Detection of virulence-associated genes in pathogenic and commensal avian Escherichia coli isolates

Poultry colibacillosis due to Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is responsible for several extra-intestinal pathological conditions, leading to serious economic damage in poultry production. The most commonly associated pathologies are airsacculitis, colisepticemia, and cellulitis in broiler chickens, and salpingitis and peritonitis in broiler breeders. In this work a total of 66 strains isolated from dead broiler breeders affected with colibacillosis and 61 strains from healthy broilers were studied. Strains from broiler breeders were typified with serogroups O2, O18, and O78, which are mainly associated with disease. The serogroup O78 was the most prevalent (58%). All the strains were checked for the presence of 11 virulence genes: 1) arginine succinyltransferase A (astA); ii) E. coli hemeutilization protein A (chuA); iii) colicin V A/B (cvaA/B); iv) fimbriae mannose-binding type 1 (fimC); v) ferric yersiniabactin uptake A (fyuA); vi) iron-repressible high-molecular-weight proteins 2 (irp2); vii) increased serum survival (iss); viii) iron-uptake systems of E. coli D (iucD); ix) pielonefritis associated to pili C (papC); x) temperature sensitive haemaglutinin (tsh), and xi) vacuolating autotransporter toxin (vat), by Multiplex-PCR. The results showed that all genes are present in both commensal and pathogenic E. coli strains. The iron uptake-related genes and the serum survival gene were more prevalent among APEC. The adhesin genes, except tsh, and the toxin genes, except astA, were also more prevalent among APEC isolates. Except for astA and tsh, APEC strains harbored the majority of the virulence-associated genes studied and fimC was the most prevalent gene, detected in 96.97 and 88.52% of APEC and AFEC strains, respectively. Possession of more than one iron transport system seems to play an important role on APEC survival.

Efeito de armadilha das passagens em grelha sobre os anfíbios

As passagens em grelha são infra-estruturas largamente utilizadas para impedir a deslocação do gado, mas que permitem a circulação de viaturas. Porém, também resultam numa armadilha de fosso onde pequenos animais terrestres podem cair inadvertidamente. O principal objectivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito que as passagens em grelha têm sobre as populações de anfíbios, aquando das suas deslocações sazonais. Estudaram-se 18 passagens em grelha localizadas em duas zonas de amostragem - Elvas e Alandroal - no Alto Alentejo (Portugal). Esta investigação revelou que a principal espécie encarcerada nestas infra-estruturas é o sapo-de-unha-negra (Pelobates cultripes). Em termos gerais, os anfíbios mais terrestres são significativamente (teste do x2) mais afectados do que os anfíbios marcadamente aquáticos. O teste de Mantel mostrou que não existe correlação entre o tipo de passagem em grelha e os anfíbios encontrados nessas infra-estruturas. Para mitigar o aprisionamento de anfíbios nas passagens em grelha, são propostas cinco medidas. ABSTRACT; Cattle grids are infrastructures widely used to avoid the movement of cattle along a road, though allowing the circulation of vehicles. However, they also result in a pit trap where small terrestrial animals may inadvertently fall. The main objective of this study was to check the effect that cattle grids have on amphibian populations, during their seasonal migrations. 18 cattle grids, located in two sampling zones - Elvas and Alandroal- in Alto Alentejo (Portugal), were studied. This investigation showed that the main species imprisoned in these devices is the iberian spadefoot toad (Pelobates cultripes). Generally, the more terrestrial amphibians are significantly (x2 test) more affected than markedly aquatic amphibians. Mantel test showed that there is no correlation between different kinds of cattle grids and the amphibians found in these infrastructures. To mitigate the imprisonment of amphibians in cattle grids, five measures are proposed.

Prática de ensino supervisionada em pré-escolar e ensino do 1.º ciclo do ensino básico: educação literária : a literatura para a infância e as expressões artísticas

O presente Relatório de Estágio de Prática de Ensino Supervisionada em Educação Pré-escolar e 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico foi realizado no âmbito do Mestrado em Educação Pré-escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, da Universidade de Évora, tendo por base as unidades curriculares de Prática de Ensino Supervisionada em Educação Pré-escolar e em 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Ao longo das respetivas práticas foi desenvolvido o tema Educação Literária: A Literatura para a infância e as expressões artísticas, assente na metodologia da investigação-ação e teve como principal objetivo promover nas crianças a educação literária e a sua relação com as expressões artísticas. Deste modo, este documento encontra-se organizado em cinco capítulos: o primeiro capítulo inclui todo o enquadramento conceptual que suporta a temática investigada; o segundo capítulo refere-se à conceção da ação educativa em Pré-escolar e 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico; o terceiro capítulo considera a metodologia utilizada na investigação-ação; o quarto capítulo remete para a intervenção nos respetivos contextos; o quinto capítulo diz respeito ao trabalho de projeto de cariz literário, desenvolvido em ambos os contextos; concluindo com as respetivas considerações finais; Report of Supervised Teaching Practice in Pre-school Education and the 1st Cycle of Primary Education: Literacy Education- Children’s Literature and Artistic Expressions Abstract: This Internship Report of Supervised Teaching Practice in Pre-school Education and the 1st Cycle of Primary Education was carried out within the framework of the Master's Degree in Pre-school Education and the 1st Cycle of Primary Education, at the University of Évora, based on the courses units of Supervised Teaching Practice in Pre-school Education and the 1st Cycle of Primary Education During the respective practices it was developed the theme of Literary Education: Children's literature and the artistic expressions, based on the research-action methodology and had as a main objective the promotion of literary education in children and their relationship with the artistic expressions. Thus far, this document is organized into five chapters: the first chapter includes all the conceptual framework that supports the thematic investigated; the second chapter refers to the conception of educational activity in Pre-school Education and the 1st Cycle of Primary Education; the third chapter considers the methodology used in the research-action; the fourth chapter refers to the intervention in the respective contexts; the fifth chapter concerns the work project of literary nature , developed in both contexts; concluding with the final considerations.

Vazão em soleiras controladas ou não por comportas

Os controladores de caudal, normalmente implementados em sistemas Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), apresentam uma grande relevância no controlo automático de canais de adução. Para garantir que os controladores de caudal sejam fiáveis em todo o seu domínio de funcionamento (em situações de escoamento com ressalto livre ou submerso e de transição entre escoamentos com ressalto livre e ressalto submerso) foram comparados os resultados dos ensaios experimentais com diferentes métodos de cálculo da vazão em comportas e/ou sobre soleiras. O programa de ensaios foi realizado nos canais laboratorial e experimental da Universidade de Évora. Foram realizados ensaios em comportas planas verticais e em soleiras do tipo Waterways Experiment Station (WES) controladas ou não por comportas planas verticais. Em ambos os casos, foram contempladas as situações de escoamento com ressalto livre e submerso. Os resultados obtidos mostram que: a) para as comportas, o método Rajaratnam e Subramanya (1967a) conduz a bons resultados com um erro percentual médio absoluto MAPE < 1% para o escoamento com ressalto livre e MAPE < 4% para o submerso; a transição entre escoamentos foi identificada corretamente por este método; b) para as soleiras, obtiveram-se bons resultados para o escoamento com ressalto livre para o método USACE (1987), com MAPE < 2%, e para o submerso através do método Alves e Martins (2011), com MAPE < 5%; a transição entre escoamentos pode ser considerada adequada de acordo com a curva experimental de Grace (1963); c) para soleiras controladas por comporta, conseguiram-se bons resultados para o escoamento com ressalto livre recorrendo à equação dos orifícios de pequenas dimensões, com MAPE < 1, 5%, e para o submerso com a equação dos orifícios totalmente submersos com MAPE < 1, 6%; em ambos os casos foi necessária calibração do coeficiente de vazão; a transição entre escoamentos foi adequada pelo método de Grace (1963). Com base nos resultados obtidos, foi possível definir um algoritmo de vazão generalizado para comportas e/ou soleiras que permite a determinação da vazão para as situações de escoamento com ressalto livre e submerso incluindo a transição entre escoamentos; ABSTRACT: Flow controllers, usually implemented in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, are very important in the automatic control of irrigation canal systems. To ensure that flow controllers are reliable for the entire operating range (free or submerged flow and flow transitions) the experimental results were compared with different methods of flow measurement for gates and/or weirs. The test program was conducted in the laboratory flume and in the automatic canal of the University of ´Evora. Tests were carried in sluice gates and in broad-crested weirs controlled or not by sluice gate. In both cases free and submerged flow conditions were analyzed. The results show that: a) for the sluice gates, the method of Rajaratnam e Subramanya (1967a) leads to good results with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) < 1% for free flow and MAPE < 4% for submerged flow. The transition between flows is correctly identified by this method; b) for the uncontrolled weir, good results were obtained for free flow with the method USACE (1987) with MAPE < 2%, and for submerged flow by the method Alves e Martins (2011) with MAPE < 5%. The transition between flows can be accurately defined by the experimental curve of Grace (1963); c) for the controlled weir, good results were achieved for the free flow with the small orifice equation with MAPE < 1.5% and for submerged flow with the submerged orifice equation with MAPE < 1.6%; in both cases the calibration of the discharge coefficient is needed. The transition between flows can be accomplished through Grace (1963) method. Based on the obtained results, it was possible to define a generalized flow algorithm for gates and/or weirs that allows flow determination for free and submerged flow conditions including the transition between flows.

Recursos humanos e gestão da qualidade: "estudos de caso" em instituições particulares de solidariedade social no Concelho de Estremoz

Neste trabalho discute-se a relevância da performance nas Instituições de Solidariedade Social, com especial incidência a Gestão de Recursos Humanos, e a implementação da Gestão da Qualidade Total, na medida que se multiplicam as exigências em torno da eficiência, quantidade e qualidade dos serviços, e uma maior flexibilidade para assegurar a competitividade a nível nacional. A Gestão Estratégica de Recursos Humanos é a resposta possível e sustentada, de colocar os colaboradores no centro das Instituições, apelando à autonomia, criatividade, talento, estímulos, aspirações individuais e cooperativas, e considerar que são os colaboradores que fazem o sucesso das Instituições. Com este trabalho pretende-se chamar a atenção para a importância da GRH dentro das Instituições de Solidariedade Social, fazendo um diagnóstico da laboração na área de recursos humanos e propondo um plano de intervenção/reorganização destes mesmos serviços. Este trabalho de Dissertação segue a metodologia de três estudos de caso cuja recolha de dados foi realizada, tendo por base diversas fontes: análise documental, observação direta, questionário. Verificamos que as Instituições, objetos de estudo revelam poucos conhecimentos a nível da gestão de recursos humanos, e no que concerne à gestão da qualidade, duas das intuições não tem qualquer conhecimento, apenas a Cerciestemoz trabalha em prol da qualidade uma vez que é, uma Instituição já com vários certificados de qualidade. Face ao estudo empírico realizado constatamos que existe alguma dificuldade em prevalecer a gestão de recursos humanos e a gestão da qualidade, porque terão que estar inseridas as políticas de Gestão Recursos Humanos para que os colaboradores se sintam mais motivados e responsáveis pelas funções que desempenham, o que não é visível neste momento; ABSTRACT: This research discusses the relevance of performance in social solidarity institutions, with a focus on Human Resource Management, and the implementation of Total Quality Management, to the extent that multiply the requirements around efficiency, quantity and quality of services and greater flexibility to ensure competitiveness at national level. The Strategic Human Resource Management is possible and sustained response, placing employees at the center of the institutions, calling for autonomy, creativity, talent, stimuli, individual aspirations and cooperative skills, and consider that it is the employees that make the success of the institutions. This work is intended to draw attention to the importance of HRM in the institutions of social solidarity, making a diagnosis of laboring in the area of human resources and proposing an action plan / reorganization of these same services. This Master's work follows the methodology of three case studies in which data collection was carried out, based on several sources: document analysis, direct observation, questionnaire. We found that the institutions, objects of study reveal little knowledge in the management of human resources, and with regard to quality management, two of intuitions do not have any knowledge, only Cerciestemoz works for the quality since it is a institution already with several quality certificates. Given the empirical study found that there is some difficulty prevail human resource management and quality management, they will have to be inserted the policies of Human Resources Management for employees and feel more motivated and responsible for the functions they perform, the which is not visible at this time.

Educação: a engenharia social de construção de pontes entre os sonhos e os sonhadores

O conhecimento é infinito e tem poderes mágicos: permite-nos pensar mais e melhor e crescer, como seres humanos; liberta-nos da ignorância e dá-nos autonomia para decidirmos, de acordo com os nossos valores e os nossos critérios; capacita-nos a participar, de forma mais qualificada e mais transformadora, naquilo que determina as nossas vidas e torna-nos mais iguais; é um legado de todas as gerações que nos precederam e deverá estar à disposição de todas as que nos sucederem; é um património eterno, que não se gasta com o uso e não se subtrai devido à partilha. O conhecimento é a essência da humanidade e é um direito de todos os seres humanos.

A case-based reasoning view of thrombophilia risk

Thrombophilia stands for a genetic or an acquired tendency to hypercoagulable states that increase the risk of venous and arterial thromboses. Indeed, venous thromboembolism is often a chronic illness, mainly in deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, requiring lifelong prevention strategies. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the cause of the disease, the most appropriate treatment, the length of treatment or prevent a thrombotic recurrence. Thus, this work will focus on the development of a diagnosis decision support system in terms of a formal agenda built on a logic programming approach to knowledge representation and reasoning, complemented with a case-based approach to computing. The proposed model has been quite accurate in the assessment of thrombophilia predisposition risk, since the overall accuracy is higher than 90% and sensitivity ranging in the interval [86.5%, 88.1%]. The main strength of the proposed solution is the ability to deal explicitly with incomplete, unknown, or even self-contradictory information.

A Soft Computing Approach to Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is transversal to a broad and heterogeneous set of human beings, and assumed as a serious diagnosis and risk stratification problem. Although one may be faced with or had at his disposition different tools as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of ACS, they have to be previously evaluated and validated in different scenarios and patient cohorts. Besides ensuring that a diagnosis is correct, attention should also be directed to ensure that therapies are either correctly or safely applied. Indeed, this work will focus on the development of a diagnosis decision support system in terms of its knowledge representation and reasoning mechanisms, given here in terms of a formal framework based on Logic Programming, complemented with a problem solving methodology to computing anchored on Artificial Neural Networks. On the one hand it caters for the evaluation of ACS predisposing risk and the respective Degree-of-Confidence that one has on such a happening. On the other hand it may be seen as a major development on the Multi-Value Logics to understand things and ones behavior. Undeniably, the proposed model allows for an improvement of the diagnosis process, classifying properly the patients that presented the pathology (sensitivity ranging from 89.7% to 90.9%) as well as classifying the absence of ACS (specificity ranging from 88.4% to 90.2%).

NEW DATA ON THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE VALE DO FORNO SEDIMENTARY SEQUENCE (LOWER TAGUS RIVER TERRACE STAIRCASE) AND ITS RELEVANCE AS FLUVIAL ARCHIVE OF THE MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE IN WESTERN IBERIA

NEW DATA ON THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE VALE DO FORNO SEDIMENTARY SEQUENCE (LOWER TAGUS RIVER TERRACE STAIRCASE) AND ITS RELEVANCE AS FLUVIAL ARCHIVE OF THE MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE IN WESTERN IBERIA Pedro P. Cunha 1, António A. Martins 2, Jan-Pieter Buylaert 3,4, Andrew S. Murray 4, Luis Raposo 5, Paolo Mozzi 6, Martin Stokes 7 1 MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal: pcunha@dct.uc.pt 2 MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Dep. Geociências, University of Évora, Portugal; aam@uevora.pt 3 Centre for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Denmark; jabu@dtu.dk 4 Nordic Laboratory for Luminescence Dating, Aarhus University, Risø DTU, Denmark; anmu@dtu.dk 5 Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, Lisboa, Portugal; 3raposos@sapo.pt 6 Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, Italy; paolo.mozzi@unipd.it 7 School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK; m.stokes@plymouth.ac.uk The stratigraphic units that record the evolution of the Tagus River in Portugal (study area between Vila Velha de Ródão and Porto Alto villages; Fig. 1) have different sedimentary characteristics and lithic industries (Cunha et al., 2012): - a culminant sedimentary unit (the ancestral Tagus, before the drainage network entrenchment) – SLD13 (+142 to 262 m above river bed – a.r.b.; with probable age ca. 3,6 to 1,8 Ma), without artefacts; - T1 terrace (+84 to 180 m; ca. 1000? to 900 ka), without artefacts; - T2 terrace (+57 to 150 m; top deposits with a probable age ca. 600 ka), without artefacts; - T3 terrace (+43 to 113 m; ca. 460 to 360? ka), without artefacts; - T4 terrace (+26 to 55 m; ca. 335 a 155 ka), Lower Paleolithic (Acheulian) at basal and middle levels but early Middle Paleolithic at top levels; - T5 terrace (+5 to 34 m; 135 to 73 ka), Middle Paleolithic (Mousterian; Levallois technique); - T6 terrace (+3 to 14 m; 62 to 32 ka), late Middle Paleolithic (late Mousterian); - Carregueira Sands (aeolian sands) and colluvium (+3 a ca. 100 m; 32 to 12 ka), Upper Paleolithic to Epipaleolithic; - alluvial plain (+0 to 8 m; ca. 12 ka to present), Mesolithic and more recent industries. The differences in elevation (a.r.b.) of the several terrace staircases results from differential uplift due to active faults. Longitudinal correlation with the terrace levels indicates that a graded profile ca. 200 km long was achieved during terrace formation periods and a strong control by sea base level was determinant for terrace formation. The Neogene sedimentary units constituted the main source of sediments for the fluvial terraces (Fig. 2). Geomorphological mapping, coupled with lithostratigraphy, sedimentology and luminescence dating (quartz-OSL and K-feldspar post-IRIR290) were used in this study focused on the T4 terrace, which comprises a Lower Gravels (LG) unit and an Upper Sand (US) unit. The thick, coarse and dominantly massive gravels of the LG unit indicate deposition by a coarse bed-load braided river, with strong sediment supply, high gradient and fluvial competence, during conditions of rapidly rising sea level. Luminescence dating only provided minimum ages but it is probable that the LG unit corresponds to the earlier part of the MIS9 (ca. 335 to 325 ka), immediately postdating the incision promoted by the very low sea level (reaching ca. -140 m) during MIS10 (362 to 337 ka), a period of relatively cold climate conditions with weak vegetation cover on slopes and low sea level. Fig. 1. Main Portuguese reaches in which the Tagus River can be divided (Lower Tagus Basin): I – from the Spanish border to Arneiro (a general E–W trend, mainly consisting of polygonal segments); II – from Arneiro to Gavião (NE–SW); III – from Gavião to Arripiado (E–W); IV – from Arripiado to Vila Franca de Xira (NNE-SSW); V – from Vila Franca de Xira to the Atlantic shoreline. The faults considered to be the limit of the referred fluvial sectors are: F1 – Ponsul-Arneiro fault (WSW-ENE); F2 – Gavião fault (NW-SE); F3 – Ortiga fault (NW-SE); F4 – Vila Nova da Barquinha fault (W-E); F5 – Arripiado-Chamusca fault (NNE-SSW). 1 – estuary; 2 – terraces; 3 – faults; 4 – Tagus main channel. The main Iberian drainage basins are also represented (inset). The lower and middle parts of the US unit, comprising an alternation of clayish silts with paleosols and minor sands to the east (flood-plain deposits) and sand deposits to the west (channel belt), have a probable age of ca. 325 to 200 ka. This points to formation during MIS9 to MIS7, under conditions of high to medium sea levels and warm to mild conditions. The upper part of the US unit, dominated by sand facies and with OSL ages of ca. 200 to 154 ka, correlates with the early part of the MIS6. During this period, progradation resulted from climate deterioration and relative depletion of vegetation that promoted enhanced sediment production in the catchment, coupled with initiation of sea-level lowering that increased the longitudinal slope. The Vale do Forno and Vale da Atela archaeological sites (Alpiarça, central Portugal) document the earliest human occupation in the Lower Tagus River, well established in geomorphological and environmental terms, within the Middle Pleistocene. The Lower Palaeolithic sites were found on the T4 terrace (+26 m, a.r.b.). The oldest artefacts previously found in the LG unit, display crude bifacial forms that can be attributed to the Acheulian, with a probable age of ca. 335 to 325 ka. The T4 US unit has archaeological sites stratigraphically documenting successive phases of an evolved Acheulian, that probably date ca. 325 to 300 ka. Notably, these Lower Palaeolithic artisans were able to produce tools with different sophistication levels, simply by applying different strategies: more elaborated reduction sequences in case of bifaces and simple reduction sequences to obtain cleavers. Fig. 2. . Simplified geologic map of the Lower Tagus Cenozoic basin, adapted from the Carta Geológica de Portugal, 1/500000, 1992). The study area (comprising the Vale do Forno and Vale de Atela sites) is located on the more upstream sector of the Lower Tagus River reach IV, between Arripiado and Chamusca villages. 1 – alluvium (Holocene); 2 – terraces (Pleistocene); 3 – sands, silts and gravels (Paleogene to Pliocene); 4 – Sintra Massif (Cretaceous); 5 – limestones, marls, silts and sandstones (Mesozoic); 6 – quartzites (Ordovician); 7 – basement (Proterozoic to Palaeozoic); 8 – main fault. The main Portuguese reaches of the Tagus River are identified (I to V). The VF3 site (Milharós), containing a Final Acheulian industry, with fine and elaborated bifaces) found in a stratigraphic level located between the T4 terrace deposits and a colluvium associated with Late Pleistocene aeolian sands (32 to 12 ka), has an age younger than ca. 154 ka but much older than 32 ka. In the study area, the sedimentary units of the T4 terrace seem to record the river response to sea-level changes and climatically-driven fluctuations in sediment supply. REFERENCES Cunha P. P., Almeida N. A. C., Aubry T., Martins A. A., Murray A. S., Buylaert J.-P., Sohbati R., Raposo L., Rocha L., 2012, Records of human occupation from Pleistocene river terrace and aeolian sediments in the Arneiro depression (Lower Tejo River, central eastern Portugal). Geomorphology, vol. 165-166, pp. 78-90.

A Review of the Arcuate Structures in the Iberian Variscides; Constraints and Genetical Models

In the Iberian Variscides several first order arcuate structures have been considered. In spite of being highly studied their characterization, formation mechanisms and even existence is still debatable. Themain Ibero-Armorican Arc (IAA) is essentially defined by a predominantNW–SE trend in the Iberian branch and an E–Wtrend in the Brittany one. However, in northern Spain it presents a 180° rotation, sometimes known as the Cantabrian Arc (CA). The relation between both arcs is controversial, being considered either as a single arc due to one tectonic event, or as the result of a polyphasic process. According to the last assumption, there is a later arcuate structure (CA), overlapping a previousmajor one (IAA). Whatever themodels, they must be able to explain the presence of a Variscan sinistral transpression in Iberia and a dextral one in Armorica, and a deformation spanning from the Devonian to the Upper Carboniferous. Another arcuate structure, in continuity with the CA, the Central-Iberian Arc (CIA) was recently proposed mainly based upon on magnetic anomalies, geometry of major folds and Ordovician paleocurrents. The critical review of the structural, stratigraphic and geophysical data supports both the IAA and the CA, but as independent structures. However, the presence of a CIA is highly questionable and could not be supported. The complex strain pattern of the IAA and the CA could be explained by a Devonian — Carboniferous polyphasic indentation of a Gondwana promontory. In thismodel the CA is essentially a thin-skinned arc,while the IAA has a more complex and longer evolution that has led to a thick-skinned first order structure. Nevertheless, both arcs are essentially the result of a lithospheric bending process during the Iberian Variscides.

Relatório no âmbito da unidade curricular prática de ensino supervisionada

Este relatório realizado no âmbito da unidade curricular Prática de Ensino Supervisionada do Mestrado em Ensino de Português no 3º ciclo do ensino básico e ensino secundário e de Espanhol nos ensinos básico e secundário, pretende descrever, analisar e refletir sobre todo o trabalho implementado no decorrer do processo de observação, na lecionação de aulas e no desenvolvimento de outras tarefas visando a integração na vida escolar. A referida prática foi desenvolvida no Agrupamento de Escolas de Reguengos de Monsaraz, ao longo do ano letivo 2015/2016. O trabalho compreendeu, principalmente, a planificação e condução de aulas, bem como a respetiva avaliação das aprendizagens. O processo de ensino-aprendizagem foi realizado em duas turmas de níveis de ensino diferentes na disciplina de Espanhol, e duas na disciplina de Português. Este relatório constituiu uma oportunidade para refletir criticamente sobre a globalidade do processo e, consequentemente, como uma etapa de consolidação de práticas fundamentadas; Abstract: Report within the scope of Supervised Teaching Practice curricular unit This report carried out in the ambit of the curricular unit of Supervised Teaching Practice of Master’s Degree in Portuguese and Spanish Teaching in the secondary school (Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4), has as main aim to describe, analyze and reflect about all the work implemented during the observation process, teaching classes and in the development of other tasks with the main purpose of integration in the school life. This practice was developed in Agrupamento de Escolas de Reguengos de Monsaraz, throughout the school year of 2015/2016. The work included, mainly, the planning and leading lessons, as well as the respective learning evaluation. The teaching and learning process was made in two classes of different levels of education in the Spanish subject, and in two other classes, also in different levels of education, in the Portuguese subject. This report was written as an opportunity to reflect critically on the overall process and, consequently, as a consolidation stage of substantiated practices.

Multicentric genome-wide association study for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Despite elevated incidence and recurrence rates for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax (PSP), little is known about its etiology, and the genetics of idiopathic PSP remains unexplored. To identify genetic variants contributing to sporadic PSP risk, we conducted the first PSP genome-wide association study. Two replicate pools of 92 Portuguese PSP cases and of 129 age- and sex-matched controls were allelotyped in triplicate on the Affymetrix Human SNP Array 6.0 arrays. Markers passing quality control were ranked by relative allele score difference between cases and controls (|RASdiff|), by a novel cluster method and by a combined Z-test. 101 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected using these three approaches for technical validation by individual genotyping in the discovery dataset. 87 out of 94 successfully tested SNPs were nominally associated in the discovery dataset. Replication of the 87 technically validated SNPs was then carried out in an independent replication dataset of 100 Portuguese cases and 425 controls. The intergenic rs4733649 SNP in chromosome 8 (between LINC00824 and LINC00977) was associated with PSP in the discovery (P = 4.07E-03, ORC[95% CI] = 1.88[1.22–2.89]), replication (P = 1.50E-02, ORC[95% CI] = 1.50[1.08–2.09]) and combined datasets (P = 8.61E-05, ORC[95% CI] = 1.65[1.29–2.13]). This study identified for the first time one genetic risk factor for sporadic PSP, but future studies are warranted to further confirm this finding in other populations and uncover its functional role in PSP pathogenesis.

Enzymatic activity on sediments and nematode assemblage responses during seagrass beds habitat recovery following the disturbance of the traditional digging activity of bivalves harvesting.

Sediment digging is an anthropogenic activity connected to the exploitation of living resources in estuarine and marine environments. The knowledge on the functional responses of the benthic assemblages to the physical disturbance is an important baseline to understand the ecological processes of the habitat recovery and restoration and to develop tools for the management of the harvesting activities. To investigate the effects of the digging activity of the bivalves on Zostera noltii seagrass beds a manipulative field experiment was conducted that included the enzymatic activity of sediments and the associated nematode assemblages. Four plots (two undisturbed serving as control and two dug to collect bivalves - treatment) with 18 subplots were randomly located at seagrass beds in the Mira estuary at the SW coast of Portugal. Samples were randomly and unrepeatably collected from three subplots of each plot in five different occasions, before sediment digging (T0) up to six months after disturbance (T5). Microbial activity in sediments was assess by determining the extracelular enzymatic activity of six hydrolytic enzymes (sulfatase, phosphatase, b -N-acetilglucosaminidase, b-glucosidase, urease, protease) and two oxidoreductases (phenol oxidase and peroxidase). The microbial community status was also assessed through the measurement of dehydrogenase, which reflects microbial respiration. The nematode assemblages composition, biodiversity and trophic composition at different sampling occasions were also analyzed. The fluorometric and biochemical parameters analysed of the Z. noltii plants during the experimental period showed a recovery of the seagrass beds, and it was detected an increase of the enzymatic activity of the sediments after disturbance. The nematodes assemblages were similar in all sampling occasions. The seagrass beds and the nematodes assemblages associated showed a high resilience to the stress caused by the traditional bivalves digging activity. The obtained results allow the development of a management programme for the commercial fishing activity to maintain the good environmental status and minimized the secondary environmental effects on marine and estuarine habitats through the establishment of a baseline for the regulation of the harvesting frequency.

Prática de ensino supervisionada em educação pré-escolar: estimular o pensamento criativo-expressão dramática

O presente relatório de estágio que se enquadra no âmbito das unidades curriculares da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada I e II em Creche e Jardim de Infância, descreve e analisa todo o trabalho realizado em torno do desenvolvimento da criatividade na expressão dramática, tendo sido elaborado nas instalações do colégio Nossa Senhora da Piedade ao longo do Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar. Ao longo do relatório, é feita referência a uma investigação relativa à importância do desenvolvimento da criatividade e da expressão dramática, bem como o papel do educador e da sua ação no desenvolvimento, tendo por base os fundamentos teóricos como a Carta de Princípios para uma Ética Profissional da Associação de Profissionais de Educação de Infância (APEI) e o Perfil Profissional da Associação de Profissionais de Educação de Infância. O presente relatório retrata a prática e investigação em torno da temática, procurando realçar a importância da expressão dramática e mais aprofundadamente da criatividade no desenvolvimento da criança e por sua vez o impulso que esta pode ter no desenvolvimento da ação educativa, que sempre foi tido em conta ao longo da prática; Supervised Teaching practice on Pre-school education: The Stimulate creative thinking - drama expression Abstract: The present internship report, whose context falls on Day Care Centre and Kindergarten of the Supervise Teaching Practice curricular units I and II, describes and analyse all the work about the development of the creativity in the dramatic expression. It was developed in the facilities of the institution Nossa Senhora da Piedade during the master’s degree in Preschool Education. Throughout the report, it’s made a reference to an investigation on the value of the creativity in the dramatic expression development, as well as the educator’s role and his action on the development, based on the theoretical foundations as the Letter of Principles to a Professional Ethics from the Preschool Professional Association (APEI) and Preschool Teacher Professional Profile. The present report shows the practice and investigation around this issue, seeking to highlight the importance of the dramatic expression and deeper the importance of the creativity in the child development and also the impulse that this may have in the development of the educational action, which has always been taken in mind throughout the practice.

Allergological evaluation of a dog population in a veterinary immuno-allergology consultation: What correlates in a canine model

Introduction: Allergic dermatitis (AD) is the most common canine pruritic condition in veterinary dermatology. Allergic dermatitis to flea bites presents the highest prevalence, followed by atopic dermatitis and food AD. This study aimed to identify possible correlation between data from clinical signs, intradermal tests (IDT) and specific IgE levels, which are used in dog AD assessment. Methods: Fifty five dogs from the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Évora (Portugal) and Rof Codina University Hospital (Lugo, Spain) outpatient consultations were studied by means of clinical inquiry, IDT and specific IgE determination. Thirty five of the patients belonged to predisposed breeds, 30 were females and 25 males. Forty one (74%) were indoor. Results: In 82% of cases first clinical signs appeared before the age of 3 years and 24% even before 1 year old. In 70% of the individuals clinical signs included itching, which was generalized in 66%, with 78% of paw licking and chewing. Clinical profile showed seasonal worsening in 64% of cases. From the 69.1% of dogs already presenting with dermatitis, 50% also presented external otitis and 28.9% self-inflicted alopecia. "Intense itching" was found in 10.5%, "medium itching" in 81.6% and “mild itching” in 5.26% of the patients. Prevalence of positive IDT was 37.3 % to Lep d, 29.41% to Der f, 27.5% to Der p, 25.5% to Dac g and 21.6% to Malassezia sp. From the 37 dogs submitted to food IDT, 40.5% revealed positive to beef, 27% to chicken, 27% to porc and 5.4% to lamb. Specific IgE > 150 EAU was found in 84% of dogs to indoor allergen sources and in 68% to pollens. A negative correlation was found between an outdoor life and the intensity (p = 0.033) and precocity (p = 0.026) of clinical signs. Sensitization to pollens was found positively correlated with the seasonality of clinical signs (p = 0.001) and the positivity for Dac g (p = 0.007). The prevalence of chronic otitis correlated positively with alopecia and reactivity to Lep d (p = 0.008), Plantago lanceolata (p = 0.026) and Platanus acerifolia (p = 0.017). There was no correlation between the results of ITD and specific IgE. Conclusion: We can conclude that correlation between different clinical signs and positive testing for some allergenic sources may occur, as well as between sensitization to pollens and the beginning, the intensity and the seasonality of dog patient clinical signs.