Controle inteligente de pressão para uma rede sem reservatório de abastecimento urbano de água

The sanitation companies from Brazil has a great challenge for the XXI century: seek to mitigate the rate of physical waste (water, chemicals and electricity) and financial waste caused by inefficient operating systems drinking water supply, considering that currently we already face, in some cases, the scarcity of water resources. The supply systems are increasingly complex as they seek to minimize waste and at the same time better serve the growing number of users. However, this technological change is to reduce the complexity of the challenges posed by the need to include users with higher quality and efficiency in services. A major challenge for companies of water supplies is to provide a good quality service contemplating reducing expenditure on electricity. In this situation we developed a research by a method that seeks to control the pressure of the distribution systems that do not have the tank in your setup and the water comes out of the well directly to the distribution system. The method of pressure control (intelligent control) uses fuzzy logic to eliminate the waste of electricity and the leaks from the production of pumps that inject directly into the distribution system, which causes waste of energy when the consumption of households is reduced causing the saturation of the distribution system. This study was conducted at Green Club II condominium, located in the city of Parnamirim, state of Rio Grande do Norte, in order to study the pressure behavior of the output of the pump that injects water directly into the distribution system. The study was only possible because of the need we had to find a solution to some leaks in the existing distribution system and the extensions of the respective condominium residences, which sparked interest in developing a job in order to carry out the experiments contained in this research

Análise de desempenho de um refrigerador de pequeno porte com drop in de refrigerantes hidrocarbonetos

From what was stated in the Montreal Protocol, the researchers and refrigeration industry seek substitutes for synthetic refrigerants -chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and HCFCs (HCFC) - that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. The phase-out of these substances was started using as one of the replacement alternatives the synthetic fluids based on hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) that have zero potential depletion of the ozone layer. However, contribute to the process of global warming. HFC refrigerants are greenhouse gases and are part of the group of gases whose emissions must be reduced as the Kyoto Protocol says. The hydrocarbons (HC's), for not contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, because they have very low global warming potential, and are found abundantly in nature, has been presented as an alternative, and therefore, are being used in new home refrigeration equipment in several countries. In Brazil, due to incipient production of domestic refrigerators using HC's, the transition refrigerants remain on the scene for some years. This dissertation deals with an experimental evaluation of the conduct of a drinking fountain designed to work with HFC (R-134a), operating with a mixture of HC's or isobutane (R-600a) without any modification to the system or the lubricating oil. In the refrigeration laboratory of Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte were installed, in a drinking fountain, temperature and pressure sensors at strategic points in the refrigeration cycle, connected to an acquisition system of computerized data, to enable the mapping and thermodynamics analysis of the device operating with R-134a or with a mixture of HC's or with R-600a. The refrigerator-test operating with the natural fluids (mixture of HC's or R-600a) had a coefficient of performance (COP) lower than the R-134a

Teratosphaeria nubilosa em plantações comerciais de Eucalyptus globulus nas regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil

Muitos patógenos, principalmente fungos, ocorrem em várias espécies de eucalipto, desde a fase de viveiro até os plantios adultos. Dentre as doenças fúngicas, destaca-se a mancha de micosferela, considerada uma das principais doenças, e o Eucalyptus globulus, uma das espécies mais suscetíveis. Esta doença é causada por várias espécies pertencentes aos gêneros Teratosphaeria e Mycosphaerella, sendo T. nubilosa de maior importância. O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a presença do fungo T.nubilosa em materiais coletados nos seguintes locais: Bagé-RS, Pedras Altas-RS, Botucatu-SP, Jacareí- SP e Itapeva-SP. Por meio de isolamentos a partir de folhas de E. globulus apresentando mancha de micosferela, foi possível a obtenção de isolados do fungo. A observação quanto ao padrão de germinação dos ascósporos, o seu crescimento micelial, e também por meio de PCR com primers da região genômica ITS1 e ITS4 e sequenciamento, e submissão ao GenBank, foi possível a determinação do gênero e da espécie do patógeno como T. nubilosa. Nos cinco locais estudados foi confirmada a presença deste agente causal de mancha de micosferela em plantios de E. globulus nas regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil.

Detecção de Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli em sementes de feijoeiro provenientes do estado do Paraná, Brasil

O crestamento bacteriano comum do feijoeiro causado por sobrevivência e disseminação da Xap, a semente representa o mais Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) é a principal doença eficiente. A qualidade sanitária de 34 amostras de sementes de feijoeiro do feijoeiro comum no Brasil. O patógeno encontra-se disseminado produzidas no estado do Paraná, nas safras 1998/99 e 1999, foram em todas as regiões produtoras do país, porém com maior importância avaliadas quanto à presença de Xap em macerados de sementes nos estados do Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo e na região do Brasil plaqueados em meio semi-seletivo. Cinqüenta por cento dos lotes de Central, sobretudo na safra das águas. Dentre os vários meios de sementes foram portadores de Xap com incidência de 0,1% a 1,7%.

Ocorrência de Oídio (Oidium caesalpiniacearum Hosag & W. Braum) em Pata de Vaca (Bauhinia forficata link.) no Brasil

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

Atividades experimentais no ensino de biologia em escolas públicas do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil: caracterização geral e concepção de professores

Recent research has revealed that the majority of Biology teachers believe the practice of experimental activities as a didactical means would be the solution for the improvement of the Biology teaching-learning process. There are, however, studies which signal the lack of efficiency in such practice lessons as far as building scientific knowledge is concerned. It is also said that despite the enthusiasm on the teachers‟ part, such classes are rarely taught in high school. Several studies point pedagogical difficulties as well as nonexistence of a minimal infrastructure needed in laboratories as cause of low frequency in experimental activities. The poor teacher performance in terms of planning and development of classes; the large number of students per class; lack of financial stimulus for teachers are other reasons to be taken into account among others, in which can also be included difficulties of epistemological nature. That means an unfavorable eye of the teacher towards experimental activities. Our study aimed to clarify if such scenario is generalized in high schools throughout the state of Rio Grande do Norte Brazil. During our investigation a sample of twenty teaching institutions were used. They were divided in two groups: in the first group, five IFRN- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte schools. Two of those in Natal, and the other three from the country side. The second group is represented by fifteen state schools belonging to the Natal metropolitan area. The objectives of the research were to label schools concerning laboratory facilities; to identify difficulties pointed by teachers when performing experiment classes, and to become familiar with the conceptions of the teachers in regarding biology experiment classes. To perform such task, a questionnaire was used as instrument of data collecting. It contained multiple choice, essay questions and a semi-structured interview with the assistance of a voice recorder. The data analysis and the in loco observation allowed the conclusion that the federal schools do present better facilities for the practice of experimental activities when compared to state schools. Another aspect pointed is the fact that teachers of federal schools have more time available for planning the experiments; they are also better paid and are given access a career development, which leads to better salaries. All those advantages however, do not show a significantly higher frequency regarding the development of experiments when compared to state school teachers. Both teachers of federal and state schools pointed infra-structure problems such as the availability of reactants, equipments and consumption supplies as main obstacle to the practice of experiments in biology classes. Such fact leads us to conclude that maybe there are other problems not covered by the questionnaire such as poor ability to plan and execute experimental activities. As far as conceptions about experimental activities, it was verified in the majority of the interviewees a inductive-empiric point of view of science possibly inherited during their academic formation and such point of view reflected on the way they plan and execute experiments with students

Crescimento e estado nutricional de crianças e adolescentes de Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brasil

OBJETIVOS: avaliar peso, altura, índice de massa corporal (IMC) e prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade de crianças e adolescentes de Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: foram avaliados 1327 jovens (692 masculino e 635 feminino) com idade de 7 a 19 anos. Os dados foram coletados com o mesmo equipamento e seguindo procedimento padrão descrito na literatura. O teste t de Student para variáveis independentes foi utilizado para as comparações entre sexo (p<0,05), e foram calculados os percentis para cada idade. Utilizou-se o programa SPSS, versão-10.0. A plotagem das curvas foi realizada no programa Minitab, versão-14.0. Os percentis 85 e 95 serviram para classificação de sobrepeso e de obesidade e foram analisados em relação aos dois estudos mais aceitos internacionalmente. RESULTADOS o peso e a altura estão acima dos valores encontrados em outras regiões brasileiras e semelhantes a dos países desenvolvidos. O IMC revelou alta prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade, principalmente no sexo masculino, entre 7 e 10 anos. Esta prevalência foi menor no grupo feminino, especialmente entre as adolescentes. CONCLUSÕES: a amostra apresenta padrão de crescimento acima de outras regiões brasileiras e comparáveis a países desenvolvidos, entretanto o IMC indica alta prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade.

Comparação da pressão plantar e dos sintomas osteomusculares por meio do uso de palmilhas customizadas e pré-fabricadas no ambiente de trabalho

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Síndrome metabólica em adolescentes do sexo feminino com sobrepeso e obesidade

OBJETIVO: Avaliar parâmetros bioquímicos e fisiológicos em adolescentes do sexo feminino com sobrepeso/obesidade ou com peso corporal normal e avaliar se fatores de risco cardiovascular, postulados como componentes da síndrome metabólica, já estão presentes nessa faixa etária. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, tendo-se comparado a totalidade de meninas com idades entre 12 e 18 anos de um colégio de Ribeirão Preto, divididas em dois grupos: sobrepeso/obesidade (n=30) e controle (n=39). de cada menina, foram avaliados parâmetros antropométricos (peso, estatura, dobras cutâneas, circunferências do abdome e do quadril) e bioquímicos (glicose, insulina, lipidograma, ureia, creatinina, fibrinogênio, PAI-1, ferritina, sódio e microalbuminúria). RESULTADOS: As adolescentes com sobrepeso/obesidade apresentaram níveis maiores de pressão arterial, glicose, triglicérides, ácido úrico, PAI-1, fibrinogênio e insulina e níveis menores de colesterol-HDL em relação ao grupo controle. A análise de alterações e formação de clusters de fatores de risco demonstrou que 76,7% das adolescentes do grupo sobrepeso apresentaram dois ou mais fatores de risco relacionados à síndrome metabólica, enquanto 79,5% das adolescentes do grupo controle apresentaram nenhuma ou apenas uma alteração. Os parâmetros microalbuminúria e ferritina sérica não apresentaram alterações e diferenças entre os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Adolescentes do sexo feminino com sobrepeso/obesidade já apresentam hipertensão, dislipidemias, disfibrinólise, hiperinsulinemia e clusters de fatores de risco cardiovascular.

Consumo de medicamentos em região do Estado de São Paulo (Brasil), 1985

Com o objetivo de avaliar as características do consumo de medicamentos na população urbana de Araraquara, SP, Brasil, foram coletados dados, por meio de entrevistas domiciliares, de uma amostra da população que consumiu pelo menos um medicamento nos quinze dias que antecederam a data da entrevista. O estudo foi realizado no período de agosto a setembro de 1985. Verificou-se que 42,1% dos medicamentos utilizados foram adquiridos sem prescrição médica. O consumo entre o sexo feminino foi maior que para o sexo masculino. Na automedicação o grupo que apresentou taxa mais elevada, segundo a faixa etária, foi o de 50 anos e mais, com 31,6%. Grande parte do consumo de medicamentos constituiu-se dos industrializados (97,6%). As prescrições médicas, feitas em consultas anteriores, e avalia das como bem sucedidas foram retomadas em situações diversas (12,0%), revelando o importante papel que o médico desempenha na formação dos critérios de escolha dos remédios utilizados nas práticas de automedicação. O farmacêutico e/ou balconista de farmácia contribui com 10,0% dos medicamentos usados que tiveram essa via de indicação. As orientações feitas por amigos, vizinhos e parentes (9,1%) revelaram intenso circuito de trocas de socializações quanto aos quadros móbidos e indicações terapêuticas.

Efeitos agudos de diferentes intensidades de pressão expiratória positiva sobre os volumes pulmonares em pacientes com acidente vascular encefálico

observar os efeitos agudos de diferentes intensidades de Pressão Expiratória Positiva (PEP) sobre a cinemática do complexo toracoabdominal de pacientes acometidos por Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE). Métodos: Foram selecionados 21 indivíduos com AVE e 16 indivíduos saudáveis pareados por idade sexo e IMC para grupo controle. Avaliamos função pulmonar, pressões dos músculos respiratórios e os volumes pulmonares por meio da Pletismografia Optoeletrônica durante três diferentes intensidades de PEP 10, 15 e 20 cmH2O. Resultados: o efeito da PEP no volume corrente (VC) do grupo AVE em relação ao grupo controle foi diferente. Enquanto o grupo controle aumentou o VC em relação a respiração tranquila em 343%, 395,2% e 431,8% nas PEP10, PEP15 e PEP20 cmH2O o grupo AVE aumento 186%, 218.8% e 209.5% (p < 0.0001). A PEP também influenciou de forma diferente em relação ao Tempo inspiratório com intensidades diferentes no grupo controle e AVE (p < 0.0001). No ciclo de trabalho foi observado um aumento no grupo controle nas PEP10 (p < 0.001) e PEP15 (p < 0.05) e no grupo AVE foi observada uma redução PEP20 (p < 0.01) quando comparada com a respiração tranquila. Os volumes operacionais do grupo AVE foi observado aumento do volume inspiratório final da parede torácica (Vifpt) e do Volume expiratório final da parede torácica (Vefpt) diferente do grupo controle que gerou aumento do Vifpt acompanhado de diminuição do Vefpt durante as três intensidades de PEP. Conclusão: A hiperinsuflação observada no grupo AVE demonstra que essa terapêutica deve ser utilizada com cautela especialmente nas intensidades maiores que 10 cmH2O para essa população

Estrutura genética de Chromis multilineata (Guichenot, 1853) (Perciformes Pomacentridae) na costa NE do Brasil e ilhas oceânicas: evidências de um passado evolutivo instável.

The fauna of Brazilian reef fishes comprises approximately 320 species distributed along the coast of the mainland and islands ocean. Little is known about the levels of connectivity between their populations, but has been given the interest in the relations between the offshore and the islands of the Brazil, in a biogeographical perspective. The oceanic islands Brazilian hosting a considerable number of endemic species, which are locally abundant, and divide a substantial portion of its reef fish fauna with the Western Atlantic. Among the richest families of reef fish in species are Pomacentridae. This study analyzed through analysis of sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop), the standards-breeding population of C. Multilineata in different areas of the NE coast of Brazil, involving both oceanic islands (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and of St. Peter and St. Paul) and continental shelf (RN and BA). To this aim, partial sequences were used in the region HVR1 of mtDNA (312pb). The population structure and parameters for the estimates of genetic variability, molecular variance (AMOVA), estimation of the index for fixing (FST) and number of migrants were determined. The phylogenetic relationships between the populations were estimated using neighbor-joining (NJ) method. A group of Bayesian analysis was used to verify population structure, according to haplotype frequency of each individual. The genetic variability of populations was extremely high. The populations sampled show moderate genetic structure, with a higher degree of genetic divergence being observed for the sample of the Archipelago of St. Peter and St. Paul. At smaller geographical scale, the sample of Rio Grande do Norte and the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha do not have genetic differentiation. Three moderately differentiated population groups were identified: a population group (I), formed by the Rio Grande do Norte (I') and the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (I''), and two other different groups formed by the island population of the archipelago of Saint Peter and St. Paul (II) and Bahia (III). The genetic patterns found suggest that the species has suffered a relatively recent radiation favoring the absence of shared haplotypes. C. multilineata seems to constitute a relatively homogenous population along the West Atlantic coast, with evidence of a moderate population genetic structure in relation to the Archipelago of St. Peter and St. Paul. These data supports the importance of the dispersal larvae by marine current and the interpopulation similarity this species.

Caminhos para a universalização dos serviços de água e esgotos no Brasil: a atuação das entidades reguladoras para indução da eficiência dos prestadores de serviços

The deficit of water and sewerage services is a historic problem in Brazil. The introduction of a new regulatory framework, in 2007, presented ways intending to overcome these deficits, among them, the providers efficiency improvement. This thesis aims to analyze the regulators performance regarding its ability to induce the efficiency of the Brazilian water and sewerage services providers. To this end, an analytical approach based on a sequential explanatory strategy was used, and it consists of three steps. In the first step, the Data Envelopment Analysis ( DEA ) was used to measure the providers efficiency in 2006 and 2011. The results show that the average efficiency may be considered high; however significant inefficiencies among the 29 analyzed providers were detected. The ones in the Southeast region showed better performance level and Northeast had the lowest. The local and the private providers were more efficient on average. In 2006 and 2011 the average performance was higher among non-regulated providers. In 2006 the group regulated by local agencies had the best average performance, in 2011, the best performance was the group regulated by the consortium agencies. To analyse the second step was used the Malmquist Index, it pointed that the productivity between 2006 and 2011 dropped. The analysis through decomposing Malmquist Index showed a shift of technical efficiency frontier to a lower level, however was detected a small provider s advance towards the frontier. Only the Midwest region recorded progress in overall productivity. The deterioration in the total factor productivity was higher among regional providers but the local ones and the private agencies moved quickly to the frontier level. The providers regulated from 2007 showed less decrease on the total productivity and the results of the catch up effect were more meaningful. In the last step, the regulators standardization activity analyses noted that there are agencies that had not issued rules until 2011. The most standards topics discussed in the issued rules were the tariff adjustments and the setting of general conditions for the provision and use of services; in another hand, the least covered topics were new technologies incentive and the introduction of efficiency-inducing regulatory mechanisms and productivity gains for price reviews. Regulators created from 2007 were more active proportionately. Even with the advent of the regulatory framework and the creation of new regulatory bodies, the evidence points to a reality in which the actions of these agencies have not been ensuring that providers of water and sewage, regulated by them, has achieved better performance. The non- achievement of regulatory goals can be explained by the incipient level of performance of the Brazilian regulatory authorities, which should be strengthened because of its potential contribution to the Brazilian basic sanitation department

Comportamento e ecologia acústica da baleia jubarte (Megaptera novaeangliae) na região Nordeste do Brasil

The acoustic ecology concept involve the relation between the live organisms and their sound environment and is applied in the present work to study the context in which the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) singing behavior, known as the most complex display in the nature, occurred in the northeastern Brazilian coast, outside the core area of Abrolhos Bank, between 2005 and 2010.I analyze the singer male occurrence , their spatial distribution and probable relations with oceanographic features, such as depth, tide regimen and moon phases. I also describe the acoustic structure and temporal variation of the singing behavior, based on song frequency and time measurements outside the Abrolhos Bank, and further compare the song complexity, registered in the same period, between Abrolhos Bank (16°- 19° S, 37°- 39° W) and the adjacent North Coast, herein considered from Itacaré (14° S, 38° W) to Aracaju (11° S, 37° W). Additionally, I look for describe and analyze anthropogenic noise sources in the marine environment of the study area, produced by the oil industry as well as by the whale watching operation, relating their frequencies to the acoustic niche utilized by the humpbacks. The results indicated a great plasticity in the singing behavior, evidenced by the occurrence of singer males in diverse social structures, from solitary individuals to other groups, even containing females and calves, as well as by the diversity which compound the song, when compared between two regions inside the same breeding area, which present distinct oceanographic characteristics. The singer male distribution may be related with the continental shelf extent along the study area. The anthropogenic noise presented frequency range, amplitude and sound intensity in potential to interfere acoustically in the singing behavior of the species, may resulting in disturbance during the breeding season in the Brazilian coast. Implications about the obtained results in the humpback whale mating system are discussed. In this way, I pretend to contribute with the acoustic ecology subject and provide information to subsidize humpback whale conservation

Boto cinza (Sotalia guianensis, Van Benédén, 1864) (Cetacea, Delphinidae): Atividade aérea, forrageio e interações inter-específicas, na Praia de Pipa (Tibau do Sul RN) e estudo comparativo entre duas populações do Nordeste do Brasil

Sotalia guianensis is a small cetacean of the Delphinidae family, with coastal habits and whose area of distribution ranges from Florianópolis (27º35'S, 48º34'W), in Brazil, to Honduras (15º58'N, 85º42'W). At Pipa beach, on the south coast of RN state, in Brazil, the species occur throughout the year. The present study was carried out in two bays, which are bordered by cliffs. The animals were monitored from vantage points, using the "Ad libitum" and "all the occurrences" methods; during the years of 1999 and 2004. The study was divided in 4 chapters: Behavioral standards of two populations of gray dolphin, (Sotalia guianensis, Van Benédén, 1864) in the northeast of Brazil; Aerial activity of the gray dolphin: its possible function and the influence of environmental and behavioral factors; The influence of daily and monthly variation of the tides, of the period of the day and group size on the gray dolphin forage activity; kleptoparasitism interactions of frigatebird (Fregata magnificens, Mattheus, 1914) during the gray dolphin forage activity. The results have shown that the gray dolphin has a varied and complex behavioral repertoire. The leap is the most frequent behavior; the aerial activity is diffuse during daylight and is influenced by some factors, such as the level of the tide and social factors. The gray dolphin, when in the bay, most frequently feeds isolate or in small groups. The forage is diffuse during daylight; however, being more frequent in the morning and is influenced by the daily and monthly variation of the tide. At Pipa beach, kleptoparasitarian interactions were registered between the gray dolphin and the frigatebird (Fregata magnificens). The frigatebird forage strategy consists basically of two ways: to fly over great extensions searching for dead fish and to steal food (kleptoparasitism). These interactions were predominantly carried out between immature and female adult birds and adult and immature dolphins, and occurred during daylight. The present study can be considered an initial landmark to a better knowledge on the gray dolphin surface behavior, especially regarding the aerial behavioral repertoire and forage strategy of this species. However, it is necessary to continue these studies, so that we can understand better the complex social life of these animals and thus create effective measures for its conservation