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Application of indoor greenhouses in the production of thermal energy in circular buildings
No full textThe production of thermal energy in buildings using internal greenhouses makes it possible to obtain substantial gains in energy consumption and, at the same time, contribute to improving occupants' thermal comfort (TC) levels. This article proposes a study on the producing and transporting of renewable thermal energy in a circular auditorium equipped with an enveloping semi-circular greenhouse. The numerical study is based on software that simulates the building geometry and the building thermal response (BTR) numerical model and assesses the TC level and indoor air quality (IAQ) provided to occupants in spaces ventilated by the proposed system. The building considered in this study is a circular auditorium constructed from three semi-circular auditoriums supplied with internal semi-circular greenhouses. Each of the semi-circular auditoriums faces south, northeast, and northwest, respectively. The semi-circular auditoriums are occupied by 80 people each: the one facing south throughout the day, while the one facing northeast is only occupied in the morning, and the one facing northwest is only occupied in the afternoon. The south-facing semi-circular greenhouse is used by itself to heat all three semi-circular auditoriums. The other two semi-circular greenhouses are only used to heat the interior space of the greenhouse. It was considered that the building is located in a Mediterranean-type climate and subject to the typical characteristics of clear winter days. The results allow us to verify that the proposed heating system, in which the heat provided to the occupied spaces is generated only in the semi-circular greenhouse facing south, can guarantee acceptable TC conditions for the occupants throughout the occupancy cycle
Bridging the ESG data gap: transparent metrics and rankings for emerging financial markets
No full textEnvironmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance has become a pivotal driver of firm valuation, investment flows, and capital market stability and a critical dimension of corporate sustainability and investor decision-making. Yet, emerging markets face structural barriers to standardized ESG measurement due to limited data availability and inconsistent disclosures. This study addresses this gap by developing a simplified, transparent and indicator-based ESG assessment model tailored to the Moroccan capital market using publicly available data from 20 companies listed in the MASI ESG Index on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. The framework evaluates 12 equally weighted indicators across environmental, social, and governance pillars, and employs the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method, to generate firm-level ESG scores and rankings. In addition to equal-weighted rankings, the model was stress-tested using entropy-based and expert-informed weights. Results reveal a wide disparity in ESG maturity: while environmental reporting is relatively advanced, social and governance disclosures lag behind. Top-ranking firms align closely with international frameworks such as GRI, whereas others lack fundamental transparency. By offering a replicable, low-data ESG scoring method applicable to other emerging markets, this research provides actionable insights for investors, regulators, and corporate leaders. The findings contribute to the financial literature on ESG integration, support the design of sustainable investment strategies, and advance policy efforts to strengthen capital market resilience across the MENA region
Utilização do jogo e mecanismos de jogo como estratégia terapêutica no idoso: evidência científica
No full textA evolução sociodemográfica e o elevado índice de envelhecimento nacional e mundial, exigem ajustamento das intervenções preventivas e terapêuticas. O consumo gradual dos serviços de saúde pelos idosos, exige uma resposta à multimorbilidade, declínio multissistémico, perda da independência funcional e de qualidade de vida. O jogo ou a utilização de dinâmicas ou elementos de jogo, têm apresentado resultados positivos na literatura, com diferentes utilizações em saúde. Algumas revisões sistemáticas sugerem o seu papel promissor e efetivo, principalmente na integridade cognitiva e funcional (incluindo o equilíbrio) e saúde mental. Este estudo pretende apresentar e discutir a evidência científica da efetividade do jogo sério em diferentes contextos no envelhecimento. Procedeu-se a uma revisão de literatura através da pesquisa em diferentes bases de dados Cochrane Pubmed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect e Google Schoolar nos últimos 10 anos
Antígona na escola. Personagens femininas da antiguidade no teatro didático de Ana Cristina Oliveira
No full textNeste artigo, procuro responder a algumas perguntas que me foram suscitadas pelo trabalho que Ana Cristina Oliveira (professora de Filosofia, dramaturga, encenadora e atriz) tem vindo a desenvolver no grupo de teatro escolar, por si fundado, Tapete Mágico, no que respeita à escolha das personagens femininas da antiguidade nas peças que escreve para – e com – os alunos. Pretendo perceber qual a receção que a antiguidade tem entre os mais jovens, como se podem relacionar as temáticas de peças de tragediógrafos gregos com as preocupações da juventude atual; e qual a atualidade dessas questões e que outras interrogações levantam.In this paper, I aim to answer some questions that were raised by the work of Ana Cristina Oliveira, a philosophy teacher, playwright, director, and actress, in the school theater group she founded, Tapete Mágico (Magic Carpet), particularly regarding her choice of female characters from antiquity in the plays she writes for – and with – the students. I intend to understand how antiquity is received by young people, how the themes of Greek tragedians’ plays can relate to the concerns of today’s youth, and the relevance of these issues and the new questions they raise
Testis transcriptomic analyses reveal the effects of an algae feed on sperm quality in senegalese sole during the breeding season
No full textThe usage of dietary algae antioxidants to improve fish reproduction is under-explored, especially in terms of the male reproductive system. In this experiment, 6 % of a blended meal of Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Gracilaria gracilis was incorporated in Senegalese sole broodstock feed, to evaluate the effects on sperm quality of F1 males throughout the breeding season. For that, two groups of breeders were fed during 6 months with the control and algae diets (6 % of control wheat meal replaced with 6 % algae blend). Every 2 weeks, fish were sampled for sperm quality evaluation, which included spermatozoa motility (CASA system), lipid peroxidation (MDA quantification), cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptotic status (flow cytometer), and DNA fragmentation (Comet assay). On a final sampling, 6 fish per group were sacrificed to dissect gonadal tissue, extract RNA and perform an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for each treatment. Sperm quality variability was high during the breeding season, including within the same month, irrespective of the diet. Cell viability was approximately 80 % during the whole experiment. Nonetheless, in specific sampling points, algae-fed fish showed higher spermatozoa protection against oxidative processes: in the 1st sampling live cells without ROS (%) were 3 times higher than in control group; on the last two samplings, spermatozoa showed half of MDA content; and on the 3rd sampling had less DNA fragmentation. No differences were found regarding apoptotic status. At the end of the reproductive season, gonadal transcriptomic analysis revealed that algae-fed fish were lacking stimuli for sperm production, both in terms of quantity and quality. This fish group seemed to have lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity enhanced by the diet but, at the same time, were facing a compensatory mechanism due to an unknown algae compound that might be disrupting DNA replication and spermatogenesis. Altogether, this study suggests that algae blends can be used in broodstock feeds for Senegalese sole, however further research is needed to understand how to use only the desirable bioactive compounds and thus obtain higher and consistent sperm quality throughout the breeding season
Emerging trends in ultrasound education and healthcare clinical applications
No full textIn this chapter, the authors explore the transformation of ultrasound training in the digital era of higher education. As the digital landscape redefines access to information and learning modalities, this chapter critically examines the integration of innovative digital tools in ultrasound education. The authors focus on leveraging technologies like extended realities and simulations, alongside the practicality of mobile applications, to enhance the learning experience. The chapter underscores the importance of evolving educational systems to actively engage students in these advanced learning frameworks. It aims to stimulate a comprehensive discussion on effectively incorporating these technologies at the undergraduate level, evaluating their impact on student learning outcomes, and preparing future healthcare professionals for a technology-driven medical landscape. This review offers a forward-looking perspective on integrating cutting-edge digital tools in ultrasound education, signifying a shift towards more interactive, immersive, and effective learning experiences.N/
A LEGO® terapia como metodologia de intervenção em casos de perturbação da hiperatividade e défice de atenção
No full textA Perturbação da Hiperatividade e Défice de Atenção (PHDA) apresenta-se como um dos mais frequentes distúrbios neuro cognitivos em idade escolar. As dificuldades de ordem académica, pessoal e social sentidas pelas crianças com um diagnóstico deste tipo são por vezes difíceis de gerir e ultrapassar, quer pelas famílias, quer pelos profissionais da Educação. O objetivo deste estudo de caracter misto é analisar de que forma a LEGO® Terapia pode ser vista como uma técnica vantajosa na intervenção dos problemas psicossociais, emocionais e comportamentais verificados nas crianças com esta perturbação. Durante um período de um mês e meio, foram aplicadas onze sessões de LT a três alunos do 5º ano de escolaridade oficialmente diagnosticados com a PHDA. A análise da informação recolhida revela que os alunos intervencionados desenvolveram melhorias no âmbito das suas competências cognitivas, sociais e emocionais. Deste modo, os resultados obtidos são condizentes não só com um nível crescente na capacidade de concentração e manutenção da atenção dos alunos, mas também na qualidade da comunicação que o grupo estabeleceu entre si (discursos orais mais ricos em termos lexicais e estruturais, veiculação de diálogos mais objetivos e melhor organizados). A auto-regulação emocional e comportamental foi igualmente beneficiada na medida em que todos os alunos foram capazes de mostrar atitudes condizentes e ajustadas ao espaço social em causa, contribuindo de forma satisfatória para a realização do trabalho de grupo. Os resultados obtidos corroboram a premissa de que a LT é uma metodologia eficaz na minimização dos problemas advindos do diagnóstico da PHDA, uma vez que permitiu uma clara melhoria nas funções executivas (cognitiva e emocional) dos alunos em causa.Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequent neurocognitive disorders in school age. The academic, personal and social difficulties experienced by children with a diagnosis of this type are sometimes difficult to manage and overcome, either by families or by education professionals. The aim of this study is to analyse how LEGO® Therapy can be seen as an advantageous technique in the intervention of psychosocial, emotional and behavioural problems seen in children with this disorder. During one and a half months, eleven LT sessions were applied to three 5th grade students officially diagnosed with ADHD. The analysis of the collected data reveals that the students developed improvements in their cognitive, social and emotional skills. For this reason, the results obtained are consistent not only with a growing level of students' ability to concentrate and maintain attention, but also with the quality of communication that the group established among themselves (richer oral speeches lexical and structurally, more objective and better organized dialogues). Emotional and self-regulation skills were also benefited as all students were able to show desirable social behaviour, contributing in a satisfactory way to group work. The obtained results sustain that LEGO® Therapy is an effective methodology to improve executive functions (cognitive and emotional) of children diagnosed with ADHD
Phylogenomics as baseline for taxonomy description: Amphibiibacter pelophylacis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel taxon of the family Sphaerotilaceae, class Betaproteobacteria, isolated from the skin microbiota of Pelophylax perezi from different populations
No full textBacterial strain SL12-8T was characterized and isolated from the skin microbiota of Pelophylax perezi, the Perez’s frog. Strain SL12-8T stained Gram-negative and formed rod-shaped cells that grew optimally at 25 °C and pH 7.0–7.5. The G+C content of the DNA was 66.2 mol%. Ubiquinone 8 was the respiratory quinone identified in the studied strain and the most closely related taxon. The major fatty acids were summed in feature 3 and summed in feature 8 and C16:0, representing 84% of the total fatty acids. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain SL12-8T within the order Burkholderiales in a distinct lineage. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of strain SL12-8T to that of Rubrivivax albus, Scleromatobacter humisilvae, Piscinibacter aquaticus, Azohydromonas caseinilytica and Aquincola agrisoli were 94.41, 94.08, 93.72, 93.72 and 93.64%, respectively. The draft genome sequence of strain SL12-8T comprises 3,115,197 bases with a 313-fold mapped genome coverage. The assembled genome consists of 53 large contigs with more than 500 bp, and the genome encodes 2,814 putative coding sequences. The analysis of the available genomes from the closest genera showed 124 core genes that reveal a novel genus-level clade including the strain SL12-8T . Analysis of the SL12-8T genome revealed the presence of the beta-lactone and terpene biosynthetic gene clusters. The phylogenomic, phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data showed that strain SL12-8T (=UCCCB 131T =CECT 30762T ) represents the type of a novel species and genus, for which we propose the name Amphibiibacter pelophylacis gen. nov., sp. nov.UIDB/00285/2020; LA/P/0112/2020, UIDB/50017/2020; UIDP/50017/2020
Year-round hourly temperature and humidity sensor readings from arid caves, Judean Desert, Israel
No full textMonitoring microclimatic conditions in underground environments is crucial for understanding chemical and biological processes occurring in caves and their effect on archaeological, palaeontological, and palaeobotanical records. The Israel Cave Climate Project (ICCP) dataset provides high-resolution microclimatic data from twelve caves across three climate zones — Desert, Steppe, and Mediterranean — measured during 2019–2021 using a uniform protocol. All twelve are natural karstic caves containing diverse, rich, and typically multi-period archaeological records. Within each cave, hourly air temperature and relative humidity measurements were recorded over a year, and these data are presented here in full. The physical and speleological characteristics of the studied caves and the content and nature of their archaeological records are also detailed. The combined high-resolution datasets, incorporating speleological, climatological, and archaeological records, provide unparalleled raw data valuable for studying cave environments, particularly cave archaeology, site formation processes, and preservation and conservation of ancient material and bioarchaeological records
Impacto da cirurgia bariátrica e o potencial papel da metformina na sarcopenia
No full textA obesidade é uma doença que resulta de vários fatores e assola um grande número de pessoas, sendo considerada uma epidemia a nível mundial, com repercussões na qualidade de vida e comorbilidades associadas. Um dos tratamentos com eficácia comprovada no tratamento da obesidade é a cirurgia bariátrica. A redução da massa gorda após a cirurgia aporta grandes benefícios para o indivíduo, incluindo a remissão de comorbilidades como a diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Por outro lado, após a cirurgia bariátrica há também a perda de massa magra. A sarcopenia é uma doença associada à perda de função da massa muscular e à perda de massa magra, sendo a obesidade sarcopénica a junção desta perda de massa com a massa gorda aumentada. Assim, os objetivos deste trabalho são responder às seguintes três questões:
• Em pacientes adultos obesos sujeitos à cirurgia bariátrica, poderá surgir a sarcopenia como resultado da intervenção cirúrgica?
• Os obesos sarcopénicos sujeitos a esta cirurgia terão uma recuperação diferente dos que não apresentam a sarcopenia previamente?
• Há evidências científicas de que a metformina poderá prevenir e/ou tratar a sarcopenia?
O método utilizado para responder a estas questões foi a realização de uma revisão sistemática, dividida em duas questões de investigação: 1) relação entre a cirurgia bariátrica e a sarcopenia; 2) relação entre a metformina e a sarcopenia, visto que não foi possível encontrar resultados que englobassem as respostas aos objetivos de investigação.
Nos resultados apresentados não parece existir relação entre a cirurgia bariátrica e o desenvolvimento de sarcopenia, nem a obesidade sarcopénica parece influenciar o resultado da cirurgia bariátrica, no entanto, os trabalhos selecionados apresentam várias limitações. Quanto à metformina, é consensual o seu papel como um agente protetor da sarcopenia e outras doenças relacionadas com a idade, mas será também necessária mais investigação neste campo.
Conclui-se que este tema carece de mais investigação, com grupos de estudo com um maior número de indivíduos e com protocolos bem definidos relativamente à sarcopenia, para assim se auferir a relação entre a sarcopenia e cirurgia bariátrica, e o efeito farmacológico da metformina na prevenção e/ou tratamento da sarcopenia.Obesity is a disease that results from several factors and affects many people, being considered a worldwide epidemic, with repercussions on quality of life and associated comorbidities. One of the treatments with proven effectiveness in the treatment of obesity is bariatric surgery. The reduction in fat mass after surgery brings great benefits to the individual, including the remission of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, after bariatric surgery there is also a loss of lean mass. Sarcopenia is a disease associated with loss of muscle mass function and loss of lean mass, and sarcopenic obesity is the combination of this loss of mass with increased fat mass. Thus, the objectives of this work are to answer the following three questions:
• In obese adult patients undergoing bariatric surgery, can sarcopenia develop because of the surgical intervention?
• Will sarcopenic obese patients who undergo this surgery have a different recovery than those who do not previously have sarcopenia?
• Is there scientific evidence that metformin can prevent and/or treat sarcopenia?
The method used to answer these questions was to do a systematic review, divided into two research questions: 1) relationship between bariatric surgery and sarcopenia; 2) relationship between metformin and sarcopenia, because it was not possible to find results that incorporate the responses to the research objectives.
In the results presented, there seems to be no relationship between bariatric surgery and the development of sarcopenia, even does sarcopenic obesity seem to influence the outcome of bariatric surgery, however, the selected studies have several limitations. As for metformin, there is consensus on its role as a protective agent against sarcopenia and other age-related diseases, but more research is also needed in this field.
It is concluded that this topic needs further investigation, with study groups with a greater number of individuals and with well-defined protocols regarding sarcopenia, to obtain the relationship between sarcopenia and bariatric surgery, and the pharmacological effect of metformin on prevention and/or treatment of sarcopenia