O Retrato na Antiguidade Clássica – O Exemplo do Augusto de Mértola

Revista do IHA, N.5 (2008), pp.18-37Na evolução do retrato teve uma influência decisiva a época áurea da civilização romana, circunstância em que se assistiu à criação e divulgação da imagem de Augusto, o primeiro dos imperadores, protagonista da Pax Romana. Como se construiu esta imagem, como se propagou até ao território hoje português um modelo que procurou na Grécia a sua fundamentação estética, estudando um busto augustano oriundo de Mértola, eis o objectivo desta reflexão, que será complementada e esclarecida com a apresentação de resultados de análise laboratorial do mármore em que esta obra de arte foi esculpida.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT); Direcção-Geral do Livros e das Bibliotecas (DGLB

Paleolítico médio e superior em Portugal : datas 14C, estado actual dos conhecimentos, síntese e discussão

No âmbito des pesquisas do CEPUNL sobre o Paleolítico médio e superior foram obtidas novas datas de radiocarbono em situações bem definidas do ponto de vista estratigráfico; com outras, permitem uma visão cronológica global aproximada. As datas não parecem distribuir-se ao longo dos tempos de modo aleatório. No estado actual dos conhecimentos, parecem corresponder a vários conjuntos: (a) 14000 a 15000 anos BP, Solutrense superior; (b) cerca de 20 000 BP, Solutrense; (c) com datas cerca de 25000 BP, já Solutrense, e, a pouco mais de 26000 BP, ainda Musrierense; (d) entre 29 000 e 31 000 BP, Mustierense. Demonstra-se a persistência de Mustierense muito após o limite admitido; cerca de 34 000 BP - e, por conseguinte, a dos seus autores neandertalianos. Pela primeira vez, foi possível a datação do limite cronológico superior do terraço marinho de 5-8 mettos (Tirreniano III) da Arrábida, bem como de jazidas sem indústrias ou com indústrias incaracterísticas. As datas obtidas permitem correlacionar jazidas e depósitos com episódios da última glaciação. Parece haver nítida correlação entre a ocupação de grutas e abrigos pelo Homem e episódios de clima mais desfavorável.New radiocarbon measuremenrs were obtained from middle and upper Paleolithic sites currenrly under research by the CEPUNL, in well defined stratigraphical situations. Wirh other dates, they yield an approximarive chronological global view. Measurement distriburion in function of time does not seem to be an hazardous one. ln rhe actual status of our knowledge, rhis disrriburion seems ro fit in some assemblages: (a) 14000 to 15000 BP, Solurrean; (b) about 20 000 BP, Solucrean; (c) árca 25 000 BP, already Solutrean, and slighdy older than 26 000 BP, still Moust~rian; (d) berween 29 000 and 31 000 BP, Mousterian. The persistance of Mousterian much later than its acknowledged upper limit ar about 34 000 BP (and hence the survival of its neanderrhalian authors) is demonstrated. For the first time ir has been possible ro ascercain rhe upper time limit of the marine 5-8 metres raised beach (Tyrrhenian III) at Serra da Arrábida, and also rhe age of archaeological sires wirhour stone arrifacrs, or wirh uncharacteristic ones. The obtained measurements allow us to correlate localities and sedimencary units wirh lasr glaciation events. There seems to have been a distinct correlation berween cave and shelter human occupation and events marked by rhe worsening of climare.Dans le cadre des recherches du CEPUNL sur le Paléolithique moyen et supérieur ont été· obtenues de nouvelles dares 14C correspondant à des situarions bien définies du point de vue srrarigraphique; avec d'autres, elles permeccent une vision globale apptoximative de la chronologie. La discribution des dates en fonction des temps ne parait pas alléatoire. Dans I' état aCtuei des connaissances, certe discribution semble correspondre à quelques ensembles: (a) 14000 à 15 000 ans BP, Solutréen supérieur; (b) environ 20000 BP, Solutréen; (c) árca 25000 BP, Solurréen déjà, er avec un peu plus de 26 000 BP, Moustérien (encore); (d) enrre 29 000 et 31 000 BP, Moustérien. La persistance de Moustérien bien apres la date limite admise (34 000 BP environ) - et donc celle de ses auteurs neanderthaliens - est démontrée. Pour la premiere fois ii a éré possible de darer la limite chronologique supérieure de la terrasse marine de 5-8 merres (Tyrrhénien III) dans la Serra da Arrábida, ainsi que des sites dépourvus d'indusrries ou ayant livré des industries incaractéristiques. Les dates obtenues permettenr de corréler des gisements er dépôts avec des épisodes de la derniere glaciation. II semble avoir eu une nette correspondance enrre I'occupation de grottes et abris par I'Homme et des épisodes à climar plus défavorable

Predictive Factors of Relapse After Methotrexate Discontinuation in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patients With Inactive Disease

Objective: To identify predictive factors of relapse after discontinuation of Methotrexate (MTX) in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) patients with inactive disease. Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter cohort study of patients diagnosed with JIA using real world data from the Portuguese national register database, Reuma.pt. Patients with JIA who have reached JADAS27 inactive disease and discontinued MTX before the age of 18 were evaluated. Results: A total of 1470 patients with JIA were registered in Reuma.pt. Of the 119 bionaive patients who discontinued MTX due to inactive disease, 32.8% have relapsed. Median time of persistence (using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests) with inactive disease was significantly higher in patients with more than two years of remission before MTX discontinuation and in those who did not use NSAIDs at time of MTX discontinuation. In Cox regression analyses and after adjustment for age at diagnosis, MTX tapering and JIA category, the use of NSAIDs at the time of MTX discontinuation (HR, 1.98 95%CI 1.03-3.82) and remission time of less than two years before suspension (HR, 3.12 95%CI 1.35-7.13) remained associated with relapse. No association was found between JIA category or the regimen of MTX discontinuation and the risk of relapse. Conclusions: In this large cohort we found that the use of NSAIDs at the time of MTX discontinuation was associated with a two times higher likelihood of relapse. In addition, longer duration of remission before MTX withdrawal reduces the chance of relapse in bionaive JIA patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sorghum intercropped with Piatã Grass in eucalyptus sub-forest.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of forage sorghum when intercropped with piatã grass and cultivated in eucalyptus sub-forest. The experiment was carried out at the Embrapa Gado de Corte, in Campo Grande - MS. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main treatments were: monoculture (single sorghum); intercropping (simultaneous sowing of sorghum + piatã grass). The secondary treatments were composed by the sampling sites, with five sites equidistant between the rows of eucalyptus trees (CLFI), with full sun as a control (CLI). The percentage of shading was always higher than 30% in the sub-forest, and the overall average of the system with 63% shade, even after 50% thinning of eucalyptus trees. The intercropping with the grass, an interesting fact, did not affect sorghum grain yield, since it validates the potential of forage sorghum for use in intercropping with perennial grasses, with average grain yield of 2,404.63 kg ha-1. Regarding the sampling sites, it was observed a higher yield in the full sun with 3,283 kg ha-1. The weight of 100 grains was higher for sorghum in monoculture. On the other hand, the upper W1000 was observed at sites A and C. The weight of 1000 grains is considered stable, being affected only under conditions of stress during grain formation. The sorghum intercropped with the piatã grass did not influence the harvest index (HI), while in the shaded environment there was an increase in the harvest index in relation to the full sun

HIF-transcribed p53 chaperones HIF-1α

Chronic hypoxia is associated with a variety of physiological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ischemia/reperfusion injury, stroke, diabetic vasculopathy, epilepsy and cancer. At the molecular level, hypoxia manifests its effects via activation of HIF-dependent transcription. On the other hand, an important transcription factor p53, which controls a myriad of biological functions, is rendered transcriptionally inactive under hypoxic conditions. p53 and HIF-1α are known to share a mysterious relationship and play an ambiguous role in the regulation of hypoxia-induced cellular changes. Here we demonstrate a novel pathway where HIF-1α transcriptionally upregulates both WT and MT p53 by binding to five response elements in p53 promoter. In hypoxic cells, this HIF-1α-induced p53 is transcriptionally inefficient but is abundantly available for protein-protein interactions. Further, both WT and MT p53 proteins bind and chaperone HIF-1α to stabilize its binding at its downstream DNA response elements. This p53-induced chaperoning of HIF-1α increases synthesis of HIF-regulated genes and thus the efficiency of hypoxia-induced molecular changes. This basic biology finding has important implications not only in the design of anti-cancer strategies but also for other physiological conditions where hypoxia results in disease manifestation

Effect of Elephant Grass Genotypes to Bioenergy Production.

The study aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) genotypes on energy production in the combustion form. A randomized block design with 3 repetitions was used. The treatments were arranged in subdivided plots scheme, considering as a plot the genotypes and as subplots, the harvest season. The agronomic characteristics plant height (H), leaf length (LL), leaf blade width (LBW), stem diameter (SD), tillers number (TN), stem percentage (SP), dry matter yield (DMY) were evaluated. The rainy season provided greater H to elephant grass genotypes with height above 3.5 m. The average SP obtained by the genotypes was 68.21% and 67.21% to the first and second year of cultivation, respectively, which gives the biomass good quality of burning. The rainy season provided greater DMY comparing to the dry season. In the first year of cultivation there were genotypes with annual dry matter yield (ADMY) above 50 ton ha-1 year-1, however, the non-maintenance of soil fertility promoted the reduction of 39.17% and 39.05% in the DMY and ADMY, respectively. Analyzing the agronomic characteristics, we conclude that the promising genotypes of elephant grass to produce energy in the form of direct combustion are CNPGL 91-25-1, Cubano Pinda, BRS Canará, Porto Rico and Mercker

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta