BIOÉTICA E DIREITOS HUMANOS

This work discusses the way like the Human Rights apply or should the advances of sciences and life technologies. In particular, it shows how Human Rights and human dignity can be implemented in bioethics. The topic of Bioethics and Human Rights is particularly timely because of the approval of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights by the Member States of UNESCO. An international consensus seems indeed to have been reached on this issue. Reafirma, ainda que a Declaração sustenta uma bioética baseada nos Direitos Humanos e que as regras que protegem o direito das pessoas devem ser, concomitantemente, iguais em todo o mundo.Esse trabalho discute a maneira como os Direitos Humanos deveriam acompanhar os avanços da ciência e das tecnologias de vida. Em particular, mostra como os Direitos Humanos e a dignidade humana devem ser abordados pela bioética. O associação da Bioética e Direitos Humanos é particularmente oportuna, dada a aprovação da Declaração Universal de Bioética e Direitos Humanos pelos Estados Membros da UNESCO, que reflete o consenso internacional sobre o assunto. Reafirma, ainda que a Declaração sustenta uma bioética baseada nos Direitos Humanos e que as regras que protegem o direito das pessoas devem ser, concomitantemente, iguais em todo o mundo

Aplicación de la Declaración Universal sobre Bioética y Derechos Humanos

This paper discuses some principles of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights of UNESCO, specifying their importance for the field of Bioethics. It highlights as well the contribution of the approaches of the Declaration to enhance public policies directed to improve the life condition of vulnerable groups and the elimination of all forms of social exclusion and inequity.Este artículo discute algunos de los principios de la Declaración Universal sobre Bioética y Derechos Humanos de la UNESCO, especificando su importancia para el campo de estudios de la Bioética. Subraya, además, la contribución de los aportes de la dicha Declaración para fomentar las políticas públicas direccionadas al mejoramiento de las condiciones de vida de los grupos vulnerables y la eliminación de todas las formas de inequidad y exclusión social

Evolution of Surface Hydrology in the Sahelo-Sudanian Strip: An Updated Review

In the West African Sahel, two paradoxical hydrological behaviors have occurred during the last five decades. The first paradox was observed during the 1968–1990s ‘Great Drought’ period, during which runoff significantly increased. The second paradox appeared during the subsequent period of rainfall recovery (i.e., since the 1990s), during which the runoff coefficient continued to increase despite the general re-greening of the Sahel. This paper reviews and synthesizes the literature on the drivers of these paradoxical behaviors, focusing on recent works in the West African Sahelo/Sudanian strip, and upscaling the hydrological processes through an analysis of recent data from two representative areas of this region. This paper helps better determine the respective roles played by Land Use/Land Cover Changes (LULCC), the evolution of rainfall intensity and the occurrence of extreme rainfall events in these hydrological paradoxes. Both the literature review and recent data converge in indicating that the first Sahelian hydrological paradox was mostly driven by LULCC, while the second paradox has been caused by both LULCC and climate evolution, mainly the recent increase in rainfall intensity

Amnistía Internacional y los derechos humanos en el mundo actual

LimaDestacados panelistas abordan el tema de los derechos humanos desde distintas perspectivas. Pierre Sané explica el tema de los derechos humanos y de las relaciones internacionales en el contexto mundial actual; Carlos Blanco presenta un panorama histórico de los derechos humanos, señalando que la defensa de los derechos humanos debe hacerse con responsabilidad, seriedad y objetividad. Carlos Basombrío resalta la importancia capital de las organizaciones no gubernamentales de derechos humanos, entre las que destaca el rol de la Amnistía Internacional. Finalmente, R.P. Felipe E. Mac Gregor, S.J. señala que los derechos humanos son asuntos esencialmente de la jurisdicción interna del Estado

Functional and numerical responses of four lemming predators in high arctic Greenland.

24 pagesInternational audienceThe high-arctic tundra ecosystem has the world's simplest vertebrate predator-/prey community, with only four predators preying upon one rodent species, the collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus ). We document the functional and numerical responses of all the four predators in NE Greenland. Using these data, we assess the impact of predation on the dynamics of the collared lemming with a 4 yr cycle and >100-fold difference between maximum and minimum densities. All predator species feed mostly (>90%) on lemmings when lemming density is >1 ha-1, but the shapes of the predators' responses vary greatly. The snowy owl (Nyctea scandiaca) is present and breeds only when lemming densities at snowmelt are >2 ha-1, giving rise to a step-like numerical response. The long-tailed skua (Stercorarius longicaudus ) has a type III functional response and shifts from alternate food (mainly berries and insects) to lemmings with increasing lemming density. The skua surpasses all the other predators in summer by its total response. The type III functional response of the Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus ) starts to increase at much lower lemming densities than the responses of the avian predators, but it has only a weak numerical response. Finally, the stoat (Mustela erminea) is the most specialized predator and the only one with a clearly delayed numerical response. According to their specific functional and numerical responses, each predator plays a key role at some point of the lemming cycle, but only the stoat has the potential to drive the lemming cycle. Stoat predation is greatly reduced in the winter preceding the lemming peak, and it reaches a maximum in the winter preceding the lowest lemming summer density. Stoat predation appears to maintain low lemming densities for at least two successive years. Our study provides empirical support for the specialist predator hypothesis about small mammal population cycles

Evolution récente de la mousson en Afrique de l’Ouest à travers deux fenêtres (Sénégambie et Bassin du Niger Moyen)

International audienc

The tsetse fly Glossina palpalis palpalis is composed of several genetically differentiated small populations in the sleeping sickness focus of Bonon, Cote d'Ivoire

Glossina palpalis is the main vector of human African trypanosomosis (HAT, or sleeping sickness) that dramatically affects human health in sub-Saharan Africa. Because of the implications of genetic structuring of vector populations for the design and efficacy of control campaigns, G. palpalis palpalis in the most active focus of sleeping sickness in Cote d'Ivoire was studied to determine whether this taxon is genetically structured. High and statistically significant levels of within population heterozygote deficiencies were found at each of the five microsatellite loci in two temporally separated samples. Neither null alleles, short allele dominance, nor trap locations could fully explain these deviations from random mating, but a clustering within each of the two samples into different genetic sub-populations (Wahlund effect) was strongly suggested. These different genetic groups, which could display differences in infection rates and trypanosome identity, were composed of small numbers of individuals that were captured together, leading to the observed Wahlund effect. Implications of this population structure on tsetse control are discussed