11 research outputs found
Integrating meso-scale habitat modelling in the multicriteria analysis (MCA) process for the assessment of hydropower sustainability.
No full textThe increasing number of water abstractions and water-use conflicts in alpine regions represents a significant threat for these fragile aquatic ecosystems. The use of tools, like multicriteria analysis (MCA), can support related decision-making processes towards sustainable
solutions. In this paper, an innovative approach to assess water withdrawals sustainability by integrating the MesoHABSIM (Mesohabitat Simulation Model) into an MCA framework is presented and discussed. The methodology was implemented by replacing, within the MCA
assessment, Water Framework Directive biological indicators with the MesoHABSIM based river Habitat Integrity Index, related to watercourse discharge and morphology, which allows quantifying the impacts of withdrawals on river ecosystems and fish communities. The resulting
MCA procedure considers four criteria (energy, environment and fishing, landscape, economy) and requires only the use of measurable indicators based on watercourse discharge and its continuous monitoring. It was tested in Aosta Valley region (NW Italy) to both ex ante and ex post scenarios, for different types of water withdrawals and, currently, 20 experimentations, involving 58 hydropower plants and 12 farmer consortia, are ongoing. The proposed MCA process demonstrated its applicability with an increased decision-making quality and involved
stakeholders’ satisfaction and is being officially endorsed in the regional River Strategic Pla
Aerobic biodegradation at seawater-sediment interface of a compostable and food waste-based bioplastic
No full textBioplastics are heterogeneous groups of material with multiple applications in different fields whose future production will increase more and more over the time. Currently their market presence in much lower than
those conventional because of production costs. Bioplastics available nowadays are produced using 1st generation feedstock and they could generate ethical end environmental critical issues related to soil
consumption not for human food production. Thus, efforts are made to develop these materials starting from waste, to increase their upstream sustainability reducing their production costs. [1] Another concern regard
their compostability because they are not always compostable under home composting conditions. This causes the same injuries produced by the environmental dispersion of conventional plastics. Therefore, the
present work was focused on the biodegradation in sea water of a bioplastic material produced By SPlastica srl ©, produced by expired milk and already tested for compostability according to EN 13432:2000. The
experiment was carried out in aerobic and controlled laboratory conditions according to ISO 19679:2020 and [2] to simulate the biodegradation at sediment-water interface in sublittoral coastal zone. The bioplastic milk based (SP-Milk) biodegradability was tested against positive control (filter paper), negative control (LDPE) and blank (seawater and sediment without any other material (blank). Its biodegradation percentage reaches, measuring the CO2 developed, the 83.5% in just 52 days with respect to the endogenous respiration rate represented by the blank. Only few gelatinous-like residues of samples remained and were analyzed by optical microscope. The biodegradation data were supported by visual disappearance of the sample and by optical microscopy results that reveal an intense microorganism presence at water-SP Milk residues interface. To the best of our knowledge, comparable results were not obtained yet in a so tiny timeframe and represents a promising first result for further studies on ecotoxicological effects on marine biota.
[1] https://docs.european bioplastics.org/publications/fs/EuBP_FS_Renewable_resources.pdf
[2] Briassoulis, Demetres & Pikasi, A. & Papardaki, N.G. & Mistriotis, Antonis. (2020). Aerobic biodegradation of bio-based plastics in the seawater/sediment interface (sublittoral) marine environment of the coastal zone – Test method under controlled laboratory conditions. Science of The Total Environment. 722. 137748. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137748
O mundo do trabalho e o tratamento nutricional de portadores de diabetes mellitus: recriando o cotidiano em busca da convivência saudável
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Produção.O Diabetes Mellitus é um dos mais graves problemas de saúde pública da atualidade e, pelo seu caráter crônico, requer cuidados constantes. Complicações, muitas vezes fatais, promovidas pela desassistência, podem ser suprimidas por ações de promoção, prevenção e tratamento. O tratamento nutricional, como medida exclusiva ou complementar, é elemento fundamental para o controle da doença. Entretanto, o acesso e adesão são normalmente difíceis e limitados por vários fatores, principalmente durante o horário de trabalho. Para conhecer melhor esta realidade, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa qualitativa com trabalhadores portadores de Diabetes Mellitus, residentes em Florianópolis, SC, com o objetivo de conhecer como o trabalho influencia o tratamento nutricional de tais portadores. O estudo, do tipo descritivo - exploratório, realizou-se de junho de 2001 a fevereiro de 2002 e foi guiado por princípios do Referencial Holístico-Ecológico. Esta abordagem busca conhecer o máximo possível de um dado fenômeno, através de suas múltiplas dimensões, conexões e interações, levando em consideração a complexidade da realidade e a diversidade das necessidades individuais e coletivas do ser humano. A análise dos dados evidenciou os significados de ser portador de Diabetes Mellitus, os hábitos alimentares antes e após o diagnóstico da doença e as possibilidades e limitações do tratamento nutricional no trabalho. O tema emergente "tendo que recriar o cotidiano do processo de viver" foi comum a todos os sujeitos, devido às limitações em seguir o tratamento nutricional no trabalho, especialmente quanto à rigidez do padrão alimentar, às exigências de fracionamento e aos horários regulares de refeições, à disponibilidade de alimentos adequados e às discriminações por parte da direção e do departamento médico das empresas. Porém, ao recriarem o cotidiano, os portadores passam a viver situações inusitadas, com novos significados da doença e outras limitações, transformando este processo em círculo contínuo, em busca da melhor maneira de conviver na condição de portador de Diabetes Mellitus. Pela análise reflexiva dos dados, surgiram propostas no sentido de atentar para a importância do desenvolvimento de estratégias de tratamento nutricional no ambiente de trabalho e de relacionamento mais humanizado entre os envolvidos no processo, visando a expectativas positivas no entendimento, na aceitação e na adesão ao tratamento da doença. Considerando sempre a existência de compromisso mútuo de responsabilidade entre as partes
Untitled in english
No full textNesta dissertação apresenta-se o método da Análise Ergonômica do Trabalho (AET) e discute-se sua aplicação em consultorias. Os casos tratados pela autora, junto a empresas de serviços de massa, serviram de base empírica para a discussão das características desta prática. Destaca-se que a AET aborda o trabalho humano em suas características únicas, determinadas pela situação particular na qual ele é realizado, o que exige uma abordagem clínica, cujo centro é a análise da atividade. A prática desta clínica explicita conflitos entre os critérios utilizados pela ergonomia e aqueles adotados pela empresa para projetar e avaliar o trabalho. A interlocução entre consultores e agentes sociais da empresa provoca fenômenos ligados às representações mentais, sua constituição e transformação. Tais fenômenos modulam os resultados possíveis da consultoria. A principal contribuição da ergonomia para a transformação do trabalho reside em sua capacidade de investigar a atividade humana e apresentá-la em seus aspectos concretos.This report presents the method of Ergonomics Work Analysis (EWA) and discusses its application in consulting ergonomics. The cases attended by the author, in mass services companies, were used as the empirical basis for the discussion of this practice\'s characteristics. EWA approaches human work in its uniqueness, which is determined by the particular situation of its execution; this asks for a clinical approach, whose center is activity analysis. Practicing this type of clinic brings up conflicts between the criteria used by ergonomics and those used by the enterprise to design and evaluate work. The dialogue between consultants and enterprise\'s social agents causes phenomena related to mental representations, their constitution and transformation. Such phenomena act as modulators of the possible results of consultancy. Ergonomics\' main contribution towards transformation of work lies in its capacity of investigating human activity and presenting its concrete features
Dialogue and Collaboration in the Creation of New Works for Clarinet
No full textThis PhD thesis explores dialogue-based, “intimate” collaboration through the creation of new works for clarinet. It borrows from Grounded Theory in order to facilitate an analysis through which emergent themes within a dialogue-based
collaboration are discovered. The aim has not been to insist on one model of collaboration, but to discover methods for improving one’s collaborative skills and to identify ways in which one benefits from a focus on dialogue in
collaboration. Furthermore, it aims to suggest that through collaboration one can make discoveries about the instrument: original contributions to clarinet technique are made within this thesis. The literature from which the research draws inspiration to further collaborative “technique” is cross-disciplinary and wide-ranging: it draws from social theory, collaborative creative writing, dance, the visual arts and of course, music. Added to this is a select discussion of collaboration throughout the repertoire of the clarinet. Finally, this consists of practice-based research. Seven new pieces for clarinet accompany the text
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Session B7: On the Performance of a New Upstream and Downstream Passage Facility for Diadromous Fish Species
No full textPresenting Author Bio: Olle Calles is an associate professor in fish ecology at Karlstad University, Sweden. He has a PhD in biology form Karlstad University and a MSc in biology from Uppsala University. He has worked on fish migration and fish passage solutions at hydroelectric plants since 2001, with a special emphasis on nature-like design and downstream passage facilities. Olle has conducted multiple projects on fish passage in collaboration with hydropower companies, researchers and managers in Sweden, Italy, Latvia, Costa Rica and Greece.Abstract: The River Ätran is an important river for diadromous fish species on the Swedish westcoast. Wild populations of wild Atlantic salmon, brown trout, European eel and sea lamprey enter the river for spawning and growth. The conditions for migratory fish species are improving in the river since rehabilitation efforts now address the needs of all diadromous species and life-stages, and not only upstream moving salmonids. This presentation presents results from before and after the construction of a new two-way passage facility at the Herting hydroelectric plant (HEP) near the river mouth. The old facility consisted of a Denil fishway for upstream passage and spill gates for downstream passage. The total passage efficiencies (TPE) differed among species and life-stages, with 70-90% being recorded for salmon spawners, smolts and kelts. The corresponding TPE for juvenile eels was 10- 50%, 70% for silver eels and 0% for sea lamprey spawners. The new facility consists of a large naturelike fishway for upstream passage and a low-sloping 30˚ β-rack and a full-depth bypass for downstream passage. Evaluation of the new facility is in progress, and preliminary results indicate a high passage survival of about 90% for salmon smolts and spawners. Most silver eels managed to pass successfully (97%), but the HEP was only operating for part of the study period; TPE for silver eels and sea lamprey will be evaluated during 2015
Comparative studies on Mopeia viruses and other Arenaviridae, particularly Lassa virus
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Serologically related arenaviruses have been isolated from West Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and the Central African Republic. Human disease is only associated with the West African isolates. The virulence of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Central African Republic isolates in humans is not known.
This Thesis is an account of work carried out by the author to compare the biological characteristics of isolates from West Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It describes the successful isolation and identification of the aetiological agents, their physicochemical and antigenic characteristics and describes in vivo studies using mice, guinea pigs and Rhesus monkeys.
A direct comparison was made with a patient diagnosed as having Lassa fever. The disease in man and monkeys following infection with Lassa virus was similar. The Rhesus monkey and guinea pig proved suitable experimental models in which to study and compare the pathogenic responses and also to evaluate various aspects of protection. These animal models when immunised with the viruses from Mozambique and Zimbabwe were protected when subsequently challenged with Lassa virus.
The Mozambique and Zimbabwe isolates proved to have morphological and physicochemical characteristics not dissimilar from West African Lassa viruses and those members of the arenavirus family from South America. Serological and immunochemical investigations suggest the existence of both common and unique antigenic determinants on the viruses from Mozambique, -Zimbabwe and West Africa. This grouping also coincides with the geographic separation of the viruses, i.e. Lassa - West Africa and Mopeia -southeast Africa. Similar differences in host susceptibility have also been demonstrated. Lassa virus produces a fatal haemorrhagic disease while Mopeia isolates produce only an asymptomatic infection. The combined data suggests the possibility of two virus groups within the 'Old World' arenavirus classification. The proposed name, 'Mopeia', forms one group and includes the viruses from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The Lassa strains from West Africa form the second group.
It is suggested that the Mopeia viruses are minor antigenic variants of Lassa and should be included within the arenavirus family
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Session B5: A Telemetry Study on Marble Trout (Salmo marmoratus) and Italian Barbel (Barbus plebejus) at a Nature-Like Fish Ramp in an Alpine River
No full textPresenting Author Bio: Claudio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering at Politecnico di Torino, Italy. His research focuses on fish pass design and monitoring and on environmental flows evaluation through mesoscale habitat models.Abstract: Until recently research on fish migration and fish passage efficiency mainly targeted diadromous species, while there is still a significant knowledge gap on endemic potamodromous. In this study, carried out during the period October 2010-October 2011, the movements of radio-tagged marble trout (Salmo marmoratus; N=28) and Italian barbel (Barbus plebejus; N=31) along the lower course of Chiusella river and Dora Baltea river (NW Italy) were analysed during migration periods, with a particular focus on passage at a partial width nature-like fish ramp built on a 3m high weir. The monitoring, carried out through automatic stations and weekly manual tracking sessions, allowed to collect data on the behaviour of marble trout (repeated up and downstream passages, homing behaviour, use of the ramp as habitat) and on the significant impact of avian predation during winter (> 28% by cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)); on the other hand, high flow conditions in late spring affected the study on Italian barbel, preventing to catch larger spawners and creating challenging hydrodynamic conditions at the obstacle. Only the passage of the largest tagged individual (33 cm, 531 g) was recorded, while the peak in downstream migration towards the deeper reaches of Dora Baltea river was clearly identified
Modulation of the expression and activity of cyclooxygenases in normal and accelerated erythropoiesis.
No full textThe present study was aimed at characterizing the expression and activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) isoenzymes in erythropoiesis. The expression and activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) and prostaglandin (PG) synthases were investigated in: 1) erythroblasts developed in culture from human CD34 + hematopoietic progenitors, 2) erythroblasts in bone marrow specimens, and 3) peripheral erythrocytes isolated from healthy donors and from patients with a high regeneration rate of erythrocytes. While COX-1 protein was observed at each stage of erythroblast development, COX-2 protein was induced at later stages through a p38-MAPK-dependent pathway. Both COX isoforms were also observed in mature erythroblasts of the bone marrow. Erythroblasts developed in culture synthesized significantly more PGE2 than TXB2 and indomethacin delayed erythroid maturation. COX-1 and COX-2 were also observed in erythrocytes by immunostainings, although COX expression was confined to a fraction of circulating erythrocytes. Peripheral erythrocytes synthesized low but detectable amounts of PGE2 and TXB2. Similarly to erythroblast progenitors, PGE2 was the prevalent prostanoid released by erythrocytes. This biosynthetic capacity was significantly increased in erythrocytes from patients with accelerated erythropoiesis as compared to controls. Both COX isoforms are present and enzymatically active during human erythropoiesis, although with different kinetics, and COX-derived prostanoids may play a role in erythroid maturation. Furthermore, peripheral erythrocytes retain in part the capacity of expressing COX and synthesizing prostanoids, which may contribute to the hemostatic-thrombotic response to vascular injury in different diseases, including congenital hemolytic disorders. © 2004 International Society for Experimental Hematology. Published by Elsevier Inc.ALLEN JE, 1971, SCIENCE, V174, P512, DOI 10.1126-science.174.4008.512; ANDREWS DA, 1988, CURR OPIN HEMATOL, V56, P89; Boer AK, 2002, BLOOD, V100, P467, DOI 10.1182-blood.V100.2.467; Butchart EG, 2003, CIRCULATION, V108, P68, DOI 10.1161-01.cir.0000087383.62522.1e; Degousee N, 2003, CIRC RES, V92, P757, DOI 10.1161-01.RES.0000067929.01404.03; Deveaux S, 1997, EMBO J, V16, P5654, DOI 10.1093-emboj-16.18.5654; DUKES PP, 1973, J LAB CLIN MED, V82, P704; Dupuis A, 1998, PROSTAG OTH LIPID M, V55, P179; Dupuis F, 1997, J LIPID MEDIAT CELL, V16, P117, DOI 10.1016-S0929-7855(97)00007-2; Eldor A, 2002, BLOOD, V99, P36, DOI 10.1182-blood.V99.1.36; Fabre JE, 2001, J CLIN INVEST, V107, P603, DOI 10.1172-JCI10881; FitzGerald GA, 2001, NEW ENGL J MED, V345, P433; FOULON I, 1993, ARTERIOSCLER THROMB, V13, P421; Jacobs-Helber SM, 2000, BLOOD, V96, P933; KANNEL W B, 1972, Stroke, V3, P409; Kaufman D W, 1996, Eur J Haematol Suppl, V60, P23; Kendall RG, 2001, CLIN LAB HAEMATOL, V23, P71, DOI 10.1046-j.1365-2257.2001.00351.x; Lasa M, 2000, MOL CELL BIOL, V20, P4265, DOI 10.1128-MCB.20.12.4265-4274.2000; Li Q, 1996, J BIOL CHEM, V271, P18651; Lorenz M, 1999, EXP HEMATOL, V27, P1494, DOI 10.1016-S0301-472X(99)00087-9; Mary J Y, 1996, Eur J Haematol Suppl, V60, P35; Mroske C, 2000, EXP HEMATOL, V28, P411, DOI 10.1016-S0301-472X(00)00125-9; OONISHI T, 1988, PROSTAGL LIPID OTHER, V56, P89; PATRONO C, 1994, NEW ENGL J MED, V330, P1287; Ranelletti FO, 2000, INT J CANCER, V85, P438, DOI 10.1002-(SICI)1097-0215(20000201)85:3438::AID-IJC223.3.CO;2-6; Rocca B, 1999, J CLIN INVEST, V103, P1469, DOI 10.1172-JCI6400; Rocca B, 1997, CIRCULATION, V95, P11; ROCCA B, 1995, PLATELETS, V6, P152, DOI 10.3109-09537109509013268; Rocca B, 2002, P NATL ACAD SCI USA, V99, P7634, DOI 10.1073-pnas.112202999; Santos MT, 1997, CIRCULATION, V95, P63; Secchiero P, 2002, J LEUKOCYTE BIOL, V72, P986; Shin HS, 2002, J BIOL CHEM, V277, P21086, DOI 10.1074-jbc.M200203200; SHIVDASANI RA, 1995, P NATL ACAD SCI USA, V92, P8690, DOI 10.1073-pnas.92.19.8690; Smith WL, 2001, J CLIN INVEST, V107, P1491, DOI 10.1172-JCI13271; TENCZAR FJ, 1973, TRANSFUSION, V13, P183; Ueno N, 2001, J BIOL CHEM, V276, P34918, DOI 10.1074-jbc.M100429200; Valles J, 1998, CIRCULATION, V97, P350; VEZZA R, 1993, BLOOD, V82, P2704; Vitrat N, 2000, THROMB HAEMOSTASIS, V83, P759; WANNAMETHEE G, 1994, J INTERN MED, V235, P163; WILLIAMS JO, 1969, NEW ENGL J MED, V280, P312, DOI 10.1056-NEJM196902062800606; Witt O, 2000, BLOOD, V95, P2391; Zamai L, 2000, BLOOD, V95, P371698
Political economy of the proposals for the reform of Old Age Protection in Colombia (2019-2020)
No full textLa economía política estudia la interconexión entre la economía y la política en un Estado que tiene como función esencial el desarrollo del bienestar de la sociedad y la asignación de recursos, en este caso, para asegurar una vejez digna de la población. Desde esta perspectiva se describen las propuestas de reforma bajo tres supuestos e instrumentos de análisis: 1) individualismo metodológico (intereses privados propios o de las instituciones que representan los actores); 2) elección racional (cálculos costo/beneficio) y, (3) la política como intercambio (beneficios y utilidades). El objetivo del trabajo consiste en un diagnóstico inicial del sistema pensional vigente, en reseñar las propuestas de reforma y la puesta a consideración de una propuesta del autor. La metodología es descriptiva (normatividad, prácticas y propuestas), correlacional (cuatro principios o variables de todo sistema pensional: cobertura, equidad, solidaridad y sostenibilidad) y explicativa (análisis de las propuestas y de la propia).The political economy studies the interconnection between the economy and politics in a State whose essential function is the development of the welfare of society and the allocation of resources, in this case, to ensure an old age worthy of the population. From this perspective, the reform proposals are described under three assumptions and instruments of analysis: 1) methodological individualism (private interests of their own or of the institutions representing the actors); 2) rational choice (cost / benefit calculations) and, (3) the policy as an exchange (benefits and profits). The objective of the work consists in an initial diagnosis of the current pension system, in reviewing the reform proposals and the consideration of a proposal by the author. The methodology is descriptive (normativity, practices and proposals), correlational (four principles or variables of every pension system: coverage, equity, solidarity and sustainability) and explanatory (analysis of the proposals and the own)
