Monitoring of Iberian wolf expansion in Sabugal: Malcata Region

Relatório de projecto no âmbito de Bolsa Universidade de Lisboa/Fundação Amadeu Dias (2008/2009)Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de LisboaScholarship Fundação Amadeu Dias/Universidade de LisboaWind farm construction may cause an effect of repulse on the wildlife. Sabugal – Malcata region has a new wind farm in a zone where the situation of the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus, Cabrera 1907) is considered as precarious. In this context a monitoring project was begun to assess the impact of this infrastructure on the Iberian wolf population. Here are presented the results of eight months of monitoring and some information received during the project about the wolf presence in this region. Every month, signs of wolf presence were prospected in twelve transects in the wind farm adjacent area and fourteen inquires were done to people that can contact with this predator. In all the eight months only two scats were detected and two wolf tracks after a snowfall. The presence of wolves was referred in the inquires as constant before 1990. However, some recent livestock damages were reported. The Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) seems to be in expansion in this area, being reported in more than half of the inquires. This situation may reveal a new opportunity for settlement of dispersing wolves. The occurrence of the Iberian Wolf in Sabugal – Malcata region continues not to be confirmed, but the designation of probable presence is reinforced.Universidade de Lisboa; Fundação Amadeu Dia

Homogeneous abundance analysis of dwarf, subgiant and giant FGK stars with and without giant planets

We have analyzed high-resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra of nearby FGK stars with and without detected giant planets in order to homogeneously measure their photospheric parameters, mass, age, and the abundances of volatile (C, N, and O) and refractory (Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Ba) elements. Our sample contains 309 stars from the solar neighborhood (up to the distance of 100 pc), out of which 140 are dwarfs, 29 are subgiants, and 140 are giants. The photospheric parameters are derived from the equivalent widths of Fe I and Fe II lines. Masses and ages come from the interpolation in evolutionary tracks and isochrones on the HR diagram. The abundance determination is based on the equivalent widths of selected atomic lines of the refractory elements and on the spectral synthesis of C_2, CN, C I, O I, and Na I features. We apply a set of statistical methods to analyze the abundances derived for the three subsamples. Our results show that: i) giant stars systematically exhibit underabundance in [C/Fe] and overabundance in [N/Fe] and [Na/Fe] in comparison with dwarfs, a result that is normally attributed to evolution-induced mixing processes in the envelope of evolved stars; ii) for solar analogs only, the abundance trends with the condensation temperature of the elements are correlated with age and anticorrelated with the surface gravity, which is in agreement with recent studies; iii) as in the case of [Fe/H], dwarf stars with giant planets are systematically enriched in [X/H] for all the analyzed elements, except for O and Ba (the former due to limitations of statistics), confirming previous findings in the literature that not only iron has an important relation with the planetary formation; and iv) giant planet hosts are also significantly overabundant for the same metallicity when the elements from Mg to Cu are combined together.Comment: 20 pages, 16 figures, 8 table

Cooperação interinstitucional para o desenvolvimento rural sustentável no Estado do Paraná: o caso da Agenda-Comum entre Embrapa Florestas & Emater-Paraná.

bitstream/CNPF-2009-09/40377/1/doc113.pd

Chemical safety of children's play paints: Focus on selected heavy metals

Children's play paints are widely used as didactic products in preschool activities. Besides direct skin contact, a great risk of oral exposure exists during its normal and foreseeable use. Due to the ubiquitous nature of most metals, their presence as impurities in all products is recognized as unavoidable. However, the toxic potential of most of them requires that their levels are kept as low as possible. The present study aimed to assess the content of selected heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu and Zn) in “artist paints” (n = 54) and “face paints” (n = 12) commonly used in preschool establishments and available at low cost stores. Determinations were carried out by GFAAS (for Pb, Cd, Co, Cr and Ni) and FAAS (for Mn, Cu and Zn). The levels obtained [mean ± SD (maximum)] were: 0.48 ± 0.44 (1.98) μg g− 1 for Pb; 0.04 ± 0.04 (0.30) μg g− 1 for Cd; 0.17 ± 0.20 (1.47) μg g− 1 for Co; 1.36 ± 2.18 (9.40) μg g− 1 for Cr; 0.63 ± 0.56 (3.10) μg g− 1 for Ni; 19.8 ± 88.2 (718) μg g− 1 for Mn; 108 ± 260 (1458) μg g− 1 for Cu; and 130 ± 564 (3478) μg g− 1 for Zn. A safety assessment considering the estimated potential exposure and health-based limits (tolerable daily intakes) was performed. Overall, the results showed no reasons for safety concerns regarding the studied elements.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Breakfast cereal products consumption and consumer preferences: a study on dietary fibre content awareness

It is well established that BCP could have several health benefits, mainly related to its fibre content. This study aimed to evaluate the BCP consumption in Portugal, the reasons behind the consumers’ choices, and evaluate consumer awareness on fibre content and health benefits. The hypotheses were that i) consumers are not aware of the dietary fibre benefits nor the relationship between daily intake and benefits; ii) BCP are a good strategy to increase fibre intake. The novelty of this work is related to the fibre awareness evaluation and whether the increase in fibre content on BCP could increase its consumer interest. A cross-sectional study with both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (focus group) approaches was performed. A total of 1126 participants completed the survey, and two focus group were performed, one focus group with people with 24-31 years old and another with parents with ages between 33-41 years old. It was assessed the effect of parenting on BCP perception, consumption, and purchase. More than half of the Portuguese population consume BCP at least once a week, mainly at breakfast, for convenience, taste, and healthiness. Granola and flakes are the mainly consumed by adults, and extruded and flakes by children. Consumers identify a lack of products that combine taste and healthiness. Fibre content does not determine the BCP purchase, and consumers are not aware of all the health benefits of fibre nor its daily recommendation. When enlightened, consumer defended that this information should be shared massively, as well as how to achieve its recommended amount. The BCP approach is different among adults with or without children. Consumers demand for healthy & tasty BCP. Informed consumers on fibre benefits (besides the satiety and intestinal health) and daily recommended amount have higher willingness to purchase BCP rich in fibre.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Caracterização de indicadores da qualidade do solo, com ênfase às áreas de várzea do Rio Grande do Sul.

bitstream/item/33606/1/documento-169.pd