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- Influências das produções televisivas para a experiência turística – o caso do Carnaval de Torres Vedras, PortugalPublication . Carvalho, Ana Paula dos Santos; López-Bonilla, Jesús Manuel; Almeida, António Sérgio Araújo deA pesquisa sobre os efeitos audiovisuais na experiência turística está muito focada nos comportamentos dos turistas. São ainda escassos os estudos sobre o papel da televisão no turismo e as estratégias económicas emancipadoras para o desenvolvimento local. Este estudo interpreta os efeitos das produções televisivas na experiência da visita ao Carnaval de Torres Vedras (Portugal), através da pesquisa de campo, análise documental e inquérito aos visitantes. O principal objetivo foi identificar um conjunto de fatores e atributos que possam contribuir para a afirmação turística e emancipação comunitária. Os resultados apontam para uma resposta positiva, ou seja, é possível que os efeitos das produções televisivas contribuam para a afirmação turística do Carnaval de Torres Vedras.
- Metabolic Profile of Four Selected Cathinones in Microsome Incubations: Identification of Phase I and II Metabolites by Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass SpectrometryPublication . Lopes, Beatriz T.; Caldeira, Maria João; Gaspar, Helena; Antunes, Alexandra M. M.Consumption of synthetic cathinones, the second largest class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) reported worldwide, represents a serious public health risk. One of the biggest challenges created by the rapid spread of NPS on the illegal drug market is the discovery of selective biomarkers for their detection in biological matrices, which is only possible through the study of their metabolic profile. The synthetic cathinones 4′-methyl-N,N-dimethylcathinone (4-MDMC), 4′-methyl-N,N-diethylcathinone (4-MDEC), 4′-chloro-α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (4Cl-PVP), and 4′-chloroethylcathinone (4-CEC) are NPS recently seized in Europe, and, with the exception of 4-CEC, no metabolism study was reported for these cathinones. With the ultimate goal of overcoming this gap, these cathinones were incubated in vitro in human and rat liver microsomes in the presence of Phase I and II (glucuronidation) co-factors, using α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) as positive control. The metabolite identification was performed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). This allowed the identification of multiple Phase I and glucuronide metabolites of the selected cathinones. Additionally, a new glucuronide conjugate, derived from the recreational drug α-PVP, was herein identified for the first time. Importantly, we have demonstrated that 4-MDMC and 4-MDEC can act as prodrugs of the controlled substances 4-MMC and 4-MEC, respectively. The metabolites herein identified are expected to play an important role not only by acting as potential selective biomarkers of the intake of the synthetic cathinones selected for this study but also to understand their potential adverse effects and link these causative agents to toxicities, thereby helping in the treatment of non-fatal intoxications.
- Co-Occurrence of ACSSuT and Cephalosporin Resistance Phenotypes Is Mediated by int1- Associated Elements in Nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica from Human Infections in SpainPublication . Campos, Maria Jorge; Palomo, Gonzalo; Hormeño, Lorena; Ugarte, María; Porrero, María Concepción; Herrera-León, Silvia; Vadillo, Santiago; Píriz, Segundo; Quesada, AlbertoA screening of antimicrobial resistance and its genetic determinants has been performed on 300 Salmonella enterica isolates collected during 2004-2008 from human infections in Spain. Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis were the major serotypes, which were found with similar frequencies covering 80% of the bacterial collection. Salmonella Typhimurium isolates frequently shared low susceptibility to antimicrobials of the penta-resistance phenotype (ACSSuT) and/or cephalosporin resistance. The ACSSuT profile was found closely linked to int1-associated gene cassettes, with major elements carrying DNA fragments of 1.0 Kb (aadA2 gene) plus 1.2 Kb (blaPSE-1 gene) or 2.0 Kb (aadA1 and blaOXA-1 genes). Among these, ACSSuT and cephalosporin resistances were associated in Salmonella Typhimurium isolates expressing the blaOXA gene. β-lactamase activities were also detected from isolates carrying blaTEM, blaCMY, or blaSHV, although only the two last genes expressed extended-spectrum β-lactamases. The clonal analysis of S. enterica strains suggests that both horizontal and vertical transfer mechanisms are involved in the wide dissemination of their antimicrobial resistance.
- Assessment of the Levels of Pollution and of Their Risks by Radioactivity and Trace Metals on Marine Edible Fish and Crustaceans at the Bay of Bengal (Chattogram, Bangladesh)Publication . Biswas, Krishna Prasad; Hossain, Shahadat; Deb, Nipa; Bhuian, A.K.M. Saiful Islam; Gonçalves, Sílvia C.; Hossain, Shahadat; Hossen, Mohammad BelalMarine environmental pollution is a longstanding global problem and has a particular impact on the Bay of Bengal. Effluent from different sources directly enters rivers of the region and eventually flows into the Bay of Bengal. This effluent may contain radioactive materials and trace metals and pose a serious threat to the coastal environment, in addition to aquatic ecosystems. Using gamma spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry, a comprehensive study was carried out on the radioactivity (226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs) and trace metal (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn, and Cr) concentrations, respectively, in fish and crustacean species collected from the coastal belt of the Bay of Bengal (Chattogram, Bangladesh). The analysis showed a noticeable increment in the levels of different radioactive pollutants in the marine samples, although the consumption of the studied fish and crustacean species should be considered safe for human health. Anthropogenic radionu-clide (137Cs) was not detected in any sample. Furthermore, the metal concentrations of a small num-ber of trace elements (Pb, Cd, Cr) were found to be higher in most of the samples, which indicates aquatic fauna are subject to pollution. The estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and target cancer risk (TR) were calculated and compared with the per-missible safety limits. It was found that consuming the seafood from the Bay of Bengal may cause adverse health impacts if consumption and/or means of pollution are not controlled.
- Country Performance Analysis of Swiss Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management ResearchPublication . Cardoso, Lucília; Araújo, Arthur Filipe; Lima Santos, Luís; Schegg, Roland; Breda, Zélia; Costa, CarlosBased on tradition and high standards, Swiss higher education in tourism and hospitality is ranked among the best in the world. Although scientific research is the foundation of a coun-try’s higher education system, the Swiss Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management Scientific Research (Swiss TL&HM-SR) has not yet been subject to a systematic analysis. This paper aims to fill this gap by assessing the Swiss TL&HM-SR performance, as well as identifying and discussing its most prominent topics. To this end, bibliometric data were gathered from the Scopus database and analyzed through a bibliometric mixed-method approach. Results provide a new performance indicator for the Swiss TL&HM-SR in this field of research, and show that innovation and sustainable destination management are particularly prominent topics within Swiss TL&HM-SR. In this context, contributions to these topics in particular are discussed in more detail. The findings provide useful insights for stakeholders aiming to improve sustainability performance through strategic management of destinations, as well as for researchers aiming to follow the latest trends, identify emerging topics and formulate more attractive projects for financing institutions. The study also provides a new and innovative methodological contribution, as it combines different methods of scientific research performance assessment, which can be further employed in other countries or knowledge areas.
- An in situ assessment of key biomarkers in limpets exposed to sewage pollutionPublication . Silva, Cátia SE; Novais, Sara; Gravato, Carlos; Simões, Tiago; Caramalho, Márcia; Neves, Janete; Tecelão, Carla; Rodrigues, Maria J.; Maranhão, Paulo; Lemos, Marco F. L.
- EditorialPublication . Novais, Sara C.; Maranhão, Paulo
- Portal of security and safety engineering as a tool to increase the sustainable development of higher education in security in the European Union and beyondPublication . Lovecek, Tomas; Ristvej, Jozef; Kampova, Katarina; Vaculík, Juraj; Gamboa, Roberto; Zagorecki, AdamIn this article we describe a project "Competency Based e-Portal of Security and Safety Engineering" - eSEC portal approved by The Education, Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), developed in the period between 10/2009 and 10/2012. The eSEC portal is one of 10 centralised multilateral projects approved in 2009 by EACEA and only one with the University of Zilina as a coordinator, with total budget 356.138 Euros. The EACEA is responsible for the management of certain elements of the EU's programs in the fields of education and culture. The idea for the eSEC project originated from the demand to increase the quality of education in the field of security and safety. One of the key problems of the education is disparity between the knowledge received from educational institutions and the practical requirements. It is necessary to redefine how students are prepared for the challenges of the labour market: identifying competencies that are currently in demand and how it would be possible to link the educational systems of various institutions more efficiently. The aim of the eSEC project was to develop the competencies of students, teachers, researchers and professionals working in the field of security and safety, within the EU and the world. To achieve these objectives, an electronic portal was developed at www.esecportal.eu. The portal was launched in May 2012, hopefully starting the way to become an established and well known Internet portal on the security and safety education.
- Development of a new multiplex-PCR tool for the simultaneous detection of the fish pathogens Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio harveyi and Edwardsiella tardaPublication . Pinto, Micaela Ferreira; Baptista, Teresa; Afonso, Clélia Correia NevesDisease assessment and management in cultured aquatic animals is a major concern in commercial aquaculture. Disease outbreaks have direct effects on fish production, causing serious economic losses in this industry. This can be overcome by early detection through molecular high sensitivity tools such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction). One of the most critical steps in the study of bacterial fish diseases is the precise identification of the infectious agent. Considering the damage that some bacteria can cause to fish and humans, the development of a rapid detection method for the four target species that demonstrates to be simple, accurate and low cost is an essential step for the prevention and early treatment of these diseases. Edwardsiella tarda (ACC 36.1), Vibrio harveyi (DSM 19023), Vibrio anguillarum (AQV 55.1) and Vibrio alginolyticus (CECT 521) were selected as targets of a multiplex PCR tool. The multiplex PCR reactions were performed in various reaction conditions, including different annealing temperatures (between 49 °C and 55 °C) and changes in the MgCl2 concentration from 2mMto 8 mM. Best results were obtained at 51 °C and MgCl2 concentration from 4mM to 6 mM. Primers were tested using purified DNA from the respective bacterial strains, yielding bands at expected sizes, which can be identified on agarose gels with clearness and without overlapping sizes. Results indicate that this multiplex PCR tool is suitable for the detection of target pathogens and may, in the future, have extended practical application in commercial aquaculture.
- Cleaning interactions of fishes at São Tomé Island, West AfricaPublication . Vasco Rodrigues, Nuno; Fontes, Jorge; Bertoncini, A.This study reports six new types of cleaning interactions among tropical reef fish species at São Tomé Island, and confirms previously reported interactions for this area. Spicara melanurus was recorded as a cleaner for the first time, and Abudefduf saxatilis was confirmed in this role, following reports from the Southwest Atlantic. Individuals belonging to the family Labridae were the most commonly-observed cleaners, involved in over 85% of recorded interactions. Juveniles of Bodianus speciosus played a key role as cleaners, interacting with at least seven client species. In addition, some of the client fishes, including Paranthias furcifer and Acanthurus monroviae, interacted with at least four cleaner fish species. All cleaner fish species reported in this study were facultative; obligate cleaners appear to be absent from this region.