RCAAP Repository

INTRODUCTION: Our purpose was to assess patients with single digit intraocular pressure (IOP) values and drop-free in primary trabeculectomy after using mitomycin C (MMC augmented with intracamerular bevacizumab). MÉTODOS: Retrospective, observational and comparative study. Charts from patients who underwent trabeculectomy and with IOP ≤9 mmHg at the last follow-up were included. Sub-analysis of patients screened between Oct 2015 and Mar 2019, for inclusion criteria of ≤9 mmHg at last follow-up (24 months). RESULTS: From 110 eyes screened in the initial study, 30 had the intended IOP target (MMC only: 11; MMC+bevacizumab: 19; 26% vs 41%, respectively, odds ratio 1.78, 95% IC (0.80 - 4.89), p=0.178). All these low-IOP patients were drop-free in this moment. No systemic adverse events were found and no vision-threatening complications were recorded. CONCLUSION: Adding intracamerular bevacizumab to MMC in trabeculectomy can be particularly useful in low-target IOP surgeries (such as normal tension glaucoma or very advanced glaucomas) comparing with trabeculectomy with MMC alone.

Our aim was to report a case of bilateral acute retinal necrosis (ARN). An asymptomatic 41-year-old female with history of AIDS was referred for screening of ocular manifestations of HIV. Patient had a BCVA of 20/40 OU. Slit-lamp examination showed bilateral inflammatory reaction of the anterior chamber. Fundus examination revealed bilateral necrotizing retinitis with retinal hemorrhages. Aqueous humor puncture was positive for VZV. A bilateral ARN was diagnosed and intravenous acyclovir and foscarnet intravitreal injections were initiated. Patient developed a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in OD within a week. Vitrectomy with endolaser and silicone oil tamponade was performed. Within four months, BCVA was 20/200 in OD and 20/50 in OS and inflammation was controlled. ARN may be asymptomatic in immunocompromised patients and progress even with treatment. A regular ophthalmologic evaluation is recommended in patients with AIDS, even in the absence of symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: Our aim was to assess optic disc structural, vascular and functional parameters in patients with primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (PRP). METHODS: This study enrolled patients with PRP and healthy age-matched controls. Subjects underwent evaluation of intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber angle, optic disc structural and vascular parameters (measured by optical coherence tomography) and visual field. RESULTS: Twenty-four eyes were included in the control group, with a mean age of 44.20 ± 4.67 years, and 20 eyes in the PRP group, with a mean age of 43.00 ± 6.08 years (p=0.20). Inferior and nasal retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was lower in PRP group (104.05 ± 17.64 vs 118.67 ± 12.60μm, p=0.01; 70.05 ± 12.21 vs 79.50 ± 12.70 μm, p=0.04, respectively). Vascular density was lower in PRP group, mostly in the inner ring (15.90 ± 2.10 vs 14.20 ± 0.43 mm-1, p=0.02). No difference was found in functional parameters (p>0.05). No correlation was found between optic disc vascular density and RNFL thickness on multivariate regression analysis (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that PRP may possibly negatively affect the optic nerve, with a reduced vascular density and RNFL thickness.

Two new coumarin-[60] fullerene dyads, in which an alkyne group covalently links C60 to coumarin, are synthesized via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and spectroscopically characterized. Their photophysical properties in apolar (toluene) and polar (THF and benzonitrile) solvents are studied at room temperature, revealing the nature and polarity dependence of the excited-state interactions between the coumarin and C60 moieties. In both dyads and in all solvents, a strong quenching of the coumarin emission by C60 was observed. It mainly results from a fast and efficient singletesinglet resonance energy transfer from the coumarin moiety to the C60 moiety, but an electron transfer contribution, enhanced in polar solvents, also exists. In toluene, the fluorescence emission of the fullerene moiety is increased by the nonradiative energy transfer process, which occurs mainly by a dipoleedipole (FRET) mechanism. In polar solvents (THF and benzonitrile), fast electron transfer from ground-state coumarin to excited fullerene is significant, leading to a partial or complete quenching of the fullerene emission, depending on the dyad.

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The main objective of this paper is to establish an economic modelling of wave energy through a Geographical Information System (GIS). Furthermore, this method has been tested for the particular case of the Portuguese coast. It determines the best sea areas to install wave energy converters in this region, using spatial analysis of the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). Several economic parameters, as capital or O&M costs, have been considered. In addition, a sensitivity analysis has been performed by varying the discount rate in three different scenarios. Several types of physical restrictions have been taken into account: bathymetry, submarine electrical cables, seabed geology, environmental conditions, protected areas in terms of heritage, navigation areas, seismic fault lines, etc. Spatial operations have been carried out to complete the procedure, using Model Builder of GIS software. Results indicate the most suitable areas in economic terms in Portugal to install wave energy devices.

Neste trabalho pretende-se caracterizar resumidamente a litostratigrafia de todas as sequências xisto-grauváquicas, actualmente identificadas em Portugal, constituindo o denominado Supergrupo Dúrico-Beirão (Complexo Xisto-Grauváquico). Serão tecidas considerações àcerca da sua sedimentação turbidítica, da sua paleogeografia e dos seus elementos cronoestratigráficos, bem como sobre a deformação e metamorfismo sofridos em tempos sardos e variscos. A finalizar procedeu-se a uma tentativa de correlação com as supostas correspondentes sucessões xisto-grauváquicas aflorantes em Espanha, neste mesmo Autóctone da Zona Centro-Ibérica. A sucessão do Supergrupo Dúrico-Beirão distribui-se pelos grupos das Beiras, do Douro e de Arda-Marofa. O primeiro é constituido pelas formações de Malpica do Tejo e de Rosmaninhal (fácies distal e proximal), de idade fundamentalmente do Ediacariano e, pontualmente, do Câmbrico inferior. O Grupo do Douro encontra-se sub-dividido pelas sucessões autóctone (formações de Bateiras e de Ervedosa do Douro) e alóctone (formações de Rio Pinhão ou Ponte da Chinchela e de Pinhão), com idade compreendida entre os finais do Ediacariano e o Câmbrico inferior a médio. Por fim, o Grupo de Arda-Marofa, que culminou a sedimentação da bacia xisto-grauváquica, distribui-se pelas formações de Póvoa, Real, Sátão, Excomungada-Ribeira do Colmeal, Queiriga, Desejosa, São Gabriel e São Domingos. A idade da sua sedimentação ter-se-ia processado desde o Ediacariano superior ao Câmbrico superior. As sucessões dos grupos das Beiras e do Douro são fundamentalmente constituidas por turbiditos distais e proximais clássicos, enquanto nas sequências do Grupo de Arda-Marofa se evidencia a presença de turbiditos de ondas modificadas, acompanhados de frequentes progradações a partir dos anteriores turbiditos, salvo nas formações de Desejosa e de São Gabriel, onde predominam os turbiditos distais e turbiditos vulcanoclásticos distais, respectivamente.

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We address nonconvex mixed-integer bilinear problems where the main challenge is the computation of a tight upper bound for the objective function to be maximized. This can be obtained by using the recently developed concept of multiparametric disaggregation following the solution of a mixed-integer linear relaxation of the bilinear problem. Besides showing that it can provide tighter bounds than a commercial global optimization solver within a given computational time, we propose to also take advantage of the relaxed formulation for contracting the variables domain and further reduce the optimality gap. Through the solution of a real-life case study from a hydroelectric power system, we show that this can be an efficient approach depending on the problem size. The relaxed formulation from multiparametric formulation is provided for a generic numeric representation system featuring a base between 2 (binary) and 10 (decimal).

Tourmalinization associated with peraluminous granitic intrusions in metapelitic host-rocks has been widely recorded in the Iberian Peninsula, given the importance of tourmaline as a tracer of granite magma evolution and potential indicator of Sn-W mineralizations. In the Penamacor-Monsanto granite pluton (Central Eastern Portugal, Central Iberian Zone), tourmaline occurs: (1) as accessory phase in two-mica granitic rocks, muscovite-granites and aplites, (2) in quartz (±mica)-tourmaline rocks (tourmalinites) in several exocontact locations, and (3) as a rare detrital phase in contact zone hornfels and metapelitic host-rocks. Electron microprobe and stable isotope (d18O, dD, d11B) data provide clear distinctions between tourmaline populations from these different settings: (a) schorl–oxyschorl tourmalines from granitic rocks have variable foititic component (X? = 17–57 %) and Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratios (0.19–0.50 in two-mica granitic rocks, and 0.05–0.19 in the more differentiated muscovite-granite and aplites); granitic tourmalines have constant d18O values (12.1 ± 0.1 ‰), with wider-ranging dD (-78.2 ± 4.7 ‰) and d11B (-10.7 to -9.0 ‰) values; (b) vein/breccia oxyschorl [Mg/(Mg + Fe) = 0.31–0.44] results from late, B- and Fe-enriched magma-derived fluids and is characterized by d18O = 12.4 ‰, dD = -29.5 ‰, and d11B = -9.3 ‰, while replacement tourmalines have more dravitic compositions [Mg/(Mg + Fe) = 0.26–0.64], close to that of detrital tourmaline in the surrounding metapelitic rocks, and yield relatively constant d18O values (13.1–13.3 ‰), though wider-ranging dD (-58.5 to -36.5 ‰) and d11B (-10.2 to -8.8 ‰) values; and (c) detrital tourmaline in contact rocks and regional host metasediments is mainly dravite [Mg/(Mg + Fe) = 0.35–0.78] and oxydravite [Mg/(Mg + Fe) = 0.51–0.58], respectively. Boron contents of the granitic rocks are low (<650 ppm) compared to the minimum B contents normally required for tourmaline saturation in granitic melts, implying loss of B and other volatiles to the surrounding host-rocks during the late-magmatic stages. This process was responsible for tourmalinization at the exocontact of the Penamacor-Monsanto pluton, either as direct tourmaline precipitation in cavities and fractures crossing the pluton margin (vein/breccia tourmalinites), or as replacement of mafic minerals (chlorite or biotite) in the host-rocks (replacement tourmalinites) along the exocontact of the granite. Thermometry based on 18O equilibrium fractionation between tourmaline and fluid indicates that a late, B-enriched magmatic aqueous fluid (av. d18O ~12.1 ‰, at ~600 °C) precipitated the vein/breccia tourmaline (d18O ~12.4 ‰) at ~500–550 °C, and later interacted with the cooler surrounding host-rocks to produce tourmaline at lower temperatures (400–450 °C), and an average d18O ~13.2 ‰, closer to the values for the host-rock. Although B-metasomatism associated with some granitic plutons in the Iberian Peninsula seems to be relatively confined in space, extending integrated studies such as this to a larger number of granitic plutons may afford us a better understanding of Variscan magmatism and related mineralizations.

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Granitic amblygonite-subtype and lepidolite-subtype, aplite-pegmatite sills intruded a biotite>muscovite granite (G1). Two other biotite>muscovite granites (G2 and G3) and a muscovite>biotite granite (G4) crop out in the area. Variation diagrams for major and trace elements of the Variscan rocks show fractionation trends for a) G1 and G4; b) G2, G3 and aplite-pegmatite sills. The two series are confirmed by the two trends defined by major elements of primary muscovite. The sills also contain Li-bearing muscovite, which has higher Mn, Li, F and paragonite contents and lower AlVI content than primary muscovite from G2, G3 and sills. All sills have pure albite and P2O5 content of K-feldspar and plagioclase increases in the series G2, G3 and sills. Beryl occurs in all sills, but lepidolite and a nearly pure petalite only occur in lepidolite-subtype sills, which are the most evolved sills. Primary topaz and amblygonite have a similar composition in all sills. Aplite-pegmatite sills contain cassiterite, which shows sequences of alternating darker and lighter zones. The former are richer in (Nb + Ta + Fe + Mn) than the latter. Manganocolumbite is common in all sills, but ferrocolumbite only appears in amblygonite-subtype sills and manganotantalite in lepidolite-subtype sills. The sills richest in Li contain reversely-zoned crystals with a homogeneous microlite core and a heterogeneous uranmicrolite rim. Least squares analysis of major elements shows that granite G3 and amblygonite-subtype and lepidolite-subtype aplite-pegmatite sills can be derived from granite G2 magma by fractional crystallization of quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar, biotite and ilmenite. Modelling of trace elements shows good results for Sr, but magmatic fluids controlled the Rb and Ba contents of the aplite-pegmatite sills and probably also their Li, F, Sn and Ta contents and crystallization of lepidolite, cassiterite and Nb–Ta oxide mineral assemblage. Schorl from the lepidolite-subtype sills that cut granite G1 has higher Mg/(Mg + Fe) than schorl from metasomatised granite at sill walls and resulted from the mixing of magmatic fluids carrying B and some Fe with a meteoric fluid that has interacted with the host granite G1 and carried Fe and Mg. Schorl and dravite, respectively from metasomatised granite and micaschist at sill walls, were also formed from the mixing processes.

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Within a sustainable development framework, wind energy in Portugal during 2013 continued the trend of the previous years and increased its influence in the Portuguese electricity system. This influence was felt in several ways. Portugal added 192 MW of installed wind power capacity and reached 4,709 MW of wind generation. This represents 23% of renewable energy capacity in the country. With this amount of wind capacity, 11.9 TWh was supplied to the electricity system during the year (1), (2). These increases resulted in a wind power penetration rate of 24% in electricity consumption, rising 4% compared to 2012. The high value of wind penetration was influenced by the especially favorable wind conditions observed in mountain areas where the majority of the installed wind capacity is concentrated. It is important to notice that this amount of penetration is only exceeded worldwide by Denmark. The generation of electricity from renewable energy sources was 57% of the national consumption (which is a new record in Portugal). The individual renewable contribution in Portugal was different from last year. After an atypical year in hydro power production in 2012 (due to the fifth driest year of the last 80 years), the contribution of this renewable energy source grew 17% during 2013 reaching 27 % of electrical demand. Due to this increase, wind energy decreased 12% in its share within the renewable energy production (3). The high contribution from the endogenous resources enabled Portugal to reduce to 6% dependency on foreign energy in meeting consumption after reaching as high as 16% in 2012 (1). Total electricity consumption in 2013 was 50.6 TWh, which corresponds to a slight increase of 3% compared to 2012 (1), (2). Despite the economic recession that continues in the country and the energy efficiency measures that were implemented in the last years, this small increase reverses the downward trend observed in the last few years. In 2013, the Portuguese government approved a new National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP). Compared to the previous NREAP 2010, the 2013 NREAP reduced the wind power capacity targets to 5,300 MW compared to the previous 6,875 MW (4).

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