The notion of structure and the information records of the documentary systems

Assuming as a starting point the acknowledge that the principles and methods used to build and manage the documentary systems are disperse and lack systematization, this study hypothesizes that the notion of structure, when assuming mutual relationships among its elements, promotes more organical systems and assures better quality and consistency in the retrieval of information concerning users` matters. Accordingly, it aims to explore the fundamentals about the records of information and documentary systems, starting from the notion of structure. In order to achieve that, it presents basic concepts and relative matters to documentary systems and information records. Next to this, it lists the theoretical subsides over the notion of structure, studied by Benveniste, Ferrater Mora, Levi-Strauss, Lopes, Penalver Simo, Saussure, apart from Ducrot, Favero and Koch. Appropriations that have already been done by Paul Otlet, Garcia Gutierrez and Moreiro Gonzalez. In Documentation come as a further topic. It concludes that the adopted notion of structure to make explicit a hypothesis of real systematization achieves more organical systems, as well as it grants pedagogical reference to the documentary tasks.

MODELING OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR WINE TRACEABILITY BASED ON A SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE

The purpose is to present a scientific research that led to the modeling of an information system which aimed at the maintenance of traceability data in the Brazilian wine industry, according to the principles of a service-oriented architecture (SOA). Since 2005, traceability data maintenance is an obligation for all producers that intend to export to any European Union country. Also, final customers, including the Brazilian ones, have been asking for information about food products. A solution that collectively contemplated the industry was sought in order to permit that producer consortiums of associations could share the costs and benefits of such a solution. Following an extensive bibliographic review, a series of interviews conducted with Brazilian researchers and wine producers in Bento Goncalves - RS, Brazil, elucidated many aspects associated with the wine production process. Information technology issues related to the theme were also researched. The software was modeled with the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and uses web services for data exchange. A model for the wine production process was also proposed. A functional prototype showed that the adopted model is able to fulfill the demands of wine producers. The good results obtained lead us to consider the use of this model in other domains.

Cultural heritage as a document: transdisciplinary reflections to new horizons in Information Science

The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the issues and actions on the Brazilian cultural heritage and then to discuss contributions as well as relationships that may be established from the principles of Information Science. The first item is concerned with the relationship between heritage and the concept of document, the second relates the documentary processes and the information scientist and finally, an approach of cultural heritage mediation and appropriation is presented.

Synchrotron X-ray imaging via ultra-small-angle scattering: principles of quantitative analysis and application in studying bone integration to synthetic grafting materials

Optimized experimental conditions for extracting accurate information at subpixel length scales from analyzer-based X-ray imaging were obtained and applied to investigate bone regeneration by means of synthetic beta-TCP grafting materials in a rat calvaria model. The results showed a 30% growth in the particulate size due to bone ongrowth/ingrowth within the critical size defect over a 1-month healing period.

Orbital-polarization terms: From a phenomenological to a first-principles description of orbital magnetism in density-functional theory

Phenomenological orbital-polarizition (OP) terms have been repeatedly introduced in the single-particle equations of spin-density-functional theory, in order to improve the description of orbital magnetic moments in systems containing transition metal ions. Here we show that these ad hoc corrections can be interpreted as approximations to the exchange-correlation vector potential A(xc) of current-density functional theory (CDFT). This connection provides additional information on both approaches: phenomenological OP terms are connected to first-principles theory, leading to a rationale for their empirical success and a reassessment of their limitations and the approximations made in their derivation. Conversely, the connection of OP terms with CDFT leads to a set of simple approximations to the CDFT potential A(xc), with a number of desirable features that are absent from electron-gas-based functionals. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Intelig��ncia artificial aplicada �� Zootecnia

Os sistemas biol��gicos s��o surpreendentemente flex��veis pra processar informa����o proveniente do mundo real. Alguns organismos biol��gicos possuem uma unidade central de processamento denominada de c��rebro. O c��rebro humano consiste de 10(11) neur��nios e realiza processamento inteligente de forma exata e subjetiva. A Intelig��ncia Artificial (IA) tenta trazer para o mundo da computa����o digital a heur��stica dos sistemas biol��gicos de v��rias maneiras, mas, ainda resta muito para que isso seja concretizado. No entanto, algumas t��cnicas como Redes neurais artificiais e l��gica fuzzy tem mostrado efetivas para resolver problemas complexos usando a heur��stica dos sistemas biol��gicos. Recentemente o numero de aplica����o dos m��todos da IA em sistemas zoot��cnicos tem aumentado significativamente. O objetivo deste artigo �� explicar os princ��pios b��sicos da resolu����o de problemas usando heur��stica e demonstrar como a IA pode ser aplicada para construir um sistema especialista para resolver problemas na ��rea de zootecnia.

O ��bito e sua investiga����o: reflex��es sobre alguns aspectos relevantes

O artigo aborda quest��es relativas ao ��bito e sua investiga����o como elementos importantes para a Epidemiologia e a Sa��de P��blica. Ressalta aspectos ligados �� melhoria da sua qualidade e da vigil��ncia, bem como da pesquisa cient��fica/epidemiol��gica nessa ��rea, vistos sob a ��ptica da legisla����o e das normas ��ticas existentes no Brasil. Discute o problema relativo, a saber, "a quem pertence a informa����o em sa��de e quais os limites de sua utiliza����o", tratando, inclusive, da possibilidade do uso de bancos de dados identificados. Conclui sugerindo meios h��beis, como "Termo de Responsabilidade e Confidencialidade" por parte do pesquisador, para que a pesquisa cient��fica/epidemiol��gica possa ter continuidade no pa��s, com agilidade e oportunidade.

Gerenciamento participativo em sa��de do trabalhador: uma experi��ncia na atividade de controle de vetores

Este artigo apresenta a experi��ncia de implanta����o de um sistema de gest��o em Sa��de do Trabalhador implantado na Superintendencia de Controle de Endemias (SUCEN), no per��odo de 1998 a 2002, que operava na atividade de controle qu��mico de vetores no Estado de S��o Paulo. OBJETIVO: Descrever o sistema de gest��o participativa, as a����es desenvolvidas e os principais resultados alcan��ados. M��TODO: Relato da experi��ncia vivenciada pela equipe usando abordagem qualitativa, an��lise de documentos e apresenta����o de dados quantitativos. RESULTADOS: Foram eleitas 11 Comiss��es de Sa��de e Trabalho (COMSAT's) que em conjunto com a equipe t��cnica iniciaram a identifica����o dos riscos e de propostas para preven����o e controle dos riscos no trabalho. O mapeamento de riscos resultou em 650 recomenda����es, 45,7% das quais foram executadas. Foram identificadas como doen��as relacionadas ao trabalho: rea����es al��rgicas aos pesticidas, les��es por esfor��os repetitivos, dist��rbios auditivos e patologias de coluna vertebral. Participaram dos cursos b��sicos de sa��de do trabalhador 1.003 servidores (76,3% do total de servidores), sendo que 90,8% dos participantes os consideraram ��timos ou bons. CONCLUS��ES: O sistema de gerenciamento participativo coloca em pr��tica os princ��pios de gest��o democr��tica do Sistema ��nico de Sa��de (SUS); incorpora, por meio do mapeamento de riscos, o saber do trabalhador; inclui os trabalhadores como sujeitos do processo de negocia����o e mudan��as; pratica o direito �� informa����o. As COMSAT's revelaram-se espa��os adequados para a negocia����o das melhorias nas condi����es de trabalho. A aprova����o do sistema de gest��o culminou na valida����o legal por meio de um acordo tripartite assinado em mar��o de 2002.

Bioeticistas brasileiros e os princ��pios da universalidade e da integralidade no SUS

OBJETIVO: Compreender os sentidos que bioeticistas brasileiros atribuem aos princ��pios da universalidade e da integralidade no sistema p��blico de sa��de brasileiro. PROCEDIMENTOS METODOL��GICOS: Estudo explorat��rio qualitativo, realizado com 20 professores universit��rios de bio��tica atuantes no campo das ci��ncias da sa��de, com fun����es de diretores e ex-diretores da Sociedade Brasileira de Bio��tica e de diretorias regionais, no per��odo de julho de 2007 a julho de 2008. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas, com perguntas abertas, sendo realizada an��lise de conte��do. AN��LISE DE RESULTADOS: Quanto ao princ��pio da universalidade de acesso dos cidad��os brasileiros a um sistema p��blico, as manifesta����es dos entrevistados se posicionaram majoritariamente em prol de sua manuten����o. Todavia, quanto ao princ��pio da integralidade, as diverg��ncias foram manifestas, ensejando a maioria em restringi-lo. CONCLUS��ES: Os bioeticistas relatam pluralismo de valores morais e dificuldades em decidir moralmente sobre o que seria um sistema de sa��de justo

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Assessing Dental Health

The present study investigated the distribution profile of dental caries and its association with areas of social deprivation at the individual and contextual level. The cluster sample consisted of 1,002 12-year-old schoolchildren from Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. The DMFT Index was used for dental caries and the Care Index was used to determine access to dental services. On the individual level, variables were associated with a better oral status. On the contextual level, areas were not associated with oral status. However, maps enabled determining that the central districts have better social and oral conditions than the deprived outlying districts.

First Report on Rotenoids as Neurotoxic Principles of Seeds from Aeschynomene indica (Leguminosae)

Toxic principles from seeds of Aeschynomene indica collected in Brazil were analyzed. Dalpanol, 12 alpha-hydroxydalpanol and 11-hydroxydalpanol were identified using (1)H NMR in A. indica for the first time. 11-hydroxydalpanol has not been previously reported in the existing literature. Furthermore these rotenoids are likely the toxic principles that cause neurological signs in mice.

Singing in the Rain Forest: How a Tropical Bird Song Transfers Information

How information transmission processes between individuals are shaped by natural selection is a key question for the understanding of the evolution of acoustic communication systems. Environmental acoustics predict that signal structure will differ depending on general features of the habitat. Social features, like individual spacing and mating behavior, may also be important for the design of communication. Here we present the first experimental study investigating how a tropical rainforest bird, the white-browed warbler Basileuterus leucoblepharus, extracts various information from a received song: species-specific identity, individual identity and location of the sender. Species-specific information is encoded in a resistant acoustic feature and is thus a public signal helping males to reach a wide audience. Conversely, individual identity is supported by song features susceptible to propagation: this private signal is reserved for neighbors. Finally, the receivers can locate the singers by using propagation-induced song modifications. Thus, this communication system is well matched to the acoustic constraints of the rain forest and to the ecological requirements of the species. Our results emphasize that, in a constraining acoustic environment, the efficiency of a sound communication system results from a coding/decoding process particularly well tuned to the acoustic properties of this environment.

AMBIVALENT IMPLICATIONS OF HEALTH CARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS: A STUDY IN THE BRAZILIAN PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

This article evaluates social implications of the ""SIGA"" Health Care Information System (HIS) in a public health care organization in the city of Sao Paulo. The evaluation was performed by means of an in-depth case study with patients and staff of a public health care organization, using qualitative and quantitative data. On the one hand, the system had consequences perceived as positive such as improved convenience and democratization of specialized treatment for patients and improvements in work organization. On the other hand, negative outcomes were reported, like difficulties faced by employees due to little familiarity with IT and an increase in the time needed to schedule appointments. Results show the ambiguity of the implications of HIS in developing countries, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced view of the evaluation of failures and successes and the importance of social contextual factors.

Cloud condensation nuclei in pristine tropical rainforest air of Amazonia: size-resolved measurements and modeling of atmospheric aerosol composition and CCN activity

Atmospheric aerosol particles serving as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) are key elements of the hydrological cycle and climate. We have measured and characterized CCN at water vapor supersaturations in the range of S=0.10-0.82% in pristine tropical rainforest air during the AMAZE-08 campaign in central Amazonia. The effective hygroscopicity parameters describing the influence of chemical composition on the CCN activity of aerosol particles varied in the range of kappa approximate to 0.1-0.4 (0.16+/-0.06 arithmetic mean and standard deviation). The overall median value of kappa approximate to 0.15 was by a factor of two lower than the values typically observed for continental aerosols in other regions of the world. Aitken mode particles were less hygroscopic than accumulation mode particles (kappa approximate to 0.1 at D approximate to 50 nm; kappa approximate to 0.2 at D approximate to 200 nm), which is in agreement with earlier hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (H-TDMA) studies. The CCN measurement results are consistent with aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) data, showing that the organic mass fraction (f(org)) was on average as high as similar to 90% in the Aitken mode (D <= 100 nm) and decreased with increasing particle diameter in the accumulation mode (similar to 80% at D approximate to 200 nm). The kappa values exhibited a negative linear correlation with f(org) (R(2)=0.81), and extrapolation yielded the following effective hygroscopicity parameters for organic and inorganic particle components: kappa(org)approximate to 0.1 which can be regarded as the effective hygroscopicity of biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and kappa(inorg)approximate to 0.6 which is characteristic for ammonium sulfate and related salts. Both the size dependence and the temporal variability of effective particle hygroscopicity could be parameterized as a function of AMS-based organic and inorganic mass fractions (kappa(p)=kappa(org) x f(org)+kappa(inorg) x f(inorg)). The CCN number concentrations predicted with kappa(p) were in fair agreement with the measurement results (similar to 20% average deviation). The median CCN number concentrations at S=0.1-0.82% ranged from N(CCN,0.10)approximate to 35 cm(-3) to N(CCN,0.82)approximate to 160 cm(-3), the median concentration of aerosol particles larger than 30 nm was N(CN,30)approximate to 200 cm(-3), and the corresponding integral CCN efficiencies were in the range of N(CCN,0.10/NCN,30)approximate to 0.1 to N(CCN,0.82/NCN,30)approximate to 0.8. Although the number concentrations and hygroscopicity parameters were much lower in pristine rainforest air, the integral CCN efficiencies observed were similar to those in highly polluted megacity air. Moreover, model calculations of N(CCN,S) assuming an approximate global average value of kappa approximate to 0.3 for continental aerosols led to systematic overpredictions, but the average deviations exceeded similar to 50% only at low water vapor supersaturation (0.1%) and low particle number concentrations (<= 100 cm(-3)). Model calculations assuming aconstant aerosol size distribution led to higher average deviations at all investigated levels of supersaturation: similar to 60% for the campaign average distribution and similar to 1600% for a generic remote continental size distribution. These findings confirm earlier studies suggesting that aerosol particle number and size are the major predictors for the variability of the CCN concentration in continental boundary layer air, followed by particle composition and hygroscopicity as relatively minor modulators. Depending on the required and applicable level of detail, the information and parameterizations presented in this paper should enable efficient description of the CCN properties of pristine tropical rainforest aerosols of Amazonia in detailed process models as well as in large-scale atmospheric and climate models.