Slaves on the Return Voyage from the Carreira Da India (1504-1610): From the Limited Permission to the Uncontrolled Transportation and Diffusion Across the Atlantic

From an early stage of carreira da ndia route slaves embarked in the ships which performed the return voyage It remains to be determined an exact figure as well as how often did the slaves went on this voyage They usually came from China India and other parts of Asia Mozambique Angola and Cape Verde Most of them did not make it to Lisbon as they were used in several illegal acts of trafficking and smuggling along the way thus being mostly traded in the Azores off the Portuguese coast or even in Brazil and Galicia Since midsixteenth century at least hundreds had been shipped the sources record a single ship in which the total number of slaves amounted to 300 Despite Crown s policies aimed at putting a stop to illegal activities and slaves mass transportation the problem resurfaced throughout this period even if it seems to have caused greater concern in earlyseventeenth centur

A importância estratégica do conhecimento do território na formação de um sistema defensivo: o caso de Sintra (Portugal) durante o Período Islâmico

Focando o exemplo de Sintra durante o Período Islâmico, procura-se compreender como o conhecimento do território pesou na estratégia de edificação de fortificações e de estruturas de vigilância que permitiam a defesa militar e que faziam parte do sistema defensivo do distrito de Lisboa. A metodologia seguida consiste no cruzamento de dados entre as fontes históricas, arqueológicas, a toponímia e o reconhecimento geográfico. Os resultados obtidos mostram que Sintra, para além de dois castelos e de um ribat, teve outras estruturas defensivas e postos de vigilância que possibilitavam a comunicação com outros locais a longa distância e que marcavam a paisagem cultural marítima. A investigação permite concluir que a estruturação deste sistema defensivo implicou um planejamento estratégico baseado no estudo das diferentes combinações geográficas, das relações entre os povoados, das vias de comunicação, dos portos e ancoradouros, sendo que alguns locais importantes já teriam sido utilizados em épocas anteriores.  Focusing on the example of Sintra during the Islamic period, we seek to understand how the knowing of the territory weighed in the strategy for the construction of fortifications and surveillance structures that allowed for the military defence and that were part of the defensive system of the Lisbon region. The methodology used consists on the crossing of data between historical and archaeological sources, toponymical and geographical recognition. The results show that Sintra, besides two castles and a ribat, will have had other defensive structures and checkpoints that allowed communication with other distant places and marked the maritime cultural landscape. This investigation allows to conclude that the structuring of this defensive system implied a strategic planning based on the study of the different geographical combinations, the relations between the villages, the communication ways, the ports and anchorages, and that some important places would already have been used in previous eras.  El presente artículo busca entender, a partir del caso de Sintra durante el periodo islámico, cómo el conocimiento del territorio pesó en la estrategia de la construcción de fortificaciones y de las estructuras de vigilancia que permitían la defensa militar y formaban parte del sistema defensivo de la región de Lisboa. La metodología consiste en el intercambio de datos entre las fuentes arqueológicas, históricas, la toponimia y el reconocimiento geográfico. Los resultados muestran que Sintra, además de dos castillos y un ribat, ha tenido otras estructuras defensivas y puntos de control que permitían la comunicación con otros lugares de larga distancia y que marcaban el paisaje cultural marítimo. Las investigaciones muestran que la estructura de este sistema defensivo implicó una planificación estratégica basada en el estudio de las diferentes combinaciones geográficas, de las relaciones entre los pueblos, de las vías de comunicación, de los puertos y fondeaderos, y de algunos sitios importantes que habrían sido utilizados en épocas anteriores. &nbsp

Efeitos da cinesioterapia no assoalho pélvico durante a gravidez

OJETIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training in 46 nulliparous pregnant women. METHODS: The women were divided into 2 groups: an exercise group and a control group. Functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscle was performed by digital vaginal palpation using the strength scale described by Ortiz and by a perineometer (with and without biofeedback). RESULTS: The functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles showed a significant increase in pelvic floor muscle strength during pregnancy in both groups (P < .001). However, the magnitude of the change was greater in the exercise group than in the control group (47.4% vs. 17.3%, P < .001). The study also showed a significant positive correlation (Spearman's test, r = 0.643; P < .001) between perineometry and digital assessment in the strength of pelvic floor muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor muscle training resulted in a significant increase in pelvic floor muscle pressure and strength during pregnancy. A significant positive correlation between functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscle and perineometry was observed during pregnancy.INTRODUÇÃO: A gravidez traz importantes modificações hormonais e anatômicas que têm efeito sobre a musculatura do assoalho pélvico. A cinesioterapia aplicada à musculatura do assoalho pélvico na gestação pode ser grande aliada no controle das alterações músculo-esqueléticas. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar efeitos da cinesioterapia no assoalho pélvico durante a gravidez, por meio da perineometria com e sem "biofeedback" e da avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico, e correlacionar os valores da avaliação funcional com as perineometrias. MÉTODOS: Estudamos 46 gestantes nulíparas em seguimento pré-natal no Departamento de Obstetrícia do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo, entre novembro de 2003 e dezembro de 2004, com até 20 semanas de gestação, atendidas no Setor de Baixo-Risco, divididas em dois grupos: Grupo exercício (23 casos): pacientes submetidas à cinesioterapia para a musculatura do assoalho pélvico; e grupo controle (23 casos): sem a prática da cinesioterapia. Por 12 semanas, até a 36ª semana, seguiu-se um protocolo, com treinamento de 60 minutos semanais, executando-se quatro séries de 10 contrações destes músculos com seis segundos de manutenção e 12 segundos de relaxamento, em decúbitos distintos. Realizaram-se 2 avaliações: 1ª (até 20 semanas) e 2ª (36 semanas gestacionais), por meio da avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico e da perineometria. RESULTADOS: Na avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico, tanto o grupo exercício como o grupo controle apresentaram aumento significativo da 1ª avaliação para a 2ª avaliação. Para a perineometria sem "biofeedback", na 2ª avaliação, somente o grupo exercício obteve aumento significativo, com p < 0,001. Quanto à perineometria com "biofeedback", tanto o grupo exercício como o controle tiveram aumento significativo nos valores, porém o delta porcentual foi maior no grupo exercício. Houve correlação significativa e positiva entre a avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico e as perineometrias sem e com "biofeedback" nas duas primeiras avaliações. CONCLUSÕES: Os efeitos da cinesioterapia nos músculos do assoalho pélvico revelaram aumento significativo na pressão e na força durante a gestação. Durante o período gestacional houve correlação positiva e significativa entre a avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico e as perineometrias

Influence of the prone position on a stretcher for pregnant women on maternal and fetal hemodynamic parameters and comfort in pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the influence of lying in prone position on a specially designed stretcher on the maternal-fetal hemodynamic parameters and comfort of pregnant women. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial with 33 pregnant women divided into 2 groups: pregnant group sequence 1 and pregnant group sequence 2. The order of positions used in sequence 1 was Fowler’s position, prone position, supine position, left lateral, Fowler’s position 2, supine position 2, prone position 2 and left lateral 2. The order of positions used in sequence 2 was Fowler’s position, prone position, left lateral, supine position, Fowler’s position 2, left lateral 2, prone position 2 and supine position 2. Each woman remained in each position for 6 minutes. For the statistical analyses, we used Wilcoxon’s test for 2 paired samples when comparing the prone position with the other positions. The variables are presented in graphs showing the means and 95% confidence intervals. Trial Registration: Clinical Trial No. ISRCTN41359519 RESULTS: All the parameters were within the standards of normality. There were no differences between positions in terms of maternal heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation and fetal heart rate. However, there were significant decreases in respiratory rate and systolic blood pressure in prone position 2 compared with left lateral 2. There was an increase in oxygen saturation in prone position compared with Fowler’s position and supine position 2 in both sequences. All the women reported feeling comfortable in the prone position. CONCLUSIONS: The prone position was considered safe and comfortable and could be advantageous for improving oxygen saturation and reducing the systolic blood pressure and respiratory rate

Development of biocompatible plasmonic thin films composed of noble metal nanoparticles embedded in a dielectric matrix to enhance Raman signals

This work focused on the production of nanocomposite thin films, composed of noble nanoparticles embedded in a dielectric matrix, to be tested as biocompatible plasmonic platforms for detection of molecules using Surface Enhance Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). Three different thin films systems were deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering, namely Au-Al2O3, Au-TiO2 and Ag-TiO2. The depositions were followed by a thermal treatment at different temperatures to promote the growth of the nanoparticles. Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) bands appeared already at 300 °C, related to the presence of Au nanoparticles, and at 500 °C in the case of Ag nanoparticles. Furthermore, at 700 °C, the Ag-TiO2 films showed a broadband optical response due to the formation of Ag clusters at the film's surface. The biological experiments showed that the presence of the thin films didn't affect the growth of C. albicans, which is very convenient if one needs to detect low concentrations of this microorganism using SERS platforms. As for the SERS measurements, an enhancement of R6G Raman spectra intensity was clearly perceivable, but only for the TiO2 matrix. Furthermore, the application of a plasma treatment allowed to better expose the nanoparticles, providing a further enhancement of Raman signals.FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (PTDC/FIS-NAN/1154/2014

Influence of substrate design for in vitro mechanical testing

The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of dental substrate simulator material, and the presence of root and periodontal ligament on the stress distribution in an adhesively-cemented monolithic crown. Five (5) 3D models according to the substrate simulator material and shape were modeled with CAD software for conducting non-linear finite element analysis (FEA): Tooth with and without periodontal ligament - subgroup ?pl? (groups Tooth+pl and Tooth-pl), machined tooth in epoxy-resin with and without pulp chamber - subgroup ?pc? (ER+pc and ER-pc) and simplified epoxy-resin substrate without pulp chamber and roots (SiER). Next, adhesively-cemented monolithic crowns in zirconia reinforced lithium silicate were modeled over each substrate. The solids were then imported in STEP format to the analysis software and the contact between teeth and cylinder was considered perfectly bonded; whereas, the contacts involving the resin cement were considered as non-separated. The materials were considered isotropic, linearly elastic, and homogeneous. An axial load (600 N) was applied to the occlusal surface and results of maximum principal stress (MPa) on the restoration were required. FEA revealed that all evaluated subtracts showed the crown intaglio surface as the most stressed region. The average stress and stress peaks were similar for restorations cemented onto Tooth+pl, Tooth-pl and ER+pc substrates, but, 13% higher in comparison to ER-pc and SiER substrates. Simplified substrates can be used to evaluate posterior full crown behavior without periodontal ligaments and roots, since the rigidity of the specimen is taken into account

Knockout of insulin-degrading enzyme leads to mice testicular morphological changes and impaired sperm quality

Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is a zinc metalloprotease responsible for degrading and inactivating several bioactive peptides, including insulin. Individuals without this enzyme or with a loss-of-function mutation in the gene that codifies it, present hyperinsulinemia. In addition, impairment of IDE-mediated insulin clearance is associated with the development of metabolic diseases, namely prediabetes. Although insulin regulates male fertility, the role of IDE on male reproductive function remains unknown. We proposed to study the influence of IDE in the reproductive potential of males. As insulin mediates key events for the normal occurrence of spermatogenesis, we hypothesized that IDE functioning might be linked with sperm quality. We used C57BL/6N mice that were divided in three groups according to its genotype: wild type (WT), heterozygous and knockout (KO) male mice for Ide. Spermatozoa were collected from the cauda of epididymis and sperm parameters were evaluated. Testicular tissue morphology was assessed through hematoxylin and eosin stain. Mitochondrial complex protein levels and lipid peroxidation were also evaluated in the testicular tissue. Our results show that KO mice present a 50% decrease in testes weight compared to WT mice as well as a decrease in seminiferous tubules diameter. Moreover, KO mice present impaired sperm quality, namely a decrease in both sperm viability and morphology. These results provide evidence that IDE plays an important role in determining the reproductive potential of males.publishe

Influence of cavosurface angle on the stress concentration and gaps formation in class V resin composite restorations

The study aimed to evaluate the influence of cavosurface angle on stress concentration and gap formation in class V restorations. Cylindrical cavities 3 mm in diameter were prepared in forty-five bovine incisors, changing only the angle of the bur in relation to the flat surface of the tooth. The cavities maintained the same volume (17.67 mm³). The samples were divided according to the cavosurface angle, into three groups (n = 15): 90°, 120°, 135°. After adhesive application (Futurabond U, VOCO), the cavity was filled with bulk placement of a resin composite (GrandioSO, VOCO). The teeth were analyzed with stereomicroscopy. Data of marginal gap formation were statistically analyzed with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey tests (significance level: α = 0.05). Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to study residual stress in these geometries and to correlate those stresses with experimentally measured gap formation. The elastic modulus and polymerization shrinkage were determined for FEA. Residual shrinkage stresses were expressed in maximum principal stress (MPS). There was a significant difference in the gap formation among the groups (p = 0.001). A significantly lower marginal gap formation was found for 120° and 135° angles, with no significant difference between them. The cavosurface angle at 90° caused substantially higher stresses, in the restoration interface, with greater marginal gap. For the 120° and 135° angles, the stress concentrations were smaller and were located in the dental structure. The cavosurface angle influenced the marginal gap formation and stress concentration