International Year of Soils 2015: oportunity to promote an integrated administration of soils in Portugal?

Resumo: Neste trabalho assinala-se o retrocesso da administração do recurso solo em Portugal ao longo dos últimos 40 anos, em contraponto com a evolução recente a nível europeu (Estratégia Temática para a Protecção do Solo) e a nível global (Parceria Global para o Solo, Dia Mundial do Solo e Ano Internacional dos Solos 2015, AIS-2015). Aproveitando o impulso internacional neste domínio apresenta-se a Parceria Portuguesa para o Solo (PPS), como mais uma iniciativa que procura inverter o processo de regressão e de dispersão de esforços na administração dos solos do país. Correspondendo aos objectivos estratégicos da PPS, também apresentados, propõem-se e justificam-se sumariamente duas acções a mais curto prazo: a harmonização da cartografia de solos do país à escala 1:250.000 ou 1:500.000 e a constituição de um Sistema Nacional de Informação de Solos (SNIS). A Carta Mundial dos Solos, revista em 2015, insta os governos nacionais a desenvolverem uma política nacional do solo, um sistema nacional de informação de solos e uma estrutura institucional para monitorizar os recursos do solo. O AIS-2015 representa uma oportunidade excepcional para despoletar a implementação de uma política (integrada) do solo em Portugal e de um SNIS como ferramenta pivô para essa política. ---------- Abstract: In this work it is pointed out the recession of the administration of soil resources in Portugal in the last 40 years, as opposed to the recent development actions at European level (Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection) and at global level (Global Soil Partnership, World Soil Day and International Year of Soils 2015, IYS-2015). Taking advantage of the international momentum in this field it is presented the Portuguese Soil Partnership (PtSP) as an initiative that aims to reverse the process of regression and the dispersion of efforts in the national administration of the soils. Accordingly with the PtSP's strategic objectives, also presented, two short-term actions are proposed: the harmonization of the country's soil maps at 1: 250,000 or 1: 500,000 scale, and the establishment of a National Soil Information System (NSIS). The World Soil Charter, revised in 2015, strongly recommends that national governments develop a national land policy, a national land information system and an institutional framework to monitor soil resources. The IYS-2015 would be an exceptional opportunity to trigger the implementation of an (integrated) soil policy in Portugal and a NSIS as a pivot tool for this policy

Potential and challenges for using neuroscientific tools in strategic management studies

Purpose The purpose of this study is to understand how neuroscientific tools are used and discussed in ongoing research on strategy in organizations. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a bibliometric study of bibliographic pairing to answer the research question. They collected data from the Web of Science and Scopus databases using the keywords “neuroscience*,” “neurostrategy*” and “neuroscientific*.” Findings This study presents a framework that relates fundamental aspects discussed in current research using neuroscientific tools: Neuroscience and its research tools in organizations; emotions and information processing; interdisciplinary application of neuroscientific tools; and moral and ethical influences in the leaders' decision-making process. Research limitations/implications The inclusion of neuroscientific tools in Strategic Management research is still under development. There are criticisms and challenges related to the limitations and potential to support future research. Practical implications Despite recognizing the potential of neuroscientific tools in the mind and brain relationship, this study suggests that at this stage, because of criticisms and challenges, they should be used as support and in addition to other traditional research techniques to assess constructs and mechanisms related to strategic decisions and choices in organizations. Social implications Neuroscientific methods in organizational studies can provide insights into individual reactions to ethical issues and raise challenging normative questions about the nature of moral responsibility, autonomy, intention and free will, offering multiple perspectives in the field of business ethics. Originality/value In addition to presenting the potential and challenges of using scientific tools in strategic management studies, this study helps create methodological paths for studies in strategic management

Comparative Study of Methods for Estimating Evapotranspiration Reference in ParanaAba City, Brazil

This study aimed to was evaluating the performance of 30 methods to estimate reference evapotranspiration ET0 to the city of Parana ba Brazil The meteorological data was removed from National Institute of Meteorology on the period of six year March 2008 to February 2014 The method taken as standard was Penman-Monteith-FAO56 and the comparison of results was by the coefficients of determination r coefficients a and b of the linear regressions estimate of standard-error Willmott s index of agreement d Pearson correlation coefficient r and reliable coefficient c The better methods to ET0 estimate was Penman-Original Stephens-Stewart Priestley-Taylor Hicks-Hess Turc Liquid-Radiation Thornthwaite-Modified Temperature-Radiation Penman-FAO24 Abtew and Camargo The Camargo method should be preferred when only air temperatures data have The methods Blaney-Criddle-FAO24 and Hamon should receive calibration for be utilized on the estimate of ET0 in Parana ba cit

Introdução à Análise de Movimento usando Visão Computacional

Pretende-se com este trabalho fazer uma introdução ao que tem vindo a ser realizado no domínio do seguimento e análise de movimento recorrendo a visão computacional.Assim no primeiro capítulo deste relatório faremos referência aos vários tipos de movimento e analisaremos as fases que compõem um sistema comum de captura e análise de movimento, descrevendo sucintamente alguns trabalhos realizados nesta área.Seguidamente, no segundo capítulo, faremos uma apresentação mais detalhada da área do seguimento e análise de movimento humano de corpo inteiro; nomeadamente, no reconhecimento da pose e do reconhecimento do andar e de gestos.Finalmente, no terceiro e último capítulo, daremos ênfase à análise de imagem médica e exemplificaremos, sumariamente, algumas das suas aplicações.With this work we intend to introduce what has been done in the domain of tracking and motion analysis by using computational vision.Therefore in the first chapter of this report we will refer the various types of motion, and analyse the steps that compose a general system of movement capture and analysis, by succinctly describing some works done in this field.Then, in the second chapter we will do a more detailed study about the area of human entire body tracking and motion analysis; namely, in pose recognition and in the recognition of gait and gestures.Finally, in the third and last chapter, emphasis will be given to the medical images analysis and we will summarily exemplify some of its applications

The RNA-binding protein, ZFP36L2, influences ovulation and oocyte maturation

ZFP36L2 protein destabilizes AU-rich element-containing transcripts and has been implicated in female fertility. In the C57BL/6NTac mouse, a mutation in Zfp36l2 that results in the decreased expression of a form of ZFP36L2 in which the 29 N-terminal amino acid residues have been deleted, ΔN-ZFP36L2, leads to fertilized eggs that arrest at the two-cell stage. Interestingly, homozygous ΔN-Zfp36l2 females in the C57BL/6NTac strain release 40% fewer eggs than the WT littermates (Ramos et al., 2004), suggesting an additional defect in ovulation and/or oocyte maturation. Curiously, the same ΔN-Zfp36l2 mutation into the SV129 strain resulted in anovulation, prompting us to investigate a potential problem in ovulation and oocyte maturation. Remarkably, only 20% of ΔN-Zfp36l2 oocytes in the 129S6/SvEvTac strain matured ex vivo, suggesting a defect on the oocyte meiotic maturation process. Treatment of ΔN-Zfp36l2 oocytes with a PKA inhibitor partially rescued the meiotic arrested oocytes. Furthermore, cAMP levels were increased in ΔN-Zfp36l2 oocytes, linking the cAMP/PKA pathway and ΔN-Zfp36l2 with meiotic arrest. Since ovulation and oocyte maturation are both triggered by LHR signaling, the downstream pathway was investigated. Adenylyl cyclase activity was increased in ΔN-Zfp36l2 ovaries only upon LH stimulation. Moreover, we discovered that ZFP36L2 interacts with the 3′UTR of LHR mRNA and that decreased expression levels of Zfp36l2 correlates with higher levels of LHR mRNA in synchronized ovaries. Furthermore, overexpression of ZFP36L2 decreases the endogenous expression of LHR mRNA in a cell line. Therefore, we propose that lack of the physiological down regulation of LHR mRNA levels by ZFP36L2 in the ovaries is associated with anovulation and oocyte meiotic arrest.Fil: Ball, Christopher B.. University of North Carolina; Estados UnidosFil: Rodriguez, Karina F.. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Stumpo, Deborah J.. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Ribeiro Neto, Fernando. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Korach, Kenneth S.. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Blackshear, Perry J.. University of Duke; Estados Unidos. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Birnbaumer, Lutz. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ramos, Silvia B. V.. University of North Carolina; Estados Unido

Rehabilitation of patients after COVID-19 recovery: An experience at the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute and Lucy Montoro Rehabilitation Institute

OBJECTIVES: As patients recovering from the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present with physical, respiratory, cognitive, nutritional, and swallowing-related impairments and mental health complications, their rehabilitation needs are complex. This study aimed to describe the demographic, clinical, and functional status after the discharge of COVID-19 survivors who underwent intensive multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation at the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Institute of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School General Hospital and Lucy Montoro Rehabilitation Institute. We determined the most important factors related to the length of inpatient rehabilitation treatment and present the functional outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective study based on electronic medical records. In addition to the severity of COVID-19 and length of hospital stay for the management of COVID-19 and comorbidities, we collected sociodemographic data including age, sex, height, and weight. Functional assessments were performed using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM); Short Physical Performance Battery; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; Revised Impact of Events Scale; bioelectrical impedance; Functional Oral Intake Scale; oropharyngeal dysphagia classification; and nutritional assessment. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in FIM before and after inpatient rehabilitation treatment (p<0.0001). Muscle strength and walking capacity were significantly improved (p<0.01). The most important factors related to the length of inpatient rehabilitation treatment were improvement in FIM scores (Spearman's r=0.71) and gain in lean mass (Spearman's r=0.79). CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation of patients after COVID-19 recovery improves their functional status and should be considered in the post-acute phase for selected patients with COVID-19

DISPONIBILIDADE HÍDRICA EM CONDIÇÕES DE REGULARIZAÇÃO DE VAZÃO

Os reservatórios de regularização de vazão apresentam-se como uma importante técnica para otimização do uso da água em uma bacia hidrográfica, uma vez que armazena água nos períodos de excedente hídrico para uso nos períodos de escassez, permitindo, desse modo, que a disponibilidade hídrica aproxime-se da potencial da bacia. No Estado de Minas Gerais, a vazão máxima outorgável em cursos d’água regularizados é expressa pela Qmld menos 50% da Q7,10, enquanto que em condições naturais o limite máximo outorgável corresponde a 50% da Q7,10. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho objetivou analisar as variações na disponibilidade hídrica ocasionadas pela consideração da vazão permissível para outorga para condições de regularização em relação ao critério a fio d’água, sendo para isso apresentado um estudo de caso para a bacia do Paracatu. Para isso, foi estimada, para cada trecho da hidrografia, a relação Qmld/Q7,10 e a diferença percentual entre os critérios utilizados no estado para concessão de outorga com e sem a presença de estruturas de regularização. Os valores obtidos para a relação Qmld/Q7,10 variaram de 3,7 a 10,0, e o incremento de disponibilidade de 531 a 1795%, resultado que reforça a potencialidade dos reservatórios no aproveitamento do uso da água

Levels and characteristics of utilitarian walking in the central areas of the cities of Bologna and Porto

Walking is a mode of transport that offers many environmental and health benefits. Utilitarian walking refers to walking trips undertaken to fulfil routine purposes. The aim of this paper is to examine the extent to which walking is used as a transport mode for short urban trips in the city centers of Bologna and Porto and the barriers preventing utilitarian walking. Based on a questionnaire (n = 1117) administered in the two cities, results indicated that 21% of the individuals travel by foot, while 47% combine walking with other modes. This means that 68% of the daily trips to these city centers involve walking activity. From the overall trips, 84% were made to reach work and school/university. Statistical tests showed that utilitarian walkers were more likely to be females (p < 0.001) and undergraduates (p < 0.001). People from Bologna were more likely to engage in utilitarian walking than people from Porto (p < 0.001). Travel distance and time were the main barriers preventing people from engaging in utilitarian walking. The findings described in this paper provide a better understanding of utilitarian walking in the central areas of both cities, which can guide policies to promote healthier lifestyles and sustainable mobility.This research was funded by the JPI Urban Europe, FCT—PT (ENSUF/0004/2016), MIUR-I, FFG—A and RPF—C