Ciência Cidadã nos Açores : o uso de joaninhas (Coleptera: Coccinellidae) como espécies-modelo

Dissertação de Mestrado, Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, 27 março de 2019, Universidade dos Açores.O presente trabalho pretende relatar os primeiros avanços realizados no cenário de um programa de Ciência Cidadã nos Açores, com vista a detetar espécies de joaninhas não nativas na região. Assim, este trabalho consistiu, em primeiro lugar, na compilação e organização de dados sobre as joaninhas historicamente referenciadas para o arquipélago dos Açores e, em segundo lugar, com essa informação, desenvolver uma interface com os cidadãos. De forma a ajudar na recolha de dados, foram elaborados guias de campo e de laboratório para a observação e identificação de joaninhas, sempre no âmbito da Ciência Cidadã. Todos os protocolos e chave de identificação foram, posteriormente, testados por grupos de voluntários pertencentes às escolas da Ribeira Grande, da Lagoa e valências da Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Ribeira Grande. Foram criadas, também, plataformas virtuais (página Web e página Facebook) com o intuito de permitir ao cidadão comum contribuição com dados através das suas próprias observações. Essas contribuições serão, posteriormente, utilizadas na investigação, por técnicos qualificados, de maneira a poderem ser utilizadas na identificação de potenciais invasoras.ABSTRACT: The present work intends to report the first achievements made in the scenario of a Citizen Science program in the Azores, in order to detect non-native ladybird species in the region. Thus, this work consisted, firstly, in the compilation and organization of data on the ladybirds historically referenced in the Azores archipelago, and, secondly, consisted in the development of an interface, with the citizens, using the information. In order to assist in the collection of data, field and laboratory guides were developed for the observation and identification of ladybirds, always within the scope of Citizen Science. All guides and identification keys were later tested by groups of volunteers from schools in Ribeira Grande and Lagoa and from valences of Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Ribeira Grande. Virtual platforms (Web and Facebook pages) were also created in order to enable the average citizen to contribute with data through their own observations. These contributions will subsequently be used in the investigation by qualified technicians so that they can be used in the identification of potentials invaders

On the structural mechanics of multi-layered subsea pipelines

During the 1990s the world-wide offshore industry has been increasingly developing oil and gas fields in deep water - classified here as generally above 300 metres (984 feet) water depth - often combined with production from reservoirs at higher temperatures. Subsea pipelines form an essential element of these developments and one of the limitations on deep water development has been the inability to provide large diameter conventional steel pipelines and risers capable of withstanding large external hydrostatic pressures. The work presented in this thesis investigates the performance of multi-layered pipe cross-sections for the required increase in hydrostatic pressure capacity and thermal insulation for such subsea pipelines. A fundamental investigation into the structural mechanics of such multi-layered pipes is presented with an emphasis on three principal issues - The mechanics of multi-layered pipe loading due to internal pressure, its collapse due to external pressure, and the behaviour of such pipe geometry when in a free submerged catenary configuration. Initially, the stresses induced by internal pressure have been investigated based on the Lame's equations. The results were compared with a finite element analysis and demonstrated good agreement. The stress distribution due to internal pressure was then investigated for a wide range of multi-layered pipe geometries and Young's Moduli of the core material. Comparisons are also presented with the stresses within equivalent single walled pipes. The much more complex external pressure problem was then addressed. The stability of a cylindrical multi-layered shell is a complex problem and in response to this, the investigation presented in this thesis followed a staged approach. Based on the previous work of Raville (1955), an elastic classic model was developed. Following this, using the concept of an elastic foundation, a new formulation was developed to derive critical external pressure loads. This work has been compared to that of Montague (1975) for critical external pressure based on two dimensional elastic plastic deformations up to maximum shear stress or Tresca failure theory. In addition, another approach for the elastic plastic model has been developed based on three dimensional Mises failure theory. A finite element analysis was then used to compare results from these different approaches for obtaining the critical external pressure. These four methods are used for a comparative investigation of collapse pressure predictions for a wide range of pipe geometries and Young's Moduli of the annular material. These comparisons give an indication of the applications of these methods and also give some insight into possible collapse mechanisms for multilayered pipes. This thesis also examines the performance of a multi-layered pipeline in an underwater catenary configuration and compares this to the performance of a single walled equivalent pipe. This was done by the development of an analytical catenary model aimed at optimising the catenary geometry around the two critical stress points of the catenary (the top connection at far position and touch down point at near position). The results demonstrated the significant improvement that multi-layered pipes could deliver for reductions in top tension and steel wall thickness when used in a catenary configuration. In overall terms, this work demonstrated that multi-layered subsea pipelines can provide a wide range of structural performance benefits both locally and globally. Locally, appropriate design and material selection can yield combinations of reduced steel volume and greater internal and external pressure capacity. In global terms, the buoyancy contribution from the thicker walls of multi-layered pipe will yield significant reductions in top tension when in a catenary configuration. This investigation has only examined a relatively narrow range of structural benefits of multi-layered pipes. Much further work needs to be done on local structural behaviour, internal layer bonds, on the internal damping of such pipes, and on the mechanics of the pipe segment connections

Eficácia, emoções e conflitos grupais: a influência do coaching do líder e dos pares/ Grupal effectiveness, emotions and conflicts: the influence of leader and peer coaching

Com o objetivo de estudar o fenômeno do coaching de equipes, de líderes e pares, e a sua influência nas emoções, conflitos e eficácia grupal, foram analisadas 75 equipes pertencentes a 22 organizações portuguesas. Os resultados obtidos revelaram a existência de uma relação positiva entre os dois tipos de coaching analisados. Verificou-se também a presença de uma influência positiva das duas formas de coaching sobre as emoções positivas e a satisfação dos membros e de uma influência negativa sobre as emoções negativas e os conflitos. No seu global, os resultados obtidos na investigação realizada apontam para a importância do coaching no funcionamento e eficácia dos grupos de trabalho, sugerindo tratar-se de uma ferramenta de relevo para o trabalho em equipe

VIABILITY OF USING CARBON CREDIT FUTURES IN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS

With an odd pricing in the market, the Future Carbon Credit can act as mitigating risk when added to investment portfolios, ceasing to be simple positive socio-environmental assets to bring real benefits to the strategy of the Portfolio. It can be noticed that, in fact, to introduce Carbon Credit Futures can reduce the value at risk of investment portfolios however it should be a concern to balance what is the optimal amount of futures contracts inserted in the portfolio in order to not take positions that would make the portfolio less efficient. It was used a theoretical portfolio of USD 1000.00, so that the participation of Carbon Credit Futures positions varied between 100% short position and 100% long position in the portfolio and, for each 1% change in participation of EUA futures, it was created a hypothetical portfolio, with its expected return, market risk and modified Sharpe ratio. This study found that there are financial advantages by introducing Future Carbon Credit in investment portfolios when it analyzes risk versus return of portfolios composed of these assets.

Large bowel endometriosis mimicking colorectal cancer

Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, with 1–7% prevalence in the female population. It is observed in various locations of the human body, and large bowel endometriosis is the most common extrapelvic site, affecting about 5 to 12% of all women who present endometriosis. This study aimed to report an interesting images related to stenosing large bowel endometriosis that was possible to be diagnosed only by surgical intervention. Hence, this pathology is a diagnostic challenge an should be remembered between differential diagnoses of nonspecific or even alarming symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract

Single domain integral transform analysis of natural convection in cavities partially filled with heat generating porous medium

An analysis of natural convection within a rectangular cavity partially filled with a heat-generating porous medium is carried out through the Generalized Integral Transform Technique (GITT), in which the laminar flow and energy equations are solved with automatic error control. A single domain reformulation strategy is adopted to rewrite the governing equations within the fluid and the porous medium as a single heterogeneous medium formulation, with spatially variable physical properties and source terms that account for the abrupt transition of the two regions. This fundamental study is motivated by the analysis of wet storage of spent nuclear fuel elements with passive cooling of the pool and physical conclusions are drawn from the hybrid numerical-analytical solution. Increases in the Rayleigh number with constant internal heat generation are found to lower the maximum temperature within the cavity. Moreover, decreasing the aspect ratio also has positive effects on the cooling of the cavity.Indisponível

The impact of early Presbyterian missionary preaching (1884-1920) on the preaching of the Korean church

The history of Protestant mission began when Korean people were suffering under Japanese colonial rule. The Bible was translated into Korean in Manchuria and Japan and following the first missionary Horace N. Allen (U.S. Korea missionary, 1884-1890) many Western missionaries began to arrive in Korea. As churches were built the need for Korean ministers necessitated establishment of theological seminaries and teaching of homiletics. History of preaching thus began. Charles A. Clark (U.S. Korea missionary, 1902-1948), who became the father of homiletics in Korea, taught the homiletic theories he studied earlier and his influence is still felt in Korea today. The preaching of the early missionaries was topical in type and legalistic in tone aimed to deliver the gospel of salvation. While the preaching of the Korean churches closely followed the examples of early missionaries, the Korean preachers gradually adapted their preaching according to the historical changes by adding themes on the actual everyday life of the believers. Preaching on the gospel of social salvation is increasing and even some exegetical preaching is used by some preachers. Korean churches must now try to introduce and implement institutional means to further develop preaching. Furthermore, there should be increased emphasis on social preaching and gospel preaching

A Lecirelina apresenta eficiência similar à da Buserelina (agonistas do hormônio liberador de Gonadotrofinas) para inseminação artificial em tempo fixo em bubalinos

Buffalo has peculiar reproductive patterns, which make artificial insemination programs a hard and expensive task. Artificial insemination in fixed time is advantaged because females show low incidence of homosexual behaviour and strong dominance relationships, which leads to a poor accuracy in estrus detection. The aim of this experiment was to compare the efficiency of two different GnRH agonists in the GnRH/PGF2alpha/GnRH protocol (Buserelin vs Lecirelin). Two hundred and seventy buffaloes with 45 to 60 days postpartum were synchronized and fixed-time inseminated. The animals were kept on pasture in two farms at São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil). Cows in Group 1 (n = 132) received, intramuscularly, 20 µg of Buserelin at a random day of the estrous cycle and, seven days later, 15 mg of prostaglandin F2alpha. Two days after prostaglandin administration, 10 µg Buserelin were intramuscularly injected. Cows in Group 2 (n = 138) were treated with the same protocol, but with intra-muscular administrations of Lecirelin (50 µg in the first administration and 25 µg in the second). Artificial insemination was performed 16 hours after the last injection in both groups. Pregnancies were diagnosed by ultrasonography (Pie Medical 480, 5.0 and 7.5 MHz linear probe), 30 days after artificial insemination. Conception rates were not influenced by farm (P >; 0.05) and were similar in both groups [Group 1: 47.0% (62/132); Group 2: 50.0% (69/138); P >; 0.05]. Results show that Lecirelin is as efficient as Buserelin to synchronize ovulation for fixed-time artificial insemination in buffaloes.O uso de protocolos de sincronização da ovulação em bubalinos é bastante vantajoso, em virtude de certas peculiaridades apresentadas pela espécie que podem prejudicar programas de inseminação artificial, como a baixa incidência de comportamento homossexual e relações de dominância entre os animais. Com o objetivo de verificar a eficácia da Lecirelina como agonista de GnRH no protocolo GnRH/PGF2alfa/GnRH, 270 búfalas, com período pós-parto entre 45 e 60 dias, mantidas a pasto em duas propriedades, foram submetidas a dois tratamentos de sincronização da ovulação. Os animais do Grupo 1 (n = 132) receberam, em dia desconhecido do ciclo estral, 20 µg de Buserelina IM, sendo aplicados, 7 dias mais tarde, 15 mg de prostaglandina (PGF2a). Dois dias após a administração da PGF2alfa, os animais receberam 10 µg de Buserelina, IM. As fêmeas do Grupo 2 (n = 138) foram tratadas seguindo o mesmo protocolo, com a diferença de que, na primeira e na terceira administrações hormonais, se aplicaram, respectivamente, 50 µg e 25 µg de Lecirelina, IM. A inseminação artificial foi efetuada em tempo fixo, 16 horas após a terceira administração hormonal, em ambos os grupos. O diagnóstico de gestação foi realizado por ultra-sonografia, 30 dias após a inseminação artificial. As taxas de concepção foram semelhantes [47,0% (62/132) e 50,0% (69/138) nos Grupos 1 e 2 (P >; 0,05)]. Não foi observado efeito da propriedade (P >; 0,05) nas taxas de concepção. Os resultados demonstram que é possível utilizar Lecirelina para promover a sincronização da ovulação de bubalinos, com resultados satisfatórios