Global spatial risk assessment of sharks under the footprint of fisheries

Effective ocean management and the conservation of highly migratory species depend on resolving the overlap between animal movements and distributions, and fishing effort. However, this information is lacking at a global scale. Here we show, using a big-data approach that combines satellite-tracked movements of pelagic sharks and global fishing fleets, that 24% of the mean monthly space used by sharks falls under the footprint of pelagic longline fisheries. Space-use hotspots of commercially valuable sharks and of internationally protected species had the highest overlap with longlines (up to 76% and 64%, respectively), and were also associated with significant increases in fishing effort. We conclude that pelagic sharks have limited spatial refuge from current levels of fishing effort in marine areas beyond national jurisdictions (the high seas). Our results demonstrate an urgent need for conservation and management measures at high-seas hotspots of shark space use, and highlight the potential of simultaneous satellite surveillance of megafauna and fishers as a tool for near-real-time, dynamic management

Learning from the past for a sustainable future: environmental monitoring and 3D modelling to assess the thermal performance of heritage buildings

There are numerous lessons to be learned from historic buildings, such as the rich diversity of their traditional architecture, the use of natural and local materials, their durability and resilience, or because they allow for thermal comfort in severe climatic and weather conditions. Today, many of these heritage buildings are still standing and in use, but their shape may have changed significantly from when they were built. In this sense, to accurately analyse historic buildings, 3D models that approximate their geometry (as-is/as-built models) must be produced. Based on terrestrial laser scanning 3D point clouds, as-is 3D modelling can represent the geometrical alterations of the assets to enable diverse analyses and simulations. This work addresses Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem building, claimed to be the oldest inn in England, UK (1189 AD). Hence, this historic building presents numerous deformations such as warped and tilted walls, recess in walls, non-planar ceilings, and an irregular arrangement of bent ceiling beams. This Grade II listed building is located near Nottingham Castle, beneath Castle Rock, the natural promontory on which the castle is situated. A part of the inn is inside rock-hewn caves under Castle Rock, making it a unique landmark with special indoor thermal conditions. Due to the complex geometry of the building, laser scanning-based 3D modelling is found essential to communicate the building’s features to help understand its thermal behaviour. This paper aims to investigate how Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem building is capable of regulating indoor temperature and humidity in different locations, for which the as-is 3D modelling and environmental monitoring of this historic building are discussed. Based on the findings, the lessons learnt from studying old buildings could be utilised to enhance the sustainability of modern buildings

Desenvolvimento do Pensamento Estatístico e sua Articulação com a Mobilização de Registros de Representação Semiótica

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é analisar as relações entre o uso de diversos registros de representação semiótica, no caso da Estatística, especificamente, o gráfico e o tabular, e o desenvolvimento do pensamento estatístico. Usou-se como referencial teórico as noções de registro de representação semiótica, mais especificamente as diferentes apreensões de uma figura, e de transnumeração. O trabalho que apresentamos é de cunho qualitativo, mais especificamente é um estudo de caso que tem por objetivo compreender o desenvolvimento do pensamento estatístico de dois sujeitos. A partir da análise dos protocolos, podemos inferir uma evolução no desenvolvimento do pensamento estatístico. No entanto, a articulação necessária entre os registros de representação semiótica, que deveria resultar em uma análise mais elaborada do problema, não foi observada. Palavras-chave: Educação estatística. Pensamento Estatístico. Transnumeração. Registro de representação semiótica. Development of Statistical Thinking: an issue in elementary schools teacher´s training Abstract This paper analyzes the relationships between the use of various records of semiotic representation in the case of Statistics, specifically graphs and tables, and the development of statistical thinking. Notions of records of semiotic representation were used as a theoretical framework, more specifically different understandings of a figure and of transnumeration. The work that we present is of a qualitative nature; more specifically, it is a case study aiming to understand the development of the statistical thinking of two subjects. Based on the analysis of the protocols, we can infer an evolution in their development of statistical thinking. However, the articulation necessary between the records of semiotic representations, which should result in a more detailed analysis of the problem, was not observed. Keywords: Statistics education. Statistical thinking. Transnumeration. Record of semiotic representation

The methodology of population surveys of headache prevalence, burden and cost: Principles and recommendations from the Global Campaign against Headache

The global burden of headache is very large, but knowledge of it is far from complete and needs still to be gathered. Published population-based studies have used variable methodology, which has influenced findings and made comparisons difficult. Among the initiatives of the Global Campaign against Headache to improve and standardize methods in use for cross-sectional studies, the most important is the production of consensus-based methodological guidelines. This report describes the development of detailed principles and recommendations. For this purpose we brought together an expert consensus group to include experience and competence in headache epidemiology and/or epidemiology in general and drawn from all six WHO world regions. The recommendations presented are for anyone, of whatever background, with interests in designing, performing, understanding or assessing studies that measure or describe the burden of headache in populations. While aimed principally at researchers whose main interests are in the field of headache, they should also be useful, at least in parts, to those who are expert in public health or epidemiology and wish to extend their interest into the field of headache disorders. Most of all, these recommendations seek to encourage collaborations between specialists in headache disorders and epidemiologists. The focus is on migraine, tension-type headache and medication-overuse headache, but they are not intended to be exclusive to these. The burdens arising from secondary headaches are, in the majority of cases, more correctly attributed to the underlying disorders. Nevertheless, the principles outlined here are relevant for epidemiological studies on secondary headaches, provided that adequate definitions can be not only given but also applied in questionnaires or other survey instruments

The influence of saliva pH value on the retention and durability of bar-clip attachments

The aim of this study was to compare the durability and retention of 4 types of attachments placed over computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) titanium bars when subjected to different pH conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Four commercially available attachments were investigated: Hader Yellow, Hader Red, Ackerman Gold and Ackerman Stainless Steel. These attachments and Ackerman CAD/CAM titanium bars were placed in 2 vessels containing different artificial saliva solutions (pH 7/ pH 4) at 37 degrees C for one month to simulate corrosion conditions, and they were then subjected to mechanical testing (5400 cycles of insertion and removal). RESULTS. The results revealed that there were significant differences in the average values of insertion/removal force due to the pH (F (1, 24)=9.207, P<9.05) and the type of attachment (F (3, 24)=11.742, P<.05). CONCLUSION. More acidic pH values were found to have a negative influence on the retention capacity of the attachments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Identification of a cytokine network sustaining neutrophil and Th17 activation in untreated early rheumatoid arthritis

© 2010 Cascão et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by sustained synovitis. Recently, several studies have proposed neutrophils and Th17 cells as key players in the onset and perpetuation of this disease. The main goal of this work was to determine whether cytokines driving neutrophil and Th17 activation are dysregulated in very early rheumatoid arthritis patients with less than 6 weeks of disease duration and before treatment (VERA). Methods: Cytokines related to neutrophil and Th17 activation were quantified in the serum of VERA and established RA patients and compared with other very early arthritis (VEA) and healthy controls. Synovial fluid (SF) from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients was also analyzed. Results: VERA patients had increased serum levels of cytokines promoting Th17 polarization (IL-1b and IL-6), as well as IL-8 and Th17-derived cytokines (IL-17A and IL-22) known to induce neutrophil-mediated inflammation. In established RA this pattern is more evident within the SF. Early treatment with methotrexate or corticosteroids led to clinical improvement but without an impact on the cytokine pattern. Conclusions: VERA patients already display increased levels of cytokines related with Th17 polarization and neutrophil recruitment and activation, a dysregulation also found in SF of established RA. 0 Thus, our data suggest that a cytokine-milieu favoring Th17 and neutrophil activity is an early event in RA pathogenesis.This work was supported by a grant from Sociedade Portuguesa de Reumatologia/Schering-Plough 2005. RAM and RC were funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) SFRH/BD/30247/2006 and SFRH/BD/40513/2007, respectively. MMS-C was funded by Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship PERG-2008-239422 and a EULAR Young Investigator Award

Is there a role for melatonin in fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia, characterised by persistent pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive dysfunction, is a central sensitivity syndrome that also involves abnormality in peripheral generators and in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. Heterogeneity of clinical expression of fibromyalgia with a multifactorial aetiology has made the development of effective therapeutic strategies challenging. Physiological properties of the neurohormone melatonin appear related to the symptom profile exhibited by patients with fibromyalgia and thus disturbance of it’s production would be compatible with the pathophysiology. Altered levels of melatonin have been observed in patients with fibromyalgia which are associated with lower secretion during dark hours and higher secretion during daytime. However, inconsistencies of available clinical evidence limit conclusion of a relationship between levels of melatonin and symptom profiles in patients with fibromyalgia. Administration of melatonin to patients with fibromyalgia has demonstrated suppression of many symptoms and an improved quality of life consistent with benefit as a therapy for the management of this condition. Further studies with larger samples, however, are required to explore the potential role of melatonin in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia and determine the optimal dosing regimen of melatonin for the management of fibromyalgia

Diagnosis, prevalence estimation and burden measurement in population surveys of headache: presenting the HARDSHIP questionnaire

The global burden of headache is very large, but knowledge of it is far from complete and needs still to be gathered. Published population-based studies have used variable methodology, which has influenced findings and made comparisons difficult. The Global Campaign against Headache is undertaking initiatives to improve and standardize methods in use for cross-sectional studies. One requirement is for a survey instrument with proven cross-cultural validity. This report describes the development of such an instrument. Two of the authors developed the initial version, which was used with adaptations in population-based studies in China, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Zambia and 10 countries in the European Union. The resultant evolution of this instrument was reviewed by an expert consensus group drawn from all world regions. The final output was the Headache-Attributed Restriction, Disability, Social Handicap and Impaired Participation (HARDSHIP) questionnaire, designed for application by trained lay interviewers. HARDSHIP is a modular instrument incorporating demographic enquiry, diagnostic questions based on ICHD-3 beta criteria, and enquiries into each of the following as components of headache-attributed burden: symptom burden; health-care utilization; disability and productive time losses; impact on education, career and earnings; perception of control; interictal burden; overall individual burden; effects on relationships and family dynamics; effects on others, including household partner and children; quality of life; wellbeing; obesity as a comorbidity. HARDSHIP already has demonstrated validity and acceptability in multiple languages and cultures. Modules may be included or not, and others (eg, on additional comorbidities) added, according to the purpose of the study and resources (especially time) available