ABOVE-GROUND BIOMASS ESTIMATION OF OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA (L.) MILL. FOR FORAGE CROP IN A MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT BY USING NON-DESTRUCTIVE METHODS

In marginal lands Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) could be used as an alternative fruit and forage crop. The plant vigour and the biomass production were evaluated in Portuguese germplasm (15 individuals from 16 ecotypes) by non-destructive methods, 2 years following planting in a marginal soil and dryland conditions. Two Italian cultivars (Gialla and Bianca) were included in the study for comparison purposes. The biomass production and the plant vigour were estimated by measuring the cladodes number and area, and the fresh (FW) and dry weight (DW) per plant. We selected linear models by using the biometric data from 60 cladodes to predict the cladode area, the FW and the DW per plant. Among ecotypes, significant differences were found in the studied biomass-related parameters and several homogeneous groups were established. Four Portuguese ecotypes had higher biomass production than the others, 3.20 Mg ha−1 on average, a value not significantly different to the improved ‘Gialla’ cultivar, which averaged 3.87 Mg ha−1. Those ecotypes could be used to start a breeding program and to deploy material for animal feeding and fruit production.

A motivação como variável determinante da qualidade de vida no trabalho dos enfermeiros do Hospital do Espírito Santo de Évora E.P.E.

Ser enfermeiro supõe lidar com a ciência do cuidar. Porém, cada vez mais existe a preocupação de que estes profissionais igualmente devem ser cuidados. A qualidade de vida no trabalho deve ser transversal a todas as profissões e todos os trabalhadores, incluindo o assegurar da saúde, segurança e higiene no trabalho, assim como o bom relacionamento entre os colegas, um óptimo ambiente de trabalho e a prevenção de riscos psicossociais; para que a qualidade de vida no trabalho ocorra no seio laboral, a organização deve ter como objectivo a realização pessoal dos trabalhadores na sua profissão. Intrínseca a esta qualidade de vida, a motivação assume um papel preponderante na tomada de decisão dos trabalhadores, e, em particular, nos enfermeiros - existe o impulso que leva as pessoas a desempenharem determinadas actividades, atitudes ou funções. Neste âmbito, foi desenvolvido um estudo que englobou a população de enfermeiros do Hospital do Espírito Santo de Évora, apresentando como objectivo principal a verificação da motivação como variável determinante da qualidade de vida no trabalho desses mesmos profissionais. Foi efectuado um estudo de caso, recorrendo-se a uma metodologia mista para a validação ou não das hipóteses, estabelecendo-se a investigação num método não-experimental. Com este estudo pretende-se criar um instrumento de apoio aos órgãos de gestão do hospital mencionado, assim como às instituições influentes da zona de Évora. ABSTRACT: Being a nurse involves dealing with the science of caring. However, increasingly there is a concern that these professionals also should be well-taken care of. The quality of working life must be transversal to all the professions and all the workers, including assuring health, security and hygiene at work, as well as the good relationship between the colleagues, an excellent working environment and prevention of psychosocial risks; so that the quality of working life occurs within the workplace, the organization must have as its objective the fulfillment of workers in their profession. Intrinsic to this quality of life, motivation assumes a preponderant role in the decision­ making of the workers, and, in particular the nurses- the impulse exists to lead people to perform certain acts, attitudes or functions. ln this context, it was developed a study that involved the nurses in the Hospital do Espírito Santo de Évora E.P.E., presenting as its main objective the verification of motivation as a variable determining the quality of working life of these same professionals. We used a case study, involving a mixed methodology to validate or not the hypotheses, consequentially a non-experimental method in this research. With this research it is intended to create an instrument to support the management of the hospital in study, as well as the influential institutions in the area of Évora.

Caracterização material e microbiológica de espécimes fotográficos

Neste trabalho foram estudadas quatro espécies fotográficas, dois ambrótipos do séc. XIX e dois negativos de gelatina do séc. XX. Estas espécies são suscetiveis a degradações, físicas, químicas e microbiológicas. Técnicas de análise não destrutivas como, a fotografia, a microscopia ótica, a microscopia eletrónica de varrimento e espetroscopia de raios-X por dispersão em energias, a micro-espetroscopia de infravermelho em modo de reflexão total atenuada, a micro-espetroscopia de Raman e a micro-difração de raios-X foram utilizadas na caracterização material. A colonização microbiológica das amostras foi estudada através do isolamento e caracterização dos microrganismos contaminantes. Foram ainda realizados estudos de determinação de atividade celulolítica para os isolados fúngicos provenientes dos ambrótipos bem como ensaios de simulação, nos quais se utilizaram estes isolados para induzir contaminação em ambrótipos contemporâneos e assim avaliar o seu potencial biodeteriogénico. Foi ainda avaliado o potencial biodeteriogénico de isolados bacterianos em negativos de gelatina contemporâneos; Abstract: Material and microbiological characterization of photographic specimens This work presents a scientific study of four photographic specimens, two ambrotypes and two gelatin-silver negative plates from 19th and 20th century, respectively. These specimens are susceptible to physical, chemical and microbiological degradations. A non-destructive approach was used based on techniques such as technical photography, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, infrared micro-spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-rays micro-diffraction. Microbiological colonization of the samples was studied by isolation and characterization of the contaminating microorganisms. Studies to evaluate cellulolytic activity of fungal isolates from the ambrotypes were carried out and also simulation assays in which were used these isolated to induce contamination in contemporary ambrotypes were done to evaluate their biodeteriogenic potential. It was also studied the biodeteriogenic potential of the bacterial isolates from gelatin-silver negative plates which were subsequently inoculated in contemporary gelatin-silver negatives.

Portuguese ecotypes of Opuntia ficus-indica differ in biomass production

The Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller is a species from the Cactaceae family with the center of origin and domestication in central Mexico. This species introduction in the Iberia Peninsula occurred, probably, by the end of the 15th century, after the discovery of America, spreading later throughout the Mediterranean basin. In Portugal, O. ficus-indica is located, usually, with a typical ruderal behavior, at the edge of roads and paths. In Portugal, as in other Mediterranean regions, inlands areas are under severe draught during extensive summers, in particular, and global warming is expected to affect them deeply in the near future. O. ficus-indica, by its morpho-physiological characteristics and multiple economic uses, represent an alternative crop for those regions. Sixteen Portuguese O. ficus indica ecotypes and two ‘Italian’ cultivars ("Gialla" and "Bianca") were evaluated for plant vigor and biomass production, by nondestructive methods, in the two years following planting. Biomass production and plant vigor were measured by estimating cladode number, cladode area and fresh weight per plant. Linear models to predict the area of cladodes and fresh weight per plant were previously established using a biometric analysis of 180 cladodes. It was not possible to establish an accurate linear model for dry matter using non-destructive estimation. Significant differences were found among populations in the studied biomass-related parameters, and different groups were unfolded. A group of four Portuguese ecotypes outperformed in terms of biomass production, comparable with the “Gialla” cultivar. This group could be used to start a breeding program with the objective of deploy material for animal feeding, biomass and fruit production. Nevertheless, the ‘Gialla’ cultivar showed the best performance, achieving the highest biomass related parameters, not surprisingly for it is an improved plant material.

Analytical evaluation of paper degradation

The aim of this work was in first place to define a methodology for the use of Py-GC/MS as a characterization technique for the organic compounds present in paper samples containing foxing stains, paper have a complex structure and mostly consist with cellulose fibers. Additionally, it was intent to characterize paper samples containing foxing stains with a batch of non-destructive analytical techniques. The work intent to deepen our knowledge on foxing stains, its chemical nature and morphological aspects. For characterization of the morphology of paper samples and foxing stains was used photography under different illuminations and optical microscopy. The presence of fibers disruption was observed with scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and also the nature of the fillers that is present in different areas. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used for identification of the sizing agents, determination of the chemical composition of additives that were used for production of paper, and comparison between foxing stains and unfoxed areas was allowed. Micro X-ray diffraction was used to evaluate the crystalline fillers in the sample. Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS was used for chemical analysis to identify the organic components and different classes of organic compounds; Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi definir, em primeiro lugar, uma metodologia para o uso de Py-GC / MS como técnica de caracterização dos compostos orgânicos presentes em amostras de papel contendo manchas de foxing, o papel tem uma estrutura complexa e consiste principalmente com fibras de celulose. Além disso, pretendia caracterizar amostras de papel contendo manchas de raposas com técnicas analíticas não destrutivas. Para a caracterização da morfologia das amostras de papel e das manchas de foxing foi usada fotografia sob diferentes iluminações e microscopia óptica. A presença de fibras de ruptura foi observada por microscopia electrónica de varrimento juntamente com espectroscopia dispersiva de energia (EDS-SEM), assim como a natureza dos materiais de enchimento que está presente em diferentes áreas. Espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier em modo de reflexão total atenuada (ATR-FTIR) foi utilizada na identificação dos agentes de colagem, e na determinação da composição química de aditivos usados na produção de papel, e a comparação entre foxing manchas e áreas unfoxed foi deixada. Micro difracção de raios X foi usada para avaliar o enchimentos cristalinos na amostra. Cromatografia pirólise-gasosa / espectrometria de massa (Py-GC / MS) foi utilizada para análise química para identificar os componentes orgânicos e diferentes classes de compostos orgânicos.

Morphological and chemical characterization of tintypes and ambrotypes

The present work was done on two ambrotypes and two tintypes. It aimed evaluate their chemical and physical characteristics, especially their degradation patterns. Moreover, to understand the materials used for their production and cross-check analytical and historical information about the production processes. To do so multi-analytical, non-destructive methods were applied. Technical photography highlighted the surface morphology of the objects and showed the distribution of the protective coatings on their surfaces through UV radiation, which were very different between the four pieces. OM allowed for a detailed observation of the surfaces along with the selection of areas of interest to be analysed with SEM-EDS. SEM-EDS was the technique used most extensively and the one that provided the most insightful results: it allowed to observe the morphology of the image forming particles and the differences between highlights, dark areas and the interfaces between them. Also, elemental point analysis and elemental maps were used to identify the image forming particles as silver and to detect the presence of compounds related to the production, particularly gold used to highlight jewellery, iron as the red pigment and traces of the compounds used in the photographic process containing Ag, I, Na and S . Also, some degradation compounds were analysed containing Ag, Cu, S and Cl. With μ-FT-IR the presence of collodion was confirmed and the source of the protective varnishes was identified, particularly mastic and shellac, in either mixtures of the two or only one. μ-Raman detected the presence of metallic silver and silver chloride on the objects and identified one of the red pigments as Mars red. Finally, μ-XRD showed the presence of metallic silver and silver iodide on both ambrotypes and tintypes and hematite, magnetite and wuestite on the tintypes; RESUMO: O presente estudo foi desenvolvido sobre dois ambrótipos e dois ferrótipos. O propósito consiste em estudar as suas características químicas e físicas, dando particular ênfase aos padrões de degradação. Também é pretendido compreender os materiais usados na sua produção e relacionar esta informação analítca com dados históricos de manuais técnicos contemporâneos à produção dos objectos. Para tal foram utilizadas técnicas multi-analíticas e não destrutivas. O uso da fotografia técnica permitiu uma observação da morfologia das superficies dos objectos e da distribuição das camadas de verniz através da radiação UV, muito diferente entre os quatro. A microscopia óptica proporcionou uma observação detalhada das superfícies assim como a selecção de pontos de interesse para serem analisados com SEM-EDS. SEM-EDS foi a técnica usada mais extensivamente e a que proporcionou os resultados mais detalhados: observação da morofologia das partículas formadoras da imagem e as diferenças entre zonas de altas luzes, baixas luzes e as interfaces entre elas. A análise elemental e os mapas elementares foram usados para detectar prata nas partículas formadoras da imagem e a presença de compostos relacionados com a produção, em particular ouro utilizado para realçar joalharia, ferro no pigmento vermelho e vestígios de compostos utilizados no processo fotográfico incluindo Ag, I, Na e S. Do mesmo modo, alguns compostos de degradação foram analisados contendo Ag, Cu, S e Cl. Com μ-FT-IR a presença de colódio foi confirmada e identificada a origem dos vernizes, mástique e goma-laca, tanto em misturas dos dois como apenas um. Com μ-Raman foi detectada a presença de prata metálica e de cloreto de prata e identificado um dos pigmentos vermelhos como Mars red. Finalmente, μ-DRX revelou a presença de prata metálica e iodeto de prata tanto nos ambrótipos como nos ferrótipos e hematite, magnetite e wuestite nos ferrótipos.