Territorialisation and power in Portuguese America. The creation of comarcas (16th-18th centuries)

The general aim of this article is to analyse the political organisation of the territory in Portuguese America from the start of the building up of the Crown judiciary system from in the 16th to the 18th centuries and to look into the causes of its belatedness in comparison to what happened in Spanish America. The focus will however be on the comarcas through the reconstitution of the process leading to the setting up of these judiciary divisions. Four stages of this process will be identified and discussion will ensue over the social and political contexts in which these political and administrative novelties came to happen. It is claimed that the delay in the structuring of the judicial network in the States of Brazil and Maranhão stems from the fact that the Portuguese advance into the territories took place at a later stage. The comparisons between the two systems will also bring other differences to the fore, not least the greater rigidity of the Spanish model in contrast to the more experimental character of the Portuguese one, and the resilience found to exist in the donatarial system. It is also worth to point out that given solutions were the result of the will of central power as much as of local initiative, and it is suggested that the building up of the crown’s political apparatus (in which the judiciary network is included) brought about the connivance,albeit ephemeral, of social interests which are considered contradictory or irreconcilable by some authors.

The Scottish Parliament in the 15th and 16th centuries

Earlier histories of the Scottish parliament have been somewhat constitutional in emphasis and have been exceedingly critical of what was understood to be parliament's subservience to the crown. Estimates by constitutional historians of the extreme weakness of parliament rested on an assessment of the constitutional system. The argument was that many of its features were not consistent with a reasonably strong parliament. Because the 'constitution' is apparently fragmented, with active roles played by bodies such as the lords of articles, the general council and the convention of estates, each apparently suggesting that parliament was inadequate, historians have sometimes failed to appreciate the positive role played by the estates in the conduct of national affairs. The thesis begins with a discussion of the reliability of the printed text of APS and proceeds to an examination of selected aspects of the work of parliament in a period from c 1424-c 1625. The belief of constitutional historians such as Rait that conditions In Scotland proved unfavourable to the interests and. effectiveness of parliament in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, is also examined. Chapter 1 concludes that APS is a less than reliable text, particularly for the reign of James I. Numerous statutes were excluded from the printed text and they are offered below for the first time. These statutes have been a useful addition to our understanding of the reign of James I. Chapter 2 analyses the motives behind the schemes for shire representation and concludes that neither constitutional theory nor political opportunism explains the support which James I and James VI gave to these measures. Both these monarchs were motivated by the realisation that their particular ambitions were dependent on winning the support of the estates whose ranks should include representatives from the shires. Chapter 3 examines the method of electing the lords of articles, the composition of this committee, and some aspects of its operation. The conclusion is that in the main the estates were the deciding force in the choice of the lords of articles. The committee's composition was more a reflection of a desire for a balance between representatives from north and south of the Forth and for the most important burghs and clergy to be selected than an attempt at electing government favourites. The articles did exercise a significant control over the items which came before parliament but this control was not absolute and applied to government as well as private legislation. Chapter 4 questions the traditional view that the general council and convention of estates were the same body. It is argued that they were two different institutions with different powers, but that they nevertheless worked within certain limits and were careful not to usurp the authority of parliament. Chapter 5 concedes that taxation was sometimes decided outside parliament; that the irregularity of taxation certainly weakened the bargaining power of the estates and that the latter did not appear to capitalise on these occasions when taxation was an issue. But the tendency was to ensure that, whether in or out of parliament, the decision to impose taxation was taken by a large number of each estate. The infrequency of taxation was a direct consequence of an unwillingness among the estates to agree to a regular taxation and their preference to ensure for the crown an alternative source of income. Moreover taxation was one issue, which more than any other, would be subject to contentious opposition by the estates, and could lead to the crown's defeat. Chapter 6 is concerned with ecclesiastical representation after the Reformation and the church's attitudes to the possibility of ministerial representation. Some ministers had doctrinal misgivings but the majority came to believe that the church's absence from parliament bad severely reduced. the influence of the church. That no agreement was forthcoming on a system of ministerial representation, particularly after 1597, is attributable to the estates' unwillingness to compromise and, not to the strength of opposition in the church. Chapter 7 examines the institutions which are sometime seen as 'rivals' of parliament and concludes that institutions such as the privy council were generally very careful in matters which needed the approval of parliament, and seemed aware of the greater authority of parliament. Chapter 8 which illustrates how parliament had the right to be consulted in all important matters of state, brings together the main points of the earlier chapters and offers further illustrations of the essential role which parliament played in the conduct of national affairs. Whether or not the system can be regarded as constitutionally sound, the estates in Scotland could observe parliament's day-to-day operation with some satisfaction. All in all, there is little convincing evidence that parliament was as weak as some historians would have us believe.

Comparative Study of Four Portuguese 16th Century Illuminated Manueline Charters based on Spectroscopy and Chemometrics Analysis

The comparative study based on spectroscopic analysis of the materials used to produce four sixteenth-century Manueline Charters (the Charters of Alcochete, Terena, Alandroal and Evora) was performed following a systematic analytical approach. SEM–EDS, l-Raman and l-FTIR analysis highlighted interesting features between them, namely the use of different pigments and colourants (such as different green and yellow pigments), the presence of pigments alterations and the use of a non-expected extemporaneous material (with the presence of titanium white in the Charter of Alcochete). Principal component analysis restricted to the C–H absorption region (3000–2840 cm-1) was applied to 36 infrared spectra of blue historical samples from the Charters of Alcochete,Terena, Alandroal and Évora, suggesting the use of a mixture of a triglyceride and polysaccharide as binder.

New insight on the underdrawing of 16th Flemish-Portuguese easel paintings by combined surface analysis and microanalytical techniques

This paper focusses on the study of the underdrawings of 16th century easel paintings attributed to the workshop of the Portuguese-Flemish Master Frei Carlos. This investigation encompasses multidisciplinary research that relates the results of surface exams (infrared reflectography, standard light photography and infrared photography) with analytical investigations. The surface analysis of Frei Carlos’ underdrawings by infrared reflectography has shown heterogeneous work, revealing two different situations: (1) an abundant and expressive underdrawing, revealing a Flemish influence and (2) a simple and outlined underdrawing. This preliminary research raised an important question related to this Portuguese-Flemish workshop and to the analytical approach: Is the underdrawing's heterogeneity, as observed in the reflectograms, related to different artists or is this rather an effect that is produced due to the use of different materials in the underdrawing's execution? Consequently, if different materials were used, how can we have access to the hidden underdrawings? In order to understand the reasons for this dissemblance, chemical analysis of micro-samples collected in underdrawing areas and representing both situations were carried out by optical microscopy, micro Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) and micro-Raman spectroscopy (μ-Raman). Taking into account the different possibilities and practical and theoretical limitations of surface and punctual examinations in the study of easel painting underdrawings, the methodology of research was adjusted, sometimes resulting in a re-analysis of experimental results. This research shows the importance of combining multispectral surface exams and chemical analysis in the understanding of the artistic creative processes of 16th century easel paintings.

Calcium sulfate fillers and binders in Portuguese 15th and 16th centuries: Ground layers from a family painting workshop — Study by multianalytical spectroscopic techniques

This study presents results on a developed methodology to characterize ground layers in Portuguese workshops. In this work a set of altarpieces of the 15th and 16th centuries, assigned to Coimbra painting workshop was studied, overall the masters Vicente Gil (doc. Coimbra 1498–1525), Manuel Vicente (doc. Coimbra 1521–1530) and Bernardo Manuel (act. c. 1559–94), father, son and grandson, encompassing from late gothic to mannerist periods. The aim of the study is to compare ground layers, fillers and binders of Coimbra workshop, and to correlate their characteristics to understand the technical evolution of this family of painters, using complementary microscopic techniques. The cross-sections from the groups of paintings were examined by optical microscopy and the results were integrated through the analysis obtained by μ-X–ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X–ray Spectrometry, μ-confocal Raman and occasionally with μ-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy imaging. Ground layers are of calcium sulfate, present as gesso grosso (mainly anhydrite with small amounts of gypsum) in the first and last phases of the workshop and gesso mate (mainly gypsum with small amounts of anhydrite) in an intermediate period. Binders have protein and oleic characteristics.

The fingerprinting of the materials used in portuguese illuminated manuscripts: origin, production and specificities of the 16th century Anttiphonary paints from the Biblioteca Pública de Évora

This thesis focuses on the characterization of materials utilized within the illuminations of Codex 116c of Manizola, a large 16th century antiphonal housed in the Biblioteca Pública de Évora (BPE). Using various spectroscopic techniques (XRF, FTIR, Raman and SEM-EDS), a selection of illuminations were analyzed for pigment and binder identification. The manuscript was further analyzed using fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), a non-invasive and portable analysis method ideal for use in illuminations. Using historical documentation and results gained from more extensive analysis of the manuscript, a collection of reference paint samples were created to be analyzed using this method. These samples serve as a reference not only to assist in the identification of pigments used within the manuscript, but also for future studies on similar materials allowing for a better understanding of manuscript production during the 16th century; RESUMO: O presente trabalho é dedicado à caracterização dos materiais utilizados na produção das iluminuras do Codex 116c da Manziola do espólio da Biblioteca Pública de Évora (BPE). Trata-se de um antifonário de grandes dimensões produzido no séc XVI que deverá ter pertencido à Livraria de São Bento de Cástris. A identificação dos materiais utilizados na produção das iluminuras pode ser feita através de análises científicas. No entanto, alguns dos componentes das tintas utilizadas, especialmente os pigmentos orgânicos (lacas) e algumas misturas, apresentam obstáculos à sua identificação por métodos não invasivos. Através de várias técnicas espectroscópicas (XRF, FTIR, Raman e SEM-EDS), foi analisado um conjunto representativo de iluminuras, de modo a identificar os pigmentos e os ligantes presentes nas tintas. O manuscrito foi também analisado por FORS, um método portátil e não invasivo, ideal para a análise de iluminuras. Com base em documentos históricos e nos resultados analíticos, foi criado um conjunto de amostras de referência para ser analisado com FORS. Com esta abordagem, pretende-se que estas amostras, especialmente as de lacas, sirvam de referência não só na identificação dos pigmentos no manuscrito como em estudos sobre materiais semelhantes, contribuindo para um conhecimento mais aprofundado sobre a produção de manuscritos no séc XVI.

Effect Of Pitavastatin On Vascular Reactivity In Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits.

Pitavastatin is the newest statin available in Brazil and likely the one with fewer side effects. Thus, pitavastatin was evaluated in hypercholesterolemic rabbits in relation to its action on vascular reactivity. To assess the lowest dose of pitavastatin necessary to reduce plasma lipids, cholesterol and tissue lipid peroxidation, as well as endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Thirty rabbits divided into six groups (n = 5): G1 - standard chow diet; G2 - hypercholesterolemic diet for 30 days; G3 - hypercholesterolemic diet and after the 16th day, diet supplemented with pitavastatin (0.1 mg); G4 - hypercholesterolemic diet supplemented with pitavastatin (0.25 mg); G5 - hypercholesterolemic diet supplemented with pitavastatin (0.5 mg); G6 - hypercholesterolemic diet supplemented with pitavastatin (1.0 mg). After 30 days, total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, glucose, creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured and LDL was calculated. In-depth anesthesia was performed with sodium thiopental and aortic segments were removed to study endothelial function, cholesterol and tissue lipid peroxidation. The significance level for statistical tests was 5%. Total cholesterol and LDL were significantly elevated in relation to G1. HDL was significantly reduced in G4, G5 and G6 when compared to G2. Triglycerides, CK, AST, ALT, cholesterol and tissue lipid peroxidation showed no statistical difference between G2 and G3-G6. Significantly endothelial dysfunction reversion was observed in G5 and G6 when compared to G2. Pitavastatin starting at a 0.5 mg dose was effective in reverting endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Impact Of Pregabalin Treatment On Synaptic Plasticity And Glial Reactivity During The Course Of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease that affects young adults. It is characterized by generating a chronic demyelinating autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system. An experimental model for studying MS is the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), induced by immunization with antigenic proteins from myelin. The present study investigated the evolution of EAE in pregabalin treated animals up to the remission phase. The results demonstrated a delay in the onset of the disease with statistical differences at the 10th and the 16th day after immunization. Additionally, the walking track test (CatWalk) was used to evaluate different parameters related to motor function. Although no difference between groups was obtained for the foot print pressure, the regularity index was improved post treatment, indicating a better motor coordination. The immunohistochemical analysis of putative synapse preservation and glial reactivity revealed that pregabalin treatment improved the overall morphology of the spinal cord. A preservation of circuits was depicted and the glial reaction was downregulated during the course of the disease. qRT-PCR data did not show immunomodulatory effects of pregabalin, indicating that the positive effects were restricted to the CNS environment. Overall, the present data indicate that pregabalin is efficient for reducing the seriousness of EAE, delaying its course as well as reducing synaptic loss and astroglial reaction.

MODELING THE UNVOICED COMPONENT IN THE CANONICAL REPRESENTATION OF SPEECH

The canonical representation of speech constitutes a perfect reconstruction (PR) analysis-synthesis system. Its parameters are the autoregressive (AR) model coefficients, the pitch period and the voiced and unvoiced components of the excitation represented as transform coefficients. Each set of parameters may be operated on independently. A time-frequency unvoiced excitation (TFUNEX) model is proposed that has high time resolution and selective frequency resolution. Improved time-frequency fit is obtained by using for antialiasing cancellation the clustering of pitch-synchronous transform tracks defined in the modulation transform domain. The TFUNEX model delivers high-quality speech while compressing the unvoiced excitation representation about 13 times over its raw transform coefficient representation for wideband speech.

NEWS CONCERNING A CERTAIN TAMOIO CONFEDERATION

In this article we revisit a famous chapter of Brazilian history, yet to be properly analysed from an ethnological perspective: the `Tamoio confederation,` a coalition of 16th century coastal Tupian groups who threatened to undermine Portuguese colonization during the dispute between the French and Portuguese for the Guanabara region (now Rio de Janeiro). Was this `confederation` a new phenomenon in Tupian politics, engendered by the Conquest and inducing a shift towards political centralization? Or was it, on the contrary, the actualization of a possibility already (always) present in Tupian forms of political organization and action? These are the questions guiding our inquiry, which we seek to answer through the use of both historical sources and the in-depth ethnological knowledge of Tupi-Guarani peoples developed by various authors over recent decades.

Pentoxyphylline in association with vitamin E reduces cutaneous fibrosis in systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disorder characterized by skin thickness and vasculopathy. The objective of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of the association of pentoxyphylline and vitamin E in SSc patients. Twelve SSc patients (American College of Rheumatology criteria) enrolled this 24-week open-label study. Patients received daily 800 mg of pentoxyphylline and 800 UI of vitamin E and were evaluated at 4-week interval. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in Modified Rodnan Skin Score (MRSS) at week 24. Nine diffuse SSc patients treated 6 months with cyclophosphamide were used as a historical control group. The mean age of the treated group was 43.6 years, and ten of 12 (84%) patients were women. Their mean MRSS reduced from 25.7 to 18.7 (p = 0.03) at 16th week and remained significantly reduced throughout the study. In contrast, only a trend of MRSS reduction was observed in the historical control group (p = 0.06). Two patients started the study with active ischemic ulcers and ended with a complete healing of them. No serious side effects were reported. Pentoxyphylline and vitamin E might be an alternative therapeutic approach in SSc patients.

Effects of Prepartum Ingestion of Ipomoea carnea on Postpartum Maternal and Neonate Behavior in Goats

Ipomoea carnea is a toxic plant that grows in tropical areas, and is readily consumed by grazing goats. The plant contains the alkaloids swainsonine and calystegines, which inhibit cellular enzymes and cause systematic cell death. This study evaluated the behavioral effects on dams and kids of prenatal ingestion of this plant. Freshly harvested leaves of I. carnea (10 g/kg body weight) were fed daily to nine pregnant goats from the fifth to the 16th week of gestation; five pregnant goats were controls. Dam and kid behavior were evaluated during 2-hr postpartum. Further evaluation of the offspring was performed using various tests after birth: (1) reaching and discriminating their dam from an alien doe (two tests at 12-hr postpartum), and (2) navigating a progressive maze (2, 4, and 6 days postpartum). Postnatal (n=2) and fetal (n=2) mortality were observed in the treated group. Intoxicated kids had difficulty in standing at birth, and only one was able to suckle within 2 hr of birth. Treated kids were slower than controls to arrive at their dam in the discrimination test; treated kids often (seven of nine completed tests) incorrectly chose the alien dam (controls: 0/10 tests). During some runs on days 2, 4, and 6 postpartum, treated kids were slower to leave the starting point of the maze, and were slower to arrive at the dam on all test days. This study suggests that the offspring of pregnant goats given I. carnea during gestation have significant behavioral alterations and developmental delays. Birth Defects Res (Part B) 92:131-138, 2011. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

O pátio jesuítico no Palácio Anchieta: narrativas tipomorfológicas e paisagísticas na cidade de Vitória (ES)

A hipótese defendida nesta pesquisa se baseia na possibilidade de a arquitetura jesuítica implantada em terras brasileiras (século XVI) dialogar e agenciar, num mesmo corpo edificado, e de modo inter-relacionado, aspectos relativos à morfologia urbana, tipologia e paisagem. Lama explica que, como disciplina, a morfologia urbana agrega para si não somente o ambiente construído, mas os meios pelos quais este foi construído em sua interação com a forma urbana, ou seja, os “fenômenos sociais, econômicos e outros motores da urbanização” (LAMAS, 1992). Entender a forma urbana é entender seus elementos constituintes, “quer em ordem à leitura ou análise do espaço, quer em ordem à sua concepção ou produção” (LAMAS, 1992). Estudar a forma urbana significa compreender o lugar onde se insere a cidade e seus elementos constituintes, seus espaços e a inter-relação entre eles e seu contexto, em um espectro abrangente do que se denomina cidade, e urbano. A tipologia arquitetônica e a morfologia urbana estão interligadas no cerne de suas análises, considerando que ambas, segundo Pereira, estudam “duas ordens de fatos homogêneos” (PEREIRA, 2012); estudam elementos constituintes da cidade – arquitetônicos e espaciais – que se sobrepõem ou se complementam de acordo com a escala de análise utilizada. A arquitetura jesuítica do Brasil colonial modela de modo determinante a construção de distintos núcleos urbanos originários na costa brasileira no século XVI. Isso, por meio da implantação de tipologia edilícia que acompanha a doutrina jesuítica de localização e escolha do sítio para suas construções, preconizando segurança, visibilidade do entorno e facilidade de acesso por rios ou pelo mar. Essas construções, realizadas em áreas elevadas, marcaram, por conseguinte, no tempo e no espaço, a paisagem dos primeiros núcleos urbanos brasileiros. A pesquisa analisou um dos exemplares históricos da arquitetura jesuítica no Estado do Espírito Santo, especificamente na cidade de Vitória, capital e núcleo urbano original da colonização portuguesa neste Estado. A instalação dos jesuítas na antiga Vila da Vitória, no séc. XVI, através de sua igreja dedicada a São Tiago e de seu colégio anexo, marca a presença tipológica de uma arquitetura religiosa que influencia a própria morfologia da cidade – caracterizando esta arquitetura como um tipomorfológico - e, por reflexo, participa da construção de sua paisagem urbana secular. Entende-se que o antigo complexo jesuítico de São Tiago e atual Palácio Anchieta, sede governamental e prédio cultural capixaba, é uma arquitetura que permeia estas três grandes narrativas arquitetônicas e urbanas: a tipologia, a morfologia e a paisagem.

Organização parlamentar, processo decisório e produção legislativa no cenário político capixaba : uma análise da Assembléia do Estado do Espírito Santo na 16ª legislatura (2007-2010)

Esta pesquisa é um estudo sobre o processo legislativo e a produção de leis na ALES, durante a 16ª Legislatura. O escopo do estudo foi o de analisar o impacto das regras, contidas no regimento interno e na Constituição estadual, na produção de leis entre 2007 e 2010. O pressuposto geral da abordagem advém do Novo Intitucionalismo como movimento teórico da Ciência Política contemporânea, que nos permite inferir que as regras institucionais, para além de serem simples regras de organização das Casas Legislativas, influenciam no processo decisório e, consequentemente, na produção de leis. Importando as análises dos modelos distributivo, informacional e partidário de organização dos Legislativos, a pesquisa permitiu concluir que, a ALES, de 2007 a 2010, manteve seus trabalhos alinhados à versão distributiva. O parlamentar capixaba atuou, individualmente, a fim de manter suas bases eleitorais. Com relação à atuação do sistema comissional, foi identificada a inaptidão das comissões da ALES para influenciar o processo decisório. As comissões permanentes não possuem capacidade de moldar os projetos que por elas tramitam. O regime de tramitação influencia diretamente a produção de leis da ALES, notadamente, nas leis de autoria do Executivo, já que estas, tramitaram, quase que na totalidade, em regime de urgência. No que tange aos partidos, a fragmentação partidária identificada na ALES acaba por refletir nos dados obtidos sobre a produção de leis, na medida em que não existe uma verdadeira articulação em torno dos partidos como atores determinantes no processo legislativo da ALES. Enfim, em apertada síntese, foi possível constatar a imposição da agenda de trabalhos pelo Executivo. Os projetos aprovados, de temas importantes e abrangência estadual, foram, em sua maioria, propostos pelo Executivo; a urgência impacta frontalmente os projetos do Executivo, que são aprovadas em pequeno espaço de tempo; as comissões não possuem poder mínimo de influência nos projetos de autoria do Executivo; e os partidos, altamente fragmentados, não constituem instância com capacidade de articulação.