Biodiversity, biosecurity and integrated pest management

Breaches of biosecurity, leading to incursions by invasive species, have the potential to cause substantial economic, social and environmental losses, including drastic reduction in biodiversity. It is argued that improving biosecurity reduces risk to biodiversity, while maintaining stable ecosystems through biodiversity can be a safeguard against biosecurity breaches. The global costs of invasive alien species (IAS) have been estimated at around US$350 billion, while alien invertebrate and vertebrate pests and weeds are estimated to cost Australia at least $7 billion a year. A striking, current, example is the incursion by Myrtle Rust (Puccinia psidii) an organism which can infect all members of the Myrtaceae, the most important family in the Australian flora. Myrtle rust was first detected on a property on the central coast of New South Wales in late April 2010. Two years later the disease has been detected in numerous locations in Queensland and New South Wales ranging from commercial plant nurseries and public amenities to large areas of bushland. This particular breach of biosecurity will, inevitably, diminish biodiversity of flora and fauna over large areas of the continent. Integrated pest management (IPM), an enrichment of diversity in managing invasive and other pest species, offers the best opportunity to address problems such as these. Australia's response to increasing biosecurity risk is comprehensive and includes national networking of scientists engaged in a complex program of biosecurity research and development, including studies of IPM. This network is being enhanced by the development of international linkages.

Functional Surfaces for Microfluidics in Proteomic Analysis

Microchips for use in biomolecular analysis show a lot of promise for medical diagnostics and biomedical basic research. Among the potential advantages are more sensitive and faster analyses as well as reduced cost and sample consumption. Due to scaling laws, the surface are to volume ratios of microfluidic chips is very high. Because of this, tailoring the surface properties and surface functionalization are very important technical issues for microchip development. This thesis studies two different types of functional surfaces, surfaces for open surface capillary microfluidics and surfaces for surface assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, and combinations thereof. Open surface capillary microfluidics can be used to transport and control liquid samples on easily accessible open surfaces simply based on surface forces, without any connections to pumps or electrical power sources. Capillary filling of open partially wetting grooves is shown to be possible with certain geometries, aspect ratios and contact angles, and a theoretical model is developed to identify complete channel filling domains, as well as partial filling domains. On the other hand, partially wetting surfaces with triangular microstructures can be used for achieving directional wetting, where the water droplets do not spread isotropically, but instead only spread to a predetermined sector. Furthermore, by patterning completely wetting and superhydrophobic areas on the same surface, complex droplet shapes are achieved, as the water stretches to make contact with the wetting surface, but does not enter into the superhydrophobic domains. Surfaces for surface assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry are developed by applying various active thin film coatings on multiple substrates, in order to separate surface and bulk effects. Clear differences are observed between both surface and substrate layers. The best performance surfaces consisted of amorphous silicon coating and an inorganic-organic hybrid substrate, with nanopillars and nanopores. These surfaces are used for matrix-free ionization of drugs, peptides and proteins, and for some analytes, the detection limits were in the high attomoles. Microfluidics and laser desorption ionization surfaces are combined on a functionalized drying platforms, where the surface is used to control the shape of the deposited analyte droplet, and the shape of the initial analyte droplet affects the dried droplet solute deposition pattern. The deposited droplets can then directly detected by mass spectrometry. Utilizing this approach, results of analyte concentration, splitting and separation are demonstrated.

Discrete Vortex Method-Based Model for Ground-Effect Studies

A discrete vortex method-based model has been proposed for two-dimensional/three-dimensional ground-effect prediction. The model merely requires two-dimensional sectional aerodynamics in free flight. This free-flight data can be obtained either from experiments or a high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics solver. The first step of this two-step model involves a constrained optimization procedure that modifies the vortex distribution on the camber line as obtained from a discrete vortex method to match the free-flight data from experiments/computational fluid dynamics. In the second step, the vortex distribution thus obtained is further modified to account for the presence of the ground plane within a discrete vortex method-based framework. Whereas the predictability of the lift appears as a natural extension, the drag predictability within a potential flow framework is achieved through the introduction of what are referred to as drag panels. The need for the use of the generalized Kutta-Joukowski theorem is emphasized. The extension of the model to three dimensions is by the way of using the numerical lifting-line theory that allows for wing sweep. The model is extensively validated for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional ground-effect studies. The work also demonstrates the ability of the model to predict lift and drag coefficients of a high-lift wing in ground effect to about 2 and 8% accuracy, respectively, as compared to the results obtained using a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solver involving grids with several million volumes. The model shows a lot of promise in design, particularly during the early phase.

A proposed integrated livestock-rice-poultry-cum-fish culture in enclosure system

Integrated agriculture-cum-fish farming has been practised profitably for ages in the Chinese small-scale farming system. There is a great potential for this system by utilizing the vast Nigerian flood plains (approx. 515,000 ha). Dogongari Bay in Lake Kainji Basin was identified as a suitable site for this system after some extensive fish culture trials. Polyculture of Clarias spp., Heterotis niloticus and Tilapia was proposed for integration with layers in the poultry house, 2-ha upland rain-fed rice farming and indirect cattle rearing in the 5-ha enclosure site. Cost benefit analysis showed that the system will consistently record profit as from the second year of operation. Various complex factors were identified to affect profitability of this mixed farming system. Concerted research approach is needed to fully understand the interrelationships of the various components of this integrated system. Generous funding of research activities is very crucial in this situation

Teoria dos crimes omissivos

O trabalho está voltado à elaboração de uma teoria dos crimes omissivos, com o sentido de obter uma limitação de sua expansão. Para alcançar esse objetivo, são postas em discussão todas as concepções do crime omissivo, tanto no aspecto dogmático quanto de política criminal. Na primeira parte, estão apresentados os problemas práticos da omissão, sua evolução legislativa e sua importância. A partir daí, são discutidas as elaborações doutrinárias quanto à sua natureza, à sua estrutura e à sua punibilidade. Quanto à sua natureza, a omissão é analisada como forma de ação, como forma equiparada de ação e como forma correspondente de ação. Quanto à sua estrutura, a omissão é vista sob o enfoque de seu tratamento legal, que requer um aprofundamento da composição da norma e de seus elementos comunicativos. Quanto à sua punibilidade, são destacados seus aspectos contraditórios referentes à falta de simetria entre sua estrutura empírica e normativa, de um lado, e as consequências pelo descumprimento do dever, de outro lado. Na segunda parte, formata-se uma conclusão dogmática crítica de toda a discussão em torno da natureza, da estrutura e da punibilidade da omissão. Inicia-se sob uma crítica dos objetivos da dogmática e se projeta sobre todas as questões fundamentais que envolvem os crimes omissivos. São feitas assertivas sobre a tipicidade, a antijuridicidade e a culpabilidade da omissão, assim como sobre o concurso de pessoas e suas fases de execução. Para não sobrecarregar o texto, são tratados em anexo os temas relacionados ao concurso de crimes e aos delitos omissivos culposos. Tendo em vista que a segunda parte constitui uma conclusão de todo o desenvolvimento crítico da omissão, realizado na primeira parte, não foram enumerados tópicos conclusivos. O método empregado está baseado no princípio dialético construtivista de Holzcamp.

Sistema Nacional de Atendimento Socioeducativo SINASE a construção de uma política para os deserdados do Brasil

O Sistema Nacional de Atendimento Socioeducativo SINASE, é uma deliberação do Conselho Nacional da Criança e do Adolescente numa perspectiva de reordenamento desta política pós aprovação do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente. O adolescente autor de ato infracional faz parte de um conjunto de representações sociais ao longo da história social deste país, que em muito representa as atualizações das diversas formas de exclusão e subalternidade a que estão submetidas as crianças e os adolescentes empobrecidos. Este estudo tem por objetivo contribuir com o entendimento do lugar que a criança e o adolescente empobrecido ocupam ao longo deste percurso histórico. Também objetiva esclarecer o processo de criação de uma política pública, o SINASE, que busca estabelecer parâmetros para o atendimento socioeducativo, que em sua maioria atende aos mais empobrecidos, aos considerados perigosos, conforme foram sendo estigmatizados ao longo deste processo histórico. A organização da esfera pública assume características importantes no que diz respeito ao descumprimento dos compromissos assumidos pelo país junto ao Comitê dos Direitos da Criança e Adolescente, fato relevante conforme descrito nas recomendações feitas ao país.

A responsabilidade civil do terceiro cúmplice pela lesão ao crédito alheio

Cuida-se de dissertação elaborada com o escopo de precisar os fundamentos e os critérios para a responsabilização civil do terceiro cúmplice nas lesões ao crédito alheio. O amplo desenvolvimento das relações obrigacionais no comércio jurídico exigiu do jurista o reconhecimento de situações nas quais o inadimplemento fosse ocasionado por uma conduta proveniente de um terceiro estranho à relação obrigacional. A imperiosa infiltração dos princípios constitucionais nas situações jurídicas subjetivas e a consagração normativa dos princípios da função social do contrato e da boa-fé objetiva contribuíram sobremaneira para uma revigorada análise acerca do momento patológico das obrigações, permitindo-se a admissão de atribuição de responsabilidade civil pela violação ao crédito perpetrada por um estranho alheio à relação contratual que deu origem ao referido crédito. A configuração da tutela externa do crédito perpassa pela necessidade de instituição de um dever de respeito ao crédito importo ao terceiro, cuja violação enseje sua responsabilização pelos danos ocasionados. O desiderato essencial do presente trabalho reside na identificação dos fundamentos capazes de subsidiar a existência de tal dever, bem como averiguar critérios seguros para a determinação das hipóteses nas quais se exija a observância de tal dever, cabendo ao ordenamento promover adequadamente os interesses do credor, que serão reputados merecedores de tutela em observância às circunstâncias e vicissitudes do caso concerto que apontarão para sua prevalência sobre os interesses do terceiro. Tratando-se de estudo sobre responsabilidade civil, obedece-se a um itinerário metodológico que pretende identificar os fundamentos do dever cuja violação possibilite a responsabilização do terceiro; analisar os pressupostos genéricos da responsabilidade civil em obediências às especificidades que a hipótese de tutela externa do crédito acarreta, bem como examinar critérios alusivos às circunstâncias excepcionais que regem a matéria; e revelar as consequências e os efeitos que a extensão subjetiva do dever reparatório decorrente do inadimplemento poderá repercutir na relação obrigacional.

Contrato incompleto

A tese objetiva construir, sob o ponto de vista dogmático, critérios para a caracterização do contrato incompleto no direito brasileiro, estabelecendo o traço distintivo de sua causa e a disciplina jurídica que lhe é aplicável, à luz da metodologia civil-constitucional. Pretende-se, ainda, na perspectiva funcional dos fatos jurídicos, que permite a qualificação do contrato incompleto como negócio jurídico que emprega a técnica da gestão negativa da álea normal dos contratos, definir parâmetros interpretativos que orientem a sua execução. Por representarem o esmorecimento voluntário da técnica regulamentar, os contratos incompletos exigem elevados padrões de cooperação entre os contratantes na integração das lacunas, a ensejar a incidência reforçada dos princípios da boa-fé objetiva, da função social e do equilíbrio contratual, relativamente aos contratos em que ocorre a gestão positiva da álea normal. Após investigar os mecanismos legais incidentes na hipótese de inadimplemento do dever de integração da lacuna, analisam-se os limites legais e valorativos a que se sujeitam os contratos incompletos. Em chave conclusiva, almeja-se estabelecer o contrato incompleto como negócio jurídico lícito e merecedor de tutela no atendimento aos interesses concretos dos particulares no exercício de suas atividades econômicas, a evidenciar os novos confins da autonomia privada na legalidade constitucional.

Abordagens para a classificação contábil de instrumentos financeiros híbridos e/ou compostos: um estudo de caso com uma companhia aberta brasileira

Instrumentos financeiros híbridos e/ou compostos têm sido tema constante em matéria de regulação contábil. A literatura positiva apresenta uma hipótese que ajuda a compreender o porquê de algumas firmas recorrerem a ditos instrumentos para captar recursos: nível de endividamento no limite de quebra de covenants contratuais. No Brasil, firmas com registro na CVM, que se utilizaram desses instrumentos, classificando-os no patrimônio líquido, tiveram suas ITRs e/ou DFs reapresentadas e/ou republicadas por determinação da CVM. O ponto crítico de toda a discussão reside na distinção entre um item de passivo e um item de patrimônio líquido. Esse tema está disciplinado na IAS 32 (PT CPC n. 39) e presente no Discussion Paper - A review of the conceptual framework for financial reporting, emitido pelo IASB em julho de 2013, que apresenta duas abordagens que podem ser utilizadas, visando a simplificar a distinção entre um item de passivo e de patrimônio líquido: a narrow equity approach - NEA e a strict obligation approach - SOA. A adoção de cada uma dessas abordagens terá um impacto diferente nos níveis de endividamento/alavancagem e no potencial de diluição de participação dos acionistas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar abordagens para a classificação contábil das debêntures mandatoriamente conversíveis em ações, vis-à-vis a IAS 32 (PT CPC n. 39) e o Discussion Paper do IASB (NEA x SOA). A metodologia adotada é um estudo de caso de uma companhia aberta brasileira, que em 2010 emitiu debêntures mandatoriamente conversíveis e efetuou uma classificação desses instrumentos considerada inadequada pelo órgão regulador. Observa-se que a strict obligation approach é a abordagem que impacta menos no nível de endividamento, enquanto a narrow equity approach é a que apresenta maior alavancagem. As evidências sugerem os covenants contratuais como possíveis indutores de tal prática, fato que está em linha com o que a literatura da área documenta como fenômeno esperado. É bem verdade que no caso concreto, houve quebra contínua de covenants contratuais, corroborando a hipótese apresentada por SILVA (2008) de que o baixo custo de violação de covenants contribua para tal situação. Alternativamente, uma possível explicação para a escolha contábil da companhia reside na complexidade da IAS 32 (PT CPC 39) e desconhecimento de suas nuances.

Water-based exercise for adults with asthma

BackgroundAsthma is a common condition characterised by airway inflammation and airway narrowing, which can result in intermittent symptoms of wheezing, coughing and chest tightness, possibly limiting activities of daily life. Water-based exercise is believed to offer benefits for people with asthma through pollen-free air, humidity and effects of exercise on physical function.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of water-based exercise for adults with asthma.Search methodsWe searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register of Trials (CAGR), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), PsycINFO, the Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information Database (LILACS), the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), the System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE) and Google Scholar on 13 May 2014. We handsearched ongoing clinical trial registers and meeting abstracts of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the British Thoracic Society (BTS).Selection criteriaWe included all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of adults with asthma comparing a water-based exercise group versus one or more of the following groups: usual care, land-based exercise, non-exercise.Data collection and analysisTwo review authors (AJG, VS) independently extracted data fromthe primary studies using a standard form developed for this purpose, which includes methods, participants, interventions and outcomes. We contacted trial authors to request additional data. Data were input by one review author and were double-checked by a second review author.Main resultsIn this systematic review, we provide a narrative synthesis of available evidence from three small studies including 136 adult participants. the studies were at high risk of bias. No meta-analysis was possible because of methodological and interventional heterogeneity between included studies. the primary outcomes of quality of life and exacerbations leading to use of steroids were not reported by these studies. for exacerbations leading to health centre/hospital visits, uncertainty was wide because a very small number of events was reported (in a single study). Secondary outcomes symptoms, lung function, changes in medication and adverse effects, where available, described for each included study. the overall quality of the studies was very low, and no clear differences were noted between water-based exercise and comparator treatments. Therefore, we remain very uncertain about the effects of water-based exercise for adults with asthma.Authors' conclusionsThe small number of participants in the three included studies, the clinical and methodological heterogeneity observed and the high risk of bias assessed mean that we are unable to assess the place of water-based exercise in asthma. Randomised controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of water-based exercise for adults with asthma. for future research, we suggest greater methodological rigour (participant selection, blinding of outcome assessors, reporting of all outcomes analysed and registering of the study protocol).

Options to renew leases: time for legislative relief?

Argues that England should follow the example of Australia and New Zealand and give the courts statutory power to grant a tenant relief against forfeiture of the right to exercise an option to renew a lease by reason of the tenant being in breach of covenant. Suggests the legislative provision introducing this power should adopt wording mirroring that in the Law of Property Act 1925 s.146(2).

The legal pendulum swings back

Comments on the Court of Appeal judgment in Abou-Rahmah v Abacha on liability for dishonest assistance to a breach of trust. Discusses whether an objective standard should apply to determine whether the accessory acted dishonestly. Reviews case law, examining whether the combined test proposed in the House of Lords judgment in Twinsectra Ltd v Yardley is still good law.

Low-dose vitamin B-6 effectively lowers fasting plasma homocysteine in healthy elderly persons who are folate and riboflavin replete.

BACKGROUND: Current data suggest that physiologic doses of vitamin B-6 have no significant homocysteine-lowering effect. It is possible that an effect of vitamin B-6 was missed in previous trials because of a much greater effect of folic acid, vitamin B-12, or both. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-dose vitamin B-6 supplementation on fasting total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in healthy elderly persons who were made replete with folate and riboflavin. DESIGN: Twenty-two healthy elderly persons aged 63-80 y were supplemented with a low dose of vitamin B-6 (1.6 mg/d) for 12 wk in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial after repletion with folic acid (400 microg/d for 6 wk) and riboflavin (1.6 mg/d for 18 wk); none of the subjects had a vitamin B-12 deficiency. RESULTS: Folic acid supplementation lowered fasting tHcy by 19.6% (P

Personal Injury Liability in Sport: Emerging Trends

Violent play during the course of a game or sport is not a new phenomenon; accompanying legal proceedings are. This article considers personal injury liability for injuries inflicted by a participant upon an opponent during a sporting pursuit. The jurisdictional focus is on England and Wales. The sporting emphasis of the article is on competitive, body contact games. The legal emphasis is on the tort of negligence. Analogous to the law of criminal assault, breach of "implied sporting consent" or the volenti of the claimant will be seen as central in application, as assessed through a number of objective criteria, including the skill level of the injuring party and whether that defendant was acting in "reckless disregard" of the claimant's safety. These criteria or evidential guidelines, which emerge from a careful doctrinal analysis of the relevant case law, are seen as crucial to the examination of the appropriate degree of care in negligence within the prevailing circumstances of sport. The article also searches for some theoretical coherency within the case law, premising it on Fletcher's idea of reciprocal risk-taking. In addition, the underlying policy-related issue of sport's social utility is discussed, as are practical matters relating to vicarious liability, insurance and the measure of damages for "lost sporting opportunity". Moreover, it will be shown that personal injury claims relating to sports participant liability now extend to a consideration of the duties of coaches, referees, sports governing bodies and schools. Finally, this article is set against the backdrop of an apparently spiralling "compensation culture" and the concomitant threat that that "blame culture" poses for the future promotion, operation and administration of sport.

Parent Issues: How Life on Mars Negotiates a Television Generation Gap

In defining what he termed 'Television's Second Golden Age', Robert J.Thompson refers to characteristics such as being 'not regular TV', internal continuity, mixed genres but an aspiration towards 'realism', complex writing, self-consciousness and intertextuality. Such characteristics are displayed by the BBC series Life on Mars (2006-2007) which intermingles the Seventies tough cop show with psychological fantasy. This chapter examines the way that the series can be understood as a dramatisation of the negotiation that the creators undertook with their Seventies source material to update it for the values and qualities of contemporary television drama. It will emphasise the importance of television in the generation of the imagined 1973 and its characters, but also as an ongoing connection between the real and the imagined within the programme, including forming a breach of the boundaries between the two. Sam's actions within his Seventies world to remake it to include his own ideas of justice and due process while retaining the passion and freedom of action that the milieu provides will also be be examined in relation to the series' creators' needs to remake the Seventies tough-cop show in the light of modern social and media mores. The paper will also consider how Sam has to come to terms with his father's crimes, as the series' creators had to come to terms with the 'crimes' of taste, morality and approach of their 'parent' programmes from the Seventies' Golden Age.