Portuguese silver from the 15th to the 17th century, the 11 dinheiros silver coins

High silver surface contents of high fineness silver coins have been considered in some cases as deriving from very pure silver alloys, being reliable for original bulk composition. Until now, the extent in which surface silver enrichment influences surface analytical results in coins alloys with finenesses greater than the silver content indexed to the maximum value of copper solid solubility in silver (91.2 wt.%) have been disregarded. This investigation, focused on microstructural and compositional characterization of Portuguese 11 dinheiros silver coins, has revealed important surface silver enrichments in high silver fineness coins. In these silver alloys, coin manufacturing process induces a subsurface microstructurally modified layer resulting from intergranular dry and wet corrosion in annealing operations, primarily related to preferential leaching of Cu-rich phase in subsurface depth. This subsurface layer originates a silver overestimation by PIXE and EDXRF analysis, 4 to 7% higher than the bulk of the coins, with unknown elemental compositional gradient and depth that can extend up to to about 70 μm. This study shows, through the combination of different analytical methods, EDXRF, PIXE, SEM-EDS and LA-ICP-MS, that important metallurgical information resulting from the minting process may be missed, when relying only on the judgment of high silver alloys surface analysis. Albeit the existing minor/trace elements compositional gradients between coins surface and bulk, surface contents correlations discriminate distinct silver sources processed during the 15th to 17th centuries in Portugal, from different historical periods and mints, Lisbon and Porto. Gold/bismuth ratios related to the processed silver initial composition and lead/bismuth ratios related to the silver metallurgical processes, are important discriminators of these high silver alloys. Mercury appears also to be an important element for the discrimination of silver alloys sources. Portuguese minting depended and relied on different silver sources during the 15th to 17th centuries. European silver with high Au and Hg, and low Pb and Bi contents, supplied the oldest chronologies of Dom Afonso V and Dom João II in the 15th century, being replaced at the dawn of the 16th century by a new precious metal entering the Portuguese capital, with low Au and high Bi contents, probably derived from argentiferous copper ore sources processing. In the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the 16th century, minor/trace elements contents of Lisbon and Porto mints evolve towards the compositional homogenization observed in Dom Sebastião I period, probably due to major recycling operations of the earlier currency realized in each kingdom. Philippine chronologies reveal the presence of the new discovered Potosí American silver, introduced in Portugal by Dom Filipe I (Felipe II of Spain), distinguishable from the European silver in use until 1578 in the Portuguese territory, by Au contents < 100 ppm and very low Bi contents. Potosí silver is identified for the first time through a superficial analytical method, such as PIXE, rather than by NAA multielement global analysis

Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Indiscriminate Social Behavior in Institutionalized Children: insights from Williams Syndrome

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Neurociências Cognitivas e Comportamentais.O comportamento social indiscriminado (ISB) é uma das manifestações comportamentais mais pervasivas que emergem na literatura sobre institucionalização. Existem, porém, diferenças individuais quanto à manifestação do comportamento social nas crianças institucionalizadas, o que aponta para uma possível interação gene x ambiente (GXE). Investigação prévia contribuiu com a identificação de um conjunto de genes comumente associados à psicopatologia e comportamento social nos estudos GXE. Neste estudo, propomos a análise de um gene candidato (GTF2I), localizado no cromossoma 7, que se apresenta deletado na síndrome de Williams (SW). A SW é uma perturbação neurogenética associada a um perfil socio-cognitivo único, nomeadamente um fenótipo de hiper-sociabilidade que se assemelha ao ISB observado em crianças institucionalizadas. Neste estudo participaram 126 crianças institucionalizadas em idade pré-escolar (M=4.10 anos, DP=.95), juntamente com o seu cuidador institucional. O ISB foi avaliado através da Disturbances of Attachment Interview e foram recolhidas amostras de saliva das crianças para genotipagem. Os níveis de cooperação e de responsividade sensível do cuidador estavam negativamente associados ao ISB. Verificou-se um efeito GXE, consistente com o modelo de duplo-risco: os genótipos TG e GG emergiram como alelos de risco para o desenvolvimento de ISB, sendo que crianças portadoras destes alelos eram as que apresentavam maiores níveis de ISB quando expostas aos menores níveis de responsividade sensível do seu cuidador. Esta investigação é pioneira na análise dos polimorfismos do gene GTF2I no estudo do ISB em crianças institucionalizadas, permitindo uma melhor compreensão sobre os mecanismos pelos quais algumas crianças institucionalizadas, mas não outras, desenvolvem ISB.Indiscriminate social behavior (ISB) is the most common of social disturbed behaviors that emerge in institutionalization literature. Nevertheless, individual differences in social outcome in institutionalized children exist, which points to a possible gene x environment interaction (GXE) that may foster the heterogeneity seen in these children. Previous research has contributed with a set of genes commonly associated with psychopathology and social behavior in GXE studies. Here, we extend this research by proposing a new candidate gene (GTF2I), which microdeletion on chromosome 7 is responsible for Williams Syndrome (WS), a neurogenetic condition which main phenotype (hipersociability) resembles the ISB seen in institutionalized children. One hundred and twenty-six institutionalized preschoolers (M=4.10 years, SD=.95) participated along with their institutional caregiver. Child ISB was assessed with the Disturbances of Attachment Interview and saliva samples were provided for genotyping. Caregiver’s level of cooperation and sensitive responsiveness were negatively associated with ISB. A significant GXE effect emerged consistent with the diathesis stress hypothesis: carriers of TG and GG genotype emerged as risk alleles to ISB in these children, with its carriers having the most ISB when exposed to low levels of sensitive responsiveness from their caregivers. These results are the first to include GTF2I gene in the study of ISB in institutionalization and shed new lights into why some institutionalized children, but not others, develop ISB

Emotional face processing in institutionalized children : addressing the role of epigenetic mechanisms and quality of relational context

Facial emotional expressions can be considered one of the most important stimuli in order to correctly process and interpret social interactions. The development of this capacity is highly sensitive to early socioemotional experiences and quality of care received. Institutionalization has been consistently associated with negative developmental consequences, namely in socioemotional outcomes and capacity to correctly differentiate and recognize facial emotional expressions. Even though the mechanisms mediating these effects are still unknown, animal research has recently pointed out epigenetic changes as a plausible involved factor in this mediation. The current study examined the effects of institutionalization on brain-based markers of face processing in 69 institutionalized Portuguese children (Mage= 56.58 months, SD = 10.96). We looked for associations between the methylation profile variations of the NR3C1 gene in institutionalized children and their exposure to pre-institutionalization adverse experiences and current institutional quality of care. Furthermore, we explore whether exposure to such adverse experiences and differences in the quality of care received in the institution modulated the child’s neural response (measured through Event Related Potentials, ERPs) to caregiver’s happy and angry faces. Our results show that children who experienced neglect and lack of habitational conditions previously to institutionalization have an hypomethylation of the NR3C1 gene. Results show that neglected children and children who experienced lack of habitational conditions before institution have an hypomethylation of the NR3C1 gene, and that quality of care received at the institutions does not influence NR3C1 gene methylation profile. Regarding the neuronal processing of emotional faces, neglected children showed differences for the N170 component, whereas children exposed to lack of habitational conditions showed differences for the P400 component. Children who received better quality of care in the institution revealed significant differences for the P100, N170, P400 and P250 componentsFaces com valência emocional podem ser consideradas como um dos estímulos mais importantes para corretamente processar e interpretar interações sociais. O normal desenvolvimento desta capacidade é sensível às experiências precoces socioemocionais e à qualidade dos cuidados recebidos. A Institucionalização tem sido consistentemente associada a consequências desenvolvimentais negativas, nomeadamente nas capacidades socioemocionais e na capacidade de reconhecer e corretamente diferenciar expressões faciais emocionais. Apesar dos mecanismos que medeiam estas consequências serem ainda desconhecidos, a investigação animal tem analisado mudanças epigenéticas como um fator plausível envolvido nesta mediação. Este estudo examina os efeitos da Institucionalização em marcadores cerebrais associados ao processamento de faces em 69 crianças portuguesas institucionalizadas (Midade= 56.58 meses, DP = 10.96) e quais os possíveis mecanismos epigenéticos por detrás de tais marcadores. Procuramos compreender a associação entre o perfil de metilação do gene NR3C1 em crianças institucionalizadas com a sua exposição a experiências adversas pré-institucionalização e com a qualidade de cuidado recebido na instituição. Além disso, exploramos se a exposição a tais experiências adversas e diferenças na qualidade de cuidado recebidos modula a resposta neural da criança (medida através de Eventos de Potenciais Evocados - ERP) a face feliz e zangada da sua cuidadora. Os resultados mostram que as crianças que sofreram negligência e falta de condições habitacionais antes da institucionalização apresentam uma hipometilação do gene NR3C1 e que a qualidade de cuidado recebido na instituição não influencia o perfil de metilação do gene NR3C1. Quanto ao processamento neural da valência emocional das faces, as crianças que experienciaram negligência antes da instituição apresentaram diferenças na componente N170; as crianças expostas a falta de condições habitacionais apresentaram diferenças na componente P400 e as crianças com melhor qualidade de cuidados recebidos na instituição apresentaram diferenças nas componentes P100, N170, P400 e P250

Queijo Saloio : the woman who stared at goats

Founded in 1968 by Vitório Alves and built upon the belief that “good milk makes a good cheese”, Queijo Saloio was Portugal’s most innovative cheese company. Under the supervision of Clara Moura Guedes, the organization conquered its place as leader in the cheese specialties segment. Such accomplishment was made through the creation of a diversified portfolio and strong positioning in the goat cheese market. Despite having reached 26 million Euros in revenues in 2008, Queijo Saloio’s sales progressively decreased until 2011. In three years, the third largest organization in the Portuguese cheese market was being threatened by the macro-­‐environment and the empowerment of large retailers’ private labels. In face of adversity, Clara Moura Guedes was weighing the hypothesis of expanding to Angola, an option that had been previously looked into in 2009. Saloio’s path is an interesting subject of discussion, as it includes topics of product differentiation, positioning, the private labels phenomenon and internationalization. In this sense it may be analyzed in any marketing or strategy course, supported by the theoretical concepts proposed in a literature review. The proposed reflection focuses mainly on the drawing of potential solutions to Queijo Saloio’s problems, assessing the viability of the expansion to Angola.Fundada em 1968 por Vitório Alves e construída sob o princípio que “bom leite faz um bom queijo”, a Queijo Saloio era a empresa de queijos mais inovadora em Portugal. Com a supervisão de Clara Moura Guedes, a companhia conquistou o seu lugar como líder no segmento de especialidades do queijo. Este feito foi conseguido através da criação de um portfólio de produtos diversificado e um posicionamento forte no mercado do queijo de cabra. Apesar de ter atingindo 26 milhões de euros em receitas em 2008, as vendas da Queijo Saloio decresceram progressivamente até 2011. Em três anos, a terceira maior empresa no mercado de queijos em Portugal estava a ser ameaçada pelo ambiente macro e pela crescente força das marcas brancas dos grandes distribuidores. Face à adversidade, Clara Moura Guedes considerava a hipótese de expandir para Angola, opção que tinha sido estudada em 2009. O caminho da Saloio é um tema interessante de discussão pois inclui tópicos como a diferenciação do produto, posicionamento, fenómeno das marcas brancas e internacionalização. Neste sentido pode ser analisado em qualquer curso de marketing ou de estratégia, suportado por conceitos teóricos proposto na revisão de literatura. A reflexão proposta foca-­‐se essencialmente no desenvolvimento de potenciais soluções para os problemas da Queijo Saloio, analisando a viabilidade da expansão para Angola

Liquidity risk : an opportunity to open the window after closing a door

Investors can incur in substantial losses if they cannot trade an asset at a desired price at a specific moment – this is liquidity risk. However, this may also pose as an advantage. We prove the relevance of liquidity in an investment strategy using liquidity both as a characteristic for investment decision and as an asset, through liquidity sorted portfolios. Liquidity provides significant improvements in investment performance, especially when allocating for small size stocks. After finding the significance of liquidity during recession periods but not during expansions, we propose a successful asset allocation strategy conditional on announcements timing of business cycles. Liquidity is relevant and you can profit from it – it is the open window when all the doors are closed

Guidelines for eBook design

In this paper we intended to propose guidelines for novice designers, i.e., without prior experience with eBook design. The first step was a systematic literature review, which resulted in 1052 guidelines, which were iteratively analysed until reduced to a smaller amount. After that, 15 practicing designers evaluated the utility of these guidelines, and excluded the ones they considered not useful (to novice designers). In an effort to embed expert knowledge, we asked doctoral students to propose guidelines, which went through the same process of analysis and peer evaluation, and were added to the previous set, which resulted in 38 unique design guidelines. Finally, three doctoral students who also are practicing designers with experience in eBook design, commented each guideline and defined the final set. The result is a set of 13 guidelines.Neste artigo pretendemos propor diretrizes para designers iniciantes, ou seja, sem experiência anterior com o design de e-books. O primeiro passo foi uma revisão sistemática da literatura, que resultou em 1052 diretrizes, que foram analisadas iterativamente até serem reduzidas para uma quantidade menor. Depois disso, 15 designers experientes avaliaram a utilidade dessas diretrizes e excluíram as que consideraram não úteis (para designers iniciantes). Em um esforço para incorporar conhecimento especializado, pedimos a estudantes de doutorado para proporem diretrizes, que passaram pelo mesmo processo de análise e avaliação por pares, e foram adicionadas ao conjunto anterior, o que resultou em 38 diretrizes. Finalmente, três estudantes de doutorado que também são designers com experiência em design de eBooks, comentaram cada diretriz e definiram o conjunto final. O resultado é um conjunto de 13 diretrizes

Study of Subjective and Objective Quality Evaluation of 3D Point Cloud Data by the JPEG Committee

The SC29/WG1 (JPEG) Committee within ISO/IEC is currently working on developing standards for the storage, compression and transmission of 3D point cloud information. To support the creation of these standards, the committee has created a database of 3D point clouds representing various quality levels and use-cases and examined a range of 2D and 3D objective quality measures. The examined quality measures are correlated with subjective judgments for a number of compression levels. In this paper we describe the database created, tests performed and key observations on the problems of 3D point cloud quality assessment