A importância das pequenas centrais hidrelétricas (PCHS) da economia do Rio Grande do Sul

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro Socioeconômico. Ciências Econômicas (EaD).As Pequenas Centrais Hidrelétricas (PCHs) são empreendimentos de elevada importância para a matriz de geração de energia elétrica brasileira e gaúcha, por apresentar características que são consoantes com as exigências do desenvolvimento do século 21, ou seja, serem ambientalmente responsáveis, economicamente viáveis e contribuírem com o desenvolvimento social e regional. Atualmente, as PCHs possuem 3,08% de participação no mercado de geração de energia no Brasil, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul este índice é de 5,24% e está sendo ampliado com novos empreendimentos que estão em construção e outros que já estão autorizados para execução. Devido aos pacotes de incentivos a expansão de energia limpa, estes empreendimentos se tornaram atrativos para os investidores privados e empresas públicas e privadas. A construção de PCHs conta com 100% de tecnologia nacional, com domínio técnico e fabril

The connexin43 mimetic peptide Gap19 inhibits hemichannels without altering gap junctional communication in astrocytes

In the brain, astrocytes represent the cellular population that expresses the highest amount of connexins (Cxs). This family of membrane proteins is the molecular constituent of gap junction channels and hemichannels that provide pathways for direct cytoplasm-to-cytoplasm and inside-out exchange, respectively. Both types of Cx channels are permeable to ions and small signaling molecules allowing astrocytes to establish dynamic interactions with neurons. So far, most pharmacological approaches currently available do not distinguish between these two channel functions, stressing the need to develop new specific molecular tools. In astrocytes two major Cxs are expressed, Cx43 and Cx30, and there is now evidence indicating that at least Cx43 operates as a gap junction channel as well as a hemichannel in these cells. Based on studies in primary cultures as well as in acute hippocampal slices, we report here that Gap 19, a nonapeptide derived from the cytoplasmic loop of Cx43, inhibits astroglial Cx43 hemichannels in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting gap junction channels. This peptide, which not only selectively inhibits hemichannels but is also specific for Cx43, can be delivered in vivo in mice as TAT-Gap19, and displays penetration into the brain parenchyma. As a result, Gap 19 combined with other tools opens up new avenues to decipher the role of Cx43 hemichannels in interactions between astrocytes and neurons in physiological as well as pathological situations

Acesso lexical de bilíngues: Histórico e perspectivas de pesquisa no Brasil

When one or more words are presented to us, it is necessary to access the mental lexicon in order to recognize or identify them. This process is called lexical access. This is a growing theme, because, when doing a quick search on Capes’ Journal Portal, we can see that the number of studies in Portuguese which include the term “lexical acess” in their title has been increasing in the last 20 years. However, there is still room for studies on the lexical access of bilinguals. In this article, we seek to draw a parallel between the history of the study on bilingual lexical access and the perspectives for future studies, especially in the Brazilian scenario. For this purpose, a survey of national and international studies indexed in the CAPES database on the topic in evidence was carried out. This survey showed us similarities with influential works in the area, but also possibilities regarding the diversification of methodologies and objects of study.Quando uma ou mais palavras nos é(são) apresentada(s) é necessário acessar o léxico mental a fim de reconhecê-la(s) ou identificá-la(s). A esse processo dá-se o nome de acesso lexical. Essa é uma temática em ascensão, pois, ao fazer uma rápida busca no Portal de Periódicos da Capes verificamos que o número de pesquisas em português com o termo “acesso lexical” no título vem aumentando nos últimos 20 anos. No entanto, ainda há espaço para as pesquisas sobre o acesso lexical de bilíngues. No presente artigo, buscamos traçar um paralelo entre o histórico do estudo sobre o acesso lexical bilíngue e as perspectivas para futuras pesquisas, em especial no cenário brasileiro. Para tanto, realizou-se um levantamento de trabalhos de pesquisa nacionais e internacionais indexados na base de dados Periódicos CAPES sobre o tema em evidência. Esse levantamento nos mostrou semelhanças com trabalhos influentes na área, mas também possibilidades em relação a diversificação de metodologias e objetos de estudo

Genetic diversity and population structure of naturally rare Calibrachoa species with small distribution in southern Brazil

Calibrachoa is a South-American genus comprising 27 species, several considered endemic or rare; few were subjects in genetic studies. We attempted to generate new data about the phylogenetically related and rare species C. eglandulata, C. sendtneriana, C. serrulata, and C. spathulata concerning their genetic diversity and population structure, which, coupled with their known restricted distribution, could help access their conservation status and contribute to the study of the Brazilian biodiversity. We sequenced 88 individuals for plastid intergenic spacers and genotyped 186 individuals for five microsatellite loci. Compared among each other, C. sendtneriana and C. serrulata presented the highest values of genetic diversity [% (sd) = 0.23 (0.14) and 0.43 (0.25), respectively], followed by C. spathulata [% (sd) = 0.19 (0.12)] and C. eglandulata [% (sd) = 0.02 (0.03)]. Population differentiation was evident for these latter species, whereas it was not significant for C. sendtneriana and C. serrulata. Factors such as habitat specificity and fragmentation, pollination syndrome, and life history could explain the observed patterns. Based on the new genetic data and the species’ biology, a conservation status was assigned for C. sendtneriana and the status of the other three species was reviewed

What the tourism industry can learn from travel and historical writing

The success of commercial activities often depends on the capacity to understand and accommodate unknown others coming from different social and cultural backgrounds. This is particularly true in the tourism industry. However, though this may appear a simple exercise, as Casey Blanton and Brigitt Flohr demonstrate in Travel Writing: The Self and the World (1997) and “Representations of the Self and the Other in Eighteenth-Century Travel Literature” (1999) this is not always easy, requiring preparation on the part of all involved as one is rarely neutral when encountering hitherto unknown others. Nonetheless, as Martin Page demonstrates in The First Global Village (2002), natural bias can be overcome and this is beneficial to all parties. In this essay, we will look closely at Page’s construction and representation of the Portuguese other found through the author’s contact with the Portuguese and his research into their history. We will also question if the controversy associated with The First Global Village is not due to the fact that the book breaks the rules of literary genre thus disconcerting readers; implying that innate bias is associated with all hitherto unknown others, whether these be individuals or literary object.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Human papillomavirus vaccination in national immunization programs: impact and perspectives

Human Papillomaviruses are present in virtually all cases of cervical cancer and are also linked with anogenital warts and other precancerous lesions which can be primarily prevented by HPV vaccination. We searched the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase databases (between January 1st, 2011 and February 28th, 2017) and WHO (World Health Organization) and countries’ health organizations websites for data on HPV vaccination programs and its effectiveness. For the review on the Brazilian Immunization program, we additionally searched SciELO database and websites of the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the Information System of the National Immunization Program (SI-PNI). As of April 2017, about 40% of the countries had introduced HPV vaccines in their national immunization programs, targeting almost always children and teenage females between 9 and 13 years of age. Most of these are high-income countries but low- and middle-income countries are recently implementing the vaccination program with financial support of public and private organizations. Since the introduction of HPV vaccination, numerous articles present data on its effectiveness in real world supporting the effectiveness of an immunization program in the prevention of HPV infection and related diseases in both genders. The Brazilian HPV vaccination program began in 2014 for 9-13 years old girls and has recently been expanded to include boys and young males. This review aims to update information on HPV vaccination programs worldwide highlighting the Brazilian immunization program. Data on the impact and effectiveness of HPV vaccines on infection and related diseases is presented. Moreover, the reasons for different coverage rates, reflected in low-vaccine uptake, are discussed. Finally, the present review addresses the socioeconomic barriers as well as the key determinants of long-term program success and strategies to improve access and adherence to HPV vaccination.O Papilomavírus Humano (HPV) está presente em praticamente todos os casos de câncer do colo do útero e também em verrugas anogenitais e outras lesões pré-cancerígenas diversas, que podem ser prevenidos primariamente via vacinação. Até abril de 2017, cerca de 40% dos países já haviam introduzido a vacina de HPV em seus programas nacionais de imunização, tendo por alvo quase sempre meninas entre 9 e 13 anos de idade. A maioria desses países são de alta renda, mas países de média e baixa renda têm implementado recentemente programas de vacinação com o apoio de organizações de financiamento públicas e privadas. Desde a introdução da vacinação de HPV, inúmeros artigos apresentam dados sobre sua efetividade no mundo real, apoiando a efetividade de um programa de imunização na prevenção da infecção e na redução das doenças relacionadas ao HPV em ambos os sexos. O programa brasileiro de vacinação contra o HPV iniciou-se em 2014 para meninas de 9 a 13 anos de idade e, recentemente, foi ampliado para meninos. Este artigo de revisão visa atualizar os dados de implementação de vacina de HPV em diferentes países do mundo, enfatizando o programa brasileiro. Além disso, são apresentados os dados de impacto e efetividade da vacina de HPV em relação à redução de infecções e doenças causados pelos tipos de HPV contidos nas vacinas. Ainda, são apontadas as razões para as diferentes taxas de cobertura e dificuldades observadas na implementação dos programas, considerando barreiras sociais e econômicas. Finalmente, são discutidos os principais determinantes de sucesso a longo prazo e estratégias para melhorar o acesso e a aderência aos programas de vacinação

Machine learning for ancient languages: a survey

Ancient languages preserve the cultures and histories of the past. However, their study is fraught with difficulties, and experts must tackle a range of challenging text-based tasks, from deciphering lost languages to restoring damaged inscriptions, to determining the authorship of works of literature. Technological aids have long supported the study of ancient texts, but in recent years advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning have enabled analyses on a scale and in a detail that are reshaping the field of humanities, similarly to how microscopes and telescopes have contributed to the realm of science. This article aims to provide a comprehensive survey of published research using machine learning for the study of ancient texts written in any language, script, and medium, spanning over three and a half millennia of civilizations around the ancient world. To analyze the relevant literature, we introduce a taxonomy of tasks inspired by the steps involved in the study of ancient documents: digitization, restoration, attribution, linguistic analysis, textual criticism, translation, and decipherment. This work offers three major contributions: first, mapping the interdisciplinary field carved out by the synergy between the humanities and machine learning; second, highlighting how active collaboration between specialists from both fields is key to producing impactful and compelling scholarship; third, highlighting promising directions for future work in this field. Thus, this work promotes and supports the continued collaborative impetus between the humanities and machine learning