Black bears are omnivorous, and tend to be opportunistic feeders, in that they will eat what is readily abundant or available. The end-products of intestinal digestion are absorbed by the body through the action of transporter proteins expressed on the brushborder membrane of small intestinal epithelial cells. The goal of this study was to increase the understanding of the physiological processes associated with nutrient assimilation by black bears. Distribution and relative abundance of mRNA of a peptide transporter (PepT1), a glucose transporter (SGLT1), two AA transporters (NBAT, bo,+AT), and a digestive enzyme, aminopeptidase N (APN), in the intestinal tract of black bears were investigated. Ten bears were used for this study. For tissue collection, the intestine was removed from the animal and divided into five sections. Each collected section was opened longitudinally, rinsed in ice-cold PBS, and the mucosal scrapings were stored at -80&#61616;C. Total RNA was extracted and quantified by spectrophotometry. Abundance of PepT1, SGLT1, NBAT, bo,+AT, and APN mRNA was determined by performing Northern blots, using bear cDNA probes. Northern blot data were quantified by densitometric analysis, with the abundance of each gene expressed relative to GAPDH. Abundance of PepT1 (P < 0.05), APN (P < 0.05), and SGLT1 (P < 0.0001) changed quadratically from the proximal to the distal intestine with abundance being greatest in the midregion. Abundance of bo,+AT mRNA increased linearly (P < 0.05) from the proximal to distal intestine. Abundance of NBAT mRNA did not change among intestinal segments.The absolute number of molecules of mRNA/ng of total RNA for each gene was determined using Real-Time PCR. Similar to the Northern results, abundance of PepT1 (P < 0.0003), SGLT1 (P < 0.0003), and APN (P < 0.02) changed quadratically from the proximal to distal intestine with abundance being greatest in the mid-region, and bo,+AT mRNA increased linearly (P < 0.0001) from the proximal to distal intestine. NBAT mRNA abundance also increased linearly (P < 0.0001) from proximal to distal intestine. PepT1 mRNA was present at tenfold or greater levels than AA transporter mRNA in all segments of the intestine, suggesting that di- and tripeptides constitute the major form in which AAs are absorbed. NBAT and bo,+AT mRNA abundance was greater towards the distal portion of the intestine, suggesting their importance in salvaging remaining unabsorbed AAs.These results indicate that the mRNA of nutrient transporters examined and APN are differentially expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract of black bears, suggesting their involvement in nutrient assimilation. / Master of Science

We initiated bait station surveys for black bears in southwestern Virginia in 1999. Bait station surveys are intended to be used as an index to follow bear population trend over time. We compared the bait station visitation (black bear visitation) to black bear harvest and mast surveys 1999 = 2002. The mean bait station visitation rate during 1999 - 2002 was 15.3% (SE = 2.89, n = 4). The number of bears harvested in the 3 counties that also had bait station surveys was 48 (31 males, 17 females), 59 (44 males, 15 females), 45 (32 males, 13 females), and 43 (26 males, 17 females) in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, respectively. Harvest of males and females differed (n = 2, F = 19.44, df = 1, P = 0.0045). Bait station visitation and female harvest had a strong functional relationship with a negative slope (n = 4, r = -0.78, P = 0.22). The strongest relationship was between male harvest and total harvest (n = 4, r = 0.97, P = 0.03). Mean index to mast production for 1999 - 2002 was 2.3 (range 1.5 - 3.1), 2.7 (range 1.8 - 3.4), 2.3 (range 1.6 - 3.6), and 1.6 (range 1.2 - 2.4), respectively. The overall summary for mast production for the same years was described as fair, good, fair, and poor to fair. Mast production was significantly different between years (n = 4, F = 3.44, df = 3, P = 0.0326), and soft and hard mast production appeared to be above average in 2000. This corresponded with the lowest visitation (10.2%) of the 4 years. There was no correlation between bait station visitation and mast production (n = 4, r = 0.11, P = 0.87). Since 1998, the annual bear harvest in Virginia has exceeded 900 individuals (with the exception of 824 in 2001), and peaked in 2000 when 1,000 bears were harvested. Though harvest rates were high, a reliable population estimate did not exist for black bears in Virginia. We estimated population size, growth rate, and minimum viable population size using data collected between 1995-2000. We used Jolly-Seber, direct recovery, and minimum population size methods to estimate population size. The Jolly-Seber method estimate of adult female density was 0.23-0.64 bears/km2, and 0.01 bears/km2 for adult males. We estimated a density of 0.09-0.23 bears/km2 for all sex and age classes using direct recovery data. Using minimum population size, we found adult female density was higher than any other sex or age class (n = 6, t = 2.02, df = 40, P < 0.0001) with an average density of 0.055 adult females/km2. We used mark-recapture data collected from 148 individual bears (96 males:52 females) captured 270 times in program MARK to estimate survival using recapture, dead recovery, and Burnham's combined models. Adult females had the highest survival rate of 0.84-0.86, while yearling males had the lowest with 0.35. Using direct recovery data, adult females again had the highest survival rate with 0.93 (0.83-1.0) and 3-year old males had the lowest with 0.59 (0.35-0.83). We estimated growth rate using population estimates from Jolly-Seber, direct recoveries, and minimum population size methods. The lowest growth rate estimated was for all females (ages lumped) using minimum population size data (λ=0.82). Direct recovery data for all bears (sex and age lumped) during 1995 - 2000 showed the highest positive annual growth rate (λ = 1.24). We developed a population model using Mathcad 8 Professional to determine population growth rate, MVP, and harvest effects for an exploited black bear population in southwestern Virginia. We used data collected during the CABS study (1995 - 2000) in the model including population estimates derived from direct recovery data, age and sex specific survival rates, and cub sex ratios. When we used actual population values in the model, the bear population in southwestern Virginia did not go extinct in 100 years (l = 1.03, r = 0.03). When we reduced adult female survival from 0.94 to 0.89, the probability of extinction in 100 years was 3.0% and l = 0.99 (r = -0.01; Table 3.2). When the survival was reduced by an additional 0.01 to 0.88, the probability of extinction increased to 13.0% (l = 0.99, r = -0.01). Growth rate and extinction probabilities were very sensitive to adult female survival rates. Two-year old and 3-year old females did not impact extinction probabilities and growth rates as much as adult females. Their survival could be decreased by 44.0%, and still be less than the 5.0% extinction probability. / Master of Science

The American black bear (ABB) (Ursus americanus) exhibits physiological strategies highly synchronized with the environment. Such strategies enable bears to exploit food resources when available and survive the winter months by hibernating without ingesting food or water. However, there are multiple aspects of ABB hibernation physiology that remain unknown. For instance, there is conflicting evidence on the occurrence of ABB pseudopregnancy (a physiological state in which a non-pregnant bear exhibits progesterone levels similar to gravid bears in the absence of an actual pregnancy). Also, there is little known about postnatal development of cubs or the influence of maternal traits on embryonic implantation and cub growth. Finally, the role of satellite cells (SCs – stem cells able to regenerate muscle fibers) play in maintaining muscle functionality during hibernating remains understudied. Therefore, I aimed to assess these four aforementioned aspects using wild ABBs held temporarily captive at Virginia Tech's Black Bear Research Center (VT-BBRC). The major findings of this dissertation are: 1) I suggest that wild ABBs do not experience pseudopregnancy as a reproductive strategy; 2) interactions between litter size and cub age best described postnatal cub weight dynamics and organ development. Twin cubs were heavier than single and triplet cubs, yet cubs from all litter sizes reached similar weights after mothers began consuming food post hibernation. Single cubs experienced delayed timing in ear, eye, and teeth development compared to other litter sizes; 3) maternal traits such as higher body weight and higher ability to gain weight in the fall are closely associated with earlier timing of embryonic implantation than in leaner females, which gained less weight per day in the fall; and 4) SC ability to generate muscle fibers is increased during ABB hibernation. I propose that maintaining the SCs are an important potential pathway for limiting muscle atrophy during bear hibernation. Understanding pre and postnatal development of ABBs is important for exploring factors related to climate, maternal characteristics, which possibly affect birthing phenology, and fitness of bears experiencing rapid anthropogenic environmental change. Functional aspects of bear muscle conservation are interesting for potentially for elucidating avenues to improve treatments for human metabolic disorders such as muscular dystrophy, sarcopenia, and disuse atrophy. / Ph. D. / The American black bear (ABB) (Ursus americanus) exhibits physiological strategies highly synchronized with the environment. Such strategies enable bears to exploit food resources when available and survive the winter months by hibernating without ingesting food or water. However, there are multiple aspects of ABB hibernation physiology that remain unknown. For instance, there is conflicting evidence on the occurrence of false pregnancies in the ABB. Also, there is little known about postnatal development of cubs or the influence of maternal traits at the beginning of active gestation and cub growth. Finally, the role of satellite cells (SCs – stem cells able to regenerate muscle fibers) play in maintaining muscle functionality during hibernating remains understudied. Therefore, I aimed to assess these four aforementioned aspects using wild ABBs held temporarily captive at Virginia Tech’s Black Bear Research Center (VT - BBRC). The major findings of this dissertation are: 1) I suggest that wild ABBs do not experience false pregnancy as a reproductive strategy; 2) interactions between litter size and age best described postnatal cub weight dynamics and organ development. Twin cubs were heavier than single and triplet cubs, yet cubs from all litter sizes reached similar weights after mothers began consuming food post hibernation. Single cubs experienced delayed timing in ear, eye, and teeth development compared to other litter sizes; 3) maternal characteristics such as higher body weight and higher ability to gain weight in the fall are closely associated with earlier timing of embryonic implantation than in leaner females, which gained less weight per day in the fall; and 4) SC ability to generate muscle fibers is increased during ABB hibernation. I propose that maintaining the SCs are an important potential pathway for limiting muscle atrophy during bear hibernation. Understanding pre and postnatal development of ABBs is important for exploring factors related to climate, maternal characteristics, which possibly affect birthing phenology, and fitness of bears experiencing environmental change. Functional aspects of bear muscle conservation are interesting for potentially for elucidating avenues to improve treatments for human metabolic disorders such as muscular dystrophy, sarcopenia, and disuse atrophy.

Following mass agricultural expansion and deforestation in the late 1800s and early 1900s, American black bear populations (Ursus americanus, hereafter black bear) were low across most of Virginia. The Department of Wildlife Resources (VADWR) and the United States Forest Service worked to rebuild wildlife habitat in the state, leading to recovery of bears. While some aspects of black bear hibernation and foraging ecology have been studied, there remain knowledge gaps on key aspects of black bear biology. Hibernation behavior, for example, is understudied with most knowledge stemming from post-hibernation emergence studies. We used a unique dataset with continuous monitoring of mother bears and their cubs from Virginia Tech's Black Bear Research Center in 2015-2016, to better understand hibernation ecology, mother-cub dynamics, and biological-foster cub dynamics. We found that increased black bear activity levels were driven by both higher temperature and photoperiod, but the onset of hibernation was primarily driven by only temperature. Temperature is projected to rise in VA and rising temperatures regionally could be responsible for increased active behaviors in bears, which could lead to increased human-black bear interactions on the landscape, especially during hibernation onset. We also found that mother bears spend similar amounts of time with biological and foster cubs. Biological cubs did not show more dominance behaviors toward fosters than biological siblings, which we also observed with foster, where they did not continuously display these behaviors towards biological cubs. These results are promising for orphan cub fostering programs in VA and other states and indicate that foster cub litter integration can be successful. Foraging ecology also is challenging to study in black bears because direct observation is generally not possible due to their cryptic nature, closed habitat, or potential danger in observing. We used a dataset from camera collars deployed on 15 bears (8 males, 7 females) in Bath County Virginia in 2018 and 2019 to better understand diet seasonality and to determine habitat and environmental drivers of black bear foraging patterns, particularly on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and invasive plant species. We identified 178 unique diet items to family, genus, or species in videos, much higher numbers than previously reported in the literature, and we found high diet overlap between sexes. Diet composition was primarily influenced by season with higher levels of consumption of herbaceous soft mast in spring, fruit and seed soft mast in summer, and hard mast in fall. Females exhibited more hunting events on deer fawns in spring than males, but males and females consumed similar numbers (28 vs. 24, respectively) via hunting and scavenging combined. Males consumed anthropogenic foods more often than females, particularly when closer to human settlements and males more commonly consumed invasive plant species in spring while females more often consumed insect in spring invasive species in summer. Our results highlight strong seasonally- and subtle sex-mediated differences in black bear diets. We provide information on drivers of diet choices by bears, as well as identify where foraging hotspots on species of interest occur, providing information useful to VADWR in managing increased human-wildlife interactions (and mitigating potential for negative interactions), predator-prey relations, and invasive species spread across the landscape. / Master of Science / American black bears were almost eliminated from Virginia following mass agricultural expansion and deforestation in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Department of Wildlife Resources (VADWR) and the United States Forest Service worked to rebuild wildlife habitat in the state, leading to recent recovery of bears in VA. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge of black bear ecology and gaining new knowledge will aid in better management of black bears across the state. We used two unique video data sets to study hibernation and foraging (or feeding) ecology to fill important knowledge gaps. To study hibernation behavior, we used a video data set of continuously monitored, temporarily captive mother bears and their cubs held at Virginia Tech's Black Bear Research Center in 2015-2016. We found that black bear activity was driven by both daily temperature and photoperiod (length of daylight), but onset of hibernation was mostly driven by temperature only. With Virginia projected to experience rising, and more variable, temperatures due to climate change, this may mean that bears will stay longer on the landscape in fall, even past the point where vegetation (food) has gone dormant, potentially leading to increased human-black bear interactions as bears seek human foods. We also examined mother-cub interactions and found mother bears did not spend more time with their biological cubs than their fosters (fosters are orphaned black bear cubs arising due to death of mothers) and biological cubs did not show more dominance behaviors (i.e., biting, chasing, or pinning to ground) toward fosters than biological siblings. These are positive results for VADWR's surrogate sow program across the state. Foraging ecology is difficult to study in black bears because direct observation is generally not possible due to their secretive nature, dense habitat, or potential danger in observing. Therefore, traditionally, many studies collect and examine scat (fecal) samples or stomach contents from harvested bears, but these methods may not find diet items that are quickly digested. We used a unique dataset from video camera collars placed on 15 bears in Bath County Virginia in 2018 and 2019. We found some important differences from the literature - our spring diets had higher proportions of deer and soft vegetation (leaves), however the unknown diet items in the literature were high, leading to incomplete or incorrect diet profiles. Diet composition was primarily influenced by season with higher levels of consumption of leafy soft mast in spring, fruit and seed soft mast in summer, and hard mast in fall. Males and females had high dietary overlap and we found that females had more hunting events on deer fawns in spring than males, but overall males and females consumed similar numbers (28 vs. 24, respectively) via hunting and scavenging combined. Males more often consumed human foods than females, while females more often consumed insect species than males. Also, males more commonly consumed invasive species in spring, while females did so in summer. Our results highlight differences in diet content caused by season and subtle differences in diets between sexes. We provide information on drivers of feeding choices bears make and we identify foraging hotspots for deer and invasive species, information useful to VADWR in managing potential human-wildlife interactions, predator-prey relations, and invasive species spread across the landscape.

På finansmarknaden finns det flera olika typer finansiella instrument och utbudet ökar stadigt. Utvecklingen har lett till att det har blivit svårare för icke-professionella kunder att utvärdera riskerna med instrumenten. Vissa finansiella instrument som finns på marknaden är så kallade finansiella derivatinstrument, vars värde beror på en underliggande tillgångs värdeutveckling. En ny reglering om produktgodkännande av finansiella instrument introducerades genom Europaparlamentets och rådets direktiv 2014/65/EU. Processen för produktgodkännande är reglerad i 8 kap. 13 § lag (2007:528) om värdepappersmarknaden. Regleringen innebär att, värdepappersinstitut måste ha en välordnad process för godkännande av egenproducerade finansiella instrument innan marknadsföring eller distribution till kund får ske. I och med Europaparlamentets och rådets direktiv 2014/65/EU och Europaparlamentets och rådets förordning (EU) nr 600/2014, har nationella behöriga myndigheter och Esma erhållit befogenhet att utföra produktingripanden. Syftet med produktingripanden är att skydda ickeprofessionella kunder från produkter på finansmarknaden som är riskfyllda och har svårbedömda egenskaper. Esma har nyligen publicerat ett åtgärdsförslag avseende begränsningar av marknadsföring, distribution och försäljning av contracts for difference samt ett förbud av marknadsföring, distribution och försäljning av binära optioner till ickeprofessionella kunder. I uppsatsen visas att produktingripanden är ett verktyg som kan komma att gynna både nationella behöriga myndigheter och Esma i tillsynsarbetet, i syfte att stärka investerarskyddet för icke-professionella kunder. Samarbetet mellan Esma och nationella behöriga myndigheter bör även utvecklas för att genomdriva framtida åtgärdsförslag. Åtgärdsförslag bör främst vara antagna av Esma för att därefter antas av nationella behöriga myndigheter inom EU. Genom ett sådant tillvägagångssätt kan harmoniseringsarbetet, avseende regleringen av kapitalmarknaden i EU, fortsätta på ett ändamålsenligt sätt. I uppsatsen visas även att Esma:s nuvarande åtgärdsförslag, angående begränsningar och förbud av marknadsföring, distribution och försäljning av contracts for difference och binära optioner, är ett välgrundat förslag med beaktande av de risker som icke-professionella kunder utsätts för vid handel av dessa riskfyllda finansiella derivatinstrument.

One of the main attractions for tourists visiting Svalbard, Norway, are polar bears. The polar bear is a vulnerable species, dependent on sea ice to survive as this is where they hunt, wander and raise their cubs. Ship-based tourism poses a number of threats mainly due to the disturbances caused by the presence of ships, damage of critical habitats and the increasing interactions and deadly conflicts between humans and polar bears. Appropriate and effective legislation based on scientific knowledge of the impacts of ship-based tourism on polar bears is necessary to ensure sustainable tourism and environmental protection. Species protection and habitat conservation is not an issue isolated to Svalbard or the polar bears but rather just one part of the pressing global issue concerning loss of biodiversity, which is one of the greatest threats to humankind. The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) aims to ensure the conservation of wild flora and fauna species and their habitats. At the time of signing, the Norwegian Government excluded Svalbard from the application of the Bern Convention, ensuring that national conservation policies for Svalbard would be promoted. The Svalbard Environmental Protection Act is the main act regulating environmental protection on Svalbard, including both general principles and specific provisions regarding species and habitat protection. This paper explores the various needs of the polar bear population in Svalbard and the impacts caused by ship-based tourism. The Bern Convention’s provisions relating to the identified threats posed by ship-based tourism are examined and compared with the corresponding provisions in the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. Moreover, this paper analyses the potential benefits that could arise from the application of the Bern Convention to the Svalbard territory. This paper concludes that the protection of the polar bears could, de jure, be strengthened by the Bern Convention, mainly due to the extensive interpretation of the types of activities that should be prohibited by signatory states. However, the Bern Convention can only be enforced by non-binding mechanisms and it is therefore unlikely that the application of the convention would lead to stronger protection of the polar bears than that which is provided by national legislation. The protection of the polar bear from threats caused by ship-based tourism would therefore, de facto, most likely not be strengthened by the application of the Bern Convention.

This thesis in applied statistics and industrial economics examines the correlation between a number of market conditions on the Swedish and Global market and the yield difference between the Swedish stock market and the Global stock market. The report is based on data from the index MSCI Sweden Net Return, MSCI World Net Return and the Volatility index S&amp;P 500. The market conditions that have been examined are Bull markets, Bear markets, periods of high volatility. We also examined how the appreciation of the SEK in comparison to the USD and the yield of the Swedish stock market correlated with the yield difference between the Swedish Stock Market and the Global stock market. The correlation was examined using multiple linear regression. The results indicated a positive correlation between the yield difference between the Swedish stock market and the Global stock market and the yield of the Swedish stock market, the appreciation of the SEK compared to the USD and Bull markets. We found a negative correlation with Bear markets and no correlation at all with the volatility.   The results are in line with what could be expected and give a stronger statistical ground for the idea that the Swedish stock market has larger fluctuations than the Global stock market during large-scale market fluctuations. / Detta kandidatexamensarbete inom tillämpad matematik och industriell ekonomi syftar till att undersöka hur avkastningsdifferensen mellan den Svenska och Globala aktiemarknaden korrelerar med ett antal olika marknadsförhållanden. Rapporten är baserad på data från MSCI Sweden Net Return och MSCI World Net Return samt Volatilitetsindex S&amp;P500. De marknadsförhållanden som har undersökts är Bull markets, Bear markets, perioder då det råder hög volatilitet på marknaden. Vi undersökte även avkastningsdifferensens korrelation till kronans värdeförändring gentemot den Amerikanska dollarn och korrelationen till den Svenska aktiemarknadens värdeökning. Korrelationen undersöktes genom att utföra en multipel linjär regression. Resultaten visade på en rådande positiv korrelation mellan utvecklingen på den Svenska aktiemarknaden, prisutvecklingen av den Svenska kronan mot Amerikanska dollarn samt under Bull markets. Vi fann även en negativ korrelation med Bear markets och ingen korrelation till volatiliteten.   Resultaten är i linje med vad som kunde förväntas och ger en starkare statistisk grund till att den Svenska aktiemarknaden har större svängningar än den Globala aktiemarknaden vid stora marknadsfluktuationer.

The black bear (Ursus americanus) is an iconic species with cultural, economic and ecological importance in Vermont, USA. Bears exhibit a highly variable diet, and few studies have described bear diet in the state. Information on diet may provide insight into foraging behavior, thus allowing managers to better assess patterns of human-bear conflict. My objectives were to estimate the relative contribution of food items to bear diet and how factors including sex, habitat, food availability, and nuisance status describe patterns of consumption. I collected samples from bears and major food groups including C3 plants, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), corn (Zea mays), and human foods, then quantified diet using stable isotope analysis. Samples were collected from 71 bears, 547 plants, and 38 deer throughout Vermont. I also collected 12 corn samples, and 20 human hair samples to represent anthropogenic foods. I determined δ13C and δ15N isotope values for all samples, then used Bayesian mixing models to estimate the contribution of foods and effect of each factor on proportional contribution estimates. Nuisance status best described patterns of diet over other factors. Median percent contributions for non-nuisance bears were 73.2% C3 plants, 23.8% corn, 1.9% human foods, and 0.5% deer. Median percent contributions for nuisance bears were 64.6% C3 plants, 28.9% corn, 3.2% human foods, and 0.7% deer. Factors such as sex, habitat, and food availability exerted less effect on diet than expected. Proportional contribution of meat was lower than in some other parts of North America, suggesting bears forage differently in Vermont. Results provide the first statewide estimate of bear diet and indicate corn may represent a much larger component of diet than previously thought. In particular, bears labeled as nuisance animals may forage on greater proportions of corn throughout the year.

The diploma thesis is focused on finding the relationship of primary school pupils and secondary school students to the carnivores of the Czech Republic in the Lusatian Mountains and Ralsko Upland. Among the selected carnivores are brown bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx) and wolf (Canis lupus). Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is used in the thesis for comparison. The thesis collects the opinions on these carnivores and compares them. The survey was realized by questionnaire survey. The thesis includes the characteristics of carnivores and their extensions.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T14:27:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Eduardo Bueno Fraguas.pdf: 1282545 bytes, checksum: 31db7b08c8ee2d594216959da9df29c7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-10 / The concept of witness (martyr) has enhanced throughout history. This term has been habitually utilized both inside civilian and religious environment, however for Christian language, its root is of the essence of what is "bear witness"; in particular, what presents the Gospel. This paper presents a reflection on the concept of witness and its evolution, beginning with the development of this term in Greek culture, from the Old Testament and Jewish culture to reach the New Testament. The center of this reflection is the Gospel of John, with a focus on chapter 19 verse 35: And he who has seen has borne witness . This has been presented by Johannine Tradition and posteriorly by Church History development. The testimony is the key to biblical language and therefore also becomes something essential for today´s Christians / O conceito de testemunha (mártir) se desenvolveu de diversas formas ao longo da história. Este termo é utilizado comumente nos ambientes civis e religiosos, porém, para a linguagem cristã a sua radicalidade está na essência do que é ser testemunha , em especial, naquilo que apresenta o Evangelho. Este trabalho visa apresentar uma reflexão sobre o conceito de testemunha e sua evolução, iniciando com o desenvolvimento desse termo na cultura grega, passando pelo Antigo Testamento e cultura judaica até chegar ao Novo Testamento. O centro desta reflexão é o Evangelho de João, com um foco no versículo 35 do capítulo 19: E o que viu testemunha . Isso baseado no que é apresentado pela Tradição Joanina e, posteriormente, seu desenvolvimento na História da Igreja. O testemunho é algo fundamental para linguagem bíblica e, por isso, se torna também algo necessário para a vivência cristã na atualidade