológica do CHCB. Foram de seguida classificadas de acordo com o tipo histológico, grau de diferenciação e TMN. Posteriormente, foram consideradas de acordo com a intensidade e percentagem de células marcadas imunohistoquímicamente pela oncoproteína p53. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente considerando-se um valor p<0,05 como estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: Foi encontrada uma correlação estatisticamente significativa (p<0,05) entre a expressão imunohistoquímica de células marcadas pela oncoproteína p53 e o prognóstico dos pacientes. Não se verificaram resultados estatisticamente significativos entre a “expressão imunohistoquímica de células marcadas pela oncoproteína p53” e a “localização do tumor” e o “grau de diferenciação histológico”. Ao fim de 10 anos a mortalidade foi de 59,4%.Introduction: Nowadays, cancer is one of the biggest causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is imperative to deepen the knowledge about cancer in order to get a better and precocious diagnostic, more effective treatments and more reliable prognostics. Colorectal cancer is the third most common worldwide and it is the third most deadly in women and men. In the past decade, the global survival rate of the CRC didn´t evolve favourably and the prognostic factors until today aren’t sufficient (TNM staging system, presence/absence of post-surgery residual disease, histologic classification, presence/absence of lymph nodes invasion and distant metastases). With the intention of improving prognosis prediction and reaching abetter therapeutic approach, it is crucial to search for new molecular markers that can be used as prognostic factors, isolated or in combination with the clinical-histopathological data. The oncoprotein p53 regulates several metabolic processes such as apoptosis, DNA repair and cellular cycle. The loss of this protein in 50% of cancers suggests an important role in carcinogenesis. This molecular marker has been target of research with the objective of discovering its role in carcinogenesis and to establish it as an independent prognostic factor of various cancers. However, for colorectal adenocarcinoma, the prevailing literature reveals controversial results as to its value as prognostic factor. Objectives: 1) Detect the oncoprotein p53 expression through immunohistochemical staining. 2) Analyse the immunohistochemical staining of the oncoprotein p53 and the clinical-histopathological parameters of this study. 3) Determine the prognostic value of p53 expression in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma and its correlations with clinical-histopathological parameters: histological differentiation degree, location and prognostic. Methods: Retrospective study accomplished in the surgical samples of 32 patients older than 50 years that were submitted to surgical resection of colorectal cancer in the Department of Surgery of Centro Hospitalar Cova da Beira in Covilhã (CHCB) between 2002-2005. The samples were histologically processed in the Department of Pathologic Anatomy of CHCB. They were then categorized according to the histological type, differentiation degree and TNM staging system. Posteriorly, they were analysed according to the intensity and proportion of immunohistochemical staining by oncoprotein p53. The data were statistically analysed by taking in consideration a p-value <0,05 as statistically significant. Results: A significant statistic correlation (p<0,05) between the expression of immunohistochemical cells stained by the oncoprotein p53 and the prognostic of patients was found. We did not verify any other significant results between the expression of immunohistochemical cells stained by the oncoprotein p53 , location of the tumor and the histological differentiation degree. the mortality rate was 59,4% after 10 years

New sequence variants detected at DXS10148, DXS10074 and DXS10134 loci

A great amount of population and forensic genetic data are available for X-STRs supporting the need for having a common and accurate nomenclature among laboratories allowing for better communication, data exchange, and data comparison. DXS10148, DXS10074 and DXS10134 are commonly used X-STRs particularly due to their inclusion in the commercial kit Investigator Argus X-12 (Qiagen). Samples from West Africa and Iraq were sequenced for all three X-STRs allowing the detection of new DNA sequence variants. At DXS10148, variation was detected at four bases downstream from the flanking region from the repeat motif. The sequence AAGG-AAAG has been detected for the first time as a varying (AAGGAAAG)1–3 motif, in the present work. One additional string when compared to the common one (AAGGAAAG)2 adds eight bases to the fragment size of the tetranucleotide STR. This means that 2 repeats are added in these cases to the fragment size of the allele, while the presence of only one copy will reduce the expected allele size by 2 repeats. At DXS10074 two varying stretches consisting of AC and AG dinucleotide repeats were observed in the upstream flanking region, six bases from the main repeat core that also influence the expected allele size. DXS10134 revealed a simpler nomenclature in the Guinea-Bissau sample set when compared to the previously described allele nomenclature. This detected new hidden variation also has impact on the actual allele nomenclature at this locus as it contributes to a new class of short alleles so far undetected in other studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Populational analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains from different appellations of origin and grape varieties by microsatellite analysis.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate populational relationships among Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from some of the Portuguese most important grapevine varieties in different appellations of origin, using polymorphic microsatellites. &#xd;&#xa;One hundred ninety two grape samples were collected during the 2006 and 2007 harvest season in the Vinho Verde (grape varieties: Arinto, Alvarinho, Avesso, Loureiro, Touriga Nacional) Bairrada (grape varieties: Arinto, Baga, Castel&#xe3;o Franc&#xea;s, Maria Gomes, Touriga Nacional) Alentejo (grape varieties, Aragon&#xea;s, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional), Terras do Sado (grape variety Castel&#xe3;o) Bucelas (grape variety Arinto) and Estremadura (grape varieties: Arinto, Aragon&#xea;s, Castel&#xe3;o, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional) appellations of origin. From the final stage of spontaneous fermentations, 2820 yeast isolates were obtained, mainly belonging to the species S. cerevisiae. An initial genetic screen, based on mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (mtDNA RFLP) and/or interdelta sequence analysis was followed by microsatellite analysis of strains with unique genetic profiles, using 10 highly polymorphic microsatellites. Our results showed that microsatellite analysis revealed a high resolution populational screen, showing that genetic differences and populational structures among S. cerevisiae populations derived from both &#x201c;diagnostic&#x201d; vineyard-, specific alleles and the accumulation of small allele-frequency differences across ten microsatellite loci. Heterozygosity was three to four times lower than the expected value, confirming the strong populational substructuring. The presented large-scale approach shows that each vineyard contains differentiated S. cerevisiae populations, showing the occurrence of specific native strains that can be associated with a terroir. &#xd;&#xa;&#xd;&#xa;Financially supported by the programs POCI 2010 (FEDER/FCT, POCTI/AGR/56102/2004) and AGRO (ENOSAFE, N&#xba; 762).&#xd;&#xa

Estudos bioquímicos e moleculares sobre a Flavescência Dourada com vista à sua deteção precoce em videira

Dissertação de Mestrado em Biologia Molecular, Biotecnologia e Bioempreendedorismo em PlantasA Flavescência Dourada (FD) é uma doença da videira causada pelo fitoplasma Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis e propagada pelo vetor cicadelídeo Sacaphoideus titanus Ball. Esta doença foi identificada em diversas áreas vitivinícolas da Europa, incluindo em Portugal onde se encontra largamente disseminada nas vinhas da região norte do país. Uma vez que ainda não se encontram disponíveis tratamentos curativos, a utilização de testes de diagnóstico sensíveis torna-se fundamental para o seu controlo. Os objetivos da presente tese consistiram na otimização de um protocolo de rastreio da FD numa vinha da região Demarcada dos Vinhos Verdes, recorrendo a métodos de PCR em tempo real e no estudo das alterações metabólicas induzidas pelo fitoplasma em plantas infetadas. Neste âmbito, em 2014 e 2015 foram amostrados tecidos de videiras da variedade Loureiro saudáveis e com sintomas inequívocos de FD que foram alvo de estudos analíticos, bioquímicos e de biologia molecular. Os resultados demonstraram que os protocolos de PCR em tempo real, representam um procedimento rápido, sensível e específico para o diagnóstico de rotina de fitoplasmas num elevado número de amostras. O conteúdo em açúcares redutores nos tecidos foliares de plantas sintomáticas, medido pelo método do DNS, sofreu um aumento de 73% relativamente ao controlo. Estudos de HPLC mostraram que o conteúdo em sacarose aumentou em 26%. Em paralelo, foi observado que em folhas de plantas sintomáticas o conteúdo em fenólicos totais aumentou em 57% e o conteúdo em clorofilas totais decresceu 42% relativamente aos controlos. A infeção pelo parasita induziu ainda uma diminuição significativa do teor de amido acumulado nas varas no final da estação. Os níveis de transcritos dos transportadores de açúcar VvSWEET1, VvSUC12 e VvSUC27 foram estudados em folhas de plantas sintomáticas e de plantas saudáveis por PCR em tempo real. Os resultados mostraram que a infeção por Ca. Phytoplasma vitis reprimiu a expressão destes transportadores de açúcares envolvidos no carregamento do floema, podendo contribuir para o aumento dos açúcares nos tecidos foliares disponíveis para o desenvolvimento da infeção. A expressão dos genes do metabolismo secundário VvPAL, VvFLS e VvUFGT foi também estudada nos tecidos foliares, tendo sido observada uma redução significativa dos níveis de transcritos do gene VvFLS. A relevância do presente trabalho prende-se com a elevada importância científica do estudo das interações fitoplasma-hospedeiro, contudo, a identificação de marcadores moleculares da infeção poderá revestir-se de uma dimensão aplicada importante por contribuir para o estabelecimento de novos métodos de diagnóstico.The “Flavescence Dorée” (FD) is a grapevine disease caused by the phytoplasm Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis, which is propagated by the Cicadellidae Sacaphoideus titanus Ball. This disease was identified in several European wine producing regions, including Portugal, where it is widely disseminated in the vines of the northern part of the country. Because no curative treatments are available so far, its detection through sensitive diagnostic tests is vital for its control. In the present thesis, we aimed to optimize of a protocol to track the incidence of FD in a vineyard of “Região Demarcada dos Vinhos Verdes” based in Real-Time PCR methods, and to study the metabolic alterations induced by the phytoplasm in infected plants. For this purpose, vine tissues from symptomatic and control plants of the Loureiro variety were sampled during two consecutive seasons, 2014 and 2015, and were subjected to analytical, biochemical and molecular biology studies. Results showed that the optimized Real-Time PCR protocols proved to be at quick, sensitive and specific procedure for routine diagnosis of the phytoplasms in a significant number of samples. The content in reducing sugars in leaf tissues of infected plants, measured with the DNS method, increased by 73% when compared to the control. HPLC studies showed that sucrose content increased by 26%. Also, in leaves of infected plants the content of total phenolics increased by 57% while the total chlorophyll content decreased by 42% when compared with the controls. The parasite infection also induced a significant decrease in the starch accumulated in the canes at the end of the season. The transcript levels of the sugar transporters VvSWEET1, VvSUC12 and VvSUC27 were studied in leaves from both symptomatic and asymptomatic plants by Real-Time PCR. Results showed that the infection by Ca. Phytoplam vitis repressed these sugar transporters involved in phloem loading, which may contribute towards the increase of sugars in leaf tissues available for the development of the infection. The expression of the genes of the secondary metabolism VvPAL, VvFLS e VvUFGT was also studied in leaf tissues, and a significant reduction in the transcript levels of VvFLS was observed. The relevance of the present work comes from the high scientific importance of the study of plant-microbe interactions, but the identification of molecular markers behind the infection may have a significant practical applied dimension, as it may contribute for the establishment of new diagnosis methods

O papel dos micronutrientes

Os micronutrientes são vitaminas e minerais essenciais necessários em pequenas quantidades para a manutenção do estado de saúde do corpo humano. As vitaminas são moléculas orgânicas, que podem ser classificadas em hidrossolúveis ou lipossolúveis, enquanto os minerais essenciais, ou oligoelementos, são substâncias inorgânicas. Este tipo de nutrientes apesar de serem indispensáveis ao organismo, não são, na sua maioria, por ele produzidos. Assim, os micronutrientes têm de ser ingeridos a partir de uma alimentação equilibrada e diversificada e, em casos de necessidade, sob a forma de suplementos alimentares ou através da fortificação de alimentos. Os micronutrientes têm um papel fundamental na prevenção e no tratamento de doenças, e quando em deficiência no corpo humano podem levar a problemas de saúde. A deficiência em micronutrientes é considerada um problema de saúde pública, uma vez que abrange cerca de 2 biliões de pessoas em todo o mundo. Apesar do problema estar presente em todas as partes do globo, os países em desenvolvimento são os mais afetados, devido há maior falta de alimentos, não existindo por isso diversidade na alimentação, e uma maior incidência de patologias como infeções, inflamações e doenças crónicas, que comprometem ainda mais estes indivíduos. As deficiências em micronutrientes têm impacto na morbilidade e mortalidade, aumentando a probabilidade de deficiência física ou ao nível do desenvolvimento cognitivo, sendo os grupos de pessoas com maior risco de desenvolver este tipo de deficiências crianças e mulheres em idade reprodutiva. Em contraste, o consumo excessivo de micronutrientes pode também causar problemas de toxicidade, provocando lesões, patologias e, por vezes, levando à morte. Desta forma, é importante estabelecer doses adequadas para cada indivíduo.Micronutrients are essential vitamins and minerals required in small quantities for the maintenance of the human body's state of health. Vitamins are organic molecules, which can be classified as hydrosoluble or liposoluble, whereas essential minerals, or trace elements, are inorganic substances. These types of nutrients, despite being indispensable to the body, are not, for the most part, produced by it. Therefore, micronutrients must be ingested from a balanced and diversified diet and, if necessary, in the form of food supplements or through food fortification. Micronutrients play a key role in both prevention and treatment of diseases, when in deficiency in the human body they can lead to health problems. Micronutrient deficiency is a public health problem as it affects about 2 billion people worldwide. Although the problem is present in all parts of the globe, developing countries are the most affected, due to a greater lack of food, lack of diversity in the diet, and a higher incidence of pathologies such as infections, inflammations, and chronic diseases, which compromise these individuals even more. Micronutrient deficiencies have an impact on morbidity and mortality, increasing the likelihood of a physical or cognitive development disability, being children and women of reproductive age the groups with the greatest risk of developing these types of deficiencies. In contrast, excessive micronutrient consumption can also cause toxicity problems, leading to injuries, pathologies, and sometimes death. As such, it is important to establish appropriate doses for each individual