Filamentous fungi in free water and biofilms from Brazilian drinking water systems

In some regions of Brazil, especially where the water is scarce, drinking water is stored in water storage tanks. This practice gives the consumer the guarantee of available water. The water storage conditions such as the exposure to hot weather when the tanks are on rooftops allow the development of microorganisms and microbial biofilms which can deteriorate the water quality and increase the risk to human health [1,2]. This study describes the filamentous fungi (FF) detected in free water and biofilms in drinking water storage tanks in Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil. Five sampling times in triplicate were performed at two distinct points. Colony-forming units (CFU) of FF fungi were determined with 0.45 µm filtration membranes using peptone glucose rose Bengal agar (PGRBA). From the 30 samples analysed a total of 1136 CFU were obtained. The water biofilms were collected from samplers consisting of polyethylene coupons, previously installed in the reservoirs. These coupons were transferred to PGRBA plates and incubated using with the same conditions described for free FF. For the in situ detection of FF in biofilms the Calcofluor White staining technique was used. This procedure demonstrated FF forming biofilms on the surfaces of the coupons. Brazilian legislation does not define limits for FF in drinking water. However considering the potential risk of fungal contamination, the data obtained in this study will contribute to developing future quantitative and qualitative parameters for the presence of fungi in drinking water distribution systems in Brazil. [1] HageskaL, G, Lima, N, Skaar, I. The study of fungi in drinking water. Mycological Research, 113, 2009, 165-172. [2] Skaar I, Hageskal G. Fungi in Drinking Water. In.: Paterson RRM, Lima N. (Eds.) Molecular Biology of Food and Water Borne Mycotoxigenic and Mycotic Fungi. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, 2015, 597-606.

Filamentous fungi occurrence in free water and biofilms from drinking water storage tanks

In some regions of Brazil, especially where the water is scarce, drinking water is stored in water storage tanks. This practice gives the consumer the guarantee of available water. The water storage conditions such as the exposure to hot weather when the tanks are on rooftops allow the development of microorganisms and microbial biofilms which can deteriorate the water quality and increase the risk to human health [1,2]. This study describes the filamentous fungi (FF) detected in free water and biofilms in drinking water storage tanks in Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil. Five sampling times in triplicate were performed at two distinct points. Colony-forming units (CFU) of FF fungi were determined with 0.45 μm filtration membranes using peptone glucose rose Bengal agar (PGRBA). From the 30 samples analysed a total of 1136 CFU were obtained. The water biofilms were collected from samplers consisting of polyethylene coupons, previously installed in the reservoirs. These coupons were transferred to PGRBA plates and incubated using with the same conditions described for free FF. For the in situ detection of FF in biofilms the Calcofluor White staining technique was used. This procedure demonstrated FF forming biofilms on the surfaces of the coupons. Brazilian legislation does not define limits for FF in drinking water. However considering the potential risk of fungal contamination, the data obtained in this study will contribute to developing future quantitative and qualitative parameters for the presence of fungi in drinking water distribution systems in Brazil.

Factors associated with the donation and non-donation of embryos for research: a systematic review

Background: Systematic knowledge on the factors that influence the decisions of IVF users regarding embryo donation for research is a core need for patient-centred policies and ethics in clinical practice. However, no systematic review has been provided on the motivations of patients who must decide embryo disposition. This paper fills this gap, presenting a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies, which synthesizes the current body of knowledge on the factors and reasons associated with IVF patients’ decisions to donate or not to donate embryos for research. Methods: A systematic search of studies indexed in PubMed, ISIWoK and PsycINFO, published before November 2013, was conducted. Only empirical, peer-reviewed, full-length, original studies reporting data on factors and reasons associated with the decision concerning donation or non-donation of embryos for research were included. Eligibility and data extraction were performed by two independent researchers and disagreements were resolved by discussion or a third reviewer, if required. The main quantitative findings were extracted and synthesized and qualitative data were assessed by thematic content analysis. Results: A total of 39 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. More than half of the studies (n ¼ 21) used a quantitative methodology, and the remaining were qualitative (n ¼ 15) or mixed-methods (n ¼ 3) studies. The studies were derived mainly from European countries (n ¼ 18) and the USA(n ¼ 11). The proportion of IVF users who donated embryos for research varied from 7% in a study in France to 73% in a Swiss study. Those who donate embryos for research reported feelings of reciprocity towards science and medicine, positive views of research and high levels of trust in the medical system. They described their decision as better than the destruction of embryos and as an opportunity to help others or to improve health and IVF treatments. The perception of risks, the lack of information concerning research projects and the medical system and the conceptualization of embryos in terms of personhood were the most relevant motives for not donating embryos for research. Results relating to the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and reproductive and gynaecological history were mostly inconclusive. Conclusions: Three iterative and dynamic dimensions of the IVF patients’ decision to donate or not to donate embryos for research emerged from this review: the hierarquization of the possible options regarding embryo disposition, according to the moral, social and instrumental status attributed to embryos; patients’ understanding of expectations and risks of the research on human embryos; and patients’ experiences of information exchange and levels of trust in the medical-scientific institutions.

Relação entre regulação das ordens profissionais e gestão jurisdicional dos profissionais de contabilidade: estudo comparado entre Portugal e o Brasil

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciência da Administração

A new empirical system for rock slope stability analysis in exploitation stage

An empirical system was developed to obtain a quality index for rock slopes in road infrastructures, named Slope Quality Index (SQI), and it was applied to a set of real slopes.The SQI is supported in nine factors affecting slope stability that contemplate the evaluation of different parameters. Consequently, each factor is classified by the degree of importance and influence by assigned weights. These weights were established through a statistical analysis of replies to a survey that was distributed to several experienced professionals in the field. The proposed SQI varies between1 and 5, corresponding to slopes in very good and very bad condition state, respectively. Besides the advantage linked to a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of slopes, theSQI also allows identifying the most critical factors on the slope stability, which is a fundamental issue for an efficient management of the slope network in the road infrastructure, namely in the planning of conservation and maintenance operations.

SQI – A quality assessment index for rock slopes

In this work, an empirical system was developed to obtain a quality index for rock slopes in road infrastructures, named Slope Quality Index (SQI), and it was applied to a set of real slopes. The SQI is supported in nine factors affecting slope stability that contemplate the evaluation of different parameters. Consequently, each factor is classified by degree of importance and influence by assigned weights. These weights were established through a statistical analysis of replies to a survey that was distributed to several experienced professionals in the field. The proposed SQI varies between 1 and 5, corresponding to slopes in very good and very bad condition state, respectively. Besides the advantage linked to a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of slopes, the SQI also allows identifying the most critical factors on the slope stability, which is a fundamental issue for an efficient management of the slope network in the road infrastructure, namely in the planning of conservation and maintenance operations.

Contributos dos doutores palhaços da Operação Nariz Vermelho para a qualidade da adaptação e do desenvolvimento em contexto pediátrico: o olhar da criança e seus pais

Tese de doutoramento em Ciências da Educação (Área Especialidade em Psicologia da Educação)

Avaliação de desempenho docente: Contributos para as práticas de avaliação na escola

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências da Educação (Especialidade em Desenvolvimento Curricular)

Imagem de destinos turísticos: um estudo sobre as publicações brasileiras

Os estudos referentes ao turismo dedicam-se à compreensão de diferentes temas, sendo que um bastante analisado à escala internacional é a questão da imagem de um destino turístico. O interesse por este tema é percebido em diversas áreas do conhecimento, como a sociologia e o marketing. No Brasil, há diversos pesquisadores dedicando-se à imagem dos destinos turísticos. Assim, buscando compreender de que forma este tema tem sido trabalhado no Brasil, este estudo de caráter bibliográfico teve como objetivo analisar e compreender as publicações sobre imagem de destinos turísticos em periódicos brasileiros, nos últimos seis anos (2008-2014). A partir de um levantamento dos artigos publicados neste período, usando como ferramenta de busca o site “Publicações de Turismo”, foram identificados vinte e oito artigos. A análise permitiu verificar que os estudos estão concentrados na compreensão da imagem de um determinado destino. Os artigos analisados são predominantemente estudos empíricos e há um equilíbrio entre os de caráter quantitativo e qualitativo. No que diz respeito à bibliografia, foi possível identificar que os autores brasileiros que têm trabalhado com o tema de imagem de destinos, já buscam bibliografias internacionais para fundamentar os seus estudos. Também nos trabalhos sobre este tema, identificou-se uma maior maturidade dos autores no que diz respeito à utilização das ferramentas estatísticas. Alguns estudos fazem uma análise aprofundada dos estudos internacionais e aplicam estas teorias no Brasil. Conclui-se que este tema tem sido estudado com maior profundidade no país, se comparado com os temas como o da percepção de residentes.

Dieta da torda-mergulheira, Alca torda, capturada acidentalmente em Portugal Continental

Dissertação de mestrado em Ecologia

Práticas de tradução e comunicação multilingue em contexto empresarial: experiência profissional no Grupo OSIT

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Tradução e Comunicação Multilingue