Systematic review of Late Jurassic sauropods from the Museu Geológico collections (Lisboa, Portugal)

The Museu Geológico collections house some of the first sauropod references of the Lusitanian Basin Upper Jurassic record, including the Lourinhasaurus alenquerensis and Lusotitan atalaiensis lectotypes, previously considered as new species of the Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus genera, respectively. Several fragmentary specimens have been classical referred to those taxa, but the most part of these systematic attributions are not supported herein, excluding a caudal vertebra from Maceira (MG 8804) considered as cf. Lusotitan atalaiensis. From the material housed in the Museu Geológico were identified basal eusauropods (indeterminate eusauropods and turiasaurs) and neosauropods (indeterminate neosauropods, diplodods and camarasaurids and basal titanosauriforms). Middle caudal vertebrae with lateral fossae, ventral hollow border by pronounced ventrolateral crests and quadrangular cross-section suggest for the presence of diplodocine diplodocids in north area of the Lusitanian Basin Central Sector during the Late Jurassic. A humerus collected from Praia dos Frades (MG 4976) is attributed to cf. Duriatitan humerocristatus suggesting the presence of shared sauropod forms between the Portugal and United Kingdom during the Late Jurassic. Duriatitan is an indeterminate member of Eusauropoda and the discovery of new material in both territories is necessary to confirm this systematic approach. The studied material is in according with the previous recorded paleobiodiversity for the sauropod clade during the Portuguese Late Jurassic, which includes basal eusauropods (including turiasaurs), diplodocids and macronarians (including camarasaurids and basal titanosauriforms).

On the microstructure, growth pattern and original porosity of belemnite rostra: insights from calcitic Jurassic belemnites

Calcitic belemnite rostra are usually employed to perform paleoenvironmental studies based on geochemical data. However, several questions, such as their original porosity and microstructure, remain open, despite they are essential to make accurate interpretations based on geochemical analyses.This paper revisits and enlightens some of these questions. Petrographic data demonstrate that calcite crystals of the rostrum solidum of belemnites grow from spherulites that successively develop along the apical line, resulting in a “regular spherulithic prismatic” microstructure. Radially arranged calcite crystals emerge and diverge from the spherulites: towards the apex, crystals grow until a new spherulite is formed; towards the external walls of the rostrum, the crystals become progressively bigger and prismatic. Adjacent crystals slightly vary in their c-axis orientation, resulting in undulose extinction. Concentric growth layering develops at different scales and is superimposed and traversed by a radial pattern, which results in the micro-fibrous texture that is observed in the calcite crystals in the rostra.Petrographic data demonstrate that single calcite crystals in the rostra have a composite nature, which strongly suggests that the belemnite rostra were originally porous. Single crystals consistently comprise two distinct zones or sectors in optical continuity: 1) the inner zone is fluorescent, has relatively low optical relief under transmitted light (TL) microscopy, a dark-grey color under backscatter electron microscopy (BSEM), a commonly triangular shape, a “patchy” appearance and relatively high Mg and Na contents; 2) the outer sector is non-fluorescent, has relatively high optical relief under TL, a light-grey color under BSEM and low Mg and Na contents. The inner and fluorescent sectors are interpreted to have formed first as a product of biologically controlled mineralization during belemnite skeletal growth and the non-fluorescent outer sectors as overgrowths of the former, filling the intra- and inter-crystalline porosity. This question has important implications for making paleoenvironmental and/or paleoclimatic interpretations based on geochemical analyses of belemnite rostra.Finally, the petrographic features of composite calcite crystals in the rostra also suggest the non-classical crystallization of belemnite rostra, as previously suggested by other authors.

Discourse on equality in organizations. A case study of the chemical industry in Tarragona

This paper presents a proposal for analyzing discourses on gender equality in organizations. The research is carried out as a case study, focusing on the chemical industry in Tarragona. To the question: why there are still so many differences between women and men in labour market, despite having multiple tools to avoid inequalities? we propose to focus on discourses of equality to find an answer. The viewpoint that companies have on gender is crucial in enabling policies for equality. To ensure that policies are truly aimed at promoting equality, it is needed a gender approach that nowadays is not widespread in organizations. From these considerations, we present a fourfold typology of discourses on equality in organizations.

Commentary on An Enquiry into the Nature and Origin of Literary Property (1762)

One of a number of published commentaries contributing to the mid-eighteenth century debate concerning the nature of literary property. The author of An Enquiry sought to repudiate the concept of a natural authorial property right existing at common law. In so doing, he specifically engaged with various aspects of William Warburton's earlier commentary (see: uk_1747), as well as presenting arguments that drew upon the nature of property in general, the differences between the right claimed by proponents of the common law right and other acknowledged incorporeal properties, the similarities between patents and copyright, the history of literary property, the experience of other jurisdictions (drawing upon Venice in particular), and the consequences that would follow from conceding the existence of a perpetual right both for authors in particular and society in general. This commentary, in turn, drew its own response in the guise of A Vindication of the Exclusive Rights of Authors, to their own work (1762).

Commentary on Maugham's Treatise on the Laws of Literary Property (1828)

The first British legal treatise dedicated specifically to the law of copyright written by a strong advocate of the common law rights of the author. Maugham, in addition to providing a commentary upon the law of copyright, also used his work to lobby for both an extension to the copyright term (ideally resulting in a perpetual right) and a reduction in the library deposit requirements (arguing that authors should only be required to deposit one copy of their work for the British Museum). In proselytising the need for a change to the law in both areas he drew frequent comparisons with the law of other jurisdictions (in particular France and Germany). The work became a standard point of reference for many British and American authors who followed.

Respecting and fulfilling the right of post-primary pupils to consent to participate in trials and evaluative research: A discussion paper

This paper provides an introduction to issues surrounding the participation rights of young people in research and the implications of their growing involvement in research as well as providing a discourse on the ethical implications related to consent. The unique contribution of this paper is that it considers children’s rights in respect to the increasing opportunities for young people to take part in evaluation research. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to acknowledge the growing involvement for young people in research and the implications of ensuring that their rights of participation are respected. Secondly we will consider the children’s rights legislation and our obligations as researchers to implement this. Finally we will explore consent as an issue in its own right as well as the practicalities of accessing participants. This paper will postulate that any research about young people should involve and prioritise at all stages of the research process; including participation in decision-making. We conclude by identifying five key principles, which we believe can help to facilitate the fulfilment of post-primary pupils’ ability to consent to participate in trials and evaluative research.

Rabbits, stoats and the predator problem: Why a strong animal rights position need not call for human intervention to protect prey from predators

Animal rights positions face the ‘predator problem’: the suggestion that if the rights of nonhuman animals are to be protected, then we are obliged to interfere in natural ecosystems to protect prey from predators. Generally, rather than embracing this conclusion, animal ethicists have rejected it, basing this objection on a number of different arguments. This paper considers but challenges three such arguments, before defending a fourth possibility. Rejected are Peter Singer’s suggestion that interference will lead to more harm than good, Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka’s suggestion that respect for nonhuman sovereignty necessitates non-interference in normal circumstances, and Alasdair Cochrane’s solution based on the claim that predators cannot survive without killing prey. The possibility defended builds upon Tom Regan’s suggestion that predators, as moral patients but not moral agents, cannot violate the rights of their prey, and so the rights of the prey, while they do exist, do not call for intervention. This idea is developed by a consideration of how moral agents can be more or less responsible for a given event, and defended against criticisms offered by thinkers including Alasdair Cochrane and Dale Jamieson.

Extractivism and the de jure and de facto ethno-territorial rights in Latin America: How important are the constitutions? : Extractivismo y derechos étnico-territoriales de jure y de facto en Latinoamérica: ¿Cuán importantes son las constituciones?

A growing number of Latin American rural groups have attained extended ethno-territorial rights, and sizeable territories were safeguarded by progressive constitutions. This trend was the product of extended cycles of protest at local, national and transnational levels; social movements struggle, with broader collective South-South collaboration. Nonetheless, the continent simultaneously experienced a resource extraction boom. Commonly, the extractivism takes place in protected areas and/or indigenous territories. Accordingly, economic interests clash with the safeguarding and recognition of constitutional rights. Through the analysis of selected illustrative cases across Latin America, this study analyses the (de jure) rights on paper versus the (de facto) rights in practice. 

Pobreza Infantil: o Rendimento Social de Inserção como medida protetora da infância em contexto de pobreza e em risco de negligência no concelho de Albergaria-a-Velha

A pobreza infantil é reconhecida, na comunidade científico, como um problema social grave que viola os direitos das crianças, sendo este um fator favorável à vulnerabilização e à possibilidade de ocorrência de casos de negligência. Em consequência, esta fundamenta-se pela necessidade de intervenções, que a par de medidas de proteção social do Estado, em particular o Rendimento Social de Inserção (RSI), potenciem o desempenho de funções parentais protetoras. Por conseguinte, definiu-se como principal objetivo analisar a relação e/ou influência da medida do RSI sobre as funções parentais (des) protetoras no contexto da pobreza infantil em 15 crianças (dos 0 aos 6 anos), assim como compreender os domínios do seu bem-estar a partir dos Reports card`s da UNICEF. A investigação decorreu no concelho de Albergaria-a-Velha entre os meses de fevereiro a julho de 2013. A metodologia utilizada foi o método qualitativo de natureza exploratória cujos dados foram recolhidos através de dois inquéritos dirigidos às 11 famílias abrangidas pelo estudo e aos respetivos técnicos. A análise dos dados permitiu retirar as principais conclusões destacando-se que o Bem-estar Material e Habitacional das crianças encontram-se comprometidos, uma vez que, os rendimentos médios das famílias estudadas são inferiores ao salário mínimo nacional, o RSI a principal fonte de rendimentos, a maioria dos agregados beneficiam, para além deste, de apoios económicos, quatro famílias estão identificadas como pobreza intergeracional projeta-se para a maioria, a continuidade da “dependência” dos serviços de ação social. Perante estes dados as crianças podem vivenciar privações ou carências múltiplas. Constatou-se falta de privacidade e de conforto habitacional apesar das melhorias significativas nesta dimensão. Na dimensão do Bem-estar Saúde e Segurança enquadra-se a negligência, deste modo, as praticas parentais de risco/negligência foram distribuídas pelos níveis “baixo, moderado e elevado”, apurou-se que em 6 agregados apenas um pratica uma parentalidade não protetora; para os restantes consideramos que o RSI contribui para atenuar a intensidade do stress parental face às privações económicas. / Child poverty is recognized in the scientific community as a serious social problem, which goes against the rights of children. It is a favorable factor to their increasing vulnerability and to the possibility of occurrence of negligence. It is based on the need of interventions that measures social protection of the Goverment through the Social Insertion Income (SII), potentiate the protective performance of parental functions. Thus, the main objective of this study was to analyze the relationship and / or influence of SII on parental protective functions in the context of child poverty in 15 children (aged 0 to 6 years), as well as understand the areas of their welfare according to the UNICEF Report Card’s. The research took place in the Municipality of Albergaria-a-Velha between the months February to July 2013. The used methodology was the qualitative method with exploratory contours and the data collected through two questionnaires surveys directed to the 11 families and Technicians. The information analysis led us to the main conclusions that the children’s Welfare Material and Housing are compromised, since the average yield of the families studied are lower than the minimum national wage, the RSI is the main source of income that most households benefit, in addition to this economic support the continuous "dependency" of social services is projected for the future and four families are identified as intergenerational poverty. Based on these facts the children can experience multiple disadvantage or deprivation. According to the housing conditions it was found lack of privacy and comfort, although exists significant improvements in this dimension. In the dimension of Wellbeing Health and Safety fits negligence, in this way the parental practice of risk / negligence were distributed by the levels of "low, moderate and high", it was found that only one of eight cases do not practice a protective parenting, for the remaining households we consider that the SII contributes to mitigate the intensity of the parental stress against the economic deprivation.