Análise da secção F. Cidades e Comunidades Sustentáveis realizada pelo Grupo de Trabalho Cidades e Comunidades Sustentáveis

Em muitos países, as universidades ou mais genericamente, as Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES), estão a assumir um papel cada vez mais ativo no desenvolvimento sustentável de uma região, contribuindo para a qualidade de vida e o bem-estar das comunidades, agregando valor aos processos de desenvolvimento regional, difundindo o conhecimento e a inovação regional ( GUNI Network , 2020 ). O papel tradicional das IES como criadoras e disseminadoras de conhecimento está a mudar, adotando gradualmente modelos colaborativos de envolvimento cívico e participação da sociedade para apoiar as comunidades a enfrentar os diversos desafios societais e globais da sustentabilidade (EUA, 2014). De uma forma geral, este é um processo de cocriação que, idealmente, tira partido da colaboração e partilha de conhecimento entre vários atores regionais envolvendo a academia, indústria, autoridades públicas e os cidadãos/comunidade. Na prática, o papel e a influência que as IES têm sobre o desenvolvimento sustentável das cidades e das comunidades difere de região para região. O tipo de universidade, a realidade económica, as políticas regionais e a capacidade das organizações públicas e privadas locais de absorver e utilizar o conhecimento criado nas universidades, são fatores determinantes que refletem uma diversidade de soluções, processos e abordagens. Foi neste contexto, que o Grupo de Trabalho em Cidades e Comunidades Sustentáveis da Rede Campus Sustentável (RCS) aceitou o desafio de colaborar na elaboração do Inquérito de caracterização do Ensino Superior em Portugal no que diz respeito à sustentabilidade, centrando a sua participação na área de atuação, efetuando o levantamento e o estudo de soluções inovadoras e de exemplos de boas práticas sustentáveis que estão a ser implementadas de forma colaborativa na interação entre o Campus e as Cidades ou Comunidades. Qual o papel das Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) na sustentabilidade urbana? Que projetos promovidos pelas IES se dirigem à comunidade local e promovem uma sociedade mais sustentável? Como fortalecer esta interação de forma colaborativa, na interação entre o Campus e as Cidades ou Comunidades. O estudo que se segue, corresponde à análise da seção F - Cidades e Comunidades Sustentáveis, um dos 11 temas do Inquérito realizado às Instituições de Ensino Superior Portuguesas promovida pela RCS, Portugal. De forma a manter o compromisso de confidencialidade assumido com as Instituições participantes, o reporte dos resultados da análise do inquérito aqui apresentado, vai ser disponibilizado de forma anonimizada e por isso sem a comparação direta entre IES participantes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sequencing of E2 and NS5A regions of HCV genotype 3a in Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease throughout the world. The NS5A and E2 proteins of HCV genotype 1 were reported to inhibit the double-stranded (ds) RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), which is involved in the cellular antiviral response induced by interferon (IFN). The response to IFN therapy is quite different between genotypes, with response rates among patients infected with types 2 and 3 that are two-three-fold higher than in patients infected with type 1. Interestingly, a significant percentage of HCV genotype 3-infected patients do not respond to treatment at all. The aim of this paper was to analyse the sequences of fragments of the E2 and NS5A regions from 33 outpatients infected with genotype 3a, including patients that have responded (SVR) or not responded (NR) to treatment. HCV RNA was extracted and amplified with specific primers for the NS5A and E2 regions and the PCR products were then sequenced. The sequences obtained covered amino acids (aa) 636-708 in E2 and in NS5A [including the IFN sensitivity determining region (ISDR), PKR-binding domain and extended V3 region)]. In the E2 and NS5A regions, we did observe aa changes among patients, but these changes were not statistically significant between the SVR and NR groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that the ISDR domain is not predictive of treatment success in patients infected with HCV genotype 3a.publishersversionpublishe

Remote Monitoring of Energy-autonomous Constructed Wetlands

Constructed Wetlands systems (CW) are nature-based and sustainable technology for treating wastewater, contributing to the management and protection of freshwater resources. Moreover, CW can contribute to valorizing waste materials, producing reclaimed water for diverse applications, and producing plant biomass that can be material and energetically valorized. Because CW efficiency depends on several mechanisms such as physical, chemical, and biological, its real-time monitoring is essential to provide a better use of this technology. This work describes a smart framework for monitoring CW based on IoT devices and sensors, and data science tools providing real-time processing of gathered water quality parameters and environmental variables. Furthermore, the framework manages renewable energy sources to provide the required energy for CW operation and monitoring. Data collected from the sensor network show significant daily variations in water quality parameters. The future processing of these data can provide the development of models to improve the efficiency of the CW.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Smart monitoring of constructed wetlands to improve efficiency and water quality

The Smart monitoring of constructed wetlands to improve efficiency and water quality (SmarterCW) project aims to monitor biological wastewater treatment processes by gathering continuous data from remote water and environmental sensors. The acquired data can be processed and analysed through data science tools to better understand the complex and coupled phenomena underneath wastewater treatment, as well as, to monitor and optimize the system performance. The results will improve the efficiency and control of nature-based wastewater treatment technologies. The methodology comprises the following tasks and activities: Implementation of a set of electrochemical sensors in the input and output flow streams of pilot-scale constructed wetlands; Acquisition of water quality parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, and ionic compounds; Acquisition of environmental parameters, such as temperature and humidity; Application of data analysis tools to design and optimize conceptual models to correlate pollutants removal with operative parameters in green technologies for wastewater treatment. This methodology was applied to a patent-protected pilot-scale modular constructed wetland in which filling media consists of a mixture of solid waste. The system is complemented by a high-level IoT communication layer structure to support remote real-time water and environmental monitoring, system performance, and data dissemination. The project contributes to: Water and Environment through the efficient management and use of water resources and waste reduction, management, treatment, and valorisation; Materials and raw-materials through efficient, secure, and sustainable use of resources; and Environmental Education promoting environmental awareness and best environmental practices through the dissemination of scientific data and results using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools and IoT platforms. The project also contributes to giving response to Societal Challenges, such as Environment protection, sustainable management of natural resources, water, biodiversity, and ecosystems; Enabling the transition to a green society and economy through eco-innovation.info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersio

Study of the requirements of an autonomous system for surface water quality monitoring

In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the preservation, protection and sustainable use of natural resources. Water resources, being one of the most important natural resources, face major threats due to contamination by pollutants of various types and origins. Maintaining the quality of water resources requires more robust, reliable and more frequent monitoring than traditional techniques of data collection based on sporadic, discontinuous and manual processes. The management of large geographical areas, the insufficient spatiotemporal discretization of the values of samples collected by traditional processes and the unpredictability of natural phenomena, require a new approach to data collection procedures. This article, which is the result of ongoing research, defines the technical requirements and technologies used in a continuous and regular monitoring of surface water quality in freshwater systems, whose data acquisition system helps to identify the sources of pollution and the contaminants flow along the waterways. The design of a versatile real-time water quality monitoring system, which, due to its environmental constraints should be based on renewable energies and wireless transfer of energy, will contribute to improve the management and effective protection of water resources.This work was supported by Centro2020, Portugal 2020 and European Union (EU) under the grants, CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-024052E – Libélula: Mobile robotic surface water quality monitoring system.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O papel da inovação tecnológica e da ciência aberta no desenvolvimento sustentável das cidades e regiões – Um caso prático

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Global relationships in tree functional traits

Due to massive energetic investments in woody support structures, trees are subject to unique physiological, mechanical, and ecological pressures not experienced by herbaceous plants. Despite a wealth of studies exploring trait relationships across the entire plant kingdom, the dominant traits underpinning these unique aspects of tree form and function remain unclear. Here, by considering 18 functional traits, encompassing leaf, seed, bark, wood, crown, and root characteristics, we quantify the multidimensional relationships in tree trait expression. We find that nearly half of trait variation is captured by two axes: one reflecting leaf economics, the other reflecting tree size and competition for light. Yet these orthogonal axes reveal strong environmental convergence, exhibiting correlated responses to temperature, moisture, and elevation. By subsequently exploring multidimensional trait relationships, we show that the full dimensionality of trait space is captured by eight distinct clusters, each reflecting a unique aspect of tree form and function. Collectively, this work identifies a core set of traits needed to quantify global patterns in functional biodiversity, and it contributes to our fundamental understanding of the functioning of forests worldwide.Environmental Biolog

Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are grounded in the global ambition of “leaving no one behind”. Understanding today’s gains and gaps for the health-related SDGs is essential for decision makers as they aim to improve the health of populations. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016), we measured 37 of the 50 health-related SDG indicators over the period 1990–2016 for 188 countries, and then on the basis of these past trends, we projected indicators to 2030

Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

As mortality rates decline, life expectancy increases, and populations age, non-fatal outcomes of diseases and injuries are becoming a larger component of the global burden of disease. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016) provides a comprehensive assessment of prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 328 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2016