Transporte marítimo de curta distância na União Europeia e em Portugal

O transporte marítimo sempre assumiu uma importância primordial no transporte, quer de pessoas como de mercadorias. O uso das vias marítimas para o transporte de mercadorias é uma prática utilizada desde os tempos antigos. O transporte marítimo na Europa sempre foi uma forma eficaz e de baixo custo de transportar passageiros e mercadorias de um local para outro. Atualmente, todos os modos de transporte necessitam de melhorar a sua eficiência e reduzir o montante de poluentes que libertam para o meio-ambiente. O transporte marítimo de curta distância (TMCD) é parte essencial no sistema de transporte multimodal Europeu representando cerca de 37% das transações intracomunitárias (tkm). Os resultados alcançados advêm desde que, em 2001, a European Shortsea Network (ESN) em parceria com os Shortsea Promotion Centres (SPC) de cada Estado-Membro da União Europeia (EU) conseguiram efetuar progressos significativos na promoção e desenvolvimento do transporte por esta via. Esta tese de mestrado pretende caraterizar o TMCD na EU e em Portugal e a sua articulação com os outros meios de transporte de mercadorias. Será também analisada a situação Portuguesa ao nível do transporte marítimo de mercadorias fazendo especial relevância à mercadoria contentorizada, às infraestruturas atualmente existentes em Portugal assim como às perspetivas futuras para o setor. A metodologia utilizada inclui a revisão de literatura da investigação efetuada sobre o setor, a recolha de informação primária através do instrumento inquérito e a recolha de informação estatística a partir de fontes secundárias, permitindo a caraterização do setor. O inquérito foi desenvolvido e partilhado com mais de um milhar de empresas a operar em Portugal, nas que se incluem as empresas transportadoras, operadores logísticos, agentes de navegação e as principais empresas exportadoras/importadoras a operar em Portugal, tendo-se obtido 106 respostas válidas. A nível nacional, o inquérito realizado permitiu confirmar que os principais portos logísticos para a movimentação internacional de mercadorias são os portos de Leixões, Lisboa, Sines e Setúbal, estando a maioria das empresas inquiridas localizadas no hinterland destes portos. O inquérito permitiu também concluir que o facto de o transporte rodoviário ser um meio de transporte rápido, de baixo custo para curtas e médias distâncias, de elevada frequência de transporte, de oferecer elevada capacidade e diversos tipos de carga transportada, de oferecer serviços Porta-a-Porta, da elevada flexibilidade e mobilidade oferecida, assim como a rapidez das operações de carga e descarga continuam a contribuir para a elevada competitividade deste modo de transporte de mercadorias, sendo as razões pelo qual este modo é escolhido, pese embora, ser o modo mais poluente por tonelada transportada. Os modos de transporte TMCD e ferroviário apenas são alvo de escolha, como modo de transporte de mercadorias, por parte das empresas mais responsáveis socialmente e ambiental. O inquérito permitiu ainda concluir que, para haver uma melhor articulação entre o TMCD com outros meios de transporte, é necessário que sejam disponibilizados novos serviços, portos e terminais logísticos com serviços privatizados, assim como a redução das tarifas aplicáveis TMCD.

Liver dysfunction in patients bitten by Crotalus durissus terrificus (Laurenti, 1768) snakes in Botucatu (State of São Paulo, Brazil)

Thirty-two patients bitten by venomous snakes sixteen by Bothrops spp. and sixteen by Crotalus durissus terrificus were studied. The group comprised thirty males and two females, aged eight to sixty-three years (mean 33±15). Bromsulphalein tests were increased in the majority of patients bitten by Crotalus durissus terrificus. The correlation coefficient of Spearman was positive between bromsulphalein tests and alanine aminotransferase levels, and between alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels only in the Crotalus group. The only patient who died was bitten by Crotalus durissus terrificus and showed hydropic degeneration and mitochondrial injury in the liver. It was concluded that the hepatic damage might have been caused by at least two possible mechanisms: venom effect on liver mitochondria and cytokine effects on hepatocyte, specially interleukin-6.

Clinical-epidemiologic study of schistosomiasis mansoni in Ponte do Pasmado, a village in the municipality of Itinga, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1992

A clinical-epidemiologic study of schistosomiasis mansoni was conducted in the population of Ponte do Pasmado, a village in the municipality of Itinga, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Faecal Parasitology by the Kato-Katz method and clinical examination were performed in 93.8% and 82.8% of the local population, respectively. A socioeconomic survey was also made and the signs and symptoms presented by the patients were recorded, as well as their contacts with natural waters. The rate of Schistosoma mansoni infection was 50.3%; the peak of infection occurred during the second decade of life; there was a predominance of low egg counts in faeces (85.89% of positive patients eliminated less than 500 eggs per gram of faeces); the splenomegaly rate was 1.23%. When the risk factors for S. mansoni infection were studied, significant risks were detected in activities such as fetching water, washing dishes, bathing, and crossing streams.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis: first record of its occurrence in the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil, and a review of its geographic distribution

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis is a parasitic disease caused by Angiostrongylus costaricensis, a metastrongylid nematode with wide geographic distribution, occurring from the United States to Argentina. In Brazil, the disease has been reported from the States of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Federal District of Brasilia and Minas Gerais. We report here a case of abdominal angiostrongyliasis in a 9-year-old girl, from Itatiba, State of Espirito Santo, Brazil, submitted to exploratory laparotomy for acute abdomen. Extensive inflammatory lesions of terminal ileum and cecum, with perforations of the first, were present, and ileocecal resection was performed. The pathological picture was characterized by transmural inflammatory granulomatous reaction, extensive eosinophilic infiltration, eosinophilic vasculitis and the presence of worms within a mesenteric artery branch, with histological features of metastrongylid nematodes. This case report contributes to a better knowledge of the geographic distribution of this parasite in Brazil, suggesting that abdominal angiostrongyliasis may represent a disease of medical importance, more than a rarity of academic interest.

Expatriates recruitment and selection for long-term international assignments in portuguese companies

Long-term international assignments’ increase requires more attention being paid for the preparation of these foreign assignments, especially on the recruitment and selection process of expatriates. This article explores how the recruitment and selection process of expatriates is developed in Portuguese companies, examining the main criteria on recruitment and selection of expatriates’ decision to send international assignments. The paper is based on qualitative case studies of companies located in Portugal. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews of 42 expatriates and 18 organisational representatives as well from nine Portuguese companies. The findings show that the most important criteria are: (1) trust from managers, (2) years in service, (3) previous technical and language competences, (4) organisational knowledge and, (5) availability. Based on the findings, the article discusses in detail the main theoretical and managerial implications. Suggestions for further research are also presented.

Occurence of Giardia lamblia in children of municipal day-care centers from Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil

Considering that the number of day-care centers for pre-school-age children has expanded rapidly in developing countries, and that these institutions presenting conditions that facilitate the transmission of many enteric agents, a parasitological survey was carried out in three municipal day-cares from Botucatu: two in the urban area (one in downtown area and the other one in the city periphery area) and the third in the rural area. Three separate stool specimens were collected from 147 children ranging from 0 to 72 months old and 20 staff members. Each stool specimen was processed by Lutz and zinc sulfate flotation methods. The frequency of giardiasis observed among children of downtown, periphery and rural day-cares was 69.6%, 52.7% and 69.6%, respectively. Only one employee was positive for G. lamblia. The examination of three stool specimens increased the positivity for G. lamblia: from the ninety three final positive examinations, 24 (25.5%) and 8 (8.5%) were positives only after examination of the second and third samples, respectively. Others intestinal organisms like Ascaris lumbricoides (20.4%), Trichuris trichiura (19.0%). Hymenolepis nana (8.8%), Entamoeba coli (22.4%) and Blastocystis hominis (32.0%) were frequently found in the children. There was no significant association among localization of the day-cares, sex of the children and the levels of G. lamblia infection. According to the age, G. lamblia was found mainly in children between 12 to 47 months old.

Dengue type 2 outbreak in the south of the State of Bahia, Brazil: laboratorial and epidemiological studies

During March 1994 cases of a exanthematic acute disease were reported in the municipalities of Itagemirim, Eunápolis and Belmonte, state of Bahia. Dengue fever was confirmed by serology (MAC-ELISA) and by dengue virus type 2 isolation, genotype Jamaica. Signs and symptoms of classic dengue fever were observed with a high percentual of rash (73.8%) and pruritus (50.5%). Major haemorrhagic manifestations were unfrequent and only bleeding gum was reported. Dengue virus activity spreaded rapidly to important tourism counties like Porto Seguro, Ilhéus, Santa Cruz de Cabrália, Prado, Alcobaça and others, representing a risk for the spreading of dengue virus into the country and abroad.

Secondary dengue infection in schoolchildren in a dengue endemic area in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A seroepidemiologic survey was carried out in schoolchildren from public schools of the Niterói municipality, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after a period of sequential epidemics by dengue virus type 1 and 2 (DEN-1 and DEN-2). 450 blood samples were obtained by fingertip puncture and collected on filter paper discs. The hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test was carried out using DEN-1 and DEN-2 antigens. HAI titres were demonstrated in 66% (297/450) of the sera and the geometric means of the titres were 1/182 and 1/71 for DEN-1 and DEN-2, respectively. Secondary infections were observed in 61% (181/297) of positive cases. Among these, 75% (135/181) were under fifteen years old. No dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) was reported in these children. Asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic infections were detected in 56% of the studied population. The absolute and relative frequencies of positive tests by age group and sex did not evidence statistically significant difference. The number of individuals infected probably produced a immunologic barrier responsible for the non occurrence of dengue epidemic in the latter years.

Scorpion sting epidemiology in Montes municipality of the State of Sucre, Venezuela: geographic distribution

Scorpion stings were surveyed in the Montes Municipality of the State of Sucre, Venezuela, aiming to extend the information on these poisonous accidents by characterizing their geographic distribution. From 1980 to 1990, 184 cases of scorpion stings were recorded with an incidence rate of 38.6 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. The locality of San Fernando presented the highest incidence (68.3(0)/000) of poisonous accidents. The highest percentages of severe cases were recorded in the towns of Arenas (27%), San Lorenzo (21%), and Cocollar (19%), which are located at the foot of the Turimiquire Mountains. This region is a dispersion area of scorpions of the Tityus genus. Our results show that this region of the State of Sucre is endemic for scorpion stings which are an important public health problem.

Progression of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4 strains in São Paulo State, Brazil

A total of 574 S. Enteritidis strains (383 from human sources and 191 from non-human sources) isolated between 1975-95, in São Paulo State, Brazil, were phagetyped. Among the strains isolated during the period of 1975-92, 80.9% of them belonged to phage type 8 (PT-8), but in 1993 strains of PT-4 accounted for 65.2% of all the S. Enteritidis isolates. In the following years, PT-4 strains accounted for 99.7% and 98.4% of phagetyped S. Enteritidis strains. The results obtained suggested that the current epidemic of S. Enteritidis in São Paulo State is clearly associated with the progression of PT-4 strains.

The state of environmental performance evaluation in the public sector: the case of the Portuguese defence sector

Journal of Cleaner Production, nº 17, p. 36-52

Measles antibody prevalence after mass immunization campaign in Niterói, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Three months after a mass vaccination campaign (coverage: 100%) against measles a random seroepidemiological survey was carried out in students aged 1 to 19 years old in the Municipality of Niterói, State of Rio de Janeiro. Blood samples were tested for measles antibodies by enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA) and negative cases were tested again using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and plaque reduction neutralization (PRN). Of the 798 samples tested by EIA, 718 (90.2%) were positive for measles antibodies. PRN test was more sensitive than EIA and HI in detecting measles specific antibodies. The total antibody prevalence increased from 90.2% to 93.2% when HI was employed in EIA negative specimens and to 98.9% when PRN was used. After the mass vaccination campaign a marked decrease in measles incidence was observed in the municipality studied, showing the effectiveness of the strategy used for measles control in developing countries.

Epidemiological aspects of the Brazilian spotted fever: serological survey of dogs and horses in an endemic area in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

In order to obtain information on Brazilian spotted fever, a study in domestic animals was performed in the County of Pedreira, State of São Paulo, Brazil, where 17 human cases had been notified. Serum samples obtained from animals were tested by indirect immunofluorescence for detectable antibodies to spotted fever-group rickettsiae. Seropositivity was revealed in 12 (36.4%) of 33 dogs and seven (77.8%) of nine horses from the endemic area. For comparison, blood samples from dogs and horses from non endemic area were tested and four (12.9%) of 31 dogs and three (27.3%) of 11 horses were positive. The highest titers of antibodies by IFA (IgG > 1:1024) were found only in three dogs and six horses from endemic area. The results suggest that dogs as horses may serve as environmental sentinels for estabilishing the prevalence of foci of spotted fever in Brazil.