Influência do subsídio financeiro e do local da realização do curso de suporte avançado de vida em cardiologia, no aprendizado da emergência cardiovascular

FUNDAMENTO: O sucesso no aprendizado da emergência depende de muitos fatores que podem ser resumidos como: aluno, instrutores e curso. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência do subsídio financeiro e do local da realização do curso no aprendizado da emergência cardiovascular. MÉTODOS: Analisaram-se dados referentes aos cursos de Suporte Avançado de Vida em Cardiologia (ACLS) no período de dezembro de 2005 a dezembro de 2006. De acordo com o subsídio financeiro, foram divididos em: grupo 1 - subsídio integral; grupo 2 - subsídio de 50%; e grupo 3 - sem subsídio. Quanto ao local do curso, foram divididos em: local A - curso em cidade com > 1 milhão de habitantes; e local B - curso em cidade com < 1 milhão de habitantes. Compararam-se a aprovação prática e teórica e a média teórica. RESULTADOS: Participaram do ACLS 819 alunos: 199 (24%) no grupo 1, 122 (15%) no 2 e 498 (61%) no 3. A aprovação prática e teórica e a média na prova teórica foram maiores no grupo 3 que nos demais grupos (p<0,05). Quatrocentos e oitenta e dois fizeram o curso no local A (59%) e 337 (41%) no local B. A aprovação prática foi semelhante para ambos os grupos (p = 0,33), entretanto a aprovação teórica foi maior no local A (73% vs. 65% - p = 0,021 - OR = 1,44 e IC: 1,05 - 1,97). A média teórica foi maior no local A (87,1 ± 10,4 e 86 ± 11, respectivamente p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O subsídio financeiro e o local da realização do curso influenciaram na aprovação teórica e prática.

Ação local do alendronato sódico na reparação óssea de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos (SHR)

FUNDAMENTO: A hipertensão arterial é uma desordem caracterizada por alterações relevantes no tecido ósseo. O alendronato sódico tem indicação no tratamento de doenças ósseas, por causa de sua afinidade pela hidroxiapatita, inibindo as reabsorções ósseas. OBJETIVO: Analisar a ação local do alendronato sódico na reparação óssea de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos (SHR). MÉTODOS: Um defeito ósseo foi criado no fêmur esquerdo de 80 ratos. De acordo com o material utilizado no local, criaram-se quatro grupos: controle (C), amido (Am), alendronato 1 mol (A1) e alendronato 2 mol (A2). Após 7 e 21 dias, os animais foram sacrificados. Foram realizadas análises histológicas e histomorfométricas e os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey (5%). RESULTADOS: Aos 7 dias, observou-se, na área do defeito, tecido conjuntivo com hemorragia e inflamação em todos os grupos. Alguns apresentavam matriz osteóide. Os grupos A1 e A2 apresentaram, ainda, uma rede de fibrina. Aos 21 dias, as trabéculas ósseas fechavam praticamente a extensão do defeito nos grupos C e Am. No grupo A1 de animais machos, observaram-se trabéculas que se irradiavam do canal medular até a área do defeito. Nos grupos A1 e A2, constatou-se apenas a presença de tecido conjuntivo com mínima deposição de osteóide. Um achado histológico marcante foi a formação de tecido ósseo extracortical subperiosteal nos animais dos grupos A1 e A2. CONCLUSÃO: Concluiu-se que a administração do alendronato sódico não contribuiu para o reparo ósseo nos ratos SHR, mas possivelmente tenha sido responsável pelas formações ósseas extracorticais observadas.

Factores Críticos del Desarrollo Local y Regional Integrado zona serrana y Norte de la Provincia de Córdoba-. Validación causal estadística de Modelos de Ecuaciones Estructurales. Identificación de problemas normativos de las OSC.Critical Factors of Local and Regional Development in north of the Province of Córdoba. Causal validation with Structural Equation Modeling. Legal regulations of civil society.

En la investigación anterior -en la zona pampeana de la Provincia de Córdoba- se demostró teórica y empíricamente, que el desarrollo de la Sociedad Civil muchas veces libradas a su suerte y con limitaciones legales apoyan decididamente el desarrollo local, sin embargo han logrado solo parcialmente sus objetivos, por lo que es necesario comenzar un camino de fortalecimiento en los nuevos roles que deben asumir. Los gobiernos locales, a la vez, intentan trabajosamente con contados éxitos detener el procesos de descapitalización social -financiera y humana- de sus comunidades locales y regionales, peregrinando con escaso éxito a los centros concentrados del poder político y económico, para procurar los recursos financieros y humanos necesarios que no alcanzan a reponer los que se fugan desde hace décadas de sus localidades. Las empresas, con ciclos recurrentes de crecimiento y decrecimiento vinculados a los mercados en que colocan sus productos, también se debaten en la búsqueda de los escasos recursos, financieros y humanos, que les permitan consolidar un desarrollo a mediano y largo plazo. El desarrollo alcanzado en Sistemas de información, instrumentos de relevamiento, análisis y elaboración de propuestas para el Desarrollo Local, nos permite avanzar en: 1. La confirmación empírica de las hipótesis iniciales - factores exógenos y endógenos - en la zona Norte y Serrana de la provincia 2. La validación científica -mediante el Análisis de ecuaciones estructurales. de tales supuestos, para el conjunto de las poblaciones analizadas en ambas etapas. 3. La identificación de los problemas normativos que afectan el desarrollo de las Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil (OSC). METODOLOGÍA Respecto la validación empírica en la zona norte y serrana 1. Selección de las 4 localidades a relevar de acuerdo a las categorías definidas 2. Elaboración de acuerdos con autoridades e instituciones locales. 3. Relevamiento cualitativo con líderes locales y fuentes de datos secundarias. 4. Adaptación de instrumentos de relevamiento a las realidades locales y estudios previos 5. Relevamiento cuantitativo de campo, capacitación de encuestadores y supervisores. 6. Procesamiento y elaboración de informes finales locales. Respecto de la construcción de modelos de desarrollo 1. Desarrollar las dimensiones especificas y las variables (items) de cada factor crítico. 2. Revisar el instrumento con expertos de cada una de las dimensiones. 3. Validar a nivel exploratorio por medio de un Análisis de Componentes Principales 4. Someter a los expertos la evaluación de una serie de localidades que representan cada uno. Respecto de la identificación de las normas legales que afectan a la Sociedad Civil 1.Relevamiento documental de normas 2. Relevamiento con líderes de instituciones de la Sociedad Civil 3. Análisis de las normas vigentes 4. Elaboración de Informes Finales y Transferencia a líderes e instituciones

Factores críticos endógenos del desarrollo local sustentable. Sistemas y procesos de participación y control democrático en pequeñas comunidades, empresas, y organizaciones de la sociedad civil.

La democracia –y en especial la participación y su control- se han consolidado en el campo teórico -económico y social-, como la única forma de avanzar en el desarrollo sustentable y sostenible de las comunidades. Su ejercicio efectivo y cotidiano, depende de la existencia y operación de sistemas de información –para la toma de decisiones y difusión- en las entidades públicas, privadas y de la sociedad civil, que sostengan los principios democráticos de libertad, igualdad, derechos políticos, económicos y sociales, que a lo largo de la historia se han incorporado a su definición. La identificación realizada en los últimos 4 años, de los factores críticos externos del desarrollo local como la concentración y las externalidades, permiten construir sistemas de información estratégica para avanzar en la elaboración de planes y proyectos de desarrollo. Por su parte, los factores endógenos de las comunidades y organizaciones plantean el desafío de desarrollar formas de organización y gestión, que permitan superar el voluntarismo, los conflictos personales o sectoriales y avanzar sobre bases objetivas en los procesos de negociación, obtención de consensos y conducción en busca del bien común, sobre bases democráticas. El proyecto mediante un método comparativo, identifica los comportamientos, las prácticas institucionales y los mecanismos utilizados en comunidades, empresas y OSC en relación con ese “bien común”, de modo de diseñar instrumentos de planeación, toma de decisiones, ejecución y control –sistemas de autodiagnóstico, Balance social, Paneles de Comando, Balanced Scorecad, etc.- cuya adopción en las organizaciones mencionadas haría realidad su gestión responsable, desarrollo sostenible y democrático.

Política urbana metropolitana: los servicios públicos en la ciudad de Córdoba y el bienestar de la ciudadanía, como sustento del desarrollo local.

La región latinoamericana debe propiciar la introducción de políticas urbanas que apunten al desarrollo local en beneficio de todos sus ciudadanos. El crecimiento económico y poblacional no redunda necesariamente en un desarrollo equitativo, por lo que toda política urbana y de desarrollo local debe tener como fin la mejora de la calidad de vida de sus habitantes, en especial los más desfavorecidos. La planificación urbana debe ser vista como un capítulo de la planificación regional, en tanto la ciudad es una microrregión y su entidad es inseparable de su ámbito territorial inmediato de interacción cotidiana (Coraggio, 1999). La articulación de redes de ciudades y regiones contribuye de manera indispensable en este sentido. La planificación estratégica se convierte en una actividad significativa; mediante la vinculación de diversos actores (ciudadanía, movimientos sociales, estado, empresas, ONGs, etc.), conjuntamente con el desarrollo de políticas democráticas de estado y objetivos institucionalizados se puede iniciar el camino de construcción de escenarios donde el ser humano sea el centro de todo desarrollo local sustentable. La ciudad de Córdoba como unidad de análisis presenta características particulares. Lejos de pensarse a partir de un desarrollo como el mencionado en los párrafos precedentes, la ciudad ha sufrido un crecimiento poblacional importante, generándose desarrollos urbanísticos aislados que no han sido necesariamente acompañados con un desarrollo armónico en los demás aspectos y servicios. Este hecho afecta la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos, por lo que resulta indispensable contar entre otros aspectos, con instrumentos de medición confiables que permitan determinar los niveles de satisfacción de los ciudadanos sobre la provisión de los servicios públicos. El presente trabajo de investigación pretende indagar sobre las características, cobertura, condiciones y alcance de los servicios públicos prestados en la ciudad de Córdoba y establecer el grado de satisfacción y percepción de la calidad de los mismos por parte de los ciudadanos. Esta información se transformará en un instrumento de análisis y diagnóstico para evaluar la gestión de los servicios públicos en la ciudad y su contribución al desarrollo socio económico. Como resultado de la investigación se espera detectar las principales variables que intervienen impactando en la percepción del ciudadano sobre la eficacia y efectividad de los servicios públicos, permitiendo el diseño de indicadores para el monitoreo continuo y evaluación de los resultados logrados por la gestión en la prestación de los mismos. Se espera que la propuesta se transforme en un instrumento de utilidad que permita a los actores involucrados, generar respuestas correctivas a los desvíos detectados y el desarrollo de acciones proactivas vinculadas a la planificación estratégica, propendiendo a la creación de políticas urbanas metropolitanas que se orienten al desarrollo local sustentable.

Evaluación de la degradación del suelo en agroecosistemas del centro-sur de Córdoba mediante indicadores e índices. Assessment of soil degradation in agroecosystems of central-southern Córdoba by means of indicators and indices

Las actividades agropecuarias ejercen diferentes presiones sobre los recursos naturales. Esto ha llevado, en algunas áreas, a un deterioro del suelo que provoca un impacto sobre la sustentabilidad en los sistemas agropecuarios. Para evaluar la degradación del suelo se han propuesto listas de indicadores, sin embargo, se carece de una herramienta metodológica robusta, adaptada a las condiciones edafoclimáticas regionales. Además, existe una demanda de productores e instituciones interesados en orientar acciones para preservar el suelo. El objetivo de este proyecto es evaluar la degradación física, química y biológica de los suelos en agroecosistemas del centro-sur de Córdoba. Por ello se propone desarrollar una herramienta metodológica que consiste en un set de indicadores físicos, químicos y biológicos, con valores umbrales, integrados en índices de degradación, que asistan a los agentes tomadores de decisiones y productores, en la toma de decisiones respecto de la degradación del suelo. El área de trabajo será una región agrícola del centro-sur de Córdoba con más de 100 años de agricultura. La metodología comienza con la caracterización del uso del territorio y sistemas de manejo, su clasificación y la obtención de mapas base de usos y manejos, mediante sensores remotos y encuestas. Se seleccionarán sitios de muestreo mediante una metodología semi-dirigida usando un SIG, asegurando un mínimo de un punto de muestreo por unidad de mapeo. Se elegirán sitios de referencia lo más cercano a una condición natural. Los indicadores a evaluar surgen de listas propuestas en trabajos previos del grupo, seleccionados en base a criterios internacionales y a adecuados a suelos de la región. Se usarán indicadores núcleo y complementarios. Para la obtención de umbrales, se usarán por un lado valores provenientes de la bibliografía y por otro, umbrales generados a partir de la distribución estadística del indicador en suelos de referencia. Para estandarizar cada indicador se definirá una función de transformación. Luego serán ponderarán mediante análisis estadísticos mulivariados e integrados en índices de degradación física, química y biológica, y un índice general de degradación. El abordaje concluirá con el desarrollo de dos instrumentos para la toma de decisiones: uno a escala regional, que consistirá en mapas de degradación en base a unidades cartográficas ambientales, de uso del territorio y de sistemas de manejo y otro a escala predial que informará sobre la degradación del suelo de un lote en particular, en comparación con suelos de referencia. Los actores interesados contarán con herramientas robustas para la toma de decisiones respecto de la degradación del suelo tanto a escala regional como local. Agricultural activities exert different pressures on natural resources. In some areas this has led to soil degradation and has an impact on agricultural sustainability. To assess soil degradation a robust methodological tool, adapted to regional soil and climatic conditions, is lacking. In addition, there is a demand from farmers and institutions interested in direct actions to preserve the soil. The objective of this project is to assess physical, chemical and biological soil degradation in agroecosystems of Córdoba. We propose to develop a tool that consists of a set of physical, chemical and biological indicators, with threshold values, integrated in soil degradation indices. The study area is a region with more than 100 years of agriculture. The methodology begins with the characterization of land use and management systems and the obtaining of base maps by means of remote sensing and survey. Sampling sites will be selected through a semi-directed methodology using GIS, ensuring at least one sampling point by mapping unit. Reference sites will be chosen as close to a natural condition. The proposed indicators emerge from previous works of the group, selected based on international standards and appropriate for the local soils. To obtain the thresholds, we will use, by one side, values from the literature, and by the other, values generated from the statistical distribution of the indicator in the reference soils. To standardize indicators transformation functions will be defined. Indicators will be weighted by mans of multivariate analysis and integrated in soil degradation indices. The approach concluded with the development of two instruments for decision making: a regional scale one, consisting in degradation maps based on environmental, land use and management systems mapping units; and an instrument at a plot level which will report on soil degradation of a particular plot compared to reference soils.

AMBIENTE Y CONFLICTOS TERRITORIALES: ¿OBSTÁCULOS U OPORTUNIDADES PARA EL DESARROLLO LOCAL?

La ciudad es un territorio de producción social del espacio derivado del esfuerzo colectivo, que requiere la presencia del Estado en la distribución equitativa de los costos y beneficios del proceso urbanizador entre los agentes públicos y privados. En este contexto, las políticas públicas son herramientas que posibilitan el establecimiento de directrices que orientan el proceso de desarrollo del territorio. La definición de las mismas requiere, entre otros aspectos, la clara identificación de las prácticas de los agentes en el territorio en donde se inscriben proyectos sociales y en donde los intereses contrapuestos de los agentes generan negociaciones y conflictos. Esto implica que uno de los insumos claves para la definición de políticas y estrategias de gestión es la identificación y análisis de los conflictos que en el territorio se hacen evidentes o los que potencialmente pudieran existir. En estos conflictos están en disputa los sistemas de vida locales y el control de los territorios. El Ordenamiento Territorial es un instrumento de política pública, destinado a orientar el proceso de producción social del espacio en este sentido. Sin embargo, la ordenación pensada desde los enfoques neoclásicos apunta principalmente a cuantificar. Hoy esa mirada no es suficiente para explicar los contextos complejos y es necesario profundizar en las cualidades del territorio y debe ser complementada con la inclusión de las prácticas de los agentes y los conflictos asociados, así como la definición de los componentes que le dan origen que sustenten espacios de decisión y negociación dinámicos. En este marco, este proyecto se plantea como hipótesis que la incorporación de los conflictos territoriales como un criterio más a tener en cuenta en las estrategias de gestión territorial es una oportunidad para potenciar el desarrollo local y como objetivo de general evaluar la utilización de los conflictos territoriales como criterios para la gestión sustentable del territorio Si bien el Proyecto se desarrollará en el arco sur del ejido municipal de la ciudad de Córdoba, se tendrán presentes las implicancias de las prácticas y/o intereses contrapuestos de la Región Metropolitana Córdoba que podrían afectar el sector de análisis particular. Para la descripción de la situación socio-ambiental y sus tendencias se elaborará cartografía digital y se simularán escenarios mediante un sistema de información geográfica (ArcGis 10.0). La recolección de información primaria para la identificación de las prácticas se hará mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas y en profundidad y grupos focales. Se determinarán las relaciones existentes entre las prácticas de los agentes, la condición ambiental y los conflictos. Se plantearán escenarios posibles considerando las tendencias actuales y diferentes opciones de actuación. Desde el punto de vista del desarrollo territorial local, se propone aportar un estudio de caso que integre datos del medio físico, de la práctica de los agentes y de los potenciales conflictos entre ellos. Esto posibilitará obtener resultados, que plasmados en propuestas de uso del territorio dinámica, facilitarán el equilibrio de fuerzas entre agentes en conflicto.

Capacidades institucionales y gestión local del riesgo de desastres: el caso de la ciudad de Córdoba.

La Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres es una una temática actual en nuestra sociedad y en el mundo moderno, y que en la Ciudad de Córdoba tiene una incumbencia particular debido a la importancia del nivel local de gobierno en este temática. A través de la presente investigación se procura realizar un diagnóstico de las capacidades institucionales del Gobierno de la Ciudad de Córdoba para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres, pensado como un espacio de interacción entre la investigación académica, y las prácticas políticas y ciudadanas en torno a los temas de gestión de riesgo desde la perspectiva de la seguridad humana. A partir de ello se intentará identificar: 1. las políticas públicas que orienten hacia la gestión del riesgo de desastres a nivel local (todos aquellos planes, programas y proyectos). 2. la preparación y administración de las emergencias y de los riesgos de desastres de la Ciudad de Córdoba (latentes y manifiestos). Este diagnóstico tiene como fin evaluar críticamente los tópicos antes mencionados con vistas a futuras recomendaciones y/o asesoramiento al Gobierno de la Ciudad de Córdoba para la implementación de políticas públicas. Asimismo, el grupo busca funcionar como un ámbito propicio para la generación de conocimiento y de pensamiento crítico acerca de la cultura del riesgo en la sociedad cordobesa.

Meta-requisitos, instituciones y prácticas de la democracia local.

n el desarrollo contemporáneo de propuestas normativas de democracia es posible identificar una recuperación de la dimensión territorial de los procesos sociopolíticos, un redescubrimiento de lo local dado por el interés de explicar y proponer soluciones a los nuevos desafíos que la inequidad, las crisis del régimen de acumulación y las crisis en los modos de coordinación social presentan a las sociedades contemporáneas. En este contexto lo local no sólo adquiere un nuevo protagonismo en relación a las preocupaciones concernientes al desarrollo sostenible, sino también como ámbito que por cuestiones de “proximidad” constituye el espacio “natural” para la realización de la democracia. La relación estado y sociedad, las posibilidades de hacer efectiva la participación y de generar condiciones que hacen factible el control del poder político por parte de los ciudadanos parecieran encontrar en lo local mejores condiciones de realización. Sin embargo y a pesar de los avances descriptos, son escasos los intentos por profundizar la especificidad de la democracia local que aborden y articulen reflexiones teórico-conceptuales que permitan identificar principios normativos básicos contrastables empíricamente con las instituciones y prácticas locales concretas. Las bondades de la democracia local son por lo general dadas por sentadas, sin problematizar sus particularidades, su relación con una teoría general de la democracia, su relación con el territorio a diferentes escalas y sus manifestaciones en instituciones y prácticas de los actores sociales. Desde el proyecto se sostiene que a partir de la reconstrucción y problematización de los orígenes filosóficos conceptuales que sustentan la Teoría de la Democracia Local es posible identificar un marco teórico normativo que le es específico y que posibilita el reconocimiento de los meta-requisitos necesarios tanto para su realización como para su contribución al fortalecimiento del régimen democrático en general. El establecimiento de estos requisitos permitirá construir matrices analíticas para el estudio empírico de los diseños y prácticas institucionales, como así también los procesos de constitución, reproducción y contestación de tales arreglos y prácticas por parte de los actores sociales. El proyecto se propone diseñar matrices analíticas que permitan articular distintos niveles y dimensiones de análisis de la Democracia Local que sean aplicables al estudio de casos de ciudades de porte medio de América Latina.

Groundwater vulnerability and protection in County Tipperary (South Riding), Ireland

The aim of the project was to determine the extent and quality of the groundwater in Tipperary South Riding with a view to developing a groundwater protection plan which would allow the Local Authority to manage, protect and develop the groundwater as efficiently as possible. The geology of the area varies with topography. The low-lying areas of the county comprise mainly Carboniferous limestones while the elevated regions consist of sandstones and shales of Upper Carboniferous, Devonian and Silurian ages. Deformation of these rocks decreases in magnitude moving northwards over the area; the Southern Synclines having suffered the effects of the Hercynian orogeny and the northern region exhibiting Caledonian orogenic trends. Quaternary (subsoil) deposits are found throughout the area and are of variable thickness and permeability. Till is the most widespread deposit with discontinuous pockets of sand and gravel in various proportions, and some marl, alluvium and peat in places. The principal aquifers of the area are the Kiltorcan sandstone formation and various limestone units within the Carboniferous succession. 50 % of south Tipperary constitutes either regionally or locally important aquifers. Secondary permeabilities created by structural deformation, dolomitisation, karstification and weathering processes create high transmissivities and often have large well yields. Specific baseflow analysis highlighted the complexity of the aquifers and proved that the lower part of the Suir river system is a major groundwater resource region. The hydrochemistry and water quality of the local authority groundwater sources was examined briefly. The majority of south Tipperary is underlain by limestone or Quaternary deposits derived from limestone and, consequently, calcium/magnesium bicarbonate waters predominate. The quality of the groundwater in south Tipperary demonstrates that the main concern originates from the presence of E.coli, and Total coliforms. The primary sources of contamination are from farmyard wastes and septic tanks. The vulnerability of groundwater to diffuse and point sources of pollution has been found to be dependent on the overlying soil, subsoil and the thickness of the unsaturated zone. A conceptual rather than quantitative approach is used and it is found that approximately 60% of south Tipperary is designated as being extremely or highly vulnerable. The groundwater protection plan was devised subsequent to an understanding of the aquifer systems, an assessment of the vulnerability, and a review of the Irish planning system and environmental law. It is recommended that the plan be integrated into the county development plan for legislative purposes. A series of acceptability matrices were devised to restrict potentially polluting activities in vulnerable areas while maintaining a balance between protection of the groundwater resource and the need to site essential developments.

The appraisal of anaerobic digestion in Ireland to develop improved designs and operational practice

Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion treating sewage sludge was investigated at five full-scale sewage treatment plants in Ireland. The anaerobic digestion plants are compared and evaluated in terms of design, equipment, operation, monitoring and management. All digesters are cylindrical, gas mixed and heated Continuously Stirred Tank Reactors (CSTR), varying in size from 130m3 to 800m3. Heat exchanger systems heat all digesters. Three plants reported difficulties with the heating systems ranging from blockages to insufficient insulation and design. Exchangers were modified and replaced within one year of operation at two plants. All but one plant had Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems installed. Parameter monitoring is a problem at all plants mainly due to a lack of staff and knowledge. The plant operators consider pH and temperature the most important parameters to be measured in terms of successful monitoring of an anaerobic digester. The short time taken and the ease at which pH and temperature can be measured may favour these parameters. Three laboratory scale pilot anaerobic digesters were operated using a variety of feeds over at 144-day period. Two of the pilots were unmixed and the third was mechanically mixed. As expected the unmixed reactors removed more COD by retention of solids in the digesters but also produced greater quantities of biogas than the mixed digester, especially when low solids feed such as whey was used. The mixed digester broke down more solids due to the superior contact between the substrate and the biomass. All three reactors showed good performance results for whey and sewage solids. Scum formation occurred giving operational problems for mixed and unmixed reactors when cattle slurry was used as the main feed source. The pilot test was also used to investigate which parameters were the best indicators of process instability. These trials clearly indicated that total Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) concentrations was the best parameter to show signs of early process imbalance, while methane composition in the biogas was good to indicate possible nutrient deficiencies in the feed and oxygen shocks. pH was found to be a good process parameter only if the wastewater being treated produced low bicarbonate alkalinities during treatment.

Development of an inspection regime for on-site domestic wastewater treatment systems

The overall purpose of this study was to develop a thorough inspection regime for onsite wastewater treatment systems, which is practical and could be implemented on all site conditions across the country. With approximately 450,000 onsite wastewater treatment systems in Ireland a risk based methodology is required for site selection. This type of approach will identify the areas with the highest potential risk to human health and the environment and these sites should be inspected first. In order to gain the required knowledge to develop an inspection regime in-depth and extensive research was earned out. The following areas of pertinent interest were examined and reviewed, history of domestic wastewater treatment, relevant wastewater legislation and guidance documents and potential detrimental impacts. Analysis of a questionnaire from a prior study, which assessed the resources available and the types of inspections currently undertaken by Local authorities was carried out. In addition to the analysis of the questionnaire results, interviews were carried out with several experts involved in the area of domestic wastewater treatment. The interview focussed on twelve key questions which were directed towards the expert’s opinions on the vital aspects of developing an inspection regime. The background research, combined with the questionnaire analysis and information from the interviews provided a solid foundation for the development of an inspection regime. Chapter 8 outlines the inspection regime which has been developed for this study. The inspection regime includes a desktop study, consultation with the homeowners, visual site inspection, non-invasive site tests, and inspection of the treatment systems. The general opinion from the interviews carried out, was that a standardised approach for the inspections was necessary. For this reason an inspection form was produced which provides a standard systematic approach for inspectors to follow. This form is displayed in Appendix 3. The development of a risk based methodology for site selection was discussed and a procedure similar in approach to the Geological Survey of Irelands Groundwater Protection Schemes was proposed. The EPA is currently developing a risk based methodology, but it is not available to the general public yet. However, the EPA provided a copy of a paper outlining the key aspects of their methodology. The methodology will use risk maps which take account of the following parameters: housing density, areas with inadequate soil conditions, risk of water pollution through surface and subsurface pathways. Sites identified with having the highest potential risk to human health and the environment shall be inspected first. Based on the research carried out a number of recommendations were made which are outlined in Chapter 10. The principle conclusion was that, if these systems fail to operate satisfactorily, home owners need to understand that these systems dispose of the effluent to the 'ground' and the effluent becomes part of the hydrological cycle; therefore, they are a potential hazard to the environment and human health. It is the owners, their families and their neighbours who will be at most immediate risk.

Distância do domicílio ao local de exercício físico não influenciou a aderência de 796 participantes

FUNDAMENTO: Uma das dificuldades para a manutenção da aderência de longo prazo a exercícios é a distância entre domicílio e local de exercício. OBJETIVO: Determinar, para um programa de exercício físico supervisionado (PES) privado, a influência da distância domicílio-PES sobre a aderência. MÉTODOS: Foram identificados 976 sujeitos e selecionados 796 que atendiam aos critérios de inclusão. A distância domicílio-PES foi obtida pelo Google Maps. A aderência foi determinada em quartis (meses): de 1 a 4, 5 a 12, 13 a 36 e mais de 36. As condições clínicas foram estratificadas como: saudáveis; obesos e/ou hipertensos e/ou dislipidêmicos e/ou diabéticos sem doença coronariana; coronariopatas e outros agravos como câncer, pânico e doenças respiratórias. A distância domicílio-PES foi dividida em (km): até 1, entre 1 e 3, entre 3 e 10, e mais de 10. Para a análise estatística, utilizaram-se a ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis e o quiquadrado. RESULTADOS: Dos participantes, 46% residiam até 3 km, 39% entre 3 e 10 km e cerca de 15% moravam a mais de 10 km do local de realização do PES. Não foram encontradas diferenças entre as medianas dos meses de permanência no PES em função da distância domicílio-PES (p = 0,11). CONCLUSÃO: Para um determinado PES privado da cidade do Rio de Janeiro e funcionando de segunda a sábado com livre escolha de horário, a distância domicílio-PES não influenciou na aderência dos participantes. Isso provavelmente se deveu à qualidade do serviço prestado e/ou a ausência de opções mais próximas do local de domicílio dos participantes. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2012; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Experimental study of local heat transfer during quenching of metals by spray and multiple jets

Magdeburg, Univ., Fak. für Verfahrens- und Systemtechnik, Diss., 2011

Dissecando o GEN

In thee present paper the classical concept of the corpuscular gene is dissected out in order to show the inconsistency of some genetical and cytological explanations based on it. The author begins by asking how do the genes perform their specific functions. Genetists say that colour in plants is sometimes due to the presence in the cytoplam of epidermal cells of an organic complex belonging to the anthocyanins and that this complex is produced by genes. The author then asks how can a gene produce an anthocyanin ? In accordance to Haldane's view the first product of a gene may be a free copy of the gene itself which is abandoned to the nucleus and then to the cytoplasm where it enters into reaction with other gene products. If, thus, the different substances which react in the cell for preparing the characters of the organism are copies of the genes then the chromosome must be very extravagant a thing : chain of the most diverse and heterogeneous substances (the genes) like agglutinins, precipitins, antibodies, hormones, erzyms, coenzyms, proteins, hydrocarbons, acids, bases, salts, water soluble and insoluble substances ! It would be very extrange that so a lot of chemical genes should not react with each other. remaining on the contrary, indefinitely the same in spite of the possibility of approaching and touching due to the stato of extreme distension of the chromosomes mouving within the fluid medium of the resting nucleus. If a given medium becomes acid in virtue of the presence of a free copy of an acid gene, then gene and character must be essentially the same thing and the difference between genotype and phenotype disappears, epigenesis gives up its place to preformation, and genetics goes back to its most remote beginnings. The author discusses the complete lack of arguments in support of the view that genes are corpuscular entities. To show the emharracing situation of the genetist who defends the idea of corpuscular genes, Dobzhansky's (1944) assertions that "Discrete entities like genes may be integrated into systems, the chromosomes, functioning as such. The existence of organs and tissues does not preclude their cellular organization" are discussed. In the opinion of the present writer, affirmations as such abrogate one of the most important characteristics of the genes, that is, their functional independence. Indeed, if the genes are independent, each one being capable of passing through mutational alterations or separating from its neighbours without changing them as Dobzhansky says, then the chromosome, genetically speaking, does not constitute a system. If on the other hand, theh chromosome be really a system it will suffer, as such, the influence of the alteration or suppression of the elements integrating it, and in this case the genes cannot be independent. We have therefore to decide : either the chromosome is. a system and th genes are not independent, or the genes are independent and the chromosome is not a syntem. What cannot surely exist is a system (the chromosome) formed by independent organs (the genes), as Dobzhansky admits. The parallel made by Dobzhansky between chromosomes and tissues seems to the author to be inadequate because we cannot compare heterogeneous things like a chromosome considered as a system made up by different organs (the genes), with a tissue formed, as we know, by the same organs (the cells) represented many times. The writer considers the chromosome as a true system and therefore gives no credit to the genes as independent elements. Genetists explain position effects in the following way : The products elaborated by the genes react with each other or with substances previously formed in the cell by the action of other gene products. Supposing that of two neighbouring genes A and B, the former reacts with a certain substance of the cellular medium (X) giving a product C which will suffer the action, of the latter (B). it follows that if the gene changes its position to a place far apart from A, the product it elaborates will spend more time for entering into contact with the substance C resulting from the action of A upon X, whose concentration is greater in the proximities of A. In this condition another gene produtc may anticipate the product of B in reacting with C, the normal course of reactions being altered from this time up. Let we see how many incongruencies and contradictions exist in such an explanation. Firstly, it has been established by genetists that the reaction due.to gene activities are specific and develop in a definite order, so that, each reaction prepares the medium for the following. Therefore, if the medium C resulting from the action of A upon x is the specific medium for the activity of B, it follows that no other gene, in consequence of its specificity, can work in this medium. It is only after the interference of B, changing the medium, that a new gene may enter into action. Since the genotype has not been modified by the change of the place of the gene, it is evident that the unique result we have to attend is a little delay without seious consequence in the beginning of the reaction of the product of B With its specific substratum C. This delay would be largely compensated by a greater amount of the substance C which the product of B should found already prepared. Moreover, the explanation did not take into account the fact that the genes work in the resting nucleus and that in this stage the chromosomes, very long and thin, form a network plunged into the nuclear sap. in which they are surely not still, changing from cell to cell and In the same cell from time to time, the distance separating any two genes of the same chromosome or of different ones. The idea that the genes may react directly with each other and not by means of their products, would lead to the concept of Goidschmidt and Piza, in accordance to which the chromosomes function as wholes. Really, if a gene B, accustomed to work between A and C (as for instance in the chromosome ABCDEF), passes to function differently only because an inversion has transferred it to the neighbourhood of F (as in AEDOBF), the gene F must equally be changed since we cannot almH that, of two reacting genes, only one is modified The genes E and A will be altered in the same way due to the change of place-of the former. Assuming that any modification in a gene causes a compensatory modification in its neighbour in order to re-establich the equilibrium of the reactions, we conclude that all the genes are modified in consequence of an inversion. The same would happen by mutations. The transformation of B into B' would changeA and C into A' and C respectively. The latter, reacting withD would transform it into D' and soon the whole chromosome would be modified. A localized change would therefore transform a primitive whole T into a new one T', as Piza pretends. The attraction point-to-point by the chromosomes is denied by the nresent writer. Arguments and facts favouring the view that chromosomes attract one another as wholes are presented. A fact which in the opinion of the author compromises sereously the idea of specific attraction gene-to-gene is found inthe behavior of the mutated gene. As we know, in homozygosis, the spme gene is represented twice in corresponding loci of the chromosomes. A mutation in one of them, sometimes so strong that it is capable of changing one sex into the opposite one or even killing the individual, has, notwithstading that, no effect on the previously existing mutual attraction of the corresponding loci. It seems reasonable to conclude that, if the genes A and A attract one another specifically, the attraction will disappear in consequence of the mutation. But, as in heterozygosis the genes continue to attract in the same way as before, it follows that the attraction is not specific and therefore does not be a gene attribute. Since homologous genes attract one another whatever their constitution, how do we understand the lack cf attraction between non homologous genes or between the genes of the same chromosome ? Cnromosome pairing is considered as being submitted to the same principles which govern gametes copulation or conjugation of Ciliata. Modern researches on the mating types of Ciliata offer a solid ground for such an intepretation. Chromosomes conjugate like Ciliata of the same variety, but of different mating types. In a cell there are n different sorts of chromosomes comparable to the varieties of Ciliata of the same species which do not mate. Of each sort there are in the cell only two chromosomes belonging to different mating types (homologous chromosomes). The chromosomes which will conjugate (belonging to the same "variety" but to different "mating types") produce a gamone-like substance that promotes their union, being without action upon the other chromosomes. In this simple way a single substance brings forth the same result that in the case of point-to-point attraction would be reached through the cooperation of as many different substances as the genes present in the chromosome. The chromosomes like the Ciliata, divide many times before they conjugate. (Gonial chromosomes) Like the Ciliata, when they reach maturity, they copulate. (Cyte chromosomes). Again, like the Ciliata which aggregate into clumps before mating, the chrorrasrmes join together in one side of the nucleus before pairing. (.Synizesis). Like the Ciliata which come out from the clumps paired two by two, the chromosomes leave the synizesis knot also in pairs. (Pachytene) The chromosomes, like the Ciliata, begin pairing at any part of their body. After some time the latter adjust their mouths, the former their kinetochores. During conjugation the Ciliata as well as the chromosomes exchange parts. Finally, the ones as the others separate to initiate a new cycle of divisions. It seems to the author that the analogies are to many to be overlooked. When two chemical compounds react with one another, both are transformed and new products appear at the and of the reaction. In the reaction in which the protoplasm takes place, a sharp difference is to be noted. The protoplasm, contrarily to what happens with the chemical substances, does not enter directly into reaction, but by means of products of its physiological activities. More than that while the compounds with Wich it reacts are changed, it preserves indefinitely its constitution. Here is one of the most important differences in the behavior of living and lifeless matter. Genes, accordingly, do not alter their constitution when they enter into reaction. Genetists contradict themselves when they affirm, on the one hand, that genes are entities which maintain indefinitely their chemical composition, and on the other hand, that mutation is a change in the chemica composition of the genes. They are thus conferring to the genes properties of the living and the lifeless substances. The protoplasm, as we know, without changing its composition, can synthesize different kinds of compounds as enzyms, hormones, and the like. A mutation, in the opinion of the writer would then be a new property acquired by the protoplasm without altering its chemical composition. With regard to the activities of the enzyms In the cells, the author writes : Due to the specificity of the enzyms we have that what determines the order in which they will enter into play is the chemical composition of the substances appearing in the protoplasm. Suppose that a nucleoproteln comes in relation to a protoplasm in which the following enzyms are present: a protease which breaks the nucleoproteln into protein and nucleic acid; a polynucleotidase which fragments the nucleic acid into nucleotids; a nucleotidase which decomposes the nucleotids into nucleoids and phosphoric acid; and, finally, a nucleosidase which attacs the nucleosids with production of sugar and purin or pyramidin bases. Now, it is evident that none of the enzyms which act on the nucleic acid and its products can enter into activity before the decomposition of the nucleoproteln by the protease present in the medium takes place. Leikewise, the nucleosidase cannot works without the nucleotidase previously decomposing the nucleotids, neither the latter can act before the entering into activity of the polynucleotidase for liberating the nucleotids. The number of enzyms which may work at a time depends upon the substances present m the protoplasm. The start and the end of enzym activities, the direction of the reactions toward the decomposition or the synthesis of chemical compounds, the duration of the reactions, all are in the dependence respectively o fthe nature of the substances, of the end products being left in, or retired from the medium, and of the amount of material present. The velocity of the reaction is conditioned by different factors as temperature, pH of the medium, and others. Genetists fall again into contradiction when they say that genes act like enzyms, controlling the reactions in the cells. They do not remember that to cintroll a reaction means to mark its beginning, to determine its direction, to regulate its velocity, and to stop it Enzyms, as we have seen, enjoy none of these properties improperly attributed to them. If, therefore, genes work like enzyms, they do not controll reactions, being, on the contrary, controlled by substances and conditions present in the protoplasm. A gene, like en enzym, cannot go into play, in the absence of the substance to which it is specific. Tne genes are considered as having two roles in the organism one preparing the characters attributed to them and other, preparing the medium for the activities of other genes. At the first glance it seems that only the former is specific. But, if we consider that each gene acts only when the appropriated medium is prepared for it, it follows that the medium is as specific to the gene as the gene to the medium. The author concludes from the analysis of the manner in which genes perform their function, that all the genes work at the same time anywhere in the organism, and that every character results from the activities of all the genes. A gene does therefore not await for a given medium because it is always in the appropriated medium. If the substratum in which it opperates changes, its activity changes correspondingly. Genes are permanently at work. It is true that they attend for an adequate medium to develop a certain actvity. But this does not mean that it is resting while the required cellular environment is being prepared. It never rests. While attending for certain conditions, it opperates in the previous enes It passes from medium to medium, from activity to activity, without stopping anywhere. Genetists are acquainted with situations in which the attended results do not appear. To solve these situations they use to make appeal to the interference of other genes (modifiers, suppressors, activators, intensifiers, dilutors, a. s. o.), nothing else doing in this manner than displacing the problem. To make genetcal systems function genetists confer to their hypothetical entities truly miraculous faculties. To affirm as they do w'th so great a simplicity, that a gene produces an anthocyanin, an enzym, a hormone, or the like, is attribute to the gene activities that onlv very complex structures like cells or glands would be capable of producing Genetists try to avoid this difficulty advancing that the gene works in collaboration with all the other genes as well as with the cytoplasm. Of course, such an affirmation merely means that what works at each time is not the gene, but the whole cell. Consequently, if it is the whole cell which is at work in every situation, it follows that the complete set of genes are permanently in activity, their activity changing in accordance with the part of the organism in which they are working. Transplantation experiments carried out between creeper and normal fowl embryos are discussed in order to show that there is ro local gene action, at least in some cases in which genetists use to recognize such an action. The author thinks that the pleiotropism concept should be applied only to the effects and not to the causes. A pleiotropic gene would be one that in a single actuation upon a more primitive structure were capable of producing by means of secondary influences a multiple effect This definition, however, does not preclude localized gene action, only displacing it. But, if genetics goes back to the egg and puts in it the starting point for all events which in course of development finish by producing the visible characters of the organism, this will signify a great progress. From the analysis of the results of the study of the phenocopies the author concludes that agents other than genes being also capaole of determining the same characters as the genes, these entities lose much of their credit as the unique makers of the organism. Insisting about some points already discussed, the author lays once more stress upon the manner in which the genes exercise their activities, emphasizing that the complete set of genes works jointly in collaboration with the other elements of the cell, and that this work changes with development in the different parts of the organism. To defend this point of view the author starts fron the premiss that a nerve cell is different from a muscle cell. Taking this for granted the author continues saying that those cells have been differentiated as systems, that is all their parts have been changed during development. The nucleus of the nerve cell is therefore different from the nucleus of the muscle cell not only in shape, but also in function. Though fundamentally formed by th same parts, these cells differ integrally from one another by the specialization. Without losing anyone of its essenial properties the protoplasm differentiates itself into distinct kinds of cells, as the living beings differentiate into species. The modified cells within the organism are comparable to the modified organisms within the species. A nervo and a muscle cell of the same organism are therefore like two species originated from a common ancestor : integrally distinct. Like the cytoplasm, the nucleus of a nerve cell differs from the one of a muscle cell in all pecularities and accordingly, nerve cell chromosomes are different from muscle cell chromosomes. We cannot understand differentiation of a part only of a cell. The differentiation must be of the whole cell as a system. When a cell in the course of development becomes a nerve cell or a muscle cell , it undoubtedly acquires nerve cell or muscle cell cytoplasm and nucleus respectively. It is not admissible that the cytoplasm has been changed r.lone, the nucleus remaining the same in both kinds of cells. It is therefore legitimate to conclude that nerve ceil ha.s nerve cell chromosomes and muscle cell, muscle cell chromosomes. Consequently, the genes, representing as they do, specific functions of the chromossomes, are different in different sorts of cells. After having discussed the development of the Amphibian egg on the light of modern researches, the author says : We have seen till now that the development of the egg is almost finished and the larva about to become a free-swimming tadepole and, notwithstanding this, the genes have not yet entered with their specific work. If the haed and tail position is determined without the concourse of the genes; if dorso-ventrality and bilaterality of the embryo are not due to specific gene actions; if the unequal division of the blastula cells, the different speed with which the cells multiply in each hemisphere, and the differential repartition of the substances present in the cytoplasm, all this do not depend on genes; if gastrulation, neurulation. division of the embryo body into morphogenetic fields, definitive determination of primordia, and histological differentiation of the organism go on without the specific cooperation of the genes, it is the case of asking to what then the genes serve ? Based on the mechanism of plant galls formation by gall insects and on the manner in which organizers and their products exercise their activities in the developing organism, the author interprets gene action in the following way : The genes alter structures which have been formed without their specific intervention. Working in one substratum whose existence does not depend o nthem, the genes would be capable of modelling in it the particularities which make it characteristic for a given individual. Thus, the tegument of an animal, as a fundamental structure of the organism, is not due to gene action, but the presence or absence of hair, scales, tubercles, spines, the colour or any other particularities of the skin, may be decided by the genes. The organizer decides whether a primordium will be eye or gill. The details of these organs, however, are left to the genetic potentiality of the tissue which received the induction. For instance, Urodele mouth organizer induces Anura presumptive epidermis to develop into mouth. But, this mouth will be farhioned in the Anura manner. Finalizing the author presents his own concept of the genes. The genes are not independent material particles charged with specific activities, but specific functions of the whole chromosome. To say that a given chromosome has n genes means that this chromonome, in different circumstances, may exercise n distinct activities. Thus, under the influence of a leg evocator the chromosome, as whole, develops its "leg" activity, while wbitm the field of influence of an eye evocator it will develop its "eye" activity. Translocations, deficiencies and inversions will transform more or less deeply a whole into another one, This new whole may continue to produce the same activities it had formerly in addition to those wich may have been induced by the grafted fragment, may lose some functions or acquire entirely new properties, that is, properties that none of them had previously The theoretical possibility of the chromosomes acquiring new genetical properties in consequence of an exchange of parts postulated by the present writer has been experimentally confirmed by Dobzhansky, who verified that, when any two Drosophila pseudoobscura II - chromosomes exchange parts, the chossover chromosomes show new "synthetic" genetical effects.