The Influence of oral environment on diet choices in goats: a focus on saliva protein composition

There is ample evidence that ruminants are capable of making choices between different foods that provide a more balanced diet that would be obtained by eating at random. In the particular case of goats, they occupy a diversity of habitats and different breeds present variability of feeding behaviors resultant from adaptations to the existent plant species. In their food search activity, individuals are faced with variable amounts of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs), which may present some toxic and anti-nutritional effects depending on the individual’s ability to deal with it. The oral cavity has a key role in the recognition and decision processes of ingestion or rejection. In this chapter we will first consider how goats identify foods and behave according to the food items available. Focus will be done on the importance of taste sense in this process and the information available on the main structures involved in taste detection and perception in goats will be reviewed. In a second section we will focus on the characteristics of goat’s saliva, particularly in terms of their protein composition, presenting results obtained by our research team

CONSUMO DE ENERGIA E CUSTOS DE AQUECIMENTO NA PRODUÇÃO DE FLORES E LEGUMES EM ESTUFA

Pretende-se determinar os consumos de energia e os custos em aquecimento, na produção de flores e de vegetais, ao longo do ano, em estufas de plástico aquecidas, localizadas em diversas zonas de produção de culturas forçadas. No primeiro ano considerou-se Portugal e a produção de rosa. Foram calculados os consumos energéticos e os custos de aquecimento com gasóleo ou gás natural, para duas combinações de temperaturas mínimas do ar noite/dia, em estufas modernas de plástico. O estudo está a ser alargado para a produção de tomate, englobando Portugal e Espanha

Mutual information rate and bounds for it

The amount of information exchanged per unit of time between two nodes in a dynamical network or between two data sets is a powerful concept for analysing complex systems. This quantity, known as the mutual information rate (MIR), is calculated from the mutual information, which is rigorously defined only for random systems. Moreover, the definition of mutual information is based on probabilities of significant events. This work offers a simple alternative way to calculate the MIR in dynamical (deterministic) networks or between two data sets (not fully deterministic), and to calculate its upper and lower bounds without having to calculate probabilities, but rather in terms of well known and well defined quantities in dynamical systems. As possible applications of our bounds, we study the relationship between synchronisation and the exchange of information in a system of two coupled maps and in experimental networks of coupled oscillators

MotionDesigner: Augmented artistic performances with kinect-based human body motion tracking

In the last two decades the use of technology in art projects has proliferated, as is the case of the interactive projections based on movement used in artistic performances and installations. However, the artists responsible for creating this work typically have to rely on computer experts to implement this type of interactive systems. The tool herein presented, MotionDesigner, intends to assist the design of these systems by providing artists with higher levels of autonomy and efficiency during the creative process, allowing them to specify the rules by which a human body interacts with both the audio and the visuals used in their interactive art work. The presented tool relies on an RGB-D camera to modulate the multimedia content according to the performer’s body motion. MotionDesigner is extensible so as to accommodate additions required by artists. The tool has been tested with dancers, choreographers, and architects. Results show that MotionDesigner is a valuable aid to artists, working as a catalyst of their creative process.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Uso de calda bordalesa, extratos vegetais e biofertilizante para controle de doenças foliares do tomateiro em sistema orgânico de produção.

Avaliou-se o efeito de produtos alternativos no controle de doenças foliares do tomateiro em experimentos em casa de vegetação e no campo em sistema orgânico de produção.bitstream/item/73755/1/bpd-82.pd

Role of physical activity in the prevention of falls and their consequences in the elderly

This work aims to provide an inventory of the risk factors and consequences of falling in the elderly, namely fractures, and to identify strategies to prevent falls and minimise their effects. Falls in elderly people are a major cause of injuries, leading to a general fear of falling, poorer quality of life and even death. The increase in life expectancy brought by developments in the medical and health sciences has not always brought enhanced quality of life.More elderly people live with reduced functional capacities resulting in a higher prevalence of falls and associated problems for themselves and for society. Risk factors for falling, commonly resulting from normal aging processes, have already been identified through multiple studies. Exercise may play an important role in fall prevention and their consequences. Although, effective strategies are usually multi-disciplinary and focus simultaneously on several risk factors. However, only large-scale prevention programmes can have significant effective social impact. To minimise occurrence and consequences of falls, policies to systematically implement prevention programmes should be established

Role of physical activity in the occurrence of falls and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling adults over 50 years old

Purpose: This study examined the effect of the type, level and amount of physical activity in falls and fall-related injuries. Method: Participants were 506 community-dwelling adults aged450 years (390 women: 67.7 6.8 years and 116 men: 69.6 6.6 years). Falls, fall-related injuries (slight and severe), and physical activity (type, level and energy expenditure) were evaluated by questionnaires. Confounders included co-morbidities, fear of falling, environmental hazards and physical fitness. Results: After adjustment for confounders, logistic analysis revealed that the likelihood of falling decreased by 2% for each 100 metabolic expenditure (MET-min/week) of total physical activity and increased by 5% for each 100 MET-min/week of vigorous-intensity physical activity; total physical activity 41125 MET-min/week and vigorous physical activity 5500 MET-min/week were identified as cut-off values discriminating non-fallers from fallers. Compared to the low physical activity level, increased physical activity levels diminished the likelihood of the occurrence of severe fall-related injuries by 76% (moderate) and 58% (high; p50.05) in fallers. Conclusions: Being active, especially sufficiently active, reduces fall-related injuries by decreasing falls and by safeguarding against severe injuries when falls occur. At least 1125 MET-min/week of total physical activity including 4500 MET-min/week of vigorous intensity seems to prevent falls and, therefore, fall-related injuries