Physical environment modulates the behavioral responses induced by chemical stimulation of dorsal periaqueductal gray in mice

In order to investigate the relationship between behaviors elicited by chemical stimulation of the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dorsal PAG) and spontaneous defensive behaviors to a predator, the excitatory amino acid D,L-homocysteic acid (5 nmol in 0.1 mu l), was infused into the dorsal PAG and behavioral responses of mice were evaluated in two different situations, a rectangular novel chamber or the Mouse Defense Test Battery (MDTB) apparatus. During a 1-min period following drug infusion, more jumps were made in the chamber than in the MDTB runway but running time and distance traveled were significantly higher in the runway. Animals were subsequently tested using the standard MDTB procedure (anti-predator avoidance, chase and defensive threat/attack). No drug effects on these measures were significant. In a further test in the MDTB apparatus, the pathway of the mouse during peak locomotion response was blocked 3 times by the predator stimulus (anesthetized rat) to determine if the mouse would avoid contact. Ninety percent of D,L-homocysteic treated animals made direct contact with the stimulus (rat), indicating that D,L-homocysteic-induced running is not guided by relevant (here, threat) stimuli. These results indicate that running as opposed to jumping is the primary response in mice injected with D,L-homocysteic into the dorsal PAG when the environment enables flight. However, the lack of responsivity to the predator during peak locomotion suggests that D,L-homocysteic-stimulation into the dorsal PAG does not induce normal antipredator flight. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

A atuação do assistente social como educador ambiental nos Projetos de Trabalho Técnico Social (PTTS)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Environmental education and the health risk question: how do we educate the educators working with this theme?

Our society is presently seeing a trend of continuous increase of risk with severe consequences, especially those linked to environmental aspects. It has obligated us to reflect on this production and its effects, either positive or negative, and, after a long reflection, to think about the adopted model of civilization and the possibilities of changing such a model. The educational institution is among the social departments responsible for this revision process, since it represents one possibility to promote a more critical vision from society, providing it with tools needed for a more responsible action. However, schools are dominated by a traditional work, which does not allow for enough and proper attention to these relevant and current questions, and which involve a critical analysis of the conceptions and values established by our civilization, resulting in the present patterns of science-technology-society relations and their influence on the environment and health. Several research works have indicated a diversity of barriers that obstruct this necessary change. Since formal education plays an important role in the education of society for this theme, in this paper the possibilities and difficulty dealing with this problem are discussed, focusing on the question of teacher education, based on investigations related to teacher education programs for environmental education. The data collected show the urgency for introducing this theme in teacher training programs, taking into account the fact that educators have their own conceptions, values and attitudes that should be considered in these programs.

Caracterização do meio físico como subsídio à elaboração de cartas de sensibilidade ambiental: ensaio de aplicação em dutovia na Serra do Mar - SP

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

A UNESCO e a governança ambiental na bacia amazônica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise do processo ensino e aprendizagem de educação ambiental em microbacia hidrográfica

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Geografia e novas tecnologias: o centro integrado de alertas de desastres naturais (CIADEN) como proposta de prática pedagógica para o ciclo I do ensino fundamental

This research work aims to analyze and understand the teaching of geography in the perspective of historical and critical pedagogy, with the object of analysis, the Center for Integrated Natural Disaster Alerts (CIADEN) for students in Cycle I of the Elementary School, located in Etec “Astor de Mattos Carvalho”, in Cabrália Paulista-SP. Deepening the knowledge of geography teaching in a critical and controversial about the bad weather and the use of new technologies to transform the social order and its relationship with the environment. Contributing to the students and the community have a new proposal for action from the content learned, capable of solving the present and future with respect to weather, climate and natural disasters. To implement a culture of prevention and risk perception, providing the diffusion of knowledge socially useful

Os conceitos de ambiente, meio ambiente e natureza no contexto da temática ambiental: definindo significados

We present some clarifications that enable us to identify differences between the expressions nature, the environment and environment. This is not an epistemological approach, but rather reflections on these expressions refer and the implications for environmental issues and hence to Science Teaching. The nature was understood as a complex of real entities, which are capable to be thinking through perception. This same entity when is represented by a mind, become what we call the environment. This expression, in turn, is characterized not only by adding the environments species that are known, but to be a human abstraction. When we consider the uniqueness of each species and organism, which in this environment is inserted, we call environment, this is, the elements that can be seen and on which the organism can act. Thus, we seek to develop a concept broader of environment, which is not restricted to the human species.

A necessidade da formação da consciência ambiental na sociedade contemporânea: um estudo sobre as relações dialéticas entre o ser humano, a natureza e a cultura na obra de Ítalo Calvino

The present work has for objective to analyze the issue of training environmental awareness and its role in contemporary society. With the alarming scenario of degradation and environmental imbalance , political, social and non-governmental institutions have established the urgent need for an education that make changes in social behavior in relation to the environment. With this design is establishing environmental education, however the economic , financial and social scenario in which is inserted dismantles its effectiveness , since the transformations of modernity incited alienation, reification , individualization , indifference and consumerism . In this juncture it is noticed that environmental education needs to be analyzed by the perspective of a man in critical reflection of the capitalist structure. Given this need , it is proposed to reading Italo Calvino's work , since it approach the whole context of modern man , with his ailments , anxiety, exploitation , selfishness and destructive action of itself, others and the environment in living

Políticas públicas em educação ambiental no contexto da Conferência Nacional de Educação - CONAE 2010

n this paper I pose some questions that I systematized after taking part in a colloquium proposed by the National Conference on Education (CONAE 2010) to discuss the theme “Environmental Education and Curriculum Contextualization”. Regarding public environmental education policies, I try to indicate some perspectives that are both coherent with what Brazilian educators and environmentalists have been proposing and considered necessary for the consolidation of an Articulated National Education System. I present a synthesis of the environmental education proposals systematized in the CONAE Reference Document, which was designed as a guide to state and local conferences. I make an effort to carry out a preliminary analysis of both the process and the content of the public environmental education proposals systematized in the Essential Documents (Volumes I and II), Thematic Plenary Meeting Documents, and Final Document. Furthermore, I try to present a short synthesis of the prevailing tendencies of educational policies in Brazil in the last decades, pointing out the meaning and need of social activism for the construction of public policies for education, in general, and for environmental education, specifically.

Educação científica, CTSA e ensino de física: contribuições ao aperfeiçoamento de situações de aprendizagem sobre entropia e degradação de energia

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC

In search of the autonomous and critical individual: a philosophical and pedagogical analysis of the physical education curriculum of São Paulo (Brazil)

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