Biomares, a LIFE project to restore and manage the biodiversity of Prof. Luiz Saldanha Marine Park

The Marine Park Prof. Luiz Saldanha, in the coast of Arrabida, is the first marine park in continental Portugal. This area is a Nature 2000 site and is considered to be a hotspot for European marine biodiversity. In 2005, the management plan of the park was implemented, ending several habitat menaces, thereby allowing an application to the LIFE-NATURE Programme. The LIFE-BIOMARES project aimed at the restoration and management of the biodiversity of the marine park through several actions. The restoration of the seagrass prairies that were completely destroyed by fishing activities and recreational boating, was one of the most challenging. It included the transplanting of seagrasses from donor populations and the germination of seagrass seeds for posterior plantation to maintain genetic diversity in the transplanted area. One of the most popular actions was the implementation of environmental friendly moorings to integrate recreational use of the area with environmental protection. Several dissemination and environmental education actions concerning the marine park and the project took place and contributed to the public increase of the park acceptance. The seabed habitats were mapped along the park and a surrounding area to 100 m depth in order to create a habitat cartography of the park and to help locate alternative fishing zones. Biodiversity assessments for macrofauna revealed seasonal variations and an effect of the protection status. Preliminary results are presented and show that the marine park regulations are having a positive effect on biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries, thereby showing that these kind of conservation projects are important to disseminate coastal conservation best practices. The Biomares project is a model project that can be followed in the implementation of marine reserves and the establishment of the Natura 2000 marine network.

Comparison of small remotely operated vehicles and diver-operated video of circalittoral benthos

Underwater video transect methods using small remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and diveroperated video (DOV) are commonly used in benthic biodiversity assessments. Constraints posed by deeper waters have made surveys of the circalittoral zone ([30 m depth), a particularly challenging problem. Here we compare benthic diversity metrics and cluster analyses obtained with ROV and DOV between 45 and 65 m depth off southwest Iberia, across local (tens to hundreds of meters) and regional scales (tens of kilometers). Results showed no difference between methods in terms of the benthic species richness, taxonomic distinctness, and beta diversity, but only minor differences in the spatial structure depicted at the regional level. At the local scale, DOV performed better at discriminating patterns likely because of the divers visual acuity. We found that small ROV and DOV are reliable and comparable methods for the study of circalittoral benthic assemblages and can be used in a complimentary way to detect the greatest amount of variation in benthic ecosystems. Our study facilitates the understanding of capabilities and limitations of two underwater video methods and provides important insight into choice of the most appropriate technique.

Comenda

Definição do que era um comenda, patamar de rendimento e composição deste tipo de recurso. Analisa-se ainda de que forma eram concedidas e inventariam-se as comendas atlânticas.

Impact of Public Debt on Economic Growth in Advanced Economies

This paper examines the impact of public debt on the economic growth in advanced economies over a period of 1946 to 2009, using an econometric approach. The findings suggested an inverse relationship between public debt and economic growth in advanced economies. These relationships were found to be significant as well. Model results also show that the real GDP growth rate does not decline sharply whether the public debt-to-GDP ratio is lower than 220%. The public debt-to-GDP ratio elasticity of the real growth rate shows that an increase of 1% in public debt/GDP category above 120% decreases the real GDP growth rate in 1.13%. The negative effect of public debt is only stronger on the real GDP growth rate in advanced economies when the public debt-to-GDP ratio is above 220%. Finally, these findings lead us to reassess the austerity agenda, and the governments should devise new strategies for public debt management in advanced economies, taking into account their economic and financial performance.

Are Decision Makers Rational in Ambiguous Situations?

This research work analyzes human behavior in complex situations and explains how decisions makers act in ambiguous situations. The objective of this research work is to study the sunk cost effect and the completion percentage effect of an investment project in a decision-making process. This research work uses a “retrospective rationality” approach to justify irrational behaviors such as the sunk cost effect, the completion percentage effect of an investment project and the irrational escalation since decision-makers are repeatedly affected by the decisions on past irreversible investments. This research work evaluates three sunk cost levels, and three completion percentage levels of an investment project, besides three neutral situations in a business environment and a personal decision situation. Graduate students in three Portuguese Management Schools responded to the questionnaires. Model results show that the value of resources invested is crucial for understanding the students’ rational behavior, who participated in this research work. These results disclose statistical evidence that the information on sunk costs and completion percentage of an investment project determines human behavior under irrational escalation in ambiguous situations. As a consequence, decision makers have the opportunity to interpret their decisions, since the scenarios do not allow a unique definition of rational choice, it is not correct to judge the irrational decision makers that decide to continue to invest in ambiguous situations. Keywords: Human Behavior, Sunk costs Effect, Completion Percentage Effect of an Investment Project, Irrational Escalation, Ambiguous Situations.

A controversial debate between financial speculation and changes in agricultural commodity spot prices

Some research works state that speculation with agricultural commodities on the futures market has risen agricultural commodity spot prices. This research work analyzes the causal relationships between spot prices of corn, wheat, and soybean and agricultural commodity futures trading activities. These causal relationships between agricultural commodity spot prices and financial variables are tested for Granger-causality. Model results show that causal relationships have been found among changes in “volume traded” and “open positions” of futures contracts and changes in spot prices for corn. These results do not show that financial speculation might be a major driver of rising agricultural commodity prices.

God is in the detail. Gold, silver and polychromy

The visible polychromy of a wooden sculpture representing St. John the Evangelist, from Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon (Portugal) presents several techniques that complement each other on the creation of a sumptuous estofado. This case-study allowed the survey on gilding, silvering and polychromy practices, and observations on their execution are briefly reported and documented with results from a multi-analytical approach. Examination included digital photomicrography and the observation of micro-samples cross-sections, while material identification resorted to several analytical methods that included scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

A prática musical nos mosteiros femininos na segunda metade do século XVIII e princípios do XIX: obras de compositores portugueses e italianos no mosteiro de S. Bento de Cástris (Évora) e no convento da Avé Maria (Porto)

O presente artigo comprova a presença de repertório italianizante nos mosteiros e conventos femininos portugueses no final do século XVIII e inícios do século XIX.Foi analisada particularmente a documentação do mosteiro cisterciense de S. Bento de Cástris (Évora) e do convento beneditino da Avé-Maria (Porto), permitindo elencar compositores e obras, acrescentando novas informações acerca da praxis musical das religiosas no período referido.

Calcium sulfate fillers and binders in Portuguese 15th and 16th centuries: Ground layers from a family painting workshop — Study by multianalytical spectroscopic techniques

This study presents results on a developed methodology to characterize ground layers in Portuguese workshops. In this work a set of altarpieces of the 15th and 16th centuries, assigned to Coimbra painting workshop was studied, overall the masters Vicente Gil (doc. Coimbra 1498–1525), Manuel Vicente (doc. Coimbra 1521–1530) and Bernardo Manuel (act. c. 1559–94), father, son and grandson, encompassing from late gothic to mannerist periods. The aim of the study is to compare ground layers, fillers and binders of Coimbra workshop, and to correlate their characteristics to understand the technical evolution of this family of painters, using complementary microscopic techniques. The cross-sections from the groups of paintings were examined by optical microscopy and the results were integrated through the analysis obtained by μ-X–ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X–ray Spectrometry, μ-confocal Raman and occasionally with μ-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy imaging. Ground layers are of calcium sulfate, present as gesso grosso (mainly anhydrite with small amounts of gypsum) in the first and last phases of the workshop and gesso mate (mainly gypsum with small amounts of anhydrite) in an intermediate period. Binders have protein and oleic characteristics.

Diário de campo do agente comunitário de saúde: relato de experiência

Trata-se de um relato de experiência sobre o uso do Diário de Campo do Agente Comunitário de Saúde (ACS), em uma equipe de saúde da família do município de Serro/MG. O uso do Diário foi instituído em meados de 2005 como forma de registro das atividades realizadas pelos ACS durante suas visitas domiciliares. Foram registradas todas as visitas realizadas, bem como as atividades e orientações prestadas, também observações particulares do profissional. Ao longo do tempo foi observada uma nova função para o Diário: ser uma via de comunicação entre o enfermeiro e o ACS. Foram revisados 25 Diários de seis ACSs, dos anos de 2009 e 2010 e retirados os relatos que melhor demonstrassem essa nova característica do instrumento. Observou-se que o uso permite o conhecimento das práticas e opiniões dos ACSs, bem como evidenciou particularidades da comunidade e dos usuários que possivelmente passariam distante do enfoque da equipe. Sugere-se uma análise mais aprofundada dos relatos para maior compreensão dos significados das crenças, símbolos e práticas populares evidenciados, visando um entendimento maior da comunidade assistida.

Proposta de intervenção para melhoria da abordagem às condições crônicas na equipe de Saúde na Família Dona Santinha do Vale do Jequitinhonha / MG

A unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS) Dona Santinha está localizada no Distrito de Milho Verde, município de Serro, no Vale do Jequitinhonha em Minas Gerais. Durante muito tempo, a equipe de saúde da unidade não conseguiu dar a atenção necessária às condições crônicas de saúde à população, como diabetes e hipertensão, por isso encontramos poucos pacientes cadastrados com essas condições dentro de uma grande população adscrita, além de alguns sujeitos descompensados de ponto de vista de sua patologia. Esse trabalho tem por objetivo elaborar um projeto de Intervenção para melhoria da abordagem aos doentes crônicos da área de abrangência da equipe de saúde da UBS Dona Santinha. Para o desenvolvimento do trabalho fez-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura acessando a base de dados da BIREME (Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde - BVS: http://www.bireme.br), e MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) no período de 2010 a 2015, cruzando os descritores: "Equipe de Saúde, Doenças Crônicas, Hipertensão, Diabetes"., assim o método de planejamento estratégico situacional foi utilizado para elaboração do plano de intervenção. Para esse último foram identificados os "nós críticos", são eles: Hábitos e Estilos de Vida, Acolhimento e Agendamento na UBS, Gestão e Processo de Trabalho. Foram organizamos as informações de forma esquemática, correlacionando o "nó crítico" com sua respectiva operação/projeto, os produtos pretendidos, os resultados esperados e, por fim, os recursos que serão necessários para elaborar cada operação. O nó crítico Falta do Acolhimento e Agendamento do Atendimento desenvolveu-se com a seguinte operação: Efetivar o acolhimento e estabelecer uma agenda para o médico, dentista e enfermeiro. O Nó crítico Gestão de Saúde / Processo de Trabalho tem como operação: Organizar o Processo de Trabalho nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde, evitando sobrecarga de alguns profissionais. Protocolos da Atenção Primária a Saúde (gestante, hipertenso, diabético, tuberculose, hanseníase, etc.). O nó crítico Hábitos e Estilo de Vida visa a Modificação dos hábitos e estilo de vida da população. A melhoria a abordagem às doença crônicas da população acompanhada pela equipe da UBS Dona Santinha diminui a morbidade associada a essas doenças, melhora a qualidade de vida dessas pessoas e pode aumentar suas sobrevidas