Environmental health and inequalities : building indicators for sustainable development

O Brasil, mesmo com os avanços nos indicadores socioeconômicos ainda se apresenta desigual, situação fruto de um desenvolvimento historicamente excludente. Foi escolhido o Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH) e indicadores sociais, econômicos, ambientais e de saúde para exemplificar essa problemática. Foram selecionados os municípios que apresentavam mais baixos IDHs no ano de 2000 e comparada sua evolução temporal entre 2000 e 2010 por meio de indicadores relacionados aos pilares econômico, ambiental e social do desenvolvimento sustentável. Estes possuem um IDH classificado como baixo (<0.500) e correspondem a países como Laos, Iêmen, Haiti e Madagascar. No âmbito nacional, verificou-se, entre o início dos anos 2000 e o fim dessa década, uma importante melhora do indicador do pilar econômico (diminuição de 23,9% para 8,9% de pessoas vivendo com menos de 1/4 de salário mínimo), sendo que os indicadores referentes aos pilares social (aumento de 86,5% para 90,2% de mulheres alfabetizadas) e ambiental (aumento de 81% para 85% no acesso a rede geral de água), também apresentaram melhoria, embora em menor grau. Concluiu-se que para alcançar o desenvolvimento sustentável e com qualidade de vida, a melhora dos indicadores de saneamento e de educação deve ser uma prioridade para o Brasil. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTDespite its progress in terms of socioeconomic indicators, Brazil is still unequal, which is due to an unequal and exclusionary historical process. In this paper we selected the Human Development Index – HDI and other social, economic, environmental and health indicators to exemplify this situation. We selected the municipalities that had the lowest HDI in the country in 2000 comparing their evolution over time between 2000 and 2010 by means of indicators linked to the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainable development. These municipalities have an HDI classified as low (<0.500), and correspond to countries such as Laos, Yemen, Haiti and Madagascar. At national level, data for the decade show a significant improvement in economic indicators (decrease from 23% to 8.9% of people living on less than a quarter of the minimum wage); social indicators (increase from 86.5% to 90.2% of literacy in women), and the environmental indicator associated with access to the water grid, which also improved to a lesser extent (increase from 81% to 85%). It was concluded that in order to achieve sustainable development with quality of life, the improvement of sanitation and education indicators should be a priority for Brazil

Identifying dependability requirements for space software systems

Computer systems are increasingly used in space, whether in launch vehicles, satellites, ground support and payload systems. Software applications used in these systems have become more complex, mainly due to the high number of features to be met, thus contributing to a greater probability of hazards related to software faults. Therefore, it is fundamental that the specification activity of requirements have a decisive role in the effort of obtaining systems with high quality and safety standards. In critical systems like the embedded software of the Brazilian Satellite Launcher, ambiguity, non-completeness, and lack of good requirements can cause serious accidents with economic, material and human losses. One way to assure quality with safety, reliability and other dependability attributes may be the use of safety analysis techniques during the initial phases of the project in order to identify the most adequate dependability requirements to minimize possible fault or failure occurrences during the subsequent phases. This paper presents a structured software dependability requirements analysis process that uses system software requirement specifications and traditional safety analysis techniques. The main goal of the process is to help to identify a set of essential software dependability requirements which can be added to the software requirement previously specified for the system. The final results are more complete, consistent, and reliable specifications

Optimising resource costs of cloud computing for education

International audienceThere is a growing interest around the utilisation of cloud computing in education. As organisations involved in the area typically face severe budget restrictions, there is a need for cost optimisation mechanisms that explore unique features of digital learning environments. In this work, we introduce a method based on Maximum Likelihood Estimation that considers heterogeneity of IT infrastructure in order to devise resource allocation plans that maximise platform utilisation for educational environments. We performed experiments using modelled datasets from real digital teaching solutions and obtained cost reductions of up to 30%, compared with conservative resource allocation strategies

Análise Bioestratigráfica com Base em Foraminíferos de Três Testemunhos da Região do Leque Almirante Câmara na Bacia de Campos, RJ.

A Bacia de Campos é a principal áreaprodutora de hidrocarbonetos do país. A descobertade campos gigantes nessa bacia levou à intensificaçãodos estudos dos depósitos em águas profundas ehiperprofundas, tanto da dinâmica de sua gênese eevolução, quanto da tecnologia de produção. Assim,o estudo da bioestratigrafia do Quaternário dessabacia adquire importância, pois fornece uma molduraestratigráfica para a reconstituição da sedimentaçãonessa área. O objetivo do presente trabalho consisteno reconhecimento de biozonas com base emforaminíferos e na correlação estratigráfica de poçosperfurados no talude continental. O material estudadoé proveniente de três testemunhos coletados em2001, no Sistema Almirante Câmara (lâmina d’águaentre 1050 e 2400 m), pelo projeto “ImageamentoGeofísico do Sistema Turbidítico Moderno em ÁguasProfundas da Bacia de Campos”, desenvolvidopelo Depto. de Geologia/UFRJ em parceria com aPETROBRAS. Foram analisadas 77 amostras, comespaçamento de 3cm a 30cm, de acordo com critérioslitológicos e com a necessidade de um detalhamentomaior dos intervalos estudados. Em laboratório, asamostras foram pesadas (10 g) e processadas segundometodologia tradicional para estudo de microfósseiscalcários. Em seguida, cada amostra foi peneiradaa seco para triagem, identificação e contagem. Aidentificação e classificação taxônomica seguiuBolli & Saunders (1985. In: Bolli et al. PlanktonStratigraphy) e Kennet & Srinivasan (1983. NeogenePlanktonic Foraminifera: a Phylogenetic Atlas). Obiozoneamento utlizado como referência foi o deEricson & Wollin (1968. Sciences, v.162), refinadopor Vicalvi (1997, Bol.Geoci.Petrobras, v.11, n.1/2;1999. PPGG/UFRJ,Tese D.Sc.). Foram reconhecidasas biozonas Z (Holoceno), Y e X (Pleistoceno Final)e identificado um possível hiato, englobando ointervalo Y5 – Y2; as taxas de sedimentação foramcalculadas para os intervalos Z, parte superior de Y1e Y1 total

Impact of User Patience on Auto-Scaling Resource Capacity for Cloud Services

International audienceAn important feature of most cloud computing solutions is auto-scaling, an operation that enables dynamic changes on resource capacity. Auto-scaling algorithms generally take into account aspects such as system load and response time to determine when and by how much a resource pool capacity should be extended or shrunk. In this article, we propose a scheduling algorithm and auto-scaling triggering strategies that explore user patience, a metric that estimates the perception end-users have from the Quality of Service (QoS) delivered by a service provider based on the ratio between expected and actual response times for each request. The proposed strategies help reduce costs with resource allocation while maintaining perceived QoS at adequate levels. Results show reductions on resource-hour consumption by up to approximately 9% compared to traditional approaches

Implications on the introduction of transgenics in Brazilian maize breeding programs

Transgenic maize was approved in Brazil in 2008/2009. In 2012, it occupied 73% of the country maize growing area. This high adoption rate confirms studies indicating that technology use has been the major driving force in Brazilian agriculture. Maize seed market in the world has been a concentrated sector. Although, when this sector is associated with transgenesis, this concentration increases sharply. In one side, there is the idea that companies can benefit from gains of scale and complementarities to maximize their efficiency in research and development (R&D). On the other side, this concentration may allow the exercise of “market power” by dominant companies. The objective of this study is to analyze the impacts of the adoption of transgenic technology in the arrangements of maize breeding programs and seed production sector in Brazil. A critical analysis of the situation of the breeding programs that do not have this technology is made

Efetividade da injeção intrarticular de lidocaína na redução das luxações anteriores do ombro: ensaio clínico randomizado

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Shoulder dislocation is the most common dislocation among the large joints. The aim here was to compare the effectiveness of reduction of acute anterior shoulder dislocation with or without articular anesthesia. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective randomized trial conducted in Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) (EPM-UNIFESP). METHODS: From March 2008 to December 2009, 42 patients with shoulder dislocation were recruited. Reductions using traction-countertraction for acute anterior shoulder dislocation with and without lidocaine articular anesthesia were compared. As the primary outcome, pain was assessed through application of a visual analogue scale before reduction, and one and five minutes after the reduction maneuver was performed. Complications were also assessed. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were included: 20 in the group without analgesia (control group) and 22 in the group that received intra-articular lidocaine injection. The group that received intra-articular lidocaine had a statistically greater decrease in pain over time than shown by the control group, both in the first minute (respectively: mean 2.1 (0 to 5.0), standard deviation, SD 1.3, versus mean 4.9 (2.0 to 7.0, SD 1.5; P < 0.001) and the fifth minute (respectively: mean 1.0; 0 to 3.0; SD = 1.0 versus mean 4.0; 1.0 to 6.0; SD = 1.4; P < 0.001). There was one failure in the control group. There were no other complications in either group. CONCLUSION: Reduction of anterior shoulder dislocation using intra-articular lidocaine injection is effective, since it is safe and diminishes the pain. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN27127703.CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A luxação do ombro é a mais frequente luxação das grandes articulações. O objetivo foi comparar a efetividade da redução da luxação anterior aguda do ombro, com ou sem anestesia articular. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Ensaio clínico randomizado desenvolvido na Escola Paulista de Medicina - Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) (EPM-UNIFESP). MÉTODOS: De março de 2008 a dezembro de 2009 foram recrutados 42 pacientes com luxação anterior do ombro agudas. Foi comparada a redução de tração e contra-tração com e sem anestesia intra-articular com lidocaína. Como desfecho primário, a dor foi avaliada por meio da escala visual analógica antes da redução e um e cinco minutos após a redução do ombro. Complicações também foram avaliadas. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 42 pacientes: 20 no grupo sem anestesia (grupo controle) e 22 no grupo que recebeu injeção intra-articular de lidocaína. O grupo que recebeu lidocaína intra-articular teve estatisticamente menos dor no primeiro (média = 2,1; 0 a 5,0, desvio padrão, DP, de 1,3, versus média = 4,9; 2,0 a 7,0; DP = 1,5; respectivamente; P < 0,001) e no quinto minutos (média = 1,0; 0 a 3,0; DP = 1,0 versus 4,0; 1,0 a 6,0; DP = 1,4; respectivamente; P < 0,001) após a redução em comparação ao grupo controle. Houve uma falha no grupo controle. Não houve complicações adicionais em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: A redução da luxação do ombro com o uso de lidocaína intra-articular é efetiva, pois é segura e proporciona menos dor. REGISTRO DE ENSAIO CLÍNICO: ISRCTN27127703Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Department of Orthopedics and TraumatologyUNIFESP, EPM, Department of Orthopedics and TraumatologySciEL