Modern and late Holocene foraminiferal record of restricted environmental conditions in the Albufeira Lagoon, SW Portugal

Benthic foraminifera from twenty stations sampled twice were analyzed in order to examine the environmental conditions of the Albufeira coastal lagoon. Foraminiferal assemblages show an increase in the abundance, species diversity and allochthonous content seaward. Three zones have been defined: the inner and more restricted area of the lagoon where the main species are the euryhaline Ammonia tepida and Haynesina germanica; these two species together with Bulimina gibba and Brizalina britannica dominated the middle area; and, finally, in the mouth and marine- influenced back-barrier area the assemblages are made up of brackish and marine species such as A. tepida, Cribroelphidium williamsoni, Cibicides lobatulus and H. germanica. Additionally, samples from three cores were also examined. Sedimentological and micropalaeontological contents represent the last 2500 years of environmental evolution of the lagoon. Foraminiferal assemblages are not very abundant and they are dominated by H. germanica, A. tepida and Jadammina macrescens indicating very restricted conditions through time. In a regional context, and during the Late Holocene, after the development of a detrital barrier circa 5.5 cal yr BP, eustasy is considered to be a minor environmental control of the barrier-lagoonal system dynamics. Instead, environmental conditions were forced by local factors, such as frequency and duration of lagoon-ocean water exchanges, induced by both natural and artificial changes in the permeability of the sand-barrier

Modern and late Holocene foraminiferal record of restricted environmental conditions in the Albufeira Lagoon, SW Portugal

Benthic foraminifera from twenty stations sampled twice were analyzed in order to examine the environmental conditions of the Albufeira coastal lagoon. Foraminiferal assemblages show an increase in the abundance, species diversity and allochthonous content seaward. Three zones have been defined: the inner and more restricted area of the lagoon where the main species are the euryhaline Ammonia tepida and Haynesina germanica; these two species together with Bulimina gibba and Brizalina britannica dominated the middle area; and, finally, in the mouth and marine- influenced back-barrier area the assemblages are made up of brackish and marine species such as A. tepida, Cribroelphidium williamsoni, Cibicides lobatulus and H. germanica. Additionally, samples from three cores were also examined. Sedimentological and micropalaeontological contents represent the last 2500 years of environmental evolution of the lagoon. Foraminiferal assemblages are not very abundant and they are dominated by H. germanica, A. tepida and Jadammina macrescens indicating very restricted conditions through time. In a regional context, and during the Late Holocene, after the development of a detrital barrier circa 5.5 cal yr BP, eustasy is considered to be a minor environmental control of the barrier-lagoonal system dynamics. Instead, environmental conditions were forced by local factors, such as frequency and duration of lagoon-ocean water exchanges, induced by both natural and artificial changes in the permeability of the sand-barrier

Optimization of Mediterranean Rainfed Pasture Systems in Portuguese Conditions, Based on a Linear Programing Model

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Clustering of psychiatric and somatic illnesses in the general population: multimorbidity and socioeconomic correlates

The distribution of psychiatric disorders and of chronic medical illnesses was studied in a population-based sample to determine whether these conditions co-occur in the same individual. A representative sample (N = 1464) of adults living in households was assessed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, version 1.1, as part of the São Paulo Epidemiological Catchment Area Study. The association of sociodemographic variables and psychological symptoms regarding medical illness multimorbidity (8 lifetime somatic conditions) and psychiatric multimorbidity (15 lifetime psychiatric disorders) was determined by negative binomial regression. A total of 1785 chronic medical conditions and 1163 psychiatric conditions were detected in the population concentrated in 34.1 and 20% of respondents, respectively. Subjects reporting more psychiatric disorders had more medical illnesses. Characteristics such as age range (35-59 years, risk ratio (RR) = 1.3, and more than 60 years, RR = 1.7), being separated (RR = 1.2), being a student (protective effect, RR = 0.7), being of low educational level (RR = 1.2) and being psychologically distressed (RR = 1.1) were determinants of medical conditions. Age (35-59 years, RR = 1.2, and more than 60 years, RR = 0.5), being retired (RR = 2.5), and being psychologically distressed (females, RR = 1.5, and males, RR = 1.4) were determinants of psychiatric disorders. In conclusion, psychological distress and some sociodemographic features such as age, marital status, occupational status, educational level, and gender are associated with psychiatric and medical multimorbidity. The distribution of both types of morbidity suggests the need of integrating mental health into general clinical settings

Ultrassonografia duplex Doppler transcraniana em cães com hidrocefalia

Transcranial duplex Doppler ultrasound was performed in 32 conscious dogs presenting ventriculomegaly detected in B-mode, obtaining measures of lateral ventricles and resistance parameters of main cerebral arteries before and after 30 days of clinical treatment. The animals were distributed divided in two groups: group 1, dogs that presented remission or decrease of the neurological signs of the disease after clinical therapy; and group 2, dogs that displayed worsening of the neurological signs or clinical stability. The data were all presented in tables and were submitted to paired t test and to logistic regression models to evaluate the influence of the RI reduction on both groups. There was no significant influence of the variables in the B-mode. After the treatment, the mean resistive index (RI) was significantly lower for the group that presented clinical improvement. There was no significant difference of the mean RI reduction for the same artery when the right and left sides were compared. It could be concluded that transcranial duplex Doppler ultrasound is a method of cerebral hemodynamic assessment able to monitor more precisely the treatment of hydrocephalus in dogs and verify the responses.Foi realizada a ultrassonografia duplex Doppler transcraniana em 32 cães, conscientes, que apresentavam ventriculomegalia previamente detectada ao exame modo-B, para obter as medidas dos ventrículos laterais e os parâmetros de resistência das artérias cerebrais antes e depois de 30 dias de tratamento clínico. Os animais foram distribuídos em dois grupos: 1 - formado por cães que apresentaram remissão ou diminuição dos sinais clínicos após tratamento; 2 - por cães que apresentaram piora dos sinais neurológicos ou estabilidade do quadro clínico. Todos os dados foram dispostos em tabelas e submetidos ao teste t pareado e a modelos de regressão logística para avaliar a influência da redução do índice de resistividade (IR). Não foi observada influência das variáveis em modo-B. Após o tratamento, a média do IR foi significantemente menor para o grupo que apresentou melhora clínica; não houve diferença significativa da média de redução do IR para a mesma artéria quando comparados os lados direito e esquerdo. Concluiu-se que o duplex Doppler transcraniano é um métodos de avaliação hemodinâmica capaz de monitorar mais precisamente o tratamento da hidrocefalia em cães e verificar a resposta dos pacientes

Tannic acid is not mutagenic in germ cells but weakly genotoxic in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Tannic acid (TA) was tested for genotoxic activity in three different assays (1-3) in Drosophila melanogaster by feeding of larvae or adult flies. TA did not induce sex-linked recessive lethals (1) nor sex-chromosome loss, mosaicism or non-disjunction (2) in male germ cells. In the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) (3) TA was found to be toxic for larvae of the high bioactivation cross and produced a weak positive response. These results suggest that this compound, when administered orally to larvae or adults of D.melanogaster, is not mutagenic and clastogenic in male germ cells, but weakly genotoxic in somatic cells of the wing imaginal dis

Filme ativo com extrato de chá verde: eficácia contra a oxidação lipídica

As embalagens ativas têm como objetivo proteger e prolongar a vida útil dos alimentos, aumentando a sua qualidade, segurança e integridade. Na industria alimentar, este conceito de embalagem ativa foi aplicado como forma de controlar o fenomeno da oxidacao lipidica em alimentos com alto teor de gordura, sendo que esta e uma das principais causas de perda de qualidade destes alimentos. A composição química do chá verde tem revelado um grande interesse no que diz respeito a prevenção da oxidação lipídica. Na sua constituição, as folhas de chá verde possuem um teor elevado de compostos fenólicos, que tem sido associados a sua atividade antioxidante. Devido às suas propriedades, o chá verde e considerado um ótimo agente antioxidante natural. O poli (acido láctico) ou ácido poliláctico (PLA) e um polímero alifático cujo monómero e derivado de recursos renováveis, como amido de milho, raízes de tapioca e cana de açúcar. O polímero e formado através da fermentação de amido e condensação de ácido láctico. No presente estudo, fatias de salmão fumado foram embaladas com um filme de PLA, com extrato de chá verde incorporado em diferentes concentrações, 1% e 2%, e, posteriormente, armazenadas durante 7, 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias, em refrigeração. Um filme de PLA sem o extrato de chá verde foi usado como controlo. Para avaliar a eficácia do filme ativo contra a oxidação lipídica, utilizou-se o teste de Substancias Reativas ao Ácido Tiobarbiturico (TBARS). Este ensaio mede o conteudo de malonaldeido (MDA) que e formado durante a oxidação lipídica pela decomposição dos ácidos gordos polinsaturados em hidroperoxidos. Os resultados foram expressos em mg de MDA por kg de salmão fumado. Os resultados mostraram que as fatias de salmão fumado embaladas com o filme de PLA/chá verde apresentaram menor teor de MDA do que aquelas embaladas com o filme controlo. As fatias de salmão fumado embaladas com o PLA/chá verde2% apresentaram menor quantidade de MDA em todos os momentos de contacto, exceto apos 15 dias, onde se verificou menor teor de MDA nas fatias de salmão embaladas com o filme ativo com 1% de extrato de chá verde. Estes resultados mostraram que a incorporação do extrato de chá verde no PLA protege o salmão fumado da oxidação lipídica. Contudo, devem ser realizados estudos adicionais para confirmar a inibição da oxidação lipídica, como o índice de peróxido, o valor de p-anisidina e a determinação do hexanal.Este trabalho foi financiado pelo projeto de investigação “Development of methodologies for the evaluation of polymeric food packaging components and determination of their structural and mechanical properties (2016DAN 1289)” financiado pelo Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA, I.P.). Mariana Andrade agradece a bolsa de investigação (2016/iFILM/BM) no âmbito do projeto iFILM.N/

Late Holocene evolution of the Lower Tagus alluvial plain and heavy metals content: preliminary results

This paper aims to contribute to the fluvial dynamic knowledge of the Lower Tagus during the late Holocene. Two cores were done in selected geomorphological positions at the alluvial plain. Each ten centimeters of sediments were submitted to sedimentological and geochemical analyses in order to identify human contamination by heavy metals, sedimentation rates and environmental changes in the main channel position. The main conclusions are: (1) The witness of the lateral migration of the fluvial channel; (2) The very irregular sedimentation rate, from 3mm per year to 0.1mm per year; (3) The diversified contamination of fluvial sediments and fluvial channels by heavy metals, namely Cu due to cooper sulphate vineyards and Pb due to petrol and Cr from the tanning industries.Este trabajo pretende contribuir al conocimiento de la dinámica fluvial del curso inferior del río Tajo durante el Holoceno final. Se han realizado dos sondeos en lugares seleccionados de la llanura aluvial. Muestras del sedimento obtenidas cada diez centímetros se han analizado con el fin de identificar la contaminación humana con metales pesados, las tasas de sedimentación y posibles cambios en la posición del cauce principal. Las conclusiones más importantes son: (1) La prueba de la existencia de migración lateral del cauce fluvial; (2) La gran irregularidad de la tasa de sedimentación, que varia entre 0,1 y 3mm por año; (3) La variada contaminación de los sedimentos fluviales y de los cauces por metales pesados, especialmente Cu debido a la aplicación de sulfato de cobre en viñedos, Pb debido al petróleo y Cr por las industrias de curtidos.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quiropterofauna Do Cerrado Leste Maranhense, Brasil, Com Ocorrência De Novos Registros. Biota Neotropica

In Brazil, 179 bat species have been recorded to date, representing 68 genera and nine families. Few data are available on the bat fauna of the state of Maranhão, so the present study was based on a survey of the bat fauna of the Inhamum Municipal Environmental Protection Area (APA Inhamum) in the Cerrado savanna of the eastern extreme of the state. This inventory provides new records of bat species for the state of Maranhão and the Cerrado biome. A total of 31 species (four families) were collected, representing 39% of the bat species known to occur in Maranhão and 28.71% of the species described for the Cerrado. The family Phyllostomidae was the most diverse, with 23 species (74.20% of the total), and also the most abundant, with 86.09% of the specimens collected. The Molossidae (four species) was the second most diverse, followed by the Vespertilionidae (three species) and the Emballonuridae (one species). Carollia perspicillata was the most abundant species (28%).The records of Artibeus fimbriatus and Platyrrhinus fusciventris are the first for the Cerrado and were also recorded in Maranhão for the first time. The cumulative species curve did not reach an asymptote. The species Dermanura gnoma, Lasiurus blossevillii, Lasiurus ega, Micronycteris schmidtorum, Molossops temminckii, Platyrrhinus cf. recifinus, Phylloderma stenops and Trachops cirrhosus, were also recorded in Maranhão for the first time demonstrating the value of for mammal inventories and emphasizing the need for further surveys in this poorly-known region. © 2016, Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP. All Rights Reserved.16

Hidden non-Fermi liquid behavior due to crystal field quartet

We study a realistic Kondo model for crystal field quartet ground states having magnetic and non-magnetic (quadrupolar) exchange couplings with conduction electrons, using the numerical renormalization group method. We focus on a local effect dependent on singlet excited states coupled to the quartet, which reduces the non-magnetic coupling significantly and drives non-Fermi liquid behavior observed in the calculated quadrupolar susceptibility. A crossover from the non-Fermi liquid state to the Fermi liquid state is characterized by a small energy scale very sensitive to the non-magnetic coupling. On the other hand, the Kondo temperature observed in the magnetic susceptibility is less sensitive. The different crystal-field dependence of the two exchange couplings may be related to the different $x$ dependence of quadrupolar and magnetic ordering temperatures in Ce$_x$La$_{1-x}$B$_6$.Comment: 7 pages, 5 EPS figures, REVTe