Objetivo: A presente tese é apresentada no formato de três artigos que se articulam através do objetivo geral que foi estudar a associação entre o encarceramento e o risco de tuberculose ativa (TB) no Brasil. Os objetivos específicos dos artigos foram: (artigo-1) identificar um conjunto de macrodeterminantes socioeconômicos associados à incidência da TB, dentre eles, a proporção da população privada de liberdade (PPL) na população do município; (artigo-2) quantificar a importância relativa da exposição às prisões na incidência de TB e avaliar sua interação com a desigualdade da distribuição de renda; (artigo-3) estimar o efeito dos fatores ambientais dos presídios no tempo até o diagnóstico de TB. Métodos: Foram realizados dois estudos ecológicos (artigos-1 e 2) e um estudo de coorte retrospectiva (artigo-3). No artigo-1, relacionamos as taxas de incidência de TB (2010) dos 5565 municípios aos indicadores socioeconômicos e de saúde e à proporção de PPL. No artigo-2, as taxas de incidência de TB das populações prisional e não prisional dos 954 municípios com pelo menos uma unidade prisional (2014), foram relacionadas às variáveis contextuais dos municípios. Avaliamos também a interação da desigualdade da distribuição de renda nesta associação; e estimamos a fração atribuível à população (FAP). No artigo-3, analisamos os casos de TB na PPL do estado de São Paulo (2014 e 2015) segundo o tempo entre o encarceramento e o diagnóstico de TB. O efeito total das condições ambientais foi analisado por modelos de riscos de Cox. Todas as análises foram orientadas por diagramas causais para a seleção de variáveis de ajuste. Resultados: No artigo-1, após o ajuste por fatores individuais e região geográfica, esteve associada positivamente à incidência da TB, a proporção de PPL (razão de taxas de incidência [RTI]: 1,11; intervalo com 95% de confiança [IC95%]: 1,09-1,14), e fatores socioeconômicos e de saúde. No artigo-2, comparada com a população não prisional, a PPL apresentou (RTI) 22,07 vezes (IC95%: 20,38-23,89) o risco de TB em municípios com coeficiente de Gini <0,60; e 14,96 vezes (IC95%: 11,00-18,92) este risco onde o Gini foi >=0,60. A FAP foi gradativamente menor em municípios com maior desigualdade da distribuição de renda. No artigo-3, estimou-se que a cada aumento de 50% na taxa de ocupação carcerária, houve um aumento na velocidade de ocorrência da TB de 16% (IC95%: 8%-25%) nos modelos até dois anos. Um aumento de uma unidade do logaritmo da área da cela por pessoa resultou em uma redução na velocidade até o diagnóstico de TB de 13% (IC95%: 2%-23%) nos modelos até dois anos. Conclusão: Evidenciou-se a importância da PPL na ocorrência da TB nos municípios brasileiros; o potencial impacto que teriam intervenções para reduzir a exposição aos presídios, o qual varia segundo as condições socioeconômicas; e o efeito das condições ambientais dos presídios na velocidade do tempo até o diagnóstico de TB. Intervenções nas prisões como a redução drástica das condições de superlotação e o aumento do espaço físico, teriam elevado impacto na incidência de TB na população gerla, principalmente em municípios com menor coeficiente de Gini. / Objective: This thesis is presented in the form of three articles that are articulated through the general objective of studying the association between incarceration and the risk of active tuberculosis (TB) in Brazil. The specific objectives of the articles were: (article-1) to identify a set of socioeconomic macrodeterminants associated with the TB incidence, among them, the proportion of the prison population in the population of the municipality; (article-2) to quantify the relative importance of exposure to prisons in TB incidence and to assess their interaction with population income distribution inequality; (article-3) to estimate the effect of the environmental factors of prisons in time until the diagnosis of TB. Methods: Two ecological studies (articles-1 and 2) and one retrospective cohort study (article-3) were performed. In article-1, we related the TB incidence rates (2010) of the 5565 municipalities to socioeconomic and health indicators and to the proportion of prison population. In article-2, the TB incidence rates of the prison and non-prison populations of the 954 municipalities with at least one prison (2014) were related to the contextual variables of the municipalities. We also evaluated the interaction of the income distribution inequality in this association; and we estimated the fraction of tuberculosis in the population attributable to the exposure to prisons (PAF). In article-3, we analyzed the TB cases in the prison population of the São Paulo state (2014 and 2015) according to the time between incarceration and the diagnosis of TB. The total effect of the environmental conditions was analyzed by Cox risk models. All the analyzes were oriented by causal diagrams for the selection of adjustment variables. Results: In article-1, after adjustment for individual factors and geographic region, it was positively associated with the TB incidence, the proportion of prison population (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.11, 95% confidence interval [ 95%CI: 1.09-1.14), and socioeconomic and health factors. In article-2, compared to the non-prison population, the prison population presented 22.07 times (95%CI: 20,38-23,89) the risk of TB in municipalities with a Gini coefficient <0.60; and 14.96 times (95%CI: 11.00-18.92) this risk where the Gini was >=0.60. The PAF was gradually lower in municipalities with greater income distribution inequality. In article-3, it was estimated that with each increase of 50% in the prison occupation rate, there was an increase in the speed of TB occurrence of 16% (95%CI: 8% -25%) in the models up to two years. An increase of one unit in the logarithm of the cell area per person resulted in a reduction in the speed to TB diagnosis of 13% (95%CI: 2% -23%) in the models up to two years. Conclusion: It was evidenced the importance of prison population in the occurrence of TB in Brazilian municipalities; the potential impact of interventions to reduce exposure to prisons, which varies according to socioeconomic conditions; and the effect of prisons\' environmental conditions on the speed of time to TB diagnosis. Interventions in prisons such as the drastic reduction of overcrowding conditions and the increase in physical space, would have a high impact on the TB incidence in general population, especially in municipalities with lower Gini coefficients.

A água é recurso natural essencial à vida, indispensável à produção e ao desenvolvimento socioeconômico, que vem sofrendo degradações, por influências antrópicas, diferentes formas de uso e ocupação do meio físico, e por fatores como crescimento populacional, industrialização e urbanização. Esta pesquisa foi realizada com o objetivo de avaliar a evolução temporal e espacial da presença dos metais pesados alumínio, cádmio, chumbo, cobre, cromo, mercúrio, níquel e zinco, e dos compostos químicos orgânicos pesticidas organoclorados, hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPA) e bifenilas policloradas (PCB), na qualidade das águas e dos sedimentos nas bacias hidrográficas do Rio Tietê, principal recurso hídrico do Estado de São Paulo. O período abrangido pela pesquisa considerou os dados disponibilizados nos relatórios de qualidade das águas superficiais do Estado de São Paulo da Rede de Monitoramento operada pela Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo CETESB, do período de 1978 a 2010, de 46 pontos de amostragem do compartimento água, e de 14 pontos do compartimento sedimento. Para a água foram consideradas as médias anuais calculadas a partir dos valores bimestrais, e para o sedimento foram considerados os valores anuais disponíveis nos relatórios. A análise dos resultados obtidos revelou que houve avanços positivos na qualidade das águas ao longo do tempo e da distribuição geográfica, com relação aos metais pesados, uma vez que, dos elementos analisados apenas o alumínio demonstrou tendências crescentes de concentrações no compartimento água e principalmente nos afluentes da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo e da região do Médio Tietê. Os demais metais demonstraram tendências estáveis ou decrescentes. Dos compostos orgânicos não foi possível concluir tendências de comportamento na água, pois o monitoramento é predominante no compartimento sedimento. Para este compartimento, foi possível concluir que os metais pesados demonstram acumulação, principalmente em pontos do trecho metropolitano. Dos compostos orgânicos, há evidências de acumulação dos HPA: Fluoranteno, Benzo(a)antraceno, Benzo(b)fluoranteno e Benzo(a)pireno nos Reservatórios Pirapora e Barra Bonita. Dos pesticidas organoclorados foi detectada presença de Alfa e Beta HCH, DDT, DDD, DDE e Metoxicloro no trecho metropolitano, e DDE no Reservatório Três Irmãos, trecho do Baixo Tietê. Das PCB estão registrados apenas limites de quantificação do composto, o que provavelmente demonstra controle satisfatório deste tipo de poluente. A condição favorável observada no monitoramento das águas pode ser atribuída às ações do saneamento, aos trabalhos voltados à prevenção e controle de fontes de poluição e padronização de metodologias utilizadas nas análises laboratoriais. A preservação da qualidade das águas deve ser prioridade e alvo de intensas e constantes ações integradas de iniciativas mantidas e aperfeiçoadas permanentemente pelo poder público, privado e sociedade, por meio de programas de prevenção, controle, fiscalização e desenvolvimento de ações na área de educação ambiental, com a implementação de políticas públicas eficientes e medidas responsáveis com o meio ambiente, para proteger os recursos hídricos das ações antrópicas, a fim de garantir crescimento socioeconômico com qualidade de vida e melhores condições ambientais e de saúde pública. / Water is a natural resource vital to life, essential to the production and socioeconomic development, which has suffered degradation by anthropogenic influences, different forms of land use and physical environment, and factors such as population growth, industrialization and urbanization. This research was conducted to evaluate temporal and spatial evolution of the presence of the heavy metals aluminum, cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, mercury, nickel and zinc, and of the organic chemicals: organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water and sediments quality in the Tiete River basins, the main water resource of the Sao Paulo State. The period covered by the survey considered the data provided in reports of surface waters quality of the Monitoring Network in São Paulo State operated by the Environmental Company of São Paulo CETESB, the period from 1978 to 2010, 46 sampling points in the water compartment and 14 in the sediment compartment. For water were considered the annual averages calculated from the values bimonthly, and for the sediment was considered the annual reports available. The results obtained revealed that there were positive improvements in water quality over time and the geographical distribution with respect to heavy metals, since only the elements analyzed aluminum concentrations rising trends shown in the compartment and especially in water tributaries of the São Paulo Metropolitan Region and the Middle Tiete. The other metals showed stable or decreasing trends. Organic compounds could not complete behavioral tendencies in the water, because the monitoring is predominant in the sediment compartment. To this chamber, it was concluded that the heavy metals demonstrate accumulation, especially at points of the underground passage. Organic compounds, there is evidence of accumulation of PAH: fluoranthene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene in Pirapora and Barra Bonita Reservoir. Organochlorine pesticides were detected presence of Alpha and Beta HCH, DDT, DDD, DDE and Methoxychlor in the passage underground, and DDE in Três Irmãos Reservoir, a stretch of the Lower Tiete. Of the PCB are recorded only traces of the compound, which shows a satisfactory control of this type of pollutant. The favorable condition observed in the monitoring of water can be attributed to the sanitation actions, the work focused on the prevention and control of pollution sources and methodologies standardization used in laboratory tests. The preservation of water quality should be a priority and the target of intense and constant as integrated initiatives and improved continuously maintained by the public, private and society, through prevention, control, supervision programs and development activities in the area of environmental education with the implementation of efficient public policies and actions responsible for the environment, to protect water resources of the human actions, to ensure social and economic growth with quality of life and better environmental conditions and public health

Self-organized spatial patterning of microtopographic features is a trademark characteristic of the Everglades landscape. Anthropogenic modifications to Everglades’ hydrology have reduced and degraded pattern, where ridges occur at higher elevations and spread into open water sloughs under dryer conditions. Wildfire is an important ecological force in the central Everglades and may maintain ridge-slough patterning through reducing ridge size and complexity, and thus preserve habitat heterogeneity. To investigate fire as a patterning mechanism in the central Everglades I examined the shape complexity and area distribution of ridges along a chronosequence of time since fire. Shape complexity did not change following fire, but small and large ridges became more prominent and eventually spread as time since fire increased, suggesting fire may maintain ridge area distribution. Documentation of fires’ effect on ridge size will inform ecosystem and conceptual models detailing the complex interactions that maintain the Everglades ridge-slough patterning. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Peatlands act as carbon sinks while representing major sources of biogenic gases such as methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), two potent greenhouse gases. Gas production and release in these peats soils are also influenced by overall warm temperatures and water table fluctuations due to the naturally shallow water table in the Florida Everglades. Releases of biogenic gases from Florida Everglades peat soils are not well understood and the temporal distribution and dynamics are uncertain. The general objective of this work was geared towards a methodological approach which aimed to examine the feasibility of capacitance moisture probes to investigate biogenic gas dynamics in various Florida Everglades peat soils at high temporal resolution. This work has implications for establishing capacitance moisture probes as a method to monitor gas dynamics in peat soils at high temporal resolution and better understanding patterns of gas build-up and release from peat soils in the Everglades. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Anthropogenic impacts, such as habitat destruction and spread of exotic species, are contributing to the sixth major extinction event in Earth’s history. To develop effective management and conservation plans, it is important to understand the ecological drivers of at-risk populations, assess the ability of a population to adapt to environmental change, and develop research methods for long-term ecosystem monitoring. I used wading birds nesting in the Florida Everglades, USA as a model system to address the challenges of managing and monitoring populations within an ecosystem greatly impacted by anthropogenic activities. Specifically, my project investigated 1) the prey selection of wading bird species, and the role of prey and foraging habitat availability on annual nesting numbers, 2) the ability of using diet change to predict species adaptability to a rapidly changing environment, and 3) the use of sensory data to provide low-cost, long-term monitoring of dynamic wetlands. I found that tricolored herons, snowy egrets, and little blue herons consumed marsh fish larger than those generally available across the landscape. Additionally, number of nests initiated by tricolored herons, snowy egrets, and little blue herons was strongly correlated with the annual densities of large fish available within the Everglades landscape. Conversely, number of nests initiated by wood storks, great egrets, and white ibises was more correlated with the amount of foraging habitat availability across the nesting season. Wood stork diets changed considerably since the 1960’s, consisting of mainly sunfish and exotic fish as opposed to marsh fishes dominant in historical diet studies. Storks also consumed more exotic fish species than they did historically. This diet plasticity and the species’ ability to exploit anthropogenic habitats may be conducive to maintaining population viability as storks experience widespread human-induced changes to their habitat. Sensory-only data models generated complementary results to models that used site-specific field data. Additionally, sensory-only models were able to detect different responses between size classes of fish to the processes that increase their concentrations in drying pools. However, the degree to which sensory variables were able to fit species data was dependent upon the ability of sensors to measure species-specific population drivers and the scale at which sensors can measure environmental change. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

I examined the impact of the exotic, invasive plant Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Brown, on tree island plant and ant communities in the northern Everglades. I selected 15 tree islands representing four groups: non-Lygodium islands, islands with low levels of Lygodium, islands with high levels of Lygodium, and disturbed islands impacted by people. I used a variety of diversity indices to compare plant and ant data among habitats. The ant communities studied included native and exotic species typical of south Florida. Tree island plant communities were consistent with descriptions from previous studies. Plant species richness decreased with the level of L. microphyllum in the ground and midstory layers. Abundance of native plants decreased with level of L. microphyllum in the ground, midstory, and overstory layers. Lygodium microphyllum did not affect ant communities suggesting that although it negatively impacts plant communities it can provide habitat for ants. / by Camille Darby Carroll. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Thesis (MTech (Applied Sciences))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007 / Changes in plant specIes richness and diversity were investigated in Rocherpan Nature Reserve across a fence (or old fence line) separating 34 years of conservation management, conservation management for 11 years south and north, natural veld grazed by cattle and goats, natural veld grazed by sheep, and strip-ploughed veld grazed by sheep. Vegetation surveys were conducted in September 2001. The modified 20 m x 50 m Whittaker plot design with its attractive features of long-thin plots and the original Whittaker plot design were used. Number of species (as richness data) and the numbers of individual recordings per species per land use (as abundance data) were used in calculations in the 20 m x 50 m (1000 m2 ) plots. The species richness index showed significantly smaller numbers of species in the conservation management 11 years south land. The results also showed an increase in species numbers under the grazing land use systems. The data from the comparative study of the five different species diversity indices showed no significant differences. As a result, the Shannon-Wiener index was selected for further assessing the species diversity index and the species diversity significance of different land uses in the West Coast Strandveld. In this particular study, the species that showed an increase in vegetation cover in response to grazing land use regimes were Hemimeris racemosa (annual herb) and Ehrharta brevifolia (annual grass).

Cette thèse de doctorat est réalisée en partenariat avec EDF et s’inscrit dans le cadre de la gestion du parc de tours aéroréfrigérantes des centrales nucléaires. Certaines tours présentent des fissures qui peuvent favoriser la carbonatation du béton d’enrobage et ainsi accélérer l’initiation de la corrosion des armatures. L’objectif de ce travail est de caractériser l’impact de ces fissures sur l’initiation et la propagation de la corrosion des armatures. Un programme expérimental dédié est détaillé. Dans un premier temps, un protocole de fissuration permettant de reproduire les fissures observées sur les tours est défini. Une attention particulière a été portée à la limitation de l’endommagement de l’interface acier/béton. Les éprouvettes fissurées sont ensuite carbonatées (de manière accélérée) dans le double but de mesurer la longueur de la zone d’interface altérée et de dépassiver l’armature en fond de fissure pour permettre l’initiation de la corrosion. La corrosion est contrôlée en laboratoire par l’intermédiaire de cycles de pluie/séchage et l’état de corrosion est caractérisé par différentes techniques (desquamation, microscopie optique, spectroscopie Raman, suivi de potentiel de corrosion libre). Différentes configurations représentatives du service des tours aéroréfrigérantes sont testées (3 ouvertures de fissures, 2 orientations de fissures, température, HR, etc.). Les résultats obtenus permettent de montrer qu’après une période d’initiation, la vitesse moyenne de corrosion décroit rapidement et que l’acier tend à se repassiver. Cette repassivation est liée à la formation d’une couche d’oxydes en fond de fissure qui limite l’accès de l’oxygène et de l’eau à l’armature. / This thesis is performed in partnership with EDF in the framework of concrete ageing management of cooling towers of Electricity of France (EDF) nuclear power plants. Indeed some of them can be affected by cracks which may promote the carbonation of the concrete cover and accelerate the reinforcement corrosion initiation. The objective of this work is to characterize the impact of these cracks on the initiation and propagation of reinforcement corrosion. A dedicated experimental program is detailed. Firstly, a cracking protocol reproducing cracks found in the concrete of cooling towers is defined. Particular attention was paid to limit the damage along the steel/mortar interface. Cracked specimens are thereafter exposed to accelerated carbonation for the dual purpose of measuring the length of the damaged interface and accelerating the depassivation of the rebar deep in the crack in order to accelerate the corrosion initiation. The corrosion is controlled in the laboratory via raining/drying cycles and its state is characterized by several technics (desquamation, optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, monitoring of the free corrosion potential). Different configurations representative of the cooling towers are tested (three crack openings, 2 crack orientations, temperature, relative humidity, etc.). Obtained results show that after the corrosion initiation period, the corrosion kinetics decreases rapidly and the reinforcement tends to repassivation. This repassivation is related to the formation of oxide layer deep in the crack limiting therefore the access of water and oxygen to the rebar.

bk.1. Exploration -- bk.2. Methodology -- bk.3. Solution. / Chu Yeuk Sze Vivien. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 1998-99, design report." / Bk.3 lacks individual t.p., title from t.p. of bk.1. / Includes bibliographical references. / Acknowledgements / Synopsis / Exploration of Stress / Chapter - --- Stressful Hong Kong / Chapter - --- Kind of Stress / Chapter - --- Environmental Stress (Daily Hassels) / Over Crowding / Noise Pollution / Commuting / Air Pollution / Exploration of Labyrinth / Chapter - --- Labyrinth City: Hong Kong / Chapter - --- Greek Mythology / Chapter - --- Legendary Knossos / Chapter - --- Roman Mosaic Labyrinth / Chapter - --- Invisible Cities / Chapter - --- Anst: Cartography / Continuity Physical Elements / Exploration of Stress / Chapter - --- Paths / Chapter - --- Edges / Chapter - --- Districts / Chapter - --- Nodes / Chapter - --- Landmarks / Labyrinth Site Analysis / Chapter - --- Site Location / Chapter - --- Street Perception / Chapter - --- Intersection Complexity Study / Chapter - --- Major Circulation System / Chapter - --- Reversible Road System / Chapter - --- Street Scale / Chapter - --- "Building Age, Height Distribution" / Chapter - --- Land Use and Figure Ground / Chapter - --- Illegal Building Structure / Hypothesis / Chapter - --- Potential Client / Chapter - --- Mission and Dream / Schedule of Accommodation / Precedent Studies

Lam, Yee Man. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.