Paciano II: the report of a conversation on whaling and science, 1-3 March 2008 (Paciano, Umbria)

In 2006 the UK-based charity, Global Ocean, with local support from the Third Millennium Foundation, convened a Conversation among specialists about the problems facing the conservation of whales. Called "A consultation on whaling", this gathering was held in the ancient village of Paciano, in Umbria near the border with Tuscany, 15 – 17 October 2006. There were 15 participants from 11 countries. Dr Kees Lankester served as moderator. The outcome was an Aide Memoire which served to guide the participants in the run-up to the 2007 meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), held in Anchorage, Alaska, in June. One point of agreement was that a second consultation should be held in the months following the Anchorage meeting, involving some but not necessarily all of the participants in the first, but concentrating this time on scientific issues – especially those encountered in the Scientific Committee of the IWC –with particular attention to informing a wider public about those scientific activities in relation to the problems confronting the IWC and the views of scientists about them. This document is the report of that Conversation, referred to as Paciano II. The moderator was Dr Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara and the Report was written by Kieran Mulvaney in consultation with all participants, and with reference to an Aide Memoire prepared by the Rapporteur, Dr Russell Leaper. The sponsor and organisers have agreed with the general sentiment expressed by participants in Paciano II that further such conversations should be held at roughly yearly intervals and they will try to satisfy that desire. Although these future gatherings would be concerned with the living ocean they would not necessarily be restricted in future to consideration of whales and whaling. Discussions are on-going for selection of a theme which is of both scientific interest and practical concern for conservation of marine life and management of the uses of ocean space. (Document has 18 pages)

Paciano II: a report of a conversation on whaling and science, 1-3 March 2008

In 2006 the UK-based charity, Global Ocean, with local support from the Third Millennium Foundation, convened a Conversation among specialists about the problems facing the conservation of whales. Called "A consultation on whaling", this gathering was held in the ancient village of Paciano, in Umbria near the border with Tuscany, 15 – 17 October 2006. There were 15 participants from 11 countries. Dr Kees Lankester served as moderator. The outcome was an Aide Memoire which served to guide the participants in the run-up to the 2007 meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), held in Anchorage, Alaska, in June. One point of agreement was that a second consultation should be held in the months following the Anchorage meeting, involving some but not necessarily all of the participants in the first, but concentrating this time on scientific issues – especially those encountered in the Scientific Committee of the IWC –with particular attention to informing a wider public about those scientific activities in relation to the problems confronting the IWC and the views of scientists about them. This document is the report of that Conversation, referred to as Paciano II. The moderator was Dr Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara and the Report was written by Kieran Mulvaney in consultation with all participants, and with reference to an Aide Memoire prepared by the Rapporteur, Dr Russell Leaper. The sponsor and organisers have agreed with the general sentiment expressed by participants in Paciano II that further such conversations should be held at roughly yearly intervals and they will try to satisfy that desire. Although these future gatherings would be concerned with the living ocean they would not necessarily be restricted in future to consideration of whales and whaling. Discussions are on-going for selection of a theme which is of both scientific interest and practical concern for conservation of marine life and management of the uses of ocean space. (19 page document)

Biology and Management of Sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria: Papers from the International Symposium on the Biology and Management of Sablefish, Seattle, Washington, 13-15 April 1993

At its june 1990 annual meeting, the Technical Subcommittee (TSC) of the Canada-U.S. Groundfish Committee recommended that scientists and managers working on sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria, issues convene to present and discuss the results of their recent research. Thorough knowledge of the biology and population dynamics of this species is essential for its effective management, especially considering its commercial importance. TSC representatives from both countries recognized that a great deal ofactive research has been conducted on this species since the International Sablefish Symposium was held in Anchorage, Alaska, in March 1983 (Melteff, 1983). As a result of this recommendation, the International Symposium on the Biology and Management of Sablefish (ISBMS) was convened April 13-15, 1993, at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington. (PDF file contains 286 pages.)

Estudo da aderência de barras de aço coladas ao concreto com resina Epóxi.

Assim como em outras áreas do conhecimento a construção civil vem evoluindo ao longo dos anos. Grandes investimentos e elevadas taxas de demandas por novos projetos requerem uma maior velocidade na consolidação de obras. Neste cenário, ficam precários os estudos e pesquisas que avaliam a capacidade de novas tecnologias. Na área do concreto e estruturas de concreto armado, depara-se a associação de técnicas consolidadas à métodos inovadores. A utilização de polímeros como material de construção, como é o caso dos aditivos para concreto, dos tubos e conexões, das esquadrias e como adesivos, utilizados em ligações de aduelas de pontes, associados a fibras de vidro ou carbono para reforços estruturais e para fixação de armaduras ou conectores no caso de reparação de estruturas, oferecendo uma solidarização eficiente entre elementos estruturais. O presente trabalho visa avaliar uma pequena parcela de aplicação de materiais poliméricos, principalmente quanto a sua característica de aderência e colagem de barras de aço ao concreto. O desenvolvimento do estudo ocorreu sobre uma perspectiva de ensaios laboratoriais de arrancamento de barras coladas com resina epóxi em blocos de concreto, sendo estes resultados comparados com barras de aço concretadas em blocos de concreto. Desse modo o principal fator de comparação seria a tensão de aderência desenvolvida na área de contato da barra com o substrato. Alguns parâmetros foram inseridos para uma abordagem de maior amplitude, tais como variação do diâmetro da barra (φ = 10,0mm; φ = 12,5mm e φ = 16,0mm), do comprimento de ancoragem (múltiplos do diâmetro, sendo 5φ e 7,5φ) e da espessura da resina (1mm, 2mm e 3mm). De forma complementar procedeu-se ao ensaio de vigas bi-apoiadas submetidas à flexão visando representar o comportamento de uma recuperação/reforço estrutural aplicado em escala. Para avaliar o comportamento destas vigas, foram ensaiados dois espécimes, uma viga padrão concretada de uma única vez e outra submetida a um reparo estrutural, onde possuía a armadura inferior inserida posteriormente à concretagem inicial, colada com resina epóxi nas extremidades da viga.

Mecanismos celulares e moleculares envolvidos com alterações na expressão de glicanos durante a progressão do câncer colorretal

O câncer colorretal representa uma das maiores causas de morbidade e mortalidade relacionadas ao câncer. No Brasil, é o terceiro tipo de câncer mais frequente em homens e mulheres. Muitos estudos estão sendo desenvolvidos no sentido de esclarecer os diversos aspectos moleculares que regulam as alterações fenotípicas exibidas pelas células que constituem o câncer colorretal, no entanto, comparativamente, ainda são poucos os que são dedicados a investigar o papel de modificações co- e pós-traducionais neste processo. Entre os vários tipos destas modificações que ocorrem em proteínas, a glicosilação é a mais comum. Cogita-se que aproximadamente cinquenta por cento de todas as proteínas são glicosiladas. Durante a transformação maligna, mudanças no perfil de expressão de glicanos (carboidratos covalentemente ligados a proteínas ou lipídios) estão envolvidas em uma variedade de mecanismos celulares, tais como: perda da adesão célula-célula e célula matriz, migração, invasão e evasão da apoptose. Neste estudo, foi investigada a atividade antitumoral de inibidores da biossíntese de N-glicanos, swainsonina e tunicamicina, em células derivadas de câncer colorretal (Caco-2, HCT-116 e HT-29). Os resultados obtidos mostram que o tratamento das células HCT-116 com tunicamicina inibe mecanismos celulares relacionados ao fenótipo maligno, como formação de colônia dependente e independente de ancoragem, migração e invasão. Estes resultados sugerem que modulação da biossíntese de N-glicanos parece ser uma potencial ferramenta terapêutica para o tratamento do câncer colorretal. Em outra etapa do trabalho, foram avaliados também o impacto da estimulação com insulina e IGF-1 na expressão N-glicanos bissectados em células tumorais MDA-MB-435. Os resultados obtidos confirmaram também a existência de uma relação entre a estimulação dos receptores de insulina e IGF-1 e a regulação da expressão de N-glicanos bissectados em células tumorais MDA-MB-435, fornecendo assim informações relevantes sobre o papel desempenhado pela sinalização de insulina e IGF-1 durante a progressão de carcinomas.

"A firma é forte": trabalho, crime e consumo nas redes de sociabilidade da "violência urbana"

Esta tese argumenta que aquilo que Alba Zaluar chamou de ética do provedor, quer dizer, a prática em torno da qual o trabalhador pobre urbano e favelado construía a sua identidade em relação à do bandido, sofreu uma metamorfose, cujo resultado foi a emergência de uma ordem de interação sui generis inscrita nas redes de sociabilidade da violência urbana. A ética do provedor metamorfoseou-se em uma lealdade instrumental e isso deu origem a uma espécie de vínculo social armado e impulsionado internamente como uma forma de convívio capaz de forçar as relações de rotina em dois movimentos concomitantes, de aproximação e de separação de quem vive e circula nessas redes de sociabilidade da violência urbana. O estudo da forma de convívio é feito a partir da construção de uma coleção de relatos baseada em entrevistas com um grupo heterogêneo de tipos sociais por exemplo, trabalhador favelado, ex-traficante, familiar de bandido, policial militar, policial civil, militar das Forças Armadas, jornalista, fotógrafo, professor da rede pública, pesquisador, militante de Direitos Humanos, advogado etc. , e, também, da observação flutuante em três favelas, uma delas com tráfico de drogas a varejo armado e ostensivo e as outras duas com Unidades de Polícia Pacificadora (UPPs). Assim, a coleção de relatos e a observação flutuante são articuladas num recorte transversal e não linear orientado para a abordagem dessa ordem de interação emergida por contiguidade entre a ordem social convencional e a violenta, visando capturar a dimensão intersubjetiva e empírica da forma de convívio que junta e separa, simultaneamente, as pessoas que vivem sob ameaça da violência física, do assédio moral e da corrupção do dinheiro, fatores altamente coercitivos e que produzem os deslizamentos de sentido entre as categorias crime, trabalho e consumo.

Comparação tridimensional dos efeitos dentários de duas mecânicas para fechamento de espaço: estudo preliminar

As más oclusões de Classe I com biprotrusão dentária são caracterizadas pela projeção dos incisivos superiores e inferiores e podem ser corrigidas com extrações de primeiros pré-molares, permitindo reposicionar os incisivos, usando como ancoragem os dentes posteriores. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo comparar, por meio de superposição de modelos tridimensionais, a movimentação de molares e de incisivos com duas técnicas para fechamento de espaços. Foram selecionados, tomografados (T0) e distribuídos, aleatoriamente em dois grupos, seis pacientes com indicação de exodontia de quatro primeiros pré-molares. No grupo 1 (n=3) foi feito o fechamento dos espaços das extrações em uma única etapa (fechamento em massa) e no grupo 2 (n=3), em duas etapas (distalização de caninos seguida da retração de incisivos). Após o completo fechamento dos espaços foi solicitada nova tomografia (T1). Os modelos tridimensionais em T0 e T1 para os dois grupos foram superpostos para descrever e quantificar a movimentação ocorrida nos primeiros molares. A retração de incisivos foi avaliada de maneira bidimensional. Os molares superiores e inferiores do grupo 1 sofreram movimentação mesial de translação, enquanto os do grupo 2, apresentaram deslocamento de coroa maior do que de ápice radicular, demonstrando movimento de inclinação mesial de coroa. Ao se comparar o movimento mesial dos molares entre os dois grupos, observou-se que no grupo 1 houve maior movimentação mesial da raiz mésio-vestibular dos molares superiores (p=0,009). No entanto, em ambos os grupos os molares superiores giraram sobre a raiz palatina. No arco inferior verificou-se maior movimento mesial de coroa para o grupo 2 (p=0,015). A análise da movimentação dos incisivos apresentou variações semelhantes para as medidas lineares e angulares dos incisivos superiores nos dois grupos. Já, para as medidas angulares dos incisivos inferiores, observou-se que o grupo 1 apresentou menor controle de torque. O tempo de tratamento de todos os pacientes da amostra foi superior a 30 meses, exceto um paciente que apresentou tempo de tratamento inferior a 24 meses. Pôde-se concluir que a perda de ancoragem ocorreu por movimento de translação no fechamento de espaços em massa, e por inclinação mesial no fechamento de espaços em duas etapas, para ambos os arcos. Parece haver maior movimentação mesial radicular nos molares superiores no fechamento em massa e maior movimento mesial de coroa dos molares inferiores para o fechamento em duas etapas. Sugere-se que não há diferença na retração dos incisivos superiores e maior retroinclinação dos incisivos inferiores no fechamento de espaços em duas etapas.

Differences between FRP bond behavior in cracked and uncracked regions

Based on an analysis of the experimental results of a proposed bond test method, significant differences are shown to exist between the local FRP bond stress-slip relationships in the uncracked anchorage regions and in the regions between cracks. The proposed method simulates the bond behavior between the flexural cracks and anchorage regions of a flexurally FRP-strengthened RC beam. The boundary conditions, including the presence of cracks and steel, are shown to have significant effects on the local bond stress-slip models. The results showed that, at the same force, the bond stresses in the regions between cracks were lower than in regions outside the cracks, so the debonding formed in the anchorage regions. The local bond stress-slip models in the anchorage regions can be obtained from the conventional bond test methods but these do not mimic the conditions between the cracks.

Constitutive expression of thymidylate synthase from LCDV-C induces a transformed phenotype in fish cells

Thymidylate synthase (TS), an essential enzyme in DNA synthesis and repair, plays a key role in the events of cell cycle regulation and tumor formation. Here, an investigation was presented about subcellular location and biological function of viral TS from lymphocystis disease virus from China (LCDV-C) in fish cells. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that LCDV-C TS was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm in fish cells. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that LCDV-C TS promoted cell cycle progression into S and G2/M phase in the constitutive expressed cells. As a result, the cells have a faster growth rate compared with the control cells as revealed by cell growth curves. For foci assay, the TS-expressed cells gave rise to foci 4-5 weeks after incubation. Microscopic examination of the TS-induced foci revealed multilayered growth and crisscross morphology characteristic of transformed cells. Moreover, LCDV-C TS predisposed the transfected cells to acquire an anchorage-independent phenotype and could grow in 0.3% soft agar. So the data reveal LCDV-C TS is sufficient to induce a transformed phenotype in fish cells in vitro and exhibits its potential ability in cell transformation. To our knowledge, it is the first report on viral TS sequences associated with transforming activity. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Subcellular localization and characterization of G protein-coupled receptor homolog from lymphocystis disease virus isolated in China

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute a large superfamily involved in various types of signal transduction pathways, and play an important role in coordinating the activation and migration of leukocytes to sites of infection and inflammation. Viral GPCRs, on the other hand, can help the virus to escape from host immune surveillance and contribute to viral pathogenesis. Lymphocystis disease virus isolated in China (LCDV-C) contains a putative homolog of cellular GPCRs, LCDV-C GPCR. In this paper, LCDV-C GPCR was cloned, and the subcellular localization and characterization of GPCR protein were investigated in fish cells. LCDV-C GPCR encoded a 325-amino acid peptide, containing a typical seven-transmembrane domain characteristic of the chemokine receptors and a conserved DRY motif that is usually essential for receptor activation. Transient transfection of GPCR-EGFP in fathead minnow (FHM) cells and epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells indicated that LCDV-C GPCR was expressed abundantly in both the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. Transient overexpression of GPCR in these two cells cannot induce obvious apoptosis. FHM cells stably expressing GPCR showed enhanced cell proliferation and significant anchorage-independent growth. The effects of GPCR protein on external apoptotic stimuli were examined. Few apoptotic bodies were observed in cells expressing GPCR treated with actinomycin D (ActD). Quantitative analysis of apoptotic cells indicated that a considerable decrease in the apoptotic fraction of cells expressing GPCR, compared with. the control cells, was detected after exposure to ActD and cycloheximide. These data suggest that LCDV-C GPCR may inhibit apoptosis as part of its potential mechanism in mediating cellular transformation.

Human mesenchymal stem cell response to 444 ferritic stainless steel networks

The aim of this work is to improve bone-implant bonding. This can, potentially, be achieved through the use of an implant coating composed of fibre networks. It is hypothesised that such an implant can achieve strong peri-prosthetic bone anchorage, when seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The materials employed were 444 and 316L stainless steel fibre networks of the same fibre volume fraction. The present work confirms that hMSCs are able to proliferate and differentiate towards the osteogenic lineage when seeded onto the fibre networks. Cellular viability, proliferation and metabolic activity were assessed and the results suggest higher proliferation rates when hMSC are seeded onto the 444 networks as compared to 316L. Cell distribution was found uniform across the seeded surfaces with 444 showing a somewhat higher infiltration depth. Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013.

悬索桥隧道式锚碇与围岩系统的破坏模式研究

The anchorages are unparalleled structures only in a suspension bridge, and as main bearing facilities, play an important role in connecting the superstructures and the ground. The tunnel anchorage, as one alternative type of the anchorages, has more advantages over its counterpart, the gravity anchorage. With the tunnel anchorages adopted, not only can surface excavation be reduced to protect the environment, and natural condition of the rock be utilized and potential bearing capacity of surrounding rock be mobilized to save engineering cost, but also the technological predominance of auxiliary engineering measures, such as prestressed concrete, anchoring piles, rock anchors and collar beam between the two separated anchorages, can be easily cooperated to work together harmoniously under the circumstances of poor rock quality. There are plentiful high mountains and deep canyons in west part of China, and long-span bridge construction is inevitably encountered in order to realize leapfrogging development of the transportation infrastructure. Western mountainous areas usually possess the conditions for constructing tunnel anchorages, and therefore, the tunnel anchorages, which are conformed to the conception of resource conservative and sustainable society, extremely have application and popularization value in western underdeveloped region. The scientific and technological problem about the design, construction and operation of tunnel anchorages should be further investigated. Combining the engineering of western tunnel anchorages for the Balinghe Suspension Bridge, this paper probed into the survey method and in-situ test method for tunnel anchorages, scientific rock quality evaluation of surrounding rock to provide reasonable physical and mechanical parameters for design, construction and operation of tunnel anchorages, bearing capacity estimation for tunnel anchorage, deformation prediction of the anchorage-rockmass system, tunnel-anchorage slope stability analysis and the evaluation of excavation stability and degree of safety of the anchorage tunnel. The following outcomes were obtained: 1. Materials of tunnel anchorages of suspension bridge built (and in progress) at home and abroad were systematically sorted out, with the engineering geological condition and geomechanical property of surrounding rock around the anchorage tunnel, the design size of anchorages and the construction method of anchorage tunnel paid more emphasis on, to unveil the internal relationship between the engineering geological conditions of surrounding rock and the design size and axis angle of anchorages and provide references for future design, construction and study of tunnel anchorages. 2. Physical and mechanical parameters were recommended based on three domestic and foreign methods of rock quality evaluation. 3. In-situ tests, adopting the back-thrust method, of two kinds of reduced scale model, 1/30 and 1/20, for the tunnel anchorages were conducted in the declining exploration drift with rock mass at the test depth being the same as surrounding rock around real anchorages, and reliable field rockmass displacement data were acquired. Attenuation relation between the increment of distance from the anchorage and the decrement of rockmass displacement under maximum test load, and influential scope suffered by anchorage load were obtained. 4. Using similarity theory, the magnitude of real anchorage and rockmass displacement under design load and degree of safety of the anchorage system were deduced. Furthermore, inversion analysis to deformation modulus of slightly weathered dolomite rock, the surrounding rock of anchorage tunnel, was performed by the means of numerical simulation. 5. The influential law of the geometrical size to the limit bearing capacity of tunnel anchorage was studied. 6. Based on engineering geological survey data, accounting for the combination of strata layer and adverse discontinuities, the failure patterns of tunnel anchorage slope were divided into three modes: sliding of splay saddle pier slope, superficial-layer slippage, and deep-layer slippage. Using virtual work principle and taking anchorage load in account, the stability of the three kinds of failure patterns were analyzed in detail. 7. The step-by-step excavation of anchorage tunnel, the numerical overload and the staged decrement of rock strength parameters were numerically simulated to evaluate the excavation stability of surrounding rock around anchorage tunnel, the overload performance of tunnel anchorage, and the safety margin of strength parameters of the surrounding rock.

边坡工程的极限分析上限法

Theory of limit analysis include upper bound theorem and lower bound theorem. To deal with slope stability analysis by limit analysis is to approximate the real solution from upper limit and lower limit. The most used method of limit analysis is upper bound theorem, therefore it is often applied to slope engineering in many cases. Although upper bound approach of limit analysis can keep away from vague constitutive relation and complex stress analyses, it also can obtain rigorous result. Assuming the critical surface is circular slip surface, two kinematically admissible velocity fields for perpendicular slice method and radial slice method can be established according to the limit analysis of upper bound theorem. By means of virtual work rate equation and strength reduction method, the upper-bound solution of limit analysis for homogeneous soil slope can be obtained. A log-spiral rotational failure mechanism for homogeneous slope is discussed from two different conditions which represent the position of shear crack passing the toe and below the toe. In the dissertition, the author also establishes a rotational failure mechanics with combination of different logarithmic spiral arcs. Furthermore, the calculation formula of upper bound solution for inhomogeneous soil slope stability problem can be deduced based on the upper bound approach of rigid elements. Through calculating the external work rate caused by soil nail, anti-slide pile, geotechnological grid and retaining wall, the upper bound solution of safety factor of soil nail structure slope, slip resistance of anti-slide pile, critical height of reinforced soil slope and active earth pressure of retaining wall can be obtained by upper bound limit analysis method. Taking accumulated body slope as subject investigated, with study on the limit analysis method to calculate slope safety factor, the kinematically admissible velocity fields of perpendicular slice method for slope with broken slip surface is proposed. Through calculating not only the energy dissipation rate produced in the broken slip surfaces and the vertical velocity discontinuity, but also the work rate produced by self-weight and external load, the upper bound solution of slope with broken slip surface is deduced. As a case study, the slope stability of the Sanmashan landslide in the area of the Three Gorges reservoir is analyzed. Based on the theory of limit analysis, the upper bound solution for rock slope with planar failure surface is obtained. By means of virtual work-rate equation, energy dissipation caused by dislocation of thin-layer and terrane can be calculated; furthermore, the formulas of safety factor for upper bound approach of limit analysis can be deduced. In the end, a new computational model of stability analysis for anchored rock slope is presented after taking into consideration the supporting effect of rock-bolts, the action of seismic force and fissure water pressure. By using the model, not only the external woke-rate done by self-weight, seismic force, fissure water pressure and anchorage force but also the internal energy dissipation produced in the slip surface and structural planes can be totally calculated. According to the condition of virtual work rate equation in limit state, the formula of safety factor for upper bound limit analysis can be deduced.