Caracterização da macrofauna bentónica da Baía de Luanda- Angola

Dissertação de mestrado, Biologia Marinha, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2016Com o presente trabalho pretendeu-se caracterizar a macrofauna bentónica da Baía de Luanda, e sua relação com os parâmetros físico-químicos do sedimento e da coluna de água; de forma a identificar as variáveis abióticas que melhor explicam os padrões de distribuição e as espécies com potencial de utilização como bioindicadores da qualidade ambiental. Para este efeito foram efectuadas ao longo dos meses de Maio e Julho de 2015, 10 campanhas de amostragens em 8 estações ao longo da Baía. Em cada uma das estações de amostragem foram recolhidas 3 amostras de sedimento (replicados) com uma draga do tipo Van Veen com capacidade máxima de 3dm3, numa área 300cm2. Amostrou-se água da superfície e de profundidade, para medição de pH, a temperatura (ºC), salinidade, clorofila a (μg/L), oxigénio dissolvido (mg/L).Também determinou-se a transparência da água, matéria orgânica (%) e os parâmetros granulométricos do sedimento. Os dados foram analisados por métodos estatísticos univariados e multivariados. Colectou-se um total de 1421 individuos da macrofauna bentónica, distribuidos por 7 grupos taxonómicos principais, sendo os mais abundantes Annelida, Arthropoda e Mollusca. Em termos da abundância verificou-se que a espécie Cyathura carinata foi a mais abundante com cerca 27%. Apesar da Baía de Luanda ter sido caracterizada por baixos valores de biomassa na maior parte dos organismos, observou-se contribuições de biomassa ligeiramente mais elevadas no bivalve Pitar rudis com cerca 17%, da biomassa total dos organismos. A área de estudo apresentou uma baixa diversidade, estando possivelmente associada a existência de uma perturbação generalizada, em especial nas zonas mais interiores da Baía de Luanda. Temporalmente não se verificaram diferenças significativas na estrutura da comunidade da macrofauna bentónica. As variáveis ambientais que mais explicaram os padrões de distribuição da macrofauna bentónica foram: temperatura, transparência da água, conteúdo de matéria orgânica, clorofila a, e a granulometria. A monitorização periódica desta área é imprescindível dada a carência na descrição sazonal completa da diversidade marinha específica.The present study aimed to characterize the benthic macrofauna of the Bay of Luanda and its relationship to the physical and chemical variables of the sediment and the water column; in order to identify the abiotic variables that best explain the distribution patterns and species with potential for use as bio-indicators of environmental quality. For this purpose 10 sampling campaigns were carried out at 8 stations along the Bay over the months of May and July 2015. In each of the sampling stations 3 replicate sediment samples were collected with a Van Veen grab with a maximum capacity of 3dm3 and an area 300cm2. Seawater was also sampled water at surface and bottom depthd for measurements of pH, temperature (° C), salinity, chlorophyll (mg / l) Dissolved Oxygen (mg / L) and transparency. The organic matter content (%) and the grain size of the sediments were also determined. Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate statistical methods. A total of 1421 individuals were collected, distributed in 7 major taxonomic groups, the most abundant being Annelida, Arthropoda and Mollusca. In terms of abundance it was found that the species Cyathura carinata was the most abundant, representing about 27% of the total. Overall, Luanda Bay has been characterized by low values of biomass in most organisms, with the exception of the clam Pitar rudis, which represented about 17% of the total biomass of organisms. The study area showed a low diversity and this may be associated with the existence of a widespread disturbance in the inner stations of Bay of Luanda. There were no significant temporal differences in the community structure of benthic macrofauna. Environmental variables that explained most of the distribution patterns of benthic macrofauna were: temperature, water transparency, organic matter content, chlorophyll a, and grain size. Periodic monitoring of this area is indispensable, given our lack of knowledge about the specific seasonal marine diversity in the region

Seagrass connectivity on the west coast of Africa supports the hypothesis of grazer-mediated seed dispersal

Population connectivity influences the distribution of genetic diversity and divergence along a species range, as the likelihood of extinction or differentiation increases in isolated populations. However, there is still poor understanding of the processes mediating interpopulation dispersal in marine species that are sessile and lack planktonic life stages. One such case is the seagrass species Halodule wrightii, which produces basal seeds, although detached plants can drift. Along the tropical western coast of Africa, this species occurs in distant discontinuous habitats, raising the question of how interpopulation dispersal is mediated. The species is a key source of ecosystem functions including feeding large migratory grazers. This study aims to infer whether genetic differentiation of the seagrass H. wrightii along the western coast of Africa supports a hypothesis of predominant transportation of rafting seagrass by ocean currents, versus the hypothesis of biotic vectors of dispersal. Additional hypotheses were addressed concerning range-wide clonality and genetic diversity, assessed with microsatellite markers on populations of the west coast of Africa from Mauritania to Angola. Population genetic diversity and structure were compared with predictions from biophysical models of dispersal by oceanographic currents. The genetic data revealed low divergence among most populations, in strong contrast with predictions of very low probability of connectivity mediated by currents along the western African coastline. Moderate to high genotypic diversity showed important seed recruitment, but genetic and genotypic diversities were lower at range edges. Populations north and south of the equator were differentiated, and remarkably, so were neighboring equatorial populations despite their proximity. These results reveal independent sources of colonization of meadows in these islands, which are major habitat for migratory grazing green turtles, also supporting the hypothesis of biotically mediated seed transport. The importance of seagrass for conservation of endangered macrofauna has been widely reported; here we report evidence supporting the reciprocal role, that macrofauna protection can also plays a role in long-term survival and reproductive success of seagrass.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Multicenter double blind trial of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation through intracoronary injection post acute myocardium infarction – MiHeart/AMI study

Background: Myocardial infarction remains as a major cause of mortality worldwide and a high rate of survivors develop heart failure as a sequel, resulting in a high morbidity and elevated expenditures for health system resources. We have designed a multicenter trial to test for the efficacy of autologous bone marrow (ABM) mononuclear cell (MC) transplantation in this subgroup of patients. The main hypothesis to be tested is that treated patients will have a significantly higher ejection fraction (EF) improvement after 6 months than controls. Methods: A sample of 300 patients admitted with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) and left ventricle (LV) systolic dysfunction, and submitted to successful mechanical or chemical recanalization of the infarct-related coronary artery will be selected for inclusion and randomized to either treated or control group in a double blind manner. The former group will receive 100 x 106 MC suspended in saline with 5% autologous serum in the culprit vessel, while the latter will receive placebo (saline with 5% autologous serum). Implications: Many phase I/II clinical trials using cell therapy for STEMI have been reported, demonstrating that cell transplantation is safe and may lead to better preserved LV function. Patients with high risk to develop systolic dysfunction have the potential to benefit more. Larger randomized, double blind and controlled trials to test for the efficacy of cell therapies in patients with high risk for developing heart failure are required.Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT)/The Financing Agency for Studies and Projects (FINEP

Development of the CMS detector for the CERN LHC Run 3

International audienceSince the initial data taking of the CERN LHC, the CMS experiment has undergone substantial upgrades and improvements. This paper discusses the CMS detector as it is configured for the third data-taking period of the CERN LHC, Run 3, which started in 2022. The entire silicon pixel tracking detector was replaced. A new powering system for the superconducting solenoid was installed. The electronics of the hadron calorimeter was upgraded. All the muon electronic systems were upgraded, and new muon detector stations were added, including a gas electron multiplier detector. The precision proton spectrometer was upgraded. The dedicated luminosity detectors and the beam loss monitor were refurbished. Substantial improvements to the trigger, data acquisition, software, and computing systems were also implemented, including a new hybrid CPU/GPU farm for the high-level trigger

Development of the CMS detector for the CERN LHC Run 3

International audienceSince the initial data taking of the CERN LHC, the CMS experiment has undergone substantial upgrades and improvements. This paper discusses the CMS detector as it is configured for the third data-taking period of the CERN LHC, Run 3, which started in 2022. The entire silicon pixel tracking detector was replaced. A new powering system for the superconducting solenoid was installed. The electronics of the hadron calorimeter was upgraded. All the muon electronic systems were upgraded, and new muon detector stations were added, including a gas electron multiplier detector. The precision proton spectrometer was upgraded. The dedicated luminosity detectors and the beam loss monitor were refurbished. Substantial improvements to the trigger, data acquisition, software, and computing systems were also implemented, including a new hybrid CPU/GPU farm for the high-level trigger

Development of the CMS detector for the CERN LHC Run 3

International audienceSince the initial data taking of the CERN LHC, the CMS experiment has undergone substantial upgrades and improvements. This paper discusses the CMS detector as it is configured for the third data-taking period of the CERN LHC, Run 3, which started in 2022. The entire silicon pixel tracking detector was replaced. A new powering system for the superconducting solenoid was installed. The electronics of the hadron calorimeter was upgraded. All the muon electronic systems were upgraded, and new muon detector stations were added, including a gas electron multiplier detector. The precision proton spectrometer was upgraded. The dedicated luminosity detectors and the beam loss monitor were refurbished. Substantial improvements to the trigger, data acquisition, software, and computing systems were also implemented, including a new hybrid CPU/GPU farm for the high-level trigger

Development of the CMS detector for the CERN LHC Run 3

Since the initial data taking of the CERN LHC, the CMS experiment has undergone substantial upgrades and improvements. This paper discusses the CMS detector as it is configured for the third data-taking period of the CERN LHC, Run 3, which started in 2022. The entire silicon pixel tracking detector was replaced. A new powering system for the superconducting solenoid was installed. The electronics of the hadron calorimeter was upgraded. All the muon electronic systems were upgraded, and new muon detector stations were added, including a gas electron multiplier detector. The precision proton spectrometer was upgraded. The dedicated luminosity detectors and the beam loss monitor were refurbished. Substantial improvements to the trigger, data acquisition, software, and computing systems were also implemented, including a new hybrid CPU/GPU farm for the high-level trigger.Since the initial data taking of the CERN LHC, the CMS experiment has undergone substantial upgrades and improvements. This paper discusses the CMS detector as it is configured for the third data-taking period of the CERN LHC, Run 3, which started in 2022. The entire silicon pixel tracking detector was replaced. A new powering system for the superconducting solenoid was installed. The electronics of the hadron calorimeter was upgraded. All the muon electronic systems were upgraded, and new muon detector stations were added, including a gas electron multiplier detector. The precision proton spectrometer was upgraded. The dedicated luminosity detectors and the beam loss monitor were refurbished. Substantial improvements to the trigger, data acquisition, software, and computing systems were also implemented, including a new hybrid CPU/GPU farm for the high-level trigger

Development of the CMS detector for the CERN LHC Run 3

International audienceSince the initial data taking of the CERN LHC, the CMS experiment has undergone substantial upgrades and improvements. This paper discusses the CMS detector as it is configured for the third data-taking period of the CERN LHC, Run 3, which started in 2022. The entire silicon pixel tracking detector was replaced. A new powering system for the superconducting solenoid was installed. The electronics of the hadron calorimeter was upgraded. All the muon electronic systems were upgraded, and new muon detector stations were added, including a gas electron multiplier detector. The precision proton spectrometer was upgraded. The dedicated luminosity detectors and the beam loss monitor were refurbished. Substantial improvements to the trigger, data acquisition, software, and computing systems were also implemented, including a new hybrid CPU/GPU farm for the high-level trigger