Preliminary study of illumination levels in university and elementary classrooms in Campina Grande, Brazil

The purpose of our study was to provide preliminary data on light levels used in university and elementary school classrooms in Campina Grande, Brazil with the aim of providing Brazilian politicians and educators with data to support continued educational initiatives in northeast Brazil. The data were gathered at the Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) and compared with a sample of classrooms at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater Oklahoma. The results indicated that many seats within UFCG classrooms met or exceeded minimum standards but significant numbers did not. Moreover, compared to classrooms at OSU, UFCG classrooms are not as highly illuminated and the Brazilian elementary classrooms examined did not meet minimum illumination standards.Peer reviewedPsychologyZoolog

Price survey comparison of alcoholic beverages with the five basic food groups in Paraiba, Brazil

The study of alcohol abuse is relatively new in Brazil. Government estimates suggest that 11.2% of the Brazilian population is alcohol dependent. Problems associated with alcohol dependence include domestic violence, increased risk of traffic accidents, poor self-esteem and weak academic performance. A factor known to correlate with alcohol abuse in 12-17 year olds is to have the money necessary to purchase alcoholic beverages. No data is available, however, on the price of alcoholic beverages. The objective of the present study was to provide data on price and to compare the price of alcoholic beverages to basic food items in the Brazilian diet. We also had interest in studying a population in the northeast region of Brazil. This region is the poorest in Brazil, has the highest percentage of alcohol dependency and is seldom the focus of research on dependency. We report that the prices of many alcoholic beverages are less than the price of basic food items. Prices of alcoholic beverages including beer, wine and spirits were compared to the prices of select food items as represented in the Food Pyramid. Food items were selected from the categories of Grain, Dairy, Fruit, Meat and Vegetable. Data was gathered from 32 supermarkets in 8 cities in the northeast state of Paraiba. The price of alcohol is generally less expensive than most basic food group items, especially brands of cachaca (a spirit distilled from sugar cane) and beer. Data on price should be considered in any alcohol dependency program in Brazil.Peer reviewedPsycholog

Terrestrial behavior in titi monkeys (Callicebus, Cheracebus, and Plecturocebus) : potential correlates, patterns, and differences between genera

For arboreal primates, ground use may increase dispersal opportunities, tolerance to habitat change, access to ground-based resources, and resilience to human disturbances, and so has conservation implications. We collated published and unpublished data from 86 studies across 65 localities to assess titi monkey (Callicebinae) terrestriality. We examined whether the frequency of terrestrial activity correlated with study duration (a proxy for sampling effort), rainfall level (a proxy for food availability seasonality), and forest height (a proxy for vertical niche dimension). Terrestrial activity was recorded frequently for Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but rarely for Cheracebus spp. Terrestrial resting, anti-predator behavior, geophagy, and playing frequencies in Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but feeding and moving differed. Callicebus spp. often ate or searched for new leaves terrestrially. Plecturocebus spp. descended primarily to ingest terrestrial invertebrates and soil. Study duration correlated positively and rainfall level negatively with terrestrial activity. Though differences in sampling effort and methods limited comparisons and interpretation, overall, titi monkeys commonly engaged in a variety of terrestrial activities. Terrestrial behavior in Callicebus and Plecturocebus capacities may bolster resistance to habitat fragmentation. However, it is uncertain if the low frequency of terrestriality recorded for Cheracebus spp. is a genus-specific trait associated with a more basal phylogenetic position, or because studies of this genus occurred in pristine habitats. Observations of terrestrial behavior increased with increasing sampling effort and decreasing food availability. Overall, we found a high frequency of terrestrial behavior in titi monkeys, unlike that observed in other pitheciids

Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera ) and the Solution of Practical Problems

Experiments on the use of honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) to solve practical problems are described. These problems include studies of alcoholism, influence of consumer products on Africanized honey bees, the effect of pesticides considered “harmless,” and the detection of adulterated hive products. The results of these experiments indicate that the study of invertebrate learning conducted within a comparative-psychological paradigm can provide much useful data to the solution of practical problems of significance to psychologists

Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera ) and the Solution of Practical Problems

Experiments on the use of honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) to solve practical problems are described. These problems include studies of alcoholism, influence of consumer products on Africanized honey bees, the effect of pesticides considered “harmless,” and the detection of adulterated hive products. The results of these experiments indicate that the study of invertebrate learning conducted within a comparative-psychological paradigm can provide much useful data to the solution of practical problems of significance to psychologists

Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and the Solution of Practical Problems

Experiments on the use of honey bees (Apis mellifera) to solve practical problems are described. These problems include studies of alcoholism, influence of consumer products on Africanized honey bees, the effect of pesticides considered “harmless,” and the detection of adulterated hive products. The results of these experiments indicate that the study of invertebrate learning conducted within a comparative-psychological paradigm can provide much useful data to the solution of practical problems of significance to psychologists

Failure to Find Proboscis Conditioning in One-Day Old Africanized Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera L,) and in Adult Uru§u. Honey bees (Melipona Scutellaris)

The proboscis extension reflex was used to investigate behaviormodification in one day old Africanized honey bees and in adult Uru^u honey bees.Experiments were designed to investigate classical conditioning, pseudoconditioning,and central excitatory state. Additional experiments examined the suitability of theproboscis extension reflex to serve as a feeding assay were carried out on Urugu. Theresults indicated no classical conditioning and no pseudoconditioning in youngAfricanized bees or in the adult Uru9u. A large central excitatory effect was observed inyoung Africanized bees, but only a small effect was observed in Urugu. The proboscisextension reflex could be used as an assay to test the suitability of artificial diets inUru§u

Failure to Find Proboscis Conditioning in One-Day Old Africanized Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera L,) and in Adult Uru§u. Honey bees (Melipona Scutellaris)

The proboscis extension reflex was used to investigate behaviormodification in one day old Africanized honey bees and in adult Uru^u honey bees.Experiments were designed to investigate classical conditioning, pseudoconditioning,and central excitatory state. Additional experiments examined the suitability of theproboscis extension reflex to serve as a feeding assay were carried out on Urugu. Theresults indicated no classical conditioning and no pseudoconditioning in youngAfricanized bees or in the adult Uru9u. A large central excitatory effect was observed inyoung Africanized bees, but only a small effect was observed in Urugu. The proboscisextension reflex could be used as an assay to test the suitability of artificial diets inUru§u

O uso do GPS de navegação em pequenas áreas agrícolas

Topography has applications in many areas, for example, in measuring and preparation of land for cultivation, in the design and execution of engineering works, construction of roads, in the division of land. This work had the objective to studying and applying a navigation GPS on topographic surveying and leveling in agricultural areas, and to compare its performance with the use of traditional equipment used in surveying. Planimetric surveys were carried out in different small land area, with approximately 1 hectare in area, using a GPS device and an Electronic Theodolite. A total of 12 planimetric surveys were conducted in the same area using the GPS device and 4 using the Electronic Theodolite with the intention to examine the accuracy of the GPS unit into two functions, located in different "pages" of the device, which are used for measurements of areas. Finally, an altimetry work has been done, focusing on checking the level difference between two majors sectors of the Campus III of Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB). The results showed that is not advisable to use the GPS of navigation in planimetric work in small areas, neither in altimetry works.A topografia tem aplicações em muitas áreas, como por exemplo: na medição e preparo de áreas para o cultivo, no projeto e execução de obras de engenharia, construção de estradas de rodagem, na divisão de terrenos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar e aplicar o GPS de navegação em levantamentos e nivelamentos topográficos em áreas agrícolas, e avaliar o seu desempenho por meio de comparações com equipamentos tradicionais usados em topografia. Foram realizados levantamentos planimétricos de diferentes terrenos de pequena área, com aproximadamente 1 hectare de área, usando o aparelho GPS e um Teodolito Eletrônico. Foram realizados 12 levantamentos planimétricos da mesma área, usando o aparelho de GPS e 4 usando um Teodolito Eletrônico, com a intenção de analisar a precisão do aparelho GPS em duas funções, localizadas em “páginas” diferentes do aparelho, e que são utilizados para medições de áreas. Por fim foi realizado um trabalho de altimetria, tendo como foco verificar a diferença de nível entre a primeira chã e o setor da Suinocultura, do Campus III da UFPB. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir não ser aconselhável o uso do GPS de navegação em trabalhos planimétricos em pequenas áreas, tampouco em trabalhos de altimetria