Staircases of wave-cut platforms in western central Portugal (Cape Mondego to Cape Espichel) – relevance as indicators of crustal uplift Escadarias de terraços marinhos em Portugal centro-ocidental (Cabo Mondego ao Cabo Espichel) – relevância como indicadores de soerguimento crustal

This study addresses coastal terrace staircases of western central Portugal (Cape Mondego to Cape Espichel). Below the culminant marine unit, that records the last episode of aggradation before the ongoing stage of incision, several terrace levels are identified. The following methodology was used: a) production of geomorphological maps, combining analysis of detailed MDT’s and aerial photos, with field surveys calibrated with GPS data; b) stratigraphic and sedimentological study of the sedimentary deposits associated with the marine platforms; c) luminescence dating. On each terrace staircase, the number of platforms and their elevations are different, indicating differential uplift. Quartz OSL provided age estimates up ca. 150 kyr and post-IR IRSL on K-feldspar up to ca. 700 kyr for the marine terraces under study. Using the culminant platform as reference and assuming that it is 3.6 Ma old, uplift rates were estimated as ranging from 0.071 m/ky to 0.019 m/ky. The ongoing luminescence dating will provide the uplift rates estimated for the lower and middle marine terrace

ESCADARIAS DE TERRAÇOS MARINHOS EM PORTUGAL CENTROOCIDENTAL – RELEVÂNCIA COMO INDICADORES DE SOERGUIMENTO CRUSTAL STAIRCASES OF WAVE-CUT PLATFORMS IN WESTERN CENTRAL PORTUGAL – RELEVANCE AS INDICATORS OF CRUSTAL UPLIFT

This study addresses the coastal terrace staircases of western central Portugal (Cape Mondego to Cape Espichel). Below the culminant marine unit that records the last episode of aggradation before the ongoing stage of incision, several terrace levels ar identified. The following methodology was used: a) production of geomorphological maps, combining analysis of detailed MDT’s and aerial photos, with field surveys calibrated with GPS; b) stratigraphic and sedimentological study of the sedimentary deposits associated with the marine platforms; c) luminescence dating. On each terrace staircase, the number of platforms and their elevations are different, indicating differential uplift. Quartz OSL provided age estimates up ca. 150 kyr and post-IR IRSL on K-feldspar up to ca. 700 kyr for the marine terraces under study. Using the culminant platform as reference and assuming that it is ca. 3.6 Ma old, uplift rates were estimated as ranging spatially from 0.071 m/ky to 0.019 m/ky. The ongoing luminescence dating will provide uplift rates estimated for the lower and middle marineterraces, clarifying if an acceleration of the crustal uplift is going on

Plant protein blends in diets for Senegalese sole affect skeletal muscle growth, flesh texture and the expression of related genes

Author's accepted version (postprint).Available from 26/11/2017.Skeletal muscle growth and flesh quality of Senegalese sole fed diets containing increasing levels of plant protein blends to replace fishmeal were evaluated using muscle cellularity, texture profile and gene expression. A control fish meal-based diet (FM) was compared with three isonitrogenous (54%) and isolipidic (9%) diets with increasing levels of plant protein (PP) blends (50% PP50, 75% PP75 and 100% PP100). By the end of the experiment sole fed PP50 and PP75 had a final body length similar to the CTR (25 cm), but fish fed PP100 were significantly smaller (23 cm). Total FM replacement by PP sources resulted in significantly smaller muscle cross sectional area (CSA) mainly due to a decrease in the muscle fibre size as the total number of fibres did not vary significantly among treatments. The dietary incorporation of PP significantly reduced the expression of several key genes involved in myogenesis and muscle growth (mrf4, fgf6, myhc and mylc2). Fillet texture analysed instrumentally was affected by the total substitution of FM. Fish fed PP100 diet had a significantly higher modulus of elasticity, i.e. lower flesh stiffness, compared with the other groups. Muscle fibre size was moderately related (r = − 0.573) to the modulus of elasticity and positively correlated with the expression of lysyl oxidase (r = 0.495). The observed changes in muscle cellularity could not be associated with the expression of texture-related genes (capn2, ctsb, ctsd), since no significant differences were observed among diets. The present results point towards a modulation of the expression of several muscle growth related genes by increasing levels of PP sources that alter muscle cellularity and textural properties of Senegalese sole when total FM is replaced by PP

A systematic approach to the interrogation and sharing of standardised biofilm signatures

Publicado em "6th International Conference on Practical Applications of Computational Biology & Bioinformatics", ISBN 978-3-642-28838-8The study of microorganism consortia, also known as biofilms, is associated to a number of applications in biotechnology, ecotechnology and clinical domains. A public repository on existing biofilm studies would aid in the design of new studies as well as promote collaborative and incremental work. However, bioinformatics approaches are hampered by the limited access to existing data. Scientific publications summarise the studies whilst results are kept in researchers’ private ad hoc files. Since the collection and ability to compare existing data is imperative to move forward in biofilm analysis, the present work has addressed the development of a systematic computer-amenable approach to biofilm data organisation and standardisation. A set of in-house studies involving pathogens and employing different state-of-the-art devices and methods of analysis was used to validate the approach. The approach is now supporting the activities of BiofOmics, a public repository on biofilm signatures (http://biofomics.org).The authors thank, among others, Rosario Oliveira, Maria Joao Vieira, Idalina Machado, Nuno Cerca, Mariana Henriques, Pilar Teixeira, Douglas Monteiro, Melissa Negri, Susana Lopes, Carina Almeida and Helder Lopes, for submitting their data. The financial support from IBB-CEB, Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) and European Community fund FEDER (Program COMPETE), project PTDC/SAU-ESA/646091/2006/FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007480, are also gratefully acknowledged

Quem somos nós? Ou perfis da comunidade profissional arqueológica no Brasil: primeiras aproximações

WHO ARE WE? OR A PROFILE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY IN BRAZIL: FIRST APPROACHESIn the last twenty years, archeological academic-scientific training has grown exponen-tially in Brazil, culminating in the recognition of the profession in 2018. However, little is known about the demographic profiles of people working in the area, as well as of students in the process of training, in undergraduate and graduate levels. By updating some data from previous studies, in this manuscript we present the results of an initial survey on the professional profile in Brazilian archeology, which includes information on the trajectory of education, gender, nationality and re-search themes. This initiative allows us to outline the challenges of inclusion and representativeness in the exercise of the profession, whose reflections will assist us in the conceiving of practical measures for a change in this situation in the future.Archaeology of the AmericasArchaeological Heritage Managemen

Estudos sobre a nutrição mineral do arroz: XI. Marcha de absorção de micronutrientes pela variedade IAC-47

Dry matter yield and uptake of B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn by the rice variety IAC-47 were studied under controlled conditions, namely, by growing plants in nutrient solution and by falcing samples for analyses in set physiological periods. It was observed that only the curves describing dry matter production and accumulation of B and Fe was verified.A produção de matéria seca e a absorção de micronutrientes (B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn) pelo arroz var. IAC-47 foram estudadas usando-se plantas cultivadas em solução nutritiva. Verificou-se que: enquanto as curvas que descrevem o crescimento e a acumulação de B e Fe mostram tendência sigmóide, as demais não o fazem, evidência de redistribuição foi observada somente nos casos do B (diminuição no conteúdo foliar) e no do Fe (diminuição no conteúdo da raiz)

Estudos sobre a nutrição mineral do arroz: VII. exigências nutricionais das variedades IAC-25 e IAC-47

Rice plants, varieties IAC 25 and IAC 47, were grown in nutrient solution till the end of the life cycle when they were analysed both for macro and micronutrients. Main conclusions were the following: IAC 47, higher yielding, showed larger requirements than IAC 25; for production (total) and export (grain), the demand for nutrients was the same in both varieties.As exigências nutricionais das variedades de arroz IAC 25 e IAC 47 foram determinadas analisando-se os diferentes órgãos de plantas cultivadas em solução nutritiva até o fim do ciclo. Verificou-se serem distintas as exigências, maior na IAC 47 (mais tardia) que deu também maior produção de grãos com casca

Studies on the mineral nutrition of the rice plant: IX. time course on the uptake of macronutrients by the variety IAC-47

Rice plants, variety IAC-47, were grown in the nº 2 nutrient solution of HOAGLAND & ARNON (1950) until the end of the life cycle. Plants were sampled at well defined physiological periods for analyses. It was verified that trends for levvelling off occurred in the case of accumulation of N, K and Ca. Translocation from leaves to grain was observed with respect to N, P and K. Maximum rates of uptake of all elements took place from 50 to 100 days after germination.Foram estudadas, em condições controladas, a acumulação de matéria seca e a de macronutrientes na variedade de arroz IAC-47. Ambos os processos em geral são descritos por sigmóides típicas; picos para os valores totais de produção de matéria seca e de acumulação de elementos entre: 100 e 140 dias depois da germinação

Estudos sobre a nutrição mineral do arroz: XIII. efeitos das deficiências de micronutrientes nas variedades IAC-25 e IAC-47

Rice plants were grown in nutrient solution lither in the presence or in the absence of B, Cu and Zn. The symptoms of deficiency were usually in agreement with those described in the literature. Growth of the variety IAC-47 (number of leaves, tillering and total dry matter) was relatively more affected; this variety, however did produce grains under the minus Cu treatment (one fourth of the yield observed in the "complete" treatment), which did not happen in the case of the other variety. At the beginning of the grain filling period the following leaf contents could be considered as indication of deficiency: B-13 to 25 ppm; Zn-20 ppm; no conclusion could be drawn with respect to Cu levels.Plantas de arroz, variedades IAC-25 e IAC-47 foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva e com deficiência de B, Cu e Zn. Foram obtidos sintomas de carência dos três micronutrientes. As deficiências induzidas provocaram diminuição na matéria seca total e no número de folhas das duas variedades. O mesmo ocorreu no numero de perfilhos da var. IAC-47. Foi feita a determinação dos teores dos micronutrientes nas plantas submetidas aos diferentes tratamentos o que forneceu dados que ajudam a avaliação do estado nutricional