The application of the Habitats Directive in Portugal

A succinct review of the application of the Habitats Directive in Portugal is presented. Since 1971 until 2000 Portugal has defined approximately 8,8% of its territory as national protected areas. With the application of the Habitats Directive nature conservation policies extended to more than 17,4 % of the territory increasing by 98% and the knowledge on vegetation community’s habitats was certainly deepened. Including special protection areas (Birds Directive) the Portuguese territory under one or more conservation status totals 21,5%. Finally, the support given by the Portuguese Phytosociology Association – ALFA in the detailed description of the Directive habitats is divulged, showing the importance, usefulness and efficacy of phytosociologic studies

Influência do enriquecimento da gipsita com esterco no desenvolvimento de espécie arbórea

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo a recomposição de solo a partir do enriquecimento do estéril da exploração da gipsita através da adição de matéria orgânica, visando a revegetação das áreas de mineração abandonadas, para recomposição da paisagem, do solo e da produção de arbóreas para uso nas calcinadoras. Para tal foi realizado um experimento conduzido, durante 150 dias, em casa de vegetação, cujo delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso com arranjo fatorial 6 x (3+1) (6 espécies arbóreas,  3 materiais orgânicos e 1 controle), com 4 repetições, perfazendo um total de 96 parcelas experimentais. Sendo as espécies aroeira (Astronium fraxinifolium), eucalipto (Eucalyptus citriodora), ipê roxo (Tabebuia impetiginosa), leucena (Leucena leucocephala), nim (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), sabiá (Mimosa caesalpinaefolia). O material orgânico composto de esterco bovino, esterco ovino e esterco de aves e um controle representado pelo estéril. Avaliou-se altura, diâmetro do caule, produção de matéria seca na planta. tanto o controle como os tratamentos com adição de esterco, responderam positivamente. Economicamente é mais viável o uso do controle. As espécies arbóreas mais recomendadas são: Nim, Leucena, Aroeira e Ipê-roxo

Social network analysis applied to knowledge creation and transfer in the portuguese agricultural R&D field: an exploratory study

Paper presented at the 9th European Conference on Knowledge Management, Southampton Solent University, Southampton, UK, 4-5 Sep. 2008. URL: http://academic-conferences.org/eckm/eckm2008/eckm08-home.htmThere is growing interest in the nature and scale of scientific collaboration regarding the processes involved with knowledge creation and sharing. One of the possible approaches to developing metrics for this area of research is based on the idea that co-authorship creates a social network of researchers. We present an exploratory study using a social network approach to examine the structure and pattern of knowledge creation and sharing within a Portuguese research community, working in the agricultural field, over the last seven years. The members of this community are with the Instituto Nacional da Investigação Agrária (INIA) which recently became part of a newly created R&D State Laboratory, Instituto Nacional dos Recursos Biológicos (INRB), under the umbrella of the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture Rural Development and Fisheries. The social network analysis used data from an information system containing the results from all the scientific activities developed in the last seven years by the research community working in INIA. The information system was the major result of AGRO 444 - Development of an Information System for Knowledge and Innovation Discovery and Diffusion in the Agro-Rural Sector, a project funded by Measure 8.1 of Programa AGRO, one of the policy instruments of “3º Quadro Comunitário de Apoio” (Third European Framework Aid to Portugal, 2000-2006). From this data, a knowledge network was developed based on co-authorship patterns extracted from the information system, covering the period 2000-2006. This knowledge network supported the analysis of specific paths through which knowledge sharing occurred and by which knowledge capital was nurtured within the agricultural R&D activities of this institution. The present exploratory study is concerned with the creation and evolution of the network at the biggest research unit within INIA, the Estação Agronómica Nacional (EAN). Here, there are over 140 actors developing research activities in the following sub-domains: natural resources and environment; crops protection; eco-physiology, genetic resources and breeding; production technology; post-harvest technology; and agricultural economics, sociology and development. The study seeks to understand the evolutionary process and to analyse the network structure, showing how knowledge creation and transfer takes place within this unit. The identification of such networked co-authorship relationships may suggest ways to more effectively utilize knowledge capital and other resources. It is also expected that this approach could be used to analyse the remaining six INIA units

A Novel Hybrid Methodology Applied Optimization Energy Consumption in Homogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

A wireless sensor network’s lifetime is influenced directly by the sensors power management that composes the network. The models applied to the problem aims to optimize the energy usage managing the sensors activation in time intervals, activating only the minimum number of sensors respecting the coverage and connectivity restrictions. However, this problem’s class has a significant computational complexity and many applications. It is necessary to implement methodologies to find the optimal solution, increasing the network’s size, becoming closer to the real ones. This research’s objective is to present a method based on a Partition Heuristic aggregating the Generate and Solve method, improving the results, and increasing the network’s instances size, while maintaining the flexibility and reliability when applied to the homogeneous wireless sensors networks with coverage and connectivity restrictions

Well-being at work in the Portuguese financial sector: the good, the bad and the others. A cross-sectional case-control study

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences observed among employees with high scores (cases) and low scores (non-cases) on mental health related with workplace bullying, burnout, social support, sense of coherence and presenteeism. A cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of 1114 employees of a national financial enterprise with CAWI data collection mode. An anonymous web questionnaire was applied to evaluate the effects of socio-demographic characteristics, workplace bullying, burnout, social support, sense of coherence and presenteeism on well-being at work. The well-being scale cut-off was used to compare the groups with and without well-being. Using a case-control methodology, chi-square tests were performed in order to estimate bivariate odds-ratios and logistic regression models were used to estimate multivariate odds-ratios. About 32% (n=353) of the employees completed the survey. Negative well-being overall prevalence was 40,7% (n=144) and was strongly associated with high emotional exhaustion (MBI), low scores of sense of coherence dimension manageability and overall social support. High levels of presenteeism completed work dimension were also associated with high levels of well-being. There was no association with workplace bullying even though it had a high prevalence (54%). Those associations were independent from socio-demographic characteristics. Emotional exhaustion seems to be the most important factor associated with well-being loss since sense of coherence manageability appears to have a protective effect. Workplace bullying needs further investigation to clarify its role on well-being loss because other relations can be present but not be captured by the methodological approach used. Employers and occupational physicians should be aware of the possible effects of burnout on well-being loss, of the effect of well-being loss on productivity decrease due to presenteeism and also of the sense of coherence protective effects in order to develop appropriate preventive measures.N/

Photodynamic Therapy: A Novel Ally for Surgical Endodontic Treatment? Case Report

Introduction: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a powerful tool for conventionalendodontic treatment, capable of eradicating microorganisms present in endodontic infections.Despite this, the use of PDT in the surgical endodontic treatment is not well-known.Case Report: This paper describes the case of a patient with asymptomatic apical periodontitisin a mandibular incisor submitted to surgical endodontic treatment associated with PDT. Afterconventional procedures, photosensitizer methylene blue (0.01%) was applied to the retrogradecavity for 3 minutes, followed by irradiation with diode laser (100 mW and 660 nm) for 3minutes. Six months after the procedure, the patient was asymptomatic, and the radiographicexamination showed healthy periradicular tissues.Conclusion: The association of PDT with surgical endodontic treatment was effective, suggestingthat this therapy may provide additional benefits to patients when compared to the conventionalsurgical technique

A methodological approach to potential vegetation modeling using GIS techniques and phytosociological expert-knowledge: application to mainland Portugal

An attempt to obtain a consistent spatial model of natural potential vegetation (NPV) for the mainland Portuguese territory is reported. Spatial modeling procedures performed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment, aimed to operationalize phytosociological expert-knowledge about the putative distribution of potential zona1 forest communities dominam in the Portuguese continental territories. The paradigm for NPV assumed was that of RIVAS-MARTINE(1Z9 76) and RIVAS-MARTINEeZt al. (1999), which presupposes, for a given territory, a univocal correspondence between a uniform combination of bioclimatic stage and lithology' gi ven a biogeographical context, and a unique successional sequence leading to a single climax community (i. e. a vegetation series (VS)). Information issued from both literature and a team of phytosociologists possessing detailed knowledge about Portuguese vegetation, namely about forests and its seria1 vegetation, was acknowledged as a starting point for the construction of such a habitat-vegetation correspondence model. First, a bioclimatic map concerning the "Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System" (WBCS) of RIVAS-MARTINE(1Z9 81 -2004), obtained by multivariate grostatistical interpolation issuing from the work of MESQUITA(2 005), was set. Severa1 partia1 matrices, one for each biogeographical Province, combined such habitat statements to VS. Initial incoherence due to vagueness of statements led to an important amount of both superimposition of VS and habitat gaps in the matrices. Further rearrangement of the table according to known field distribution of VS by experts allowed setting an approximate univocal correspondence VS-habitat. Finally, an intersection of bioclimatic, lithology and biogeographic maps yielded over a thousand habitat combinations to be associated each to a single VS through implementation of the matrices as a set of rules. Again, inconsistencies were solved likewise, but this time by direct observation of the map by experts. Keeping of phytosociological consistency and fidelity to information on actual vegetation field distribution was always mandatory during the proces

Pode o etiltrinexapac estimular o crescimento de mudas de eucalipto?

Plant growth regulators and herbicides can act and modify several metabolic processes in plants. The use of sub-lethal doses of those compounds might modulate the development and growth of plants, an effect known as hormesis. Recent studies reported the stimulatory responses of sub-lethal doses of trinexapac-ethyl on the biomass accumulation and leaf area expansion of eucalypt plants. To date, there is no recommendation regarding promoting or inhibitory doses of such compounds for eucalypt production industry. Thus, this work aims to investigate the effect of trinexapac-ethyl on the establishment and initial growth of Eucalyptus urograndis seedlings. Trinexapacethyl was applied at doses varying 15 to 90 g (plus a control treatment) per hectare of active ingredient (g a.i. ha-1) in two application methods: spraying and root immersion. The doses of 15 g a.i. ha-1 through spraying and the 30 g a.i. ha-1 in root immersion resulted in a positive effect on the growth of Eucalyptus urograndis Clone GG100. Total dry biomass increased by 74.6% and 12.8%, respectively, compared to control plants. The spraying of 15 to 90 g a.i. ha-1 of trinexapax-ethyl resulted in a stimulatory effect on the growth of eucalyptus. The doses of 15 and 30 g a.i. ha-1 via root immersion provided a positive effect on the all evaluated characteristics of eucalyptus. The dose of 90 g a.i. ha-1 resulted in an inhibitory effect on eucalyptus growth through root immersion at 35 days after the trinexapac-ethyl applicationReguladores vegetais e herbicidas atuam e modificam diversos processos metabólicos nas plantas. A aplicação de doses sub-letais destes compostos pode ser utilizada de modo a modular o desenvolvimento e o crescimento das plantas, um efeito denominado homesis. Múltiplos estudos tem relatado o efeito promotor de doses sub-letais de etil-trinexapac no acúmulo de biomassa e na expansão da área foliar de plantas de eucalipto. Até o presente momento, não há recomendação acerca de doses promotoras e/ou inibidoras de processos metabólicos para a cultura do eucalipto. Desta forma, este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar o efeito de doses crescentes de etil-trinexapac no estabelecimento e crescimento inicial de mudas de Eucalyptus urograndis. Etil-trinexapac foi aplicado em doses de 15 à 90 g de ingrediente ativo por hectare (g i.a. ha-1) em duas modalidades através da pulverização ou da imersão das raízes em solução. As doses de 15 g i.a. ha-1 via pulverização, e 30 g i.a. ha-1 via imersão de raízes, resultaram em efeito positivo no crescimento no clone GG100 de Eucalptus urograndis, com acréscimos de, respectivamente, 74,6% e 12,8% na massa seca total, em relação à testemunha. As doses de 15 à 90 g i.a. ha-1 via pulverização resultaram em efeito estimulatório no crescimento do eucalipto. As doses de 15 e 30 g i.a. ha-1, na modalidade imersão das raízes, proporcionaram efeito positivo nas características avaliadas do eucalipto. A dose de 90 g i.a. ha-1 apresentou efeito inibitório ao crescimento do eucalipto na modalidade imersão das raízes, aos 35 dias após a aplicação de etil-trinexapac

Potencial de uso de espécies arbóreas de uma floresta secundária em Lages, Santa Catarina

This study aimed at quantifying and listing the species potentially useful in a secondary forest in the municipality of Lages, SC. The study was carried out in a forest fragment using 25 plots of 400 m2 allocated in a systematic stratified way. All trees with DBH (diameter at breast height) ≥ 5 cm were measured and identifi ed. In addition, the species that were not sampled in the plots were identified during random walks in the fragment in order to complement the floristic list. The species potential usage was obtained by means of bibliographic consultation and personal observations. Eighty-seven species distributed into 36 botanic families were found. The species with the highest number of individuals were Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) Kuntze (198), for several applications, such as timber and food, and Myrcia splendens (Sw.) DC. (159), which can be potentially used in urban arborization and in the restoration of degraded lands. The results showed that the secondary forest fragment has species with potential for timber (31%) and non timber use (69%).O presente estudo teve como objetivo listar e quantificar as espécies que apresentam potencial de uso em uma floresta secundária no município de Lages, SC. O estudo foi realizado em um fragmento florestal amostrado por meio de 25 parcelas de 400 m2 distribuídas de forma estratificada-sistemática. Todos os indivíduos arbóreos dentro das parcelas com DAP (diâmetro medido a altura do peito) ≥ 5 cm foram identificados. Além disso, para complementar a lista florística, foi feito caminhamentos aleatórios no fragmento e identificadas espécies arbóreas não encontradas dentro das parcelas. O potencial de uso das espécies foi avaliado por meio de consulta em bibliografias e observações pessoais. Foram encontradas 87 espécies, distribuídas em 36 famílias botânicas. As espécies de maior número de indivíduos foram Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) Kuntze (198), de diversos usos, em que os principais são o madeireiro e na alimentação, e Myrcia splendens (Sw.) DC. (159), com principais usos na arborização urbana e na recuperação de áreas degradadas. Os resultados demonstram que o fragmento secundário estudado possui espécies com potencial para fornecerem produtos madeireiros (31%) e não madeireiros (69%)

A methodological approach to potential vegetation modeling using GIS techniques and phytosociological expert-knowledge: application to mainland Portugal

An attempt to obtain a consistent spatial model of natural potential vegetation (NPV) for the mainland Portuguese territory is reported. Spatial modeling procedures performed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment, aimed to operationalize phytosociological expert-knowledge about the putative distribution of potential zona1 forest communities dominant in the Portuguese continental territories. The paradigm for NPV assumed was that of RIVAS-MARTINEZ (1976) and RIVAS-MARTINEZ et al. (1999), which presupposes, for a given territory, a univocal correspondence between a uniform combination of bioclimatic stage and lithology given a biogeographical context, and a unique successional sequence leading to a single climax community (i. e. a vegetation series (VS))