Hexavalent chromium in fish from the Sepetiba Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: a risk assessment to human health

Introduction: Certain metals, among them hexavalent chromium influence the stability of ecosystems and cause adverse effects on human health. Thus, this study aimed to estimate a risk model of human health associated with fish consumption from the Sepetiba Bay. Methodology: This risk assessment methodology was developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The models were implemented using the USEPA toxicological databases and samples from the Sepetiba Bay, Rio de Janeiro. Results: The intoxication and carcinogenic risk estimated for fish consumption of M. furnieri and C. acoupa species were considered small. Conclusion: Based on the analysis, we conclude that the toxicological risk or carcinogenic injury to health due to fish consumption with high levels of cromo6+ coming from Sepetiba Bay is low. Still, it emphasizes the validity of utilizing monitoring methods in coastal environments, for health and environmental control

Análise do arcabouço legal do controle congressual sobre o Banco Central do Brasil

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal analisar o arcabouço legal à disposição do Congresso Nacional para o controle e supervisão das burocracias públicas federais, com o intuito de contribuir para o aprimoramento dos controles sobre essas agências estatais, tendo em vista o contexto de aprofundamento da vivência democrática, ora experimentado no Brasil. Para tanto, utilizou-se especificamente o caso do Banco Central do Brasil e procedeu-se a avaliações nos mecanismos de governança legalmente instituídos sobre o Bacen, em vigor até outubro de 2003. A partir da análise pôde-se concluir que o processo de delegação e, conseqüentemente, a estrutura de governança e de tomada de contas por parte do Congresso são incompletos, na medida em que a autoridade supervisora do Bacen se mostra mais efetivamente exercida pelo Poder Executivo que, em última instância, detém os poderes efetivos relacionados ao controle e supervisão sobre aquela entidade pública, em detrimento do Poder Legislativo. O controle parlamentar apresenta-se, assim, limitado, irresoluto e freqüentemente restrito a circunstâncias de apreciação de decisões já tomadas, fragilmente vinculado com as etapas de formulação e implementação das políticas relacionadas à moeda, ao crédito e ao câmbio.Given the context of consolidation of the democratic experience in Brazil, this research seeks to analyze the role of the Brazilian National Congress in controlling and supervising the federal bureaucracies, aiming to contribute to the improvement of the control over federal agencies. In order to accomplish the documental research, it has been used the case of the Brazilian Central Bank (Bacen). The research has been carried out by investigating the legal governance mechanisms created over the Bacen which are represented by the existing legislation at October/2003. It has been concluded that the delegation process and, consequently, the dynamics of accountability in use by the National Congress seem to be flawed. This can be attributed to the fact that the oversight authority over Bacen is effectively practiced by the Executive, which is the ultimate owner of the power over that public entity. Thus, the legislative control becomes more complex and usually limited to circumstances under which decisions are already taken, as it has not been previously linked with the stages of formulation and implementation of the monetary policy

Fatigue crack growth resistance and crack closure behavior in two aluminum alloys for aeronautical applications

Aluminum-lithium alloys are candidate materials for many aerospace applications because of their high specific strength and elastic modulus. These alloys have several unique characteristics such as excellent fatigue crack growth resistance when compared with that of the conventional 2000 and 7000 series alloys. In this study, fatigue crack propagation behavior has been examined in a commercial thin plate of Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy (8090), with specific emphasis at the fatigue threshold. The results are compared with those of the traditional Al-Cu-Mg alloy (2024). Fatigue crack closure is used to explain the different behavior of the compared alloys

Resumos concluídos - Neurociências

Resumos concluídos - Neurociência

Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation and History of Acute Coronary Syndromes: Insights from GARFIELD-AF

BACKGROUND: Many patients with atrial fibrillation have concomitant coronary artery disease with or without acute coronary syndromes and are in need of additional antithrombotic therapy. There are few data on the long-term clinical outcome of atrial fibrillation patients with a history of acute coronary syndrome. This is a 2-year study of atrial fibrillation patients with or without a history of acute coronary syndromes