Contribution of traffic and tobacco smoke in the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on outdoor and indoor PM2.5

Traffic emissions and tobacco smoke are considered two main sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor and outdoor air. In this study, the impact of these sources on the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and on the distribution of 15 PAHs regarded as priority pollutants by the US-EPA on PM2.5 were evaluated and compared. Outdoor and indoor PM2.5 samples were collected during winter 2008 in Oporto city in Portugal, for sampling periods of 12 and 24 hours, respectively. The outdoor PM2.5 were sampled at one site directly influenced by traffic emissions and the indoor PM2.5 samples were collected at one home directly influenced by tobacco smoke and another one without smoke. A methodology based on microwave-assisted extraction and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was applied for the efficient PAHs determination in indoor and outdoor PM2.5. PAHs in indoor PM2.5 concentrations were significantly influenced by the presence of traffic and tobacco smoking emissions. The mean of ΣPAHs in the outdoor traffic PM2.5 was not significantly different from the value attained in the indoor without smoking site. The tobacco smoke increased significantly PAHs concentrations on average about 1000 times more, when compared with the outdoor profile samples suggesting that tobacco smoking may be the most important source of indoor PAHs pollution.

Surfaces contamination with 5-Fluorouracil in two Portuguese hospitals

Background - The use of antineoplastic drugs in cancer therapy is increasing due to their action in cancer cells. Carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects. Some studies demonstrated that nurses and pharmacy personnel involved in preparation or administration are exposed to antineoplastic drugs. Aim: assess 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) contamination on the surfaces of two Portuguese Hospitals (preparation and administration units). 5-FU is one of the most frequently antineoplastic agent used in Portuguese Hospitals and can be easily absorbed through the skin. This drug can be used as an marker of surfaces contamination and exposure and have been extensively discussed in other studies.

Descalcificação em microondas com ácido nítrico a 5% e RDO

A descalcificação é um processo longo que requer dias ou mesmo meses, no entanto, com o recurso a microondas (MW), este processo pode ser dimínuido. O principal objectivo desta investigação foi diminuir a duração do processo de descalcificação recorrendo à utilização de MW, mantendo a qualidade morfológica do tecido. Efectuou-se a comparação do método convencional com o protocolo com recurso a MW. Foram testadas duas soluções descalcificadoras, RDO e ácido nítrico a 5%. Testou-se a acção destes descalcificadores em osso compacto e osso esponjoso de suíno, uma vez que estes se assemelham na sua constituição histológica às amostras humanas. As amostras foram fixadas em formalina tamponada a 10%, descalcificadas, processadas e incluídas em parafina. Foram efectuados cortes em micrótomo de corrediça e corados com Hematoxilina-Eosina. As lâminas histológicas obtidas foram avaliadas por 4 observadores independentes com recurso a uma grelha de avaliação de acordo com os seguintes parâmetros: preservação tecidular, intensidade de coloração e contraste. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram não haver diferenças significativas entre os protocolos em estudo, e que a utilização de MW acelera o processo de descalcificação. Verificou-se que a descalcificação em MW de osso esponjoso com RDO (30,167) possui o score mais elevado e que o menor score foi obtido na descalcificação de rotina de osso compacto com RDO (6,750). A descalcificação em MW permite a obtenção de lâminas histológicas de qualidade comparável às obtidas com o método convencional e permite reduzir a duração do processo de descalcificação, podendo ser aplicado à rotina do laboratório de anatomia patológica.

Influence of tobacco smoke on carcinogenic PAH composition in indoor PM10 and PM2.5

Because of the mutagenic and/or carcinogenic properties, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), have a direct impact on human population. Consequently, there is a widespread interest in analysing and evaluating the exposure to PAH in different indoor environments, influenced by different emission sources. The information on indoor PAH is still limited, mainly in terms of PAH distribution in indoor particles of different sizes; thus, this study evaluated the influence of tobacco smoke on PM10 and PM2.5 characteristics, namely on their PAH compositions, with further aim to understand the negative impact of tobacco smoke on human health. Samples were collected at one site influenced by tobacco smoke and at one reference (non-smoking) site using low-volume samplers; the analyses of 17 PAH were performed by Microwave Assisted Extraction combined with Liquid Chromatography (MAE–LC). At the site influenced by tobacco smoke PM concentrations were higher 650% for PM10, and 720% for PM2.5. When influenced by smoking, 4 ring PAH (fluoranthene, pyrene, and chrysene) were the most abundant PAH, with concentrations 4600–21 000% and 5100–20 800% higher than at the reference site for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively, accounting for 49% of total PAH (SPAH). Higher molecular weight PAH (5–6 rings) reached concentrations 300–1300% and 140–1700% higher for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively, at the site influenced by tobacco smoke. Considering 9 carcinogenic PAH this increase was 780% and 760% in PM10 and PM2.5, respectively, indicating the strong potential risk for human health. As different composition profiles of PAH in indoor PM were obtained for reference and smoking sites, those 9 carcinogens represented at the reference site 84% and 86% of SPAH in PM10 and PM2.5, respectively, and at the smoking site 56% and 55% of SPAH in PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. All PAH (including the carcinogenic ones) were mainly present in fine particles, which corresponds to a strong risk for cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer; thus, these conclusions are relevant for the development of strategies to protect public health.

Prática de ensino supervisionado no 1.º e 2.º ciclo do ensino básico: a evolução das conceções sobre o ciclo da água de alunos do 5º ano de escolaridade

Relatório final apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Ensino do 1º e 2º Ciclos do Ensino Básico

Estudo dos agentes causais de diarreia em crianças menores de 5 anos no Hospital Geral do Bengo

A diarreia pode ser causada por vírus, parasitas e bactérias e constitui uma das principais causas de doença e morte em crianças menores de cinco anos em Angola. O presente estude assume como principal objectivo identificar os agentes patogénicos causadores de diarreia em crianças admitidas no Hospital Geral do Bengo.

Aplicação do Balanced Scorecard no Ramo Hoteleiro : Diferenças entre hotéis de 5 estrelas Portugueses e Espanhóis

Mestrado em Controlo de Gestão e dos Negócios

(5) ANAIS - Educação e Desenvolvimento

Publica-se agora o quinto volume dos Anais da Unidade de Investigação de Educação e Desenvolvimento (UIED) contendo as principais publicações dos diversos programas e linhas de investigação referentes à actividade do ano de 2004. Através desta publicação pode o leitor observar as valências fundamentais que integram este Centro de Investigação em educação, centradas não só na área da Educação e Sociedade, problematizando o conceito de desenvolvimento no mundo actual - com as suas vertentes no âmbito das políticas educativas, da formação ao longo da vida, da relação entre a educação e o desenvolvimento pessoal - mas também na educação em ciência, e na relação da educação e as novas tecnologias. Uma informação complementar actualizada sobre a organização da UIED, bem como dos trabalhos de Teses de Doutoramento e de Mestrado realizados no Departamento de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa com o apoio de projectos de investigação desenvolvidos na Unidade, é inserida neste volume, tal como ocorreu em volumes anteriores. O Coordenador Científico: Prof. Doutor José Manuel Matos

A interação entre Música e Dança na aula de Técnica de Dança Clássica : estratégias para o desenvolvimento da sensibilidade musical com alunas do 5º ano da Escola Vocacional de Dança da Sociedade Filarmónica Gualdim Pais

Relatório Final de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Dança, com vista à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ensino de Dança.

Elaboração e aplicação de um Programa de Treino aos alunos do 2º ano de Dança, da Academia de Dança do Vale do Sousa, com vista à realização do exame de Grau 5 da Royal Academy of Dance

Relatório Final de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Dança, com vista à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ensino de Dança.

Variações do repertório clássico nas aulas de Técnica de Dança Clássica do 4º e do 5º ano da Escola de Dança Ana Mangerição

Relatório Final de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Dança, com vista à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ensino de Dança.

Factors associated with vaccination coverage in children < 5 years in Angola

OBJECTIVE To analyze vaccination coverage and factors associated with a complete immunization scheme in children < 5 years old. METHODS This cross-sectional household census survey evaluated 1,209 children < 5 years old living in Bom Jesus, Angola, in 2010. Data were obtained from interviews, questionnaires, child immunization histories, and maternal health histories. The statistical analysis used generalized linear models, in which the dependent variable followed a binary distribution (vaccinated, unvaccinated) and the association function was logarithmic and had the children’s individual, familial, and socioeconomic factors as independent variables. RESULTS Vaccination coverage was 37.0%, higher in children < 1 year (55.0%) and heterogeneous across neighborhoods; 52.0% of children of both sexes had no immunization records. The prevalence rate of vaccination significantly varied according to child age, mother’s level of education, family size, ownership of household appliances, and destination of domestic waste. CONCLUSIONS Vulnerable groups with vaccination coverage below recommended levels continue to be present. Some factors indicate inequalities that represent barriers to full immunization, indicating the need to implement more equitable policies. The knowledge of these factors contributes to planning immunization promotion measures that focus on the most vulnerable groups.

Copper-organic frameworks assembled from in situ generated 5-(4-pyridyl) tetrazole building blocks: synthesis, structural features, topological analysis and catalytic oxidation of alcohols

Two new metal- organic compounds {[Cu-3(mu(3)-4-(p)tz)(4)(mu(2)-N-3)(2)(DMF)(2)](DMF)(2)}(n) (1) and {[Cu(4ptz) (2)(H2O)(2)]}(n) (2) {4-ptz = 5-(4-pyridyl)tetrazolate} with 3D and 2D coordination networks, respectively, have been synthesized while studying the effect of reaction conditions on the coordination modes of 4-pytz by employing the [2 + 3] cycloaddition as a tool for generating in situ the 5-substituted tetrazole ligands from 4-pyridinecarbonitrile and NaN3 in the presence of a copper(II) salt. The obtained compounds have been structurally characterized and the topological analysis of 1 discloses a topologically unique trinodal 3,5,6-connected 3D network which, upon further simplification, results in a uninodal 8-connected underlying net with the bcu (body centred cubic) topology driven by the [Cu-3(mu(2)-N-3)(2)] cluster nodes and mu(3)-4-ptz linkers. In contrast, the 2D metal-organic network in 2 has been classified as a uninodal 4-connected underlying net with the sql [Shubnikov tetragonal plane net] topology assembled from the Cu nodes and mu(2)-4-ptz linkers. The catalytic investigations disclosed that 1 and 2 act as active catalyst precursors towards the microwave-assisted homogeneous oxidation of secondary alcohols (1-phenylethanol, cyclohexanol, 2-hexanol, 3-hexanol, 2-octanol and 3-octanol) with tert-butylhydroperoxide, leading to the yields of the corresponding ketones up to 86% (TOF = 430 h(-1)) and 58% (TOF = 290 h(-1)) in the oxidation of 1-phenylethanol and cyclohexanol, respectively, after 1 h under low power ( 10 W) microwave irradiation, and in the absence of any added solvent or additive.

Halogen-bonded tris (2,4-Bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5,triazapentadienato)-M(III) [M = Mn, Fe, Co] complexes and their catalytic activity in the peroxidative oxidation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone

One-pot template condensation of CCl3C=N with ammonia on a metal source [MnCl2 center dot 4H(2)O, FeCl3 center dot 6H(2)O or Co(CH3COO)(2)center dot 4H(2)O] in DMSO led to the formation of tris(2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazapentadienato)-M(III) complexes, [M(NH=C(CCl3)NC(CCl3)=-NH}(3)]center dot n(CH3)(2)SO [M = Mn, n = 1 (1); M = Fe, n = 2 (2); M = Co, n = 2 (3)1, which were characterized using elemental analysis, and IR, ESI-MS and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The role of inter- and intramolecular non-covalent halogen and hydrogen bonds in the synthesis of 1-3 is discussed. It is shown that the crystal ionic radii of the metal ions [68.5 (Co) < 69 (Fe) < 72 (Mn), pm] are related to the corresponding Cl center dot center dot center dot Cl distances [3.178 (3) > 3.155 (2) > 3.133 (1) Al. Compounds 1-3 and the related di(triazapentadienato)-Cu(v) complex [Cu(NH=C(CCl3)NC(CCl3)=NH}2]center dot 2(CH3)(2)SO (4) act as catalyst precursors for the additive-free microwave (MW) assisted homogeneous oxidation of 1-phenylethanol with tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP), leading to the formation of acetophenone with yields up to 99% and TONs up to 5.0 x 10(3) after 1 h of low power (10 W) MW irradiation.

Insights into the mechanims underlyng the antiproliferative potential of a Co(II) coordination compound bearing 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-Dione: DNA and protein interaction studies

The very high antiproliferative activity of [Co(Cl)(H2O)(phendione)(2)][BF4] (phendione is 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) against three human tumor cell lines (half-maximal inhibitory concentration below 1 mu M) and its slight selectivity for the colorectal tumor cell line compared with healthy human fibroblasts led us to explore the mechanisms of action underlying this promising antitumor potential. As previously shown by our group, this complex induces cell cycle arrest in S phase and subsequent cell death by apoptosis and it also reduces the expression of proteins typically upregulated in tumors. In the present work, we demonstrate that [Co(Cl)(phendione)(2)(H2O)][BF4] (1) does not reduce the viability of nontumorigenic breast epithelial cells by more than 85 % at 1 mu M, (2) promotes the upregulation of proapoptotic Bax and cell-cycle-related p21, and (3) induces release of lactate dehydrogenase, which is partially reversed by ursodeoxycholic acid. DNA interaction studies were performed to uncover the genotoxicity of the complex and demonstrate that even though it displays K (b) (+/- A standard error of the mean) of (3.48 +/- A 0.03) x 10(5) M-1 and is able to produce double-strand breaks in a concentration-dependent manner, it does not exert any clastogenic effect ex vivo, ruling out DNA as a major cellular target for the complex. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy studies are indicative of a strong and specific interaction of the complex with human serum albumin, involving one binding site, at a distance of approximately 1.5 nm for the Trp214 indole side chain with log K (b) similar to 4.7, thus suggesting that this complex can be efficiently transported by albumin in the blood plasma.