Diversidade, ecologia e conservação das comunidades de Asphodelus bento rainhae

A espécie Asphodelus bento rainhae P. Silva é um endemismo lusitano considerado “Em Perigo Crítico de Extinção” de acordo com os critérios de ameaça da IUCN. É também uma espécie prioritária para conservação e incluída na Convenção de Berna (IUC N, 2010).Fundação para Ciência e a Tecnologi

Active and Intelligent Packaging with Phase Change Materials to Promote the Shelf Life Extension of Food Products

Active packaging aims to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables using active agents such as Oxygen, Carbon-di-oxide, ethylene scavengers and moisture absorber. Intelligent packaging provides information about the fruits quality inside the package to the customer and this packaging technology detects the internal changes of fruits and vegetables using sensors and indicators. Further to improve the post-harvest storage PCM such as Rubitherm can be used depending on the package box dimension to remove the field heat from the products and maintain its temperature with low variation during transport and display. Gel packs having less weight with PET and PS can also be an alternate method in the packaging. The application of these technologies may lead to a revolution in post-harvest storage, transportation, and further retail sale. This paper reviews the theoretical principles of food packaging and recent developments in packaging technologies using PCMs. Keywords: Active packaging, Intelligent packaging, Phase change materials, Shelf life extension, Fruit

Plant communities as a tool in temporary ponds conservation in SW Portugal

Temporary ponds are seasonal wetlands annually subjected to extreme and unstable ecological conditions, neither truly aquatic nor truly terrestrial. This habitat and its flora have been poorly studied and documented because of the ephemeral character of the flora, the changeable annual weather that has a great effect on the small, herbaceous taxa and the declining abundance of temporary ponds. The objectives of this study are: (a)to define plant community diversity in terms of floristic composition of ephemeral wetlands in SW Portugal, (b) to identify temporary pond types according to their vegetation composition and (c) to identify those ponds that configure the European community priority habitat (3170* – Mediterranean temporary ponds). Vegetation sampling was conducted in 29 ponds, identifying 168 species grouped among 15 plant communities. Soil texture, pH, organic C and N content were measured, but only N and percent of clay appear to be related with the distribution of each community type. The results showed that ephemeral wetlands could be classified into four type: vernal pools, marshlands, deep ponds and disturbed wetlands. Vernal pools correspond to the Mediterranean temporary ponds (3170*), protected as priority hab- itat under the EU Habitats Directive. Submersed Isoetes species (Isoetes setaceum and Isoetes velatum) represents, together with Eryngium corniculatum, the indicator species for vernal pools. We identify also indicator plant communities of this priority habitat, namely I. setaceum and E. corniculatum–Baldellia ranunculoides plant communities. In this region, the conservation of temporary ponds has so far been compatible with traditional agricultural activities, but today these ponds are endangered by the intensification of agriculture and the loss of traditional land use practices and by the development of tourism

Conceptions about the teaching quality in higher education in public establishments in Portugal

Este estudo tem como objectivos conhecer e comparar as concepções sobre a qualidade de ensino de docentes e estudantes de três estabelecimentos públicos de ensino superior da região do Alentejo (Portugal) e, no caso dos docentes, conhecer também o que eles sugerem para melhorar a qualidade de ensino nos cursos e nas instituições em que leccionam. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, que inclui uma análise de conteúdo de três questões abertas relativas ao modo como 427 estudantes e 103 docentes definem qualidade de ensino e como os docentes sugerem que seja melhorada no curso e na instituição. A análise de conteúdo baseia-se nos modelos teóricos disponíveis, nas actividades previstas para os docentes do ensino superior e, sobretudo, no conteúdo das respostas escritas dos participantes. Os resultados revelam que as respostas de docentes e estudantes dos três estabelecimentos não diferem substancialmente umas das outras e que a qualidade de ensino é mais associada a aspectos de natureza pedagógica, preparação para o mercado de trabalho, articulação com a comunidade e qualificação dos docentes do que com aspectos associados à investigação

Conceptions of teaching quality in public higher education institutions in the Alentejo region

Este estudo teve como objectivos conhecer e comparar as concepções sobre qualidade de ensino de docentes e estudantes de estabelecimentos públicos de ensino superior da região do Alentejo. Tratou-se de um estudo qualitativo, que incluiu uma análise de conteúdo a uma questão aberta relativa ao modo como 427 estudantes e 103 docentes definiam qualidade de ensino. A análise de conteúdo baseou-se nos modelos teóricos disponíveis, nas actividades previstas para o ensino superior e, sobretudo, no conteúdo das respostas escritas dos participantes. Os resultados revelaram que as respostas de docentes e estudantes das três instituições, globalmente consideradas, não diferiam substancialmente umas das outras e que a qualidade de ensino era mais associada a aspectos de natureza pedagógica, preparação para o mercado de trabalho, articulação com a comunidade e qualificação dos docentes do que com aspectos associados à investigação

Towards a canonical classical natural deduction system

This paper studies a new classical natural deduction system, presented as a typed calculus named \lml. It is designed to be isomorphic to Curien-Herbelin's calculus, both at the level of proofs and reduction, and the isomorphism is based on the correct correspondence between cut (resp. left-introduction) in sequent calculus, and substitution (resp. elimination) in natural deduction. It is a combination of Parigot's $\lambda\mu$-calculus with the idea of ``coercion calculus'' due to Cervesato-Pfenning, accommodating let-expressions in a surprising way: they expand Parigot's syntactic class of named terms. This calculus aims to be the simultaneous answer to three problems. The first problem is the lack of a canonical natural deduction system for classical logic. \lml is not yet another classical calculus, but rather a canonical reflection in natural deduction of the impeccable treatment of classical logic by sequent calculus. The second problem is the lack of a formalization of the usual semantics of Curien-Herbelin's calculus, that explains co-terms and cuts as, respectively, contexts and hole-filling instructions. The mentioned isomorphism is the required formalization, based on the precise notions of context and hole-expression offered by \lml. The third problem is the lack of a robust process of ``read-back'' into natural deduction syntax of calculi in the sequent calculus format, that affects mainly the recent proof-theoretic efforts of derivation of $\lambda$-calculi for call-by-value. An isomorphic counterpart to the $Q$-subsystem of Curien-Herbelin's-calculus is derived, obtaining a new $\lambda$-calculus for call-by-value, combining control and let-expressions.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

A Critical Analysis of Our Experience As Participants in an External Quality Assessment Scheme for Blood Coagulation

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Spatio-temporal segregation and size distribution of fish assemblages as related to non-native species occurrence in the middle rio doce valley, MG, Brazil

The lakes in the middle rio Doce Valley (MG) are suffering impacts due to the introduction of invasive fish species, mainly piscivorous species like red piranha Pygocentrus nattereri and peacock bass Cichla kelberi. Fishes were collected in bimonthly samples conducted at ten lakes along a year. The present study showed that the composition of native fish assemblages is significantly related to the presence and type of non-native species. Fish species distribution among lakes can be explained by differences in species body size: smaller native species are less concentrated in lakes with invasive piscivores, which is in accordance with the hypothesis that they have greater susceptibility to predation by invaders. Another probable cause for this correlation is the proximity of lakes to the drainage system, which could explain both the non-native incidence and the turnover of native species composition. Furthermore, temporal variability in species composition was significantly higher in invaded lakes. This last factor may be linked to seasonal flood pulses, which carry immigrant fishes from streams in the vicinity. The metacommunity framework can bring insights for future studies in such spatially structured systems, and the approach should improve our understanding of processes underlying species composition as well as help direct conservation-focused management plans. Copyright © 2011 Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia