Rephrasing the geodiversity concept under the Ecosystem Services approach and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations 2030 Agenda has 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aiming to achieve a better world for the entire human population. In spite of the fact that human development is dependent on nature and its resources, the non-living (abiotic) natural resources and processes are persistently neglected in international and national policies that foster sustainable development. The current status of abiotic services within the ecosystem services approach is un- satisfactory, inconsistent and confusing, heavily weighting biotic nature and barely including any non-living elements and processes (geodiversity). Furthermore, nature conservation policies at national and regional levels (e.g. EU), usually excludes geodiversity from any effective conservation action. Based on the successful model of promotion of biodiversity, the role of geodiversity on sustainable development also should be founded on the “natural capital” and “ecosystem services” concepts. Geodiversity contributes to “natural capital”, defined as the “world’s stocks of natural assets, which include geology, soil, air, water and all living things”, sometimes also referred to as environmental assets that provide benefits to humanity. Geodiversity contributes to ecosystem services, based on its scientific, educational, economic, cultural, and aesthetic values. Provisioning services refers to the extractable natural resources, the economic base of our modern society, which should be carefully managed. Non-extractable natural resources provide numerous examples of regulation, supporting and cultural services. These non-extractable resources generate scientific, educational and tourism uses, managed by geoconservation. The geodiversity concept is revised making the links with well-established concepts and strategies, namely the ones related with natural capital and ecosystem services, to demonstrate that the UN SDG can only be achieved if the elements and processes of geodiversity are definitely considered in the global agenda. This approach stresses the importance of the sustainable management of geodiversity. The finite character of non-renewable resources and impacts of their extraction should always be emphasized, as well as the conservation of renewable resources, ensuring their sustainable use

Promoting geodiversity in the sustainable management of nature

The diversity of nature, which includes biotic and abiotic elements, is the key for the sustainability of human society. Many people are now aware of the importance of biodiversity not only because of its intrinsic value but also in terms of ecosystem services, given its role in human well-being. The ecosystem services have been categorized in regulation, supporting, provisioning and cultural services and evaluated exclusively based on the contribution of living nature. Also national agreements and policies, including the Rio Earth Summit and UN Sustainable Development Goals, are heavily weighted to biotic nature and barely include any non-living, abiotic nature or “geodiversity” elements. Furthermore, nature conservation policy and national and regional levels (e.g. EU), usually excludes geodiversity from any effective conservation action. In fact, modern society benefits greatly from living on a geodiverse planet but this reliance is not reflected in public understanding or public policy. Using the successful model of promotion of biodiversity, the promotion of the role of geodiversity to sustainable development can be also based on “natural capital” and “ecosystem services” concepts. Geodiversity contributes to “natural capital”, defined as the “world’s stocks of natural assets, which include geology, soil, air, water and all living things”, sometimes also referred to as environmental assets that provide benefits to humanity. Geodiversity contributes to ecosystem services, based on its scientific, educational, economic, cultural, and aesthetic values. Provisioning services refers to extractable natural resources, the economic base of our modern society, which should be carefully managed. Among thousands of examples that can be presented on the importance of this service, it could be mentioned that the ubiquitous smartphone contains over half the non-radioactive elements in the periodic table, all of which are extracted from the lithosphere, a fact that the public is barely aware of. Non-extractable natural resources provide numerous benefits. Examples include the water cycle, the rock cycle, the carbon sequestration by rocks, regulation of soil erosion and regulation of natural disasters (regulating services), habitat provision, biodiversity support, platform for infrastructures (supporting services), hydrotherapy, artistic inspiration and knowledge of history and evolution of the Earth and life (cultural services). Thereby ,, non-extractable resources generate scientific, educational and economic uses (geoheritage), managed by geoconservation. In addition to geoheritage and its scientific value geoparks provide examples that address , many other benefits provided by geodiversity for human well-being. The approach to these benefits should stress the importance of the sustainable management of geodiversity. The finite character of non-renewable resources and impacts of their extraction should be always emphasized, as well as the conservation of renewable resources ensuring their sustainable use

What is the relationship between age and deprivation in influencing emergency hospital admissions? A model using data from a defined, comprehensive, all-age cohort in East Devon, UK

This is the final version of the article. Available from BMJ Publishing Group via the DOI in this record.There is another ORE record for this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/36448OBJECTIVES: To clarify the relationship between social deprivation and age as two factors associated with emergency admissions to hospital. DESIGN: Emergency admissions for 12 months were analysed for patients in the NHS NEW Devon CCG. Social deprivation was measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Logistic regression models estimated the separate and combined effects of social deprivation and age on the risk of emergency admissions for people aged under and over 65. SETTING: East Devon, UK-area of the NEW Devon CCG. POPULATION: 765 861 patients in the CCG database. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Emergency admission to any English hospital. RESULTS: Age (p<0.001) and social deprivation (p<0.001) were significantly associated with emergency admission to hospital, but there was a significant interaction between age and social deprivation (p<0.001). From the third quintile of age upwards, age progressively overtakes deprivation and age has a dominant effect on emergency admissions over the age of 65. The effect of age was J-shaped in all deprivation groups, increasing exponentially after age 40. For patients under 65, age and social deprivation had similar risks for emergency admissions, the differences in risk between the top and bottom quintiles of IMD and age being ∼1.5 and 0.9 percentage points. In patients over 65, age had a much greater effect on the risk of admissions than social deprivation, the differences in risk between the top and bottom quintiles of IMD and age being ∼2.8 and 18.7 percentage points. CONCLUSIONS: Risk curves for all social groups have similar shapes, implying a common biological pattern for ageing in any social group. Over age 65, the biological effects of ageing outweigh the social effects of deprivation. Our model enables CCGs to anticipate and plan for emergency admissions to hospital. These findings provide a new logic for allocating resources to different populations

What is the relationship between age and deprivation in influencing emergency hospital admissions? A model using data from a defined, comprehensive, all-age cohort in East Devon, UK

This is the final version of the article. Available from BMJ Publishing Group via the DOI in this record.There is another ORE record for this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/26338OBJECTIVES: To clarify the relationship between social deprivation and age as two factors associated with emergency admissions to hospital. DESIGN: Emergency admissions for 12 months were analysed for patients in the NHS NEW Devon CCG. Social deprivation was measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Logistic regression models estimated the separate and combined effects of social deprivation and age on the risk of emergency admissions for people aged under and over 65. SETTING: East Devon, UK-area of the NEW Devon CCG. POPULATION: 765 861 patients in the CCG database. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Emergency admission to any English hospital. RESULTS: Age (p<0.001) and social deprivation (p<0.001) were significantly associated with emergency admission to hospital, but there was a significant interaction between age and social deprivation (p<0.001). From the third quintile of age upwards, age progressively overtakes deprivation and age has a dominant effect on emergency admissions over the age of 65. The effect of age was J-shaped in all deprivation groups, increasing exponentially after age 40. For patients under 65, age and social deprivation had similar risks for emergency admissions, the differences in risk between the top and bottom quintiles of IMD and age being ∼1.5 and 0.9 percentage points. In patients over 65, age had a much greater effect on the risk of admissions than social deprivation, the differences in risk between the top and bottom quintiles of IMD and age being ∼2.8 and 18.7 percentage points. CONCLUSIONS: Risk curves for all social groups have similar shapes, implying a common biological pattern for ageing in any social group. Over age 65, the biological effects of ageing outweigh the social effects of deprivation. Our model enables CCGs to anticipate and plan for emergency admissions to hospital. These findings provide a new logic for allocating resources to different populations

Os serviços de suporte prestados pela geodiversidade no contexto dos serviços dos ecossistemas

A natureza fornece todos os bens, condições e serviços para a manutenção da vida, das sociedades e do bem-estar humano. Muitas das abordagens públicas anunciam esses benefícios como serviços dos ecossistemas, maioritariamente ou exclusivamente prestados pela biodiversidade, ignorando a maioria dos valores da geodiversidade. Apesar desta limitação, os serviços da geodiversidade, entendidos como bens não renováveis e renováveis, condições e processos abióticos que são fundamentais para a manutenção da vida e para o bem-estar humano, devem igualmente ser enquadrados nas categorias de serviços dos ecossistemas: serviços de regulação, de suporte, de provisão e culturais. As condições físicas naturais regulam o planeta, e os minerais, rochas, água, solos e formas de relevo providenciam o suporte e os bens fundamentais à vida e ao desenvolvimento social. Por fim, os serviços culturais agregam os valores patrimoniais, como por exemplo o património geomorfológico, merecedores de especial atenção na perspetiva da conservação da natureza. Os serviços de suporte prestados pela geodiversidade estão em grande parte relacionados com a geomorfologia, quando as formas de relevo são a base essencial para a biodiversidade (serviços da geodiversidade aos ecossistemas) e atividades humanas (serviços de apoio direto ao bem-estar humano). A dinâmica da Terra é expressa por paisagens diversificadas, com planícies, montanhas, planaltos ou vales esculpidos numa grande variedade de rochas, de que resulta a variedade de habitat e a diversidade biológica. A compreensão dos processos lentos, à escala do tempo geológico, de formação e renovação do solo e em particular os processos físicos e químicos de meteorização, permite alcançar a importância da sua conservação. Também o conceito de endemismo está intimamente associado ao isolamento provocado por especificidades da rocha e do solo, pela tectónica e por imposições geomorfológicas. Também a especificidade de algumas atividades agrícolas está relacionada com a geodiversidade. O terroir, conceito hoje muito associado ao vinho, mas que também se refere ao azeite, constitui um exemplo de especialização por via da combinação de diversos fatores, com destaque para os que se relacionam com relevo, solo, rocha e clima. Resultando da interação entre processos de dinâmica interna e externa, as formas de relevo constituem o elemento estruturante da paisagem que suporta não só os ecossistemas, mas também as mais variedades sociedades e atividades humanas. Os serviços de suporte da geodiversidade fornecidos diretamente para o bem-estar humano são exemplificados pelas barragens, construídas sempre em função da rocha e do relevo que proporcionam maior segurança, menor custo e maior rentabilidade. A presença de estruturas de defesa (castelos e fortificações) e de geradores eólicos no topo das montanhas são também exemplos de serviços de suporte proporcionados pela geodiversidade. Aeroportos, pistas de esqui e muitas outras construções e estruturas superficiais estão relacionados com a geomorfologia. Outras construções são executadas em função do relevo e das rochas, com destaque para aterros sanitários, cemitérios, armazenamento de resíduos radioativos e sequestro geológico de carbono

Geodiversity assessment of the Xingu drainage basin

Artigo com mapa em anexoGeodiversity is a recent concept that refers to the abiotic variety of nature. It is defined as the range of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, processes) and soil features, including their assemblages, relationships, properties, interpretation and systems. In this work, a method of quantitative assessment of geodiversity was applied to the Xingu drainage basin (Amazoˆnia – Brazil). The method is based on the quantification and integration of abiotic features represented on thematic maps at scales ranging from 1:250,000 to 1:2,500,000, overlaid by a 1:25,000 systematic grid. In order to calculate the final geodiversity index, five partial numerical indices representing the main components of geodiversity were drawn compiled: geology, geomorphology, soil, palaeontology and mineral occurrences. The resulting Geodiversity Index map is presented in the form of five isoline classes. The objective of this method is to present such a mapping technique as a tool for environmental planning, particularly for the identification and definition of priority areas for conservation.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)CAPE

Riluzole reduces amyloid beta pathology, improves memory, and restores gene expression changes in a transgenic mouse model of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents a major healthcare burden with no effective treatment. The glutamate modulator, riluzole, was shown to reverse many AD-related gene expression changes and improve cognition in aged rats. However, riluzole’s effect on amyloid beta (Aβ) pathology, a major histopathological hallmark of AD, remains unclear. 5XFAD transgenic mice, which harbor amyloid β precursor protein (APP) and presenilin mutations and exhibit early Aβ accumulation, were treated with riluzole from 1 to 6 months of age. Riluzole significantly enhanced cognition and reduced Aβ42, Aβ40, Aβ oligomers levels, and Aβ plaque load in 5XFAD mice. RNA-Sequencing showed that riluzole reversed many gene expression changes observed in the hippocampus of 5XFAD mice, predominantly in expression of canonical gene markers for microglia, specifically disease-associated microglia (DAM), as well as neurons and astrocytes. Central to the cognitive improvements observed, riluzole reversed alterations in NMDA receptor subunits gene expression, which are essential for learning and memory. These data demonstrate that riluzole exerts a disease modifying effect in an Aβ mouse model of early-onset familial AD

Solar abundance corrections derived through 3D magnetoconvection simulations

We explore the effect of the magnetic field when using realistic three-dimensional convection experiments to determine solar element abundances. By carrying out magnetoconvection simulations with a radiation-hydro code (the Copenhagen stagger code) and through a-posteriori spectral synthesis of three Fe I lines, we obtain evidence that moderate amounts of mean magnetic flux cause a noticeable change in the derived equivalent widths compared with those for a non-magnetic case. The corresponding Fe abundance correction for a mean flux density of 200 G reaches up to ~0.1 dex in magnitude. These results are based on space- and time-averaged line profiles over a time span of 2.5 solar hours in the statistically stationary regime of the convection. The main factors causing the change in equivalent widths, namely the Zeeman broadening and the modification of the temperature stratification, act in different amounts and, for the iron lines considered here, in opposite directions; yet, the resulting $|\Delta\log\epsilon_{\odot}(Fe)|$ coincides within a factor two in all of them, even though the sign of the total abundance correction is different for the visible and infrared lines. We conclude that magnetic effects should be taken into account when discussing precise values of the solar and stellar abundances and that an extended study is warranted.Comment: ApJ accepte

Geodiversity assessment of Paraná state (Brazil): an innovative approach

Geodiversity is considered as the natural range of geological, geomorphological, and soil features, including their assemblages, relationships, properties, interpretations, and systems. A method developed for the quantitative assessment of geodiversity was applied to Parana ́ , a Brazilian state with an area of about 200,000 km2. The method is based on the overlay of a grid over different maps at scales ranging from 1/500,000 to 1/650,000, with the final Geodiversity Index the sum of five partial indexes calculated on a 25 9 25 km grid. The partial indexes represent the main components of geodi- versity, including geology (stratigraphy and lithology), geomorphology, paleontology, and soils. The fifth partial index covers mineral occurrences of geodiversity, such precious stones and metals, energy and industrial minerals, mineral waters, and springs. The Geodiversity Index takes the form of an isoline map that can be used as a tool in land-use planning, particularly in identifying priority areas for conservation, management, and use of natural resources at the state level.The Portuguese authors express their gratitude for the financial support given by the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia to the Centro de Geologia da Universidade do Porto, which partially supports this research. The Brazilian author expresses his gratitude for the financial support given by the CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico) (Process Number 200074/2011-3)

The biological origin of linguistic diversity

In contrast with animal communication systems, diversity is characteristic of almost every aspect of human language. Languages variously employ tones, clicks, or manual signs to signal differences in meaning; some languages lack the noun-verb distinction (e.g., Straits Salish), whereas others have a proliferation of fine-grained syntactic categories (e.g., Tzeltal); and some languages do without morphology (e.g., Mandarin), while others pack a whole sentence into a single word (e.g., Cayuga). A challenge for evolutionary biology is to reconcile the diversity of languages with the high degree of biological uniformity of their speakers. Here, we model processes of language change and geographical dispersion and find a consistent pressure for flexible learning, irrespective of the language being spoken. This pressure arises because flexible learners can best cope with the observed high rates of linguistic change associated with divergent cultural evolution following human migration. Thus, rather than genetic adaptations for specific aspects of language, such as recursion, the coevolution of genes and fast-changing linguistic structure provides the biological basis for linguistic diversity. Only biological adaptations for flexible learning combined with cultural evolution can explain how each child has the potential to learn any human language