A new phase in the production of quality-controlled sea level data

Sea level is an essential climate variable (ECV) that has a direct effect on many people through inundations of coastal areas, and it is also a clear indicator of climate changes due to external forcing factors and internal climate variability. Regional patterns of sea level change inform us on ocean circulation variations in response to natural climate modes such as El Niño and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and anthropogenic forcing. Comparing numerical climate models to a consistent set of observations enables us to assess the performance of these models and help us to understand and predict these phenomena, and thereby alleviate some of the environmental conditions associated with them. All such studies rely on the existence of long-term consistent high-accuracy datasets of sea level. The Climate Change Initiative (CCI) of the European Space Agency was established in 2010 to provide improved time series of some ECVs, including sea level, with the purpose of providing such data openly to all to enable the widest possible utilisation of such data. Now in its second phase, the Sea Level CCI project (SL_cci) merges data from nine different altimeter missions in a clear, consistent and well-documented manner, selecting the most appropriate satellite orbits and geophysical corrections in order to further reduce the error budget. This paper summarises the corrections required, the provenance of corrections and the evaluation of options that have been adopted for the recently released v2.0 dataset (https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-sea_level_cci-1993_2015-v_2.0-201612). This information enables scientists and other users to clearly understand which corrections have been applied and their effects on the sea level dataset. The overall result of these changes is that the rate of rise of global mean sea level (GMSL) still equates to ∼ 3.2 mm yr−1 during 1992–2015, but there is now greater confidence in this result as the errors associated with several of the corrections have been reduced. Compared with v1.1 of the SL_cci dataset, the new rate of change is 0.2 mm yr−1 less during 1993 to 2001 and 0.2 mm yr−1 higher during 2002 to 2014. Application of new correction models brought a reduction of altimeter crossover variances for most corrections

Principles of environmentally-sustainable anaesthesia: a global consensus statement from the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists

The Earth’s mean surface temperature is already approximately 1.1°C higher than pre-industrial levels. Exceeding a mean 1.5°C rise by 2050 will make global adaptation to the consequences of climate change less possible. To protect public health, anaesthesia providers need to reduce the contribution their practice makes to global warming. We convened a Working Group of 45 anaesthesia providers with a recognised interest in sustainability, and used a three-stage modified Delphi consensus process to agree on principles of environmentally sustainable anaesthesia that are achievable worldwide. The Working Group agreed on the following three important underlying statements: patient safety should not be compromised by sustainable anaesthetic practices; high-, middle- and low-income countries should support each other appropriately in delivering sustainable healthcare (including anaesthesia); and healthcare systems should be mandated to reduce their contribution to global warming. We set out seven fundamental principles to guide anaesthesia providers in the move to environmentally sustainable practice, including: choice of medications and equipment; minimising waste and overuse of resources; and addressing environmental sustainability in anaesthetists’ education, research, quality improvement and local healthcare leadership activities. These changes are achievable with minimal material resource and financial investment, and should undergo re-evaluation and updates as better evidence is published. This paper discusses each principle individually, and directs readers towards further important references

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Educomunicação e suas áreas de intervenção: Novos paradigmas para o diálogo intercultural

oai:omp.abpeducom.org.br:publicationFormat/1O material aqui divulgado representa, em essência, a contribuição do VII Encontro Brasileiro de Educomunicação ao V Global MIL Week, da UNESCO, ocorrido na ECA/USP, entre 3 e 5 de novembro de 2016. Estamos diante de um conjunto de 104 papers executivos, com uma média de entre 7 e 10 páginas, cada um. Com este rico e abundante material, chegamos ao sétimo e-book publicado pela ABPEducom, em seus seis primeiros anos de existência. A especificidade desta obra é a de trazer as “Áreas de Intervenção” do campo da Educomunicação, colocando-as a serviço de uma meta essencial ao agir educomunicativo: o diálogo intercultural, trabalhado na linha do tema geral do evento internacional: Media and Information Literacy: New Paradigms for Intercultural Dialogue

As grandes minas e o desenvolvimento humano das comunidades do semi-árido brasileiro

A sociedade vem-se questionando acerca da responsabilidade socioambiental da atividade mineral, emergindo perguntas sobre o retorno que a mineração traz ou pode vir a trazer para as comunidades que abrigam seus empreendimentos. Apresentam-se inicialmente algumas considerações conceituais sobre a mineração e o desenvolvimento sustentável, a governança sócio-ambiental, a responsabilidade empresarial e as inter-relações entre uma Grande Mina e a Comunidade. Com o advento da globalização, um grupo minerador depende cada vez mais das suas atividades estarem em conformidade com as normas legais vigentes, muitas vezes ligadas às questões socioambientais que, na maioria das vezes, ultrapassam os limites da mina. Há um leque muito grande de questões sociais ao longo da cadeia produtiva da indústria mineral e nas suas relações com o ambiente local de produção. Os efeitos da mineração para a sociedade têm bastante peso, levando à necessidade de uma tríplice licença ainda por construir: título minerário, licença ambiental e licença social. Essa última licença requer processos de consulta,participação e de um sólido diálogo empresa-governo-comunidade local. A operação de uma Grande Mina irá necessariamente exaurir o capital natural formado pela jazida mineral. Questiona-se, pelo menos para as Grandes Minas, o modelo legal da concessão dos bens minerais que, são cedidos automaticamente para exploração às empresas,sem que previamente se estipulem, caso a caso, justas compensações e outros benefícios para a comunidade local? Neste trabalho, é realizado um exercício de avaliação do bemestar e desenvolvimento humano das Comunidades no Semi-Árido Brasileiro associadas com as Grandes Minas, várias delas solidamente instaladas há dezenas de anos. Afere-se,quantitativamente, quais têm sido os benefícios diretos para a Comunidade decorrentes da atividade extrativa e encontra-se uma baixa compensação. Ainda estes municípios mineradores do Semi-Árido têm baixos índices de desenvolvimento humano e intensa pobreza

Acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men in Peru and Brazil

Submitted by Fábio Marques ([email protected]) on 2018-09-17T14:14:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing_Beatriz_Grinsztejn_etal_INI_Lapclin-AIDS_2016.pdf: 64054 bytes, checksum: 2f38bb5d0c378d88d1cb872f1aab093f (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Regina Costa ([email protected]) on 2018-10-08T14:53:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing_Beatriz_Grinsztejn_etal_INI_Lapclin-AIDS_2016.pdf: 64054 bytes, checksum: 2f38bb5d0c378d88d1cb872f1aab093f (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-08T14:53:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing_Beatriz_Grinsztejn_etal_INI_Lapclin-AIDS_2016.pdf: 64054 bytes, checksum: 2f38bb5d0c378d88d1cb872f1aab093f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016Bridge HIV, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco CA, USA.Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación, Lima, Peru.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación, Lima, Peru.Departments of Clinical Pharmacy and of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.Bridge HIV, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco CA, USA./ Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.HIV self-testing has the potential to increase testing frequency and uptake. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of HIV self-testing in a sample of sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM) in Peru and Brazil. Participants were trained to use a whole blood rapid HIV self-test and instructed to use the self-test monthly during this three-month study. Test acceptability was measured with self-reported use of the test at the one-month and three-month study visits, and test feasibility was assessed by direct observation of self-test administration at the final three-month visit. A total of 103 participants (52 in Peru and 51 in Brazil) were enrolled, and 86% completed the three-month study. Nearly all participants reported use of the self-test (97% at one-month and 98% at three-month visit), and all participants correctly interpreted the self-administered test results when observed using the test at the final study visit. HIV self-testing with a blood-based assay was highly acceptable and feasible. HIV self-testing may have the potential to increase testing frequency and to reach high-risk MSM not currently accessing HIV-testing services

Convergent synthesis and cruzain inhibitory activity of novel 2-(N `-benzylidenehydrazino)-4-trifluoromethyl-pyrimidines

To search for new cruzain inhibitors, the synthesis of a series of novel 2-(N`-benzylidenehydrazino)-4-trifluoromethyl-pyrimidines in a convergent manner is presented. The cruzain inhibitory activity of some of these compounds was evaluated and a binding model was proposed. All derivatives tested were active and the most significant inhibitory effect (80% at 100 mu M) and IC(50) value (85 mu M) were obtained from the 2-(N`-4-chloro-benzylidenehydrazino)-4-trifluoromethyl-pyrimidine. Although further structural optimization to improve solubility is necessary, the molecular docking studies suggest that these inhibitors occupy the S2 pocket without irreversible enzyme inactivation, through hydrophobic interactions, thus, indicating a desirable mode of interaction for the design of novel inhibitors. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico)[477682/01-4]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa de Estado de Sao Paulo)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPES