Livro Vermelho dos Vertebrados de Portugal

Os Livros Vermelhos têm sido reconhecidos, pelas entidades responsáveis pela conservação da natureza, as organizações não-governamentais, a co- munidade científica e os decisores de projectos com incidência no ordena- mento e gestão do território, como elementos de consulta e instrumento de apoio à tomada de decisão de inegável utilidade. Neles se indica o esta- tuto de ameaça das espécies selvagens, de acordo com critérios quantitati- vos para avaliar níveis de risco de extinção e, ainda, informação sobre as populações, causas de ameaça e medidas de conservação. Estes são documentos em permanente actualização, reflectindo cada edição o melhor conhecimento científico disponível, e a sua elaboração deve ser considerada como uma tarefa de interesse público e mobilizadora de todos os que disponham de informação relevante e actualizada para a avaliação do estatuto das diferentes espécies. Um Livro Vermelho é ainda uma chamada de atenção e uma tomada de consciência perante a diminuição da diversidade biológica à escala global. Desde 1500, registou-se a extinção de 92 espécies de peixes, 5 de anfíbios, 22 de répteis, 131 de aves e 87 de mamíferos (Hylton-Taylor 2000). Regularmente, a União Mundial para a Conservação (IUCN) actualiza e alarga a avaliação do risco de extinção à escala mundial a um ainda maior número de espécies. Assim, de acordo com o exercício realizado em 2004 (IUCN 2004a) verifica-se o seguinte: para os mamíferos, a avaliação revela 23% de espécies ameaçadas, correspondente a 20% do total das espécies co- nhecidas; nas aves, a avaliação perfaz a quase totalidade das espécies conhecidas e atinge os 12% de espécies ameaçadas; os répteis avaliados apresentam uma percentagem muito elevada de espécies ameaçadas (61%), muito embora esta percentagem corresponda apenas a 4% do to- tal das espécies conhecidas; os anfíbios ameaçados são cerca de 31% das espécies conhecidas; nos peixes, grupo cuja proporção de avaliações está muito aquém das espécies conhecidas, os resultados revelam 46% de ameaçadas, correspondentes a 3% do total de espécies conhecidas. Nesta edição são listadas as espécies de peixes dulciaquícolas e migradores, anfíbios, répteis, aves e mamíferos que ocorrem em Portugal. Mas este é sobretudo o livro das espécies ameaçadas que enfrentam risco de extinção e a que, por isso, foram atribuídas as categorias de .Vulnerável., .Em Perigo. ou .Criticamente em Perigo.; é também o livro de algumas espécies às quais foi atribuída a categoria de .Quase Ameaçado. e ainda daquelas com .Informação Insuficiente. sobre a sua distribuição, requisitos de habitat, dimensão ou tendência populacional (entre outros aspectos) o que impediu a avaliação do risco de extinção. Atribuído um estatuto, identificam-se ainda os factores de ameaça, devendo estes ser entendidos como os fenómenos ou processos que sendo contí- nuos, esporádicos ou recorrentes, localizados ou generalizados, afectam as populações ou alteram a estrutura ou o funcionamento dos sistemas na- turais em que elas se integram, de um modo que afecta a sua reprodução ou mesmo sobrevivência. Estes factores são alterações das características físicas, químicas ou biológicas dos habitats das espécies ou acções que causam mortalidade intencional ou acidental ou, ainda, a redução do sucesso reprodutor das espécies. Com esta edição, alcançou-se uma meta no processo de avaliação da fau- na de vertebrados de Portugal, remetendo-se para uma segunda etapa a avaliação das espécies de peixes marinhos e estuarinos. Tendo a clara noção da efemeridade da avaliação do risco de extinção suportada pelas condições e conhecimentos de um momento, espera-se que o Livro Vermelho seja um documento periodicamente actualizado. Finalmente, é elevada a expectativa de todos os que participaram na sua elaboração, de que este venha a contribuir decisivamente para um reforço da conservação das espécies ameaçadas em Portugal

Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes.

8 páginas, 4 tablas, 8 figuras.The effect of salinity level and extended exposure to different salinity and flooding conditions on germination patterns of three saltmarsh clonal growth plants (Juncus subulatus, Scirpus litoralis, and S. maritimus) was studied. Seed exposure to extended flooding and saline conditions significantly affected the outcome of the germination process in a different, though predictable, way for each species, after favorable conditions for germination were restored. Tolerance of the germination process was related to the average salinity level measured during the growth/germination season at sites where established individuals of each species dominated the species cover. No relationship was found between salinity tolerance of the germination process and seed response to extended exposure to flooding and salinity conditions. The salinity response was significantly related to the conditions prevailing in the habitats of the respective species during the unfavorable (nongrowth/nongermination) season. Our results indicate that changes in salinity and hydrology while seeds are dormant affect the outcome of the seed-bank response, even when conditions at germination are identical. Because these environmental-history-dependent responses differentially affect seed germination, seedling density, and probably sexual recruitment in the studied and related species, these influences should be considered for wetland restoration and managementFinancial support from the Spanish Ministry of the Environment (MMA, project 05/99) and the Junta de Andalucía (research group 4086)enabled us to carry out the present work.Peer reviewe

Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes.

8 páginas, 4 tablas, 8 figuras.The effect of salinity level and extended exposure to different salinity and flooding conditions on germination patterns of three saltmarsh clonal growth plants (Juncus subulatus, Scirpus litoralis, and S. maritimus) was studied. Seed exposure to extended flooding and saline conditions significantly affected the outcome of the germination process in a different, though predictable, way for each species, after favorable conditions for germination were restored. Tolerance of the germination process was related to the average salinity level measured during the growth/germination season at sites where established individuals of each species dominated the species cover. No relationship was found between salinity tolerance of the germination process and seed response to extended exposure to flooding and salinity conditions. The salinity response was significantly related to the conditions prevailing in the habitats of the respective species during the unfavorable (nongrowth/nongermination) season. Our results indicate that changes in salinity and hydrology while seeds are dormant affect the outcome of the seed-bank response, even when conditions at germination are identical. Because these environmental-history-dependent responses differentially affect seed germination, seedling density, and probably sexual recruitment in the studied and related species, these influences should be considered for wetland restoration and managementFinancial support from the Spanish Ministry of the Environment (MMA, project 05/99) and the Junta de Andalucía (research group 4086)enabled us to carry out the present work.Peer reviewe

Metabolic diagnosis and medical prevention of calcium nephrolithiasis and its systemic manifestations: a consensus statement

Background: Recently published guidelines on the medical management of renal stone disease did not address relevant topics in the field of idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis, which are important also for clinical research. Design: A steering committee identified 27 questions, which were proposed to a faculty of 44 experts in nephrolithiasis and allied fields. A systematic review of the literature was conducted and 5216 potentially relevant articles were selected; from these, 407 articles were deemed to provide useful scientific information. The Faculty, divided into working groups, analysed the relevant literature. Preliminary statements developed by each group were exhaustively discussed in plenary sessions and approved. Results: Statements were developed to inform clinicians on the identification of secondary forms of calcium nephrolithiasis and systemic complications; on the definition of idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis; on the use of urinary tests of crystallization and of surgical observations during stone treatment in the management of these patients; on the identification of patients warranting preventive measures; on the role of fluid and nutritional measures and of drugs to prevent recurrent episodes of stones; and finally, on the cooperation between the urologist and nephrologist in the renal stone patients. Conclusions: This document has addressed idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis from the perspective of a disease that can associate with systemic disorders, emphasizing the interplay needed between urologists and nephrologists. It is complementary to the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology guidelines. Future areas for research are identified

An Integrated TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource to Drive High-Quality Survival Outcome Analytics

For a decade, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program collected clinicopathologic annotation data along with multi-platform molecular profiles of more than 11,000 human tumors across 33 different cancer types. TCGA clinical data contain key features representing the democratized nature of the data collection process. To ensure proper use of this large clinical dataset associated with genomic features, we developed a standardized dataset named the TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource (TCGA-CDR), which includes four major clinical outcome endpoints. In addition to detailing major challenges and statistical limitations encountered during the effort of integrating the acquired clinical data, we present a summary that includes endpoint usage recommendations for each cancer type. These TCGA-CDR findings appear to be consistent with cancer genomics studies independent of the TCGA effort and provide opportunities for investigating cancer biology using clinical correlates at an unprecedented scale. Analysis of clinicopathologic annotations for over 11,000 cancer patients in the TCGA program leads to the generation of TCGA Clinical Data Resource, which provides recommendations of clinical outcome endpoint usage for 33 cancer types

Measurement of the Bs0→J/ψKS0B_s^0\to J/\psi K_S^0 branching fraction

The $B_s^0\to J/\psi K_S^0$ branching fraction is measured in a data sample corresponding to 0.41$fb^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector at the LHC. This channel is sensitive to the penguin contributions affecting the sin2$\beta$ measurement from $B^0\to J/\psi K_S^0$ The time-integrated branching fraction is measured to be $BF(B_s^0\to J/\psi K_S^0)=(1.83\pm0.28)\times10^{-5}$. This is the most precise measurement to date

Measurement of the CP-violating phase \phi s in Bs->J/\psi\pi+\pi- decays

Measurement of the mixing-induced CP-violating phase phi_s in Bs decays is of prime importance in probing new physics. Here 7421 +/- 105 signal events from the dominantly CP-odd final state J/\psi pi+ pi- are selected in 1/fb of pp collision data collected at sqrt{s} = 7 TeV with the LHCb detector. A time-dependent fit to the data yields a value of phi_s=-0.019^{+0.173+0.004}_{-0.174-0.003} rad, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. No evidence of direct CP violation is found.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures; minor revisions on May 23, 201