Ecologia molecular de fungos patogênicos onygenales em animais silvestres do interior do estado de São Paulo

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

Variabilidade do índice de vegetação por diferença normalizada (NDVI) em áreas reflorestamento: floresta estadual Edmundo Navarro de Andrade (FEENA)/Rio Claro (SP)

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Mapeamento das fundações mais usadas na cidade de Belém-PA: aspectos gerais e proposta preliminar de mapeamento de soluções utilizadas em casos recentes

Realiza o levantamento dos vários tipos de fundações mais comumente utilizadas na construção civil, nas últimas décadas na cidade de Belém PA, definindo suas propriedades, peculiaridades, aspectos técnicos de seu dimensionamento, capacidade de carga e processo executivo. Identifica o tipo de solo, em que estão assentes, com respectivos perfil e características geotécnicas e efetua o mapeamento da cidade por regiões, de acordo com perfil geológico; tipo de fundação; profundidade de assentamento; processo executivo; e custo relativo. O trabalho é dividido em quatro etapas: a primeira correspondente à pesquisa bibliográfica a respeito do estudo das fundações, abrangendo desenvolvimento histórico das fundações e mecânica dos solos, no mundo, Brasil e Belém; pesquisa geotécnica e características do solo de Belém e; estudo dos Sistemas de Informações Geográficas SIG,; a segunda envolvendo levantamento técnico junto as empresas construtoras e firmas de projetos locais, para catalogação e formação de um banco de dados acerca das fundações praticadas na cidade; a terceira relativa a ordenação e análise técnica dos dados coletados e a quarta, consiste na redação do texto final e na elaboração de mapas da cidade, baseados em Sistema de Informação Geográfica - SIG, em escala 1:10.000, concernentes ao tipo de fundação; o perfil geotécnico do terreno; o tipo de solo e processo executivo; profundidade provável para a fundação e, o custo relativo da fundação em relação ao total da obra.

Zoneamento ecológico econômico do município de Altinópolis, SP

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

An evaluation of the distributions of polychlorinated biphenyls and organic matter in coastal sediments

The objective of this thesis is to improve the understanding of what processes and mechanism affects the distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organic carbon in coastal sediments. Because of the strong association of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) such as PCBs with organic matter in the aquatic environment, these two entities are naturally linked. The coastal environment is the most complex and dynamic part of the ocean when it comes to both cycling of organic matter and HOCs. This environment is characterised by the largest fluxes and most diverse sources of both entities. A wide array of methods was used to study these processes throughout this thesis. In the field sites in the Stockholm archipelago of the Baltic proper, bottom sediments and settling particulate matter were retrieved using sediment coring devices and sediment traps from morphometrically and seismically well-characterized locations. In the laboratory, the samples have been analysed for PCBs, stable carbon isotope ratios, carbon-nitrogen atom ratios as well as standard sediment properties. From the fieldwork in the Stockholm Archipelago and the following laboratory work it was concluded that the inner Stockholm archipelago has a low (≈ 4%) trapping efficiency for freshwater-derived organic carbon. The corollary is a large potential for long-range waterborne transport of OC and OC-associated nutrients and hydrophobic organic pollutants from urban Stockholm to more pristine offshore Baltic Sea ecosystems. Theoretical work has been carried out using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and statistical methods on a database of 4214 individual sediment samples, each with reported individual PCB congener concentrations. From this work it was concluded that the continental shelf sediments are key global inventories and ultimate sinks of PCBs. Depending on congener, 10-80% of the cumulative historical emissions to the environment are accounted for in continental shelf sediments. Further it was concluded that the many infamous and highly contaminated surface sediments of urban harbours and estuaries of contaminated rivers cannot be of importance as a secondary source to sustain the concentrations observed in remote sediments. Of the global shelf PCB inventory < 1% are in sediments near population centres while ≥ 90% is in remote areas (> 10 km from any dwellings). The remote sub-basin of the North Atlantic Ocean contains approximately half of the global shelf sediment inventory for most of the PCBs studied.

Neo-Assyrian concepts of fortification

The major cities of the Neo-Assyrian Empire were not only home to impressive palaces and temples, but they were also equipped with strong fortifications. The city walls were not only meant to keep out potential enemies, but by demonstrating Assyria’s power to any approaching person, they served an ideological purpose, as well. However, military efficiency was just as crucial, since, over its entire history, the empire repeatedly faced internal and external threats and could not have afforded to lose any of its urban centers which were essential to maintaining control over the various provinces or geographic regions associated with them. The study of Neo-Assyrian fortifications relies on evidence provided by archaeological excavations, the study of Assyrian reliefs and information from cuneiform texts. Even though these sources help us reconstruct the appearance of the town defenses, the question of why the individual fortification systems were built in a specific way cannot be addressed by these means alone. Remote sensing offers an opportunity to view the course and placement of the city walls within their topographical context. Furthermore, geographical information systems (GIS) offer a tool to illustrate the distribution of the strongly fortified Assyrian towns, thereby allowing us to recognize patterns and functions of regional fortification systems during the Neo-Assyrian period.

Objective assessment of the built environment and its relationship to physical activity and obesity

The role of physical activity in the promotion of individual and population health has been well documented in research and policy publications. Significant research activities have produced compelling evidence for the support of the positive association between physical activity and improved health. Despite the knowledge about these public health benefits of physical activity, over half of US adults do not engage in physical activity at levels consistent with public health recommendations. Just as physical inactivity is of significant public health concern in the US, the prevalence of obesity (and its attendant co-morbidities) is also increasing among US adults.^ Research suggests racial and ethnic disparities relevant to physical inactivity and obesity in the US. Various studies have shown more favorable outcomes among non-Hispanic whites when compared to other minority groups as far as physical activity and obesity are concerned. The health disparity issue is especially important because Mexican-Americans who are the fastest growing segment of the US population are disproportionately affected by physical inactivity and obesity by a significant margin (when compared to non-Hispanic whites), so addressing the physical inactivity and obesity issues in this group is of significant public health concern. ^ Although the evidence for health benefits of physical activity is substantial, various research questions remain on the potential motivators for engaging in physical activity. One area of emerging interest is the potential role that the built environment may play in facilitating or inhibiting physical activity.^ In this study, based on an ongoing research project of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, we examined the built environment, measured objectively through the use of geographical information systems (GIS), and its association with physical activity and obesity among a cohort of Mexican- Americans living in Harris County, Texas. The overall study hypothesis was that residing in dense and highly connected neighborhoods with mixed land-use is associated with residents’ increased participation in physical activity and lowered prevalence of obesity. We completed the following specific aims: (1) to generate a land-use profile of the study area and create a “walkability index” measure for each block group within the study area; (2) to compare the level of engagement in physical activity between study participants that reside in high walkability index block groups and those from low walkability block groups; (3) to compare the prevalence of obesity between study participants that reside in high walkability index block groups and those from low walkability block groups. ^ We successfully created the walkability index as a form of objective measure of the built environment for portions of Harris County, Texas. We used a variety of spatial and non-spatial dataset to generate the so called walkability index. We are not aware of previous scholastic work of this kind (construction of walkability index) in the Houston area. Our findings from the assessment of relationships among walkability index, physical activity and obesity suggest the following, that: (1) that attempts to convert people to being walkers through health promotion activities may be much easier in high-walkability neighborhoods, and very hard in low-walkability neighborhoods. Therefore, health promotion activities to get people to be active may require supportive environment, walkable in this case, and may not succeed otherwise; and (2) Overall, among individuals with less education, those in the high walkability index areas may be less obese (extreme) than those in the low walkability area. To the extent that this association can be substantiated, we – public health practitioners, urban designers, and policy experts – we may need to start thinking about ways to “retrofit” existing urban forms to conform to more walkable neighborhoods. Also, in this population especially, there may be the need to focus special attention on those with lower educational attainment.^

Uso innovador de un SIG en la logística de productos forestales

El costo del transporte de los productos forestales reviste gran importancia en la rentabilidad de la actividad, incidiendo directamente en el precio percibido por el productor. Ante esta situación sería de utilidad, para el productor y para el transportista, conocer cuál sería el recorrido óptimo desde el lugar de partida (ej. lote del productor) hasta el lugar de destino (ej. acopiador). En consecuencia, se propone comprobar la factibilidad de utilizar el entorno de los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) en la determinación, de manera rápida y con exactitud, del camino óptimo entre un lote forestal y el aserradero.

Enseñanza de la geografía e Informática : El uso del SIG en una experiencia pedagógica innovadora

El presente trabajo da cuenta de una experiencia pedagógica innovadora realizada en el marco del Convenio DINIECE, MECYT - FAHCE, UNLP. Plantea la utilización de los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) con fines pedagógicos. Dicha experiencia se llevó a cabo en el curso "Seminario de Itinerarios Urbanos" en el Colegio Nacional "Rafael Hernández" de la UNLP. Partiendo de una concepción crítica desde la Geografía y desde la Didáctica, se incentivó a los alumnos/as a comprender la realidad socio-ambiental en la cual están inmersos. Para ello se identificaron, desde el análisis territorial y espacial, problemáticas ambientales en el partido de La Plata. Los alumnos/as vivenciaron y experimentaron una forma de trabajo en la que la innovación estuvo dada por la utilización de nuevas tecnologías -SIG- en consonancia con una metodología didáctica que fomenta aprendizajes significativos.

Enseñanza de la geografía e Informática : El uso del SIG en una experiencia pedagógica innovadora

El presente trabajo da cuenta de una experiencia pedagógica innovadora realizada en el marco del Convenio DINIECE, MECYT - FAHCE, UNLP. Plantea la utilización de los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) con fines pedagógicos. Dicha experiencia se llevó a cabo en el curso "Seminario de Itinerarios Urbanos" en el Colegio Nacional "Rafael Hernández" de la UNLP. Partiendo de una concepción crítica desde la Geografía y desde la Didáctica, se incentivó a los alumnos/as a comprender la realidad socio-ambiental en la cual están inmersos. Para ello se identificaron, desde el análisis territorial y espacial, problemáticas ambientales en el partido de La Plata. Los alumnos/as vivenciaron y experimentaron una forma de trabajo en la que la innovación estuvo dada por la utilización de nuevas tecnologías -SIG- en consonancia con una metodología didáctica que fomenta aprendizajes significativos.

Enseñanza de la geografía e Informática : El uso del SIG en una experiencia pedagógica innovadora

El presente trabajo da cuenta de una experiencia pedagógica innovadora realizada en el marco del Convenio DINIECE, MECYT - FAHCE, UNLP. Plantea la utilización de los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) con fines pedagógicos. Dicha experiencia se llevó a cabo en el curso "Seminario de Itinerarios Urbanos" en el Colegio Nacional "Rafael Hernández" de la UNLP. Partiendo de una concepción crítica desde la Geografía y desde la Didáctica, se incentivó a los alumnos/as a comprender la realidad socio-ambiental en la cual están inmersos. Para ello se identificaron, desde el análisis territorial y espacial, problemáticas ambientales en el partido de La Plata. Los alumnos/as vivenciaron y experimentaron una forma de trabajo en la que la innovación estuvo dada por la utilización de nuevas tecnologías -SIG- en consonancia con una metodología didáctica que fomenta aprendizajes significativos.

Some notes on the spatial representations

There are conventional methods to calculate the centroid of spatial units and distance among them with using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The paper points out potential measurement errors of this calculation. By taking Indian district data as an example, systematic errors concealed in such variables are shown. Two comparisons are examined; firstly, we compare the centroid obtained from the spatial units, polygons, and the centre of each city where its district headquarters locates. Secondly, between the centres represented in the above, we calculate the direct distances and road distances obtained from each pair of two districts. From the comparison between the direct distances of centroid of spatial units and the road distances of centre of district headquarters, we show the distribution of errors and list some caveats for the use of conventional variables obtained from GIS.

Documentación en Arqueología. Aplicaciones del Núcleo Español de Metadatos

RESUMEN Las aplicaciones de los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) a la Arqueología, u otra disciplina humanística no son una novedad. La evolución de los mismos hacia sistemas distribuidos e interoperables, y estructuras donde las políticas de uso, compartido y coordinado de los datos sí lo son, estando todos estos aspectos contemplados en la Infraestructura de Datos Espaciales. INSPIRE es el máximo exponente europeo en cuestiones de iniciativa y marco legal en estos aspectos. La metodología arqueológica recopila y genera gran cantidad de datos, y entre los atributos o características intrínsecas están la posición y el tiempo, aspectos que tradicionalmente explotan los SIG. Los datos se catalogan, organizan, mantienen, comparten y publican, y los potenciales consumidores comienzan a tenerlos disponibles. Toda esta información almacenada de forma tradicional en fichas y posteriormente en bases de datos relacionadas alfanuméricas pueden ser considerados «metadatos» en muchos casos por contener información útil para más usuarios en los procesos de descubrimiento, y explotación de los datos. Además estos datos también suelen ir acompañados de información sobre ellos mismos, que describe su especificaciones, calidad, etc. Cotidianamente usamos los metadatos: ficha bibliográfica del libro o especificaciones de un ordenador. Pudiéndose definir como: «información descriptiva sobre el contexto, calidad, condición y características de un recurso, dato u objeto que tiene la finalidad de facilitar su recuperación, identificación,evaluación, preservación y/o interoperabilidad». En España existe una iniciativa para estandarizar la descripción de los metadatos de los conjuntos de datos geoespaciales: Núcleo Español de Metadatos (NEM), los mismos contienen elementos para la descripción de las particularidades de los datos geográficos, que incluye todos los registros obligatorios de la Norma ISO19115 y del estudio de metadatos Dublin Core, tradicionalmente usado en contextos de Biblioteconomía. Conscientes de la necesidad de los metadatos, para optimizar la búsqueda y recuperación de los datos, se pretende formalizar la documentación de los datos arqueológicos a partir de la utilización del NEM, consiguiendo así la interoperabilidad de la información arqueológica. SUMMARY The application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to Archaeology and other social sciences is not new. Their evolution towards inter-operating, distributed systems, and structures in which policies for shared and coordinated data use are, and all these aspects are included in the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). INSPIRE is the main European exponent in matters related to initiative and legal frame. Archaeological methodology gathers and creates a great amount of data, and position and time, aspects traditionally exploited by GIS, are among the attributes or intrinsic characteristics. Data are catalogued, organised, maintained, shared and published, and potential consumers begin to have them at their disposal. All this information, traditionally stored as cards and later in relational alphanumeric databases may be considered «metadata» in many cases, as they contain information that is useful for more users in the processes of discovery and exploitation of data. Moreover, this data are often accompanied by information about themselves, describing its especifications, quality, etc. We use metadata very often: in a book’s bibliographical card, or in the description of the characteristics of a computer. They may be defined as «descriptive information regarding the context, quality, condition and characteristics of a resource, data or object with the purpose of facilitating is recuperation, identification, evaluation, preservation and / interoperability.» There is an initiative in Spain to standardise the description of metadata in sets of geo-spatial data: the Núcleo Español de Metadatos (Spanish Metadata Nucleus), which contains elements for the description of the particular characteristics of geographical data, includes all the obligatory registers from the ISO Norm 19115 and from the metadata study Dublin Core, traditionally used in library management. Being aware of the need of metadata, to optimise the search and retrieval of data, the objective is to formalise the documentation of archaeological data from the Núcleo Español de Metadatos (Spanish Metadata Nucleus), thus obtaining the interoperability of the archaeological information.

Modeling geometric rules in object based models:an XML / GML approach

Most object-based approaches to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have concentrated on the representation of geometric properties of objects in terms of fixed geometry. In our road traffic marking application domain we have a requirement to represent the static locations of the road markings but also enforce the associated regulations, which are typically geometric in nature. For example a give way line of a pedestrian crossing in the UK must be within 1100-3000 mm of the edge of the crossing pattern. In previous studies of the application of spatial rules (often called 'business logic') in GIS emphasis has been placed on the representation of topological constraints and data integrity checks. There is very little GIS literature that describes models for geometric rules, although there are some examples in the Computer Aided Design (CAD) literature. This paper introduces some of the ideas from so called variational CAD models to the GIS application domain, and extends these using a Geography Markup Language (GML) based representation. In our application we have an additional requirement; the geometric rules are often changed and vary from country to country so should be represented in a flexible manner. In this paper we describe an elegant solution to the representation of geometric rules, such as requiring lines to be offset from other objects. The method uses a feature-property model embraced in GML 3.1 and extends the possible relationships in feature collections to permit the application of parameterized geometric constraints to sub features. We show the parametric rule model we have developed and discuss the advantage of using simple parametric expressions in the rule base. We discuss the possibilities and limitations of our approach and relate our data model to GML 3.1. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Representation and parameterisation issues in genetic algorithms

A multi-chromosome GA (Multi-GA) was developed, based upon concepts from the natural world, allowing improved flexibility in a number of areas including representation, genetic operators, their parameter rates and real world multi-dimensional applications. A series of experiments were conducted, comparing the performance of the Multi-GA to a traditional GA on a number of recognised and increasingly complex test optimisation surfaces, with promising results. Further experiments demonstrated the Multi-GA's flexibility through the use of non-binary chromosome representations and its applicability to dynamic parameterisation. A number of alternative and new methods of dynamic parameterisation were investigated, in addition to a new non-binary 'Quotient crossover' mechanism. Finally, the Multi-GA was applied to two real world problems, demonstrating its ability to handle mixed type chromosomes within an individual, the limited use of a chromosome level fitness function, the introduction of new genetic operators for structural self-adaptation and its viability as a serious real world analysis tool. The first problem involved optimum placement of computers within a building, allowing the Multi-GA to use multiple chromosomes with different type representations and different operators in a single individual. The second problem, commonly associated with Geographical Information Systems (GIS), required a spatial analysis location of the optimum number and distribution of retail sites over two different population grids. In applying the Multi-GA, two new genetic operators (addition and deletion) were developed and explored, resulting in the definition of a mechanism for self-modification of genetic material within the Multi-GA structure and a study of this behaviour.