Fases de ocupação e cronologia absoluta da fortificação calcolítica do Outeiro Redondo (Sesimbra)

Estes resultados cronométricos deverão ser comparados com a cronologia absoluta já determinada para outros sítios pré-históricos da região de Lisboa. Da análise estatística das datas de radiocarbono para Leceia, o sítio arqueológico do Neolítico Final/Calcolítico com mais datas e mais bem datado dessa região, verifica-se que os contextos atribuíveis ao Calcolítico Inicial são datáveis do intervalo de tempo 2830-2520 cal BC (1!) ou de 2870-2400 cal BC (2 !) e os do Calcolítico Pleno do intervalo de tempo 2660-2210 cal BC (1 !# ou de 2850-1950 cal BC (2 !) (CARDOSO & SOARES, 1996). A ocupação da Moita da Ladra, atribuível ao Calcolítico Pleno, e com um conjunto apreciável de datas de radiocarbono, é datável do intervalo 2440-1950 cal BC (1 !) ou de 2560-1820 cal BC (2 !) (SOARES, CARDOSO & MARTINS, e.p.). Datas isoladas ou em pequenos conjuntos existem para outros contextos das Penínsulas de Lisboa e Setúbal (SOARES & CABRAL, 1993), as quais se integram bem nas cronologias atrás referidas. Valerá a pena relembrar as datas determinadas para o Castro da Rotura, dada a sua proximidade espacial em relação ao Outeiro Redondo e ao paralelismo existente entre as cerâmicas dos dois povoados. Segundo GONÇALVES & SOUSA (2006), para “um nível com cerâmicas finamente incisas, incluindo taças caneladas, aproximável do que hoje chamamos «Calcolítico Inicial»”, com paralelos estreitos no Calcolítico Inicial de Outeiro Redondo, foi datado de 4110±50 BP (OxA-5538) e 4075±55 BP (OxA-5537), enquanto que um “nível onde dominam as cerâmicas com decoração em folha de acácia ou crucífera (Calcolítico médio?)” foi datado de 3810±50 BP (OxA-5540) e 3820±50 BP (OxA-5539). Também todas estas datas se integram bem e confirmam a cronologia determinada para o Outeiro Redondo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Erratum: Martins, M.S., et al. Wideband and wIde beam polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) acoustic transducer for broadband underwater. Sensors 2019, 19, 3991

The authors wish to make the following erratum to this paper [...].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A calibração das datas de radiocarbono dos esqueletos humanos de Muge

As primeiras datas obtidas para os concheiros de Muge foram-no a partir de amostras de carvão (por conseguinte, da biosfera terrestre) nos anos cinquenta e sessenta do século passado e vêm eivadas de incertezas demasiado grandes, isto é, com desvios-padrão de 350 ou 300 anos 14C, o que as torna de muito pouca utilidade se se pretender construir uma cronologia precisa para estes concheiros mesolíticos. Actualmente, a maior parte das datas disponíveis para os concheiros de Muge foram determinadas a partir do colagéneo de amostras de ossos humanos provenientes de enterramentos que neles tiveram lugar. Embora se trate de amostras da biosfera terrestre, os valores das razões isotópicas das amostras datadas indicam que os indivíduos inumados tiveram uma dieta em que a percentagem dos alimentos de origem marinha/estuarina era elevada (Lubell e Jackes, 1988; Lubell et al., 1994; Umbelino, 2006). Por isso, as datas convencionais de radiocarbono obtidas a partir destas amostras terão de ser calibradas tendo em conta a percentagem de dieta de origem marinha/estuarina revelada pelas análises isotópicas e o valor do efeito de reservatório aplicável para aquela época, naquela área do estuário do Tejo, o que não tem sido feito

O povoado campaniforme fortificado da Moita da Ladra (Vila Franca de Xira, Lisboa)

O povoado calcolítico muralhado de Moita da Ladra implanta‑se no topo de uma elevada chaminé vulcânica, que domina todo o estuário do Tejo. O pretendido prosseguimento da exploração de uma pedreira de basalto no local determinou a sua escavação integral. As estruturas identificadas são de carácter defensivo e habitacional. As primeiras integram uma muralha de contorno elipsoidal, em parte desaparecida, mas cujo comprimento foi possível estimar em cerca de 80 m, possuindo a largura de cerca de 44 m, englobando duas torres maciças e uma entrada, voltada para o estuário do Tejo, que se estende do lado sul. O enorme esforço construtivo envolvido em tal operação explica‑se, sobretudo, pela preocupação de conferir visibilidade acrescida ao dispositivo implantado no topo da elevação, até pelo contraste oferecido com a coloração negra dos basaltos subjacentes. Esta evidência conduz a admitir que, a par da função defensiva corporizada pelo recinto muralhado – e talvez mais importante do que ela – estaria implícita, na sua construção, a necessidade de marcar fortemente o lugar, constituindo um verdadeiro marco construído na paisagem. Por outro lado, a implantação deste povoado calcolítico pode relacionar‑se com o controlo do acesso à vasta bacia interior correspondente à várzea de Loures, cuja rede de drenagem se articula, a montante, com a bacia hidrográfica do rio Sizandro, na parte vestibular da qual se localiza o povoado calcolítico fortificado do Zambujal. A única fase de ocupação identificada, condiz, por seu turno, com o facto de a edificação do dispositivo muralhado ter sido efetuada de uma única vez, correlativa de camada pouco potente contendo espólios arqueológicos escassos mas diversificados, caracterizados pela associação das cerâmicas decoradas do grupo «folha de acácia/crucífera» a produções campaniformes, de técnica pontilhada, integrando vasos marítimos e vasos com decorações geométricas. As datações de radiocarbono indicam que a ocupação do povoado se verificou na segunda metade do 3.º milénio a.C., tal como se observou noutros sítios altos e fortificados da região, como Penha Verde e Leceia, sendo coeva dos pequenos sítios abertos de encosta onde comunidades campaniformes de raiz familiar se dedicavam às atividades agropecuárias. As diferenças na qualidade dos recipientes campaniformes característicos de ambos os tipos de implantação indica que nos primeiros se sediaram as elites a quem caberia o controlo dos territórios respetivos, como foi o caso dos habitantes da Moita da Ladra. Por outro lado, a coexistência de produções campaniformes e não campaniformes do grupo «folha de acácia/crucífera», configura uma realidade cultural cuja importância foi devidamente valorizada no presente artigo

Multiple Linear Regression and Artificial Neural Networks to Predict Time and Efficiency of Soil Vapor Extraction

The prediction of the time and the efficiency of the remediation of contaminated soils using soil vapor extraction remain a difficult challenge to the scientific community and consultants. This work reports the development of multiple linear regression and artificial neural network models to predict the remediation time and efficiency of soil vapor extractions performed in soils contaminated separately with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, trichloroethylene, and perchloroethylene. The results demonstrated that the artificial neural network approach presents better performances when compared with multiple linear regression models. The artificial neural network model allowed an accurate prediction of remediation time and efficiency based on only soil and pollutants characteristics, and consequently allowing a simple and quick previous evaluation of the process viability

Design and Synthesis of CNS-targeted Flavones and Analogues with Neuroprotective Potential Against H2O2- and Aβ1-42-Induced Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cells

With the lack of available drugs able to prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the discovery of new neuroprotective treatments able to rescue neurons from cell injury is presently a matter of extreme importance and urgency. Here, we were inspired by the widely reported potential of natural flavonoids to build a library of novel flavones, chromen-4-ones and their C-glucosyl derivatives, and to explore their ability as neuroprotective agents with suitable pharmacokinetic profiles. All compounds were firstly evaluated in a parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) to assess their effective permeability across biological membranes, namely the blood-brain barrier (BBB). With this test, we aimed not only at assessing if our candidates would be well-distributed, but also at rationalizing the influence of the sugar moiety on the physicochemical properties. To complement our analysis, logD7.4 was determined. From all screened compounds, the p-morpholinyl flavones stood out for their ability to fully rescue SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells against both H2O2- and Aβ1-42-induced cell death. Cholinesterase inhibition was also evaluated, and modest inhibitory activities were found. This work highlights the potential of C-glucosylflavones as neuroprotective agents, and presents the p-morpholinyl C-glucosylflavone 37, which did not show any cytotoxicity towards HepG2 and Caco-2 cells at 100 μM, as a new lead structure for further development against AD.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia-UID/Multi/0612/2019Unión Europea-D3i4AD), FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IAPP, GA 61234

Ffau—framework for fully autonomous uavs

Nr. 024539 (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-024539) under grant agreement No 783221 UID/EEA/00066/2019Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), although hardly a new technology, have recently gained a prominent role in many industries being widely used not only among enthusiastic consumers, but also in high demanding professional situations, and will have a massive societal impact over the coming years. However, the operation of UAVs is fraught with serious safety risks, such as collisions with dynamic obstacles (birds, other UAVs, or randomly thrown objects). These collision scenarios are complex to analyze in real-time, sometimes being computationally impossible to solve with existing State of the Art (SoA) algorithms, making the use of UAVs an operational hazard and therefore significantly reducing their commercial applicability in urban environments. In this work, a conceptual framework for both stand-alone and swarm (networked) UAVs is introduced, with a focus on the architectural requirements of the collision avoidance subsystem to achieve acceptable levels of safety and reliability. The SoA principles for collision avoidance against stationary objects are reviewed and a novel approach is described, using deep learning techniques to solve the computational intensive problem of real-time collision avoidance with dynamic objects. The proposed framework includes a web-interface allowing the full control of UAVs as remote clients with a supervisor cloud-based platform. The feasibility of the proposed approach was demonstrated through experimental tests using a UAV, developed from scratch using the proposed framework. Test flight results are presented for an autonomous UAV monitored from multiple countries across the world.publishersversionpublishe

Haplotype diversity patterns in Quercus suber (Fagaceae) inferred from cpDNA sequence data

Chloroplast genome diversity in cork oak (Quercus suber) is characterised by the occurrence of haplotypes that are akin to those found in other Mediterranean oak species, particularly in Q. ilex and Q. rotundifolia, suggesting the possible presence of an introgressed chloroplast lineage. To further investigate this pattern, we reconstructed chloroplast haplotypes by sequencing four chloroplast markers (cpDNA), sampled across 181 individuals and 10 taxa. Our analyses resulted in the identification of two diversified chloroplast haplogroups in Q. suber, corresponding to a geographically widespread lineage and an Afro-Iberian lineage. Time-calibrated phylogenetic analyses of cpDNA point to a Miocene origin of the two haplogroups in Q. suber, suggesting that the Afro-Iberian lineage was present in cork oak before the onset of glaciation periods. The persistence of the two haplogroups in the western part of the species distribution range may be a consequence of either ancient introgression events or chloroplast lineage sorting, combined with different fixation in refugia through glaciation periods. Our results provide a comprehensive insight on the origins of chloroplast diversity in these ecologically and economically important Mediterranean oaks.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Haplotype diversity patterns in Quercus suber (Fagaceae) inferred from cpDNA sequence data

Chloroplast genome diversity in cork oak (Quercus suber) is characterised by the occurrence of haplotypes that are akin to those found in other Mediterranean oak species, particularly in Q. ilex and Q. rotundifolia, suggesting the possible presence of an introgressed chloroplast lineage. To further investigate this pattern, we reconstructed chloroplast haplotypes by sequencing four chloroplast markers (cpDNA), sampled across 181 individuals and 10 taxa. Our analyses resulted in the identification of two diversified chloroplast haplogroups in Q. suber, corresponding to a geographically widespread lineage and an Afro-Iberian lineage. Time-calibrated phylogenetic analyses of cpDNA point to a Miocene origin of the two haplogroups in Q. suber, suggesting that the Afro-Iberian lineage was present in cork oak before the onset of glaciation periods. The persistence of the two haplogroups in the western part of the species distribution range may be a consequence of either ancient introgression events or chloroplast lineage sorting, combined with different fixation in refugia through glaciation periods. Our results provide a comprehensive insight on the origins of chloroplast diversity in these ecologically and economically important Mediterranean oaks.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors