The 2011 Tohoku earthquake : the impact on the energy sector

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact caused by the Tohoku 2011 earthquake, within the energy sector across the World. In order to measure results, a couple of methodologies that resorted to abnormal returns were undertaken and multiple significance tests were made to verify statistical relevancy on the findings. It has been possible to observe a positive reaction on the “Nuclear Energy” companies, as well as a negative impact on the “Renewable Energy” group, with the most prominent results coming from the second methodology. However, due to the lack of statistical significance across most of the data under study, conclusions tend to be inevitably limited

An improved method for high-quality RNA isolation from needles of adult maritime pine trees

Conventional RNA isolation methods optimised for pine seedlings have been shown to produce poor quality RNA when applied to needles of adult pine trees. We describe here a modified procedure to isolate high pure RNA from needles of thirty-year-old maritime pines, exhibiting high levels of phenolics, polysaccharides and RNases. Major changes were the inclusion of proteinase K in the extraction medium followed by incubation at 42°C. Integrity and purity were evaluated by denaturing gel electrophoresis and by spectrophotometry (A260/A230 and A260/A280). Total RNA could be successfully used for poly(A)+-RNA isolation and cDNA library construction.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - grant ref. SFRH/BD/3194/2000

Molecular aproach on the study of infection of Pinus pinaster Ait. by the fungus Lophodermium seditiosum

Poster apresentado no 10th International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Madison, Wisconsin, Estados Unidos da América.The fungi genus Lophodermium comprises several species known to intervene in the degradation process of pine needles. Amongst these species, only L. seditiosum is known to be pathogenic, as it is able to infect healthy needles in young pine populations, spreading from stomata and leading to the death of the needle (needle cast disease). Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster, Ait) is one of the most relevant forest species in SW Europe. Needle cast disease, by attacking young plants, leads to two main events: the lack of self regeneration in natural populations, and complete destruction of pine nurseries. The purpose of our study is to understand the nature of the infection of Pinus pinaster Ait. by L. seditiosum and ultimately gain some knowledge on the overall response of Conipherophyta to infection. As a first step towards this goal, a cDNA library of Pinus pinaster was constructed. Subsequent effort has been directed towards the screening of genes encoding PR proteins involved in host-pathogen interaction, as well as oxidative stress enzymes. In addition, PCR amplification using degenerate primers is in progress in order to allow the identification of putative Resistance genes.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - grant ref. SFRH/BD/3194/200

Life goes on : Oblada melanura (Linnaeus, 1758) (Perciformes, Sparidae), the saddled seabream, expands its distribution range westwards to the Azores

A group of 10 individuals of the saddled seabream, Oblada melanura (Linnaeus, 1758), was photographed at Lajes do Pico Bay, on Pico Island, Azores. This finding represents a significant westward expansion of the known range of this species and may be linked to global warming. A call is therefore made for a monitoring program of the coastal fish fauna of the Azores which would improve the understanding of the effects of climate change and other anthropogenic stressors on marine communities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Serum Ionized Calcium Variations in Simple and Comminuted Fractures in the Dog’s Appendicular Skeleton and Consequent Risks of a Hypercalcemic Condition

A sample of 40 Canis familiaris (n=40) of unknown gender and breed was divided into two groups: (1) the control group (CG), which featured trauma but no fractures, and (2) the study group, which featured appendicular skeletal fractures (FG); FG was further subdivided into two groups according to the type of fracture: a) simple fractures (SFG) and b) comminuted fracture (CFG). The present study sought (1) to compare the serum- ionized Ca2+ levels of SF patients with those of CF patients and (2) to establish the existence of a relationship between SF and CF statuses based on patients’ clinical symptoms. iCa2+ was measured using an i-STAT® Abbott® CG8+ analytic system. Patients were assessed for clinical symptoms associated with potential hypercalcemia. Results were statistically significant for P values < 0.05. Differences between CG and FG were registered for clinical symptoms. Patients with SF and CF always presented a higher average value of iCa2+ than CT patients, although no statistically significant differences between the SF and CF groups were observed. SF and CF patients should always be assumed to have a mild hypercalcemic condition until laboratory results prove otherwise. CF patients in the present study presented with significantly higher expressions of clinical symptoms compared with those in the SF group. Consequently, iCa2+ level measurements should always be a part of the basic laboratory panels and be required by clinicians whenever patients are presented with fractures. Medications that promote extracellular increases in Ca2+ should be avoided until a patient’s iCa2 + level is determined, thus ensuring the patient’s safet