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- Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations: the overlooked factor promoting SW Iberian Forest development across the LGM and the last deglaciation?Publication . Domingues Gomes, Sandra; Fletcher, William; Stone, Abi; Anica Claro Rodrigues, Teresa Isabel; Rebotim, Andreia; Oliveira, Dulce; Goñi, Maria Sánchez; Abrantes, Fatima; Naughton, FilipaA cross the last deglaciation, the atmospheric CO2 concentration (CO2) increased substantially from ∼ 180 to ∼ 280 ppm, yet its impact on vegetation dynamics across this major climatic transition remains insufficiently understood. In particular, Iberian pollen records reveal an intriguing feature that can be related to an often-overlooked role of CO2 in shaping vegetation responses during the last deglaciation. These records reveal the near disappearance of forests during the cold Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Heinrich Stadial 1 (HS1) phases and an unexpected recovery during the Younger Dryas (YD) cold phase when CO2 increased. Here, we present high-resolution tracers of terrestrial (pollen, C29: C31 organic biomarker) and marine (alkenone-derived Sea Surface Temperature, C37: 4 %, and long-chain n-alkanes ratios) conditions from the southwestern (SW) Iberian margin Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Site U1385 (“Shackleton site”) for the last 22 cal kyr BP. This direct land-sea comparison approach allows us to investigate how the Iberian Peninsula vegetation responded to major global CO2 changes during the last deglaciation. Our results show that cool and moderately humid conditions of the LGM supported a grassland-heathland mosaic ecosystem, but low CO2 likely caused physiological drought and suppressed forest development. HS1, the coldest and most arid period, combined with sustained low CO2 values, almost suppressed forest growth in favour of Mediterranean steppe. In contrast, the warmer Bølling-Allerød, characterised by a temperature optimum and variable but generally wetter conditions, along with the rise of CO2 above 225 ppm at ∼ 15 cal kyr BP, contributed to substantial forest development. During the YD, sufficient moisture combined with increasing CO2 enabled the persistence of a mixed grassland-forest mosaic despite cooler temperatures. Our study suggests that during cool and humid periods (LGM and YD) different pCO2 values led to contrasting SW Iberian vegetation responses. In contrast, during periods of relatively high CO2, temperature and precipitation played the main role in shaping the distribution and composition of the vegetation.
- Towards improved ecosystem service assessments in marine systems: a systematic review and evaluation of effectivenessPublication . Socrate, Juliana; Armoskaite, Aurelija; Cordero Penín, Víctor; Gutierrez, Débora; Thenen, Miriam vonEcosystem service assessments (ESA) are widely used to support marine management, yet their application varies across regions due to differences in governance frameworks, data availability, and methodological approaches. This study systematically reviews ESA methods and tools applied in offshore areas of the Baltic Sea, South Atlantic Ocean, and Western Mediterranean Sea, evaluating their effectiveness in supporting sustainable marine management with a specific focus on offshore wind farms, marine protected areas, and fishing activities. The findings reveal geographical variations in ESA implementation, highlighting strengths and limitations in their ability to inform policy and decision-making. While methodological diversity enhances ESA’s capacity to capture complex socio-ecological interactions, inconsistencies in application reduce its effectiveness. Addressing these gaps requires refining methodological approaches, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and improving the link between ESA and marine governance. This research provides insights into the current state of ESA applications and offers recommendations for enhancing their role in ecosystem-based marine planning and policy integration.
- Adapting to electoral changes: insights from a systematic review on electoral abstention dynamicsPublication . Almeida, Nuno; Giger, Jean-ChristopheElectoral abstention has emerged as a critical challenge to democratic legitimacy, with rising rates observed globally. For example, in Portugal, the turnout declined from 91.5% in 1975 to 51.4% in 2022. This systematic review synthesizes multidisciplinary literature to identify key determinants of voter nonparticipation and their interactions, aiming to inform adaptive strategies to enhance civic engagement amid social, organizational, and technological changes. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched five databases (Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) from 2000 to August 2025 using terms such as “electoral abstention” and “non-voting.” Inclusion criteria prioritized quantitative empirical studies in peer-reviewed journals in English, Portuguese, Spanish, or French, yielding 23 high-quality studies (assessed via MMAT, with scores ≥ 60%) from 13 countries, predominantly the USA and France. Results reveal abstention as a multidimensional phenomenon driven by three interconnected categories: individual factors (e.g., health issues like smoking and mental health trajectories, institutional distrust); institutional factors (e.g., electoral reforms such as biometric registration reducing abstention by up to 50% in local contexts, but with mixed outcomes in voluntary voting systems); and contextual factors (e.g., economic inequalities and urbanization correlating with lower turnout, exacerbated by events like COVID-19). This review underscores the need for integrated public policies addressing these factors to boost participation, particularly among youth and marginalized groups. By framing abstention as an adaptive response to contemporary challenges, this work contributes to the political psychology and democratic reform literature, advocating interdisciplinary approaches to resilient electoral systems.
- CITED Proteins in cardiac development and lifelong heart functionPublication . Bragança, José; Cabrita Pinto, Rute Luísa; Vairinho Ventura, Igor; Ferreira, Silvana; Marreiros, AntónioThe CITED proteins function as transcriptional modulators that are essential for vertebrate development. These proteins interact with numerous partners, notably transcription factors and co-activators. The hallmark of the CITED family is their conserved carboxy-terminal domain, which interacts strongly with the CBP/p300 co-activators. The expression of CITED genes is detected early during embryogenesis within embryonic and foetal regions critical for cardiac morphogenesis, among other developmental processes. Notably, CITED2 loss of function is strongly associated with congenital heart malformations in mice and zebrafish embryos, as well as congenital heart disease (CHD) in humans, whereas other CITED family members are not critical for cardiogenesis. Emerging evidence implicates CITED2 and CITED4 in regulating heart physiological adaptations and protective responses to pathological stress. This review provides a detailed analysis of CITED proteins and their interactors, focusing on CITED-target genes relevant for cardiogenesis and heart disease. We also highlight recent findings indicating that CITED2 and CITED4 may be instrumental for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to mitigate CHD and preserve adult cardiac function.
- Dawson- and Lindqvist-Type hybrid polyoxometalates: synthesis, characterization and Ca2+-ATPase inhibition potentialPublication . Meskini, Islem; Capet, Frédéric; Fraqueza, Gil; Necmi, Dege; Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz; Ayed, Brahim; Aureliano, ManuelPolyoxometalates (POMs) represent a broad class of anionic inorganic (V, Mo, W) clusters with versatile structures of chemical and physical properties. POMs are inhibitors of many enzymes, including P-type ATPases, well-known to be a target of several approved drugs. Herein, two new hybrid POMs with Mo and mixed V/W, namely (C2H8N1)6[V2Mo18O62].3H2O (1) and (C4H16N3)4[V2W4O19]3.12H2O (2), were synthesized via wet chemical methods in aqueous solution, and their purity was confirmed and characterized by single X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The cations are dimethylammonium ((C2H8N)+) and diethylenetriammonium ((C4H16N3)3+), respectively. POMs biological activities were investigated, specifically their inhibitory potential against Ca2+-ATPase. The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activities were measured spectrophotometrically using the coupled enzyme pyruvate kinase/lactate dehydrogenase assay. For the Ca2+-ATPase activity, Dawson (1) showed an IC50 value of 3.4 μM, whereas Lindqvist (2) displayed a value of 45.1 μM. The Ca2+-ATPase inhibitory potential of these POMs can be correlated with the net charge (namely 6- and 4-) and the charge density (namely 0.33 and 0.67). A structure–activity-relationship was established for a series of 17 POMs Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors correlating IC50 values and POMs net charge and POMs charge density. The described features make Dawson (1) and Lindqvist (2) attractive POMs in a wide range of chemistry fields as well as in biomedical applications.
- Dawson- and lindqvist-type hybrid polyoxometalates: synthesis, characterization and Ca2+-ATPase inhibition potentialPublication . Meskini, Islem; Capet, Frédéric; Fraqueza, Gil; Dege, Necmi; Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz; Ayed, Brahim; Aureliano, ManuelPolyoxometalates (POMs) represent a broad class of anionic inorganic (V, Mo, W) clusters with versatile structures of chemical and physical properties. POMs are inhibitors of many enzymes, including P-type ATPases, well-known to be a target of several approved drugs. Herein, two new hybrid POMs with Mo and mixed V/W, namely (C2H8N1)6[V2Mo18O62].3H2O (1) and (C4H16N3)4[V2W4O19]3.12H2O (2), were synthesized via wet chemical methods in aqueous solution, and their purity was confirmed and characterized by single X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The cations are dimethylammonium ((C2H8N)+ ) and diethylenetriammonium ((C4H16N3) 3+), respectively. POMs biological activities were investigated, specifically their inhibitory potential against Ca2+-ATPase. The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activities were measured spectrophotometrically using the coupled enzyme pyruvate kinase/lactate dehydrogenase assay. For the Ca2+-ATPase activity, Dawson (1) showed an IC50 value of 3.4 µM, whereas Lindqvist (2) displayed a value of 45.1 µM. The Ca2+-ATPase inhibitory potential of these POMs can be correlated with the net charge (namely 6- and 4-) and the charge density (namely 0.33 and 0.67). A structure–activity-relationship was established for a series of 17 POMs Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors correlating IC50 values and POMs net charge and POMs charge density. The described features make Dawson (1) and Lindqvist (2) attractive POMs in a wide range of chemistry fields as well as in biomedical applications.