Big Data as a Technology-to-think-with for Scientific Literacy

This research aimed to identify indications of scientific literacy resulting from a didactic and investigative interaction with Google Trends Big Data software by first-year students from a high-school in Novo Hamburgo, Southern Brazil. Both teaching strategies and research interpretations lie on four theoretical backgrounds. Firstly, Bunge's epistemology, which provides a thorough characterization of Science that was central to our study. Secondly, the conceptual framework of scientific literacy of Fives et al. that makes our teaching focus precise and concise, as well as supports one of our methodological tool: the SLA (scientific literacy assessment). Thirdly, the "crowdledge" construct from dos Santos, which gives meaning to our study when as it makes the development of scientific literacy itself versatile for paying attention on sociotechnological and epistemological contemporary phenomena. Finally, the learning principles from Papert's Constructionism inspired our educational activities. Our educational actions consisted of students, divided into two classes, investigating phenomena chose by them. A triangulation process to integrate quantitative and qualitative methods on the assessments results was done. The experimental design consisted in post-tests only and the experimental variable was the way of access to the world. The experimental group interacted with the world using analyses of temporal and regional plots of interest of terms or topics searched on Google. The control class did 'placebo' interactions with the world through on-site observations of bryophytes, fungus or whatever in the schoolyard. As general results of our research, a constructionist environment based on Big Data analysis showed itself as a richer strategy to develop scientific literacy, compared to a free schoolyard exploration.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figures, 8 table

A comparison of performance and emissions characteristics of an engine fuelled on DME and on diesel with particular interest on injection characteristics

This report contains the results of tests conducted on a compression ignition engine which was fuelled on both DME and diesel. The results compare the performance and emissions characteristics of the two fuels. As an addition to the existing test cell setup, an injector lift sensor was added in order for the injection characteristics to be monitored. It was established that the engine requires more fuel when running on DME than on diesel in order to obtain the same power output. This is because DME has a lower heating value as well as density than diesel. DME CO2 emissions were higher than diesel, while DME CO emissions were lower than diesel. The NOx emissions for DME were higher than diesel at lower engine speeds, and then lower than diesel at higher engine speeds. It is suspected that the DME emissions are negatively affected by later injection of DME than diesel injection as well as longer duration of injection for DME than for diesel as this may result in incomplete combustion of fuel

M&A announcement returns: the effect of industry market of corporate control competition

Dissertação de mestrado em FinançasThe main goal of this dissertation is to find out if the level of competition in the market for corporate control at the industry level has some influence on the returns that result from an acquisition for the acquirer and the target firms. Besides that, I also study the impact that the method of payment of the transaction can have in the returns for both acquirer and target firms. The sample of this study is the acquisitions that took place in the United Kingdom between the years of 1999 and 2018 with public acquirers and targets. It was not possible to establish a casual effect between the competition in the market for corporate control and the returns of both acquirer and the target firms. As far as the acquirer firm´s returns are concerned, I confirmed the hypothesis previously reported in the literature that payments done with cash have a positive effect and the ones done with equity influence negatively the returns. Regarding the target firms, it was not possible to establish a causal relation between the method of payment and the returns from the acquisitions.O principal objetivo desta dissertação é averiguar se a competição ao nível da indústria influencia os retornos tanto das empresas adquirentes como das empresas alvo. Além disso, também estudo o impacto que o método de pagamento usado nas aquisições pode ter nos retornos das empresas adquirentes e nas empresas alvo. A amostra deste estudo abrange as aquisições que ocorreram no Reino Unido entre 1999 e 2018 e que apenas envolvem adquirentes e alvos públicos. Não foi possível estabelecer uma relação causal entre a competição ao nível das indústrias no Reino Unido e os retornos das empresas adquirentes e das empresas alvo. Foi confirmada a hipótese que é descrita na literatura já existente de que os pagamentos realizados através de dinheiro têm um efeito positivo nos retornos das empresas adquirentes, enquanto os pagamentos realizados através de ações influenciam negativamente os retornos das empresas adquirentes. Quanto às empresas alvo, não foi possível verificar uma relação causal entre o método de pagamento e os retornos derivados das aquisições

Padrões biogeográficos da quiropterofauna brasileira

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, 2015.A regionalização biogeográfica tornou-se um importante produto da biogeografia, possibilitando o entendimento de alguns padrões espaciais da biodiversidade e a formulação de hipóteses biogeográficas sobre a formação da biota, podendo também ser aplicada para determinação de áreas prioritárias e outras estratégias de conservação. Tendo em vista a falta de informações sobre os padrões de distribuição dos morcegos brasileiros, este trabalho visa identificar os padrões de congruência na distribuição dos morcegos brasileiros reconhecendo as áreas de maior endemicidade. Para isto, foi conduzida uma Análise de Endemicidade utilizando o programa NDM, onde a distribuição das espécies foi representada pelos pontos de ocorrência conhecidos e por modelos de distribuição de espécies (SDM) feitos pelo programa MaxEnt utilizando variáveis de precipitação, temperatura, topografia e vegetação. Foram identificados cinco padrões de distribuição para os morcegos brasileiros, sendo eles: “Região Norte”, “Centro-Nordeste”, “Centro-Leste”, “Centro-Sudeste” e “Domínios Florestais”. Os padrões de distribuição dos morcegos se mostraram associados a processos relacionados com a dinâmica de formações vegetais brasileiras, sendo identificados padrões distintos associados às formações abertas e formações florestais. As principais áreas de endemismo identificadas foram denominadas "Região Norte", associada à Amazônia brasileira e o Escudo das Guianas, e "Centro-Nordeste" associada à Caatinga e sua transição com o Cerrado. Também foram identificadas áreas de endemismo associadas ao Cerrado e Serra do Mar. A recente descrição de novas espécies se mostrou fundamental para a identificação dos padrões identificados, e sugiro que essas regiões de alta endemicidade possam ainda esconder grande diversidade críptica de morcegos.Biogeographic regionalization has become an important product of biogeography, enabling the understanding of some spatial patterns of biodiversity and the development of biogeographical hypotheses on the biota formation, and can also be applied to determine priority areas and other conservation strategies. Given the lack of information on the distribution patterns of Brazilian bats, this paper aims to identify the matching patterns in the distribution of Brazilian bats, recognizing the areas of highest endemicity. For this, I conducted an endemicity analysis using the NDM software, where the distribution of species was represented by the known occurrence points and species distribution models (SDM) made on MaxEnt using variables of precipitation, climate, topography, and vegetation. Five distribution patterns were identified for Brazilian bats, as follows: "Northern Region", "Central-Northeast", "Central-Southeast", "Central-East", and "Forest Domains". Bats distribution patterns were associated with processes related to the dynamics of Brazilian vegetation, in which distinct patterns were associated with open formations and forest formations. The main areas of endemism identified were named "Northern Region", linked to the Brazilian Amazon and the Guyana Shield, and "Central Northeast" associated with the Caatinga and its transition to the Cerrado. I also identified areas of endemism associated with the Brazilian Shield and Cerrado. The recent description of new species proved critical information to the identification of patterns of endemism, and suggest that these regions of high endemicity still can hide great cryptic diversity of bats

Cannabinoids help to unravel etiological aspects in common and bring hope for the treatment of autism and epilepsy

Desde 1843 que as propriedades anticonvulsivantes da Cannabis são conhecidas pela ciência ocidental. Em 1980, ensaios clínicos demonstraram que canabidiol possui atividade antiepilética em pacientes de epilepsia refratária, sendo sonolência o único efeito colateral. O embargo imposto pela proibição do uso medicinal da Cannabis, no entanto, prejudicou imensamente o desenvolvimento científico e a exploração dessas propriedades. Multiplicam-se, contudo, os casos bem sucedidos de uso ilegal e sem orientação para o tratamento de síndromes caracterizadas por epilepsia e autismo regressivo. Os resultados corroboram evidências científicas que indicam a existência de processos etiológicos comuns entre o autismo e a epilepsia. Estudos em modelos animais confirmam envolvimento do sistema endocanabinoide. Esses avanços apontam o início de uma revolução no entendimento e tratamento desses transtornos.Since 1843 the anticonvulsant properties of Cannabis are known by the Western science. In 1980, clinical trials have shown that cannabidiol has antiepileptic activity in refractory epilepsy patients, with drowsiness as the only side effect. The embargo imposed by banning medicinal Cannabis use, however, harmed scientific development and the exploration of these properties. However, there is a growing number of successful cases of illegal use without guidance for the treatment of syndromes characterized by epilepsy and regressive autism. The results corroborate scientific evidence that indicates the existence of common etiological aspects between autism and epilepsy. Studies in animal models have confirmed involvement of the endocannabinoid system. These advances indicate the beginning of a revolution in the understanding and treatment of these disorders

Chinchillidae and Dolichotinae rodents (Rodentia: Hystricognathi: Caviomorpha) from the late Pleistocene of Southern Brazil

New records of rodents from the late Pleistocene Chuí Creek, Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil, are here described. A partial dentary with fragmented cheek teeth is identified as Chinchillidae, Lagostomus Brookes cf. L. maximus (Desmarest). Other two specimens are identified as cheek teeth of Dolichotinae indet. (Caviidae). Pleistocene fossils of Lagostomus were previously reported for Argentina and Uruguay. The material of Lagostomus from Chuí Creek represents the first confidently record of this taxon Brazil. Pleistocene fossil remains of Dolichotinae have been found in Argentina, Uruguay and other areas of southern Brazil, though the Brazilian find lack precise stratigraphic information. These new records widen the paleobiogeographic distribution of Lagostomus and confirm the presence of Dolichotinae during the late Pleistocene of southern Brazil.Fil: Kerber, Leonardo. Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Pereira Lopes, Renato. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Vucetich, María Guiomar. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Ribeiro, Ana Maria. Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Pereira, Jamil. Museu Coronel Tancredo Fernandes de Mello; Brasi

Judicial activism and non-legal factor in tax law

The aim of this paper is to propose legal bases for the influence of non-legal elements that are taken into account in a complex judicial decision. The first part will be expositive in order to demonstrate the incompatibility of legal theory and jurisprudence to guide the judicial reasoning as a whole. On the second part, eminently critical, the activism versus self-constraint doctrine shall be pointed out as an invalid approach to encompass all elements that involve judicial reasoning and constraint judicial discretion. On the third part, various approaches for a decision making will be disclosed – political, sociological, psychological, economical, legal and others – based on the studies of Richard Posner. After a quick brief on the non-legal elements that come to judicial reasoning, some few propositions will be presented for the Academy in order to engage the problem, as well as to the Judiciary.

Poeira continental soprada pelo vento como combustível para paleoprodutividade ao longo do sudoeste do Oceano Atlântico durante o último período glacial

Glaciogenic dust has a strong relationship with global climate and ocean biogeochemical processes especially during glacial periods, being a major source of nutrients, mainly iron, that increase marine productivity. Different studies have attributed higher marine paleoproductivity along the southwestern Atlantic during the last glacial period to fluvial inputs and upwelling, but the possible influence of continental dust on that process is still unknown. This paper presents evidence suggesting that eolian-sourced glaciogenic dust favored higher ocean productivity during the last glacial, recorded in three sediment cores obtained on the lower continental slope off southern Brazil (~29°-30°S, ~47°W) at water depths between 1,514 and 2,091 m. The sampled sediments are silt-dominated terrigenous siliciclastics, but higher proportions of sand-sized biogenic carbonate (mostly foraminifer tests) at intervals corresponding to the stadials MIS 4 and 2 and parts of the interstadial MIS 3 point to intervals of increased productivity, correlated with pulses of higher deflation of dust from southern South America as recorded in the EPICA Dome C ice core in Antarctica. It is proposed that glacial climate-driven increased eolian processes transported iron-bearing dust produced by the expanded Patagonian ice sheet up to the southwestern Atlantic, fueling higher phytoplankton productivity and thus favoring the proliferation of planktonic and benthic foraminifera recorded in the cores. Eventual anthropogenically-driven reduction of tropical-sourced summer rainfall reaching southern South America, driven by equatorial ocean warming and deforestation in the Amazon region, may increase dust deflation and thus affect ocean productivity along the southwestern Atlantic in the future.A poeira glaciogênica tem forte relação com o clima global e os processos biogeoquímicos oceânicos, principalmente durante os períodos glaciais, sendo uma importante fonte de nutrientes, como o ferro, que aumentam a produtividade marinha. Diferentes estudos tenham atribuído a maior paleoprodutividade marinha ao longo do Atlântico sudoeste durante o último período glacial a aportes fluviais e ressurgência, mas a possível influência da poeira continental nesse processo ainda é desconhecida. Este artigo apresenta evidências sugerindo que a poeira glaciogênica de origem eólica favoreceu maior produtividade oceânica durante a última glaciação, registrada em três testemunhos sedimentares obtidos no talude continental inferior no sul do Brasil (~29°-30°S, ~47°W) em profundidades da lâmina d'água entre 1.514 e 2.091 m. Os sedimentos amostrados são siliciclásticos terrígenos dominados por silte, mas maiores proporções de carbonato biogênico de tamanho areia (principalmente testes de foraminíferos) em intervalos correspondentes aos estadiais MIS 4 e 2 e partes do interestadial MIS 3 indicam intervalos de maior produtividade, correlacionados com pulsos de maior deflação de poeira do sul da América do Sul, conforme registrado no testemunho de gelo antártico obtido no EPICA Domo C. Propõe-se que os processos eólicos intensificados devido ao clima glacial transportaram para o Atlântico sudoeste poeira contendo ferro produzida pela expansão do manto de gelo da Patagônia, alimentando uma maior produtividade do fitoplâncton eassim favorecendo a proliferação de foraminíferos planctônicos e bentônicos registrados nos testemunhos. A eventual redução antrópica das chuvas de verão de origem tropical que atingem o sul da América do Sul, impulsionada pelo aquecimento do oceano equatorial e pelo desmatamento na região amazônica, pode aumentar a deflação de poeira, assim afetar a produtividade do oceano ao longo do Atlântico sudoeste no futuro