Governança das áreas marinhas protegidas da província biogeográfica da Macaronésia

As áreas marinhas protegidas (AMPs), enquanto instrumentos de conservação da natureza, contribuem para a conservação, preservação e gestão dos ecossistemas costeiros e marinhos a nível mundial. Na Província Biogeográfica da Macaronésia, as AMPs existentes desempenham este papel de forma preponderante, principalmente no que diz respeito às espécies com impacte económico local. A governança consiste nas interacções entre estruturas, processos e tradições, as quais determinam como são exercidas as responsabilidades, como as decisões são tomadas e como é que a opinião dos cidadãos e grupos de interesse (stakeholders) é integrada no processo de decisão. Assim, a governança das AMPs é um factor determinante para o seu sucesso. Foi estudada a governança das AMPs na Província Biogeográfica da Macaronésia (arquipélagos dos Açores, Madeira, Canárias e Cabo Verde), com a finalidade de verificar se o actual estado de estabelecimento e gestão de AMPs nos quatro arquipélagos é ou não favorável a uma governança conjunta do meio marinho nesta província biogeográfica, tendo em vista os objectivos de conservação da natureza à escala global. Foi desenvolvida uma metodologia própria baseada na análise do quadro legal nacional e internacional e das estruturas governativas das AMPs, e ainda em entrevistas no arquipélago com menor disponibilidade de informação (Cabo Verde). Conclui-se que os três países que fazem parte da área de estudo detêm os quadros legais (internacional, regional e nacional) e institucional considerados suficientes para a conservação dos ecossistemas costeiros e marinhos. Esta análise permitiu a definição de acções que poderão ser desenvolvidas pelos quatro arquipélagos, visando uma gestão conjunta integrada das AMPs na área de estudo. Apesar de existirem vários diplomas e regulamentos jurídicos a nível nacional/regional sobre a conservação marinha, há ainda um longo caminho a percorrer no que diz respeito aos planos de gestão destinados a promover uma abordagem integrada da conservação à escala biogeográfica

Nature versus nurture in social insect caste determination

Recent evidence for genetic effects on royal and worker caste differentiation from diverse social insect taxa has put an end to the view that these phenotypes stem solely from a developmental switch controlled by environmental factors. Instead, the relative influences of genotypic and environmental effects on caste vary among species, ranging from largely environmentally controlled phenotypes to almost purely genetic systems. Disentangling the selective forces that generate variation for caste predisposition will require characterizing the genetic mechanisms underlying this variation, and identifying particular life-history strategies and kin structures associated with strong genetic effects on caste.

Record keeping by Swiss physiotherapists--a national survey of knowledge regarding legal requirements.

A national survey conducted in Switzerland aimed to evaluate the knowledge of physiotherapists regarding the legal requirements for record keeping and to collect their feedback about record keeping in general. Three physiotherapists from various professional practice groups and a lawyer specialised in health law developed a questionnaire that was sent to the 7,753 members of two existing national associations of physiotherapists. The questionnaire evaluated the participants' knowledge by calculating a score of legal knowledge, which had a maximum of 30 points. We included 825 questionnaires in the analysis. The large majority (83.4%) of participants confessed an ignorance of the legal requirements concerning record keeping prior to the survey. The average score of legal compatibility was 8 points. The younger age of the physiotherapists was a significant predictor of having knowledge of the legal requirements for record keeping (p <0.001). The participants had an appreciation of the value of records, but they did not have the relevant knowledge regarding the legal requirements for keeping records. The participants blamed a lack of time and remuneration for their failure to keep records according to known requirements. All practising allied health professionals should keep up-to-date and accurate records that conform to active legal requirements and existing international guidelines. In addition to the existing legal requirements, the emergence of e-health and the electronic era will trigger major changes in patient record management by physiotherapists.

Plano Detalhado de Chã de Caldeiras na Ilha do Fogo – Cabo Verde

A presente dissertação procurou identificar os principais problemas e desafios que o Processo de Planeamento Urbano Sustentável (Amado,2005) coloca ao nível local no contexto insular e, através do desenhar de soluções, promover o desenvolvimento equilibrado, coeso e sustentável do respetivo território. Através de uma análise teórica procurou-se conhecer e compreender o Quadro Legal do Ordenamento do Território em Cabo Verde. A fase inicial do Ordenamento do Território no País, com a aprovação da Lei de Bases do Ordenamento do Território e Planeamento Urbanístico na década de 90, bem como a insularidade do território, a mão-de-obra pouco qualificada e os poucos recursos financeiros são os grandes desafios que o país enfrenta a nível do Ordenamento do Território. O núcleo urbano de Chã de Caldeiras, que pertence ao município de Santa Catarina do Fogo, Freguesia de Santa Catarina do Fogo, é caraterizado por uma paisagem única, comportando zonas de reserva como o Parque Natural do Fogo e pela proximidade ao vulcão, sendo uma das localidades com maiores atrativos naturais no arquipélago de Cabo Verde. Ora, devido à inexistência de qualquer instrumento de gestão territorial até à atualidade, a área de intervenção do Plano Detalhado, apresenta uma fraca hierarquização da rede urbana e malha viária, construções inacabadas e de fraca qualidade, inexistência de praças e locais de convívio e carencias em termos de infraestruturas básicas (agua, luz e saneamento). Este trabalho pretende ser um contributo para um Desenvolvimento Sustentável para Chã de Caldeiras, (re)qualificando o espaço urbano, zelando pelos interesses da população local e garantindo desta forma a melhoria da qualidade de vida num espaço temporal alargado.

Are larger and/or more symmetrical Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera, Drosophilidae) males more successful in matings in nature?

Are larger and/or more symmetrical Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera, Drosophilidae) males more successful in matings in nature? Sexual selection in Drosophila melanogaster, related to body size and fluctuating asymmetry in wing length and number of sex comb teeth in males, was tested in natural conditions. Males collected in copula were significantly larger than those collected as a single, while no difference in mean number of sex comb teeth between copulating and single males was observed. On the other hand, single males had greater asymmetry both for wing length and number of sex comb teeth than their mating counterparts. It looks like that symmetry of these bilateral traits also may play a role in sexual selection in this dipteran species in nature.

Human nature and institutional analysis

This essay reviews some findings in cognition sciences and examines their consequences for the analysis of institutions. It starts by exploring how humans specialization in producing knowledge ensures our success in dominating the environment but also changes fast our environment. So fast that it did not give time to natural selection to adapt our biology, causing it to be potentially maladapted in important dimensions. A main function of institutions is therefore to fill the gap between the demands of our relatively new environment and our biology, still adapted to our ancestral environment as hunter-gatherers. Moreover, institutions are built with the available elements, which include our instincts. A deeper understanding of both aspects, their adaptive function and this recruitment of ancestral instincts, will add greatly to our ability to manage institutions.

Creative accounting: Nature, incidence and ethical issues

This paper explores the nature and incidence of creative accounting practiceswithin the context of ethical considerations.It explores several definitionsof creative accounting and the potential and the range of reasons for acompany's directors to engage in creative accounting. Later the paperconsiders the various ways in which creative accounting can be undertaken andsummarizes some empirical research on the nature and incidence of creativeaccounting. The ethical dimension of creative accounting is discussed, drawingevidence from several empirical studies. The paper concludes with the analysisof possible solutions for the creative accounting problem.

European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM) accreditation of forensic pathology services in Europe.

Forensic experts play a major role in the legal process as they offer professional expert opinion and evidence within the criminal justice system adjudicating on the innocence or alleged guilt of an accused person. In this respect, medico-legal examination is an essential part of the investigation process, determining in a scientific way the cause(s) and manner of unexpected and/or unnatural death or bringing clinical evidence in case of physical, psychological, or sexual abuse in living people. From a legal perspective, these types of investigation must meet international standards, i.e., it should be independent, effective, and prompt. Ideally, the investigations should be conducted by board-certified experts in forensic medicine, endowed with a solid experience in this field, without any hierarchical relationship with the prosecuting authorities and having access to appropriate facilities in order to provide forensic reports of high quality. In this respect, there is a need for any private or public national or international authority including non-governmental organizations seeking experts qualified in forensic medicine to have at disposal a list of specialists working in accordance with high standards of professional performance within forensic pathology services that have been successfully submitted to an official accreditation/certification process using valid and acceptable criteria. To reach this goal, the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) has elaborated an accreditation/certification checklist which should be served as decision-making support to assist inspectors appointed to evaluate applicants. In the same spirit than NAME Accreditation Standards, European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM) board decided to set up an ad hoc working group with the mission to elaborate an accreditation/certification procedure similar to the NAME's one but taking into account the realities of forensic medicine practices in Europe and restricted to post-mortem investigations. This accreditation process applies to services and not to individual practitioners by emphasizing policies and procedures rather than professional performance. In addition, the standards to be complied with should be considered as the minimum standards needed to get the recognition of performing and reliable forensic pathology service.