Building a knowledge and learning society in Portugal: adult students in technological schools and higher education institutions

Lifelong learning (LLL) has received increasing attention in recent years. It implies that learning should take place at all stages of the ���life cycle and it should be life-wide, that is embedded in all life contexts from the school to the work place, the home and the community��� (Green, 2002, p.613). The ���learning society���, is the vision of a society where there are recognized opportunities for learning for every person, wherever they are and however old they happen to be. Globalization and the rise of new information technologies are some of the driving forces that cause depreciation of specialised competences. This happens very quickly in terms of economic value; consequently, workers of all skills levels, during their working life, must have the opportunity to update ���their technical skills and enhance general skills to keep pace with continuous technological change and new job requirements��� (Fahr, 2005, p. 75). It is in this context that LLL tops the policy agenda of international bodies, national governments and non-governmental organizations, in the field of education and training, to justify the need for LLL opportunities for the population as they face contemporary employability challenges. It is in this context that the requirement and interest to analyse the behaviour patterns of adult learners has developed over the last few years

Building a knowledge and learning society in Portugal - Adult students in technological schools and higher education institutions

Chapter in Merrill, Barbara (ed.) (2009) Learning to Change? The Role of Identity and Learning Careers in Adult Education. Hamburg: Peter Lang Publishers. URL: http://www.peterlang.com/ index.cfm?vID=58279&vLang=E&vHR=1&vUR=2&vUUR=1

Can advergames boost children���s healthier eating habits?: A comparison between healthy and non-healthy food

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Business model: What should be the strategy used by Smart Galp to implement and potentiate its value proposition in the Portuguese market?

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Can healthy eating be cool?: A study of celebrities��� impact on teens��� attitudes towards healthy eating

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Towards "green" smart materials for force and strain sensors: The case of polyaniline

Stress/strain sensors constitute a class of devices with a global ever-growing market thanks to their use in many fields of modern life. They are typically constituted by thin metal foils deposited on flexible supports. However, the low inherent resistivity and limited flexibility of their constituents make them inadequate for several applications, such as measuring large movements in robotic systems and biological tissues. As an alternative to the traditional compounds, in the present work we will show the advantages to employ a smart material, polyaniline (PANI), prepared by an innovative environmentally friendly route, for force/strain sensor applications wherein simple processing, environmental friendliness and sensitivity are particularly required.

The C76R transmembrane activator and calcium modulator cyclophilin ligand interactor mutation disrupts antibody production and B-cell homeostasis in heterozygous and homozygous mice.

BackgroundMutations in TNFRSF13B, the gene encoding transmembrane activator and calcium modulator cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI), are found in 10% of patients with common variable immunodeficiency. However, the most commonly detected mutation is the heterozygous change C104R, which is also found in 0.5% to 1% of healthy subjects. The contribution of the C104R mutation to the B-cell defects observed in patients with common variable immunodeficiency therefore remains unclear.ObjectiveWe sought to define the functional consequences of the C104R mutation on B-cell function.MethodsWe performed in vitro studies of TACI C104R expression and signaling. A knock-in mouse with the equivalent mutation murine TACI (mTACI) C76R was generated as a physiologically relevant model of human disease. We examined homozygous and heterozygous C76R mutant mice alongside wild-type littermates and studied specific B-cell lineages and antibody responses to T cell-independent and T cell-dependent challenge.ResultsC104R expression and ligand binding are significantly diminished when the mutant protein is expressed in 293T cells or in patients' cell lines. This leads to defective nuclear factor κB activation, which is proportionally restored by reintroduction of wild-type TACI. Mice heterozygous and homozygous for mTACI C76R exhibit significant B-cell dysfunction with splenomegaly, marginal zone B-cell expansion, diminished immunoglobulin production and serological responses to T cell-independent antigen, and abnormal immunoglobulin synthesis.ConclusionsThese data show that the C104R mutation and its murine equivalent, C76R, can significantly disrupt TACI function, probably through haploinsufficiency. Furthermore, the heterozygous C76R mutation alone is sufficient to disturb B-cell function with lymphoproliferation and immunoglobulin production defects.

A new way of quantifying dominant upper-limb mobility in healthy and painful shoulders

Introduction: Quantification of daily upper-limb activity is determinant in the evaluation of shoulder surgery. For a number of shoulder diseases, roblems in performing daily activities have been expressed in terms of upper-limb usage. Althought many instruments measure upper-limb movements, there is no accepted standard or widely used objective measure and no device to differenciate left or right shoulder usage. We present an objective method to measure the mobility and quantify the usage of dominant and healthy or painfull shoulder movement during daily life. Methods: 12 patients with unilateral pathological shoulder (rotator cuff disease) are compared to 18 control subjects (10 right and 8 left handed). Both SST and DASH questionnaires were completed by each one. Three inertial miniature modules including triaxial gyroscopes and accelerometers were fixed on the dorsal side of both humerus, and on the thorax. An ambulatory datalogger have recorded the signals during one day. Results: We observed that right handed healthy subjects used 18% and 26% more their dominant shoulder during respectively stand and sit postures while left handed subjects used 8% and 18% more their left side. In walking periods, shoulder mobility was quite alike for both sides. Patients affected on their dominant arm (PD group) mostly used their non-dominant side (respectively 5% and 9% during stand and sit). For the patients affected on their non-dominant shoulder (PND group), this difference is respectively 28% and 26%. Moreover, we can note that, during walking periods, a difference can be observed (on the contrary to controls). Patients used 13% and 15% more their nonpathologic side respectively for PD and PND groups. Conclusion: Inertial sensors, during long-term ambulatory monitoring of upper limbs, can quantify the difference between dominant and nondominant sides. Patients used more their non affected shoulder during daily life. For the PD group, the difference with control can be shown during walking. These results are very encouraging for future evaluation of patients with shoulder injuries since it can provide an objective evaluation of the shoulder mobility and of the treatment outcome during daily life.

Building adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change in the water sector in Cape Verde

Purpose of the evaluation This is a scheduled standard mid-term evaluation (MTR) of a UNDP implemented GEF LDCF co-financed project. It is conducted by a team of an international and a national independent evaluator. The objective of the MTR, as set out in the Terms of Reference (TORs; Annex 1), is to provide an independent analysis of the progress of the project so far. The MTR aims to: ��� identify potential project design problems, ��� assess progress towards the achievement of the project objective and outcomes, ��� identify and document lessons learned (including lessons that might improve design and implementation of other projects, including UNDP-GEF supported projects), and ��� make recommendations regarding specific actions that should be taken to improve the project. The MTR is intended to assess signs of project success or failure and identify the necessary changes to be made. The project commenced its implementation in the first half of 2010 with the recruitment of project staff. According to the updated project plan, it is due to close in July 201410 with operations scaling down in December 2013 due to funding limits. Because of a slow implementation start, the mid-term evaluation was delayed to July 201311 The intended target audience of the evaluation are: ��� The project team and decision makers in the INGRH ��� The GEF and UNFCCC Operational Focal Points ��� The project partners and beneficiaries ��� UNDP in Cape Verde as well as the regional and headquarter (HQ) office levels ��� The GEF Secretariat.

The Smiling Project: development of a new program for gait and balance training

Introduction: The SMILING project, a multicentric project fundedby the European Union, aims to develop a new gait and balance trainingprogram to prevent falls in older persons. The program includes the"SMILING shoe", an innovative device that generates mechanical perturbationwhile walking by changing the soles' inclination. Induced perturbationschallenge subjects' balance and force them to react to avoidfalls. By training specifically the complex motor reactions used to maintainbalance when walking on irregular ground, the program will improvesubjects' ability to react in situation of unsteadiness and reduce theirrisk of falling. Methods: The program will be evaluated in a multicentric,cross-over randomized controlled trial. Overall, 112 subjects (aged≥65 years, ≥1 falls, POMA score 22-26/28) will be enrolled. Subjectswill be randomised in 2 groups: group A begin the training with active"SMILING shoes", group B with inactive dummy shoes. After 4 weeksof training, group A and B will exchange the shoes. Supervised trainingsessions (30 minutes twice a week for 8 weeks) include walkingtasks of progressive difficulties.To avoid a learning effect, "SMILINGshoes" perturbations will be generated in a non-linear and chaotic way.Gait performance, fear of falling, and acceptability of the program willbe assessed. Conclusion: The SMILING program is an innovative interventionfor falls prevention in older persons based on gait and balancetraining using chaotic perturbations. Because of the easy use of the"SMILING shoes", this program could be used in various settings, suchas geriatric clinics or at home.

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9/gelatinase B) proteolytically cleaves ICAM-1 and participates in tumor cell resistance to natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Shedding of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) is believed to play a role in tumor cell resistance to cell-mediated cytotoxicity. However, the mechanism whereby ICAM-1 is shed from the surface of tumor cells remains unclear. In this study, we have addressed the possibility that matrix metalloproteinases are implicated in ICAM-1 shedding. Our observations suggest a functional relationship between ICAM-1 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) whereby ICAM-1 provides a cell surface docking mechanism for proMMP-9, which, upon activation, proteolytically cleaves the extracellular domain of ICAM-1 leading to its release from the cell surface. MMP-9-dependent shedding of ICAM-1 is found to augment tumor cell resistance to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Taken together, our observations propose a mechanism for ICAM-1 shedding from the cell surface and provide support for MMP involvement in tumor cell evasion of immune surveillance.

Building a usable and accessible semantic web interaction platform

Semantic Web applications take off is being slower than expected, at least with respect to ���real-world��� applications and users. One of the main reasons for this lack of adoption is that most Semantic Web user interfaces are still immature from the usability and accessibility points of view. This is due to the novelty of these technologies, but this also motivates the exploration of alternative interaction paradigms, different from the ���traditional��� Web or Desktop applications ones. Our proposal is realized in the Rhizomer platform, which explores the possibilities of the object–action interaction paradigm at the Web scale. This paradigm is well suited for heterogeneous resource spaces such as those common in the Semantic Web. Resources, described by metadata, correspond to the objects in the paradigm. Semantic web services, which are dynamically associated to these objects, correspond to the actions. The platform is being put into practice in the context of a research project in order to build an open application for media distribution based on Semantic Web technologies. Moreover, its usability and accessibility have been evaluated in this real setting and compared to similar systems.

The Role of Second Generation Antiretroviral Drugs in HIV-1 Subtype B and non-B Variants Harboring Natural Polymorphisms and Drug Resistance Mutations.

Cette th��se traite de la r��sistance du VIH-1 aux antir��troviraux, en particulier de l'activit�� antivirale de plusieurs inhibiteurs non nucl��osidiques de la transcriptase inverse (INNTI) ainsi que des inhibiteurs de prot��ase (IP). Nous avons explor�� l�����mergence et la sp��cificit�� des voies de mutations qui conf��rent la r��sistance contre plusieurs nouveaux INNTI (��travirine (ETR) et rilpivirine (RPV)) (chapitres 2 et 3). En outre, le profil de r��sistance et le potentiel antir��troviral d'un nouvel IP, PL-100, est pr��sent�� dans les chapitres 4 et 5. Pour le premier projet, nous avons utilis�� des sous-types B et non-B du VIH-1 pour s��lectionner des virus r��sistants �� ETR, et ainsi montr�� que ETR favorise l�����mergence des mutations V90I, K101Q, E138K, V179D/E/F, Y181C, V189I, G190E, H221H/Y et M230L, et ce, en 18 semaines. Fait int��ressant, E138K a ��t�� la premi��re mutation �� ��merger dans la plupart des cas. Les clones viraux contenant E138K ont montr�� un faible niveau de r��sistance ph��notypique �� ETR (3,8 fois) et une diminution modeste de la capacit�� de r��plication (2 fois) par rapport au virus de type sauvage. Nous avons ��galement examin�� les profils de r��sistance �� ETR et RPV dans les virus contenant des mutations de r��sistance aux INNTI au d��but de la s��lection. Dans le cas du virus de type sauvage et du virus contenant la mutation unique K103N, les premi��res mutations �� appara��tre en pr��sence d���ETR ou de RPV ont ��t�� E138K ou E138G suivies d���autres mutations de r��sistance aux INNTI. �� l���inverse, dans les m��mes conditions, le virus avec la mutation Y181C a ��volu�� pour produire les mutations V179I/F ou A62V/A, mais pas E138K/G. L'ajout de mutations �� la position 138 en pr��sence de Y181C n'augmente pas les niveaux de r��sistance �� ETR ou RPV. Nous avons ��galement observ�� que la combinaison de Y181C et E138K peut conduire �� un virus moins adapt�� par rapport au virus contenant uniquement Y181C. Sur la base de ces r��sultats, nous sugg��rons que les mutations Y181C et E138K peuvent ��tre antagonistes. L���analyse de la r��sistance au PL-100 des virus de sous-type C et CRF01_AE dans les cellules en culture est d��crite dans le chapitre 4. Le PL-100 s��lectionne pour des mutations de r��sistance utilisant deux voies distinctes, l'une avec les mutations V82A et L90M et l'autre avec T80I, suivi de l���addition des mutations M46I/L, I54M, K55R, L76F, P81S et I85V. Une accumulation d'au moins trois mutations dans le rabat prot��ique et dans le site actif est requise dans chaque cas pour qu���un haut niveau de r��sistance soit atteint, ce qui d��montre que le PL-100 dispose d'une barri��re g��n��tique ��lev��e contre le d��veloppement de la r��sistance. Dans le chapitre 5, nous avons ��valu�� le potentiel du PL-100 en tant qu���inhibiteur de prot��ase de deuxi��me g��n��ration. Les virus r��sistants au PL-100 ��mergent en 8-48 semaines alors qu���aucune mutation n���appara��t avec le darunavir (DRV) sur une p��riode de 40 semaines. La mod��lisation mol��culaire montre que la haute barri��re g��n��tique du DRV est due �� de multiples interactions avec la prot��ase dont des liaison hydrog��nes entre les groupes di-t��trahydrofuranne (THF) et les atomes d'oxyg��ne des acides amin��s A28, D29 et D30, tandis que la liaison de PL-100 est principalement bas��e sur des interactions polaires et hydrophobes d��localis��es �� travers ses groupes diph��nyle. Nos donn��es sugg��rent que les contacts de liaison hydrog��ne et le groupe di-THF dans le DRV, ainsi que le caract��re hydrophobe du PL-100, contribuent �� la liaison �� la prot��ase ainsi qu����� la haute barri��re g��n��tique contre la r��sistance et que la refonte de la structure de PL-100 pour inclure un groupe di-THF pourrait am��liorer l���activit�� antivirale et le profil de r��sistance.