Sustainable Practices Improving the University Campus: Feasibility of A Photovoltaic System

This article aimed to discuss the principles of sustainability applied to the built environment, highlighting the importance of universities as replicators of these practices. To respond to a demand from the campus for more security in the energy supply, the work proposes the implementation of a solar photovoltaic energy system. For this, it carried out an economic viability analysis through bibliographic review activities, characterization of the study area, dimensioning of photovoltaic systems, budgets, cost analysis and payback calculation. The research evaluated the system’s implementation considering two energy demands, for the entire campus and for a smaller building. It was found that the CSL-UFSJ consumes, on average, 27,300.38 kWh, at a cost of US$2,736. Thus, an annual savings of US$ 32,833 is calculated. The cost estimate analyzes showed a value of US$139,784 for the implementation of the system. The return on investment time was  calculated for 4.3 and 4.9 years considering simple and discounted Payback respectively.It is estimated that the consumption of the DECEB building is 13,187.1 kWh with a cost of US$ 1,322 per month, which results in an annual savings of US$15,860. The cost estimate analyzes showed a value of US$ 40.601 for the implementation of the system and values of 4.3 and 4.9 years were obtained as return on investment time considering the calculations for simple and discounted Payback, respectively. The research demonstrates that the implementation of the photovoltaic solar energy generation system is feasible for both cases analyzed.

Economics of Robust Surveillance on Exotic Animal Diseases: the Case of Bluetongue

Control of emerging animal diseases critically depends on their early detection. However, designing surveillance programs for exotic and emerging diseases is very challenging because of knowledge gaps on the probability of incursion and mechanisms of spread. Using the example of Bluetongue Virus, which is exotic to the UK, we develop a metapopulation epidemic-economic modelling framework that considers the incursion, detection, spread and control of a disease in a livestock production system composed of heterogeneous subpopulations. The model is then embedded in an information gap (info-gap) framework to assess the robustness of surveillance and vaccination policies to unacceptable outbreaks losses and applied to the case of Bluetongue in the UK. The results show that active reporting of suspect clinical signs by farmers is a very robust way to reduce unacceptable outcomes. Vaccination of animals in high risk regions led to robustly protective programs. If vaccines are not available, surveillance targeted to the high risk region is very robust even if the extent of the high risk region is not known and effectiveness of detection is very low. Surveillance programs focusing in all regions with the same intensity are in general not robust unless the dispersal of the vector connecting both regions is very high.compartmental epidemic model, emergent animal disease, Knightian uncertainty, sentinel surveillance system, Livestock Production/Industries,

Quantum dot as a spin-current diode: A master-equation approach

We report a study of spin dependent transport in a system composed of a quantum dot coupled to a normal metal lead and a ferromagnetic lead (NM-QD-FM). We use the master equation approach to calculate the spin-resolved currents in the presence of an external bias and an intra-dot Coulomb interaction. We find that for a range of positive external biases (current flow from the normal metal to the ferromagnet) the current polarization $\wp=(I_\uparrow-I_\downarrow)/(I_\uparrow+I_\downarrow)$ is suppressed to zero, while for the corresponding negative biases (current flow from the ferromagnet to the normal metal) $\wp$ attains a relative maximum value. The system thus operates as a rectifier for spin--current polarization. This effect follows from an interplay between Coulomb interaction and nonequilibrium spin accumulation in the dot. In the parameter range considered, we also show that the above results can be obtained via nonequilibrium Green functions within a Hartree-Fock type approximation.Comment: 7 two-column pages, 5 figures. v2 (published): title changed, some added text to Sec. II and Appendix and some minor changes to the figure

Genetic Distance Based On Ssr And Grain Yield Of Inter And Intrapopulational Maize Single Cross Hybrids

The objective of this work was to correlate the genetic distances between the progenitors obtained by microsatellite markers with the grain yield of inter and intrapopulational maize single cross hybrids. Three S 0 populations derived from commercial single cross hybrids were used to obtain 163 hybrids (110 interpopulational and 53 intrapopulational). The two best hybrids and two worst hybrids of each the inter- and intrapopulational crosses were selected and their progenitors maintained through self-pollination of the second ear of each S 0 plant, genotyped with 47 SSRs. The Modified Roger's Distance (MRD) between each pair of S 1 inbred lines, the number of alleles and the polymorphic information content (PIC) of each primer were estimated. The genetic distances between progenitors were correlated with the grain yield of the inter- and intrapopulational hybrids. The number of obtained alleles was 186, with a mean of 3.96 alleles. The PIC varied from 0.49 to 0.80, with a mean of 0.65. The mean genetic distance between all S 1 inbred lines was 0.75, varying from 0.40 to 0.89, indicating the existence of variability between the S 1 inbred lines. The correlation between MRD and grain yield was high and significant for the interpopulational crosses (r = 0.84, P ≤ 0.01) and low and not significant (r = 0.18, P ≥ 0.05) for intrapopulational crosses.5103/04/15507513Ajmone Marsan, P., Castiglioni, P., Fu Sari, F., Kuiper, M., Motto, M., Genetic diversity and its relationship to hybrid performance in maize as revealed by RFLP and AFLP markers (1998) Theor. Appl. Genet., 96, pp. 219-227Árcade, A., Faivre-Rampant, P., Le Guerroué, B., Paques, L.E., Prat, D., Heterozigosity and hybrid performance in larch (1996) Theor. Appl. Genet., 93, pp. 1274-1281Barbosa, A.M.M., Geraldi, I.O., Benchimol, L.L., Garcia, A.A.F., Souza Jr., C.L., Souza, A.P., Relationship of intra and interpopulation tropical maize single cross hybrid performance and genetic distances computed from AFLP and SSR markers (2003) Euphytica, 87, pp. 87-99Benchimol, L.L., Souza Jr., C.L., Garcia, A.A.F., Kono, P.M.S., Mangolin, C.A., Barbosa, A.M.M., Coelho, A.S.G., Souza, A.P., Genetic diversity in tropical maize inbred lines: Heterotic group assignment and hybrid performance determined by RFLP markers (2000) Plant Breed., 119, pp. 491-496Boppenmaier, J., Melchinger, A.E., Brunklaus-Junt, E., Geiger, H.H., Genetic diversity for RFLP in European maize inbreds: Relation to performance of flint x dent crosses for forage traits (1992) Crop Sci., 32, pp. 895-902Butstein, D., White, M., Sholnick, M., David, R.W., Construction of a genetic linkage map in man using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (1980) Am. J. Hum. Genet., 32, pp. 314-331Cheres, M.T., Miller, J.F., Crane, J.M., Knapp, S.J., Genetic distance as a predictor of heterosis and hybrid performance within and between heterotic groups in sunflower (2000) Theor. Appl. Genet., 100, pp. 889-894Cruz, C.D., Shuster, I., (2004) GQMOL: Aplicativo Computacional para Análise de Dados Moleculares e de Suas Associações Com Caracteres Quantitativos. Versão 2004.2.1, , Viçosa. MGDhillon, B.S., Boppenmaier, J., Pollmer, R.G., Hermann, R.G., Melchinger, A.E., Relationship of restriction length polymorphisms among european maize inbreds with ear dry matter yield of their hybrids (1993) Maydica, 38, pp. 245-248Drinic, S.M., Trifunovic, S., Drinic, G., Konstantinov, K., Genetic divergence and its correlation to heterosis in maize as revealed by SSR base markers (2002) Maydica, 47, pp. 1-8Goodman, M.M., Stuber, C.W., Races of maize: VI. Isozyme variation among races of maize in Bolivia (1983) Maydica, 28, pp. 169-187Hallauer, A.R., Miranda Filho, J.B., (1988) Quantitative Genetics in Maize Breeding, 468p. , Iowa State University Press, AmesKruskal, J.B., Multidimensional scaling by optimizing goodness of fit to a no metric hypothesis (1964) Psychometrika, 29, pp. 1-27Lanza, L.L.B., Souza Jr., C.L., Ottoboni, I.M.M., Vieira, M.L.C., Souza, A.P., Genetic distance of inbred lines and prediction of maize single-cross performance using RAPD markers (1997) Theor. Appl. Genet., 94, pp. 1023-1030Le Clerc, V., Bazante, F., Baril, C., Guiard, J., Zhang, D., Assessing temporal changes in genetic diversity of maize varieties using microsatellite markers (2005) Theor. Appl. 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IMPORTÂNCIA DA DISCIPLINA ADMINISTRAÇÃO NOS CURSOS DE ENGENHARIA DA FURB

Este artigo tem como objetivo verificar a importância do ensino de administração nos cursos de engenharia tendo como base a formação e perfil do engenheiro requerido pela sociedade atualmente. A formação almejada é de um profissional de capacidade humanística, crítica e reflexiva elevada. Atualmente se espera do profissional de engenharia, não só o conhecimento técnico propriamente dito, pois já se passa pelo pressuposto que isso é uma condição inerente do profissional com uma boa formação, mas sim um conhecimento mais aprofundado de ciências humanas, sociais e gerenciais, sintetizando uma formação generalista. Acredita-se que para conseguir este perfil o profissional precisa ter em sua grade curricular básica, disciplinas de cunho humanístico social, que é o caso exemplificado neste artigo, as disciplinas de administração. Assim, como as demais áreas do conhecimento, o ensino de engenharia passa por uma constante busca de aperfeiçoamento com mudanças em seus currículos, para atender as necessidades atuais das novas tecnologias, demandas provenientes da sociedade e mercado de trabalho. Partindo do pressuposto que a inclusão das disciplinas de cunho de ciências humanas e sociais nas grades curriculares dos cursos de engenharia pode contribuir para dar suporte ao profissional em formação, analisou-se através de um questionário estruturado a disciplina de administração dos cursos de Engenharia Civil, Engenharia Química, Engenharia Industrial Elétrica e Engenharia de Telecomunicação da Universidade Regional de Blumenau, no segundo semestre de 2004. O questionamento principal é se o aluno percebe a importância deste tipo de disciplina na sua formação profissional. O resultado obtido é que o aluno, após ter quase a totalidade do conteúdo programado, consegue verificar esta importância, mas não consegue fazer ligações desta disciplina com outras de seu curso, ou seja a interdisciplinaridade dos conteúdos na visão do aluno não é alcançada em sua totalidade. Por outro lado, o perfil do docente é de uma pessoa capaz de transmitir sua experiência e trocá-las com os alunos, haja visto que muitos alunos já trabalham em sua futura área de atuaçã

Origin of 1015−101610^{15}-10^{16}G Magnetic Fields in the Central Engine of Gamma Ray Bursts

Various authors have suggested that the gamma-ray burst (GRB) central engine is a rapidly rotating, strongly magnetized, $(\sim 10^{15}-10^{16}$ G) compact object. The strong magnetic field can accelerate and collimate the relativistic flow and the rotation of the compact object can be the energy source of the GRB. The major problem in this scenario is the difficulty of finding an astrophysical mechanism for obtaining such intense fields. Whereas, in principle, a neutron star could maintain such strong fields, it is difficult to justify a scenario for their creation. If the compact object is a black hole, the problem is more difficult since, according to general relativity it has "no hair" (i.e., no magnetic field). Schuster, Blackett, Pauli, and others have suggested that a rotating neutral body can create a magnetic field by non-minimal gravitational-electromagnetic coupling (NMGEC). The Schuster-Blackett form of NMGEC was obtained from the Mikhail and Wanas's tetrad theory of gravitation (MW). We call the general theory NMGEC-MW. We investigate here the possible origin of the intense magnetic fields $\sim 10^{15}-10^{16}$ G in GRBs by NMGEC-MW. Whereas these fields are difficult to explain astrophysically, we find that they are easily explained by NMGEC-MW. It not only explains the origin of the $\sim 10^{15}-10^{16}$G fields when the compact object is a neutron star, but also when it is a black hole.Comment: 9 pages, accepted for publication in JCA

DESCRIÇÃO MORFOLÓGICA E SEDIMENTAR DO RIO PARAGUAI NO SEGMENTO ENTRE O POÇO DO RENATO A BAÍA DA INHAROSA

O estudo foi realizado no rio Paraguai no trecho entre o Poço do Renato a baía Inharosa no município de Cáceres, MT. Realizou a quantificação das feições morfológicas, batimétria e análise de laboratório. Na área de estudo encontrou-se várias feições morfologicas como: lagoas, canal comaltados, canal secundários, ilhas e bancos de sedimentos. Nos sedimentos de fundo predominou areia média

Structural study of Cu2−x_{2-x}Se alloys produced by mechanical alloying

The crystalline structures of superionic high temperature copper selenides Cu$_{2-x}$Se ($0 \le x \le 0.25$) produced by Mechanical Alloying were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The measured XRD patterns showed the presence of the peaks corresponding to the crystalline superionic high temperature $\alpha$-Cu$_2$Se phase in the as-milled sample, and its structural data were determined by means of a Rietveld refinement procedure. After a heat treatment in argon at 200$^\circ$C for 90 h, this phase transforms to the superionic high temperature $\alpha$-Cu$_{1.8}$Se phase, whose structural data where also determined through the Rietveld refinement. In this phase, a very low occupation of the trigonal 32(f) sites ($\sim 3$%) by Cu ions is found. In order to explain the evolution of the phases in the samples, two possible mechanisms are suggested: the high mobility of Cu ions in superionic phases and the intense diffusive processes in the interfacial component of samples produced by Mechanical Alloying.Comment: 2 figures, submitted to Acta Crystallographic

Effective Action for QED with Fermion Self-Interaction in D=2 and D=3 Dimensions

In this work we discuss the effect of the quartic fermion self-interaction of Thirring type in QED in D=2 and D=3 dimensions. This is done through the computation of the effective action up to quadratic terms in the photon field. We analyze the corresponding nonlocal photon propagators nonperturbatively in % \frac{k}{m}, where k is the photon momentum and m the fermion mass. The poles of the propagators were determined numerically by using the Mathematica software. In D=2 there is always a massless pole whereas for strong enough Thirring coupling a massive pole may appear . For D=3 there are three regions in parameters space. We may have one or two massive poles or even no pole at all. The inter-quark static potential is computed analytically in D=2. We notice that the Thirring interaction contributes with a screening term to the confining linear potential of massive QED_{2}. In D=3 the static potential must be calculated numerically. The screening nature of the massive QED$_{3}$ prevails at any distance, indicating that this is a universal feature of % D=3 electromagnetic interaction. Our results become exact for an infinite number of fermion flavors.Comment: Latex, 13 pages, 3 figure

CARACTERIZAÇÃO MORFOPEDOLÓGICA E CAPACIDADE DE USO DA TERRA NO MUNICÍPIO DE MINAÇU-GO.

O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar uma avaliação da capacidade de uso da terra e da suscetibilidade a erosão por compartimentos morfopedológicos. O estudo foi aplicado no município de Minaçu-GO e os resultados apresentam três grupos de compartimentos: Um grupo onde a suscetibilidade erosão é alta mas o uso é compatível; outro em que a suscetibilidade é moderada e com problemas simples de conservação e um terceiro grupo com alta suscetibilidade, com problemas complexos de conservação