Literacy practices in adult learning biographies: possibilities and constraints

[Extrat] The answer to the social and economic challenges that it is assumed literacy (or its lack) puts to developed countries deeply concerns public policies of governments namely those of the OECD area. In the last decades, these concerns gave origin to several and diverse monitoring devices, initiatives and programmes for reading (mainly) development, putting a strong stress on education. UNESCO (2006, p. 6), for instance, assumes that the literacy challenge can only be met raising the quality of primary and secondary education and intensifying programmes explicitly oriented towards youth and adult literacy. (...)

Analysis and selection of indicators for a sustainability assessment method for school buildings based on SBTool ��� PT

Nowadays, the sustainability of buildings has an extreme importance. This concept goes towards the European aims of the Program Horizon 2020, which concerns about the reduction of the environmental impacts through such aspects as the energy efficiency and renewable technologies, among others. Sustainability is an extremely broad concept but, in this work, it is intended to include the concept of sustainability in buildings. Within the concept that aims the integration of environmental, social and economic levels towards the preservation of the planet and the integrity of the users, there are, currently, several types of tools of environmental certification that are applicable to the construction industry (LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, SBTool, among others). Within this context, it is highlighted the tool SBTool (Sustainable Building Tool) that is employed in several countries and can be subject to review in institutions of basic education, which are the base for the formation of the critical masses and for the development of a country. The main aim of this research is to select indicators that can be used in a methodology for sustainability assessment (SBTool) of school buildings in Portugal and in Brazil. In order to achieve it, it will also be analyzed other methodologies that already incorporate parameters directly related with the schools environment, such as BREEAM or LEED.

Comparison of oleate conversion under microaerophilic and anaerobic conditions

Excessive accumulation of Long Chain Fatty Acids (LCFA) in methanogenic bioreactors is the cause of process failure associated to a severe decrease in methane production. In particular, fast and persistent accumulation of palmitate is critical and still not elucidated. Aerobes or facultative anaerobes were detected in those reactors, raising new questions on LCFA biodegradation. To get insight into the influence of oxygen, two bioreactors were operated under microaerophilic and anaerobic conditions, with oleate at 1 and 4 gCOD/(L d). Palmitate accumulated up to 2 and 16 gCOD/L in the anaerobic and microaerophilic reactor, respectively, which shows the importance of oxygen in this conversion. A second experiment was designed to understand the dynamics of oleate to palmitate conversion. A CSTR and a PFR were assembled in series and fed with oleate under microaerophilic conditions. HRT from 6 to 24 h were applied in the CSTR, and 14 to 52 min in the PFR. In the PFR a biofilm was formed where palmitate accounted for 82% of total LCFA. Pseudomonas was the predominant genus (42 %) in this biofilm, highlighting the role of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria in LCFA bioconversion.

Social entrepreneurship: does institutional environment make a difference?

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the link between social entrepreneurs and institutional environment in Portugal. A quantitative approach is used in the study, and primary data were collected through an online survey. A questionnaire was emailed to, both, Portuguese Non-Governmental organizations and projects available on the Portuguese social stock exchange. In the analysis of the data were used descriptive statistics, factorial analysis and t-student tests to validate (or not) the research hypotheses. The results show that a favorable institutional environment has a low importance in the decision to develop social initiatives. This conclusion supports the idea that many social entrepreneurs can emerge even in developing regions where the institutional environment is weak. Therefore, social entrepreneurship could be an instrument of regional development and contribute to attenuate the social and economic differences among Portuguese regions.

Self-compacting concrete and conventional concrete in the arena Pernambuco: comparative study of durability indicators and economic feasibility

This study addressed the application, strength and durability of self-compacting concrete (SCC) in a large-scale construction site, comparing its performance with vibrated conventional concrete (CC) with similar characteristics, assessing its economic feasibility. The studies were undertaken in the Arena Pernambuco project and involved the concreting during May, June and July 2012, for data collection, accompanying the routine concrete control tests and performing specific strength and durability tests. The SCC compressive strength was on average 4.5% higher than the CC one, and its formwork reinforced to withstand greater lateral pressure of the fresh concrete. The durability indicators results were in favour of SCC, which cost was 13.5% higher than CC.

Development of folate-targeted liposomes for rheumatoid arthritis therapy

Tese de Doutoramento em Biologia Molecular e Ambiental (��rea de especializa����o em Biologia Celular e Sa��de).

Utentes da Consulta Externa de Ginecologia/Obstetr��cia da Maternidade J��lio Dinis

Com o objectivo de fazer a caracteriza����o da situa����o social e demogr��fica e das condi����es de sa��de m��dica e psicol��gica das utentes da Consulta Externa de Ginecologia/Obstret��cia da Maternidade J��lio Dinis e de seus companheiros, duzentas mulheres e cento e setenta e cinco homens (N=375) foram entrevistados com base num question��rio desenhado para o efeito, durante o primeiro trimestre de gesta����o. Observamos o desfavorecimento social e econ��mico da amostra, particularmente no grupo das mulheres. Constatamos que a situa����o matrimonial e familiar �� est��vel; no entanto, muitos agregados familiares s��o recentes, incluem outros familiares e este �� um primeiro filho do casal. A rede de apoio social e emocional da amostra �� geralmente constitu��da por familiares, estando mais presente para as mulheres do que para os homens e muitas vezes o companheiro n��o �� referido como confidente, sobretudo pelas mulheres. A gesta����o n��o �� geralmente de risco; n��o obstante, a presen��a frequente de problemas psicol��gicos uma pior aceita����o inicial da gravidez no caso das mulheres. Os h��bitos de vida tornam-se mais saud��veis com a gesta����o; no entanto, �� ainda elevado o consumo de subst��ncias, como o tabaco, pela gr��vida. Problemas ginecol��gicos e obst��tricos foram referidos, assim como a presen��a de adversidades na hist��ria psicol��gica e desenvolvimental dos participantes. Conclu��mos que as utentes da Consulta Externa de Ginecologia/Obstetr��cia da Maternidade J��lio Dinis e seus companheiros apresentam indicadores relevantes de risco m��dico, psicol��gico e social que devem ser considerados na presta����o de melhores cuidados de sa��de.