Management of carob tree orchards in Mediterranean ecosystems: strategies for a carbon economy implementation

This paper offers a different framework for managing Mediterranean drought carob-tree orchard ecosystems. Two dry-farming systems were compared during two consecutive years: pure productive orchards and mixed orchards in a total of 360 mature trees distributed by 18 plots with areas of 0.55 and 0.30 ha per plot, respectively. Carob, fig, almond and olive trees compose mixed orchards. Trees of the mixed orchards were more productive than those of pure orchards. The main problem of both systems was the large variability and the low fruit production due to non-bearing trees, inducing unfavorable economic returns. Yield varied between 7.7 and 28.5 kg tree(-1) respectively in pure and mixed orchards. In this paper we propose to use carbon sequestration calculations as an added benefit to farmers. A carbon stocking model estimation was established, based on trunk diameters of different trees. We depicted two management scenarios based on fruits production and carbon sequestration incomes: a low value scenario, using mean fruit production, and a high valuable scenario based on the hypothesis that all trees reached its potential maximum. Since under dry-farming systems fruit production irregularity is still a pendent problem, mixed orchards may offer a potential higher revenue, while maintaining higher crop diversification and whole biodiversity. C sequestration benefit, as here we purpose, may represent 125-300 % of income, respectively under low or high valuable scenario. Thus, CO2 equivalent is a novel ecological economic incentive that may potentiate a new income for farmers while assuring carob ecosystem services.[AGRO306

Governance of Irrigation Systems at 2023. Example of Alqueva Project (Portugal)

Rácio necessidades/disponibilidades de recursos hídricos (alterações climáticas e aumento da procura); Aumento significativo dos custos energéticos. O projeto de Alqueva inclui um perímetro de rega que ascenderá a cerca de 150.000 hectares no Alentejo (sul de Portugal) abastecidos pelo rio Guadiana. Este perímetro é gerido pela EDIA – Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infra‐Estruturas de Alqueva. Para criar condições de Sustentabilidade na gestão do perímetro e pelos regantes, foram desenvolvidas na EDIA uma série de medidas em várias componentes: Planificação da utilização da água – medidas de afetação de recursos hídricos que permitam uma gestão sustentável dos recursos hídricos; Desenvolvimento de projetos de produção de energia renovável para autoconsumo. Criação de uma Comunidade de Energia Renovável. Nesta comunicação são desenvolvidas as medidas referidas, o seu impacte esperado e as perspetivas de evolução futura

Relación de los centros educativos de secundaria con su entorno en Portugal

El actual modelo de organización de los centros públicos portugueses responde a la necesidad de prestar un servicio dotado de garantía de calidad, equidad, eficacia y eficiencia, que les permita a todos los ciudadanos desarrollar las competencias y conocimientos para desarrollarse plenamente, explotar todas sus capacidades, integrarse activamente en la sociedad y dar una contribución cualificada a la vida económica, social y cultural del país (...

Natalizumab for the treatment of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis in Portugal

Background: A significant proportion of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) patients do not respond to first-line disease-modifying therapies. Clinical trials showed that natalizumab is effective and safe in adults, but there are limited clinical trial data for children. Natalizumab is currently prescribed off-label for POMS. We aimed to characterize the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of natalizumab in all POMS cases treated in Portugal (from 2007 to 2018). Methods: Data from clinical records were retrospectively collected for all POMS cases treated with natalizumab in Portugal. Results: Twenty-one patients were included, 14 (67%) of which were female. The median age at POMS diagnosis was 13 years old. The median duration of treatment with natalizumab was 2 years and 3 months. Median Expanded Disability Status Scale score decreased from 1.5 to 1.0 after 24 months. The Annualized Relapse Rate decreased from 1.31 events/patient/year before treatment with natalizumab to 0 after 12 months of treatment and to 0.04 after 24 months. No gadolinium-enhancing lesions or new or enlarged T2 hyperintense lesions were observed in 8/8 patients (100%) after 12 months, and 4/5 (80%) after 24 months. There was one possible serious adverse event, which did not require dose adjustment. Five patients discontinued treatment due to positive anti-JCV (JC virus) antibody JC serostatus. Conclusion: Natalizumab may be an effective and safe disease-modifying therapy for POMS. Our results are in line with data published for the adult population, as well as with similar observational studies in pediatric populations in other regions.publishersversionpublishe

Cephalopods in the diet of nonbreeding black-browed and grey-headed albatrosses from South Georgia

The food and feeding ecology of albatrosses during the nonbreeding season is still poorly known, particularly with regard to the cephalopod component. This was studied in black-browed Thalassarche melanophris and grey-headed T. chrysostoma albatrosses by analysing boluses collected shortly after adults returned to colonies at Bird Island, South Georgia (54°S, 38°W), in 2009. Based on stable isotopic analyses of the lower beaks, we determined the habitat and trophic level (from δ13C and δ15N, respectively) of the most important cephalopods and assessed the relative importance of scavenging in terms of the albatrosses’ feeding regimes. Based on lower rostral lengths (LRLs), the main cephalopod species in the diets of both albatrosses was Kondakovia longimana, by frequency of occurrence (F > 90 %), number (N > 40 %) and mass (M > 80 %). The large estimated mass of many squid, including K. longimana, suggests that a high proportion (>80 % by mass) was scavenged, and that scavenging is much more important during the nonbreeding season than would be expected from breeding-season diets. The diversity of cephalopods consumed by nonbreeding birds in our study was similar to that recorded during previous breeding seasons, but included two new species [Moroteuthis sp. B (Imber) and ?Mastigoteuthis A (Clarke)]. Based on similarities in LRL, δ13C and δ15N, the squid consumed may have been from the same oceanic populations or region, with the exception of Taonius sp. B (Voss) and K. longimana, which, based on significant differences in δ15N values, suggest that they may have originated from different stocks, indicating differences in the albatrosses’ feeding regimes

Trend analysis of the quality indicators for the Brazilian cervical cancer screening programme by region and state from 2006 to 2013

Quality indicators for the Brazilian cervical cancer screening programme can provide a perspective on its effectiveness in Brazilian macro-regions and states. The aim of this study was to perform a trend analysis of the cervical cancer screening program's quality indicators, according to Brazilian regions and states, from 2006 to 2013.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Show your beaks and we tell you what you eat: Different ecology in sympatric Antarctic benthic octopods under a climate change context

Sympatry can lead to higher competition under climate change and other environmental pressures, including in South Georgia, Antarctica, where the two most common octopod species, Adelieledone polymorpha and Pareledone turqueti, occur side by side. Since cephalopods are typically elusive animals, the ecology of both species is poorly known. As beaks of cephalopods are recurrently found in top predator's stomachs, we studied the feeding ecology of both octopods through the evaluation of niche overlapping and specific beak adaptations that both species present. A multidisciplinary approach combining carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope signatures, mercury (Hg) analysis and biomaterials' engineering techniques was applied to investigate the beaks. An isotopic niche overlap of 95.6% was recorded for the juvenile stages of both octopod species, dropping to 19.2% for the adult stages. Both A. polymorpha and P. turqueti inhabit benthic ecosystems around South Georgia throughout their lifecycles (δ13C: −19.21 ± 1.87‰, mean ± SD for both species) but explore trophic niches partially different during adult life stages (δ15N: 7.01 ± 0.40‰, in A. polymorpha, and 7.84 ± 0.65‰, in P. turqueti). The beaks of A. polymorpha are less dense and significantly less stiff than in P. turqueti. Beaks showed lower mercury concentration relative to muscle (A. polymorpha - beaks: 0.052 ± 0.009  μg g−1, muscle: 0.322 ± 0.088  μg g−1; P. turqueti - beaks: 0.038 ± 0.009  μg g−1; muscle: 0.434 ± 0.128  μg g−1). Overall, both octopods exhibit similar habitats but different trophic niches, related to morphology/function of beaks. The high Hg concentrations in both octopods can have negative consequences on their top predators and may increase under the present climate change context.British Antarctic Survey for assisting in the collection of the specimens for this work. Many thanks to 3B's Research Group (University of Minho) and MAREFOZ who were responsible for analysing the physical properties of beaks and stable isotope signatures. A special thank you to our colleague José Queirós from MARE-UC (Coimbra, Portugal) for his suggestions and guidance. A debt of gratitude is also owed to Dr. A. Louise Allcock (NUI Galway) for her useful guidelines. This work is an international effort under the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) associated programs, expert and action groups, namely SCAR AnT-ERA, SCAR EGBAMM and ICED. J.C. Xavier was supported by the Investigator Programme (IF/00616/2013) of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT-Portugal) and PROPOLAR, and F.R. Ceia was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship (SFRH/BPD/95372/2013) attributed by FCT-Portugal and the European Social Fund (POPH, EU). This study benefited from the strategic program of MARE, financed by FCT-Portugal (MARE- UID/MAR/04292/2019). We also acknowledge FCT-Portugal through a PhD grant to J. Seco (SRFH/PD/BD/113487

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Hardware-in-the-Loop Experimental Setup of a LCL-Filtered Grid-Connected Inverter with Digital Proportional-Resonant Current Controller

This paper presents a Hardware-in-the-Loop setup of a LCL-filtered grid-connected inverter with digital Proportional-Resonant current controller. The power structure of the system, i.e. the power DC source, the transistor-based inverter, the LCL filter, the sensors and the grid are emulated in the Real-Time Simulator HIL402 from Typhoon-HIL, while the control strategy is embedded in the Digital Signal Controller TMS320F28335 from Texas Instruments. Descriptions of how to design the PR controller is presented. Details about the settings of the RTS are also described. The HIL verification consists of applying several real time test cases along the power structure as well as in the control strategy, allowing designers to rapidly evaluate the efficacy of the PR controller. Some modifications are: inclusion of an oscillation at the DC-link voltage, frequency variation at the grid voltage, variation of grid impedance, current reference step, among others. Results show that the HIL verification is an attractive tool for evaluating the PR current controller of a LCL-filtered grid-connected inverter.©2021 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed