Investigating fishers' preferences for the design of marine payments for environmental services schemes

We determine the effects of various management restrictions on adoption rates of marine Payments for Environmental Services (PES) schemes. Choice experiments are used in order to determine how fisher participation rates change under different marine PES programme designs. Various designs, with differing restriction rates, show different rates of adoption. However, fishers show a high utility loss associated with any move away from the current management situation, irrespective of restriction levels. This indicates that PES scheme costs may be high and creating an enabling environment could be important to reducing perceived losses, as could investment into conditional in-kind compensation mechanisms. The paper also shows choice experiments to be a useful tool in marine PES design

Delimitação de zonas inundáveis entre Belver e Vila Nova da Barquinha

Só está disponível o resumo.Delimitação de zonas inundáveis entre Belver e Vila Nova da Barquinha

The challenge of Automatic Level Generation for platform videogames based on Stories and Quests

In this article we bring the concepts of narrativism and ludology to automatic level generation for platform videogames. The initial motivation is to understand how this genre has been used as a storytelling medium. Based on a narrative theory of games, the differences among several titles have been identified. In addition, we propose a set of abstraction layers to describe the content of a quest-based story in the particular context of videogames. Regarding automatic level generation for platform videogames, we observed that the existing approaches are directed to lower abstraction concepts such as avatar movements without a particular context or meaning. This leads us to the challenge of automatically creating more contextualized levels rather than only a set of consistent and playable entertaining tasks. With that in mind, a set of higher level design patterns are presented and their potential usages are envisioned and discussed

O Sistema de gestão de responsabilidade social no Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre: metodologia, programas e resultados

O Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre (IPP) elegeu como eixo estratégico o desenvolvimento sustentável, em que um dos pilares foi a implementação do Sistema de Gestão de Responsabilidade Social (SGRS), culminando em 2011 com a certificação pela norma de referência NP 4469-1:2008, sendo a primeira instituição de ensino superior portuguesa a consegui-lo. O método utilizado baseia-se na estrutura implementada, no desenvolvimento do SGRS e nos resultados obtidos através dos programas de responsabilidade social (RS). O Sistema assenta nas preocupações sociais definidas, nos princípios, valores, objetivos e na política da qualidade e RS do IPP, suportado por um grupo de melhoria contínua transversal a todo o instituto, com diversas áreas de atuação e responsáveis de cada um dos programas de RS. Existe uma monitorização regular, auditorias internas e externas e uma reflexão crítica anual ao SGRS. Dos resultados do SGRS, no contexto deste estudo de caso, destacam-se um incremento da satisfação das partes interessadas, o reforço do contributo dos colaboradores, uma melhoria dos níveis de integração dos estudantes, um aumento dos níveis de confiança e notoriedade. Concluindo, o IPP tem, atualmente, maior capacidade de resposta interna e externa, corresponde ao princípio de subsidiariedade e reforçou a sustentabilidade e a afirmação regional. Palavras-chave: Gestão de instituições de ensino superior; Responsabilidade Social; Certificação; Gestão da performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Talla de madurez y relación peso-talla del tiburón de profundidad Etmopterus bigelowi (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) capturado en el sudeste de Brasil

The blurred lantern shark Etmopterus bigelowi, a deep-water squaloid shark, is globally widespread in temperate and tropical waters, but there is little available information about its biology owing to its relative rarity of capture and taxonomic confusion with its sibling species Etmopterus pusillus. Specimens used in this study were collected from July to December 2004 as by-catch in the commercial deepwater trawl fishery targeting red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea in the southwestern Atlantic. We examined 55 specimens (22 males and 33 females) ranging in total length (TL) from 31.5 to 73 cm and in total weight from 103 to 1600 g. Length-weight relationships were explored for each sex and significant differences were found in the slope coefficients of the male and female regressions. The size at maturity for each sex was evaluated fitting a logistic regression. Females matured at larger sizes than males, with estimated sizes at first maturity of 56.0 cm TL for females and 45.1 cm TL for males. The present study provides important preliminary information about E. bigelowi that can be incorporated in risk assessment and stock assessment models, essential for efficient management practices aimed at avoiding overexploitation of these vulnerable deep-sea sharks.El tiburón de profundidad Etmopterus bigelowi se distribuye globalmente en aguas templadas y tropicales; sin embargo, hay poca información disponible sobre su biología ya que raramente se captura y existe confusión taxonómica con su especie hermana Etmopterus pusillus. Los ejemplares utilizados en este trabajo se obtuvieron de julio a diciembre de 2004 como captura incidental de la pesca comercial de arrastre de aguas profundas dirigida al camarón rojo Aristaeomorpha foliacea en el Atlántico sudoccidental. Se examinaron 55 ejemplares (22 machos y 33 hembras) de 31.5 a 73 cm de longitud total (LT) y de 103 a 1600 g de peso total. Se analizó la relación peso-talla para ambos sexos, observándose diferencias significativas en las pendientes de las regresiones, tanto de hembras como de machos. La talla de madurez para cada sexo se evaluó ajustando una regresión logística. La talla de primera madurez de las hembras (56.0 cm LT) fue mayor que la de los machos (45.1 cm LT). El presente trabajo aporta información preliminar esencial sobre E. bigelowi que puede ser incorporada en modelos de evaluación de riesgo y evaluación de la población, cruciales para prácticas de gestión dirigidas a evitar la sobreexplotación de estos vulnerables tiburones de aguas profundas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Size at maturity and length-weight relationships of the blurred lantern shark Etmopterus bigelowi (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) caught off southeastern Brazil

The blurred lantern shark Etmopterus bigelowi, a deep-water squaloid shark, is globally widespread in temperate and tropical waters, but there is little available information about its biology owing to its relative rarity of capture and taxonomic confusion with its sibling species Etmopterus pusillus. Specimens used in this study were collected from July to December 2004 as by-catch in the commercial deep-water trawl fishery targeting red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea in the southwestern Atlantic. We examined 55 specimens (22 males and 33 females) ranging in total length (TL) from 31.5 to 73 cm and in total weight from 103 to 1600 g. Length-weight relationships were explored for each sex and significant differences were found in the slope coefficients of the male and female regressions. The size at maturity for each sex was evaluated fitting a logistic regression. Females matured at larger sizes than males, with estimated sizes at first maturity of 56.0 cm TL for females and 45.1 cm TL for males. The present study provides important preliminary information about E. bigelowi that can be incorporated in risk assessment and stock assessment models, essential for efficient management practices aimed at avoiding overexploitation of these vulnerable deep-sea sharks.National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Spatio-temporal distribution and target species in a longline fishery off the southeastern coast of Brazil

No presente estudo, uma análise de agrupamento foi utilizada para classificar 6.486 lances feitos pela frota espinheleira sediada no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, de 1998 até 2006, em relação à composição das espécies presentes nas capturas. Baseado nas proporções de doze espécies e três grupos de espécies, três agrupamentos foram identificados: C1: outros peixes; C2: tubarão-azul; C3: espadarte. Os resultados indicaram que ao longo do período estudado, a frota direcionou suas capturas principalmente para o tubarão-azul e para o espadarte, além de terem evidenciado que a importância do tubarão-azul nessa pescaria tem crescido progressivamente ao longo dos anos. Áreas mais afastadas da costa foram exploradas principalmente no primeiro e quarto trimestres (em especial a partir de 2001), enquanto que um esforço de pesca mais concentrado perto da quebra da plataforma continental foi observado durante o segundo e terceiro trimestres (para todo o período estudado). A frota espinheleira sediada em São Paulo mudou a estratégia de pesca para diferentes espécies-alvo, o que produziu importantes mudanças nas principais espécies capturadas por esforço de pesca (CPUE). A análise de agrupamento parece ter identificado apropriadamente essas alterações ao longo do tempo, em relação às quais não há, em geral, qualquer informação nos mapas de bordo.In the present study, a cluster analysis, in relation to the species composition of the catches, was used to classify 6,486 fishing sets by a longline fleet based in São Paulo State, Brazil, from 1998 to 2006. Based on the proportions of 12 species and three broader species groups, three clusters were identified: C1: other fishes; C2: blue shark; C3: swordfish. Results indicated that the fleet targeted mainly blue shark and swordfish and also showed that the blue shark importance in this fishery has been growing progressively trough the years. Offshore areas were exploited mainly in the first and fourth quarters (from 2001 mainly), while the fishing effort was more concentrated near the continental shelf break, during the second and third quarters (for the whole period). The longline fishery based in Sao Paulo State changed fishing strategy to target different species which produced important changes in catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of the main species caught. Cluster analysis seems to have appropriately identified these changes over time, which is an important information, often missing in logbooks

Plasma Metabolites and Liver Composition of Broilers in Response to Dietary Ulva lactuca with Ulvan Lyase or a Commercial Enzyme Mixture

The effect of a high incorporation level of Ulva lactuca, individually and supplemented with a Carbohydrate-Active enZyme (CAZyme) on broilers’ plasma parameters and liver composition is assessed here. Twenty one-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were randomly assigned to one of four treatments (n = 10): corn/soybean meal based-diet (Control); based-diet with 15% U. lactuca (UL); UL diet with 0.005% of commercial carbohydrase mixture; and UL diet with 0.01% of recombinant ulvan lyase. Supplementing U. lactuca with the recombinant CAZyme slightly compromised broilers’ growth by negatively affecting final body weight and average daily gain. The combination of U. lactuca with ulvan lyase also increased systemic lipemia through an increase in total lipids, triacylglycerols and VLDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001). Moreover, U. lactuca, regardless of the CAZyme supplementation, enhanced hepatic n-3 PUFA (mostly 20:5n-3) with positive decrease in n-6/n-3 ratio. However, broilers fed with U. lactuca with ulvan lyase reduced hepatic a- and -tocopherol concentrations relative to the control. Conversely, the high amount of pigments in macroalga diets led to an increase in hepatic beta-carotene, chlorophylls and total carotenoids. Furthermore, U. lactuca, alone or combined with CAZymes, enhanced hepatic total microminerals, including iron and manganese. Overall, plasma metabolites and liver composition changed favorably in broilers that were fed 15% of U. lactuca, regardless of enzyme supplementationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Toward the Mechanistic Understanding of Enzymatic CO2 Reduction

SFRH/BD/116515/2014 PTDC/BBB-EBB/2723/2014 UID/Multi/04378/2019 grant agreement number 810856Reducing CO2 is a challenging chemical transformation that biology solves easily, with high efficiency and specificity. In particular, formate dehydrogenases are of great interest since they reduce CO2 to formate, a valuable chemical fuel and hydrogen storage compound. The metal-dependent formate dehydrogenases of prokaryotes can show high activity for CO2 reduction. Here, we report an expression system to produce recombinant W/Sec-FdhAB from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough fully loaded with cofactors, its catalytic characterization and crystal structures in oxidized and reduced states. The enzyme has very high activity for CO2 reduction and displays remarkable oxygen stability. The crystal structure of the formate-reduced enzyme shows Sec still coordinating the tungsten, supporting a mechanism of stable metal coordination during catalysis. Comparison of the oxidized and reduced structures shows significant changes close to the active site. The DvFdhAB is an excellent model for studying catalytic CO2 reduction and probing the mechanism of this conversion.publishersversionpublishe

Effect on Broiler Production Performance and Meat Quality of Feeding Ulva lactuca Supplemented with Carbohydrases

Macroalgae have been increasingly exploited worldwide for feed, food and biofuel applications, due to their nutritive and bioactive compounds. Green seaweeds belonging to the genus Ulva have high growth rates, which makes them suitable for being cultured in sustainable algae production, such as an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture system. This is expected to increase the use of Ulva sp. as an alternative source to conventional feedstuffs (e.g., cereals and soybean meal) for poultry. The objective of the current study was to assess if the incorporation of 15% Ulva lactuca in broiler chickens’ diet, combined or not with carbohydrate-active enzymes, would enhance meat nutritional quality without compromising animal growth performance. Overall, U. lactuca led to an accumulation of antioxidant carotenoids, n-3 PUFA and macrominerals, including magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, in the breast muscle, with likely health benefits, without significantly impairing growth performance. The supplementation of macroalgae with a recombinant ulvan lyase reduced ileal viscosity with possible beneficial effects on broiler digestibility. Although dietary U. lactuca showed potential to increase meat quality, it reduced meat overall acceptability, which suggests the use of a lower algae inclusion level to prevent a negative meat sensory perception for consumersinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio