Uma família de cristãos-novos do Entre Douro e Minho: os Paz: reprodução familiar, formas e mobilidade social, mercancia e poder (1495-1598)

Tese de mestrado em apresentada à Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, 2008Resumo alargado disponível em português e inglê

O 2.º Visconde de Santarém, fundador da cartografia científica (1844-2024)

Numa época em que tanto se fala da Marca Portugal e da necessidade de internacionalizar a cultura nacional, o 2.º Visconde de Santarém (1791-1856) representa um exemplo de excelência e de autenticidade, num autor tanto tradicional quanto inovador. De facto, a fundação da cartografia científica com a publicação do Atlas… (cuja segunda tiragem, de 1844, se comemora proximamente), significa um virar de página, relativa à história da cartografia. Humanista, estadista, diplomata, guarda-mor do arquivo histórico português da Torre do Tombo, foi o historiador de Portugal mais conhecido, internacionalmente, nas décadas de 1840 e 1850

Generalized Line Criterion for Gauss-Seidel Method.

We present a module based criterion, i.e. a sufficient condition based on the absolute value of the matrix coefficients, for the convergence of Gauss–Seidel method (GSM) for a square system of linear algebraic equations, the Generalized Line Criterion (GLC). We prove GLC to be the “most general” module based criterion and derive, as GLC corollaries, some previously know and also some new criteria for GSM convergence. Although far more general than the previously known results, the proof of GLC is simpler. The results used here are related to recent research in stability of dynamical systems and control of manufacturing systems

Follicular dynamics in Serrana goats

Twenty-two Serrana goats were studied through two successive estrous cycles in order to characterize their follicular dynamics during the breeding season. The ovaries of the goats were scanned daily by realtime ultrasonography and all follicles ≥3mm were measured and classified. The data were classified by the number of follicular waves per goat to test the hypothesis that temporal and morphological differences between the last follicular wave of an ovary, irrespective of ovulation, will affect the selection of the next ovulatory wave. The mean interovulatory interval was 20.7±1.0 days (mean±S.D.). Three to five waves per estrous cycle were observed and 61.3% (19/31) of cycles had fourwaves. In estrous cycles with fourwaves, the day of onset of the first, second, third and fourth wave was 1.4±1.0, 6.9±1.4, 11.6±1.8 and 16.8±1.6, respectively. No differences (P > 0.05) were found between the day of onset of the first and second waves for estrous cycles with three, four or five waves. However, the day of onset of the third and fourth waves occurred later when the number of waves per estrous cycle increased (P < 0.001). The duration of the interwave interval (time between the day of onset of two consecutive waves) was longer when the second wave was ovulatory. The length of the growth phase (2.4±0.9 days) and size (5.9±0.7 mm) of the dominant follicle in the second wave were lower (P < 0.01) than for the first wave (3.3±1.2 days and 6.6±0.9 mm, respectively) and the fifth wave (4.1±1.2 days and 7.5±1.0 mm, respectively). Within pairs of ovaries, the onset of the last wave occurred later (P < 0.05) and was less variable in ovulatory ovaries (day 16.8±1.4, n = 20) than in anovulatory ovaries (day 15.1±3.7, n = 20). The length of the growing phase was longer (P < 0.001) in the last waves of ovulatory ovaries (3.1±0.9 days) than in the last waves of anovulatory ovaries (1.7±0.8 days). These results support the hypothesis that the day of onset of the ovulatory wave is related to or, at least, conditioned by the luteolysis and the decrease in plasma progesterone. In summary, the estrous cycle of Serrana goats is characterized by sequential follicular wave growth with a great variability in their onset and duration, with the exception of the ovulatory wave. The temporal and morphological differences observed in the last wave of estrous cycle provide strong evidence for the role of progesterone in their regulation

Determinação da duração do anestro pós-parto em ovelhas da raça Churra Galega Bragançana com diferentes condições corporais ao parto

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objectivo de estudar a duração do período de anestro pós-parto, em ovelhas da raça Churra Galega Bragançana, com dois níveis diferentes de condição corporal ao parto - 2,5 e 2,0. Neste sentido, na cidade de Bragança (latitude 41° 49' N, longitude 6° 40' W e altitude 720 metros), mais precisamente na Quinta de Santa Apolónia, pertencente à Escola Superior Agrária de Bragança, um grupo de quarenta ovelhas da raça Churra Galega Bragançana com 2 a 3 anos de idade foi escolhido para a realização deste estudo. Durante o último terço da gestação, vinte destas ovelhas apresentaram uma condição corporal de 2,5 e as restantes vinte uma condição corporal de 2,0. No conjunto das ovelhas estudadas, a duração do intervalo médio de dias observado entre o parto e a primeira elevação da concentração plasmática de progesterona pós-parto (P>0,5ng/ml) foi de 21,1±4,2. Apenas 5% das ovelhas estudadas manifestaram cio 2 e 4 dias antes da primeira subida da concentração plasmática de progesterona pós-parto (25,0±4,2 dias pós-parto). Sete e meio porcento das ovelhas avaliadas realizaram cios anovulatórios. De entre os vários parâmetros analisados, com o intuito de estudar a duração do período de anestro pós-parto em ovelhas da raça Churra Galega Bragançana, apenas a duração da primeira fase lútea pós-parto foi significativamente afectada pela condição corporal apresentada por estas fêmeas aquando do parto

Well-being and spirituality in senior adults

Background: Spirituality contributes to individual well-being as a dynamic process and a personal experience that gives meaning to the human existence.Objective: To characterize spiritual well-being in senior adults and analyse the relationship between spirituality and subjective well-being. Materials and Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational study. The participants are mostly female (66.7%), widowed (47.1%) and live alone (40.2%). They are on average 77.3 years old (SD = 7.7) and most have completed primary school (60.8%). Only 11.8% report not having religious beliefs. For data collection the following instruments were used: a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Results: There were statistically significant positive correlations between SWBS and Life Satisfaction (r = 0.380; p <0.01), between existential well-being (EWB) and Life Satisfaction (r = 0.515; p <0, 01) and religious well-being (RWB) and Life Satisfaction (r=0,253; p<0,01). On the SWBS scale and on the RWB and EWB subscales between the group of professing religion and non-professing group, statistically significant differences were found. (p<0,05). People who follow a religion, compared to those who do not follow, have better religious well-being, existential, and spiritual well-being. Conclusions: The results confirm that spirituality is related to subjective well-being in the senior adult. Understanding the role of religion and spirituality in this population well-being is critical to better care for and work with these people, and prepare them in advance to meet the challenges of ageing

Autoconceito, hábitos de estudo, procrastinação e rendimento escolar: que relação?

Na presente investigação procura-se testar o valor preditivo das variáveis autoconceito, hábitos de estudo e procrastinação na explicação do rendimento escolar, junto de alunos portugueses que frequentam o 2º ciclo do ensino básico, concluindo-se que, de acordo com as medidas adotadas, estes três preditores explicam 70% da variabilidade dos resultados escolares, sendo os hábitos de estudo o preditor mais relevante.

Male effect in Churra Galega Bragançana and Suffolk ewes under long-day artificial photoperiod

This study aimed to evaluate the male effect in Churra Galega Bragançana (CGB) and Suffolk (S) ewes under artificial long-day photoperiod (16L:8D). On March 21st, 34 CGB and 27 S ewes, 2-5 years old, were allocated in light control facilities. Two months later, ovarian activity was registered by progesterone concentrations in blood plasma twice weekly. Ovarian activity was controlled by vaginal sponges (FGA). Vasectomised aproned rams were used to induce ram effect and estrus detection. Ewes were observed for estrus twice daily. Ewes presenting ovarian activity were identified by endoscopy. Chi-square tests were performed to compare proportions and Student’s t-tests to compare means of the ovulation rate. After 2 months in 16L:8D photoperiod, 81.5% of Suffolk and 64.7% of CGB ewes were in anestrous (P≤0.01). Male effect was influenced by breed (S vs. CGB) – Estrus: 50.0% vs. 75.0% (P≤0.001) and Ovulation: 18.2% vs. 63.6% (P≤0.001) –, except for ovulation rate (1.0±0.0). Data suggests that male effect is more effective in CGB than in Suffolk ewes

Basin-wide variation in tree hydraulic safety margins predicts the carbon balance of Amazon forests

ests face increasing climate risk, yet our ability to predict their response to climate change is limited by poor understanding of their resistance to water stress. Although xylem embolism resistance thresholds (for example, Ψ50) and hydraulic safety margins (for example, HSM50) are important predictors of drought-induced mortality risk, little is known about how these vary across Earth’s largest tropical forest. Here, we present a pan-Amazon, fully standardized hydraulic traits dataset and use it to assess regional variation in drought sensitivity and hydraulic trait ability to predict species distributions and long-term forest biomass accumulation. Parameters Ψ50 and HSM50 vary markedly across the Amazon and are related to average long-term rainfall characteristics. Both Ψ50 and HSM50 influence the biogeographical distribution of Amazon tree species. However, HSM50 was the only significant predictor of observed decadal-scale changes in forest biomass. Old-growth forests with wide HSM50 are gaining more biomass than are low HSM50 forests. We propose that this may be associated with a growth–mortality trade-off whereby trees in forests consisting of fast-growing species take greater hydraulic risks and face greater mortality risk. Moreover, in regions of more pronounced climatic change, we find evidence that forests are losing biomass, suggesting that species in these regions may be operating beyond their hydraulic limits. Continued climate change is likely to further reduce HSM50 in the Amazon, with strong implications for the Amazon carbon sink