O Leopardo, Panthera pardus (L., 1758), do Algar da Manga Larga (Planalto de Santo António, Porto de Mós)

Durante uma acção de reconhecimento, promovida pela Associação de Estudos Subterrâneos e Defesa do Ambiente (AESDA), no Algar da Manga Larga, foi realizado um levantamento fotográfico sumário da cavidade, que inclu iu imagens de um conj unto de restos osteológicos, jacentes a cerca de 95 m de profundidade em relação à entrada do AIgar. A análise posterior das características morfológicas do crânio, possibilitada pelo registo fotográfico obtido, levou á conclusão de que se trataria de um exemplar de grande felídeo, presumivelmente um leopardo, Panthera pardus (L., 1758). Em visita ulterionnente realizada, procedeu-se à recolha das peças ósseas. O respectivo estudo biométrico, com base em diversas comparações com exemplares actuais e do Plistocénico europeu, permitiu evidenciar, neste exemplar, algumas características particulares, especialmente no respeitante à região craniana. Estes aspectos são de tal modo marcantes que obrigaram à comparação com outras duas espécies menos prováveis de grandes felideos, Uncia uncia, cuja presença na Europa ocidental não foi confinnada (TESTU, 2006: 205), e Puma pardoides, espécie identificada no Plistocénico inferior europeu. Discutem -se também alguns aspectos tafonómicos que determinaram o posicionamento destes restos numa zona profunda da cavidade e de dificil acesso.During a speleological survey promoted by the Associação de Estudos Subterrâneos e Defesa do Ambienle (AESDA) at Manga Larga cave, a pholographic record of the cavity was perfomed. Some of the photographs show a bone assemblage laying nearly 95 meters below the entrance of the cave. The later analysis of lhe cranial features, through the observation of lhe photographs, allowed the identification of a large felid, probably a leopard. Panthera pardus (L., 1758). The collection of the bone remnants was carried out in a subsequent visit at the site. The biometric study, based on comparisons with modem and european Pleistocene specimens, showed some uncommon traits, particularly in the cranium. These features are so striking that compel to the comparison with two other less probable species of large felids, namely Uncia uncia whose presence in occidental Europe was not confimed (TESTU, 2006: 205), and Puma pardoides, identified in the European Lower Pleistocene. Some taphonomic processes concerning the location of these remains in a profound and hard reaching area of the cave are also discussed

Electromagnetic radiation from collisions at almost the speed of light: an extremely relativistic charged particle falling into a Schwarzschild black hole

We investigate the electromagnetic radiation released during the high energy collision of a charged point particle with a four-dimensional Schwarzschild black hole. We show that the spectra is flat, and well described by a classical calculation. We also compare the total electromagnetic and gravitational energies emitted, and find that the former is supressed in relation to the latter for very high energies. These results could apply to the astrophysical world in the case charged stars and small charged black holes are out there colliding into large black holes, and to a very high energy collision experiment in a four-dimensional world. In this latter scenario the calculation is to be used for the moments just after the black hole formation, when the collision of charged debris with the newly formed black hole is certainly expected. Since the calculation is four-dimensional, it does not directly apply to Tev-scale gravity black holes, as these inhabit a world of six to eleven dimensions, although our results should qualitatively hold when extrapolated with some care to higher dimensions.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Hyperuricemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: a Role Yet To Be Explained

The role of uric acid as an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease development and progression is still a matter of discussion. Several observational studies showed a positive association between hyperuricemia and the progression of kidney dysfunction, but others did not, which probably derived from different biases and studies insufficiencies. Moreover, the results from studies on patients in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are even more controversial, with some evidence pointing towards a protective role of uric acid in hemodialysis patients, but not in peritoneal dialysis. In addition to most evidence suggesting a role of uric acid in chronic kidney disease pathogenesis and progression, pharmacological treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia is still not indicated, with no consensus on either the uric acid level at which treatment would be beneficial, or the target-level to achieve. There are several studies on the renal benefits of xanthine oxidase inhibitors allopurinol and febuxostat, with heterogeneous results. Most of them showed a renoprotective effect of both drugs, delaying renal disease progression. However, the different results found in other studies makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Despite recent evidence pointing toward an important role of uric acid in the pathogenesis and progression of kidney disorders, and the benefits of its treatment, there are still several unanswered questions, and well-conducted studies are needed to make valid conclusions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Modelos de predição para peso e rendimento de cortes cárneos através de medidas no animal vivo.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram desenvolver equações de predição com a finalidade de estimar o peso e o rendimento de cortes do traseiro de novilhos Braford através de medidas por ultrassom ?in vivo? e avaliar a inclusão das medidas de espessura de gordura na garupa e de profundidade do músculo gluteus medius e as suas relações com a acurácia dos modelos de regressão. Foram utilizados 100 novilhos com peso vivo médio de 472 Kg e 24 meses de idade. Nas 48 horas pré abate foram coletadas medidas de ultrassom da área do músculo longissimus (AOLUS); espessura de gordura subcutânea (EGSUS) no sítio anatômico entre a 12ª e 13ª costelas; espessura de gordura na garupa (EGP8US) e a profundidade do músculo Gluteus medius (PP8US). As equações para peso de cortes do traseiro (PCT) e para rendimento de cortes do traseiro (RCT) foram desenvolvidas através do procedimento estatístico de seleção de variáveis Stepwise. As características AOLUS, EGSUS, EGP8US e PP8US apresentaram médias de 67,13 cm2; 3,43 mm; 6,14 mm e 86,91 mm respectivamente. Os coeficientes de correlação de Pearson entre as medidas obtidas por ultrassom e na carcaça para AUOLUS e AOLC foram de 0,89, para EGSU e EGSC de 0,92. O R2 para PCT foi de 0,71 e para RCT de 0,31 respectivamente. As variáveis EGP8US e PP8US explicam 11% da variação do rendimento dos cortes do traseiro e devem ser incorporadas no modelo

Electromagnetic waves around dilatonic stars and naked singularities

We study the propagation of classical electromagnetic waves on the simplest four-dimensional spherically symmetric metric with a dilaton background field. Solutions to the relevant equations are obtained perturbatively in a parameter which measures the strength of the dilaton field (hence parameterizes the departure from Schwarzschild geometry). The loss of energy from outgoing modes is estimated as a back-scattering process against the dilaton background, which would affect the luminosity of stars with a dilaton field. The radiation emitted by a freely falling point-like source on such a background is also studied by analytical and numerical methods.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur