Ecological criteria for evaluating candidate sites for marine reserves

Several schemes have been developed to help select the locations of marine reserves. All of them combine social, economic, and biological criteria, and few offer any guidance as to how to prioritize among the criteria identified. This can imply that the relative weights given to different criteria are unimportant. Where two sites are of equal value ecologically; then socioeconomic criteria should dominate the choice of which should be protected. However, in many cases, socioeconomic criteria are given equal or greater weight than ecological considerations in the choice of sites. This can lead to selection of reserves with little biological value that fail to meet many of the desired objectives. To avoid such a possibility, we develop a series of criteria that allow preliminary evaluation of candidate sites according to their relative biological values in advance of the application of socioeconomic criteria. We include criteria that,. while not strictly biological, have a strong influence on the species present or ecological processes. Out scheme enables sites to be assessed according to their biodiversity, the processes which underpin that diversity, and the processes that support fisheries and provide a spectrum of other services important to people. Criteria that capture biodiversity values include biogeographic representation, habitat representation and heterogeneity, and presence of species or populations of special interest (e.g., threatened species). Criteria that capture sustainability of biodiversity and fishery values include the size of reserves necessary to protect viable habitats, presence of exploitable species, vulnerable life stages, connectivity among reserves, links among ecosystems, and provision of ecosystem services to people. Criteria measuring human and natural threats enable candidate sites to be eliminated from consideration if risks are too great, but also help prioritize among sites where threats can be mitigated by protection. While our criteria can be applied to the design of reserve networks, they also enable choice of single reserves to be made in the context of the attributes of existing protected areas. The overall goal of our scheme is to promote the development of reserve networks that will maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at large scales. The values of eco-system goods and services for people ultimately depend on meeting this objective.

A mechanistic model for carbon dioxide corrosion of mild steel in the presence of protective iron carbonate films - Part 3: Film growth model

A model of iron carbonate (FeCO3) film growth is proposed, which is an extension of the recent mechanistic model of carbon dioxide (CO2) corrosion by Nesic, et al. In the present model, the film growth occurs by precipitation of iron carbonate once saturation is exceeded. The kinetics of precipitation is dependent on temperature and local species concentrations that are calculated by solving the coupled species transport equations. Precipitation tends to build up a layer of FeCO3 on the surface of the steel and reduce the corrosion rate. On the other hand, the corrosion process induces voids under the precipitated film, thus increasing the porosity and leading to a higher corrosion rate. Depending on the environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, CO2 partial pressure, velocity, etc., the balance of the two processes can lead to a variety of outcomes. Very protective films and low corrosion rates are predicted at high pH, temperature, CO2 partial pressure, and Fe2+ ion concentration due to formation of dense protective films as expected. The model has been successfully calibrated against limited experimental data. Parametric testing of the model has been done to gain insight into the effect of various environmental parameters on iron carbonate film formation. The trends shown in the predictions agreed well with the general understanding of the CO2 corrosion process in the presence of iron carbonate films. The present model confirms that the concept of scaling tendency is a good tool for predicting the likelihood of protective iron carbonate film formation.

Numerical study of hydrogenic effective mass theory for an impurity P donor in Si in the presence of an electric field and interfaces

In this paper we examine the effects of varying several experimental parameters in the Kane quantum computer architecture: A-gate voltage, the qubit depth below the silicon oxide barrier, and the back gate depth to explore how these variables affect the electron density of the donor electron. In particular, we calculate the resonance frequency of the donor nuclei as a function of these parameters. To do this we calculated the donor electron wave function variationally using an effective-mass Hamiltonian approach, using a basis of deformed hydrogenic orbitals. This approach was then extended to include the electric-field Hamiltonian and the silicon host geometry. We found that the phosphorous donor electron wave function was very sensitive to all the experimental variables studied in our work, and thus to optimize the operation of these devices it is necessary to control all parameters varied in this paper.

Are Ichthyosporea animals or fungi? Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of elongation factor 1α of Ichthyophonus irregularis

Ichthyosporea is a recently recognized group of morphologically simple eukaryotes, many of which cause disease in aquatic organisms. Ribosomal RNA sequence analyses place Ichthyosporea near the divergence of the animal and fungal lineages, but do not allow resolution of its exact phylogenetic position. Some of the best evidence for a specific grouping of animals and fungi (Opisthokonta) has come from elongation factor 1alpha, not only phylogenetic analysis of sequences but also the presence or absence of short insertions and deletions. We sequenced the EF-1alpha gene from the ichthyosporean parasite Ichthyophonus irregularis and determined its phylogenetic position using neighbor-joining, parsimony and Bayesian methods. We also sequenced EF-1alpha genes from four chytrids to provide broader representation within fungi. Sequence analyses and the presence of a characteristic 12 amino acid insertion strongly indicate that I. irregularis is a member of Opisthokonta, but do not resolve whether I. irregularis is a specific relative of animals or of fungi. However, the EF-1alpha of I. irregularis exhibits a two amino acid deletion heretofore reported only among fungi. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Pentecostais na política capixaba : representação parlamentar da Igreja Assembleia de Deus nas eleições (2002, 2006, 2010)

A presente dissertação pretendeu observar a presença de candidatos da Igreja Evangélica Assembleia de Deus no Estado do Espírito Santo no âmbito de sua representação parlamentar no legislativo estadual nas eleições de 2002, 2006 e 2010. Observou-se a relação entre religião e política ressaltando-se a expansão evangélica pentecostal, especificamente o caso da Assembleia de Deus. O estudo parte da ideia de que a escolha de líderes dentro das estruturas institucionais religiosas também pode influenciar escolhas no âmbito da estrutura social como, por exemplo, a escolha de lideranças políticas.

The 1623 Plan for Global Governance: the obscure history of its reception

Abstract In the present article we analyze the characteristics and the reception of the first plan for global governance, the New Cyneas by Émeric Crucé. With this goal in mind, we examine the history of its readings and the possible influence on the Duke of Sully's project for European confederation, the case most often cited by historians of ideas. Our analysis takes into consideration the 17th century reception, the scant dissemination of the work and the possible causes of its limited impact. Our conclusions support, on the one hand, the novelty of Crucé's principal ideas, and on the other, their limited impact over the time with the exception of the period surrounding the creation of the League of Nations.

Vasco da Gama and the Later Portuguese Colonial Presence in India

A chegada de Vasco da Gama à Índia marcou o início de uma nova era na história da Índia e do mundo. Foi um encontro marcado por colaboração e resistências. Tanto os indianos como os portugueses faziam cedências por necessidade ou por conveniências. Não se pode ignorar neste processo o impacto dos renegados portugueses que se espalharam pela Asia toda. Era o resultado da "grande soltura" após a morte de Afonso de Albuquerque que acreditava numa economia comandada. O império da sombra, tão bem descrito por Fernão Mendes Pinto prevaleceu.

Psicologia das motivações ajurídicas do sentenciar : a emergência do saber em detrimento do poder

RESUMO:A pretensão deste trabalho reside na indagação sobre a eventual existência de um acervo de motivações ajurídicas que fundamentem as decisões judicias, erigindo como actor principal o Aplicador da Lei. Para tanto – recorreu-se à utilização de um instrumento construído pela autora, em 2005 – a Grelha de Observação das Motivações Ajurídicas do Sentenciar – destinado a captar aspectos considerados principais na comunicação dos protagonistas do processo de criminalização secundária, quer ao nível da comunicação verbal (C.V.) quer no concerne à comunicação não verbal (C.N.V.), verificando, depois, em presença das decisões, as razões justificativas evidenciadas. E que constituíram o suporte ajurídico de cada sentença. Assim, realizou-se um trabalho de observação, tendo a Grelha de Observação sido aplicada por licenciados em Psicologia, estudantes do 2º ciclo de Psicologia Forense e da Exclusão Social (Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias), e alunos da Faculdade de Direito (Universidade Nova de Lisboa), que operaram em três tribunais criminais de Lisboa A amostra é constituída por 25 julgamentos, com um total de 64 personagens judiciais. Os resultados, ainda que meramente indicativos, demonstram uma tendência para a validade e consistência interna da grelha, indiciando também a verificação de motivações ajurídicas nas decisões judiciais. ABSTRACT: The intention of this work resides in the investigation of the eventual existence of an amount of non judicial motivations which support judicial decisions, where the law applicator arises as the main actor. For such - the use of an instrument built by the author in 2005 was resorted to - the Observation grid of the non judicial motivations of the sentencing - destined to capture aspects considered primary in the communication of the key players of the secondary criminalization process, in both the verbal communication level and in what concerns non verbal communication, later verifying, in the presence of the decisions, the evidenced justifiable reasons, which established the non judicial support of each sentence. Thus, an observational work was performed, having been applied the observation grid by Psychology graduates, students of the masters in Forensic Psychology and of Social Exclusion (Lusófona University of Humanities and Technology), as well as students of the Faculty of Law (New University of Lisbon), which operated in three criminal courts in Lisbon. The sample consists of 25 trials, with a total of 64 judicial characters. The results, even if only indicative, show a trend towards internal consistency and validity of the grid, also indicating the verification of non judicial motivations in judicial decisions.

As representações sociais das mulheres migrantes brasileiras vítimas de violência doméstica

O tema a que se refere este estudo foi escolhido dada a atualidade e a pertinência da temática da violência doméstica na nossa sociedade, sendo reconhecida e assumida como um crime público e uma forma grave de violação dos direitos humanos. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar, identificar e compreender as representações sociais de um grupo de mulheres migrantes brasileiras vítimas de violência doméstica. Do ponto de vista metodológico o estudo é qualitativo recorrendo aos testemunhos pessoais através de uma amostra de 10 participantes no qual foi aplicada a técnica de recolha de dados, a entrevista. Os conteúdos das entrevistas foram analisados através dos softwares Textstat 2.9 e do Freemind 1.1. Os resultados demonstraram que o tipo de violência doméstica preponderante é a violência física e as causas da violência doméstica foram, essencialmente, o álcool e as drogas. O agressor foi representado pelas mulheres através de objetivações negativas e afetivas, sendo que a maioria das mulheres acreditam na mudança do comportamento violento do agressor. No que tange às representações acerca do futuro, observaram-se representações ancoradas na resiliência e na falta de perspetivas de futuro. Os resultados são indicadores que as representações sociais que as mulheres brasileiras têm dos brasileiros são positivas e dos portugueses negativas, sendo o suporte social sustentado na família, nos amigos e nas instituições de apoio à vítima. Os resultados demonstram que as mulheres possuem a representação de que os portugueses e os brasileiros são ambos violentos, e constatou-se que as representações sociais que as mulheres possuem em relação à tolerância são objetivações positivas. Verificou-se também que a violência contra a mulher reflete um fenómeno complexo e multifacetado.

Grid structure impact in sparse point representation of derivatives

In the Sparse Point Representation (SPR) method the principle is to retain the function data indicated by significant interpolatory wavelet coefficients, which are defined as interpolation errors by means of an interpolating subdivision scheme. Typically, a SPR grid is coarse in smooth regions, and refined close to irregularities. Furthermore, the computation of partial derivatives of a function from the information of its SPR content is performed in two steps. The first one is a refinement procedure to extend the SPR by the inclusion of new interpolated point values in a security zone. Then, for points in the refined grid, such derivatives are approximated by uniform finite differences, using a step size proportional to each point local scale. If required neighboring stencils are not present in the grid, the corresponding missing point values are approximated from coarser scales using the interpolating subdivision scheme. Using the cubic interpolation subdivision scheme, we demonstrate that such adaptive finite differences can be formulated in terms of a collocation scheme based on the wavelet expansion associated to the SPR. For this purpose, we prove some results concerning the local behavior of such wavelet reconstruction operators, which stand for SPR grids having appropriate structures. This statement implies that the adaptive finite difference scheme and the one using the step size of the finest level produce the same result at SPR grid points. Consequently, in addition to the refinement strategy, our analysis indicates that some care must be taken concerning the grid structure, in order to keep the truncation error under a certain accuracy limit. Illustrating results are presented for 2D Maxwell's equation numerical solutions.