Hierarchical spatial segregation of two Mediterranean vole species: the role of patch‑network structure and matrix composition

According to ecological theory, the coexistence of competitors in patchy environments may be facilitated by hierarchical spatial segregation along axes of environmental variation, but empirical evidence is limited. Cabrera and water voles show a metapopulation-like structure in Mediterranean farmland, where they are known to segregate along space, habitat, and time axes within habitat patches. Here, we assess whether segregation also occurs among and within landscapes, and how this is influenced by patch-network and matrix composition. We surveyed 75 landscapes, each covering 78 ha, where we mapped all habitat patches potentially suitable for Cabrera and water voles, and the area effectively occupied by each species (extent of occupancy). The relatively large water vole tended to be the sole occupant of landscapes with high habitat amount but relatively low patch density (i.e., with a few large patches), and with a predominantly agricultural matrix, whereas landscapes with high patch density (i.e.,many small patches) and low agricultural cover, tended to be occupied exclusively by the small Cabrera vole. The two species tended to co-occur in landscapes with intermediate patch-network and matrix characteristics, though their extents of occurrence were negatively correlated after controlling for environmental effects. In combination with our previous studies on the Cabrera-water vole system, these findings illustrated empirically the occurrence of hierarchical spatial segregation, ranging from withinpatches to among-landscapes. Overall, our study suggests that recognizing the hierarchical nature of spatial segregation patterns and their major environmental drivers should enhance our understanding of species coexistence in patchy environments.

Articulação saúde-escola: a intervenção em contexto comunitário

As perturbações psiquiátricas e os problemas de saúde mental infantojuvenil têm vindo a merecer especial atenção por parte da comunidade científica, não só pelo facto de se estimar que 10 a 20% das crianças apresentem um ou mais problemas de saúde mental, não só por estes valores terem tendência a aumentar, mas também pelo impacto humano e financeiro que acarretam para a sociedade. Em Portugal, o Plano Nacional da Saúde Mental 2007-2016 é categórico ao afirmar a necessidade de promover a saúde mental infantojuvenil junto da população e ao salientar a importância do envolvimento e articulação com outras estruturas comunitárias ligadas à saúde, educação e direito de menores. Este trabalho vai de encontro a estas linhas de orientação, na medida em que procura identificar, desenvolver e implementar diversos aspetos inerentes à vertente comunitária da saúde mental infantojuvenil. Numa primeira fase é realizado um levantamento das reais necessidades da população infantojuvenil do concelho de Odemira e é definida uma rede de articulação entre os serviços de saúde, escolas e outras entidades locais com competência nesta área. De forma a melhorar a prestação dos cuidados e a garantir respostas adequadas às necessidades identificadas, também se procurou o individual desenvolvimento de competências especializadas na área da saúde mental infantojuvenil. Por último, atendendo à importância da implementação atempada de medidas preventivas de determinados fenómenos psicopatológicos, procurou-se treinar e desenvolver a capacidade de sensibilização e reforço de competências de uma bolsa populacional específica: a comunidade escolar. De um modo geral, os resultados obtidos demonstram aplicabilidade na prática clínica dos cuidados, contribuindo para a melhoria dos mesmos. Algumas das estratégias utilizadas constituem-se como ponto de partida para projetos futuros, podendo ser replicadas e adequadas a outros contextos de intervenção; ABSTRACT: LINK HEALTH-SCHOOL: the intervention in the community context Psychiatric disorders and problems of youth mental health have been given special attention by the scientific community, not only because it is estimated that 10-20% of children present one or more mental health problems, not only because these values have tendency to increase, but also the human and financial impact to society. In Portugal, the Mental Health National Plan 2007-2016 is emphatic in affirming the need to promote the mental youth health within the population and to emphasize the importance of the involvement and coordination with other community entities related to health, education and minors rights. This paper follows these guidelines, it tries to identify, develop and implement various aspects related to the Community part of youth health. In the first phase is carried out a survey of the real needs of youth population of the Odemira County and defined a network between health services, schools and other local organizations with expertise in this area. In order to improve the delivery of health care and ensure appropriate responses to the identified needs, also sought the individual development of expertise in the area of youth mental health. Finally, given the value of timely implementation of preventive measures of certain psychopathological phenomena, it sought to train and develop the awareness and skills improvement of a specific population: the school community. In general, the results prove the applicability of the procedures in clinical practice, contributing to a practice improvement. Some of the strategies used are the Foundation for future projects, they can be replicated and adapted to other contexts of intervention.

Traffic Light Using Multiple Wireless Technologies

This paper presents the study and experimental tests for the viability analysis of using multiple wireless technologies in urban traffic light controllers in a Smart City environment. Communication drivers, different types of antennas, data acquisition methods and data processing for monitoring the network are presented. The sensors and actuators modules are connected in a local area network through two distinct low power wireless networks using both 868 MHz and 2.4 GHz frequency bands. All data communications using 868 MHz go through a Moteino. Various tests are made to assess the most advantageous features of each communication type. The experimental results show better range for 868 MHz solutions, whereas the 2.4 GHz presents the advantage of self-regenerating the network and mesh. The different pros and cons of both communication methods are presented.