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An air-stable formate dehydrogenase (FDH), an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide, was purified from the sulfate reducing organism Desulfovibrio gigas (D. gigas) NCIB 9332. D. gigas FDH is a heterodimeric protein [alpha (92 kDa) and beta (29 kDa) subunits] and contains 7 +/- 1 Fe/protein and 0.9 +/- 0.1 W/protein, Selenium was not detected. The UV/visible absorption spectrum of D, gigas FDH is typical of an iron-sulfur protein. Analysis of pterin nucleotides yielded a content of 1.3 +/- 0.1 guanine monophosphate/mol of enzyme, which suggests a tungsten coordination with two molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide cofactors. Both Mossbauer spectroscopy performed on D. gigas FDH grown in a medium enriched with Fe-57 and EPR studies performed in the native and fully reduced state of the protein confirmed the presence of two [4Fe-4S] clusters. Variable-temperature EPR studies showed the presence of two signals compatible with an atom in a d(1) configuration albeit with an unusual relaxation behavior as compared to the one generally observed for W(V) ions.

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As a Norwegian sociologist pointed out recently at the Encontro Internacional de Vilamoura on Fishing, “the fisheries management is the management of people, not fish" This statement may surprise many specialists, but it puts once again a series of questions and problems in their true place: society, social relationships, individuals. It is necessary to adopt a new attitude, a new type of intervention, a new vision, which may mean “community management”, a system of co-management, new models of business organisation and consumer behaviour. Towards this end, sociology can and should contribute with its analytical instruments, with its set of scientific reflections and controversies, to the enrichment of the knowledge about a complex reality in profound change, such as that of the socio-economic fisheries system.

The electrochemical behavior of the species [Co(eta(5)-C5H5)(eta(3)-2-MeC3H4)I] and [Co(eta(5)-C5H5)(eta(3)-2-MeC3H4)(ACN)](+) in ACN solutions, at 25 degrees C, is described. The kinetic analysis of the cyclic voltammetry curves indicates that the introduction of one electron in the former complex is concerted with the dissociation of the Co-I bond. The ensuing radical undergoes fast solvation to yield the solvato complex [Co(eta(5)-C5H5)(eta(3)-2-MeC3H4)(ACN)](.), which then acts as an efficient electron donor toward the starting material with the formation of[Co(eta(5)-C5H5)(eta(3)-2-MeC3H4)(ACN)](+); finally, the cation is electroreduced at the working potentials to conclude an overall autocatalytic sequence. The solvato complex [Co(eta(5)-C5H5)(eta(3)-2-MeC3H4)(ACN)](.), formed as a product of the above reduction process, can be reversibly reduced to the corresponding anion at more negative potentials. Confirmation of the above mechanism and of the fact that the solvato complex can act as a solution electron donor toward the starting material was obtained by studying the electrochemical behavior of the solvato complex itself and through calculations aimed to better define the dissociative electron-transfer process to [Co(eta(5)-C5H5)(eta(3)-2-MeC3H4)I]. The dissociation of the metal-halide bond in the neutral complex [Co(eta(5)-C5H5)(eta(3)-2-MeC3H4)I], with the formation of[Co(eta(5)-C5H5)(eta(3)-2-MeC3H4)(ACN)](+), was also found to occur spontaneously, in the bulk, through the observation of a progressive change of the cyclic voltammetric pattern. Support for the occurrence of the reaction between the starting complex and the solvent was confirmed by conductivity and spectroscopic measurements, which allowed the rate constant for the homogeneous solvolysis to be determined.

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A survey of Hemidactylus turcicus (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) was carried out every 3 weeks from March to November of 1997, in nocturnal transects in the city of Évora, Portugal. In this country this species is strictly nocturnal with a mean daily activity peak at 2hOO A.M (UTC).A model that correlates Activity and Temperature of the air is given. H. turcicus prefers, as microhabitat, walls (78%) and doors (16%) of low used houses. The average height in which they were found is about 3 meters.

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We discuss the problem of building domain oriented environments by a composition of heterogeneous application components and tools. We describe several individual tools that support such environments, namely a distributed monitoring and control tool (DAMS), a process-based distributed debugger (PDBG) and a heterogeneous interconnection model (PHIS). We discuss our experience with the development of a Problem Oriented Environment in the domain of genetic algorithms, obtained by a composition of heterogeneous tools and application components.

We discuss debugging prototypes that can easily support new functionalities, depending on the requirements of high-level computational models, and allowing a coherent integration with other tools in a software engineering environment. Concerning the first aspect, we propose a framework that identifies two distinct levels of functionalities that should be supported by a parallel and distributed debugger using: a process and thread-level, and a coordination level concerning sets of processes or threads. An incremental approach is used to effectively develop prototypes that support both functionalities. Concerning the second aspect, we discuss how the interfacing with other tools has influenced the design of a process-level debugging interface (PDBG) and a distributed monitoring and control layer called (DAMS).

An evaluation of the mycological quality of the sand beaches of the Lisboa and Vale do Tejo coastal area in Portugal was undertaken in May-October 1994. The keratinolytic fungi, yeasts, potential pathogenic and allergic and/or environmental saprophytic fungi were analysed. The results for the yeast Candida were evaluated according to the “Proposed Guidelines for the Microbiological Quality of Sand” (Mendes et al., 1993). The data showed good/satisfactory quality of the sand beaches for the genus Candida. The results indicate that the allergic and/or environmental saprophytic fungi were the most common in sand beaches. The fungi Scopulariopsis and the yeast Candida could be used as specific indicator organisms of sand beaches quality. A new quality objective is introduced that will contribute to improve the sand beaches quality.

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More than 100 well preserved dinosaur eggs have been discovered in the Upper Jurassic levels (Tithonian) of Lourinhã, Portugal. The eggshels dispersed in a big area with 11 meters in the highest diameter with high concentration in the middle.
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Upper Jurassic nesting site from Paimogo (Lourinhã, Portugal) yielded the oldest dinosaur theropod embryos ever found. Numerous bones, including skull bones, from the skeleton of these embryos have been collected. The study of bones and embryos offers the possibility to learn more on the early life of theropod dinosaurs.

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