The European Union’s “farm to fork” strategy sets out several objectives to be achieved by farmers, who, among others, relate to increasing biodiversity, protecting soils and reducing the use of ...pesticides. The use of pesticides in 235 winegrowers in the Palmela region was evaluated between 2016 and 2021. To support some of the answers, a socio-economic survey was also carried out. The data analysed included the number of treatments, the dosages used, compliance with the pre-harvest interval, the reason why winegrowers performed phytosanitary treatment and how they chose a pesticide. In addition, residue analyses were carried out at the entrance of the grapes into the winery to assess whether the MRL was exceeded and whether were not authorised pesticides were used in the vine. For each year, it was found that, on average, farmers spray seven times, although the trend was to decrease and the most used pesticide belong to groups 3 (Triazol), according to the FRAC Codes. It was concluded that fear of diseases and pests and “empirical experience” sometimes go beyond knowledge and technology. In addition, the weak valorisation of grapes and discouragement with the implementation of some poorly reported strategies are factors that fuel the concern about the difficulty in achieving the goals.
In current days, the major challenges for farmers are the impact of plant protection products (PPP) on the public health, the environment protection, residues reduction, bees and non-target ...organisms, as well as, the withdrawal of many active ingredients and climate changes. Given the current situation, sustainable use of PPP is a main objective and priority. The decisions making of using PPP of 235 winegrowers from Palmela region, which do not have regular technical assistance, were assessed during 2016 until 2019. The data analysed included the number of applications, the dosages used and the compliance of pre-harvest interval (PHI). For each year, it was observed that a winegrower, on average, made seven treatments, although the tendency is a decrease to reduce the number of treatments. The PPP most used belong to the groups 3 (Triazoles), M02 (Inorganic) and M04 + 4 (Phthalimides + Phenyl Amides) according FRAC Code. Regardless of the climatic conditions and the disease pressure in the vineyard, the winegrowers used PPP every 14 days. Fear and “empiric experience” sometimes overtake knowledge and technology. That could only be changed with trust between technical assistance and farmers. That could be the solution to face the mentioned challenges and to offer sustainable wines from Palmela region.
Since the last decade of the last century, it is known that many old grapevine varieties are descendants of other varieties through natural crossing. Portugal has an important program for the ...conservation of representative samples of intra-varietal variability of all autochthonous varieties, managed by the Portuguese Association for Grapevine Diversity (PORVID), which makes looking for genotypes with dubious identification an important activity from a perspective of its valorisation. This communication presents the results of the molecular analysis of 5,000 samples (accessions) from the PORVID’s collection, using nine microsatellite
loci
currently recommended by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) for genetic grapevine identification. The results obtained confirmed the molecular identity of 4,220 samples corresponding to 214 varieties present in the official list of Portuguese varieties. In 780 samples, 95 profiles with a plural number of accessions revealed not to be listed in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) database, corresponding to possible varieties either descendent from natural crossing from at least one known parental variety, or from undetermined origin. Furthermore, the need for a comprehensive strategy aimed at uncovering other hidden varieties is discussed to prevent their imminent loss, deepen understanding of their origin, and add economic value and sustainability to the vine and wine sector.
O presente relatório final surge no âmbito do Mestrado em Ensino do 1.º Ciclo e em Português e História e Geografia do 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (CEB) da Escola Superior de Educação de Santarém, ...sendo composto por duas partes. No que concerne à primeira parte, é apresentado uma análise e reflexão do percurso realizado nas práticas de ensino supervisionadas em 1.º e 2.º CEB. A segunda parte contempla a componente investigativa. Esta investigação teve como objetivo identificar no 1.º e 4.º ano de escolaridade dificuldades na escrita cursiva, detetáveis por megalografia, inconstância espacial, substituições ou imprecisão de traço, inversões, trocas ou ausências. Pretendemos aplicar e avaliar o efeito de um programa de estimulação motora em crianças com problemas na aprendizagem da escrita cursiva. Os dados foram recolhidos, tendo por base um pré-teste e um pós-teste a um total de 120 crianças do 1.º, 2.º, 3.º e 4.º ano de escolaridade. Ao grupo experimental pertenceram 9 crianças do 1.º e 4.º ano, emparelhado a um grupo de controlo, por idade, género e sala. As sessões de intervenção, demonstraram que o grupo experimental beneficiou da intervenção a nível de redução de espaço, altura das letras e tempo, aproximando-se do grupo de controlo, e ultrapassando-o em determinados parâmetros.
Sustainable development (SD) issues are one of the top concerns of contemporary societies and whose problems are a responsibility shared by all countries, individuals, governments and businesses. The ...environmental impacts derived from current production and consumption habits are not sustainable for the planet and more than a quarter of these can be blamed on the food industry. If firm measures are not put into practice quickly, the future of upcoming generations will be compromised. The normalization of integrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as an embedded part of businesses’ strategy has undoubtedly help to raise awareness on the importance of SD, but companies cannot succeed alone. Consumers are also a key part on the process of achieving SD and without them, it will not be possible to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The concept of Consumer Social Responsibility (CnSR) is thus introduced not only as a way of holding consumers responsible in the battle for SD too, but also to understand the drivers of consumers when it comes to sustainable food purchasing. Finally, Co-creation is suggested as a solution to connect retailers and consumers so that, together, they can pursuit SD. As to access the research question, a qualitative study was performed with interviews including both consumers and retailers and it was concluded that there is still a lot of work that must be done by both parts.
This paper aims to reflect on the development of a project for the educational use of robotics in the early years, that culminated in the challenge of participating in an international competition, ...the MatataWorld Robotics Competition (MWRC). A case study methodology was used, resorting to the teachers' evaluations and reflections and the material submitted to the competition. Kindergarten and primary classes took part in the project, which was supported by MatataStudio, an educational technology company, that is also the organiser of the MWRC competition. Data analysis shows that the participation of schools in this project was very positive and that the participation of teachers and educators in the international competition promoted the educational use of robotics and provided an opportunity to create an online community.
O desenvolvimento profissional é um processo que envolve aprendizagens, mudança e crescimento profissional. Entende-se o desenvolvimento profissional dos professores como um processo individual e ...coletivo, que se concretiza no local de trabalho do docente, a escola, e que contribui para o desenvolvimento das suas competências profissionais, através de experiências tanto formais como informais, num processo a longo prazo, e no qual se integram diferentes tipos de oportunidades e experiências que promovem o crescimento e desenvolvimento do professor (Marcelo, 2009). O presente relatório reflexivo pretende evidenciar a relevância e implicação da abertura à mudança de práticas, da emergência de processos conducentes à inovação e do surgimento de uma cultura colaborativa no desenvolvimento profissional em contexto. Num estilo de narrativa biográfica, é feito o relato dum conjunto de experiências profissionais significativas, vividas numa fase do percurso profissional posterior à mudança de uma escola particular, com setenta e cinco anos de existência, para uma escola nova, igualmente particular, mas acabada de fundar e apostada na capacidade de inovação e de assumir uma identidade própria, assente no legado de uma pedagogia inaciana. A experiência pessoal e profissional de integração na direção desta nova escola é determinante na caracterização desta etapa da vida profissional e vem revelar-se marcante como experiência de desenvolvimento profissional. A possibilidade de participação direta no pensar dos meios para habilitar a escola à aplicação de novas estratégias de desenvolvimento curricular e a outros aspetos inovadores da prática do ensino e da organização escolar, o envolvimento pessoal na emergência duma cultura colaborativa, o acompanhamento e troca de experiências com professores, capacitante de mais confiança e redução das suas incertezas, revela-se marcante nesta etapa do percurso profissional, pela implicação, enquanto docente, nos diferentes aspetos cognitivos, afetivos e relacionais da profissão. A reunião de condições conducentes à criação e sustentabilidade de um ambiente de trabalho inovador, desafiador e produtivo identifica-se como oportunidade de construção de formação e crescimento profissional.
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) results in the time-dependent development of urinary impairment due to neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and detrusor-sphincter-dyssynergia (DSD). This is ...known to be accompanied by massive changes in the bladder wall. It is presently less clear if the urethra wall also undergoes remodelling. To investigate this issue, female rats were submitted to complete spinal transection at the T8/T9 level and left to recover for 1 week and 4 weeks. To confirm the presence of SCI-induced NDO, bladder function was assessed by cystometry under urethane anesthesia before euthanasia. Spinal intact animals were used as controls. Urethras were collected and processed for further analysis. Following thoracic SCI, time-dependent changes in the urethra wall were observed. Histological assessment revealed marked urethral epithelium reorganization in response to SCI, as evidenced by an increase in epithelial thickness. At the muscular layer, SCI resulted in strong atrophy of the smooth muscle present in the urethral sphincter. Innervation was also affected, as evidenced by a pronounced decrease in the expression of markers of general innervation, particularly those present in sensory and sympathetic nerve fibres. The present data show an evident impact of SCI on the urethra, with significant histological rearrangement, accompanied by sensory and sympathetic denervation. It is likely that these changes will affect urethral function and contribute to SCI-induced urinary dysfunction, and they deserve further investigation.
Thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) results in urinary dysfunction, which majorly affects the quality of life of SCI patients. Abnormal sprouting of lumbosacral bladder afferents plays a crucial role ...in this condition. Underlying mechanisms may include changes in expression of regulators of axonal growth, including chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs), myelin-associated inhibitors (MAIs) and repulsive guidance molecules, known to be upregulated at the injury site post SCI. Here, we confirmed lumbosacral upregulation of the growth-associated protein GAP43 in SCI animals with bladder dysfunction, indicating the occurrence of axonal sprouting. Neurocan and Phosphacan (CSPGs), as well as Nogo-A (MAI), at the same spinal segments were upregulated 7 days post injury (dpi) but returned to baseline values 28 dpi. In turn, qPCR analysis of the mRNA levels for receptors of those repulsive molecules in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons showed a time-dependent decrease in receptor expression. In vitro assays with DRG neurons from SCI rats demonstrated that exposure to high levels of NGF downregulated the expression of some, but not all, receptors for those regulators of axonal growth. The present results, therefore, show significant molecular changes at the lumbosacral cord and DRGs after thoracic lesion, likely critically involved in neuroplastic events leading to urinary impairment.
Pain is a complex experience, encompassing physiological and psychological components. Amongst the different types of pain, neuropathic pain, resulting from injuries to the peripheral or central ...nervous system, still constitutes a challenge for researchers and clinicians. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is currently regarded as a key contributor and may serve as a therapeutic target in many types of pain, likely including neuropathic pain. Here, we reviewed the role of NGF in neuropathic pain of peripheral and central origin, also addressing its potential use as a pharmacological target to better help patients dealing with this condition that severely impacts the everyday life. For this, we conducted a search in the databases PubMed and Scopus. Our search resulted in 1103 articles (458 in PubMed and 645 in Scopus). Only articles related to the involvement of NGF in pain or articles that approached its potential use as a target in treatment of pain symptoms were included. Duplicates were eliminated and 274 articles were excluded. After careful analysis, 23 articles were selected for review. Original articles studying the role of NGF in pathology as well as its modulation as a possible therapeutic target were included. We found that NGF is widely regarded as a key player in neuropathic pain and seen as a putative therapeutic target. However, evidence obtained from years of clinical trials highlights the toxic adverse effects of anti-NGF therapeutics, precluding its use in clinical context. Further studies are, thus, needed to improve treatment of chronic neuropathic pain.
