Including diverse knowledges and worldviews in environmental assessment and planning: : the Brazilian Amazon Kaxinawá Nova Olinda Indigenous Land case

The concepts of ‘ecosystem services’ (ES) and ‘nature’s contributions to people’ (NCP) inform environmental frameworks that set out to include Indigenous and Local Knowledge systems (ILK) and worldviews in policy and planning processes. These frameworks aim to enhance biodiversity conservation and human well-being in a legitimate and effective way. In this article, we explore how the concept of People’s Contributions to Nature (PCN) is complementary to NCP. We use it to investigate challenges that planners and locals face in realizing the legitimate inclusion of diverse knowledges and worldviwes that account for people and ecosystems in a relational way. We introduce a case study where planners drew on ES and NCP and used participatory methods to implement a REDD+ policy in the Kaxinawá Nova Olinda Indigenous Land (Acre-Brazil). We find that both Kaxinawás and planners emphasize both NCP and PCN in their discourses. Nevertheless, differences between knowledge systems and disciplines, uneven power relations between Kaxinawás and planners, and an under-consideration of PCN by global frameworks challenge the legitimate inclusion of the Kaxinawá knowlege and worldviews to craft assessment and planning. We conclude that by explicitly addressing these challenges, science-policy interfaces can further advance knowledge legitimacy and policy effectiveness

The extended empirical process test for non-Gaussianity in the CMB, with an application to non-Gaussian inflationary models

In (Hansen et al. 2002) we presented a new approach for measuring non-Gaussianity of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropy pattern, based on the multivariate empirical distribution function of the spherical harmonics a_lm of a CMB map. The present paper builds upon the same ideas and proposes several improvements and extensions. More precisely, we exploit the additional information on the random phases of the a_lm to provide further tests based on the empirical distribution function. Also we take advantage of the effect of rotations in improving the power of our procedures. The suggested tests are implemented on physically motivated models of non-Gaussian fields; Monte-Carlo simulations suggest that this approach may be very promising in the analysis of non-Gaussianity generated by non-standard models of inflation. We address also some experimentally meaningful situations, such as the presence of instrumental noise and a galactic cut in the map.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Electrochemical behavior of Ti/Al2O3 interfaces produced by diffusion bonding

In the field of biomedical applications a special interest exists regarding the study of the physicochemical and mechanical behaviour of materials, with special focus on the electrochemical degradation of metal/ceramic interfaces. In fact, etal/ceramic interfaces may be present in several biomedical devices, ranging from external or implantable sensors, to dental implants. Diffusion bonding represents an important technique since, in opposition to other production technologies, such as active metal brazing, avoid the possible liberation of certain chemical components harmful to health. The aim of this work is to study the electrochemical degradation of the interface formed between commercially pure Ti and Al2O3 produced by diffusion bonding, in contact with a physiological solution. The present approach included the evaluation of the contribution of individual and pairs of interfacial layers on the global degradation processes. For this propose d.c. electrochemical techniques were used to monitor the open-circuit potential, and to perform potentiodynamic polarization and galvanic corrosion evaluation. Also, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used as a complementary technique of the corrosion behaviour of the interface. Chemical composition and morphology of samples and corrosion products were evaluated by SEM and EDS analysis. According to experimental results, two principal reaction layers were formed in the interface: TiAl and Ti3Al. The TiAl layer appears to be the responsible for the strong increase in corrosion rate of the interface.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia -POCTI/CTM/33384/2000; SFRH/BPD/ 5518/2001

Conjunctival Changes Induced By Prostaglandin Analogues And Timolol Maleate: A Histomorphometric Study

Purpose: To compare histological changes induced by antiglaucoma medications in the rabbit conjunctiva. Methods: Fifty New Zeland rabbits were divided in 5 groups 10 animals. The left eyes were treated daily with one drop of bimatoprost 0.03%, travoprost 0.004%, latanoprost 0.005%, timolol maleate 0.5% or artificial tears containing benzalkonium chloride (BAK) for 30 days. The right eyes served as control. Superior limbic conjunctival biopsies were performed at the 8th and 30th day in 5 rabbits of each group. The conjunctive was fixed with 10% formaldehyde, followed by He and PAS staining. Morphohistometric quantitative analyses were performed to evaluate the following parameters: inflammatory infiltrate, epithelial thickness number of goblet cells, diameter and number of blood vessels. Results: At the 8th and 30th posttreatment days, all groups, except one that received artificial tears, exhibited a diffuse inflammatory infiltrate, composed by lymphocytes and neutrophils, which was denser in the timolol group than in the prostaglandin (PG) analogues groups. At the 30th day, the timolol group showed an increased subepithelial collagen density and a significant increase in epithelial thickness (p=0.0035). The goblet cell density was significantly increased at the 8th day in the group treated with travoprost (p=0.0006), and at the 30th day in those treated with bimaprost (p=0.0021) and latanoprost (p=0.009). Conclusions: Although a moderate, diffuse inflammatory infiltrate was observed in PG-treated eyes, no changes in conjunctival epithelial thickness or subconjunctival collagen density were observed with these medications, suggesting that these drugs induce fewer changes than timolol maleate in the rabbit conjuctiva.706910916Gordon MO, Beiser JA, Brandt JD, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, Johnson CA, et al. The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study: baseline factors that predict the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 2002;120(6):714-20discussion 829-30. Comment in: Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122(7):1088-9author reply 1089Ritch, P., Shields, B., Krupin, T., Pharmacology The glaucomas, 3 (C1996), pp. 1375-1489. , Ritch R, Shields MB, Krupin T, editors, 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby;Lindén, C., Therapeutic potential of prostoglandin analogues in glaucoma (2001) Expert Opin Investig Drug, 10 (4), pp. 679-694Noecker, R.S., Dirks, M.S., Choplin, N., Bimatoprost/Latanoprost Study Group. Comparison of latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost in patients with elevated intraocular pressure: A 12-week, randomized, masked-evaluator multicenter study (2003) Am J Ophthalmol, 137 (1), pp. 210-211Parrish RK, Palmberg P, Shen WPXLT Study Group. A comparison of latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost in patients with elevated intraocular pressure: a 12-week, randomized, masked-evaluator multicenter study. Am J Ophthalmol. 2003;135(5):688-703Stewart, W.C., Kolker, A.E., Stewart, J.A., Leech, J., Jackson, A.L., Conjunctival hyperemia in healthy subjects after short-term dosing with latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost (2003) Am J Ophthalmol, 135 (3), pp. 314-320Feldman, R.M., Conjunctival hyperemia and the use of topical prostaglandins in glaucoma and ocular hypertension (2003) J Ocul Pharmacol Ther, 19 (1), pp. 23-35Johnstone, M.A., Hypertrichosis and increased pigmentation of eyelashes and adjacent hair in the region of the ipsilateral eyelids of patients treated with unilateral topical latanoprost (1997) Am J Ophthalmol, 124 (4), pp. 544-547Kook, M.S., Lee, K., Increased eyelid pigmentation associated with use of latanoprost (2000) Am J Ophtalmol, 129 (6), pp. 804-806Pfeiffer, N., Griesrson, I., Goldsmith, H., Hochgesand, D., Winkgen-Böhres, A., Appleton, P., Histological effects in the iris after 3 months of latanoprost therapy: The Mainz 1 study (2001) Arch Ophtalmol, 119 (2), pp. 191-196Teus, M.A., Arranz-Marquez, E., Lucea-Suescun, P., Incidence of iris colour change in latanoprost treated eyes (2002) Br J Ophthalmol, 86 (10), pp. 1085-1088Arcieri, E.S., Santana, A., Rocha, F.N., Guapo, G.L., Costa, V.P., Blood-aqueous barrier changes after the use of prostaglandin analogues in patients with pseudophakia and aphakia: A 6-month randomized trial (2005) Arch Ophthalmol, 123 (2), pp. 186-192Brandt, J.D., Wittpenn, J.R., Katz, L.J., Steinmann, W.N., Spaeth, G.L., Conjunctival impression cytology in patients with glaucoma using long-term topical medication (1991) Am J Ophthalmol, 112 (3), pp. 297-301Mietz, H., Shlötzer-Schrehardt, U., Strassfeld, C., Krieglstein, G.K., Effect of latanoprost and timolol on the histopathology of the rabbit conjunctiva (2001) Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 42 (3), pp. 679-687Miatz, H., Esser, J.M., Welsandt, G., Kociok, N., Hueber, A., Joussen, A., Latanoprost stimulates secretion of matrix metalloproteinases in tenon fibroblasts both in vitro and in vivo (2003) Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 44 (12), pp. 5182-5188Costagliola, C., Prete, A.D., Incorvaia, C., Fusco, R., Parmeggiani, F., Di Giovanni, A., Ocular surface changes induced by topical application of latanoprost and timolol: A short-term study in glaucomatous patients with and without allergic conjunctivitis (2001) Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 239 (11), pp. 809-814Herrems JM, Pastor JC, Calonge M, Asensio VM. Ocular surface alteration after long-term treatment with antiglaucomatious drug. Ophthalmology. 199299(7):1082-8. Comment in: Ophthalmology. 1993;100(3):293-4Broadway, D.C., Grierson, I., O'Brien, C., Hitchings, R.A., Adverse effects of topical antiglaucoma medication. I. The conjunctival cell profile (1994) Arch Ophthalmol, 112 (11), pp. 1437-1445Broadway DC, Grierson I, O'Brien C, Hitchings RA. Adverse effects of topical antiglaucoma medication. II. The outcome of filtration surgery. Arch Ophthalmol. 1994;112(11):1446-54. Comment in: Arch Ophthalmol. 1995;113(7):849-50Lavin, M.J., Wormald, R.P., Migdal, C.S., Hitchings, R.A., The influence of prior therapy on the success of trabeculectomy (1990) Arch Ophthalmol, 108 (11), pp. 1543-1548Baudouin, C., Garcher, C., Haouat, N., Bron, A., Gastaud, P., Expression of inflammatory membrane markers by conjunctival cells in chronically treated patients with glaucoma (1994) Ophthalmology, 101 (3), pp. 454-460Aragona, P., Candela, V., Caputi, A.P., Micali, A., Puzzolo, D., Quintieri, M., Effects of a stable analogue of PGE2 (11-deoxy-13,14-didehydro-16 (S)- methylester methyl PGE2: FCE 20700) on the secretory processes of conjunctival globet cells of rabbit (1987) Exp Eye Res, 45 (5), pp. 647-654Baudouin, C., Side effects of antiglaucomatous drugs on the ocular surface (1996) Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 7 (2), pp. 80-86Baudouin C, Pisella PJ, Fillacier K, Goldschild M, Becquet F, De Saint Jean M. Béchetoille A. Ocular surface inflammatory changes induced by topical antiglaucoma drugs: human and animal studies. Ophthalmology. 1999106(3):556-63. Comment in: Ophthalmology. 1999106(10):1853Blondin, C., Hamard, P., Cholley, B., Haeffner-Cavaillon, N., Baudouin, C., In vitro effects of preserved or preservative-free antiglaucoma medications on human complement system (2003) Curr Eye Res, 27 (4), pp. 253-259Broadway, D., Hitchings, R., Grierson, I., The affect of topical anti-glaucomatous medications on the cell profile of the conjunctiva (1993) Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 4, pp. 51-57Addicks, E.M., Quigley, H.A., Green, W.R., Robin, A.L., Histologic characteristics of filtering blebs in glaucomatous eyes (1993) Arch Ophthalmol, 101 (5), pp. 795-798Gwynn, D.R., Stewart, W.C., Pitts, R.A., McMillan, T.A., Hennis, H.L., Conjunctival structure and cell counts and the results of filtering surgery (1993) Am J Ophthalmol, 116 (4), pp. 464-468Sherwood, M.B., Grierson, I., Millar, L., Hitchings, R.A., Long-term morphologic effects of antiglaucoma drugs on the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule in glaucomatous patients (1989) Ophthalmology, 96 (3), pp. 327-335Mietz, H., Niesen, U., Krleglstein, G.K., The effect of preservatives and antiglaucomatous medication on the histopathology of the conjunctiva (1994) Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 232 (9), pp. 561-565Bensoussan, I., Blondin, C., Baudouin, C., Hamard, P., Sabeh Afaki, G., Creuzot-Garcher, C.A., Flow cytometic analysis of HLA-DR, IL-6 and IL-8 expression by conjunctival epithelial cells from patients with prolonged topical antiglaucoma treatments] (2003) J Fr Ophtalmol, 26 (8), pp. 762-769Guenoun, J.M., Baudouin, C., Rat, P., Pauly, A., Warnet, J.M., Brignole-Baudouin, F., In vitro study of inflammatory potential and toxicity profile of latanoprost, travoprost, and bimatoprost in conjunctiva-derived epithelial cells (2005) Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 46 (7), pp. 2444-2450Moreno, M., Villena, A., Cabarga, C., Sanchez-Font, E., Garcia-Campos, J., Impression cytology of the conjunctival epithelium after antiglaucomatous treatment with latanaprost (2003) Eur J Ophthalmol, 13 (6), pp. 553-559Guglielminetti, E., Barabino, S., Monaco, M., Mantero, S., Rolando, M., HLA-DR expression in conjunctival cells after latanoprost (2002) J Ocul Pharmacol Ther, 18 (1), pp. 1-9Broadway, D., Hitchings, R., Grierson, I., Topical antiglaucoma therapy: Adverse effects on the conjunctiva and implications for filtration surgery (1995) J Glaucoma, 4, pp. 136-148Oh, D.J., Martin, J.L., Williams, A.J., Peck, R.E., Pokorny, C., Russell, P., Analysis of expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in human ciliary body after latanoprost (2006) Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 47 (3), pp. 953-963Young, L.T., Higginbotham, E.J., Zou, X.L., Farber, M.D., Effects of topical glaucoma drugs on fistulized rabbit conjunctiva (1990) Ophthalmology, 97 (11), pp. 1423-1427De Saint Jean, M., Brignole, F., Bringuier, A.F., Bauchet, A., Feldmann, G., Baudouin, C., Effects of benzalkonium chloride on growth and survival of Chang conjunctival cells (1999) Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 40 (3), pp. 619-630Bensoussan, L., Blondin, C., Baudouin, C., Hemard, P., Sabeh Afaki, G., Creuzot-Garcher, C., (2003) Flow cytometric analysis of HLA-DR, IL-6 and IL-8 expression by conjunctival epithelial cells from patients with prolonged topical antiglaucoma treatments]J Fr Ophtalmol, 26 (8), pp. 782-789Pisella, P.J., Debbasch, C., Hamard, P., Creuzot-Garchar, C., Rat, P., Brignole, F., Baudouin, C., Conjunctival proinflammatory and proapoptotic effects of latanoprost and preserved and unpreserved timolol: An ex vivo and in vitro study (2004) Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 45 (5), pp. 1360-1368Debbasch, C., De La Salle, S.B., Brignole, F., Rat, P., Warnet, M., Baudouin, C., Cytoprotective effects of hyaluronic acid and Carbomer 934P in ocular surface epithelial cells (2002) Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 43 (11), pp. 3409-341

Testing for non-Gaussianity of the cosmic microwave background in harmonic space: an empirical process approach

We present a new, model-independent approach for measuring non-Gaussianity of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropy pattern. Our approach is based on the empirical distribution function of the normalized spherical harmonic expansion coefficients a_lm of a nearly full-sky CMB map, like the ones expected from forthcoming satellite experiments. Using a set of Kolmogorov-Smirnov type tests, we check for Gaussianity and independency of the a_lm. We test the method on two non-Gaussian toy-models of the CMB, one generated in spherical harmonic space and one in pixel (real) space. We also provide some rigorous results, possibly of independent interest, on the exact distribution of the spherical harmonic coefficients normalized by an estimated angular power spectrum.Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

QCD Corrections to QED Vacuum Polarization

We compute QCD corrections to QED calculations for vacuum polarization in background magnetic fields. Formally, the diagram for virtual $e\bar{e}$ loops is identical to the one for virtual $q\bar{q}$ loops. However due to confinement, or to the growth of $\alpha_s$ as $p^2$ decreases, a direct calculation of the diagram is not allowed. At large $p^2$ we consider the virtual $q\bar{q}$ diagram, in the intermediate region we discuss the role of the contribution of quark condensates \left and at the low-energy limit we consider the $\pi^0$, as well as charged pion $\pi^+\pi^-$ loops. Although these effects seem to be out of the measurement accuracy of photon-photon laboratory experiments they may be relevant for $\gamma$-ray burst propagation. In particular, for emissions from the center of the galaxy (8.5 kpc), we show that the mixing between the neutral pseudo-scalar pion $\pi_0$ and photons renders a deviation from the power-law spectrum in the $TeV$ range. As for scalar quark condensates \left and virtual $q\bar{q}$ loops are relevant only for very high radiation density $\sim 300 MeV/fm^3$ and very strong magnetic fields of order $\sim 10^{14} T$.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures; Final versio

Interatomic potentials for atomistic simulations of the Ti-Al system

Semi-empirical interatomic potentials have been developed for Al, alpha-Ti, and gamma-TiAl within the embedded atomic method (EAM) by fitting to a large database of experimental as well as ab-initio data. The ab-initio calculations were performed by the linear augmented plane wave (LAPW) method within the density functional theory to obtain the equations of state for a number of crystal structures of the Ti-Al system. Some of the calculated LAPW energies were used for fitting the potentials while others for examining their quality. The potentials correctly predict the equilibrium crystal structures of the phases and accurately reproduce their basic lattice properties. The potentials are applied to calculate the energies of point defects, surfaces, planar faults in the equilibrium structures. Unlike earlier EAM potentials for the Ti-Al system, the proposed potentials provide reasonable description of the lattice thermal expansion, demonstrating their usefulness in the molecular dynamics or Monte Carlo studies at high temperatures. The energy along the tetragonal deformation path (Bain transformation) in gamma-TiAl calculated with the EAM potential is in a fairly good agreement with LAPW calculations. Equilibrium point defect concentrations in gamma-TiAl are studied using the EAM potential. It is found that antisite defects strongly dominate over vacancies at all compositions around stoichiometry, indicating that gamm-TiAl is an antisite disorder compound in agreement with experimental data.Comment: 46 pages, 6 figures (Physical Review B, in press

Floristic and vegetation structure of a grassland plant community on shallow basalt in southern Brazil

Few studies have adequately described the floristic and structural features of natural grasslands associated with shallow basalt soils in southern Brazil. This study was carried out on natural grazing land used for livestock production in the municipality of Santana do Livramento, in the Campanha region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The aim of the study was to describe the floristic and structural diversity of the area. The floristic list obtained comprises 229 plant taxa from 40 botanical families, with a predominance of the families Poaceae (62), Asteraceae (28), Fabaceae (16) and Cyperaceae (12). The estimated diversity and evenness in the community were 3.00 and 0.874, respectively. Bare soil and rock outcrops accounted for 19.3% of the area, resulting in limited forage availability. Multivariate analysis revealed two well-defined groups among the sampling units. One group showed a high degree of internal aggregation, associated with deep soils, and was characterized by the presence of tussocks, whereas the other was less aggregate and was characterized by prostrate species growing on shallow soil. Ordination analysis indicated a gradient of moisture and of soil depth in the study area, resulting in different vegetation patterns. These patterns were analogous to the vegetation physiognomies described for Uruguayan grasslands. Overall, the grassland community studied is similar to others found throughout southern Brazil, although it harbors more winter forage species. In addition, the rare grass Paspalum indecorum Mez is locally dominant in some patches, behaving similarly to P. notatum Fl., a widespread grass that dominates extensive grassland areas in southern Brazil

Cosmology from Rolling Massive Scalar Field on the anti-D3 Brane of de Sitter Vacua

We investigate a string-inspired scenario associated with a rolling massive scalar field on D-branes and discuss its cosmological implications. In particular, we discuss cosmological evolution of the massive scalar field on the ant-D3 brane of KKLT vacua. Unlike the case of tachyon field, because of the warp factor of the anti-D3 brane, it is possible to obtain the required level of amplitude of density perturbations. We study the spectra of scalar and tensor perturbations generated during the rolling scalar inflation and show that our scenario satisfies the observational constraint coming from the Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropies and other observational data. We also implement the negative cosmological constant arising from the stabilization of the modulus fields in the KKLT vacua and find that this leads to a successful reheating in which the energy density of the scalar field effectively scales as a pressureless dust. The present dark energy can be also explained in our scenario provided that the potential energy of the massive rolling scalar does not exactly cancel with the amplitude of the negative cosmological constant at the potential minimum.Comment: RevTex4, 15 pages, 5 eps figures, minor clarifications and few references added, final version to appear in PR

Dynamics of tree diversity in undisturbed and logged subtropical rainforest in Australia

In subtropical rainforest in eastern Australia, changes in the diversity of trees were compared under natural conditions and eight silvicultural regimes over 35 years. In the treated plots basal area remaining after logging ranged from 12 to 58 m2 per ha. In three control plots richness differed little over this period. In the eight treated plots richness per plot generally declined after intervention and then gradually increased to greater than original diversity. After logging there was a reduction in richness per plot and an increase in species richness per stem in all but the lightest selective treatments. The change in species diversity was related to the intensity of the logging, however the time taken for species richness to return to pre-logging levels was similar in all silvicultural treatments and was not effected by the intensity of treatment. These results suggest that light selective logging in these forests mainly affects dominant species. The return to high diversity after only a short time under all silvicultural regimes suggests that sustainability and the manipulation of species composition for desired management outcomes is possible