Júlio Fonseca

Nuclear DNA in the determination of weighing factors to estimate exergy from organisms biomass

The application of ecological exergy as a suitable system-oriented development indicator of ecosystems and the estimation proposals from biomass are revised. DNA contents (C-values) of several groups of organisms are figured, either determined by flow cytometry or taken from literature. The applicability of DNA contents for determination of weighing factors to estimate ecological exergy from the biomass of organisms, as proposed by [Marques, J.C., M.Â. Pardal, S.N. Neilsen, S.E. Jorgensen, 1997. Analysis of the properties of exergy and biodiversity along an estuarine gradient of eutrophication. Ecol. Model. 102: 155–167.], is discussed and putative values for these weighing factors (β) are presented. This proposal is discussed in theoretical and practical aspects, concerning reliability and eventual application in ecological ‘exergetic’ studies.

Complex Adaptive Hierarchical Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on an emerging coherent theory of CAHSystems. They have both intrinsic and instrumental values. The orientation of First-World societies is pragmatic, which must be tempered by the awareness of the critical importance of a new-knowledge generation, which cannot be judged practically. Old knowledge can be applied with inevitable results when human adaptability becomes increasingly impoverished. The area of CAHSystems represents new ground in science as 21st Century begins to unfold. Pragmatically, a turn to CAHSystems is motivated by the needs to integrate and make sense of the information overload to grapple with complexly interwoven environmental, political, economic, social, and ethical issues that span huge scales of space and time. The development and focus of this theory is still in its infancy and must be nurtured, but the pressing need to discover and integrate complex systems knowledge argues for its continuing promotion and coordination. Few tools are available to grapple with systems, and one of these is interdisciplinary modeling, which represents a potentially powerful means for integrating observation, theory, and practice. Development of CAHSystems Theory and modeling are essential if humanity is realized as a balanced and sustainable condition within the frames of healthy, diverse, and viable ecosystems across the globe.

Estimation of ecological exergy using weighing parameters determined from DNA contents of organisms - a case study

We studied the changes of exergy and specific exergy with data of benthic macrofauna communities, periodically sampled along an estuarine gradient of eutrophication in the Mondego estuary (Western Portugal). Exergy estimates were calculated from organism biomass, based on weighing factors for the relative content of exergy per unit of biomass determined from DNA contents of organisms. Results were discussed in terms of both the macrofauna biomass production and the structural organisation of the system. Estimates for the exergy indices provided useful indications for the evaluation of environmental impact due to the eutrophication process. Different average values for the indices of exergy and specific exergy were estimated relatively to areas with different levels of eutrophication, in the ‘spatial’ gradient of eutrophication. Higher exergy levels and lower exergy content per unit of biomass (specific exergy) were associated to populations more stabilized or areas less perturbed. Additionally, the index of specific exergy seemed capable of providing indications for the qualitative alterations in the communities (in temporal and spatial terms) that go in the direction of the observations made in this ecosystem.

Degradability and Sediment Sorption of an Alcohol Polyglycol Ether Surfactant Putatively Useful for the Control of Red Swamp Crayfish in Rice Fields

This work reports studies of the degradation rates of a fattyalcohol polyglycol ether non-ionic surfactant, Genapol OXD-080, putatively useful for the control of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii Girard) in rice fields under laboratory and field conditions. The influence of temperature,sediment site specificity and sorption were taken into account.The degradation kinetics of the surfactant depends on the experimental conditions: type of inocula and temperature. Thedistribution of this chemical in aquatic systems was also examined. Genapol OXD-080 was removed into the sedimentsreadily after application, and sorption was considered the majorpath of removal from the water phase. Data suggest that furtherstudies are required regarding the effects of Genapol OXD-080 in aquatic organisms resident in rice fields, in parallelwith the development of technologies related with the use ofsurfactants to control P. clarkii populations.

Facial Temperature Recovery After Ice Therapy: A Comparative Study Based on Thermography Evaluation

Thermography is a non-radiating and contact-free technology which can be used to monitor skin temperature. The efficiency and safety of thermography technology make it a useful tool for detecting and locating thermal changes in skin surface, characterized by increases or decreases in temperature. This work intends to be a contribution for the use of thermography as a methodology for evaluation of skin temperature in the context of orofacial biomechanics. The study aims to identify the oscillations of skin temperature in hemiface’s region of the masseter muscle and estimate the time required to restore the initial temperature after the application of an ice stimulus. Using an infrared camera, a data acquisition protocol was followed with a group of volunteers in a controlled environment. The thermal stimulus involves the use of an ice volume and the skin surface temperature was recorded in two distinct situations, namely without further stimulus and with the addition of a complementary stimulus obtained by a chewing gum. The results shows that recovery is faster with the addition of the stimulus and may guide clinicians regarding the pre and post-operative times with ice therapy, in the presence or absence of mechanical stimulus that increase muscle functions.

Mandibular condylar hyperplasia: diagnosis and management. Case report

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A hiperplasia da cabeca mandibular e uma doenca na qual ha um crescimento excessivo da cabeca, ramo e corpo mandibulares que causa assimetria facial. A sua abordagem terapeutica nao apresenta um consenso e, dada a sua complexidade, constitui um desafio para o cirurgiao maxilofacial e para o ortodontista. O objetivo deste estudo foi discutir os aspectos clinicos, diagnosticos e terapeuticos envolvidos na abordagem dessa doenca, clarificando o papel da condilectomia. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do genero feminino, 19 anos, caucasiana, procurou atendimento de um Cirurgiao Maxilofacial devido a assimetria facial e dor na articulacao temporomandibular direita. Nao possuia antecedentes medicos ou gestacionais ou familiares de deformidade facial, nem historia de trauma ou infeccao articular previos. Apresenta-se um caso clinico de alongamento hemimandibular tratado com condilectomia. CONCLUSAO: A condilectomia e um procedimento seguro e eficaz, sem sequelas articulares funcionais, que evita a progressao da deformidade dentofacial, minimizando o seu impacto psicossocial e facilitando o tratamento posterior.