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This paper develops a methodology to estimate ship emissions using Automatic Identification System data (AIS). The methodology includes methods for AIS message decoding and ship emission estimation based on the ship's technical and operational characteristics. A novel approach for ship type identification based on the visited port terminal is described. The methodology is implemented in a computational tool, SEA (Ship Emission Assessment). First, the accuracy of the method for ship type identification is assessed and then the methodology is validated by comparing its predictions with those of two other methodologies. The tool is applied to three case studies using AIS data of maritime traffic along the Portuguese coast and in the port of Lisbon for one month. The first case study compares the estimated emissions of a ferry and a cruise ship, with the ferry emitting much less than the cruise ship. The second case study estimates the geographical distribution of emissions in the port of Lisbon, with terminals corresponding to areas with a heavier concentration of exhaust emissions. The third case study focuses on the emissions from a container ship sailing along the continental coast of Portugal, differing considerably from port traffic since it operates exclusively in cruising mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the comprehensive state-of-the-art on the challenges that short sea shipping currently faces across the world. The concept and its relationship with coastal shipping are introduced, followed by a review of the EU policies for short sea shipping and its practical impacts in modal split. A survey of the literature on the strong and weak points of this form of transportation is carried out, aimed at explaining the difficulties in achieving relevant modal shifts from road to sea. The experience with short sea shipping across the world is described and discussed, providing a global perspective. The paper then discusses the main challenges and opportunities in this field, namely decarbonisation, autonomous navigation, and digitalization. Conclusions are drawn on the possible impact of these game changing developments in this segment of the shipping industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pithecopus rusticus is a small and charismatic leaf frog species known only from the type locality, in the Brazilian Subtropical Highland Grasslands of the Atlantic Forest, southern Brazil. In this study, we describe aspects of the reproductive biology and populational size of P. rusticus, encompassing the characterization of breeding season, microhabitat use for vocalization and spawning, the variation in body size of males and females and operational sex ratio, as well as explore the influence of climate variables on the abundance of individuals. We collected information from 2015 to 2021, mainly in the breeding seasons of 2015/16 and 2017/18. We recorded 91 individuals of P. rusticus, with a recapture rate of 61% in the 2015/16 breeding season and 57% in the 2017/18 breeding season. The estimated population size was 28.9 individuals for the 2015/16 breeding season and 21 individuals for the 2017/18 breeding season. The temporal reproductive pattern was intermediate, being concentrated in spring to early summer months (October to January), and the male calling activity differed throughout the night, increasing from 9pm onwards. The abundance of P. rusticus was significantly related with relative air humidity. We found sexual size dimorphism, with females larger than males, and a male-skewed operational sex ratio. Males and females used Poaceae and Cyperaceae leaves located close to water. Spawns contained 43 ± 5 eggs, with a diameter of 3.26 ± 0.45 mm, and were deposited on leaves of Senecio (Asteraceae) and Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae). Information on natural history is essential to support the implementation and success of in situ and ex situ conservation strategies for this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in land use are considered the main factor in the degradation of ecosystems, especially in continental aquatic environments. In this study, we evaluated the genotoxicity potential of the environmental matrix using tadpoles from three anuran species as a model, to test whether more genetic damage and changes in oxidative stress biomarkers occur in ponds on farms than in native grasslands. Tadpoles were sampled from ponds in the subtropical highland grassland region of southern Brazil. We quantified DNA damage in tadpoles of Scinax squalirostris, Ololygon aromothyella and Odontophrynus asper using the comet assay and oxidative stress changes using glutathione as a biomarker. Our results demonstrated that the tadpoles of the three anuran species collected in agricultural ponds accumulated greater DNA damage and alterations in biomarkers of oxidative stress when compared with those collected in ponds in the native grassland, corroborating our initial hypothesis. The DNA damage detected in tadpoles from farm ponds suggests that these populations are suffering impacts from environmental contamination, mainly from heavy metals and fertilizers, as indicated by our complementary data. Our results highlight the importance of grassland remnants for the conservation of amphibians in the subtropical region, which are under severe threat due to the replacement of natural areas by agriculture. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of monitoring and quantifying agrochemicals in habitats and organisms to ensure the viability of populations and support adequate management and conservation strategies for the species of pond-breeding anurans in the region of subtropical grasslands in southern Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Quinolinic acid (QUIN) is a toxic compound with pro-oxidant, pro-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic actions found at high levels in the central nervous system (CNS) in several pathological conditions. Due to the toxicity of QUIN, it is important to evaluate strategies to protect against the damage caused by this metabolite in the brain. In this context, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a provitamin present in the mitochondria with a protective role in cells through several mechanisms of action. Based on these, the present study was aimed at evaluating the possible neuroprotective role of CoQ10 against damage caused by QUIN in the striatum of young Wistar rats. Twenty-one-day-old rats underwent a 10-day pretreatment with CoQ10 or saline (control) intraperitoneal injections and on the 30th day of life received QUIN intrastriatal or saline (control) administration. The animals were submitted to behavior tests or euthanized, and the striatum was dissected to neurochemical studies. Results showed that CoQ10 was able to prevent behavioral changes (the open field, object recognition, and pole test tasks) and neurochemical parameters (alteration in the gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6, SOD, and GPx, as well as in the immunocontent of cytoplasmic Nrf2 and nuclear p-Nf-κβ) caused by QUIN. These findings demonstrate the promising therapeutic effects of CoQ10 against QUIN toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the association between the dimension of deviation from appropriate gestational weight gain (GWG) and adverse maternofetal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We performed a multicentric retrospective study based on the Portuguese GDM Database. Women were classified as within GWG, insufficient (IGWG) or excessive (EGWG) than the Institute of Medicine recommendations. EGWG and IGWG were calculated for each prepregnancy BMI category. Large-for-gestational-age (LGA) and macrosomia were defined as a birthweight more than the 90th percentile for the gestational age and newborn weight greater than 4000 g, respectively. Logistic regression models (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] plus 95% confidence interval [95%CI]) were derived to evaluate the association between EGWG or IGWG and adverse maternofetal outcomes. A total of 18961 pregnant women were included: 39.7% with IGWG and 27.8% with EGWG. An EGWG over 3 kg was associated with a higher risk of LGA infants (aOR 1.95, 95%CI 1.17–3.26) and macrosomia (aOR 2.01, 95%CI 1.23–3.27) in prepregnancy normal weight women. An EGWG greater than 4 kg was associated with a higher risk of LGA infants (aOR 1.67, 95%CI 1.23–2.23) and macrosomia (aOR 1.90, 95%CI 1.38–2.61) in obese women. In overweight women, an EGWG above 3.5 kg was associated with a higher risk of LGA infants (aOR 1.65, 95%CI 1.16–2.34), macrosomia (aOR 1.85, 95%CI 1.30–2.64), preeclampsia (aOR 2.40, 95%CI 1.45–3.98) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (aOR 2.21, 95%CI 1.52–3.21). An IGWG below −3.1 kg or −3kg was associated with a higher risk of small-for-gestational-age [SGA] infants in women with normal (OR 1.40, 95%CI 1.03–1.90) and underweight (OR 2.29, 95%CI 1.09–4.80), respectively. Inappropriate gestational weight gain seems to be associated with an increased risk for adverse maternofetal outcomes, regardless of prepregnancy BMI. Beyond glycemic control, weight management in women with GDM must be a focus of special attention to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. The dimension of deviation from appropriate gestational weight gain was associated with an increased risk for adverse maternofetal outcomes among women with gestational diabetes. Weight management must be a focus of special attention in women with gestational diabetes to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]