Oil hydrocarbon-bacteria interactions in coastal environments

The ability of microorganisms to use oil hydrocarbons as a source of carbon and energy is crucial for environmental oil detoxification. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on fundamental aspects of this process on specific habitats and under different climate scenarios. In the first phase of this work, the culturable fraction of the oil hydrocarbon (OH) degrading bacteria from the sea surface microlayer (SML) of the estuarine system Ria de Aveiro was characterized. In the second phase, the impact of oil contamination on the active bacterial community was studied under climate change scenarios. Pseudomonas emerged as the prevailing genera among OH degrading bacteria in the SML. Moreover, culture-independent methods revealed that the relative abundance and diversity of Gammaproteobacteria, in which Pseudomonas is included, varies along an estuarine gradient of contamination. In order to access the impact of oil contamination on microbial communities under climate change scenarios, an experimental life support system for microcosm experiments (ELLS) was developed and validated for simulation of climate change effects on microbial communities. With the ELSS it is possible to simulate, in controlled conditions, fundamental parameters of the dynamics of coastal and estuarine systems while maintaining community structure in terms of the abundance of the most relevant members of the indigenous bacterial community. A microcosm experiment in which the independent and combined impact of ultraviolet radiation, ocean acidification and oil contamination on microbial communities was conducted. The impact on bacterial communities was accessed with a 16S RNA (cDNA) based barcode pyrosequencing approach. There was a drastic decrease of Desulfobacterales relative abundance after oil contamination under the reduced pH value estimated for 2100, when compared to present values. Since members of this order are known OH degraders, such a significant decrease may have consequences on OH detoxification of contaminated environments under the pH levels of the ocean expected for the future. Metagenome predictions based on the 16S RNA database indicated that several degradation pathways of OH could be affected under oil contamination and reduced water pH. Taken together, the results from this work bring new information on the dynamics of OH degrading bacteria in coastal and estuarine environments under present and future climate scenarios.

Localização em espaços interiores por luz visível para robôs móveis

Esta dissertação investiga a localização em espaços interiores através da comunicação por luz visível para robôs móveis, com base nos LEDs fixos nos edifícios, dando particular atenção à simulação e desenho do sensor, com vista ao desenvolvimento de um sensor de localização. Explica-se o crescimento da tecnologia LED e da constante necessidade de localização do homem em espaços interiores. Apresentado algumas características do LED e dos foto-detetores existentes. Com uma breve referencia a algumas das comunicações por luz visível de baixo débito possíveis de implementar. O desenvolvimento do protótipo do sensor inicia-se, principalmente, pela simulação de alguns dispositivos essenciais e das suas caraterísticas, como o emissor LED no controlo do ^angulo de meia potência (HPA) e a altura a que se encontra, e no recetor foto-díodo e a sua restrição de campo de visão (FOV). Simula-se o sensor pretendido com o número de foto-díodos necessários otimizando o espaço físico disponível e fazendo não só um refinamento no FOV mas também na distribuição espacial dos foto-díodos com funções predefinidas para a redução de incertezas de decisão de localização do robô. Estes resultados permitiram a construção física do sensor, desde o suporte para os foto-díodos, tendo em conta todas as medidas durante as simulações, e terminando com o desenvolvimento dos sensores e a sua integração completa. O tratamento de dados da leitura dos sinais recebidos do sensor são tratados por um microcontrolador, permitindo calcular parâmetros fundamentais no cálculo da posição. No final, os resultados teóricos bem como os práticos obtidos ao longo do desenvolvimento e possíveis propostas para trabalhos futuros que beneficiam desta investigação

Eigenfunctions and fundamental solutions of the Caputo fractional Laplace and Dirac operators

In this paper, by using the method of separation of variables, we obtain eigenfunctions and fundamental solutions for the three parameter fractional Laplace operator defined via fractional Caputo derivatives. The solutions are expressed using the Mittag-Leffler function and we show some graphical representations for some parameters. A family of fundamental solutions of the corresponding fractional Dirac operator is also obtained. Particular cases are considered in both cases.

An extreme planetary system around HD 219828: one long-period super Jupiter to a hot-Neptune host star

Context. With about 2000 extrasolar planets confirmed, the results show that planetary systems have a whole range of unexpected properties. This wide diversity provides fundamental clues to the processes of planet formation and evolution. Aims: We present a full investigation of the HD 219828 system, a bright metal-rich star for which a hot Neptune has previously been detected. Methods: We used a set of HARPS, SOPHIE, and ELODIE radial velocities to search for the existence of orbiting companions to HD 219828. The spectra were used to characterise the star and its chemical abundances, as well as to check for spurious, activity induced signals. A dynamical analysis is also performed to study the stability of the system and to constrain the orbital parameters and planet masses. Results: We announce the discovery of a long period (P = 13.1 yr) massive (m sini = 15.1 MJup) companion (HD 219828 c) in a very eccentric orbit (e = 0.81). The same data confirms the existence of a hot Neptune, HD 219828 b, with a minimum mass of 21 M⊕ and a period of 3.83 days. The dynamical analysis shows that the system is stable, and that the equilibrium eccentricity of planet b is close to zero. Conclusions: The HD 219828 system is extreme and unique in several aspects. First, ammong all known exoplanet systems it presents an unusually high mass ratio. We also show that systems like HD 219828, with a hot Neptune and a long-period massive companion are more frequent than similar systems with a hot Jupiter instead. This suggests that the formation of hot Neptunes follows a different path than the formation of their hot jovian counterparts. The high mass, long period, and eccentricity of HD 219828 c also make it a good target for Gaia astrometry as well as a potential target for atmospheric characterisation, using direct imaging or high-resolution spectroscopy. Astrometric observations will allow us to derive its real mass and orbital configuration. If a transit of HD 219828 b is detected, we will be able to fully characterise the system, including the relative orbital inclinations. With a clearly known mass, HD 219828 c may become a benchmark object for the range in between giant planets and brown dwarfs.