Propagation of ship waves on a sloping bottom

The numerical model FUNWAVE was adapted in order to simulate the generation and propagation of ship waves to shore, including phenomena such as refraction, diffraction, currents and breaking of waves. Results are shown for Froude numbers equal to 0.8, 1.0 and 1.1, in order to verify the refraction of the wave pattern, identify breaking conditions and to investigate the wave generation scheme as a moving pressure at the free surface. © 2009 World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

Biopolítica em Giorgio Agambem: reflexão crítica sobre a legitimidade do Poder Soberano

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Differential organotin sensitivity in two Leucozonia species from a ship traffic area in southeastern Brazil

Tributyltin exposure is the primary cause of imposex development in gastropods, making them excellent bioindicators. The present research represents the first examination of butyltin (BT) contamination in surface sediments associated with imposex in Leucozonia nassa and L. ocellata in a harbour complex area in Espirito Santo, southeastern Brazil. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the organotin pollution in the area and to assess the sensitivity of both species to BT pollution through imposex development. Specimens were collected between 2007 and 2010 and the sediments were sampled in 2007. Imposex intensity was evaluated based on the percentage of imposexed females, the relative penis length index (RPLI) and the average value of the vas deferens sequence index (VDSI). BTs were analysed using gas chromatography equipped with a pulsed flame photometric detector (PFPD). The results demonstrated the occurrence of elevated concentrations of BTs in the sediment ranging from 383.7 to 7172.9 ng Sn g(-1), indicating a severe contamination of the area, which was confirmed by the biological monitoring results. Our findings also indicated that L. ocellata is a less sensitive species than L. nassa and that this differential sensitivity plays a key role in the distributions of the populations of both species in the studied area.

Poder soberano e biopolítica no combate às drogas no Brasil

In the last two or three decades has become common the debate on the harmful effects produced by trade and use of illicit substances in Brazil. The "drug problem" as it became known worldwide in official and media discourses, has become, if not the only, at least the most important determinant of a series of social ills that affect both the rich countries (classified as consumers), and the poor countries (the producers and exporters of these "evil substances"). This situation that today is extremely pernicious, may be better understood through some elements of the story of its constitution. In this sense, we draw a succinct history of drug prohibition worldwide and we use the Foucauldian concept of biopower and the concept of “death policy” designed by André Saldanha Costa to comment briefly on the "drug problem" in Brazil. In this initial approach, we can affirm the importance of these two concepts for the understanding of the “depoliticized life" of drug traffickers as well as the governmental policies, both legal and health focused on this issue.