The state of coral reef ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008

In the past decade, increased awareness regarding the declining condition of U.S. coral reefs has prompted various actions by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Presidential Executive Order 13089 created the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) in 1998 to coordinate federal and state/territorial activities (Clinton, 1998), and the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 provided Congressional funding for activities to conserve these important ecosystems, including mapping, monitoring and assessment projects carried out through the support of NOAA’s CRCP. Numerous collaborations forged among federal agencies and state, local, non-governmental, academic and private partners now support a variety of monitoring activities. This report shares the results of many of these monitoring activities, relying heavily on quantitative, spatially-explicit data that has been collected in the recent past and comparisons with historical data where possible. The success of this effort can be attributed to the dedication of over 270 report contributors who comprised the expert writing teams in the jurisdictions and contributed to the National Level Activities and National Summary chapters. The scope and content of this report are the result of their dedication to this considerable collaborative effort. Ultimately, the goal of this report is to answer the difficult but vital question: what is the condition of U.S. coral reef ecosystems? The report attempts to base a response on the best available science emerging from coral reef ecosystem monitoring programs in 15 jurisdictions across the country. However, few monitoring programs have been in place for longer than a decade, and many have been initiated only within the past two to five years. A few jurisdictions are just beginning to implement monitoring programs and face challenges stemming from a lack of basic habitat maps and other ecosystem data in addition to adequate training, capacity building, and technical support. There is also a general paucity of historical data describing the condition of ecosystem resources before major human impacts occurred, which limits any attempt to present the current conditions within an historical context and contributes to the phenomenon of shifting baselines (Jackson, 1997; Jackson et al., 2001; Pandolfi et al., 2005).

Reproduction and recruitment of white mullet (Mugil curema) to a tropical lagoon (Margarita Island, Venezuela) as revealed by otolith microstructure

The reproductive activity and recruitment of white mullet (Mugil curema) was determined by observations of gonad development and coastal juvenile abundance from March 1992 to July 1993. Adults were collected from commercial catches at three sites in northeastern Venezuelan waters. Spawning time was determined from the observation of macroscopic gonadal stages. Coastal recruitment was determined from fish samples collected biweekly by seining in La Restinga Lagoon, Margarita Island, Venezuela. The examination of daily growth rings on the otoliths of coastal recruits was used to determine their birth date and estimate the period of successful spawning. Fish with mature gonads were present throughout the year but were less frequent between September and January when spawning individuals migrated offshore. In both years, juvenile recruitment to the lagoon was highest between March and June when high densities of 25–35 mm juveniles were observed. Back-calculated hatching-date frequency distributions revealed maximum levels of successful spawning in December–January that were significantly correlated with periods of enhanced upwelling. The relation between the timing of successful spawning and the intensity of coastal recruitment in white mullet was likely due to variations in food availability for first-feeding larvae as well as to variations in the duration of the transport of larvae shoreward as a result of varying current conditions associated with upwelling.

Health care and neoliberalism in Ireland: withholding the gift and corrupting the social contract

The health of a nation tells much about the nature of a social contract between citizen and state. The way that health care is organised, and the degree to which it is equitably accessible, constitutes a manifestation of the effects of moments and events in that country's history. Using four case studies, this thesis uses a historical genealogical approach to explain the evolution of Ireland's particular version of health care provision. The total social fact of the gift relationship, central to all human relations, will be used to form a theoretical and conceptual framework on which to build an analysis of Ireland's health and welfare conditions. Additionally, social contract theory will enable an examination of the role of solidarity in relation to social expectations around health care provision. Through the analysis of these cases, the complex matrix of the influential forces that have shaped current conditions are exposed and revealed, enabling a critical understanding of the extent of acquiescence to the inequitable system that arguably exists. The vulnerability of citizens in need of care to the external and global effects of market forces and neoliberalism, therefore, becomes central to any argument for state-provided health and welfare. The hegemony of such forces can be seen to influence the manner in which the idea of individual self-reliance, in place of collective solidarity, is conceptualised and subsequently infiltrated into a range of aspects of the social world. For example, the particular discourse of the market and of economic concerns succeeds in shaping understandings of responsibilities around central areas of health and welfare. Similarly the 'possessor principle' can be seen to be misplaced within the context of health and social care, but yet has become normalised within this discourse. Within this matrix of complex influencing factors, the welfare state struggles to impose a balance between market values and social values. Responsibilities of the state to support and compensate its citizens for the ills of the market have become devalued, as the core values of classical liberalism have become distorted beyond recognition, leaving instead bare neoliberal concerns. This thesis traces the genealogical origins of this transition within the recent history of Irish health care and thereby reveals the embedding of individualism in place of solidarity, the on going reneging of the social contract and the corruption of the gift relationship.

Can grass biomethane be an economically viable biofuel for the farmer and the consumer?

Farm incomes in Ireland are in decline and many farmers would operate at a loss in the absence of subsidies. Agriculture is responsible for 27% of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions and is the largest contributing sector. Penetration of renewable energy in the heat and transport sectors is falling short of targets, and there is no clear plan for achieving them. The anaerobic digestion of grass to produce biogas or biomethane is put forward as a multifaceted solution, which could help meet energy and emissions targets, reduce dependence on imported energy, and provide additional farm income. This paper addresses the economic viability of such a system. Grass biogas/biomethane fares poorly under the current combined heat and power tariff structure, which is geared toward feedstock that attracts a gate fee. Tariff structures similar to those used in other countries are necessary for the industry to develop. Equally, regulation should be implemented to allow injection of biomethane into the gas grid in Ireland. Blends of natural gas and biomethane can be sold, offering a cost-competitive green fuel. Sale as a renewable transport fuel could allow profitability for the farmer and savings for the consumer, but suffers due to the lack of a market. Under current conditions, the most economically viable outlet for grass biomethane is sale as a renewable heating fuel. The key to competitiveness is the existing natural gas infrastructure that enables distribution of grass biomethane, and the renewable energy targets that allow renewable fuels to compete against each other. © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Care and Management of Ancient Stone Monuments During Environmental Change

Ancient stone monuments (ASMs), such as standing stones and rock art panels, are powerful and iconic expressions of Britain’s rich prehistoric past that have major economic and tourism value. However, ASMs are under pressure due to increasing anthropogenic exposure and changing climatic conditions, which accelerate their rates of disrepair. Although scientific data exists on the integrity of stone monuments, most applies to “built” systems; therefore, additional work specific to ASMs in the countryside is needed to develop better-informed safeguarding strategies. Here, we use Neolithic and Bronze Age rock art panels across Northern England as a case study for delineating ASM management actions required to enhance monument preservation. The state of the rock art is described first, including factors that led to current conditions. Rock art management approaches then are described within the context of future environments, which models suggest to be more dynamic and locally variable. Finally, a Condition Assessment and Risk Evaluation (CARE) scheme is proposed to help prioritise interventions; an example of which is provided based on stone deterioration at Petra in Jordon. We conclude that more focused scientific and behavioural data, specific to deterioration mechanisms, are required for an ASM CARE scheme to be successful.

Micropropagation in elite corck oak trees: a tool for suber production improvement?

Dada a extrema importância económica e ambiental que o montado de sobro tem em Portugal, e dado o declínio deste devido a várias razões (e.g. doença, idade das plantas) é premente desenvolver estratégias de preservação de sobreiros elite e optimizar técnicas para a propagação destes genótipos. No primeiro Capítulo expõe-se uma breve introdução sobre o montado actual e as técnicas actuais de regeneração/propagação do sobreiro. Descreve-se ainda as principais técnicas de preservação e avaliação de estabilidade genética referidas na literatura para sobreiro e outras lenhosas. No Capítulo II é apresentado um estudo de melhoramento das condições actuais de maturação de embriões somáticos de sobreiro com vista a aperfeiçoar o processo de conversão em plantas. Neste capítulo é apresentado um protocolo melhorado em relação ao actual que permite um desenvolvimento dos embriões somáticos dum modo semelhante aos embriões zigóticos em termos de substâncias de reserva. O Capítulo III mostra um estudo efectuado com o objectivo principal de avaliar estabilidade genética durante todo o processo de embriogénese somática. Neste capítulo são apresentados resultados duma análise feita por RAPD em fases distintas da embriogénese somática de sobreiro. Neste estudo mostra-se que não existem diferenças significativas entre plantas de campo, embriões somáticos e plantas regeneradas. No Capítulo VI, pretende-se complementar o estudo anterior. Neste Capítulo descreve-se a dinâmica do ciclo celular durante as primeiras fases de embriogénese somática na presença de reguladores de crescimento. Este trabalho permitiu concluir a importância dos reguladores de crescimento na indução e perceber o peso do factor genótipo durante o processo. Considerando os resultados anteriores, a necessidade de um processo eficiente de preservação de genótipos elite torna-se fundamental. No Capítulo V descreve-se um protocolo de criopreservação eficiente sem recursos a substâncias tóxicas. Nesta secção é ainda feita uma análise de variabilidade genética após criopreservação através de FCM, AFLP e SSR. Todos os resultados obtidos anteriormente são postos a prova no Capítulo VI onde se faz uma monitorização extensiva de 10 genótipos elite, tendo em conta a sua capacidade de produção de cortiça, através do processo de embriogénese somática. Durante esta secção são utilizados os protocolos desenvolvidos anteriormente e avaliados na sua eficiência. Neste capítulo é descrita a integração de vários segmentos deste estudo num só protocolo eficiente de regeneração e preservação de sobreiros através de embriogénese somática. Finalmente, no Capítulo VI são apresentadas as conclusões da presente Tese de Doutoramento, com especial incidência para linhas de investigação futuras a serem tomadas. Discute-se a importância deste novo protocolo na optimização da produção da cortiça e traçam-se possíveis aplicações alternativas.

Projecto dum laboratório remoto para automação de processos industriais

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Integração num plano municipal de segurança rodoviária: Cidade da Amadora: Freguesia da Venteira

Trabalho de Projeto para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia na Área de Especialização em Vias de Comunicação e Transportes

Fisioterapia e reabilitação em Portugal : o financiamento como factor crítico do desempenho

RESUMO - Num contexto em que a prestação de cuidados de Fisioterapia e Reabilitação é identificada como apresentando uma desigualdade e desajustamento da oferta regional superior à dos restantes cuidados de saúde, assim como uma falta de adequação dos preços praticados, perante as condições de oferta e procura actualmente existentes, o presente trabalho tem por objectivo investigar, no domínio do Desempenho, a influência do Financiamento na definição da prestação destes cuidados, tendo como pressuposto genérico que as decisões estratégicas e a reestruturação produtiva das organizações de saúde são condicionadas pelo sistema de preços. Considera-se que o actual sistema de Financiamento/Pagamento provoca um constrangimento na qualidade da resposta destes cuidados a dois níveis: um primeiro nível, ao colocar o pagamento no âmbito dos Meios Complementares de Diagnóstico e Terapêutica (MCDTs) a contratar pelo Serviço Nacional de Saúde, com isso determinando a configuração organizativa do sistema; um segundo nível de constrangimento que incide sobre as estruturas das organizações prestadoras, pela modelação que induz, nomeadamente a nível da sua produção. Na impossibilidade de tratar as duas dimensões do problema, pela falta de indicadores de desempenho deste sector, analisou-se, relativamente ao segundo nível de constrangimento, a produção de fisioterapia de três organizações que, potencialmente, teriam o mesmo o mesmo perfil de oferta por se enquadrarem num mesmo perfil de procura. Os resultados reflectem o pressuposto genérico do trabalho e abrem espaço para colocar como futura hipótese de investigação a razão da(s) causa(s) que poderão estar subjacentes à discrepância encontrada na média de tratamentos por sessão (duas vezes e meia) na produção das duas organizações que foi possível comparar.------------------- ABSTRACT - In a context where the provision of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation care is identified as having a regional mismatch of supply and inequality above all the others health cares, and a lack of adequacy of prices in the current conditions of supply and demand, the present work has, as main purpose, to investigate, in the field of Performance, the Payment’s influence in shaping the provision of such health care. The general assumption tracking this analysis is that the strategic decisions on productive structure of health care organizations are influenced by the price systems. It is considered that the current Finance / Payment system causes two levels of constraints on the quality of such health care: a first constraint, as it putts its payment under the Supplementary Means of Diagnosis and Therapy (MCDTs), witch ends up establishing the organizational setup of the system; a second level of constraint by modelling the internal structure of these organizations. The lack of indicators characterizing the performance of this sector, addressed the present study to the second dimension, in witch was analysed the physical therapy production in three organizations that, potentially, would have the same profile of supply responding to similar characteristics of demand. The results reflect the above mentioned general assumption that supported the work, and leave an open space for future research, about the reason (s) that lay behind the discrepancy found between the average of treatments per session (two and a half times) in

Simulação Dinâmica do Centro de Dia e Apoio à Terceira Idade de Leça do Balio

Pela importância que os edifícios têm na utilização de energia, a avaliação do seu desempenho energético é de grande relevância, uma vez que, em grande parte, passa por estes a concretização das metas europeias definidas para 2020, no que concerne à diminuição da utilização de energia. Tendo em conta que os edifícios representam 40% do consumo de energia total, e estando o sector em expansão, esta realidade obriga a uma procura de soluções integradas de arquitetura e engenharia que promovam a sustentabilidade dos edifícios. Foi efetuado um estudo num edifício constituído por dois corpos, um mais antigo que funciona como centro de dia e um mais recente que funciona como lar, localizados no concelho de Matosinhos, onde se identificaram os pontos de maior consumo energético, para os quais foram sugeridas alterações no sentido de baixar os custos com a factura energética. Nesta dissertação foi utilizado um software de simulação dinâmica para avaliação do comportamento térmico do edifício nas condições atuais e, posteriormente, foram simulados outros cenários com alterações ao nível da envolvente térmica dos edifícios e dos seus sistemas técnicos, que permitiram identificar algumas medidas de melhoria de eficiência energética. As medidas de melhoria sugeridas implicam uma redução energética, ao nível do consumo de água quente sanitária, consumo de gás natural e electricidade. De entre essas medidas, e com um payback inferior a 8 anos e meio, destacam-se a instalação de redutores de caudal, a substituição da caldeira e da bomba de recirculação, a instalação de painéis solares térmicos e a redução da quantidade de lâmpadas.

Acompanhamento da construção do parque eólico do Pisco

Dadas as condições actuais do mercado de trabalho, o conhecimento empírico é cada vez mais um factor distintivo na carteira de habilitações de um engenheiro recém-graduado. Desta forma, a possibilidade de realização de um estágio em ambiente empresarial ganha toda uma nova dimensão no panorama académico, apresentando-se como uma excelente oportunidade de obtenção de experiência e conhecimento de causa num momento imediatamente anterior à saída da universidade e à entrada no mundo profissional. Neste âmbito, apresenta-se o presente relatório, referente ao estágio desenvolvido sob alçada da empresa Electrolinhas S. A. durante a construção do Parque Eólico do Pisco. Este estágio enquadra-se no 2º Ano do Mestrado em Engenharia Civil – ramo de Infraestruturas, do departamento de Engenharia Civil do Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto. Ao longo de 6 meses, de Fevereiro a Julho de 2015, foi possível acompanhar o desenrolar da obra de construção de um parque eólico, da perspectiva da fiscalização. Este estágio tem especial interesse dado tratar-se de uma obra de grande dimensão, com diversas particularidades ao nível do planeamento e da execução, descritas ao longo dos próximos capítulos.

Les trajectoires de l'intégration professionnelle des immigrants iraniens travaillant comme chauffeurs de taxi à Montréal

Cette étude cherche à clarifier les trajectoires de l’intégration des immigrants iraniens travaillant comme chauffeurs de taxi à Montréal. En effet, les conclusions de certaines études portant sur l’amélioration de l’insertion professionnelle des immigrants à moyen et à long terme étaient en opposition avec l’état actuel d’immigrants qualifiés travaillant toujours dans l’industrie du taxi après cinq, dix, quinze ans ou même plus après leur arrivée, bien que plusieurs avaient déjà une formation universitaire avant leur arrivé au Canada. Effectuée dans le cadre des études sur l’intégration des immigrants en général et en particulier au Canada et au Québec, cette recherche fait ressortir des résultats plus larges que les expériences de ce groupe après son arrivée dans le pays d’accueil en incluant les attentes et les motifs avant le départ. L’utilisation d’une démarche plutôt qualitative à partir des expériences et des trajectoires d’environ une quarantaine de chauffeurs de taxi travaillant dans une société de taxi montréalaise dont la majorité des travailleurs sont iraniens a permis de dépasser les difficultés liées à l’étude de ce groupe ainsi que d’en approfondir la connaissance. Cette étude se divise en deux parties. La première familiarise le lecteur avec l’histoire de l’immigration et celle des Iraniens au Canada ainsi qu’avec le cadre conceptuel et l’approche méthodologique de cette recherche. La deuxième partie, présentant les résultats, révèle le fait que plusieurs dans ce groupe d’immigrants n’ont pas eu accès aux droits de scolarité réduits offerts aux résidents québécois avant la régularisation de leur demande d’asile, ce qui a eu pour résultat de freiner leur grand désir de poursuivre des études au Canada. Ce blocage les a confinés dans des emplois de bas niveaux. Les cours peu avancés de français offerts aux immigrants n’ont pas pu les préparer à accéder aux bons emplois. Également, ce groupe a rejeté l’aide des agents d’emploi à cause des bas niveaux d’emplois que ceux-ci offraient. Alors que les périodes de chômage ont pu encourager certains à poursuivre leurs études, la discrimination après le 11 septembre 2001 a barré leur accès aux emplois qualifiés. La communauté iranienne n’a pas contribué à l’accès de ses membres aux emplois qualifiés à cause de son émergence récente au Canada. Ainsi, pour certains, le partenariat avec des compatriotes qu’ils connaissaient à peine et non experts dans la création d’entreprises, qui de plus ne se préoccupaient pas des exigences du métier, a abouti à leur fermeture. La comparaison entre les emplois déjà occupés et les avantages matériels et non matériels du taxi a mené ce groupe à recourir à ce métier. Pourtant, ses désavantages ont causé le départ non réfléchi de certains du Québec, mais ils sont revenus par la suite. Les traits culturels de ce groupe dans une société ethnique de taxi bien réglementée ont permis d’améliorer le fonctionnement de cette société. Enfin, malgré le désir de bon nombre de ces immigrants de changer d’emploi, l’analyse suggère que la probabilité reste, pour la majorité, peu élevée.

Master Plan for Renewable Energy based Electricity Generation in The Gambia

The principal objective of this paper is to develop a methodology for the formulation of a master plan for renewable energy based electricity generation in The Gambia, Africa. Such a master plan aims to develop and promote renewable sources of energy as an alternative to conventional forms of energy for generating electricity in the country. A tailor-made methodology for the preparation of a 20-year renewable energy master plan focussed on electricity generation is proposed in order to be followed and verified throughout the present dissertation, as it is applied for The Gambia. The main input data for the proposed master plan are (i) energy demand analysis and forecast over 20 years and (ii) resource assessment for different renewable energy alternatives including their related power supply options. The energy demand forecast is based on a mix between Top-Down and Bottom-Up methodologies. The results are important data for future requirements of (primary) energy sources. The electricity forecast is separated in projections at sent-out level and at end-user level. On the supply side, Solar, Wind and Biomass, as sources of energy, are investigated in terms of technical potential and economic benefits for The Gambia. Other criteria i.e. environmental and social are not considered in the evaluation. Diverse supply options are proposed and technically designed based on the assessed renewable energy potential. This process includes the evaluation of the different available conversion technologies and finalizes with the dimensioning of power supply solutions, taking into consideration technologies which are applicable and appropriate under the special conditions of The Gambia. The balance of these two input data (demand and supply) gives a quantitative indication of the substitution potential of renewable energy generation alternatives in primarily fossil-fuel-based electricity generation systems, as well as fuel savings due to the deployment of renewable resources. Afterwards, the identified renewable energy supply options are ranked according to the outcomes of an economic analysis. Based on this ranking, and other considerations, a 20-year investment plan, broken down into five-year investment periods, is prepared and consists of individual renewable energy projects for electricity generation. These projects included basically on-grid renewable energy applications. Finally, a priority project from the master plan portfolio is selected for further deeper analysis. Since solar PV is the most relevant proposed technology, a PV power plant integrated to the fossil-fuel powered main electrical system in The Gambia is considered as priority project. This project is analysed by economic competitiveness under the current conditions in addition to sensitivity analysis with regard to oil and new-technology market conditions in the future.

Posibilidad de internacionalización del Departamento del Magdalena a través de la prestación de servicios portuarios

Es necesario el proceso de internacionalización del Departamento del Magdalena pues las condiciones actuales departamentales lo requieren, es una de las regiones más pobres del país, las condiciones socioeconómicas del departamento demuestran que hay altos índices de analfabetismo, altos índices de necesidades básicas insatisfechas; al lograr insertarse en la esfera internacional podrían mejorar su economía pues esta se podría diversificar. El departamento cuenta con la estructura portuaria necesaria para atender la cadena de distribución física internacional.

"Estudio prospectivo de hatos ganaderos, del valle de Ubate, condiciones actuales, limitantes y necesidades de desarrollo para entrar a competir en el mercado internacional"

El siguiente trabajo titulado “Estudio Prospectivo de hatos ganaderos, del Valle de Ubate, Condiciones Actuales, Limitantes y Necesidades de Desarrollo Para entrar a Competir en el Mercado Internacional” encontrara un ejercicio prospectivo orientado a establecer posibles escenarios futuros para los ganaderos, productores de leche del Valle de Ubate, a entrar nuevos mercados como el europeo y americano al mercado Colombiano, así mismo propone un análisis de las variables relevantes de las condiciones actuales de las fincas y productores de leche de la zona.