Caracterização química e toxicológica da água produzida descartada em plataformas de óleo e gás na costa brasileira e seu comportamento dispersivo no mar

The production of oil and gas is usually accompanied by the production of water, also known as produced water. Studies were conducted in platforms that discharge produced water in the Atlantic Ocean due to oil and gas production by Petrobras from 1996 to 2006 in the following basins: Santos (Brazilian south region), Campos (Brazilian southeast region) and Ceara (Brazilian northeast region). This study encompasses chemical composition, toxicological effects, discharge volumes, and produced water behavior after releasing in the ocean, including dispersion plumes modeling and monitoring data of the marine environment. The concentration medians for a sampling of 50 samples were: ammonia (70 mg L-1), boron (1.3 mg L1), iron (7.4 mg L-1), BTEX (4.6 mg L-1), PAH (0.53 mg L-1), TPH (28 mg L-1); phenols (1.3 mg L-1) and radioisotopes (0.15 Bq L-1 for 226Ra and 0.09 Bq L-1 for 228Ra). The concentrations of the organic and inorganic parameters observed for the Brazilian platforms were similar to the international reference data for the produced water in the North Sea and in other regions of the world. It was found significant differences in concentrations of the following parameters: BTEX (p<0.0001), phenols (p=0.0212), boron (p<0.0001), iron (p<0.0001) and toxicological response in sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus (p<0.0001) when considering two distinguished groups, platforms from southeast and northeast Region (PCR-1). Significant differences were not observed among the other parameters. In platforms with large gas production, the monoaromatic concentrations (BTEX from 15.8 to 21.6 mg L-1) and phenols (from 2 to 83 mg L-1) were higher than in oil plataforms (median concentrations of BTEX were 4.6 mg L-1 for n=53, and of phenols were 1.3 mg L-1 for n=46). It was also conducted a study about the influence of dispersion plumes of produced water in the vicinity of six platforms of oil and gas production (P-26, PPG-1, PCR-1, P-32, SS-06), and in a hypothetical critical scenario using the chemical characteristics of each effluent. Through this study, using CORMIX and CHEMMAP models for dispersion plumes simulation of the produced water discharges, it was possible to obtain the dilution dimension in the ocean after those discharges. The dispersion plumes of the produced water modelling in field vicinity showed dilutions of 700 to 900 times for the first 30-40 meters from the platform PCR-1 discharge point; 100 times for the platform P-32, with 30 meters of distance; 150 times for the platform P-26, with 40 meters of distance; 100 times for the platform PPG-1, with 130 meters of distance; 280 to 350 times for the platform SS-06, with 130 meters of distance, 100 times for the hypothetical critical scenario, with the 130 meters of distance. The dilutions continue in the far field, and with the results of the simulations, it was possible to verify that all the parameters presented concentrations bellow the maximum values established by Brazilian legislation for seawater (CONAMA 357/05 - Class 1), before the 500 meters distance of the discharge point. These results were in agreement with the field measurements. Although, in general results for the Brazilian produced water presented toxicological effects for marine organisms, it was verified that dilutions of 100 times were sufficient for not causing toxicological responses. Field monitoring data of the seawater around the Pargo, Pampo and PCR-1 platforms did not demonstrate toxicity in the seawater close to these platforms. The results of environmental monitoring in seawater and sediments proved that alterations were not detected for environmental quality in areas under direct influence of the oil production activities in the Campos and Ceara Basin, as according to results obtained in the dispersion plume modelling for the produced water discharge

Caracterização química e toxicológica da água produzida descartada em plataformas de óleo e gás na costa brasileira e seu comportamento dispersivo no mar

The production of oil and gas is usually accompanied by the production of water, also known as produced water. Studies were conducted in platforms that discharge produced water in the Atlantic Ocean due to oil and gas production by Petrobras from 1996 to 2006 in the following basins: Santos (Brazilian south region), Campos (Brazilian southeast region) and Ceara (Brazilian northeast region). This study encompasses chemical composition, toxicological effects, discharge volumes, and produced water behavior after releasing in the ocean, including dispersion plumes modeling and monitoring data of the marine environment. The concentration medians for a sampling of 50 samples were: ammonia (70 mg L-1), boron (1.3 mg L1), iron (7.4 mg L-1), BTEX (4.6 mg L-1), PAH (0.53 mg L-1), TPH (28 mg L-1); phenols (1.3 mg L-1) and radioisotopes (0.15 Bq L-1 for 226Ra and 0.09 Bq L-1 for 228Ra). The concentrations of the organic and inorganic parameters observed for the Brazilian platforms were similar to the international reference data for the produced water in the North Sea and in other regions of the world. It was found significant differences in concentrations of the following parameters: BTEX (p<0.0001), phenols (p=0.0212), boron (p<0.0001), iron (p<0.0001) and toxicological response in sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus (p<0.0001) when considering two distinguished groups, platforms from southeast and northeast Region (PCR-1). Significant differences were not observed among the other parameters. In platforms with large gas production, the monoaromatic concentrations (BTEX from 15.8 to 21.6 mg L-1) and phenols (from 2 to 83 mg L-1) were higher than in oil plataforms (median concentrations of BTEX were 4.6 mg L-1 for n=53, and of phenols were 1.3 mg L-1 for n=46). It was also conducted a study about the influence of dispersion plumes of produced water in the vicinity of six platforms of oil and gas production (P-26, PPG-1, PCR-1, P-32, SS-06), and in a hypothetical critical scenario using the chemical characteristics of each effluent. Through this study, using CORMIX and CHEMMAP models for dispersion plumes simulation of the produced water discharges, it was possible to obtain the dilution dimension in the ocean after those discharges. The dispersion plumes of the produced water modelling in field vicinity showed dilutions of 700 to 900 times for the first 30-40 meters from the platform PCR-1 discharge point; 100 times for the platform P-32, with 30 meters of distance; 150 times for the platform P-26, with 40 meters of distance; 100 times for the platform PPG-1, with 130 meters of distance; 280 to 350 times for the platform SS-06, with 130 meters of distance, 100 times for the hypothetical critical scenario, with the 130 meters of distance. The dilutions continue in the far field, and with the results of the simulations, it was possible to verify that all the parameters presented concentrations bellow the maximum values established by Brazilian legislation for seawater (CONAMA 357/05 - Class 1), before the 500 meters distance of the discharge point. These results were in agreement with the field measurements. Although, in general results for the Brazilian produced water presented toxicological effects for marine organisms, it was verified that dilutions of 100 times were sufficient for not causing toxicological responses. Field monitoring data of the seawater around the Pargo, Pampo and PCR-1 platforms did not demonstrate toxicity in the seawater close to these platforms. The results of environmental monitoring in seawater and sediments proved that alterations were not detected for environmental quality in areas under direct influence of the oil production activities in the Campos and Ceara Basin, as according to results obtained in the dispersion plume modelling for the produced water discharge

Avaliação clínica da resposta do tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico (Full mouth desinfection) de pacientes diabéticos e não diabéticos

Tem sido demonstrado que o diabetes influencia no desenvolvimento e progressão da doença periodontal. Acredita-se ainda que há uma relação bi-direcional entre o Diabetes Mellito e a Doença Periodontal. Por isso, o tratamento periodontal pode responder de forma diferente em pacientes com e sem o quadro de diabetes. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar clinicamente o efeito da terapia periodontal não cirúrgica em pacientes com periodontite e diabetes mellito (grupo teste) e sem o quadro de diabetes (grupo controle). Para isso, realizou-se o tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico FMSRP (Full mouth Scalling and Root Planing) e verificou-se os parâmetro clínicos periodontais (profundidade de sondagem, nível clínico de inserção, mobilidade, índice gengival e índice de placa) no início do estudo e após 3 meses. Na análise estatística, o paciente foi considerado como unidade de análise (p<0,05). Para as variáveis categóricas utilizou-se o teste de Fisher. Nas comparações inter-grupo, foi utilizado o Mann-Whitney Test e para comparações intra-grupo (baseline e três meses) utilizou-se o Teste de Wilcoxon. Participaram 26 pacientes no grupo controle e 14 no grupo teste. O índice de placa era 71,20% no início do estudo para o grupo teste e ficou 47,12% no fim; já no controle, os valores eram de 48,52% passando para 37,50%. E o índice gengival no grupo teste no baseline era 42,67 diminuindo para 26,81 e no grupo controle diminuiu de 41,36 para 30,62. A profundidade de sondagem foi no grupo teste 2,71mm passando para 2,40mm; já no controle, os valores foram de 2,84mm diminuindo para 2,55mm. O grupo controle ganhou 0,34 mm de inserção e o grupo teste perdeu 0,44mm de inserção. A recessão gengival aumentou 0,33mm no grupo teste e 0,04mm no grupo controle após os 3 meses. Houve diferença significativa inter-grupo para o índice de placa e gengival no baseline, também foi encontrado na recessão após 3 meses; já intra-grupo verificou-se diferença significativa para todas as variáveis, exceto para o nível clinico de inserção e mobilidade. Quando se categorizou a profundidade de sondagem em ≤3mm, >3 e≤6mm e >6mm, não foi encontrado diferença entre os grupos, mas verificou-se diferença significativa entre os períodos tanto para o grupo teste como para o controle. A hemoglobina glicada no grupo controle foi de 5,90% e no teste aumentou de 7,79% para 8,10%. Portanto, verifica-se que há uma melhora dos parâmetros clínicos periodontais em ambos os grupos, contudo não se verificou uma diferença significativa entre eles. Não obstante, o FMSRP promove um efeito benéfico em relação à condição de saúde periodontal, melhora dos parâmetros clínicos periodontais, em curto prazo (3 meses) tanto em indivíduos diabéticos como em não diabéticos, não sendo possível observar um melhor quadro glicêmico nos diabéticos

Trabalho e saúde na sociedade capitalista: uma relação inversamente proporciona

It is a dissertation which has the Area of Concentration: Social Services, Vocational Training, Labour and Social Protection. Research Line: Social Services, Labor, Social Protection and Citizenship. Brings an approach to health and worker safety, approached on the organization of work in their processes of worker exploitation, analyzed from the critical perspective and all. Its central objective of uncovering how the organization of work affects the health of their workers, considering the working process in the capitalist mode of production, the health-disease relationship. Displays the worker, as determined by the work process, emphasizing, along the lines of capitalism, the consequences for the physical well-being, mental and social workers. To this end, we make a documentary and bibliographic research, whose point of analysis is based on the perspective of the centrality of work, recovering their sense of ontological Marx, through which the transformations are discussed in the working world, listed based on context productive restructuring of capital, which occurs along the imperialist stage of capitalist mode of production. It is problematized, though, worker health, analyzed from the wider definition of health as a field of public health, considering the work process in health-disease relationship. Finally, the research developed raised between 2006 and 2010, the Graduate Programs UFRN that address the range of issues studied in this dissertation. The scientific outputs are problematized as a way to reveal the theoretical trends (critical or conservative) which facilitate the thematic area

As contribuições relativas ao uso de eventos/fóruns para constituição de comunidades de práticas e expressão da inteligência coletiva: o caso do Bibliocontas

Reflete sobre as Comunidades de Prática (CoPs), na perspectiva do conceito de Inteligência Coletiva de Pierre Lèvy. Descreve o ponto de vista de Lèvy, procurando estabelecer um diálogo como conceito de CoPs, criado por Etienne Wenger. Aponta os elementos encontrados nos fóruns virtuais e presenciais realizados pelo do Grupo Bibliocontas, (grupo formado por profissionais da informação que atuam nos Tribunais de Contas brasileiros), que podem contribuir para constituição de uma comunidade de prática. Verifica que os eventos/fóruns são canais integradores para efetivação de uma comunidade de prática, cujo resultado propicia a transformação das pessoas, a formação de identidades e a negociação de significados do fazer profissional. Observa que a construção coletiva de conhecimentos tem sido materializada na forma de diretrizes e ações, que foram ou estão para serem concretizadas pelas instituições dos participantes do grupo em questão, além do resultado da análise dos dados quantitativos, que indica um crescimento constante de troca de mensagens em ambiente virtual e aumento do número de participantes no grupo.

Uma abordagem para promover o alinhamento entre a estratégia de negócio e a tecnologia de informação

Currently with the increase in complexity in doing business, organizations are seeking information systems that help to quickly respond to new demands in the processes of production of products and services. An information system is no longer just a support tool and has become an integral part of doing business. However, in spite of significant technological evolution in recent years, information systems that support business do not respond efficiently to the constant alterations that occur in many organizations. One of the main problems faced by information systems currently is the lack of strategic alignment between business strategy and information technology. The concept of strategic alignment can be defined as a way between business strategies and objectives and the strategies, objectives and functions of information technology in such as way as to contribute to the increase in competitivity of the organization over time. Strategic alignment together with strategic planning are important management instruments. Approaches for operationalizing this alignment are being developed currently but are still in their initial stages due to the fact that it is a relatively new concept in the literature. Another point that needs to be taken into consideration during the strategic alignment is the question of trackability between the business elements and IT. Trackability (Tracking) is necessary for example when one wishes to know exactly which goal defined in the business strategy was left out or not accepted due to a modification made in the IT strategy. Very few proposals present concrete ways supported by software systems in order to obtain strategic alignement while taking into consideration this trackability. Therefore the objective of this work is to propose the creation of a strategic alignment process supported by a software system which is capable of permitting trackability between the organizational objectives and the business processes based on formalization standards defined through a model oriented approach

Reavaliação da via aérea do paciente obeso submetido à cirurgia bariátrica após a redução do índice de massa corpórea

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dificuldade na intubação traqueal é causa de mortalidade em anestesiologia e pode estar relacionada à obesidade. Diagnosticar uma intubação difícil contribui para o êxito da abordagem da via aérea, mas os parâmetros preditores de intubação difícil não estão bem estabelecidos. A classificação de Mallampati, a distância interincisivos, a circunferência do pescoço, a distância tireomentoniana e a presença da síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono são parâmetros que podem indicar uma intubação difícil. O tratamento cirúrgico da obesidade proporciona redução do índice de massa corpórea (IMC), com estabilização por volta de 2 anos. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi reavaliar os parâmetros descritos com os valores pré-cirúrgicos. MÉTODO: Cinquenta e um pacientes de ambos os sexos foram avaliados no período pré-operatório quanto a IMC, classificação de Mallampati, circunferência do pescoço, distância interincisivos, distância tireomentoniana e grau da síndrome de apneia obstrutiva do sono por meio da polissonografia. Após dois anos de cirurgia e redução do IMC < 35 kg.m-2, os preditores de intubação difícil foram reavaliados por outro médico anestesiologista com conhecimento do IMC prévio. Foram excluídos nove pacientes. Executou-se reavaliação dos parâmetros supracitados e, para os que não realizaram nova polissonografia, aplicou-se a escala de sonolência de Epiworth. RESULTADOS: Quarenta e dois pacientes foram reavaliados e mostraram redução do IMC e da circunferência do pescoço e aumento das distâncias interincisivos e tireomentoniana. Apenas um paciente apresentou redução na escala de Mallampati e somente quatro realizaram a polissonografia. CONCLUSÕES: A redução do IMC proporciona aumento das distâncias interincisivos e tireomentoniana e redução da circunferência do pescoço. O Mallampati permanece inalterado.

Um framework conceitual para apoiar a instrumentação da avaliação formativa da aprendizagem em jogos digitais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Fatores envolvidos na migração das endopróteses em pacientes submetidos ao tratamento endovascular do aneurisma da aorta abdominal

A migração da endoprótese é complicação do tratamento endovascular definida como deslocamento da ancoragem inicial. Para avaliação da migração, verifica-se a posição da endoprótese em relação a determinada região anatômica. Considerando o aneurisma da aorta abdominal infrarrenal, a área proximal de referência consiste na origem da artéria renal mais baixa e, na região distal, situa-se nas artérias ilíacas internas. Os pacientes deverão ser monitorizados por longos períodos, a fim de serem identificadas migrações, visto que estas ocorrem normalmente após 2 anos de implante. Para evitar migrações, forças mecânicas que propiciam fixação, determinadas por características dos dispositivos e incorporação da endoprótese, devem predominar sobre forças gravitacionais e hemodinâmicas que tendem a arrastar a prótese no sentido caudal. Angulação, extensão e diâmetro do colo, além da medida transversa do saco aneurismático, são importantes aspectos morfológicos do aneurisma relacionados à migração. Com relação à técnica, não se recomenda implante de endopróteses com sobredimensionamento excessivo (> 30%), por provocar dilatação do colo do aneurisma, além de dobras e vazamentos proximais que também contribuem para a migração. Por outro lado, endopróteses com mecanismos adicionais de fixação (ganchos, farpas e fixação suprarrenal) parecem apresentar menos migrações. O processo de incorporação das endopróteses ocorre parcialmente e parece não ser suficiente para impedir migrações tardias. Nesse sentido, estudos experimentais com endopróteses de maior porosidade e uso de substâncias que permitam maior fibroplasia e aderência da prótese à artéria vêm sendo realizados e parecem ser promissores. Esses aspectos serão discutidos nesta revisão.

Impacto do racionamento nos resultados das empresas concessionárias do serviço público de distribuição de energia elétrica: um estudo nas empresas privadas da Região Nordeste

This work verifies the impact caused by the Emergencial Program of Reduction of Consumption of Electric Energy (energy-rationing program) in the results of the concessionary private companies of the public service of electric energy distribution localized in the Northeast Area. As the rationing invigorated from June 2001 to February 2002, its effects are diluted in the results presented by these companies in the second semester of 2001 and first quarter of 2002, with prominence for the last quarter of 2001, when the revenue of extraordinary tariff restore was instituted by the National Agency of Electric Energy (ANEEL), consequence of the so-called General Agreement of the Electric Sector made between the federal government and the companies of the electric sector. The structure of a generic electric sector and a historical review of the Brazilian electric sector from the time it was controlled by the private enterprises, including the State control period, about 1960, and returning to the control of the private enterprises in 1990, under a new regulation structure are presented. An explanation of the models of economic regulation that Brazil used for the electric sector is made, with prominence for the price cap that is the actual effective model. The process of tariff revision foreseen in the concession contracts signed by the federal government and the concessionary companies is presented, highlighting its two stages: the tariff rebalancing that defines the new price cap and the calculation of the factor X that establishes the efficiency goals for the companies. There is made a presentation of the Emergencial Program of Reduction of Consumption of Electric Energy and of the consequent General Agreement of the Electric Sector, which created the revenue of extraordinary tariff restore. A conceptual revision on reviews is presented, regarding to concepts, accomplishment and recognition. A brief review of the six companies that made part of the worked sample is also presented. Analyzing the quarters historical review and of amount of sold energy, it was possible to conclude that the energy-rationing altered the results of the studied companies significantly and that alteration was masked by the accounting process of the revenue of extraordinary tariff restore

Estudo teórico-bioclimático da potencialidade de desenvolvimento do Aedes aegypti no estado do Rio Grande do Norte

In the current climate of global public health there is the emergence of urban dengue, a disease regarded as acute infectious fever. The disease annually, has affected millions of people worldwide, mostly in the range of the intertropical globe. The disease's main vector in urban areas, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Recent studies indicate that the distribution of the insect vector of dengue in the geographical area is directly tied to the behavior of environmental restrictions that area, especially among those, the air temperature and relative humidity. From that context, the work aims to estimate and spatializing, monthly, for each municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, the potential of biophysical conditions conducive to the development of Aedes aegypti. Yet, made use of the following methodology: collection of epidemiological data and climatological, Normal climatological, descriptive statistics (measures of central tendency and scatter), uniform distribution, estimation geostatistics and sufer program, version 8.0. The results flagged for a behavior very heterogeneous, both in space and in time, in the case of the potential of biophysical conditions conducive to the development of Aedes aegypti in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Still, he noted that there is a tendency for lifting the potential of development for the entire state, from the month of January, ending in the month of April mainly in central and western portions of the state. By contrast, there is the permanence of increased potential for development in the eastern portion of the state. The latter record maximum potential in the month of July, resulting probability of greater than 70% have been favorable conditions for the development of Aedes aegypti in that area. In the period between the months of August to December, it is small potential for development of Aedes aegypti in all parts of the state

Análise fitoecológica do manguezal e ocupação das margens do estuário hipersalino apodi/mossoró (rn brasil) a biotecnologia vegetal como alternativa para a cotonicultura

The mangrove is a coastal ecosystem of the big ecological importance, showing high fragility front by natural process and the human interventions in the coastal zone. This research has objective to analyses the relation between mangrove species distribution and geochemical parameters variation of the water and soil in Apodi/Mossoro estuary, located in the Rio Grande do Norte state north coastline. The results were obtained from floristic and structural analysis of the vegetation and Quick Bird satellite images interpretation (collected in 2006 year), manipulated with ENVI 4.3 and ArcGIS 9.2 software s. This estuary was characterized by to presents a gradient of the salinity around 40 kilometers extension, finding amount between 50 and 90 g/l-1. Will be identified the formation of the mix vegetation formation in the estuary mount, where the water salinity no show express wide variation on seawater (36 g/l-1), finding species: Rhizophora mangle L., Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C. F. Gaertn, Avicennia schaueriana Stap. & Leechman e Avicennia germinans L. Along of the estuary, have a streak formation of the vegetation composed by Avicennia spp. and L. racemosa. In high estuary, where the salinities value stay above 60 g/l-1, only A. germinans predominate in dwarf form. In this sense, the salinity is as a limiting factor of stress on the mangrove vegetation as it enters the estuary, this parameter should be taken into account when drawing up management plans and environmental restoration in the estuary in question

Inundações urbanas no semiarido nordestino: o caso da cidade de Pau dos Ferros - RN

The Apodi river basin, particularly within the snippet that crosses Pau dos Ferros - RN city, place anthropogenic actions that interfere in the dynamic environment by modifying the local landscape. The reflection of these actions can be seen in the floods that occur in rainy periods (February to may) virtually every year in the city. It is important to stress that the project of integration of the waters of the San Francisco basin with the northern basin of Northeastern will perennial the main channel of the river basin, and generate greater impacts in the region. This work sought to define a methodology able to delimit areas susceptible to flooding in cities of semiarid Northeast based on the Pau dos Ferros RN city. The dissertation is divided into two chapters and introduction. The introduction presents a theoretical frame based on discussion of the concept of risk, their main characteristics and subdivisions; floods; geotecnologies; Apodi River basin; municipal data Pau dos Ferros RN and design integration of Francisco basin with the northern basins Northeast. The first chapter evaluates the urban expansion process between 1987 and 2008, delimiting the flood areas and analyzes the relationship between urban growth and retention areas. The second chapter identifies the flood risk areas in the Pau dos Ferros city. The methodology used was based on tools of geographic information system GIS from software SPRING/INPE 5.1, as well as bibliographical, satellite images, aerial photographs and field activities. The results obtained enabled view the rapid expansion of the urban area of Pau dos Ferros, which has doubled in a period of 22 years. The population density checks with greater intensity in South-central portion of the city, in flood areas and not flood (Cap. 01). It was noted also that some neighborhoods along the River Apodi are susceptible to more instances of flooding ranging from minimum to maximum, while in neighborhoods near the Riacho Cajazeiras floods occur to a lesser extent because of altimetry higher and lower water volume. (Cap. 02). It is expected that this work will help in the preparation of flood risk municipal map subsidising managers in implementing public policies targeted to the softening of urban flood-related issues in Pau dos Ferros RN and serve as a model for mapping of other cities with similar characteristics analyzed in this work

Análise da mobilidade urbana de Natal/RN a partir do uso de indicadores de sustentabilidade

In contemporary times, the urban mobility is presented as one of the main challenges of large and medium-sized Brazilian cities , it presents signs of unsustainability , above all due to the increase in motorized transport system , especially the individual . Thus , it is clear that mobility is considered of special interest for sustainable urban development , is facing a crisis that is reflected in negative externalities , particularly with regard to congestion , accidents , air pollution , social exclusion , among others. The complexity of these problems requires an integrated analysis based on the principles of sustainability . In this sense , trying to understand this problem and in the attempt to minimize its impacts, Costa (2008 ) proposed the Index of Sustainable Urban Mobility (I_SUM) with the goal of providing a methodology capable to assess relevant aspects of mobility , including social dimensions , political, economic and environmental . Given the above, was elected as the main objective of this study is to analyze urban mobility in Natal / RN from the perspective of sustainability . Like specific objectives will seek to analyze Natal´s urban mobility, using the I_SUM like a tool for both the city as a whole and for each of its four administrative regions; evaluate Natal s urban accessibility conditions and verify to what extent the access to urban services and equipment is facilitated or hindered because of the location and incomes of the population . For this, it was necessary to use bibliographic , documentary and field research . The index , which varies from 0.00 to 1.00, revealed for Natal an Global value of 0,510, and that refers to its administrative regions, it was found that there are very small percentage differences from the overall index calculated for the city . The performance of I_SUM by administrative region showed that although there are differences , the results were very similar , varying between 0,494 and 0,537. Particularly in relation to urban accessibility, it appears that Natal presents as an unequal city and this inequity , which is not only income is reflected in the issues related to accessibility and hence urban mobility

Adaptação sociocultural de gestores espanhóis expatriados no Brasil

This study aims at understanding how sociocultural adjustment occurs in the case of managers, and their spouses, expatriated to Brazil by private and public Spanish organizations. To do so, it adopts as main theoretical frame the expatriate adaptation model proponed by Parker & McEvoy (1993), based on Black, Mendenhall & Oddou s model (1991), which establishes three dimensions of adaptation: adjustment to work; adjustment to general environment and adjustment to interaction with host country nationals. This work, of exploratory and descriptive nature, used field research to gather primary data subsequently analyzed with a qualitative approach. Data collection came from individual in-depth interviews with three Spanish managers expatriated in Brazil and two of their spouses. Resulting data were analyzed through one of content analysis procedures, thematic analysis. This research shows that adjustment is obstructed by cultural distance or cultural novelty rather than by work role characteristics, being more successful in expatriates that carry previous solid sociocultural knowledge about host country. It also verifies that the degree of expatriate adjustment is enhanced by the comprehension of cultural differences that originate values and behaviors different from those of the expatriate. It points out that individual factors such as perception and relation skills, flexibility, empathy and self-efficacy are positively linked to the three dimensions of adjustment: work, general adjustment and interaction adjustment. It finds expatriate adjustment to be lowered by spouse unsuccessful adjustment and shows that location in an environment perceived as short in key infrastructures is negatively linked to adjustment in expatriates coming from strongly urban environments. It concludes that expatriate adjustment occurs through progressive understanding of host country environment and through comprehension of the sociocultural context that explains differences between host country behaviors and values and those from the country of origin, a process which is favored by expatriate individual characteristics not directly linked to his/her technical qualification, such as perception and relation skills, flexibility and empathy, together with solid sociocultural knowledge about the host country. This research propones, therefore, that organizations involved in expatriation processes should include in their selection criteria the degree to which candidates possess personal characteristics and sociocultural knowledge that may facilitate adaptation