Combining WLAN fingerprint-based localization with sensor data for indoor navigation using mobile devices

This project proposes an approach for supporting Indoor Navigation Systems using Pedestrian Dead Reckoning-based methods and by analyzing motion sensor data available in most modern smartphones. Processes suggested in this investigation are able to calculate the distance traveled by a user while he or she is walking. WLAN fingerprint- based navigation systems benefit from the processes followed in this research and results achieved to reduce its workload and improve its positioning estimations.

Le monument de “Pedras da Granja” ou de “Pedras Altas” dans la “Várzea de Sintra"

In the present work, the authors describe the excavation of the monument of "Pedras da Granja" or "Pedras Altas", in the Várzea de Sintra. The first part consists of the diary of the excavations, a description of the stratigraphy encountered and of the position of the finds. An inventory of all the material found in this monument is given in the second part. The conclusions show that the monument was built on the surface of a lapiás whose crevices were used for the insertion of the standing stones, and for the deposition of the dead. Three archaeological levels were shown to exist: - upper level: Bell Beaker level; - intermediate level containing some artifacts of the Bell Beaker culture; - lower, older level with human remains more or less in situ, belonging to a local Neolithic-culture influenced by cultural imports of foreign origin. The three levels are separated, at the southern edge of the site, by layers of fallen stones. The human remains belong to some old people, but mostly to young men, women and children.

Transnational Migrants and Transnational Spirits: An African Religion in Lisbon

Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Vol.34, n.2,pp. 253 — 269

Prestadores de cuidados familiares a doentes com VIH/SIDA: perfil psico-emocional e social

RESUMO: Com o presente estudo pretendemos identificar a sobrecarga resultante do envolvimento familiar com os doentes portadores de VIH/SIDA. Numa breve introdução teórica, procedemos à revisão dos conceitos sobrecarga familiar e dos sentimentos/emoções vivenciados pelos prestadores de cuidados. Metodologia: Estudo do tipo descritivo e exploratório, com uma amostra de 51 indivíduos, cuja finalidade consiste na caracterização dos prestadores de cuidados familiares a doentes com VIH/SIDA. Objectivos: Identificar quem o doente com VIH/SIDA, considera ser a pessoa significativa nos cuidados informais. Caracterizar, do ponto de vista sócio-demográfico, os doentes e os prestadores de cuidados familiares. Identificar sentimentos e emoções de vivências, que justifiquem o sofrimento emocional e as repercussões na sobrecarga familiar nos prestadores de cuidados informais. Instrumentos: Na avaliação da sobrecarga familiar, utilizámos o Questionário de Problemas Familiares”- FPQ (Family Problemas Questionnaire). Para identificação dos Acontecimentos de Vida, adoptámos a escala de Holmes e Rahe (Life Events); Para identificação do estrato social escolhemos escala de Graffar. Finalmente, para a caracterização sócio-demografica concebemos dois questionários: um dirigido aos doentes e o outro aos prestadores de cuidados informais. Conclusões: A sobrecarga da doença VIH/SIDA, nos prestadores de cuidados familiares, não é uniforme nas diferentes dimensões. A dimensão sobrecarga subjectiva é superior à objectiva. O suporte social revela-se fraco, relacionado com as perdas familiares, devidas a morte, pelas relações familiares disfuncionais, entre os membros da família, pela falta de apoio e informação dos técnicos de saúde. O sexo feminino é predominante nos cuidadores. As mães e esposas são o grau de parentesco dominante. Os solteiros são o grupo mais afectado pelo VIH/SIDA. Os cuidadores apresentam idade superior à dos doentes. O estrato social preponderante é o médio baixo e o baixo. Os familiares, apesar da atitude negativa dos doentes perante os cuidadores, mantêm-se envolvidos. Segundo a avaliação multiaxial proposta pelo DM-IV, constatámos, ao nível do eixo I, sintomatologia clínica do tipo das perturbações depressivas e perturbações da ansiedade. No eixo IV, os cuidadores evidenciam problemas psicossociais e ambientais, nomeadamente nas categorias problemas com o grupo de apoio primário, problemas relacionados como grupo social, problemas educacionais, problemas de alojamento, problemas económicos. Os problemas relacionados com o grupo de apoio primário, são os que mais parecem contribuir para os problemas psicossociais e ambientais.---------------------------------------ABSTRACT: This study wants to describe several problems as a result of the family’s relationship with HIV/AIDS patients, like overload. In a brief theoric introduction, we made a small revision about the concepts of family’s overload, and feelings or emotions that have been lived by the people who provide cares to the patients with this chronic disease. Methodology: This is a describing and exploratory study, with a sample with 51 individuals, with the aim to characterize the people inside the family who give care HIV/AIDS patients. Aim: To identify who are the most important people in informal cares from the patient perspective. To characterize, in a social-demographic point of view, patients and the people who take care of them. To identify feelings and emotions that could explain an emotional suffer, and some causes in the family burden. Means: to evaluate the family’s overload we used the Family Problems Questionnaire (FPQ). To identify life events we adopted the Holmes and Rahe scale. To identify the social stratum we used the Graffer scale. Finally to do a socio-economic characterization we did two kinds of questionnaire, the first one was directed for the patients, and the second one was chosen for the people who give care. Conclusions: The HIV/AIDS disease burden on the people who takes familiar cares isn’t uniform on several areas that we studied. The subjective overload it is superior to the objective. The social support is weak and poor, and related with family losses by dead, dysfunctional family relationships, and the lack of support and information by the medical staff. Mothers and wives are the dominant relative degree. And the singles are the major group with HIV/AIDS disease. The people who take care are usually older than the sick. The major social status is low or medium-low. The relatives keep evolved though the negative attitude of the sick. According with the evaluation multiaxial proposed by the DM-IV, in axle 1 we note clinic sintomatologic belonging to the type depressive perturbations and perturbations of the anxiety. Regarding with axle IV the caretakers show up psycho-social and environmental problems, namely on the categories: problems with the primary support group and problems related as social group, educational problems, accommodation problems and.

Alterações da substância branca cerebral relacionadas com o envelhecimento

INTRODUÇÃO: Estudos prévios, com técnicas de imagem, documentam de forma consistente a existência de alterações da substância branca cerebral relacionadas com o envelhecimento (ASBRE). Tais alterações poderão ter um papel importante no declínio funcional do idoso, reflectindo‐se sobretudo no desempenho motor e cognitivo, com repercussão evidente na prática clínica. Apesar disso, a caracterização em definitivo dos fenótipos clínicos e da evolução das ASBRE continua por esclarecer, possivelmente pelas dificuldades metodológicas de que se reveste o seu estudo, incluindo: a adequação das baterias neuropsicológicas, a utilização de amostras de doentes com diferentes graus de severidade e de envolvimento regional, as limitações das diferentes escalas e a sensibilidade dos diferentes métodos de imagem. A Ressonância Magnética (RM) de difusão tem revelado grande sensibilidade para as alterações isquémicas, admitindo‐se que poderá permitir uma melhor caracterização das ASBRE e deste modo possibilitar uma correlação mais precisa com as variáveis cognitivas e motoras, permitindo avaliar ainda a substância branca aparentemente normal (SBAN). OBJECTIVOS: Descrever a evolução imagiológica das ASBRE no intervalo de um ano e analisar a sua expressão clínica e impacto funcional; identificar factores preditivos de progressão das ASBRE e de declínio funcional associado. Descrever a expressão clínica e perfil evolutivo dos doentes com ASBRE com envolvimento preferencial da região parieto‐occipital; comparar este grupo de doentes com os doentes com ASBRE, sem envolvimento preferencial desta região. Medir os coeficientes de difusão aparente (CDA), utilizando regiões de interesse (RDI), em diferentes localizações da substância branca, incluindo substância branca lesada e SBAN, descrever sua evolução temporal no intervalo de um ano e determinar suas correlações clínicas e imagiológicas. MÉTODOS: Utilizando uma amostra de conveniência, foram estudados 30 doentes, com mais de 65 anos, sem incapacidade funcional ou com incapacidade mínima, avaliada pela escala de actividades instrumentais da vida diária (IADL), apresentando ASBRE em TC. Foi utilizado um protocolo exaustivo de avaliação clínica (com particular destaque para as funções motoras e cognitivas) e imagiológica, em dois momentos de avaliação separados por um ano de intervalo (t0 e t1). As ASBRE foram avaliadas com escalas visuais, escala ARWMC e escala de Fazekas, e os doentes foram estudados em função do grau de severidade (ligeiro versus moderado a grave na escala de Fazekas) e de um envolvimento preferencial posterior (definido como 2 ou mais pontos na escala ARWMC na região parieto‐occipital por comparação com a região frontal). Os CDA foram avaliados mediante estudo de RDI, na substância branca frontal lesada (SBFL) e SBAN frontal, parieto‐occipital e dos pedúnculos cerebelosos. Para verificar diferenças na ordem de distribuição das variáveis foi usado o teste de Mann‐Whitney e para comparação de proporções, o teste exacto de Fisher. Na comparação entre a avaliação em t0 e t1 foi usado o teste Wilcoxon Signed Ranks na comparação da distribuição da ordem das variáveis e o teste McNemar na análise de frequências. Na análise correlacional foram utilizados os testes de T para variáveis emparelhadas e as correlações entre estas foram efectuadas com o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman ou de Pearson. O trabalho foi aprovado pela Comissão de Ética do hospital onde foi realizado e todos os doentes incluídos assinaram um consentimento informado. RESULTADOS: A idade média da população estudada foi 72,5 anos (17 doentes eram do sexo masculino). No final de um ano, 1 doente tinha falecido e 3 doentes não completaram a avaliação imagiológica. Registou‐se uma progressão significativa das ASBRE segundo a escala ARWMC (t0: 8,37 / t1: 9,65 ; p<0,001). Na análise funcional, motora e cognitiva, não houve um agravamento significativo. Avaliando os doentes em t0 e t1 segundo o grau de severidade das ASBRE, o grupo com atingimento moderado a grave (ASBRE2) comparado com o grupo com atingimento ligeiro (ASBRE1) apresentava: maior extensão de lesão da substância branca (ARWMC t0: 11,9 / 4,8 ; p<0.001 ; t1: 14,0 / 5,9 ; p<0,001); tendência a pior desempenho funcional (IADL t0: 90,7 / 99,2 ; p=0,023; t1: 86,4 / 96,7 ; p=n.s.) e motor (SPPB t0: 9,8 / 10,3 ; p=n.s. ; t1: 9,5 / 10,5 ; p=0,058); tendência a maior compromisso do humor (Escala Cornell t0: 6,7 / 3,5 ; p=0,037; t1: 6,2 / 4,5 ; p=n.s.). Analisando a evolução, de t0 para t1, de cada um dos grupos (ASBRE2 e ASBRE1) registou‐se: aumento da extensão da lesão da substância branca em ambos (ASBRE2: 12,0 / 14,0;z=‐2,687 ; p=0,007; ASBR1: 4,8 / 5,9 ; z=‐2,724 ; p=0,006); variação não significativa funcional e motora; tendência ao agravamento em ambos na prova de Cancelamento de dígitos (ASBRE2: 17,5 / 17,4 ; p=n.s. ; ASBRE1: 19,9 / 16,9 ; z=‐2,096 ; p=0,036);tendência à melhoria em ambos no MMS (ASBRE2: 25,7 / 27,5 ; z=‐2,155 ; p=0,031; ASBRE1: 27,5 / 28,2 ; p=n.s). Avaliando os doentes em t0 e t1 em função do padrão de distribuição das ASBRE, os doentes com um envolvimento preferencial posterior (ASBREP) comparados com os restantes (ASBREnP), apresentavam: maior extensão da lesão (ARWMC t0: 10,8 / 6,9 ; p=0,025; t1: 12,9 / 7,6 ; p=0,011); diferenças não significativas no desempenho motor; tendência a melhor desempenho na prova dos Labirintos (t0: 8,1 / 11,8 ; p=0,06; t1: 8,7 / 9,5 ; p=n.s.) e Cancelamento de dígitos (t0: 20,9 / 17,4 ; p=0,045; t1: 18,5 / 16,3 ; p=n.s.); tendência a maior compromisso depressivo na GDS (t0: 5,0 / 3,68 ; p=n.s. ; t1: 5,7 / 3,3 p=0,033). Analisando o perfil evolutivo de t0 para t1, registou‐se: aumento da extensão da lesão nos dois grupos (ASBREP: 10,8 / 12,9 ; z=‐2,555 ; P=0,011; ASBREnP: 6,4 / 7,6 ; z=‐2,877 ; p=0,04); variação em sentidos diferentes com melhoria funcional no grupo ASBREP (91,0 / 95,5 ; z=‐0,926 ; p=0,036) e agravamento no grupo ASBREnP (96,7 / 89,8 ; z=‐2,032 ; p=0,042); variação sem sentidos diferentes, com agravamento significativo no grupo ASBREnP no item estação de pé do SPPB (ASBREP 3,8/3,9 p=n.s.; ASBREnP 3,9/3,6; z=‐2,236 ; p=0,025); tendência à melhoria nos dois grupos no MMS (ASBREP: 27,2 / 28,2 ; p=n.s.; ASBREnP: 26,3 / 27,7 ; z=‐2,413 ; p=0,016) e tendência em sentidos diferentes no Trail Making, com eventual melhoria no grupo ASBREP (113,9 / 91,6 ; p=n.s.) e agravamento no grupo ASBREnP (113,7 / 152,0 ; z=‐2,155 ; p=0,031). Na análise da imagem, utilizando a escala ARWMC e o estudo dos CDA, na avaliação transversal na inclusão, a comparação entre as pontuações médias da escala ARWML nas diferentes regiões mostrava diferenças significativas (F=39,54 , p<0,0001). A análise comparativa post‐hoc de Bonferroni mostrou valores significativamente mais altos para as regiões frontais e parieto‐occipitais (p<0,0001). Os valores médios dos CDA eram significativamente diferentes entre regiões (F=44,56; p<0,0001), sendo mais altos na SBFL (p<0,0001). Não existia diferença significativa entre os valores registados na SBAN nas regiões frontais e parieto‐occipitais. As pontuações regionais da escala ARWMC e os valores médios dos CDA correlacionavam‐se todos de forma positiva. A pontuação da escala ARWMC na região frontal correlacionava‐se significativamente com os valores do CDA da SBFL (r=0,467 ; p=0,012). Existia tendência para uma correlação positiva entre as pontuações da escala ARWMC na região frontal e os valores médios dos CDA na SBAN frontal (r=0,276 ; p=0,155). As pontuações da escala ARWMC e os CDA correlacionavam‐se de forma positiva com a idade e com a tensão arterial (TA). Foram encontradas correlações significativas entre: idade e SBAN frontal (r=0,440 ; p=0,019); TA diastólica e SBFL (r=0,386 ; p=0,034); TA sistólica e SBAN Parieto‐occipital (r=0,407 ; P=0,032). Na avaliação motora e cognitiva, dado elevado número de variáveis, foi efectuada uma análise de factor principal. Registou‐se uma tendência global negativa na correlação entre as pontuações da escala visual na região frontal, os valores dos CDA, e o desempenho motor e cognitivo. Na análise evolutiva, (n=19), registou‐se variação significativa dos CDA, com aumento na SBFL (Direita: z=‐2,875 ; p=0,004 ; Esquerda: z=‐2,113 ; p=0,035) e diminuição na SBAN dos pedúnculos cerebelosos (Direita: z=‐2,094 ; p=0,036 ; Esquerda: z=‐1,989 ; p=0,047). Foi observada uma correlação negativa entre a variação do CDA na SBAN dos pedúnculos cerebelosos e na SBFL contralateral (SBAN pedúnculo cerebeloso Esquerdo / SBFL Direita: r=‐0,133 ; p=n.s.; SBAN pedúnculo cerebeloso Direito / SBFL Esquerda: r=‐0,561 ; p=0,012). Os valores dos CDA à direita correlacionavam‐se de forma positiva com a velocidade da marcha (r=0,562 ; p=0,012). CONCLUSÕES: A progressão das ASBRE pode ser observada com uma escala visual detalhada no intervalo de um ano. Contudo, o eventual agravamento da incapacidade funcional, motora e cognitiva, não parece ser apreciável em igual intervalo de tempo. A maior severidade das ASBRE associa‐se a uma tendência para um maior compromisso funcional, motor e possivelmente do humor. A questão da progressão em escalas simplificadas, de um estádio ligeiro para um estádio moderado a grave, não é elucidada pelos resultados do presente trabalho. Os doentes com um envolvimento preferencial da região parieto‐occipital poderão constituir um subgrupo distinto que, apesar de ter maior extensão de lesão, parece ter um melhor desempenho motor e cognitivo. O perfil evolutivo destes doentes parece igualmente ser distinto, não se observando a tendência ao agravamento funcional, motor e cognitivo (sobretudo em provas de função executiva) que se encontra nos restantes doentes. A análise transversal na inclusão, utilizando uma escala visual e o estudo dos CDA, sugere que a severidade das ASBRE se correlaciona com o compromisso motor e cognitivo, bem como com a idade e com a TA. Uma maior vulnerabilidade da substância branca frontal à lesão vascular parece ter um papel importante no compromisso motor e na disfunção executiva, (essencialmente à custa do compromisso da atenção), possivelmente associada à desconexão dos circuitos fronto‐subcorticais. A análise dos CDA sugere que isso é válido igualmente para a SBAN e sublinha que, as imagens de RM convencional poderão não traduzir a verdadeira extensão da lesão e consequentemente do compromisso motor e cognitivo. A relação entre a progressão da doença vascular em lesões frontais constituídas e a redução do CDA no pedúnculo cerebeloso contralateral poderá estar associada a um pior desempenho motor. A disrupção dos circuitos fronto‐cerebelosos, determinando hipometabolismo e diminuição da perfusão no cerebelo, poderá ser responsável pela diminuição do CDA no cerebelo. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Previous studies, with new imaging techniques, have consistently documented the presence of age‐related white matter lesions (ARWML), emphasizing their role in agerelated functional decline, mainly related to motor and cognitive impairment, and inherent consequences in clinical practice. However clinical significance of ARWML remains to be elucidated, probably on account of methodological difficulties such as: specific neuropsychological batteries, utilization of samples with different degrees of severity and regional involvement, utilization of different imaging scales and different sensitivity of imaging techniques. Recently, Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Ressonance imaging (DWI) has shown a higher sensitivity to ischemic lesions, suggesting it might be superior for characterization of ARWML, allowing more precise correlation with motor and cognitive variables, and evaluating also normal appearing white matter (NAWM). OBJECTIVES: To describe imagiologic evolution of ARWML within one year interval and to analyse its clinical and functional significance. To identify predictors of ARWML progression and associated functional impairment. To describe clinical characteristics and evolution profile of patients with predominantly posterior lesions; to compare this group of patients with patients without predominantly posterior lesions. To study average Apparent Diffusion Coeficcients (ADC) in different white matter regions using regions of interest (ROI); to analyse their evolution profile and to determine their clinical and imagiologic correlations. METHODS: A sample of 30 patients older than 65 years, without functional impairment or with minimal impairment, according to the Instrumental Activities of Daily Lliving scale, with ARWML on CT scan, were studied in a cross‐sectional design. An extensive clinical(with detailed motor and cognitive evaluation) and imagiologic protocol was applied in two one‐year interval separate moments (t0 and t1). ARWML were studied using visual scales, ARWMC and Fazekas’s scale, and patients were studied according to degree of severity (Fazekas scale mild versus moderate / severe) and preferential involvement of the posterior region (defined as 2 or more points in the ARWMC scale in the parietooccipital region compared with frontal region). Evaluation of ADC was performed using ROI in frontal lesioned white matter (FLWM) and NAWM (frontal, parieto‐occipital and cerebellar regions). To study differences in the distribution of variables the Mann‐Whitney test was used and to compare proportions the exact Fisher Test was used. To compare temporal evolution profile between t0 and t1, the Wilcoxon Signed ranks Test was used to analyse the distribution of variables and the Mc Nemar Test to analyse frequencies. Correlation analysis was performed using Spearman or Pearson tests. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee and all patients signed an informed consent. RESULTS: Mean age was 72.5 years (17 patients were male). By the end of the study, one patient was dead and 3 patients did not undergo brain imaging. There was a higher extent of ARWML evaluated with the ARWMC scale (t0: 8.37 / t1: 9.65 ; p<0.001). Functional, motor and cognitive performance did not progress significantly. Evaluating patients in t0 and t1 according to the degree of severity (Fazekas scale), the moderate / severe group of patients (WML2), compared with the mild group (WML1), showed: higher extent of lesion (ARWMC scale t0: 11.9 / 4.8 ; p<0.001 ; t1: 14.0 / 5.9 ; p<0.001); tendency to worse functional (IADL t0: 90.7 / 99.2 ; p=0.023; t1: 86.4 / 96.7 ; p=n.s.) and motor (SPPB t0: 9.8 / 10.3 ; p=n.s. ; t1: 9.5 / 10.5 ; p=0.058) performance; tendency to higher depressive scores (Cornell Scale t0: 6.7 / 3.5 ; p=0.037; t1: 6.2 / 4.5; p=n.s.). Analysing the evolution profile from t0 to t1 of each group (WML2 and WML1), there was a higher extent of lesion (ARWMC scale) in both (WML2: 12.0 / 14.0; z=‐2.687 ; p=0.007; WML1: 4.8 / 5.9 ; z=‐2.724 ; p=0.006); non‐significant variation in functional and motor performances; tendency to worse performance on the Digit Cancelling (WML2: 17.5 / 17.4 ; p=n.s. ; WML1: 19.9 / 16.9 ; z=‐2.096 ; p=0,036) and to better performance on the MMS (WML2: 25.7 / 27.5 ; z=‐2.155 ; p=0.031; WML1: 27.5/ 28.2 ; p=n.s). Evaluating patients in t0 and t1 according to the regional distribution of ARWML, patients with predominantly posterior lesions (WMLP) compared with the rest of the group (WMLnP), showed: higher extent of lesion (ARWMC scale t0: 10.8 / 6.9 ; p=0.025; t1:12.9 / 7.6 ; p=0.011); non significant differences on motor evaluation; tendency to a better performance on Maze (t0: 8.1 / 11.8 ; p=0.06; t1: 8.7 / 9.5 ; p=n.s.) and Digit cancelling (t0: 20.9 / 17.4 ; p=0.045; t1: 18.5 / 16.3 ; p=n.s.) tests;tendency to higher scores on GDS (t0: 5.0 / 3.68 ; p=n.s. ; t1: 5.7 / 3.3 p=0.033). Analysing the evolution profile from t0 to t1 of each group (WMLP and WMLnP), there was: higher extent of lesion (ARWMC scale) in both groups (WMLP: 10.8 / 12.9 ;z=‐2,555 ; P=0,011; WMLnP: 6.4 / 7.6 ; z=‐2.877; p=0.04); variation in different directions with better functional performance in the group WMLP (91.0 / 95.5 ;z=‐0.926 ; p=0.036) and worse in WMLnP (96.7 / 89.8 ; z=‐2.032 ; p=0.042); variation in different directions with worse motor performance in one SPPB item (total stands) in the group WMLnP (WMLP 3.8/3.9 p=n.s.; ASBREnP 3.9/3.6; z=‐2.236 ; p=0.025);tendency to improvement in both groups in MMS (WMLP: 27.2 / 28.2 ; p=n.s.; WMLnP:26.3 / 27.7 ; z=‐2.413 ; p=0.016); tendency to a variation in different directions in the Trail Making Test, with possible improvement in the group WMLP (113.9 / 91.6 ;p=n.s.) and worsening in the group WMLnP (113.7 / 152.0 ; z=‐2.155 ; p=0.031). Imaging analysis in the inclusion, using the ARWMC scale and ADC evaluation, showed significant differences in different regions (F=39.54, p<0.0001). Comparative post‐hoc Bonferroni analysis showed significantly higher scores in the frontal and parieto‐occipital regions (p<0.0001. ADC values were significantly different between regions (F=44.56; p<0.0001), being higher in FLWM (p<0‐0001). There was no significant difference between ADC in NAWM in frontal and parieto‐occipital regions. ARWMC scores and ADC values correlated positively. Significant correlations were found between frontal ARWMC score and FLWM ADC values (r=0.467 ; p=0.012). ARWMC scores and ADC values correlated positively with age and blood pressure. Significant correlations were: age and frontal NAWM (r=0.440 ; p=0.019); Diastolic blood pressure and FLWM (r=0.386 ; p=0.034); sistolic blood pressure and parietooccipital NAWM (r=0.407 ; P=0.032). Due to the higher number of motor and cognitive variables a preliminary study was done, using principal component analysis. A global tendency to a negative correlation was found between ARWMC scores, ADC values and motor and cognitive performances. Evolutive analysis of ADC (n=19), showed a significant variation, with higher values in t1 in FLWM (Right: z=‐2.875 ; p=0.004 ; Left: z=‐2.113 ; p=0.035) and lower values in t1 in cerebellar NAWM (Right: z=‐2.094 ; p=0.036 ; Left: z=‐1.989 ; p=0.047). A negative correlation was found between ADC variation in cerebellar NAWM and contralateral FLWM (Left cerebellar NAWM / Right FLWM: r=‐0.133 ; p=n.s.; Right cerebellar NAWM/ Left FLWM: r=‐0.561 ; p=0.012). ADC values on the right correlated positively with walking speed (r=0,562 ; p=0,012). CONCLUSIONS: Progression of ARWML can be documented with a detailed visual scale in a one year interval. However, functional, motor and cognitive impairment, do not seem to progress significantly within the same period. A higher severity of ARWML is associated with a tendency to a worse functional and motor performance (and possibly to higher scores in depression scales). The issue of progression in a simplified visual scale from a mild to a moderate / severe degree of ARWML is not further elucidated. Patients with predominantly posterior lesions may be a subset of ARWML patients, with a different profile, that despite higher extent of lesion, seem to fair better than the rest of the group, namely with better performance on motor and cognitive tests. Evolution profile of this subset of patients also seems to be different, without a clearcut tendency to worsening functional, motor and cognitive (particularly for executive function tests) performance that is observed in the rest of the group. Imaging analysis, with a visual scale and ADC evaluation, suggests that severity of ARWML correlates negatively with cognitive and motor performance and positively with age and blood pressure. A higher vulnerability of frontal white matter to vascular disease seems to play an important role in motor and cognitive dysfunction, mainly determined by impairment of attention skills associated with frontal‐subcortical disconnection. DWI results, suggest that this may also be true for NAWM, underlining that conventional MR images may not represent the true extent of cognitive decline. The relation between vascular disease progression inside frontal lesions and ADC reduction in contralateral cerebellar peduncles, may be associated with a worse motor performance. Disruption of fronto‐cerebellar cicuits, with associated regional hypometabolism, may be responsible for the reduction of cerebellar ADC.

Robustness analysis of deteriorating reinforced concrete slabs

Corrosion of reinforcement bars in concrete structures is the most significant deterioration mechanism in these structures. Corrosion is extremely difficult to predict and, consequently, can be regarded as an unpredictable event. Following this, robustness assessment methods can be employed to define the susceptibility of a structure to corrosion. In this work, robustness is measured in terms of the remaining safety of a deteriorated structure. The proposed methodology is illustrated by means of a reinforced concrete (RC) slab subjected to dead and live loads. The performance of the corroded slab is evaluated using non-linear analysis. The reliability index is adopted to assess the safety of the deteriorated structure. To compute the reliability index a strategy combining the First Order Reliability Method (FORM) and the Response Surface Method (RSM) is used.

In situ measured cross section geometry of old timber structures and its influence on structural safety

Old timber structures may show significant variation in the cross section geometry along the same element, as a result of both construction methods and deterioration. As consequence, the definition of the geometric parameters in situ may be both time consuming and costly. This work presents the results of inspections carried out in different timber structures. Based on the obtained results, different simplified geometric models are proposed in order to efficiently model the geometry variations found. Probabilistic modelling techniques are also used to define safety parameters of existing timber structures, when subjected to dead and live loads, namely self-weight and wind actions. The parameters of the models have been defined as probabilistic variables, and safety of a selected case study was assessed using the Monte Carlo simulation technique. Assuming a target reliability index, a model was defined for both the residual cross section and the time dependent deterioration evolution. As a consequence, it was possible to compute probabilities of failure and reliability indices, as well as, time evolution deterioration curves for this structure. The results obtained provide a proposal for definition of the cross section geometric parameters of existing timber structures with different levels of decay, using a simplified probabilistic geometry model and considering a remaining capacity factor for the decayed areas. This model can be used for assessing the safety of the structure at present and for predicting future performance.

Evaluating Dynamic Signage for Emergency Evacuation using an Immersive Video Environment

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Application of OSN in membrane cascade for purification of the API Amoxicillin

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Studies on the wine spoilage yeast Brettanomyces bruxellensis: 4-ethylphenol production and improved detection

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Biotecnologia

Landscape composition and climatic parameters significant in the spread of an invasive species (Pine wood Nematode)

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente

Role of surfactants in filtration and fouling of colloidal silica

The EM3E Master is an Education Programme supported by the European Commission, the European Membrane Society (EMS), the European Membrane House (EMH), and a large international network of industrial companies, research centres and universities

A lesão de isquémia/reperfusão em transplante hepático: análise genética, morfológica e correlação clínica

RESUMO: O transplante hepático ortotópico é uma terapêutica aceite para casos selecionados de falência hepática terminal. O procedimento tem-­‐se aperfeiçoado, evidenciado pelo aumento da taxa de sobrevida de 30 para 75% aos 5 anos, mas cerca de 13 a 27% dos enxertos desenvolve falência primária (PNF) ou disfunção primária (DF) após o transplante. As consequências são devastadoras para a sobrevida do doente e do enxerto. A sua etiologia é multifactorial, incluindo factores relacionados com o dador e o receptor, tempos de isquémia, agressões cirúrgicas, bem como características anatomopatológicas do enxerto. A lesão de isquémia/reperfusão mantem-­‐se como um factor de risco intra operatório, com implicações directas sobre toda a evolução do transplante : existe uma relação íntima entre a PNF e a DF, a preservação do enxerto, a lesão de isquémia/reperfusão, e a falência do transplante. Além disso, está comprovada evidência que sugere que a lesão de I/R torna um aloenxerto mais vulnerável por aumento da imunogenicidade, aumentando a probabilidade de episódios de rejeição precoce e tardia. Com base na prática clínica quotidiana do CHBPT HCC, estudaram-­‐se 54 casos de transplante hepático, agrupados segundo grupos por alocação do enxerto respectivo: Grupo 1(n=27): dador cadáver para receptor cirrótico, Grupo 2 (n=15): dador cadáver para receptor PAF, Grupo 3 (n=12): dador PAF para receptor cirrótico. Observaram-­‐se as alterações histológicas e moleculares sobre o enxerto até ao final da operação do receptor, e as suas consequências clínicas,avaliando: -­‐ As diferentes capacidades de resistência e cada enxerto à lesão de isquémia/reperfusão. -­‐ As situações em que os factores do receptor se sobrepõem às do enxerto na definição do prognóstico, e vice versa. -­‐ A relevância das lesões histológicas e moleculares precoces no tecido hepático na evolução do enxerto e do receptor. Foram colhidas biópsias por agulha dos 54 enxertos hepáticos,42 provenientes de cadáver com coração batente(morte cerebral) e 12 provenientes de dador vivo com PAF, em três tempos diferentes do processo de colheita e transplante hepático: ­‐ A primeira(T0)antes da clampagem da aorta do dador -­‐ A segunda (T1) no final da isquémia fria -­‐ A terceira (T2) após a reperfusão do enxerto, durante o encerramento da parede abdominal. A estas amostras foi extraído RNA total, convertido em cDNA por transcrição reversa e feita a análise da expressão dos genes da CTLA4, IL-­‐1β, IL-­‐4, IL-­‐6, IL-­‐13, TNF-­‐α, Perforina, Selectina, (SELE), Fas-­‐ligando, Granzima-­‐B, Heme-­‐Oxigenase 1(HO1)e Óxido Nítrico Sintetase(iNOS2A)por PCR quantitativo segundo o método do Ct comparativo, utilizando como referência a expressão dos genes da amostra não-­‐isquémica –T0. Os fragmentos de todas as biópsias foram seccionados, para envio de amostra comparativa para processamento histológico habitual, sem qualquer alteração ao protocolo seguido habitualmente na Unidade de Transplantação do Hospital Curry Cabral. A presença de alguns parâmetros histológicos definidos, como esteatose, necrose, vacuolização, congestão sinusoidal e infiltração neutrofílica, foi registada e contabilizada numa classificação numérica. O seguimento clínico e laboratorial, bem como o acompanhamento de eventuais complicações, foi registado e correlacionado com os dados das colheitas de órgãos e com os dados das biópsias. Foram consideradas as seguintes variáveis, como as mais relevantes e objectivas para a interpretação da evolução clínica, tendo sido comparadas estatisticamente com os dados recolhidos, laboratoriais e clínicos: disfunção do enxerto, 207 pós operatórias, número de internamentos igual ou superior a 2 e rejeição crónica e/ou morte do receptor. Foram identificadas características clínicas menos favoráveis, a considerar, nalgumas circunstâncias: género feminino do receptor (sobretudo associado a enxerto masculino, p=0,077), isquémia fria superior a 500 minutos (p=0,074), isquémia quente superior a 90 minutos (p=0,099). Na análise laboratorial, distinguiram-­‐se duas características histológicas desfavoráveis e irreversíveis, como índice de mau prognóstico: a necrose e a balonização (p=0,029); no painel genético escolhido neste estudo,a expressão basal de IL-­‐1β(p=0,028), de SELE p=0,013)e de FAS-­‐L (p=0,079)relacionaram-­‐se com pior prognóstico. Algumas características protectoras intrínsecas dos enxertos só se revelaram indirectamente, como menor infiltração neutrofílica e maior expressão de HO1 e de iNOS nos enxertos PAF, não tendo sido possível provar uma interferência directa nos resultados clínicos. Não se obteve expressão mensurável de genes anti-­‐ inflamatórios nas biopsias hepáticas processadas neste estudo, como a IL13 e a I 4: assim, com a metodologia utilizada, não foi possível obter um perfil de expressão genética associado a boa evolução clínica. O perfil inverso foi sugerido apenas pela expressão basal dos 3 genes mencionados (FAS-­‐L,IL-­‐1β e SELE)no mesmo painel, com o protocolo seguido neste conjunto de 54 doentes. As características do receptor sobrepuseram-­‐se às do enxerto no caso de: -­‐ diagnóstico de PAF no receptor, que determinou uma maior predisposição para a disfunção do enxerto, o que, por sua vez, determina uma menor sobrevida. No entanto, o diagnóstico de PAF no receptor exibe uma curva de sobrevida mais favorável. -­‐ receptores com um baixo balanço de risco (BAR)definiram características favoráveis para enxertos com níveis baixos e moderados de esteatose, fazendo que esta característica, definida como um risco acrescido, não só não se manifestasse clinicamente,como parecesse um factor favorável. As características do enxerto sobrepuseram-­‐se às do receptor no caso de: -­‐ tempo de isquémia fria superior a 500 minutos -­‐ balonização, necrose, FAS-­‐L,IL-­‐1β e SELE em T0 A integração dos resultados moleculares e morfológicos com a evolução clínica, realça o papel da mobilização precoce de neutrófilos nos desempenhos menos favoráveis do enxerto hepático. -------------ABSTRACT: Orthotopic liver transplantation is na accepted therapeutic procedure for selected cases of terminal liver failure. The procedure has been improved, evidenced by the rise of survival rates from 30 to 70% at 5 years, but 13 to 27% of the liver grafts develops primary non function (PNF) or primary dysfunction (PDF) after transplantation. The consequences are devastating for the survival of the patient and of the graft. Its etiology is multifactorial, including factos related with the donor and with the recipient, ischemic times, surgical aggressions, as well as the histological characteristics of the graft. The ischemia/reperfusion lesion is still an intraoperative risk factor, with direct implications in the whole transplant outcome: there is a close interrelation between PNF and DF, graft preservation, ischemia / reperfusion lesion and graft failure. Beyond his, there is proved evidence that suggests that I/R lesion turns the allograft more vulnerable by increasing its immunogenity, increasing the probability of precocious and late rejection episodes. Based on the daily clinical practice at CHBPT /HCC, 54 cases of hepatic transplantation have been studied, grouped by allocation of each graft: Group (n=27):deceased do nortocirrhotic recipient, Group 2 (n=15): deceased donor to FAP recipient, Group 3 (n=12): FAP living donor to cirrhotic recipient. The histologic and molecular changes in the liver graft were observed until the end of the recipiente operation,together with its clinical consequences, evaluating:-­‐The different capacity of resistance of each graft to the ischemia / reperfusion lesion -­‐ The situations where the recipiente factos overlap the ones of the graft, in the definition of prognosis, and vice versa.-­‐ The relevance of the precocious histologic and molecular lesions of the hepatic tissue in the clinical outcome of the graft and the recipient. Needle biopsies were obtained from 54 liver grafts, 42 deceased brain dead donors and 12 from FAP living donors, at three diferente times of the harvesting and the hepatic transplantation: The first one (T0) before clamping the donor aorta -­‐ The second one (T2) in the end of cold ischemia time -­‐ The third one (T) after the reperfusion of the graft, during the closure of the abdominal wall. Total RNAwas extracted to these samples, converted to cDNA by reverse transcription and the analysis of gene expression was made for CTLA4,IL-­‐1β,IL-­‐4,IL-­‐6,IL-­‐13,TNF-­‐α,Perforin,E Selectin (SELE),Fas-­‐ligand,Granzyme-­‐B,Heme-­‐oxigenase 1 (HO1) and Nitric Oxide Sintetase (iNOS2A) by quantitative PCR, according with the Ct comparative method, using the expression of the non ischemic sample – T0. The fragments of all the biopsies were divided, to send a comparative sample to the usual histologic processement, keeping the same usual protocol at the Transplantation Unit of Curry Cabral Hospital. The presence of some defined histologic parameters, such as steatosis, necrosis, vacuolization, sinusoidal congestion and neutrophilic infiltration, was registered and catalogued in a numeric classification. The clinical and laboratory follow-­‐up, as well as the following of eventual complications, was registered and correlated with the data from organ procurement operations and with the data from the biopsies. The following variables were considered as the most relevant and objective ones, to the interpretation of the clinical evolution, being statistically compared with the clinical and laboratorial collected data: graft dysfunction, post-­‐operative complications, number of readmissions of 2 or more and chronic rejection and /or recipiente death. There were identified some unfavorable clinical characteristics, to be considered under certain circumstances: recipiente female gender (specially associated with malegraft, p=0,077), cold ischemia time of more than 500 minutes (p=0,074), warm ischemia time of more than 90 minutes (p=0,099). In the laboratory analysis, two histologic characteristics were identified as unfavorable and irreversible, associated with bad prognosis: necrosis and balonization (p=0,029); in the gene panel selected in this study, the basal expression of IL-­‐1β (p=0,028), SELE (p=0,013) and FAS-­‐L (p=0,079)were related with worse prognosis.Some intrinsic protective characteristics of the grafts were only indirectly revealed, such as less neutrophilic infiltration and bigger expression of HO1 and iNOS in FAP grafts, being impossible to prove any direct inte ference in the clinical results. A relevant and measurable expression of the anti inflammatory genes IL13 and IL4 was not obtained: with the used methodology, it was impossible to obtain a gene expression profile associated with a favorable clinical outcome.The inverse profile was suggested only by the basal expression of the three mentioned genes (FAS-­‐L, IL-­‐ 1β e SELE) in the same gene panel, according with the followed protocol in this group of 54 patients. The characteristics of the recipient overlapped those from the graft, in the case of :-­‐ FAP diagnosis in the recipient, which determined a bigger predisposition to graft dysfunction, which by itself determines a shorter survival. However, FAP diagnosis in the recipiente depicts a more favorable survival curve. -­‐ Recipients with a low balance risk índex (BAR) defined favorable characteristics to grafts with low and moderate grades of steatosis, making that this characteristic, associated with bad prognosis, looked like a favorable factor, and with no clinical interference. The graft characteristics overlapped those from the receptor in the case of: -­‐ Cold ischemic time more than 500 minutes -­‐ Balonization, necrosis, FAS-­‐L, IL-­‐1β and SELE at T0. The integration of molecular and morphologic results with the clinical evolution, stresses the role of a precocious neutrophils mobilization in the worse outcomes of liver grafts.

Sol-gel entrapped biosystems: enzyme(s) and whole cells

In this work two different procedures to utilize the sol-gel technology were applied to immobilize/encapsulate enzymes and living cells. CO2 has reached levels in the atmosphere that make it a pollutant. New methods to utilize this gas to obtain products of added value can be very important, both from an environmentally point of view and from an economic standpoint. The first goal of this work was to study the first reaction of a sequential, three-step, enzymatic process that carries out the conversion of CO2 to methanol. Of the three oxidoreductases involved, our focus was on formate dehydrogenase (FateDH) that converts CO2 to formate. This reaction requires the presence of the cofactor β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in reduced form (NADH). The cofactor is expensive and unstable. Our experiments were directed towards generating NADH from its oxidized form (NAD+), using glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). The formation of NADH from NAD+ in aqueous medium was studied with both free and sol-gel entrapped GDH. This reaction was then followed by the conversion of CO2 to formate, catalysed by free or sol-gel entrapped FateDH. The quantification of NADH/NAD+ was made using UV/Vis spectroscopy. Our results showed that it was possible to couple the GDH-catalyzed generation of the cofactor NADH with the FateDH-catalyzed conversion of CO2, as confirmed by the detection of formate in the medium, using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The immobilization of living cells can be advantageous from the standpoint of ease of recovery, reutilization and physical separation from the medium. Also dead cells may not always exhibit enzymatic activities found with living cells. In this work cell encapsulation was performed using Escherichia coli bacteria. To reduce toxicity for living organisms, the sol-gel method was different than for enzymes, and involved the use of aqueous-based precursors. Initial encapsulation experiments and viability tests were carried out with E. coli K12. Our results showed that sol-gel entrapment of the cells was achieved, and that cell viability could be increased with additives, namely betaine that led to greater viability improvement and was selected for further studies. For an approach to “in-cell” Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments, the expression of the protein ctCBM11 was performed in E. coli BL21. It was possible to obtain an NMR signal from the entrapped cells, a considerable proportion of which remained alive after the NMR experiments. However, it was not possible to obtain a distinctive NMR signal from the target protein to distinguish it from the other proteins in the cell.

Eutanásia ativa

Euthanasia, especially the active one, has always been an extremely discussed subject, which goes further pure dogmatics and transcends the strictly legal field. A reflection about such issue makes us re-think on what it implies for all the involved without ever loosing sight of the fact that admitting a legalization is, in a legal system as ours, to admit the lack of punishment of an homicide act or an assistance to suicide. However, burying in mind the foreign experiences, isn’t there a possibility of working on a path that respects both the basis of our legal system and the rest of the interests involved? And what interests would those be? How to admit such a path? Based on what assumptions? The present study proposes a discovery of paths and not the search for dead ends, creating definitive answers. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the existing structure of the Portuguese legal system on these matters, in a path that is until now mostly in favour of punishment, based on homicide or assisted suicide crimes. Along with the Portuguese dynamic, we want to analyse legal systems that opted by decriminalization and, based on those experiences, shared with our legal culture, scan the viability of a decriminalization procedure. What paths would be viable for such a decriminalization in Portuguese criminal territory? The scope is only to open the eyes of who always wanted to keep them shut, or to who just never tried to open them, because at the end of the day it will always be a discussion that we want to keep light up, since that what we are here discussing is life. We want discussion, not imposition.