New Construction and Reconstruction: Impact on Growth of Sub-Regions of Mainland Portugal

Based on a panel made up of 28 sub-regions (NUT III) of mainland Portugal for the period 1995-2006, we show that building reconstruction has a positive impact on the economic growth of sub-regions of mainland Portugal, whereas the effect of new construction seems to be of negligible importance. The empirical evidence obtained in this study lets us make suggestions on urban policy for countries in general, and for Portugal in particular, namely to concentrate on reconstruction rather than new buildings.construction of new buildings, dynamic panel estimators, economic growth, reconstruction of buildings, sub-regions

What said the neoclassical and endogenous growth theories about Portugal?

The aim of this paper is to present a further contribution, with panel data, to the analysis of absolute convergence ( and ), associated with the neoclassical theory, and conditional, associated with endogenous growth theory, of the sectoral productivity at regional level. Presenting some empirical evidence of absolute convergence of productivity for each of the economic sectors in each of the regions of mainland Portugal (NUTS III) in the period from 1995 to 1999. They are also presented empirical evidence of conditional convergence of productivity, for each of the economic sectors of the NUTS II of Portugal, from 1995 to 1999. The structural variables used in the analysis of conditional convergence is the ratio of capital/output, the flow of goods/output and location ratio. This study analyses, also, through cross-section estimation methods, the influence of spatial effects and human capital in the conditional productivity convergence in the economic sectors of NUTs III of mainland Portugal between 1995 and 2002. This study analyses, yet, through cross-section estimation methods, the influence of spatial effects in the conditional product convergence in the parishes’ economies of mainland Portugal between 1991 and 2001. The conclusions depend of the period and of the method used.convergence; spatial econometrics; Portuguese regions

CONVERSION to ORGANIC FARMING in MAINLAND PORTUGAL

The objectives of the research were: i) to assess the in-conversion period as a barrier impeding farms conversion to organic; ii) to assess the potential of conversion-grade markets in removing this barrier; iii) to identify other barriers (drives) along the food chain impeding (easing) farms conversion in mainland Portugal. Results show that the in-conversion period is not the major barrier to conversion nor is a good idea the set-up of conversion grade markets to help Portuguese farms’ conversion. Conversion feasibility depends of the organic market premium prices, in intensive farms, and of the CAP organic agri-environmental area payments, in extensive farms.organic farming, conversion, conversion grade markets, market premium prices, CAP payments.

Geomorphological units of mainland Portugal

São representadas cartograficamente as unidades geomorfológicas identificadas para os 89015 km2 do território de Portugal Continental. A delimitação das unidades teve por base a análise dos padrões da textura fornecida por imagens SRTM, com revisão e adaptação posterior à altimetria e à geologia, para os quais foram usadas bases cartográficas digitais. Foram considerados três níveis taxionómicos que permitem descrever e caracterizar áreas homogéneas do ponto de vista geomorfológico. As três unidades de 1º nível baseiam-se nas unidades morfostruturais clássicas consideradas para a Península Ibérica. As dez unidades de 2º nível constituem, na sua maioria, divisões clássicas do relevo de Portugal Continental, agora agrupadas de acordo com a metodologia adoptada e designadas como unidades morfosculturais. As 56 unidades de 3º nível, ou subunidades morfosculturais, foram individualizadas com base nos padrões de relevo identifi cados nas imagens SRTM e na observação de campo e adquiriram uma designação baseada essencialmente nas geoformas que as individualizam e na toponímia local. As unidades geomorfológicas identificadas são descritas através de características do relevo, dissecação fluvial, estruturas, tipo de drenagem e base geológica, bem como de parâmetros numéricos gerados de forma automática, como classes de altitude e de declividade. Pretende-se que o mapa elaborado possa contribuir para a gestão territorial, em especial na tomada de decisões em conservação da natureza.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT); CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) (Brasil

First Report of 13 Species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Mainland Portugal and Azores by Morphological and Molecular Characterization

The genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) contains important vectors of animal and human diseases, including bluetongue, African horse sickness and filariosis. A major outbreak of bluetongue occurred in mainland Portugal in 2004, forty eight years after the last recorded case. A national Entomological Surveillance Plan was initiated in mainland Portugal, Azores and the Madeira archipelagos in 2005 in order to better understand the disease and facilitate policy decisions. During the survey, the most prevalent Culicoides species in mainland Portugal was C. imicola (75.3%) and species belonging to the Obsoletus group (6.5%). The latter were the most prevalent in Azores archipelago, accounting for 96.7% of the total species identified. The Obsoletus group was further characterized by multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction to species level showing that only two species of this group were present: C. obsoletus sensu strictu (69.6%) and C. scoticus (30.4%). Nine species of Culicoides were detected for the first time in mainland Portugal: C. alazanicus, C. bahrainensis, C. deltus, C. lupicaris, C. picturatus, C. santonicus, C. semimaculatus, C. simulator and C. subfagineus. In the Azores, C. newsteadi and C. circumscriptus were identified for the first time from some islands, and bluetongue vectors belonging to the Obsoletus group (C. obsoletus and C. scoticus) were found to be widespread

Matching CO2 large point sources and potential geological storage sites in mainland Portugal

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente, Perfil Gestão e Sistemas AmbientaisFossil fuel combustion is the major source of the increasing atmospheric concentration of carbone dioxide (CO2) since the pre-industrial period. Combustion systems like power plants, cement, iron and steel production plants and refineries are the main stationary sources of CO2 emissions. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in one of the main climate change mitigation measures. Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is one of the possible mitigation measures. The objective of this study was to analyze the hypothesis for the implementation of CCS systems in mainland Portugal based on source-sink matching. The CO2 large point sources (LPS) considered in mainland Portugal were the largest installations included in the Phase II of the European Emissions Trading Scheme with the highest CO2 emissions, representing about 90% of the total CO2 emissions of the Trading Scheme, verified in 2007. The potential geological storage locations considered were the geological formations formerly identified in existing studies. After the mapping of LPS and potential geological sinks of mainland Portugal, an analysis based on the proximity of the sources and storage sites was performed. From this it was possible to conclude that a large number of LPS are within or near the potential storage areas. An attempt of estimating costs of implementing a CCS system in mainland Portugal was also performed, considering the identified LPS and storage areas. This cost estimate was a very rough exercise but can allow an order of magnitude of the costs of implementing a CCS system in mainland Portugal. Preliminary results suggest that at present CCS systems are not economically interesting in Portugal, but this may change with increasing costs of energy and emission permits. The present lack of information regarding geological storage sites is an important limitation for the assessment of implementing a CCS system in mainland Portugal. Further detailed studies are required, starting with the characterisation of geological sites and the candidate sources to CCS, from technical aspects to environmental and economical factors

Critical raw materials deposits map of mainland Portugal: new mineral intelligence in cartographic form

ABSTRACT: Reliable and unhindered access to raw materials is a growing concern within the EU and across the globe and the demand for Critical Raw Materials (CRM) plays a crucial economic role in most developed countries around the world. These are of extreme importance for supply chains regarding new technologies, sustainability issues and carbon footprint reduction. The definition of a continuously updated list of CRM by the European Commission led to the first CRM Map of Europe in 2016. Following this, several countries have been surveying, preparing, and evaluating their mineral occurrences to create a resources/deposits database and, therefore, to create a CRM map of their own. With this purpose in mind, we present and explain the first Critical Raw Materials Deposits Map of mainland Portugal, at 1:700,000 scale. This paper describes the scientific, technical, and graphical methodologies involved in its design.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Opportunities for large-scale energy storage in geological formations in mainland Portugal

This article presents the methodology and results of the first screening conducted in Portugal to identify geological formations suitable for large-scale storage of energy from renewable sources. The screening focused on the identification of adequate porous media rocks, salt formations and igneous host rocks that could act as reservoirs for gas (hydrogen or methane) storage, Compressed Air Energy Storage, Underground Pumped Hydro and Underground Thermal Energy Storage. Public access geological information was collected, compiled in a database and spatially referenced in a GIS environment. The GIS and database were cross-checked with criteria for selecting geological reservoirs and with existing or anticipated spatial, environmental and social constraints. In a third step the feasibility of deploying each large-scale energy storage technology in each prospective reservoir was assessed and classified according to confidence, ranging from unlikely to proven, and to proximity to areas with wind or solar energy potential, accessibility to power transmission lines and natural gas networks. The outcome is a first screening of priority sites to be studied at the local scale in future projects. Early target for detailed studies are the existing salt caverns and an abandoned salt mine in the Lusitanian Basin. Natural gas storage in salt formations is being carried in the region for decades, proving the adequacy of the salt formations and demonstrating the social acceptance. Porous media aquifers in the same Lusitanian basin may also hold an interesting potential, although there is considerable uncertainty due to the scarcity of geological data about deep aquifers. The Sines industrial cluster, in SW Portugal, is another interesting target area, due to the existence of a host rock with proven containment capacity. The technologies with the best potential for application in the Portuguese geologic context seem to be CAES and Underground Gas Storage linked to Power-to-gas projects

results of a temporal data analysis of a thirteen‐year study (2005–2017)

Background: Studies of drug utilization in patients with diabetes, a chronic disease that can be treated with a wide range of available medicines, have attracted substantial social and clinical interest. Objective: To characterize antidiabetic medicine consumption between 2005 and 2017, to evaluate the trends of these medicines in mainland Portugal, and to compare district consumption. An additional objective was to perform a statistical analysis on drug consumption in different regions of Portugal. Methods: A descriptive, longitudinal observational study; the setting was mainland Portugal (excluding Azores and Madeira). Each medicine has a respective defined daily dose (DDD). The sum of the DDD, provides the annual consumption in terms of the DDD for each district each year. When calculating the annual average for the resident district population and the number of days in a year, the denominator is expressed as 1000 inhabitants per day (TID). Main outcome measure: The DDD/TID for mainland Portugal (for all districts) between 2005 and 2017 for antidiabetic medicines. Information was obtained from the official database of prescription medicine invoices with reimbursement in mainland Portugal. Results: In mainland Portugal, the antidiabetic medicine consumption was 49.3 DDD/TID in 2005 and 88.2 DDD/TID in 2017. The consumption of insulins and their analogs increased from 10.8% to 17.4% compared to the total consumption of antidiabetic medicines. In 2017, the level of biguanide consumption was 23.1 DDD/TID, that of sulphonylurea consumption was 15.8 DDD/TID, that of DPP-4 inhibitor consumption was 6.8 DDD/TID, and that of SGLT2 inhibitor consumption was 3.0 DDD/TID. The oral consumption of fixed-dose combinations reached 21.4 DDD/TID. After employing a geographical division between north and south and between coastal and inland regions, the consumption of several different drugs showed statistically significant differences. Conclusions: When comparing 2017 with 2005, the panorama was quite different, with higher levels of consumption of antidiabetic medicines, insulins and their analogs, noninsulin medicines, long-acting and fast-acting insulins and their analogs, metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors and, mainly, metformin combined with a DPP-4 inhibitor. The SGLT2 inhibitors achieved a representative consumption. Different consumption patterns may be related to sociodemographic factors or to clinical practices.publishersversionpublishe

The efficiency of the dairy sector in mainland Portugal

A two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach is employed to analyse the efficiency of dairy farms in mainland Portugal. The data are a 2010 sample from the European Commission Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) of 271 Portuguese mainland dairy farms. In the first stage, a directional input distance function and DEA are used to generate overall inefficiency measures and decompose them for each farm. In the second stage, the inefficiency measures are regressed on environmentaland/or organizational factors to explain efficiency differentials. Despite environmental and/or organizational differences, results indicate that most dairy farms in mainland Portugal can reduce costs by improving allocative efficiency and pure technical efficiency