Análise dos métodos de leira estática e de revolvimento manual na compostagem de resíduos orgânicos gerados em restaurante universitário

Composting is considered a process that enables adding value to organic solid waste turning them into organic fertilizer. In this process, factors such as mishandling the windrow, failed to control the temperature, aeration and moisture content will result in the quality of waste decomposition, and thus affect the quality of the final compound. Decentralized systems such as home composting, composting in restaurants, food courts and schools are one of the solutions for valuing these waste in a non expensive way and with greater quality. For this purpose, the project aims to analyze the conditions for composting of solid waste of the University Restaurant of Rio Claro- SP, through two different composting systems: manual revolving windrow and static pile. It was found that in University Restaurant (RU) on average 33% by weight of the total waste generated in the property are capable of composting. In this sense, in order to investigate the preliminary process operation parameters were mounted one manual windrow composed of 100% of the UR waste and a static pile composed of 60% of the UR waste and 40% of pruning and grass residues (PG). This study analyzed the manual revolving windrow and static pile systems for the parameters: moisture content, pH, C / N ratio and temperature. The study of the proportions of the PG and UR waste pointed to the need for pruning and grass residues addition for composting, considering that the manual revolving windrow composed by 100% of the UR waste had no satisfactory performance due to low temperatures measured during 60 days analysis. The best ratio for manual revolving windrow method analyzed in this study was 60% of the UR waste and 40% of PG waste, in dry weight. From this proportion a static pile was assembled, composed of 60% of UR waste e 40% of PG waste from the maintenance activities of the green area of the university. The biological activity in the static pile reached the maximum temperature of ...

A növények élete : a növényvilág leirása : a nagy közönség használatára /

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Pharmaceutical care of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of pharmaceutical care on the control of clinical parameters, such as fasting glycaemia and glycosylated haemoglobin in patients with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. Setting This study was conducted at the Training and Community Health Centre of the College of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods A prospective and experimental study was conducted with 71 participants divided in two groups: (i) pharmaceutical care group (n=40), and (ii) the control group (n=31). The distribution of patients within these groups was made casually, and the patients were monitored for 12 months. Main outcome measure: Values for fasting glycaemia and glycosylated haemoglobin were collected. Results Mean values of fasting glycaemia in the pharmaceutical care group were significantly reduced whilst a small reduction was detected in the control group at the same time. A significant reduction in the levels of glycosylated haemoglobin was detected in patients in the pharmaceutical care group, and an average increase was observed in the control group. Furthermore, the follow-up of the intervention group by a pharmacist contributed to the resolution of 62.7% of 142 drug therapy problems identified. Conclusion In Brazil, the information provided by a pharmacist to patients with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus increases compliance to treatment, solving or reducing the Drug Therapy Problem and, consequently, improving glycaemic control.

Influence of enzyme inducing antiepileptic drugs on the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam in patients with epilepsy

To assess whether levetiracetam elimination is influenced by enzyme inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs), serum levetiracetam levels were determined at frequent intervals after a single oral 1000 mg dose in 15 subjects co-medicated with EIAEDs and 15 matched controls. The EIAED group showed a higher levetiracetam oral clearance (p = 0.01) and a shorter half-life (p = 0.02) than controls. Although the magnitude of interaction is relatively modest, it could have clinical significance for some patients. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Prediction of the economic cost of individual long-term care in the Spanish population

Pensions together with savings and investments during active life are key elements of retirement planning. Motivation for personal choices about the standard of living, bequest and the replacement ratio of pension with respect to last salary income must be considered. This research contributes to the financial planning by helping to quantify long-term care economic needs. We estimate life expectancy from retirement age onwards. The economic cost of care per unit of service is linked to the expected time of needed care and the intensity of required services. The expected individual cost of long-term care from an onset of dependence is estimated separately for men and women. Assumptions on the mortality of the dependent people compared to the general population are introduced. Parameters defining eligibility for various forms of coverage by the universal public social care of the welfare system are addressed. The impact of the intensity of social services on individual predictions is assessed, and a partial coverage by standard private insurance products is also explored. Data were collected by the Spanish Institute of Statistics in two surveys conducted on the general Spanish population in 1999 and in 2008. Official mortality records and life table trends were used to create realistic scenarios for longevity. We find empirical evidence that the public long-term care system in Spain effectively mitigates the risk of incurring huge lifetime costs. We also find that the most vulnerable categories are citizens with moderate disabilities that do not qualify to obtain public social care support. In the Spanish case, the trends between 1999 and 2008 need to be further explored.

Nonparametric estimation of Value-at-Risk

A method to estimate an extreme quantile that requires no distributional assumptions is presented. The approach is based on transformed kernel estimation of the cumulative distribution function (cdf). The proposed method consists of a double transformation kernel estimation. We derive optimal bandwidth selection methods that have a direct expression for the smoothing parameter. The bandwidth can accommodate to the given quantile level. The procedure is useful for large data sets and improves quantile estimation compared to other methods in heavy tailed distributions. Implementation is straightforward and R programs are available.

Indicator taxa of benthic diatom communities: a case study in Mediterranean streams

A key issue in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive is the classification of streams and rivers using biological quality parameters and type-specific reference conditions. Four groups of stream types were defined in NE Spain on the basis of 152 diatom samples by means of detrended correspondence analysis and classification techniques. Diatom analysis was restricted to epilithic taxa, and the sites included gradients ranging from near-natural streams to sites with poor ecological quality. The main gradient shows a clear separation of sites in relation to the degree of human influence: polluted streams (mainly located in the lowlands) differ from streams in mountainous areas and in the Pyrenees. A second gradient is related to physiographical features. Headwater streams can be distinguished by their catchment geology. The type-specific diatom taxa for the stream types studied were determined by using indicator species analysis (IndVal). The type-specific taxa from near-natural streams are coincident with the indicator taxa for high ecological status. Human impact reduced the typological heterogeneity of the diatom community composition. Overall, the diatom communities in NE Spain exhibit a regional distribution pattern that closely corresponds with that observed in river systems elsewhere. Physiographical differences are only evident in undisturbed sites, while nutrient enrichment and other human disturbances may mask the regional differences in the distribution of diatom communities

A inserção do ensino de custos na disciplina administração aplicada à enfermagem

O objetivo deste texto foi realizar um resgate teórico sobre a traje-tória da disciplina de Admi-nistração Aplicada à Enfermagem, na graduação, ao longo da história do ensino da Enfermagem Brasi-leira, relacionando-a ao ensino de Custos. Percebemos, inseridas no ensino dessa disciplina, diversas citações diretas referentes ao tema Custos ou Economia em Saúde, desde o primeiro currículo de Enfermagem de 1890 até as Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais do Curso de Graduação em Enfer-magem de 2001, além de citações indiretas relacionadas ao geren-ciamento, tomada de decisão, assessorias em projetos de saúde, entre outras, mas sem haver uma continuidade.

The statistical accuracy of surveys on business and economic perspectives: a case study

In this paper, we develop a new decision making model and apply it in political Surveys of economic climate collect opinions of managers about the short-term future evolution of their business. Interviews are carried out on a regular basis and responses measure optimistic, neutral or pessimistic views about the economic perspectives. We propose a method to evaluate the sampling error of the average opinion derived from a particular type of survey data. Our variance estimate is useful to interpret historical trends and to decide whether changes in the index from one period to another are due to a structural change or whether ups and downs can be attributed to sampling randomness. An illustration using real data from a survey of business managers opinions is discussed.

Prediction of the economic cost of individual long-term care in the Spanish population

Pensions together with savings and investments during active life are key elements of retirement planning. Motivation for personal choices about the standard of living, bequest and the replacement ratio of pension with respect to last salary income must be considered. This research contributes to the financial planning by helping to quantify long-term care economic needs. We estimate life expectancy from retirement age onwards. The economic cost of care per unit of service is linked to the expected time of needed care and the intensity of required services. The expected individual cost of long-term care from an onset of dependence is estimated separately for men and women. Assumptions on the mortality of the dependent people compared to the general population are introduced. Parameters defining eligibility for various forms of coverage by the universal public social care of the welfare system are addressed. The impact of the intensity of social services on individual predictions is assessed, and a partial coverage by standard private insurance products is also explored. Data were collected by the Spanish Institute of Statistics in two surveys conducted on the general Spanish population in 1999 and in 2008. Official mortality records and life table trends were used to create realistic scenarios for longevity. We find empirical evidence that the public long-term care system in Spain effectively mitigates the risk of incurring huge lifetime costs. We also find that the most vulnerable categories are citizens with moderate disabilities that do not qualify to obtain public social care support. In the Spanish case, the trends between 1999 and 2008 need to be further explored.

Estimating extreme value cumulative distribution functions using bias-corrected kernel approaches

We propose a new kernel estimation of the cumulative distribution function based on transformation and on bias reducing techniques. We derive the optimal bandwidth that minimises the asymptotic integrated mean squared error. The simulation results show that our proposed kernel estimation improves alternative approaches when the variable has an extreme value distribution with heavy tail and the sample size is small.

Determinação de ácidos carboxílicos em composto de resíduos sólidos urbanos por cromatografia gasosa com detector de ionização em chama

Um método simples e eficiente para determinação simultânea de quatro ácidos carboxílicos de cadeia curta (acético, propiônico, butírico e valérico) em resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) é descrito no presente trabalho. Estes ácidos são considerados fitotóxicos na literatura e a variabilidade das suas concentrações durante o processo pode ser usada como parâmetro da maturação do composto de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU). A determinação dos ácidos carboxílicos presentes no composto de RSU envolve uma extração em água e filtração em membranas de polifluoreto de vinilideno (PVDF), seguida da injeção direta em um cromatográfo a gás com detector por ionização em chama (CG-DIC). Foram analisados três tipos de leira. Boas linearidades e coeficientes de correlação foram obtidas para todos os ácidos, e os limites de detecção e quantificação foram baixos, resultando em um método sensível para monitoramento desses ácidos em composto de RSU.

Compostagem e vermicompostagem de dejetos de caprinos: efeito das estações do ano

A caprinocultura brasileira cresceu consideravelmente nos últimos anos, elevando a produção de resíduos, fato que justifica o estudo de práticas de reciclagem, tais como a compostagem e a vermicompostagem, pois, além da agregação de valor com a produção do composto, representa um meio de saneamento na área rural. Para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho, foram utilizados dejetos coletados de caprinos em diferentes faixas etárias, mantidos em sistema de semiconfinamento e com regime alimentar único. O objetivo principal foi avaliar os efeitos das estações do ano sobre os processos de compostagem e vermicompostagem. As reduções na quantidade de matéria seca (MS) foram de 53,7; 53,4; 51,4 e 47,8% para a compostagem e 57,4; 51,0; 41,4 e 53,6% para a vermicompostagem nas estações de verão, outono, inverno e primavera, respectivamente. Observaram-se maiores reduções na relação C/N durante o verão e outono, em relação à primavera e ao inverno, para ambos os processos. As equações de redução de volume, na compostagem, foram: y = -0,0512x + 1,0233; y = -0,0552x + 1,1766; y = -0,0521x + 1,1656 e y = -0,0558x + 1,3227, para as estações primavera, outono, inverno e verão, respectivamente, (x = número de semanas e y = volume, em m³).

Pré-compostagem de cadáveres de bovinos acometidos pelo botulismo

Foram pré-compostados, em células individuais e isoladas, cinco cadáveres de bovinos acometidos pelo botulismo com a finalidade de monitorar a presença de esporos de Clostridium botulinum e de toxina botulínica antes e após o processo de decomposição em leira estática com fonte de carbono. O diagnóstico da intoxicação nos animais foi baseado nas características clínico-patológicas, epidemiológicas ou laboratoriais. Dos cinco bovinos com evolução clínica crônica de botulismo, cujos cadáveres foram pré-compostados, três foram acometidos pela toxina tipo D, um pelo complexo CD e um dos animais foi negativo na tentativa de detecção da toxina e de esporos da bactéria nas vísceras pelo bioensaio e neutralização em camundongo. O processo de pré-compostagem foi realizado em leira estática, com o uso de material carbonáceo umidificado como substrato e esquartejamento do animal, vedado individualmente com lona plástica e sem aeração por um período de 50 dias. A temperatura das leiras foi monitorada durante o período e oscilou de 40,5-52,4ºC. Após a abertura das leiras, pôde-se constatar a completa decomposição de todo material mole, com redução significativa do seu peso (de 26,5-44,5%), restando apenas os ossos. Não foi detectado esporo ou toxina botulínica no interior dos ossos (n=5 para cada cadáver). Nas 200 amostras examinadas do homogeneizado restante (n=40 para cada cadáver), em apenas duas amostras de uma leira foram detectados esporos de C. botulinum tipo C, enquanto que todas foram negativas para a tentativa de detecção da toxina botulínica pelo bioensaio em camundongo. Da forma como foi avaliado o processo de pré-compostagem de bovinos mortos pela intoxicação botulínica não contribuiu para a proliferação de C. botulinum.

Nuevas perspectivas en resolución de problemas de matemáticas mediante el uso de modelos semánticos de respresentación del conocimiento.

Resumen tomado del autor. Artículo seleccionado de SIIE 2005, VII Simposio Internacional de Tecnología Educativa (Leira, Portugal 2005), extendido y revisado para su publicación en IE Comunicaciones