First record of the Mediterranean asteroid Sclerasterias richardi (Perrier in Milne-Edwards 1882) in the Azores Archipelago (NE Atlantic Ocean)

The first occurrence of the Mediterranean fissiparous asteroid Sclerasterias richardi (Perrier in Milne-Edwards 1882) is reported from the Azores based upon dredged material off the south coast of São Miguel Island at 135 m depth. This record represents a considerable expansion of the species’ geographic range, otherwise reported with certainty only from the Mediterranean Sea. S. richardi is capable of producing long-lived planktotrophic larvae with high dispersal potential to reach remote areas such as the Azores. Alternatively, this species is also capable of reproducing asexually through fission, which could insure the maintenance of viable numbers in a stranded population. The presence of S. richardi in Azorean waters and its rarity in an otherwise thoroughly investigated area does not necessarily imply a recent arrival nor a human-mediated introduction, as the depths in consideration (80-700 m) are also the least studied in the archipelago.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The coastal zone management plan of Santa Maria as a chance for fossiliferous outcrops management

The Azores Environment and Sea Agency through its Regional Department of Land Management and Water Resources, together with the Agency of Land Management of the Autonomous Government of The Canary Islands and the Regional Cabinet of Transport and Social Equipment of the Autonomous Government of Madeira carry on the project “Sustainable Management of the Social, Economic and Ecological Development of the coastal areas of Macaronesia within the community initiative INTERREG III B 2000-2006,Açores-Madeira-Canary Islands, which has been designated as LITOSOST. The LITOSOST project aims at achieving land management of a coastal area which focuses on reducing the urban and infra-structural pressure and regenerating, recovering and converting it for public fruition (UNESCO, 1997; Mota et al.,2004; DROTRH/SRAM, 2006; MAOTDR, 2006). The general goal of the project consists on stimulating practices to the sustainable management of the coastal areas of the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands. As specific objectives, the following stand out: to strengthen the cooperation between the Macaronesia authorities; to identify the problems and the common potential of the coastal areas of the islands; to train human resources: Management and Preservation of Resources; to contribute for the improvement of the state of the coastal ecosystems of the EU islands

Políticas para a promoção da eficiência energética nos edifícios da administração pública

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Energias Renováveis – Conversão Elétrica e Utilização SustentávelFace à grande dependência energética externa que carateriza a Europa em geral e Portugal em particular, existe a necessidade de adotar um modelo energético baseado na racionalidade económica. Por essa razão é muito importante o combate ao desperdício e o incentivo à eficiência energética e ao uso de fontes de energia renováveis competitivas. O Plano Nacional de Ação para a Eficiência Energética (PNAEE) constitui-se como um instrumento decisivo para esse objetivo e aponta metas marcadas para os próximos anos de 2016 e 2020. A eficiência energética é uma prioridade europeia que abrange todos os Estados Membros, no sentido de promover a poupança e racionalização dos consumos. O PNAEE é o instrumento que estabelece as metas a cumprir na promoção da racionalização de consumos definindo metas indicativa nacionais, para o consumo de energia primária ou final em várias áreas. O presente trabalho pretende ser um documento caraterizador e orientador para a aplicação de medidas de eficiência energética no setor Estado. Nesta medida foi feita uma análise do Programa de Eficiência Energética na Administração Pública (ECO.AP). Este Programa prevê atingir um aumento de 30% de eficiência energética até 2020, estando consagrado no Plano Nacional de Ação para a Eficiência Energética. No trabalho realizado foi feita uma análise ao ECO.AP numa perspetiva de dinamização a breve prazo. Essa análise reforça a urgência de arrancar com a execução do Programa. O mercado dos serviços energéticos espera por decisões que promovam e dinamizem a implementação de medidas de eficiência energética. O que se procurou demonstrar é a capacidade deste mercado para reanimar a economia e reduzir a nossa dependência energética. Para isso foi também realizado um caso de estudo numa entidade abrangida pelo ECO.AP, onde se demonstra o potencial de poupança. Face à necessidade de dinamizar tanto o mercado das empresas de energia como o dos serviços energéticos, são expressas medidas e estratégias político-económicas para estimular o domínio da eficiência energética em geral e o ECO.AP em particular. São expressos resultados e projeções que visam o estímulo ao financiamento e investimento nesta área de modo a fortalecer a convicção para o potencial da poupança energética enquanto área decisiva para reanimar a criação de emprego e o retorno económico

A case report

Background Minimally invasive alternatives to surgical closure of cardiac perforations are a recognized need, especially in critically ill patients in whom predicted surgical mortality is prohibitive. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an iatrogenic left atrium (LA) puncture closed with a plug-based vascular closure device (VCD). Case summary During a palliative right-sided thoracentesis on a 73-year-old woman, with end-stage heart failure due to rheumatic valvular heart disease, an accidental puncture and insertion of a central venous catheter into an aneurysmatic LA occurred. This complication was successfully managed percutaneously, under transthoracic echocardiographic guidance, after cardiac computed tomography planning, using a plug-based VCD. Discussion This case demonstrates the possible utility of plug-based devices for iatrogenic LA perforation closure, when surgical risk is deemed prohibitive.publishersversionpublishe

The marine fossils from Santa Maria Island. An Historical overview

In the Azores, Santa Maria is the only island with a sedimentary cover in a nine island volcanic system. This southeast most island of the archipelago has a rich fossil record, dated to the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene and to the Pleistocene. Palaeontological investigations on the island started in the late nineteen century. Nevertheless, through the next 150 years, the number of publications and thus the attention given to the fossil record of Santa Maria shows considerable fluctuation over time. From the beginning, the Miocene-Pliocene outcrops, more numerous in the island, focused the attention of the scholars. Recently, however, the interest has shifted to the Pleistocene outcrops. Data obtained from these outcrops has been used extensively in the interpretation and discussion of the Azorean geological genesis and evolution, particularly of Santa Maria, the oldest island of the archipelago. However, its role in the interpretation and discussion of the origin and subsequent evolution of insular marine communities has been meagre. The checklists produced for Santa Maria’s fossiliferous outcrops, account for a large spectrum of represented animal groups. Workers have focused their attention on the molluscs, being the group best represented in the fossil record. Data on other animal groups is still scarce, particularly in case of the Pleistocene outcrops. The fossiliferous beds of Santa Maria are far from being an exhausted matter and further research in the Island should be considered

A review for clinical and interventional cardiologists

persons Copyright © 2023 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an increasingly recognized cause of acute coronary syndrome, especially among young to middle-aged women with few traditional cardiovascular risk factors and low pretest probability for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Diagnosis by invasive coronary angiography is the gold standard and conservative therapy is generally recommended, with percutaneous or surgical revascularization being reserved for cases of clinical instability, high-risk anatomy or as bailout. Unlike atherothrombotic coronary artery disease, strong evidence on optimal medical therapy is scarce, posing unique challenges in cases of pregnancy-associated SCAD. The follow-up strategy is also of major importance, as recurrent SCAD is not infrequent, lifestyle changes and pharmacological therapy should be planned for the long term, and SCAD-associated conditions need to be addressed. This review aims to provide a practical management approach to SCAD patients for both clinical and interventional cardiologists.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

Illustrated checklist of the infralittoral molluscs off Vila Franca do Campo

III Workshop Internacional de Malacologia e de Biologia Marinha, 17-28 de Julho, Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel, Açores.3rd International Workshop of Malacology and Marine Biology, 17-28 July, Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel, Açores.A list of the molluscan species dredged during the 3rd International Workshop of Malacology and Marine Biology is presented. Positive identification has not been possible for a number of taxa. However, almost all species are illustrated so as to provide a practical guide to the species which may occur as beach drift and others which naturally range up into the intertidal. The distribution of the species at the various collecting stations is also presented as a table organized by depth, and identifying where specimens were collected alive or, in the case of bivalves, with both valves attached

Luria lurida (Gastropoda), a new record for the Pleistocene of Santa Maria, Azores

The cypraeid gastropod Luria lurida (Linnaeus, 1758) is reported for the first time from Pleistocene deposits at the Prainha site, on the island of Santa Maria, Azores archipelago