Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2020-02-12"
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- Mobilidades, estilos de vida e autenticidade: os estrangeiros residentes na zona histórica de OlhãoPublication . Guerreiro, Jorge André Oliveira; Marques, João FilipeNos últimos anos, a cidade Olhão, situada no litoral Algarvio, tem sido um local no qual centenas de estrangeiros, sobretudo oriundos do Norte e centro da Europa, adquirem habitações, em modalidades como dupla habitação, habitação sazonal ou habitação permanente. Outrora uma vila piscatória de referência nacional, Olhão passou pelo mesmo processo de desindustrialização que as demais cidades portuárias portuguesas, com o encerramento de quase todas as suas fábricas ligadas às atividades do mar, ao longo do século XX. Apesar de não ter praia e de possuir um historial de criminalidade, Olhão destacou-se no Algarve por uma procura turística baseada na sua cultura, história, identidade local e por ser diferente da restante região. O termo “autêntica” tem sido utilizado pelos estrangeiros para descrever os edifícios da zona histórica, os habitantes que lá vivem e assim o quotidiano da própria cidade. Foi objetivo desta investigação compreender por que razão os estrangeiros escolheram a zona histórica de Olhão para residir. Também se procurou conhecer as que transformações causadas pela presença dos estrangeiros e pela turistificação da zona histórica, uma vez que este processo tem merecido críticas tanto dos autóctones, como dos estrangeiros residentes, que temem que a cidade perca a sua identidade e que a gentrificação turística leve à saída dos habitantes envelhecidos da zona histórica. A presente investigação utilizou uma abordagem metodológica mista, consistindo, numa primeira fase, em etnografia, análise documental e entrevistas não-estruturadas, passando, numa segunda fase, para entrevistas semi-estruturadas, focus-groups e inquéritos por questionário.
- Inhalable spray-dried chondroitin sulphate microparticles: effect of different solvents on particle properties and drug activityPublication . Rodrigues, Susana; da Costa, Ana M Rosa; Flórez Fernández, Noelia; Torres, María Dolores; Faleiro, Maria Leonor; Buttini, Francesca; Grenha, AnaSpray-drying stands as one of the most used techniques to produce inhalable microparticles, but several parameters from both the process and the used materials affect the properties of the resulting microparticles. In this work, we describe the production of drug-loaded chondroitin sulphate microparticles by spray-drying, testing the effect of using different solvents during the process. Full characterisation of the polymer and of the aerodynamic properties of the obtained microparticles are provided envisaging an application in inhalable tuberculosis therapy. The spray-dried microparticles successfully associated two first-line antitubercular drugs (isoniazid and rifabutin) with satisfactory production yield (up to 85%) and drug association efficiency (60%-95%). Ethanol and HCl were tested as co-solvents to aid the solubilisation of rifabutin and microparticles produced with the former generally revealed the best features, presenting a better ability to sustainably release rifabutin. Moreover, these presented aerodynamic properties compatible with deep lung deposition, with an aerodynamic diameter around 4 μm and fine particle fraction of approximately 44%. Finally, it was further demonstrated that the antitubercular activity of the drugs remained unchanged after encapsulation independently of the used solvent.
- Microplastic and metal contamination in Bermuda fishes at different trophic levelsPublication . Nathan, Justine Emily; Smith, Struan Robertson; Bebianno, Maria JoãoMarine pollution has attracted increasing attention from scientists and the public in recent years due to its impacts on marine life. Studies have focussed on presence of plastics and metal contaminants in both the water and biota. Links between microplastics and metals in different ares of the environment are often overlooked. Analyses have focussed on many areas of coastal waters and the open ocean but, despite being located within the North Atlantic Gyre, Bermuda has never been studied for plastic presence. Therefore a sequence of impacts of marine pollution were analysed in the water and fishes of Bermuda to provide an overview of the country’s marine pollution situation. Surface trawls were used to determine plastic density in the ocean. This ocean plastic was then evaluated for its bioavailability of metal contaminants. Eight species of fish across three trophic levels were analysed for microplastics present in their guts. Two of these species were selected to investigate the level of metal contaminants in fish tissue. All species and 32% of individual fish contained plastic in their guts. Evidence of biomagnification of microplastics by trophic levels and length was found. Microplastics were confirmed as a vector for metals into fish as they are biovailable on injested microplastic particles. Illegal levels of Cd were found in all fish as well as some containing dangerous Pb and Cr levels. Cd showed a positive correlation with fish length whereas Pb showed a negative one. The presence of plastic and metals across species and trophic levels may pose a threat to their health and consumption of these fish and their predators causes concern of potential impacts on humans. These risks should be evaluated in future studies, focusing on higher trophic levels to improve understanding of the affects of marine pollution on ecosystems and humans.