Tax performance and reform in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

Includes bibliography

Geo-environmental investigation: A brief review and a few suggestions for brazilian contaminated sites

This paper presents a brief review about site investigation procedures for contaminated sites recommended by Brazilian and Canadian environmental agencies as well as discusses the theme of geo-environmental investigation as applied to Brazilian practice. The main definitions on the theme are reviewed and some guidelines are proposed for conducting a geo-environmental investigation of Brazilian contaminated sites using different site and laboratory investigation techniques based on the presented review and on the experience obtained from the investigation of a solid waste disposal site in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Private-public alliances for export development: the Korean case

Incluye bibliografía

Small- and medium-sized enterprises' restructuring in a context of transition: a shared process: inter-player effects on efficient boundary choice in the Argentine manufacturing sector

Includes bibliography

The Mexican maquila industry and the environment: an overview of the issues

Includes bibliography

Fatores de risco da transmissão de zoonoses por costumes da população de Ilha Solteira, Brasil

Objective Determining conditions regarding possible zoonosis transmission risk based on Ilha Solteira-São Paulo citizens' habits aimed at establishing concrete recommendations for the corresponding local authorities to reduce some risk factors. Methods100 focalized interviews were held on Ilha Solteira's urban perimeter during April 2008. The people interviewed were adults who lived or worked in houses in the study area. Results This research found a significant number of cat and/or dog owners who allowed their pets to stay in internal areas of their houses. They did not define a specific place for animals to defecate and/or urinate or did not arrange appropriate final disposal of such waste. Conclusion Local authorities must make greater efforts at educating Ilha Solteira pets' owners and providing them with information and encouraging greater citizen commitment and awareness to improve habits related to caring for pets/animal sand reducing zoonosis transmission risk factors.

Sustainable development of human settlements: achievements and challenges in housing and urban policy in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Aspectos nutricionais de farinhas de vísceras de aves e sua utilização em rações de frangos de corte

In the process of slaughtering chickens, parts of them are discarded because are unfit for human consumption. These wastes should be directed to a destination that does not promote any risk to the environment and above all, according with the laws regulating waste disposal. So, the wastes are transformed into byproducts for utilization in the animal nutrition, poultry and swine feeding, but cannot use for ruminant feed, only non-ruminant feeding. In Brazil, the first scientific studies on the use of by-products of poultry slaughter as a protein source in diets for broiler chickens were started in the 1960's, and these results were used for a long time for food formulation, but the need to improve the herds stimulated the search for improvement in technologies for more accurate diet formulations. The objective of this article is to review some aspects of the physic-chemical composition, energy values and their use in diets for broilers.

Alterations in the fat body cells of rhinocricus padbergi (Diplopoda) resulting from exposure to substrate containing sewage sludge

Abstract The final disposal of residues generated at sewage treatment plants (STPs) has become a major problem for cities, due to the increase in the amount of treated sewage. One of the alternatives for the residue, labeled sewage sludge, is its reuse in agriculture and in degraded soil. However, not all pathogens and metals present in it are eliminated during treatment. Diplopods have been used as bioindicators in ecotoxicological tests as they are constantly in close contact with the soil. Owing to this fact, the purpose of this study was to expose specimens of the diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi to substrate containing sewage sludge collected at STPs to analyze morphological alterations in their parietal and perivisceral fat body, where substances are stored. The exposures were held for 7, 15, or 90 days at different concentrations of sewage sludge (control, 1%, 10%, and 50%). The parietal fat body showed no alterations in any of the three exposure periods or concentrations. Alterations in the perivisceral fat body were observed for all exposure periods. According to the results, we suggest that the sludge used has toxic agents responsible for changing the animal's perivisceral fat body. © 2012 Microscopy Society of America.

Efeitos ambientais da disposição oceânica de esgotos por meio de emissários submarinos: Uma revisão

Oceanic disposal systems of domestic sewage, or submarine sewage outfalls, have been historically used around the world as a solution for urban effluents, in special due to economic aspects. However, release into the ocean, in shallow or deep waters, may induce a set of negative environmental impacts, as eutrophication, toxic algal blooms, pathogenic microorganisms introduction and contamination by chemical substances which are capable of causing toxic effects to the biota and bioaccumulation. Thus, the release of untreated sewage into the sea does not constitute an adequate environmental practice; then, urban effluents should be treated in order to remove nutrients, contaminants and pathogenic organisms and avoid environmental degradation.

Restoration of a degraded area using soil tillage systems in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

In Brazil the intensive agriculture use, mainly pasture, is the main cause of the presence of extensive areas of degraded lands. This study aimed to assess the impact of different soil management practices in a pasture degraded area used as garbage disposal. The experiment was performed at the Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, in Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil, from 1990 to 1996. This area has undergone a process of recovery through removal of trash deposited on the surface, in 1985, levelling of soil, followed by application of limestone, subsoiling, planting of legumes (Crotalaria juncea) and crop rotation (soybean and maize). Since 1990 only popcorn maize was grown and established plots managed with different soil tillage systems, including harrow, chisel plow, moldboard plow, no tillage, disk plow and revolving hoe. One plot was planted exclusively with guinea grass (Panicum maximum) to serve as a reference for minimum loss of soil and another grown on a downhill direction to correspond to the expected maximum erosion. There were differences in sediment loss, nutrient loss and productivity of the popcorn maize in the period analyzed. The chisel plow and no tillage treatments caused the slightest loss of soil and nutrients, compared to other tillage systems. The results show that the soil management systems influenced the physical and chemical characteristics of soil, allowing an economical and environmental recovery of the area, providing the conditions for grain agricultural production.

Biosolid soil application: Toxicity tests under laboratory conditions

A large volume of generated sewage sludge makes its disposal a problem. The usage of sludge in agriculture is highlighted by a number of advantages. However, heavy metals and other toxic compounds may exercise harmful effects to soil organisms. This study evaluated the possible toxic effects of a biosolid sample, under laboratory conditions, for 30 days, using diplopods Rhinocricus padbergi and plants Allium cepa (onion) as test organisms. The data obtained demonstrated that the biosolid raw sample had genotoxic potential for Allium cepa root tip cells. In the diplopods exposed to biosolid sample, epithelium disorganization in the midgut and a reduction of the volume of the hepatic cells were observed after 7 days of exposure. After 30 days, the animals still showed a reduction of the volume of the hepatic cells, but in minor intensity. Allium cepa analysis showed genotoxicity, but this effect was reduced after 30 days of bioprocessing by diplopods. This study was important to know the effects as well as to determine how this waste could be applied concerning the soil living organisms and plants. © 2012 Cintya Ap. Christofoletti et al.

Monitoramento temporal da pluma de contaminação no aterro de resíduos urbanos de Rio Claro (SP) por meio do método geofísico da eletrorresistividade

Several factors have contributed to the increase the world production of urban solid waste, resulting in difficulties to the correct management and the final environmentally appropriate disposal, in addition to causing serious socio-economic, environmental, and public health troubles. The soil and groundwater contamination by leachate in waste disposal sites is almost always present, leveraging the emergence and/or adaptation of methodologies for environmental assessment of these areas. The geophysical methods, especially the electrical resistivity method, are fast, reliable and low-cost alternative for this purpose. This paper reports the methodology adopted for the temporal monitoring of the plume of contamination of controlled landfill in the municipality of Rio Claro (SP). Electrical resistivity data were obtained in 1999 and 2008, by the resistivity method, using the techniques of vertical electrical sounding and electrical profile. In both years, similar tests were carried out in the same locations within the disposal area. The results indicated that the plume of contamination has resistivity values less than or equal to 50 ohm.m and moves guided by 2 flows: the main, to the southeast, and the secondary, to the west. Relatively to the first series of tests in 1999, the plume of contamination was higher and deeper in 2008, contrary to what was expected for a landfill deactivated for at least 10 years.

Arranjos configurados pelas vias bilíferas no fígado do avestruz (Struthio camelus)

The aim of this study was evaluate the influence of physical exercise (marcha gait) on serum values of CK and AST The Ostrich (Struthio camelus) is originally from Africa and belongs to the ratite's family. Since its zootechnic value has been increasing, especially in the northwest region of the state of São Paulo, we studied the biliary system in the liver of this animal. To carry through it were used 20 ostrich livers, males and females, young and adults from place to production ostrich in the northwest region of the State of São Paulo. After the opening of the gastrointestinal tract and disposal of the bile through gentle massage, we cannulated the hepatic excretory duct with a flexible probe, compatible in size with the duct, and injected colored Neoprene latex 450 in the biliary system. Following this procedure, the livers were fixed in aqueous solution of formaldehyde to 10% dissected, schematized and photographed. The right main branch is derived from the right lateral, square lobe and the caudate process branches in 7 livers. In 13 livers, the right side branch is forned by the right side and caudate process branches. The left branch receives the components from the left lateral lobe and branch of the medial left lobe in 7 livers. It also receives component from the square lobe and from the caudate process in 13 and 7 livers, respectively.In conclusion, the ostrich liver has no gallbladder, causing the duct is the only route of excretion of bile, always resulting from the convergence of the right hepatic duct with the left hepatic duct.

Indicadores para a gestão de resíduos sólidos em aeroportos e sua aplicação no Aeroporto Internacional de Viracopos, Campinas, São Paulo

Taking into account the current context about environmental concern, the main purposes of this research were to develop and apply indicators in order to evaluate waste residues management in airports. As a result, 17 indicators related to generation, storage, transportation, collection, and solid waste disposal were created. These were applied in Viracopos International Airport, in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. The results obtained in the study had a 2.9 performance, in a scale from one to five, characterized as regular. Posteriorly, the main weaknesses in waste residues management were analyzed in such Airport, as well as good practices and solutions were identifed. The highlighted management strategies suggested were the adjustment of areas for waste storage, recycling, and residues composting.