A importância da atribuição do galardão de Reserva Mundial de Surf na Ericeira

A costa portuguesa é um recurso incomensurável graças à sua longa extensão, perfazendo um total de aproximadamente 1860 Km, distribuídos por Portugal Continental (943 Km), Arquipélago dos Açores (667 Km) e o Arquipélago da Madeira( 250Km). Esta singularidade dotou o país de uma oferta diversificada de produtos turísticos sendo o Sol e Mar, Cruzeiros e Turismo Náutico (desportos náuticos e atividades Marítimo-turísticas) um recurso turístico de aposta e uma nova área de negócio, aumentando a procura e/ou incentivando o investimento público/privado. Entre os vários desportos náuticos, destaca-se a importância que a modalidade de ondas (reconhecidas pela Internacional Surf Association – ISA como o Surf, o Bodyboard, o Longboard, o Kneebooard, o Tandem, o Skimboard, o Bodysurf, o Tow-in, o Tand up Paddle Surfe o Stand up Paddle Racing) tem ganho nos eixos Cascais-Estoril, Setúbal-Tróia e Ericeira-Nazaré-Peniche, reforçada com a atribuição do galardão de Reserva Mundial de Surf à Ericeira, no ano de 2011; a primeira da Europa e a Segunda do Mundo. Esta atribuição gerou uma nova dinâmica na economia local e regional, asseverando uma atratividade ao sector, ancorado numa estratégica comercial dirigida não só ao mercado internacional como também ao mercado interno, promovendo um conjunto de eventos relacionados quer com o desenvolvimento das potencialidades do território e ambiente (terra e mar), quer com a capacidade de inovação. Atrair investimento à região sob o mote da modalidade de ondas e estimular a procura (interna/externa) são cruciais para a economia local e a criação de emprego

Modulating intermolecular interactions and rheological properties in silk fibroin using ultrasound frequencies

info:eu-repo/semantics/draf

Electronic couplings for singlet fission : orbital choice and extrapolation to the complete basis set limit

For the search for promising singlet fission candidates, the calculation of the effective electronic coupling, which is required to estimate the singlet fission rate between the initially excited state (S0S1) and the multiexcitonic state ((TT)-T-1, two triplets on neighboring molecules, coupled into a singlet), should be sufficiently reliable and fast enough to explore the configuration space. We propose here to modify the calculation of the effective electronic coupling using a nonorthogonal configuration interaction approach by: (a) using only one set of orbitals, optimized for the triplet state of the molecules, to describe all molecular electronic states, and (b) only taking the leading configurations into consideration. Furthermore, we also studied the basis set convergence of the electronic coupling, and we found, by comparison to the complete basis set limit obtained using the cc-pVnZ series of basis sets, that both the aug-cc-pVDZ and 6-311++G** basis sets are a good compromise between accuracy and computational feasibility. The proposed approach enables future work on larger clusters of molecules than dimers

In vitro digestion of oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by whey protein nanofibrils

The effect of pH (3 and 7) and varied energy density of a high-pressure homogenization process on the stability of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions stabilized by whey protein fibrils was evaluated. A dynamic digestion model comprising the simulation of stomach, duodenum, jejunum and ileum, has been used to evaluate O/W emulsions' behavior under gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. The emulsions did not separate phases during the storage period (7 days). The emulsions stabilized by whey protein fibrils were stable under simulated gastric conditions but were destabilized in the simulated intestinal conditions. In a similar way, the whey protein fibrils' dispersion showed a high resistance to proteolytic in vitro digestion by pepsin (gastric stage) but was more readily degraded by pancreatin (intestinal stage). This fact confirms the significant impact of the interfacial characteristics on emulsions' digestion. The percentage of free fatty acids (FFA) absorbed in the simulated intestinal conditions (jejunum and ileum) was much lower than the total percentage of FFA released due to the use of WPI fibrils as emulsifier. This work contributes to a better understanding about the behavior of O/W emulsions stabilized by whey protein fibrils within the GI tract; this knowledge is fundamental when considering the final application of this protein in food products.The authors would like to thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the PhD fellowship and the financial support (CAPES/FCT n° 7362/14-5 and CAPES/FCT nº 349/ 13). The author Ana C. Pinheiro is recipient of a fellowship from the Fundação para a Ciência Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) through grant SFRH/BPD/101181/2014. We acknowledge INCT/INOMAT for supporting TEM analysis of fibril characterization carried out by Douglas Soares da Silva. We also would like to acknowledge Daniel A. Madalena for the contribution with the representative schematic of the in vitro dynamic digestion system.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Electronic couplings for singlet fission:Orbital choice and extrapolation to the complete basis set limit

For the search for promising singlet fission candidates, the calculation of the effective electronic coupling, which is required to estimate the singlet fission rate between the initially excited state (S 0S 1) and the multiexcitonic state ( 1TT, two triplets on neighboring molecules, coupled into a singlet), should be sufficiently reliable and fast enough to explore the configuration space. We propose here to modify the calculation of the effective electronic coupling using a nonorthogonal configuration interaction approach by: (a) using only one set of orbitals, optimized for the triplet state of the molecules, to describe all molecular electronic states, and (b) only taking the leading configurations into consideration. Furthermore, we also studied the basis set convergence of the electronic coupling, and we found, by comparison to the complete basis set limit obtained using the cc-pVnZ series of basis sets, that both the aug-cc-pVDZ and 6–311++G** basis sets are a good compromise between accuracy and computational feasibility. The proposed approach enables future work on larger clusters of molecules than dimers

FIRELAN - An ecologically based planning model towards a fire resilient and sustainable landscape. A case study in Center Region of Portugal

This paper explores the role of landscape planning as a tool for rural fire prevention. It presents a methodology for a fire resilient and sustainable landscape model (FIRELAN) that articulates the ecological and cultural components in a suitable and multifunction land-use plan. FIRELAN is a conceptual and ecologically based model that recognizes river basin’ land morphology, microclimate and species combustibility as the fundamental factors that determine fire behavior and landscape resilience, along with the ecological network (EN) for achieving ecological sustainability of the landscape. The model is constituted by the FIRELAN Network and the Complementary Areas. This network ensures the effectiveness of discontinuities in the landscape with less combustible landuses. It also functions as a fire-retardant technique and protection of wildland-urban interface (WUI). This model is applied to municipalities from Portugal’s center region, a simplified landscape severely damaged by recurrent rural fires. The results show that land-use and tree species composition should change drastically, whereas about 72% of the case study needs transformation actions. This requires a significant increase of native or archaeophytes species, agricultural areas, landscape discontinuities and the restoration of biodiversity in Natura 2000 areas. The EN components are 79% of the FIRELAN N area, whose implementation ensures soil and water conservation, biodiversity and habitats. This paper contributes to the discussion of the Portuguese rural fires planning frameworkinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Early prenatal diagnosis of conjoined twins: a case report

Conjoined twins are a very rare complication of monochorionic monoamniotic pregnancies, associated with severe mortality and morbidity. Ultrasonography has made early diagnosis of conjoined twins possible, allowing prompt management and counselling of parents. The diagnosis should be suspected when monozygotic fetuses are shown to consistently hold the same fixed position relative to each other. The location and extent of fusion between the twins determine the potential for surgical separation and postnatal survival. The authors report a case of conjoined thoraco-omphalopagus twins, diagnosed by ultrasonography at 10 weeks of gestation. Due to high complexity of fetal fusion, termination of pregnancy was performed upon patient´s request

Limb amputation secondary to pseudoamniotic band syndrome after selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation: case report

Pseudoamniotic band syndrome (PABS) is a rare iatrogenic complication that occurs after invasive procedures in monochorionic twins for treatment of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (SFLP) is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment of severe TTTS that may lead to complications such as preterm labor, preterm rupture of membranes, cerebral lesions and fetal death. PABS has been reported to occur in up to 3% of cases of TTTS treated with laser, leading to limb abnormalities. There are no identifiable risk factors and antenatal detection of PABS is rare, but possible.  Thus, obstetricians should be aware of this possibility in pregnancies treated by laser therapy for TTTS.  The authors report a case of a monochorionic biamniotic twin pregnancy submitted to SFLP for TTTS at 19 weeks of gestation with postnatal diagnosis of PABS, presenting with amputation of a fetal limb.

A new 'saccamminid' genus (Rhizaria: Foraminifera), from 4400 m water depth in the Nazare Canyon (NE Atlantic)

We describe Bithekammina occulta, a new monothalamous agglutinated foraminiferan ('saccamminid') collected in multicore samples at 4400 m on the terrace of the lower Nazare Canyon on the Portuguese margin. The test is spherical to oval, up to similar to 400 mu m in length, with a simple circular aperture. The wall has a very smooth surface with a distinct sheen in reflected light. It is <10 mu m thick and composed of very fine agglutinated plate-like clay particles and a thin inner organic layer. The most distinctive feature of the new species is that the test is contained within an agglutinated case ('secondary test') composed mainly of larger (10-50 mu m) quartz grains. The case is equipped with a long, narrow tube that originates near the aperture of the inner test and presumably acts as a channel through which pseudopodia are deployed. Secondary agglutinated structures have been described in a number of foraminifera, but never before in a 'saccamminid'.EC FP6 GOCE-CT-2005–511234 HERMESEC FP7 - 226354 HERMIONEFCT - PTDC/MAR/110082/2009 DeepForamsFCT - SFRH/BPD/26272/200

Differential phenolic production of Vitis vinifera cv. Alvarinho leaves affected with Esca disease

Esca is a destructive disease that affects Vitis vinifera around the world leading to important losses in wine production. Information on the response of Vitis vinifera plants to this disease is still scarce. To study the defence mechanisms of Vitis plants to Esca, we analysed leaves from both infected and non-affected boughs of Vitis vinifera cv. Alvarinho, of the Vinho Verde region (North of Portugal). Phenolics were analysed by HPLC-DAD-MS and by multivariate statistical analysis.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/17944/200