University of Lisbon

In the first weeks after fertilization, embryo mortality in cattle is significantly higher. It is well known that the age of the dam is one of the crucial factors affecting the quality of embryos and oocytes in many mammalian species. In older cattle, there are several evidences that embryo quality decreases, due to a decrease in ovarian reserve, a decrease in mtDNA and ATP, a decrease in progesterone levels, and due to susceptibility to genetic mutations. Herein, we intend to provide an updated summary of recent research on the effects of maternal age on embryos and oocytes of domestic cattle which are a widely used model species for human oocytes and early embryonic development.

The 2024 general elections triggered an unprecedented shift in the Portuguese party system. The radical right skyrocketed from 12 to 50 MPs precisely as the country celebrated 50 years since the overthrow of a right-wing dictatorship. Corruption scandals prompted snap elections, but the main parties experienced some of their worst results in history. The centre-right witnessed a bittersweet and narrow victory, and in the resounding defeat of the centre-left, there is more than meets the eye. The closely contested election was marked by the radical right’s breakthrough and the breakdown of the de facto two-party system. The driving force behind this party system change seems to be the supply side of party competition. Despite government formation remaining within the realm of conventional formulas, it is unclear whether the cordon sanitaire between mainstream and radical right will falter or damage the chances of executive survival.

In contemporary Europe, far-right parties threaten liberal democratic principles such as pluralism, media freedom and minority rights. Despite the stigma they normally face, far-right parties have experienced electoral breakthroughs even in countries where they remained electorally marginal such as Germany, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. We advance the idea that this happened because the level of stigmatization faced by these parties decreased before their electoral breakthrough. Therefore, we form a theoretical framework based on a threefold mechanism: far-right parties manage to reduce the stigma they face because of a reputational shield or by moderating their message; the media help the far right gain visibility and legitimacy by accommodating its views; established parties accommodate far-right parties without ostracizing them. Then, we test the framework by looking at the electoral breakthroughs of four parties: the results confirm the expectations except for the role of established parties, which is inconclusive.

Background Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) is recognized as a risk stage for future cognitive impairment and dementia. The criteria for SCD include normal performance on neuropsychological testing; however, there is a lack of consensus regarding standard score cut-offs for neuropsychological tests to define cognitive impairment and to differentiate between SCD and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This study aimed to assess the frequency of SCD diagnosis using various neuropsychological definitions of cognitive normality and to characterize the sociodemographic and neuropsychological features of SCD patients diagnosed under these criteria. Methods The Cognitive Complaints Cohort (CCC) participants were diagnosed following Subjective Cognitive Decline Initiative (SCD-I) criteria. Normal cognitive performance was defined by the absence of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) according to the five sets of MCI neuropsychologically based criteria defined by Jak and Bondi. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze sociodemographic, clinical, and neuropsychological data. A bootstrap methodology was employed to estimate the mean and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for specific parameters of interest, namely the SMC scale (subjective memory complaints scale), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Blessed Dementia Rating Scale – first part (BDRS first part), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results Among the 1268 subjects included, the prevalence of SCD diagnosis exhibited substantial variation across SCD-I criteria using different neuropsychological definitions of cognitive normality (ranging from 16.4 to 81.3%). When using the most conservative criteria to define cognitive impairment (2 tests within a cognitive domain > 1.5 SD below age-adjusted means), the resulting Conservative SCD group had poorer global cognitive function (MMSE: mean 27.15, 95% CI 27.00-27.31), whereas when using the most liberal criteria to define cognitive impairment (only one test > 1 SD below age-adjusted means) the resulting Liberal SCD group had superior performance in daily-life functioning (BDRS first part: mean 0.30, 95% CI 0.23–0.38). However, subjective cognitive complaints and neuropsychiatric symptoms did not significantly differ among SCD diagnostic groups. Conclusions The utilization of diagnostic criteria using distinct neuropsychological definitions of cognitive normality significantly impacts the frequency of SCD diagnosis and characterizes different patient populations. Consequently, it is essential to specify the criterion when diagnosing a SCD patient and to understand the risks and benefits of using different criteria to define cognitive impairment.

In this chapter, disease is defined as any physical or mental condition where the normal function of a local tissue, an organ, a system, or the whole body is compromised. Preventing the occurrence of diseases is crucial: the main diseases and how they impact the welfare of goats of all ages are here summarized. Diseases frequently result in pain, discomfort, sleep disturbances, stress, anxiety, fear, undernutrition, and the inability to engage in natural behaviours. However, it is also true that certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing a disease. The main objective of this chapter is to describe how to recognize the different diseases at a very early stage, how to identify the main risk factors involved, and how to prevent their occurrence. Goats, being prey species, have evolved stoicism, masking signs of illness and pain to avoid predation. However, this behaviour can delay detection and treatment by inexperienced stockpersons. Detecting subtle changes in behaviour is important for early recognition of sick animals. Very little will be said about treatment as this is not intended to be a medical/clinical chapter.

Background In the CONPET study, multiple myeloma patients with abnormal 18FDG positron emission/computed tomography scan after upfront autologous stem cell transplantation were treated with four cycles of carfilzomib–lenalidomide–dexamethasone (KRd). Side effect registrations show that carfilzomib might cause dyspnea, cough, respiratory tract infections, and heart failure. The aims were to investigate patient‐reported shortness of breath and dyspnea during KRd consolidation. Methods To assess shortness of breath, patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Pulmonary Symptom Index (FACT‐PSI) and the EORTC QLQ‐C30 to assess dyspnea. Shortness of breath was defined as decrease in FACT‐PSI score or starting/increasing diuretic drugs. Mixed effect logistic regression was used for the effect analysis. Linear mixed model and clinical relevance were used to investigate dyspnea. Results A total of 50 patients were included, median age 62 years (interquartile range 54–67). 17% reported shortness of breath at Day 15 Cycles 1–4 versus 11% at Day 1 Cycles 2–4, Cycle 4 Day 29, and 1 month posttreatment (p‐value 0.048). Compared with baseline, patients reported significant, and clinically relevant worsening in dyspnea during consolidation. Conclusion Our study confirmed earlier findings of carfilzomib causing shortness of breath during KRd administration and revealed dyspnea during consolidation compared to baseline. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03314636, EudraCT: 2017–000586‐72

Identifying how species richness or diversity changes with different proportions of natural and anthropized environments in the landscape is important for landscape management for conservation. Here, we propose a new method to assess biodiversity changes in landscapes with varying proportions of habitat types. The algorithm is based on the resampling of individuals recorded in different habitats considering both the proportion occupied by each habitat in the landscape and the number of individuals recorded in each habitat. The diversity is assessed based on the sampled individuals. If a functional/phylogenetic tree or distance matrix is provided, the function returns the functional or phylogenetic richness values. This procedure is replicated a number of times with different proportions of each of the habitats in the landscape. Our method copes with two or more habitat types in the landscape and works with taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities. We tested our method using 10 different simulated scenarios and one empirical dataset with bats (Chiroptera) to assess whether they behaved as expected. Our method performed as expected in all scenarios and in the empirical dataset (considering also the functional and phylogenetic diversities in this latter case). The possibility of working with more than two habitat types and with different dimensions of diversity (i.e., functional and phylogenetic diversity) is a major advantage of the new method. We show that this is a valuable tool to assess biodiversity changes in the context of landscape planning, helping to promote more sustainable landscapes often composed of multiple habitat types with mixed biodiversity composition.

Contemporary schema theories state that schema formation relies on early maladaptive experiences regarding the frustration of core emotional needs in childhood and adolescence. However, within a broad schema perspective on human emotion and cognition, it is plausible to assume that individuals may also develop adaptive schemas based on adaptive relational experiences. Despite recent studies addressing positive schemas, a clear theoretical articulation between maladaptive and adaptive core schemas is lacking. In this sense, the present paper introduces the notion of the Dialectical Core Schemas, based on empirical data. One hundred and seventy-four participants (Mage = 22.6, SD = 9.4) fulfilled self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional design. Correlational data showed that adaptive core self and other schemas were positively correlated with wellbeing, while maladaptive core self and other schemas were negatively correlated with wellbeing and positively correlated with symptomatology. Adaptive and maladaptive core self-schemas mediated the relationship between psychological well-being and symptomatology. Results partially support theoretical claims showing that individuals may hold simultaneously adaptive and maladaptive core schemas about the self and others. Oppositional schemas may be framed in dialectical poles suggesting that schema activation may be dimensional rather than categorical. Implications regarding developmental perspectives, case conceptualization, and clinical decision-making are discussed.

The unique reactivity and stability of enamides make them attractive reagents in organic synthesis. Herein, we investigated the reactivity of acetanilides and pyridyl acetamides in the formation of a C−N bond through a Chan‐Evans‐Lam reaction using arylalkenyl boron‐based reagents yielding a wide scope of N‐aryl enamides with an E configuration. The products obtained have been applied in the synthesis of N‐heterocycles, an important scaffold in several biologically active compounds, via sequential Heck reaction to prove the practical utility of the prepared N‐aryl enamides.

Background and aims Besides muscle damage, eccentric contractions also impose significant mechanical loads on peripheral nerves. However, the impact of eccentric contractions on peripheral nerve properties remains unclear. We aimed to reveal the immediate (i.e., <2 h and short-term (i.e., <10 days) effects of eccentric contractions on functional, structural, morphological, physiological and biomechanical properties of peripheral nerves. Methods Four electronic databases (PubMed, Science Direct, PEDro and Cochrane) were searched for animal and human studies which evaluated the immediate and/or short-term impact of eccentric contractions of upper or lower limb muscles on outcomes related functional, structural, morphological, physiological and biomechanical properties of peripheral nerves. Results From a total of 2415 articles, two human and two animal studies met the selection criteria. Several signs of nerve damage following eccentric exercises were observed, such as reductions in myelin sheath thickness, nerve fibre diameter, sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity, and protein zero levels, alongside increased levels of macrophage-related protein and tropomyosin receptor kinase C. No significant changes were identified in growth-associated protein 43. It is worth noting that some variables exhibited differences in their time course between human and animal studies. Animal studies revealed that the effects were more pronounced when eccentric contractions were performed at higher velocities. Conclusion Current evidence is suggestive that eccentric contractions has the potential to alter the peripheral nerves structural, morphological, functional and physiological properties, which are indicative of nerve damage. Systematic Review Registration: CRD42021285767

Background Resistant and refractory migraine are commonly encountered in specialized headache centers. Several comorbidities, mostly psychiatric conditions, have been linked to migraine worsening; however, there is little knowledge of the comorbidity profile of individuals with resistant and refractory migraine. Methods REFINE is a prospective observational multicenter international study involving individuals with migraine from 15 headache centers. Participants were categorized into three groups based on the European Headache Federation criteria: non-resistant and non-refractory (NRNRM), resistant (ResM), and refractory (RefM). We explored the prevalence of 20 comorbidities at baseline in the three groups. Results Of the 689 included patients (82.8% women), 262 (38.0%) had ResM, 73 (10.4%) had RefM and 354 (51.4%) NRNRM. A higher prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities, trigger points, temporomandibular joint disorders, thyroiditis, and cerebrovascular diseases was observed in the RefM group, followed by ResM and NRNRM. Multiple comorbidities were more common in the RefM group, followed by the ResM group and by the NRNRM group (41.6% vs. 24.5% vs. 14.1% respectively; p < 0.001). At the sensitivity analysis, exploring participants with chronic migraine, significant differences among the NRNRM, ResM, and RefM groups were found in the prevalence of anxiety (p < 0.001), asthma and rhinitis (p = 0.013), bipolar and other psychiatric disorders (p = 0.049), cerebrovascular diseases (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001), obesity (p = 0.002), thyroiditis (p < 0.001), and trigger points (p = 0.008). Conclusion REFINE data indicate that individuals with ResM and RefM have a higher burden of comorbidities than those with NRNRM. It can be postulated that those comorbidities may have an impact on the progression of migraine from a form that is easy to treat to a form that is resistant or refractory to treatments. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the direction of the association between ResM or RefM and those comorbidities and if proper treatment of comorbidities might help overcome treatment resistance or refractoriness.

In the current cultural landscape, the term “avant-garde” appears to be omnipresent; some argue that its influence has waned. A Google search from 2007 yielded 11.2 million pages on the term, a number that has likely grown significantly since then (Berg 2009). A preliminary examination of the term’s use on websites pertaining to both artistic and non-artistic topics reveals a tendency to trivialize its meaning, as evidenced by terms such as “Covid Avant-garde,” “Avant-garde Vegan Hotel,” “Arab Avant-garde,” and “Avant-garde Jazz.” Despite this, such usage paradoxically highlights the term’s hybrid nature, constant appropriation, and multiplicity of meanings. This demonstrates the term’s continued relevance and vitality within the contemporary discourse. In the arts, the term is more carefully chosen, yet its heterogeneity regarding movements and ideas is a well-known fact. In the present volume, we aim to recover this heterogeneity and the rhizomatic character of the term, as well as its countercultural hubris, by bringing to the fore works that pay some sort of tribute to the original sense of the notion, in search of a creative life, unconventional language, audacity, and outrage. As Richard Huelsenbeck, in Memoirs of a Dada Drummer (1991), puts it: “… we killed a quarter of a century, we killed several centuries for the sake of what is to come.” Accordingly, our understanding of the avant-garde is multiform, although it developed from two main ideas: the invisible realm of Bob Dylan’s basement tapesand the Lettrist creative turn to the ear.

John Zorn’s interest in Mickey Spillane, the master of hardboiled novels, or what might be called postpulp, is fascinating and brings to the fore lesser-known issues in literature, music, and experimental cinema. Based on the 1987 release of Spillane and the 1999 CD edition of Godard/Spillane , this work aims to explore the notion of “aural cinema” as introduced by the composer in the liner notes to G/S, and the influence of Lettrism, an avant-garde artistic movement of the 1940s, on the building and development of such a concept. In our view, aural cinema opens up the field of possibilities for experimental film and a cinema without images by placing the emphasis on aural perception and speech rather than on the filmed image. However, as much as Godard and others have contributed to this new cinema of the ear, there is an overwhelming neglect of the true perpetrators of this paradigm shift: the Lettrists and the Lettrist legacy.

The longstanding social disadvantages experienced by individuals with disabilities have garnered considerable attention from the scientific community and social movements worldwide. The political mobilization in defense of the rights of this minority group underscores the importance of understanding societal attitudes towards their inclusion. Our research aims to delve into Brazilian societal attitudes regarding the inclusion of people with visual impairments in various sectors of society. To achieve this objective, we developed a research program composed of four studies dedicated to validating the Scale of Support for Inclusive Policies (SSIP). Specifically, in Study 1 (N = 37), we developed the SSIP items and assessed their content validity. In Studies 2 (N = 176) and 3 (N = 116), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provided indications of the factorial validity and reliability of the scores obtained with the SSIP. Finally, Study 4 (N = 234) gathered evidence for the convergent and discriminant validity of the SSIP. Moreover, multigroup factor analysis was undertaken in Study 4, providing evidence of the instrument’s configural, metric, and scalar invariance to measure the expression of support for inclusive policies towards people with visual impairments for men and women. Overall, the results strongly suggest that the SSIP is an effective and innovative tool for gauging individual differences in endorsing inclusive public policies, particularly for those with visual impairments. This instrument is anticipated to deepen our comprehension of how support for inclusive policies varies among individuals, thereby expanding research into attitudes towards disabilities broadly, beyond visual impairment.

Community-based archaeology has been reshaping the meaning of its praxis in Latin America. This is due to recognizing the importance of memory and active listening as sources of equal value to traditional archaeology methods and theories. Aligning archaeological practice with community knowledge and demands means integrating “affective alliances” in favor of collaboration, solidarity, and care. Inspired by Cusicanqui’s notion of equivalence, which advocates for traditional knowledge producers and interlocutors to engage in dialogue on equal terms, coming from different centers of thought, and by Barkin’s idea of a dialogue of knowledge, which proposes the development of projects designed from a local perspective, where inhabitants take the lead in the recovery and preservation of their own resources. This article presents two Latin American case studies that demonstrate the possibility of integrating content from the past and present through dialogues between the knowledge of community representatives and researchers. The first example is related to the traditional communities cultivating the Atlantic Forest on the coast of São Paulo, Brazil, whose ancestors were partially erased by colonial bureaucracy and academia but continue to articulate practices, identities, and materialities to persist. Another example is based on the research with the Nahua communities and the recuperation of their oral narratives, which, through cartograms and deep mapping, have contributed to recreating the various layers of experience that shaped household materiality in Mixtla de Altamirano, Mexico.