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Background High-quality data is crucial for guiding decision making and practicing evidence-based healthcare, especially if previous knowledge is lacking. Nevertheless, data quality frailties have been exposed worldwide during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on a major Portuguese surveillance dataset, our study aims to assess data quality issues and suggest possible solutions. Methods On April 27th 2020, the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health (DGS) made available a dataset (DGSApril) for researchers, upon request. On August 4th, an updated dataset (DGSAugust) was also obtained. The quality of data was assessed through analysis of data completeness and consistency between both datasets. Results DGSAugust has not followed the data format and variables as DGSApril and a significant number of missing data and inconsistencies were found (e.g. 4,075 cases from the DGSApril were apparently not included in DGSAugust). Several variables also showed a low degree of completeness and/or changed their values from one dataset to another (e.g. the variable ‘underlying conditions’ had more than half of cases showing different information between datasets). There were also significant inconsistencies between the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 shown in DGSAugust and by the DGS reports publicly provided daily. Conclusions The low quality of COVID-19 surveillance datasets limits its usability to inform good decisions and perform useful research. Major improvements in surveillance datasets are therefore urgently needed - e.g. simplification of data entry processes, constant monitoring of data, and increased training and awareness of health care providers - as low data quality may lead to a deficient pandemic control.

A succinct review of the application of the Habitats Directive in Portugal is presented. Since 1971 until 2000 Portugal has defined approximately 8,8% of its territory as national protected areas. With the application of the Habitats Directive nature conservation policies extended to more than 17,4 % of the territory increasing by 98% and the knowledge on vegetation community’s habitats was certainly deepened. Including special protection areas (Birds Directive) the Portuguese territory under one or more conservation status totals 21,5%. Finally, the support given by the Portuguese Phytosociology Association – ALFA in the detailed description of the Directive habitats is divulged, showing the importance, usefulness and efficacy of phytosociologic studies, Applicazione della Direttiva Habitat in Portogallo. Viene presentata una succinta revisione dell’applicazione della Direttiva Habitat in Portogallo. Tra il 1971 e il 2000 il Portogallo ha definito come aree nazionali protette circa l’8,8% del suo territorio. L’applicazione della Direttiva Habitat ha significato un aumento del 98% delle aree sottoposte a protezione legale, raggiungendo il 17,4% circa del territorio e un approfondimento della conoscenza degli habitat delle comunità vegetali. Includendo le zone speciale di protezione (Direttiva Uccelli) si totalizza il 21,5%. Nelle conclusioni si evidenzia il ruolo della Associazione Portoghese di Fitosociologia (ALFA) nella descrizione dettagliata degli habitat della Direttiva, dimostrando l’importanza, l’utilitá e l’efficacia degli studi fitosociologici.

In continental Portugal it is generally recognized that the Ria de Aveiro is the coastal limit between Mediterranean and Eurosiberian regions. Considering salt marshes flora and vegetation communities, the Tagus River estuary seems typically Mediterranean, while the Ria de Aveiro lagoon seems typically Eurosiberian, therefore the boundary between the two regions might be found among the smaller salty areas existing between the two referred wetlands (namely the Óbidos Lagoon, the Tornada and Mondego rivers). Although tide height is a sound explanation for the floristic differences between Eurosiberian and Mediterranean saltmarshes, the fact is that the southwest Portuguese Atlantic salt marshes present Mediterranean climate and flora, despite its greater tide heights if compared to the Mediterranean Basin. Conversely, Mediterranean climate by its own is not enough to explain those florisitc differences, as it exits north of Aveiro. We introduced the importance of sea-surface temperature in order to detail the boundary between the two regions. Despite climate and hydrologic regime being Mediterranean between the Tagus and the Ria de Aveiro, the cold Atlantic waters seem to influence the flora and the vegetation of the present salt marshes. It is proposed to classify as Eurosiberian all salt marshes north of the Tagus Basin.

O presente Guia de Campo constitui uma iniciativa editorial absolutamente inédita, a vários níveis, no nosso país. Inédita, por pela primeira vez se reunir num Guia de Campo, uma grande parte das espécies lenhosas que ocorrem em Portugal continental, num total de mais de 400 espécies descritas, quase todas elas com ilustrações. Inédita, por incluir uma série de mapas com a distribuição em Portugal continental das nossas espécies lenhosas nativas. Inédita ainda, pelo facto de ter reunido uma equipa de mais de vinte especialistas portugueses que voluntariamente se disponibilizaram para trabalhar expressamente para a produção deste volume. Este último aspecto é de importância fundamental, já que a produção da presente obra nunca teria sido possível sem a abnegação e a vontade de servir das várias dezenas de pessoas que colaboraram, quer ao nível dos textos, quer ao nível das imagens. Para além das pessoas, há também que mencionar as instituições que foram envolvidas na elaboração do presente Guia, nomeadamente seis herbários de Universidades e Centros de Investigação do Porto, Bragança, Vila Real e Lisboa.

Transcription termination of RNA polymerase II between closely spaced genes is an important, though poorly understood, mechanism. This is true, in particular, in the Drosophila genome, where approximately 52% of tandem genes are separated by less than 1 kb. We show that a set of Drosophila tandem genes has a negative correlation of gene expression and display several molecular marks indicative of promoter pausing. We find that an intergenic spacing of 168 bp is sufficient for efficient transcription termination between the polo-snap tandem gene pair, by a mechanism that is independent of Pcf11 and Xrn2. In contrast, analysis of a tandem gene pair containing a longer intergenic region reveals that termination occurs farther downstream of the poly(A) signal and is, in this case, dependent on Pcf11 and Xrn2. For polo-snap, displacement of poised polymerase from the snap promoter by depletion of the initiation factor TFIIB results in an increase of polo transcriptional read-through. This suggests that poised polymerase is necessary for transcription termination. Interestingly, we observe that polo forms a TFIIB dependent gene loop between its promoter and terminator regions. Furthermore, in a plasmid containing the polo-snap locus, deletion of the polo promoter causes an increase in snap expression, as does deletion of polo poly(A) signals. Taken together, our results indicate that polo forms a gene loop and polo transcription termination occurs by an Xrn2 and Pcf11 independent mechanism that requires TFIIB.

The organization of the Geobotanical Excursion by ALFA (Associação Lusitana de Fitossociologia) is yet another contribution for the enhancement and addition of scientific knowledge regarding the flora and vegetation of the Portuguese territory. This field guide is, thus, a synthetic description of the flora and vegetation occurring in the Coastal Vincentine biogeographical district. Considering both the richness and relevance of its flora (including many endemic species, in particular along its dune fields and rocky cliffs), as well as the diversity of its plant communities, it is clear that we are before one of the most valuable territories regarding nature conservation and biodiversity. Consequently, the locations described in the present field trip guide try to include a large array of habitats (and respective plant communities) occurring in the study region, although with no pretension of being complete. For each community enumerated an ecological characterization is presented, focusing on its hydrology, pedology, geology and geomorphology, as well as bioclimate. Some new syntaxa are presented, which resulted from the field survey undertaken. Lastly, the altitudinal cliseries of the study area is presented.