Características econômicas do valor de uso e de não uso de parques sobre dunas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Computational Tracking of Mental Health in Youth: Latin American Contributions to a Low-Cost and Effective Solution for Early Psychiatric Diagnosis

The early onset of mental disorders can lead to serious cognitive damage, and timely interventions are needed in order to prevent them. In patients of low socioeconomic status, as is common in Latin America, it can be hard to identify children at risk. Here, we briefly introduce the problem by reviewing the scarce epidemiological data from Latin America regarding the onset of mental disorders, and discussing the difficulties associated with early diagnosis. Then we present computational psychiatry, a new field to which we and other Latin American researchers have contributed methods particularly relevant for the quantitative investigation of psychopathologies manifested during childhood. We focus on new technologies that help to identify mental disease and provide prodromal evaluation, so as to promote early differential diagnosis and intervention. To conclude, we discuss the application of these methods to clinical and educational practice. A comprehensive and quantitative characterization of verbal behavior in children, from hospitals and laboratories to homes and schools, may lead to more effective pedagogical and medical intervention

Análise do custo-benefício de sistemas de cobertas em edificações comerciais para o clima de Natal/RN visando eficiência energética

This research consists in studying the influence of the various type of construction systems of roofs with their energy efficiency as well as on the cost benefit for the commercial buildings on the temperatures condition of the city of Natal/RN. The main goal of this research is to analyze the cost benefit of the construction systems of roofs available on the market, taking into consideration the energy efficiency of the commercial buildings artificially air conditioned in order to be used by the projectors and to be adequated to the temperatures condition of the city of Natal/RN. The method of valuation of the cost benefit of roof systems consists in six steps: Features and simulation of the reference building; Analyze of sensitivity; Analyzes, features and simulation of alternatives of roof construction systems; Analyze of the cost of implementation; Analyze of the benefits of the alternatives comparing to the base case; And finally the analyze of the cost benefit. The model type chosen as reference was stores with pre molded buildings and system of roof with fiber ciment and ceiling . The thermal results showed the influence of the roof system on the energy efficiency of the building. The Final results of the simulations of the alternatives comes to a conclusion that the absortance is the variable that presents the best cost benefit relation and the reduction on the thermal transmittance still has limitations because of the high cost

Economy of the island of eco-tourism: the role of shark-diving and shark harvesting

Beyond its importance in maintaining ecosystems, sharks provide services that play important socioeconomic roles. The rise in their exploitation as a tourism resource in recent years has highlighted economic potential of non-destructive uses of sharks and the extent of economic losses associated to declines in their population. In this work, we present estimates for use value of sharks in Fernando de Noronha Island - the only ecotouristic site offering shark diving experience in the Atlantic coast of South America. Through the Travel Cost Method we estimate the total touristic use value aggregated to Noronha Island by the travel cost was up to USD 312 million annually, of which USD 91.1 million are transferred to the local economy. Interviewing people from five different economic sectors, we show shark-diving contribute with USD 2.5 million per year to Noronha’s economy, representing 19% of the island’s GDP. Shark-diving provides USD 128.5 thousand of income to employed islanders, USD 72.6 thousand to government in taxes and USD 5.3 thousand to fishers due to the increase in fish consumption demanded by shark divers. We discover, though, that fishers who actually are still involved in shark fishing earn more by catching sharks than selling other fish for consumption by shark divers. We conclude, however, that the non-consumptive use of sharks is most likely to benefit large number of people by generating and money flow if compared to the shark fishing, providing economic arguments to promote the conservation of these species.

Análise do custo-benefício de sistemas de cobertas em edificações comerciais para o clima de Natal/RN visando eficiência energética

This research consists in studying the influence of the various type of construction systems of roofs with their energy efficiency as well as on the cost benefit for the commercial buildings on the temperatures condition of the city of Natal/RN. The main goal of this research is to analyze the cost benefit of the construction systems of roofs available on the market, taking into consideration the energy efficiency of the commercial buildings artificially air conditioned in order to be used by the projectors and to be adequated to the temperatures condition of the city of Natal/RN. The method of valuation of the cost benefit of roof systems consists in six steps: Features and simulation of the reference building; Analyze of sensitivity; Analyzes, features and simulation of alternatives of roof construction systems; Analyze of the cost of implementation; Analyze of the benefits of the alternatives comparing to the base case; And finally the analyze of the cost benefit. The model type chosen as reference was stores with pre molded buildings and system of roof with fiber ciment and ceiling . The thermal results showed the influence of the roof system on the energy efficiency of the building. The Final results of the simulations of the alternatives comes to a conclusion that the absortance is the variable that presents the best cost benefit relation and the reduction on the thermal transmittance still has limitations because of the high cost