The Montado agroforestry system microclimatic specificity in the context of global change

The effects of oak trees on microclimatic parameters in Quercus rotundifolia Lam. woodland in the Alentejo, Southern Portugal, are reported. Results show that oak tree create a marked differentiation in the grass matrix, between open and undercanopy areas. Compared to open areas, it presents lower soil moisture beneath the oak canopy, lower soil temperatures and lower photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Soil temperatures outside trees canopy were generally higher than undercanopy areas, reaching twice its values during the winter. The decrease of soil water content is more rapid in areas outside the trees canopy action, but the replenishment starts early and is faster in those areas. PAR intercepted by tree canopy is greater than 60%, and affects dramatically herbaceous production. Different climatic conditions due to the presence of the tree, associated with greater variability in chemistry environment undercanopy, if combined with the IPCC forecasts for Mediterranean region, pose new challenges in the management of the montado areas

Bases de dados em grafos: Contextualização e estudo exploratório

After several decades of great success and good services to organizations, relational database technology has been challenged by a new class of database technologies usually called NoSQL (Not only SQL). The recent developments in the area called Big Data contributed decisively to this situation, in which the traditional relational model began to present difficulties, due to the complexity and large volumes of data. Within this new class of databases, different proposals, with several origins and application areas, appeared in four groups, according to their data model: column oriented, document oriented, key-value and Graphs oriented. In particular, graph databases provide a set of characteristics to represent relationships between data that no other model can represent so well. As we live in a world where information is all connected, this database model has what it takes to be successful. In this way, some examples of graph database applications will be discussed as well as demonstrations of the facility to construct queries, which would be extremely complex if they were developed in SQL over relational databases.FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(UID/CEC/00319/2013

Cytomegalovirus Pulmonary Involvement in an Immunocompetent Adult

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a linear double-stranded DNA virus that may cause severe and potentially fatal infection in immunocompromised hosts. In immunocompetent individuals, the infection is typically mild or asymptomatic. However, in the last years, some cases of severe cytomegalovirus infection in immunocompetent individuals have been described. Clinical Presentation. 'e authors present a male patient aged 42 years, without specific medical history, who presented a 15-day history of fever, headache, night sweats, odynophagia, and bilateral otalgia, without improvement after four days of therapy with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Blood count and biochemistry were performed with liver cytolysis pattern. Chest teleradiography showed diffuse interstitial infiltrate. 'oracic CT scan revealed areas in a ground glass with a cross-linking component in the left and right upper lung lobes compatible with an inflammatory/infectious process. Blood serology was positive for CMV IgG and IgM. 'e detection on blood and bronchoalveolar lavage of CMV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also positive. Ganciclovir was started based on the clinical features and the result of CMV serology. After 48 hours, there was a significant clinical improvement, with remission of fever, and he was discharged on the 13th day of hospitalization with oral valganciclovir, completing a 21-day antiviral course at home. Conclusion. With this clinical case, the authors highlight the importance of considering CMV infection in evaluating patients with pneumonia, even in immunocompetent ones, particularly in those with no clinical improvement with antibiotics instituted for bacterial pneumonia, and when other causes have been ruled outinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A evolução da criminalidade na noite de Lisboa e o sentimento de insegurança da população jovem: estudo exploratório no Bairro Alto e Cais do Sodré

Esta dissertação explora a evolução da criminalidade durante as noites de Lisboa, com um foco particular no Bairro Alto e Cais do Sodré, áreas conhecidas pela sua vida noturna agitada. O estudo adota uma abordagem multidimensional para entender os padrões emergentes de criminalidade e o impacto sobre o sentimento de insegurança da população jovem que frequenta essas áreas. Utilizam-se métodos quantitativos e qualitativos, incluindo análise de dados estatísticos, entrevistas em profundidade, e observação de terreno. O estudo revela mudanças significativas nos tipos de crimes ocorridos ao longo do tempo, bem como o surgimento de novos padrões de ocorrências, maioritariamente ligados à delinquência juvenil. Além disso, examina como a percepção da insegurança varia nos jovens em função do local que escolhem para sair à noite. Fatores como a iluminação pública, a presença policial, e o papel das redes sociais na disseminação do medo são analisados em detalhe. Os resultados indicam uma complexa interconexão entre a criminalidade registada e o sentimento de insegurança subjetivo. Percepções de insegurança podem ser tão influenciadas por narrativas sociais, como o excesso na repetição de acontecimentos criminosos na televisão, quanto pelos índices reais de criminalidade. Isso sugere a necessidade de uma abordagem holística para lidar com o problema, envolvendo não apenas medidas de segurança pública, mas também estratégias que promovam a coesão social, a educação e o compromisso cívico.This dissertation explores the evolution of night-time crime in Lisbon, with a particular focus on Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré, areas known for their lively nightlife. The study adopts a multidimensional approach to understand the emerging patterns of crime and the impact on the feeling of insecurity of the young population that frequents these areas. Quantitative and qualitative methods are used, including statistical data analysis, in-depth interviews, and field observation. The study reveals significant changes in the types of crimes that have occurred over time, as well as the emergence of new patterns of occurrences, mostly linked to juvenile delinquency. It also examines how the perception of insecurity varies among young people depending on where they choose to go out at night. Factors such as street lighting, police presence and the role of social networks in spreading fear are analyzed in detail. The results indicate a complex interconnection between recorded crime and subjective feelings of insecurity. Perceptions of insecurity can be as influenced by social narratives, such as the excessive repetition of criminal events on television, as by actual crime rates. This suggests the need for a holistic approach to tackling the problem, involving not only public security measures, but also strategies that promote social cohesion, education and civic engagement

King Arthur's Lessons for Leadership and Superior Performance—From Screen to Real Life

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The cherry drying as a complementary conservation process to conservation in cold

Cherry is greatly enjoyed by consumers because of its excellent organoleptic and nutritional characteristics. This fruit is of the non-climacteric type, which forces its immediate commercialization after harvesting or else it should be properly conserved in cold. Every year there is a big waste of fresh cherry because he could not be marketed before deteriorating both in cooling chambers, or even in their own cherry trees due to a rapid ripening. In this project, the process of making cherry raisins is studied so as to provide increased use of fresh cherry. For that purpose, three different processes of dehydration of fresh cherry have been used, such as freeze drying, hot-air drying and solar drying. Three types of samples of pitted cherries were also used - natural cherry, blanching cherry and bleaching cherry with osmotic solution of fructose. In order to assess the performance of the dryers the curves of drying rate were determined and to assess the quality of the cherry raisins, fundamental parameters were determined, namely moisture content, water activity (aw), texture, total soluble solids and total acidity. The results show that the drying rate of cherry samples is similar in the lyophilizer and hot air dryer, and yet faster in the latter. The dryer with lower rate drying and hence with higher drying time was the solar dryer. The characteristics of the cherry raisins depend on the type of dryer used and the pre-treatment used. The blanching pretreatment proved to be the most suitable. Regarding dryers, the solar dryer provided good quality cherry raisins, showing great potential at industrial level with the advantage of not consuming energy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Specific electrical energy consumption and CO2 emissions assessment of agrifood industries in the central region of Portugal

This paper provides a characterization of the electrical energy consumption of agrifood industries located in the central region of Portugal that use refrigeration systems to ensure the food safety. The study is based on the result analysis of survey data and energy characteristics of the participating companies belonging to the following agrifood sectors: meat, dairy, horticultural, distribution and wine. Through the quantification of energy consumption of companies is possible to determine the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions indexed to its manufacturing process. Comparing the energy and GHGs emissions indexes of companies of a sector and between sectors is possible to create reference levels. With the results of this work is possible to rating the companies in relation to reference levels of energy and GHGs emissions and thus promote the rational use of energy by the application of practice measures for the improvement of the energy efficiency and the reduction of GHGs emissions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The characterization of the specific energy consumption of electricity in the Portuguese sausage industry

The sausage is an ancient food type that is nowadays considered as a delicatessen. Sausages are categorized within the deli sector as meat sub products. It is a food product preferred by consumers due to its nutritional value and organoleptic characteristics (wide range of flavours and textures). There are many types of sausages, with around 1200 different varieties (according to German classification), classified into types according to different criteria such as types of ingredients, consistency, and preparation (raw, cooked, pre-cooked, dry). In the UK, 196,152 metric tons of sausages were consumed during 2011, valued in $1.2 billion, while in the US this value was around$20.4 billion two years before. The heating and cooling processes during sausage production are indispensable technologies to ensure both the specific organoleptic characteristics and properties conservation through time. This paper characterizes the production process and the energy consumption of sausages processing industry in Portugal (20 industries) and discusses the average specific energy consumption (SEC) of electricity and its standard deviation. The average value of this indicator for the sample was 660 kWhe/ton raw material. The energy consumption of this type of industry is mainly that of electricity (82%). Several electricity savings, estimated at 23.9%, can be achieved by implementing simple practice measures in the refrigeration systems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Potential of energy savings in Portuguese meat industry

In Portugal the meat sector occupies the highest rank within the food industry having its electricity consumption grown at a high pace mainly due to the intense use of refrigeration systems. This paper assesses the electric energy consumption profile of Portuguese meat industries and estimates the potential savings with a set of simple energy efficiency measures which result from the best practices in the sector. Taking in account the fieldwork, some of the most relevant measures carried out are: to improve production process management in order to avoid the use of cold chambers partially loaded; to improve thermal resistance of the buildings envelope, cold chambers and refrigeration pipes; to avoid installation of condensation groups in warm places (exposed to solar radiation or in non-ventilated attics). The results show a potential reduction in electricity consumption of 24% for slaughterhouses (474 MWh), 13% for sausage houses (322 MWh), and 8% for ham production (708 MWh).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio