Natural variability of lotic Mediterranean ecosystems or wildfire perturbations: who will win?

This study evaluates the impacts of wildfires in lotic Mediterranean ecosystems. It was carried out at Monchique ridge after big wildfires occurred during 2002 and 2003. Deferential impacts were evaluated comparing historical results obtained before the wildfires (1999 and 2001), with the post fire ones (2006 and 2007). Physical and chemical parameters of the water, habitat morphology, diatoms, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fishes were evaluated at 10 collecting places, before and after wildfires. High recovering rates were observed to the vegetation, but it is still possible to found fire impacts over macrophytes and river morphology. Wildfires, contributed to canopy decrease and, consequently to the growth of plants that usually are controlled by shadow. As a result, vegetation biodiversity tend to increase. River banks tend also to be invaded by terrestrial plants. Higher post fires recover rates were observed to the more aquatic communities (diatoms, macroinvertebrates and fishes). For those communities, comparing spring situations before and after the fires no substantial differences were observed. Sometimes differences between consecutive years are even higher. So it can be concluded that magnitude of wildfire impacts is less than the natural inter-annual variability of Mediterranean rivers. Long-term effects of forest fires, resulting from large woody debries, were also detected by morphological alterations, like debries dams. Habitat diversity increase and impacts on aquatic communities are expected

Effects of spray-drying and storage on astaxanthin content of Haematococcus pluvialis biomass

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of astaxanthin after drying and storage at different conditions during a 9-week period. Recovery of astaxanthin was evaluated by extracting pigments from the dried powders and analysing extracts by HPLC. The powders obtained were stored under different conditions of temperature and oxygen level and the effects on the degradation of astaxanthin were examined. Under the experimental conditions conducted in this study, the drying temperature that yielded the highest content of astaxanthin was 220°C, as the inlet, and 120°C, as the outlet temperature of the drying chamber. The best results were obtained for biomass dried at 180/110°C and stored at −21°C under nitrogen, with astaxanthin degradation lower than 10% after 9 weeks of storage. A reasonable preservation of astaxanthin can be achieved by conditions 180/80°C, −21°C nitrogen, 180/110°C, 21°C nitrogen, and 220/80°C, 21°C vacuum: the ratio of astaxanthin degradation is equal or inferior to 40%. In order to prevent astaxanthin degradation of Haematococcus pluvialis biomass, it is recommended the storage of the spray dried carotenized cells (180/110ºC) under nitrogen and −21°C.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Representaciones sobre clima creativo: una perspectiva de alumnos y profesores de educación primaria en escuelas públicas y privadas de Portugal

A criatividade é assumida como conceito relevante no contexto educativo. Este estudo analisou diferenças nas representações em professores de escolas públicas e privadas sobre condições favoráveis e desfavoráveis à criatividade no seu ambiente de trabalho, assim como nas representações de clima criativo em sala de aula pelos alunos desses tipos de escola. Participaram 202 alunos portugueses dos 3º e 4º anos do ensino básico e 72 professores. Os dados dos alunos foram recolhidos por meio da Escala sobre o Clima para a Criatividade em Sala de Aula e usou-se, para os professores, o Questionário Indicadores de Clima para a Criatividade no Ambiente de Trabalho. Os resultados revelam, para os alunos, diferenças significativas em alguns fatores, apresentando o ensino público valores superiores. Em relação aos professores, emergiram diferenças significativas em dois fatores, havendo superioridade do ensino privado nas condições favoráveis à criatividade e do ensino público nos bloqueios a esta.Creativity is assumed as a relevant concept in education. This study analyses differences in the representations of favorable and unfavorable conditions for creativity in the workplace by teachers from Portuguese public and private schools, and differences in representations of creative climate in the classroom of the 3rd and 4th grades of basic school, as well as 72 teachers. Data was collected through Scale Environment for Creativity in the Classroom in the case of students; in the case of teachers, we utilized the Questionnaire Indicators of Climate for Creativity in the Workplace. For the students, results show significant differences in several dimensions, presenting public schools higher values. In the case of teachers, emerged significant differences considering favorable conditions for creativity (higher values from private schools) and obstructions to creativity (higher values from public schools).La creatividad es asumida como un concepto relevante en el contexto educativo. Este estudio examinó diferencias en las representaciones en profesores de escuelas públicas y privadas sobre condiciones favorables y desfavorables a la creatividad en su ambiente de trabajo, así como en las representaciones de clima creativo en el aula por los alumnos de esos tipos de escuela. Participaron 202 alumnos portugueses del 3 º y 4 º año de enseñanza primaria y 72 profesores. Los datos de los estudiantes fueron recogidos a través de la Escala sobre el Clima de Creatividad en el Aula y se utilizó para los profesores el Cuestionario de Indicadores del Clima para la Creatividad en el Ambiente de Trabajo. Los resultados muestran, para los alumnos, diferencias significativas en algunos factores, presentando la enseñanza pública valores más altos. En los profesores, surgieron diferencias significativas en los dos factores, habiendo superioridad de la enseñanza privada en las condiciones favorables a la creatividad y de la enseñanza pública en los bloqueos a ésta.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chlorella vulgaris as Soil Amendment: influence of encapsulation and enrichment with Rhizobacteria

Several trials with five plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and the chlorophyte Chlorella vulgaris were carried out in order to look for the consortia that could show the best interactions, giving rise to improved growth of mixed cultures. Pseudomonas putida, Serratia proteomaculans and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were the chosen bacteria for the consortia with Chlorella, while the proportions of microalgae/bacteria tested were 2:1, 3:1 and 3:1, respectively. Three replicates of 20 treatments were performed and studied, after sowing 20 seeds per replicate, for each of the consortia. Plantlets were left to grow for a two-week period. Maltodextrin (MD) and arabic gum (GA) or gelatine (G) were used as coats for the freeze-dried biomass microbeads. Longest roots were obtained with the consortium Chlorella: Serratia but encapsulates of Chlorella:Stenotrophomonas gave rise to meadow clover plantlets with the highest root and shoot system dried biomass, especially with coating proportions of 1:1 MD:G and MD:GA. Results obtained with this last consortium suggested some interactions with the plant metabolism, as well as some synergistic effects between Chlorella and bacteria.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Student teachers' perceptions of the Internet: Motivation, influences, and use

The Internet's rapid growth and diffusion, both worldwide and in Portugal, as well as its importance for teacher education, made the authors feel the need to reflect on how their student teachers integrate themselves in such quite novel environmental conditions and teaching communities This paper reports on one specific Portuguese university's student teachers' Internet usage during their teaching practice and what reasons motivated them to do so. It also looks into student teachers' perceptions about Internet discussion and usage by other teachers in their schools and, in particular, in their own disciplinary groups. The data was collected using a questionnaire which was anonymously answered by 189 of the entire 360-student teacher 2000/2001 population from all 9 different preservice programs

Polyphenol oxidase activity and colour changes of ‘Starking’ Apple cubes coated with alginate and dehydrated with air

The objective was to study the effect of alginate coating on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and colour of ‘Starking’ apple cubes during dehydration with hot air. Apple cubes were dehydrated at 20°C, 35°C or 40°C, with a parallel air-flow. Analysis of PPO activity, colour (L*, a*, b*) and dry matter were performed along the dehydration process at each temperature. All samples presented a peak in relative PPO activity in the beginning of the drying. Exponential models fitted well the experimental data after the peak. Cubes without coating presented lower PPO activity, suggesting lower browning than coated samples throughout the dehydration process, for all temperatures. Better results for coated samples were obtained with a perpendicular airflow drying at 40°C, after dipping the whole apple in water at 60°C for 10 minutes. In order to prevent coated samples from browning, drying by perpendicular airflow preceded by a thermal treatment of the whole apple is required.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Do portugues classico ao portugues europeu moderno : um estudo diacronico da cliticifação e do movimento do verbo

Orientador: Charlotte G. GalvesTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da LinguagemResumo: Não informadoAbstract: Not informedDoutoradoDoutor em Ciência

Produção integrada de peixes e vegetais em aquaponia.

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Establishment of a Taqman-based approach to monitor Fusarium spp. Airbone spores.

Aerobiological studies provide important information about the biological particles present in the air. Monitoring the presence of airborne fungal spores can help farmers to prevent the onset of fungal diseases that may affect both quantity and quality of crops. The fungi Fusarium spp. are among the most important phytopathogenic fungal communities with high impact at regional level by affecting important cultures such as almond, tomato, maize and cereals. The establishment of an approach that would enable farmers to early react upon the possibility of a Fusarium spp. infection will lead to a better control of the diseases associated to those fungi. Currently, to monitor Fusarium spp. airborne spores it is followed the Hirst-type methodology, which is based on spore’s identification and quantification by optical microscope; a hard and time consuming process due to the spore’s small size and colorless wall. In this context, the development of an alternative methodology that enable to get accurate and reliable results in a faster way will be of high interest. A Taqman specific assay for Fusarium spp. detection and quantification was previously established for a different purpose [1] and was here applied as a molecular-based tool to detect airborne Fusarium spp. spores. To collect the biological particles from the atmosphere a Burkard 7-Day Volumetric Spore Trap, and the Hirst associated methodology, was used as the methodology recommended by the European Aerobiology Society (EAS) and International Association for Aerobiology (IAA) [2]. As proof-of-concept, the analysis was focused on samples weekly collect, from 1st October - 31st December 2018 (14 weeks) at the station of Portuguese Aerobiology Network (RPA – SPAIC) (38° 34’ N; 7° 54’ W). Genomic DNA (gDNA) was extracted from collected biological particles adhered to the melinex tape following the CTAB protocol [3] with some modifications. Considering the results achieved, we consider the Taqman-specific assay as an alternative methodology for monitoring Fusarium spp. airborne spores