Descrição da biodiversidade terrestre dos Açores

Os Açores constituem um arquipélago de nove ilhas oceânicas isoladas, onde os organismos terrestres chegaram através do vento, do mar, noutros animais e, nos tempos históricos, com a ajuda humana. Este capítulo analisa de forma detalhada aquilo que se conhece sobre a biodiversidade terrestre dos Açores. Para tal analisámos os quatro grandes grupos de organismos listados no capítulo 4: Bryophyta (musgos, antocerotas e hepáticas), Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta (fetos e fanerogâmicas), Mollusca (lesmas e caracóis) e Arthropoda (centopeias, diplópodes, crustáceos, aranhas, ácaros, insectos, etc.). O número total de espécies e/ou subespécies dos Açores pertencentes aos quatro grupos de organismos acima referidos é de cerca de 3705 (3666 espécies e 224 subespécies). No entanto, adicionando outros grupos como os vertebrados (Chordata, Vertebrata), anelídeos (Annelida), nemátodos (Nematoda) e líquenes, aquele número sobe para 4487 espécies e/ou subspecies (4443 espécies e 232 subespécies). O número total de espécies e/ou subespécies endémicas dos Açores pertencentes aos Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Spermatophyta, Mollusca e Arthropoda totaliza as 393 (384 espécies e 44 subespécies). Os filos animais são os mais diversos em taxa endémicos (Mollusca = 49; Arthropoda = 267), com cerca de 80 % dos endemismos dos Açores. Deve ser ainda de assinalar a elevada percentagem de endemismo nos caracóis e lesmas (Mollusca) terrestres dos Açores, com cerca de 44% de endemismo. As plantas vasculares possuem 68 endemismos e os briófitos 9. Usando um estimador não paramétrico, a estimativa conservadora da riqueza de taxa endémicos terrestres de briófitos, plantas vasculares, moluscos e artrópodes rondará 530 taxa, pelo que apenas 77% dos endemismos dos Açores serão conhecidos. Em apenas alguns géneros se verificou uma taxa de especiação elevada, na sua maior parte pertencentes aos filos Mollusca e Arthropoda. A maior parte das espécies de artrópodes e moluscos endémicos são conhecidas apenas de uma ilha, enquanto que, nas plantas, uma grande fracção das espécies ocorre na maioria das ilhas. A análise das proporções das várias categorias de colonização mostra que uma grande proporção da phanerofauna de artrópodes e da flora de plantas vasculares do arquipélago é constituída por espécies introduzidas. Deste modo, as invasões por espécies exóticas constituem um problema actual e terão impactos futuros na biodiversidade dos Açores, criando um padrão de uniformização da fauna e flora. Os Açores constituem o arquipélago da Macaronésia geologicamente mais recente, estando situado mais a norte. As suas nove ilhas isoladas no meio do oceano Atlântico possuem uma grande diversidade de histórias geológicas e constituem laboratórios ecológicos e evolutivos extraordinários. Torna-se cada vez mais importante um esforço adicional nos estudos de taxonomia e ecologia de comunidades que envolvam o estudo de grupos taxonómicos mal conhecidos (fungos, líquenes, muitos grupos de artrópodes) mas também a revisão taxonómica de muitas espécies de briófitos e plantas vasculares.ABSTRACT: The Azores is a remote oceanic archipelago of nine islands where the terrestrial organisms arrived by wind, on the sea, on other animals and on historical times by human assistance. This chapter highlights what we know about Azorean terrestrial biodiversity. Four important terrestrial taxonomic groups listed in Chapter 4 are analysed in detail: Bryophyta (mosses, liverworts), Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta (ferns and phanerogamics), Mollusca (slugs and snails) and Arthropoda (millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, insects, etc.). Currently the total number of terrestrial species and/or subspecies of the above mentioned organisms in the Azores is estimated of about 3705 (3666 species and 224 subspecies). However, if we add other groups like vertebrates (Chordata, Vertebrata), annelids (Annelida), nematodes (Nematoda) and lichens, this number reaches 4487 species and/or subspecies (4443 species and 232 subspecies). The total number of endemic species and/or subspecies from the Azores belonging to Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Spermatophyta, Mollusca and Arthropod is about 393 (384 species and 44 subspecies). The animals Phyla are the most diverse in endemic taxa (Mollusca = 49; Arthropoda = 267), comprising about 80% of the Azorean endemics. The percentage of endemismo within Mollusca (44%) is remarkable. Vascular plants have 68 endemic species while bryophytes have 9 endemics. Using a non-parametric estimator we obtained a conservative estimate for endemic Azorean terrestrial vascular plants, bryophytes, molluscs and arthropods around 530 taxa, which mean that only about 77% have already been described. In only some genera there was a substantial inter and intra-island speciation, most cases occurring in Mollusca and Arthropoda. Most of the endemic arthropods and molluscs are known in only one island, whereas in plants a large proportion of species occur in most islands. Na analysis of the proportions of the colonization categories in arthropods and vascular plants shows that a major proportion of the species are introduced. Therefore, invasions of alien organisms are an actual and future environmental threat in the Azores, creating a pattern of biotic homogenization that is of great contemporary concern. The Azores is the northernmost and the most recent Macaronesian archipelago. The nine islands, isolated in the middle of the Atlantic, with different geological histories, are wonderful ecological and evolutionary laboratories. An additional effort on taxonomic and community-level research implies the detailed examination of poorly studied groups (fungi, lichens, many arthropod groups), but a revision of the taxonomic status of many bryophyte and vascular plants is also deeply needed

Luminescent κ-Carrageenan-Based Electrolytes Containing Neodymium Triflate

In recent years, the synthesis of polymer electrolyte systems derived from biopolymers for the development of sustainable green electrochemical devices has attracted great attention. Here electrolytes based on the red seaweeds-derived polysaccharide κ-carrageenan (κ-Cg) doped with neodymium triflate (NdTrif3) and glycerol (Gly) were obtained by means of a simple, clean, fast, and low-cost procedure. The aim was to produce near-infrared (NIR)-emitting materials with improved thermal and mechanical properties, and enhanced ionic conductivity. Cg has a particular interest, due to the fact that it is a renewable, cost-effective natural polymer and has the ability of gelling in the presence of certain alkali- and alkaline-earth metal cations, being good candidates as host matrices for accommodating guest cations. The as-synthesised κ-Cg-based membranes are semi-crystalline, reveal essentially a homogeneous texture, and exhibit ionic conductivity values 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than those of the κ-Cg matrix. A maximum ionic conductivity was achieved for 50 wt.% Gly/κ-Cg and 20 wt.% NdTrif3/κ-Cg (1.03 × 10−4, 3.03 × 10−4, and 1.69 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30, 60, and 97 °C, respectively). The NdTrif-based κ-Cg membranes are multi-wavelength emitters from the ultraviolet (UV)/visible to the NIR regions, due to the κ-Cg intrinsic emission and to Nd3+, 4F3/2→4I11/2-9/2.This research was funded by National Funds by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and by FEDER funds through the POCI-COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalisation in Axis I - Strengthening research, technological development and innovation (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037271, Pest-OE/QUI/UI0616/2014 and UID/CTM/50025/2013), projectLUMECD (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016884 and PTDC/CTM-NAN/0956/2014), project UniRCell (SAICTPAC/0032/2015, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016422)), and by the Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN). S. C. Nunes was funded by FCT projects (Post-PhD Fellowships of UniRCell and LUMECD projects). The R. F. P. Pereira was funded by FCT (SFRH/BPD/87759/2012 grant).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Can we rely on iFR for avoiding FFR? Conclusions of a 5-year experience

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017Background: Recently, the instantaneous wave free ratio (iFR), has been proposed an alternative or complementary method to fractional flow reserve (FFR). This new method does not require the use of adenosine and may expedite the speed of functional assessment. The iFR “hybrid strategy” relies on values 0,93 as definitive results which would not require the use of FFR. However, this strategy is much less consensual than FFR alone. Purpose: We aimed to assess the concordance of FFR and iFR results using the principle of the “hybrid strategy”, based on the 5-year experience of a single center. We also aimed to analyse the effect of iFR in the operator's decision to proceed to FFR, and its impact on procedure duration and radiation time/dosage. Methods: Single-center registry of all patients undergoing functional coronary lesion assessment during 5 years. FFR was used as a gold standard (with a cut-off point for intervention ≤0,80) for assessing the diagnostic accuracy of iFR in every patient who underwent measurements with both techniques. For analysis purposes, an iFR value 0,93 was considered negative (i.e. defer intervention). Values in between were deemed inconclusive. For statistical analysis we used the T student and Chi-Square tests. Results: Functional testing was undertaken in 326 patients (67±11 years, 65,6% male), encompassing 402 lesions. 154 lesions underwent assessment with both techniques, 222 by FFR only and 26 cases iFR only. The average iFR was 0,9±0,1. 60 lesions had an iFR >0,93 and 21 an iFR <0,86. An iFR value between 0,86 and 0,93 was strongly associated with the decision to proceed to FFR (χ2=30,1; p0,93 (71,4% vs 68%; p=0,792). In these cases, there was a statistically significant concordance of 87% between the iFR and FFR results (χ2=22,43; p<0,001). Notwithstanding, there were 4 out of 13 cases (30,7%) of positive iFR with negative FFR and 3 out of 42 (7,1%) cases of negative iFR and positive FFR. This difference was statistically significant (p=0,026). Regarding procedural time, radiation time and radiation dose, there were no statistically significant differences between patients who only underwent iFR, FFR only, or both techniques. Conclusions: The iFR results were inconclusive (i.e. between 0,86 and 0,93) in most cases. There was a high degree of concordance between the iFR and FFR values. However, a significant proportion of patients, particularly in cases of positive iFR (<0,86), were classified as negative by FFR. The use of iFR had no impact on procedural time, radiation time and radiation dose.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Highly conducting bombyx mori silk fibroin-based electrolytes incorporating glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide and [Bmim]PF6

Green, transparent and flexible electrolyte films composed of a Bombyx mori silk fibroin (SF) host biopolymer doped with glycerol (G), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, D) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim]PF6) ionic liquid (IL), were synthesized. The materials were represented by the notation SF@GD@ILx (x = 15, 20 and 30 is the mass ratio of SF/[Bmim]PF6 in %). SF@, SF@G, SF@D and SF@GD samples were also prepared. DMSO was found to play a dual-role, acting as solvent of [Bmim]PF6, and enhancing ionic conductivity. DMSO, alone or combined with [Bmim]PF6, led to the increase of the mean roughness and induced the formation of more ordered Silk II conformations (beta-sheets). No structural modifications were detected in the SF@GD@ILx samples upon increasing the temperature up to 100 degrees C. The highest ionic conductivity was exhibited by the IL-rich sample SF@GD@IL30 (1.07 and 4.61 mS cm(-1), at 22 and 100 degrees C, respectively). In the [Bmim]PF6-doped electrolytes "free" and coordinated PF6- ions coexist. The weight losses occurring below 200 degrees C involved essentially the release of adsorbed water and DMSO. The suitable mechanical properties, high ionic conductivity and good electrochemical stability suggest that these electrolytes are attractive candidates for application in electrochemical devices.Veronica de Zea Bermudez would like to express her gratitude to Professor Michel Armand who, during her PhD thesis at Grenoble (1989-1992), was an endless source of ideas that made her work productive and stimulating. His qualities, as an inspiring and extraordinary scientist, equal his kindness, generosity and great heart. This work was supported by National funds by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/QUI/00686/2018, UID/QUI/00686/2019, UID/QUI/50006/2019 and UID/QUI/00313/2020. The authors thank FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Program and National Funds through FCT under the projects PEst-OE/QUI/UI0616/2014, LUMECD (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016884 and PTDC/CTMNAN/0956/2014), UniRCell (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016422 and SAICTPAC/0032/2015), PORPLANTSURF (POCI-01-0145FEDER-029785 and PTDC/CTM-REF/29785/2017), and NORTE01-0145-FEDER-030858. R.F.P.P thanks FCT-UM for the researcher contract in the scope of Decreto-Lei 57/2016 and 57/2017. H.M.R. Goncalves was funded by PTDC/BTM-MAT/30858/2017

Implantation of ICD and CRT-D in the elderly population : will it be a limiting factor?

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2017Introduction: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization (CRT-D) implantation in elderly patients is effective in preventing sudden death, although limited by the natural shorter life expectancy. The different device brands present very variable survival estimates and it has been discussed the availability of less expensive, less longevity generators for the elderly population. Purpose: To determine if the expected survival rate in the elderly patient population (≥75 years) should influence the selection of the desired longevity of the devices. Methods: A retrospective single-center study of consecutive patients who underwent implantation of ICD or CRT-D after November 1995. The mean survival of patients undergoing 1st implant or generator replacement at an advanced age (≥75 years) was evaluated and compared to the effective longevity of the generators. Cumulative survival analyzes using the Kaplan Meier method were used. Results: A total of 1312 cardiac devices were implanted, of which 163 generators in elderly patients (53% CDI and 47% CRT-D). Of these, 77% corresponded to the 1st implant. The median survival after implantation of the elderly patients was 6.8 years, not differing according to the type of device (Log-rank P = NS). The median longevity of CDI generators was 6.9 years, in line with the expected survival of elderly patients. Conversely, the median CRT-D longevity was 5.8 years, lower than the average survival of the elderly. For this reason, 21% of these CRT-D carriers were subsequently subjected to generator replacement, due to battery exhaustion. Conclusion: The effective longevity of ICDs is in agreement with an expected survival of elderly patients, for which it will not make sense to provide generators of shortened longevity for this population. The effective longevity of the CRTs is lower than the survival expectancy of the treatments, so that, paradoxically, generators with increased longevity should be favored.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Clinical Outcomes of Thirteen Patients with Acute Chagas Disease Acquired through Oral Transmission from Two Urban Outbreaks in Northeastern Brazil

Chagas disease is caused by a parasitic protozoan transmitted to humans by the contaminated feces of blood-feeding assassin bugs from the Triatominae subfamily. It may also be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy, by breastfeeding, blood transfusion or organ transplant. In rare cases, the disease can also be caused by accidental ingestion of contaminated food (sugar cane or açaí juice, drinking water, etc.). Acute Chagas disease often presents itself as a mononucleosis-like syndrome, with symptoms including fever, lymph node enlargement and muscle pain. The mortality rate of acute Chagas disease is high, mainly due to heart failure as a consequence of cardiac fiber lesions. There are few studies describing clinical outcomes and the disease progression of patients who receive therapeutic treatment, especially with regard to cardiac exam findings. In this report, the authors describe clinical findings from two micro-outbreaks occurring in impoverished towns in northeastern Brazil. Prior to receiving treatment, patient mortality rate was 28.6% in one of the outbreaks, and one pregnant woman experienced a spontaneous abortion due to the disease in the other outbreak. Most patients complained of fever, dyspnea, myalgia and periorbital edema. After receiving a two-month course of treatment, clinical symptoms improved and the number of abnormalities in cardiac exams decreased