The application of a management procedure to regulate the directed and bycatch fishery of South African sardine sardinops sagax

The South African sardine Sardinops sagax resource is subjected to both directed fishing that targets adult fish, and bycatch of both juvenile and adult fish taken in the directed fisheries for anchovy Engraulis capensisand round herring Etrumeus whiteheadi. Two separate TACs (Total Allowable Catch) for sardine are calculated in the management procedures considered. The first is a directed TAC linked to sardine abundance, and the second is a bycatch TAC with an “anchovy” component coupled to the anchovy population dynamics as a proportion of the anchovy TAC, plus a “round herring” component reflecting a fixed tonnage independent of round herring abundance. Requirements from the pelagic industry, such as a minimum economically viable annual directed catch and a maximum percentage decrease in the directed TAC that could be tolerated from year to year are also incorporated. The selection of a single management procedure for implementation is based on the comparison of performance statistics such as risk of severe depletion and average annual catch, which incorporate the consequences of random error in survey estimates of abundance and random fluctuations in recruitment from year to year. Sensitivity tests are carried out to ensure robustness over a range of alternative assumptions concerning resource dynamics. A description is given of the development of the management procedure for sardine thatwas implemented in 1994, and the rationale for its selection. A wide range of variants to this procedure, including those that consider alternative approaches for handling bycatch, are investigated. Performance of the management procedures considered demonstrates extreme sensitivity to the choice of the proportion of the anchovy TAC used in the sardine bycatch TAC calculation. A lack of robustness of the selected management procedure to possible bias in estimates of spawner biomass from hydroacoustic surveys, and poor precision of recruit survey estimatesare argued as justification for adopting a conservative approach for managing sardine

The dynamics of apparent horizons in Robinson-Trautman spacetimes

We present an alternative scheme of finding apparent horizons based on spectral methods applied to Robinson-Trautman spacetimes. We have considered distinct initial data such as representing the spheroids of matter and the head-on collision of two non-rotating black holes. The evolution of the apparent horizon is presented. We have obtained in some cases a mass gap between the final Bondi and apparent horizon masses, whose implications were briefly commented in the light of the thermodynamics of black holes.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

A novel PAX5 rearrangement in TCF3-PBX1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Chromosome translocations are a hallmark of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). Additional genomic aberrations are also crucial in both BCP-ALL leukemogenesis and treatment management. Herein, we report the phenotypic and molecular cytogenetic characterization of an extremely rare case of BCP-ALL harboring two concomitant leukemia-associated chromosome translocations: t(1;19)(q23;q13.3) and t(9;17)(p13;q11.2). Of note, we described a new rearrangement between exon 6 of PAX5 and a 17q11.2 region, where intron 3 of SPECC1 is located. This rearrangement seems to disrupt PAX5 similarly to a PAX5 deletion. Furthermore, a distinct karyotype between diagnosis and relapse samples was observed, disclosing a complex clonal evolution during leukemia progression. CASE PRESENTATION: A 16-year-old boy was admitted febrile with abdominal and joint pain. At clinical investigation, he presented with anemia, splenomegaly, low white blood cell count and 92% lymphoblast. He was diagnosed with pre-B ALL and treated according to high risk GBTLI-ALL2009. Twelve months after complete remission, he developed a relapse in consequence of a high central nervous system and bone marrow infiltration, and unfortunately died. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of a rearrangement between PAX5 and SPECC1. The presence of TCF3-PBX1 and PAX5-rearrangement at diagnosis and relapse indicates that both might have participated in the malignant transformation disease maintenance and dismal outcome

Socio-professional profile of the foreign teacher in Brazilian public university

Este trabajo, fruto de una tesis de doctorado en educación, tuvo como objetivo comprender la figura del profesor extranjero, su perfil, dificultades, retos y contribución a la permanencia en la reconstrucción de las prácticas didáctico-pedagógicas y su actuación como profesional docente en las universidades públicas brasileñas. El estudio se justifica debido a su número creciente, particularmente durante en los últimos diez años y que, por lo tanto, no ha sido objeto de investigación sistemática. Nuestro universo de investigación ha sido la UNB, Universidad pública federal de Brasilia, que concentra el mayor número de estos profesores. Utilizamos los datos del INEP (microdatos del censo de la educación superior, 2011) como base para localizar a estos docentes. Se aplicaron cuestionarios a más de 37,3% de las nacionalidades presentes (19 de 51 nacionalidades) que corresponde al 7,6% de una población estimada de 250 docentes, como documentos de consulta (sitios web de la escuela, sitio web personal, servicios de fotocopia). El análisis cualitativo y el tratamiento estadístico de los datos nos permitió obtener los siguientes Resultados: los profesores extranjeros que se encuentran en UNB son originarios, en su mayoría, de los países de América Latina y de Europa, son blancos o de color, son doctores y están contratados a tiempo completo y dedicación exclusiva. También intervienen en tareas de investigación y extensión. Estos docentes encuentran grandes dificultades de adaptación a sus lugares de trabajo debido a la falta de mecanismos de socialización y de ayuda en sus prácticas pedagógicas. A la luz de la complejidad del paradigma de Edgar Morin, se puede afirmar que el profesor extranjero sobrevive en la Universidad Pública Brasileña en medio de dilemas y contradicciones tales como problemas culturales, de alteridad y de aceptación por parte de los estudiantes, su inserción en la propia universidad es la busca permanente de medios para poder conectar. Sin embargo, debemos destacar la gran contribución de estos profesores a la calidad de los programas de grado y la inserción internacional de las universidades.This paper fruit of a doctorate thesis in education aimed to understand the foreign teacher, its profile, difficulties, contributions permanence challenges and reconstruction of didactic-pedagogical practices and for its professional exercise in the brazilian public universities. The study was justified because of their increasing number particularly during the last decade and also the lack of systematic research of the thematic. Our universe was the UnB, federal public university of Brasilia where we found the bigger number of these teachers. Using the INEP data (micro data of census of higher education, 2011) we could localize those ones. Questionnaires were applied to more than 37,3% of the nationalities present (19 of 51 nationalities) corresponding to 7,6% of the population estimated to 250 teachers, documents consulting (school websites, personnel website, photocopy services). The qualitative analysis and the statistical data treatment allowed us to obtain the following results: the teachers met at UnB are from Latin America and Europe, are white or brunet, are doctors and are contracted full time. They also act in teaching, research and extension. These teachers met many adaptation difficulties in their workplace due to a lack of socialization and help mechanisms in their teaching practices. By means of the complexity paradigm of Edgar Morin, we could confirm that the foreign teacher survive in the Brazilian public university within dilemmas and contradictions like cultural problems, alterity and acceptation by the students, its insertion in the own university and is always in search for means to connect the parts. Although, we could note the big contributions of these teachers in the quality of the graduate programs and the international insertion of their universities.Esse trabalho, fruto de uma tese de doutorado em educação buscou apreender o professor estrangeiro, no seu perfil, suas dificuldades, suas contribuições e desafios para a permanência e reconstrução das práticas didático-pedagógicas e para a atuação como profissional docente nas universidades públicas brasileiras. O estudo se justificou pelo fato de termos um grande número desses sujeitos nas universidades públicas brasileiras principalmente nos últimos dez anos e que, portanto, nunca foi ainda objeto de um estudo sistemático. Nosso universo de pesquisa foi a UnB, instituição pública federal que concentra o maior número desses professores. Dados do INEP (microdados do censo do ensino superior do ano de 2011) nos serviram de base para localizar esses docentes. Foram aplicados questionários a mais de 37,3% das nacionalidades presentes (19 das 51 nacionalidades) correspondendo a 7,6% de uma população de 250 professores além de entrevistas semiestruturadas, consulta a documentos disponibilizados nas IES e em outros locais (sites web das faculdades, sites pessoais e copiadoras). A análise qualitativa e o tratamento estatístico dos dados nos permitiram chegar as seguintes conclusões: os professores estrangeiros que se encontram na UNB são originários na sua maioria dos países da América Latina e da Europa, se declaram brancos ou pardos, têm títulos de doutores, trabalham em regime de dedicação exclusiva e atuam no ensino, pesquisa e extensão. Esses docentes encontram grandes dificuldades de adaptação em seus locais de trabalho devido à falta de mecanismos de socialização e de auxílio em suas práticas pedagógicas. À luz do paradigma da complexidade de Edgar Morin, pôde se afirmar que o professor estrangeiro sobrevive na universidade pública brasileira em meio a dilemas e contradições que vão desde inquietações culturais, alteridade e aceitação pelos alunos até sua própria integração na universidade e a busca permanente da união dessas partes. No entanto, há de se notar a grande contribuição desses professores no que tange à inserção dos programas de pós-graduação onde atua em altos patamares de qualidade além da além da inserção internacional.peerReviewe

An Unexpected Location of the Arginine Catabolic Mobile Element (ACME) in a USA300-Related MRSA Strain

In methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) was initially described in USA300 (t008-ST8) where it is located downstream of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). A common health-care associated MRSA in Copenhagen, Denmark (t024-ST8) is clonally related to USA300 and is frequently PCR positive for the ACME specific arcA-gene. This study is the first to describe an ACME element upstream of the SCCmec in MRSA. By traditional SCCmec typing schemes, the SCCmec of t024-ST8 strain M1 carries SCCmec IVa, but full sequencing of the cassette revealed that the entire J3 region had no homology to published SCCmec IVa. Within the J3 region of M1 was a 1705 bp sequence only similar to a sequence in S. haemolyticus strain JCSC1435 and 2941 bps with no homology found in GenBank. In addition to the usual direct repeats (DR) at each extremity of SCCmec, M1 had two new DR between the orfX gene and the J3 region of the SCCmec. The region between the orfX DR (DR1) and DR2 contained the ccrAB4 genes. An ACME II-like element was located between DR2 and DR3. The entire 26,468 bp sequence between DR1 and DR3 was highly similar to parts of the ACME composite island of S. epidermidis strain ATCC12228. Sequencing of an ACME negative t024-ST8 strain (M299) showed that DR1 and the sequence between DR1 and DR3 was missing. The finding of a mobile ACME II-like element inserted downstream of orfX and upstream of SCCmec indicates a novel recombination between staphylococcal species

On domain walls in a Ginzburg-Landau non-linear S^2-sigma model

The domain wall solutions of a Ginzburg-Landau non-linear $S^2$-sigma hybrid model are unveiled. There are three types of basic topological walls and two types of degenerate families of composite - one topological, the other non-topological- walls. The domain wall solutions are identified as the finite action trajectories (in infinite time) of a related mechanical system that is Hamilton-Jacobi separable in sphero-conical coordinates. The physical and mathematical features of these domain walls are thoroughly discussed.Comment: 26 pages, 18 figure

Markedly Divergent Tree Assemblage Responses to Tropical Forest Loss and Fragmentation across a Strong Seasonality Gradient

We examine the effects of forest fragmentation on the structure and composition of tree assemblages within three seasonal and aseasonal forest types of southern Brazil, including evergreen, Araucaria, and deciduous forests. We sampled three southernmost Atlantic Forest landscapes, including the largest continuous forest protected areas within each forest type. Tree assemblages in each forest type were sampled within 10 plots of 0.1 ha in both continuous forests and 10 adjacent forest fragments. All trees within each plot were assigned to trait categories describing their regeneration strategy, vertical stratification, seed-dispersal mode, seed size, and wood density. We detected differences among both forest types and landscape contexts in terms of overall tree species richness, and the density and species richness of different functional groups in terms of regeneration strategy, seed dispersal mode and woody density. Overall, evergreen forest fragments exhibited the largest deviations from continuous forest plots in assemblage structure. Evergreen, Araucaria and deciduous forests diverge in the functional composition of tree floras, particularly in relation to regeneration strategy and stress tolerance. By supporting a more diversified light-demanding and stress-tolerant flora with reduced richness and abundance of shade-tolerant, old-growth species, both deciduous and Araucaria forest tree assemblages are more intrinsically resilient to contemporary human-disturbances, including fragmentation-induced edge effects, in terms of species erosion and functional shifts. We suggest that these intrinsic differences in the direction and magnitude of responses to changes in landscape structure between forest types should guide a wide range of conservation strategies in restoring fragmented tropical forest landscapes worldwide

The impact of low erythrocyte density in human blood on the fitness and energetic reserves of the African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae

Background Anaemia is a common health problem in the developing world. This condition is characterized by a reduction in erythrocyte density, primarily from malnutrition and/or infectious diseases such as malaria. As red blood cells are the primary source of protein for haematophagous mosquitoes, any reduction could impede the ability of mosquito vectors to transmit malaria by influencing their fitness or that of the parasites they transmit. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of differences in the density of red blood cells in human blood on malaria vector (Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto) fitness. The hypotheses tested are that mosquito vector energetic reserves and fitness are negatively influenced by reductions in the red cell density of host human blood meals commensurate with those expected from severe anaemia. Methods Mosquitoes (An. gambiae s.s.) were offered blood meals of different packed cell volume(PCV) of human blood consistent with those arising from severe anaemia (15%) and normalPCV (50%). Associations between mosquito energetic reserves (lipid, glucose and glycogen)and fitness measures (reproduction and survival) and blood meal PCV were investigated. Results The amount of protein that malaria vectors acquired from blood feeding (indexed by haematin excretion) was significantly reduced at low blood PCV. However, mosquitoes feeding on blood of low PCV had the same oviposition rates as those feeding on blood of normal PCV, and showed an increase in egg production of around 15%. The long-term survival of An. gambiae s.s was reduced after feeding on low PCV blood, but PCV had no significant impact on the proportion of mosquitoes surviving through the minimal period required to develop and transmit malaria parasites (estimated as 14 days post-blood feeding). The impact of blood PCV on the energetic reserves of mosquitoes was relatively minor. Conclusions These results suggest that feeding on human hosts whose PCV has been depleted due to severe anaemia does not significantly reduce the fitness or transmission potential of malaria vectors, and indicates that mosquitoes may be able exploit resources for reproduction more efficiently from blood of low rather than normal PCV