Espaço geográfico e educação: um estudo sobre o lugar do Conselho de Escola

In this text, the results of our research on the geographic location and establishing relationships with the School Council. We consider some legal aspects added to the evidence gathered in our experience to check how much the School Council is constituted as a non-state public place. The possibility of setting up this feature to see a meaning whose strength lies precisely in a healthy tension between the state and established community. Here is the legislation of the School Council of Suzano (SP) and some aspects of our experience from the practice of teaching at a school in Rio das Pedras (SP). We see the nature of the legal meaning assigned to this place from the study of law, considering the municipal, regional and federal levels. In the sphere of Geography use the concepts of Space, Place and City, as issues that are dear to that science. We used the concept of Topofilia to see if this particular place is the development of an individual's sense of belonging, and how it unfolds in the dynamic implications of the operation of this instrument of popular participation in the formulation of public policy education. We discussed the elements observed in these experiments to think about the composition of living environments in urban daily life

Influence of door handles design in effort perception: accessibility and usability

The application of ergonomics in product design is essential to its accessibility and usability. The development of manual devices should be based on ergonomic principles. Effort perception analysis is an essential approach to understand the physical and subjective aspects of the interface. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effort perception during a simulated task with different door handles by Portuguese subjects of both genders and different ages. This transversal study agreed with ethical aspects. 180 subjects of both genders pertaining to three age groups have participated. Five door handles with different shapes were evaluated. A subjective numeric rating scale of 5 levels was used to evaluate the effort. For statistical analysis it was applied the Friedman non-parametric test. The results have showed no significant differences of effort perception in door handles "A" and "B"; "A" and "D"; and "D" and "C". Door handle "E" presented the lowest values of all. In general, there's an inverse relationship between the results of biomechanical studies and the effort perception of the same task activity. This shows that door handles design influence directly these two variables and can interfere in the accessibility and usability of these kinds of products.

The use of software Mapavox for teaching graphics and games to blind and low vision students: a development through practices

Current policies on education to visually impaired point for a growing trend of including students with special educational needs in regular schools. However, most often this inclusion is not accompanied by an appropriate professional trained or infrastructure, which has been presented as a big problem for regular school teachers who have students with visual impairments in their classroom. Based on this situation, the Group of Extension in Tactile Cartography from UNESP - University of the State of São Paulo - Campus de Rio Claro - SP - Brazil has been developing educational material of geography and cartography to blind students at a special school. Among the materials developed in this study highlight the development of graphics and board games provided with sound capabilities through MAPAVOX, software developed in partnership with UFRJ - Federal University from Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil. Through this software, sound capabilities can be inserted into built materials, giving them a multi-sensory character. In most cases the necessary conditions for building specific materials to students with visual impairments is expensive and beyond the reach of features from a regular school, so the survey sought to use easy access and low cost materials like Cork, leaf aluminum, material for fixing and others. The development of these materials was supported by preparation in laboratory and its subsequent test through practices involving blind students. The methodology used on the survey is based on qualitative research and non comparative analysis of the results. In other words, the material is built based on the special students perception and reality construction, not being mere adaptations of visual materials, but a construction focused on the reality of the visually impaired. The results proved were quite successful as the materials prepared were effective on mediating the learning process of students with disabilities. Geographical and cartographic concepts were seized by the students through the technology used, associated with the use of materials that took into account in its building process the perception of the students.

Simulations under Ideal and Nonideal Conditions for Characterization of a Passive Doppler Geographical Location System Using Extension of Data Reception Network

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The Impact of Domestic Politics and International Changes on the Brazilian Perception of Regional Integration

This article aims to analyze the impact of domestic politics and international changes that influence Brazilian positions regarding regional integration processes in South America, particularly the Southern Common Market, Mercosur. The dynamics of the international system and their impact on the evolution of the elite's perception of the role the country should play in the world are important variables for understanding these positions. The state's postures in relation to integration were and are based on a real interest, but this interest is also linked with the objective of ensuring better conditions for participation in other international arenas. Starting with the hypothesis that transformations in the international setting have strongly influenced Brazil's positioning, the elements of continuity and change in the country's behavior toward Mercosur are identified, with domestic politics as the main explanation.

Geographical Distribution and Demographic Characteristics of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

OBJECTIVE: To outline the geographical distribution pattern of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) in a referral center in Bahia, Brazil, and determine the demographics of the disease.STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a study of data retrieved from medical records of 140 GTD patients referred to our Trophoblastic Diseases Center in 2002-2007, assessing geographical distribution across health care districts, demographics, referral sources, and previous pregnancy status.RESULTS: The most common GTD types were hydatidiform mole (106, 75.7%), invasive mole (32, 22.9%), choriocarcinoma (1, 0.7%), and placental site trophoblastic tumor (1, 0.7%). GTD incidence was 8.5 in 1,000 deliveries. Most patients originated from the coastal region (East district), which includes the state capital (77.9%). The 20-34 age group predominated (65%). Education level (67.9% attended elementary school only) and employment rate (42.9%) were low. Secondary hospitals were the principal source of referral (84.3%), followed by self-referrals (15.7%). Regarding previous pregnancy status, 42.1% (n = 59) had had term pregnancy, 39.3% (n = 55) no pregnancy, 15% (n = 21) miscarriage, and 0.7% (n = 1) ectopic pregnancy; 4 patients (2.9%) had previous hydatidiform mole.CONCLUSION: GTD predominated in the peak fertility age group and among patients of unfavorable sociodemographic status. (J Reprod Med 2010;55:305-310)

Quality of life and stimulus perception in patients' rehabilitated with complete denture

The objective of this study was to evaluate and correlate quality of life (QoL), and stimulus perception of complete denture users, before and after the insertion of new prostheses. We selected 60 patients using bimaxillary complete conventional dentures who needed to replace their prostheses. During anamnesis, we collected demographic data and applied the Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients (OHIP-EDENT) questionnaire and stimulus perception questionnaire (PERCEPTION). Before installation of new prostheses, the patients responded to OHIP-EDENT questionnaire, and on the day of installation, they responded to PERCEPTION questionnaire. At the patients 3-month follow-up, we re-administered the OHIP-EDENT and PERCEPTION questionnaires. The Wilcoxon and MacNemar tests were used to compare patient responses between the time points analysed. Most of the OHIP-EDENT items showed a highly significant impact of the new prostheses on oral health (P = 0.003). The PERCEPTION questionnaire data indicated that the patients experienced significant improvements (P < 0.05) in terms of their sensations with the new prostheses. Cross-lagged data analysis did not show any causality between the OHIP-EDENT and PERCEPTION questionnaires (ZPF test, P = 0.772). We concluded that the treatment was effective with respect to the patients QoL and their adaptation to the new prostheses.

EVALUATION OF THE PERCEPTION TOWARDS RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN BEINGS IN BRASILEAN POST DEGREE STUDENTS

In Brazil, research involving human beings must obey to ethical norms foresaw by the 196/96 National Health Council Resolution of the Ministry of Health. This paper gives account of a knowledge evaluation about some concepts and rules established by the resolution by Dental post degree students. It is concluded that in spite of the spreading and importance of the resolution most students do not know about it. In the same situation are those who work in research.

Water balance and locomotor performance in three species of neotropical toads that differ in geographical distribution

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic variability in geographical populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae) in Brazil elucidated by molecular markers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Prevalence of dog intestinal parasites and risk perception of zoonotic infection by dog owners in São Paulo State, Brazil

Coprological examination was used to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in stray and domiciled dogs from Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. Risk factors for dog infection were assessed in relation to demographic, husbandry and management data. The dog owners completed a questionnaire survey on some aspects of dog parasitism such as parasite species, mechanisms of infection, awareness of zoonotic diseases and history of anthelmintic usage. Parasites were found in the faeces of 138 dogs, with an overall prevalence of 54.3%. Dogs harbouring one parasite were more common (31.4%) than those harbouring two (18.5%), three (3.2%) or four (1.2%). The following parasites and their respective frequencies were detected: Ancylostoma (37.8%), Giardia (16.9%), Toxocara canis (8.7%), Trichuris vulpis (7.1%), Dipylidium caninum (2.4%), Isospora (3.5%), Cryptosporidium (3.1%) and Sarcocystis (2.7%). Stray dogs were found more likely to be poliparasitized (P < 0.01) and presented higher prevalence of Ancylostoma, T. canis and Giardia (P < 0.01) than domiciled ones. Toxocara canis was detected more frequently in dogs with < 6 months of age (P < 0.05) and no effect of sex or breed could be observed (P > 0.05). Except for Ancylostoma, that showed a significantly higher prevalence in dogs living in a multi-dog household (P < 0.01), parasite prevalences were similar in single- and multi-dog household. The answers of dog owners to the questionnaire showed that the majority does not know the species of dog intestinal parasites, the mechanisms of transmission, the risk factors for zoonotic infections, and specific prophylactic measures. The predominance of zoonotic species in dogs in the studied region, associated with the elevated degree of misinformation of the owners, indicates that the risk of zoonotic infection by canine intestinal parasite may be high, even in one of the most developed regions of Brazil.

Plant pigments: the many faces of light perception

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Perception-action and adaptation in postural control of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to examine the coupling between visual information and body sway and the adaptation in this coupling of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Fifteen children with and 15 without CP. 6-15 years old, were required to stand upright inside of a moving room. All children first performed two trials with no movement of the room and eyes open or closed, then four trials in which the room oscillated at 0.2 or 0.5 Hz (peak velocity of 0.6 cm/s), one trial in which the room oscillated at 0.2 Hz (peak velocity of 3.5 cm/s), and finally two other trials in which the room oscillated again at 0.2 Hz (peak velocity of 0.6 cm/s). Participants with CP coupled body sway to visual information provided by the moving room, comparable to the coupling of participants without CP. However, participants with CP exhibited larger body sway in maintaining upright position and more variable sway when body sway was induced by visual manipulation. They showed adaptive sensory motor coupling, e.g. down-weighting visual influence when a larger stimulus was provided, but not with the same magnitude as typically developing participants. This indicates that participants with CP have less capability of adaptation. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.