bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geopressure Risk in Wells
Authors: Lerche Ian
Published: March 2010

This paper considers the risks of losing a well due to too low a mud weight in comparison to the fluid pressure gradient. In addition, inclusion of potential financial gains and losses are incorporated. When parameters can be uncertain, both from the drilling aspects of the problem as well as the financial aspects, then it is shown that the probability of losing the well, as well as the probability of reaching a financial break-even status, both have uncertainties. The relative contributions of uncertainties in drilling parameters on their own, of uncertainties in financial parameters on their own, and of the combined drilling and financial parameter uncertainties to both the chances of losing the well and the chances of making a profit are examined, as are the relative contributions of all such uncertain parameters to the variance in the uncertainty. In this way one can identify which of the uncertain parameters is causing the greatest contribution to the uncertainty of losing the well and the risk of making a loss rather than a profit.
Teaching of Light Structures in the “Universidad Metropolitana” in México
Authors: Montero F. , González M. D.
Published: March 2010

It is well known that studies about lightweight and spatial structures are not often included in the normal curriculum in schools of architecture and engineering, so the present work deals with the experience in teaching this subject, and how this knowledge is transmitted to architecture students at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in México. In order to improve architects' knowledge about lightweight structures, basic concepts of “Structural Systems” are taught in regular courses, complementing them periodically, with other special courses which are taught by guest professors from other countries, working at well known research centres, who participates with the assistance of our own professors. A lightweight structures laboratory was created where students apply their acquired knowledge.
Load Pulses on Wind Turbine Structures Caused by Tower Interference
Authors: Gómez Alejandro , Seume Joerg R.
Published: March 2010

One of the factors which causes cyclic loading on wind turbines is the influence of the tower on the aerodynamic performance of the rotor. Although a flickering in the power output of the turbine can be observed, the load pulses acting on the blades, the main shaft, the support bearings, the power transmission system, and the tower are potentially more troublesome. Aerodynamic modelling of this interaction by means of symmetric tower flow models is not capable of capturing all the effects present such as aerodynamic coupling of the tower and blades, tower wake meandering, lateral tower loads, and break-up of the rotor wake. These effects become more important for highly loaded rotors or for very flexible blades for which the gap between the rotor and the tower is small. In this paper, the results of 2D CFD simulations are used in order to correct the predictions of traditional BEM methods. Two turbulence models are used and their advantages and drawbacks are discussed. It is shown that the rotor also induces a periodic lateral loading on the tower and a shift in frequency of the vortex street behind the tower. It is also shown that the tower causes a break up of the turbulent wake of the rotor. The BEM formulation including this correction is validated against experimental data available in the literature. The method is applied to calculate the effects on a test blade geometry.
Grid Impact of a 5.25 MW Wind Farm near St.Anthony, Newfoundland
Authors: Islam Sheikh Mominul , Iqbal M. Tariq , Quaicoe John E.
Published: March 2010

St. Anthony is a town on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland. This region is connected to the Newfoundland island grid through a 248 km transmission line and has one of the best wind resources in Canada. In this paper, the wind speed data of the region as well as the sizing of a grid connected wind farm at Cape Norman near St. Anthony are presented. The dynamic model of the system, wind farm and the long transmission line are included in the paper. The dynamic model is simulated using Matlab/Simulink to determine system voltage and frequency variations. The study indicates that a 5.25 MW wind farm in this region will lead to a local voltage variation of about 7% and frequency variation of 0.7 Hz for a typical wind speed variation in that region. Such variations in a remote location like St. Anthony are considered acceptable.
Monte Carlo Simulations of Wind Speed Data
Authors: Gallagher Ron , Elmore Andrew Curtis
Published: March 2010

A new Monte Carlo simulation procedure and nearby regional weather station data are used to predict wind speed and turbine energy. The evaluation of the predication values used cumulative distribution function (CDF) graphs. The predication process employed Weibull shape and scale values developed from 1, 12, 20 and 24 years of record for each weather station. Simulation using one year of wind speed data of a weather station located downwind of the wind turbine site resulted in the greatest match of simulation results to the measured values[ED1]. Most simulations of energy values were a closer match to the measured values than those of wind speed. A closer match was defined as simulated values in the CDF central range of 10 to 75 percent which is also a 25 to 75 percent probability factor.
Scenarios for the Use of Ghg-Reduction Instruments – How Can Policy-Instruments as Carbon Emission Trading and Tradable Green Certificates Be Used Simultaneously to Reach a Common Ghg-Reduction Target?
Authors: Morthorst P. E.
Published: March 2010

According to the agreed burden sharing in the EU, a number of member states have to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases substantially. To achieve these reductions various policy-instruments – national as well as international – are on hand. Two international instruments are emphasized in this paper: tradable quotas for limiting carbon emissions and tradable green certificates for promoting the deployment of renewable energy technologies. In the analyses of these two instruments two main questions are considered: 1) Will there be any international trade in green certificates, if no GHG-credits are attached to them? 2) Will it make any difference if the EU sets the targets to be achieved by the two instruments or alternatively the individual member countries do? An incentive-analysis in which four scenarios are set up and discussed is performed for the EU member states. The main conclusion is that if no GHG-credits are attached to the green certificates there seems to be limited or no incentives for a permanent international trade in certificates. On the other hand, if GHG-credits are attached to the certificates an efficient international trade will take place regardless of whether the EU or the member countries fix the quotas. Thus, the use of international instruments as tradable green certificates and tradable emissions permits will not lead to an optimal GHG-reduction strategy unless GHG-credits are attached to the certificates.
Challenges for Renewable Electricity in Dcs
Authors: Amin A.L.
Published: March 2010

As a necessary requirement of industrial growth and social development the commercial provision of electricity supply within developing countries is one of the most urgent areas for policy-makers to address. If sustainable development objectives are to be met then it is important that cleaner energy technologies are encouraged and their commercialisation fostered. This paper illuminates the key issues relating to the development of renewable electricity technologies within developing countries. Generally it is shown that the characteristics of renewable electricity technologies mismatch with the structural and regulatory features of the power supply industry. It is argued here that technological change allowing greater efficiencies of power generation at smaller-scales and availability of low cost information and communication technologies (ICT) for more sophisticated control and monitoring of the electricity system provides technical opportunity for deploying renewable electricity technologies within the local distribution system. For developing countries where the need for investment in transmission and distribution is typically large, this may provide large cost-savings. However experience within industrialised countries indicates that far-reaching structural and regulatory change is necessary if the value of distributed generation is to be recognised. Such change has proved difficult within these countries, and for developing countries where a number of institutional constraints compound the issue of reform, there are likely to be even larger barriers to restructuring and regulatory change necessary to allow the commercialisation of RETs.
Decoupling Energy Efficiency from Energy Consumption
Authors: Moezzi Mithra
Published: March 2010

In the United States, “energy conservation” was the message of choice for the energy policy community mobilized by the 1970s Energy Crisis. Today's energy policy community promotes energy efficiency as the rational strategy for energy savings, deliberately distinguishing efficiency from the perceived failures and negative images of conservation. However, increasing energy efficiency does not necessarily save energy or reduce carbon emissions. In fact, accompanying substantial increases in energy efficiency in the 1990s, per capita carbon emissions and energy consumption in the United States have also increased, which itself suggests that efficiency may be an inadequate metric for addressing the environmental mandates that the energy profession now faces. Moreover, efficiency definitions often favour higher consumption, for technical, psychological, and sociological reasons.
Controlling Pollution Using Economic Instruments in Competitive Electricity Markets: The Challenges of Multilevel Governance
Authors: Crosisca John , Kellow Aynsley
Published: March 2010

In Australia, as in many other developed countries, reforms are taking place which aim at liberalising electricity markets and opening them up to more competition. The hope has been that this will achieve a market for electricity which is more efficient, provide more cost reflective prices and achieve better environmental outcomes. The relationship between market-based structures for electricity industries and improved environmental outcomes is problematic, however. The environmental sensitivity of Australian utilities has not been helped by their public ownership and frequent use by state governments as agents of economic development, so that while putting them on a more commercial footing might remedy past problems, it is by no mans clear that the full range of externalities associated with electricity generation will necessarily be addressed without putting in place policy mechanisms which will create incentives for improved environmental performance. Federal systems such as Australia permit a degree of diversity in how states address such questions, but the existence of distinct subnational political units can also create problems relating to competitiveness between utilities operating in different jurisdictions but trading in a single market. Similar issues are likely to arise in the European Union, where, under the subsidiarity principle, there are analogies with federal states,1 and more widely in competitive markets across national boundaries. This paper demonstrates these problems by exploring issues which have arisen as the result of different policy settings being adopted by states for pollution control by electric utilities, and notes that the national government in Australia has been reluctant to exercise jurisdiction to address these problems. The commission of the European Union has been less reluctant to use issues such as climate change to enhance its competence. The paper suggests that this reluctance in Australia stems from the potential for national approaches to provoke conflict between the states in the Australian federation, and argues that while this reluctance is appropriate for pollutants with predominantly local impacts, climate change issues are likely to require a greater role for the Commonwealth than it has thus far been willing to assume.
Do “Surrogate Emissions” Constitute in-Built Leakage of the Kyoto Protocol Flexible Mechanisms?
Authors: Kopolo Goodspeed
Published: March 2010

“Surrogate emissions” is a neologism coined to describe GHG emissions resulting from the production of intermediate goods in developing countries for industrial processing in industrialized countries, especially where the same transnational corporation controls these goods. Where upstream industrial processes extend to other developed countries, the leakage caused by this phenomenon does not arise. This is because all developed countries have QELROs. Thus, all emissions take place within the Annex I area and are covered by the QELROs. However, where the upstream processes ramify into developing countries, the associated GHG emissions are vented off, as it were, into an open system. The paper suggests that, for a complete picture of GHG emissions resulting from the industrial activities of Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC, these surrogated emissions should be incorporated into their national inventories. Otherwise, the emissions trading scheme under the auspices of the Kyoto Protocol would be undermined.
The Science of Greenhouse Gases: Uncertainties in Sources and Sinks, and Implications for Verification
Authors: Meijer Harro A.J.
Published: March 2010

Our present knowledge about the carbon cycle, governing the sources and sinks of the most important anthropogenically influenced greenhouse gas CO2 is still far from satisfactory in the quantitative sense. This statement holds on all scales, from global to local. Therefore, long-term atmospheric measurements, on many locations, are absolutely needed, both to improve our quantitative knowledge of the carbon cycle, and to create a firm verification basis for mitigation measures.

Yet, it is an illusion to think that source/sink characterisation by these atmospheric measurements will get to the detail that Kyoto Protocol actions can be surveyed and verified on a national level in the coming years (if ever !). Therefore, a combination of validation (on project basis) and verification (on a continental scale) is proposed.

Mitigation measures through mere sink enhancement (afforestation) are at best a temporary solution. Therefore, not much (political) effort should be invested into this option.
Phasing-Out Nuclear Power Generation in Germany: Policies, Actors, Issues and Non-Issues
Authors: Mez Lutz , Piening Annette
Published: March 2010

The phase-out of nuclear power in Germany is one of the priorities of the Red-Green Government which took office in October 1998. Despite continuous and broad-based public criticism, up until 1998 federal nuclear policies had sided with the pro-nuclear alliance and supported the industry through a number of tax and regulatory privileges. Thus, the phase-out decision marks a fundamental revision of past nuclear policy guidelines. After one-and-a-half years of negotiations between industry and government, in the course of which a number of controversies had to be solved, agreement was reached on the gradual phasing-out of nuclear energy use in Germany on June 14, 2000. The paper presents the actors' policies, analyses issues and non-issues in the negotiations. It shows that different positions within the Federal Government and the lack of support from the anti-nuclear movement for the Government's phase-out strategy strengthened the industry's ability to assert their position. The industry's motivation for taking such an assertive position is illustrated by an insight into the economic conditions of operating nuclear plant in Germany. The paper concludes that the phase-out strategy sketched in the coalition treaty could not fully be translated into actual policy measures. Instead industry succeeded in a number of important issues, the most important of them being the fact that the agreement guarantees the politically undisturbed operation of nuclear power plants for the years to come.
Experimental Study on the Effect of Spliced Reinforcement in High Strength Concrete Beams
Authors: Hegab Mohamed Y. , Yazdani S. , Ghaith Hatem H. , El-Hashemy Hany M.
Published: March 2010

High strength concrete is often used in concrete structures such as bridges and high-rise buildings. An experimental test program was developed to examine the effects of spliced reinforcement in tension zones on the overall behavior of high strength concrete beams. Four design parameters were selected for this study including lap end shape (straight or bent), the number of shear stirrups, the percentage of steel cut off (25% and 50%), and the grade of steel reinforcement (A36 and A615). The effect of these four design parameters on the load-deflection behavior and cracking pattern were investigated utilizing fourteen high strength concrete beams with an average compressive strength of 97.7 MPa (14,170 psi). The beams were loaded such that the lap splice fell under the pure bending region. The load-deflection responses of beams and the crack patterns are reported in this paper.
Progress in Direct Noise Computation
Authors: Bailly Christophe , Bogey Christophe , Marsden Olivier
Published: March 2010

The needs for accurate and efficient numerical solvers in computational aeroacoustics have motivated the development of low-dispersion and low-dissipation schemes as an alternative to more classical methods of applied mathematics for computational fluid mechanics over the last two decades. These numerical methods have now reached maturity, even if progress is still necessary to take account of specific physics. The paper provides a short overview of some recent developments and applications involving the direct computation of aerodynamic noise with applications to subsonic and supersonic jet noise, to cavity noise and to self-excited internal flows.
Simulations of Supersonic Jet Noise
Authors: Morris Philip J. , Long Lyle N. , Scheidegger Thomas E. , Boluriaan Said
Published: March 2010

Numerical simulations are presented for the unsteady flow and noise radiation of high speed circular jets. The predictions are based on solutions of the nonlinear disturbance equations. Only the large-scale fluctuations are resolved. The effects of the small scales are parameterized using a subgrid-scale model. The radiated noise is predicted using both a direct simulation and a Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings method. The effect of the prescription of in-flow conditions and the use of a dynamic subgrid-scale model are described. The choice of these models is shown to effect the predicted far field sound pressure levels. Comparisons are made with experimental measurements. The predictions are in reasonable agreement with the experiments. The reasons for these absolute discrepancies are discussed. Relative changes for different operating conditions are shown to be predicted well. Finally, the simulations are used to describe some statistical properties of the jet turbulence relevant to noise radiation.
Fan Noise Reduction: An Overview
Authors: Envia Edmane
Published: March 2010

Fan noise reduction technologies developed as part of the Advanced Subsonic Technology Program are reviewed. Developments in low-noise fan stage design, swept and leaned outlet guide vanes, active noise control, fan wake management, and scarf inlets are discussed. In each case, a description of the technology is presented and, where available, representative results and general conclusions are discussed. The review concludes with a summary of the accomplishments of the AST-sponsored fan noise reduction research and a few thoughts on future work.
Ray Traces through Unsteady Jet Turbulence
Authors: Freund J. B. , Fleischman T. G.
Published: March 2010

Results of an ongoing effort to quantify the role turbulence in scattering sound in jets are reported. Using a direct numerical simulation database to provide the flow data, ray paths traced through the mean flow are compared with those traced through the actual time evolving turbulent flow. Significant scattering by the turbulence is observed. The most notable effect is that upstream travelling waves that are trapped in the potential core by the mean flow, which acts as a wave guide, easily escape in the turbulent flow. A crude statistical estimate based on ray number density suggests that directivity is modified by the turbulence, but no rigorous treatment of non-uniformities in the high-frequency approximation is attempted.
Integrated Innovation: A Model for A New New Product Development Curriculum
Authors: Boradkar Prasad , Duening Thomas
Published: March 2010

This paper provides an overview of a new new product development (NPD) curriculum developed on the foundation of what is called Integrated Innovation. The Integrated Innovation model creates a context of cognitive tension that is resolved by answering several pertinent questions.
Cognitive tension is the result of trying to resolve multiple intellectual challenges simultaneously, where each challenge has equal prima facie priority. The curriculum that has been developed on the Integrated Innovation model is designed to help create a new generation of NPD professionals
who have an enlarged role within the globally competitive enterprise. This paper provides insight into the Integrated Innovation model and its corresponding curriculum. It includes suggestions for future research and curriculum development.
Optimal Motorway Traffic Flow Control Involving Variable Speed Limits and Ramp Metering
Authors: Carlson Rodrigo C. , Papamichail Ioannis , Papageorgiou Markos , Messmer Albert
Published: March 2010

The impact of variable speed limits (VSL) on aggregate traffic flow behaviour on motorways is shown to bear similarities to the impact of ramp metering, in particular, when addressing potentially active bottlenecks. A quantitative model of the VSL impact is proposed that allows for VSL to be incorporated in a macroscopic second-order traffic flow model as an additional control component. The integrated motorway network traffic control problem involving ramp metering and VSL control measures is formulated as a constrained discrete-time optimal control problem and is solved efficiently even for large-scale networks by a suitable feasible direction algorithm. An illustrative example of a hypothetical motorway stretch is investigated under different control scenarios, and it is shown that traffic flow efficiency can be substantially improved when VSL control measures are used, particularly in integration with coordinated ramp metering.
‘Free to Deal as He May Choose’: The Displacement of ‘Freedom of Commerce’ as a Necessary Condition to the Creation of Canadian Multiculturalism
Authors: Tarantino Bob
Published: March 2010

In the 1940s the Canadian legal system was one which seemed incapable of recognizing racial discrimination as a problem worthy of jurisprudential attention. The 1939 Supreme Court of Canada decision in Christie v York Corporation confirmed that the owners of a tavern were entitled to refuse to serve a black man; in the infamous case of Viola Desmond, the courts held that a theatre owner was within its rights to segregate seating on the basis of skin colour. Excepting marginal voices expressing concern, no significant protest was raised against the court decisions. Sixty years later, facts virtually identical to those found in the Christie case resulted in a large monetary penalty being levied against the offending bar owner—like an inversion of Christie before it, the decision was so congruent with contemporary sensibilities that it occasioned virtually no comment. Using the Christie and Desmond cases and the introduction of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as focal points, this paper traces the linguistic and legal changes which help explain such radically different responses from the legal system.
Professor Waldron Goes to Canada (One More Time): The Canadian Charter and the Counter-Majoritarian Difficulty
Authors: Panaccio Charles-Maxime
Published: March 2010

This paper addresses the legitimacy of the Canadian system of judicial review of state action for compliance with constitutional rights. It recalls the lively and sophisticated debate that took place on that issue within the larger process of federal–provincial negotiations surrounding the ‘patriation’ of the Constitution. It is suggested that in many ways that public debate parallels that which is still going on among well-known academics such as Jeremy Waldron and Ronald Dworkin, among others. Since the constitutional entrenchment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, Canadian courts have been given the power to rule on and remedy violations of fundamental rights by the state. However, the Charter also includes what is often termed a ‘notwithstanding’ clause, which enables legislatures to shield legislative provisions from judicial review as long as this will is clearly expressed. Hence the paper further discusses whether such a clause can satisfy principled opponents to judicial review, more particularly whether it can meet the concerns expressed by Jeremy Waldron over the last 15 years or so. It is concluded that it cannot.
Single-Act Propensity
Authors: Munday Roderick
Published: March 2010

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 expanded the range of situations in which evidence of defendants' bad character can become admissible in criminal trials. In R v Hanson (2005), in the first appeals brought under the new legislation, the Court of Appeal supplied general guidance on how trial courts were to construe the principal provisions. In relation to gateway (d) the court declared: ‘there is no minimum number of events necessary to demonstrate’ an accused's propensity. A single item of misconduct might therefore suffice. When the Act first came into force, some prosecutors undoubtedly sought to exploit the bad character provisions to the full. This article reviews one, admittedly, artificial category of cases, where the Crown has sought to adduce only single acts of misconduct, in order to derive some idea of how expansively or restrictively the courts, and more especially the Court of Appeal, in practice interpret the bad character provisions.
On the possibility of a philosophical justifi cation for universally binding principles. in an age of one-state supremacy and shrinking interstate institutions
Authors: Skirbekk Gunnar
Published: March 2010

There are in our time ongoing discussions on the question of global justice and inter-cultural dialogues. This question embraces not only questions of distribution and recognition, but also questions of peace and survival. In this paper, focusing on the latter, I shall discuss the question of the possibility of a philosophical justifi cation for universally binding principles for international law and thus for inter-state and intercultural behavior.
“This all but universal illusion …”. Remarks on the question: Why did Mill write On Liberty?
Authors: Haraldsson Róbert H.
Published: March 2010

Why did Mill write On Liberty? After motivating the need for asking this seemingly unnecessary question, I argue that Mill's main concern was not with defi ning the scope and content of the principle of liberty or with eliciting assent from his contemporaries; but rather with showing what taking such a very simple principle to heart amounts to. The notion of taking a doctrine to heart highlights a common theme behind many of the seemingly unrelated issues of the book. Finally, the paper offers some explanations of our failure to take to heart doctrines which we at one level assent to.
Comic Readings and Tragic Readings: Haydn’s observations on London audience responses in 1791
Authors: Tolley Thomas
Published: March 2010

This paper explores the iconography of two prints owned by Haydn, the traditions to which they belonged and their aesthetic consequences. The prints depict two contrasting audiences, one amused and the other despondent, and feature a range of iconographic references that Haydn would have readily responded to, including such themes as the death of Dido, the world of Tristram Shandy, the madness of Orlando and Don Quixote, the humorous verse of Peter Pindar (one of Haydn’s librettists) and inevitably (in prints of this kind) contemporary English politics. A particular point of interest is a caricature of Edward Topham, an amateur caricaturist and founding editor of the influential newspaper
The World
, featured in one of the prints. In a series of issues in the late 1780s
The World
published a ‘correspondence’ with Haydn himself, which sought to undermine the composer’s suitability for composing with London audiences’ in mind. The print may have helped serve to remind Haydn of this dispute at the time he actually began composing in London and to aid him in keeping such audiences in mind when composing for them.
Between tradition, innovation and Utopia: Haydn’s mehrstimmige Gesänge
Authors: Mikusi Balázs
Published: March 2010

Haydn’s
mehrstimmige Gesänge
, composed between 1796 and 1799, have mostly been given but scarce attention by scholars. In this paper I strive to re-contextualize the partsongs both as regards Haydn’s own oeuvre and the history of the genre in general. I argue that, while the composer may have been aware of the male quartets by his brother Michael, and was certainly familiar with the English glee tradition, his partsongs consciously seek to redefine the genre by raising its compositional, as well as performing, standards to a uniquely high level (hence the word “utopia” in my title). While the composer’s aim appears to have been to set an example by exploring diverse artistic possibilities of the genre, the reception of his partsongs proved highly selective: the religious songs were praised as worthy models by conservative writers, whereas the comic pieces puzzled critics with their combination of highly elaborate music and resolutely lowbrow texts, which did not seem to deserve, as it were, such compositional care. Thus, the reception of the partsongs reinforces a common Haydn stereotype of the early 19th century: he is seen as a master of outstanding originality and compositional skill, whose achievements can only be admired, but whose example is not always to be followed.
Zur Rezeption der Oratorien Haydns in Paris zwischen 1800 und 1850: Institutionelle und ästhetische aspekte
Authors: Loeser Martin
Published: March 2010

In German speaking countries Haydn’s oratorios, and particularly
TheCreation
, have played an important role in the repertoire of choral societies and music festivals since the 1810s. However, in France, and also in Paris — “the capital of the 19th century” —, Haydn’s oratorios were performed only on rare occasions, and then they were given mostly in parts. The reasons for these circumstances can be seen in the institutional and esthetical context of the Parisian concert life. With respect to professional concert societies, like the
Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
, rigid obstacles were on the one hand the enormous financial risk of a complete oratorio performance. On the other hand the established type of concert programmes with its varied mixture of vocal and instrumental pieces functioned as a barrier. Most important was a lack of mixed amateur choral societies, which developed in Paris quite late, primary in the 1840s, and then only little by little. Since oratorio performances lasted to be mostly a private affaire in the first half of the 19th century, it is not surprising, that Haydn’s oratorios were studied in aristocratic salons of Princesse de Belgiojoso and Baron Delmar with the intention of both education and entertainment.
Características e gastos com alimentação fora do domicílio no Brasil
Authors: Bezerra Ilana Nogueira , Sichieri Rosely
Published: March 2010

OBJETIVO: Analisar as características da alimentação fora do domicílio e os gastos com o seu consumo. MÉTODOS: Foi analisada uma amostra complexa de 48.470 domicílios brasileiros, selecionados a partir da base de dados da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares de 2002-2003. O consumo de alimentos fora do domicílio foi definido como a aquisição de, pelo menos, um tipo de alimento para consumo fora de domicílio no período de sete dias. Foram estimadas freqüências de consumo de alimentos fora do domicílio segundo idade, sexo, nível de escolaridade, renda mensal familiar per capita, número de moradores por domicílio, regiões brasileiras, situação do domicílio (urbano/rural) e capital ou outro município. Nove grupos de alimentos foram estudados: bebidas alcoólicas, refrigerantes, biscoitos, frutas, doces, leite e derivados, refeições, fast foods e salgados fritos e assados. RESULTADOS: A freqüência de consumo de alimentos fora do domicílio foi de 35%, sendo maior na região Sudeste (38,8%) e menor na região Norte (28,1%). A freqüência foi maior entre os indivíduos de 20 a 40 anos (42%), do sexo masculino (39% vs. 31%), com maior nível de renda (52%) e maior escolaridade (61%). Os alimentos mais freqüentemente consumidos fora do domicílio foram: refrigerantes (12%), refeições (11,5%), doces (9,5%), salgados fritos e assados (9,2%) e fast foods (7,2%). O consumo dos grupos de alimentos cresceu linearmente com a renda, exceto para frutas e biscoitos. Os gastos médios semanais foram menores para biscoitos (R$ 1,79) e doces (R$ 2,02) e maiores para refeições (R$ 21,56). CONCLUSÕES: O consumo de alimentos fora do domicílio é freqüente em todas as regiões do Brasil. As políticas públicas devem incorporar essa dimensão ao propor estratégias de alimentação saudável.
Tendências temporais e fatores associados à duração do aleitamento materno em Pernambuco
Authors: Caminha Maria de Fátima Costa , Batista Filho Malaquias , Serva Vilneide Braga , Arruda Ilma Kruze Grande de , Figueiroa José Natal , Lira Pedro Israel Cabral de
Published: March 2010

OBJETIVO: Analisar as tendências temporais de duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo e os fatores de proteção. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas as prevalências de amamentação total e o aleitamento materno exclusivo de lactentes aos quatro meses de idade. Os dados foram obtidos de inquéritos populacionais realizados em 1991, 1997 e 2006, com 935, 2.081 e 1.568 crianças, respectivamente. Os dados foram coletados por entrevista realizada com o responsável pela criança. As prevalências foram analisadas por regressão de Poisson em relação a: condições ambientais, comportamentais e socioeconômicas, variáveis maternas e fatores biológicos da criança. RESULTADOS: A duração mediana do aleitamento total elevou-se de 89 dias (1991) para 106 dias (1997) e, finalmente, 183 dias (2006). A mediana do aleitamento materno exclusivo manteve-se estacionária em torno de 30 dias entre 1997 e 2006. Na análise multivariada, das dez variáveis analisadas, apenas a escolaridade e idade maternas, situação do domicílio e a criança ser do sexo feminino se mantiveram no modelo explicativo final. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar do aleitamento total ter tido importante aumento de duração, o mesmo não ocorreu com a duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo.
Growth patterns in early childhood and the onset of menarche before age twelve
Authors: Martínez Jeovany , Araújo Cora , Horta Bernardo Lessa , Gigante Denise Petrucci
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between growth patterns in early childhood and the onset of menarche before age 12. METHODS: The study included 2,083 women from a birth cohort study conducted in the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, starting in 1982. Anthropometric, behavioral, and pregnancy-related variables were collected through home interviews. Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson's chi-square and chi-square test for linear trends. A multivariable analysis was carried out using Poisson regression based on a hierarchical model. RESULTS: Mean age of menarche was 12.4 years old and the prevalence of menarche before age 12 was 24.3%. Higher weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height z-scores at 19.4 and 43.1 months of age were associated with linear tendencies of increased prevalence and relative risks of the onset of menarche before age 12. Girls who experienced rapid growth in weight-for-age z-score from birth to 19.4 months of age and in weight-for-age or height-for-age z-scores from 19.4 to 43.1 months of age also showed higher risk of menarche before age 12. Higher risk was seen when rapid growth in weight-for-age z-score was seen during these age intervals and the highest risk was found among those in the first tertile of Williams' curve at birth. Rapid growth in weight-for-height z-score was not associated with menarche before age 12. CONCLUSIONS: Menarche is affected by nutritional status and growth patterns during early childhood. Preventing overweight and obesity during early childhood and keeping a "normal" growth pattern seem crucial for the prevention of health conditions during adulthood.
Análise espacial e sazonal da leptospirose no município de São Paulo, SP, 1998 a 2006
Authors: Soares Tatiana Spinelli Martins , Latorre Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira , Laporta Gabriel Zorello , Buzzar Márcia Regina
Published: March 2010

OBJETIVO: Analisar a distribuição espacial e sazonal da leptospirose, identificando possíveis componentes ecológicos e sociais para a sua transmissão. MÉTODOS: Foram georreferenciados 2.490 casos em cada distrito do município de São Paulo, SP, registrados de 1998 a 2006. Os dados foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação. Foram realizados mapas temáticos com as variáveis taxa de incidência, letalidade, taxa de alfabetização, renda média mensal, número de moradores por domicilio, abastecimento de água e rede de esgoto. Para identificar o padrão espacial (disperso, em aglomerado ou randômico), foram analisadas pelo Índice de Moran global e local. Foi utilizado o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman para testar associações entre as variáveis com padrão espacial em aglomerados. RESULTADOS: O padrão espacial em aglomerados foi observado nas variáveis taxa de incidência de leptospirose, taxa de alfabetização, renda média mensal, número de moradores por domicílio, abastecimento de água e rede de esgoto. Foram notificados 773 casos no período seco e 1.717 no úmido. A incidência e a letalidade estão correlacionadas com as condições socioeconômicas da população, independentemente do período. CONCLUSÕES: A leptospirose está distribuída por todo o município de São Paulo e sua incidência aumenta no período das chuvas. No período seco, os locais de aparecimento dos casos coincidem com as áreas de piores condições de moradia e, durante o período úmido, também aumenta em outros distritos, provavelmente devido à proximidade de rios e córregos.
Classificação de microáreas de risco com uso de mineraçãode dados
Authors: Malucelli Andreia , Stein Junior Altair von , Bastos Laudelino , Carvalho Deborah , Cubas Marcia Regina , Paraíso Emerson Cabrera
Published: March 2010

OBJETIVO: Identificar, com o auxílio de técnicas computacionais, regras referentes às condições do ambiente físico para a classificação de microáreas de risco. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa exploratória, desenvolvida na cidade de Curitiba, PR, em 2007, dividida em três etapas: identificação de atributos para classificar uma microárea; construção de uma base de dados; e aplicação do processo de descoberta de conhecimento em base de dados, por meio da aplicação de mineração de dados. O conjunto de atributos envolveu as condições de infra- estrutura, hidrografia, solo, área de lazer, características da comunidade e existência de vetores. A base de dados foi construída com dados obtidos em entrevistas com agentes comunitários de saúde, sendo utilizado um questionário com questões fechadas, elaborado com os atributos essenciais, selecionados por especialistas. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 49 atributos, sendo 41 essenciais e oito irrelevantes. Foram obtidas 68 regras com a mineração de dados, as quais foram analisadas sob a perspectiva de desempenho e qualidade e divididas em dois conjuntos: as inconsistentes e as que confirmam o conhecimento de especialistas. A comparação entre os conjuntos mostrou que as regras que confirmavam o conhecimento, apesar de terem desempenho computacional inferior, foram consideradas mais interessantes. CONCLUSÕES: A mineração de dados ofereceu um conjunto de regras úteis e compreensíveis, capazes de caracterizar microáreas, classificando-as quanto ao grau do risco, com base em características do ambiente físico. A utilização das regras propostas permite que a classificação de uma microárea possa ser realizada de forma mais rápida, menos subjetiva, mantendo um padrão entre as equipes de saúde, superando a influência da percepção particular de cada componente da equipe.
Recuperação das principais causas de morte do Nordeste do Brasil: impacto na expectativa de vida
Authors: Paes Neir Antunes , Gouveia Joseilme Fernandes
Published: March 2010

OBJETIVO: Estimar o impacto na esperança de vida após a eliminação dos principais grupos de causas de morte no Nordeste brasileiro em 2000. MÉTODOS: Dados sobre os óbitos registrados para os estados do Nordeste do Brasil em 2000 foram extraídos do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade. Foram avaliadas as coberturas dos registros de óbitos menores de dez anos usando procedimentos indiretos. Empregou-se o método de Ledermann de redistribuição das causas de morte mal definidas, segundo o sexo. Construíram-se tábuas de vida de múltiplo decremento para os principais grupos de causas de morte, cujos impactos dos decrementos foram avaliados pela esperança de vida. RESULTADOS: A eliminação total dos principais grupos de causas na mortalidade geral proporcionou para homens e mulheres, respectivamente, os seguintes ganhos na esperança de vida do Nordeste: doenças infecciosas e parasitárias (1,0 e 0,5 anos), neoplasmas malignos (1,4 e 1,5 anos), doenças do aparelho circulatório (4,0 e 4,0 anos), doenças do aparelho respiratório (1,1 e 0,8 anos) e causas externas (2,9 e 0,3 anos). CONCLUSÕES: Os níveis das coberturas dos óbitos foram aceitáveis, assim como as redistribuições das causas mal definidas para os estados. Considerando que as estatísticas vitais do Nordeste são pouco utilizadas, devido aos argumentos de que sua qualidade limita a produção de indicadores confiáveis da mortalidade, sua recuperação de forma direta possibilita resultados consistentes.
Efeitos das condições macroeconômicas sobre a saúde no Brasil
Authors: Jacinto Paulo de Andrade , Tejada César Augusto Oviedo , Sousa Tanara Rosângela Vieira de
Published: March 2010

OBJETIVO: Analisar a relação entre condições macroeconômicas e saúde no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Para analisar o impacto do emprego e a renda sobre a mortalidade, utilizou-se um painel de dados para o Brasil em nível estadual para o período de 1981-2002. Como proxy para saúde, foram utilizadas as informações sobre a taxa de mortalidade obtidas do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM). Para as condições macroeconômicas, foram empregadas as variáveis emprego e renda média e para os aspectos socioeconômicos, considerou-se a taxa de analfabetismo. Os efeitos das variáveis foram estimados por modelos estático e dinâmico a fim de analisar duas hipóteses: 1) a hipótese de Ruhm, que sugere que elevadas taxas de emprego e de renda estão associadas com maior taxa de mortalidade e 2) a hipótese de Brenner, que indica que elevadas taxas de emprego e de renda estão relacionadas a menores taxas de mortalidade. RESULTADOS: A relação entre a taxa de mortalidade (proxy utilizada para a saúde) com as condições macroeconômicas (mensurada por meio da taxa de emprego) se mostrou negativa. As estimativas indicaram que a taxa de mortalidade total foi maior nos períodos de recessão econômica, sugerindo que à medida que as condições macroeconômicas melhoram, aumentando o nível de emprego na economia, ocorreu uma queda na taxa de mortalidade. A estimativa para a relação entre a taxa de analfabetismo (proxy utilizada para o nível educacional) e a taxa de mortalidade mostrou o papel que maiores níveis de escolaridade têm na melhora da saúde. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados encontrados a partir do modelo estático e dinâmico para a relação entre a taxa de mortalidade e as condições macroeconômicas favorecem a aceitação da hipótese de Brenner, em que elevadas taxas de emprego estão relacionadas a menores taxas de mortalidade.
Dimensões da qualidade na avaliação em saúde: concepções de gestores
Authors: Bosi Maria Lúcia Magalhães , Pontes Ricardo José Soares , Vasconcelos Suziana Martins de
Published: March 2010

OBJETIVO: Compreender concepções e experiências de gestores em relação à avaliação qualitativa na atenção básica em saúde. PROCEDIMENTOS METODOLÓGICOS: Estudo qualitativo, fundamentado na vertente crítico-interpretativa, realizado em 2006 na cidade de Fortaleza, CE. A amostra teórica foi composta pelo grupo responsável pelo planejamento da atenção básica em nível estadual. Para a obtenção do material empírico, utilizou-se a técnica de grupo focal. ANÁLISE DOS RESULTADOS: Emergiram dois temas centrais: concepções de qualidade e dimensões da qualidade na práxis da avaliação em saúde, desdobrando-se em aspectos distintos. Os conceitos qualidade e avaliação qualitativa não se mostraram claramente demarcados, confundindo-se a avaliação qualitativa com a avaliação da qualidade formal. Do mesmo modo, não se reconhece a multidimensionalidade inerente à qualidade. A despeito de se revelarem nos depoimentos críticas à quantificação indevida de certas dimensões, não se observou clareza e domínio técnico quanto à abordagem a utilizar para abranger as distintas dimensões da qualidade em processos avaliativos. CONCLUSÕES: As concepções dos gestores responsáveis pelo planejamento da atenção básica, no espaço estudado, revelam um importante distanciamento das premissas da avaliação qualitativa, sobretudo aquela orientada pelo enfoque de quarta geração. Portanto, o modelo adotado por esses atores na avaliação da qualidade dos programas e serviços não contempla sua multidimensionalidade.
Imunogenicidade da vacina brasileira contra hepatite B em adultos
Authors: Moraes José Cássio de , Luna Expedito José de Albuquerque , Grimaldi Rosária Amélia
Published: March 2010

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a imunogenicidade e segurança da vacina contra hepatite B, após o aumento na concentração do antígeno HBsAg para 25 μg, em comparação à vacina de referência. MÉTODOS: Ensaio com alocação aleatória e mascaramento simples, comparando a VrHB-IB (Instituto Butantan) com a vacina de referência (Engerix B®, Glaxo Smith Kline). Os voluntários, entre 31 e 40 anos de idade (n=419), foram alocados aleatoriamente ao grupo experimental (n=216) ou ao grupo controle (n=203), e receberam três doses de vacina. A primeira dose foi administrada no momento do recrutamento, a segunda e terceira 30 e 180 dias depois respectivamente, entre 2004 e 2005. Amostras de sangue foram colhidas para análise sorológica antes da randomização, e após a segunda e terceira doses. Foi realizada a vigilância ativa de eventos adversos durante os cinco primeiros dias após a vacinação. As diferenças foram avaliadas pelos testes do qui-quadrado e exato de Fisher, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Não se observaram eventos adversos graves. A soroporteção foi confirmada em 98,6% (213/216) dos voluntários do grupo experimental, em comparação a 95,6% (194/203) do grupo controle. Os títulos geométricos médios foram de 12.557 e 11.673, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: A vacina brasileira foi considerada equivalente à vacina de referência e seu uso recomendado para adultos.