Universidade Positivo

About: Universidade Positivo is a education organization based out in Curitiba, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Biodiversity. The organization has 1290 authors who have published 1237 publications receiving 9335 citations. The organization is also known as: Positive University.

A Atuação de conselhos do meio ambiente na gestão ambiental local

Abstract: A complexidade do desenvolvimento sustentavel configura um paradigma em que sao necessarias acoes efetivas de gestao ambiental que, em ultima instância, tem relacao com a formulacao e a implementacao de politicas publicas. Para que haja uma efetiva gestao ambiental no âmbito municipal e necessaria a participacao da sociedade nos processos de gestao. Logo, os conselhos municipais do meio ambiente sao pecas fundamentais na promocao da gestao ambiental local com vistas a uma melhor qualidade de vida. A literatura enfatiza que a efetividade dessas instâncias esta ligada, principalmente, a sua estrutura e funcionamento. Assim sendo, essa pesquisa objetivou a identificacao de oportunidades de melhoria na estrutura e no funcionamento do Conselho Municipal de Gestao e Saneamento Ambiental de Santo Andre (COMUGESAN) como uma contribuicao para sua atuacao na gestao ambiental. Para tanto, utilizou-se a pesquisa bibliografica, documental e qualitativa, no ano de 2008, caracterizando-se como estudo de caso exploratorio no Municipio de Santo Andre, SP. Observou-se que a atuacao de Conselhos Municipais do Meio Ambiente na gestao ambiental transcende as acoes de tomada de decisao, formulacao e implementacao das politicas locais, constituindo-se, sobretudo, como espaco educativo e de construcao da cidadania. Como oportunidades de melhoria, identificaram-se seis aspectos primordiais a serem fortalecidos em sua atuacao: estrutura; composicao e representatividade; capacitacao; educacao em meio ambiente; informacao; avaliacao constante. Com os resultados obtidos, sugere-se que o COMUGESAN adote atividades de capacitacao para aperfeicoar a representatividade, instituindo cursos de formacao de conselheiros e atividades em educacao continuada, bem como a realizacao de diagnosticos internos.

Effect of Sonic Vibrations on Bond Strength of Fiberglass Posts Bonded to Root Dentin.

Abstract: Sonic vibrations may improve the bond strength and durability of fiberglass posts by improving adhesive penetration into dentin as well as the cement flow. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sonic vibrations on the bond strength between fiberglass posts and root dentin using the pull-out test. Bovine roots were endodontically treated and divided randomly into four groups (n=12): Group C - conventional cementation (control); Group SA - sonic vibration (Smart Sonic Device, FGM) of the adhesive system and conventional post accommodation; SP group - conventional adhesive application and sonic vibration of the post during accommodation; and SASP - sonic vibration of the system adhesive and the post during accommodation. The posts were cleaned, treated with a silane and adhesive system (Ambar, FGM), and cemented with a dual-cured resin cement (Allcem Core, FGM). After 24 h, the specimens were subjected to mechanical tests and failure analyses. Representative specimens were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope to observe the cementation line. The results were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's test (a=5%). The bond strengths were as follows: SASP (90.9±27.1 N), C (121.4±60.6 N), SA (127.6±31.8 N) and SP (156.4±41.3 N). The use of sonic vibrations during the application of adhesive or post cementation separately did not affect the bond strength but had a negative effect when used for both procedures.

Estimativa de geração de energia e emissão evitada de gás de efeito estufa na recuperação de biogás produzido em estação de tratamento de esgotos

Abstract: The use of biogas from treatment of domestic sewage, animal waste and solid waste disposal is an alternative to generate electricity with great potential for expansion in Brazil. The aim of this paper is quantifying the energy from the biogas produced in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and estimating the greenhouse gas emission avoided with the biogas recovery. The WWTP evaluated has flow 33,220.8 m3.d-1 and COD 14,617.1 kg.d-1 and serves about 190,000 inhabitants. It was used monitoring data from August/2012 to March/2013 to quantify the following parameters: COD converted into biomass; sulfate converted to sulfide; COD converted to methane; methane loss (liquid and gas); potential energy available; electrical power available; avoided emissions of methane. The following results were obtained: average treatment efficiency of 65.6%; methane production of 1,427.2 m3.d-1; average electricity available of 65,280.3 kWh.month-1 (59% of the average monthly energy demand of the WWTP); avoided emissions of 941.9 kgCH4.d-1 and 17,189.7 kgCO2 eq.d-1. Therefore, it can be concluded that the biogas recovery of in Santa Quiteria WWTP can result in economic and environmental benefits.

Crowdsourcing Platforms: Objective, Activities and Motivation

Abstract: This article analyzes the relationship that exists among the objectives of crowdsourcing platforms, the types of activities they demand from crowdsourcees and the incentives they provide to obtain collaboration. The 136 platforms that appeared in two previous SLRs carried out by the authors to categorize the types of activities performed and the motivation offered in crowdsourcing projects were separated in seven groups, according to the objective of the activities performed by the crowdsourcees. Microtask activities are present in over 40% of the platforms, showing that individuals may be motivated to collaborate, without developing commitment or even identification with the objectives of the promoting organization. The “financial reward” or the "love" factor is usually the prevailing motivation factor. However, those two factors tend to be mutually exclusive.

Cytogenetic characterization and mapping of the repetitive DNAs in Cycloramphus bolitoglossus (Werner, 1897): More clues for the chromosome evolution in the genus Cycloramphus (Anura, Cycloramphidae).

Abstract: Cycloramphus bolitoglossus (Werner, 1897) is a rare species with a low population density in the Serra do Mar region of Parana and Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil. Currently, it has been assigned to the Near Threatened (NT) category in the Brazilian List of Endangered Animal Species. Here, we described the karyotype of this species for the first time and investigated the patterns of some repetitive DNA classes in the chromosomes using molecular cytogenetic approaches. We isolated, sequenced and mapped the 5S rDNA and the satellite DNA PcP190 of C. bolitoglossus, as well as mapped the telomeric sequences and seven microsatellites motifies [(GA)15, (CA)15, (GACA)4, (GATA)8, (CAG)10, (CGC)10, and (GAA)]10. Cycloramphus bolitoglossus has 2n = 26 chromosomes and a fundamental number (FN) equal to 52, with a highly conserved karyotype compared to other genus members. Comparative cytogenetic under the phylogenetic context of genus allowed evolutionary interpretations of the morphological changes in the homologs of pairs 1, 3, and 6 along with the evolutionary history of Cycloramphus. Two subtypes of 5S rDNA type II were isolated in C. bolitoglossus genome, and several comparative analysis suggests mixed effects of concerted and birth-and-death evolution acting in this repetitive DNA. The 5S rDNA II subtype "a" and "b" was mapped on chromosome 1. However, their different position along chromosome 1 provide an excellent chromosome marker for future studies. PcP190 satellite DNA, already reported for species of the families Hylidae, Hylodidae, Leptodactylidae, and Odontophrynidae, is scattered throughout the C. bolitoglossus genome, and even non-heterochromatic regions showed hybridization signals using the PcP190 probe. Molecular analysis suggests that PcP190 satellite DNA exhibit a high-level of homogenization of this sequence in the genome of C. bolitoglossus. The PcP190 satDNA from C. bolitoglossus represents a novel sequence group, compared to other anurans, based on its hypervariable region. Overall, the present data on repetitive DNA sequences showed pseudogenization evidence and corroborated the hypothesis of the emergence of satDNA from rDNA 5S clusters. These two arguments that reinforced the importance of the birth-and-death evolutionary model to explain 5S rDNA patterns found in anuran genomes.