4161 research outputs found
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Window to the Portuguese Science Museums
No full textRESUMO: Enquadrada na implementação de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC) na educação, e nos avanços da tecnologia móvel, este estudo apresenta as fases iniciais da construção da aplicação digital (app), “Janela para os Museus de Ciência Portugueses”, com o objetivo de ser um recurso para o planeamento a longo e médio prazo, nomeadamente na definição de atividades desenvolvidas fora da escola. Atualmente, o estudo centra-se na integração de uma base de dados, com atividades dos museus/centros de ciência portugueses, em particular Geologia, numa app. Esta permitirá aos professores de ciências selecionar exposições e atividades a implementar nos museus, centros de ciência e centros interpretativos portugueses, com foco na Geologia. Apresentam-se as funções, as características e as etapas futuras deste estudo, com o objetivo de construir um recurso valioso para o ensino, incentivando a implementação de atividades de aprendizagem em museus de ciências.ABSTRACT: Following the trend to implement Information and Communication Technologies in education, and taking advantage of mobile technology advances, this study presents the early stages of the construction of the digital application (app), “Janela para os Museus de Ciência Portugueses”, aiming to be a resource for teachers, designed for long and medium-term planning, particularly in the definition of activities developed outside the school. Presently, the study focus on the integration of a database, with exhibitions and activities of Portuguese science museums/centres, in particular Geology, into an app. This will allow science teachers, in particular Biology and Geology teachers in secondary education, to select exhibitions and/or activities to be implemented in Portuguese museums, science centres and interpretive centres. The current functions and details as well as future stages of this study are presented, to build a valuable resource for teaching, encouraging the implementation of learning activities in science museums
Inversión magnética 3D en Angola: estudios de caso del Complejo Alcalino de la Serra da Neve y de las Itabiritas de Jamba
No full textABSTRACT: Demanding and speculative economies make it imperative to search for new areas of mineral exploration. Angola’s geological diversity presents an enormous potential for mineral resources. This potential can be assessed by applying different methods, such as geophysical prospecting, to discover new potential targets of areas to explore. For many years, the magnetic method has been successfully used in mineral exploration. In this work we apply a 3D magnetic inversion technique to aeromagnetic data in two different study areas. The Serra da Neve alkaline complex (SNAC) represents a potential source for rare earth elements (REE) and the Jamba itabirites provides metallic mineral deposits with iron and gold mineralizations. In both case studies, whether concerning alkaline intrusions or itabirites deposits, their magnetic properties are characterized by strong magnetic anomalies clearly delineated on magnetic anomaly maps. The high magnetic susceptibility (k) contrast between these target structures and the host rocks allowed us to obtain a coherent three-dimensional geometry for the SNAC structures and the itabirites deposits. The magnetic inversion technique also provided magnetic vector inversion (MVI)susceptibility values estimation for constituent lithologies, as well as the shape and size of the studied structures and deposits. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the magnetic method for the detection and characterization of target areas, offering an innovative technique to identify potential areas in mineral resources exploration.RESUMEN: Las economías exigentes y especulativas hacen imperativa la búsqueda de nuevas áreas de exploración minera. La diversidad geológica de Angola presenta un enorme potencial de recursos minerales. Esto se puede evaluar aplicando diferentes métodos, como la prospección geofísica para descubrir nuevas áreas potenciales a explorar. Durante muchos años el método magnético se ha utilizado con éxito en la exploración minera. En este trabajo aplicamos una técnica de inversión magnética 3D a datos aeromagnéticos en dos áreas de estudio diferentes. El complejo alcalino de la Serra da Neve (SNAC) representa una potencial fuente de elementos de tierras raras y las itabiritas de Jamba proporcionan depósitos de minerales metálicos con mineralizaciones de oro y hierro. En ambos casos, intrusiones alcalinas y depósitos de itabiritas, sus propiedades magnéticas se caracterizan por fuertes anomalías magnéticas que están bien definidas en los mapas de anomalías magnéticas. El elevado contraste de susceptibilidad magnética entre las rocas estudiadas y sus materiales encajantes nos permitió obtener una geometría tridimensional coherente para el SNAC y los depósitos de itabiritas. La técnica de inversión magnética también proporcionó una estimación de los valores de susceptibilidad MVI (magnetic vector inversion) para las litologías constituyentes, así como la forma y el tamaño de las estructuras y depósitos estudiados. Los resultados demuestran la efectividad del método magnético para la detección y caracterización de áreas de interés, ofreciendo una técnica innovadora para identificar áreas potenciales para la exploración de recursos minerales
Journey around the world with Geology : analysis of 611 questions from national exams (2008-2021)
No full textRESUMO: Este estudo procura compreender a importância dada à georreferenciação de situações reais nas questões de Geologia dos Exames Nacionais (EN) de Biologia e Geologia (BG) portugueses e contextualizá-la com o currículo. Estes exames são obrigatórios para a conclusão da disciplina bienal de BG (10.º e 11.º anos) dos Cursos Científicos e Humanísticos, podendo ainda constituir um requisito obrigatório ou facultativo para o acesso ao ensino superior. Para tal, analisaram-se os grupos de questões de Geologia de 39 EN realizados entre 2008 e 2021, os quais revelaram que a maioria dos grupos de questões de Geologia são enquadrados em cenários científicos georreferenciados (93,6%), sendo os Açores a região citada mais frequentemente. O presente estudo transmite a importância de situações reais, em particular do arquipélago dos Açores, para os conteúdos de Geologia lecionados nos 10.º e 11.º anos, considerando os atributos geológicos desta região e a sua presença frequente nos EN portugueses.ABSTRACT: This study seeks to understand the importance given to the placement of real-life situations in Geology questions of National Portuguese Biology and Geology Exams and to contextualize it with the curriculum. These exams are required to conclude the biennial course of Biology and Geology (10th and 11th grades) of the Scientific and Humanistic Courses, and they may also constitute a compulsory or optional requirement for access to higher education. To that end, we analysed the Geology questions groups of 39 exams held between 2008 and 2021, which showed that most groups of Geology questions are framed in georeferenced scientific
scenarios (93.6%), being the Azores region frequently cited. The present study conveys the importance of real-life situations, particularly the Azorean region, for the contents of Geology, taught in 10th and 11th grades, considering the geological attributes of this region and its frequent presence in Portuguese national exams
Towards climate adaptation: a case study of a Coastal City in Portugal
No full textABSTRACT: The present study focuses on the use of complementary numerical tools to support the development of a climate neutrality roadmap for Cascais, a coastal Portuguese city and one of the nine pilot cities in the Re-Value project. The results contribute to refining the roadmap and updating Cascais' long-term Territorial Transformation Plans to accelerate its journey to climate neutrality by 2050. For this, a spatial analysis was conducted to assess the potential for rooftop solar PV, onshore wind energy, and wave energy along the coastline. Additionally, an innovative and simplified Decision Support Tool (DST) was developed to support municipalities in the development of their climate neutrality roadmaps and was used in the design of the scenarios and trajectories, which are now being integrated into the climate neutrality roadmap for Cascais. The DST tool results show that in the High Development scenario, when compared with the reference year of 2019, the total final energy demand can decrease by 7.2 % in 2050 due to the implementation of energy efficiency measures following the concept "Energy Efficiency First" and along with the increase of electrification, the introduction of hydrogen in the transport sector, and a broader implementation of renewable energy in the urban fabric and public spaces, Green House Gas (GHG) emissions can decrease by 82 % in 2050
Monitoring C. vulgaris Cultivations Grown on Winery Wastewater Using Flow Cytometry
No full textABSTRACT: Winery wastewater (WWW), if released untreated, poses a serious environmental threat due to its high organic load. In this study, Chlorella vulgaris was cultivated in diluted WWW to assess its suitability as a culture medium. Two outdoor cultivation systems-a 270 L raceway and a 40 L bubble column-were operated over 33 days using synthetic medium (control) and WWW. A flow cytometry (FC) protocol was implemented to monitor key physiological parameters in near-real time, including cell concentration, membrane integrity, chlorophyll content, cell size, and internal complexity. At the end of cultivation, the bubble column yielded the highest cell concentrations: 2.85 x 106 cells/mL (control) and 2.30 x 106 cells/mL (WWW), though with lower proportions of intact cells (25% and 31%, respectively). Raceway cultures showed lower cell concentrations: 1.64 x 106 (control) and 1.54 x 106 cells/mL (WWW), but higher membrane integrity (76% and 36% for control and WWW cultures, respectively). On average, cells grown in the bubble column had a 22% larger radius than those in the raceway, favouring sedimentation. Heterotrophic cells were more abundant in WWW cultures, due to the presence of organic carbon, indicating its potential for use as animal feed. This study demonstrates that FC is a powerful, real-time tool for monitoring microalgae physiology and optimising cultivation in complex effluents like WWW
The ThermEcoWat Project : Increasing the Resilience of Thermal Ecosystems related to Thermal Water
No full textRESUMO: O ThermEcoWat (Resiliência dos Ecossistemas Termais) é um projeto transfronteiriço do programa INTERREG SUDOE com duração de 36 meses, que teve início em janeiro de 2024 e põe em contacto os vários intervenientes de territórios termais, em matéria técnico-científica, de gestão e da administração central e local, procurando estratégias conjuntas para os tornar mais resilientes aos efeitos das alterações climáticas, através dos casos pilotos de São Pedro do Sul (Portugal), Caldes de Montbui (Espanha) e Chaudes-Aigues (França). O presente resumo procura dar a conhecer, de uma forma resumida, os seus objetivos e as principais ações que têm vindo a ser desenvolvidas no seu âmbito, pela equipa alargada do projeto.ABSTRACT: ThermEcoWat (Resilience of Thermal Ecosystems) is a 36-month long transnational program INTERREG SUDOE project, which started in January 2024 and puts stakeholders of thermal territories in contact, in the technicalscientific, management and central and local administration aspects, seeking joint strategies to increase resilience to the effects of climate change, focused on the pilots of: São Pedro do Sul (Portugal), Caldes de Montbui (Spain) and Chaudes-Aigues (France). This extended abstract aims to summarize the objectives and actions developed within its scope by the extended project team.Projeto ThermEcoWat “Resiliência dos Ecossistemas Termais às Alterações Climáticas”
Education, Science and Natural Heritage municipality of Torres Novas
No full textRESUMO: A aprendizagem das ciências baseada em atividades de cariz experimental promove o contacto com sistema natural e apresenta grande relevância no processo de aprendizagem destas áreas junto do público infantojuvenil. Nesse sentido, o Município de Torres Novas tem desenvolvido um conjunto de projetos e iniciativas, nomeadamente Ciência sobre Rodas, À Descoberta – Atividades Interpretativas no Património Natural de Torres Novas e Asas da Ciência – Feira de Ciências, que pretende incentivar e fomentar o ensino das ciências, a literacia científica e a descoberta do património natural junto da comunidade escolar. Nestes projetos são realizadas um conjunto de atividades experimentais e visitas de campo ao património natural local, sendo uma oportunidade única para os estudantes poderem observar in situ os conteúdos aprendidos e adquiridos em sala de aula (educação formal), estratégia essa de ensino/aprendizagem que estimula o interesse e a curiosidade dos alunos, conduzindo à sua participação ativa e permitindo a observação direta do mundo que os rodeia. Neste trabalho apresentam-se as atividades desenvolvidas, dando especial enfase às atividades experimentais e aos percursos interpretativos promovidos na área das geociências.ABSTRACT: Science learning based on experimental activities and promotes contact with the natural system and is highly relevant in the learning process of these areas among children and young people. In this sense, the Municipality of Torres Novas has developed a set of projects and initiatives, namely Science on Wheels, Discovering – Interpretive Activities in the Natural Heritage of Torres Novas and Asas da Ciência – Science Fair, which aim to encourage the teaching of science, scientific literacy and the discovery of natural heritage within the school community. In these projects, a set of experimental activities and field visits to the local natural heritage are carried out, providing a unique opportunity for students to observe in situ the content learned and acquired in the classroom - formal education, a teaching/learning strategy that stimulates students’ interest and curiosity, leading to their active participation and allowing direct observation of the world around them. In this work we present the activities developed, giving special emphasis to experimental activities and interpretative paths promoted around geosciences.Plano Estratégico de Desenvolvimento Intermunicipal da Educação no Médio Tejo – PEDIME
Dielectric UV filters for protection of fire-resistant glass based on intumescent layers
No full textABSTRACT: Structures such as OLEDs, perovskite solar cells, intumescent glasses, and other components in modern devices and buildings contain materials suscep-tible to degradation when exposed to UV radiation, requiring protection to with-stand outdoor environmental conditions. In this work, multilayer coating config-ured as a Bragg Reflector on glass is employed as spectral filtering to protect the intumescent component of fire-resistant glass from degradation due to prolonged UV solar radiation exposure. By alternating low-n (SiO2)/high-n (TiO2) dielectric layers through spin-coating, precise control over film thickness could be achieved, allowing the fabrication of thin (<700 nm) UV filters with high trans-mission of visible sunlight – 88% of the 780 to 380 nm wavelength range – while reflecting almost all the incident UV – 90% of the wavelength below 380nm. Using relatively simple techniques, high precision coating was successfully achieved, resulting in an effective UV radiation protective barrier applied to en-hance the durability of the components in fire-resistant glass
Mapping a fault zone in a granitic terrain using geophysical methods
No full textRESUMO: Na realização de cartografia geológica as condições de observação podem ser insuficientes para se obterem os resultados e o pormenor desejados. Nessas circunstâncias o uso de métodos geofísicos pode permitir ultrapassar as limitações existentes. O caso apresentado diz respeito a uma área perto da povoação de Arcozelo, no centro-norte de Portugal. Nesta zona a litologia dominante corresponde a granitos hercínicos, estando também presentes uma unidade sedimentar constituída por arenitos
grosseiros, feldspáticos, de matriz argilosa, do Paleogénico, e aluviões no fundo do vale. Nesta área ocorre uma ampla zona de falha na junção de uma falha com orientação NNE-SSW com uma segunda com orientação NE-SW. No geral as condições de observação dos limites litológicos e dos limites de zona de falha são fracas. É neste contexto que o VLF-R e métodos de resistividade eléctrica foram usados com bons resultados para pôr em evidência esses limites.ABSTRACT: In the execution of geological mapping the observation conditions may be insufficient to attain the desired detail and results. In such circumstances
the use of geophysical methods may allow to overcome existing limitations. The present case concerns an area near the small town of Arcozelo, in centre-northern Portugal. In this area the dominant lithology corresponds to hercynian medium to coarse-grained granites. There are also Paleogene sediments constituted by coarse feldspathic arenites with argillaceous matrix, and alluvial deposits are present in the bottom of the local valley. In this area, a large fault zone is present in the junction of two NNE-SSW and NE-SW trending faults. The observation conditions of the limits between lithological units and fault-related limits are generally poor. VLF-R, electrical resistivity profiling and earth resistivity imaging methods have successfully been used to put in evidence those limits. Electrical resistivity profiling (Schlumberger array, AB = 20 m), with a shallow investigation depth, was effective in differentiating the alluvium from the Paleogene sediments, on the basis of contrasting apparent resistivity values. VLF-R measurements with two transmitters led to the identification and positioning of fault zone limits, further assisted with the use of 2D resistivity methods. The resulting map shows a side band and a northern patch of the Paleogene sediments, a central patch of alluvium, and granite on both sides; and an overall control by fault zone limits. In this area, these limits have a multiple character, resulting in an elaborated fault zone pattern
Microalgae-associated Stenotrophomonas maltophilia enhances lutein production and biostimulant activity in Monoraphidium sp
No full textABSTRACT: Photosynthetic organisms like microalgae can collect solar energy and transform it into biochemical compounds as other forms of energy that can be utilized in metabolic processes. In nature, microalgae coexist with bacterial communities and may maintain a symbiotic relationship. In the current study, a heterotrophic bacterium, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was isolated from the phycosphere of a cold-adapted green microalga Monoraphidium sp. (further abbreviated as Monoraphidium). By using advanced liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS), we were able to detect homoserine lactones (HSLs): 3OHC12-HSL, 3OHC10-HSL, 3OHC14-HSL, C10-HSL, C8-HSL, and OC14-HSL, produced by S. maltophilia. Further, the role of this bacterium in establishing intricate relationships and its implication on biotechnological potential was evaluated. Significant improvements were found in the lutein production of the Monoraphidium culture with bacterial supplements, achieving about 19.3 +/- 0.88 mg g-1 DW of this carotenoid compared to 13.7 +/- 1.87 mg g-1 DW in the control, which represents an increase of about 40 %. Furthermore, the biostimulant potential of Monoraphidium was evaluated using the germination tests with tomato and barley seeds. A higher germination index was observed with improvements of 55 % in tomato and 110 % in barley, respectively, as compared to the control culture, which was related to the microalgae's growth stage. The role of the bacterium was evaluated in how the intricate relationships with the microalgal culture can affect its biotechnological potential (e.g., biostimulant activity and lutein production). The current work expands our knowledge towards designing an efficient polyculture based on complementary traits and metabolic potential to maximize the yield and bioactivity in algal biotechnology