Effects of the European Union agricultural and environmental policies in the sustainability of most common Mediterranean soils

Agro-environmental measures promoted by the European Union focus mainly on environmental protection by maintaining sustainable levels of productivity that are adequate to the agro-ecological conditions of each region on different Member States. Among these European Union promoted measures the one known as Extensive Forage Systems is particularly relevant for the Mediterranean Region. In order to analyze the impact of this measure and to verify if the high expenditure of communitarian funds, with its implementation in Mediterranean soils, is aligned with the predicted benefits, a seven-year study in a southern Portugal region was conducted. In this regard, several soil chemical parameters such as organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, available phosphorus, "available" potassium and heavy metal levels (Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb and Ni), were assessed, in 1329 different plots in order to represent some of the existing diversity of the Mediterranean environment, identified by the Portuguese Parcel Identification System, and considering the possibility to evaluate the evolution of these parameters on the main soil types of the region. The obtained results enabled us to verify that the application of the agro-environmental measure Extensive Forage Systems did not lead, during the 7 years of the study, to any significant change in terms of organic matter, soil pH and/or heavy metals content. Still it contributed for a small growth on "available" phosphorus and potassium levels and to a significant increase on Soil electrical conductivity (EC). As a final conclusion we can refer that the application of the agro-environmental measure Extensive Forage Systems, in soil, clime and cultural conditions prevailing in this study (Typical Mediterranean conditions from the South of Europe), did not reach its main objective, which was to increase the organic matter content in soils.Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia [UID/AGR/04129/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estudo do comportamento vibratório em tubos ressonantes utilizando síntese modal de componentes

As cavidades ressonantes acopladas em dutos (do tipo ramificação lateral), também conhecidos como “Quarter-Wavelength Tube”, funcionam como filtros acústicos capazes de atenuar significativamente o ruído em amplas faixas de frequência. Estes filtros podem ser empregados em diversas aplicações, principalmente nos sistemas tubulares presentes em indústrias, edifícios e veículos. Estas cavidades ressonantes tem como princípio de funcionamento a reflexão sonora devido à mudança de seção transversal entre as estruturas acopladas, neste caso, entre o duto principal e a ramificação lateral. Porém, ao introduzir um novo elemento estrutural no sistema original de dutos, a dinâmica vibratória do sistema resultante deverá ser analisada de modo a garantir a integridade estrutural e evitando assim, possíveis ressonâncias. Para isto, a análise modal é uma ferramenta clássica e eficiente para estimativa das frequências naturais e modos de vibração. No entanto, os sistemas tubulares aplicados para fins de aquecimento, ventilação e ar-condicionado, geralmente possuem grandes dimensões tanto em área transversal quanto em comprimento. Para realização da análise modal, metodologias experimentais e numéricas são as mais utilizadas. Mas diante da complexidade destes sistemas e principalmente das grandes dimensões geométricas, o método de Síntese Modal de Componentes (SMC) surge como uma alternativa às anteriores, principalmente em termos de redução de tempo e custo computacional. A SMC trabalha com modelos reduzidos de subestruturas do sistema original, e posteriormente, estas são sintetizadas de modo a obter a dinâmica do sistema completo. Diante deste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é implementar a técnica de SMC em um sistema duto-ressonador lateral utilizando modelagem em elementos finitos. A validação do modelo sintetizado foi feita através da modelagem do sistema completo (original) também em elementos finitos. Os resultados obtidos se mostraram satisfatórios, demonstrando eficiência e redução do tempo e do custo computacional quando é utilizado a SMC.The resonant cavities coupled in ducts, also known as Quarter-Wavelength Tube, perform their function as acoustic filters capable of significantly attenuating noise over wide frequency ranges. These filters can be used in various applications, especially in industrial tubular systems, buildings and vehicles. These resonant cavities have as their operating principle the sound reflection due to the change of cross section between the coupled structures, in this case, between the main duct and the quarter-wavelength tube. However, when it is introduced a new structural element into the original duct system, the vibration dynamics of the resulting system should be analyzed in order to guarantee structural integrity and thus avoid possible resonances. For this, the modal analysis is a classic and efficient tool for estimating natural frequencies and mode shapes. Tubular systems applied for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) purposes are generally large in both cross-sectional area and length. For modal analysis, experimental and numerical methodologies are the most used. Furthermore, in view of the complexity of these systems and especially of the large geometric dimensions, the Component Mode Synthesis (CMS) method appears as an alternative to the previous ones, mainly in terms of time reduction and computational effort. CMS works with reduced models of substructures from the original system, and later, these are synthesized in order to obtain the dynamics behavior of the complete system. In this context, the objective of this work is to implement the CMS technique in a quarter-wavelength tube silencer using finite element modeling. The validation of the synthesized model was done by modeling the complete system also in finite elements. The results obtained were satisfactory, demonstrating efficiency and reduction of time and computational effort using CMS

Direct and residual impacts of olive-mill waste application to rice soil on greenhouse gas emission and global warming potential under Mediterranean conditions

The olive oil industry produces high amounts of waste, which need to be valorized in a more sustainable way as an alternative to its traditional use as an energy source, with high associated CO2 emissions. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important crops for global food security; however, the traditional cropping systems under flooding lead to an important decrease of soil quality, as well as relevant emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). The aim of this study was to assess the GHG emission from rice fields amended with composted two-phase olive mill waste (C-TPOW), in Mediterranean conditions. A field experiment was carried in rice cultivated by the traditional system, either unamended (Control) or amended with C-TPOW (Compost). GHG emissions were measured over three years following a single C-TPOW application (80 Mg ha−1 only in the first year of study), so that the results found in the first and third years correspond to its direct and residual effects, respectively. Compost decreased CO2 emissions relative to Control by 13% and 20% in the first and third year after C-TPOW application, respectively. However, in the case of CH4 and N2O, increases in the total cumulative emission were recorded in Compost relative to Control throughout the study, in agreement with the highest β-glucosidase and urease activity observed in the amended soil. The values of global warming potential (GWP) and yield-scaled GWP increased by 14% and 11%, respectively, in Compost relative to Control in the first year, but no significant differences between treatments were observed three years after application for GWP and yield-scaled GWP. Therefore, the use of C-TPOW as soil amendment in rice fields could be a good option since its impact on GHGinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Equine-assisted therapy and practitioner´s well-being in the context of physical and mental health: a systematic review / A equoterapia e o bem-estar do praticante no âmbito da saúde física e mental: uma revisão sistemática

Background: Equine-assisted therapy has contributed to the treatment of a considerable range of pathologies and problems related to physical and mental health of people with some type of disability.Aims: This systematic review whose protocol is registered on the PROSPERO platform n. CRD42020221415, aimed to analyze the contribution of equine-assisted therapy verified in the literature as a possibility for improving the well-being of practitioners with physical or mental health problems.Methodology: A systematic review of the literature was performed in six databases from the research question in the PICO format “Can individuals with physical or mental health problems (Population), who practice equine-assisted therapy (Intervention) get improvements in their well-being (Outcomes)?”Results: The state of art presents a repetition of studies on the same health problems and lacks others.1956 articles were found, but only 11 were selected and of these, 9 presented positive results in their interventions.Conclusion: It is concluded that equine-assisted therapy can promote improvements in the well-being of practitioners regardless of the health problems to be treated, but future studies need to investigate disabilities not yet analyzed. 

Effects of combined use of olive mill waste compost and sprinkler Irrigation on GHG emissions and net ecosystem carbon budget under different tillage systems

Traditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) production by flooding is a source of greenhouse gases (GHG), especially methane. The high consumption of water, as well as the chemical and physical degradation caused by these traditional practices in rice soils, is promoting a decrease in rice production in the Mediterranean area. The aim of this study was to monitor GHG emissions and the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) from rice produced with sprinkler irrigation techniques and also assess the impact of olive mill waste compost (C-OW) application and tillage on GHG emissions and the NECB. A field experiment for irrigated rice production was implemented by considering four different treatments: (1) tillage (T); (2) no tillage—direct seeding techniques (DS); (3) application of C-OW followed by tillage (TC); and (4) application of C-OW followed by direct seeding (DSC). The C-OW was only applied in the first year at a dose of 80 Mg ha−1 . GHG emissions were monitored over three years in these four treatments in order to estimate the direct (first year) and residual (third year) effects of such practices. The application of C-OW caused an increase of 1.85 times the emission of CO2 -C in the TC-DSC compared to the T-DS in the first year. It is noteworthy that the TC treatment was the only one that maintained an emission of CO2 -C that was 42% higher than T in the third year. Regardless of the treatments and year of the study, negative values for the cumulative CH4 were found, suggesting that under sprinkler irrigation, CH4 oxidation was the dominant process. A decrease in N2O emissions was observed under direct seeding relative to the tillage treatments, although without significant differences. Tillage resulted in an increase in the global warming potential (GWP) of up to 31% with respect to direct seeding management in the third year, as a consequence of the greater carbon oxidation caused by intensive tillage. DS presented a positive NECB in the accumulation of C in the soil; therefore, it provided a greater ecological benefit to the environment. Thus, under Mediterranean conditions, rice production through a sprinkler irrigation system in combination with direct seeding techniques may be a sustainable alternative for rice crops, reducing their GWP and resulting in a lower carbon footprint. However, the use of C-OW as an organic amendment could increase the GHG emissions from rice fields irrigated by sprinklers, especially under tillage conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The anti-aging factor Klotho protects against acquired long QT syndrome induced by uremia and promoted by fibroblast growth factor 23

[Background]: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased propensity for arrhythmias. In this context, ventricular repolarization alterations have been shown to predispose to fatal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Between mineral bone disturbances in CKD patients, increased fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 and decreased Klotho are emerging as important effectors of cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between imbalanced FGF23-Klotho axis and the development of cardiac arrhythmias in CKD remains unknown. [Methods]: We carried out a translational approach to study the relationship between the FGF23–Klotho signaling axis and acquired long QT syndrome in CKD-associated uremia. FGF23 levels and cardiac repolarization dynamics were analyzed in patients with dialysis-dependent CKD and in uremic mouse models of 5/6 nephrectomy (Nfx) and Klotho deficiency (hypomorphism), which show very high systemic FGF23 levels. [Results]: Patients in the top quartile of FGF23 levels had a higher occurrence of very long QT intervals (> 490 ms) than peers in the lowest quartile. Experimentally, FGF23 induced QT prolongation in healthy mice. Similarly, alterations in cardiac repolarization and QT prolongation were observed in Nfx mice and in Klotho hypomorphic mice. QT prolongation in Nfx mice was explained by a significant decrease in the fast transient outward potassium (K+) current (Itof), caused by the downregulation of K+ channel 4.2 subunit (Kv4.2) expression. Kv4.2 expression was also significantly reduced in ventricular cardiomyocytes exposed to FGF23. Enhancing Klotho availability prevented both long QT prolongation and reduced Itof current. Likewise, administration of recombinant Klotho blocked the downregulation of Kv4.2 expression in Nfx mice and in FGF23-exposed cardiomyocytes. [Conclusion]: The FGF23–Klotho axis emerges as a new therapeutic target to prevent acquired long QT syndrome in uremia by minimizing the predisposition to potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in patients with CKD.This work was supported by projects from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (PI17/01093, PI17/01193, PI20/00763, CP15/00129, F18/00261, CPII20/00022, SAF2017-84777-R, PID2020-113238RB-I00), from the Sociedad Española de Cardiología (SEC), and from the Fundación Renal Íñigo Alvarez de Toledo (FRIAT), co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (Fondos FEDER)

Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS) : a proposal for the long-term coordinated survey and monitoring of native island forest biota

Islands harbour evolutionary and ecologically unique biota, which are currently disproportionately threatened by a multitude of anthropogenic factors, including habitat loss, invasive species and climate change. Native forests on oceanic islands are important refugia for endemic species, many of which are rare and highly threatened. Long-term monitoring schemes for those biota and ecosystems are urgently needed: (i) to provide quantitative baselines for detecting changes within island ecosystems, (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation and management actions, and (iii) to identify general ecological patterns and processes using multiple island systems as repeated 'natural experiments'. In this contribution, we call for a Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS) for monitoring the remaining native island forests, using bryophytes, vascular plants, selected groups of arthropods and vertebrates as model taxa. As a basis for the GIMS, we also present new, optimized monitoring protocols for bryophytes and arthropods that were developed based on former standardized inventory protocols. Effective inventorying and monitoring of native island forests will require: (i) permanent plots covering diverse ecological gradients (e.g. elevation, age of terrain, anthropogenic disturbance); (ii) a multiple-taxa approach that is based on standardized and replicable protocols; (iii) a common set of indicator taxa and community properties that are indicative of native island forests' welfare, building on, and harmonized with existing sampling and monitoring efforts; (iv) capacity building and training of local researchers, collaboration and continuous dialogue with local stakeholders; and (v) long-term commitment by funding agencies to maintain a global network of native island forest monitoring plots.Peer reviewe

Economic Losses and Cross Border Effects Caused by Pantanal Catastrophic Wildfires

The Pantanal, the Earth's largest continuous wetland, experienced severe impacts from wildfires in 2019 and, particularly, in 2020. The surge in wildfires can be attributed to several factors, including climate extremes, inadequate fire management, ineffective policymaking, as well as commercial and demographic dynamics. Understanding the economic effects of wildfires is crucial for guiding resource allocation toward prevention and firefighting efforts. This study aims to examine the economic losses resulting from the catastrophic wildfires in the Brazilian Pantanal region during 2019 and 2020. By utilizing publicly available datasets and data obtained from representatives of public and private institutions, we constructed scenarios to simulate the fire's impacts on economic input-output matrices. Through the application of structural impact analysis, we can simulate variations in output, value-added, and income by considering demand variation scenarios resulting from external shocks. Our findings reveal that the economic impact of the wildfires extends beyond the burned areas, affecting other regions of Brazil, such as São Paulo and Paraná. The lack of a comprehensive public database encompassing different scales (municipal, state, and national), along with a clear methodology for calculating and reporting firefighting expenses, hinders accurate prediction of economic losses and impedes proactive investments in wildfire prevention

Mapping and assessment of forest ecosystems and their services - Applications and guidance for decision making in the framework of MAES

The aim of this report is to illustrate by means of a series of case studies the implementation of mapping and assessment of forest ecosystem services in different contexts and geographical levels. Methodological aspects, data issues, approaches, limitations, gaps and further steps for improvement are analysed for providing good practices and decision making guidance. The EU initiative on Mapping and Assessment of the state of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES), with the support of all Member States, contributes to improve the knowledge on ecosystem services. MAES is one of the building-block initiatives supporting the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020.JRC.H.3-Forest Resources and Climat

Incorporating biodiversity responses to land use change scenarios for preventing emerging zoonotic diseases in areas of unknown host-pathogen interactions

The need to reconcile food production, the safeguarding of nature, and the protection of public health is imperative in a world of continuing global change, particularly in the context of risks of emerging zoonotic disease (EZD). In this paper, we explored potential land use strategies to reduce EZD risks using a landscape approach. We focused on strategies for cases where the dynamics of pathogen transmission among species were poorly known and the ideas of “land-use induced spillover” and “landscape immunity” could be used very broadly. We first modeled three different land-use change scenarios in a region of transition between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspots. The land-use strategies used to build our scenarios reflected different proportions of native vegetation cover, as a proxy of habitat availability. We then evaluated the effects of the proportion of native vegetation cover on the occupancy probability of a group of mammal species and analyzed how the different land-use scenarios might affect the distribution of species in the landscape and thus the risk of EZD. We demonstrate that these approaches can help identify potential future EZD risks, and can thus be used as decision-making tools by stakeholders, with direct implications for improving both environmental and socio-economic outcomes