Loulé Criativo: our creative tourism development story.

The Loulé Criativo project aims to provide a continuous induction of innovation in the products and work processes of professionals; the necessary conditions for research in the arts and crafts and related topics; support for the installation and business of artisans and professionals in the creative sector, adjusted to their needs; and a cultural programme that includes permanent and temporary exhibitions and events related to the theme of creativity, heritage, and arts and crafts. It strives to be closer and closer to its communities, to create business opportunities for local agents, and to offer quality, differentiated, and authentic tourism so that anyone who decides to spend their vacation in Loulé can have an experience of immersion in the local culture.

Monitoring with social media: Experiences from “integrating” WhatsApp in the M&E system under sweet potato value chain

Dealing with multiple stakeholders in agriculture–nutrition projects often makes communication and the collection of quality, reliable, and low-cost data complex and challenging. Communication bureaucracies among stakeholders often lead to delay, distortion, or loss of information along the communication channel. Social networking platforms can facilitate communication and collection of real-time data useful for project monitoring. This article shares our experience in using the WhatsApp platform for communication and collection of additional monitoring data. A WhatsApp platform for project implementers from the ministries of health (100) and agriculture (52) from Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, and Migori counties Kenya was formed in September 2016 for sharing additional monitoring data in the form of photos, videos, and texts. Project monitoring-related costs reduced by 51% and collapsing reporting hierarchies reduced information delays, thereby saving time and communication challenges. A shared understanding among different actors on the project’s indicators, reporting timelines, and data collection guidelines improved the quality of continuous monitoring data. However, staff transfer and replacements called for the continuous induction of new entrants to the forum. WhatsApp is a compelling tool in project monitoring to mitigate communication challenges. It offers an opportunity to share information on one platform among different cadres, facilitating collective action in multisectoral approach projects.

Continuous fluropyrimidine (FP) with platinum (P) based chemotherapy (CT) versus maintenance FP after induction therapy in advanced gastric (G) and gastroesophageal (GE) cancer.

375 Background: Combination FP with P CT have become the standard of care for advanced G/GEJ cancer. Clinical trials in conjunction with practice, have adopted induction FP and P CT for 3-4 months (mos). In other GI malignancies, induction CT followed by maintenance CT (MTC) has been shown to improve patient (pt) outcomes compared to observation, with a decrease in treatment (trmt) related toxicities with induction therapy. However a maintenance approach in G/GEJ cancer has not been investigated in clinical trials. We investigated pt outcomes with metastatic G/GEJ cancer who received continuous induction (CTX) versus induction followed by MTC. Methods: A retrospective analysis of pts with metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma treated with (FP+ P)-based CT between 2007 to 2017 from three centers of a single institution was performed. Metastatic G/GEJ cancer pts who achieved at least stable disease after initial induction trmt were included. Pts were categorized into the CTX group if they received greater than 16 weeks or 8 cycles of combined CT and assigned to the MTC group if they received maintenance FP monotherapy after 8 or less cycles of combined induction CT. Data was extracted from the medical record to determine progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicities. Results: Sixty-four pts that met criteria and were evaluated, thirty-four received CTX and thirty received MTC. No significant difference in PFS (12.1 vs 8.0 mos p = .72, HR=1.10 95%CI .66-1.83) was observed between the CTX and MTC groups, additionally there was no significant difference in OS. A significant decrease in trmt related toxicities were observed, with a higher proportion of thrombocytopenia (84.8% vs 50.0% p = .004), and grade 3 neuropathy (39.4% vs 13.8% p =.024) in CTX pts (Table). Conclusions: MTC following induction FP/P CT is associated with an improved toxicity profile and appears to be effective compared to CTX in metastatic G/GEJ cancer. Prospective randomized studies confirming its potential benefits compared with continuous induction CT are warranted. [Table: see text]

Effects of toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa on the morphology of green alga Chlorella vulgaris

In eutrophic freshwater lakes, cyanobacteria and green algae are in succession due to abiotic factors. Allelochemical interaction also exists. In this study, we indicated that filtrates of Microcystis aeruginosa can influence the growth rate and photosynthetic pigments of the target alga named Chlorella vulgaris. We also determined the morphological appearance and colony formation of green alga C. vulgaris that were induced by chemicals associated with a competitor cyanobacterium named M. aeruginosa. However, microcystins (MCs) were not the active substances in this study. The morphology changes and growth of C. vulgaris affected by M. aeruginosa filtrates were dependent on the initial cultivation density of the target algae and the cultivation phase of M. aeruginosa. We also assumed that the morphology changes were defensive strategies utilised by C. vulgaris to resist M. aeruginosa. The temporary stress of M. aeruginosa was favourable to the growth of C. vulgaris. By contrast, the continuous induction of colony formation by M. aeruginosa in the field inhibited the growth of C. vulgaris. The present results provided new insights into the interaction between algae and theoretical basis for algae succession in the field.