Monte Carlo simulation of portable XRF setup: Non-invasive determination of gold leaf thickness in indo-Portuguese panel paintings

S. Pessanha, M. Manso and V. Antunes also acknowledge FCT for the post-doc grants SFRH/BPD/94234/2013, and SFRH/BPD/103315/2014In this work, we present the combined use of in situ X ray Fluorescence spectroscopy and Monte Carlo simulation using PENELOPE code for the completely non-invasive determination of gold leaf thickness in artworks using lead white as mordant. The methodology used is based on the detection of different characteristic lines of Pb in the X ray fluorescence spectra, attenuated trough the gold leaves, and determining the thickness of gilding by comparing their attenuation. Firstly, this methodology was calibrated using model samples of simple stratigraphy, namely pure Au leafs of 1, 2 and 2.5 μm thickness covering a Pb infinitely thick sheet. The modelled X ray setup was then used to study the gilding thickness of three panel paintings belonging to the Museum of Christian Art in Old Goa (India): two paintings, from the 18th century, concerning to the same series but different themes: Our Lady of Sorrows (MoCA1) and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows (MoCA2), and a third painting entitled Monstrance (MoCA3), from the 17th century. These panel paintings were analyzed to understand the differences and similarities between techniques, according to the time/epoch and technique of its manufacture. The obtained values for MoCA2 tend to be slightly lower than for MoCA1, however, the t student test revealed that the differences were not statistically different (p = .37). Regarding the MoCA3 painting, the average thickness was determined to be statistically different (p < .001) and higher than for the other two paintings. These results emphasize the use of different techniques concerning gold leaf beating. In the 17th century painting it was verified the use of a thicker gold leaf while in the group of the 18th century gold leaf was thinner and manufactured with a similar thickness in both paintings. These results are in consonance with the accuracy of leaf beating technology, increasing with the experience acquired during the ages.authorsversionpublishe

Variations of Quality of Teacher–infant Interactions Across Play and Care Routine Activities

This study examined the extent to which the quality of teacher-infant interactions varies across play and routine care activities. In addition, the effects of the quantity of adult involvement in the quality of teacher-infant interactions were investigated. Participants were 90 infant classrooms in Portugal. Classrooms had, on average, 6 infants enrolled (M = 6.38, SD = 2.34), with the number of adults ranging from 1 to 3 (M = 2.00, SD = 0.60). Classrooms were observed by trained observers using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System–Infant (CLASS-Infant; Hamre et al., 2014). Research Findings: Multilevel models showed that interaction quality varied as a function of type of activity. The quality of interactions of all CLASS domains was lower in routine care activities compared to play activities. Findings further showed that adult involvement was positively associated with all CLASS domains. In addition, after adding adult involvement to the models, differences between play and routine care activities were no longer statistically significant for most CLASS domains. Practice or Policy: Findings suggest the importance of considering the context of the activity and the levels of adult involvement when assessing and improving the quality of teacher-infant interactions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The quality of caregiver–child interactions in infant classrooms in Portugal: the role of caregiver education

Recent research has shown that caregiver education and training can be important in determining levels of quality in early childhood, but has mainly considered the education and training of the lead teacher. In infant child care, however, classrooms have more than one caregiver with varying levels of education and in Portugal it is less common to have a qualified teacher exclusively assigned to infant classrooms. This study examines the quality of caregiver–child interactions in infant classrooms and its association with caregiver qualifications and training, specifically the level of pre-service education and in-service training of the lead caregiver, whether she is exclusively assigned to an infant classroom or to more classrooms, and the pre-service education of the multiple caregivers in the classroom. Participants were 90 infant classrooms from Porto, Portugal. The CLASS–Infant was used to measure quality of caregiver–infant interactions. Classrooms with one lead caregiver holding at least a bachelor’s degree, whether exclusively assigned to the infant classroom or not, showed higher levels of quality. Few effects were found for in-service training. Results suggest that lead teachers with pre-service education in early childhood are likely to play an important role not only directly by interacting with children but also indirectly through team work.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Stability and change in teacher-infant interaction quality over time

Given that an increasing number of infants spend part of the day in center-based childcare in many countries, understanding infants’ education and care experiences in these settings is essential. The aims of this study are to examine change in teacher-infant interaction quality over time, and to determine the extent to which teacher and classroom structural characteristics are associated with change in teacherinfantinteraction quality. Ninety infant childcare classrooms from the greater metropolitan area of Porto, Portugal, participated in this study. Each classroom was observed twice (6-month interval between Time 1 and Time 2) by trained and reliable observers using the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale – Revised (ITERS-R; Harms et al., 2006), the Classroom Assessment Scoring System – Infant (CLASS-Infant; Hamre et al., 2014), and the Caregiver Interaction Scale (CIS; Arnett, 1989). Additionally, teachers provided demographic information aboutthemselves and structural characteristics ofthe classroom. Overall results indicated that the quality of teacher-infant interactions changed over time, with a general trend toward lower quality at Time 2. The increase in infant:adult ratio from Time 1 to Time 2 was an important predictor of process quality levels at Time 2, after controlling for prior quality and other structural characteristics. These findings can be informative for policymaking as group size and number of adults per classroom are regulated features of childcare in many countries, including Portugalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Agriculture pest and disease risk maps considering MSG satellite data and Land Surface Temperature.

Pest risk maps for agricultural use are usually constructed from data obtained from in-situ meteorological weather stations, which are relatively sparsely distributed and are often quite expensive to install and difficult to maintain. This leads to the creation of maps with relatively low spatial resolution, which are very much dependent on interpolation methodologies. Considering that agricultural applications typically require a more detailed scale analysis than has traditionally been available, remote sensing technology can offer better monitoring at increasing spatial and temporal resolutions, thereby improving pest management results and reducing costs. This article uses ground temperature, or land surface temperature (LST), data distributed by EUMETSAT/LSASAF (with a spatial resolution of 3 x 3 km (nadir resolution) and a revisiting time of 15 min) to generate one of the most commonly used parameters in pest modelling and monitoring: “thermal integral over air temperature (accumulated degree-days)”. The results show a clear association between the accumulated LST values over a threshold and the accumulated values computed from meteorological stations over the same threshold (specific to a particular tomato pest). The results are very promising and enable the production of risk maps for agricultural pests with a degree of spatial and temporal detail that is difficult to achieve using in-situ meteorological stations

Defining the uniqueness of monovarietal wines from native portuguese varieties of Vitis vinifera

Studies have been carried out on red and white monovarietal wines vinified during the 1995, 1996 and 1997 harvests. The essential aim being to evaluate sensory quality, correlate it with chemical analytical data and relate these to the various winemaking options available. Hence selective native varieties from the Douro, Dao, Bairrada and Vinhos Verdes regions have been studied and the analytical / sensorial data correlated to such factors as grape maturation and maceration regime. Results are presented illustrating the quality effects of variety / winemaking practice combinations, both in terms of analytical data (sensory and chemical) and taster preferences

Accuracy improvement in XRF analysis for the quantification of elements ranging from tenths to thousands μg g-1in human tissues using different matrix reference materials

UID/FIS/04559/2019 to LIBPhys-UNL from the FCT/MCTES/PIDDAC, Portugal. FCT contract No. PD/BD/128324/2017.In this work, we aim at achieving the most accurate quantitative determination of elements in human tissues by means of X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry using the external calibration approach. A calibration curve built using a set of certified reference materials (CRM) of animal tissue was compared with the one obtained with a set of CRMs of plants and leaves with lower atomic number Z but with correction of the matrix using the scattering peaks of the X-ray tube anode. Finally, a calibration curve combining the two sets of CRMs was built and the accuracy of the quantification using the three methods was compared and a more precise method of quantification was obtained. This improved approach was tested on five paired samples of normal and tumour human tissue. Despite the high heterogeneity of the samples, and given the improvement in accuracy of the measurements, significant differences were found in the elemental concentration of low-Z elements. This journal isauthorsversionpublishe

Predictors of parent-teacher communication during infant transition to childcare in Portugal

Although literature reports associations between parent-teacher communication and childcare quality, little is known about how such communications are related to family, child and childcare characteristics. This study examines whether child, family and childcare experience characteristics predict the level of parent-teacher communication, and differences between parents’ and teachers’ reports of communication. Participants were mothers of 90 infants and their teachers in childcare in Portugal. Results show that both parents and teachers report higher levels of communication in higher-quality programmes. Teachers reported more frequent communication than parents. Teachers, but not parents, reported more frequent communication when children spent fewer hours in childcare. Discussion highlights the relevance of monitoring the quality of childcare contexts, especially in early ages, and to increase parent-teacher communication when children spend more time in childcare. The importance of promoting high-quality childcare and accounting for variables at the mesosystemic level of development in teacher training are also discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Labor law in Brazil

The paper looks to highlight the specific nature of Labor Justice in Brazil, as well as the particular social profile of labor judges. Our analysis is based on the results of the research project "A history of labor law and labor rights in Brazil,' focused on reconstructing the history of this legal institution, mainly through interviews with social actors who played a central role in its construction and consolidation. The extensive information obtained from the 'Labor judge profile' survey also allowed us to identify the sociological profile of the judges and record their opinions about their professional career and the role played by Labor Courts in Brazilian society. Our conclusions reveal the continuance of a strong anti-liberal logic of social protection by the State, still present in the institution and the ethos of its agents, and highlight the challenges these have to face in terms of social inequality, the democratic political order and neo-liberal economic pressures.O artigo tem por objetivo destacar a especificidade da Justiça do Trabalho, assim como algumas particularidades do perfil de seus magistrados. Nossas observações baseiam-se em resultados do projeto "História da justiça e dos direitos do trabalho no Brasil", voltado para a reconstituição da história da instituição principalmente por meio dos depoimentos de personagens centrais para sua construção e consolidação ao longo do tempo. Paralelamente, realizamos um abrangente survey em 2005 - "Perfil da magistratura do trabalho" -, enviando questionários para os cerca de 3 mil magistrados do trabalho do país, com a finalidade de traçar o perfil sociológico da categoria, assim como registrar suas percepções sobre a carreira e o papel desempenhado pela Justiça do Trabalho na sociedade brasileira. Nossas conclusões ressaltam a continuidade da forte marca antiliberal de proteção social pelo Estado, ainda presente na instituição e no ethos de seus operadores, e os desafios a serem enfrentados por eles perante a desigualdade social, o ambiente político democrático e as pressões econômicas do neoliberalismo

Industry/University collaboration in product focussed œnological research in Portugal - the SOGRAPE / UCP ESB partnership 1995 - 1998

A innovative model of collaboration between a wine company and a university research group is presented. A protocol was established as a response to the perceived need to, on the part of the university, (i) focus research on specific scientific bottlenecks which would have a real impact in the producing industry and, on the part of the company, (ii) to have access to the scientific capacity to conduct in-depth studies to approach specific technical challenges. A closely managed programme was jointly established and the major characteristics are presented here together with the main results obtained during the first 2 and a half years of operation