Impacts of Animal Traffic on the Brazilian Amazon Parrots (Amazona species) Collection of the Quinzinho de Barros Municipal Zoological Park, Brazil, 1986-2007

Eleven species of Amazon parrots (genus Amazona) are known to occur in Brazil, and nest poaching and illegal traffic pose serious conservation threats to these species. When the illegal owners realize these animals are incompatible with their expectations and lifestyle, or when the police arrests traders and owners, these trafficked animals are often considered unfit for release and sent to local zoos and captive breeders. A retrospective survey of animal and necropsy records from 1986 to 2007 was used to evaluate the impacts of animal traffic on the population composition and mortality patterns of Amazon parrots at the Quinzinho de Barros Municipal Zoological Park, Sorocaba, Brazil. Data were obtained for 374 Amazon parrots of ten Brazilian species, and there was evidence that the studied population could be split into two major groups: a majority belonging to the Amazona aestiva species and a minority belonging to the remaining species. In comparison, the animals of the first group were more frequently admitted from traffic-related origins (98 vs. 75%), had a shorter lifespan (median 301 days vs. 848 days) and a higher mortality within the first year postadmission (54 vs. 37%), were less likely to receive expensive treatments, and were more frequently housed off-exhibit. On an average, parrots were found to have a short postadmission lifespan (median 356 days), with 92.5% of the birds dying within their first five years in captivity. The paper discusses the difficult dilemmas these incoming traffic-related animals pose to zoo management and official anti-traffic policies. Zoo Biol 29:600-614, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Evaluation of the Possibility of Removing Staining by Repolishing Composite Resins Submitted to Artificial Aging

This in vitro research verified the possibility of eliminating staining caused by coffee and red wine in five composite resins, after being submitted to thermal cycling. Thirty-six specimens were prepared and immersed in water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours. After polishing, specimen color was measured in a spectrophotometer Cintra 10 UV (Visible Spectrometer, GBC, Braeside, VIC, Australia). All specimens were submitted to thermal cycling at temperatures of 5 and 55 degrees C with a dwell time of 1 minute, for 1,000 cycles in a 75% ethanol/water solution. After thermal cycling, the specimens were immersed in water at 37 degrees C until 7 days had elapsed from the time the specimens were prepared. All specimens were then taken to the spectrophotometer for color measurement. The specimens were divided into three groups (N = 12): distilled water (control), coffee, and red wine. For the staining process to occur on only one surface, all the sides, except one, of the surfaces were isolated with white wax. The specimens were immersed in one of the solutions at 37 degrees C for 14 days. The specimens were dried and taken to the spectrophotometer for color measurement. After this, the specimens were submitted to 20 mu m wear three times, and the color was measured after each one of the wear procedures. Calculation of the color difference was made using CIEDE2000 formula. According to the methodology used in this research, it was concluded that the staining caused by coffee and red wine was superficial and one wear of 20 mu m was sufficient to remove the discoloration.

Influence of Artificial Accelerated Aging on Dimensional Stability of Acrylic Resins Submitted to Different Storage Protocols

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of artificial accelerated aging on dimensional stability of two types of acrylic resins (thermally and chemically activated) submitted to different protocols of storage. Materials and Methods: One hundred specimens were made using a Teflon matrix (1.5cmx0.5mm) with four imprint marks, following the lost-wax casting method. The specimens were divided into ten groups, according to the type of acrylic resin, aging procedure, and storage protocol (30 days). GI: acrylic resins thermally activated, aging, storage in artificial saliva for 16 hours, distilled water for 8 hours; GII: thermal, aging, artificial saliva for 16 hours, dry for 8 hours; GIII: thermal, no aging, artificial saliva for 16 hours, distilled water for 8 hours, GIV: thermal, no aging, artificial saliva for 16 hours, dry for 8 hours; GV: acrylic resins chemically activated, aging, artificial saliva for 16 hours, distilled water for 8 hours; GVI: chemical, aging, artificial saliva for 16 hours, dry for 8 hours; GVII: chemical, no aging, artificial saliva for 16 hours, distilled water for 8 hours; GVIII: chemical, no aging, artificial saliva for 16 hours, dry for 8 hours GIX: thermal, dry for 24 hours; and GX: chemical, dry for 24 hours. All specimens were photographed before and after treatment, and the images were evaluated by software (UTHSCSA-Image Tool) that made distance measurements between the marks in the specimens (mm), calculating the dimensional stability. Data were submitted to statistical analysis (two-way ANOVA, Tukey test, p = 0.05). Results: Statistical analysis showed that the specimens submitted to storage in water presented the largest distance between both axes (major and minor), statistically different (p < 0.05) from control groups. Conclusions: All acrylic resins presented dimensional changes, and the artificial accelerated aging and storage period influenced these alterations.

An analysis of occupational outcomes for Indigenous and Asian employees in Australia

This paper examines occupational performance in Australia across three racial groups in Australia: Indigenous Australians; Asian people, defined as all those whose language spoken at home was either Chinese, Vietnamese or other forms of a South-east or East Asian language; and white people, defined as the residual category. The paper has as its starting point, observed differences in occupational attainment among the three groups in Australia and sets out to account for these observed differences on the basis of both race and non-racial attributes such as, age, education and area of residence.

Physical aging of amorphous fructose

Physical aging of amorphous anhydrous fructose at temperature 5 degreesC and at 22 degreesC was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The dynamic glass transitions temperature, T-g0 for unaged samples was 16 degreesC and 13.3 degreesC for heating rate of 10 degreesC/min and 1 degreesC/min, respectively. The fictive temperature, T-f0 for unaged samples calculated by Richardson and Savill method was 12 degreesC, which is close to the dynamic value obtained from the lower DSC heating rate. The fictive temperature T-f of the aged fructose glasses at temperatures both below and above the transition region was fitted well by a non-exponential decay function (Williams-Watts form). Aging above the transition region (22 degreesC) for 18 d increased both the dynamic glass transition temperature T and the fictive temperature T-f. However, aging below the transition region (5 degreesC) for I d increased the dynamic glass transition temperature T-g but decreased the fictive temperature T-f.

MR image-based measurement of rates of change in volumes of brain structures. Part II: Application to a study of Alzheimer's disease and normal aging

We present global and regional rates of brain atrophy measured on serially acquired T1-weighted brain MR images for a group of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and age-matched normal control (NC) subjects using the analysis procedure described in Part I. Three rates of brain atrophy: the rate of atrophy in the cerebrum, the rate of lateral ventricular enlargement and the rate of atrophy in the region of temporal lobes, were evaluated for 14 AD patients and 14 age-matched NC subjects. All three rates showed significant differences between the two groups, However, the greatest separation of the two groups was obtained when the regional rates were combined. This application has demonstrated that rates of brain atrophy, especially in specific regions of the brain, based on MR images can provide sensitive measures for evaluating the progression of AD. These measures will be useful for the evaluation of therapeutic effects of novel therapies for AD. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Aging per se does not influence glucose homeostasis - In vivo and in vitro evidence

OBJECTIVE - To assess the effect of age on glucose metabolism by examining 1) glucose metabolism in young and middle-aged subjects when total or regional adiposity is taken into account and 2) in vitro glucose transport in adipose tissue explants from young and middle-aged women paired for total and abdominal adiposity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Study 1: body composition, subcutaneous abdominal and visceral adipose tissue areas, and fasting and oral glucose-stimulated glucose and insulin were measured in 84 young and 81 middle-aged men and in 110 young and 91 middle-aged women. Study 2: glucose uptake in subcutaneous abdominal and visceral adipose tissue explants were measured in eight young and eight middle-aged women. RESULTS - Study 1: young and middle-aged men showed similar subcutaneous abdominal tissue area, whereas fat mass and visceral adipose tissue were greater in middle-aged than in young men (P < 0.01). Fat mass and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue areas were greater in middle-aged as compared with young women (P < 0.01). Fasting plasma glucose and the glucose response to an oral glucose tolerance test were significantly higher in middle-aged than in young men and women (P < 0.001). Statistical control for visceral adipose tissue area eliminated the difference seen in glucose response in men and women. Study 2: glucose transport in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue did not differ between young and middle-aged women. CONCLUSIONS - 1) Visceral obesity, more than age per se, correlates with glucose intolerance in middle-aged subjects; 2) aging does not influence in vitro adipose tissue glucose uptake.

Presta????o de contas: conv??nio entre MDS e prefeitura municipal

O estudo de caso trata da presta????o de contas, por uma prefeitura municipal, da aplica????o de recursos provenientes de um conv??nio com o Minist??rio de Desenvolvimento Social e Combate ?? Fome (MDS). A presta????o de contas foi aprovada e o texto apresenta a rela????o das atividades e gastos efetuados e observa????es feitas durante a avalia????o realizada pelo MDS. Este ?? um caso fict??cio usado em um curso de gest??o de conv??nios e de contratos de repasse de recursos

A integra????o do Programa Bolsa Fam??lia e da Assist??ncia Social: um olhar sobre a gest??o municipal do Programa

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo entender como se deu a integra????o do Programa Bolsa Fam??lia com a assist??ncia social, tendo em vista que na maior parte dos munic??pios a gest??o do PBF est?? sob a responsabilidade das Secretarias Municipais de Assist??ncia Social. Ao analisar o PBF, foi poss??vel notar duas principais caracter??sticas: 1) descentraliza????o e 2) intersetorialidade. No caso da primeira, as responsabilidades s??o descentralizadas para estados e munic??pios. A implementa????o do PBF dependeu de processos de negocia????o e coordena????o federativa, constru??das a partir de mecanismos volunt??rios de ades??o e pactua????o. J?? com rela????o ?? segunda caracter??stica, o PBF ?? um programa de transfer??ncia de renda com condicionalidades, assim, ele se articula com as ??reas de sa??de e educa????o, que fazem o acompanhamento das condicionalidades das fam??lias benefici??rias. A assist??ncia social tem participa????o nas duas caracter??sticas. Na descentraliza????o, a assist??ncia foi aos poucos incorporando a gest??o municipal do PBF. Quanto ?? integra????o na intersetorialidade do Programa, a assist??ncia social tem o papel de ofertar o acompanhamento familiar ??s fam??lias que n??o cumprem os compromissos da agenda de sa??de ou a frequ??ncia escolar, no acompanhamento das condicionalidades. Para analisar as formas como a assist??ncia social participa da gest??o do PBF foram elaboradas tipologias de estrutura de gest??o do programa. O trabalho tamb??m contou com a an??lise de quatro fontes de dados diferentes: duas quantitativas (Censo SUAS 2011 e Relat??rio de Ades??o dos Munic??pios ao PBF) e duas qualitativas (relat??rios de visitas municipais e question??rios aplicados aos gestores municipais ou t??cnicos do PBF). Com base nas tipologias e nos dados analisados, dentro da assist??ncia foram encontrados tr??s modelos diferentes: gest??o do PBF como uma unidade central no ??rg??o gestor, gest??o do PBF com equipe exclusiva no CRAS e gest??o do PBF sob responsabilidade do PAIF. A partir das pesquisas e das observa????es, foi poss??vel identificar que em 93% dos munic??pios a gest??o do PBF est?? como responsabilidade do ??rg??o gestor da assist??ncia, nos demais a gest??o ?? responsabilidade do gabinete do prefeito ou de outras ??reas, como sa??de, educa????o, finan??as, administra????o ou outras. O trabalho localizou ainda quatro espa??os onde a assist??ncia social participa da gest??o do PBF de forma integrada: 1) Cadastro ??nico, 2) transfer??ncia fundo a fundo para o IGD, 3) Protocolo de Gest??o Integrada de Servi??os Benef??cios e Transfer??ncia de Renda no ??mbito do SUAS, e seus desdobramentos, e 4) presen??a do PBF nas Comiss??es, F??runs e Conselhos de Assist??ncia Social. Ao final, constatou-se que as fontes utilizadas na pesquisa n??o detalham como ?? a participa????o da assist??ncia na gest??o do PBF. Tendo em vista que na maior parte dos munic??pios a assist??ncia ?? a respons??vel pela gest??o do Programa, as considera????es finais trazem a recomenda????o de o Censo SUAS ser o instrumento que pode fornecer insumos para avalia????o de gest??o do PBF, facilitando o planejamento de a????es e di??logos com as equipes municipais

Texto para discuss??o 37: planejamento estrat??gico municipal no Brasil: uma nova abordagem

A concep????o do Planejamento Estrat??gico Municipal visa substituir o pensamento est??tico da administra????o pela ideia din??mica do gerenciamento. No centro desse m??todo encontra-se o Planejamento Estrat??gico, o qual foi adaptado ??s condi????es espec??ficas da administra????o p??blica no Brasil e que deve ser complementado por uma vis??o de gerenciamento de projetos e por t??cnicas de trabalho participativas, transparentes e din??micas

O plano plurianual municipal no sistema de planejamento e or??amento brasileiro

A partir da perspectiva do New Public Financial Management, o artigo traz os aspectos t??cnicos e pol??ticos que permearam o desenvolvimento do sistema de planejamento e or??amento brasileiro. Considerando os condicionantes dos momentos hist??ricos que interferiram em seu desenvolvimento, s??o identificadas caracter??sticas pol??ticas, t??cnicas e metodol??gicas incidentes no controle financeiro, nas melhorias administrativas, no planejamento e, finalmente, na tend??ncia participativa decorrente da amplia????o de espa??os democr??ticos. Em seguida, s??o apresentados o tratamento constitucional dado ao Plano Plurianual e o aperfei??oamento do sistema de planejamento e or??amento trazido pela Lei de Responsabilidade Fiscal. S??o destacadas, para o caso municipal, as inova????es contidas no Estatuto da Cidade, com reflexos no Plano Plurianual Municipal. Ressalta-se a import??ncia do processo de planejamento e or??amento na execu????o das pol??ticas p??blicas, enfatizando as dificuldades ainda existentes quanto ?? regula????o do sistema de planejamento e or??amento para permitir o imbricamento dessas pol??ticas entre as tr??s esferas federativas.

??ndice de gest??o municipal em cultura

O objetivo deste trabalho ?? o de construir um ??ndice de gest??o municipal em cultura, com o potencial de servir de balizador para as a????es nesta ??rea tanto no ??mbito municipal quanto no das esferas estaduais e federal. Para tanto s??o utilizados dados do ???Perfil dos Munic??pios Brasileiros ??? Cultura 2006???, publicado pelo IBGE, o qual disp??e das respostas de 5.562 munic??pios sobre cultura e gest??o cultural. As respostas foram tabuladas e combinadas de forma a produzir vari??veis espec??ficas para a constru????o do ??ndice. O m??todo utilizado para a constru????o do ??ndice de Gest??o Municipal em Cultura (IGMC) foi o de an??lise de componentes principais, que permite ?? pr??pria amostra definir os pesos que cada vari??vel exercer?? na computa????o do ??ndice final. Al??m do IGMC geral, foram computados no processo tr??s sub??ndices, cada um deles procurando refletir um aspecto espec??fico da gest??o municipal em cultura, a saber: fortalecimento institucional e gest??o democr??tica, infraestrutura e recursos humanos, e a????o cultural. Os resultados obtidos permitem diversos tipos de compara????es intermunicipais e regionais, bem como a prescri????o de a????es locais na ??rea de gest??o que visem ?? melhoria da administra????o cultural dos munic??pios.