Valuing alternative bundles of landscape attributes: Cost-benefit analysis for the selection of optimal landscapes

The role of landscape valuation and extended cost-benefit analysis inlandscape conservation decision-making is first addressed. It is stressed that substantial research on how to value alternative conservation schemes is required, in order to cope with emerging policy needs. An analytical frame for the valuation of alternative landscape conservation schemes is then discussed. This frame enablesthe analyst to sequentially disaggregate values for whole landscape changes over attributes. This is an essential operation if the optimal bundle of landscape attributes is to be selected by cost-benefit analysis. The concept of substitution between landscape attributes plays an essential role within the whole analytical frame. The circumstances that lead to anticipate substitution between landscape attributes are explored. A brief review of the alternative empirical strategies for landscape valuation is then carried out, to check whether they permit sequential desegregation of landscape value over attributes. Next, an empirical application to the valuation of landscape attribute changes in the Pennine Dales Environmentally Sensitive Area is presented. The empirical results confirm the idea of the prevalence of substitution in valuation in most practical contexts. To illustrate the potential of the proposed approach, a sequential cost-benefit analysis of attribute changes along consistent paths of aggregation is then carried out – which eventually leads to the selection of optimal bundles of landscape attributes. Some problems and limitations of the approach are also discussed. Among them, the question of non-uniqueness, or path dependency of the optimum is given particular consideration

Is cork oak (Quercus suber L.) woodland loss driven by eucalyptus plantation ? A case study in southwestern Portugal

Research ArticleMediterranean landscapes with open cork oak (Quercus suber L.) woodlands have recently experienced drastic changes in southwestern Portugal. Changes in agricultural activities, the traditional driver of the economy in this region, led to new land uses, such as long-term set aside (shrublands) and eucalyptus plantations. A study was conducted on the oak woodland landscape dynamics over a 50-year period (from 1958 to 2007) in order to assess the effect of different biophysical conditions on landscape spatial changes, and to identify the resilience of lanscape composition to different disturbances (e.g., socio-economic changes and wildfires). Land use changes over two consecutive periods (1958-1995 and 1995-2007) were inferred by spatial analysis of land cover data (aerial photographs) and related to landscape physical attributes (slope and soil type). A transition matrix of four vegetation land-cover classes was obtained, allowing the assessment of the landscape composition changes bewteen the two above periods. Results showed that lansdcape in 1958 was largely occupied by open farmland, with large patches of open oak woodlands on steep slopes surrounding watercourses. Open farmland and shrubland drastically declined from 1958 to 1995, while eucalyptus plantation exhibited a dramatic expansion. Although large areas of cork oak forest turned into eucalyptus plantation, the net loss of oak forest was low and counterbalanced by its increment on former open farmland. The occurrence of a wildfire in 2003 promoted a dramatic decrease in cork oak woodlands, which mostly turned into shrubland. However, shrubland may be considered “safe sites” for ecological succession, ensuring natural cork oak regeneration and the colonisation of neighboring areasinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Agricultura e biodiversidade: uma diversidade de temas

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Big data for stock market by means of mining techniques

Predict and prevent future events are the major advantages to any company. Big Data comes up with huge power, not only by the ability of processes large amounts and variety of data at high velocity, but also by the capability to create value to organizations. This paper presents an approach to a Big Data based decision making in the stock market context. The correlation between news articles and stock variations it is already proved but it can be enriched with other indicators. In this use case they were collected news articles from three different web sites and the stock history from the New York Stock Exchange. In order to proceed to data mining classification algorithms the articles were labeled by their sentiment, the direct relation to a specific company and geographic market influence. With the proposed model it is possible identify the patterns between this indicators and predict stock price variations with accuracies of 100 percent. Moreover the model shown that the stock market could be sensitive to news with generic topics, such as government and society but they can also depend on the geographic cover

Marked mitral prosthesis rocking motion preceding atrioventricular groove rupture

AbstractRupture of the atrioventricular groove is an uncommon but dreaded complication of mitral valve replacement. We present the case of a 74-year-old male submitted to mitral valve surgery, complicated by atrioventricular groove rupture presaged by the excessive rocking movement of the prosthesis seen in the pre-discharge transthoracic echocardiogram.<Learning objective: Valvular prosthesis rocking movement has been typically associated with paravalvular leaks and fistulae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case to illustrate the association of excessive rocking movement with atrioventricular groove weakness, anticipating subsequent sulcus rupture and pseudoaneurysm formation.

The development of an excellence model integrating the Shingo model and sustainability

Companies are continuously looking to improve their production systems using excellence models, with lean thinking, the Shingo model, six sigma and lean six sigma being the most comprehensive and applied. It is expected that the initial focus for the survival of companies is their economic profitability, but when economic needs are met, the next step is to achieve operational excellence. For this, in addition to economic objectives, it is necessary to include social and environmental objectives, i.e., the other two pillars of sustainability. This study aims to propose a conceptual model identifying the tools that can help achieve the desired results in the three pillars of sustainability aligned with operational excellence. The design of the conceptual model was based on a bibliometric analysis of the literature that relates the concepts of lean thinking, six sigma, lean six sigma and the Shingo model. The Web of Science was the platform selected for the collection of data, and the timeframe considered was 2010 to 2021. A total of 125 articles were analyzed using the VosViewer software, through which it was possible to analyze different topics of study related to the literature. The bibliometric analysis allowed for the identification of the temporal distribution of publications, the categorization of topics, different areas of application and the importance of the tools used in different practical cases. This study points out that companies have at their disposal several tools to achieve economic objectives. On the other hand, there is a set of more restricted tools that are used to meet the objectives of the social and environmental pillars. Future research should focus on identifying tools that meet social and environmental goals in order to strengthen these pillars that are essential for operational excellence and for the sustainability of companies.The work of the author Vanda Lima is supported by national funds, through the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UIDB/04728/2020

P53 and Cancer-Associated Sialylated Glycans Are Surrogate Markers of Cancerization of the Bladder Associated with Schistosoma haematobium Infection

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is a significant health problem in rural areas of Africa and the Middle East where Schistosoma haematobium is prevalent, supporting an association between malignant transformation and infection by this blood fluke. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms linking these events are poorly understood. Bladder cancers in infected populations are generally diagnosed at a late stage since there is a lack of non-invasive diagnostic tools, hence enforcing the need for early carcinogenesis markers. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Forty-three formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded bladder biopsies of S. haematobium-infected patients, consisting of bladder tumours, tumour adjacent mucosa and pre-malignant/malignant urothelial lesions, were screened for bladder cancer biomarkers. These included the oncoprotein p53, the tumour proliferation rate (Ki-67>17%), cell-surface cancer-associated glycan sialyl-Tn (sTn) and sialyl-Lewisa/x (sLea/sLex), involved in immune escape and metastasis. Bladder tumours of non-S. haematobium etiology and normal urothelium were used as controls. S. haematobium-associated benign/pre-malignant lesions present alterations in p53 and sLex that were also found in bladder tumors. Similar results were observed in non-S. haematobium associated tumours, irrespectively of their histological nature, denoting some common molecular pathways. In addition, most benign/pre-malignant lesions also expressed sLea. However, proliferative phenotypes were more prevalent in lesions adjacent to bladder tumors while sLea was characteristic of sole benign/pre-malignant lesions, suggesting it may be a biomarker of early carcionogenesis associated with the parasite. A correlation was observed between the frequency of the biomarkers in the tumor and adjacent mucosa, with the exception of Ki-67. Most S. haematobium eggs embedded in the urothelium were also positive for sLea and sLex. Reinforcing the pathologic nature of the studied biomarkers, none was observed in the healthy urothelium. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This preliminary study suggests that p53 and sialylated glycans are surrogate biomarkers of bladder cancerization associated with S. haematobium, highlighting a missing link between infection and cancer development. Eggs of S. haematobium express sLea and sLex antigens in mimicry of human leukocytes glycosylation, which may play a role in the colonization and disease dissemination. These observations may help the early identification of infected patients at a higher risk of developing bladder cancer and guide the future development of non-invasive diagnostic tests

O 5º ano das licenciaturas em ensino: algumas reflexões e uma proposta de reorganização

Neste texto apresenta-se um conjunto de reflexões e uma proposta de reorganização do 5º ano das Licenciaturas em Ensino da Universidade do Minho. Esta proposta refere-se quer a aspectos de supraestrutura do estágio pedagógico (estatuto do aluno/estagiário, orgãos de coordenação, etc.) quer a aspectos relativos aos conteúdos e contextos de formação e respectivas formas de organização

IRRIGAÇÃO COM ÁGUA DE REÚSO NO BRASIL: APLICAÇÃO DO MODELO SEMIQUANTITATIVO DE AVALIAÇÃO DE RISCO MICROBIOLÓGICO PARA SAÚDE HUMANA

Diante da insegurança hídrica que afeta várias regiões do mundo, o reúso de água tem se tornado cada vez mais presente. Para minimizar o risco da prática, diferentes metodologias de avaliação podem ser empregadas, com abordagens distintas em relação ao reúso potável e não potável. Para a irrigação, a metodologia semiquantitativa é mais indicada, de modo a garantir a segurança, utilizando uma abordagem qualitativa empírica de julgamento para avaliar a importância relativa para perigos, cenário e via de exposição, além de multibarreiras. Dessa forma, a presente Nota Técnica apresenta uma orientação para a aplicação do método Semiquantitativo de Avaliação de Risco Microbiológico (ASqRM) no contexto nacional. De forma complementar foi elaborado um exemplo, considerando-se irrigação em cultura frutífera. Adotou-se o padrão Escherichia coli entre 103 e 104 NMP/100mL, com barreiras definidas a partir da irrigação por gotejamento, crescimento da cultura distante do solo (50 cm) e remoção da casca (preferencialmente) antes do consumo.Os resultados foram: Risco para o receptor agricultor = 3,04 (aceitável) e para o receptor consumidor (desprezável) = 1,89; Risco Global = 2,46 (desprezável). Observa-se a viabilidade segura de prática, apesar de apresentar risco, que deve ser gerido a partir de um adequado Plano de Gestão de Risco

New insights on the roles of bacteria and protozoa in activated-sludge processes

Wastewater treatment is one of the most important biotechnological processes in the world. Nevertheless, the highly complex microbial communities in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are barely understood, remaining, most of the time, as a “black box”. Even though many microbiological methods are available to study the activated-sludge communities, many recent questions on the role of a significant number of microorganisms are kept unanswered. The current model and design concepts of activated-sludge consider bacteria as the sole active biomass. The activities of all other microbial community members (protozoa, metazoa, phages, etc.) are hidden in a simple decay process responsible for the reduction of active biomass and there is an assumed difficulty in establishing the way of how the interactions between the bacterial and the eukaryotic populations can affect the performance of the treatment system. PROTOFILWW project (PTDC/AMB/68393/2006) aimed at the study of 37 WWTP during 2 years, allowing for the identification of the little metazoa, protozoa and filamentous bacteria in 296 samples and enabling the correlation of these communities with physical-chemical and operational parameters. Furthermore, several studies on related subjects were and are being carried on to enlighten the roles of the different organisms in the depurating process, on how they interact with each other and on methods to identify certain filamentous and floc-forming bacteria with relevant functions in these artificial ecosystems. Simultaneously, a web-based platform was conceived to ensure the dissemination of knowledge and the communication of results between the project team and the WWTP technicians and managers