Uso de uma estação móvel de monitoramento da qualidade do ar para identificar as áreas críticas quanto à qualidade do ar na cidade do Rio de Janeiro

Recent studies have shown that tropospheric ozone, fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide are the urban air pollutants of major concern regarding human health effects. Monitoring air quality is a challenge in several cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, where the number of fixed-site air quality monitoring stations and their spatial distribution are insufficient to assess the extent of atmospheric pollutants. However, despite this lack of resources, the data obtained by mobile stations are a valuable means of determining which areas are experiencing critical air quality conditions, and provide key information for an air quality management program. The main purpose of this study was to conduct a critical analysis of data obtained by the Municipal Department of Environment and Climate (SMAC) mobile station in the period 2010–2018. Concentrations determined for particulate matter with a diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), O3, NO2, SO2 and CO showed that PM2.5 and O3 are the pollutants of major concern, and that the north of the city has higher air quality indices for these compounds. In addition, the south-west district had relatively high ozone levels, probably owing to low concentrations of NO2 in a volatile organic compound (VOC)-limited ozone formation regime. These factors should be considered by the municipal government in future discussions of control strategies for managing the city’s air quality. This study also shows the value of mobile stations in making a preliminary survey of pollutant concentrations, mainly in countries with limited financial investment in air quality management.Estudos recentes têm mostrado que o ozônio troposférico, o material particulado fino e o dióxido de nitrogênio são os poluentes urbanos de maior importância quanto aos efeitos sobre a saúde humana. O monitoramento da qualidade do ar é um desafio, especialmente em cidades como Rio de Janeiro, onde o número e a distribuição das estações de monitoramento fixas é insuficiente para avaliar a distribuição dos poluentes atmosféricos. Contudo, apesar da limitação dos recursos, dados obtidos por estações de monitoramento móveis são de grande utilidade para determinar quais áreas experimentam condições críticas de qualidade do ar e fornecem informações úteis para os programas de gerenciamento da qualidade do ar. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma análise crítica dos dados obtidos pela estação móvel da Secretaria Municipal de Ambiente e Clima (SMAC), no período 2010–2018. Os resultados obtidos para material particulado com diâmetro ≤2,5 μm (MP2,5), O3, NO2, SO2 e CO mostram que MP2,5 e O3 são os poluentes que geram maior preocupação, e que a zona norte da cidade tem os piores índices de qualidade do ar para esses compostos. Além disso, a área sudoeste apresenta níveis relativamente altos de ozônio, provavelmente em razão das baixas concentrações de NO2 em um cenário onde a formação de ozônio é controlada pelos compostos orgânicos voláteis (COV). Esses fatores deveriam ser considerados pelo governo municipal em futuras discussões de estratégias para o gerenciamento da qualidade do ar da cidade. Este trabalho mostra, também, a contribuição das estações móveis de qualidade do ar para realizar um estudo preliminar das concentrações de poluentes, especialmente em países com recursos financeiros limitados para o gerenciamento da qualidade do ar

Using mobile air quality station data to identify critical areas in the city of Rio de Janeiro regarding pollutant concentrations

Recent studies have shown that tropospheric ozone, fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide are the urban air pollutants of major concern regarding human health effects. Monitoring air quality is a challenge in several cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, where the number of fixed-site air quality monitoring stations and their spatial distribution are insufficient to assess the extent of atmospheric pollutants. However, despite this lack of resources, the data obtained by mobile stations are a valuable means of determining which areas are experiencing critical air quality conditions, and provide key information for an air quality management program. The main purpose of this study was to conduct a critical analysis of data obtained by the Municipal Department of Environment and Climate (SMAC) mobile station in the period 2010–2018. Concentrations determined for particulate matter with a diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), O3, NO2, SO2 and CO showed that PM2.5 and O3 are the pollutants of major concern, and that the north of the city has higher air quality indices for these compounds. In addition, the south-west district had relatively high ozone levels, probably owing to low concentrations of NO2 in a volatile organic compound (VOC)-limited ozone formation regime. These factors should be considered by the municipal government in future discussions of control strategies for managing the city’s air quality. This study also shows the value of mobile stations in making a preliminary survey of pollutant concentrations, mainly in countries with limited financial investment in air quality management

Acesso inteligente: uma porta capaz de aprender

Technology has provided effciency and practicity for daily routines of people and companies. The market has solutions to exibilize access that usually uses hard security controls that need cosntant actions from a manager. This way, the paper aims to formalize a control access model that uses artificial intelligence techniques to adapt the users behavior changes and presents a case study of the implementation of this model. It was verified that the model presented satisfactory performance and it is suggested, as future works, the use of neural networks to make a comparison with this work.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Acesso inteligente: uma porta capaz de aprender

Technology has provided effciency and practicity for daily routines of people and companies. The market has solutions to exibilize access that usually uses hard security controls that need cosntant actions from a manager. This way, the paper aims to formalize a control access model that uses artificial intelligence techniques to adapt the users behavior changes and presents a case study of the implementation of this model. It was verified that the model presented satisfactory performance and it is suggested, as future works, the use of neural networks to make a comparison with this work.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Acesso inteligente: uma porta capaz de aprender

Technology has provided effciency and practicity for daily routines of people and companies. The market has solutions to exibilize access that usually uses hard security controls that need cosntant actions from a manager. This way, the paper aims to formalize a control access model that uses artificial intelligence techniques to adapt the users behavior changes and presents a case study of the implementation of this model. It was verified that the model presented satisfactory performance and it is suggested, as future works, the use of neural networks to make a comparison with this work.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

EXTRADURAL LUMBAR NERVE ROOT CAVERNOUS HEMANGIOMA – CASE REPORT AND SUCCESSFUL SURGICAL RESECTION

Extradural lumbar spinal canal cavernous hemangiomas (or cavernomas) are rare lesions that can induce intense back pain and neurological deficit. We present a case report of a patient with a pure radicular lombar extradural cavernoma resembling a benign neurological tumor in imaging exams and a successful surgical resection

Clean air for a good start: children are the future of the planet

Abstract In early childhood, air pollution leads to an increased risk of disease, premature death, and development of disruptions. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is considered the classical pollutant of major concern. However, in Brazil, fine particulate monitoring is still limited and restricted to a few cities. Particularly, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, only one automatic station obtains PM2.5 concentrations and publishes the air quality indexes daily. This study is part of the project “Clean air for a good start” managed by the Horizon Citizen Foundation, with the goal of obtaining evidence to set a plan to reduce children exposition to air pollution. Data is shared on a global web platform. Results showed that PM2.5 levels are high when compared with WHO guidelines and coordinated actions would be needed to decrease emissions of primary pollutants and secondary aerosol’s precursors

Polioencephalomalacia in Sheep - Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings

Background: Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) is a neurological disease in ruminants, which is characterized by malacia of brain gray matter. Thiamine deficiency and sulfur intoxication are the most common causes of PEM in sheep. Affected animals present signs of cerebrocortical syndrome, including amaurosis, ataxia, head pressing, mental depression, seizures, and opisthotonus. The neurological examination aims to determine the neurolocalization of the lesions and advanced imaging techniques are useful for confirming the affected area(s) in the central nervous system. The aim of this study is to describe clinical features and ante-mortem diagnosis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a sheep with PEM. Case: An 18-month-old male Dorper sheep from a flock started receiving concentrate 7 days before. According to the owner, no clinical signs of abnormality were observed on the previous morning. However, in the afternoon, the animal became self-isolated and did not follow the flock to the sheepfold. The following day, he was found in recumbency. Physical examination revealed lateral recumbency, rectal temperature 39.5ºC, 52 bpm, 120 bpm, congested mucous membranes, capillary refill time 1 s, ruminal (4/5 min) and intestinal hypomotility. The assessment of the central nervous system revealed a decreased level of consciousness, focal seizures, opisthotonus, and absence of menace response. The following differential diagnoses were listed: PEM, head trauma, focal symmetrical encephalomalacia, bacterial encephalitis, and rabies. Treatment was composed of dexamethasone [0.2 mg/kg - i.v., SID (1st-3rd day), 0.1 mg/kg, i.v., SID (4th-6th day), and 0.05 mg/kg, i.v., SID (7th-9th day)]; mannitol [1 g/kg -  i.v. and diazepam 0.4 mg/kg, i.v. single dose at admission]; vitamin B1 [10 mg/kg - i.m., SID], furosemide [1 mg/kg - i.v., SID for 3 days] and sulfadoxine/trimethoprim [30 mg/kg -  i.m., SID for 10 days]. After the initial treatment, the patient showed mild clinical improvement; however, the amaurosis was still present. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed on the 2nd day of hospitalization, showing a symmetrical hypersignal in the parietal and occipital cortices, in the axial and sagittal sequences weighted in T2 and FLAIR. Discussion: This study aimed to describe the clinical signs and MRI findings in a sheep with PEM. In this case, the sudden change to the feed composition probably led to ruminal dysbiosis, inhibition of thiamine-producing microorganisms and proliferation of bacteria that synthesize thiaminase. Thiamine therapy proved to be effective and capable of reverting the clinical signs. The decrease in the level of consciousness, cortical blindness, and opisthotonus are due to alterations in the parietal cortex, in the occipital cortex, and in the cerebellum, respectively, which were demonstrated by hypersignal areas in the MRI. Therefore, the neurolocalization of the lesion based on neurologic examination and the MRI findings were related. The physicochemical and cytological evaluations of the cerebrospinal fluid, and dosage of thiamine and the concentration of hydrogen sulphide in the rumen were not performed. However, the response to thiamine treatment associated with the neurologic examination and MRI findings helped in determining the diagnosis. Additionally, MRI can be used as a useful tool for the ante mortem diagnosis of PEM. Keywords: cerebrocortical necrosis, diagnostic imaging, neurology, ruminants, thiamine deficiency

Equine motor neuron disease: report on the first cases in South America

Foram realizados estudos dos casos de 6 eqüinos de raças e idades diferentes, apresentando um quadro clínico caracterizado principalmente por emagrecimento progressivo, atrofia e fraqueza muscular generalizada, fasciculações e tremores musculares, alternância constante de apoio dos membros posteriores, deslocamento do apoio dos membros anteriores caudalmente e dos membros posteriores cranialmente, decúbito lateral prolongado e morte. A confirmação do diagnóstico ocorreu mediante exames histopatológicos da medula espinhal, observando-se uma degeneração e perda dos neurônios localizados no corno ventral do H medular, sendo a lesão mais grave na região das intumescências cervical e lombar. As biópsias musculares revelaram alterações neuromusculares caracterizadas por atrofia neurogênica, complementando o diagnóstico de doença do neurônio motor. A atrofia e fraqueza muscular progressiva, assim como a degeneração dos neurônios motores, são similares àquelas descritas em humanos com esclerose lateral amiotrófica esporádica ou doença de Lou Gehrig’s.The present paper aims to report cases of equine motor neuron disease in different breeds and ages. The main clinical signs were progressive weight loss, muscle atrophy, generalized weakness, muscle fasciculation and trembling, frequent shifting of support hindlimbs, feet under body, excessive recumbency and death. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological studies of the spinal cord, which revealed degeneration and loss of neurons in the ventral horn, particularly cervical and lumbar intumescence. Muscle biopsy revealed neuromuscular disorders with denervation atrophy. The progressive muscle atrophy, weakness and motor neuron degeneration are similar to those in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, as described in human beings