Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2023-01-01"
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- A avaliação externa das escolas: entre a conformidade e a inovaçãoPublication . Serra, Lídia; Alves, José Matias; Soares, DianaNuma sociedade marcada por valores neoliberais e inscrita na globalização e na ideologia da inovação, promover uma cultura de avaliação proporcionará condições para que as escolas se afirmem como sistemas orgânicos capazes de criar e recriar estratégicas sistémicas de transformação e responsividade à mudança social. Um sistema de accountability afirma-se como uma ferramenta de suporte de culturas de escola focadas na melhoria contínua e na promoção da qualidade da educação. Neste contexto, este artigo apresenta um estudo empírico realizado em Portugal reportado à ação da avaliação externa desenvolvida entre 2018 e 2021. Sustentado numa análise documental de 60 relatórios de avaliação externa, o estudo combinou métodos qualitativos e quantitativos para compreender se existe um efeito entre as forças e áreas de melhoria e a avaliação atribuída pela Inspeção. Os resultados sugerem que uma robusta visão estratégica e a ação de lideranças mobilizadoras são preditores transversais dos vários domínios de avaliação das escolas, ainda que registem articulações débeis. Foram ainda identificados preditores indexados a domínios específicos de avaliação: resultados académicos; autoavaliação focada no ensino-aprendizagem; aprofundamento de práticas de autoavaliação e metodologias ativas de ensino-aprendizagem em relação ao domínio dos resultados; metodologias ativas de ensino-aprendizagem e resultados académicos em relação ao domínio da prestação de serviço público; compromisso com a inclusão em relação ao domínio da liderança e gestão. Não obstante, estas correlações apresentam, por vezes, níveis de consistência problemáticos. Não foram encontradas relações entre a avaliação de escola e os fatores implicando a inovação. Assim, esta surge como uma dimensão marginal da realidade escolar e de impacto irrelevante na avaliação das escolas
- Endoplasmic reticulum membranes are continuously required to maintain mitotic spindle size and forcesPublication . Araújo, Margarida; Tavares, Alexandra; Vieira, Diana V.; Telley, Ivo A.; Oliveira, Raquel A.Membrane organelle function, localization, and proper partitioning upon cell division depend on interactions with the cytoskeleton. Whether membrane organelles also impact the function of cytoskeletal elements remains less clear. Here, we show that acute disruption of the ER around spindle poles affects mitotic spindle size and function in Drosophila syncytial embryos. Acute ER disruption was achieved through the inhibition of ER membrane fusion by the dominant-negative cytoplasmic domain of atlastin. We reveal that when centrosome-proximal ER membranes are disrupted, specifically at metaphase, mitotic spindles become smaller, despite no significant changes in microtubule dynamics. These smaller spindles are still able to mediate sister chromatid separation, yet with decreased velocity. Furthermore, by inducing mitotic exit, we found that nuclear separation and distribution are affected by ER disruption. Our results suggest that ER integrity around spindle poles is crucial for the maintenance of mitotic spindle shape and pulling forces. In addition, ER integrity also ensures nuclear spacing during syncytial divisions.
- Spray drying encapsulation of probiotics and enzymesPublication . Carvalho, Teresa Bento de; Oliveira, Mónica; Gomes, Joana; Rezende, Lourenço Pinto de; Barbosa, Joana Bastos; Teixeira, PaulaSpray drying is one of the most frequently used encapsulation techniques. The incorporation of different active compounds in small capsules contributes to their protection and stability. Applications of spray drying of food ingredients are constantly being developed for the food industry due to the simplicity, low cost, effectiveness and versatility of this technique. Probiotics and other active compounds, such as enzymes, can be encapsulated by spray drying by combining various carrier materials, such as maltodextrins, gums, modified starch or alginate. However, exposure to high temperatures can be injurious to the integrity of probiotic cells or enzyme activity and can cause irreversible changes. Approaches such as enhancing pre- and post- spray drying steps are crucial to maintaining the integrity of these active compounds in the dried powders. This review focuses mainly on two major factors affecting the survival of probiotics and the activity of enzymes during spray drying, namely, the choice of carrier/wall material and drying temperature, bringing new light on how these influence post-drying characteristics of the final products.
- Role of antiseptics in the prevention and treatment of infections in nursing homesPublication . Alves, P. J.; Gryson, L.; Hajjar, J.; Lepelletier, D.; Reners, M.; Salazar, J. Rodríguez; Simon, A.Inadequate infection control, wound care, and oral hygiene protocols in nursing homes provide challenges to residents’ quality of life. Based on the outcomes from a focus group meeting and a literature search, this narrative review evaluates the current and potential roles of antiseptics within nursing home infection management procedures. We examine contemporary strategies and concerns within the management of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; including decolonization regimes), chronic wound care, and oral hygiene, and review the available data for the use of antiseptics, with a focus on povidone-iodine. Compared with chlorhexidine, polyhexanide, and silver, povidone-iodine has a broader spectrum of antimicrobial activity, with rapid and potent activity against MRSA and other microbes found in chronic wounds, including biofilms. As no reports of bacterial resistance or cross-resistance following exposure to povidone-iodine exist, it may be preferable for MRSA decolonization compared with mupirocin and chlorhexidine, which can cause resistant MRSA strains. Povidone-iodine oral products have greater efficacy against oral pathogens compared with other antiseptics such as chlorhexidine mouthwash, highlighting the clinical benefit of povidone-iodine in oral care. Additionally, povidone-iodine-based products, including mouthwash, have demonstrated rapid in vitro virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 and may help reduce its transmission if incorporated into nursing home coronavirus 2019 control protocols. Importantly, povidone-iodine activity is not adversely affected by organic material, such as that found in chronic wounds and the oral cavity. Povidone-iodine is a promising antiseptic agent for the management of infections in the nursing home setting, including MRSA decolonization procedures, chronic wound management, and oral care.
- The influence of YouTubers on children (8-12 years old): current issues and brandsPublication . Pinto, Beatriz; Duarte, Alexandre; Dias, PatríciaYouTubers have become a worldwide popularity phenomenon, and the ever-more time spent at home helped further amplify its status and relevance, especially with children. The increasing access to broadband internet, the easy and intuitive way of using it, the full control over what they want to see, the proximity to the public and the capacity to surprise and innovate are some of the motifs that make YouTubers so attractive to the youngsters. Using a qualitative methodology carried out in two sequential data collection phases, first with children and then with Youtubers, the authors aimed to answer the following research question: “How influential are YouTubers in shaping the opinions of 8-12 year-olds on topical issues?” This investigation concluded that children have YouTubers as role models, consider their content a reliable source of information and admit to having changed the way they think because of them. Although Youtubers’ influence diminishes as children grow, this study proved that they tend to adopt the views and perspectives shared by YouTubers. On the other hand, it is also an opportunity for children to learn and be aware of important topics from an early age in a more accessible and interesting way.
- End-of-life management strategies of pharmaceuticals in Portuguese householdsPublication . Veiga, Anabela; Sousa, Ana Catarina; Sousa, Cláudia; Oliveira, Manuel; Neto, BelmiraThe end of life of pharmaceutical products through environmentally unsafe routes is a growing concern in our society. However, the studies reported so far, apart from being limited in number, do not reflect the current management practices for the end-of-life management of pharmaceuticals. Published work lacks an in-depth analysis in focusing on the pharmaceutical waste in households. The present work focused on (1) performing a state-of-the art overview to compare worldwide studies and the results and (2) implementing a comprehensive survey in Portugal (n = 454 respondents). The results showed that the delivery to pharmacies was used by the majority of the respondents (72%), indicating a good awareness of pharmaceutical waste management issues, when compared to the reviewed studies. Statistically significant variables for the destination of end-of-use pharmaceuticals include gender, age and distance from the residence to the pharmacy (p < 0.05). Most participants believe that educating the population on existing structures of medication and packaging management is of the utmost importance to improve the national managing system. This is the first study conducted in Portugal; it includes statistical analysis of the data and reflects on the practices that should be adopted to reduce incorrect pharmaceutical waste disposal. These findings call upon the strategies to strengthen the pharmaceutical waste management programme.
- Toward the reconstruction of sacred medieval spatialities: multiscale analysis of the system of eremitical landscapes in southern Portugal from historical recordsPublication . Volzone, Rolando; Fontes, João Luís Inglês; Carapinha, Aurora da Conceição ParreiraReconstruction of the landscape of late medieval southern Portugal is hampered by the scarceness of physical evidence after the subsequent centuries of evolution. The aim of this article is to understand how the spread of eremitical communities in this region interacted with the existing landscape, contributing to its transformation. A multiscale analysis is carried out through the examination of historical records containing scattered data about the landscape system. This methodology is applied to a specific case study, the Portuguese eremitical congregation of São Paulo da Serra de Ossa, in southern Portugal. Although fragmentary and dispersed, primary sources from between 1366 and 1578 are useful in reconstructing the components of this landscape. Initial results show the definition of a typical Mediterranean form of settlement: “agro-sylvo-pastoral”.
- Resilience of green roofs to climate changePublication . Calheiros, Cristina S. C.; Pereira, Sofia I.A.The successful management of cities growth rely in part on the maximization of the benefits delivered by the built environment while minimizing the environmental degradation. Circular and resourceful cites are the mainstream for climate change resilience. Green roofs, as a nature-based solution, contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation through the provision of several ecosystem services. Value of green roofs can be achieved at the level of environmental (e.g., air quality enhancement, carbon sequestration, biodiversity promotion stormwater management, acoustic insulation, and noise reduction), social (e.g., esthetic integration, well-being and life quality, rooftop gardens), and economic (e.g., life span extension, energetic efficiency, energy production, real-state valorization, business development) spheres. Buildup green roof resilience maybe underpinned by the selection of efficient and sustainable components for its installation. This chapter aims at giving an overview on the role of green roofs resilience to climate change, highlighting the provision of services and the mitigation and adaption capacity.
- Iconicity in the emergence of a phonological system?Publication . Moita, Mara; Abreu, Ana Maria; Mineiro, AnaIconicity has been described as an impetus for creating sign forms in emerging sign languages and forming signs in estab- lished sign languages. Iconic signs are defined as spontaneous or stable signs that directly reflect the representation of their referent. In established sign languages, iconic signs have phonological features. Regarding the link between the motivation for iconic signs and phonological features, we aim to investigate how iconicity might influence the emergence of a phonological system along with the evolution of a new sign language by observing how the rise of a phonological system might be revealed by the evolution of emerging iconic gestures and signs in a new sign language. For this purpose, we inventoried and coded the iconicity nature and phonological structure of 200 signed lexical items collected in two moments of Sao Tome and Principe Sign Language (LGSTP) emergence: at T1 (after 2 years since the deaf habitants initiated their social meetings) and T2 (8 years subsequent to T1 data collection). In the 8 years of LGSTP’s emergence, we found a dominance of iconic signs in tandem with changes in the signs’ internal structure. The handshape is revealed to be the phonological parameter with the greatest devel- opment, presenting itself as more complex. The LGSTP lexicon reveals that iconicity seems to prompt the emergence of sign forms. However, iconic strategies remain stable across the evolution of the emergent signs and are independent of the internal structure change of the sign.
- All I do is win, win, win no matter what? Pre-game anxiety and experience predict athletic performance in the NBAPublication . Gruda, Dritjon; Ojo, AdegboyegaIn this study, we examine the relationship between anxiety and athletic performance, measuring pre-game anxiety in a corpus of 12,228 tweets of 81 National Basketball Association (NBA) players using an anxiety inference algorithm, and match this data with certified NBA individual player game performance data. We found a positive relationship between pre-game anxiety and athletic performance, which was moderated by both player experience and minutes played on the court. This paper serves to demonstrate the use case for using machine learning to label publicly available micro-blogs of players which can be used to form important discrete emotions, such as pre-game anxiety, which in turn can predict athletic performance in elite sports. Based on the results, we discuss these findings and outline recommendations for athletes, teams, team leaders, coaches, and managers.
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