Farming for nature in the Montado: the application of ecosystem services in a results-based model

The Montado is a silvopastoral system with a tree cover of predominantly Quercus suber but also Quercus rotundifolia, where cattle or sheep graze the understory. It occupies more than one million hectares in southern Portugal, and a similar landscape, the Dehesa, covers ca. three million hectares in Spain. These silvopastoral systems can simultaneously benefit the environment and socio-economic activities by providing a bundle of ecosystem services (ESs). However, an ongoing trend of decline in tree density and the covered area is threat-ening such provision. Policies are needed to motivate farmers to secure the ESs that they provide. One possible format is the development of a results-based model (RBM) for agri-environment schemes (AES), implemented under the Common Agricultural Policy. In an RBM, farmers are paid when they deliver specific environmental results (ERs) (e.g. healthy and functional soils), that are linked with the provision of different (and often mul-tiple) ESs. This study defines possible ERs for the Montado and details how these results are linked to the pro-vision of ESs. It then considers management actions that can allow the achievement of these ERs and the costs of these actions. Our methodological approach is based on a transdisciplinary dialogue involving researchers, practitioners (i.e farmers), public authorities and policy makers. The results of the process include the identi-fication of four main ERs: a healthy soil ecosystem, a biodiverse native-Mediterranean pasture, an oak tree layer where regeneration exists (i.e. trees of different ages), and preserved or enhanced landscape elements, for example riparian galleries with vegetation. These ERs increase the supply of provisioning services (e.g. cork production), of regulating services, (e.g. carbon sequestration), and cultural services (e.g. aesthetic inspiration). RBMs allow farmers to use any management practice they choose as the focus is on the results. Nonetheless, to estimate costs we identified 12 potential strategic management practices (and their cost) along with the technical support that farmers would need. We conclude that an RBM could be an affordable solution for public policies in the Montado system, given the limited government budget for supporting AES.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genome-wide association meta-analyses and fine-mapping elucidate pathways influencing albuminuria

Increased levels of the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) are associated with higher risk of kidney disease progression and cardiovascular events, but underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, we conduct trans-ethnic (n = 564,257) and European-ancestry specific meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies of UACR, including ancestry- and diabetes-specific analyses, and identify 68 UACR-associated loci. Genetic correlation analyses and risk score associations in an independent electronic medical records database (n = 192,868) reveal connections with proteinuria, hyperlipidemia, gout, and hypertension. Fine-mapping and trans-Omics analyses with gene expression in 47 tissues and plasma protein levels implicate genes potentially operating through differential expression in kidney (including TGFB1, MUC1, PRKCI, and OAF), and allow coupling of UACR associations to altered plasma OAF concentrations. Knockdown of OAF and PRKCI orthologs in Drosophila nephrocytes reduces albumin endocytosis. Silencing fly PRKCI further impairs slit diaphragm formation. These results generate a priority list of genes and pathways for translational research to reduce albuminuria

The Royal Chapel of National Palace of Sintra: a study of timber elements

Este trabalho foi financiado pelo Concurso Anual para Projetos de Investigação, Desenvolvimento, Inovação e Criação Artística (IDI&CA) 2019 do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Código de referência IPL/2019/TEC-TIMBER_ISELOn-site inspection work in the historical buildings requires a basic scientific knowledge to be conducted with technical and scientific credibility. This need becomes so absolute when the object is the historical heritage of high value. This paper presents the work of inspection and evalu-ation of timber elements held in the tribune of the Royal Chapel of the National Palace of Sintra, Portugal. It was carried out within the scope of a master's dissertation presented to the Higher Institute of Engineering of Lisbon in 2018. This palace is one of the most important Portuguese monuments, having been linked to the national history by many events. The Royal Chapel has several dates of construction and past interventions dated from the thirteenth to the fifteenth cen-turies. The Gothic, Mudejar and Manueline styles are perfectly combined in there. The work consisted in the characterization and structural assessment of tribune´s first floor beams. Inspections took place between January and May 2018. The wood present in most of the structural and secondary elements is coniferous, most of which has been identified as Pinus Syl-vestris, L. The work was carried out in situ by visual inspection and by non-destructive and semi-destructive tests. Water content, drill resistance and penetration resistance were measured. Phys-ical-mechanical properties of the timber members were estimated based on the in-situ measure-ments and the scientific literature. Visual strength grading was also applied to the floor beams. From the results obtained several important information were taken. Report and recommendations were presented as the conclusion of the study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O CONCEITO DE CONTINUIDADE DE RIOS É VÁLIDO PARA RIOS DE MATA ATLÂNTICA NO SUDESTE DO BRASIL?

The majority of the present models that explain the functioning of river ecosystems was based in data obtained from temperate or subtropical rivers, especially from the northern hemisphere. So, the adequacy of these models to the conditions found in the tropics demand an evaluation of their predictions. In this way, a study was performed in two Atlantic Forest rivers from the basin of Macaé River, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The work was performed along a longitudinal gradient, including sections from the 1th (1,100 m) to the 6th (20 m) orders. The aquatic insects sampled were separated in Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and classified according to trophic functional categories based on direct observations and data from the literature. The resu1ts are compared and discussed from the hypotheses presented by the River Continuum Concept (RCC), proposed by VANNOTE et al. in 1980, whose predictions were partially confirmed. Thus, the greatest diversity was observed in reaches where there is a transition from a predominantly heterotrophic zone to an autotrophic area (4th order). 1t was also observed that there is a trend in the increase of fine particulate organic matter and in the decrease of the coarse particulate organic matter along the longitudinal gradient of the river. The percentages of biomass variation in the trophic functional categories showed a pattern similar to the modifications expected by the RCC according to the increase of the river size.A maioria dos modelos atuais que explica o funcionamento de ecossistemas fluviais se baseou em dados obtidos em rios temperados e subtropicais, especialmente do Hemisfério Norte. A adequação desses modelos às condições encontradas nos trópicos requer, portanto, a avaliação de suas predições. No entanto, a organização estrutural e funcional das comunidades de macroinvertebrados aquáticos é pouco conhecida no Brasil. Deste modo, foi realizado um estudo em dois rios de Mata Atlântica, na bacia do Rio Macaé, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. O trabalho foi realizado ao longo do gradiente longitudinal abrangendo trechos de rios de 1ª ordem (1.100 m) à 6ª ordem (20 m). Os insetos aquáticos amostrados foram separados em Unidades Taxonômicas Operacionais (UTOs) e classifica­dos de acordo com o grupamento de alimentação funcional, seguindo observações diretas e dados da literatura. Os resultados são comparados e discutidos a partir das hipóteses baseadas no Conceito de Continuidade de Rios (CCR) proposto por VANNOTE et al. em 1980, cujas previsões foram parci­almente corroboradas. Deste modo, a maior diversidade foi observada em trechos onde ocorre a transição de uma zona predominantemente heterotrófica para uma área autotrófica (4' ordem). Foi também verificado que há uma tendência de aumento da matéria orgânica particulada fina e diminui­ção da matéria orgânica mais grossa ao longo do gradiente longitudinal. A variação do percentual da biomassa das categorias de alimentação funcional mostrou uma tendência semelhante às modifica­ções previstas pelo CCR de acordo com o aumento do tamanho do rio