Sr isotopic signatures of Portuguese bottled mineral waters, their relationships with the geological setting and potential use for product authentication

The Sr isotopic ratios of nine bottled natural mineral waters from Portugal were measured in the Laboratory of Isotope Geology of the University of Aveiro (LGIUA). The results obtained show that the Sr isotopic variability of these waters is strongly correlated with the age and mineralogical composition of the aquifer source rocks. The lowest 87Sr/86Sr ratios are found in water samples from the Monchique aquifer (87Sr/86Sr = 0,70447), located in Late Cretaceous alkaline magmatic rocks of mantle origin. The Vimeiro waters are hosted in carbonate and evaporite formations of Jurassic age and have 87Sr/86Sr values of 0,70808, whereas the waters sourced in Cenozoic siliciclastic sediments tend to exhibit higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios, close to the rainwater value (São Silvestre; 87Sr/86Sr = 0,71078). Finally, the waters coming from granitic and/or metamorphic terrains of the Iberian Variscan basement (Vitalis, Luso, Carvalhelhos, Fastio, Serra da Estrela) display the most radiogenic Sr isotopic signatures (87Sr/86Sr > 0,7136). In the modern commercial context, the differences encountered provide a powerful tool for fingerprinting the mineral water origin and may be used for purposes of mineral water authentication. The use of 87Sr/86Sr ratios may also be extended to studies on the provenance of some foods and beverages, taking into account the influence of the geological / pedological factor on the Sr isotopic composition recorded by the plants

Inhibitory effect of high [Mg2+] on the vasopressin-stimulated hydroosmotic permeability of the isolated perfused cortical collecting duct

High magnesium concentration inhibits the effect of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on smooth muscle contraction and platelet aggregation and also influences hepatocyte AVP receptor binding. The aim of this study was to determine the role of magnesium concentration [Mg2+] in AVP-stimulated water transport in the kidney collecting duct. The effect of low and high peritubular [Mg2+] on the AVP-stimulated osmotic water permeability coefficient (Pf) was evaluated in the isolated perfused rabbit cortical collecting duct (CCD). Control tubules bathed and perfused with standard Ringer bicarbonate solution containing 1 mM Mg2+ presented a Pf of 223.9 ± 27.2 µm/s. When Mg2+ was not added to the bathing solution, an increase in the AVP-stimulated Pf to 363.1 ± 57.2 µm/s (P<0.05) was observed. An elevation of Mg2+ to 5 mM resulted in a decrease in Pf to 202.9 ± 12.6 µm/s (P<0.05). This decrease in the AVP-stimulated Pf at 5 mM Mg2+ persisted when the CCDs were returned to 1 mM Mg2+, Pf = 130.2 ± 20.3 µm/s, and was not normalized by the addition of 8-[4-chlorophenylthio]-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, a cAMP analogue, to the preparation. These data indicate that magnesium may play a modulatory role in the action of AVP on CCD osmotic water permeability, as observed in other tissues.1045104

Geochronology, Isotope Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Tertiary Granitoids from Eastern Iran

Os granitóides sub-vulcânicos da zona de Chah-Shaljami fazem parte da faixa vulcânico-plutónica cenozóica do Bloco de Lut (Irão central-oriental). Tratam-se de quartzo-monzonitos, granodioritos e monzodioritos que, de acordo com a geoquímica de elementos maiores e vestigiais, são co-genéticos e têm características de rochas calco-alcalinas ricas de potássio a shoshoníticas, de ambiente de arco vulcânico. Numa amostra de quartzo-monzonito foi obtida uma idade Rb-Sr (rocha total - minerais) de 33.6±1 Ma; visto que esta amostra está praticamente livre de efeitos de alteração e que o arrefecimento foi provavelmente rápido, a idade de ~34 Ma deve corresponder à instalação magmática. Excepto em duas amostras, os valores iniciais de 87Sr/86Sr e εNd nos granitóides estudados estão concentrados nos intervalos de 0.7047 a 0.7051 e de +1.9 a +2.7, respectivamente, o que é consistente com uma fonte em cunha mantélica supra-subducção e indica que não houve contribuição crustal significativa na diversificação magmática; contudo, uma amostra tem (87Sr/86Sr)i superior e εNdt inferior, revelando que, ocasionalmente, a assimilação de rochas crustais também contribuiu para a variação geoquímica; uma outra amostra, fortemente afectada por alteração hidrotermal, afasta-se do grupo principal somente pelo relativamente elevado valor de (87Sr/86Sr)i, sugerindo que o processo hidrotermal envolveu fluidos crustais.Chah-Shaljami sub-volcanic granitoids belong to the Cenozoic volcanic-plutonic belt within the Lut Block (central eastern Iran). These intrusive rocks are mostly quartz monzonites, granodiorites and monzodiorites. Major and trace element geochemical evidence reveals that they are co-genetic and that they have features typical of high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic rocks from a volcanic arc setting. A Rb-Sr whole rock-mineral age of 33.6±1 Ma was obtained in a quartz monzonite sample; taking into account that this sample was almost unaffected by alteration and that cooling was probably fast, the ~34 Ma date is interpreted as the intrusion age. With the exception of two samples, initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios and εNd values of the studied granitoids are clustered in the restricted ranges from 0.7047 to 0.7051 and from +1.9 to +2.7, respectively, which fits into a supra-subduction mantle wedge source for the parental melts and indicates that, in general, crustal contribution for magma diversification was not relevant; however, one sample shows higher (87Sr/86Sr)i and lower εNdt, revealing that, occasionally, crustal rock assimilation also contributed to the geochemical variation; one other sample, strongly affected by hydrothermal alteration, departs from the main group only by higher (87Sr/86Sr)i, suggesting that its alteration involved crustal fluids

Isotopic (Sr-Nd) signatures of the Pedregal Granite and associated migmatite rocks

O complexo granito-migmatítico sinorogénico varisco em estudo aflora na Zona Centro Ibérica, noroeste de Portugal. O granito do Pedregal, com idade de 311±5 Ma, é um corpo alongado na direção NW-SE que intrui micaxistos estaurolíticos, rochas gnaisso-migmatíticas bandadas e, localmente, contacta com brechas ígneas. Trata-se de um granito de duas micas, de grão fino a médio, com pequenos nódulos biotíticos (1 a 2 cm). As rochas gnaisso-migmatíticas associadas, de carácter metatexítico estromático, evidenciam bandas leucocratas quartzo-feldspáticas (leucossoma) predominantes e sem foliação, alternando com bandas micáceas (paleossoma) onde ocorre granada em intercrescimento com quartzo (< 1 cm). Os dados isotópicos de Sr-Nd mostram ausência de sobreposição das composições iniciais do granito e das rochas gnaisso-migmatíticas, em aparente contradição com dados geoquímicos apresentados previamente. A inexistência daquela sobreposição é possivelmente resultante quer de desequilíbrio isotópico de Nd durante o processo de fusão parcial, quer de moscovitização tardia, acompanhada de incremento da razão Rb/Sr, no granito.The synorogenic Variscan granite-migmatite complex in study outcrops in the Central Iberian Zone, northern Portugal. The Pedregal granite dated of 311±5 Ma has an NW-SE elongated shape and is intrusive in staurolite-micaschist and banded gneiss-migmatite rocks, with local igneous breccias along the contact. This granite is a fine to medium-grained two mica rock with small biotitic nodules (1 to 2 cm). The associated gneiss-migmatite rocks of stromatic metatexitic character are banded, showing alternating of quartz-feldspathic leucosomes without foliation and subordinated micaceous paleosomes disclosing garnet - quartz intergrowths (< 1 cm). The Sr-Nd isotopic results for the Pedregal granite and associated gneiss-migmatite rocks indicate quite different compositions, in apparent contradiction with geochemical data previously presented. Their isotopic heterogeneity could be explained by Nd isotopic disequilibrium developed both during the melting event and late muscovitization, with Rb/Sr enrichment in the granite

Geoquímica isotópica Sr-Nd de amostras do CXG da área de Sarnadas do Ródão (Centro de Portugal): contributo para a comparação entre o Grupo do Douro e o Grupo das Beiras

Foram analisadas, para isótopos de Sr e Nd, cinco amostras de metassedimentos pertencentes ao Complexo Xisto-Grauváquico (CXG), ou Supergrupo Dúrico-Beirão, de idade ante-ordovícica, mais precisamente ediacarana. Quatro das amostras são de litologias pertencentes ao Grupo das Beiras do CXG, tendo sido colhidas na área de Sarnadas do Ródão, região da Beira-Baixa, ao longo das margens do Rio Ocreza, a NE do sinclinal ordovícico das Portas de Ródão. Para comparação, analisou-se também uma amostra do Grupo do Douro do CXG, proveniente do vale do Rio Távora, a SE de Tabuaço, na região do Alto Douro. Os resultados obtidos apontam para uma heterogeneidade nas litologias analisadas, destacando-se principalmente: a) a diferença na assinatura de isotópica de Nd entre as amostras do Grupo das Beiras e a do Grupo do Douro, sendo esta última a mais empobrecida em Nd radiogénico (εNd310Ma = -8.6; enquanto as do Grupo das Beiras têm -4.1 ≤ εNd310Ma ≤ -6.1); b) a individualização da amostra Alv55, do Grupo das Beiras, com valores claramente mais baixo de (87Sr/86Sr)310Ma (= 0.7117) e mais alto de εNd310Ma (= -4.1) relativamente às restantes amostras do mesmo grupo (de 0.7173 a 0.7207 e de -4.8 a -6.1, respetivamente). Tendo em conta que os últimos importantes reequilíbrios isotópicos terão ocorrido durante o metamorfismo varisco, foi feito o cálculo das razões isotópicas para uma idade de 310 Ma, tendo-se verificado uma concordância dos resultados obtidos com dados disponíveis na bibliografia. As amostras que em termos de geoquímica elementar revelam um protólito essencialmente detrítico projetam-se nos campos que podem ser definidos, com base em trabalhos anteriores, para os dois grupos do CXG, havendo total concordância entre a unidade em que cada amostra foi colhida e o campo em que se projeta. Quanto à amostra Alv55, a sua assinatura isotópica, distinta de todas as outras obtidas neste trabalho, deverá relacionar-se com um protólito sedimentar com material detrítico com menor maturidade e/ou em que terá ocorrido mistura com componente químico, como parece ser revelado pela geoquímica elementar, em que esta amostra apresenta teores de CaO muito mais elevados do que os das outras amostras da mesma área. Quanto às idades-modelo TDM, elas variam entre 1.2 e 1.6 Ga, o que está de acordo com o obtido em materiais análogos ao longo da cadeia varisca europeia. Neste parâmetro, a amostra do Grupo do Douro não se distingue das restantes. O valor mais baixo de TDM é o da amostra Alv55, o que reforça a interpretação apresentada acima. Tendo em conta que as idades-modelo podem ser vistas como a idade média da extração do manto dos materiais que originaram os metassedimentos analisados, poder-se-á concluir que as rochas estudadas são produtos de retrabalhamento de crosta continental cujos componentes mais antigos teriam, no mínimo, uma idade mesoproterozoica. Os dados obtidos confirmam resultados de trabalhos anteriores que apontavam para que as litologias metadetríticas dos dois grupos do CXG teriam assinaturas isotópicas de Nd distintas, sendo a do Grupo das Beiras mais radiogénica do que a do Grupo do Douro

Innovative Molecular Imaging for Clinical Research, Therapeutic Stratification, and Nosography in Neuroscience.

Over the past few decades, several radiotracers have been developed for neuroimaging applications, especially in PET. Because of their low steric hindrance, PET radionuclides can be used to label molecules that are small enough to cross the blood brain barrier, without modifying their biological properties. As the use of 11C is limited by its short physical half-life (20 min), there has been an increasing focus on developing tracers labeled with 18F for clinical use. The first such tracers allowed cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism to be measured, and the development of molecular imaging has since enabled to focus more closely on specific targets such as receptors, neurotransmitter transporters, and other proteins. Hence, PET and SPECT biomarkers have become indispensable for innovative clinical research. Currently, the treatment options for a number of pathologies, notably neurodegenerative diseases, remain only supportive and symptomatic. Treatments that slow down or reverse disease progression are therefore the subject of numerous studies, in which molecular imaging is proving to be a powerful tool. PET and SPECT biomarkers already make it possible to diagnose several neurological diseases in vivo and at preclinical stages, yielding topographic, and quantitative data about the target. As a result, they can be used for assessing patients' eligibility for new treatments, or for treatment follow-up. The aim of the present review was to map major innovative radiotracers used in neuroscience, and explain their contribution to clinical research. We categorized them according to their target: dopaminergic, cholinergic or serotoninergic systems, β-amyloid plaques, tau protein, neuroinflammation, glutamate or GABA receptors, or α-synuclein. Most neurological disorders, and indeed mental disorders, involve the dysfunction of one or more of these targets. Combinations of molecular imaging biomarkers can afford us a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying disease development over time, and contribute to early detection/screening, diagnosis, therapy delivery/monitoring, and treatment follow-up in both research and clinical settings

New petrographic, geochemical and isotopic data on the Boa Fé gold prospect (Montemor-o-Novo, Ossa-Morena Zone)

A área de estudo situa-se na Zona de Cisalhamento de Montemor-o-Novo (Maciço de Évora, Zona de Ossa-Morena - ZOM). O trabalho incidiu sobre amostras de metassedimentos e metabasitos da Série Negra (Ediacarano), bem como de granitos tardi-variscos. Os metassedimentos vão de micaxistos a paragnaisses evidenciando a associação mineral de pico metamórfico constituída por Qz+Pl+Bt+Ms+Opq±Tur±Sil±Crd+Zrn. Os metabasitos são anfibolitos incorporando Pl+Hbl+Qz+Mag+Ilm±Bt. Quer nos metassedimentos quer nos metabasitos, existem testemunhos de duas fases de deformação importantes, sendo uma xistosidade de crenulação a estrutura mais penetrativa. Estas duas fases de deformação deverão corresponder a D1 e D2 Variscas previamente reconhecidas no autóctone da ZOM. Ocorreu ainda deformação posterior, testemunhada por kinks e processos de subgranulação e recristalização dinâmica afetando alguns grãos minerais em domínios confinados às proximidades imediatas de zonas de falha tardias, a qual deverá relacionar-se com a fase D3. Os granitos tardi-variscos são fortemente peraluminosos, tendo como minerais mais abundantes quartzo, microclina, plagioclase sódica e moscovite. Como acessórios ocorrem biotite, zircão, apatite, opacos, turmalina e silimanite. Em termos isotópicos, os valores de εSr320Ma variam entre +93 e +182, enquanto a gama de valores para εND320Ma se distribui no intervalo -6.7 a -9.0, sugerindo importante contributo via anatexia dos metassedimentos da Série Negra na génese dos magmas que deram origem aos granitos tardi-variscos.The study area is located within the Montemor-o-Novo Shear Zone (Évora Massif, Ossa-Morena Zone - OMZ). The analysed samples represent metasediments and metabasites of the Série Negra lithostratigraphic unit (Ediacaran), besides late-Variscan granites. The metasediments are micaschists to paragneisses displaying the peak metamorphic mineral assemblage Qz+Pl+Bt+Ms+Opq±Tur±Sil±Crd+Zrn. The metabasites are amphibolites comprising Pl+Hbl+Qz+Mag+Ilm±Bt. Microstructures observed in both types of metamorphic rocks document two major ductile deformation phases. The most penetrative tectonic anisotropy is a crenulation schistosity. These major deformation phases should correspond to the Variscan D1 and D2, previously recognized in the autochthon of the OMZ. There is also evidence for a later deformation phase, likely related to the D3 Variscan: some grains, in narrow domains adjoining late fault zones, show kinks or are affected by dynamic subgranulation and recrystallization. The studied late-Variscan granites are strongly peraluminous, and have quartz, microcline, Na-plagioclase and muscovite as prime minerals. Biotite, zircon, apatite, opaques,tourmaline and sillimanite occur as accessory phases. Considering the available isotope geochemistry data, εSr320Ma varies between +93 and +182, while εND320Ma values are scattered in the -6.7 to -9.0 range. These data suggest a strong involvement of anatexis products derived from the Série Negra metasediments in the genesis of the granitic magmas

Route planning for electric buses: a case study in Oporto

This paper intends to analyze the performance of an electric bus for three different routes in the city of Oporto. The objective is to study the correlation between the type of route a bus travels and the amount of energy it spends in performing it. Besides energy, the potential of the recovering part of it through regenerative braking will also be discussed. It is expected that long and demanding routes, e.g. those encompassing meandering paths, will make the bus use more energy. To accomplish these objectives, a simulation platform was built upon both a nanoscopic representation of the electrical bus and its microscopic interaction with the road traffic network while performing different journeys through specific routes. Simulation results are compared and discussed, as well as are directions for future work identified.This work is financed by FEDER Funds, through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors COMPETE, and by Portuguese Funds through FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia), under Project 13844. FCT is also acknowledged by its financial support through PhD scholarship grants SFRH/BD/167202/2009 and SFRH/BD/51256/2010, the latter within the MIT-Portugal Program in Engineering Design and Advanced Manufacturing Leaders for Technical Industries focus area

Evidence Of Competition Between Two Canopy Ant Species: Is Aggressive Behavior Innate Or Shaped By A Competitive Environment?

Competition occurs in all ecological communities, although it has not always been experimentally tested as a structuring force in the distribution of species. We tested the hypothesis that the aggressiveness exhibited by Camponotus rufipes changes according to the pressures of a competitive environment. This is a dominant species in the montane forest of the Itacolomi State Park, Brazil, where Camponotus sericeiventris does not occur. Using bait traps in a field site where both species occur, (Juiz de Fora site) we showed that C. sericeiventris was able to remove C. rufipes workers at the same bait. In the laboratory, we used dyadic encounters to test workers from both species taken from colonies found in areas where both occur and where only C. rufipes was found. Camponotus rufipes from Itacolomi fought significantly less and was killed during the first few minutes in 60% of the events. On the other hand, the workers that co-existed with C. sericeiventris in the field were more aggressive, but less efficient fighters than the latter. This investigation demonstrated existence of competition between C. rufipes and C. sericeiventris, and also the lower aggressiveness of C. rufipes' individuals that did not co-exist in the field with C. sericeiventris. © 2012 Ndia Barbosa do Esprito Santo et al.Hlldobler, B., Wilson, E.O., (1990) The Ants, , Cambridge, Mass, USA The Belknap Press of Harvard University PressMacArthur, R.H., Levins, R., The limiting similarity, convergence, and divergence of coexisting species (1967) American Naturalist, 101, pp. 377-385Gotelli, N.J., Ellison, A.M., Assembly rules for New England ant assemblages (2002) Oikos, 99 (3), pp. 591-599. , DOI 10.1034/j.1600-0706.2002.11734.xWilson, E.O., (1971) The Insect Societies, , Cambridge, Mass, USA Harvard University PressDavidson, D.W., Resource discovery versus resource domination in ants: A functional mechanism for breaking the trade-off (1998) Ecological Entomology, 23 (4), pp. 484-490. , DOI 10.1046/j.1365-2311.1998.00145.xRoom, P.M., The relative distribution of ant species in Ghanas cocoa farms (1971) Journal of Animal Ecolog, 40, pp. 735-751Leston, D., The ant mosaic, tropical tree crops and the limiting of pests and diseases (1973) Pest Articles and News Summaries, 19, pp. 311-341Leston, D., A neotropical ant mosaic (1978) Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 71, pp. 649-653Majer, J.D., Delabie, J.H.C., Smith, M.R.B., Arboreal ant community patterns in Brazilian cocoa farms (1994) Biotropica, 26 (1), pp. 73-83Holldobler, B., Lumsden, C.J., Territorial strategies in ants (1980) Science, 210 (4471), pp. 732-739Savolainen, R., Vepsalainen, K., A competition hierarchy among boreal ants: Impact on resource partitioning and community structure (1988) Oikos, 51 (2), pp. 135-155Del-Claro, K., Oliveira, P.S., Ant-homoptera interactions in a neotropical savanna: The honeydew-producing treehopper, Guayaquila xiphias (Membracidae), and its associated ant fauna on Didymopanax vinosum (Araliaceae) (1999) Biotropica, 31 (1), pp. 135-144Orr, M.R., Dahlsten, D.L., Benson, W.W., Ecological interactions among ants in the genus Linepithema, their phorid parasitoids, and ant competitors (2003) Ecological Entomology, 28 (2), pp. 203-210. , DOI 10.1046/j.1365-2311.2003.00506.xFonseca, R.C., Diehl, E., Riqueza de formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) epigéicas em povoamentos de Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) de diferentes idades no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil (2004) Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 48, pp. 95-100Peternelli, E.F.O., Della Lucia, T.M.C., Martins, S.V., Espécies de formigas que interagem com sementes de Mabea fistulifera Mart. (Euphorbiaceae) (2004) Revista Rvore, 28, pp. 733-738Lutinski, J.A., Garcia, F.R.M., Anlise faunstica de Formicidae (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) em ecossistema degradado no municpio de Chapec, Santa Catarina (2005) Biotemas, 18, pp. 73-86Santos, M.S., Louzada, J.N.C., Dias, N., Zanetti, R., Delabie, J.H.C., Nascimento, I.C., Litter ants richness (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in remnants of a semi-deciduous forest in the Atlantic rain forest, Alto do Rio Grande region, Minas Gerais, Brazil (2006) Iheringia - Serie Zoologia, 96 (1), pp. 95-101. , http://www.scielo.br/pdf/isz/v96n1/a17v96n1.pdf, DOI 10.1590/S0073-47212006000100017Esprito Santo, N.B., (2008) Assembléia de Formigas Do Parque Estadual Do Itacolomi (MG) e Relaes Intra- E Interespecficas Entre Espécies Dominantes, M.S. Thesis, , Ps-Graduao em Comportamento e Biologia Animal/Departamento de Biologia Animal/Universidade Federal de Juiz de ForaYamamoto, M., Del-Claro, K., Natural history and foraging behavior of the carpenter ant Camponotus sericeiventris Guérin, 1838 (Formicinae, Campotonini) in the Brazilian tropical savanna (2008) Acta Ethologica, 11 (2), pp. 55-65Campos, R.I., Scares, J.P., Martins, R.P., Ribeiro, S.P., Effect of habitat structure on ant assemblages (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated to two pioneer tree species (2006) Sociobiology, 47 (3), pp. 721-738Fujaco, M.A.G., (2007) Influncia Dos Diferentes Tipos de Substrato e Geomorfologia Na Distribuio Espacial e Arquitetnica Do Gnero Eremanthus No Parque Estadual Do Itacolomi, Ouro Preto/MG, M.S. Thesis, , Ps-Graduao em Evoluo Crustal e Recursos Naturais/Departamento de Geologia/Universidade Federal de Ouro PretoBanco de Dados Climticos do BrasilEmbrapa Monitoramento por Satélite e EsalqUSP, , 2007, http://www.bdclima.cnpm.embrapa.br/resultados/balanco.php?UF=spCOD= 450Altmann, J., Observational study of behavior: Sampling methods (1974) Behaviour, 49 (34), pp. 227-267Ribeiro, S.P., Soares, J.P., Campos, R.I., Martins, R.P., Insect herbivores species associated to pioneer tree species: Contrasting within forest and ecotone canopy habitats (2008) Revista Brasileira de Zoocincias, 10, pp. 237-248Lopes, J.F.S., Hughes, W.O.H., Camargo, R.S., Forti, L.C., Larval isolation and brood care in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants (2005) Insectes Sociaux, 52 (4), pp. 333-338. , DOI 10.1007/s00040-005-0816-yErrard, C., Hefetz, A., Label familiarity and discriminatory ability of ants reared in mixed groups (1997) Insectes Sociaux, 44 (3), pp. 189-198. , DOI 10.1007/s000400050040Santos, J.C., Del-Claro, K., Ecology and behaviour of the weaver ant Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) senex (2009) Journal of Natural History, 43 (2324), pp. 1423-1435Ferreira Brando, C.R., Sequential ethograms along colony development of Odontomachus affinis Guérin (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Ponerinae) (1983) Insectes Sociaux, 30 (2), pp. 193-203Santos, J.C., Yamamoto, M., Oliveira, F.R., Del-Claro, K., Behavioral repertory of the weaver ant Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) senex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (2005) Sociobiology, 46 (1), pp. 27-37Wilson, E.O., (1975) Sociobiology, , Cambridge, Mass, USA Belknap Press of Harvard University PressLangen, T.A., Tripet, F., Nonacs, P., The red and the black: Habituation and the dear-enemy phenomenon in two desert Pheidole ants (2000) Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 48 (4), pp. 285-292Delsinne, T., Roisin, Y., Leponce, M., Spatial and temporal foraging overlaps in a Chacoan ground-foraging ant assemblage (2007) Journal of Arid Environments, 71 (1), pp. 29-44. , DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2007.02.007, PII S0140196307000705Carroll, C.R., Janzen, D.H., Ecology of foraging by ants (1973) Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 4, pp. 231-257Byk, J., Del-Claro, K., Nectar- and pollen-gathering Cephalotes ants provide no protection against herbivory: A new manipulative experiment to test ant protective capabilities (2010) Acta Ethologica, 13 (1), pp. 33-38Jaffé, K., Snchez, C., On the nestmate-recognition system and territorial marking behaviour in the ant Camponotus rufipes (1984) Insectes Sociaux, 31 (3), pp. 302-315Lucas, C., (2002) Tude des Bases Chimiques et Comportamentales de la Formation du Visa Colonial Chez les Ponérines du Genre Pachycondyla, Thse Docteur, , Paris, France Biologie du Comportement, Universit Paris XIHlldobler, B., Wilson, E.O., The multiple recruitment systems of the african weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (1978) Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 3 (1), pp. 19-60Hlldobler, B., Territoriality among Oecophylla (1979) National Geographic Society Research Reports, 1977, pp. 369-372Hlldobler, B., Territorial behavior in the green tree ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) (1983) Biotropica, 15, pp. 241-250De Vita, J., Mechanisms of interference and foraging among colonies of the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex californcus in the Mojave Desert (1979) Ecology, 60, pp. 729-73

Research of the optical communications groups at University of Aveiro and Institute of Telecommunications - Aveiro Pole

This paper summarizes the research activities of the optical communications group at University of Aveiro and Institute of Telecommunications – Aveiro pole. Several activities like clock recovery systems, both electrical and all optical, electrical equalizers for very high bit rate DST systems, post-detection filters for multigigabit optical receivers, soliton systems, simulation work on WDM, DST, EDFA and short pulse generation for high bit rate systems are presented