Application of GIS in potential beekeeping assessment: Case study of Montesinho Natural Park (Portugal)

Planners require solutions that address routine work needs and seems essential to improving efficiency and productivity. There are a great number of different factors related to beekeeper activity as well the quality and productivity of different bee products. The spatial analysis is a powerful tool for overlap and relates various levels of information on a map, and consequently a very useful for beekeeping activity planning. This work proposes and applies a methodology to potential beekeeping assessment in Montesinho Natural Park, a region in the northwest of Portugal. The beekeeping potential maps were developed with the following data sources: legal standards, vegetation, land use, topography, water resources, roads, electromagnetic fields, and some honey physico-chemical analysis. The design and implementation of spatial analysis model based on Geographic Information System (GIS) to beekeeping planning activities has already been described by Anjos et al (2014). Spatial analysis techniques allows to define the potential beekeeper map supporting the beekeeper management in this region. Anjos O, Silva G, Roque N, Fernandez P, 2014. GIS based analysis to support the beekeeping planning. Book of abstracts of the International Symposium on Bee Products 3rd edition – Annual meeting of the International Honey Commission (IHC), Faculty of medicine, University of Rijeka, p:6

Physics of Seismo-electromagnetic Phenomena

The seismo-electromagnetic phenomena (SEMG) are integrated in a relatively recent research field that studies diverse phenomena such as: unusual seismo-electrical signals [1], abnormal ultra-low-frequency (ULF) seismo-electromagnetic emissions [2], very-low-frequency (VLF) and low-frequency (LF) radiobroadcast anomalies associated with ionosphere perturbations [3], variation of total electron content of the ionosphere [4], and atypical infrared emissions [5], all related with the preparatory stage of impending earthquakes. In the past, like many other branches of science like Quantum Mechanics, SEMG have been responsible for intense debates about its credibility, in this case concerning its applicability to short-term earthquake prediction [6]. In fact, the development of a truly pre-quake forecasting system is still an elusive plan, but SEM emissions are now a very well established effect extensively reported in literature. Nevertheless, much of the Physics implicated is still not fully understood. Thus, our main effort is directed towards a systematic field observation of SEMG effects and the development of both constructive theoretical models and laboratorial experiments to promote a better understanding of the Physics engaged in these phenomena. In this presentation we will present a sum up of our recent achievements [7,8,9], focusing future work and improvements. [1] A. Konstantaras, et al., On the electric field transient anomaly observed at the time of the Kythira M=6.9 earthquake on January 2006, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 7, 677 (2007). [2] T. Bleier, et al., Investigation of ULF magnetic pulsations, air conductivity changes, and infra red signatures associated with the 30 October Alum Rock M5.4 earthquake, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 9, 585 (2009). [3] P. Biagi, et al., An overview on preseismic anomalies in LF radio signals revealed in Italy by wavelet analysis, Annals of Geophysics 51, 237 (2008). [4] V. Chauhan, et al., Ultra-low-frequency (ULF) and total electron content (TEC) anomalies observed at Agra and their association with regional earthquakes, Journal of Geodynamics 48, 68 (2009). [5] D. Ouzounov, et al., Outgoing long wave radiation variability from IR satellite data prior to major earthquakes, Tectonophysics 431, 211 (2007). [6] S. Uyeda, et al., Short-term earthquake prediction: Current status of seismo-electromagnetics, Tectonophysics 470, 205 (2009). [7] H.G. Silva, et al., Atmospheric electrical field anomalies associated with seismic activity, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 11, 987 (2011). [8] H. G. Silva, et al., Electric transport in different granitic rocks, EGU General Assembly 2011 (EGU 2011), 3-8 April 2011, Vienna (Austria). [9] H.G. Silva, et al., Piezoelectric effect during solid fracture causing electromagnetic emissions, International Conference on Computational Modelling of Fracture and Failure (CFRAC 2011), 6-8 June 2011, Barcelona (Spain)

CD36 Participates in PrP106–126-Induced Activation of Microglia

Microglial activation is a characteristic feature of the pathogenesis of prion diseases. The molecular mechanisms that underlie prion-induced microglial activation are not very well understood. In the present study, we investigated the role of the class B scavenger receptor CD36 in microglial activation induced by neurotoxic prion protein (PrP) fragment 106–126 (PrP106–126). We first examined the time course of CD36 mRNA expression upon exposure to PrP106–126 in BV2 microglia. We then analyzed different parameters of microglial activation in PrP106–126-treated cells in the presence or not of anti-CD36 monoclonal antibody (mAb). The cells were first incubated for 1 h with CD36 monoclonal antibody to block the CD36 receptor, and were then treated with neurotoxic prion peptides PrP106–126. The results showed that PrP106–126 treatment led to a rapid yet transitory increase in the mRNA expression of CD36, upregulated mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α), increased iNOS expression and nitric oxide (NO) production, stimulated the activation of NF-κB and caspase-1, and elevated Fyn activity. The blockade of CD36 had no effect on PrP106–126-stimulated NF-κB activation and TNF-α protein release, abrogated the PrP106–126-induced iNOS stimulation, downregulated IL-1β and IL-6 expression at both mRNA and protein levels as well as TNF-α mRNA expression, decreased NO production and Fyn phosphorylation, reduced caspase-1 cleavage induced by moderate PrP106–126 –treatment, but had no effect on caspase-1 activation after treatment with a high concentration of PrP106–126. Together, these results suggest that CD36 is involved in PrP106–126-induced microglial activation and that the participation of CD36 in the interaction between PrP106–126 and microglia may be mediated by Src tyrosine kinases. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the activation of microglia by neurotoxic prion peptides and open perspectives for new therapeutic strategies for prion diseases by modulation of CD36 signaling

The Parkinson's Disease-Linked Protein DJ-1 Associates with Cytoplasmic mRNP Granules During Stress and Neurodegeneration.

Mutations in the gene encoding DJ-1 are associated with autosomal recessive forms of Parkinson's disease (PD). DJ-1 plays a role in protection from oxidative stress, but how it functions as an "upstream" oxidative stress sensor and whether this relates to PD is still unclear. Intriguingly, DJ-1 may act as an RNA binding protein associating with specific mRNA transcripts in the human brain. Moreover, we previously reported that the yeast DJ-1 homolog Hsp31 localizes to stress granules (SGs) after glucose starvation, suggesting a role for DJ-1 in RNA dynamics. Here, we report that DJ-1 interacts with several SG components in mammalian cells and localizes to SGs, as well as P-bodies, upon induction of either osmotic or oxidative stress. By purifying the mRNA associated with DJ-1 in mammalian cells, we detected several transcripts and found that subpopulations of these localize to SGs after stress, suggesting that DJ-1 may target specific mRNAs to mRNP granules. Notably, we find that DJ-1 associates with SGs arising from N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) excitotoxicity in primary neurons and parkinsonism-inducing toxins in dopaminergic cell cultures. Thus, our results indicate that DJ-1 is associated with cytoplasmic RNA granules arising during stress and neurodegeneration, providing a possible link between DJ-1 and RNA dynamics which may be relevant for PD pathogenesis

Evaluación mullticriterio en SIG del potencial de exploración apícola. Estudio de caso: área controlada del Parque Natural de Montesinho

Só está disponível o resumo.Evaluación mullticriterio en SIG del potencial de exploración apícola. Estudio de caso: área controlada del Parque Natural de Montesinho

Análise espacial da caracterização físico-química de amostras de mel

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The Governance of Multi-Use Platforms at Sea for Energy Production and Aquaculture: Challenges for Policy Makers in European Seas

European seas are encountering an upsurge in competing marine activities and infrastructures. Traditional exploitation such as fisheries, tourism, transportation, and oil production are accompanied by new sustainable economic activities such as offshore windfarms, aquaculture, and tidal and wave energy. One proposed solution to overcome possible competing claims at sea lies in combining these economic activities as part of Multi-Use Platforms at Sea (MUPS). MUPS can be understood as areas at sea, designated for a combination of activities, either completely integrated in a platform or in shared marine space. MUPS can potentially benefit from each other in terms of infrastructure, maintenance, etc. Developing MUPS in the marine environment demands adequate governance. In this article, we investigate four European sites to find out how governance arrangements may facilitate or complicate MUPs. In particular, we apply a framework specifying policy, economic, social, technical, environmental, and legal (PESTEL) factors to explore governance arrangements in four case study sites in different sea basins around Europe (the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea). The article concludes with policy recommendations on a governance regime for facilitating the development of MUPS in the future

Socio-enonomic Analysis of a Selected Multi-use Offshore Site in the North Sea

A 600 MW offshore wind farm is under construction in the Netherlands Exclusive Economic Zone at a site called Gemini situated 55 km north of the Wadden Sea island of Schiermonnikoog and 85 km from the nearest Dutch port of Eemshaven. This chapter investigates the option of introducing a multi-use design for the Gemini site by adding mussel cultivation (48 kt wet weight per year) and seaweed cultivation (480 kt wet weight per year) to the wind farm. An institutional analysis indicates a political will in the Netherlands to support the development of adding uses to offshore wind farms, but a number of implementation obstacles are also identified. Those obstacles include an absence of licences for multi-use production and legal restrictions against third-party access to wind farms. There is therefore a need for a regulatory framework for multi-use and trust-building among actors involved in multi-use installations. A financial and economic assessment, and a cost-benefit analysis also taking into account monetized changes in CO2 emissions, indicate that adding mussel cultivation to the wind farm is likely to be both financially and socio-economically viable. Including a seaweed cultivation function is probably not financially and socio-economically viable under current technical and economic conditions. Knowledge gaps and uncertainties in these assessments with respect to, for example, missing site-specific data and non-monetized externalities suggest further research, also including pilot cultivations of mussels and seaweed in planned single-use or multi-use installations