Programa Regional de Ordenamento Florestal. Alentejo - Capítulo D - Análise Prospetiva e Definição de Objetivos

Neste capítulo procede-se à análise de tendências quanto à evolução dos espaços florestais e ao eventual desempenho das suas funções, identificando as Forças Motrizes em função das quais se desenvolve o exercício prospetivo. Pretende-se estruturar e objetivar, procedendo-se à avaliação dos cenários de desenvolvimento sem que seja realizada uma descrição exaustiva da situação de referência e das respetivas perspetivas de desenvolvimento, centrando-se antes na avaliação dos aspetos considerados críticos e determinantes nos eventuais efeitos florestais/ambientais e socioeconómicos, que os cenários e as opções de desenvolvimento, possam provocar no território. A definição dos Cenários de Desenvolvimento Florestal para o ano horizonte deste Programa – 2050, teve por base o inventário florestal e o diagnóstico ambiental, social e económico realizado nos Capítulos A, B e C do Documento Estratégico. Além do diagnóstico da situação atual foram identificadas as respetivas visões, oportunidades, constrangimentos e perspetivas de desenvolvimento, sendo adotados os eixos de desenvolvimento setorial preconizados pela Estratégia Nacional para as Florestas (ENF). A consistência dos cenários elaborados teve em conta a Matriz de Consistência definida na ENF e que será desenvolvida no Capítulo G - “Programa de Execução e Atribuições”. No caso particular do Cenário de Referência (“Business as usual” - BAU) pesou sobretudo a definição exposta para a “Situação atual de referência”. Introduziram-se ainda alguns ajustamentos em função de critérios de consistência e de forma a integrar algumas das expetativas descritas ao nível das “Perspetivas de desenvolvimento”. Este cenário foi delineado ainda de forma a contemplar uma lógica de desenvolvimento desprovido de grandes expetativas multissetoriais otimistas, ainda que incorporando todas as medidas em avançado estado processual/político de concretização

Epilepsy Detection Using Artificial Neural Networks

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder, where there is a cluster of brain cells that behave in a hyperexcitable manner, the individual can promote injuries, trauma or, in more severe cases, sudden death. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is the most used way to detect epileptic seizures. Therefore, more simplified methods of analysis of the EEG can help in the diagnosis and treatment of these individuals more quickly. In this study, we extracted pertinent EEG characteristics to assess the epileptic seizure period. We use Perceptron Multilayer artificial neural networks to classify the period of the crisis, obtaining a more efficient diagnosis. The multilayer neural network obtained an accuracy of 98%. Thus, the strategy of extracting characteristics and the architecture of the assigned network were sufficient for a rapid and accurate diagnosis of epilepsy

Programa Regional de Ordenamento Florestal. Alentejo - Capítulo C – Funções dos Espaços Florestais e Áreas Florestais Sensíveis

A abordagem às funções e vocações dos territórios florestais nacionais tem subjacente a necessidade de um crescimento sustentável e de uma competitividade económica, metas sociais como a inclusão e o emprego, assim como o aumento da sua contribuição para as metas ambientais (ENF, 2015). Entre os serviços ambientais do espaço florestal destacam-se, para além da proteção dos solos e da conservação de recursos hídricos, o sequestro de carbono, a proteção da paisagem, a manutenção ou incremento da biodiversidade e o recreio. Neste âmbito o sistema de planeamento florestal português tem desenvolvido um processo de identificação e compatibilização dos bens e serviços associados ao uso florestal, aplicados a nível regional através da seleção das funções dominantes. As funções e serviços ambientais que o coberto florestal desempenha, têm ainda um papel fundamental no âmbito das intervenções de prevenção e do combate à desertificação, à degradação dos solos e à mitigação dos efeitos da seca, tutelados pela Convenção das Nações Unidas de Combate à Desertificação (ENF, 2015)

Programa Regional de Ordenamento Florestal. Alentejo - Capítulo B – Caracterização Biofísica, Socioeconómica e dos Recursos Florestais

Este ponto do Relatório do PROF caracteriza sumariamente o clima da região do Programa Regional de Ordenamento Florestal do Alentejo (PROF-ALT) de acordo com as normais climatológicas mais recentes, e identifica as tendências verificadas nas últimas décadas para os principais elementos climáticos (temperatura e precipitação) e para fenómenos extremos (ondas de calor, ondas de frio, …). Os cenários de evolução climática são descritos tendo em conta as variáveis climáticas mais relevantes. Obtém-se, assim, uma sistematização de informação que facilita a interpretação do território englobado na região do PROF-ALT do ponto de vista biofísico. A caracterização e a avaliação dos recursos florestais apresentam, no âmbito do PROF-ALT, o objetivo de efetivar o reconhecimento do território relativamente à ocupação e distribuição das áreas ocupadas pelas principais espécies florestais. Será sobre estas áreas que posteriormente irão incidir as orientações de ordenamento e de gestão florestal para a região do PROF-ALT. O desenvolvimento deste ponto é, desta forma, essencial para a análise funcional dos espaços florestais e para fundamentar as opções de planeamento. O setor florestal é um setor chave da economia nacional. Os seus principais indicadores demonstram uma vocação florestal dos territórios e a subsequente valorização económica das suas produções. A região PROF-ALT embora tenha uma elevada ocupação do seu território por espaços florestais, tal realidade não se traduz em riqueza criada na região. As atividades transformadoras de base florestal são muito incipientes, o que também acontece na geração de emprego, onde o maior contingente é consequência da concentração em atividades de silvicultura e exploração florestal

Viral genetic clustering and transmission dynamics of the 2022 mpox outbreak in Portugal

Pathogen genome sequencing during epidemics enhances our ability to identify and understand suspected clusters and investigate their relationships. Here, we combine genomic and epidemiological data of the 2022 mpox outbreak to better understand early viral spread, diversification and transmission dynamics. By sequencing 52% of the confirmed cases in Portugal, we identified the mpox virus sublineages with the highest impact on case numbers and fitted them into a global context, finding evidence that several international sublineages probably emerged or spread early in Portugal. We estimated a 62% infection reporting rate and that 1.3% of the population of men who have sex with men in Portugal were infected. We infer the critical role played by sexual networks and superspreader gatherings, such as sauna attendance, in the dissemination of mpox virus. Overall, our findings highlight genomic epidemiology as a tool for the real-time monitoring and control of mpox epidemics, and can guide future vaccine policy in a highly susceptible population.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension

Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications

ATLANTIC-PRIMATES: a dataset of communities and occurrences of primates in the Atlantic Forests of South America

Primates play an important role in ecosystem functioning and offer critical insights into human evolution, biology, behavior, and emerging infectious diseases. There are 26 primate species in the Atlantic Forests of South America, 19 of them endemic. We compiled a dataset of 5,472 georeferenced locations of 26 native and 1 introduced primate species, as hybrids in the genera Callithrix and Alouatta. The dataset includes 700 primate communities, 8,121 single species occurrences and 714 estimates of primate population sizes, covering most natural forest types of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina and some other biomes. On average, primate communities of the Atlantic Forest harbor 2 ± 1 species (range = 1–6). However, about 40% of primate communities contain only one species. Alouatta guariba (N = 2,188 records) and Sapajus nigritus (N = 1,127) were the species with the most records. Callicebus barbarabrownae (N = 35), Leontopithecus caissara (N = 38), and Sapajus libidinosus (N = 41) were the species with the least records. Recorded primate densities varied from 0.004 individuals/km 2 (Alouatta guariba at Fragmento do Bugre, Paraná, Brazil) to 400 individuals/km 2 (Alouatta caraya in Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Our dataset reflects disparity between the numerous primate census conducted in the Atlantic Forest, in contrast to the scarcity of estimates of population sizes and densities. With these data, researchers can develop different macroecological and regional level studies, focusing on communities, populations, species co-occurrence and distribution patterns. Moreover, the data can also be used to assess the consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and disease outbreaks on different ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, species invasion or extinction, and community dynamics. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this Data Paper when the data are used in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using the data. © 2018 by the The Authors. Ecology © 2018 The Ecological Society of Americ