The limits of human development and the use of energy and natural resources

The development of nations is an unquestionable requirement. A lot of challenges concerning health, education and economy are present. A discussion on these development models has occupied the minds of decision makers in recent years. When energy supply and demand is considered, the situation becomes critical and the crucial question is: how to improve the quality of life of developing countries based on available models of development that are related to the life style of developed countries, for which the necessary use and waste of energy are present? How much energy is essential to humanity for not so as to endangering the survival conditions of future generations? the human development index (HDI) establishes the relationship among energy use, economic growth and social growth. Here it can be seen that 75% of the world population has a significant energy consumption potential. This is a strong reason to consider that the sustainable development concepts on energy policies are strategic to the future of the planet. This paper deals with the importance of seeking alternative development models for human development balance, natural resources conservation and environment through rational energy use concepts. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of environmental and natural vulnerability maps for Brazilian coastal at Sao Sebastiao in São Paulo State

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Dependence of the electrical conductivity and elastomeric properties on sample preparation of blends of polyaniline and natural rubber

Blend films (free-standing) containing 20% in volume of polyaniline (PANI) in 80% of natural rubber (NR) were fabricated by casting in three different ways: (1) adding PANI-EB (emeraldine base) dissolved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to the latex (NRL), (2) adding PANI-EB dissolved in in-cresol to NR dissolved in xylol (NRD), (3) overlaying the surface of a pure NR cast film with a PANI layer grown by in situ polymerization (NRO). All the films were immersed into HCl solution to achieve the primary doping (protonation) of PANI before the characterization. The main goal here was to investigate the elastomeric and electrical conductivity properties for each blend, which may be applied as pressure and deformation sensors in the future. The characterization was carried out by optical microscopy, dc conductivity, vibrational spectroscopy (infrared absorption and Raman scattering), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and tensile stress-strain curves. The results suggest that the NRL blend is the most suitable in terms of mechanical and electrical properties required for applications in pressure and deformation sensors: a gain of conductivity without losing the elastomeric property of the rubber. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparative Study on the Technological Properties of Latex and Natural Rubber from Hancornia speciosa Gomes and Hevea brasiliensis

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

Comparison of artificial and natural, new and reused, brackish water for the larviculture of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in a recirculating system

Differences in culture duration, metamorphosis rate and the productivity in hatchery culture of M. rosenbergii using a closed system with natural and artificial brackish water were evaluated. Reuse of brackish water in more than one hatchery cycle was also evaluated. Natural and artificial brackish water constituted the two tested treatments, which were distributed in four independent recirculating systems (tank and respective biofilter). Four batches of cultures were conducted and the 2nd and 4th reused the water from the 1st and 3rd, respectively. Mean duration of the hatchery period was 28 d in natural brackish water and 31 d in artificial brackish water. The metamorphosis rate and the average productivity for the natural brackish water treatment were 74% and 60 postlarvae/ L. respectively, and values obtained with artificial brackish water were 55% and 44 postlarvae/L. The successful hatchery culture of M. rosenbergii in this specific artificial brackish water suggests its potential use in enterprises located far from the coast. Brackish water can be used in two consecutive cultures without a negative effect on productivity.

Relationship between age of waste and natural electric potential generation in Sanitary Landfill

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Temperature Dependent Luminescence Spectra of Synthetic and Natural Alexandrite

Results of photoluminescence measurements for natural and synthetic alexandrite (BeAl2O4:Cr3+) are presented, where the samples are excited by the 488 nm line of an Ar+ laser, at different temperatures. The main issue is the analysis of the Cr3+ transition in the chrysoberyl matrix (BeAl2O4), with major technological application as active media for laser action. Results indicate anomalous behavior of Cr3+ transition depending on the measurement temperature. A simple model to explain the phenomena is suggested.

Urban areas and isolated remnants of natural habitats: An action proposal for botanical gardens

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) advocates an increase of the number of botanical gardens throughout the world as one of the measures that can help to preserve the world's biodiversity. To implement this strategy, the present work brings forward a suggestion particularly suited to tropical regions: establishing municipal botanical gardens. It refers to the experience of a newly opened municipal botanical garden in Brazil, comparing its attractive power on visitors to that of other botanical gardens included in the Brazilian network of Botanical Gardens. It also presents considerations on in situ conservation in small remnants and on the importance of urban reserves to preserve the regional biodiversity and spread the conservationist philosophy. The present proposal promotes the participation of local communities making the public opinion more aware and active, besides being able to counterbalance proposals that support protecting the world biodiversity through interventionist actions. It assumes that, through actions planned and coordinated by regional and national botanical garden networks, the measure proposed can mitigate the anthropic actions exerted on important natural reserves all over the world.

Open and Standardized Resources for Smart Transducer Networking

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The impact of the law 10,267/2001 in the brazilian rural registration

The publication of the Law 10,267 of 08/28/2001 changed the paradigm of rural registration in Brazil, because this law known as the Law of Georeferencing has created the National Registration of Rural Property, that unifies in a common basis different registrations present in several government agencies, such as the National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA), the Secretariat of Federal Revenue, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Indian Foundation. Also, this new registration system has a graphical component which has not existed until such date, where the boundaries of rural property are georeferenced to the Brazilian Geodetic System. This new paradigm has resulted in a standardization of the survey and its representation of rural properties according to the Technical Standard for Georeferencing of Rural Properties, published by INCRA in compliance with the new legislation. Due to the georeferencing, the creation of a public GIS of free access on the Internet was possible. Among the difficulties found it may be observed the great Brazilian territory, the need for specialized professionals, and especially the certification process that INCRA has to perform for each georeferenced property. It is hoped that this last difficulty is solved with the implementation of the Land Management System that will allow automated and online certification, making the process more transparent, agile and fast.

Conexão florestal em áreas mais favoráveis à infiltração na APA Botucatu-SP

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Irrigação e Drenagem) - FCA

Adubação fosfatada e lodo de esgoto compostado na nutrição da mamoneira de porte baixo, cultivada sob calagem e silicatagem

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Caracterização da estrutura genética populacional do tubarão-crocodilo (Pseudocarcharias kamoharai) no Atlântico equatorial utilizando marcadores moleculares

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Diagnóstico integrado de síntese de Bacia do Rio Capivara, Botucatu (SP)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aquaculture Research and Development as an Entry-Point and Contributor to Natural Resources and Coastal Management

Recent, fervent international dialogue concerning the existence and magnitude of impacts associated with aquaculture has had both positive and negative outcomes. Aquaculture stakeholders have become sensitized to requirements for improved environmental management of aquaculture. on the other hand, in some cases aquaculture development has been negatively affected by some of the unwarranted and unproved allegations to the detriment of the stakeholders most in need of aquaculture development (i.e., resource users, particularly the poor, who are dependent on natural resources). These resource users are targeted by, and directly influence biodiversity and conservation agendas; hence the need to understand how to gain their active participation. This discussion focuses on examples of how aquaculture research and development can be a useful tool or strategy for resource management initiatives and provide tangible positive including increased stakeholder participation and cooperation, offering alternatives to resource extraction and use in otherwise difficult or intransigent resource management conflicts.