3,180 research outputs found
Reclamações ambientais em Aveiro, Portugal: atores, preocupações, padrão territorial e resoluções
No full textThis paper presents an environmental diagnosis based on public complaints on environmental
issues submitted to the Environmental Department of the Aveiro City Council, Portugal, between
2000 and 2005. It discusses the potential influences of these in local environmental planning
and governance. The paper has been organised into five sections. The first of these introduces
the study. The second section focuses on the conceptual approaches relating to environmental
grassroots movements, the main actors involved in these movements and the role played by
local government. It also contains a brief review of the most recent urban environmental
quality challenges in the European context together with a description of the main features of
the associated political and legal framework in Portugal. The third section describes the case
study and the methodology used. The results of the empirical study are detailed in the fourth
section. The final section critically analyses these results with emphases on the temporal
evolution of the submission of complaints, the actors involved, the local environmental problems
and their associated spatial pattern as well as the responses given by the City Council. This
information may then be used to provide a useful indicator for the perception of environmental
quality as well as a credible instrument for the visualisation and evaluation of local performance
in terms of environmental planning and management.AlBan Programme - n. E05M053040B
Discovery of novel gut-derived <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> phages and mucus-interacting gut phage proteins
No full textThe rise in antimicrobial resistance and the stagnation in antibiotic development have intensified interest in alternative therapies. Bacteriophages, viruses of bacteria, have significant potential, for both classical phage therapy and for microbiome modulation. Klebsiella pneumoniae is a high-risk pathogen due to its multidrug resistance and virulence, causing acute tissue infections as well as chronic gut colonisations that may drive other diseases, like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Consequently, Klebsiella phages are highly sought after, yet their therapeutic application is hindered by key gaps, including the lack of standardised accessible phage and strain collections, limited understanding of the roles of Klebsiella in IBD, and poor knowledge of phage ecology in the gut. To address these, this thesis showcases the establishment of KlebPhaCol, an open-source collection of 52 newly isolated Klebsiella phages and 74 Klebsiella strains, including clinical and reference strains. This resource includes gut-relevant phages infecting the IBD-associated K. pneumoniae ST323 strain and enables the centralised study of Klebsiella-phage interactions. It further explores the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a simple in vivo model for Klebsiella-driven gut inflammation, and investigates phage ecology within the intestinal mucosa, commonly disrupted in IBD. Our findings reveal genomic and functional features of KlebPhaCol, including the discovery of a novel phage family linked to the gut environment, Felixviridae. We also show Klebsiella induces intestinal distension in C. elegans, suggesting a tractable model for studying Klebsiella-driven inflammation. Finally, we uncover a repertoire of 6,302 putative phage-encoded mucus-interacting proteins, many with evidence of bacterial origin and plausible retained functionality as well as 390 hits derived from Klebsiella phages, offering insights on potential mechanisms by which Klebsiella spp. may achieve gut colonisation and contribute to disease. In conclusion, this thesis lays foundational resources and insights into Klebsiella-phage interactions, advancing phage therapy developments and deepening the understanding of phage ecology in the gut
Yachting and pleasure crafts in relation to local development and expansion: Marina di Stabia case study
No full textTourism is increasingly seen as a significant component in the social and economic fabric worldwide. The tourist industry generates important employment opportunities and income within local economies but along with the developments it generates it can also be the cause of decline in the quality of life for residents living in tourist locations. In the particular case of private yachting and sailing crafts and the harbours built to accommodate them, many social and environmental benefits have been noted. There is for example the increased cash flow that visitors bring and the possibility of using the various terminus points as venues for a series of associated activities and cultural events. However, nautical tourism is not immune from problems caused by increased congestion and pollution as well as damage to places of historic heritage. Moreover, the anticipated economic benefits are uncertain and vulnerable to external factors. Within this broad range of possible effects, this paper considers the aspect of the relation between private sailing for pleasure and local and regional development, the spin-offs it generates in the territory, its social functions and the additional value it offers the tourist market. The focus is on a manmade harbour in Southern Italy, close to Naples: Marina di Stabia. Marina di Stabia was born from a cooperation among a group of professional managers from the city of Castellammare di Stabia. The principal aim of their project is the requalification of the disused area to the east of Castellammare, which was once an important metallurgic centre and one of the symbols of the area's industrial supremacy in the past. The harbour was opened in June 2007, and ongoing work continues adding a constant series of improvements. The research is focused on the following points: • The demand for tourist services in the port • Marina supply system • Marina Management models • Issues of funding for the development of marinas and marine services • Economic and social impacts caused by nautical tourism. © 2011 WIT Press
Are We Witnessing the Transition from Pre-Colombian to Post-Colombian Guane Pottery? Insights from the 'Sentipensamientos' of Design in the Face of an Artisanal Pottery Culture in the Territories of the Guane Culture, in the Second Decade of the 21st Century in Colombia. In the Rural 'Feri-Urban' Context of Bogotá
No full textilustraciones, fotografíasEste trabajo maneja un enfoque de carácter cualitativo, porque permite la inmersión en la comunidad Guane alrededor del oficio alfarero con tradición desde el S. VII, bajo un sentipensar ubicado en el referente del reciente planteamiento epistémico en el sur global, garantizando el análisis del objeto de estudio que es la comunidad de sentido, manteniendo unas bases dentro del modelo investigativo creativo, que maneja una apropiación social en busca de la renovación de la educación y el impacto en la sociedad a partir de un objetivo estético que proporciona emociones y un nuevo conocimiento. Es un estudio descriptivo basado en el modelo de investigación creación, que permite usar instrumentos como entrevistas semiestructuradas a profundidad, recolección de los datos por medio de producción audiovisual en territorio guane, desde diciembre del 2021. Este caso de historicidad y pervivencia en la actualidad de la práctica alfarera en territorio Guane desde el siglo VII, es el eslabón principal y referente, en términos de las dinámicas de la comunidad de sentido, a manera de ecosistema, que por medio de narrativas se determinan posibilidades de entrornos aplicable a un espacio propicio que abrace la creación de las prácticas 6 alrededor del oficio del artesanado en el contexto Feri-Urbano de Bogotá, por medio de un co-laboratorio para la creación. El modelo Investigación Creación, es aplicado por medio del co-laboratorio que es la "Casa de Diseño + Té" conformado por una comunidad de sentido con quienes se trabajó en conjunto por medio de la investigación acción participación IAP, para la construcción de propuestas de diseño a través del pensamiento y de los diálogos “sentipensamientos” de la comunidad de sentido. El traslado de las prácticas de una comunidad de sentido de territorio Guane a un contexto feri-urbano en Bogotá, da como resultado la Casa de Diseño + té, con una propuesta de diseño de una comunidad de sentido alrededor del oficio artesanal. (Texto tomado de la fuente).This work adopts a qualitative approach as it allows for immersion in the
Guane community around the pottery craft with a tradition dating back to the 7th
century. It is guided by a sentipensar perspective situated within the framework of
recent epistemic proposals in the global South, ensuring the analysis of the object
of study, which is the community of meaning. It maintains a foundation within the
creative research model that incorporates social appropriation in the pursuit of
education renewal and societal impact through an aesthetic objective that evokes
emotions and new knowledge.
It is a descriptive study based on the research-creation model, employing
instruments such as in-depth semi-structured interviews and audiovisual data
collection in the Guane territory since December 2021.
This case of historicity and contemporary persistence of the pottery practice
in Guane territory since the 7th century serves as the main reference point for the
dynamics of the community of meaning, akin to an ecosystem. Through narratives,
possibilities for applicable environments are determined within a suitable space that
embraces the creation of artisanal practices in the Feri-Urbano context of Bogotá,
facilitated by a co-laboratory for creation.
The Research-Creation model is applied through the co-laboratory known as
the "Design + Tea House," consisting of a community of meaning with whom
collaborative work was carried out through participatory action research (IAP) to
develop design proposals based on the thoughts and dialogues of the community
of meaning.
The transfer of practices from a community of meaning in Guane territory to
a feri-urban context in Bogotá results in the Design + Tea House, with a design proposal stemming from a community of meaning revolving around the artisanal
craft.MaestríaMagíster en DiseñoEs un estudio descriptivo basado en el modelo de investigación + Creación, es una denominación en el ámbito colombiano (Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, 2015). Modelo de medición de grupos de investigación y de reconocimiento de investigadores del sistema nacional de ciencia, tecnología e innovación, año 2015. Bogotá D.C.: Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, propone que:
Es posible investigar a partir de obras pre-existentes: historia, estética, interpretación, movimientos o teorías artísticas; esto es investigación desde, sobre o acerca de las artes; y ii) es posible investigar pensando en oportunidades para las creaciones futuras, actualmente inexistentes: como el comportamiento de los materiales, los procesos técnicos de elaboración y los potenciales usos de las creaciones; esto es investigación para las artes. (Córdoba Cely y otros, 2021). que permite usar instrumentos como entrevistas semiestructuradas a profundidad, recolección de los datos por medio de producción audiovisual en territorio guane, desde diciembre del 2021.
Este caso de historicidad y pervivencia en la actualidad de la práctica alfarera en territorio Guane desde el siglo VII, es el eslabón principal y referente, en términos de las dinámicas de la comunidad de sentido, a manera de ecosistema, que por medio de narrativas se determinan posibilidades de entornos aplicable a un espacio propicio que abrace la creación de las prácticas alrededor del oficio del artesanado en el contexto Feri-Urbano de Bogotá, por medio de un co-laboratorio para la creación. El modelo Investigación Creación, es aplicado por medio del co-laboratorio que es la "Casa de Diseño + Té" conformado por una comunidad de sentido con quienes se trabajó en conjunto por medio de la investigación acción participación IAP, para la construcción de propuestas de diseño a través del pensamiento y de los diálogos “sentipensamientos” de la comunidad de sentido.
El traslado de las prácticas de una comunidad de sentido de territorio Guane a un contexto feri-urbano en Bogotá, da como resultado la Casa de Diseño + té, con una propuesta de diseño de una comunidad de sentido alrededor del oficio artesanal.Autogestión de diseño, participativo y co-constructiv
Math and art in prison a collaborative effort across the ocean
No full textA story of inclusiveness and collaboration through mathematics and art. A inmate of a North American prison taught himself mathematics, then went on to study more and more and contacted the author. He then planned and realized together with other inmates, a piece of art reproducing a medieval pattern as studied mathematically. As the art is modular, several other inmates could collaborate. The math was necessary as a nontrivial stimulus, and so was the piece of art
Recall Searching with and without Recall
No full textWe revisit the sequential search problem by Hey (J Econ Behav Organ 8:137–144, 1987 ). In a 2 × 2 factorial design, varying fixed and random cost treatments with and without recall, we address open research questions that were originally stated by Hey ( 1987 ). Our results provide clear evidence for Hey’s ( 1987 ) conjecture that recall negatively affects performance in sequential search. With experience, however, search behavior with and without recall converges toward the optimal reservation rule. We further find that the utilization of optimal reservation rules is independent from the stochastic nature of the search cost
Takiyaella daniela Gonçalves & Domahovski 2021, gen. et sp. nov.
No full textTakiyaella daniela gen. et sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3E9E3765-EC80-4B1E-BBD2-0BE402754538 Figs 7, 12G–H, 13 Diagnosis Male pygofer (Fig. 7E) expanded apically, with two lobes, a larger dorsal lobe and a smaller subacute apical lobe. Aedeagus (Fig. 7J–K) with atrial processes bifid, dorsal ramus about 3 × as large as ventral ramus, both acute. shaft expanded laterally forming small process on each side. Etymology The specific epithet is a tribute to Prof. Dr Daniela Maeda Takiya in recognition of her remarkable contribution to our knowledge of the Brazilian Auchenorrhyncha, and also in gratitude for her great friendship and for bringing the first author to the study of leafhoppers. The species epithet is treated as a noun in apposition. Material examined Holotype BRAZIL • ♂; Rio de Janeiro, [Itatiaia], P[arque] N[acional] do Itatiaia, Travessia Rui Braga; 22°25′50.4″ S, 44°37′12.6″ W; alt. 1100 m; 12 Oct. 2003; D.M. Takiya, C. Moraes and C.C. Gonçalves leg.; sweep; DZRJ-AUCH #244; DZRJ. Paratypes BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro • 1 ♂; Itatiaia, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Setor Lago Azul, mata; 22°27′1.10″ S, 44°36′55.30″ W; alt. 830 m; 1 Jul.–3 Aug. 2015; Biota FAPERJ leg.; malaise; MNRJ • 1 ♂; Itatiaia, P[arque] N[acional] do Itatiaia, Alojamento 2; 22°27′7.86″ S, 44°36′27.95″ W; alt. 840 m; 25–29 Oct. 2019; A.C. Domahovski leg.; sweep; DZUP-083607; DZUP. Description MEASUREMENTS (mm). Holotype (♂): total length 6.5. Paratypes (♂): 6.3–6.6 (n = 2). COLORATION. Pale yellow (Fig. 12G–H). Forewing (Fig. 7D) translucent, with three small dark maculae on claval comissure: first, between base and second anal vein; second between anal veins and third on apex of clavus and extending to brachial cell. HEAD AND THORAX. External morphological characters as in generic description. MALE TERMINALIA. Pygofer, in lateral view (Fig. 7E), 1.8 × as long as maximum height, expanded apically; dorsal margin with prominent preapical lobe; caudal margin with ventral subacute lobe; ventral tooth broadly rounded; apical portion with inner integument thickening. Subgenital plate, in lateral view (Fig. 7F), subtriangular, 2.9 × as long as maximum height; in ventral view (Fig. 7G), subovoid, lateral margins converging towards apex; ventral surface with pair of uniseriate rows of 3–4 macrosetae; apex acute. Connective (Fig. 7H) V-shaped, total length approximately ⅔ length of style; stem very short. Style (Fig. 7H–I) with apophysis elongated and robust. Aedeagus (Fig. 7J–K) with pair of bifid atrial process: dorsal ramus about ⅓ length of shaft, directed dorsally, anterior to curvature of shaft; ventral ramus approximately ⅓ length of dorsal ramus, directed posteriorly, posterior to curvature of shaft; shaft tubular, slightly flattened dorsoventrally at apex, ventral surface with longitudinal row of denticles on each side, extending from base to apex, apical portion expanded laterally forming small process on each side. Anal tube (Fig. 7E) with sternite X long and tubular, without basiventral process. FEMALE TERMINALIA. Female unknown. Remarks Takiyaella daniela gen. et sp. nov. is easily distinguished from other species of the genus by having atrial process bifid apically (Fig. 7J–K).Published as part of Gonçalves, Clayton C. & Domahovski, Alexandre C., 2021, A new genus and five new species of Neocoelidiinae leafhoppers from Brazil (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with a key to males, pp. 34-61 in European Journal of Taxonomy 775 on pages 48-50, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.775.1545, http://zenodo.org/record/557839
Studies of intercellular Ca2+ signaling and gap-junction coupling in the developing cochlea of mouse models affected by congenital hearing loss
No full textConnexin 26 (Cx26) and connexin 30 (Cx30) form gap junction channels that allow the intercellular diffusion of the Ca2+ mobilizing second messenger IP3. They also form hemichannels that release ATP from the endolymphatic surface of cochlear supporting and epithelial cells. Released ATP in turn activates G-protein coupled P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors, PLC-dependent generation of IP3, release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, permitting the regenerative propagation of intercellular Ca2+ signals.
In the course of this work, we found that cochlear non-sensory cells of the greater and lesser epithelial ridge (GER and LER, respectively) share the same PLC- and IP3R-dependent signal transduction cascade activated by ATP. In addition, we demonstrated that ATP-dependent Ca2+ signaling activity in cochlear non-sensory cells is spatially graded from the apex to the base of the cochlea during the first postnatal week. Ca2+ signaling under these conditions depends on inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate generation from phospholipase C (PLC)-dependent hydrolysis of PI(4,5)P(2). Thus we analyzed mice with defective expression of PIPKIγ and found that (i) this enzyme is essential for the acquisition of hearing; (ii) it is primarily responsible for the synthesis of the receptor-regulated PLC-sensitive PI(4,5)P(2) pool in the cell syncytia that supports auditory hair cells and; (iii) spatially graded impairment of the PIP2-IP3-Ca2+ signaling pathway in cochlear non-sensory cells affects the level of gap junction coupling. Vice versa, we found defective gap junction coupling and intercellular IP3-dependent Ca2+ signaling the cochlea of mice with targeted ablation Cx26 or Cx30, as well as in mice knock in for a point mutation (Cx30T5M) associated with human congenital deafness. Altogether, our findings link bidirectionally defective hearing acquisition to Ca2+ signaling impairment and decreased biochemical coupling in the developing cochlea. Transduction of connexin deficient cochlear cultures with a bovine adeno associated virus vectors encoding Cx26 or Cx30 restored protein expression, rescued both gap junction coupling and Ca2+ signaling.
Based on this work, we conclude that in vivo connexin gene delivery to the inner ear is a route worth exploring to rescue hearing function in mouse models of deafness and, in future, may lead to the development of therapeutic interventions in humans
Recovery Process of Li, Al and Si from Lepidolite by Leaching with HF
No full textThis work describes the development of a new process for the recovery of Li, Al and Si along with the proposal of a flow sheet for the precipitation of those metals. The developed process is comprised of lepidolite acid digestion with hydrofluoric acid, and the subsequent precipitation of the metals present in the leach liquor. The leaching operational parameters studied were: reaction time, temperature and HF concentration. The experimental results indicate that the optimal conditions to achieve a Li extraction higher than 90% were: solid-liquid ratio, 1.82% (w/v); temperature, 123 °C; HF concentration, 7% (v/v); stirring speed, 330 rpm; and reaction time, 120 min. Al and Si can be recovered as Na3AlF6 and K2SiF6. LiF was separated from the leach liquor during water evaporation, with recovery values of 92%.Fil: Rosales, Gustavo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Pinna, Eliana Guadalupe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Suarez, Daniela Silvana. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Mario Humberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin
- …
