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Local fishermen’s perceptions of the usefulness of artificial reef ecosystem services in Portugal
Publication . Ramos, Jorge; Lino, Pedro G.; Himes-Cornell, Amber; Santos, Miguel N.
Proponents of artificial reef (AR) deployment are often motivated by the usefulness of such structures. The usefulness of ARs is related to their capability of providing ecosystem services/additional functions. We present two distinct Portuguese AR case studies: (1) The Nazaré reef off the central coast of Portugal and (2) the Oura reef off the Algarve coast. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with local fishermen in the fishing towns of Nazaré and Quarteira pre-and post-AR deployment. The main focus of the interviews was to understand fishermen’s perception of AR usefulness (or lack thereof) in terms of nine ecosystem services/additional functions potentially provided by the ARs. We tested the null hypothesis that ARs do not provide additional ecosystem services/additional functions. When queried pre-AR deployment, fishermen indicated that ARs are most likely to provide three ecosystem services: “habitat and refuge,” “biodiversity preservation” and “food production.” Fishermen had similar perceptions post-deployment. For the Nazaré reef, fishermen tended to have a positive or neutral perception of ecosystem services/additional functions being provided by ARs. For the Oura reef, fishermen tended to have a mostly neutral perception of AR ecosystem services; however, there were also some positive and other negative perceptions. It was difficult for stakeholders to conceptualize some of the ecosystem services/additional functions provided by ARs prior to actively using them. As a result, some stakeholders changed their perception of the ecosystem services/additional functions after using the structures. These results indicate that stakeholders likely need to perceive ARs as useful in order for them to provide their support for AR installation. Likewise, their support is often needed to justify the use of public funds to install ARs, therefore making it imperative for resource managers to undertake similar interviews with fishermen when considering the use of ARs in other areas.
IoT in Greenhouse Supported by Climate Conditions Management Platform
Publication . Galvão, João; Neves, Filipe; Vieira, João; Rafael Simões; Ribeiro, Vânia; Costa, Paulo
The system called iMeteo4all is a management platform for several physical variables, inherent to the control and management of climatic conditions inside structures, for the intensive production of plants called greenhouses and to be one contribution for agriculture 4.0.
The objective of this work was to design and develop software for monitoring and managing the quality of the internal environment, through successive data collection/readings provided by a network of sensors and process automation for more efficient and sustainable agriculture.
Different case studies of greenhouses whose production technologies are distinct, such as aquaponics and soil technologies were considered, in these controlled environment structures to produce plants (edible and non-edible). This platform requires an Internet address to perform the interface among a tablet, a cell phone, a computer and communication systems between a net of IoT (Internet of Things) sensors, which collect climatic variables inherent to growth and connected to several MCUs (Micro Controller Unit).
Subsequently, managers and employees will be able to view and interact in real time, making more accurate decisions, depending on the climatic variations inside the greenhouse, increasing efficiency in several areas in greenhouses.
It is possible to access the history of each sensor and configure automations according to the collected data. Access to data from this solution is secure through an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate applied to the public https address. If hardware failures exist, the system is prepared to be restored through regular backups in the cloud and internally, providing users with confidence and robustness in the constant use of this platform.
The role of institutional elements on strategic activities of small business practitioners
Publication . Marietto, Marcio Luiz; Serra, Fernando Antônio Ribeiro
This study offers different perspectives for observing the phenomenon of strategic practice of managers and sales persons in small stores located in an organisational field through the lens of strategy as practice (S-as-P) and institutional theory. Qualitative participant observation procedures were used in the largest Latin-American cluster of bridal stores and involved strategic work using the institutional elements of weddings. The results indicated that the institutional and dynamic elements of the symbolic ritual of wedding enable the interaction among practitioners in their strategic activities. This provides legitimacy and, consequently, the survival of the organisations. We present a model in which the propositions seek to direct future studies of S-as-P with the assumptions of institutional theory. The study also contributes analysing strategic activities of small business practitioners to increase the potential for future empirical researches.
Proyección domótica en el edificio de docentes de la Universidad Técnica de Manabí
Publication . Mera, Gabriel; Llosas Albuerne, Yolanda; Marques, Pedro; Loor Castillo, Guillermo Antonio
Este trabajo se basa en la implementación de un protocolo domótico que tenga la capacidad de gestionar y optimizar el consumo energético producido por el sistema de iluminación y fuerza del edificio docente N° 3 de la Universidad Técnica de Manabí. Por lo tanto, para cumplir este objetivo se optó trabajar con el protocolo domótico Z-Wave el cual es muy fácil de manipular y sus dispositivos son compatibles con un sin número de dispositivos electrónicos. El sistema domótico a utilizar dotará de un grado inteligencia a la edificación, por tal motivo este sistema se podrá concatenar a una red eléctrica inteligente que combine a la generación fotovoltaica existente en este edificio y con el sistema domótico proyectado, esto se lo realizará con el fin de disminuir el consumo de energía eléctrica de la red convencional y las emisiones de CO2 a la atmósfera.
Neuropeptides neurotensin and substance P accelerate diabetic wound healing by modulating immunity and the skin microbiome
Publication . Maranha, Ana; Leal, Ermelindo C.; Alarico, Susana; Tiago, Igor; Pereira, Sónia G.; Empadinhas, Nuno; Carvalho, Eugénia
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common and debilitating complication of diabetes mellitus, typified by impaired healing, persistent inflammation, and skin microbiota dysbiosis. Although some neuropeptides are immunomodulatory, their effects on skin microbiota and wound resolution remain largely unexplored. We examined the therapeutic potential of the neuropeptides neurotensin (NT) and substance P (SP) in reshaping inflammatory and microbial dynamics and accelerating wound closure in a healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice model. Full-thickness cutaneous wounds were induced on both groups, followed by daily topical applications of saline (CT), NT, or SP. Wound closure was monitored and changes in skin bacterial communities characterized using next-generation sequencing. Wound tissue samples were collected for immunohistochemical analysis. Topical application of NT or SP significantly accelerated wound healing, with the most pronounced effects in diabetic animals. Both neuropeptides reduced the number of pro-inflammatory cells, lowering M1 macrophages in diabetic wounds from 16.4 ± 4 to 12.1 ± 3 with NT and 10.9 ± 3 with SP, while increasing M2 macrophages from 11.6 ± 4 to 18.1 ± 4 (NT) and 21.6 ± 5 (SP). SP exerted the most pronounced immunomodulatory effect, normalizing the M1/M2 ratio and reducing the number of CD3⁺ T cells (12.4 ± 3) and neutrophils (12.1 ± 3) to levels comparable to non-diabetic skin. Concurrently, SP treatment induced substantial microbiota remodeling in diabetic wounds, reducing Staphylococcus by circa 34%, Aerococcaceae_unclassified by 6.8%, Aerococcus by 1.5% and nearly eliminating Weissella. These reductions were accompanied by an over twofold increase in commensal genera (Lactobacillus, Micrococcaceae_unclassified, Actinobacteria_unclassified), shifting the microbial community toward a more non-diabetic profile. Our findings suggest that NT and especially SP, enhance diabetic wound healing through dual local immunomodulation and microbiota restructuring.