Biparietal variant of Alzheimer's disease: a rare presentation of a common disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a clinically heterogeneous disease that may have atypical presentations with focal cortical syndromes and relatively preserved episodic memory. The posterior variant of AD has two subtypes: occipitotemporal, presenting with visuoperceptive impairment, and biparietal, presenting with visuospatial dysfunction and apraxia. We report a case of a 51-year-old woman with progressive limb apraxia and choreiform movements. Her neuropsychological evaluation was compatible with dementia, and revealed ideomotor and ideational limb apraxia, severe visuoconstructive ability impairment, dyscalculia and posterior aphasia. Workup excluded metabolic, infectious, inflammatory or neoplastic causes, and hereditary conditions as Huntington's disease and familial AD. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers revealed β-amyloid reduction and τ protein increase. Brain imaging showed marked biparietal atrophy and hypoperfusion, and widespread cortical β-amyloid deposition. Biparietal variant of AD was diagnosed and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor treatment induced clinical stabilisation. AD may present with atypical features and a high clinical suspicion is necessary for an early diagnosis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chemical changes of heat treated pine and eucalypt wood monitored by FTIR

A hardwood, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., and a softwood Pinus pinaster Aiton., were heat treated at temperatures between 170 and 210ºC in an oven and in an autoclave. The samples were pre-extracted with dichloromethane, ethanol and water and ground prior to Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. The heat treatment caused significant changes in the chemical composition and structure of wood, in lignin and polysaccharides. Hemicelluloses were the first to degrade as proved by the initial decrease of the 1730 cm-1 peak due to the breaking of acetyl groups in xylan. Hardwood lignin changed more than softwood lignin, with a shift of maximum absorption from 1505 cm-1 to approximately 1512 cm-1 due to decrease of methoxyl groups, loss of syringyl units or breaking of aliphatic side-chains. The macromolecular structure becomes more condensed and there is a clear increase of non-conjugated (1740 cm-1) in relation to conjugated groups (1650 cm-1). However, the changes induced by the thermal treatment are difficult to monitor by FTIR spectroscopy due to the different chemical reactions occurring simultaneously.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

On the far-infrared metallicity diagnostics: applications to high-redshift galaxies

In an earlier paper we modeled the far-infrared emission from a star-forming galaxy using the photoionisation code CLOUDY and presented metallicity sensitive diagnostics based on far-infrared fine structure line ratios. Here, we focus on the applicability of the [OIII]88/[NII]122 microns line ratio as a gas phase metallicity indicator in high redshift submillimetre luminous galaxies. The [OIII]88/[NII]122 microns ratio is strongly dependent on the ionization parameter (which is related to the total number of ionizing photons) as well as the gas electron density. We demonstrate how the ratio of 88/$122 continuum flux measurements can provide a reasonable estimate of the ionization parameter while the availability of the [NII]205 microns line can constrain the electron density. Using the [OIII]88/[NII]122 microns line ratios from a sample of nearby normal and star-forming galaxies we measure their gas phase metallicities and find that their mass metallicity relation is consistent with the one derived using optical emission lines. Using new, previously unpublished, Herschel spectroscopic observations of key far-infrared fine structure lines of the z~3 galaxy HLSW-01 and additional published measurements of far-infrared fine structure lines of high-z submillimetre luminous galaxies we derive gas phase metallicities using their [OIII]88/[NII]122 microns line ratio. We find that the metallicities of these z~3 submm luminous galaxies are consistent with solar metallicities and that they appear to follow the mass-metallicity relation expected for z~3 systems.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, MNRAS in pres

Portuguese airport efficiency analysis: the case study of Oporto

The Oporto Airport located in the northern region in Porto city is crucial because is the only one located in the northern region. This airport had an increasing in number of passengers, sales revenue and accumulated investment during the last two decades, principally after the introduction and the operation of the Low Cost Companies since 2004 to the present. In order to determine if the last changes had an impact in the competitiveness of this airport, the main aims is to analise the evolution of values of the technical efficiency and equate the results before and after the introduction of the LCCs in this airport. The methodology uses the Data Envelopment Analysis. Results show that the Oporto Airport efficiency increases highly after the introduction of LCCs since 2004. The main conclusions suggest the importance of the introduction of LCCs in the increasing efficiency of the Oporto Airport and the potential relation with tourism development in this region, but more strong studies are needed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Caracterização da madeira de Taxi-branco-da-terra-firme (Sclerolobium paniculatum Vogel) para energia.

Este trabalho analisa a qualidade da madeira, para fins energéticos, de árvores de Sclerolobium paniculatum Vogel, de ocorrência natural e de plantio experimental (cinco árvores cada). Não foram constatadas diferenças significativas entre as duas origens. A madeira possui características comparáveis às tradicionalmente utilizadas para energia no Sul do Brasil

Clear as daylight: analysis of diurnal raptor pellets for small mammal studies

Claro como el agua: análisis de las egagrópilas de aves rapaces diurnas para los estudios sobre pequeños mamíferos Los métodos no invasivos se investigan y se aplican cada vez más en los estudios de comunidades de pequeños mamíferos, ya que son más rentables en cuanto a sus costos y evitan los problemas relacionados con la conservación y el bienestar animal. Sin embargo, las egagrópilas de aves rapaces diurnas rara vez se han utilizado para estos fines. En este trabajo se evaluó el potencial que tienen las egagrópilas del aguilucho lagunero (Circus aeruginosus) como un método no invasivo para estudiar las comunidades de pequeños mamíferos, mediante la comparación de los resultados con los obtenidos en las trampas de tipo Sherman y las de caída (pitfall). Los tres métodos se utilizaron simultáneamente en un complejo formado por tierras agrícolas y humedales en el noroeste de Portugal. Las estimaciones de la riqueza, la diversidad, la uniformidad y la abundancia de especies y la proporción de cada una de ellas dentro de la comunidad mostraron diferencias significativas entre los tres métodos. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la utilización de las egagrópilas del aguilucho lagunero es más eficaz para inventariar las especies de pequeños mamíferos que cualquiera de los dos tipos de trampas, al mismo tiempo que evita la muerte involuntaria de animales asociada con el muestreo de pequeños mamíferos no voladores. Además, el análisis de las egagrópilas fue el método más rentable. Entre los dos métodos de captura, la muerte involuntaria de animales fue mayor en las trampas de caída que en las trampas de tipo Sherman. Se discuten las ventajas y los inconvenientes de los tres métodos tanto desde una perspectiva técnica como conservacionista.Non–invasive approaches are increasingly investigated and applied in studies of small mammal assemblages because they are more cost–effective and bypass conservation and animal welfare issues. However, pellets of diurnal raptors have rarely been used for these purposes. We evaluated the potential of marsh harrier pellets (Circus aeruginosus) as a non–invasive method to sample small mammal assemblages, by comparing the results with those of sampling using Sherman live–traps and pitfalls. The three methods were applied simultaneously in an agricultural–wetland complex in NW Portugal. Estimates of species richness, diversity, evenness, abundance, and proportion of each species within the assemblage showed significant differences between the three methods. Our results suggest that the use of marsh harrier pellets is more effective in inventorying small mammal species than either of the two kinds of traps, while also avoiding any involuntary fatalities associated with the sampling of small non–volant mammals. Moreover, the analysis of pellets was the most cost–effective method. Comparison of the two trapping methodologies showed involuntary fatalities were higher in pitfalls than in Sherman traps. We discuss the advantages and flaws of the three methods, both from technical and conservational perspectives.Claro como el agua: análisis de las egagrópilas de aves rapaces diurnas para los estudios sobre pequeños mamíferos Los métodos no invasivos se investigan y se aplican cada vez más en los estudios de comunidades de pequeños mamíferos, ya que son más rentables en cuanto a sus costos y evitan los problemas relacionados con la conservación y el bienestar animal. Sin embargo, las egagrópilas de aves rapaces diurnas rara vez se han utilizado para estos fines. En este trabajo se evaluó el potencial que tienen las egagrópilas del aguilucho lagunero (Circus aeruginosus) como un método no invasivo para estudiar las comunidades de pequeños mamíferos, mediante la comparación de los resultados con los obtenidos en las trampas de tipo Sherman y las de caída (pitfall). Los tres métodos se utilizaron simultáneamente en un complejo formado por tierras agrícolas y humedales en el noroeste de Portugal. Las estimaciones de la riqueza, la diversidad, la uniformidad y la abundancia de especies y la proporción de cada una de ellas dentro de la comunidad mostraron diferencias significativas entre los tres métodos. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la utilización de las egagrópilas del aguilucho lagunero es más eficaz para inventariar las especies de pequeños mamíferos que cualquiera de los dos tipos de trampas, al mismo tiempo que evita la muerte involuntaria de animales asociada con el muestreo de pequeños mamíferos no voladores. Además, el análisis de las egagrópilas fue el método más rentable. Entre los dos métodos de captura, la muerte involuntaria de animales fue mayor en las trampas de caída que en las trampas de tipo Sherman. Se discuten las ventajas y los inconvenientes de los tres métodos tanto desde una perspectiva técnica como conservacionista

Barn owl feathers as biomonitors of mercury: sources of variation in sampling procedures.

Given their central role in mercury (Hg) excretion and suitability as reservoirs, bird feathers are useful Hg biomonitors. Nevertheless, the interpretation of Hg concentrations is still questioned as a result of a poor knowledge of feather physiology and mechanisms affecting Hg deposition. Given the constraints of feather availability to ecotoxicological studies, we tested the effect of intra-individual differences in Hg concentrations according to feather type (body vs. flight feathers), position in the wing and size (mass and length) in order to understand how these factors could affect Hg estimates. We measured Hg concentration of 154 feathers from 28 un-moulted barn owls (Tyto alba), collected dead on roadsides. Median Hg concentration was 0.45 (0.076-4.5) mg kg(-1) in body feathers, 0.44 (0.040-4.9) mg kg(-1) in primary and 0.60 (0.042-4.7) mg kg(-1) in secondary feathers, and we found a poor effect of feather type on intra-individual Hg levels. We also found a negative effect of wing feather mass on Hg concentration but not of feather length and of its position in the wing. We hypothesize that differences in feather growth rate may be the main driver of between-feather differences in Hg concentrations, which can have implications in the interpretation of Hg concentrations in feathers. Finally, we recommend that, whenever possible, several feathers from the same individual should be analysed. The five innermost primaries have lowest mean deviations to both between-feather and intra-individual mean Hg concentration and thus should be selected under restrictive sampling scenarios