Low Carbon Transition through Renewables Sources – An Overview ofthe Renewable Energy Program in the State of Minas Gerais

The Renewable Energy Program of Minas Gerais is one of the initiatives which aims at the intensification in the use of renewable sources in the state. The present paper applies a methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of such instrument to expand the number of renewable energy projects and its contribution to achieve the goals of the energy sector of the Brazilian Nationally Determined Contributions, that is, to increase the use of renewable energy by 45% until 2030. It has been observed that the expansion of the renewable energy sources at regional level has advanced by incentive policies with clearly defined goals and guidelines. However, the analyzed program does not attend to all the requirements and it is possible to conclude that the main state public policy of renewable energy expansion did not accomplish its objectives suggesting that a balanced mix of public policies must be implemented in order to promote an effective energy transition

Metodologias de ensino na educação a distância em ciências da saúde: formação lato sensu

The aim was to identify the role of teaching methodologies used in lato sensu courses in Distance Education in Health Sciences. Descriptive qualitative research. Research subjects: professors/coordinators of lato sensu courses in the areas of health in Distance Education. A form on teaching tools and methodologies and a semi-structured interview were used. For data analysis, the content analysis method was used under the concepts of Vygotsky's socio-interactionist theory. The data raised the tools used in the teaching platforms. The analysis of the interviews resulted in four categories. These data showed the difficulties, experiences and expectations of teachers/coordinators. Distance Education provides expansion and deepening of knowledge. There is concern about the quality of teaching, directed to the need to adapt the methodologies applied to the use of different tools. Distance Education provides expansion of access to professional qualification, consequently improving health care for the population.Objetivou-se identificar o papel das metodologias de ensino utilizadas em cursos lato sensu em Educação a Distância nas Ciências da Saúde. Pesquisa qualitativa descritiva. Sujeitos da pesquisa: professores/coordenadores de cursos lato sensu nas áreas da saúde em Educação a Distância. Foram utilizados formulário sobre ferramentas e metodologias de ensino e entrevista semiestruturada. Para análise dos dados foi utilizado o método de análise de conteúdo sob os conceitos da teoria sócio-interacionista de Vygotsky. Os dados levantaram as ferramentas utilizadas nas plataformas de ensino. A análise das entrevistas resultou em quatro categorias. Esses dados mostraram as dificuldades, experiências e expectativas dos professores/coordenadores. A Educação a Distância proporciona expansão e aprofundamento de conhecimento. Existe preocupação quanto a qualidade do ensino, direcionada a necessidade de adequação das metodologias aplicadas ao uso das diferentes ferramentas. A Educação a Distância proporciona ampliação ao acesso à qualificação profissional, consequentemente melhorando a assistência de saúde à população

Evidence for Color Dichotomy in the Primordial Neptunian Trojan Population

In the current model of early Solar System evolution, the stable members of the Jovian and Neptunian Trojan populations were captured into resonance from the leftover reservoir of planetesimals during the outward migration of the giant planets. As a result, both Jovian and Neptunian Trojans share a common origin with the primordial disk population, whose other surviving members constitute today's trans-Neptunian object (TNO) populations. The cold classical TNOs are ultra-red, while the dynamically excited "hot" population of TNOs contains a mixture of ultra-red and blue objects. In contrast, Jovian and Neptunian Trojans are observed to be blue. While the absence of ultra-red Jovian Trojans can be readily explained by the sublimation of volatile material from their surfaces due to the high flux of solar radiation at 5AU, the lack of ultra-red Neptunian Trojans presents both a puzzle and a challenge to formation models. In this work we report the discovery by the Dark Energy Survey (DES) of two new dynamically stable L4 Neptunian Trojans,2013 VX30 and 2014 UU240, both with inclinations i >30 degrees, making them the highest-inclination known stable Neptunian Trojans. We have measured the colors of these and three other dynamically stable Neptunian Trojans previously observed by DES, and find that 2013 VX30 is ultra-red, the first such Neptunian Trojan in its class. As such, 2013 VX30 may be a "missing link" between the Trojan and TNO populations. Using a simulation of the DES TNO detection efficiency, we find that there are 162 +/- 73 Trojans with Hr < 10 at the L4 Lagrange point of Neptune. Moreover, the blue-to-red Neptunian Trojan population ratio should be higher than 17:1. Based on this result, we discuss the possible origin of the ultra-red Neptunian Trojan population and its implications for the formation history of Neptunian Trojans

HPLC-DAD analysis, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the ethanolic extract of Hyptis umbrosa in mice

Hyptis umbrosa (syn. Mesosphaerum sidifolium) (Lamiaceae Family) has been used to treat several conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders, skin infections, nasal congestion, fever and cramps. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, analgesic and anti-inflammatory profiles of ethanol extract from leaves of Hyptis umbrosa (EEB). HPLC-DAD was used to determine the fingerprint chromatogram of the extract. Male Swiss mice were orally pretreated with EEB (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg; 60 min before initiating algesic stimulation) and antinociceptive activity was assessed using the acetic acid-induced writhing model, formalin test and hyperalgesia induced by glutamate or capsaicin. Also, peritonitis was induced by the intrathoracic injection of carrageenan to quantify the total number of leukocytes. The presence of phenolic compounds in the extract was confirmed using HPLC-DAD. The treatment with EEB, at all doses, produced a significant analgesic effect against acetic acid-induced antinociceptive activity. In the formalin test, only the 400-mg/kg-dose of EEB had a significant effect in the first phase. However, all doses tested were able to reverse nociception in the second phase. The effect of all doses of EEB also showed a significant antinociceptive effect in the glutamate and capsaicin tests and inhibited the carrageenan-induced leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity. The present study suggests that the EEB possesses peripheral analgesic action and showed potential in reducing the spreading of the inflammatory processes. Also, it seems to be related with vanilloid and glutamate receptors

Staphylococcus aureus isolates colonizing and infecting cirrhotic and liver-transplantation patients: comparison of molecular typing and virulence factors

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud \ud S. aureus is an important agent of colonization and infection in liver transplant patients. It harbors several virulence factors that can increase its pathogenicity. However, studies of virulence and molecular typing of MRSA in cirrhotic and liver transplantation patients are scarce.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Here we use SCCmec, PFGE, spa typing, MLST and virulence factors to characterize MRSA isolates in pre and post liver transplantation patients. Sixteen (13 %) of 126 cirrhotic and 15 of the 64 liver-transplanted patients (23 %) were colonized by MRSA (p = 0.091). SCCmec types I, II and III that are generally associated with nosocomial infections were identified in 91 % of the isolates. None of the isolates carried PVL, adhesion factors and fib gene. Only three MRSA colonized isolates carried tst gene and were characterized as SCCmec type I and t149. Ten spa types and five STs were identified; t002 and ST105 were the most frequent profiles. Spa types and ST1510 never described in Brazil and a new spa type t14789 were identified. Nineteen PFGE subtypes were found and grouped into nine types. There was a predominant cluster, which was related to the New York/Japanese epidemic clone and harboured SCCmec type II identified in both cirrhotic and post-transplantation patients. Based on SCCmec and virulence factors the MRSA isolates belonged to NY/Jpn clone seen be more similar to the USA100 MRSA isolates.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud Although without significance, liver-transplantation was more frequently colonized by MRSA than cirrhotic patients. The most frequent SCCmec was type II, and the predominant cluster was related to the New York/Japanese clone. A new spa t14789, and ST1510 never reported in Brazil were identified.The authors are grateful to financial support by FAPESP (Fundação de\ud Amparo à pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) and CNPQ (Conselho Nacional\ud de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico)