Jisc | Equipment market research report

Market research report for equipment sharing (equipment.data) run by Jisc. Ouctomes have been synthesised and written by Shift Learning.

Características do gás durante a gasificação de biomassa em leito fluidizado

Durante os últimos anos, a procura mundial de recursos energéticos renováveis tem sofrido um grande aumento. Neste grupo insere-se a biomassa, cuja conversão termoquímica, principalmente através de tecnologias de combustão e gasificação, é utilizada para a produção de energia térmica e elétrica. No processo de gasificação de biomassa é possível obter um combustível gasoso secundário com variadas aplicações, podendo inclusive servir como substituto do gás natural. No entanto, ao contrário da combustão, esta tecnologia aplicada à biomassa ainda está em fase de demonstração a nível industrial, apresentando algumas limitações em alguns aspetos tecnológicos, entre os quais a qualidade do gás produzido. Neste contexto, e com o objetivo de contribuir para o conhecimento da aplicabilidade desta tecnologia, surge o presente trabalho, onde a caracterização e definição das condições de operação de um gasificador de biomassa, bem como a caracterização do gás produzido foram objeto de estudo. Foi realizado um conjunto de experiências de gasificação direta, num reator de leito fluidizado borbulhante à escala piloto, com dois tipos de biomassa tipicamente encontrados em Portugal, e para diferentes condições de operação do gasificador, nomeadamente no que diz respeito à razão de equivalência. A biomassa utilizada consistiu em pellets comerciais de madeira e estilha de biomassa florestal residual derivada de pinheiro (Pinus pinaster), e resultante de operações florestais em Portugal. Na gama de temperatura do leito aplicada, tipicamente entre 800ºC e 875ºC, o reator funcionou em condições auto térmicas, isto é, sem a necessidade de recorrer a uma fonte de calor auxiliar externa. Em relação à composição do gás seco durante o processo de gasificação, os gases presentes em maior percentagem (em volume), para as experiências com ambos os tipos de biomassa, são o CO2 e o CO, com o primeiro a registar valores médios entre os 13.4% e os 16%, e o segundo entre 11.3% e 16.3%. Por ordem decrescente de concentração encontra-se o H2, na gama de 5.8% a 12.7%, o CH4 com valores médios entre 2.8% e 4.5%, e o C2H4 com concentrações médias entre 1.0% e 2.2%. Importa referir ainda a ausência de O2 no gás produzido. Verificou-se na concentração de H2, a principal diferença na composição do gás seco relativamente à gasificação dos dois combustíveis utilizados, com valores de concentração inferiores durante a operação com estilha de biomassa florestal residual derivada de pinheiro. Nas várias experiências realizadas, e para as condições operatórias utilizadas, observou-se que a razão de equivalência (RE) exerce um efeito significativo na composição do gás, verificando-se, genericamente, que com o aumento da RE a concentração de gases combustíveis diminui. Os valores de Poder Calorífico Inferior (PCI) obtidos para o gás seco produzido encontram-se na gama 3.4-5.6 MJ/Nm3, sendo que os valores mais elevados foram registados no decorrer dos ensaios de gasificação com pellets de madeira. Para ambos os combustíveis, o PCI do gás seco diminui com o aumento da RE.

Gewebeansatz-Strukturen auf pyritisierten Steinkernen von Ammonoideen

3400 pyritized internal moulds of Upper Devonian, Triassic, Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous ammonoids show various soft tissue attachment structures. They are preserved as regularly distributed black patterns on the moulds. All structures can be interpreted as attachment areas of muscles, ligaments and intracameral membranes. Paired structures are developed along the umbilicus and on the flanks of the moulds, unpaired ones appear on the middle of their dorsal and ventral sides. Strong lateral muscles cause paired twin lines on the flanks of the phragmocone and of the body chamber. A ventral muscle is deduced from small rounded or crescent shaped spots in front of each septum on the ventral side. These spots are often connected, forming a band-like structure. Broad dark external bands on the ventral side of the phragmocone, ventral preseptal areas in the posterior part of the living chamber, small twin lines or oval shaped areas on the ventral side of the living chamber represent paired or unpaired attachment areas of the hyponome muscle. A middorsal muscle is documented by small roughened areas in front of each dorsal lobe. Dark spots along the umbilicus, often connected and thus forming a band-like structure (tracking band), are remains of a pair of small dorsolateral muscles at the posterior end of the soft body. Dark bands, lines and rows of small crescent shaped structures behind the tips of sutural lobes are due to spotlike fixation places of the posterior part of the mantle and their translocation before subsequent septal secretion. Devonian goniatites had a paired system of lateral and ventrolateral muscles preserved on the moulds as black or incised lines on the flanks of the living chamber and as dark preseptal areas, ventrally indented. These structures represent the attachment areas of paired lateral cephalic and paired ventral hyponome retractors. Fine black lines on the phragmocone situated parallel to the sutures (pseudosutures) represent a rhythmical secretion of camera! membranes during softbody translocation. Goniatites had a paired system of lateral and ventrolateral muscles, whilst Neoammonoids have a paired lateral and dorsolateral system, and, additionally, an unpaired system on the ventral and on the dorsal side. Mesoammonoids show only a paired lateral and an unpaired dorsal one. Fine black lines situated parallel to the saddles and behind the lobes of the suture line can be interpreted as structures left during softbody translocation and a temporary attachment of rhythmical secreted cameral membranes. Cameral membranes had supported the efficiency of the phragmocone. Only some of the observed structures are also present in recent Nautilus. Differences in the form and position of attachment sites between ammonoids and recent Nautilus indicate different soft body organizations between ammonoids and nautiloids. The attachment structures of goniatites especially of tornoceratids can be compared with those of Nautilus which indicates Richter - Gewebeansatz-Strukturen bei Ammonoideen 3 a comparable mode of life. Differences in the form and position of attachment structures between goniatites and ammonites may indicate an increasing differentiation of the muscular system in the phylogeny of this group. Different soft body organization may depend on shell morphology and on a different mode of life. On the modification or reduction of distinct muscle systems ammonoids can be assigned to different ecotypes. Based on shell morphology and the attachment areas of cephalic and hyponome retractor muscles two groups can be subdivided: - Depressed, evolute morphotypes with longidome body-chambers show only small ventral hyponome retractor muscles. Lateral cephalic retractors are not developed. These morphotypes are adapted to a demersal mode of life. Without strong cephalic retractor muscles no efficient jet propulsion can be produced. These groups represent vertical migrants with efficient phragmocone properties (multilobate sutures, cameral membranes, narrow septal spacing). - Compressed, involute moiphotypes with brevidome body-chambers show strong cephalic and hyponome retractor muscles and represent a group of active swimmers. These morphotypes were able to live at different depths, in the free water column or/and near the seafloor. They are not confined only to one habitat. Most of the examined genera and species belong to this group. Changes of the attachment structures in the course of ontogeny confirm that juveniles of Amaltheus and Quenstedtoceras lived as passive planche drifters in upper and intermediate parts of the free water column after hatching. At the end of the juvenile stage with a shell diameter of 0,3 - 0,5 cm cephalic retractor muscles developed. With the beginning of an active swimming mode of life (neanic stage) the subadult animals left the free water column and moved into shallow water habitats. Fuciniceras showed no marked changes in the attachment structures during ontogeny. This indicates that there occur no differences in the mode of life between juvenile and adult growth stages. Based on attachment structures and shell morphology of Devonian goniatites their relation to the systematic position permits statements about probable phylogenetic relationships between the Cheiloceratidae and Tornoceratidae. In some cases attachment structures of ammonites permit statements about phylogenetic relationships on family and genus level.

Banana agronomy – can unravelling the Musa genome help?

Unravelling the Musa genome allows genes and alleles linked to desired traits to be identified. Short stature and early flowering are desirable agronomic features of banana, as they are of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). In wheat they were achieved through knowledge of the physiology and genetics of vernalization and photoperiod during development. Bananas and plantains have a facultative long-day response to photoperiod, as do wheat and wall cress (Arabidopsis thaliana). Using keyword searches of the genome of Musa acuminata 'Pahang' we found homologues of the genes of either T. aestivum or Arabidopsis that govern responses to vernalization and photoperiod. This knowledge needs to be interpreted in the context of plant development. Bananas have juvenile, mid-vegetative and reproductive phases of development. Leaf and bunch 'clocks' operate concurrently throughout the juvenile and mid-vegetative phases. In the mid-vegetative phase the plant becomes sensitive to photoperiod. Increased sensitivity to photoperiod reduces the overall pace of the bunch clock without affecting the leaf clock. Separation of the clocks changes the link between leaf number and time of flowering. The 'critical' quantitative trait for the time of flowering is the pace of the bunch clock up to bunch initiation. For bunch size it is the duration of the subsequent phase of female hand formation. Plants with either a short juvenile phase or a faster bunch clock in the mid-vegetative phase will produce fewer leaves and bunch early. In turn, independent manipulation of hand number per bunch and/or fruit per hand will provide manageable bunches with appropriate fruit size. Using published data we explore relationships between plant height, leaf number, bunch weight and hand number among bananas and plantains. Identifying and then manipulating the appropriate genes in Musa opens opportunities for earlier flowering, leading to plants with desirable agronomic qualities.

Gasificação de biomassa num reator de leito fluidizado à escala piloto

A gasificação de biomassa permite a produção de um gás combustível com capacidade para reduzir o consumo de combustíveis fósseis. Contudo, para promover a utilização deste processo a nível industrial é necessário ultrapassar diversas limitações e elaborar tecnologias de gasificação que sejam mais rentáveis e eficientes. No presente trabalho efetuou-se a gasificação direta com ar, num reator auto-térmico com um leito fluidizado borbulhante, de diferentes tipos de biomassa provenientes da floresta portuguesa, nomeadamente pellets de madeira e diferentes tipos de biomassa florestal residual derivada de eucalipto. A investigação foi realizada numa instalação à escala piloto localizada no Departamento de Ambiente e Ordenamento da Universidade de Aveiro. A infraestrutura foi desenvolvida de modo a permitir o estudo do processo de gasificação de biomassa. O reator utilizado apresenta 3 metros de altura, consistindo a câmara de gasificação em 2.25 metros, 0.25 metros de diâmetro interno e uma potência entre 40 e 70 kWth. O leito é composto por areia (partículas com granulometria entre os 355 e 1000 µm) e tem uma altura de 0.23 m. A infraestrutura experimental oferece condições para efetuar a gasificação de biomassa, determinar a composição do gás produzido em termos de CO, CO2, H2, N2, CH4 e C2H4 e efetuar a sua combustão num queimador localizado a jusante do reator. O leito fluidizado operou com temperaturas médias entre os 700 e 850ºC. Para as razões de equivalência estabelecidas, entre 0.17 e 0.36, o gás seco apresentou uma composição que, em termos volumétricos e em função das condições operatórias, variou entre 14.0 a 21.4% CO, 14.2 a 17.5% CO2, 3.6 a 5.8% CH4, 1.3 a 2.4% C2H4, 2.0 a 10.2% H2 e 48.9 a 61.1% N2. A maior concentração de CO, CH4 e C2H4 foi observada durante a gasificação de biomassa residual florestal derivada de eucalipto com razão de equivalência de 0.17, contudo, a maior concentração de H2 foi obtida na gasificação de pellets de madeira com razão de equivalência de 0.25. Tendo em conta a composição gasosa, o poder calorífico inferior do gás seco encontrou-se entre 4.4 e 6.9 MJ/Nm3 e os valores mais elevados foram observados durante os processos de gasificação efetuados com menor razão de equivalência. A produção específica de gás variou entre 1.2 e 2.2 Nm3/kg biomassa bs, a eficiência do gás arrefecido entre 41.1 e 62.6% e a eficiência de conversão de carbono entre 60.0 e 87.5%, encontrando-se na gama dos valores reportados na literatura. A melhor condição, em termos da eficiência de gás arrefecido, consistiu na gasificação de biomassa residual florestal derivada de eucalipto com razão de equivalência de 0.25, e em termos da produção específica de gás seco e eficiência de conversão de carbono, na gasificação de biomassa residual florestal derivada de eucalipto com razão de equivalência de 0.35. Contudo, o gás com maior poder calorífico inferior foi obtido durante a gasificação de biomassa residual florestal derivada de eucalipto com razão de equivalência de 0.17. O reator demonstrou adequabilidade na gasificação de diferentes tipos de biomassa e foram observadas condições estáveis de operação, tanto em termos de temperatura como da composição do gás produzido. Geralmente, o gás apresentou propriedades combustíveis apropriadas para ser comburido de forma contínua e estável pelo queimador de gás, sem ser necessária uma fonte de ignição permanente ou a utilização de um combustível auxiliar.

CARACTERÍSTICAS DENDROMÉTRICAS, QUÍMICAS E DENSIDADE BÁSICA DA MADEIRA DE HÍBRIDOS DE Eucalyptus grandis X Eucalyptus urophylla

O presente trabalho avaliou características dendrométricas, químicas e a densidade básica da madeira de cinco híbridos de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla , com 2,25 anos de idade. O experimento foi implantando no espaçamento 3,5 x 2 m, com 35 repetições e parcelas de uma planta. Quatro repetições do experimento foram cortadas avaliando-se o diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP, a 1,3 m do solo), altura total e comercial, biomassa seca de folhas, galhos, madeira e casca, volume com e sem casca e volume de casca. Das árvores abatidas foram retirados discos de 5 cm de espessura no DAP e a 0 (base), 25, 50, 75 e 100% da altura comercial, para determinação da densidade básica e caracterização química da madeira. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e comparação de médias pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Os clones de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla diferiram quanto ao volume e biomassa com destaque para o C5 com valores superiores aos demais clones. A densidade básica da madeira foi maior na base da árvore; nas demais posições de amostragem, os valores de densidade foram semelhantes entre si; dentre os clones, o C5 apresentou densidade básica da madeira superior ao C3 e ao C4, assim como o C2 superou o C3. As características químicas da madeira foram semelhantes entre os clones e, apesar da avaliação ter sido realizada em plantas jovens, os clones demonstraram bom potencial em Jaboticabal - SP.

Avaliação de megadoses de retinol palmitato no pós-parto imediato sobre o retinol do leite de puérperas atendidas no Hospital José Pedro Bezerra, Natal-RN

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious public health problem in developing countries, and as a therapeutic and prophylactic measure retinil palmitate is being supplemented. Nevertheless its efficacy has been questioned. The objective of the study was to evaluate the supplementation of two retinil palmitate megadosis on the serum retinol levels of post partum healthy mothers from Dr. José Pedro Bezerra (Hospital Santa Catarina) hospital, Natal - RN. The enrolled women (n=199) were randomly distributed into three studied groups and supplemented with retinil palmitate immediately after delivery with a single 200,000 IU dose (group S1), two 200,000 IU dose (group S2) with 24h difference between the doses, or no supplementation (group C). Among women selected, 143 remained until the end of the study. The influence of vitamin A dietary intake was evaluated during pregnancy and after 30 days of delivery. The average intake of the population was reasonable, but a high prevalence of inadequate intake was found. Retinol in colostrums and mature milk was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The retinol average in colostrums and mature milk in the supplemented and control groups were adequate according to the reference values. In colostrums, women from groups C, S1 and S2 presented retinol averages by milk volume of 94.8 ± 40.2 µg/dL, 92.2 ± 50.0 µg/dL and 91.8 ± 53.7 µg/dL, respectively. No difference was found between these averages (p=0.965), this was also seen when the values where expressed as µg/g of fat (p=0.905). After 30 days of delivery, retinol per milk volume differed between the control group (36.6 ± 17.5 µg/dL) and groups supplemented with 200,000 IU (51.0 ± 28.8 µg/dL) or 400,000 IU (55.2 ± 31.6 µg/dL) of retinil palmitate (p<0,05). Nevertheless, when S1 and S2 groups where compared, no significant difference was found (p=0.97). Considering retinol/g of fat, the means were 12.7 ± 6.7 µg/g, 15.6 ± 8.3 µg/g and 17.2 ± 8.9 µg/g for groups C, S1 and S2, respectively, with significant difference between groups S2 and C (p=0,01). Subclinical VAD prevalence showed a serious public health problem in the study population (32% in colostrums and 31.5% in mature milk). When analyzing the groups separately, the group which received two doses (200,000 IU + 200,000 IU) presented the lowest VAD prevalence (20.7%). Retinil palmitate supplementations of 200,000 IU and 400,000 IU (divided in two doses) in the immediate post partum showed no significant difference. Nevertheless, the 400,000 IU (divided in two doses) supplementation showed a reduction in VAD

Influência da suplementação de retinol palmitato sobre os níveis de vitamina A no leite de puérperas saudáveis

The tendency towards reduction of serum retinol levels, an existing placental barrier and the increase of retinol demand, are factors that place puerperal and lactating women at risk for Vitamin A deficiency. This micronutrient is an essential component of vital processes such as differentiation, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of palmitate retinol supplementation (100.000UI) upon the milk retinollevels in puerperal women at the Januário Cicco University Maternity Hospital. This intervention has been adopted by the Ministry of Health since 2002. The longitudinal experiment was conducted with 106 puerperal women (68 comprised the supplemented group and 38 the control group). The High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method was used to dose the retinol of the milk and serum samples, and the creamtocrit method to determine the milk fat levels. The retinol means for the colostrums were 99.0 ± 64.4 ug/dL and 160.1 ± 94,4 ug/dl 6 hours afier supplementation; 68.9 ± 33.5 ug/dL for the transitional milk, and 30.6 ± 15.2 ug/dL for the mature milk of the supplemented group. Ali the difterences between means were statistically significant. The difterence between retinol means in the control group were also significant, with these being greater in the colostrum, 88.6 ± 62.1 ug/dL with 61.9 ± 30.1 ug/dl in the transition milk and 32.9 ±32.9 ± 17.6 ug/dL in the mature milk. No significant difference was observed in the retinol means of the three types ot milk in the supplemented group when compared to their respective means in the control group. The prevalence in serum (35.1 % and 81.1 % for the cutting point 20 ug/dL, respectively) and in milk (51.4%) revealed vitamin A deficiency as a public health problem. COlostrum, transition, and mature milk tats varied similarly in the supplemented group (1,92 ± 0,96; 3,25 ± 1,27 and 3,31 ± 1,36 grams) and in the control group (1,87 ± 1,14; 3,25 ± 1,31 and 3,36 ± 1,67 grams), with an observed difference between the colostrum/transition milk and the colostrum/mature milk fats. No difference was observed between the groups. The study showed that the 200.000UI supplementation was not sufficient to increase the milk retinol to the desired levels nor to meet the demands of the mothers with deprived hepatic reserves. It is suggested that another similar dose be offered within 30 days or less, and within 2 months post-partum, while continual/y monitoring for possible pregnancy

Fruit cell culture as a model system to study cell wall changes during strawberry fruit ripening

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa, Duch.) fruit is characterized by its fast ripening and soft texture at the ripen stage, resulting in a short postharvest shelf life and high economic losses. It is generally believed that the disassembly of cell walls, the dissolution of the middle lamella and the reduction of cell turgor are the main factors determining the softening of fleshy fruits. In strawberry, several studies indicate that the solubilisation and depolymerisation of pectins, as well as the depolymerisation of xyloglucans, are the main processes occurring during ripening. Functional analyses of genes encoding pectinases such as polygalacturonase and pectate lyase also point out to the pectin fraction as a key factor involved in textural changes. All these studies have been performed with whole fruits, a complex organ containing different tissues that differ in their cell wall composition and undergo ripening at different rates. Cell cultures derived from fruits have been proposed as model systems for the study of several processes occurring during fruit ripening, such as the production of anthocyanin and its regulation by plant hormones. The main objective of this research was to obtain and characterize strawberry cell cultures to evaluate their potential use as a model for the study of the cell wall disassembly process associate with fruit ripening. Cell cultures were obtained from cortical tissue of strawberry fruits, cv. Chandler, at the stages of unripe-green, white and mature-red. Additionally, a cell culture line derived from strawberry leaves was obtained. All cultures were maintained in solid medium supplemented with 2.5 mg.l-1 2,4-D and incubated in the dark. Cell walls from the different callus lines were extracted and fractionated to obtain CDTA and sodium carbonate soluble pectin fractions, which represent polyuronides located in the middle lamella or the primary cell wall, respectively. The amounts of homogalacturonan in both fractions were estimated by ELISA using LM19 and LM20 antibodies, specific against demethylated and methyl-esterified homogalacturonan, respectively. In the CDTA fraction, the cell line from ripe fruit showed a significant lower amount of demethylated pectins than the rest of lines. By contrast, the content of methylated pectins was similar in green- and red-fruit lines, and lower than in white-fruit and leaf lines. In the sodium carbonate pectin fraction, the line from red fruit also showed the lowest amount of pectins. These preliminary results indicate that cell cultures obtained from fruits at different developmental stages differ in their cell wall composition and these differences resemble to some extent the changes that occur during strawberry softening. Experiments are in progress to further characterize cell wall extracts with monoclonal antibodies against other cell wall epitopes.

Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of Dittrichia viscosa subsp viscosa on Helicobacter pylori

Dittrichia viscosa subsp. viscosa (Compositae) is found on edges, wood clearings and in waste places of the Iberian Peninsula. Aerial parts of D. viscosa were collected at flowering phase in September-October 2001 around Lisbon, Portugal and the essential oils isolated by hydro-distillation for 4 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The oils were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Preliminary examination of the essential oils allowed the identification of 32 components. Only four components reached percentages over 5%: fokienol (11.8%), T-muurorol (7.9%), (E)-nerolidol (5.5%) and delta-cadinene (5.0%). The essential oils were tested against Helicobacterpylori and Listeria monocytogenes. Essential oils did not have antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes. The essential oil at 0.88 to 22.22 mu g.ml(-1) did not inhibit the growth of H. pylori, affected the growth slightly at 44.40 mu g.ml(-1), and completely inhibited the growth at 88.80 to 133.20 mu g.ml(-1) Results show that use of D. viscosa essential oil in the treatment of gastric disorders caused by H. pylori can be effective.

Avaliação da crioinjúria em ovócitos imaturos e maturados in vitro e produção de embriões a partir de ovócitos bovinos vitrificados em Open Pulled Straw (OPS) e Cryotop

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, 2012.

Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of Dittrichia viscosa subsp viscosa on Helicobacter pylori

Dittrichia viscosa subsp. viscosa (Compositae) is found on edges, wood clearings and in waste places of the Iberian Peninsula. Aerial parts of D. viscosa were collected at flowering phase in September-October 2001 around Lisbon, Portugal and the essential oils isolated by hydro-distillation for 4 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The oils were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Preliminary examination of the essential oils allowed the identification of 32 components. Only four components reached percentages over 5%: fokienol (11.8%), T-muurorol (7.9%), (E)-nerolidol (5.5%) and delta-cadinene (5.0%). The essential oils were tested against Helicobacterpylori and Listeria monocytogenes. Essential oils did not have antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes. The essential oil at 0.88 to 22.22 mu g.ml(-1) did not inhibit the growth of H. pylori, affected the growth slightly at 44.40 mu g.ml(-1), and completely inhibited the growth at 88.80 to 133.20 mu g.ml(-1) Results show that use of D. viscosa essential oil in the treatment of gastric disorders caused by H. pylori can be effective.

EVIDENCE FOR MECHANICAL STRAINS INFLUENCE IN OSTEOPHYTE DEVELOPMENT

Purpose: Osteophytes are osteo-cartilaginous metaplastic tissue outgrowths of bone capped by cartilage usually found in degenerative and inflammatory joint disease. The presence and degree of maturity of osteophytes, along with joint space narrowing, are the main radiographic criteria for diagnosis and grading osteoarthritis (OA). Although osteophytes are known for being anatomic signs of advanced OA, they can occur in non-symptomatic joints, in joints with no other observable alterations, and in early stage OA. It remains unclear if they develop from molecular, physiological and/or mechanical stimuli. We hypothesized that mechanical strains play a role in osteophyte development. The overall objective of this thesis was to find evidence that osteophytes are influenced by mechanical strains. Methods: The first project was to develop a mechanically-induced osteophyte animal model. One single impact load that was reported to induce moderate joint damage was applied to the periosteum of the rat knee. Animals were sacrificed at four time points to characterize the evolution of damaged tissue and the joint by histology. A second study using human mature hip osteophytes was conducted to evaluate if mature osteophyte presented histological signs of proliferating and developmental processes. The histological characterization of mature osteophyte was used to compare findings of the mechanically-induced osteophyte in the animal model to validate the use of this rodent model in studying some aspect of osteophyte development of human. Lastly, a detailed three-dimensional (3D) radiological morphometric analysis was performed on microscopic computed tomography (µCT) scanned femoral heads collected from total hip arthroplasty patients presenting mature hip osteophytes. Quantitative morphometric measures of osteophytes internal structure was compared to three regions of the femoral head of known quality of organisation and mechanical constraint. Results and Conclusion: Osteophyte can be mechanically induced by a single load impact to the joint periosteum, indicating that a moderate trauma to the periosteal layer of the joint may play a role in osteophyte development. Mature osteophytes have proliferation, developing and remodelling zones and have trabecular structures. Mechanically-induced osteophytes and mature osteophytes presented similar histological composition. Mature osteophytes have organized internal structure. These results provide evidence that mechanical strain can influence osteophyte development.

Evaluación de bancos naturales de concha de abanico (Argopecten purpuratus) y de pulpo (Octopus mimus). Isla Lobos de Tierra (Noviembre 2009)

Se efectuó la evaluación de bancos naturales de concha de abanico y pulpo del 7 al 16 de noviembre del 2009. La concha de abanico se distribuyó entre 06°21’07,8’’ y 06°26’04,4’’S al noreste de Cabo Cruz y sur de Peña Negra, con densidades absolutas de 1 a 178 ejem.m-2, en profundidades de 12 a 27 m; las tallas variaron entre 2 y 100 mm de altura valvar, media 41 mm, presentando moda principal en 37 mm y dos modas secundarias en 4 y 79 mm; predominaron ejemplares desovantes (37%) y madurantes (29%), se detectó el 26% de inmaduros. La biomasa de concha de abanico fue estimada en 8.877 t y la población en 865 millones de individuos. El stock de juveniles (<25 mm) fue 96 millones de ejemplares (11% de la población) y 36 t, el stock explotable (≥65 mm) fue 83 millones de individuos y 4.376 t. El pulpo se encontró pobremente distribuido en los alrededores de la isla; la talla varió entre 85 y 150 mm de longitud del manto. El 100% de lo capturado tuvo peso inferior al mínimo legal de extracción (1 kg). Hembras y machos estuvieron en estadios en desarrollo y maduros (66,67%).

Effects of fishing methods on deep water shark species caught as by-catch off southern Portugal

Deep water sharks are commonly caught as by-catch of longlines targeting bony fishes and trawlers targeting crustaceans in deep water off the southern Portuguese coast. Due to low or no commercial value, these species are most of the times discarded at sea, with only the larger specimens of some species commercialized at very low prices. In this study we present size distributions, maturity distributions, and sex ratios of 2,138 specimens belonging to four different species, namely the lantern sharks Etmopterus pusillus and Etmopterus spinax and the catsharks Galeus melastomus and Galeus atlanticus, caught with these two gears. Trawls generally caught smaller-sized specimens, in a wider length range than longlines. Trawls caught mostly immature specimens of all species, namely 83.7% immature of E. pusillus, 84.3% of E. spinax, 89.5% of G. melastomus, and 95.5% of G. atlanticus, while longlines caught mostly immature E. pusillus (69.2%) and G. melastomus (78.6%) and mostly mature E. spinax (88.2%) and G. atlanticus (87.2%). Trawls tended to catch more males than females of all species except E. spinax, while longlines caught more females than males of E. spinax and G. melastomus and more males than females of the other two species. The main conclusion of this work is that trawls are catching smaller-sized and mostly immature specimens when compared to longlines, meaning that they are probably having a more detrimental effect on these shark populations. The data presented here have significant implications for the conservation of these shark populations since sizes, sexes, and the immature and mature components of the populations are being affected differently by these two fishing gears.