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This thesis, developed in collaboration with Tekever, a leading Portuguese company in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), focuses on the structural design and optimization of the tail and boom components of the ARX, Tekever’s future UAV, with a focus on versatile missions, including ISAR operations and cargo transportation, with an expected launch in 2025. The main objective of this research is to design a lightweight and structurally robust tail and boom system, in compliance with ASTM F3116-18 standards, while simultaneously optimizing operational efficiency and performance using heuristic optimization tools. Additionally, the project aims to validate and improve in terms of computational efficiency a heuristic algorithm optimization tool initiated in the 2022/2023 academic year to predict the minimum number of layers and the optimal fiber orientations for the composite material used in the critical points of the Tail boom structure developed for the ARX seeking better performance and structural optimization. The tool is based on a unique evolutionary algorithm to explore the search space, with limits based on Hashin matrix and fiber failure indices. To accommodate these limitations, a surrogate model was developed, combining the Abaqus finite element program and Python, building the training data for the surrogate model using the Latin hypercube sampling technique and a Gaussian regression model. As a final phase, it was possible to obtain an approximate 73% computational efficiency over the initial tool, through the fine-tuning of the genetic algorithm and Gaussian regression, greater flexibility in applying the tool to complex cases after direct implementation of .Cae files and an improved condition of the failure criterion and studying the application of LAr05 and Hashin criteria, culminating in an ARX tail boom structure 14% lighter than the initial reference. Overall, this research not only advances the structural design of Tekever’s ARX but also contributes to the broader field of UAV development by demonstrating effective methodologies for lightweight, high-performance aerostructure optimization.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a disorder that affects primarly women and is characterized by a protrusion of the vagina, uterus, or both through the pelvic floor. POP treatment may fall into nonsurgical or surgical approaches. Meshes can be used to strengthen or replace anatomical components that have failed. However, their use may result in graft-related complications (GRCs), resulting from poor biocompatibility and improper mechanical qualities of these meshes, as well as patient and surgeon conditions. Using non-textile biodegradable implants that are engineered to mimic the biomechanical properties of the host tissue might be an entirely new approach. Electrospinning in conjunction with 3D printing allows the use of biocompatible materials with specific dimensions, enabling the creation of tailored solutions with excellent repeatability.This dissertation focuses on the design and production of an implantable biocomaptible device, based on Polycaprolactone (PCL), capable of supporting the recovery of normal architecture and function of the vaginal cavity and associated pelvic organ structures. This research encompasses all the stages from conception of the geometries used for the produced meshes to the testing stage, using tensile tests to evaluate the mechanical behaviour of the produced meshes. Sow’s vaginal tissue and the commercial Restorelle mesh were used as benchmarks to compare their behaviour with the produced meshes.The meshes 1_R40_2A80_1R40, 1_R80_2A80_1R80, 1_R80_3A80_1R80, 3_1R80_1A80_1R80, 3_1R80_3A80_1R80 and 3_1R80_2A160_1R80 presented the closest mechanical behaviour to vaginal tissue. Preliminary results of the mechanical behaviour of biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) novel implants meshes for POP repair, produced using melt electrowriting technology, show that, while PCL meshes support lower workloads than the Restorelle mesh, they mimic more accurately the biomechanical properties of vaginal tissues, implying that the host reaction to these implants may be more favorable, minimizing the occurrence of graft related complications (GRCs).

With a intention to continue a research process started at the end of the course, this dissertation pretends to start a reflection on the role and influence that certain learning processes can have on student training and on the construction of an idea of praxis.To this end, I propose an analysis of certain types of learning and certain practices approaches.I also intend in this investigation to make a critical reflection of what were a set of projects and experiences carried out collectively and collaboratively between 2019 and 2022.This investigation intends to be a critical reflection on the role of school and practice in what is considered the social role of the discipline and the architect.

Mining has played an important role in the economies of South American countries. Although industrial mining prevails in most countries, the expansion of garimpo activity has increased substantially. Recently, Brazil exhibited two moments of garimpo dominance over industrial mining: 1989–1997 and 2019–2022. While industrial mining sites occupied ~ 360 km 2 in 1985 but increased to 1800 km 2 in 2022, a 5-fold increase, garimpo mining area increased by ~ 1200%, from ~ 218 km 2 in 1985 to ~ 2627 km 2 in 2022. More than 91% of this activity is concentrated in the Amazon. Where almost 40% of the sites are five years old or younger, this proportion increases to 62% within Indigenous lands (ILs). Regarding the legal aspect, at least 77% of the 2022 extraction sites showed explicit signs of illegality. Particular attention must be given to the Kayapo, Munduruku, and Yanomami ILs. Together, they concentrate over 90% of the garimpo across ILs. 91% of Brazil’s garimpo activity is in the Amazon, where almost 40% of them are five years old or younger. This paper finds in 2022, 77% of the detected garimpos showed explicit signs of illegality.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a group of rare disorders that can affect the heart. This work aimed to find predictors of cardiac involvement in IIM. Multicenter, open cohort study, including patients registered in the IIM module of the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt/Myositis) until January 2022. Patients without cardiac involvement information were excluded. Myo(peri)carditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, conduction abnormalities, and/or premature coronary artery disease were considered. 230 patients were included, 163 (70.9%) of whom were females. Thirteen patients (5.7%) had cardiac involvement. Compared with IIM patients without cardiac involvement, these patients had a lower bilateral manual muscle testing score (MMT) at the peak of muscle weakness [108.0 ± 55.0 vs 147.5 ± 22.0, p=0.008] and more frequently had oesophageal [6/12 (50.0%) vs 33/207 (15.9%), p=0.009] and lung [10/13 (76.9%) vs 68/216 (31.5%), p=0.001] involvements. Anti-SRP antibodies were more commonly identified in patients with cardiac involvement [3/11 (27.3%) vs 9/174 (5.2%), p=0.026]. In the multivariate analysis, positivity for anti-SRP antibodies (OR 104.3, 95% CI: 2.5-4277.8, p=0.014) was a predictor of cardiac involvement, regardless of sex, ethnicity, age at diagnosis, and lung involvement. Sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. Anti-SRP antibodies were predictors of cardiac involvement in our cohort of IIM patients, irrespective of demographical characteristics and lung involvement. We suggest considering frequent screening for heart involvement in anti-SRP-positive IIM patients.

This work aimed to predict the physical–chemical characteristics of leachate according to the analysis of the solubilized extract from urban household solid waste (UHSW), on a laboratory scale, in the city of Belém/PA, Brazil. The neighborhoods where the waste was collected were sectorized based on geographic and socioeconomic data, with family income as the main parameter. After collection, the material was sent to the segregation area, where a gravimetric analysis of the UHSW was performed and fractions (paper, cardboard, Tetra Pak, rigid plastic, malleable plastic, metals, glass, organic matter, sanitary waste, fabrics and rejects) were segregated. After the gravimetric characterization, it was found that the highest average proportions were 55.57% organic matter, 14.26% sanitary waste and 9.97% malleable plastic. The organic fraction was selected and subjected to drying, crushing, sieving and packaging pretreatment, and then the solubilized extract of this fraction was obtained according to NBR No. 10.006/2004 of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards. In the analyses of the solubilized extract, values for total nitrogen (201.80 to 359.90 mg·L−1), ammonia nitrogen (161 to 289 mg·L−1), nitrate (10 to 40 mg·L−1) and chemical oxygen demand were obtained (28,701 mg·L−1 to 38,608 mg·L−1), indicating the similarity of the waste solubilization conditions to those of leachate from landfills, in addition to being in noncompliance with environmental and health legislation, thus making it necessary to have an efficient waste management system, which avoids the release of waste into the environment that would result in environmental impacts similar to those of leachate contact with the environment.

Fluctuations in the clonal composition of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) have been associated with the emergence of successful lineages and with upsurges of invasive infections (iGAS). This study aimed at identifying changes in the clones causing iGAS in Portugal. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, emm typing and superantigen (SAg) gene profiling were performed for 381 iGAS isolates from 2010–2015. Macrolide resistance decreased to 4%, accompanied by the disappearance of the M phenotype and an increase of the iMLS B phenotype. The dominant emm types were: emm 1 (28%), emm 89 (11%), emm 3 (9%), emm 12 (8%), and emm 6 (7%). There were no significant changes in the prevalence of individual emm types, emm clusters, or SAg profiles when comparing to 2006–2009, although an overall increasing trend was recorded during 2000–2015 for emm 1, emm 75, and emm 87. Short-term increases in the prevalence of emm 3, emm 6, and emm 75 may have been driven by concomitant SAg profile changes observed within these emm types, or reflect the emergence of novel genomic variants of the same emm types carrying different SAgs.

Cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements (ETEs) and important cofactors for intermediary metabolism or redox balance. These ETEs are crucial during pregnancy, their role on specific pregnancy outcomes is largely unknown. This prospective study (#NCT04010708) aimed to assess urinary levels of these ETEs in pregnancy and to evaluate their association with pregnancy outcomes. First trimester pregnant women of Porto and Lisbon provided a random spot urine sample, and sociodemographic and lifestyle data. Clinical data were obtained from clinical records. Urinary ETEs were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A total of 635 mother:child pairs were included. Having urinary Zn levels above the 50th percentile (P50) was an independent risk factor for pre-eclampsia (PE) (aOR [95% CI]: 5.350 [1.044–27.423], p = 0.044). Urinary Zn levels above the P50 decreased the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) birth head circumference (aOR [95% CI]: 0.315 [0.113–0.883], p = 0.028), but it increased the risk SGA length (aOR [95% CI]: 2.531 [1.057–6.062], p = 0.037). This study may provide valuable information for public health policies related to prenatal nutrition, while informing future efforts to de-fine urinary reference intervals for ETEs in pregnant women.

Hansen’s disease, or leprosy, is a disease characterized by dermatological and neurological disorders. A neural form also exists, in which peripheral neuropathy occurs in the absence of skin lesions. However, cases of leprosy that involve the central nervous system and proximal nerves are rare in the literature. We describe the case of an oligosymptomatic patient diagnosed with the neural form of leprosy with involvement of peripheral nerves, dorsal root ganglion, and cervical spinal cord in an atypical presentation of the disease. Through complementary examinations and nerve biopsies, the bacillus was identified, and treatment was subsequently initiated. This case highlights the importance of investigating the suspicion of leprosy, even in cases with atypical manifestations, as early diagnosis and treatment can reduce neurological damage and deformities.

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDARE), an autoimmune encephalitis associated with autoantibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, affects predominantly young women and is associated with psychiatric symptoms, seizures, movement disorders, and autonomic instability. Traditional treatments of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis involve corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab. However, many controversies remain in the treatment for NMDA receptor encephalitis, such as optimal timing and combination of different immunotherapies, the role of newer strategies (e.g., bortezomib or tocilizumab) for severe and refractory patients, and the need or not for long-term immunosuppression. Our goal was to perform a scoping review to discuss the controversial topics of immunotherapy for NMDA receptor encephalitis and propose operational definitions to guide clinical practice and future research in the field.