Percursos a integrar numa rede de corredores verdes para a Ria de Aveiro: um exercício de planeamento

Pretende-se com este artigo apresentar um contributo para a definição de uma rede de corredores verdes para a zona costeira e lagunar da Ria de Aveiro, como resultado de um exercício de planeamento e ordenamento realizado ao longo dos últimos dois anos e para o qual contribuiram diversos trabalhos realizados pela equipa de Planeamento e Gestão da Zona Costeira, do Departamento de Ambiente e Ordenamento da Universidade de Aveiro. Os vários cais de acostagem existentes ao longo das margens da Ria, potenciam o usufruto deste recurso enquanto espaço previlegiado de lazer e recreio, sendo também por essa razão uma área particularmente interessante para investigar novas metodologias de intervenção ao nível da gestão integrada das zonas costeiras e lagunares e também das estruturas ecológias e fluviais, elementos base na fundamentação de criação de uma Rede de Corredores Verdes de nível regional, sejam eles pedonais, cicláveis ou mesmo fluviais

Typing of Egyptian Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates based on the capsid protein gene

The capsid protein gene of three Egyptian CTV isolates from two locations was amplified by immunocapture RT-PCR and analysed by single stranded conformation polymorphism and sequencing. The CTV isolates studied did not differ significantly in sequence composition and each isolate consisted of very similar haplotypes. Comparison with reference sequences from isolates elsewhere in the world showed that these haplotypes clustered very close to the severe strain T3 from Florida causing quick decline and stem pitting. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence showed the epitope characteristic of reactivity with the MCA13 antibody. Sequence comparison with the sequence of an Egyptian isolate (Qaha) available in the Genbank showed a distance of about 8%, suggesting that it had a different origin

Adaptação e validação da Eustress Scale para professores portugueses

Teachers´ stress has been widely studied, but the focus has been predominantly in dysfunctional aspects. Several studies point out that stress can be a positive psychological response to a stressor, referred as eustress (Campbell‑‑Quick, Cooper, Nelson, Quick, & Gavin, 2003; Simmons & Nelson, 2001; Simmons, Nelson, & Quick, 2003).A sample of 496 Portuguese teachers was evaluated and the main aim of the study was to adapt and validate the eustress scale developed by O'Sullivan (2011) for Portuguese teachers.The results show that this scale has adequate psychometric properties with a high value of internal consistency (α = .93), similar to the results of a previous independent sample (Fonseca & Jordão, 2011). The factor that resulted from the exploratory factor analysis explains 78,87% of the total variance.More studies should be conducted to validate the eustress scale, in teachers and also the general Portuguese population, to examine, in particular, the stability of this scale.O stress dos professores tem sido largamente estudado, mas, o seu enfoque tem sido predominantemente direcionado para a sua vertente disfuncional. Contudo, diversos estudos indicam que o stress pode apresentar‑‑se como uma resposta psicológica positiva a um stressor, designando‑‑se de eustress (Campbell‑‑Quick, Cooper, Nelson, & Gavin, 2003; Simmons & Nelson, 2001; Simmons, Nelson, & Quick, 2003).Este estudo foi realizado numa amostra de 496 professores e teve como principal objetivo adaptar e validar a eustress scale, desenvolvida por O’Sullivan (2011), para professores portugueses.Os resultados evidenciam que a escala possui qualidades psicométricas adequadas, com um valor elevado de consistência interna (α = .93), semelhante ao encontrado anteriormente com uma amostra independente (Fonseca & Jordão, 2011). O fator resultante da análise fatorial exploratória explica 78,87% da variância total.Mais estudos devem ser realizados para validar a escala de eustress, nos professores e para a população portuguesa em geral, analisando, nomeadamente, a estabilidade da escala

Effects of soil drying and subsequent re-watering on the activity of nitrate reductase in roots and leaves of Helianthus annuus

The effects of drought on the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) were studied in Helianthus annuus L. plants subjected to soil drying and subsequent rewatering. Drought did not negatively affect the activation state of NR, but resulted in linearly correlated decreases in the activity of the unphosphorilated active form and the total activity of NR, both in roots and leaves. The concentration of nitrate in roots, xylem and leaves also decreased in waterstressed plants, whereas the concentration of total amino acids was only transiently depressed at the leaf level. In contrast, soluble sugars accumulated both in roots and leaves of waterstressed plants. Drought-induced decrease in root NR activity was correlated with the observed changes in root nitrate concentration. A higher percentage of the decrease in foliar NR activity could be explained by the decline in nitrate flux to the leaves than by leaf nitrate content. Following rewatering, the extent of recovery of NR activity was higher in roots than in leaves. The delay in the recovery of foliar NR activity did not result from the persistence of reduced flux of nitrate through the xylem. Several hypotheses to explain the after-effect of soil drying on foliar NR activity are discussed

Anatase as an alternative application for preventing biodeterioration of mortars: evaluation and comparison with other biocides

International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 64(2010)388 e 396The aim of this study is the comparison between different treatments(anatase and two conventional biocides:Biotin T and Anios)for preventing biodeterioration of mortars.The treatments were applied both in the laboratory on mortar slabs and in situ on walls of Palácio Nacional da Pena(Sintra,Portugal). Mortar slabs treated with anatase (pure and Fe3þ doped)applied as acoating or by mixing within the mortar were prepared,and their surfaces characterized by different methodologies.The mortars were inoculated with cyanobacteria and chlorophyta species,incubated for a period of 4 months and the chlorophyll content quantified by extraction method and fluorescence emission.For comparison purposes untreated mortar slabs were inoculated,incubated and finally treated with the biocides.After two weeks the respective chlorophyll contents was quantified. In situ studies in two external walls of Palácio Nacional da Pena covered by organisms were also performed by direct application of aqueous solutions of the three products,and the efficiency of the treatment monitored by spectrophotometry using the CIELAB method.Lichens and other phototrophic microorganisms were identified by direct observation with a microscope and cyanobacteria,green microalgae, bacteria and fungi by DNA-based molecular analysis targeting the 16S and 18S ribosomal RNAgenes. The results show that anatase is a better agent for preventing biodeterioration than the two tested conventional biocides,both in mortars slabsand in situ studies.In fact,photographic and colorimetric records made in two external walls of Palácio Nacional da Pena after two weeks of treatments application showed that lichens and other phototrophic microorganisms disappear from the places where anatase was applied

Certificação da formação profissional nos Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento de Almada

Mestrado em Gestão de Recursos HumanosEste projeto teve como objetivo a revisão do processo formativo dos Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento (SMAS) de Almada, com vista à preparação da sua certificação.Esta certificação implica a implementação de um sistema de gestão garante de melhoria contínua desta importante vertente da gestão de recursos humanos, com vista à obtenção do máximo benefício para a organização e para os trabalhadores e, por inerência, para o serviço público e sociedade.Metodologicamente o projeto passou por uma revisão bibliográfica relacionada com o tema da formação e desenvolvimento profissional, enquanto ferramenta de gestão estratégica de pessoas, com impacto positivo nos ativos intangíveis e no desempenho das organizações e na sociedade, com o intuito de sublinhar a importância do seu investimento, para a generalidade das organizações, onde se incluem as que compõem a função pública, que consideramos terem, nesta como em outras matérias, responsabilidade social acrescida. Foi realizado um estudo documental acerca do processo existente na organização com vista à identificação dos aspetos que cumprem as exigências do referencial de certificação e propondo alterações relativamente àqueles que estavam em incumprimento.Paralelamente, esperamos que a realização deste trabalho possa contribuir para o reforço da credibilidade e valorização da atividade formativa nos SMAS de Almada.This project aimed a review of the formative process of the Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento (SMAS) in Almada, in order to prepare it’s certification. This certification implies the implementation of a management system that guarantees the continuous improvement of this important aspect of human resources management, in order to obtain the maximum benefit for the organization and it’s workers and, inherently, for the public service and society.Methodologically, the project underwent a bibliographic review related to the topic of professional training and development, as a tool for strategic people management, with a positive impact on intangible assets and the performance of organizations and society, in order to underline the importance of their investment, for most organizations, including those that make up the civil service, which we consider to have, in this as in other matters, increased social responsibility. A documentary study was carried about the existing process in the organization, with the goal of identifying the aspects that meet the requirements of the certification framework and proposing changes regarding those that don’t. At the same time, we hope that this work can contribute to reinforcing the credibility and valorization of the training activity at SMAS Almada.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Interaction between water and nutrient deficiencies in helianthus annuus

The physiological response of plants to water deficits are known to vary according to the conditions of application of drought stress and the rate of development of leaf water deficits. At the whole plant level the effect of the water shess is usually perceived as a decrease in photosynthesis and growth, and is associated with alterations in C and N metabolism (McDonald and Davies, 1996). The decrease in water potential affects transpiration and hence xylem transport of nitrate or reduced N into growing regions. The response of the photo-synthetic apparatus either to water stress or rehydration seems to be dependent "on leaf age (O'Neill, 1983; Wolfe et al., 1988). Degradation of both thylakoid and stromal N-containing compounds can occur in response to water stress, recovery from which may pequire more than a week (Chaves, 1991)