Resumo A atividade antioxidante do mel de Tetragonisca angustula (TAH) e seu extrato etanólico (TAEE) foram investigados. Os níveis totais de fenólicos (TPC) e flavonóides (TFC) também foram avaliados. Os resultados para TPC foram 19,91 ± 0,38 e 29,37 ± 1,82 mg GAE g-1 e para TFC 0,20 ± 0,02 e 0,14 ± 0,01 mg QE g-1 de TAH e TAEE, respectivamente. As atividades antioxidantes foram 73,29 ± 0,49% e 93,36 ± 0,27% no ensaio DPPH● e 71,73 ± 4,07% e 97,86 ± 0,35% no ABTS●+ para TAH e TAEE, respectivamente. A atividade redutora total foi determinada pelo método de poder redutor (PR) e íon ferrico (Fe III) e os resultados variaram em PR de 151,7 ± 25,7 e 230,7 ± 25,2 mg GAE L-1, para TAH e TAEE respectivamente e para (Fe III) em EC50 0,284 em TAEE e 0,687 em TAH. A análise química por HPLC-DAD do extrato etanólico (TAEE) revelou a presença de ácido ferúlico como componente majoritário no extrato. A análise de RMN 1H confirmou esta estrutura e mostrou a presença de glicose, ácido cítrico, ácido succínico, prolina e derivados de hidrocarbonetos no TAEE. Além disso, a origem botânica também foi investigada e apresentou característica multifloral, tendo encontrado 19 tipos polínicos com predomínio botânico da família Anacardiaceae, sendo o pólen Tapirira predominante (42,6%) e o Schinus secundário (25,7%). Os resultados mostraram que o mel de T. angustula é uma interessante fonte de compostos fenólicos antioxidantes devido à sua origem floral e pode atuar como protetor da saúde humana quando consumido.

Abstract The antioxidant activity of Tetragonisca angustula honey (TAH) and its ethanolic extract (TAEE) were investigated. The total levels of phenolic (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) were also evaluated. The results for TPC were 19.91 ± 0.38 and 29.37 ± 1.82 mg GAE g-1 and for TFC 0.20 ± 0.02 and 0.14 ± 0.01 mg QE g-1 of TAH and TAEE, respectively. Antioxidant activities were 73.29 ± 0.49% and 93.36 ± 0.27% in the DPPH● assay and 71.73 ± 4.07% and 97.86 ± 0.35% in ABTS●+ for TAH and TAEE, respectively. The total reducing activity was determined by the method of reducing power (PR) and iron ion (Fe III) and the results varied in PR from 151.7 ± 25.7 and 230.7 ± 25.2 mg GAE L-1, for TAH and TAEE respectively and for (Fe III) in EC50 0.284 in TAEE and 0.687 in TAH. Chemical analysis by HPLC-DAD of the ethanolic extract (TAEE) revealed the presence of ferulic acid as majority phenolic component in the extract. The 1H NMR analysis confirmed this structure and showed the also presence of glucose, citric acid, succinic acid, proline and hydrocarbon derivatives. In addition, the botanical origin was also investigated and showed a multifloral characteristic, having found 19 pollen types with a botanical predominance of the Anacardiaceae family, with Tapirira pollen occurring as predominant (42.6%) and Schinus as secondary (25.7%). The results showed that T. angustula honey is an interesting source of antioxidant phenolic compounds due to its floral origin and can act as a protector of human health when consumed.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Temporomandibular disorder in violinists is a health condition that, in its severe forms, can have negative consequences over time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in violinists and its relationship with anxiety about musical performance. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional study was carried out on violinists from the central region of Portugal. The information was collected through an online survey. The survey included questions for sociodemographic characterization, years of study of the instrument, weekly time dedicated to the study, the disabling temporomandibular pain-screening instrument for screening for pain because of temporomandibular disorders, the index of inability to assess the impact on functionality, as well as the anxiety index towards Kenny's musical performance. RESULTS Forty-nine violinists participated with a mean age of 27.9±9.3 years, mostly female (n=37, 75.5%). The average number of years of violin study was 17.5±7.5 years, and the average number of hours of study per week was 11.8±8.8 hours. The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders was reported by 28.6% of the participants, and a positive association was observed between the presence of temporomandibular disorders and the disability index of temporomandibular disorders (r=0.63; p<0.001), as well as with anxiety about musical performance (r=0.53; p<0.001). CONCLUSION For the sample studied, at least one in four violinists has temporomandibular disorders, which is associated with disability and anxiety about musical performance. These findings reinforce the need to sensitize instrumentalists and music teachers about the health risks, as well as the potential impact that this may have on musical performance. Future works may deepen the factors that explain the relationship between anxiety and temporomandibular disorders.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO A disfunção temporomandibular em violinistas constitui uma condição de saúde que, nas suas formas graves, pode ter consequências negativas ao longo do tempo. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência desta patologia em violinistas e a sua relação com a ansiedade perante o desempenho musical. METODOLOGIA Foi realizado um estudo transversal em violinistas da região centro em Portugal. A informação foi recolhida através de um inquérito em linha, que incluiu questões para caracterização sociodemográfica, anos de estudo do instrumento, tempo semanal dedicado, o instrumento de despiste de dor temporomandibular incapacitante para triagem de dor em consequência de disfunção temporomandibular, o índice de incapacidade da mesma para avaliar o impacto a funcionalidade e o índice de ansiedade, perante o desempenho musical de Kenny. RESULTADOS Participaram 49 violinistas com média de idade de 27,9±9,3 anos, maioritariamente do sexo feminino (n=37, 75,5%). A média do número de anos de estudo do violino situou-se nos 17,5±7,5 anos e o número médio de horas de prática por semana em 11,8±8,8 horas. A prevalência de disfunção temporomandibular foi reportada por 28,6% dos participantes, tendo-se observado uma associação positiva entre a presença de disfunção temporomandibular e o índice de incapacidade da disfunção temporomandibular (r=0,63; p<0,001), assim como com a ansiedade perante o desempenho musical (r=0,53; p<0,001). CONCLUSÃO Para a amostra estudada, conclui-se que pelo menos um em quatro violinistas apresenta disfunção temporomandibular, a qual parece estar associada a incapacidade e à ansiedade perante o desempenho musical. Estes achados reforçam a necessidade de sensibilizar os instrumentistas e professores de música sobre os riscos relativos à saúde em consequência do estudo, assim como ao potencial impacto que isso poderá implicar no desempenho musical. Trabalhos futuros poderão aprofundar os fatores que possam explicar a relação entre a ansiedade e a disfunção temporomandibular.

A necessidade de reutilizar e reciclar rejeitos e resíduos tem exigido das indústrias cerâmicas novas posturas diante do processo de fabricação e seleção de suas matérias-primas. A indústria de telhas de cerâmica vermelha, apesar de constante progresso, ainda não consegue evitar a grande produção de rejeitos oriundos de processamento deficiente de seus produtos, principalmente na etapa de queima. Produtos super-queimados, trincados, quebrados, sem uniformidade de geometria ou de cores, muitas vezes são descartados em aterros, causando prejuízo ambiental. Além disso, há o desperdício de energia, matéria-prima e mão-de-obra, utilizadas na fabricação de produtos não comercializáveis. Em muitas empresas, tais produtos chegam a representar cerca de 20% de sua produção mensal. Os produtos descartados podem ser reutilizados na produção de cerâmicas, inclusive com maior valor agregado, como grês porcelanato, desde que se conheça seu comportamento quando adicionado à massas cerâmicas. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo estudar o desenvolvimento microestrutural de massas para grês porcelanato contendo rejeitos de telhas, ou chamote. Foram selecionadas duas formulações conhecidas, uma para grês porcelanato e outra para grês, e adicionados teores de chamote de 10%, 20% e 30%. Três temperaturas de queima foram estudadas, 1150 ºC, 1200 ºC e 1250 ºC com taxa de aquecimento de 10 ºC/min. Amostras sinterizadas com e sem chamote foram avaliadas quanto à sua microestrutura, absorção de água e porosidade aparente. Tanto a massa para grês porcelanato como para grês tiveram absorção de água reduzida coma adição de chamote. A massa para grês com adição de 30% de chamore e queimada a 1250 ºC passou a ser considerada grês porcelanato, por ter apresentado absorção de água inferior a 0,5%. O chamote por sua composição mineralógica pode auxiliar na redução da quantidade de matérias-primas fundentes tradicionais, como feldspato e talco, exigidas na fabricação de grês porcelanato.

Aiming at reducing environmental impacts, ceramic industries have worked towards adapting their production methods as well as looking into reusing and recycling their own products. The roof tile industry, despite constant development, still produces large volumes of rejected material, as a consequence of faulty processing, especially during firing. Units depicting signs of overfiring, cracking and distortion, as well as geometry and colour non-uniformities are often discarded with no environmental concern. In addition to that, discarded products have negative economic effects considering the energy, raw materials and working hours used in the fabrication of products that do not go to market. Often, defective roof tiles account for 20% of the monthly production of the ceramic industries. On the other hand, such discarded roof tiles can be reused in the production of new ceramic products, including those with higher added value, such as stoneware tiles. To that end, it is essential to assess the effect of the addition of these ceramic residues in the ceramic mixtures traditionally used to produce stoneware tiles. The present study aimed at investigating the microstructural development of stoneware tile mixtures containing roof tile residues. Contents of 10%, 20% and 30% of residue were added to two different ceramic mixtures. Three firing temperatures were studied, i.e., 1150 ºC, 1200 ºC and 1250 ºC. The heating rate was set to 10 ºC/min. Samples with or without residue were sintered and had their microstructure, water absorption and apparent porosity characterized. The addition of tile roof residue reduced the water absorption of both mixtures studied. By adding 30% residue to mixture 2 and firing at 1250 ºC, it was possible to reduce its water absorption below 0,5%, typical of stoneware tiles. Due to its mineralogical composition, the residue studied can be useful in reducing the large amounts of traditional melting agents, such as feldspar and talc, demanded in the fabrication of stoneware tiles.

We evaluated genetic variants of apolipoprotein E (APOE HhaI) and their association with serum lipids in colorectal cancer (CRC), together with eating habits and personal history. Eight-seven adults with CRC and 73 controls were studied. APOE*2 (rs7412) and APOE*4 (rs429358) were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. APOE gene polymorphisms were similar in both groups, but the ε4/ε4 genotype (6%) was present only in controls. The patients had reduced levels (mean ± SD) of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction (180.4 ± 49.5 and 116.1 ± 43.1 mg/dL, respectively) compared to controls (204.2 ± 55.6, P = 0.135 and 134.7 ± 50.8 mg/dL; P = 0.330, respectively) indicating that they were not statistically significant after the Bonferroni correction. The APOE*4 allele was associated with lower levels of total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction and increased levels of very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction and triglycerides only among patients (P = 0.014). There was a positive correlation between the altered lipid profile and increased body mass indexes in both groups (P < 0.010). Moreover, a higher rate of hypertension and overweight was observed in controls (P < 0.002). In conclusion, the presence of the ε4/ε4 genotype only in controls may be due to a protective effect against CRC. Lower lipid profile values among patients, even those on lipid-rich diets associated with the APOE*4 allele, suggest alterations in the lipid synthesis and metabolism pathways in CRC.

The feeding ecology of the Channel flounder, Syacium micrurum, from Cape Verde was studied in November 2003 and April 2004, using frequency of occurrence and percentage by number indices, as well as multivariate analyses. Overall, S. micrurum exhibited a generalist feeding strategy with a relatively broad niche width. Analyses indicated Crustacea (especially Brachyura) and Polychaeta as the dominant prey items, although other items, such as Foraminifera, Caridae or Actinopterigii, were preyed on more often or in larger quantities, depending on the sampling date. An ontogenetic shift in diet was also observed with small-sized individuals mostly consuming Crustacea, whereas medium- or large-sized specimens fed on Actinopterigii more often. Diet composition appeared to be more related to differences in benthic assemblages between sampling dates due to the geographical characteristics of Cabo Verde. Results presented here support the need for further studies in the area, mainly those considering the composition and seasonal variation of invertebrate communities, to improve the knowledge of the trophic structure of commercially important species within this area.

En noviembre de 2003 y abril de 2004 se estudió la ecología alimenticia del lenguado anillado, Syacium micrurum, de Cabo Verde, usando los índices de frecuencia de ocurrencia y porcentaje por número, así como un análisis multivariado. En general, S. micrurum mostró una estrategia de alimentación generalista y relativamente diversificada. Los análisis indicaron que entre sus presas predominaron los crustáceos (particularmente braquiuros) y poliquetos, aunque otros grupos como los Foraminifera, Caridae o Actinopterigii aparecen con mayor frecuencia o en mayor cantidad, dependiendo de la época de muestreo. También se observó un cambio ontogénico en la dieta: los individuos más pequeños consumieron sobre todo crustáceos, mientras que los medianos y grandes se alimentaron con mayor frecuencia de actinopterigios. La composición de la dieta parece estar más relacionada con la composición específica de la comunidad bentónica en las épocas de muestreo, debida a su vez a las características geográficas de Cabo Verde. Los resultados presentados en este trabajo apoyan la necesidad de profundizar en este tipo de estudios, particularmente considerando la composición de las comunidades de invertebrados y su variación estacional, de manera que se profundice en el conocimiento de la estructura trófica de las especies de interés comercial que habitan en Cabo Verde.

O tamanho das presas é uma importante dimensão do nicho trófico. Em estudos de ecologia alimentar, os itens alimentares são geralmente medidos individualmente com o uso de paquímetro ou ocular micrométrica. Entre os anfíbios e répteis, há espécies que consomem grande número de itens alimentares pequenos (e.g. formigas, cupins). Esse grande número, por sua vez, torna a estimativa do tamanho das presas consumidas uma tarefa difícil. Desenvolvemos um método para colher subamostras dos conteúdos estomacais desses animais com o objetivo de obter estimativas de tamanho das presas. Especificamente, desenvolvemos um protocolo baseado em uma rotina de bootstrap que permite a obtenção de subamostras com erro de precisão de no máximo 5% e confiança de 95%. Esse método deve diminuir o esforço amostral e facilitar estudos futuros sobre os hábitos alimentares de anfíbios e répteis, além de fornecer um meio de obter estimativas precisas de tamanho de presas.

Prey size is an important factor in food consumption. In studies of feeding ecology, prey items are usually measured individually using calipers or ocular micrometers. Among amphibians and reptiles, there are species that feed on large numbers of small prey items (e.g. ants, termites). This high intake makes it difficult to estimate prey size consumed by these animals. We addressed this problem by developing and evaluating a procedure for subsampling the stomach contents of such predators in order to estimate prey size. Specifically, we developed a protocol based on a bootstrap procedure to obtain a subsample with a precision error of at the most 5%, with a confidence level of at least 95%. This guideline should reduce the sampling effort and facilitate future studies on the feeding habits of amphibians and reptiles, and also provide a means of obtaining precise estimates of prey size.

Em Portugal tem-se verificado um incremento no custo de execução da poda da oliveira, pelo que os autores iniciaram em 1997 a avaliação da aplicação da poda mecânica como alternativa à poda manual efectuada com moto - serra. Estabeleceram-se ensaios de campo com os seguintes tratamentos: T1 – poda manual com moto-serra; T2 – poda mecânica, efectuada por uma máquina de podar de discos, montada no carregador frontal de um tractor agrícola; T3 – poda mecânica efectuada pela máquina de podar de discos, seguida de complemento manual com moto - serra. Em cada ensaio, efectuou-se a colheita da azeitona com vibradores de tronco multidireccionais, tendo-se avaliado a produção total por árvore e o desempenho do vibrador na colheita da azeitona, em termos de eficiência de colheita e tempo de vibração por árvore. Neste trabalho apresentam-se os resultados obtidos em dois ensaios, não se tendo verificado diferenças significativas (P>0,1) entre os tratamentos na produção de azeitona, nos quatro anos após a execução da poda. Relativamente ao desempenho do vibrador, os resultados obtidos mostram que há necessidade de adequar a forma de abordar a árvore e a duração da vibração, de modo a manter o mesmo grau de eficiência entre os tratamentos.

In Portugal, olive farmers, particularly those with orchards of around 100 trees per hectare, are facing increasing pruning costs every year. As a result they tend to lengthen pruning intervals. With the purpose of studying a mechanised alternative to the labour intensive manual pruning practice, the authors established in 1997 field trials with the following three treatments: T1 -manual pruning cutting with a chain saw; T2 - mechanical pruning, performed by a tractor mounted cutting bar provided with 6 circular disc-saws; T3 -mechanical pruning, as in T2, followed by a manual pruning complement. In each test site, olives were harvested using a trunk shaker. Total production per tree, as well as the shaker efficiency was also evaluated. This paper, updating the research work previously presented at the 5th International Symposium on Olive Growing (Dias et al., 2004), shows the following major results: In both olive orchards tested, the cumulative results in yield in the subsequent four harvesting campaigns from the date of pruning, reveal no significant differences (P>0,1) between pruning treatments. In one of the olive orchards, shaker performance was not influenced by the way trees had been pruned. However, in other orchard, shaker efficiency was observed to be significantly lower on trees that had been pruned mechanically.

Neste Trabalho é apresentado um programa desenvolvido para simular um conjunto de equipamentos (detector e contador de radiação, fontes radioativas e placas absorvedoras) usados em um laboratório básico de Física Nuclear.

In this work it is presented a software, developed to simulate a set of equipment (probe and radiation counter, radioative sources and absorbers) that are used in a basic nuclear laboratory.

Worldwide occurrence of envenomation by snakebite in pregnancy is rare according to the medical literature. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of snakebite envenomation cases as well as their obstetrical consequences. Thus, we conducted this study based on the medical records of 157 patients, aged from 13 to 54 years old who had been attended at the "João de Barros Barreto" University Hospital from January 1989 to May 1994. These patients presented epidemiological and clinical diagnosis of snakebite envenomation. Of the 157 patients, 8 (5%) were pregnant, 6 of them (75%) were in the first trimester of pregnancy and 2 (25%) in the 2nd trimester. Most of the victims were usually over 18 years old (7 cases, 87.5%). Concerning the severity of the envenomation cases, 5 of them were considered mild accidents. Obstetrical consequences occurred in 3 (37.5%) patients, 2 patients (25%) with moderate manifestations, while 1(12.5%) presented severe manifestations. Patients developed vaginal bleeding in 3 cases (100%), and uterine contraction, threatened abortion, decreased fetal movements, absence of fetal heartbeat and fetal death in one case (33.35%). Snakebite is not common among pregnant women, since in most cases, these women are homebound. However, the obstetrical consequences are severe and related to severity of the envenomation.