Understanding deforestation lock-in: Insights from Land Reform settlements in the Brazilian Amazon

Cropland and pasture expansion continues to erase natural ecosystems at a staggering speed globally, notably in the tropics. Conventional policy approaches, usually focused on a particular land-use change driver (e.g., specific commodities) or individual regulations (e.g., the Amazon Soy Moratorium), have consistently failed to achieve sufficient or sustained results. The swift reversal of Brazil’s earlier success in reducing Amazon deforestation – now again accelerated – offers perhaps the most sobering illustration of that. Therefore, this article draws from scholarship on sustainability transitions to propose a more comprehensive systems view of unsustainable land-use patterns. We examine persistent tropical deforestation as a case of “lock-in,” using a transitions lens, and explore its constitutive elements. As a case study, we analyze the situation of Land Reform settlements in the Brazilian Amazon, where as much as one-third of that biome’s deforestation takes place. While subject to some specific factors, those places are also enmeshed in a broader setting that is common across the Brazilian Amazon’s deforestation frontier (e.g., infrastructure conditions, market demands, and sociocultural norms). Drawing from document analysis of Brazilian policies and fieldwork in three Land Reform settlements in Pará State, we expose multiple forms of techno-economic, institutional, and socio-cognitive lock-in that together drive deforestation systemically in those settlements. These drivers form a strongly consolidated socio-technical regime around large-scale agriculture that includes material and immaterial factors (e.g., cultural ones), a regime that not only resists change but also – like a vortex – pulls others into it. Escaping deforestation lock-in may thus require outside forces to help local actors destabilize and eventually replace this unsustainable land-use regime. International zero-deforestation efforts offer a starting point, but a transition requires moving beyond piecemeal, incremental change or end-of-pipe approaches and toward concerted, strategic action that addresses multiple of those regime elements in a coordinated way to replace it as a system. We argue that understanding deforestation lock-in is vital for tackling its worrisome persistence and that sustainability transitions theory offers an illuminating, but still underutilized, framework to analyze and eventually overcome unsustainable land use

Follicular wave synchronization using buserelin in llama (Lama glama)

The objective of the study was to synchronize follicular wave emergency using busereline in a group of llamas that were at different stages of their follicular waves. We used 16 non-pregnant, nonlactating females divided according to their follicular dynamics determined ultrasonographically three days previously, into 4 groups: I: follicles smaller than 6 mm; II: growing follicles from 7 to 10 mm; III: maturing follicles from 8 to 14 mm and IV: regressing follicles, decreasing over two consecutive days. The animals received 8 µg of busereline (day 0) and ovarian activity was followed using ultrasound scanning until a dominant follicle (? 7 mm) was detected. The smallest mean maximum follicular diameter was observed on day 3, there being no significant differences between the 4 groups (P=0.50). The time interval from the GnRH injection to the detection of a follicle ? 7 mm was 6.25 ± 1.29 days in group I; 5.5 ± 1.8 days in group II; 5.5 ± 1.1 days in group III and 8.66 ± 1.88 days in group IV. The moment of the detection of a dominant follicle was not statistically different (P=0.26). In conclusion, the use of busereline in llamas that are in different follicular phases synchronizes the emergence of the follicular wave and permits starting superstimulatory treatments between days 3 and 6 after its injection.Fil: Ferrer, M.S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Agüero, A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Chaves, M.G. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Russo, A.F. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Rutter, B. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Área de Teriogenología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaEl objetivo del estudio fue sincronizar la emergencia de la onda folicular mediante la aplicación de buserelina, en animales que se encontraban en diferentes fases de su dinámica folicular. Se utilizaron 16 hembras vacías no en lactancia divididas en 4 grupos en base a su dinámica folicular determinada ultrasonográficamente durante los 3 días previos: I: folículos menores a 6 mm; II: folículos en crecimiento entre 7 y 10 mm; III: folículos en fase estática entre 8 y 14 mm y IV: folículos en regresión luego de dos mediciones consecutivas en descenso. Los animales recibieron 8 µg de buserelina (día 0) y se realizó el seguimiento de la actividad ovárica mediante ultrasonografía hasta detectar la presencia de un folículo dominante (mayor o igual a 7 mm). El menor diámetro folicular máximo promedio en los 4 grupos se observó el día 3 no existiendo diferencias significativas entre los grupos (P= 0,50). El tiempo transcurrido desde la aplicación del análogo de GnRH hasta la detección de un folículo mayor o igual a 7 mm fue de 6,25 ± 1,29 días para el grupo I; 5,5 ± 1,8 días para el grupo II; 5,5 ± 1,1 días para el grupo III y 8,66 ± 1,88 días para el grupo IV. No hubo diferencias significativas en el momento de la detección del folículo dominante (P=0,26). En conclusión la aplicación de buserelina en llamas que se encuentran en distintas fases de su dinámica folicular, sincroniza la emergencia de la onda folicular y permite comenzar los tratamientos superestimulatorios entre los días 3 y 6 de la aplicación

Probabilistic representation for solutions of an irregular porous media type equation: the degenerate case

We consider a possibly degenerate porous media type equation over all of $\R^d$ with $d = 1$, with monotone discontinuous coefficients with linear growth and prove a probabilistic representation of its solution in terms of an associated microscopic diffusion. This equation is motivated by some singular behaviour arising in complex self-organized critical systems. The main idea consists in approximating the equation by equations with monotone non-degenerate coefficients and deriving some new analytical properties of the solution

Atomistic modelling studies of fluorite- and perovskite-based oxide materials

Fast oxide-ion and proton conductors are the subject of considerable research due to their technological applications in sensors, ceramic membranes and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). This thesis describes the use of computer modelling techniques to study point defects, dopants and clustering effects in fluorite-and perovskitetype ion conductors with potential SOFC applications. Bi2O3 related phases are being developed with the objective of high oxide-ion conductivities at lower operating temperatures than 1000°C, as in current generation SOFC electrolytes. Doped Bi2O3 phases have shown promise as materials capable of accomplishing this goal. First, the Y-doped phase, Bi3YO6, has been investigated including the ordering of intrinsic vacancies. The defect and dopant characteristics of Bi3YO6 have been examined and show that a highly mobile oxygen sub-lattice exists in this material. A preliminary structural modelling study of a new Re-doped Bi2O3 phase was also undertaken. A comprehensive investigation of the proton-conducting perovskites BaZrO3, BaPrO3 and BaThO3 is then presented. Our results suggest that intrinsic atomic disorder in BaZrO3 and BaThO3 is unlikely, but reduction of Pr4+ in BaPrO3 is favourable. The water incorporation energy is found to be less exothermic for BaZrO3 than for BaPrO3 and BaThO3, but in all cases the results suggest that the proton concentration would decrease with increasing temperature, in accord with experimental data. The high binding energies for all the dopant-OH pair clusters in BaPrO3 and BaThO3 suggest strong proton trapping effects. Finally, a study of multiferroic BiFeO3 is presented, in which the defect, dopant and migration properties of this highly topical phase are investigated. The reduction process involving the formation of oxygen vacancies and Fe2+ is the most favourable redox process. In addition, the results suggest that oxide-ion migration is anisotropic within this system.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Propuesta metodológica para el establecimiento de líneas de investigación en seguridad y salud en el trabajo

Las líneas de investigación en seguridad y salud en el trabajo deben estar fundamentadas, con un enfoque racional, práctico y participativo para generar conocimiento a la comunidad científica y ofrecer soluciones a los efectos negativos de la globalización sobre la salud de la población trabajadora, estrechamente relacionadas con la productividad y rendimiento de las empresas. Surge la necesidad de establecer líneas de investigación en esta materia para Ecuador, donde las universidades deben asumir esta competencia investigadora. El presente estudio presenta la propuesta metodológica para la determinación de líneas de investigación en seguridad y salud en el trabajo para Ecuador, a través del proceso secuencial y participativo donde se fusiona la técnica Delphi para la determinación de brechas y la adaptación del Método de la Matriz Combinada para el establecimiento de prioridades basado en evidencias científicas procedentes de diversas fuentes y ajustado a las necesidades sociales

Epilepsy in Rett syndrome : clinical and genetic features

Epilepsy often occurs in Rett syndrome and is considered a major problem. The aim of this study was to define the clinical features of epilepsy and the correlation between seizures and both genotype and clinical phenotype in the Rett population. One hundred sixty-five patients with Rett syndrome referred to four Italian centers were recruited. All patients underwent video/EEG monitoring and molecular analysis of the MECP2 gene or, in negative cases, of the CDKL5 and FOXG1 genes. The frequency of epilepsy was 79%. Drug-resistant epilepsy occurred in 30% of all our patients with Rett syndrome and in 38% of those with epilepsy. Our findings demonstrate that epilepsy differs among the various phenotypes and genotypes with respect to age at onset, drug responsiveness, and seizure semiology. The Hanefeld and preserved speech variants represent the extremes of the range of severity of epilepsy: the preserved speech variant is characterized by the mildest epileptic phenotype as epilepsy is much less frequent, starts later, and is less drug resistant than what is observed in the other phenotypes. Another important finding is that seizure onset before 1 year of age and daily frequency are risk factors for drug resistance. Thus, this study should help clinicians provide better clinical counseling to the families of patients with Rett syndrome

Effects of microalloying on an innovative quenched and tempered plastic mold steel

presentazione orale al TMS 2008 Annual Meeting & Exhibition (TMS2008), New Orleans, LA, USA, 9/3/2008 - 13/3/200

Platelet activation is associated with myocardial infarction in patients with pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Troponins may be elevated in patients with pneumonia, but associations with myocardial infarction (MI) and with platelet activation are still undefined.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between troponin elevation and in vivo markers of platelet activation in the early phase of hospitalization of patients affected by community-acquired pneumonia.METHODS: A total of 278 consecutive patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia, who were followed up until discharge, were included. At admission, platelet activation markers such as plasma soluble P-selectin, soluble CD40 ligand, and serum thromboxane B2 (TxB2) were measured. Serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T levels and electrocardiograms were obtained every 12 and 24 h, respectively.RESULTS: Among 144 patients with elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, 31 had signs of MI and 113 did not. Baseline plasma levels of soluble P-selectin and soluble CD40 ligand and serum TxB2 were significantly higher in patients who developed signs of MI. Logistic regression analysis showed plasma soluble CD40 ligand (p < 0.001) and soluble P-selectin (p < 0.001), serum TxB2 (p = 0.030), mean platelet volume (p = 0.037), Pneumonia Severity Index score (p = 0.030), and ejection fraction (p = 0.001) to be independent predictors of MI. There were no significant differences in MI rate between the 123 patients (45%) taking aspirin (100 mg/day) and those who were not aspirin treated (12% vs. 10%; p = 0.649). Aspirin-treated patients with MIs had higher serum TxB2 compared with those without MIs (p = 0.005).CONCLUSIONS: MI is an early complication of pneumonia and is associated with in vivo platelet activation and serum TxB2 overproduction; aspirin 100 mg/day seems insufficient to inhibit thromboxane biosynthesis. (MACCE in Hospitalized Patients With Community-acquired Pneumonia; NCT01773863)