Professional Cycling and the Fight against Doping

Doping seems to be well-organized and inherent in the system of professional cycling. This paper provides a theoretical approach, by using a multi-task (training and doping) principal-agent (team manager and cyclist) model, to illustrate the information asymmetry and conflicting objectives between both actors. Three settings are used to represent different situations in which the fight against doping takes place with varying intensity. The comparison of the equilibria in each setting reveals the influence of the fight against doping on the team members’ behaviour. The analysis shows that team managers are interested in doping, and that current anti-doping institutions cannot suppress the abuse of forbidden drugs

Improving Cultural Competence and ELL writing through Culturally Relevant Digital Storytelling

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ELL student writing would improve when students engaged in constructivist storytelling, that is, were allowed to tell their own immigration stories in a digital storytelling platform. The study also sought to ascertain whether the cultural competence of the school as a whole, including staff, students, and families, would be improved by sharing these stories at an all­school International Da

Evangelization or Proselytism of Hispanics? A Pentecostal Perspective

In this essay, based on an address to the US. National Association of Diocesan Ecumenical Directors, the author reviews the history of U.S. Hispanic involvement in the Pentecostal movement, underscoring the need for sustained dialogue in arriving at common understandings and in working toward the sort of genuine koinōnia that promotes authentic witness to the Gospel

CRISPR-Cas9-Based Genetic Modification of the Industrially Useful Fungus Aspergillus terreus

In recent years there has been increased interest in the production of valuable materials through the use of microbes to convert biomass1. The filamentous fungus Aspergillus terreus is already of industrial value through its ability to produce the cholesterol lowering drug lovastatin, and the bulk commodity chemical itaconic acid 2. While itaconic acid already has a market of up to 80,000 tons per year, it can also be used as a replacement for the petrochemical derived acrylic acid, which has a market of 2,100,000 tons, for several applications3. However, additional research is needed to improve production of itaconic acid using A. terreus to lower its production cost to make it more competitive against acrylic acid. Unfortunately, research into itaconic acid production has been hampered by shortcomings in genetic manipulations of A. terreus3. Here, is described the first use of CRISPR-Cas9-based genetic modifications as a means of producing new strains of A. terreus for future study. This study describes the creation of stable strains with genetic changes, opening the door for future investigations into A. terreus that may improve itaconic acid production

Estudo da permissividade e permeabilidade de geotêxteis não tecidos de poliéster impregnados com materiais asfálticos submetidos à elevada carga hidráulica

Orientador : Prof. Dr. Sidnei Helder Cardoso TeixeiraDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Construção Civil. Defesa: Curitiba, 16/06/2015Inclui referências : f. 127-130Area de concentração : GeotecnicaResumo: Da família dos geossintéticos o geotêxtil desempenha as principais funções aplicáveis em projetos de engenharia civil e geotecnia, enquanto os demais produtos sintéticos somente atendem a funções específicas. Particularmente, os geotêxteis não tecidos agulhados apresentam potencial para a sua impregnação com asfalto resultando em um material flexível, de pouca espessura, baixa permeabilidade e superfície aderente. A pesquisa é baseada na experiência do uso de geotêxteis impregnados com asfalto na restauração de pavimentos rodoviários e obras de impermeabilização, com vistas ao uso deste material em aterros de barragens e ensecadeiras, atuando como uma manta impermeável em substituição aos tradicionais materiais naturais de construção empregados. Foram ensaiadas as permissividades e permeabilidades normais em setenta corpos de prova de geotêxteis não tecidos agulhados de poliéster, diante de diferenciadas técnicas e procedimentos de impregnação com materiais asfálticos, tais como: emulsão asfáltica; tinta asfáltica; asfalto modificado; e cimento asfáltico. Os parâmetros foram medidos através de ensaios de carga variável em um permeâmetro idealizado para uma carga hidráulica elevada. Os resultados obtidos mostram valores de permeabilidade compatíveis aos solos siltosos e argilosos, sendo fatores preponderantes a taxa de impregnação e espessuras finais. Porém, os procedimentos de ensaio apontam para uma variação na permissividade e na permeabilidade caso o material seja submetido a alguma deformação. Palavras-chave: Geotêxtil não tecido. Asfalto. Permissividade. Permeabilidade. Manta impermeável

Theology, News and Notes - Vol. 35, No. 02

Theology News & Notes was a theological journal published by Fuller Theological Seminary from 1954 through 2014.https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/tnn/1099/thumbnail.jp

Sperm handling in aquatic animals for artificial reproduction

Artificial reproduction involves collection and handling of gametes in a way that secures their quality and maximizes the fertilization outcome. In addition to initial sperm quality, numerous steps can affect the final result of fertilization, from the sperm collection process until gamete mixing (or co-incubation) when the spermatozoon enters or fuses with the oocyte. In this review, we summarize the whole process of sperm handling, from collection until fertilization for fish, penaeid shrimp, bivalve mollusks and marine mammals. To obtain sperm from captive animals, techniques vary widely across taxa, and include stripping by abdominal massage or testis surgical removal in fish, spermatophore collection in penaeid shrimps, gonadal scarification or temperature shock in bivalve mollusks, and voluntary collection via positive reinforcement in mammals. In most cases, special care is needed to avoid contamination by mucus, seawater, urine, or feces that can either activate sperm motility and/or decrease its quality. We also review techniques and extender solutions used for refrigerated storage of sperm across the aforementioned taxa. Finally, we give an overview of the different protocols for in vivo and in vitro fertilization including activation of sperm motility and methods for gamete co-incubation. The present study provides valuable information regarding breeder management either for animal production or species conservation.Agência financiadora CRB-anim ANR-11-INBS-003 Reproseed (FP7-KBBE-2009-3) MICIU (Juan de la Cierva-Incorporacion) IJCI-2017-34200 project ReproFl - MAR2020 Program 16-02-01-FMP-59 Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) through project FCT UID/Multi/04326/2019info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of anti-Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae IgG response in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to a commercial pig vaccine

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is the causative agent of erysipeloid in humans and of erysipelas in various animals, including bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, in which an infection has the potential to cause peracute septicemia and death. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using an off-label porcine (ER BAC PLUS®, Zoetis) E. rhusiopathiae bactrin in a bottlenose dolphin vaccination program by determining the anti-E. rhusiopathiae antibody levels in vaccinated dolphins over a 10 yr period. Serum samples (n = 88) were analyzed using a modified fluorescent microbead immunoassay from 54 dolphins, including 3 individuals with no history of vaccination and 51 dolphins with an average of 5 vaccinations, 3 of which had previously recovered from a natural E. rhusiopathiae infection. A mean 311-fold increase in the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody index was measured in a subsample of 10 dolphins 14 d after the first booster vaccination. Serum IgG antibody titers were influenced by number of vaccines received (r2 = 0.47, p < 0.05) but not by age, gender, history of natural infection, adverse vaccine reaction, vaccination interval or time since last vaccination. The commercial pig bacterin was deemed effective in generating humoral immunity against E. rhusiopathiae in dolphins. However, since the probability of an adverse reaction toward the vaccine was moderately correlated (p = 0.07, r2 = 0.1) with number of vaccines administered, more research is needed to determine the optimal vaccination interval.This article is published as Nollens, Hendrik H., Luis G. Giménez-Lirola, Todd R. Robeck, Todd L. Schmitt, Stacy DiRocco, and Tanja Opriessnig. "Evaluation of anti-Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae IgG response in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus to a commercial pig vaccine." Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 121, no. 3 (2016): 249-256. DOI: 10.3354/dao03061. Copyright 2016 Inter-Research. Posted with permission

Geografia, multimodalidade e multiletramentos: Produção e validação de materiais multimodais na EMEF Santa Helena, Camobi, Rio Grande do Sul

Contexto: A sociedade atual passa por mudanças relacionadas ao desenvolvimento tecnológico, especialmente nas formas de comunicação. A escola precisa se adaptar a essa realidade, repensando suas abordagens de ensino. O Grupo de Nova Londres propõe a Teoria dos Multiletramentos, que destaca a importância de considerar a diversidade linguística, cultural e os diferentes meios de comunicação na prática educacional.  Metodologia: No curso de Geografia - Licenciatura da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, os futuros professores são instruídos a criar materiais multimodais que incorporem essa teoria em suas aulas. Após um estudo sobre multiletramentos, foram selecionados temas e planejados os materiais. Após serem validados e avaliados em uma turma de 8º ano da EMEF Santa Helena, verificou-se o interesse dos alunos e a eficácia de certas atividades. Considerações: Como educadores e pesquisadores, é nosso papel promover essa discussão e explorar novas abordagens educacionais que considerem as mudanças na sociedade atual. A Teoria dos Multiletramentos oferece uma perspectiva valiosa para repensar a prática de ensino, valorizando a diversidade de linguagens e meios de comunicação presentes na sociedade atual