A framework for fault tolerant real time systems based on reconfigurable FPGAs

To increase the amount of logic available to the users in SRAM-based FPGAs, manufacturers are using nanometric technologies to boost logic density and reduce costs, making its use more attractive. However, these technological improvements also make FPGAs particularly vulnerable to configuration memory bit-flips caused by power fluctuations, strong electromagnetic fields and radiation. This issue is particularly sensitive because of the increasing amount of configuration memory cells needed to define their functionality. A short survey of the most recent publications is presented to support the options assumed during the definition of a framework for implementing circuits immune to bit-flips induction mechanisms in memory cells, based on a customized redundant infrastructure and on a detection-and-fix controller.

Efeito pa��s de origem e etnocentrismo: caso dos vinhos espumantes italianos

Disserta����o de Mestrado Mestrado em Empreendedorismo e Internacionaliza����o Orientada por Mestre Anabela Ribeiro

A sa��de dos imigrantes em Portugal : que necessidades em sa��de? : que utiliza����o dos cuidados de sa��de?

RESUMO - Portugal, pa��s de imigra����o, viu aumentar a popula����o imigrante em 4,56% de 2006 a 2008. Assim, torna-se importante conhecer n��o s�� as caracter��sticas socioecon��micas desta popula����o imigrante, mas tamb��m quais as suas necessidades em sa��de e que utiliza����o fazem dos cuidados de sa��de. Este trabalho baseou-se no IV Inqu��rito Nacional de Sa��de realizado em 2005 e 2006 pelo INSA e analisou as popula����es portuguesa e imigrante nas vari��veis de sa��de e de utiliza����o dos cuidados. Para a an��lise do rendimento utilizou-se a Curva de concentra����o proposta por Wagstaff, ��ndices de Concentra����o da Doen��a, de Utiliza����o e ��ndice de LeGrand. Os resultados sugeriram melhor estado de sa��de da popula����o imigrante relativamente �� popula����o portuguesa (estado de sa��de auto-reportado, sensa����o de mal-estar ou adoentado, dias de actividade limitada e dias de acamamento). Nas doen��as cr��nicas (diabetes, asma e dor cr��nica), a popula����o imigrante apresentou piores resultados na asma. Foram encontrados piores resultados em sa��de entre as mulheres nos dois grupos de popula����o, mas tamb��m mais frequ��ncia de utiliza����o. Os imigrantes revelam tamb��m menor acessibilidade a consultas m��dicas e consumo de medicamentos. A an��lise do rendimento enquanto factor gerador de desigualdades em sa��de permitiu concluir que existem desigualdades na distribui����o do rendimento que condicionam tanto a popula����o portuguesa como a popula����o imigrante. Outros estudos poder��o ser considerados para an��lise da sa��de da popula����o imigrante, especialmente os que incluam os cidad��os indocumentados, an��lise das popula����es por pa��s de nascimento, os anos de perman��ncia em Portugal e as causas de mortalidade. ---------------------------- ABSTRACT - Portugal, a country of immigration, has seen its immigrant population increasing 4.56% from 2006 to 2008. Therefore, it is important to analyse, not only the socioeconomic characteristics of immigrant population, but also their health needs and utilization of health care. This work was based on the IV National Health Survey conducted in 2005 and 2006 by INSA and analyzed the Portuguese and Immigrant populations in the variables of Health and Utilization of Health Services. In order to analyse the income, the Concentration Curve proposed by Wagstaff and the Concentration Index was used. The results suggested a better health in immigrant population compared with Portuguese population (state of self-reported health, feeling sick or ill, days of limited activity and days of lodging). For the variables of chronic diseases (diabetes, asthma and chronic pain), immigrants have shown worse results in asthma. In both groups (Immigrants and Portuguese), women have had more health problems than men. Lower utilization among Immigrants was found in outpatient visits and in prescription drug utilization. In conclusion, it can be stated that the analysis of the income as a generator of health inequalities showed inequalities in the income distribution that affects both Portuguese and immigrants��� health. Other studies may be considered to analyze immigrants��� health especially those that include undocumented immigrants, analysis of populations by country of birth, years of residence in Portugal and the causes of mortality.

Welcome to the golden land: sexual and gender-based violence against women refugees from Burma

European Master���s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation Academic Year 2005/2006

Reabilita����o de Edif��cios de Habita����o Multifamiliar na Baixa do Porto ��� Estudo de Casos

O presente relat��rio refere-se ao Programa de Est��gio elaborado na empresa Teprocil, Lda, no ��mbito da unidade curricular Disserta����o / Projeto /Est��gio (DIPRE) do 2�� ano do Mestrado em Engenharia Civil ��� Ramo de Constru����es, para obten����o do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil do Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto. O tema do est��gio incidiu sobre a Reabilita����o de Edif��cios, uma vez que este �� tamb��m o ��mbito de trabalho da empresa de acolhimento. Numa primeira fase, o relat��rio destinou-se a descrever e identificar os trabalhos realizados pelo estagi��rio no ��mbito do Programa de Est��gio. Numa segunda fase, procurou-se pesquisar e estudar acerca do parque habitacional portugu��s, incentivos e programas de Reabilita����o Urbana e de Edif��cios, tanto a n��vel nacional como ao n��vel local, no caso da cidade do Porto. Posteriormente refere-se e apresenta-se todo o trabalho desenvolvido acerca de dois casos de estudo, ambos para a reabilita����o de edif��cios antigos (finais do s��c. XIX) sitos na Baixa do Porto. Finalmente s��o apresentadas algumas considera����es e conclus��es finais acerca do trabalho realizado.

TEA: Timing and Energy Aware compression architecture for Efficient Configuration in CGRAs

Coarse Grained Reconfigurable Architectures (CGRAs) are emerging as enabling platforms to meet the high performance demanded by modern applications (e.g. 4G, CDMA, etc.). Recently proposed CGRAs offer time-multiplexing and dynamic applications parallelism to enhance device utilization and reduce energy consumption at the cost of additional memory (up to 50% area of the overall platform). To reduce the memory overheads, novel CGRAs employ either statistical compression, intermediate compact representation, or multicasting. Each compaction technique has different properties (i.e. compression ratio, decompression time and decompression energy) and is best suited for a particular class of applications. However, existing research only deals with these methods separately. Moreover, they only analyze the compaction ratio and do not evaluate the associated energy overheads. To tackle these issues, we propose a polymorphic compression architecture that interleaves these techniques in a unique platform. The proposed architecture allows each application to take advantage of a separate compression/decompression hierarchy (consisting of various types and implementations of hardware/software decoders) tailored to its needs. Simulation results, using different applications (FFT, Matrix multiplication, and WLAN), reveal that the choice of compression hierarchy has a significant impact on compression ratio (up to 52%), decompression energy (up to 4 orders of magnitude), and configuration time (from 33 n to 1.5 s) for the tested applications. Synthesis results reveal that introducing adaptivity incurs negligible additional overheads (1%) compared to the overall platform area.

A Generic and Compositional Framework for Multicore Response Time Analysis

23rd International Conference on Real-Time Networks and Systems (RTNS 2015). 4 to 6, Nov, 2015, Main Track. Lille, France. Best Paper Award Nominee

O Papel da Mem��ria de Trabalho na Perturba����o do Desenvolvimento da Coordena����o, em Crian��as Com Diagn��stico de Perturba����o de Hiperatividade e D��fice de Aten����o

Este estudo pretende (1) encontrar a preval��ncia da Perturba����o do Desenvolvimento da Coordena����o (PDC) em crian��as com Perturba����o de Hiperatividades e D��fice de Aten����o (PHDA); (2) analisar qual a preval��ncia de d��fices de mem��ria de trabalho verbal e n��o-verbal, em crian��as com PHDA e comparar o desempenho entre as crian��as que s�� apresentam PHDA e aquelas que apresentam tamb��m PDC; (3) verificar se a ocorr��ncia de PDC �� agravada, de acordo com a presen��a ou aus��ncia de altera����es de mem��ria de trabalho e se estas podem ser consideradas fatores de risco ou de prote����o para a manifesta����o de PDC, enquanto comorbilidade de PHDA. Foram selecionadas 37 crian��as com diagn��stico de PHDA, com idades compreendidas entre os 7 e os 14 anos. A componente motora foi avaliado com a vers��o curta do Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) e o Question��rio de Perturba����o do Desenvolvimento da Coordena����o 2007 (DCDQ���07); a mem��ria de trabalho foi avaliada atrav��s da Figura Complexa de Rey, Trail Making Test - parte B e Mem��ria de D��gitos ��� sentido inverso. Para determinar o impacto da mem��ria de trabalho na componente motora, recorreu-se a uma regress��o log��stica. Encontrou-se uma preval��ncia de PDC de 51% e de d��fices ao n��vel da mem��ria de trabalho verbal e n��o-verbal de 60% e 80%, respetivamente, para a amostra total de crian��as com PHDA. A terap��utica farmacol��gica para a PHDA revelou-se fator protetor para a manifesta����o de PDC, principalmente quando a primeira se encontra associada com o nascimento de termo. Um mau desempenho no teste Mem��ria de D��gitos ��� sentido inverso �� fator de risco para a manifesta����o de PDC, em crian��as com PHDA. Este estudo permitiu verificar que crian��as com PHDA+PDC apresentam d��fices motores genu��nos, caracter��sticos de manifesta����o de PDC. Parecem tamb��m existir rela����es bastante complexas entre a mem��ria de trabalho e os mecanismos de controlo motor na PHDA, sendo que estes podem ser distintos quando est�� presente uma comorbilidade de PDC.

Distributed replicated macro-components

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Inform��tica

Haptic robot-environment interaction for self-supervised learning in ground mobility

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Eletrot��cnica e de Computadores

Compensating variation and the young Portuguese emigrants: A study on how to keep our own

Emigration has been a very present word in Portugal. Due to the effects of the Economic Crisis and the Memorandum of Understanding policies, we have witnessed a significant yearly migration outflow of people searching for better conditions. This study aims to measure the factors affecting this flow as well as how much the probability of emigrating has evolved during the years bridging 2006 to 2012. I shall consider the decision of emigrating as Discrete Choice Random Utility maximization use a conditional Logit framework to model the probability choice for 31 OECD countries of destination. Moreover I will ascertain the compensating variation required such that the probability of choice in 2012 is adjusted back to 2007 values, keeping all other variables constant. I replicate this exercise using the unemployment rate instead of income. The most likely country of destination is Luxembourg throughout the years analyzed and the values obtained for the CV is of circa 1.700��� in terms of Income per capita and -11% in terms of the unemployment rate adjustment.

Mem��rias autobiogr��ficas de adultos idosos : Compara����es quanto ao g��nero e ao meio sociocultural de resid��ncia

Disserta����o de Mestrado apresentada no Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para a obten����o de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Cl��nica.

Perfil imunol��gico de gr��vidas at��picas versus gr��vidas saud��veis

RESUMO: A preval��ncia das doen��as at��picas tem vindo a aumentar, em especial ao n��vel dos pa��ses ocidentalizados. V��rios fatores t��m sido apontados para justificar este aumento de preval��ncia,destacando-se o reduzido tamanho das fam��lias, o elevado uso de antibi��ticos, a melhoria das condi����es sanit��rias, bem como a diminui����o quer das infe����es de helmintas, quer da contamina����o orofecal. Alguns estudos t��m tamb��m avaliado a influ��ncia do ambiente pr��-natal no desenvolvimento de atopia e asma. Da an��lise da literatura, parece ineg��vel a import��ncia deste per��odo para o desenvolvimento do sistema imunit��rio. Neste ��mbito, a transmiss��o de atopia �� descend��ncia em mulheres at��picas, e concretamente com asma al��rgica, poder�� ser moldada desde este per��odo. A possibilidade de identificar marcadores de risco precoces para o desenvolvimento de atopia poder�� ser o primeiro passo para o desenvolvimento de estrat��gias de preven����o para os indiv��duos em risco. Este trabalho pretendeu abordar o sistema imunit��rio materno de forma a enriquecer a sua carateriza����o desde o terceiro trimestre da gravidez at�� ao fim do puerp��rio. Para al��m da explora����o de perfis celulares e citoc��nicos maternos (nos quais se incluiu sobretudo a avalia����o de diferentes popula����es de c��lulas T e B, com fun����es efetoras e reguladoras), foi tamb��m considerada a sua eventual rela����o com o desenvolvimento de atopia nas crian��as. Foram recrutadas 135 mulheres com crit��rios para serem inclu��das num dos 4 grupos do estudo: gr��vidas at��picas ��� GA (n=24), n��o gr��vidas at��picas ��� NGA (n=32), gr��vidas saud��veis ��� GS (n=44) e n��o gr��vidas saud��veis ��� NGS (n=35). Foram caraterizadas por Citometria de Fluxo popula����es de leuc��citos e linf��citos, com particular interesse nos perfis maturativos de linf��citos T e B, bem como nas subpopula����es de c��lulas T e B reguladoras. Foi ainda efetuada uma an��lise funcional, para avaliar a capacidade de produ����o de citocinas pelos linf��citos T e B. Foram igualmente avaliadas as concentra����es de citocinas s��ricas por ensaios imunoenzim��ticos. Estes par��metros imunol��gicos maternos foram acompanhados desde o terceiro trimestre de gesta����o, at�� depois do puerp��rio (primeiras 6 semanas p��s parto), e aos seis meses de idade, foi efetuada uma avalia����o cl��nica das crian��as. As mulheres n��o gr��vidas at��picas apresentaram contagens celulares mais elevadas para a generalidade das popula����es leucocit��rias e linfocit��rias (em rela����o a mulheres n��o gr��vidas saud��veis). Destaca-se ainda uma maior presen��a de eosin��filos nas mulheres NGA (p=0,0009; teste de Mann-Whitney U), que tinham igualmente os seus compartimentos linfocit��rios T e B mais ricos em c��lulas de mem��ria, em rela����o ��s mulheres NGS. Para os perfis de regula����o, verificou-se que as c��lulas T reguladoras se encontravam percentualmente aumentadas (p���0,003; teste de Mann-Whitney U), tal omo as c��lulas T produtoras de IL10 ap��s estimula����o (p���0,03; teste de Mann-Whitney U) em mulheres NGA. Tamb��m se observou uma maior express��o de Foxp3 (p=0,0002; teste de Mann-Whitney U), e ainda a diminui����o dos n��veis s��ricos de IFN-�� nas mulheres NGA (p=0,0019; teste de Mann-Whitney U), em rela����o a mulheres NGS. De um modo geral, as altera����es verificadas nos par��metros imunol��gicos de mulheres gr��vidas at��picas no terceiro trimestre da gravidez foram semelhantes ��s observadas em mulheres gr��vidas saud��veis. Comparadas com mulheres NGA, nas mulheres gr��vidas at��picas ocorreu uma altera����o substancial da f��rmula leucocit��ria, com um importante incremento de neutr��filos (p<0,0001; teste de Mann-Whitney U) e diminui����o dos valores das restantes popula����es leucocit��rias. A diminui����o nas contagens de linf��citos totais estendeu-se a grande parte das subpopula����es linfocit��rias caraterizadas. Nos compartimentos linfocit��rios T e B foi poss��vel observar uma diminui����o das subpopula����es de c��lulas de mem��ria. Verificou-se igualmente na gravidez uma menor express��o de Foxp3 em mulheres GA (p<0,0001; teste de Mann-Whitney U) e ainda menos c��lulas B CD24HiCD38Hi circulantes (p=0,0012; teste de Mann-Whitney U). Ocrreu ainda uma diminui����o relativa das c��lulas T CD4 produtoras de IFN-�� em mulheres GA (p���0,024; teste de Mann-Whitney U), e uma maior presen��a de c��lulas T CD8 produtoras de IL17 (p=0,0172; teste de Mann-Whitney U), em rela����o ao observado em mulheres NGA. Depois do puerp��rio, no compartimento T de mulheres do grupo GA, verificou-se um aumento das popula����es de c��lulas de mem��ria. Em compara����o com a gravidez, ap��s o puerp��rio o compartimento B, apresentou nas mulheres GA um aumento significativo da subpopula����o de c��lulas B de transi����o (p<0,0001; teste de Wilcoxon). Verificou-se, igualmente em mulheres GA ap��s o puerp��rio, uma maior express��o de Foxp3 nas c��lulas T reguladoras (p<0,0001; teste de Wilcoxon) e o aumento das popula����es de c��lulas T circulantes produtoras de IFN-�� (p���0,0234; teste de Wilcoxon). As modula����es das popula����es T e B desde a gravidez at�� depois do puerp��rio ocorreram de forma semelhante nas mulheres dos grupos GA e GS. Apesar de as mulheres GA manterem um perfil imunol��gico pr��ximo do das mulheres GS depois do puerp��rio, aconteceu tamb��m neste per��odo um processo de reaproxima����o ao perfil observado nas mulheres NGA. As mulheres GA com manifesta����es de risco para atopia na descend��ncia (comparadas com mulheres GA sem manifesta����es de risco para atopia na descend��ncia at�� aos 6 meses de vida) apresentaram uma maior propor����o de c��lulas T e menor propor����o de c��lulas B, percentagens mais elevadas de c��lulas T CD8 de mem��ria efetoras, de c��lulas B de transi����o e de c��lulas B CD24HiCD38Hi, e contagens mais baixas de c��lulas B de mem��ria. Na avalia����o destes par��metros como marcadores de risco para o desenvolvimento de atopia verificou-se que o par��metro com melhor desempenho foi a percentagem de c��lulas B de transi����o, com uma Odds-Ratio de 54,0 [IC 95%: 4,2-692,9; (p=0,0005)], sensibilidade de 90,0% [IC 95%: 55,5 ��� 99,8] e especificidade de 85,7% [IC 95%: 57,2 ��� 98,2]. Este estudo foi pioneiro em Portugal, e no mundo, no que se refere ao acompanhamento do compartimento linfocit��rio B circulante, abordando o seu perfil de matura����o, e em particular as c��lulas B com fun����es reguladoras, desde a gravidez at�� ao fim do puerp��rio, em mulheres at��picas e n��o at��picas. A este n��vel, encontram-se estudos na literatura a documentar a altera����o do compartimento B durante a gravidez. O presente trabalho reporta agora que altera����es, como a diminui����o do n��mero de c��lulas B em circula����o, s��o impostas tamb��m na mulher at��pica. Em suma, demonstrou-se a exist��ncia de um perfil imunol��gico carater��stico em mulheres at��picas, que sofre altera����es significativas durante a gravidez, tendendo os par��metros imunol��gicos a normalizar ap��s o puerp��rio. O compartimento T, para o qual a literatura �� mais rica em estudos e abordagens, demonstrou tamb��m neste trabalho oscila����es carater��sticas entre o per��odo pr�� e p��s-natal. Verificaram-se sobretudo varia����es nos compartimentos de c��lulas T de mem��ria, sem grandes altera����es ao n��vel das c��lulas Treg no que se refere �� sua presen��a em circula����o. Apenas a registar a menor express��o de Foxp3 nas c��lulas Treg durante a gesta����o observada em mulheres at��picas, tal como em mulheres saud��veis (como tamb��m j�� foi relatado em estudos anteriores). Apesar de muitos dos dados se encontrarem em concord��ncia com a literatura, quer no que se refere ��s subpopula����es de c��lulas de mem��ria, quer no que se refere ��s c��lulas Treg, tamb��m se encontram resultados discordantes, por exemplo documentando varia����es num��ricas nas c��lulas Treg em circula����o em mulheres at��picas e mulheres at��picas gr��vidas. A import��ncia de harmonizar protocolos e fen��tipos, parece crucial na abordagem de estudos futuros. Ao n��vel do risco para a atopia na descend��ncia de mulheres at��picas, acrescentou-se ainda a possibilidade de definir marcadores n��o invasivos para a crian��a, em particular as c��lulas B de transi����o. Estas c��lulas, cuja maior presen��a em circula����o no rec��m-nascido foi recentemente associada com manifesta����es al��rgicas subsequentes, s��o agora apontadas j�� na mulher at��pica, gr��vida do terceiro trimestre, como um elemento de risco para o desenvolvimento de atopia. Os marcadores de risco descritos, para al��m de facilmente poderem vir a ser englobados no ��mbito dos normais rastreios maternos durante a gravidez, apresentam ainda a vantagem da precocidade do diagn��stico, permitindo n��o s�� a possibilidade de preven����o p��s-natal, mas estendendo esta possibilidade ao per��odo gestacional.----------------------------ABSTRACT: The prevalence of atopic diseases has been increasing, especially in Westernized countries. Several factors have been suggested to justify this increase in prevalence, as the small size of families, the high use of antibiotics, the improvement in sanitation conditions, as well as the reduction of both helminth infections, and orofecal contamination. A few studies have adressed the influence of prenatal environment on the development of atopy and asthma. From literature, it seems undeniable the importance of the prenatal period for the development of the immune system. In this context, the transmission of atopy to the progeny in atopic women, and specifically in women with allergic asthma, can be modulated from this period on. The ability to detect early risk markers for the development of atopic diseases may be the first step in the development of prevention strategies for individuals at risk. This study aimed to approach the maternal immune system in order to enrich its characterization from the third trimester of pregnancy until the end of the puerperium period. In addition to the evaluation of the maternal cellular profiles (in which, mostly, diferente populations of T and B cells with effector and regulatory functions were included) and citokines, the relation between these profiles and the development of atopy in the progeny was also assessed. 135 women were recruited for this study, and fullfiled the inclusion criteria necessary to be included in one of the four groups preset: atopic pregnant women - GA (n = 24), atopic nonpregnant women - NGA (n = 32), healthy pregnant women - GS (n = 44) and healthy nonpregnant women - NGS (n = 35). Populations of leukocytes and lymphocytes, and particularty maturation profiles of T and B lymphocytes, as well as subpopulations of T and B cells with regulatory functions, were characterized by flow cytometry. Functional assays were also performed, to assess the ability of cytokine production by T and B lymphocytes. Serum cytokine concentrations were assessed as well by enzymatic immunoassays. These maternal imune parameters were monitored since the third trimester of pregnancy until the end of the puerperium period (first six weeks after delivery). A clinical evaluation of all the newborn children was performed at the age of six months. Non-atopic pregnant women presented higher cell counts for most leukocyte and lymphocyte populations (compared to healthy non-pregnant women). We should also highlight the increased presence of eosinophils in NGA women (p = 0,0009; Mann-Whitney U test). Again compared to NGS women, NGA women showed increased memory cells within the circulating T and B lymphocyte compartments. Considering the regulatory profiles, NGA women presented higher percentages of regulatory T cells (p���0,003; Mann-Whitney U test) and IL10 producing T cells after stimulation (p���0,03; Mann Whitney U), as well as increased expression of Foxp3 (p = 0,0002; Mann-Whitney U test), and also decreased serum levels of IFN-�� (p = 0,0019; test Mann-Whitney U test) compared to NGS women. In general, the changes observed in immune parameters of atopic pregnant women in the third trimester of gestation were similar to those observed in healthy pregnant women. Comparing pregnant and non-pregnant atopic women, an important change in leukocyte subsets was observed, with a significant increase of neutrophils (p <0,0001; Mann-Whitney U test) and the consequent diminution of the remaining leukocyte populations in the GA group. The decrease in total lymphocyte counts was extended to most of the lymphocyte subsets characterized. It was possible to detect a decrease in memory cell subsets within the T and B lymphocyte compartments, also. During pregnancy, a lower expression of Foxp3 was reported in GA women (p <0,0001; Mann-Whitney U test) and, besides, lesser CD24HiCD38Hi B cells were present in circulation in these women, compared to NGA women (p = 0,0012; Mann-Whitney U test). There was still a decrease in the percentages of IFN-��-producing CD4 T cells in GA women (p���0,024; Mann-Whitney U test) and a greater presence of IL17-producing CD8 T cells (p = 0,0172; Mann-Whitney U test), compared to the levels observed in NGA women. At the end of the puerperium, there was an increase in memory cell subpopulations within the T cell compartment of GA women. Compared with the pregnancy evaluation, after puerperium, the B cell compartment showed a significant increase in the transitional subpopulation (p<0,0001; Wilcoxon test), in GA women. Moreover, after puerperium, GA women exhibited a greater expression of Foxp3 in Treg cells (p <0,0001; Wilcoxon test) and there was an increase in circulating IFN-��-producing T cells (p���0,0234; Test Wilcoxon). The modulations of T and B cell subpopulations from pregnancy until the end of puerperium were similar in women of GA and GS groups. Although at the end of puerperium, GA women still kept an immune profile close the one observed in GS women, at this time point, there were also signs of rapprochement between the immune profiles observed in women of GA and NGA groups. GA women with atopic manifestations in the offspring (compared to GA women without atopic manifestations in the offspring at the age of 6 months) presented higher proportions of T cells and lower proportions of B cells, higher percentages of effector memory CD8 T cells, transitional B cells and CD24HiCD38Hi B cells, and, finally, lower absolute counts of memory B cells. In the evaluation of these parameters as risk markers for the development of atopy, the parameter which presented the best performance was the percentage of transitional B cells, with an Oddsratio of 54,0 [95% CI: 4,2 to 692,9; (p = 0,0005)], sensitivity of 90,0% [95% CI: 55,5 to 99,8] and a specificity of 85,7% [95% CI: 57,2 to 98,2]. This study was a pioneer in Portugal, and in the world, in what concerns the monitoring of the circulating B cell compartment, addressing not only the maturation profile, but, in particular, B cells with regulatory functions, from pregnancy untill after puerperium, in atopic and non-atopic women. Literature presents evidence of a typical change in circulating B cells during pregnancy. This study now reports that changes, such as the decrease in the number of circulating B cells,/ are also imposed by pregnancy in atopic woman. In brief, it demonstrated the existence of a characteristic immune profile in atopic women, which undergoes significant alterations during pregnancy, tending to normalize after the puerperium. As for the T cell compartment, for which the literature is richer in studies and approaches, this study also showed characteristic fluctuations between the pre- and postnatal periods. There were variations mostly in the memory subsets within the T cell compartment, without major changes in regulatory T cells regarding their presence in circulation. Only the expression of Foxp3 in Treg cells presented lower levels during pregnancy, in both atopic and healthy women (as previously reported in other studies). Although much of the data now reported are in agreement with literature, regarding either memory cell subsets or regulatory T cells, there are also conflicting results, for example documenting changes in the numbers of regulatory T cells circulating in atopic pregnant and atopic non-pregnant women. The importance of harmonizing protocols and phenotypes seems crucial for the establishement of future studies. Considering the risk for atopy in the offspring of atopic women, this study added the possibility to define non-invasive markers for the child, in particular transitional B cells. These cells, whose greater presence in circulation in newborns has recently been associated with subsequent allergy development, are here identified in atopic pregnant women in the third trimester of gestation as a risk factor in the development of atopy in their progeny. The risk factors described, besides having the capacity to easily become integrated within the normal maternal screening protocols during pregnancy, also have the advantage of an early diagnosis, allowing not only the possibility of postnatal prevention but extending this possibility to the prenatal period.

Constru����o de uma responsabilidade europeia al��m-fronteiras

The suppression of internal border controls has led the European Union to establish a mechanism for determining the Member State responsible for examining each asylum application, with the main intention of deterring asylum seekers from lodging multiple applications and guaranteeing that it will be assessed by one of the States ��� the Dublin System. Even though it holds on a variety of criteria, the most commonly used is the country of first entrance in the EU. The growing migrating flows coming mainly from Northern Africa have thus resulted in an incommensurable burden over the border countries. Gradually, countries like Greece, Bulgaria and Italy have lost capability of providing adequate relief to all asylum seekers and the records of fundamental rights violations related to the provision of housing and basic needs or inhuman detention conditions started piling up. To prevent asylum seekers who had already displaced themselves to other Member States from being transferred back to countries where their human dignity is questionable, the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice have developed a solid jurisprudence determining that when there is a risk of serious breach of fundamental rights all transfers to that country must halt, especially when it is identified with systemic deficiencies in the asylum system and procedures. This reflexion will go through the jurisprudence that influenced very recent legislative amendments, in order to identify which elements form part of the obligation not to transfer under the Dublin System. At last, we will critically analyze the new rising obligation, that has clearly proven insufficient in light of the international fundamental rights framework that the Member States and the EU are bound to respect, proposing substantial amendments with a view to reach a future marked by high solidarity and global responsibility from the European Union.

Portugal no conselho de seguran��a das Na����es Unidas

The United Nations is an international organization that was created after World War II, whose main objective is to promote cooperation, social and economic development, as well as to ensure international peace and security. The Member States are key actors in the international political system. For that reason they have strategic interests in what regards taking part in the international organizations. They see it as an opportunity to achieve those goals. The United Nations Security Council has a very important role in preserving international peace and security. It is the organ of the United Nations in which fifteen member states are represented: five permanently and ten non-permanently, being that the latter are elected for two years. Participating in the Security Council is a unique opportunity for middle powers like Portugal to promote their national interests and to increase their international visibility. In addition, they can contribute to the world���s destiny during their mandate period. Portugal has exercised his third term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 2011-2012 biennium, defeating Canada after a successful campaign carried out by the Portuguese diplomacy. This study analyses the participation of Portugal in the Security Council��s 2011-2012 biennium. It will focus the application process and election and the role of Portugal in the Security Council, especially in its the presidency and its intervention in the presidency of the Sanctions Committee on Libya. Its aim is to show the impact of Portuguese participation in the Security Council for international peace and security, as well as the geopolitical importance for the country of being part of the Security Council.