http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42 Wed, 06 May 2026 07:29:21 GMT 2026-05-06T07:29:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41948 Title: Bovine Ocular Squamous Cell Carcinoma—A Descriptive Epidemiological Survey in the Azores, Portugal Authors: Bilhastre, Beatriz; Vala, Helena; Ribeiro, Ana Clara; Faria, Sara; Oliveira, Ana; Branco, Sandra; Pinto, Carlos Editors: Teske, Erik; Carrasco Otero, Librado Abstract: Bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma (BOSCC) is the most common ocular tumour in cattle, with a multifactorial aetiology involving ultraviolet (UV) radiation, genetic factors, pigmentation, and management practices. A detailed epidemiological characterisation of BOSCC in the Azores, Portugal, is provided, with particular emphasis on its spatial distribution and potential risk determinants. Data were obtained through an epidemiological questionnaire completed by field veterinarians between August 2023 and March 2025. A total of 85 BOSCC cases were recorded across 62 farms—45 on Terceira Island and 17 on São Miguel Island. All affected animals were adult Holstein Friesian dairy cows, managed under extensive pasture-based systems. The nictitating membrane was the most frequently affected structure (69.5%), and multiple lesions occurred in 20% of the cases. Farms located at 200–400m of altitude presented the highest number of cases. Continuous exposure to UV under pasture-based management represents the main environmental risk factor. Although periocular pigmentation may provide partial protection, other environmental and genetic factors can also contribute to tumour development. Artificial insemination is considered a promising preventive tool, enabling genetic selection for protective traits such as periocular pigmentation. This research provides the first regional epidemiological characterization of BOSCC in the Azores, highlighting the interplay among environmental, genetic, and management-related factors in disease occurrence. Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41948 2026-04-10T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41947 Title: Drivers of success when scaling innovations: insights from European agricultural and forestry co-innovation processes Authors: Rivera, Maria; Fieldsen, Andrew; MUñoz Rojas, José; Martin, Susana; Van Dijk, Lisa Abstract: Agriculture and forestry are facing numerous challenges, driven by a complex set of social, economic, and ecological factors. Innovation is a key to devising viable, resilient, and sustainable solutions to these challenges, but for innovations to have impact, they need to be “scaled.” The current policy context, in the European Union (EU) and elsewhere, encourages the use of the “interactive” model of innovation through the so-called “multi-actor” approach. In this study, we explore the dynamics of scaling in agricultural and forestry co-innovation partnerships. We ask whether such partnerships can be effective instruments to scale innovations and what factors play a role in the scaling process. Thus, the novelty of our paper is that it is the first published study of the dynamics of scaling within the current EU policy framework. Our analysis draws upon evidence from eight co-innovation case studies across Europe, encompassing varied contexts, scales, and funding mechanisms, and identifies three distinct forms of scaling: scaling out, up, and deep. The selection by co-innovation partnerships of strategies and enabling mechanisms in pursuit of scaling is dependent on factors such as funding conditions, contextual norms, and partnership objectives. Partnerships need to be clear about the type of scaling they aim to achieve, have an in-depth understanding of contextual complexities, and ensure that scaling is an integral part of the entire project cycle. Co-innovation partnerships can be effective catalysts for transformative change, provided scaling complexities are navigated, and enabling mechanisms leveraged adeptly. Our insights advance the understanding of scaling dynamics in co-innovation and offer evidence-based strategies for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to bolster the impact of co-innovation initiatives in agriculture and forestry. Tue, 17 Jun 2025 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41947 2025-06-17T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41944 Title: Prioritising Iberian Wetlandsfor the Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds through Network Analysis Authors: Mendes, Vasco; Godinho, Carlos; Salgueiro, Pedro Abstract: Without adequate protection, wetlands used by migratory waterbirds as stopover sites risk degradation or loss, which can restrict a species' ability to adapt to environmental change and reduce the functional connectivity between breeding and non-breeding grounds. To address this problem, we developed a workflow that uses spatial network analysis, informed by citizen science data, to assess stopover site importance. Applied to the Iberian Peninsula, this approach determined the relative importance of wetlands for the post-nuptial migration of 17 waterbird species, both at the species and group level. Our results align with existing research, while also highlighting sites where current protection may be insufficient. However, the reliability of the workflow is influenced by species- dependent, temporal, and spatial parameters, which require careful consideration to ensure robust and ecologically meaningful assessments. Despite these limitations, the workflow's adaptability and replicability enable its application in other geographical regions for which data is available, making it a valuable tool for prioritizing wetland protection to support migratory waterbird species conservation worldwide. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41944 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41935 Title: 10: Enhancing rural prosperity through social capital Authors: Noll, Dominik; Rivera, Maria Abstract: The link between social capital and economic development has received much attention in recent decades. While economic development is proven to have positive effects on social inclusion and quality of life, this happens mostly at the expense of environmental sustainability. Research should thus not only focus on the link between social capital and economic development but also prosperity, understood as ecological sustainability, social inclusion, and quality of life at large. Typically, the term prosperity has been associated almost exclusively with economic growth, but evidence has shown that this could only be achieved at the expense of environmental sustainability and that GDP as an indicator falls short in accounting for the general well-being of all humans. Prosperity should include factors such as social cohesion and engagement, achieved through cooperation and trust, environmental sustainability, and knowledge, which increases the ability people have to increase their resilience, and quality of life. All these factors are supported by, powered by, and geared towards social capital, which is one of the key building blocks of the “social web”. With our contribution, we aim at expanding the focus from the link of social capital and economic development to the impact of social capital on prosperity. We do so by providing theoretical and practical information about eight illustrative case studies from Austria, Portugal, Spain and Türkiye that serve as best practice examples for increasing the prosperity of rural regions through the building of social capital. The empirical analysis of these best practice examples shows that in all cases, social, economic, and environmental sustainability are core elements. Thus, future research must look beyond the impact of social capital on economic development, by integrating indicators that show if social capital is a valuable tool to reach this new form of prosperity, incorporating all three dimensions of sustainability. Wed, 14 May 2025 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41935 2025-05-14T23:00:00Z