Degradação do Solo e Desertificação das Terras – Estratégias existentes e Potências de Prevenção e Conservação

Em sequência ao “1º Workshop de Formação” realizado em CEMACAM, Múrcia – Espanha, de 1 a 5 de Outubro de 2007 que foi centrada em dois assuntos nomeadamente o WP3.1 (1º workshop dos parceiros interessados) e o WP3.2 (avaliação e documentação de estratégias), o INIDA, na qualidade de parceiro do Projecto DESIRE em Cabo Verde, organizou um workshop dirigido aos parceiros interessados locais (externo & interno). Um vez que a Ilha de Santiago foi selecionada como a nossa área de estudo, e a Ribeira Seca selecionada como o nosso “ponto de acesso”, foi consensualmente decidido que o workshop deveria ocorrer num ambiente informal, numa sala com as condições mínimas de trabalho, e situada dentro dos limites da bacia hidrográfica. Desta forma os participantes podiam facilmente identificar-se com o inteiro cenário, a fim participarem livremente e fornecerem tantas informações quanto possíveis. Assim, os critérios de selecção para o convite dos parceiros interessados, incluiriam as instituições públicas e privadas, indivíduos, e os grupos de comunitários, cujas actividades estariam dentro ou teriam alguma influência na área de estudo. De acordo com as nossas expectativas a atmosfera do workshop foi serena e muito participativa, para além de ter sido eficiente, informativo, formativo, e benéfico para todos os intervenientes, visto que forneceu momentos de identificação de problemas e propostas de soluções dos mesmos, pelos diferentes parceiros interessados. Não obstante os diferentes pontos de vista dos diferentes parceiros interessados, através de muitas discussões e sugestões, as plataformas dos acordos foram alcançados; isso constituirá possível e potencialmente parte da resolução de problemas locais, que servirá para a remediação dos processos de degradação da terra e de desertificação

Pensée géosystémique orientale (voix et réverbération)

Teorias genuínas que, em tom holístico, votam-se à dinâmica e ao arranjo paisagísticos, apareceram no pensamento de autores alemães. Mas antes que (poucos anos à frente) recebessem o tratamento que viria a instituir epicentros franceses, são apropriadas pela ótica soviética. Há, portanto, uma versão teórica precedente ao insight antropocêntrico francês. E é essa versão oriental que consolidará o conceito de geossistema, firmando-o como instrumento prioritariamente operacional. Viktor Sochava, atuando desde o Instituto de Geografia de Irkutsk (leste siberiano), produz textos notáveis a respeito – publicações que o ocidente teve acesso graças ao periódico Soviet Geography (no qual fomos buscar registros). Contudo, por contingência de privação bibliográfica, a maioria dos pesquisadores brasileiros conhece apenas um texto de Sochava (aliás, feliz tradução de Carlos A. de F. Monteiro, editada em 1977). Destacaremos o pensamento deste que é um dos autores mais referidos em se tratando da teoria geossistêmica; mencionando, em seguida, o pensamento seu sucessor. Exemplificado pelo nome Beroutchachvili, o pensamento herdeiro de Sochava autoriza-nos a falar em escola soviética dos geossistemas – escola que, atrelada às circunstâncias geopolíticas, foi compelida à teorização fundamentalmente naturalista e com fins pragmáticos. Este artigo talvez reduza a rarefação de documentos que, em língua portuguesa, historiografem a Geografia russa. __________________________________________________________________________________ RÉSUMÉThéories génuines qui, dans un accent holistique, se dédient à la dynamique et à l’arrangement paysager, sont apparues chez la pensée d’auteurs allemands. Mais ces théories avant recevoir (peu d’années après) le traitement, lequel instaurerait des épicentres français, sont saisies par l’optique soviétique. Il y a donc une version précédente de l’intuition anthropocentrique française. Cette version orientale c’est juste celle qui consolidera le concept de géosystème, en lui établissant en tant qu’outil spécialement opérationnel. Viktor Sochava, en effectuant ses études auprès de l’Institut de Géographie de Irkutsk (dans l’est sibérien), a produit des textes remarquables à propos – des publications que l’occident a eu accès grâce à la revue Soviet Geography (dans laquelle nous les avons trouvé). Cependant, à cause de la contingence d’un défaut bibliographique, la plupart des géographes brésiliens ne connaissent qu’un seul article de Sochava (d’ailleurs, une traduction très bienvenue de Carlos A. de F. Monteiro, parue en 1977). Nous détacherons la pensée de ce qui est un auteur de référence en ce qui concerne la théorie géosystémique; en mentionnant, ensuite, la pensée qui lui succède. Exemplifiée par le nom Beroutchachvili, la pensée héritière de Sochava nous autorise à parler d’une “école soviétique” des géosystèmes – celle qui, attelée aux circonstances géopolitiques, a été entraînée vers une théorisation dont la pierre angulaire et le but étaient, respectivement, naturaliste et pragmatique. Peut-être cet article-là pourra amenuiser la raréfaction des documents qui, en langue portugaise, historiographent la Géographie russe

STRATEGIC KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT BASED IN THE MEDICAL PROTOCOLS DEVELOPMENT: THE SHARE OF BELIEFS BETWEEN STRATEGIC PARTNERS LIKE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

This qualitative study analyses the strategic process in the perceptions of medical managers in a private hospital and leaders of a health insurance company on medical care protocols. Study design and analysis of results followed theoretical principles of knowledge sharing, barriers to knowledge management, and partnership management. In-depth interviews were conducted according to results of previous focus group interviews. The interviews investigated: (1) the contextual barriers to knowledge management; (2) the means and procedures used to create and share knowledge; (3) and the degree of participation of health insurance companies in the development of protocols and in the process of sharing objectives and knowledge of healthcare processes. Results indicate that there are no important barriers to accept the new language introduced by protocols that express new paradigms. However, findings showed little top management involvement with the groups of specialists at the time of dealing with them as business units. It also identified difficulties in sharing ideas among the members of the technical team and between this team and the health insurance company.O objetivo do estudo foi analisar o processo estratégico na percepção de gestores médicos de um hospital privado e de lideranças de uma operadora de planos de saúde. Os protocolos médico-assistenciais foram os núcleos de investigação da pesquisa. A sustentação do estudo e da análise dos resultados utilizou, principalmente, referenciais teóricos sobre compartilhamento, barreiras à gestão do conhecimento e gestão de parcerias. A pesquisa foi qualitativa através de entrevistas em profundidade que, anteriormente, apoiaram-se em grupos de foco. As entrevistas buscaram saber: (1) as barreiras do contexto à gestão do conhecimento; (2) os meios e formas utilizados para criação e compartilhamento do conhecimento; (3) e o grau de participação das operadoras dos planos de saúde na construção dos protocolos, assim como no compartilhamento de processos assistenciais e objetivos. Os resultados principais apontaram não haver barreiras importantes à legitimação de uma nova linguagem trazida por novos paradigmas por meio dos protocolos. Entretanto, foi evidente a pouca participação da alta direção junto às especialidades no momento de tratá-las como uma unidade de negócio e, principalmente, a dificuldade do compartilhamento de idéias entre a equipe de profissionais técnicos e essa com a operadora do plano de saúde

Multiple sclerosis and air pollution exposure: Mechanisms toward brain autoimmunity

The association between neurodegenerative diseases and environmental exposures, in particular air pollution, has been noticed in the last two decades, but the importance of this environmental factor in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis has not been considered extensively. However, recent evidence suggests that major mechanisms involved in MS pathogenesis, such as inflammatory factors expression, free radicals overproduction, the blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, neuroinflammation, vitamin D deficiency and mitochondrial dysfunction could also occur due to exposure to air pollutants. A prospective hypothesis is suggested here in which exposure to air pollutants may initiate destructive mechanisms inducing inflammatory-oxidative cascades, reduction of immunological self-tolerance and neurodegeneration leading to brain autoimmunit

Towards truly simultaneous PIXE and RBS analysis of layered objects in cultural heritage

For a long time, RBS and PIXE techniques have been used in the field of cultural heritage. Although the complementarity of both techniques has long been acknowledged, its full potential has not been yet developed due to the lack of general purpose software tools for analysing the data from both techniques in a coherent way. In this work we provide an example of how the recent addition of PIXE to the set of techniques supported by the DataFurnace code can significantly change this situation. We present a case in which a non homogeneous sample (an oxidized metal from a photographic plate -heliography- made by Niepce in 1827) is analysed using RBS and PIXE in a straightforward and powerful way that can only be performed with a code that treats both techniques simultaneously as a part of one single and coherent analysis. The optimization capabilities of DataFurnace, allowed us to obtain the composition profiles for these samples in a very simple way.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Appraising and selecting strategies to combat and mitigate desertification based on stakeholder knowledge and globalbest practices in Cape Verde Archipelago

Cape Verde is considered part of Sahelian Africa, where drought and desertification are common occurrences. The main activity of the rural population is rain-fed agriculture, which over time has been increasingly challenged by high temporal and spatial rainfall variability, lack of inputs, limited land area, fragmentation of land, steep slopes, pests, lack of mechanization and loss of top soil by water erosion. Human activities, largely through poor farming practices and deforestation (Gomez, 1989) have accelerated natural erosion processes, shifting the balance between soil erosion and soil formation (Norton, 1987). According to previous studies, vegetation cover is one of the most important factors in controlling soil loss (Cyr et al., 1995; Hupy, 2004; Zhang et al., 2004; Zhou et al., 2006). For this reason, reforestation is a touchstone of the Cape Verdean policy to combat desertification. After Independence in 1975, the Cape Verde government had pressing and closely entangled environmental and socio-economic issues to address, as long-term desertification had resulted in a lack of soil cover, severe soil erosion and a scarcity of water resources and fuel wood. Across the archipelago, desertification was resulting from a variety of processes including poor farming practices, soil erosion by water and wind, soil and water salinity in coastal areas due to over pumping and seawater intrusion, drought and unplanned urbanization (DGA-MAAP, 2004). All these issues directly affected socio-economic vulnerability in rural areas, where about 70% of people depended directly or indirectly on agriculture in 1975. By becoming part of the Inter- State Committee for the Fight against Drought in the Sahel in 1975, the government of Cape Verde gained structured support to address these issues more efficiently. Presentday policies and strategies were defined on the basis of rational use of resources and human efforts and were incorporated into three subsequent national plans: the National Action Plan for Development (NDP) (1982–1986), the NDP (1986–1990) and the NDP (1991–1995) (Carvalh

PENSAMENTO GEOSSISTÊMICO ORIENTAL (VOZ E REVERBERAÇÃO)

Théories génuines qui, dans un accent holistique, se dédient à la dynamique et à l’arrangement paysager, sont apparues chez la pensée d’auteurs allemands. Mais ces théories avant recevoir (peu d’années après) le traitement, lequel instaurerait des épicentres français, sont saisies par l’optique soviétique. Il y a donc une version précédente de l’intuition anthropocentrique française. Cette version orientale c’est juste celle qui consolidera le concept de géosystème, en lui établissant en tant qu’outil spécialement opérationnel. Viktor Sochava, en effectuant ses études auprès de l’Institut de Géographie de Irkutsk (dans l’est sibérien), a produit des textes remarquables à propos – des publications que l’occident a eu accès grâce à la revue Soviet Geography (dans laquelle nous les avons trouvé). Cependant, à cause de la contingence d’un défaut bibliographique, la plupart des géographes brésiliens ne connaissent qu’un seul article de Sochava (d’ailleurs, une traduction très bienvenue de Carlos A. de F. Monteiro, parue en 1977). Nous détacherons la pensée de ce qui est un auteur de référence en ce qui concerne la théorie géosystémique; en mentionnant, ensuite, la pensée qui lui succède. Exemplifiée par le nom Beroutchachvili, la pensée héritière de Sochava nous autorise à parler d’une “école soviétique” des géosystèmes – celle qui, attelée aux circonstances géopolitiques, a été entraînée vers une théorisation dont la pierre angulaire et le but étaient, respectivement, naturaliste et pragmatique. Peut-être cet article-là pourra amenuiser la raréfaction des documents qui, en langue portugaise, historiographent la Géographie russe. Mots-clés: École soviétique. Modèle géosystémique. Plan pragmatique. Viktor Sochava. Nicolas Beroutchachvili.Teorias genuínas que, em tom holístico, votam-se à dinâmica e ao arranjo paisagísticos, apareceram no pensamento de autores alemães. Mas antes que (poucos anos à frente) recebessem o tratamento que viria a instituir epicentros franceses, são apropriadas pela ótica soviética. Há, portanto, uma versão teórica precedente ao insight antropocêntrico francês. E é essa versão oriental que consolidará o conceito de geossistema, firmando-o como instrumento prioritariamente operacional. Viktor Sochava, atuando desde o Instituto de Geografia de Irkutsk (leste siberiano), produz textos notáveis a respeito – publicações que o ocidente teve acesso graças ao periódico Soviet Geography (no qual fomos buscar registros). Contudo, por contingência de privação bibliográfica, a maioria dos pesquisadores brasileiros conhece apenas um texto de Sochava (aliás, feliz tradução de Carlos A. de F. Monteiro, editada em 1977). Destacaremos o pensamento deste que é um dos autores mais referidos em se tratando da teoria geossistêmica; mencionando, em seguida, o pensamento seu sucessor. Exemplificado pelo nome Beroutchachvili, o pensamento herdeiro de Sochava autoriza-nos a falar em escola soviética dos geossistemas – escola que, atrelada às circunstâncias geopolíticas, foi compelida à teorização fundamentalmente naturalista e com fins pragmáticos. Este artigo talvez reduza a rarefação de documentos que, em língua portuguesa, historiografem a Geografia russa. Palavras-chave: Escola soviética. Modelo geossistêmico. Perspectiva pragmática. Viktor Sochava. Nicolas Beroutchachvili

The LIAISE approach for co-designing knowledge on impact assessment tools

Impact Assessment (IA) intends to collect evidence on the likely impacts of new policies and thereby minimize unwanted side-effects and maximize the benefits to society. Although it is a requirement in the EC and all OECD countries, the scope and methods vary considerably. Governments have invested considerably in research to support the evidence basis of policy making for sustainable development. However, the general picture shows a gap between the proliferation of IA tools from the scientific community and their actual use in the policy process. The FP7 network of excellence LIAISE (www.liaise- noe.eu) is designed to identify the causes for non-use of IA tools and bridge the gaps between researchers with a generally strong orientation towards their (disciplinary) peers and practitioners who tend to focus on their policy domain and policy problems. LIAISE aims at: 1) understanding of the policy process and the resulting needs for IA knowledge and IA tools; 2) description of IA tools and scientific IA expertise in a standardised way; 3) a shared IA toolbox targeted at the needs of both researchers and practitioners; 4) a shared IA research agenda integrating scientific knowledge gaps and the priorities for the development of new IA knowledge that arise from the future policy agenda; and 5) safeguarding the project results beyond the period of project funding, by developing an institutional setting and a business plan that facilitate the extension of the present consortium towards a broad centre of IA expertise with a structural permanence. A lively interaction between the different communities involved, is essential to realize these objectives. The Berlin Conference is an important opportunity to inform external research groups about the LIAISE approach to bridging the gap between science and policy. Their feedback and views on possible next steps in the further integration of the IA research community are highly valued, as well as their interest to become involved in this process

The LIAISE approach to unite researchers and practitioners in a community of experts on impact assessment

Impact Assessment (IA) intends to collect evidence on the likely impacts of new policies and thereby minimize unwanted side-effects and maximize the benefits to society. Although it is a requirement in the EC and all OECD countries, the scope and methods vary considerably. Governments have invested considerably in research to support the evidence basis of policy making for sustainable development. However, the general picture shows a gap between the proliferation of IA tools from the scientific community and their actual use in the policy process. The FP7 network of excellence LIAISE (www.liaise- noe.eu) is designed to identify the causes for non-use of IA tools and bridge the gaps between researchers with a generally strong orientation towards their (disciplinary) peers and practitioners who tend to focus on their policy domain and policy problems. LIAISE aims at: 1) understanding of the policy process and the resulting needs for IA knowledge and IA tools; 2) description of IA tools and scientific IA expertise in a standardised way; 3) a shared IA toolbox targeted at the needs of both researchers and practitioners; 4) a shared IA research agenda integrating scientific knowledge gaps and the priorities for the development of new IA knowledge that arise from the future policy agenda; and 5) safeguarding the project results beyond the period of project funding, by developing an institutional setting and a business plan that facilitate the extension of the present consortium towards a broad centre of IA expertise with a structural permanence. A lively interaction between the different communities involved, is essential to realize these objectives. The Berlin Conference is an important opportunity to inform external research groups about the LIAISE approach to bridging the gap between science and policy. Their feedback and views on possible next steps in the further integration of the IA research community are highly valued, as well as their interest to become involved in this process