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Utero-placental expression and functional implications of HSD11B1 and HSD11B2 in canine pregnancy
No full textApart from being stress mediators, glucocorticoids modulate the feto-maternal interface during the induction of parturition. In the dog, the prepartum rise of cortisol in the maternal circulation appears to be erratic, and information about its contribution to the prepartum luteolytic cascade is scarce. However, the local placental upregulation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR/NR3C1) at term led to the hypothesis that species-specific regulatory mechanisms might apply to the involvement of cortisol in canine parturition. Therefore, here, we assessed the canine uterine/utero-placental spatio-temporal expression of hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11B1; reduces cortisone to cortisol), and -2 (HSD11B2; oxidizes cortisol to the inactive cortisone). Both enzymes were detectable throughout pregnancy, their transcriptional levels were elevated following implantation, with a strong increase in HSD11B2 post-implantation (days 18-25 of pregnancy), and in HSD11B1 at mid-gestation (days 35-40) (P<0.05).”. Interestingly, when compared pairwise, HSD11B2 transcripts were higher during post-implantation, whereas HSD11B1 dominated during mid-gestation and luteolysis (P<0.05). A custom-made species-specific antibody generated against HSD11B2 confirmed its decreased expression at prepartum luteolysis. Moreover, in mid-pregnant dogs treated with aglepristone, HSD11B1 was significantly higher than -2 (P<0.05). HSD11B2 (protein and transcript) was localized mostly in the syncytiotrophoblast, whereas HSD11B1 mRNA was mainly localized in cytotrophoblast cells. Finally, in a functional approach using placental microsomes, a reduced conversion capacity to deactivate cortisol into cortisone was observed during prepartum luteolysis, fitting well with the diminished HSD11B2 levels. In particular, the latter findings support the presence of local increased cortisol availability at term in the dog, contrasting with an enhanced inactivation of cortisol during early pregnancy
Ferragudo, vila vigia do Arade. A arquitetura de um promontório
No full textSujeito às imposições da atividade turística, o litoral algarvio tem sofrido um crescente processo de
globalização e banalização dos seus destinos turísticos em deterioramento da conservação das
particularidades físicas e sociais que caracterizam os lugares que tanto cativaram os olhares exteriores.
Deste modo, tem-se refletido sobre a metodologias a adotar para atingir o equilíbrio entre o crescimento
destes núcleos turísticos e a conservação da sua essência identitária.
Passados 504 anos desde a sua fundação, a vila de Ferragudo, fundada sobre um promontório na
embocadura do rio Arade, é das últimas vilas algarvias a conservar elementos do seu passado histórico e
momentos de relação com a paisagem natural, o que lhe tem permitido revelar a sua essência identitária
e, por conseguinte, o seu carácter de vila piscatória. Desta maneira, Ferragudo trona-se objeto de estudo
da presente dissertação.
Com o intuito de produzir um documento capaz de informar e orientar o futuro crescimento da vila,
impedindo a deturpação da sua essência, pretende-se investigar, registar e documentar a sua evolução
urbana, assim como, propor uma intervenção de arquitetura capaz de solucionar as lacunas, revelar e
conservar os lugares, ambientes e edifícios que caracterizam a vila, constituindo, assim, uma hipótese de
conservação da essência identitária de Ferragudo.
ABSTRACT:
Subject to the demands of tourism, the Algarve coastline has experienced an increasing process of
globalization and commodification of its tourist destinations, which has led to the deterioration of the
physical and social characteristics that define the places that once attracted external attention. As a result,
there has been ongoing reflection on the methodologies to be adopted in order to strike a balance
between the expansion of these tourist centers and the preservation of their identity.
Five hundred and four years after its foundation, the village of Ferragudo, established on a promontory at
the mouth of the Arade River, remains one of the last Algarvian villages to retain elements of its historical
heritage and its connection with the natural landscape. This has allowed it to preserve its essential identity
and, consequently, its character as a fishing village. As such, Ferragudo serves as the subject of this
dissertation.
The objective of this research is to produce a document that can inform and guide the future development
of the village, preventing the distortion of its inherent character. The aim is to investigate, record, and
document its urban evolution, as well as propose an architectural intervention that addresses current
gaps, reveals, and conserves the significant places, environments, and buildings that define the village,
thus presenting a framework for the conservation of Ferragudo´s identity
Operating Parabolic Troughs with Molten Salt: Solar field Optimisation and Ternary Salt Properties
No full textVarious test results from operation since October 2021 at the Évora Molten Salt Platform (EMSP) with ternary HTF-salt are discussed. A focus is on solar pre-heating of receivers, collector improvements and testing of the ternary salt for its physical properties and its chemical stability for operation up to 500 °C
Fertility of high-producing multiparous lactating dairy cows inseminated with fresh or frozen sex-sorted Y-chromosome bearing semen from Angus bulls
No full textThe objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of artificial insemination (AI) with fresh or frozen sex-sorted semen on pregnancies per AI (P/AI) in high producing dairy cows. Multiparous cows were submitted to a Presynch-Ovsynch protocol to receive their first postpartum AI or to an Ovsynch protocol to receive their second and greater service. On the day of AI, cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: 1) receive AI with frozen conventional semen (CONV), 2) receive AI with frozen sex-sorted Y-chromosome bearing semen (SS-Frozen), or 3) receive AI with fresh sex-sorted Y-chromosome bearing semen (SS-Fresh). Semen from Angus bulls was used. Conventional semen was used at a concentration of 25 × 106 sperm cells per straw, while both sex-sorted treatments were prepared at 4 × 106 sperm cells per straw. At 32 d after AI, P/AI did not differ between cows receiving AI with CONV and SS-Fresh but was less for cows receiving AI with SS-Frozen (41.2 % vs 39.7 % vs 32.6 %, respectively). Calving per AI followed a similar pattern of the P/AI at 32 d. The proportion of male calves at calving was greater for cows inseminated with sex-sorted semen (91.4 % and 92.3 % for SS-Fresh and SS-Frozen, respectively) compared to cows inseminated with CONV semen (57.4 %). In conclusion, insemination with fresh sex-sorted semen resulted in P/AI comparable to conventional frozen-thawed semen, while insemination with frozen sex-sorted semen resulted in reduced fertility. As expected, the use of sex-sorted Y-chromosome-bearing semen increased the proportion of male beef-on-dairy calves born
Estratégias para melhorar a gestão do colostro e a avaliação da transferência de imunidade passiva em vitelos leiteiros
No full textColostrum management is essential to ensure an adequate transfer of passive immunity (TPI) to all dairy calves. It is equally important to routinely assess TPI in order to make the necessary corrections in colostrum management and to identify animals with lower levels of passive immunity, which are consequently more susceptible and therefore require more attention. This study aims to evaluate and improve strategies related to colostrum management and TPI on dairy farms. From 2020 to 2024, data and biological material (colostrum, blood and saliva) were collected from dairy farms in the Alentejo region. This information has led to the formulation of five chapters distributed according to their general objective. Variation in colostrum quality and its determinants were evaluated on dairy farms in Alentejo, a southern region of Portugal. Colostrum quality was assessed by Brix refractometry, which served as an indicator of total protein content, and by the microbiological composition, which served as an indicator of the hygiene practices during colostrum handling. A prevalence of 28.6% of poor-quality colostrum was observed and the main contributing factors were identified. It was also found that a significant percentage of calves (43%) received colostrum of poor microbiological quality. The factors involved in TPI were investigated and predictive models were developed. To test for association with serum IgG levels, calf, calving and colostrum data were collected. A good TPI (IgG ≥ 18 g/L) was associated with the provision of colostrum based on the calf's body weight, high microbiological quality, and the intake of a second colostrum meal within the first 24 hours of life, while the first colostrum intake should occur within the first three hours of life. The hypothesis of using saliva as an alternative fluid to blood for the assessment of TPI was tested. Given the novelty of the subject and the scarcity of information available, analyses were carried out to understand the dynamics associated with the transfer of immunoglobulins from colostrum to blood and saliva. Twenty calves were monitored during the first week of life and colostrum, blood, and saliva samples were collected to determine the chemical composition of colostrum, total protein concentration, IgG, IgA, IgM and other biomarkers of immunity, stress and redox balance in blood and saliva. The results suggested the transfer of IgG, IgA and IgM from colostrum to blood and subsequently to saliva. The transfer of immune system components was shown to be important in protecting the calf against enteric disease. A positive relationship between blood and saliva was also observed, demonstrating the potential of saliva to assess TPI in newborn calves. XV The optimisation of colostrum management through digital and instrumental applications was also evaluated. A predictive model for calf weight based on biometric measurements was developed and a web application was designed for easy application of the model. In addition, a digital Brix refractometer was tested to estimate colostrum quality at farm level, measured by several parameters and a tool to evaluate colostrum management was proposed. The calf body weight prediction model showed a high level of confidence (R2 = 0.96). The refractometer showed a high level of confidence in identifying colostrum of high-quality. In conclusion, significant advances were made to improve some of the strategies related to colostrum management. In addition, this study demonstrated the potential of saliva to assess the immune system of newborn calves, providing a non-invasive and easily to collect method that benefits both animal welfare and farm management.FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology under the Projects: Flávio G. Silva PhD grant UI/BD/150834/2021 CECAV UIDB/00772/2020 https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/00772/2020) MED UIDB/05183 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/05183/2020; https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/05183/2020) and CHANGE (https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0121/2020)
Design para a educação: estratégia de comunicação visual e interativa no apoio ao combate da desflorestação
No full textA desflorestação é um dos graves problemas ambientais que afetam
o mundo. Uma das principais causas são os produtos e alimentos con
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sumidos diariamente. Isto só acontece quando as pessoas dão priori
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dade ao uso das áreas florestais para seu próprio benefício, desfavore
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cendo a sua gestão sustentável.
Este trabalho de investigação pretende contribuir para a sensibilização
e educação sobre o impacto que a desflorestação tem para o nosso
planeta a nível económico, social, ambiental e cultural. Pretende-se
atingir o público infantil, dos 7 aos 10 anos de idade. Ao educarmos
de forma atrativa e lúdica as crianças, o futuro da humanidade, é mais
fácil dos mesmos crescerem com esses princípios e saberem distinguir
os produtos certos dos inadequados, ajudarem a proteger as espécies
ameaçadas e, consequentemente, ajudarem a aliviar o problema at
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ravés das suas escolhas.
As metodologias usadas no processo de investigação são qualitativas
mistas. A etapa passiva é composta por uma observação indireta onde
são analisados casos de estudo e é realizada a revisão de literatura.
Num segundo momento, é executada uma etapa ativa, onde o objetivo
é trabalhar no projeto, analisar os grupos de foco e recorrer a real
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ização de testes do protótipo inicial.
Verificou-se que é fundamental educar a mudar os hábitos de con
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sumo da população através de estratégias para permitir que as cri
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anças coloquem em prática comportamentos ambientalmente corre
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tos. Em suma, ainda existe sobrevalorização dos produtos florestais e
falta de informação relativamente a esta problemática. O nosso papel
enquanto designers, nesta temática, pode contribuir para a redução
do problema; - Title Design for Education: Visual and Interactive Communication
Strategy in Support to Combat Deforestation
Abstract:
Deforestation is a severe environmental problem that affect the earth.
One of the main causes is the products and food consumed daily. This
only happens when people prioritize using forest areas for their bene
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fit, disfavoring their sustainable management.
This research work intends to educate and create awareness about de
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forestation’s impact on our planet at an economic, social, environmen
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tal, and cultural level. It is intended to reach children from 7 to 10 years
old. By educating children, the future of humanity, in an attractive and
playful way makes it easier for them to grow up with these principles
and know how to distinguish the right products from the most inappro
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priate ones, succor protection to endangered species, hence easing
the problem through their choices.
This project is developed through a qualitative mixed method. There
is a passive stage, where an indirect observation is going to occur
through case studies analysis and literature review. Afterwards there is
an active stage with the intention to work on the project by focus group
analysis and prototype testing.
It was verified that it’s fundamental to educate to change the popula
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tion’s consumption habits through strategies to allow children to put
into practice environmentally correct behaviors. In short, there is still
an overvaluation of forest products and a need for more information
regarding this issue. Our role as designers in this theme can contribute
to reducing the problem
How to Enhance Students’ Self-Regulation
No full textCritical thinking (CrT) is a fundamental competence, widely recognized
as essential for students to learn and become better professionals in the
future. Critical thinking, as conceptualized under the Think4Jobs
ERASMUS+ project, is a purposeful mental process driven by conscious,
dynamic, self-directed, self-monitored, self-corrective thinking,
sustained by disciplinary and procedural knowledge as well as
metacognition. CrT results from the complex interaction of a set of traits, driven by purpose and self-regulation, allowing the thinker to interpret, analyze, evaluate, infer, and explain different problems or situations arising in personal or professional life. Self-regulation, understood as the ability to self-monitor and self-correct one’s thinking or action (implying a regular intentional and adaptive process), is an attitudinal skill highly praised by professionals in the healthcare sector. Based on a personal drive for ongoing professional development and guarantee of service quality, self-regulation is considered a critical requirement for those in health professions. When facing a clinical situation, self-regulation skill drives self-reflection and questions the decision-making pathways into a proposed solution, both contributing to metacognition. However, the development of self-regulation competencies must initiate ahead of the entrance of students and trainees into the labor market. In parallel to the opportunity to enhance undergraduates’ self-regulation, the growing competence will furthermore foster motivation and engagement with learning, adaptiveness to changing environments, independence, and creativity in approaching complex tasks. Students with well-developed self-regulation competencies will be prone to robust decisions and successful actions. As well as many other traits and habits, the ability to engage in self-regulation is modulated by several psychological or motivational factors that, when not conveniently addressed, may hinder skill development. This chapter intends to discuss the most critical factors affecting the growth of self-regulation in Higher Education students, particularly in Veterinary Medicine, reflect on possible measures to mitigate them, and share possible learning strategies
(including assessment methods) supporting the development of selfregulated learning skills in university students.This work has been supported by the “Critical Thinking for Successful Jobs -Think4Jobs” Project, with the reference number 2020-1-EL01-KA203078797, funded by the European Commission/EACEA, through the ERASMUS+ Programme
O SEGUNDO INTEGRALISMO LUSITANO E O SALAZARISMO: ORIGENS, DECADÊNCIA E QUEDA
No full textHistória da origens, ascensão e queda do Integralismo Lusitano
Contributos do Biofeedback para promoção da Saúde Mental em Estudantes Universitários
No full textA ansiedade e a depressão nos alunos do ensino superior têm vindo a aumentar, motivando a investigação da sua etiologia, sintomatologia e estratégias de intervenção, com destaque para o uso do Biofeedback (BFB). Este trabalho integra dois estudos. O primeiro, quantitativo, envolveu 126 estudantes e analisou a sintomatologia psicológica em relação a variáveis sociodemográficas. O segundo, quasi-experimental, avaliou o impacto de um programa de BFB em 18 estudantes, divididos em dois grupos: um experimental, com oito sessões de BFB, e um de controlo. Os resultados do primeiro estudo indicaram que ser do género feminino, residir longe da universidade e ser mais jovem está associado a níveis mais elevados de ansiedade e depressão. No segundo estudo, o grupo experimental apresentou, após a intervenção, uma redução da ansiedade e da depressão, enquanto o grupo de controlo registou um agravamento dos sintomas. O BFB revelou-se, assim, uma ferramenta eficaz no apoio à gestão emocional dos estudantes. Contributions of Biofeedback to the Promotion of Mental Health in University Students - Abstract:
Anxiety and depression in higher education students have been on the rise, prompting research into their etiology, symptoms and intervention strategies, with an emphasis on the use of Biofeedback (BFB). This study comprises two studies. The first, quantitative, involved 126 students and analyzed psychological symptomatology in relation to sociodemographic variables. The second, quasi-experimental, evaluated the impact of a BFB program on 18 students, divided into two groups: an experimental group, with eight BFB sessions, and a control group. The results of the first study indicated that being female, living away from university and being younger were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. In the second study, the experimental group showed a reduction in anxiety and depression after the intervention, while the control group experienced a worsening of symptoms. The BFB thus proved to be an effective tool in supporting students' emotional management
Modo de produção convencional e biológico de vinhas: impacto no microbioma de uvas das castas Viognier e Touriga Nacional na região Alentejo
No full textEste estudo analisou e comparou a microbiota das uvas das castas Viognier (branca)
e Touriga Nacional (tinta), cultivadas em modos biológico e convencional na região do
Alentejo, Portugal. O estudo também investigou a microbiota do solo onde a casta Viognier
foi plantada. O foco principal foi identificar diferenças e semelhanças nas comunidades
microbianas entre os métodos de produção e em diferentes estágios de maturação das uvas
(pintor e colheita), utilizando sequenciação de nova geração (NGS). A pesquisa pretendeu
avaliar o potencial impacto que a microbiota da uva tem no ambiente vitivinícola. Os
resultados mostraram a potencial importância do modo de produção biológica na
preservação da saúde do solo e da uva, além de poder vir influenciar nas qualidades
organoléticas do vinho
A pesquisa visa ampliar o conhecimento sobre o impacto do modo de produção na
microbiota, trazendo implicações práticas para a viticultura e produção sustentável de vinhos
de alta qualidade; - Conventional and organic production methods of vineyards: impact on
the microbiota of grapes from the Viognier and Touriga Nacional
varieties in the Alentejo region -
Abstract:
This study analyzed and compared the microbiota of Viognier (white) and Touriga
Nacional (red) grape varieties, cultivated using both organic and conventional methods in
the Alentejo region of Portugal. The study also examined the microbiota of the soil where
Viognier was grown. The main focus was to identify differences and similarities in microbial
communities between production methods and at different stages of grape maturation
(veraison and harvest), using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The research aimed to
assess the potential impact of grape microbiota on the wine environment. Results highlighted
the importance of organic production in preserving soil and grape health, potentially
influencing the organoleptic qualities of wine.
The study seeks to enhance understanding of how production methods affect
microbiota, providing practical implications for viticulture and the sustainable production of
high-quality wines