A duna consolidada de Oitavos, a Oeste de Cascais, região de Lisboa : a sua datação pelo método do radiocarbono

A duna consolidada de Oitavos, atribuída ao Quaternário, situa-se junto ao litoral, a oeste de Cascais. Apresenta-se o programa de datações pelo radiocarbono que permitiu a datação dessa duna e discute-se a fiabilidade das datas obtidas. Processaram-se amostras de Helix provenientes não só da duna de Oitavos, mas também da duna consolidada de Magoito, localizada cerca de 16 km para norte e já devidamente datada por aquele método de datação absoluta, e ainda amostras de um contexto arqueológico da Encosta de Sant'Ana (Baixa da cidade de Lisboa), com o objectivo de aferir a validade das datações de Oitavos sobre Helix. Também o paleossolo existente na base da duna de Oitavos foi objecto de datação. Determinou-se assim uma data de elevada fiabilidade para a geração da duna de Oitavos, indicando que esta se terá formado no intervalo 33-30 ka BP, provavelmente durante o interestadial que precede a fase final do OIS 3

An ecological and fishing approach to support management decisions

Leitão, F., Monteiro, J. N., Cabral, P., Teodósio, M. A., & Roa-Ureta, R. H. (2023). Revealing the role of crab as bait in octopus fishery: An ecological and fishing approach to support management decisions. Marine Policy, 158, 1-11. [105878]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105878 --- This study received Portuguese National Funding from MAR2020 project CRUSTAPANHA (MAR-01.04.02-FEAMP-0005 CRUSTAPANHA). FL has received Portuguese national funds from FCT within the contract program DL57/2016/CP1361/CT0008 and FCT 2022.04803. CEECIND. JNM received an FCT PhD fellowship SFRH/BD/06336/2021. This study received Portuguese national funds from FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology through projects UIDB/04326/2020, UIDP/04326/2020 and LA/P/0101/2020. Authors would like to acknowledge all fishers’ associations that participated in CRUSTAPANHA project and helped the completion of the study: AAPF- Associação de Armadores e Pescadores da Fuseta (Fuseta); Associação Armalgarve Polvo Organização De Produtores (Quarteira); OLHAOPESCA Organização de Produtores de Pesca do Algarve, C.R.L. (Olhão). We acknowledge DGRM for fisheries data provided and for granting licenses for researchers onboard fishing vessel; To the coast guards forces of the following ports: Capitania do Porto de Albufeira; Capitania do Porto de Faro; Capitania do Porto de Olhão; Capitania do Porto de Lagos; Capitania do Porto de Tavira; We would like to acknowledge specific captains due to their role in the study, namely: Ricardo Santana; Francisco Molina; Arlindo da Silva Correia; Paulo Guerreiro. We would like to acknowledge all the members of ECOREACH group that help in the measurement of the octopus specimens, namely Andreia Ovelheiro, Daniela Nobre, Juan Bueno-Pardo and Miguel PintoIn southern Portugal, artisanal octopus fisheries play an important socioeconomic role. Live crab bait in traps was used up to 2010 and banned in 2012. Such regulation, based on co-management advice, was not established under a scientific fundament. As a result, a long-standing controversy ensued with some fishing associations claiming that live crab bait increased fishing effort and exploitation rates and therefore risked the octopus stock status, while other fishers denied all these alleged impacts. The issue has not been resolved so far due to lack of scientific studies. In this study, we resolve the controversy conducting experimental fishing to determine by-catch and octopus catch rates using live crab bait versus other types of baits based on fish and assess the stock status of octopus over-time with constant parameters (hypothesis of no effect of the use of live crab bait) versus time-varying parameters (hypothesis of raised exploitation rates and riskier stock status). Bycatch was very low regardless of bait type. Our experimental fishing trials showed that fish-based baits increase bycatch and octopus catch rates. Stock assessment models showed that exploitation rates and stock status do not worsen in years of use of crab bait. We conclude that the use of crab bait in octopus fishery does not lead to increased exploitation rate or risks for stock sustainability status. Other considerations involving fishing costs and fishing operations further highlight the advantages of lifting the ban on the use of live crab bait in the Algarve octopus fishery.publishersversionpublishe

Paleolítico médio e superior em Portugal : datas 14C, estado actual dos conhecimentos, síntese e discussão

No âmbito des pesquisas do CEPUNL sobre o Paleolítico médio e superior foram obtidas novas datas de radiocarbono em situações bem definidas do ponto de vista estratigráfico; com outras, permitem uma visão cronológica global aproximada. As datas não parecem distribuir-se ao longo dos tempos de modo aleatório. No estado actual dos conhecimentos, parecem corresponder a vários conjuntos: (a) 14000 a 15000 anos BP, Solutrense superior; (b) cerca de 20 000 BP, Solutrense; (c) com datas cerca de 25000 BP, já Solutrense, e, a pouco mais de 26000 BP, ainda Musrierense; (d) entre 29 000 e 31 000 BP, Mustierense. Demonstra-se a persistência de Mustierense muito após o limite admitido; cerca de 34 000 BP - e, por conseguinte, a dos seus autores neandertalianos. Pela primeira vez, foi possível a datação do limite cronológico superior do terraço marinho de 5-8 mettos (Tirreniano III) da Arrábida, bem como de jazidas sem indústrias ou com indústrias incaracterísticas. As datas obtidas permitem correlacionar jazidas e depósitos com episódios da última glaciação. Parece haver nítida correlação entre a ocupação de grutas e abrigos pelo Homem e episódios de clima mais desfavorável.New radiocarbon measuremenrs were obtained from middle and upper Paleolithic sites currenrly under research by the CEPUNL, in well defined stratigraphical situations. Wirh other dates, they yield an approximarive chronological global view. Measurement distriburion in function of time does not seem to be an hazardous one. ln rhe actual status of our knowledge, rhis disrriburion seems ro fit in some assemblages: (a) 14000 to 15000 BP, Solurrean; (b) about 20 000 BP, Solucrean; (c) árca 25 000 BP, already Solutrean, and slighdy older than 26 000 BP, still Moust~rian; (d) berween 29 000 and 31 000 BP, Mousterian. The persistance of Mousterian much later than its acknowledged upper limit ar about 34 000 BP (and hence the survival of its neanderrhalian authors) is demonstrated. For the first time ir has been possible ro ascercain rhe upper time limit of the marine 5-8 metres raised beach (Tyrrhenian III) at Serra da Arrábida, and also rhe age of archaeological sires wirhour stone arrifacrs, or wirh uncharacteristic ones. The obtained measurements allow us to correlate localities and sedimencary units wirh lasr glaciation events. There seems to have been a distinct correlation berween cave and shelter human occupation and events marked by rhe worsening of climare.Dans le cadre des recherches du CEPUNL sur le Paléolithique moyen et supérieur ont été· obtenues de nouvelles dares 14C correspondant à des situarions bien définies du point de vue srrarigraphique; avec d'autres, elles permeccent une vision globale apptoximative de la chronologie. La discribution des dates en fonction des temps ne parait pas alléatoire. Dans I' état aCtuei des connaissances, certe discribution semble correspondre à quelques ensembles: (a) 14000 à 15 000 ans BP, Solutréen supérieur; (b) environ 20000 BP, Solutréen; (c) árca 25000 BP, Solurréen déjà, er avec un peu plus de 26 000 BP, Moustérien (encore); (d) enrre 29 000 et 31 000 BP, Moustérien. La persistance de Moustérien bien apres la date limite admise (34 000 BP environ) - et donc celle de ses auteurs neanderthaliens - est démontrée. Pour la premiere fois ii a éré possible de darer la limite chronologique supérieure de la terrasse marine de 5-8 merres (Tyrrhénien III) dans la Serra da Arrábida, ainsi que des sites dépourvus d'indusrries ou ayant livré des industries incaractéristiques. Les dates obtenues permettenr de corréler des gisements er dépôts avec des épisodes de la derniere glaciation. II semble avoir eu une nette correspondance enrre I'occupation de grottes et abris par I'Homme et des épisodes à climar plus défavorable

Solubility of caffeic acid in CO2 + ethanol: experimental and predicted data using Cubic Plus Association Equation of State

This work evaluated the solubility of caffeic acid (CA) in mixtures of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) and ethanol at different temperatures (313, 323 and 333 K), pressures (20, 30 and 40 MPa) and concentrations of ethanol (2.2, 5.4 and 10.2 mol%). The Soave-Redlich-Kwong and Cubic Plus Association (CPA) equations of state were used to correlate the binary mixture data and to predict the ternary system data. CA solubility in ethanol is approximately 106 times higher than its solubility in pure scCO2. By using 10.2 mol% ethanol in scCO2, CA solubility increased 30,000 times at 313 K and 20 MPa. Both models provided reasonable descriptions of the experimental data for the binary systems. However, CPA-EoS can better describe the strong interactions between acid molecules and ethanol, and can predict that the addition of small amounts of ethanol to scCO2 provides a large increase in CA solubility.publishe

Experiments with embedded system design at UMinho and AIT

Nowadays, embedded systems are central to modern life, mainly due to the scientific and technological advances of the last decades that started a new reality in which the embedded systems market has been growing steadily, along with a monthly or even weekly emergence of new products with different applications across several domains. This embedded system ubiquity was the drive for the following question ”Why should we focus on embedded systems design?” that was answered in [1, 2] with the following points: (1) high and fast penetration in products and services due to the integration of networking, operating system and database capabilities, (2) very strategic field economically and (3) a new and relatively undefined subject in academic environment. Other adja- cent questions have been raised such as ”Why is the design of embedded systems special?”. The answer for this last question is based mainly on several problems raised by the new technologies, such as the need for more human resources in specialized areas and high learning curve for system designers. As pointed in [1], these problems can prevent many companies from adopting these new technologies or force them not to respond timely in mastering these technological and market challenges. In this paper, it is described how staff at ESRG-UMinho 1 and ISE-AIT 2 faced the embedded systems challenges at several levels. It starts to de- scribe the development of the educational context for the new technolo- gies and show how our Integrated Master Curriculum in Industrial Elec- tronics and Computer Engineering has been adapted to satisfy the needs of the major university customers, the industry

Using satellite image fusion to evaluate the impact of land use changes on ecosystem services and their economic values

Shuangao, W., Padmanaban, R., Mbanze, A. A., Silva, J. M. N., Shamsudeen, M., Cabral, P., & Campos, F. S. (2021). Using satellite image fusion to evaluate the impact of land use changes on ecosystem services and their economic values. Remote Sensing, 13(5), 1-21. [851]. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13050851Accelerated land use change is a current challenge for environmental management world-wide. Given the urgent need to incorporate economic and ecological goals in landscape planning, cost-effective conservation strategies are required. In this study, we validated the benefit of fusing imagery from multiple sensors to assess the impact of landscape changes on ecosystem services (ES) and their economic values in the Long County, Shaanxi Province, China. We applied several landscape metrics to assess the local spatial configuration over 15 years (2004–2019) from fused image-ries. Using Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), Landsat-8 Operational Land Im-ager (OLI) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite System Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor 3 (IRS LISS 3) imageries fused for 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019, we reclassified land use/land cover (LULC) changes, through the rotation forest (RF) machine-learning algorithm. We proposed an equivalent monetary metric for estimating the ES values, which also could be used in the whole China. Results showed that agriculture farmland and unused land decreased their spatial distribution over time, with an observed increase on woodland, grassland, water bodies and built-up area. Our findings suggested that the patterns of landscape uniformity and connectivity improved, while the distribution of landscape types stabilized, while the landscape diversity had a slight improvement. The overall ES values increased (4.34%) under a benefit transfer approach, mainly concerning woodland and grassland. A sensitivity analysis showed the selected economic value (EV) was relevant and suitable for the study area associated with our ES for LULC changes. We suggested that changes in landscape patterns affected the ESV trends, while the increases on some LULC classes slightly improved the landscape diversity. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we recommend that local au-thorities and environmental practitioners should balance the economic benefits and ecological gains in different landscapes to achieve a sustainable development from local to regional scales.publishersversionpublishe

The RCK Domain of the KtrAB K+ Transporter: Multiple Conformations of an Octameric Ring

SummaryThe KtrAB ion transporter is a complex of the KtrB membrane protein and KtrA, an RCK domain. RCK domains regulate eukaryotic and prokaryotic membrane proteins involved in K+ transport. Conflicting functional models have proposed two different oligomeric arrangements for RCK domains, tetramer versus octamer. Our results for the KtrAB RCK domain clearly show an octamer in solution and in the crystal. We determined the structure of this protein in three different octameric ring conformations that resemble the RCK-domain octamer observed in the MthK potassium channel but show striking differences in size and symmetry. We present experimental evidence for the association between one RCK octameric ring and two KtrB membrane proteins. These results provide insights into the quaternary organization of the KtrAB transporter and its mechanism of activation and show that the RCK-domain octameric ring model is generally applicable to other ion-transport systems

Radiologic evaluation following bariatric surgery

A cirurgia bariátrica assume actualmente um papel dominante no tratamento da obesidade mórbida. As técnicas mais difundidas são a banda gástrica ajustável e o by-pass gástrico com reconstrução em Y de Roux. Outras técnicas, menos utilizadas actualmente, são a gastroplastia vertical, o by-pass jejuno ileal e a derivação bilio-pancreática. A avaliação imagiológica é essencial na avaliação pós-operatoria destes doentes. São descritas as potenciais complicações de cada procedimento e os respectivos achados imagiológicos encontrados na avaliação fluroscópica e na TC

Abordagem de lesões quísticas renais na infância

INTRODUÇÃO: A presença de quistos renais na criança é rara, merecendo uma avaliação criteriosa. De um vasto leque de doenças renais e sistémicas que podem cursar com quistos renais na infância, destacam-se, por serem mais frequentes, as doenças renais poliquísticas de transmissão autossómica recessiva e dominante, o rim displásico multiquístico e a esclerose tuberosa. A ecografia é o método imagiológico de escolha para a avaliação destas lesões, por ser um exame acessível, informativo e inócuo. OBJECTIVO: Descrever a abordagem de lesões quísticas renais na infância detectadas por ecografia, expondo as características radiológicas das doenças e síndromes associadas. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Efectuou-se uma revisão teórica e pictórica tendo por base os casos diagnosticados no serviço de imagiologia do Hospital Fernando Fonseca. RESULTADOS: A caracterização ecográfica seriada e periódica dos quistos renais e do rim na sua globalidade, em conjunto com uma história clínica cuidada e, eventualmente, com a pesquisa dirigida de lesões noutros órgãos permite, na maioria dos casos, inferir o diagnóstico. CONCLUSÃO: Os quistos renais nas crianças são raros e implicam a pesquisa de uma patologia subjacente. Em idade pediátrica o diagnóstico de quisto simples idiopático deve ser um diagnóstico de exclusão

An intelligent home automation control system based on A novel heat pump and wireless sensor networks

One of technology's main goals is to providing comfort to humans. However, in order to be an aid, it has to be easy to install, use and maintain. The ever growing complexity of technological systems can only be achieved by converging different technologies. This is usually expressed as Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), previews the symbiosis of several technologies in order to make them more accessible. This paper attempts to demonstrate the integration between two technologies such as: Heat-pump System and Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) to provide a new control mechanism for new building generations so-called smart houses. The proposed control architecture benefits from our developed WSN hardware platform. It enables the user to control and monitor the ventilation system using our developed mobile application and/or a personal computer. Also, the performance of the proposed hardware platform is measured in three different environments in order to observer the coverage area of the WSN.Tiago Gomes is supported by FCT, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (grant SFRH/BD/90162/2012). This work is supported by FEDER through COMPETE and national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology in the framework of the project FCOMP-OI-0124-FEDER-022674