Os lepidópteros dos Açores nas colecções do Museu Carlos Machado

Nas colecções de História Natural do Museu Carlos Machado (MCM) em Ponta Delgada, Ilha de São Miguel, estão presentes 190 espécimes de Lepidópteros dos Açores, pertencentes a 38 espécies (13 Rhopalocera e 25 Heterocera). Os espécimens estão distribuídos por quatro caixas entomológicas, sendo todos provenientes de São Miguel. No presente trabalho procedeu-se à actualização da nomenclatura, à correcção de alguns erros de determinação e à identificação de alguns exemplares. Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus), Noctua janthina (Denis & Schiffermüller) e Synthymia fixa (Fabricius) estão presentes na colecção, mas a primeira espécie nunca foi citada para São Miguel e as outras duas nunca foram referidas para o arquipélago Açoriano. Contudo, as razões subjacentes a este facto não são claras, sendo difícil de distinguir entre as duas hipóteses seguintes: (i) troca de espécimes entre colecções, ou (ii) captura dos espécimes após uma imigração ocasional ou uma introdução acidental

Evaluation of three iterative algorithms for phase modulation regarding their application in concentrating light inside biological tissues for laser induced photothermal therapy

Grant No. UIDB/00645/2020The focusing of light through turbid media like biological tissues is strongly hindered by the scattering of light which limits its safe practice and application in medicine. In order to control this phenomenon, we shaped the incident wavefront using three algorithms including a four-element division algorithm, a partitioning algorithm, and simulated annealing to control, iteratively, a spatial light modulator (SLM). We have tested two different convergence criteria to achieve a focal point inside a turbid environment, made up of a mixture of agar and milk, set to mimic a specific depth of human skin, and provide comparison results. A camera and a lens are used to visualize the focal area and give feedback information to the algorithms. A discussion on the use of these algorithms and convergence criteria is presented, being focused on its convergence time and performance. Depending on the algorithm and operational parameters, improvements of 29% to 46% of the irradiance in the region of interest were accomplished.publishersversionpublishe

Internet sales as a new mode of internationalization

The way that organizations explore the Internet has been the focus of a substantial body of scientific studies and non-academic reflection. The main goal of this study is to analyze the potential of the internet as a mode of internationalization and the factors that influence the results of the adoption of this mean to access foreign markets. For this purpose, we examine the determinants of the level of international sales made via internet estimating an ordered probit model. The results show that the importance of previous experience in using the internet and developing international activity, together with the level of internet marketing budget , the level of investment on internet sophistication, the firm dimension, the business age and the type pf activity are variables that determine the results obtain in the international sales trough the internet.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

First record of Alosa fallax (Lacépède, 1803) (Teleostei: Clupeiformes:Clupeidae) in the Azores Archipelago, Portugal (NE Atlantic)

Copyright © 2014 All rights reserved.This note reports the first record of Alosa fallax (Lacépède, 1803) in the Azores Archipelago (NE Atlantic, Portugal). Being an anadromous species, this occurrence is quite unexpected since there are no suitable breeding habitats for this species in these volcanic islands, isolated and river less. Although A. fallax is known to migrate offshore, it has never been previously reported in oceanic environments. We discuss this occurrence and theorize on the possibility of the species’ being found in Madeira, another Macaronesian Archipelago, albeit much older and closer to European coasts and thus more suitable to be crossed by A. fallax during their migration routes in pelagic environments. With this record, the number of Clupeid fishes for Azorean waters increases to two, the other being the well known and resident Sardina pilchardus

Rare autosomal dominant hereditary hemochromatosis associated with SLC40A1 gene: ferroportin disease or type 4 hereditary hemochromatosis?

Ferroportin (FPN1), encoded by the SLC40A1 gene, is the unique cellular iron exporter identified in mammals. FPN1 transfers iron from the intestine and macrophages into the bloodstream. This function is negatively regulated by hepcidin. Mutations in SLC40A1 may affect FPN1 function, originating distinct autosomal dominant diseases: (i) the Ferroportin Disease (FD), due to loss-of-function mutations, is characterized by decreased iron export from enterocytes and severely affected iron transfer in macrophages, giving rise to a marked iron accumulation in spleen and liver; and (ii) the Type 4 Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH), resulting from gain-of-function mutations conferring resistance to hepcidin-mediated FPN1 degradation and consequently high cellular iron export. In this study, 335 individuals suspected of having non-classic HH were enrolled. Six genes related with iron metabolism were analysed by SSCP, dHPLC or NGS. The latter used TruSeq or Nextera XT libraries and a MiSeq platform (Illumina). Genetic variants found were validated by Sanger sequencing. Predictive consequences at protein level were evaluated using Polyphen-2 and SIFT softwares. From all patients analysed, three SLC40A1 pathogenic variants were detected in heterozygosity in three women: two missense, c.238G>A, p.Gly80Ser and c.610G>A, p.Gly204Ser; and one deletion, c.485_487delTTG; p.Val162del. These variants had been reported in public databases, but they were not known to be present in the Portuguese population. The p.Gly80Ser and the p.Val162del are FPN1 loss-of-function mutations and were found associated with hyperferritinemia and low transferrin saturation (FD). In contrast, the p.Gly204Ser induced a gain of FPN1 function with a full iron export capacity giving the patient a type 4-HH phenotype, which includes iron overload, hyperferritinemia and high transferrin saturation. Detailed clinical evaluation of the suspected patients are useful to unravel the effect of different mutations in FPN1 function, expression and regulation.This work was partially supported by INSA_2013DGH910 and GenomePT (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022184).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Novel mutation in addition to functional TMPRSS6 gene polymorphisms originate an IRIDA-like phenotype in an African child

Iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA) is a rare autosomal recessive anemia often unresponsive to oral iron intake and partially responsive to parenteral iron treatment. The disease originates from mutations in TMPRSS6 gene, encoding Matriptase 2, a transmembrane serine protease that plays an essential role in down-regulating hepcidin. Once TMPRSS6 is mutated, the corresponding protein is absent or inactive at the hepatocyte membrane leading to uncontrolled high levels of hepcidin and impaired iron absorption. This study aimed to investigate a 4-year-old boy of sub-Saharan ancestry (Mozambique/Angola), presenting with microcytic hypochromic anemia, low transferrin saturation, normal ferritin, and having a partial response to intravenous iron treatment. He is a -α3.7-thalassemia carrier. TMPRSS6 was screened for variants by Next-Generation Sequencing using Nextera XT libraries in a MiSeq platform (Illumina). Genetic variants found were validated by Sanger sequencing. In silico analyses were performed in HSF, SIFT, Poly-Phen2 and Missense3D softwares. A novel missense mutation (c.871G>A) was found in heterozygosity, in TMPRSS6 exon 8. In silico analysis indicates the conserved amino acid change (G291S) may be damaging to the protein stability. Due to its location in the CUB1 domain, it may also affect the enzyme activation and substrate recognition. Additionally, 3 SNPs previously associated with a greater risk of developing iron deficiency anemia (K253E, V736A and Y739Y) were also identified in TMPRSS6. Although IRIDA is known as an autosomal recessive disease, we conclude that, in this case, the result of a digenic inheritance of the novel damaging mutation (c.871G>A; G291S) and the 3 common modulating SNPs in the same gene and a co-inheritance of the α-thalassemia HBA deletion may lead to an IRIDA-like phenotype. Further functional studies of the mutated protein as well as family studies should be conducted.This work was partially supported by INSA_2013DGH910 and GenomePT (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022184).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Occurrence of Grammicolepis brachiusculus Poey, 1873 (Pisces: Grammicolepididae) in the Azores Archipelago

Three specimens of Grammicolepis brachiusculus were caught by the commercial bottom hand and longline fisheries off Terceira and Faial Islands, Azores Archipelago. This is the first record of the species for the region, and one of few ever caught in the NE Atlantic

High-fidelity state transfer via quantum walks from delocalized states

We study the state transfer through quantum walks placed on a bounded one-dimensional path. We first consider continuous-time quantum walks from a Gaussian state. We find such a state when superposing centered on the starting and antipodal positions preserves a high fidelity for a long time and when sent on large circular graphs. Furthermore, it spreads with a null group velocity. We also explore discrete-time quantum walks to evaluate the qubit fidelity throughout the walk. In this case, the initial state is a product of states between a qubit and a Gaussian superposition of position states. Then, we add two $\sigma_x$ gates to confine this delocalized qubit. We also find that this bounded system dynamically enables periodic recovery of the initial separable state. We outline some applications of our results in dynamic graphs and propose quantum circuits to implement them based on the available literature.Comment: 27 pages, 14 figures, one colum

Stratégie alimentaire et ontogénie trophique de Scorpaena maderensis (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) des Açores, Atlantique NE

Copyright © 2014 Société Française d'Ichtyologie.Feeding habits of Scorpaena maderensis Valenciennes, 1833 from the Azores archipelago were investigated. The stomach contents of 245 specimens, collected between August 1997 and July 1999, were analysed. Decapod crustaceans and teleost fishes constitute the main food items, revealing a high level of specialization by S. maderensis. Ontogenic shifts and seasonal changes in the diet composition were observed, unveiling the adaptability and opportunistic predatory behaviour of this scorpaenid.RÉSUMÉ: Les habitudes alimentaires de Scorpaena maderensis Valenciennes, 1833 de l'archipel des Açores ont été étudiées. Les contenus stomacaux de 245 spécimens, récoltés entre août 1997 et juillet 1999, ont été analysés. Les crustacés décapodes et les téléostéens sont les principales proies de S. maderensis, indiquant un fort degré de spécialisation chez cette espèce. Des changements ontogénétiques et saisonniers de la composition du régime alimentaire révèlent l’adaptabilité et le comportement prédateur opportuniste de ce scorpaenidé