Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-02"
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- Deficiency of essential elements in volcanic soils : potential harmful health effects on grazing cattlePublication . Linhares, Diana P.; Pimentel, Adriano; Garcia, Patrícia; Rodrigues, ArmindoSeveral essential nutrients such as Fe, Co, Cu, I, Se, and Zn are vital to grazing cattle as they play a significant role in intracellular enzyme systems, with antioxidant and repair functions of DNA lesions. Feeds may supply most essential nutrients in adequate amounts. However, essential nutrient deficiencies are common and are mainly related to the geochemical characteristics of the soils, inherited from parent rocks. This study aims to assess the concentrations of the selected essential nutrients in topsoils and pasture grass from São Miguel Island (Azores) and discuss the possible effects of its deficiency in grazing cattle health. Sixty-eight samples of agricultural (pastures) topsoil and thirty samples of pasture grass were collected throughout São Miguel Island in areas with basaltic and trachytic parent rocks. Soil physicochemical properties and geochemical baselines of selected elements were determined on composite samples of soil and pasture grass in each site. Results indicate that the highest concentrations of the selected essential nutrients were observed in areas with basaltic soils, while the lowest values were found in areas with trachytic soils. These differences are considered of geogenic origin since they result from the weathering of volcanic parent rocks with different geochemical compositions. Data indicate a lack of some essential nutrients in topsoils (Co and Se) and/or pasture grass (Co, Cu, Se, and Zn) that can contribute to harmful health effects on grazing cattle. The uneven distribution of essential nutrients in topsoil and pasture grass and their deficiency can lead to several health problems in the cattle since these elements regulate physiological functions in biological systems. The identification of these deficit sites is important as it can help farmers to implement soil and/or animal supplementation programs to diminish possible health problems.
- Comparative Analysis of the Polyphenols, Caffeine, and Antioxidant Activities of Green Tea, White Tea, and Flowers from Azorean Camellia sinensis Varieties Affected by Different Harvested and Processing ConditionsPublication . Paiva, Lisete S.; Rego, Clara; Lima, Elisabete; Marcone, Massimo; Baptista, JoséThis study evaluates the polyphenol profiles as well as caffeine (dry weight basis), and antioxidant activities of green tea (GTs), white tea (WTs), and flowers (Fl) samples from Azorean Camellia sinensis varieties affected by different harvested and processing conditions. Epicatechins derivatives, determined by RP-HPLC/PDAD, presented higher values in GTs with respect to WTs, decreasing as follows: epigallocatechin-3-gallate > epicatechin-3-gallate epicatechin >> epigallocatechin, and higher values in summer and early autumn than in spring. This was also accompanied by an in consistent withering time pattern. Esterified catechins were higher in all samples (100.8–312.3 mg/g) with respect to non-esterified catechins (15.1–37.7 mg/g). Caffeine (6.2–27.7 mg/g) decreased as follows: WTs > GTs >> Fl, and inconsistent seasonal and withering patterns were observed among the WTs. Total phenolics (125.9–295.4 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dried extract) and total flavonoids (35.2–69.7 mg rutin equivalents/g dried extract), determined by Folin–Ciocalteu and colorimetric methodologies, were higher in GTs than in WTs and Fl. Concerning the antioxidant patterns, the free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) presented EC50 values ranges from 3.6 to 17.3 µg/mL and 4.8 to 16.5 µg/mL, respectively, and ferrous ion-chelating (FIC) activity ranged from 47.1 to 82.8%, highlighting that FRSA was better than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Tea leaves exhibited, in general, higher activities with respect to tea Fl, and the WT sample plucked in summer and withered for 23 h showed the highest FRAP and FIC activity. In conclusion, this study shows the characteristic variation of GTs, WTs, and Fl of two tea varieties and may support crop quality improvement and promote the valorization of tea Fl.
- Bem-Te-Quero : uma proposta de intervenção para uma parentalidade competentePublication . Soares, Sara Pacheco; Tavares, Sara Catarina Pontes; Amen, Joana; Caldeira, Suzana NunesEste artigo apresenta o Programa Bem-Te-Quero, uma proposta de intervenção no âmbito da prevenção primária dirigida a pais de crianças dos zero aos dezoito meses. Resulta da experiência de profissionais da psicologia que intervêm com famílias em situação de precariedade social, conjugada com a de profissionais que trabalham com crianças em situação de risco e perigo e, ainda, profissionais do meio académico. Concetualmente o Bem-Te-Quero fundamenta-se em premissas consolidadas na literatura, sublinhando-se duas: o reconhecimento da importância da primeira infância enquanto etapa fundamental para o desenvolvimento e para que cada um se torne num adulto funcional, participativo e responsável; as intervenções centradas nas famílias e nas suas funções facilitarem a capacidade de mudança daquelas, no sentido de as tornar mais competentes, recetivas e ativas em prol dos seus membros e das dinâmicas entre eles.
- Gastropods with different development modes respond differently to habitat fragmentationPublication . Cacabelos, Eva; Neto, Ana I.; Martins, Gustavo M.The role of the human-made structures in coastal ecosystems can determine the spatial distribution or patterns of spatial abundances of marine organisms. To contribute to the understanding of linkages between different components of habitats (i.e. natural and artificial structures), we explored the role of type of larval development (planktotrophic vs. non-planktotrophic) on patterns of spatial variation of gastropods on rocky shores, elucidating the possible responsibility of habitat fragmentation on their distribution. Obtained results suggest that habitat fragmentation affects differently the patterns of variability of species with different types of larval development. Namely, fragmentation caused by artificial structures mostly influence variability of species with non-planktotrophic development. Moreover, although abundance of the species with non-planktotrophic development varied at small spatial scales, suggesting that processes operating at this scale are likely the main drivers of their distribution, changes in species variability were not associated with differences in species abundance among habitats.
- Unity and Multiplicity : the road to Openness. Plotinus in Henri Bergson’s ThoughtPublication . Costa Carvalho, MagdaLooking for the influence of the Plotinian thought on Henri Bergson’s philosophy is not an easy task to fulfil. I’ve been devoted to it for two or three times in the last few years and each time I try to think about the subject I end up with what seems to be another piece of the puzzle. This would obviously be a good thing if I didn’t also end up with different ideas about the whole picture represented in that puzzle. Mainly for this reason, my paper didn’t end up being what it was initially planned to be. And because the presence of Plotinus in Bergson’s work is a subject to which I can’t find a linear answer, my title is now more of a future path to cross, than a present reality.
- Performance parameters of ETICS : Correlating water resistance, bio-susceptibility and surface propertiesPublication . Parracha, João Luís; Borsoi, Giovanni; Flores-Colen, Inês; Veiga, Rosário; Nunes, Lina; Dionísio, Amélia; Gomes, M. Glória; Faria, PaulinaThe use of External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) significantly increased in the last decades due to their enhanced thermal properties, low installation cost and ease of application, not only in new constructions but also for thermal retrofitting of building facades. These multilayer rendering systems are constantly exposed to weathering agents and anthropic factors which can lead to physical-mechanical and aesthetical anomalies and thus affect their durability. However, possible synergetic effects among these agents are often neglected by international technical documents on the evaluation of the effectiveness and durability of ETICS. With the aim of filling this gap, moisture transport properties (capillary water absorption, water vapor permeability, water absorption under low pressure, and drying kinetics), thermal conductivity, mould susceptibility and surface properties (color, gloss, and roughness) of twelve commercially available ETICS were assessed and discussed. Possible links between these factors were analyzed and ETICS performance parameters were defined. Results demonstrate that a deeper knowledge of the correlation among ETICS properties can effectively contribute to the evaluation of the efficiency and long-term durability of these systems.
- The failed invasion of Harmonia axyridis in the Azores, Portugal : climatic restriction or wrong population origin?Publication . Alaniz, Alberto J.; Soares, António O.; Vergara, Pablo M.; Azevedo, Eduardo B.; Grez, Audrey A.We tested two questions: (i) whether the climatic conditions of the Azorean Islands in Portugal may have restricted the invasion of Harmonia axyridis across this archipelago and (ii) determine what population of this species could have a higher probability of invading the islands. We used MaxEnt to project the climate requirements of different H. axyridis populations from three regions of the world, and the potential global niche of the species in the Azorean islands. Then we assessed the suitability of the islands for each of the three H. axyridis populations and global potential niche through histograms analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of climate variables, and a variable-by-variable assessment of the suitability response curves compared with the climatic conditions of the Azores. Climatic conditions of the Azores are less suitable for the U.S. and native Asian populations of H. axyridis, and more suitable for European populations and the global potential niche. The PCA showed that the climatic conditions of the islands differed from the climatic requirements of H. axyridis. This difference is mainly explained by precipitation of the wettest month, isothermality, and the minimum temperature of the coldest month. We concluded that the climatic conditions of the Azores could have influenced the establishment and spread of H. axyridis on these islands from Europe. Our results showed that abiotic resistance represented by the climate of the potentially colonizable zones could hinder the establishment of invasive insects, but it could vary depending of the origin of the colonizing population.
- The role of ecological specialization in shaping patterns of insular communitiesPublication . Sfenthourakis, Spyros; Triantis, Kostas A.; Proios, Konstantinos; Rigal, FrançoisAIM: Research on the response of species richness to area and environmental heterogeneity so far has not addressed possible effects of species’ differences in ecological specialization. Herein we provide a new metric, ‘ecorichness’, in an attempt to fill this gap. LOCATION: Aegean islands (Greece). TAXON: Terrestrial isopods. METHODS: ‘Ecorichness’ estimates an island's biodiversity by integrating species richness and the specialists-generalists spectrum. We calculated ‘ecorichness’ for terrestrial isopods from 43 Aegean islands based on the habitats they exploit. ‘Ecorichness’ then was regressed on area, habitat diversity and the K-parameter of the Choros model using linear and quadratic models, compared based on AICc. A reduced data set, without halophilous species and coastal habitats, as well as an alternative description of habitat diversity, also was explored. The small island effect (SIE) thresholds identified using both a path analysis approach and piecewise continuous linear models were compared to the area of maximum ‘ecorichness’. RESULTS: ‘Ecorichness’ response to area and habitat heterogeneity was best fitted by quadratic models with peaks located at an area similar to the SIE threshold identified by path analysis. Different measures of habitat diversity produced similar patterns. Exclusion of coastal species and habitats shows that the response of ‘ecorichness’ to area is mostly shaped by the increasing contribution of specialists in the assemblages of larger islands. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: ‘Ecorichness’ facilitates exploration of the role of ecological specialization in shaping community patterns. It can be applied to different community data sets, whenever habitat range exploitation can be quantified. Results from the case study accord with previous suggestions that the relative contribution of generalists and specialists differs between small and large island communities.
- First record of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829), in the Azores Islands, northeastern Atlantic Ocean (Testudines, Cheloniidae)Publication . Barcelos, Luis M. D.; Michielsen, Gerbrand; Sérgio, Bruno; Oliveira, Suzi; Barreiros, João P.While on their way northwestwards to D. João de Castro Bank in the Portuguese Azores Islands for diving and birdwatching on 9 October 2020, occupants of a rib boat from the Best Spot Azores Dive Center (São Miguel Island, Azores), spotted a sea turtle with a bird on top of its carapace, at a position halfway between Ponta dos Mosteiros on São Miguel Island and the bank (37.9676°N, 26.1671°W; Fig. 1). The bird was identified as a Common Tern (Sterna hirundo Linnaeus, 1758) and photos were taken. […].
- Trabalho (no) Feminino (1850-1926) : Histórias dos AçoresPublication . Gil, Ana Cristina Correia, dir.; Fialho, Adolfo Fernando da Fonte, ed.Neste número, a rubrica Agora dá notícia do webinar de apresentação pública dos resultados do Projeto Açores, retratos e tendências sociais, que estuda os principais indicadores estatísticos da sociedade e economia açorianas, e a rubrica Ágora partilha os propósitos de um interessante projeto de investigação em Ciências Sociais e Humanas sobre Trabalho (no) Feminino. A conversa escrita deste mês faz um balanço dos últimos anos de vida da FCSH, pelo olhar das atuais Coordenadoras dos diferentes departamentos desta Unidade Orgânica.
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