Bird species of black water inundation forests in the Jau National Park (Amazonas state, Brazil): their contribution to regional species richness

We compared the relative contribution of blackwater inundation forest (igapo) and unflooded (terra firme) forest for regional bird species diversity in the lower Rio Negro region. For analyses of habitat preference we used mist-net samples and an unpublished bird species check-list. The igapo forest had lower bird species diversity than the terra firme forest. However, some 14% of the forest bird species in the region are restricted to igapo forest. Species composition was found to be distinct between the understories of the two forest types. Common forest bird guilds in the Neotropics such as ant-following birds avoid igapo forest. The differential habitat selection among birds in the inundated and unflooded forest is likely to result from vegetation structure and biological interactions such as aggressive behaviour. Since the inundated forest has a typical biota, conservation efforts needs to be directed to protect these habitats. Unfortunately, inundation forests are threatened by several human actions, especially dam construction. The extent of protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon is insufficient for the adequate protection of the inundated habitats, because it includes only 3% of the total area.

Fostering economic policy coordination in Latin America: the REDIMA approach to escaping the prisoner's dilemma

Includes bibliography

No more!: the right of women to live a life free of violence in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Climate Change and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Overview 2009

Includes bibliography

Macroeconomic policies in times of crisis: options and perspectives

Includes bibliography

Contribution of energy services to the Millennium Development Goals and to poverty alleviation in Latin America and the Caribbean: executive summary

Includes bibliography

Contribution of energy services to the millennium development goals and to poverty alleviation in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

The University and its libraries: Reactions and resistance to scientific publishers

This paper addresses the relationship of copyright and the right of universities on scientific production. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are causing many changes in the system of scientific communication, such as the creation of Institutional Repositories that aim to gather scientific production in digital format. The University needs quicker ways of spreading academic production and many questions are emerging due to contexts such as the Open Access movement. Thus, this paper questions the positioning of Universities, especially Public Universities, which despite having policies related to intellectual property to protect the transferring forms of research results to society; many times do not have a positioning or a mechanism that regulates the self-deposit of scientific production in these Institutional Repositories. In order to develop this paper, the following issues are addressed: lack of interest of the University in storing scientific production; reports on the relationship of the library with scientific publishing houses; the participation of faculty members and students in supporting the Free Access movement; and initiatives aimed at greater flexibility of copyright to the context of scientific production. In order to follow the development of these issues at international level, it was opted for qualitative research with non-participating direct observation to carry out the identification and description of copyright policy of important publishers from the ROMEO SHERPA site; therefore, it can be observed that there are changes regarding the publishers' flexibility before self-archiving of authors in open access institutional repositories in their universities. Given this scenario, we presente reflections and considerations that involve the progress and mainly the integration of the University and its faculty members; the institution should recommend and guide its faculty members not to transfer their copyrights, but to defend their right of copy to Institutional Repositories along with Publishing Houses.

Effect of fluoride-treated enamel on indirect cytotoxicity of a16% carbamide peroxide bleaching gel to pulp cells

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of fluoride solutions applied to enamel to protect pulp cells against the trans-enamel and transdentinal cytotoxicity of a 16% carbamide peroxide (CP) bleaching gel. The CP gel was applied to enamel/ dentin discs adapted to artificial pulp chambers (8 h/day) during 1, 7 or 14 days, followed by fluoride (0.05% or 0.2%) application for 1 min. The extracts (culture medium in contact with dentin) were applied to MDPC-23 cells for 1 h, and cell metabolism (MTT assay), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and cell membrane damage (flow cytometry) were analyzed. Knoop microhardness of enamel was also evaluated. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests (a=0.05). For the MTT assay and ALP activity, significant reductions between the control and the bleached groups were observed (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference occurred among bleached groups (p>0.05), regardless of fluoride application or treatment days. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated 30% of cell membrane damage in all bleached groups. After 14 days of treatment, the fluoride-treated enamel presented significantly higher microhardness values than the bleached-only group (p<0.05). It was concluded that, regardless of the increase in enamel hardness due to the application of fluoride solutions, the treated enamel surface did not prevent the toxic effects caused by the 16% CP gel to odontoblast-like cells.

Previous contact with Strongyloides venezuelensis contributed to prevent insulitis in MLD-STZ diabetes

Epidemiological and experimental studies support the idea that helminth infections can induce a protective effect against the development of autoimmune and allergic diseases. In this study we characterized the immune response induced by Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in C57BL/6 mice and then evaluated the effect of a previous contact with this helminth in the outcome of type 1 diabetes. Animals were initially infected with 2000 L3 larvae from S. venezuelensis and euthanized 22. days later. An acute phase, identified by a high amount of eggs per gram of feces, was established between days 7 and 9 post-infection. Recovery from infection was associated with a Th2 polarized response characterized by a significant level of serum IgG1 specific antibodies and also a significant production of IL-5 and IL-10 by spleen cells stimulated with S. venezuelensis soluble antigen. Immunization with soluble S. venezuelensis antigen associated with complete Freund's adjuvant followed by infection with S. venezuelensis protected mice from diabetes development induced by streptozotocin. Protection was characterized by a higher body weight gain, lower glycemic levels, much less severe insulitis and preserved insulin production. Together, these results indicate that S. venezuelensis contributed to protect C57BL/6 mice against experimental diabetes induced by streptozotocin. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

A responsabilidade do Estado por dano causado à imagem

Pós-graduação em Direito - FCHS

Responsabilidade do Estado pelos danos às vítimas de crimes

Pós-graduação em Direito - FCHS

Direito à educação e o Ministério Público do Pará - sua atuação como agente fiscalizador

Essa dissertação objetiva demonstrar o papel do Ministério Público (MP) e sua atuação como agente fiscalizador do Estado na garantia do direito humano à Educação. Buscamos compreender como se dá o movimento de ampliação do Estado na garantia de direitos sociais com a participação da sociedade civil. Neste estudo, analisa-se o trabalho realizado pelo MP, por meio da atuação das Promotorias de Justiça da Infância e Juventude e Promotoria Constitucional de Educação, na cidade de Belém, no periodo de 2002 a 2008. Buscamos entender quais os limites e as possibilidades que este órgão apresenta, tendo como referência o paradigma juridico-politico da Constituição Federal de 1988, que atribui a esse ente estatal a promoção dos interesses sociais como também a fiscalização e o controle social junto a população da legalidade dos bens juridicos e das politicas públicas voltadas ao atendimento educacional. A educação, direito público subjetivo, é destacada em nossa última Carta Magna, assegurando força politica no espaço juridico. As possibilidades de concretÍZá¬Ia foram ampliadas, pois sua garantia é amparada em normativas constitucionais e inftaconstitucionais, sendo consolidada mediante a implementação de politicas públicas educacionais. Em defesa da ordem juridica, do regime democrático e dos interesses sociais, essa instituição se apresenta diferente dos outros entes estatais, pois, para proteger os direitos difusos e coletivos, pode reivindicar e responsabilizar o próprio Estado, por meio dos seus instrumentos judiciais. Este estudo está estruturado em três momentos. Iniciamos com a discussão sobre o Estado, objetivando estabelecer as relações da participação da sociedade civil na conquista dos direitos; apoiamo-nos nos teóricos da politica e elegemos Antonio Gramsci, por ter ele melhor compreendido que o direito não é algo mecânico, que permite apenas a aplicabilidade da lei, mas que é um produto humano, oriundo dos conflitos de interesses entre a sociedade civil e o Estado. Em seguida, traçamos em linhas gerais um breve histórico da instituição Ministério Público e de sua relação com o direito à educação, na realidade paraense, ilustrando-a com os dados oficiais que revelam o cenário educacional da região. Por fim, analisamos os procedimentos utilizados pelo, ente em busca de garantir o direito à educação, apresentando seus limites e seus avanços no combate às desigualdades educacionais. Os procedimentos metodológicos para a realização deste estudo foram os do estudo de caso, respaldado por levantamento bibliográfico e documental em fontes diversificadas e o trabalho de campo, quando usamos entrevistas semiestruturadas, que possibilitaram responder ao objetivo explicitado.

Chromatic changes to artificial irises produced using different techniques

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

Estudo do desempenho de barreiras de geotêxtil para contenção de sedimentos carreados pelo escoamento superficial

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil e Ambiental - FEB