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Mycobacteria from the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) cause a variety of diseases including tuberculosis-like disease in humans and birds, disseminated infections in AIDS patients and otherwise immunocompromised patients, lymphadenitis in humans and mammals and paratuberculosis in ruminants. M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) is the etiologic agent of Johne´s disease in cattle and it has been identified in human patients with Crohn’s disease. The MAC comprises slow growing mycobacteria that are ubiquitous in the environment (soil and water), and have a wide source range, causing disease in various domestic and wild mammals and birds [1]. The aim of this study was to discuss the classification and biology, epidemiology, clinical signs, pathology, diagnostic techniques, and public health concerns in Mycobacterium avium complex in domestic and wild animals.

The study watershed is located within the Idanha Irrigation Scheme, Portugal. A hydrological and water quality station was installed at the outlet of the catchment. The AnnAGNPS model was applied in this study, and afterwards it was calibrated and validated to the conditions in the study catchment. The antecedent soil moisture conditions play an important role for rapid runoff and flash flooding. Relative Water Supply (RWS) is always bellow the unity value and sometimes below the value 0.5. Sometimes in very dry years, like the year 2004-2005 (302 mm), a runoff coefficient is equal to 0.40. Spatial distribution of runoff was primarily influenced by topography and soil management, which is common in Mediterranean agricultural systems, namely in grain crop systems such as oats and wheat. The simulation of spatial distribution of nitrate load shows a dependence of the spatial distribution of runoff, due to its high solubility. Spatial distribution of soil erosion by water indicates that the process does not depend directly on the runoff distribution in the catchment. Therefore, soil erosion is greatly influenced by deficient land cover whenever erosivity of rainfall is strong. Phosphorus losses were less than nitrate losses, due to their lower water solubility and mobility in soil.

Throughout the years, the expanded search and flow of information led to an expansion of traffic intensity in today’s optical communication systems. Coherent communications, using the amplitude and phase of the optical wave, resurface as one of the transmission methods to increase the effective bandwidth of optical channels. In this framework, this chapter presents a study on all-optical format conversion of modulated signals, using exclusively interferometric techniques through wavelength conversion, based on Mach-Zehnder interferometers with semiconductor optical amplifiers (MZI-SOA). This technique, when applied in interconnection nodes between optical networks with different bit rates and modulation formats, allows a better efficiency and scalability of the network. The chapter presents an experimental characterization of the static and dynamic properties of the MZI-SOA and explores all-optical techniques for the conversion from amplitude modulation to phase modulation. Finally, it briefly presents the potential of MZI-SOAs for the conversion of amplitude signals to more advanced modulation formats, such as quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signals.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a chronic condition that is associated with venous hypertension, vein’s valves damage, venous obstruction, and calf muscle pump impairment. This blood circulatory condition is also characterized by important inflammatory changes affecting the skin, the subcutaneous tissue and the muscles, which are probably triggered by blood stasis and venous edema. With disease progression, severe ulcerative skin damage might occur, which when present represent the more severe stage of this condition. CVD has a significant economic, social and health impact, mostly due to raised morbidity and chronicity. The treatment of patients with CVD might focus on both the symptoms and secondary changes of the disease, such as edema, skin and subcutaneous changes or ulcers. Usually, initial treatment of CVD patients involves a non-invasive, conservative treatment to reduce symptoms, treat secondary changes, and help prevent the development of secondary complications and the progression of the disease. Complementary, some interventional or surgical treatments can be undertaken. There are several conservative treatments to treat and prevent complications associated with CVD that have been described in the literature, like manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and compression, physical exercise, intermittent pneumatic pressure, kinesio taping, electrical muscle stimulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hydrotherapy, and health education. Most of these techniques are complementary to compression therapy or pharmacological treatment. This chapter will address the role of physical therapists in the management of CVD. The chapter will begin by reviewing the basic physiopathology of CVD, including the role of calf muscle pump. The CEAP classification system and the chronic venous severity score will be presented, as these are main tools for clinical assessment of CVD severity. In the remainder of the chapter will address the physiological effects and recommendations for treating CVD of MLD, based on our clinical experience and own research.