Ball Recovery in the Handball Tournament of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games: Sequential Analysis of Positional Play as Used by the Spanish Team’s Defence

In sport there is a great need to obtain as much information as possible about the factors which affect the dynamics of play. This study uses sequential analysis and temporal patterns (T-patterns)to examine the evolution of defence (against an equal number of attackers)as used by the Spanish handball team at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The aim is to help handball coaches (during their training and gathering of professional experience)to understand the importance of the structure of defensive systems. This can be achieved through observational processes that reveal the evolution and adaptation of these defensive systems according to different variables: the match score, the response of the opposing team and progress through the tournament.

The East Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries: Stock Collapse or Recovery?

A discrete time, multi-gear, and age structured bio-economic model is developed for the East Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries, a paradigmatic example of the difficulties faced in managing highly migratory fish stocks. The model is used to analyse alternative management strategies for the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) managing this fishery, and to investigate some of the policy implications. For the various scenarios, the optimal stock level varies between 500–800,000 tonnes, which compares with a stock level of 150,000 tonnes in 1995. In other words, there is a very strong case for rebuilding the stock. Moreover, the sustainability of the stock is threatened unless a recovery programme is implemented; indeed, the alternative may be stock collapse. Second, to rebuild the stock, Draconian measures are called for: either outright moratoria over fairly lengthy periods, or possibly a more gradual approach to steady state given by a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) at a low level for an extended period of time. Third, the cost of inefficient gear structure is very high indeed.

DNA damage in canine transmissible venereal tumor cells

O Tumor Venéreo Transmissível (TVT) tem sido classificado de acordo com o tipo celular predominante da seguinte forma: linfocitóide, plasmocitóide e misto. Vários graus de agressividade com grande variedade de comportamento biológico, têm sido descritos de acordo com as morfologias das células do TVT. O presente estudo teve como objectivo investigar o nível de danos no DNA nos três tipos de células do TVT, visando uma melhor compreensão dos mecanismos relacionados com a agressividade dessa neoplasia. Um total de 35 cães, sem restrição quanto à idade, sexo ou raça, e com diagnóstico clínico e citológico de TVT foram avaliados. Amostras de células foram obtidas a partir de 35 tumores, por aspiração com agulha fina, e realizada citologia e análise dos danos no DNA, pelo Ensaio Cometa. Dos 35 casos de TVT, 12 (34,3%) foram plasmocitóide, 11 (31,4%) linfocitóide, e 12 (34,3%) misto. Estatísticamente (p <0,05) o TVT linfocitóide apresentou maior nível de danos no DNA quando comparado com os outros dois tipos.