Integrating ecology and society in the Urban Green Structure planning: evaluation of UGS patches quality in the city of Porto, Portugal

Cities are complex entities, with their own rules and dynamics of growth, behaviour and evolution, which result from interactions between biophysical and socioeconomic forces (Alberti et al., 2003). They have their own structure and functions. While the urban structure comprises its elements, its functions are based in the variety of services that cities provide (Pickett and Cadenasso, 2008). Its physical structure is composed by four main elements: buildings, build infrastructures, technical infrastructures and green infrastructures (Sandström et al., 2007), being complemented by the society component. These elements form a complex mosaic of patches, in a matrix of infrastructures, organizations and social institutions (Alberti et al., 2003). The Urban Green Structure (UGS) is a component of the urban system. Like other systems, it has a function and a structure, which result from interactions between its elements and with their surroundings (Flores et al., 1998). According to the Portuguese Law-Decree 380/99 (which establishes the legal basis of the spatial planning instruments), the UGS consist of areas, values and networks which are fundamental for the urban system equilibrium. The UGS contributes to an healthy environment for residents and users of the city (McPherson, 1992), as well as an entire set of ecological, economic and social benefits which allow the liveability, quality of life and sustainability of urban areas. It is an opportunity of spatial planning based in ecological, constructed, cultural and mobility elements, aiming to obtain a sustainable urban landscape. Despite its crucial value, these areas have received little interest in the spatial planning policy-making, due to the lack of understanding of its importance, potential and fragility, particularly in the urban systems. In Portugal, this planning element has been considered mandatory since 1999. However, it was only applied to a restrict group of municipalities (Quintas and Curado, 2009), which proves the need of a strategy to promote the UGS in the planning process. In order to understand the functional dynamics of landscape, the ecological and social processes should be considered, being essential in the holistic comprehension of the territory and its planning (Turner et al., 2001; McHarg, 1969). The ecologysociety relation is important for the analysis of the UGS, and “(…) since ecological networks consist of both ecological and human components, the interaction between nature and culture is a priority to consider in both nature conservation and sustainable development” (Jongman and Pungetti, 2004:5). The Urban Green Structure is a system, composed by elements and fulfilling a vast diversity of functions. It can be analyzed as a landscape structure, using landscape metrics concepts, such as patch, matrix, edge and corridor (Forman and Gordon, 1981), which allow an evaluation not only of its ecological character, but also of its social value. “Assessment of ecological network viability can be undertaken by analyzing the inherent characteristics of the landscape elements, the interrelationships between landscape elements and external factors affecting the functioning of the ecological network” (Cook, 2002:270). The UGS is organized in patches (with a core and an edge) and corridors. The patch characteristics are responsible for the correct performance of its functions. Thus, the patches should have qualities and have easy access, allowing natural processes and social activities to occur. The attractiveness of one patch is dependent on their access and their qualities (Figure 1). In a patch core, indicators such as size, heterogeneity, diversity, typologies and dynamics of elements can be evaluated, both in social and ecological level. These factors, that determinate the quality of the patch, influence the movement to that patch and also the willing to stay. The edge effects take into account the relationship between patches and their surroundings, which influence the local character. They should allow a good ecological connectivity, and also attractiveness and access to people. “The availability of accessible and attractive green spaces is an integral part of urban quality of life” (Van Herzele and Wiedemann, 2003:109). The corridors (and stepping stones) allow the continuity and the different connections in landscape, with the flux of matter, energy and organisms, but also regarding the transport systems and movement of people. The analysis and evaluation of these components of the UGS will increase the knowledge of its importance in the urban system, the assessment of its state and provide basis for strategies of landscape planning and management in urban areas

Managing and engaging a multigenerational workforce in Portugal

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La estructura ecológica urbana como promotor de la calidad de vida : caso de Porto, Portugal.

1 archivo PDF (Tipo: Presentación) : principalmente ilustraciones en color ; 68 diapositivas. 1 archivo PDF con la sintesis de la presentción en idioma portuguésEste trabajo tiene como objetivo contribuir al diseño de estructuras ecológicas urbanas eficientes en las ciudades contemporáneas, a través de su funciones en la calidad de vida de las poblaciones. Para ello se pretende examinar diversas estructuras ecológicas urbanas existentes ; definir estrategias para el desarrollo de métodos para diseño y gestión de una estructuras ecológicas urbanas, basado en los roles que desempeña en las áreas urbanas. Este trabajo presenta el análisis de parcelas de la Estructura Ecológica Urbana localizadas en diferentes partes de la ciudad, de Porto en Portugal y se discute su papel en el desarrollo ambiental, social y económico. SUISEPTE

CD4+ and CD8+ cell populations in HIV-positive women with cervical squamous intra-epithelial lesions and squamous cell carcinoma

Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to analyse cervix lymphocytic populations in HIV + and HIV- patients and correlate different cervical lesions with HIV viral load and presence of high-risk HPV types. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 132 histological specimens from 40 HIV + and 72 HIV- patients were evaluated for CD4+ and CD8+ T cell distribution, presence of high-risk HPV types, peripheral blood HIV viral load and CD4+/CD8+ ratio. RESULTS: High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from HIV + patients had lower CD4+ T cell scores compared with HIV- patients. In all lesion groups, HIV + patients presented higher epithelial and stromal CD8+ T cell scores. HIV viral load was more often detectable in patients with SCC than in those with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (p = 0.0409). HSIL HIV + patients had lower circulating CD4+ T cell counts (p = 0.0434) and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (p = 0.0378) compared with LSIL HIV + patients. High-risk HPV types other than 16 and 18/45 were more prevalent in the HIV + group. DISCUSSION: These results support an imbalance between cervical CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes of HIV + patients with SIL and SCC, with increased CD8+ infiltrate density with lesion severity, even in patients with immune system recovery under cART.proofpublishe

Gestão de talentos: desafios da geração Y para o mercado de trabalho

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Evolutionary and Structural Features of the C2, V3 and C3 Envelope Regions Underlying the Differences in HIV-1 and HIV-2 Biology and Infection

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Users must also make clear the license terms under which the work was published.Background: Unlike in HIV-1 infection, the majority of HIV-2 patients produce broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies, control viral replication and survive as elite controllers. The identification of the molecular, structural and evolutionary footprints underlying these very distinct immunological and clinical outcomes may lead to the development of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of HIV infection.Methodology/Principal Findings: We performed a side-by-side molecular, evolutionary and structural comparison of the C2, V3 and C3 envelope regions from HIV-1 and HIV-2. These regions contain major antigenic targets and are important for receptor binding. In HIV-2, these regions also have immune modulatory properties. We found that these regions are significantly more variable in HIV-1 than in HIV-2. Within each virus, C3 is the most entropic region followed by either C2 (HIV-2) or V3 (HIV-1). The C3 region is well exposed in the HIV-2 envelope and is under strong diversifying selection suggesting that, like in HIV-1, it may harbour neutralizing epitopes. Notably, however, extreme diversification of C2 and C3 seems to be deleterious for HIV-2 and prevent its transmission. Computer modelling simulations showed that in HIV-2 the V3 loop is much less exposed than C2 and C3 and has a retractile conformation due to a physical interaction with both C2 and C3. The concealed and conserved nature of V3 in the HIV-2 is consistent with its lack of immunodominancy in vivo and with its role in preventing immune activation. In contrast, HIV-1 had an extended and accessible V3 loop that is consistent with its immunodominant and neutralizing nature.Conclusions/Significance: We identify significant structural and functional constrains to the diversification and evolution of C2, V3 and C3 in the HIV-2 envelope but not in HIV-1. These studies highlight fundamental differences in the biology and infection of HIV-1 and HIV-2 and in their mode of interaction with the human immune system and may inform new vaccine and therapeutic interventions against these viruses.Fundo para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal. Collaborative HIV and Anti-HIV Drug Resistance Network, European Union. PB and IB supported by PhD grants from Fundo para a Ciência e Tecnologia

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical squamous cell carcinoma of HIV-infected and non-infected patients

Funding: Open access funding provided by FCT|FCCN (b-on).Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is overexpressed in cervical carcinoma, hindering tumor destruction. The aim of this study was to assess PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) from human immunodeficiency virus–positive (HIV+) and human immunodeficiency virus-negative (HIV-) patients. A total of 166 SCC and SIL samples of HIV+ and HIV- patients were included and analyzed for PD-L1 expression through tumor proportion score (TPS), and results were stratified in five TPS groups using SP263 antibody and, combined positive score (CPS) using 22C3 antibody. In cohort 1 (SP263 clone), all HIV+ patients were negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM), and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) scored 1), which may be due to some samples being archival material, sample characteristics, or use of different methodologies, highlighting the need for standardization of PD-L1 assessment in SCC of the cervix. The fact that PD-L1 is overexpressed in SILs of HIV+ patients suggests potential additional applications for immunotherapy in this disease.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

Knowledge acquisition process for intelligent decision support in critical health care

An efficient triage system is a good way to avoid some future problems and, how much quicker it is, more the patient can benefit. However, a limitation still exists, the triage system are general and not specific to each case. Manchester Triage System is a reliable known system and is focused in the emergency department of a hospital. When applied to specific patients’ conditions, such the pregnancy has several limitations. To overcome those limitations, an alternative triage system, integrated into an intelligent decision support system, was developed. The system classifies patients according to the severity of their clinical condition, establishing clinical priorities and not diagnosis. According to the woman urgency of attendance or problem type, it suggests one of the three possible categories of the triage. This paper presents the overall knowledge acquisition cycle associated to the workflow of patient arrival and the inherent decision making process. Results showed that this new approach enhances the efficiency and the safety through the appropriate use of resources and by assisting the right patient in the right place, reducing the waiting triage time and the number of women in general urgency.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT