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Background: Older adults experience physical and psychological declines affecting independency. Adapted and structured combined interventions composed of cognitive stimulation and physical exercise contribute to comorbidities’ reduction. Methods: Multicenter single-blinded two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial conducted to assess effectiveness of a combined intervention (CI), composed of a cognitive stimulation program (CSP) and a physical exercise program (PEP), on psychological and physical capacities of frail older adults as to on their activities of daily living. Were recruited 50 subjects from two elderly end-user organizations. Of these, 44 (65.9% females, mean age of 80.5 ± 8.47 years) were considered eligible, being randomly allocated in experimental (EG) or control group (CG). Data collected at baseline and post-intervention. EG received CI three times a week during 12 weeks. CG received standard care. Non-parametric measures were considered. Results: At baseline, groups were equivalent for study outcomes. The comparison of pre- and post-intervention data revealed that subjects receiving CI reduced depressive symptomatology and risk of fall based on gait and balance, and improved gait speed. Simultaneously, in the CG a significant decline on activities of daily living was observed. Significant results were found among biomechanical parameters of gait (BPG). EG’ effect size revealed to be small (0.2 ≤ r < 0.5). CG’ effect size was also small; but for activities of daily living there was an evident decrease. Conclusion: The CI is effective on managing older adults’ psychological and physical capacities.

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Anthropozoologica est une revue en flux continu publiée par les Publications scientifiques du Muséum, Paris, avec le soutien du CNRS.

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A percepção que temos e a utilidade que damos ao litoral têm mudado ao longo dos tempos. Outrora, a orla costeira, ainda que pontilhada de algumas cidades e vilas, era na sua maior extensão um território vazio, evitado e ignorado, habitado por uma população diminuta de pescadores. Com o aparecimento da moda dos "banhos de mar", o espaço litorâneo passou a ser local de atracção e divertimento, sendo procurado sazonalmente por grandes massas populacionais. Nos últimos dois séculos, a história do litoral revela-se indissociável da do próprio homem, na medida em que este espaço tem sido pensado e modificado em função do significado e da utilidade que a sociedade lhe atribui. Através da leitura e interpretação de um conjunto de fontes do século XIX e início do século XX-jornais, livros de memórias, textos satíricos, contos populares, guias de turismo e propaganda, obras de carácter etnográfico, médico e científico-natural-, bem como de alguns trabalhos recentes sobre o desenvolvimento do fenómeno social da "praia", procurámos definir e caracterizar o percurso diacrónico da interacção entre o homem e o litoral, tendo em conta a forma como o ser humano pensa o espaço envolvente, define estratégias e implementa práticas para o adaptar às suas necessidades. Este estudo, que parte da análise de fontes documentais pouco divulgadas e que procura oferecer uma perspectiva histórica sobre os fenómenos ocorridos na orla litoral na época contemporânea, pode trazer novos contributos para um mais profundo entendimento da problemática em torno da gestão costeira, pois para se gerir convenientemente este território é preciso conhecer não só as suas especificidades próprias e compreender a sua evolução natural, mas também ter em conta as transformações físicas a que esteve e está sujeito pela acção do Homem.

Some plants have high ability to absorb heavy metals in high concentrations. In this study, Spartina maritima was tested in conjunction with low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOA), in order to evaluate the possible use of this plant in phytoremediation processes in salt marshes. Three different LMWOA (citric acid, malic acid and acetic acid) were applied to contaminated intact cores of S. maritima colonized sediment and several heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr and Ni) were analyzed in sediment and plant parts. Acetic acid application proved to be the most efficient, enhancing greatly the uptake of all metals analyzed. Citric acid also showed good results, while malic acid proved to be very inefficient in most of the cases. The highest enhancement was observed for Cr with a 10-fold increase of the uptake upon application of acetic acid, while improving the Pb uptake proved to be the most difficult, probably due to its low solubility.