Raízes portuguesas no design têxtil/moda

O principal objectivo deste artigo é o de documentar a importância das artes e técnicas tradicionais têxteis como motivo e fonte de inspiração para criadores e designers, que aí vão procurar as bases e as raízes para as suas criações. Trata-se de um desafio que consiste em "reinventar o passado", preservar a tradição, procurando nela as origens do design, e de desenvolver novos produtos têxteis e novas funcionalidades a partir de técnicas e saberes manuais capazes de incorporar a inovação em novos tecidos

Desenvolvimento de uma coleção para a marca Guava

O Design de Calçado tem vindo a inovar em Portugal e a sua evolução tem sido exponencial. As marcas portuguesas de calçado têm investido sobre diferentes conceitos nesta área. Destaca-se a marca Guava como sendo uma marca que estuda as formas geométricas no Calçado e reflete esta evolução, tendo sempre em conta, a anatomia do pé para um bom conforto e qualidade do produto, sem esquecer o seu lado ecológico, inerente à marca. Tomando como premissa a questão, Como se desenvolve uma coleção para uma marca de Calçado existente em contexto real de trabalho? O método adaptado consiste numa metodologia mista obtida através de investigação/ação. Esta metodologia dinâmica funciona como um ciclo de planeamento, onde a ação remete para a comprovação de fatos através do desenvolvimento de uma coleção de Calçado, onde a análise e a reconceptualização do problema é implementado e avaliado através da marca Guava

Continuum effects in reactions involving weakly bound nuclei

The relevance of the continuum effects in transfer reactions is discussed in conection with the determination of observables of astrophysical interest. In particular, we examine the validity of the Distorted Wave Born Approximation (DWBA) as a tool to extract the astrophysical \emph{(S_{17}(0))} factor. For this purpose, we present calculations for the reaction (^{14})N((^{7} )Be,(^{8})B)(^{13})C comparing the DWBA method with the more sophysticated CDCC-Born approximationComment: Contribution to International Symposium on Physics of Unstable Nuclei (ISPUN02) Halong Bay (Vietnam) November 20 to 25, 2002. To be published in Nucl. Phy.

O vestuário profissional enquanto elemento de identidade corporativa – um caso prático ao serviço do Centro Hospitalar da Cova da Beira

O presente artigo expõe o projeto de índole curricular em desenvolvimento e tem como finalidade demonstrar que o vestuário profissional (fardamento) representa um canal de difusão da imagem de uma instituição e pode ser promotor da sua identidade visual. Cada vez mais e nas diversificadas situações, o fardamento tem problemas que um designer de vestuário e têxtil pode solucionar. Conhecedores de algumas necessidades ao nível do fardamento, os responsáveis do Departamento de Comunicação e Marketing do Centro Hospitalar Cova da Beira (C.H.C.B.), comunicaram o seu interesse na possibilidade de reavaliação do caráter visual do vestuário profissional ao nível de front office, solicitando a apresentação de soluções práticas para a inexistência de vestuário profissional uniformizado. Desta forma, delineou-se como objetivo geral para o projeto, a Criação de uma proposta de fardamento e acessórios para os profissionais das unidades de atendimento (front office) do C.H.C.B. com base numa nova Identidade Visual Corporativa, garantindo o conforto no desempenho das várias atividades e funções. É certo que a imagem de uma instituição perante a perceção do público, nasce de uma quantidade de elementos que refletem os seus valores, a sua atividade e o seu profissionalismo. Hoje em dia, essa identidade não aparece só nos estacionários mas também, e cada vez mais frequente, no fardamento que os colaboradores vestem e exibem

Comparação cinemática e neuromuscular de um exercício de abdominais no solo e na fitball

O objectivo deste estudo foi comparar a cinemática e a actividade neuromuscular em exercícios de abdominais no solo e na Fitball. Quinze jovens mulheres participaram voluntariamente neste estudo. Cada sujeito efectuou duas vezes, três séries de dez abdominais com um intervalo mínimo de 60 segundos entre cada série. O exercício foi efectuado uma vez no solo e outra na Fitball. Os dados cinemáticos e neuromusculares foram recolhidos ao longo de todo o protocolo. Foi avaliada a actividades neuromuscular do recto femoral, do recto abdominal superior, do recto abdominal inferior e do oblíquo externo. Um electrogoniómetro foi colocado entre a sexta costela e a crista ilíaca (coluna) e outro entre a crista ilíaca e a zona trocantérica (anca) para avaliação cinemática. O período do exercício entre as condições em estudo não foi significativo. O ângulo mínimo da anca e da coluna lombar foram significativamente inferiores durante a execução do exercício no solo do que na Fitball. A actividade neuromuscular foi significativamente superior quando o exercício foi realizado na Fitball do que no solo em todos os grupos musculares. Como conclusão, actividade neuromuscular é superior aquando da exercitação na Fitball do que no solo

Prevalence of diabetes-associated gene variants and its association with blood glucose levels in the Algarve population, Portugal

The global rise in incidence of type 2 (T2D) has been called a pandemic, constituting a major public health concern. Although environmental factors play a substantial role in the etiology of T2D, genetic susceptibility has been established as a key component in T2D risk. Given the absence of studies regarding the prevalence of T2D associated variants in the Portuguese population, our aim was to determine the prevalence of disease-associated variants and determine its relative contribution to this phenotype. For this purpose, we have recruited 221 individuals (93 males and 128 females), between 26-91 years old (mean age 57.1), who were enrolled in the Health Centre of S. Brás de Alportel (Algarve). For each participant, we have measured total glucose levels and collected DNA. In addition, each participant has answered an exhaustive questionnaire including socio-demographic information, health history and lifestyle. We have selected and analysed three of the most significant loci previously reported to be associated with T2D in Caucasian populations (TCF7L2 rs7903146, PARPG rs1801282 and FTO rs9939609) and performed an association analysis between glucose levels in this population and the selected gene variants. The mean total population glucose level was 103.85±35.3 g/dl. We found a significant difference in the mean glucose levels between males (mean = 111.5±51.3 g/dl) and females (mean = 98.4±17.6 g/dl) (Mann-Whitney test P < 0.001). The relative allele frequencies of the genotyped variants have been established. Genotype distribution for all investigated SNPs was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We found a marginal association between glucose levels and genotypes at the TCF7L2 locus (Mann-Whitney test P = 0.045) in females but not in males, with carriers of the T allele displaying higher levels of blood glucose than homozygous for the A allele. This difference is also observed in males, although not reaching significance. No association was found between glucose levels and the other genotyped variants. These results suggest that the pathophysiology of the disease may be different between males and females, or that environmental factors are influencing this trait in males. We are currently investigating the later hypothesis by increasing our sample size and by analysing lifestyle information provided by the participants in order to evaluate gene-environment interactions influencing glucose levels in the Portuguese population.The pilot study of the Portuguese Component of the European Health Examination Survey (EHES) project has received funding from the European Commission/DG Sanco (Agreement number: 20092301 – EHES JA – EAHC). This study has also received funding from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (Project Reference: PTDC/SAU-ESA/101743/2008)

Prevalence of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and hereditary hemochromatosis gene mutations in Algarve, Portugal

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency and hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) are two of the most fatal genetic disorders in adult life, affecting million individuals worldwide. They are often under-diagnosed conditions and diagnosis is only made when the patient is already in the advanced stages of damage. AAT deficiency results from mutations in one highly pleiomorphic gene located on chromosome 14, SERPINA 1, being Z and S mutations the most relevant clinically. These mutations will lead to an AAT deficit that compromises the lungs protection, originating emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma or even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and it is also strongly associated with various liver diseases. On the other hand, C282Y and H63D mutations in the HFE gene, located on chromosome 6, are reported to be mostly responsible for the iron accumulation in HH disorder, leading to severe damage in different organs. Disease manifestations include cirrhosis, hepatic fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, arthropathy and hepatocarcinoma. Given the insufficient population-based information about the prevalence of these gene variants in the Portuguese population, the aim of this study was to assess their frequency in a representative sample from São Brás de Alportel, in the South of Portugal. To achieve our goal, we have genotyped a total of 208 adult subjects, including 118 females and 90 males (mean age: 58 years, range: 26-91). Regarding AAT deficiency, we found 4,3% MZ, 0,5% SS and 15,4% MS genotypes. The calculated frequency for the Z allele was 2,2% (95% CI: 0-11,7%) and for the S allele was 8,2% (95% CI: 0-17,4%). About HH, we found 1,4% C282Y/H63D, 2,4% H63D/H63D, 5,8% C282Y/N and 23,6% H63D/N genotypes. Frequencies of C282Y and H63D alleles were 3,6% (95% CI: 0-13%) and 14,9% (95% CI: 6-23,8%), respectively. The observed allele frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and no association was found with related diseases likely due to the smaller sample available. Our findings show the highest prevalence of Z allele from SERPINA1 gene found, when compared to other populations. The remaining findings are in agreement with previously published studies. Future studies involving a larger sample size will be necessary to evaluate the penetrance of the studied gene mutations and to assess gene-environment interactions that influence disease risk, contributing to reduce the burden of these diseases which can have a great public health impact.The pilot study of the Portuguese Component of the European Health Examination Survey (EHES) project has received funding from the European Commission/DG Sanco (Agreement number: 20092301 – EHES JA – EAHC). This study has also received funding from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (Project Reference: PTDC/SAU-ESA/101743/2008)

Chemical composition, antimicrobial, antioxidant and antitumor activity of Thymus serpyllum L., Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut and Thymus vulgaris L. essential oils

Aromatic plant species of genus Thymus are important medicinal plants, highly recommended due to a range of therapeutic properties of their essential oils, commonly known as thyme oil: antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, cardiac, carminative, diuretic and expectorant. The oil is also beneficial in boosting the immune system and helps to fight colds, flu, infectious diseases and chills. It is proved to be a urinary antiseptic, being very helpful for cystitis and urethritis. Scientific validation of traditional uses, and phytochemical and bioactivity evaluation of essential oils from Thymus serpyllum, Thymus algeriensis and Thymus vulgaris were performed. GC/MS analysis revealed thymol as a major component of T. algeriensis, T. vulgaris and T. serpyllum, with its contribution to the oil 56.0%, 48.9% and 38.5%, respectively. All three essential oils (EOs) exhibited a significant antimicrobial activity against all tested strains, the T. serpyllum oil being the most potent one (MIC 2.5–5 μg/mL, MBC 5–10 μg/mL; MIC 1–2 μg/mL, MFC 2–4 μg/mL). In addition, the T. serpyllum oil revealed the highest antioxidant activity in all conducted assays and it was the most effective one against all tested cell lines, presenting GI50 values of 7.02–52.69 μg/mL. Moreover, none of the EOs showed toxicity at tested concentrations (>400 μg/mL) for porcine liver primary cell culture. In addition to their well-known traditional use in food and cosmetics, the great potential of tested Thymus essential oils for application in oral diseases and anticancer treatments, encourage further investigation.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia for financial support (Grant № 173032). The authors are also grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support of research centre CIMO (PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011). Â. Fernandes and R.C. Calhelha thank FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE for their grants (SFRH/BD/76019/2011 and SFRH/BPD/BPD/68344/2010, respectively)

Large atom number dual-species magneto-optical trap for fermionic 6Li and 40K atoms

We present the design, implementation and characterization of a dual-species magneto-optical trap (MOT) for fermionic 6Li and 40K atoms with large atom numbers. The MOT simultaneously contains 5.2x10^9 6Li-atoms and 8.0x10^9 40K-atoms, which are continuously loaded by a Zeeman slower for 6Li and a 2D-MOT for 40K. The atom sources induce capture rates of 1.2x10^9 6Li-atoms/s and 1.4x10^9 40K-atoms/s. Trap losses due to light-induced interspecies collisions of ~65% were observed and could be minimized to ~10% by using low magnetic field gradients and low light powers in the repumping light of both atomic species. The described system represents the starting point for the production of a large-atom number quantum degenerate Fermi-Fermi mixture

Dietary Yeast Cell Wall Extract Alters the Proteome of the Skin Mucous Barrier in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) : Increased Abundance and Expression of a Calreticulin-Like Protein

Funding: This work was supported by a studentship from BioMar Ltd. to GM. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD