Browsing by Author "Lima, Ana"
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- Cryptomeria japonica : inovar para (re)criar valorPublication . Arruda, Filipe Martim Pacheco; Lima, Ana; Pavão, Alexandre; Baptista, José; Rosa, José S.; Lima, Elisabete[…] Por que as florestas são importantes? Os factos falam por si: as florestas cobrem 30% da superfície terrestre; armazenam cerca de 300 gigatoneladas de carbono na biomassa; são o habitat de mais de 80% de todas as espécies terrestres; são o meio de subsistência para cerca de 1,6 biliões de pessoas; contribuem para a saúde humana e bem estar, fatores fundamentais para a qualidade de vida de um indivíduo; oferecem proteção às bacias hidrográficas; previnem a erosão do solo e possuem um papel importante na mitigação das alterações climáticas. No que respeita especificamente à Região Autónoma dos Açores (RAA), a floresta constitui um elemento determinante da paisagem do arquipélago, ocupando cerca de um terço do território insular. Desta área, mais de 12 mil hectares estão ocupados por matas de criptoméria (Cryptomeria japonica), planta originária do Japão e introduzida nos Açores em meados do século XIX. […].
- Plasma aminothiol profile and some of its determinants in apparently Azorean subjectsPublication . Lima, Ana; Ferin, Rita; Baptista, José; Pavão, Maria LeonorOBJECTIVES. To evaluate the plasma aminothiol profile (PAP) and serumgamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity, aswell as plasma folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 concentrations, in 326 apparently healthy subjects from the Azores archipelago (Portugal). Also eventual relationships of PAP with conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis were investigated, aiming at the finding of early blood markers of the disease. DESIGN AND METHODS.This was an observational cross-sectional study, where participants were split into two groups: one with a normal and another with an altered PAP (at least one aminothiol out of its reference concentration range). RESULTS. About 76% of subjects had an altered PAP, mainly due to low glutathione levels (<1.5 μmol/L), mostly associated with normal GGT activity. Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was 10%, where only 33% had some B-vitamin deficiency. The risk for atherosclerosis wasmore evidenced in subjects exhibiting both deficient GSH concentration and increased serum GGT activity. CONCLUSIONS. An altered PAP, namely, when caused by low GSH levels in the absence of alterations in the Hcy, or Cys, or Cys-Gly concentrations and in serum GGT activity, might reveal a subclinical stage of atherogenesis and should be explored as a potential early marker of atherosclerosis.
- Plasma aminothiol profile in apparently healthy subjects from the Azores Archipelago, PortugalPublication . Pavão, Maria Leonor; Lima, Ana; Ferin, Rita; Baptista, José
- Reproductive cycle of the rissoid Alvania mediolittoralis Gofas, 1989 (Mollusca, Gastropoda) at São Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal)Publication . Ávila, Sérgio P.; Lima, Ana; Amaral, André; Martins, António; Rodrigues, ArmindoThe reproductive cycle of an Alvania species is studied for first time. Alvania mediolittoralis Gofas, 1989 is an endemic Azorean rissoid very common in sheltered places and particularly abundant among the algal turf covering the lower half of the intertidal and upper subtidal rocky shores. This species reproduces throughout the year, with two spawning peaks, one during early spring and the other in late autumn. In an attempt to relate to current paleobiogeographical studies, inferences are made regarding the ecological advantages of species with a continuous type of reproduction, on Azorean shores, during glacial episodes.