Development of a low-cost ground segment capable of receiving data from nanosatellites: a partnership between Brazil and Portugal

Two universities joined forces to develop a shared ground segment (Ground Stations and Mission Operation Centers) for satellite signals reception, capable of working together autonomously in a network to receive telemetry data and decode information. The main objective of this cooperation and network is to, firstly, give both universities an infrastructure capable of receiving signals in VHF and UHF. Secondly, and most importantly, it aims to create an exchange of experiences between students from these universities while also contributing to the regional development of each country in nanosatellite data reception technology. The ground segment itself provides mutual data collection on a private server, using two ground stations located in different hemispheres to expand global coverage and minimize revisit time, which also contributes to supplying the nanosatellite telemetries database, which is being built in Portugal. The server architecture allows both universities to schedule future passes of their chosen satellites, recording them in a log file that can be used in future studies, enabling research groups to gain experience in signal processing analysis. The modular system is developed entirely using Commercial Of-The-Shelf (COTS) components and 3D printed parts, including Antennas, Amplifiers, Filters and also SDRs (Software Defined Radio), leaving the door open to new integrations that can expand frequency coverage, or system performance improvements. The design supports a wide variety of missions, operating on amateur radio frequency in VHF (2 m band of 144-146 MHz) and UHF (70 cm band of 430-440 MHz), enabling remote access and remote control of the antennas and their recorded data. All the ground segment architecture, hardware, and software, as well as its operational procedures, are discussed in this paper and can be found in detail on our public repository in GitLab. As of March 21st, it has completed several observations for verification. The results are being processed on a low-cost computer (Raspberry Pi4) connected to an SDR which in turn connects to the antennas. The assembly of this interface intends to give a friendly user experience and, if desirable, an easy expansion of this system. The project developed can be easily replicated in other locations around the world, mainly because of its low price and ease of use

Study of prevalence, severity and risk factors of periodontal disease in a Portuguese population

Periodontal disease is a common worldwide oral inflammation/infection affecting tissues that surround and support teeth. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence, extent and severity of periodontal diseases and its risk factors, according to the most recent periodontal classification, in an adult population of Northern Portugal. This observational study collected data from clinical records of patients who attended the University Clinic of Gandra between April 2021 and April 2022. Of a total of 941 patients included, 457 (48.6%) had periodontitis, 253 (26.9%) had gingivitis and the remaining 231 (24.5%) were healthy patients. The prevalence of stage III severe periodontitis was 51.2%, more prevalent in males, and in the age group of 61–70 years. Gingivitis was more prevalent in females, and in the age group of 31–40 years; in both diseases, the most prevalent extension was the generalized one. Using a binary logistic regression, we observe a significant relation of the risk of periodontitis with age (p = 0.019; OR 1.033; 95% CI 1.005–1.062), tooth brushing (p = 0.002; OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.105–0.599) and dental flossing (p = 0.015; OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.09–0.768). This study revealed a high prevalence of periodontitis. Increased age, lack of tooth brushing and flossing were identified as potential risk factors for periodontitis in the investigated Portuguese population.This research was funded by Instituto Universitário de Ciencias da Saúde (CESPU) and by CESPU Diagnóstico. The participation of Marta Relvas was funded by the project grant AMDNCPD_PI2RL_IINFACTS_2021 and Luis Monteiro by the project grant IPO2021_PI2RL_IINFACTS_2021 from CESPU University

Índices de sustentabilidade municipal: o desafio de mensurar

This paper tracks progress toward municipal sustainability at the main cities of the Piracicaba River Basin. The sustainability indexes system combines measures of environmental quality, human wellbeing, institutional capacity and anthropogenic pressure. The river and it basin are seen as a life witness of the regional environment health and as the main methodological tool to integrate and compare information produced by multiple sources under different methodologies and disciplinary approaches. The Piracicaba Basin was chosen as the study area due to the numerous possibilities it presents for the analysis and study of important environmental problems. It has a large and important protected area of Atlantic Forest; the most important iron-steel industrial complex in Brazil; mining areas; an expanding cellulose industrial complex; enormous areas of eucalyptus monoculture plantations; a variety of agricultural and cattle ranching activities and a rapid growing urban system that includes major regional urban centers.sustainable development, quality of life, measurement of quality of life, environmental health

Índices de sustentabilidade municipal: o desafio de mensurar [Indices of municipal sustainability: the metrics challenge]

This article presents methodology for the construction of indices of local sustainability, applied to the cities of the Piracicaba River Basin (Minas Gerais). The proposed methodology combines measures of quality of the microregional environmental system; the quality of life in urban areas; the pressure exerted by anthropic activities on reproduction bases in the area and on the microregional environmental system; political and institutional capacity for local intervention. The river and its water basin are used as the main parameters for spatialization, integration and compatibility of indicators constructed on the basis of distinct methodology and disciplinary viewpoints. Located in the mid Rio Doce river basin, the Piracicaba River basin is within the area of influence of the Rio Doce State Park. It comprises a significant assembly of economic activities (steel, cellulose, and iron ore mining) with a high degree of anthropic impact, considerable urban concentration, and massive reforestations through the monocultural plantation of eucalyptus trees (coal and cellulose).indices and indicators, sustainable development, quality of life, environmental quality, political/institutional capacity

Spatial-Temporal Dynamics of Neotropical Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) Communities Along a Forest-Savanna Gradient

Understanding how and why biological communities are organized over space and time is a major challenge and can aid biodiversity conservation in times of global changes. Herein, spatial-temporal variation in the structure of velvet ant communities was examined along a forest-savanna gradient in the Brazilian Cerrado to assess the roles of environmental filters and interspecific interactions upon community assembly. Velvet ants were sampled using 25 arrays of Y-shaped pitfall traps with drift fences for one year along an environmental gradient from cerrado sensu stricto (open canopy, warmer, drier) to cerradão (closed canopy, cooler, moister). Dataloggers installed on each trap recorded microclimate parameters throughout the study period. The effects of spatial distances, microclimate parameters and shared ancestry on species abundances and turnover were assessed with canonical correspondence analysis, generalized dissimilarity modelling and variance components analysis. Velvet ant diversity and abundance were higher in the cerrado sensu stricto and early in the wet season. There was pronounced compositional turnover along the environmental gradient, and temporal variation in richness and abundance was stronger than spatial variation. The dry season blooming of woody plant species fosters host abundance and, subsequently, velvet ant captures. Species were taxonomically clustered along the gradient with Sphaeropthalmina (especially Traumatomutilla spp.) and Pseudomethocina more associated, respectively, with cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão. This suggests a predominant role of environmental filters on community assemble, with physiological tolerances and host preferences being shared among members of the same lineages. Induced environmental changes in Cerrado can impact communities of wasps and their hosts with unpredictable consequences upon ecosystem functioning and services

A atuação dos professores como intelectuais transformadores: A sociedade do conhecimento e a quebra de paradigmas.

Este estudo objetiva discutir a atuação de professores no contexto da sociedade do conhecimento, articulando as noções de professores como intelectuais transformadores e a quebra de paradigmas. Desdobra-se em duas partes, na primeira buscamos identificar paradigmas que influenciam o fazer pedagógico dos professores e na segunda caracterizaremos o papel do professor como intelectual, a partir da noção de paradigma da Sociedade do Conhecimento, bem como, de articulador do discurso democrático tanto como referencial à análise crítica como quanto ideal fundamentado na noção dialética da relação escola-sociedade. Autores fundamentam e articulam a temáticas voltada ao professor, à emancipação docente e à sociedade do conhecimento; além de pressupostos críticos à postura do professor como transmissor de informações, característica do paradigma da Sociedade Industrial, entendendo-se que a partir do momento que o professor começa a se questionar sobre o sentido do próprio trabalho, coloca-se a caminho para atuar como um profissional reflexivo

O cinema e a formação docente: um diálogo sobre as questões de gênero

The article indicates the potential of some motion pictures as mediators in the denaturalization of sexuality and gender issues. It also offers a reflection on the pertinence and contribution of this matter for the teachers’ education. Based in the Cultural Studies, this analysis highlights the importance of cinema for building the individual cultural identity. The examination of sequences of three cinematographic productions from the Sixties and Seventies — Chuvas de Verão, by Cacá Diegues; Julieta dos Espíritos, by Federico Fellini; and Vivre sa Vie, by Jean Luc Godard — supports the deconstruction of stereotypes and redeem the complexity of the sexuality and gender issues. As object of reflection and analysis by teachers, cinema shows to be a tool capable of leveraging change and meaning shifts of life and social roles. O artigo aponta para o potencial de algumas obras cinematográficas como mediadoras na desnaturalização de questões de sexualidade e gênero. Elabora, ainda, uma reflexão sobre a pertinência e a contribuição deste tema para a formação docente. Com base nos estudos culturais, a análise destaca a importância do cinema para a construção das identidades culturais dos indivíduos. O exame de seqüências de três produções cinematográficas das décadas de 1960 e 1970 – Chuvas de Verão, de Cacá Diegues, Julieta dos Espíritos, de Federico Fellini, e Viver a vida, de Jean Luc Godard – colabora para a desconstrução de estereótipos e resgata a complexidade das questões de gênero e sexualidade. Como objeto de reflexão e análise por educadores, o cinema se mostra uma ferramenta capaz de alavancar transformações e ressignificações sobre a vida e os papéis sociais.