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O CCTIC da Universidade de Évora: Investigar e formar para a transformação digital
No full textNeste capítulo, damos conta da ação do Centro de Competência TIC da Universidade de Évora
(CCTIC-UÉ), desde o seu relançamento em 2023. As ações evidenciadas abrangem o biénio
2023-2025 e centram-se em três eixos distintos: a colaboração com a Direção Geral de
Educação e com a Equipa de Recursos e Tecnologias Educativas, a colaboração com a
Universidade de Évora em iniciativas que visam promover a utilização educativa das
tecnologias de informação e comunicação e o apoio aos Agrupamentos/Escolas na integração
curricular destas mesmas tecnologias. Os objetivos deste capítulo são mostrar todo o
trabalho realizado pelo CCTIC-UÉ, promover esta estrutura junto da Universidade, dos
Agrupamentos/Escolas e de outros parceiros e fazer o balanço de um biénio que,
consideramos, corresponde à reativação desta estrutura e à sua integração num espaço de
investigação e formação, onde as parcerias e o trabalho em equipa assumem um relevante
papel
Digital Exclusion Among People Experiencing Homelessness and Residents of Urban Communities in Brazil: Cross-Sectional Study
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate inequalities in digital exclusion and access to online COVID-19 information among people experiencing homelessness and residents of urban communities in Brazil by using an intersectional multilevel analysis
“Experiências d’“Áfricas”: coleções de peças africanas de três artistas portugueses”
Get PDFAntiga potência colonial, são frequentes em Portugal coleções privadas de peças oriundas das suas possessoesem África. Reunidas, em geral, por membros da administração colonial, militares, comerciantes, simples colonos ouviajantes, hoje guardadas pelos seus herdeiros, elas encontram-se também em outros grupos: intelectuais, especialistas,contemporâneos de diferentes orientações estéticas - Cruzeiro Seixas, Eduardo Nery e José de Guimarăes -, atentando-se
empresários, galeristas ou artistas, entre outros. Neste estudo são consideradas as coleções de"arte africana" de três artistas
às suas vivências e representações de "Africa", aos modos de constituição das coleções e ao influxo das peças no percurso
pessoal e na obra de cada um desses artistas
C135. PERITONEAL DIALYSIS EFFLUENT-DERIVED MESOTHELIAL CELLS AS A MODEL TO STUDY ARYL HYDROCARBON RECEPTOR
No full textIntroduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a home-based renal replacement therapy that relies on the dialytic properties of the peritoneal membrane [1]. However, progressive membrane dysfunction, mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition events and fibrosis
remain major limitations to long-term PD success [2]. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand activator transcription factor that has been implicated in fibrotic processes [3], including in the peritoneal membrane in animal models [4]. Our aim was to investigate AhR activation in human primary mesothelial cells (HPMCs) and its relation to patients' clinical variables. The underlying concept is that PD effluent, collected after each dwell, reflects the peritoneal membrane microenvironment and serves as a non-invasive liquid biopsy, providing access to patient-specific cellular and molecular information.
Materials & Methods: HPMCs were isolated from PDE obtained from nine PD patients at Unidade Local de Saúde de Lisboa Ocidental (Ethics Committee approval:094/2025/CEFCM). The total volume of effluent in each PDE bag was centrifuged at 430×g, the supernatant discarded, and the cellular fraction washed with PBS 1X, pH 7.4 and plated in 48-well plates. Cells reached adequate confluence up to 30 days after plating and their morphology was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy and classified as epithelial-like or non-epithelial-like features by blind evaluation, as previously described [5,6]. Total cell lysates were prepared and CYP1A1 protein expression was assessed by Western blot as a readout of AhR activation. GAPDH was used as loading control. Associations between
CYP1A1 expression and clinical and anthropometric variables (age, time on PD, sex, peritoneal transport type, and medication use) were explored using appropriate statistical analyses, with statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Nine adult PD patients were included (mean age 60 ± 16 years), of whom 6 were men and 3 were women. Five patients were incident (PD duration <1 year) and four were prevalent. Four patients were treated with the drug class X, whereas five were not. PDE-derived HPMCs were successfully isolated and cultured from PD patients, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach as a non-invasive window into peritoneal membrane biology. At confluence, HPMCs displayed either epithelial-like (n=5) or non-epithelial (n = 4) morphologies. Most epithelial-like cultures were derived from incident PD patients (4 of 5), whereas only one incident patient exhibited a non-epithelial phenotype. This distribution suggests a possible association between HPMC morphology and earlier stages of PD, although no causal inference can be made. CYP1A1 protein levels did not differ between phenotypes. Inter-individual variability in CYP1A1 protein expression was observable (CV=20%), with an inverse correlation with patient age (r=-0.780; p=0.013). No significant associations were detected for sex, time on PD, or peritoneal transport type. X treatment was associated with lower CYP1A1 levels (p=0.039).
Conclusions: This hypothesis-generating pilot study establishes PD effluent-derived primary HPMC as a human experimental model to explore AhR pharmacology and its association with PD long-term success
Ocorrência de micoplasmas hemotrópicos em gatos atendidos no Hospital Veterinário do Baixo Alentejo (entre Outubro de 2024 e Fevereiro de 2025)
No full textA micoplasmose felina é uma doença infeciosa que afeta gatos domésticos causada por
hemoplasmas. O seu diagnóstico é realizado idealmente pela técnica de reação em cadeia
da polimerase (PCR), considerado o gold standard. O presente estudo teve como principal
objetivo avaliar a ocorrência de hemoplasmas numa amostra de 35 animais avaliados
clinicamente durante o estágio curricular, comparando a sensibilidade e especificidade da
citologia sanguínea em relação ao PCR, tendo adicionalmente sido investigada a
associação entre a infeção e alterações nos parâmetros hematológicos. Concluiu-se que
não existe diferença significativa entre a coloração de Diff-Quick e Giemsa (p = 0,22),
apresentando ambas fraco desempenho face ao PCR. Observou-se ainda que gatos cujo
estado de desparasitação está atrasado ou é desconhecido, são os mais suscetíveis a
infeção, evidenciando valores médios menores de HTC e maiores de %RDW, traduzindo
a expressão clínica destas bactérias nos eritrócitos; - Ocurrence of Hemotropic Mycoplasmas in Cats Treated at the Veterinary Hospital
of Baixo Alentejo (october 2024 to february 2025)
Abstract:
Feline mycoplasmosis is an infectious disease affecting domestic cats caused by
hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas). Diagnosis is most effectively achieved using
PCR, which is widely regarded as the gold standard. With this study we aimed at
determining the prevalence of hemoplasma infection in a sample of 35 clinically
evaluated animals and compare the diagnostic performance of blood smear cytology with
PCR. Moreover, the association between infection and alterations in hematological
parameters was also explored. The results showed no statistically significant difference
between the diagnostic performance of Diff-Quick and Giemsa staining (p = 0,22),
however, with inferior performance when compared to PCR. Finally, cats with a delayed
or unknown anthelmintic status were more susceptible to infection. These animals
exhibited lower mean hematocrit (HCT) values and higher red blood cell distribution
width (%RDW), reflecting the clinical manifestation of these bacteria on erythrocytes
Innovative techniques for the assessment of the degradation state of metallic artefact
No full textSummary:
The degradation of archaeological metals is largely dependent on factors such as alloy
composition, microstructure, and environmental conditions Commonly, these issues
are targeted within specific disciplines such as materials science, archaeometry,
conservation science, archaeometallurgy, and geoarchaeology. The topic could benefit
from an integrated transdisciplinary approach, combining different techniques and
methods. It is of importance to consider that artefact degradation not only relates to
the general soil environment of the region, but can also depend on local variations in
soil conditions within an archaeological site, and it is possible to have significant
variations within the same artefact. Additionally, the conditions in an archaeological
site are not a fixed stable situation; rather, environmental change can have a
significant impact on the future preservation of artefacts in situ. This thesis applies
several methodologies on a range of scales. First of all, a Roman site in Israel is
considered, where anthropogenic factors are influencing the local soil conditions.
Next, we assess intra-site sample variability through the use of non-invasive
techniques to identify artefact groups within an Islamic site in Spain. In the following
chapter, another Roman site, in Portugal, is studied through intra site-investigations
into local soil conditions and corrosion products, by analysing a large number of soil
and corrosion samples in combination with digital and statistical methods. Then, 3D
recording and data visualisation techniques are applied to a Chalcolithic site in Israel.
On a smaller scale of analysis, fragments from a single archaeological context from a
Latin site in Italy are studied, to interpret the variation of different corrosion products
in the same location. The next level is the investigation of artefact-scale variety in
corrosion products and elemental composition of the surface, within a 3D framework.
This is done on a Chalcolithic halberd from Portugal. A more detailed technique
follows; micro-CT is used to assess microstructures and corrosion morphology of a
variety of samples from different sites. Finally, future considerations into the
changing environments are studied, by applying environmental models involving sea
level change at a Phoenician site on Sardinia. Throughout the thesis, different scales
are used to combine a selection of analytical techniques and approaches, such as SEM,
XRD, XRF, photogrammetry, measurements of pH and conductivity, 2D and 3D GIS,
and micro-CT. This work comprises of several transdisciplinary workflows, and might
serve to improve and inspire future studies related to archaeological materials
Microscopy-Based Studies
No full textSuccessful colonization of plants by endophytes is the basic requirement for plant-microbe interactions. Thus, the study of plant colonization routes and niches has always been a central aspect in research on plant-microbe interaction. Endophytic microorganisms can be detected by several methods based on microscopy, thus allowing to investigate their behavior, their niches, and how they colonize their hosts. Different techniques can be applied, depending on the study objectives, to single strains or to more complex plant-microbe systems involving full or synthetic microbiomes. Furthermore, the use of microscopy-based tools allows us to track endophytes in plant tissues and to determine how they interact with each other and with their host plants, as well as how they are associated with various plant organs under different plant growth and environmental conditions either from natural or artificial environments. This chapter describes the step-by-step protocol of distinct microscopy-based methods that may be used to visualize and track endophytic microorganisms within plant tissues
Ship arrival patterns at the port of Sines: A comparative analysis of ETA and ATA
Get PDFAccurate vessel arrival predictions are fundamental to efficient port operations, yet their reliability remains
poorly understood. This study examines 15 years of arrival data from the Port of Sines (2009–2023) to assess the
accuracy of Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) predictions and their operational implications. The analysis of vessel
movements reveals that precise on-time arrivals occurred in only 1.77 % of cases. While 56.93 % of vessels
arrived ahead of schedule, delayed arrivals were disproportionately severe, averaging 6 h and 52 min late. The
data shows 1,623 instances of extreme delays exceeding 24 h, highlighting significant forecasting challenges.
Terminal specific analysis demonstrates marked variation in performance: The Container Terminal recorded the
highest average delay (+10:26 h) and was the only facility where late arrivals outnumbered early ones. It was
found that vessels with frequent port calls exhibited substantially better punctuality, indicating that operational
knowledge improves scheduling accuracy. These timing discrepancies translate directly into extended anchorage
periods, generating measurable economic costs and environmental impacts through increased fuel consumption
and emissions. Better forecasting accuracy could significantly reduce the operational inefficiencies that currently
outbreak container shipping operations
Monárquicos no Estado Novo
No full textEste artigo trata o problema político da restauração da Monarquia em Portugal entre 1926 e 1974
From Ink to Mockup: An Integrated Study of Historical Gall Ink Formulations and Their Impact on Paper
No full textIron gall inks (IGIs) played a central role as a writing medium in Western countries, leaving behind a vast legacy and significant conservation challenges. This study presents a twofold methodological approach to investigate the physicochemical behaviour of IGI-based formulations found in historical Portuguese sources. Fresh and 6-month naturally aged precipitates and supernatant solutions (dried inks) were characterised, and the impact of IGIs on Whatman paper over ageing was studied using attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopies and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Iron(II) sulphates comprised the primary crystalline phase in the precipitates, while the dried inks consisted of distinct Fe(III)-polyphenol (PPh) complexes. Over time, Fe(III) Mössbauer parameters supported complex structural alterations. IGI-induced degradation on aged mockups was attested by Fe(II) oxalate formation until total depletion of the Fe(III)-PPh fraction. pH, ATR-FT-IR and degree of polymerisation analyses suggested that cellulose oxidation is the primary degradation mechanism, and the physical properties and XRD corroborated that the cellulose structure became disordered over ageing. The ink with the higher weight ratio of Fe(II) sulphate:gallnuts (unbalanced) exhibited the most aggressive action on the support. The results confirm that the more unbalanced the ink composition, the more severe its impact, with ink concentration per surface area also being a critical factor in paper decay