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  • Ageing in place: Older people identify barriers to remaining in low-density areas
    Publication . Paulo Nossa; Sofia Vale Pereira; Margarida Lima; Coimbra Vieira, Cristina Maria; Anabela Mota-Pinto
    Studies involving older people as co-investigators are limited in Portugal. The main objectives of this article are: (I) Analyze the barriers identified by older people living in low-density territories that pose a challenge to ageing in place. (ii) Understand the co-research methodology as an appropriate instrument for increasing the participatory capacity of older people and improving the conditions for ageing in place. (iii) Assess the role of social networks and community support in providing informal assistance to older people in low-density territories. The study involved 14 co-researchers, who had a balanced gender representation and an average age of 64.5 years. All the co-researchers were residents of the study location and volunteered for the research. They were provided training in interview techniques and active listening, prior to the study. A total of three interviews and 23 photographs were analyzed and discussed in five focus group meetings. The participants agreed upon four types of unmet needs and developed proposals to increase their negotiating power, thereby mitigating barriers to their permanence. The co-researchers presented their proposals at two public meetings with decision-makers, managers, and members of the municipal council. The findings were a significant addition to the promotion of the co-research approach and the engagement of older adults in detecting the obstacles that hinder their secure and independent aging in their living environment.
    2024-05-24Journal article Open access Show more
  • First evidence of sex-specific epidemiological differences in tattoo-like skin lesions among free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
    Publication . Stöfer, Luisa Christina Patricio; Vinagre, Catarina; Methion, Séverine
    This thesis aims to shed light on the fascinating world of cetacean epidemiology with focus on Cetacean poxviruses and Tattoo skin disease, by giving an in-depth state of the art, and delivering a baseline data study. The skin of cetaceans is a multifaceted feature that offers a wealth of visible information. Epidermal lesions from trauma or disease are common, but the emergence, severity, and changes in demographic pattern of certain skin diseases may serve as a bioindicator for environmental change and wellbeing of a population. This study investigates tattoo-like skin lesions (TSL) in a bisexually philopatric coastal bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population, reporting sex-specific differences and their potential environmental implications. Data was collected in 2017 and 2018 during 145 daily boat-based surveys in Ría de Arousa-bay (NW Spain). The subsequent analysis of 10,409 photographs of 48 females and 51 males revealed an overall prevalence of 26.2%. Notably, males had a significantly higher prevalence (37.5%) compared to females (15.7%), along with increased lesion quantity in 2018. Minimum persistence time (MPT) of TSL ranged from 2.4 to 19.6 months (n=15), with males at a median of 407 days and females at 347 days. Sex-specific differences could be attributed to increased aggressive behavior and social stress but also to the very high polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in the area. While aggressive behavior may lead to increased cutaneous abrasions and viral entry, immunotoxic PCBs were found to be released through lactation and increased accumulation in males. Future studies should prioritize comparing populations exhibiting an equal distribution of TSL between sexes with those where males are disproportionately affected, aiming to discern differences, particularly in PCB concentration and behavioral aggression.
    2024-05-24Master thesis Open access Show more