Airport systems: public service and private initiative

This issue analize the importance of air travel among other forms of transport has greatly increased, offering a viable option for the movement of people and goods.

Inland waterways classification as a tool for public policy and planning: core concepts and proposals for South America

This FAL Bulletin looks at the classification of navigable inland waterways in South America. It describes an existing classification system (ECMT/UNECE), noting its role in the development of river transport, based on which it discusses lessons learned and presents a preliminary proposal for a classification for South America.

Gestão ambiental pública na Amazônia brasileira: uma análise de gestão ambiental integrada no estado do Pará

O estudo ora apresentado analisa a gestão ambiental pública na Amazônia brasileira, a partir dos resultados gerados pelo Projeto de Gestão Ambiental Integrada, pertencente ao Programa Piloto para a Proteção das Florestas Tropicais do Brasil. Aplicado nos Estados amazônicos, esse projeto experimental objetivou fomentar a criação de um modelo de gestão ambiental na região, priorizando o fortalecimento da capacidade institucional das Secretarias de Meio Ambiente, em seus aspectos técnicos, logísticos e gerenciais, com ações de capacitação técnica, estruturação da logística e planejamento participativo. A investigação científica desta Tese adotou os preceitos do método qualitativo pela via da estratégia indutiva com hipóteses, tendo como campo de estudo os municípios de Santarém e Paragominas, no estado do Pará, no período compreendido entre os anos de 2008 a 2012. Os dados foram coletados mediante pesquisas bibliográfica, documental e de campo, realizando entrevistas semi-estruturadas com vinte informantes-chave, para melhor compreender o Projeto, organizar as informações coletadas e avaliar os resultados, a partir de uma estrutura metodológica própria baseada na teoria de sistemas, teoria que também fundamenta esta Tese. Um dos resultados deste estudo foi o fato de que o PGAI contribuiu para que os municípios pudessem compor seu sistema de gestão ambiental, fortalecendo e elevando suas ações, com impactos positivos para o adequado tratamento de seus recursos naturais e meio ambiente físico, demonstrando, ainda, a importância de que as ações pensadas para os municípios amazônicos devem ser planejadas dentro dos princípios legais da administração pública e conduzidas por uma gestão participativa e transparente, respeitando as necessidades, limites e potencialidades locais, considerando à defesa do meio ambiente e dos interesses coletivos difusos.

As associações de alunos das escolas normais do Brasil e de Portugal: apropriação e representação (1906-1927)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Biomechanical and Microstructural Benefits of Physical Exercise Associated With Risedronate in Bones of Ovariectomized Rats

Several treatments have been developed aiming the prevention of bone loss. There are discussions about the best prophylactic and therapeutic procedures for osteoporosis. This study evaluated the effects of physical exercise associated with risedronate as a prophylactic and therapeutic procedure in osteopenic bones of rats submitted to ovariectomy. We used 48 Wistar rats divided into: ovariectomized or subjected to sham surgery. Ovariectomized rats were divided into the following sub-groups: OVX, 12 weeks sedentary; OVX-EX, treadmill training for 12 weeks; OVX-RA, 12 weeks with risedronate administration; and OVX-EX-RA, 12 weeks with risedronate administration and treadmill training. Rats subjected to sham surgery were divided into the following sub-groups: SH, 12 weeks sedentary; SH-EX, treadmill training for 12 weeks; SH-RA, 12 weeks with risedronate administration; and SH-EX-RA, 12 weeks with risedronate administration and training on the treadmill. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated in tibias using biomechanical, radiological, histomorphometric, and immunohistochemical analyses. Data were analyzed by statistical tests, with significance level of P < 0.05. Results of mechanical tests showed that the SH-RA group had lower values compared with OVX-RA group; densitometry showed no significant differences; according to histomorphometric methods, OVX group presented lower results than the SH-EX, OVX-RA, SH-EX-RA, and OVX-EX-RA groups, and SH-EX-RA and OVX-EX-RA groups showed values higher than SH-RA, SH, and OVX-EX groups. The SH-EX-RA and OVX-EX-RA groups had decreased immunostaining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand and increased osteoprotegerin immunostaining. In this experimental model, it was concluded that the physical training associated with use of risedronate exerted positive effects on biomechanical and microstructural properties in bones of ovariectomized rats. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The ant fauna of hospitals: advancements in public health and research priorities in Brazil

Ants inhabit several types of natural and urban habitats, where they successfully nest. In urban environments, the hospitals should be considered priority for studies, as ants pose risks to human health due to their pathogen carrying potential. We aimed at surveying the literature about studies on ants in hospital settings in Brazil in the past 20 years. We found 40 papers in 22 journals, the first one published in 1993. Among them, 26 papers assessed pathogenic microorganisms on ants. We recorded 59 ant species, being Tapinoma melanocephalum the most common. The Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo states had the largest number of published papers. Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul showed the highest number of species. Exotic ant species were recorded in all states, except Goias. Considering the potential to carry microorganisms and the importance of thorough studies on the ecology of ant species, our results can support and guide further research in Brazil. (C) 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Entomologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Relationship between ethanol and sucrose self-administration and schedule-induced polydipsia

Studies have suggested a relationship between drug abuse and compulsive behaviors. The present experiments investigated the relationship between schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) and self-administration (SA) of ethanol and sucrose. SIP served as a model of compulsive behavior. and oral self-administration on a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement assessed the reinforcing value of either a 10% ethanol solution or an isocaloric sucrose solution. Rats first were exposed to PR sessions in which break points were the dependent variable and then switched to SIP sessions. with number of licks as the dependent variable. Results showed a positive relationship between PR and SIP for sucrose but not for ethanol: higher and lower PRs for sucrose were associated with higher and lower SIP levels. The order of the sessions then was reversed, such that SIP sessions were run before PR sessions. An opposite relationship was observed in which high and low SIP animals exhibited low and high PR break points, respectively. The relationship between SIP and SA was dependent on the reinforcing value of the substance and on prior SIP exposure. These results may reflect a common dopaminergic substrate and suggest that prior experience in coping with stress may reduce vulnerability to substance abuse behavior. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Diversity and Adaptation of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Genotypes Circulating in Two Distinct Communities: Public Hospital and Day Care Center

HRSV is one of the most important pathogens causing acute respiratory tract diseases as bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants. HRSV was isolated from two distinct communities, a public day care center and a public hospital in Sao Jose do Rio Preto - SP, Brazil. We obtained partial sequences from G gene that were used on phylogenetic and selection pressure analysis. HRSV accounted for 29% of respiratory infections in hospitalized children and 7.7% in day care center children. On phylogenetic analysis of 60 HRSV strains, 48 (80%) clustered within or adjacent to the GA1 genotype; GA5, NA1, NA2, BA-IV and SAB1 were also observed. SJRP GA1 strains presented variations among deduced amino acids composition and lost the potential O-glycosilation site at amino acid position 295, nevertheless this resulted in an insertion of two potential O-glycosilation sites at positions 296 and 297. Furthermore, a potential O-glycosilation site insertion, at position 293, was only observed for hospital strains. Using SLAC and MEME methods, only amino acid 274 was identified to be under positive selection. This is the first report on HRSV circulation and genotypes classification derived from a day care center community in Brazil.

Contributions of ergonomics to the construction of bus drivers health and excellence in public transport and at work

This article is the product of research that analyzed the work of bus drivers of a public transportation company that is considered a benchmark reference in its field of operations, in which it strives to achieve operating excellence. Within this context, the authors sought to understand how such a company has managed to maintain a policy that is capable of reconciling quality public transport while also providing working conditions compatible with the professional development, comfort and health of its workers. Ergonomic work analysis and activity analysis were the guiding elements used in this study. Initial analyses indicate that the activity of drivers includes serving a population and providing mobility for it, which depends on driving the vehicle itself and on relationships with colleagues, users, pedestrians, drivers and others.

Regulating State Aid: Inter-jurisdictional competition, public choice, and corporate governance

Depending on the regulatory regime they are subject to, governments may or may not be allowed to hand out state aid to private firms. The economic justification for state aid can address several issues present in the competition for capital and the competition for transfers from the state. First, there are principal-agent problems involved at several stages. Self-interested politicians might enter state aid deals that are the result of extensive rent-seeking activities of organized interest groups. Thus the institutional design of political systems will have an effect on the propensity of a jurisdiction to award state aid. Secondly, fierce competition for firm locations can lead to over-spending. This effect is stronger if the politicians do not take into account the entirety of the costs created by their participation in the firm location race. Thirdly, state aid deals can be incomplete and not in the interest of the citizens. This applies if there are no sanctions if firms do not meet their obligations from receiving aid, such as creating a certain number of jobs or not relocating again for a certain amount of time. The separation of ownership and control in modern corporations leads to principal-agent problems on the side of the aid recipient as well. Managers might receive personal benefits from subsidies, the use of which is sometimes less monitored than private finance. This can eventually be to the detriment of the shareholders. Overall, it can be concluded that state aid control should also serve the purpose of regulating the contracting between governments and firms. An extended mandate for supervision by the European Commission could include requirements to disincentive the misuse of state aid. The Commission should also focus on the corporate governance regime in place in the jurisdiction that awards the aid as well as in the recipient firm.

Models and Algorihtm for the Optimization of Real-World Routing and Logistics Problems

Logistics involves planning, managing, and organizing the flows of goods from the point of origin to the point of destination in order to meet some requirements. Logistics and transportation aspects are very important and represent a relevant costs for producing and shipping companies, but also for public administration and private citizens. The optimization of resources and the improvement in the organization of operations is crucial for all branches of logistics, from the operation management to the transportation. As we will have the chance to see in this work, optimization techniques, models, and algorithms represent important methods to solve the always new and more complex problems arising in different segments of logistics. Many operation management and transportation problems are related to the optimization class of problems called Vehicle Routing Problems (VRPs). In this work, we consider several real-world deterministic and stochastic problems that are included in the wide class of the VRPs, and we solve them by means of exact and heuristic methods. We treat three classes of real-world routing and logistics problems. We deal with one of the most important tactical problems that arises in the managing of the bike sharing systems, that is the Bike sharing Rebalancing Problem (BRP). We propose models and algorithms for real-world earthwork optimization problems. We describe the 3DP process and we highlight several optimization issues in 3DP. Among those, we define the problem related to the tool path definition in the 3DP process, the 3D Routing Problem (3DRP), which is a generalization of the arc routing problem. We present an ILP model and several heuristic algorithms to solve the 3DRP.

An education and training programme for radiological institutes: impact on the reduction of the CT radiation dose

To establish an education and training programme for the reduction of CT radiation doses and to assess this programme's efficacy.