bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Second Life First Year Experience
Authors: Penfold Paul , Duffy Peter
Published: August 2018

Learning experiences within Multi User Virtual Environments (MUVE’s) focus on discovery and active experiences and provide many opportunities to support multicultural learners. Virtual worlds have the potential to become meaningful, highly sophisticated tools for educators and students, and it is timely to consider how educators can move from the hype to the how and why? Consideration needs to be given to the characteristics of meaningful pedagogical activities that move learners from playing to an enhanced learning experience? This paper presents a case study in which the MUVE Second Life was used to support a First Life (Real-World) orientation programme for students within the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Presented is an overview of the approach, rationale for the use of Second Life as well as lessons learned in relation to the application of virtual worlds for learners within the Hong Kong context. The study concludes that the Second Life orientation programme was not as successful as envisioned. However, the specific lessons learned, and ‘moments’ of intervention and further assistance identified have provided rich material and an emerging interest’ in relation to the incorporation of Second Life into meaningful educational activities in the university.
Metaverse: Building Affective Systems and Its Digital Morphologies in Virtual Environments
Authors: Louro Donizetti , Fraga Tania , Pontuschka Maurício
Published: August 2018

This essay reflects the metaverse as a virtual reality system created byaffective and aesthetic computing and its digital morphology through visual mathematics. An appropriate system and its structures can move, changing their shapes as a whole, and produce responsive 3D assemblages answering in simple ways to emotions. The study of behavior and cognition in virtual environments, and to interact with them as a collaborator, is valuable, but we also need someone who gets right into the code to see how it all works and how it may be adapted to his own world, as well as keeping the study focused on the necessity to organize the known geometries in systematized morphological sets to apply them for the creation of affective and aesthetic systems for virtual worlds in 3D platforms, which change and grow, becoming symbiotic assemblages. Certainly, there is a long journey to go on to investigating conditions and evolutionary iterations which may assist the affective computing to approximate to the real world, to go ahead and conquermore and more ambitious digital architectural spaces, but it all are like vectors pointing to such direction.
Virtual Worlds, the IRB and a User's Bill of Rights
Authors: Stanton Jeffrey M.
Published: August 2018

Virtual worlds provide a vibrant and exciting new venue for the conduct of social research. New social phenomena have emerged in the context of these worlds as individuals and groups use the worlds’ social communication tools to overcome limitations of time and distance. Yet these worlds also pose some novel ethical problems for social researchers who wish to conduct their work in these contexts. The present paper discusses ethical dimensions of research in virtual worlds in order to uncover some of these novel problems. The paper reports and analyzes a case study in which the author participated in a virtual world research study. The paper discusses a preliminary version of a virtual world subject’s bill of rights that can serve as the basis for further discussion among social researchers. The paper concludes with recommendations for virtual worlds researchers on strategies for working with their institutional review boards (human subjects ethics review) to obtain approval for their research proposals.
Using Design-Based Research for Virtual Worlds Research Projects
Authors: Santos Antonio
Published: August 2018

Due to the characteristics of educational virtual worlds, the present manuscript underlines the need for a research model that considers the social context as part of its unit of analysis instead of just the individual’s cognitive process and learning. It is proposed that such a research approach could be design-based research (DBR), because the methodology employed by the DBR perspective thoroughly meets the challenges related to understanding how learning occurs inside a complex context of activities and interactions like those that usually take place inside an educational virtual environment. To accomplish this, the DBR employs an iterative methodology, which consists of repeating cycles of design, implementation, analysis, and redesign. This systematic procedure allows theory to emerge during the process and, thus, using DBR a researcher not only understands how to improve the quality of a certain virtual world, but also addresses theoretical issues regarding the theoretical background on which her design was based to revise and extend it. The main objective of this article is to propose the use of design-based research as a viable methodology to do research in a virtual world like Second Life and to describe in detail how to do it. First, the design-based research approach is explained in terms of its origins, its methodological resources, and its theoretical underpinnings. Secondly, considering the characteristics and affordances of virtual worlds, an adaptation is proposed and explained to employ it for a virtual world research project. Finally, an example of a research project is built to show how the proposed design-based research methodology can be applied to plan it and revise its underlying theory.
eLab City: A Platform for Academic Research on Virtual Worlds
Authors: Novak Thomas P.
Published: August 2018

The eLab City project in Second Life is a laboratory environment for the study of user behavior in virtual worlds.  This paper describes the origin and development of the eLab City project, which includes virtual infrastructure constructed in Second Life, a panel of Second Life users who have agreed to participate in research studies, tools for observational data collection, and procedures for fielding research projects.   The eLab City panel is described in detail, with discussion of the panel signup process, recruitment, and panelist demographics.  A series of research studies have been fielded with eLab City panelists, and cooperation rates for these studies are presented, together with comparison to Web-based studies.  We conclude with a discussion of lessons learned and next steps for this research project.
Learning spaces, tasks and metrics for effective communication in Second Life within the context of programming LEGO NXT Mindstorms™ robots: towards a framework for design and implementation.
Authors: Martin Stewart , Vallance Michael , Van Schaik Paul , Wiz Charles
Published: August 2018

Science education is concerned with the meaningful pursuit of comprehension, knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes. In Vygotskian social‐constructivist learning, personal interpretation, decision-making and community cooperation fosters long‐term understanding and transference of learned concepts. In short, the construction of knowledge requires learners to be actively involved in the process of learning. For effective science learning, an instructor’s pedagogical approach must be anchored in meaningful contexts so that students experience science. This paper presents a discussion of the method that has been applied to assessing and defining effective measurements for evaluating strategies for communicating science using LEGO robots and a Mindstorms™ RCX controller collaboratively constructed and programmed by students using a virtual technology (Second Life) whilst physically situated in different locations.
A Framework for Children’s Participatory Practices in Virtual Worlds
Authors: Tuukkanen Terhi , Iqbal Ahmer , Kankaanranta Marja
Published: August 2018

In recent years, participation of children in virtual worlds has grown and children are also the largest number of users of virtual worlds (KZero, 2009a). This growth in participation in virtual worlds has brought out discussion about their effects on children’s lives. In this article, we consider opportunities of virtual worlds to engage and educate children about their civic life. The aim of this paper is to establish a framework for participation in virtual worlds and to test the framework by looking at current participatory practices in virtual worlds. In this paper we present a framework for children’s participation in virtual worlds which is based on research review. Our framework sees children in virtual worlds as social actors, learners of civic participation and as citizens. Results of a survey conducted to find the participatory practices of children in virtual worlds are also presented. The results indicate that children are highly interested in socializing with friends and engaging in avatar related activities. It was also found that traditional forms of civic participation are not very common in virtual worlds. Thus, there is a need to promote traditional forms of civic participation and at the same time look at new opportunities presented by virtual worlds for civic participation.
Who’s Watching Your Kids? Safety and Surveillance in Virtual Worlds for Children
Authors: Meyers Eric M. , Nathan Lisa P. , Unsworth Kristene
Published: August 2018

Virtual playgrounds designed for children 4-12 years-old are among the fastest growing segments of the Internet. These spaces offer the promise of new social, educational, and creative opportunities for young people. These opportunities, however, are associated with new risks due to the nature of online interactions. This article presents a socio-technical investigation of two virtual worlds for children. Informed by Value Sensitive Design, the work highlights the tensions between supporting age appropriate, developmental play and constraining inappropriate behavior to ensure “safety.” This article concludes with implications for the design of virtual spaces for young people. We note in particular that the features of children’s worlds are affected by their framing, specifically by the language and practices that are encouraged by the interaction design. We challenge designers to consider how children may interpret >technical feature in practice, and the long-term implications of features intended to keep children safe.
Beyond Being There: A Grounded Investigation of the Value of Virtual Worlds for Remote Family Interaction
Authors: Bleumers Lizzy , Jacobs An
Published: August 2018

In our interdisciplinary project, HI-Masquerade, we investigated the potential of virtual worlds for remote interaction between family members of different generations. In this paper, we report on this study. Our methodological approach consisted of two components. We presented storyboards, visualizing use scenarios, to family members. In addition, we let these family members use a virtual world application at home. By doing so, we triggered both assumption- and experience-based reflection on the sense of using virtual worlds for family interaction. Our findings show that while family members have concerns about virtual worlds (e.g., possible replacement of real life activities), they also see opportunities (e.g., learning together). Family members felt that the virtual world that they had used was not a suitable platform for remote family interaction. Nevertheless, they appreciated the increased offline interaction that it generated because it helped to bridge the children’s and adults' worlds.
Virtual Assisted Self Interviewing (VASI): An Expansion of Survey Data Collection Methods to Virtual Worlds by Means of VDCI
Authors: Bell Mark W. , Castronova Edward , Wagner Gert G.
Published: August 2018

Changes in communication technology have allowed for the expansion of data collection modes in survey research.  The proliferation of the computer has allowed the creation of web and computer assisted auto-interview data collection modes.  Virtual worlds are a new application of computer technology that once again expands the data collection modes by VASI (Virtual Assisted Self Interviewing).  The Virtual Data Collection Interface (VDCI) developed at Indiana University in collaboration with the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) allows survey researchers access to the population of virtual worlds in fully immersive Heads-up Display (HUD)-based survey instruments.  This expansion needs careful consideration for its applicability to the researcher’s question but offers a high level of data integrity and expanded survey availability and automation.  Current open questions on the VASI method concern the optimal sampling frame and sampling procedures within a virtual world like Second Life (SL).  Further multimodal studies are proposed to aid in evaluating the VDCI and placing it in the context of other data collection modes.
Journalism in Virtual Worlds
Authors: Cruz Ricardo , Fernandes Ricardo
Published: August 2018

This article is based on the idea that immersive journalism in virtual worlds, specifically in Second Life, has similarities with online journalism. To sustain this premise, the literature reviewed will follow the debate about journalism on the Internet, writing and reporting across new media, and speculate on the idea that a new concept of journalism in virtual worlds is growing, as an example of a new trend in journalistic practice. Questions such as the legitimacy of new forms of journalism, and especially of the pertinence of new environments, where they may be put to practice, will be addressed. Consequently, the focus on this paper is journalism in 3D environments. The discussion will provide ideas of new trends on an old business.
Two Navy Virtual World Collaboration Applications: Rapid Prototyping and Concept of Operations Experimentation
Authors: Maxwell Douglas , Aguiar Steven , Monte Philip , Nolan Diana
Published: August 2018

Traditionally, US Navy has had a number of Undersea Warfare applications which require rapid prototyping capabilities as well as the need to perform cost effective concept of operations exercises. Recent investigations into the use of virtual world technologies at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) have focused on confined physical spaces that are easily replicated in a virtual environment. For example, a command & control center is a physical environment in which people interact with each other and the space they are in (i.e., attack consoles, displays, etc.) to manage information flow and decision making. Being able to optimally configure and reconfigure such a space is a critical step in the design process to ensure the end meets the necessary mission requirements. Previously the Navy has deployed small scale physical models to visualize spatial relationships (though not allowing human interaction) or large full scale models at more substantial costs. Leveraging cutting-edge virtual world technologies, today’s engineers can bring rapid prototyping to the next dimension. By transforming physical mock ups into virtual objects the costs of rapid prototyping can be drastically reduced. By extension, the designs evaluated inside the virtual worlds can then be tested under synthetic situations through concept of operations exercises.
The Metaverse1 Case: Historical Review of Making One Virtual Worlds Standard (MPEG-V)
Authors: Gelissen Jean H.A. , Sivan Yesha Y.
Published: August 2018

This paper takes an historical perspective on the Metaverse1 project. A group of about 30 EU-based organizations totalling about 100 people worked together from 2008 to 2011 to develop a global standard that will connect virtual worlds and real worlds. The project, which was under the Eureka/ITEA2 framework, was one of the key contributors to the MPEG-V 'Media context and control' standard published by ISO/IEC in January 2011. The review includes the need for virtual worlds stadnards, the formation of the research team and plan, internal research results, main outcome (MPEG-V standard). We will conclude with some reflective notes. The ITEA2 Metaverse1 project has developed a standardized global framework enabling interoperability between virtual worlds such as Second Life, IMVU, OpenSim, Active Worlds, Google Earth and with the real world in terms of sensors and actuators, vision and rendering systems, and applications in areas like social and welfare systems, banking, insurance, tourism and real estate. Results of the project drove the MPEG-V 'Media context and control' standard published by ISO/IEC in January 2011.
Endoscopic Ultrasound‑Guided Fine Needle Aspiration from Pericardial Lesion: A Case of Metastatic Pericardial Involvement from Breast Malignancy
Authors: Choudhary Narendra S. , Nasa Mukesh , Bansal Rinkesh K. , Sarin Hemanti , Puri Rajesh
Published: August 2018

Tissue acquisition from mediastinum is difficult due to anatomic location and presence of vessels. Endoscopic ultrasound provides access to difficult mediastinal locations that are near esophagus. We describe a case of pericardial lesion, endoscopic ultrasound guided guided fine needle aspiration cytology was done and the lesion proved to be metastatic in nature.
Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed: Do not Forget a Look at Ampulla
Authors: Balekuduru Avinash Bhat , Kumar Abhinav , Shetty Athish , Subbaraj Satyaprakash Bonthala
Published: August 2018

Hemosuccus pancreaticus (HP) and hemobilia (HB) are uncommon causes of upper gastrointestinal bleed. In this report, 4 cases of HP and 1 case of HB with intermittent bleeding are described. The causes of HP are rupture of splenic artery pseudoaneurysm in 3 and gastroduodenal artery aneurysm in one. The cause of HB is due to cystic artery bleed. HP can be secondary to chronic or acute pancreatitis with bleeding from pseudoaneurysm arising from peripancreatic arteries. Iatrogenic transhepatic techniques, trauma, operative injuries, malignancy, and inflammation in hepatobiliary system are the common causes of HB. All the cases are missed on first endoscopy and diagnosed on second‑look endoscopy. A strong clinical suspicion is required at first endoscopy for early diagnosis and management. This case report compares presentation of HP with HB, diagnosis, and their management.
Giant Gastroduodenal Trichobezoar: An Endoscopic Surprise
Authors: Jha Ashish Kumar , Mishra Manish Kumar , Kumar Rakesh , Chaudhary Madhur , Purkayastha Shubham , Jha Praveen , Raza Nazis
Published: August 2018

A trichobezoar is a rare condition, mostly seen in teenage girls with abnormal psychiatric behavior of eating hairs and nails (trichophagia). Trichobezoar may rarely present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms without obvious trichotillomania and trichophagia. Trichobezoar can be complicated with potentially serious conditions such as gastric outlet obstruction, gastric bleeding, intussusceptions, and perforation peritonitis. Conventional laparotomy is method of choice for the removal of trichobezoar. We describe a rare case of giant trichobezoar treated by laparoscopic‑assisted gastrostomy and removal of bezoar. We also reviewed the literature on the current status of endoscopic treatment of trichobezoar.
Периодические свойства автоматных функций с магазинной памятью
Authors: Ivanov I E
Published: August 2018

Конечные автоматы переводят периодические последовательности в периодические. При этом период выходной последовательности не больше, чем линейная функция от периода входа. Известно, что автоматы с магазинной памятью сохраняют множество периодических последовательностей. В данной работе доказывается, что если алфавит магазина содержит только один символ, то максимальный период выходной последовательности не более, чем квадратично зависит от периода входной последовательности. Приводится пример автомата, на котором достигаются квадратичные оценки.
Проблемы бернсайдовского типа в дискретной геометрии
Authors: Kuz'min Leonid Viktorovich
Published: August 2018

Рассматриваются системы инцидентности, в которых есть пространство точек $X$ и прямые, каждая из которых содержит $q$ точек. Вводится определение свободного пространства $X$. Для пространства $X$ формулируется аналог проблемы Бернсайда (решается отрицательно) и аналог ослабленной проблемы Бернсайда. В случае $q=3$ положительный ответ на аналог ослабленной проблемы Бернсайда эквивалентен существованию универсальной конечной геометрии.
Investigation of the influence of earthquakes on the water level in the geothermal reservoir of Waiwera (New Zealand)
Authors: Kühn Michael , Schöne Tim
Published: August 2018

Abstract. The water level of the Waiwera geothermal reservoir is mainly governed by the
production operations due to a commonly strong pumping signal. However, in
the hours and days after the Kaikoura earthquake on 14 November 2016, it
increased by more than 0.5 m, indicating that seismic events can have an
influence as well. In a continuous time series consisting of monthly means of
water level data and pumping rates starting in 1986, we tried to determine if
events above a certain strength alter groundwater dynamics at Waiwera in
general. We applied an empirical equation and calculated the on-site seismic
energy density from earthquake magnitudes and distances. All recorded
earthquakes with a magnitude above 4 within a radius of about 1500 km around
New Zealand have been taken into account. A clear correlation cannot be
proven but none of the recorded earthquakes led to such a high energy density
in Waiwera as the Kaikoura event did. For the future, it is recommended to
increase the resolution of the metred water production rates to daily
averages to improve the detectability of water level changes following
earthquakes.
Legislación penal nicaragüense con equidad de género para lograr la igualdad real entre mujeres y hombres: principales problemáticas
Authors: López Urbina Victoria del Carmen
Published: August 2018

A partir de la ilustración, la lucha por la igualdad implica que los varones y mujeres deben recibir los mismos tratos y beneficios, lo que se transformó en el horizonte normativo y ético del feminismo, en virtud que las desventajas de la mujer empezaron a ser parte en la población. Hoy en día, pese a esta lucha y grandes logros, aún persisten las desigualdades entre hombres y mujeres. Así la lucha por la igualdad no ha permanecido estática, se ha ido enriqueciendo y reformulando a través del tiempo y se ha incluido en la legislación de diferentes países incluyendo Nicaragua. En este trabajo se analiza la inclusión del principio de igualdad en la legislación nicaragüense, inspirador del resto de los derechos fundamentales en el ámbito penal. Asimismo, será prioridad analizar el principio de igualdad real y material y sus principales problemas.
El régimen de separación de bienes y la violencia patrimonial en las relaciones de pareja
Authors: Gálvez Mendoza Leonardo Sebastián
Published: August 2018

En este artículo de investigación se realiza un análisis de la figura jurídica del régimen de separación de bienes en las relaciones de pareja, tomando como base el derecho a la propiedad privada individual y el tipo penal de violencia patrimonial y económica contra la mujer, desarrollado en cuatro subtítulos. El primero menciona la definición de la propiedad desde un punto de vista de interés social y sus distintas formas como la propiedad privada individual, que es la mayor forma de expresión de respeto del derecho sobre la cosa o los bienes que tiene una persona, identificándose circunstancias que delimitan este derecho subjetivo. En la segunda parte, se refiere al patrimonio de uso familiar, al cual tiene derecho la mujer y se mencionan los bienes que lo comprende. Posteriormente se relata, la forma en que las parejas administran sus bienes y se específica el régimen patrimonial de separación de bienes, pactado entre el hombre y la mujer para conservar su derecho sobre patrimonios privados e individuales a los que tienen derecho, y se enuncia algunas excepciones a esa potestad, como el respeto a la vivienda familiar, ajuar, etc., para separar aquellos bienes o patrimonio que pueden ser afectado por las reglas generales que rigen los regímenes económicos de las parejas. Por último con el nuevo tipo penal de violencia patrimonial se considera el concepto de violencia, los instrumentos internacionales y la afectación del derecho a la propiedad privada individual del hombre.
The Mutual Constitution of the Abductions and North Korean Human Rights Issues in Japan and Internationally
Authors: Arrington Celeste L.
Published: August 2018

Abstract The abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s figure prominently in Japanese conceptions of the North Korean human rights issue. In the past decade, global discussions about North Korean human rights have also come to include
these abductions, the final report of the UN Commission of Inquiry in 2014 being a prime example. How did the abductions and North Korean human rights issues become so interconnected? I argue that these issues are mutually constitutive. Japanese state and non-state actors’ promotion
of the abductions issue at home and abroad benefitted international advocacy for North Korean human rights and led to the integration of the abductions issue into the global North Korean human rights agenda. It also promoted awareness of North Korean human rights in Japan. Original interviews
and content analysis of UN resolutions, Japanese media coverage, prime ministers’ speeches, and government publications empirically demonstrate the mutual constitution of local and international activists’ discursive messages. This article advances scholarship about feedback loops
between local and international activism.
A Psychometric Analysis of the Greek Career Adapt-Abilities Scale in University Students
Authors: Sidiropoulou-Dimakakou Despina , Mikedaki Katerina , Argyropoulou Katerina , Kaliris Andronikos
Published: August 2018

Based upon substantial research on career adaptability, and on specific cross-cultural validation research of the Career Adapt-abilities Scale (CAAS) (Savickas & Porfeli, 2012) we recruited a sample of Greek university students (Ν = 452) in order to test further the Greek form of the scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis models showed that the four-factor structure was supported for the Greek form, comprising four dimensions: concern, control, curiosity, and confidence. The original six items per dimension structure was also maintained. Internal consistency estimates were satisfactory, and test-retest reliability reached acceptable levels. Indications of convergent validity were found as CAAS positively correlated with self-esteem. To further explore for the construct validity of the scale score differences by gender and year of studies were also examined. Overall, the observed differences were found to be in the expected direction. This validity study indicates that CAAS  may be safely applied to the Greek students.
The Effects of Arbitrator's Lack of Impartiality and Independence on the Arbitration Proceedings and the Task of Arbitrators under the UNCITRAL Model Law
Authors: Al-Hawamdeh Ahmed Mohammad , Dabbas Noor Akief , Al-Sharariri Qais Enaizan
Published: August 2018

This paper aims to investigate the effect of arbitrators’ lack of impartiality or independence on the arbitration process in accordance with the Model Law. The reasons for choosing the latter is that it is the origin for most modern national arbitration laws and any amendments to it would likely to be followed by national laws. The research problem lies in the fact that the Model Law does not tackle in detail the issue of challenging arbitrators for lacking impartiality or independence. A challenge application would have an immediate effect on both the arbitration proceedings and the task of arbitrators. This study concludes that grounds for challenging arbitrators’ impartiality or independence under the Model Law are broad and general. Hence, regulating the scope, grounds and limitations related to the lack of impartiality or independence on the part of arbitrators should be addressed in depth in the Model Law to safeguard the interests of arbitration parties and therefore justice at large.
An Investigation of Economic Sanctions and Its Implications for Africa
Authors: Afriyie Frederick Appiah , Jian Jisong
Published: August 2018

Economic sanctions are not only applied to countries in Africa by the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) but also by the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well. The African continent is considered to be the most affected in terms of the influences of more economic sanctions from the UN, EU, and the U.S than any other continent across the globe and these sanctions normally comes into force as a result of conflicts, civil wars and also unconstitutional overthrow of a constitutionally elected government. Also these sanctions come to serve as a punishment and a deterrent to those who deviate from or go against internationally agreed laws.Undeniably, in recent years economic sanctions have become more effective and an efficient known foreign policy tool used as the number one alternative to halt wars or military takeovers.Despite economic sanctions being widely accepted by the international community as the most effective panacea and also a preferred choice, when it is imposed on a state, it has serious repercussions on the innocent citizens while the initiators or the main officials in various positions for whom these sanctions were intended for are always left off the hook.This paper therefore investigates the merits and the demerits that are associated with economic sanctions both within some countries on the African continent and the non-African continent. In addition, we will elaborate on the implications of such sanctions relative to the Africa Continent. The paper is divided into four sections. The first section of this paper elaborates on the introduction, the importance of economic sanctions and the types of sanctions. The second section deals with the definition of economic sanction, explains the sanction process at EU, AU, UN and the US and the final part looks at both the positive and negative effects of economic sanctions.
Hume on Laws and Miracles
Authors: Rockwood Nathan ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: August 2018

Hume famously argues that our past experience of the laws of nature provide us with decisive reason to believe that any testimony of a miracle is false. In this paper, I argue that the laws of nature, as such, give us no reason at all to believe that the testimony of a miracle is false. I first argue that Hume’s proof is unsuccessful if we assume the Humean view of laws, and then I argue that Hume’s proof is unsuccessful even if we assume a governing view of laws. I conclude that regardless of which kind of view we adopt, the fact that a miracle is a violation of the laws of nature does not give us any reason to believe it did not happen.
A INFLUÊNCIA DOS TRATADOS AMBIENTAIS MULTILATERAIS RELATIVOS AO CLIMA NA EFETIVIDADE DO DIREITO AMBIENTAL NO BRASIL
Authors: Lautenschlager Lauren , Varella Marcelo Dias
Published: August 2018

O presente artigo tem por objetivo analisar a relação entre o conteúdo dos tratados ambientais multilaterais relativos ao clima ratificados pelo Brasil e as políticas públicas por este realizadas. Parte-se da hipótese de que quanto mais específico o tratado nas obrigações a serem atingidas, quanto maiores os esforços e as conquistas dos negociadores internacionais em realizar um texto mais consistente, maior e mais efetiva é a produção normativa-institucional brasileira no mesmo tema. Para tanto, a análise será feita por meio de uma matriz de análise composta por critérios de efetividade os quais serão aplicados tanto nos tratados, quanto nas normas e instituições criadas pelo governo brasileiro. Conclui-se que os textos ambientais internacionais ratificados pelo Brasil exercem grande influência nas políticas públicas ambientais brasileiras, exigindo uma similitude na aplicação positiva dos critérios, pois somente dessa forma o direito brasileiro poderá tornar o tratado ambiental responsivo no plano doméstico. dI
Educação Ambiental: relação entre a produção científica, as políticas nacionais e evolução da consciência ambiental na UFSM
Authors: Bastos Marilia Camotti , Silveira Fabiana De Medeiros , Stefanello Simone , Lanes Mariele De Almeida , Schaefer Gilmar Luiz , Rocha Karla Marques da
Published: August 2018

O objetivo do trabalho foi relacionar a produção científica nos últimos quinze anos com a evolução das políticas nacionais e a consciência ambiental na UFSM. Foram selecionadas revistas do campo da Educação e Ensino, nas quais foram pesquisadas quantas vezes as palavras: meio ambiente, ambiental, solo, ar, água, poluição, florestas, fauna, flora, efeito estufa e lixo eram citadas como assunto principal em cada periódico. Ainda, avaliou-se a evolução da consciência ambiental através da aplicação de questionário com alunos de diferentes cursos da Universidade Federal Santa Maria. Os resultados revelam que a produção cientifica possui relação direta com o crescimento das políticas nacionais e que a evolução da consciência ambiental cresceu juntamente com essa evolução.
A relevância do estágio supervisionado no âmbito da formação de licenciados em Geografia
Authors: Polon Luana Caroline Künast
Published: August 2018

O presente artigo parte de uma reflexão teórica acerca do processo de escolarização, para posteriormente discutir aspectos relativos ao Estágio Supervisionado na formação dos Licenciados em Geografia, entendido enquanto momento crucial de aproximação do graduando com a multiplicidade da sala de aula. A reflexão se pauta em referenciais bibliográficos, mas também em experiências pessoais no contexto de orientações e supervisões dos Estágios Supervisionados nos anos de 2015 e 2016, no âmbito da Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (UNIOESTE), Campus Marechal Cândido Rondon. Neste trabalho estão presentes apontamentos e debates sobre as principais questões que envolvem a prática do estagiário junto aos alunos na experiência do estágio.
As transformações urbanas e a sazonalidade: produtores do conforto térmico do centro da cidade de Sobral-CE
Authors: Muniz Francisco Gerson Lima , Caracristi Isorlanda
Published: August 2018

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo demonstrar a relação entre a urbanização e as alterações microclimáticas na cidade de Sobral (CE) e como o processo atual de crescimento da cidade, num contexto ambiental de semiaridez, pode interferir no conforto térmico. A metodologia utilizada na pesquisa fundamentou-se no “Sistema de Clima Urbano” (SCU), de Carlos Augusto Monteiro (2003), na perspectiva do canal I, termodinâmico. A coleta de dados foi realizada em dois experimentos de períodos sazonais contrastantes, com medições simultâneas realizadas nos horários de 6, 9, 12, 15 e 18 horas. Os resultados encontrados evidenciam que os elementos paisagísticos urbanos favorecem para a formação de atributos microclimáticos desfavorávies ao conforto térmico, sobretudo no período seco da cidade.
ANÁLISE MULTITEMPORAL DE ÁREAS AFETADAS PELO FOGO NO ENCLAVE DE CERRADO DO PARQUE NACIONAL DOS CAMPOS AMAZÔNICOS UTILIZANDO SENSORIAMENTO REMOTO E TRABALHO DE CAMPO
Authors: Alves Daniel Borini , Pérez-Cabello Fernando , Cambraia Bruno Contursi , Bonadeu Francismeire , Silveira Antônio Laffayete Pires da
Published: August 2018

Monitorar e entender as relações entre o fogo e as formações vegetais nos ambientes de transição do Cerrado e a Amazônia segue um desafio científico muito importante para ampliar a capacidade de gestão destas áreas. Neste contexto, o presente artigo analisa as respostas da vegetação ao fogo no maior enclave de Cerrado da Amazônia Meridional (Enclave de Cerrado dos Campos Amazônicos), mediante o uso de séries multitemporais de sensoriamento remoto e informações derivadas de trabalho de campo. Com base na disponibilidade de imagens da série Landsat, e no fusionado de imagens de Landsat e MODIS, foi gerada uma série multitemporal índices espectrais (NDVI e NBR) para o intervalo temporal de 2009-2016 (com 8 registros para cada ano), contrastando o comportamento de grupos amostrais afetados pelo fogo apenas em 2010, em 2010 e 2014 ou em 2010 e 2016. Estas informações foram complementadas com dados de campo obtidos numa campanha realizada no pós-fogo de 2016. Os valores de NDVI e NBR se demonstraram sensíveis a ação do fogo sobre a vegetação, apresentando descensos abruptos associados as queimas (em média ~93 % inferiores aos apresentados para áreas não queimadas no mesmo período). Nas informações obtidas em campo se destaca o maior acúmulo de biomassa seca registrado nas parcelas com mais tempo sem queima (~146% superior), no comparativo com áreas de queima recente. Estes resultados auxiliam na compreensão da incidência do fogo sobre estes ambientes, contribuindo com a implementação do plano de manejo de fogo da área estudada.
The impact of music on the bioelectrical oscillations of the brain
Authors: Kučikienė Domantė , Praninskienė Rūta
Published: August 2018

In this article we conclude the main scientific studies into the changes in the bioelectrical brainwave activity that occur while listening to music. A brainwave spectral analysis, derived from findings of electroencephalograms, is a powerful tool to obtain deep and objective insights into the effects of music on the brain. This capacity is being investigated in various contexts. Starting with a healthy population, studies also seek to determine the impact of music in such conditions as disorders of consciousness, psychiatric diseases, and chronic conditions, as well as to further explore the role of music for rehabilitation purposes. Supplemental investigations in this field are needed not only to deepen the knowledge of general neurophysiology of listening to music, but also to possibly open new perspectives for its broader use in clinical practices.
The impact of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody status on the management of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: observational study results from Lithuania
Authors: Stropuvienė Sigita , Baranauskaitė Asta , Bukauskienė Loreta , Zaikauskienė Jolanta
Published: August 2018

Background. To provide data on the use of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) and other routinely used clinical parameters and to assess the impact of anti-CCP status on therapeutic decisions, an observational study was conducted in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods. Sixty-seven adult patients with a recent diagnosis of RA were recruited from four rheumatology centres in Lithuania and were prospectively observed for 12 months. Data collection was based on the review of medical records and routine examination of patients. Patients completed the Health Assessment Questionnaire – Disability Index and Patient Global Assessment of disease activity using a visual analogue scale. Physicians were asked about the importance of the anti-CCP results and other factors important for therapeutic decisions.
Results. Of the 67 patients enrolled, 54 (80.6%) completed the study. At the beginning of the study, physicians considered anti-CCP results to be important for decision-making in 87.0% of patients. The perceived importance of anti-CCP results did not change significantly throughout the study. After one year of treatment, factors that were considered more important than the anti-CCP results included the presence of erosions, significantly increased C-reactive protein, duration of morning stiffness, multi-articular expanding, and rheumatoid factor status. For nearly half of the patients (n = 26; 48.1%), physicians would not change the treatment strategy if the patient had the opposite anti-CCP results at baseline.
Conclusions. The study revealed that decision-making in the management of RA was based on multifactorial data. The role of anti-CCP as a single test in treatment decisions needs further investigation.
Intrinsically regulated learning is modulated by synaptic dopamine signaling
Authors: Ripollés Pablo , Ferreri Laura , Mas-Herrero Ernest , Alicart Helena , Gómez-Andrés Alba , Marco-Pallares Josep , Antonijoan Rosa Maria , Noesselt Toemme , Valle Marta , Riba Jordi , Rodriguez-Fornells Antoni
Published: August 2018

We recently provided evidence that an intrinsic reward-related signal—triggered by successful learning in absence of any external feedback—modulated the entrance of new information into long-term memory via the activation of the dopaminergic midbrain, hippocampus, and ventral striatum (the SN/VTA-Hippocampal loop; Ripollés et al., 2016). Here, we used a double-blind, within-subject randomized pharmacological intervention to test whether this learning process is indeed dopamine-dependent. A group of healthy individuals completed three behavioral sessions of a language-learning task after the intake of different pharmacological treatments: a dopaminergic precursor, a dopamine receptor antagonist or a placebo. Results show that the pharmacological intervention modulated behavioral measures of both learning and pleasantness, inducing memory benefits after 24 hr only for those participants with a high sensitivity to reward. These results provide causal evidence for a dopamine-dependent mechanism instrumental in intrinsically regulated learning and further suggest that subject-specific reward sensitivity drastically alters learning success.
Challenges in using CellTracker Green on foraminifers that host algal endosymbionts
Authors: Ross Benjamin J. , Hallock Pamela
Published: August 2018

The uses of fluorescent microscopy and fluorescent probes, such as the metabolically activated probe CellTracker™  Green CMFDA (CTG), have become common in studies of living Foraminifera. This metabolic requirement, as well as the relatively quick production of the fluorescent reaction products, makes CTG a prime candidate for determining mortality in bioassay and other laboratory experiments. Previous work with the foraminiferAmphistegina gibbosa, which hosts diatom endosymbionts, has shown that the species is capable of surviving both acute chemical exposure and extended periods of total darkness by entering a low-activity dormant state. This paper explores the use of CTG and fluorescent microscopy to determine mortality in such experiments, as well as to explore the physiology of dormant foraminifers. The application of CTG was found to be complicated by the autofluorescence of the diatom symbionts, which masks the signal of the CTG, as well as by interactions between CTG and propylene glycol, a chemical of interest known to cause dormancy. These complications necessitated adapting methods from earlier studies using CTG. Here we present observations on CTG fluorescence and autofluorescence inA. gibbosafollowing both chemical exposure and periods of total darkness. While CTG can indicate vital activity in dormant foraminifers, complications include underestimates of total survival and recovery, and falsely indicating dead individuals as live due to rapid microbial colonization. Nonetheless, the brightness of the CTG signal in dormant individuals exposed to propylene glycol supports previously published results of survival patterns inA. gibbosa. Observations of CTG fluorescence in individuals kept for extended periods in aphotic conditions indicate uptake of CTG may begin within 30 min of exposure to light, suggesting darkness-induced dormancy and subsequent recovery can occur on short time scales. These results suggest that CTG accurately reflects changes associated with dormancy, and can be useful in laboratory experiments utilizing symbiont-bearing foraminifers.
Red-eared Sliders Trachemys scripta elegans in southern Sydney, including new incursions
Authors: Mo Matthew
Published: August 2018

The invasive Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans has spread extensively, forming naturalised populations on all continents except Antarctica. Ranked among the 100 worst invasive species, there are biosecurity concerns that native turtles become outcompeted and displaced, as well as other speculative impacts. The actual ecological impacts in Australia have not been properly studied, however impacts shown in other countries are concerning. Incursions have presented in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. A number of sightings have been reported from southern Sydney, including six sites where more than one slider has persisted. The incursions at Yeramba Lagoon in the Georges River National Park and the Centennial Parklands have been the most documented, whereas incursions in the Lime Kiln Bay Wetland, Rockdale Wetlands Corridor and Audley in the Royal National Park appear to have occurred recently. To date, breeding in southern Sydney has only been confirmed at Yeramba Lagoon. A range of removal techniques have been successfully applied to eradicate isolated incursions in Brisbane and Melbourne. However, these options are difficult to implement in southern Sydney sites where incursions occur in high visitation public lands.
Flooding Stress in Plants
Authors: Mustroph Angelika
Published: August 2018

As sessile organisms, plants cannot run away from unfavourable growth conditions. In order to survive stress conditions, for example flooding stress, they have evolved multiple adaptational mechanisms. Flooding stress restricts gas diffusion in and out of the plant cells, and subsequently leads to oxygen deficiency inside the plants. Plants can react to flooding with two strategies. On one hand, they can avoid the occurrence of oxygen deficiency inside by anatomical and morphological adaptations. These adaptations are mainly mediated by the gaseous plant hormone ethylene. On the other hand, they can also survive with oxygen deficiency, at least for some time. This adaptation includes the rearrangement of primary metabolism, for example through induction of fermentation. This transcriptional rearrangement is mediated by a set of transcription factors whose protein abundance directly depends on the oxygen concentration inside the plant cells.

Key Concepts

Flooding reduces gas diffusion and thus oxygen and carbon dioxide availability within plant tissues.

Several plant species have adapted to flooding conditions and can survive and even grow under water.

One strategy to survive flooding is the avoidance of oxygen deficiency within plant tissues by morphological changes.

Morphological changes include aerenchyma formation, adventitious roots, leaf hyponasty and shoot elongation.

Morphological changes are largely mediated by the gaseous plant hormone ethylene that naturally accumulates in plant parts under water.

A second strategy to survive flooding is the adaptation to oxygen deficiency by metabolic rearrangements.

Metabolic rearrangements include induction of fermentation, glycolysis and starch degradation.

Metabolic rearrangements are partially mediated by a group of oxygen‐labile transcription factors that accumulate under oxygen deficiency.
Bioinformatics
Authors: Makałowski Wojciech , Shabardina Victoria , Makałowska Izabela
Published: August 2018

Molecular biologists generate data at an unparalleled pace, and the demands and opportunities for interpreting such data are expanding more than ever. In this context, bioinformatics has emerged as a strategic frontier involving molecular biology, molecular evolution, information technology and statistics. Bioinformatics may be defined as the research, development or application of computational tools and approaches for expanding the use of biological data, including those to acquire, store, organise, archive, analyse or visualise such data. Its goal is to enable biological discovery based on existing data, or in other words to transform biological data into information, and eventually into knowledge.

Key Concepts

Biological data grow faster than Moore's law predicts, which means that information technology might be a bottleneck of the data analyses.

The amount of data produced by biologists triggered a boom of specialised databases.

Nucleotide sequences are read in small stretches that need to be assembled computationally into whole molecules.

Searching sequence databases with the unknown sequence as a query, the so‐called similarity search, is most likely the most frequent bioinformatic activity.

Translational bioinformatics is a key for successful precision medicine.