Modeling the Western Iberian margin circulation: present and future

The purpose of this work is to carry out a comprehensive study on the Western Iberian Margin (WIM) circulation my means of numerical modeling, and to postulate what this circulation will be in the future. The adopted approach was the development of a regional ocean model configuration with high resolution, capable of reproducing the largeand small-scale dynamics of the coastal transition zone. Four numerical experiences were carried out according to these objectives: (1) a climatological run, in order to study the system’s seasonal behavior and its mean state; (2) a run forced with real winds and fluxes for period 2001-2011 in order to study the interannual variability of the system; (3) a run forced with mean fields from Global Climate Models (GCMs) for the present, in order to validate GCMs as adequate forcing for regional ocean modeling; (4) a similar run (3) for period 2071-2100, in order to assess possible consequences of a future climate scenario on the hydrography and dynamics of the WIM. Furthermore, two Lagrangian particle studies were carried out: one in order to trace the origin of the upwelled waters along the WIM; the other in order to portrait the patterns of larval dispersal, accumulation and connectivity. The numerical configuration proved to be adequate in the reproduction of the system’s mean state, seasonal characterization and an interannual variability study. There is prevalence of poleward flow at the slope, which coexists with the upwelling jet during summer, although there is evidence of its shifting offshore, and which is associated with the Mediterranean Water flow at deeper levels, suggesting a barotropic character. From the future climate scenario essay, the following conclusions were drawn: there is general warming and freshening of upper level waters; there is still poleward tendency, and despite the upwellingfavorable winds strengthening in summer the respective coastal band becomes more restricted in width and depth. In what concerns larval connectivity and dispersion along the WIM, diel vertical migration was observed to increase recruitment throughout the domain, and while smooth coastlines are better suppliers, there is higher accumulation where the topography is rougher.

Absorption coefficient of particulate matter on the south-west coast of Europe: a contribution to the validation of the MERIS-Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer sensor

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of the most important environmental variables of water quality, especially for marine life. Consequently, oxygen is one of the Chemical Quality Elements required for the implementation of European Union Water Framework Directive. This study uses the example of the Ria Formosa, a meso-tidal lagoon on the south coast of Portugal to demonstrate how monitoring of water quality for coastal waters must be well designed to identify symptoms of episodic hypoxia. New data from the western end of the Ria Formosa were compared to values in a database of historical data and in the published literature to identify long-term trends. The dissolved oxygen concentration values in the database and in the literature were generally higher than those found in this study, where episodic hypoxia was observed during the summer. Analysis of the database showed that the discrepancy was probably related with the time and the sites where the samples had been collected, rather than a long-term trend. The most problematic situations were within the inner lagoon near the city of Faro, where episodic hypoxia (<2 mg dm3 DO) occurred regularly in the early morning. These results emphasise the need for a balanced sampling strategy for oxygen monitoring which includes all periods of the day and night, as well as a representative range of sites throughout the lagoon. Such a strategy would provide adequate data to apply management measures to reduce the risk of more persistent hypoxia that would impact on the ecological, important natural resource. economic and leisure uses of this important natural resource.

Contribution d'experts, à l'aide de l'Internet, au développement des compétences discursives d'élèves de 6e année

Ce projet de recherche de type quasi-expérimental visait à favoriser le développement de compétences discursives chez des élèves de 6e année par l'application d'une démarche d'écriture associée à l'échange entre pairs et avec des experts. Les éléments discursifs d'un texte font référence à la capacité de juger la qualité d'un texte à partir de critères de cohérence, de structure et d'organisation des idées ainsi qu'à partir de composantes liées au respect du lecteur et de l'intention d'écriture. Trente-neuf élèves provenant d'un milieu socio-économique moyen ont participé à l'expérimentation alors que quarante-trois élèves composaient le groupe témoin. Tous les groupes d'élèves présentaient un niveau académique faible à moyen en français écrit. Dans le cadre de cette expérimentation, trois situations d'écriture ont été réalisées au cours d'une même année scolaire. Pour chacune de ces situations d'écriture, les élèves du groupe expérimental devaient écrire un texte et utiliser les questions-guides de la démarche proposée pour diriger leur attention sur les aspects discursifs du texte. Au cours de la démarche, les élèves participaient à des échanges de commentaires avec leurs pairs quant à la qualité de leur texte. Douze experts provenant des domaines du journalisme, de l'enseignement et de la littérature fournissaient des rétroactions aux élèves quant à la qualité de leur texte sur le plan discursif.

Régulation physiologique et perception de stress chez des parents d'enfants diagnostiqués d'un trouble du spectre de l'autisme : la contribution de la présence d'un chien d'assistance et des représentations associées à l'attachement

Les troubles du spectre de l'autisme (TSAR se caractérisent par des altérations au niveau de la réciprocité des interactions sociales, des habiletés de communication verbale et non verbale, ainsi que la présence de comportements et champs d'intérêts stéréotypés. Compte tenu des conclusions décrivant leurs parents comme vivant plus de stress comparativement aux parents d'enfants non diagnostiqués sur le spectre de l'autisme, il devient nécessaire d'offrir un soutien susceptible d'alléger leur quotidien et celui de leur enfant. Le recueil de données sur l'application d'une intervention novatrice qu'est l'intégration permanente d'un chien d'assistance au sein du milieu familial offrirait une contribution considérable basée sur les conclusions des études précédentes. Le modèle conceptuel de la présente étude réfère aux transactions entre la régulation diurne du cortisol, la perception de stress parental, la sévérité des atteintes comportementales de l'enfant ainsi que les représentations d'attachement de la mère. L'approche analytique s'oriente ainsi sur le caractère multidimensionnel des variables et s'intéresse particulièrement aux différences intra-individuelles dans l'adaptation parentale illustrée par l'activité totale de cortisol sur une période de 15 semaines. L'ensemble des données soulève la présence d'une sous-activation de l'axe 1-IPA ainsi qu'une perception de niveaux élevés de stress parental. Suivant une approche centrée sur la personne, les analyses ont permis de dégager deux profils distincts de régulation basés sur l'activité totale de cortisol salivaire. La présence du chien d'assistance au sein de la famille apporte des changements notables décrits par une diminution de la réponse du cortisol au réveil spécifique au sous-groupe de mères ayant un profil de sécrétion supérieur. L'étude apporte une démonstration empirique d'une hétérogénéité des patrons de régulation hormonale issus d'un même échantillon caractérisé par le vécu d'un stress chronique. L'efficacité d'une nouvelle forme d'intervention pouvant soulager les difficultés rencontrées par les parents est discutée selon un point de vue transdisciplinaire.

Spectroscopic techniques for characterizing portuguese glazed ceramics:a contribution to the study of ancient faiences of Coimbra

Tese de doutoramento, Física, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2013

The functional link between HFE and hepcidin- its contribution to iron metabolism regulation

Tese de doutoramento, Biologia (Biologia Molecular), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2013

Contribution to fundamental aspects of biophysics, radiobiology, and modeling of cellular response to low radiation doses

Tese de doutoramento, Engenharia Biomédica e Biofísica, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2014

Rewilding abandoned landscapes in europe : biodiversity impact and contribution to human well-being

Tese de doutoramento, Biologia (Biologia da Conservação), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2014

The Contribution of Academic Scholarship to Management Development.

Purpose: This paper explores the impact of academic scholarship on the development and practice of experienced managers. Design / Methodology: Semi-structured interviews with experienced managers, modelled on the critical incident technique. ‘Intertextuality’ and framework analysis technique are used to examine whether the use of academic scholarship is a sub-conscious phenomenon. Findings: Experienced managers make little direct use of academic scholarship, using it only occasionally to provide retrospective confirmation of decisions or a technique they can apply. However, academic scholarship informs their practice in an indirect way, their understanding of the ‘gist’ of scholarship comprising one of many sources which they synthesise and evaluate as part of their development process. Practical implications: Managers and management development practitioners should focus upon developing skills of synthesising the ‘gist’ of academic scholarship with other sources of data, rather than upon the detailed remembering, understanding and application of specific scholarship, and upon finding / providing the time and space for that ‘gisting’ and synthesis to take place. Originality / Value: The paper addresses contemporary concerns about the appropriateness of the material delivered on management education programmes for management development. It is original in doing this from the perspective of experienced managers, and in using intertextual analysis to reveal not only the direct but also the indirect uses of they make of such scholarship. The finding of the importance of understanding the ‘gist’ rather than the detail of academic theory represents a key conceptual innovation.

The role, organisation and contribution of community enterprise to urban regeneration policy in the UK

This monograph investigates the organisation, constitution and delivery of community-based organisations which are normally called community enterprises in the UK. These are organisations which emerge from local communities at the neighbourhood level, work in partnership with the public and private sectors, and provide a range of services to meet social, economic and environmental needs. The main focus of the paper is to explore how these organisations contribute to local regeneration strategies, generate social capital and contribute towards the promotion of civil society in general. The main emphasis is on organisations in England and Wales but comparisons are made with the USA and other countries where relevant literature is available. The key questions to be answered relate to the organisation and management of these bodies; the extent to which they engage with and contribute to local regeneration strategies; and the impact they have particularly in acquiring and managing assets. The diversity of the sector, and the range, scale and level of benefits it can deliver is illustrated through five detailed case studies of community enterprises established at different times, in different geographical locations and with different objectives and funding regimes. But, whilst the UK political economy is moving towards less state intervention and more community self-help, the community development corporations in the USA provide an indication of the future direction community enterprises might take in the UK as part of a broad trend towards civic capacity building.

Contribution of direct electron transfer mechanisms to overall electron transfer in microbial fuel cells utilising Shewanella oneidensis as biocatalyst

Objectives To investigate the contribution of direct electron transfer mechanisms to electricity production in microbial fuel cells by physically retaining Shewanella oneidensis cells close to or away from the anode electrode. Results A maximum power output of 114 ± 6 mWm−2 was obtained when cells were retained close to the anode using a dialysis membrane. This was 3.5 times more than when the cells were separated away from the anode. Without the membrane the maximum power output was 129 ± 6 mWm−2. The direct mechanisms of electron transfer contributed significantly to overall electron transfer from S. oneidensis to electrodes, a result that was corroborated by another experiment where S. oneidensis cells were entrapped in alginate gels. Conclusion S. oneidensis transfers electrons primarily by direct electron transfer as opposed to mediated electron transfer.

Cyclotech - contribution to solve the Technetium shortage by using low energy medical cyclotrons

This paper presents work in progress, to develop an efficient and economic way to directly produce Technetium 99metastable (99mTc) using low-energy cyclotrons. Its importance is well established and relates with the increased global trouble in delivering 99mTc to Nuclear Medicine Departments relying on this radioisotope. Since the present delivery strategy has clearly demonstrated its intrinsic limits, our group decided to follow a distinct approach that uses the broad distribution of the low energy cyclotrons and the accessibility of Molybdenum 100 (100Mo) as the Target material. This is indeed an important issue to consider, since the system here presented, named CYCLOTECH, it is not based on the use of Highly Enriched (or even Low Enriched) Uranium 235 (235U), so entirely complying with the actual international trends and directives concerning the use of this potential highly critical material. The production technique is based on the nuclear reaction 100Mo (p,2n) 99mTc whose production yields have already been documented. Until this moment two Patent requests have already been submitted (the first at the INPI, in Portugal, and the second at the USPTO, in the USA); others are being prepared for submission on a near future. The object of the CYCLOTECH system is to present 99mTc to Nuclear Medicine radiopharmacists in a routine, reliable and efficient manner that, remaining always flexible, entirely blends with established protocols. To facilitate workflow and Radiation Protection measures, it has been developed a Target Station that can be installed on most of the existing PET cyclotrons and that will tolerate up to 400 μA of beam by allowing the beam to strike the Target material at an adequately oblique angle. The Target Station permits the remote and automatic loading and discharge of the Targets from a carriage of 10 Target bodies. On other hand, several methods of Target material deposition and Target substrates are presented. The object was to create a cost effective means of depositing and intermediate the target material thickness (25 - 100μm) with a minimum of loss on a substrate that is able to easily transport the heat associated with high beam currents. Finally, the separation techniques presented are a combination of both physical and column chemistry. The object was to extract and deliver 99mTc in the identical form now in use in radiopharmacies worldwide. In addition, the Target material is recovered and can be recycled.

Contribution of different vegetable types to exogenous nitrate and nitrite exposure

This study reports the levels of nitrate and nitrite of 34 vegetable samples, including different varieties of cabbage, lettuce, spinaches, parsley and turnips, collected in several locations of an intensive agricultural area (Modivas, Vila do Conde, northern Portugal). Nitrate levels ranged between 54 and 2440 mg NO-3 kg-1, while nitrite levels ranged between 1.1 and 57 mg NO-2 kg-1. The maximum residue levels established for nitrate in spinach and lettuce samples were not exceeded. Nitrate and nitrite levels reported in the literature for the same type of samples are reviewed, as well as the contribution of vegetables to nitrate and nitrite dietary exposure of populations.