Plants, seeds, and currents in the West Indies and Azores; the results of investigations carried out in those regions between 1906 and 1914,

Mode of access: Internet.

Ectopic calcification in the Azores - Clinical and radiological manifestations of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hypertosis and Chondrocalcinosis families

Objective. Twelve families that were multiply affected with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and/or chondrocalcinosis, were identified on the island of Terceira, The Azores, potentially supporting the hypothesis that the 2 disorders share common etiopathogenic factors. The present study was undertaken to investigate this hypothesis. Methods. One hundred three individuals from 12 unrelated families were assessed. Probands were identified from patients attending the Rheumatic Diseases Clinic, Hospital de Santo Espirito, in The Azores. Family members were assessed by rheumatologists and radiologists. Radiographs of all family members were obtained, including radiographs of the dorsolumbar spine, pelvis, knees, elbows, and wrists, and all cases were screened for known features of chondrocalcinosis. Results. Ectopic calcifications were identified in 70 patients. The most frequent symptoms or findings were as follows: axial pain, elbow, knee and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint pain, swelling, and/or deformity, and radiographic enthesopathic changes. Elbow and MCP joint periarticular calcifications were observed in 35 and 5 patients, respectively, and chondrocalcinosis was identified in 12 patients. Fifteen patients had sacroiliac disease (ankylosis or sclerosis) on computed tomography scans. Fifty-two patients could be classified as having definite (17%), probable (26%), or possible (31%) DISH. Concomitant DISH and chondrocalcinosis was diagnosed in 12 patients. Pyrophosphate crystals were identified from knee effusions in 13 patients. The pattern of disease transmission was compatible with an autosomal-dominant monogenic disease. The mean age at which symptoms developed was 38 years. Conclusion. These families may represent a familial type of pyrophosphate arthropathy with a phenotype that includes peripheral and axial enthesopathic calcifications. The concurrence of DISH and chondrocalcinosis suggests a shared pathogenic mechanism in the 2 conditions.

GIS layers of seafloor characteristics in the Azores region (North Atlantic), links to files in ArcGIS format

Inventory of some important datasets related to the physical characteristics of the seafloor surrounding the Azores Archipelago. The objective is to ensure that our compilation is readily available for any researchers interested in this type information but also to support institutions responsible for the management and conservation of local resources.

Mapped cetacean habitat suitability and richness in the Azores, links to ArcGIS files

Marine spatial planning and ecological research call for high-resolution species distribution data. However, those data are still not available for most marine large vertebrates. The dynamic nature of oceanographic processes and the wide-ranging behavior of many marine vertebrates create further difficulties, as distribution data must incorporate both the spatial and temporal dimensions. Cetaceans play an essential role in structuring and maintaining marine ecosystems and face increasing threats from human activities. The Azores holds a high diversity of cetaceans but the information about spatial and temporal patterns of distribution for this marine megafauna group in the region is still very limited. To tackle this issue, we created monthly predictive cetacean distribution maps for spring and summer months, using data collected by the Azores Fisheries Observer Programme between 2004 and 2009. We then combined the individual predictive maps to obtain species richness maps for the same period. Our results reflect a great heterogeneity in distribution among species and within species among different months. This heterogeneity reflects a contrasting influence of oceanographic processes on the distribution of cetacean species. However, some persistent areas of increased species richness could also be identified from our results. We argue that policies aimed at effectively protecting cetaceans and their habitats must include the principle of dynamic ocean management coupled with other area-based management such as marine spatial planning.

(Table S1) Age determination ofs ediment cores of the Azores Current System

In order to test the sensitivity of marine primary productivity in the midlatitude open ocean North Atlantic to changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), we investigated two spliced sediment cores from a site south of the Azores Islands at the northern rim of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. For this purpose we analyzed coccolithophore assemblages, diatom abundances, alkenones and conducted X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanning. During times of reduced AMOC, especially during Heinrich event 1 (H1) and the Younger Dryas, we observe a strong increase in productivity as evidenced by high coccolith accumulation rates, high alkenone concentrations/accumulation rates, high Ba/Ti-ratios, high abundances of diatoms and low abundances ofF. profunda. The increased productivity is partly caused by a more southern position of the Azores Front (AzF), and hence by a less northward extension of the subtropical gyre, as deduced from high abundances of the temperate coccolithophore species G. muellerae and low abundances of subtropical species (Oolithotus spp., Umbellosphaera spp., Umbilicosphaeraspp.). However, to explain the full range of the observed productivity increase, other factors like increased westerly winds and advection of nutrient-rich surface waters have also to be considered. Because this pattern can also be observed in other sediment cores from the midlatitude North Atlantic, we propose that during times of reduced AMOC there has been a band of strongly increased productivity across the North Atlantic at the northern rim of the contracted subtropical gyre, which partly counteracts the decreased organic carbon pump in the high northern latitudes.

Azores y Madeira en la Historia Atlántica

Seminario Formativo del Programa de Doctorado Islas Atlánticas. Línea de investigación 1: Retos de la investigación en las dinámicas históricas y sociales del mundo atlántico, 2 y 3 de junio de 2016. Coordinado por Santiago de Luxán Meléndez. Aula Máster de la Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Archivos y fuentes documentales en Azores y Madeira

Seminario Formativo del Programa de Doctorado Islas Atlánticas. Línea de investigación 1: Retos de la investigación en las dinámicas históricas y sociales del mundo atlántico, 2 y 3 de junio de 2016. Coordinado por Santiago de Luxán Meléndez. Aula Máster de la Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Procesos migratorios en Azores y Madeira

Seminario Formativo del Programa de Doctorado Islas Atlánticas. Línea de investigación 1: Retos de la investigación en las dinámicas históricas y sociales del mundo atlántico, 2 y 3 de junio de 2016. Coordinado por Santiago de Luxán Meléndez. Aula Máster de la Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

La importancia de Azores y Madeira en el Atlántico: de territorio fronterizo a base estratégica

Seminario Formativo del Programa de Doctorado Islas Atlánticas. Línea de investigación 1: Retos de la investigación en las dinámicas históricas y sociales del mundo atlántico, 2 y 3 de junio de 2016. Coordinado por Santiago de Luxán Meléndez. Aula Máster de la Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Fuentes y metodología para la investigación del patrimonio histórico-artístico en Azores

Nos Açores, a investigação sobre o Património Histórico-Artístico tem merecido algum investimento nas últimas décadas, merecendo estudos no âmbito de publicações e de teses de mestrado e de doutoramento. De igual modo, o processo de inventariação e classificação de algum do património móvel e integrado tem vindo a ser desenvolvido. A identificação das peças levanta as questões sobre a sua valorização artística e estética ou a sua valorização como elemento patrimonial. É neste contexto que a investigação é fundamental para a discussão e valorização do património Histórico-Artístico dos Açores.

Patrimonio arquitectónico de Azores: nuevas vías de investigación

O seminário aborda aspectos do património arquitetónico dos Açores numa perspetiva global e inclusiva – considerando tanto as vertentes da arquitectura religiosa, como civil e militar – de modo a estabelecer pontes com outros domínios da produção artística e arquitetónica no contexto dos arquipélagos atlânticos. Será dada especial enfase aos aspectos metodológicos da investigação, bem como a questões relevantes para o desenvolvimento de linhas de pesquisa no campo disciplinar da história da arquitectura.

Patrimonio arqueológico de Azores

No arquipélago dos Açores, o longo e intenso processo de patrimonialização da natureza-cultura insular, articulado com a diversidade dos ecossistemas e a hierarquia das formações socioespaciais, com políticas culturais, turísticas, ambientais e sociais e com a legislação promulgada, traduziu-se num complexo dinâmico de configurações patrimoniais e museológicas territorializadas, que alicerçaram as múltiplas identidades regionais e mediatizaram a comunicação das ilhas entre si e do arquipélago com os espaços exteriores, desempenhando, de forma variável, um papel fecundante no desenvolvimento desta região autónoma.

Populations genetics study of the Ammi Genus in the Azores

Dissertação de Mestrado, Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia Vegetal, 6 de Julho de 2016, Universidade dos Açores.

Assessment of iodine intake and related cognitive function impairments in elementary schoolchildren from Terceira Island, Azores (Portugal)

Dissertação de Mestrado, Ciências Biomédicas, 28 de Junho de 2016, Universidade dos Açores.