Knowledge Exchange meeting on Research tools

Knowledge Exchange investigated the diversity and complexity of research tools, techniques and researchers' behaviours to identify how and where the initiative can eliminate barriers to cooperation between different parts of the whole system. Experts from the partner organisations and beyond exchanged knowledge and experiences, during our meeting on Research Tools which took place on 27 June 2012, in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Experts considered ‘the use of digital technologies in research' or ‘digital research tools' with a view to informing future Knowledge Exchange activities.

Legal Status of Research Data in the four partner countries

This report compares the legal status of research data in the four KE partner countries. The report also addresses where European copyright and database law poses flaws and obstacles to the access to research data and singles out pre-conditions for openly available data. Background of the study Intellectual property right regulations regarding primary research data are a recurrent topic in the discussion on the improvement of access to research data. In fact in the final report of the High Level Expert Group on Scientific Data ‘Riding the Wave’ creating clarity on this was considered very important in improving awareness for all parties involved. According to the recommendations of the report legal issues should be “worked out so that they encourage, and not impede, global data sharing” http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/e-infrastructure/docs/hlg-sdi-report.pdf. While open access to research data is a widely recognised goal, achieving it remains a challenge. As European national laws still diverge and sometimes remain unclear it can be difficult for interested parties to fully comprehend in which ways open access to research data can be legally obtained. Based on these discussions the Knowledge Exchange working group on primary research data has commissioned a comparative report on the legal status of research data in the four KE partner countries. The study has been conducted by the Centre for Intellectual Property Law (CIER) at Utrecht University. The report aims at informing Knowledge Exchange and associated stakeholders on the state of the law concerning access to research data in the KE partner countries (Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) and to give an insight in how these laws work in practice. This is explained in several characteristic situations pertaining to open access to research data. The purpose of the report is to identify flaws and obstacles to the access to research data and to single out pre-conditions for openly available data. This is in view of the current discussions concerning open access to research data, especially those originating from publicly funded research. The report intends to be both a description of the status quo of the legislation and a practical instrument to prepare further activities in raising awareness on the potential benefit of improved access to research data, and developing means to support the improved access for research purposes

Memorias da paz de Utrecht : offerecida a El Rey Nosso Senhor Dom João Quinto por D. Luis da Cunha seu embaixador extraordinario e plenipotenciario de Portugal no Congresso da mesma paz

Exemplar manuscrito com caligrafia do século VIII, perfeitamente legível.

Tratado de limites das conquistas entre os muito altos, e poderosos senhores D. João V, Rey de Portugal, e D. Fernando VI, Rey de Espanha, pelo qual abolida a demarcação da linha meridiana, ajustada no Tratado de Tordesilhas de 7 de junho de 1494, se determina individualmente a raya dos domínios de huma e outra corôa na America Meridional :a de Portugal renuncia o direito, que allegava ter das Ilhas Filippinas, pelo dito Tratado de Tordesilhas, e pela escritura de Saragoça de 22 de abril de 1529 ; e cede a Espanha a Colonia do Sacramento, e o Territorio da margem septentrional do Rio da Prata, que lhe pertencia pelo Tratado de Utrecht de 6 de fevereiro de 1715, como também a Aldea de S. Christóvão, e terras adjacentes, que tinhão occupado os portuguezes entre os rios Japurá, e Isa, que desaguão no das Amazonas; a de Espanha renuncia todo o direito, que pelo dito Tratado de Tordesilhas allegava ter as terras possuidas pelos portuguezes na America Meridional ao Occidente da Linha Meridiana, ajustada naquelle Tratado ; e cede a Portugal todas as terras, e povoações da margem oriental do rio Uruguay, desde o rio Ibicuí para o norte, e a aldea de Santa Rosa, e outra qualquer estabelecida pelos espanhoes na margem oriental do rio Guaporé; com os plenos-poderes, e ratificações dos dous Monarchas, assignado em Madrid a 13 de janeiro de 1750

Referência: Diccionario Bibliographico Portuguez / Innocencio Francisco da Silva, 1862. v. 7, p. 386.

Rapid assessment of stony coral richness and condition on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles

The benthic habitats of Saba Bank (17°25′N, 63°30′W) are at risk from maritime traffic, especially oil tankers (e.g., anchoring). To mitigate this risk, information is needed on the biodiversity and location of habitats to develop a zone use plan. A rapid survey to document the biodiversity of macro-algae, sponges, corals and fishes was conducted. Here we report on the richness and condition of stony coral species at 18 select sites, and we test for the effects of bottom type, depth, and distance from platform edge. Species richness was visually assessed by roving scuba diver with voucher specimens of each species collected. Coral tissue was examined for bleaching and diseases. Thirty-three coral species were documented. There were no significant differences in coral composition among bottom types or depth classes (ANOSIM, P>0.05). There was a significant difference between sites (ANOSIM, P<0.05) near and far from the platform edge. The number of coral species observed ranged from zero and one in algal dominated habitats to 23 at a reef habitat on the southern edge of the Bank. Five reef sites had stands of Acropora cervicornis, a critically endangered species on the IUCN redlist. Bleaching was evident at 82% of the sites assessed with 43 colonies bleached. Only three coral colonies were observed to have disease. Combining our findings with that of other studies, a total of 43 species have been documented from Saba Bank. The coral assemblage on the bank is representative and typical of those found elsewhere in the Caribbean. Although our findings will help develop effective protection, more information is needed on Saba Bank to create a comprehensive zone use plan. Nevertheless, immediate action is warranted to protect the diverse coral reef habitats documented here, especially those containing A. cervicornis.