Global challenges for nitrogen science-policy interactions : Towards the international nitrogen management system (INMS) and improved coordination between multi-lateral environmental agreements

Human interference with the nitrogen cycle has doubled reactive nitrogen inputs to the global biosphere over the past century, leading to changes across multiple environmental issues that require urgent action. Nitrogen fertilizers and biological nitrogen fixation have allowed benefits of increased crop harvest and livestock production, while in some areas there is insufficient nitrogen to fertilize crops. Whether in excess or deficit, nitrogen losses from its inefficient use are causing a combination of freshwater and marine pollution, air pollution, alteration of climate balance, stratospheric ozone loss, biodiversity loss and reduction of soil quality. The resulting nitrogen pollution affects human health, well-being and livelihoods. Scientific efforts have begun to bring these issues together. However, there is still a high degree of fragmentation between research on the different benefits and threats of reactive nitrogen and between the respective policy frameworks, especially at the global scale. We argue that a more joined-up approach to managing the global nitrogen cycle is needed to develop the 'gravity of common cause' between nitrogen issues and to avoid policy trade-offs. We describe how a coherent system for science evidence provision is being developed to support policy development through the 'International Nitrogen Management System' (INMS). There is now a matching challenge to bring together the multiple policy agreements relevant for nitrogen as a foundation to address synergies/trade-offs and to set priorities. Based on review of existing frameworks, we outline the concept for an Interconvention nitrogen coordination mechanism. This could make a major contribution to multiple Sustainable Development Goals by stimulating the next generation of international nitrogen strategies: maximizing the benefits of efficient nitrogen use, while minimizing its many environmental threats

Unruptured intracranial aneurysm presenting with epiletic seizure Epilepsia secundária a aneurisma cerebral não roto

Intracranial aneurysms are frequently present with subarachnoid hemorrhage.Less often they produce suggestive symptoms of cranial nerve dysfunction or intracranial tumor when very large. Their association with epilepsy has rarely been reported; such concurrence may not be a coincidence. When the patient presents with epileptiforme attacks the presence of an intracranial aneurysm is rarely considered. In this paper we report the case of a 45-years-old patient with an unruptured aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery with a 10 years history of epileptic seizure.<br>Aneurismas intracranianos freqüentemente se apresentam com hemorragia subaracnóidea quando rotos, porém quando gigantes sangram com menor freqüência e se comportam como verdadeiros tumores, comprimindo estruturas cerebrais adjacentes, apresentando sintomatologia peculiar. Relatamos o caso de um paciente de 45 anos que apresentava crises convulsivas generalizadas com evolução de 10 anos. A investigação radiológica revelou presença de aneurisma gigante da artéria cerebral média, não roto. É realizada revisão da literatura correlacionando a presença de aneurismas não rotos e epilepsia, pois esta associação é pouco freqüente na literatura

Designs are cultural alloys; STEMPJE in design methodology

... the scholar who says he detests any kind of science is not only ridiculous: his attitude is decidedly harmful. Harmful because it encourages those who are responsible for decisions that may determine the fate of mankind to be intentionally ignorant about the material background against which their decisions should be taken. Harmful also because authors and scholars, while gladly using modern commodities, fail to see the philosophical implications of science and tend to deny scientists and engineers their legitimate place in culture. But we, scientists and engineers, we know that we have not only created material things and above all we know that we contribute to better relations between nations and peoples. For us it is easy to have understanding of and objective appreciation for the work of others, and from there it is not difficult to arrive also at human understanding and appreciation [H.B.G. Casimir, 1965; italics added