Dinâmica da paisagem: um modelo aplicado ao município de Carapicuíba

A qualidade de vida para o ser humano depende do resultado das relações entre os processos biológicos, ecológicos, culturais e socioeconômicos que acontecem no espaço. Assim, a preocupação com a influência de zonas urbanas sobre o meio ambiente e a população tem sido um tema de crescente importância no Brasil, associando o desenvolvimento de novas políticas de gestão e reestruturação de grandes cidades. Nessa discussão, incluiu-se a questão da transformação da paisagem em ambientes urbanos, com impacto na manutenção dos serviços ecossistêmicos e na qualidade de vida da população humana. Este estudo propôs a caracterização da evolução da cobertura e uso do solo para a cidade de Carapicuíba, na Grande São Paulo, através da elaboração de seis mapas temáticos de uso e ocupação do solo do município, entre o período de 1962 e 2013. Além disso o projeto também pretendia fazer a modelagem de cenários futuros de mudanças, através de uma abordagem baseada no uso integrado de sensoriamento remoto, sistema de informações geográficas e modelos espaciais dinâmicos. Os mapas temáticos foram elaborados através de três mosaicos de fotografias aéreas adquiridas em 1962, 1972 e 1994, uma imagem orbital do sensor Ikonos de 2002, um mosaico de ortofotos aéreas adquirido em 2008, e uma imagem do sistema orbital RapidEye adquirida em 2013, para avaliação da dinâmica de ocupação da superfície da terra. As datas de imageamento disponíveis conseguiram representar momentos diferentes na história do município, referentes a acontecimentos importantes e que influenciaram significativamente na alteração da paisagem urbana: o grande crescimento demográfico e a construção das vias de acesso a Carapicuíba. As análises de dados e discussões apontam que o tipo de via de acesso à Carapicuíba e o tipo de uso do solo urbano, influenciaram na estratificação socioeconômica e na conservação de cobertura vegetal...

Dinâmica da paisagem: um modelo aplicado ao município de Carapicuíba

A qualidade de vida para o ser humano depende do resultado das relações entre os processos biológicos, ecológicos, culturais e socioeconômicos que acontecem no espaço. Assim, a preocupação com a influência de zonas urbanas sobre o meio ambiente e a população tem sido um tema de crescente importância no Brasil, associando o desenvolvimento de novas políticas de gestão e reestruturação de grandes cidades. Nessa discussão, incluiu-se a questão da transformação da paisagem em ambientes urbanos, com impacto na manutenção dos serviços ecossistêmicos e na qualidade de vida da população humana. Este estudo propôs a caracterização da evolução da cobertura e uso do solo para a cidade de Carapicuíba, na Grande São Paulo, através da elaboração de seis mapas temáticos de uso e ocupação do solo do município, entre o período de 1962 e 2013. Além disso o projeto também pretendia fazer a modelagem de cenários futuros de mudanças, através de uma abordagem baseada no uso integrado de sensoriamento remoto, sistema de informações geográficas e modelos espaciais dinâmicos. Os mapas temáticos foram elaborados através de três mosaicos de fotografias aéreas adquiridas em 1962, 1972 e 1994, uma imagem orbital do sensor Ikonos de 2002, um mosaico de ortofotos aéreas adquirido em 2008, e uma imagem do sistema orbital RapidEye adquirida em 2013, para avaliação da dinâmica de ocupação da superfície da terra. As datas de imageamento disponíveis conseguiram representar momentos diferentes na história do município, referentes a acontecimentos importantes e que influenciaram significativamente na alteração da paisagem urbana: o grande crescimento demográfico e a construção das vias de acesso a Carapicuíba. As análises de dados e discussões apontam que o tipo de via de acesso à Carapicuíba e o tipo de uso do solo urbano, influenciaram na estratificação socioeconômica e na conservação de cobertura vegetal...

Cognitive deficits after recovery from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

BACKGROUND: Patients with apparent complete recovery from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) often complain of problems with memory, concentration, and fatigue. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients who were enrolled in the Oklahoma TTP-HUS Registry for their initial episode of TTP, 1995-2006, and who had ADAMTS13 activity of less than 10 percent were evaluated for a broad range of cognitive functions 0.1 to 10.6 years (median, 4.0 years) after their most recent episode. At the time of their evaluation, they had normal physical and Mini-Mental State Examinations and no evidence of TTP. RESULTS: The patients, as a group, performed significantly worse on 4 of the 11 cognitive domains tested than standardized US data from neurologically normal individuals adjusted for age, sex, and education (p < 0.05). These four domains measured complex attention and concentration skills, information processing speed, rapid language generation, and rote memorization. Twenty-one (88%) patients performed below expectations on at least 1 of the 11 domains. No clear patterns were observed between cognitive test results and patients' characteristics or features of the preceding TTP, including age, occurrence of severe neurologic abnormalities, multiple episodes, and interval from an acute episode. CONCLUSION: Patients who have recovered from TTP may have persistent cognitive abnormalities. The abnormalities observed in these patients are characteristic of disorders associated with diffuse subcortical microvascular disease. Studies of larger patient groups will be required to confirm these preliminary observations and to determine patient characteristics that may contribute to persistent cognitive abnormalities.

The Europeanization of Swiss Decision-Making Processes

Europeanization has been at the core of two research projects on decision-making processes in Switzerland that we carried out over the last decade. Interestingly enough, Europeanization was initially not supposed to be the central focus of these projects: The first was broader in scope, as it dealt with the effects of globalization and internationalization, and the second was agnostic with respect to Europeanization – it looked at the characteristics of the most important decision-making processes and structures in contemporary Switzerland, and at the related changes that have taken place since the 1970s. However, in both projects Europeanization has imposed itself as a crucial variable, if not as the most crucial variable. We use insights from these two research projects – and from a database on the legislative acts of the 1995-2006 period that emerged from these projects – to address the questions raised by the initiators of this debate and, more especially, to highlight what effects Europeanization has on decision-making processes and related power and conflict structures among actors.

Composición florística y etnobotánica de las diferentes formaciones vegetales de la provincia de Loja, Ecuador

Pese a que Loja (Ecuador) presenta una gran riqueza ecológica y cultural, ni su patrimonio etnobotánico, ni cómo afecta el uso de las plantas al estado de conservación de los ecosistemas es bien conocido. Por ello se ha realizado un estudio etnobotánico y ecológico para conocer el papel que han jugado las plantas en la cultura tradicional de la provincia y comprender qué factores influyen en su uso. Durante 2006 y 2008 se entrevistó a 770 informantes (196 de ellos vendedores en mercados locales) y se realizaron 373 transectos en 118 remanentes boscosos, 51% indicados por la gente como lugares de recolección. Se ha registrado el saber etnobotánico de 717 especies pertenecientes a 143 familias, la mayoría nativas del Ecuador, 31 de ellas endémicas. Ello supone un 15% de la flora total de Loja. Sin embargo especies introducidas como Matricaria recutita o Eucalyptus globulus están entre las más citadas. La mayor riqueza se obtuvo para las plantas medicinales (509 especies), que se usan sobre todo para tratar las llamadas “inflamaciones internas” (210 especies, Matricaria recutita y Melissa officinalis principalmente) y trastornos del sistema digestivo (188, Matricaria recutita y Mentha pulegium). En los mercados se venden 169 especies, la mayoría para elaborar la bebida típica llamada horchata (65) y para curar “inflamaciones internas” (36). Además se emplean 414 con otros fines (161 para leña, 142 para alimentación humana, 133 para construcción de viviendas y muebles, 98 para artesanías, 89 ornamentales, 27 tintóreas y 72 para otros usos). En los remanentes se inventariaron 19.156 individuos correspondientes a 1440 especies de 153 familias, de las cuales 437 son empleadas por la población. La riqueza media de especies y de plantas útiles fue significativamente mayor en los remanentes recolectados lo cual parece demostrar que la explotación no afecta negativamente a la diversidad de especies al generar variabilidad de hábitats. También se vio que la proporción de especies útiles disminuye en los remanentes más diversos. También se observó que la probabilidad de uso de una especie aumenta con la frecuencia y la abundancia y disminuye con la distancia a los remanentes en los que aparece. Este patrón general no se cumple para las especies medicinales y ornamentales. Estos datos demuestran una gran riqueza de conocimientos tradicionales y una gran vitalidad del uso de muchas especies y corroboran la hipótesis de que los recursos vegetales más accesibles y abundantes son, salvo excepciones, los más empleados por la gente. ABSTRACT Although the Loja province (Ecuador) has a great ecological and cultural richness, neither the ethnobotanical heritage nor the incidence of plant use on ecosystems conservation it is well known. We have made an ethnobotanical and ecological study to determine the role played by plants in the traditional culture of the province and to understand what factors influence their use. Between 2006 and 2008 we interviewed 770 informants (196 of them vendors in local markets) and inventoried 373 transects in 118 forest remnants (51% of them indicated by people as collection sites). We recorded the ethnobotanical knowledge for 717 species belonging to 143 families, mostly native of Ecuador, 31 of which are endemic. This represents about a 15% of the total flora of Loja. However introduced species such as Matricaria recutita and Eucalyptus globulus are among the most cited. Medicinal plants (509 species) were the most abundant, and are used primarily to treat so‐called "internal inflammation" (210 species, with Matricaria recutita and Melissa officinalis as the most valued) and disorders of the digestive system (188, Matricaria recutita and Mentha pulegium). We recorded 169 species sold in markets, most of them (65) employed to elaborate a typical drink called horchata and to heal "internal inflammation" (36). In addition 414 are used for other purposes: 161 for firewood, 142 for human consumption, 133 for construction and furniture, 98 for handicrafts, 89 as ornamental, 27 for dye and 72 for other uses. In the forest remnants, 19,156 individuals corresponding to 1440 species of 153 families, 437 of which are used by the population were inventoried. The average species richness (both total and of useful plants) was significantly higher in exploited remnants, which suggest that exploitation does not adversely affect species diversity and instead increases habitat diversity. We also found that the proportion of useful species decreases in decreased in the most diverse remnants. It was also observed that the probability of use of a species increases with its frequency and abundance and decreases as the distance form localities to remnants where it appears increases. This general pattern however does not hold for medicinal and ornamental species. These results show the extraordinary wealth of traditional knowledge and the great vitality in the use of many species and support the hypothesis that most accessible and abundant plant resources are the most used by people.

Estimation of productivity in Korean electric power plants:a semiparametric smooth coefficient model

This paper analyzes the impact of load factor, facility and generator types on the productivity of Korean electric power plants. In order to capture important differences in the effect of load policy on power output, we use a semiparametric smooth coefficient (SPSC) model that allows us to model heterogeneous performances across power plants and over time by allowing underlying technologies to be heterogeneous. The SPSC model accommodates both continuous and discrete covariates. Various specification tests are conducted to compare performance of the SPSC model. Using a unique generator level panel dataset spanning the period 1995-2006, we find that the impact of load factor, generator and facility types on power generation varies substantially in terms of magnitude and significance across different plant characteristics. The results have strong implication for generation policy in Korea as outlined in this study.

Estimation of productivity in Korean electric power plants:a semiparametric smooth coefficient model

This paper analyzes the impact of load factor, facility and generator types on the productivity of Korean electric power plants. In order to capture important differences in the effect of load policy on power output, we use a semiparametric smooth coefficient (SPSC) model that allows us to model heterogeneous performances across power plants and over time by allowing underlying technologies to be heterogeneous. The SPSC model accommodates both continuous and discrete covariates. Various specification tests are conducted to assess the performance of the SPSC model. Using a unique generator level panel dataset spanning the period 1995-2006, we find that the impact of load factor, generator and facility types on power generation varies substantially in terms of magnitude and significance across different plant characteristics. The results have strong implications for generation policy in Korea as outlined in this study.

Data compilation on the biological response to ocean acidification: environmental and experimental context of data sets and related literature

The exponential growth of studies on the biological response to ocean acidification over the last few decades has generated a large amount of data. To facilitate data comparison, a data compilation hosted at the data publisher PANGAEA was initiated in 2008 and is updated on a regular basis (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.149999). By January 2015, a total of 581 data sets (over 4 000 000 data points) from 539 papers had been archived. Here we present the developments of this data compilation five years since its first description by Nisumaa et al. (2010). Most of study sites from which data archived are still in the Northern Hemisphere and the number of archived data from studies from the Southern Hemisphere and polar oceans are still relatively low. Data from 60 studies that investigated the response of a mix of organisms or natural communities were all added after 2010, indicating a welcomed shift from the study of individual organisms to communities and ecosystems. The initial imbalance of considerably more data archived on calcification and primary production than on other processes has improved. There is also a clear tendency towards more data archived from multifactorial studies after 2010. For easier and more effective access to ocean acidification data, the ocean acidification community is strongly encouraged to contribute to the data archiving effort, and help develop standard vocabularies describing the variables and define best practices for archiving ocean acidification data.

A escrita dos professores de língua portuguesa: desvelando dizeres e saberes

This documental research in a qualitative and interpretative nature is inserted in the field of Applied Linguistics and its object of study is teachers‟ writing in a literacy event (public exam) held for teachers of Portuguese Language by municipality in Natal city - RN in 2008. Overall, we have aimed to investigate the textual production of these teachers, considering their knowledge about writing, their sayings in relation to themselves and their views on new technologies and teaching. Specifically, we have chosen the following objectives: a) identifying what knowledge about writing have emerged from teachers' written text; b) analyzing the written text production of teachers, considering the knowledge they have revealed about themselves; c) mapping the sayings of the teachers about the teaching profession and new technologies. Our discussion is grounded theoretically by Bakhtin studies of language (BAKHTIN [1934], 1990; [1952-1953], 2000; BAKHTIN; VOLOSHINOV [1929], 1999); in studies of critical literacy as formulated by STREET (1984, 1995, 2006, 2010, 2014); KLEIMAN (1995, 2005, 2006, 2008); (BARTON, HAMILTON, 1998; BARTON; Ivanic, 1991); studies on teacher training in critical educational perspective (GIROUX, 1986; 1987; 1997; 1999) FREIRE, 1999; 2001). The corpus of this study is consisted of written texts by participants of this examination about the Writing Test, in which they were asked to produce an opinion paper. The research has allowed us to realize that, in relation to the writing, despite the recurring negative discourse on literacy teachers, especially the Portuguese ones, these, in the fabric of their texts, both have revealed to have dominion over the formal structure, particularly in respect to prototypical schema of argumentative sequence, as proposed by Adam (1992, 2008) and the mechanisms of textualization postulated by Bronckart (2007), and on those enunciation-discursive strategies relating to opinion genre. The relevance of this research is justified by seeking to understand the teacher‟s writing beyond the language system, i.e, writing as speech, assuming it as a contrapalavra (BAKHTIN, [1934], 1990) to those voices that insist on underestimating literacy teachers and they do so much harm to society, to the extent that foster a sense of disbelief in the qualification of teachers' work and distrust of the social role of these professionals in the preparation of future generations