Aspectos da biologia reprodutiva de Eretmochelys imbricata (testudines, cheloniidae) no litoral sul do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Female hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting along the southeastcoastline of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil (6º13'40"S, 35º03'05"W) were captured and weighed during the four months from January to April 2007, in the course of the annual egglaying season, which extended from 06 rd November 2006 to 30 rd May 2007. In all, 99 weight measurements were performed. On first contact the females exhibited an average post-oviposition weight of 79.1 kg (range 56.2-98.9 kg, SD = 10.9 kg, n = 44 females). Those individuals which were subsequently recaptured showed a mean weight loss of 1.7 kg (range 0.7-4.5 kg, SD = 1.0 kg, n = 39 sets of measurements on 20 females) in the interval between two consecutive post-ovipositions, separated by a maximum time interval of 17 days. In the cases where the female aborted the nesting process, the pre-oviposition weight was measured. The clutch weight, that is to say, the weight loss between consecutive pre-oviposition and post-oviposition measurements (separated by a maximum time interval of 3 days), was found to be 5.2 kg (range 4.3-6.0 kg, SD = 0.9 kg, n = 6 sets of measurements). This value is significantly higher (t-test, p<0.001) than the loss between two consecutive post-oviposition measurements with the same female. The mean recovery in body weight, that is to say, the average gain in weight between successive post-oviposition and pre-oviposition captures of the same individual (separated by a time interval of 12 to 17 days), was found to be 3.0 kg (range 1.9-4.3 kg, SD = 1.0 kg, n = 4 sets of measurements) Although the small sample size makes it unwise to generalise, the recovery in body weight was found to be always significantly lower (t-test, p<0.005) than the clutch weight. This fact is in agreement with the observed weight loss tendency throughout the breeding season for this species. Considering the clutch weight and the internidal recovery in body weight we found that the total weight loss of the adult hawksbill females after three to five nesting events varied from 10.4% (range 8.7-11.9%, SD = 1.6%, n = 3) to 14.1% (range 11.8-15.4%, SD = 1.3%, n = 6) in relation to their initial pre-oviposition weight. If there were no body weight recovery during the internesting interval we estimate that a female that nests three to five times in the course of the season would lose from 19% to 31% of its initial weight. We emphasise that our clutch weight estimate was performed by weighing the females and not by multiplying the number of eggs in the nest by their average unit weight. In this way, our measurements take into account the loss of liquid during the oviposition. Despite the unequivocal evidence of body weight recovery during the internidal interval, it is not clear if the cause of this process is rehydration or feeding

Análise da Expressão de APE1 após Estresse Oxidativo Induzido em Células Proficientes e Deficientes na Via de Reparo por Excisão de Nucleotídeos

Riboflavin is a vitamin very important in aerobic organisms, as a precursor of many coenzymes involved in the electron transporter chain. However, after photosensitization of riboflavin with UV or visible light, it generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can oxidize the DNA. The repair of oxidative lesions on DNA occurs through the base excision repair pathway (BER), where APE1 endonuclease plays a central role. On the other hand, the nucleotide excision repair pathway (NER) repairs helix-distorting lesions. Recently, it was described the participation of NERproteins in the repair of oxidative damage and in stimulation of repair function fromAPE1. The aim of this research was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of photosensitized riboflavin (RF*) in cells proficient and deficient in NER, correlating with APE1 expression. For this propose, the cells were treated with RF* and it was performed the cell viability assay, extraction of whole proteins, cells fractionation, immunoblotting, indirect immunofluorescence and analysis of polymorphisms of BER gens. The results evidenced that cells deficient in XPA and CSB proteins were more sensitive to RF*. However, XPC-deficient cells presented similar resistance to MRC5- SV cells, which is proficient in NER. These results indicate that XPA and CSB proteins have an important role on repair of oxidative lesions induced by RF*. Additionally, it was evidenced that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in BER enzymes may influence in sensitivity of NER-deficient cell lines. Concerning the APE1 expression, the results showed that expression of this protein after treatment with RF* only changed in XPC-deficient cells. Though, it was observed that APE1 is recruited and is bound to chromatin in MRC5-SV and XPA cells after treatment with RF*. The results also showed the induction of DNA damage after treatment with RF*, through the analysis of-H2AX, since the treatment promoted an increase of endogenous levels of this phosphorylated protein, which acts signaling double strand-break on DNA. On the other hand, in XPC-deficient cells, regardless of resistance of RF*, the endogenous levels of APE1 are extremely reduced when compared with other cell lines and APE1 is not bound to chromatin after treatment with RF*. These results conclude that RF* was able to induce cell death in NERdeficient cells, where XPA and CSB cells were more sensitive when compared with MRC5-SV and XPC-deficient cells. This last result is potentially very interesting, since XPC-deficient cell line presents low levels of APE1. Additionally, the results evidenced that APE1 protein can be involved in the repair of oxidative damage induced by RF*, because APE1 is recruited and bound strongly to chromatin after treatment.

Biologia reprodutiva da |Tainha, Mugil curema valencientes, 1836 (osteichthyes: mugilidade) nas águas costeiras do Rio Grande do Norte

The marine fish white mullet, Mugil curema Valenciennes, 1836 (Osteichthyes: Mugilidae) exhibits a wide geographical distribution, being common in the Brazilian coast and is an important component of the artisanal fisheries. The objective of this study was to investigate the reproductive biology of M. curema in the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte. Fish samples were captured on a monthly basis during August, 2008 to July, 2009. The fish specimens were numbered, weighed, measured, dissected and their gonads were removed, weighed, their sex and gonadal development were identified. The length-weight relationship was determined for males and females. The sex ratio, the size at first gonadal maturation and gonadosomatic index (GSI) were calculated and ovarian development was investigated using macroscopic and histological techniques. The fecundity, spawning type and the reproductive period of the species were determined. A total of 366 specimens (186 males and 180 females) were captured. The sex ratio was 1:1 and the females were heavier than males. The estimated values of the angular coefficient for both sexes suggest that the species has isometric growth. The size at which 50% of the population began the process of maturation was 25.9 cm of total length for grouped sex. The macroscopic characteristics of the ovaries showed four stages of development: immature, maturing, mature and spent. However, the microscopic characteristics of the ovaries showed five stages of development: immature, early maturing, late maturing, mature and spent. The development of oocytes indicated five phases: Chromatin-nucleolus (phase I), initial perinucleolar (phase II), final perinuclear (phase II), formation of vitelline vesicle or yolk (phase III), vitellogenic (phase IV) and complete vitellogenesis (phase V). The species has a prolonged spawning period, with two peaks coinciding with the rainy season.

Biologia alimentar e morfohistologia do tubo digestório do mussum, synbranchus marmoratus, bloch (osteichthyes: synbranchidae) no açude Marechal Dutra Gargalheiras , localizado no semi-árido brasileiro

Food habits and morpho-histology of the digestive tract of marbled swamp eel, Synbranchus marmoratus (Block, 1917) were investigated. The fish samples were captured during August, 2007 to July, 2008 in the Marechal Dutra reservoir, Acari, Rio Grande do Norte. The rain fall data was obtained from EMPARN. The fish captured, were measured, weighed, dissected, eviscerated and individual stomach weights were registered. The stomach contents analyses were carried out based on volumetric method, points, frequency of occurrence and applying the Index of Relative Importance. The degrees of repletion of the stomachs were determined besides the Index of Repletion relating to feeding activity variations and frequency of ingestion during the rainy and dry seasons. The rainfall varied from 0 mm a 335 mm with a mean value of 71.62 mm. Highest rainfall of 335.5 mm was registered in March, 2008 and August to December was the dry period. During the dry period the study species presented high degrees of repletion of the stomachs, with a peak value in the month of September (mean = 4.54; ± SD = 0.56). The minimum mean value of = 3.99 ± SD = 0.25 was registered in the month of May during the rainy period. The stomach contents of S. marmoratus registered show that this fish prefers animals, 78.22% of crustaceans 2.85% of mollusks, 3.25% of fish, 1.4% of insects and 13.5% of semi-digested organic matter, thus characterizing the study species as a carnivore with a preference for crustaceans. The morpho-histological aspects of the digestive tract of S. marmoratus indicate that the mouth is terminal adapted to open widely, thin lips with taste buds, small villiform teeth forming a single series on maxillas, four pairs of branchial arches with short and widely spaced branchial rays. The oesophagus is short and cylindrical with a small diameter. The oesophagus wall is thick with mucas surface and internal parallel folds. The stomach is retilinical in form, presenting cardiac, caecal and pyloric portions. The caecal portion is long and is intermediary in position between the cardiac and pyloric portions. The cardiac portion of the stomach is short and cylindrical formed of simple epithelial cylindrical mucus cells. The caecal portion is long with narrow walls, a big cavity and smaller folds which give rise to gastric glands. The phyloric portion has no glands and primary or secondary mucas folds. The morphohistological aspects of the digestive tract of S. marmoratus indicate its adaptation to a carnivorous feeding habit

Proteômica comparativa de linhagens celulares humanas expostas a estresse oxidativo induzido por riboflavina fotossensibilizada

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are continuously generated and can be derived from cellular metabolism or induced by exogenous factors, in addition, have the capacity to damage molecules like DNA and proteins. BER is considered the main route of DNA damage oxidative repair, however, several studies have demonstrated the importance of the proteins participation of other ways to correct these injuries. NER enzymes deficiency, such as CSB and XPC, acting in the damage recognition step in the two subways this system influences the effectiveness of oxidative damage repair. However, the mechanisms by which cells deficient in these enzymes respond to oxidative stress and its consequences still need to be better understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to perform a proteomic analysis of cell lines proficient and deficient in NER, exposed to oxidative stress, in order to identify proteins involved, directly or not, in response to oxidative stress and DNA repair. For this, three strains of human fibroblasts, MRC5-SV, CS1AN (CSBdeficient) and XP4PA (XPC-deficient) were treated with photosensitized riboflavin and then carried out the differentially expressed proteins identification by mass spectrometry. From the results, it was observed in MRC5-SV increase expression in most of the proteins involved in cellular defense, an expected response to a normal cell line subjected to stress. CS1AN showed a response disjointed, it is not possible to establish many interactions between the proteins identified, may be one explanation for their sensitivity to treatment with riboflavin and other oxidants and increased cell death probably by induction of pro-apoptotic pathways. Already XP4PA showed higher expression of apoptosis-blocking proteins, as there was inhibition or reduced expression of others involved with the activation of this process, suggesting the activation of an anti-apoptotic mechanism in this lineage, which may help explain the high susceptibility to develop cancers in XPC individuals. These results also contribute to elucidate action mechanisms of NER in oxidative damage and the understanding of important routes in the oxidative stress correlation, repair and malignant tumors formation

Tartarugas marinhas da Bacia Potiguar/RN: diagnóstico, biologia alimentar e ameaças

This work aimed to study the diversity and distribution of marine sea turtles stranded in Potiguar Basin, Rio Grande do Norte, as well as aspects related to feeding behavior associated with human impacts. The study was conducted through the analysis of data from stranded animals, recorded in a daily monitoring in an area bounded on the north by the municipality of Aquiraz, in the state of Ceará, and the east by the municipality of Caicara do Norte, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Stranded dead animals were necropsied and for the analysis of the diet of animals, esophagus, stomach and intestines were fixed in 10% formalin and after that, the stomach contents were sorted and stored in 70% alcohol. Representative fragments of these organs were removed for making histological slides, with a view to histological characterization of the digestive tract. 2.046 occurrences of turtles were recorded during the period from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2012. The Chelonia mydas species showed the highest number of records and it was observed in 66.81 % (N = 1,367) of cases; followed by Eretmochelys imbricata with 4.45 % (N = 91) and by Lepidochelys olivacea with 1.22% (N = 25). The Caretta caretta and Dermochelys coriacea species were, respectively, 0.93 % (N = 19) and 0.05 % (N = 1) records of strandings. In 26.54 % of cases, it was not possible to identify the species. Regarding the spatial distribution, the stretch A was the one that had the highest number of strandings and a larger number of records were registered in the warm months of the year. The dietary analysis showed that C. mydas fed preferentially on algae; C. caretta had a diet with a predominance of the item "coral´s fragments" and E. imbricata species showed preference for an animal origin material. Related to this anthropic interaction, 57.14 % (n = 76) of animals that died at the rehabilitation s base, showed cause of death due to complications from ingesting debris. According to the data presented, the Potiguar Basin presents itself as an area with important diversity and distribution of marine sea turtle as well is characterized as a feeding and nidification area for these species

Morte como desafio afetivo para o profissional da saúde: ansiedade e sentimentos de quem lida com o paciente terminal com câncer

It is a Cross-sectional and multi-disciplinary study whose population selection was made by department of human resources (composed by a Manager, an Oncologist and a Psychologist) from the hospital where this research was realized. They also collaborated with important information about the work of that professionals in the hospital. We also counted on a Statistic who made study design calculating the sample and analyzing data. This research issued Evaluating health professionals anxiety levels who care for cancer terminally ill and their feelings about that work as well as identifying the factors which have influence on it. 100 health professionals from the Hospital which is a reference on cancer caring in Brazil situated in the city of Natal, state of Rio Grande do Norte, participated of this research. There was a sample loss of 21%. Data were collected through a questionnaire and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results showed that 15% of the professionals have low State Anxiety levels, 70% Medium State Anxiety levels and 15% high State anxiety levels. The Number of Patients and Working in another Institution have interfered in the anxiety levels. Doctors and Nursing Assistants and Technicians have got the highest high State Anxiety percentage (25%). 73% of them declare to feel some sort of different behavior and/or feelings in caring for terminally ill. The most remarkable professionals feelings were Suffering and Sadness, and Terminally ill Children was the most difficult age group to care for. We conclude that work overload and having more than one job can interfere in professional stress levels and anxiety. Dealing with terminally ill, specially children one, can cause on the professionals psychological suffering. It s recommended the development of supporting and training strategies to reduce and/or to prevent Stress and Anxiety high levels

O erotismo mítico da ninfeta

This dissertation establishes a viewpoint in the Social Cience Field of the Nymphs image in the romanesque construction of the twentieth century based in modern archaeology. Our literary corpus is constitututed by the book of the russian author callled Wladimir Nabokov entlited Lolita and the book Presença de Anita, from a brazilian author called Mario Donato. Both works had a singular repercussion involving an erotic conception wich was faced as pornographic and baffling. We appeal to Georges Bataille‟s and Foucault‟s discussion in order to observe it through an erotic viewpoint from an inner experience not submitted to normalizations. Such experiences provoke a feeling of something unknown and it reflects wild singularities proposed by Foucault and related with many misunderstanding things presented in institutions and cultures. Furthemore Bataille‟s conception about erotism will give us conditions to analyze nymphs‟ bodies in order to see themselves from their main characteristics, such as seduction and tempting and maligning forces. We still aim to focus the paradigm of mankind and nature in the direction presented by Edgar Morin. He analyzes some feelings that nymphs provoke and their relation between men and death. In adittion, we present in this issue some questions between culture and biology, focusing on the initial period of larva (wich means the beggining), bringing up what is ready to be born, a mythical and significant body shown in the media. Lolita in the cinema and A Presença de Anita in the TV was disturbing in society and it projected the possibility of a syntaxes of desire. It can has a symbolic purpose or it can be a kind of social and cultural phenomenon, wich is an object of representation. Our purpose is to immersion/emerge in the Nimphs‟s body with adventure and its risks at the same time in wich we are crossing frontiers

Desejo, preconceito e morte: assassinatos de LGBT em Segipe 1980 a 2010

This study examines the phenomenon of the murders of LGBT in Sergipe, between 1980 and 2010. Data were collected from newspapers, police, and judicial proceedings in the Courts with family members and friends of victims. The data show that despite the existence of death for involvement with drugs (crack), crimes of passion, among others, homophobia is one of its most characteristic elements. The victim profile also differs greatly from the aggressor, while the first is made up of individuals aged 25 to 44 years, the offender is between 15 and 29 years. Added to this the sensationalism of the press, the limits of police and justice in dealing with such events. The results seem to be forgetting some of the cases that do not reach the jury. It is an extensive study that combines statistical and qualitative data with a view to offering a closer look at the issue. The result is a mapping of brutal crimes, which, in part, has homophobia as the primary cause for its implementation

Biologia populacional comparada de duas espécies de heliconius (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) em um ambiente sazonal de floresta atlântica do nordeste brasileiro

Tropical environments often face strong seasonal variations in climate, such as alternate periods of dry and rain, that may often be important influence in the annual X the organisms lives. Here we assess how population dynamics of two butterfly species (Heliconius erato and Heliconius mepomene) respond to environmental and seasonal variations. A mark-release-recapture study carried out in an Atlantic forest reserve, 15 Km from Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, for 3 years, during the dry and rainy season, with three visits weekly done. Information such as species, wing lenght, site of capture, pollen load and phenotype (number of spots) (in H. erato only) were noted for each capture. Seasonal variation exists in capture rates of the two species, with great capture rates during the rainy season. Despite finding differences in the mean density of individuals of the two species among the different collection areas, this difference was only significant between floodplain and central areas, and no influence of seasonality was observed in the mean density between the areas. Seasonality in wing size was only observed for H. erato, with larger wings during the rainy season. Females carried larger pollen loads than males both species, but species were similar. Only males differed seasonally, with larger pollen loads during the rainy season. The distribution of the number of wing spots did not vary between the dry and rainy seasons, and the number of spots in males and females was similar. Therefore, we conclude that there was a strong influence of seasonal variation in the population dynamic of the two Heliconius species, as well as in several aspects of their biology

Dificuldades na aprendizagem dos conteúdos de Biologia: evidências a partir das Provas de Múltipla Escolha do Vestibular da UFRN (2001-2008)

Los estudios cerca de las dificultades en el aprendizaje del contenido de la biología han sido foco de la investigación diversa que si ten corido a partir de la década de setenta del siglo pasado, en consecuencia al movimiento de las concepciones alternativas (MCA). El estudio que se presenta, se atan con el Departamento de Educação da UFRN - Base de Pesquisa Formação e Profissionalização Docente, como parte do projeto de pesquisa - A passagem do Ensino Médio a UFRN: estudos sobre o acesso, a permanência e a qualidade do Ensino Médio. Los objetivos de esto investigación, habían consistido en el identificar del contenido explorado en las cuestiones de las Pruebas de la opción múltiple del Vestibular de UFRN para el cual los candidatos habían demostrado dificultad en el aprendizaje; para analizar si el contextualização de la pregunta y la presencia de elementos no-literales que habían influenciado en el aumento de la dificultad de la pregunta e identificar los errores más frecuentemente por los candidatos en estas pruebas. La tesis si configura en dos dimensiones: 1 - El contenido explorado en las Pruebas del Vestibular de la UFRN si distribuya uniformemente a través de los años; sendo priorizados procedimentos que exigem demanda cognitiva diversificadas na solução de problemas; 2- Nessas provas, os resultados dos candidatos, en relación con el Índice de Aproveitamento, indican la existencia de áreas en las quales hay déficit del aprendizaje; qué envolucran las dificultades en aprender el contenido. Los datos de la investigación habían sido recogidos al partir de las pruebas de la biología y de la inicial abstracta selectiva de los informes proveído para el COMPERVE/UFRN, del último los ocho años (2001-2008). En la dirección alcanzar a los objetivos considerados para este estudio, contenta había sido construido a las categorías del análisis - (temas, subtemas y procedimientos); índice de aproveitamento; contextualização de la pregunta; estructura de la pregunta y el error. Los resultados, qué si configurán de los análisis de las ocho pruebas del vestibular de la UFRN y los sesenta y cientos envolvement mil, seiscientos y sesenta y cinco candidatos que le habían contestado; demuestran eso: los temas y los subtemas de la biología para los cuales las dificultades en aprender si está tenido divulgado sea - genética (hibridismo; fenótipo y genotipo; Leyes de Mendel), biotecnología (transgênicos; célula-tronco) y citología (química de la vida; división celular; membranas) y los procedimientos - identificar, analizar la situación y aplicar concepto, para correlacionar y para interpretar el gráfico; los quais não exigem uma alta demanda cognitiva na solução dos problemas. La presencía de situações contextualizadas e de gráficos en las questiones de las pruebas influenciou en el aumento dos niveles dificuldade da of questão para a maioria dos candidatos, reiterando as of dificuldades of observadas na of aprendizagem dos procedimentos. Los errores principales cometidos para los candidatos habían consistido en no reconocimiento del estándar de la herencia del gênica - mendelian y después de-Mendel; no del reconocimiento de los acontecimientos de la división celular y de las técnicas en biotecnología. Éstos habían reflejado las dificultades en aprender del contenido para algún contenido y en otros sugieren que tuviera la expresión de los conceptos alternativos que los estudiantes construyen en los conceptos. Los resultados señalan la necesidad de una revisión de las preguntas inherentes didácticas-metodológicas a la educación del contenido para las cuales las dificultades en aprender si hay tenido presentado

O conceito de morte: significações de professoras dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental

Cette étude appartient à l un des principaux défis de l éducation dans l actualité qui est la production de connaissances concernant la mort comme objet d investigation théorique et empirique dans le domaine éducationnel. Des recherches récentes signalent le besoin d une éducation contemplant des études sur la mort et montrent l école tel qu un lieu de débats et reflexions à propos de ce thème. Cette reflexion est relevante et fondamentale, étant donné que la mort fait partie du cycle de la vie et se trouve présente dans les contenus scolaires des différents domaines de la connaissance. Ce travail a, donc, l objectif d analyser les signification attribués à ce concept mort et la relation qui s établit entre eux et la pratique des professeurs de l enseignement fondamental. Il adopte en tant que référentiel les principes de la recherche qualitative du type étnographique (André, Chizzotti et Meksenas), dans une approche socio-historique et en ce qui concerne la formation et le développement des concepts (Vygotsky, Kopnin, Guetamanova et Ferreira). La participation des professeurs a été faite par l observation participante, registres en cahier de bord et application d un instrument de construction de données pour l appréhension des significations attribués aux concepts qui sont à la base de la pratique de cinq enseignantes des premières séries de l Enseignement Fondamental d une école publique du réseau d enseignement de l État du Rio Grande do Norte située dans la Zone Sud de Natal. De ce fait, les analyses et les interprétations des observations de la pratique dans la salle de classe et des réponses aux quinze questions liées au thème ont permis de construire les significations des concepts qui appuient les pratiques enseignantes de ces professeurs, tout en mettant en relief la fragmentation et la désarticulation entre les expressions décrites dans les questionnaires et les pratiques développées en salle de clase. Ces reflexions mettent en évidence la nécessité de re-penser l articulation entre l énnoncé et la pratique des professeurs à propos de cette thématique au cours d une formation initiale et continue

Sentimentos de profissionais de enfermagem diante da morte de recém-nascidos em uma unidade de terapia intensiva

To understand the feelings of nursing professionals when faced with the death of newborn babies in an intensive care unit is the purpose of this investigation. Motivation was triggered by the countless hardships we go through everyday, as professionals, and the scarcity of publications in this specific area of knowledge. The aim is to describe the experience of the nursing professionals and identify their feelings when faced with the death of newborn babies in an intensive care unit. As a methodological procedure, this research is based on a qualitative, phenomenology-focused approach and on the following leading question addressed to the interviewed nurses and nursing technicians who work at the unit: How do you feel when you are faced with the death of a newborn baby in the ICU at which you work? Answers to this question on such phenomenon revealed a diversity of feelings, such as, loss, guilt, failure, negation, compassion, and sorrow, coupled with anguish, fear, and anxiety, resulting in an experience of the sensitive world of everyone. Theoretical support to this analysis was based on works by authors who discuss phenomenology, as well as authors who study the theme of death. An understanding of the phenomenon thus studied enables us to affirm that the death of a newborn baby is, for the nursing professional who takes care of the baby in the space of the ICU, an experience of conflicting, sometimes painful feelings, on account of their complexity. This is true not only in respect of their feelings for the baby, but for the family as well, especially the parents

As representações sociais da morte e do processo de morrer para profissionais que trabalham em unidade de terapia intensiva uti

This study aimed to seize the general social representations of doctors and nurses who work in ICUs on the process of death and dying. We also aimed to know the social representations of these professionals in relation to death and the process of dying of people who are under their care, identify factors that influence the construction of these representations and identify similarities and differences between the two professions. The study was conducted from the perspective of the Theory of Social Representations of Serge Moscovici and the Central Nucleus of Jean-Claude Abric. The study was conducted in the Intensive Care Unit of Natal Hospital Center, a private hospital of the city of Natal - Rio Grande do Norte. This is descriptive and exploratory research. Twenty-four (24) professionals were interviewed, twelve (12) nurses and twelve (12) doctors. Data were collected through two instruments: Test of Free Association of Words, semi-structured interview. Later, they were coded, categorized and analyzed according to Content Analysis of Bardin (1977). The words evoked after the use of inducing words - death and dying - and the interviews, led to three thematic categories: Death and dying as a biological event, death and dying as a psychosocial event, death and dying as a transcendental event. As final considerations, we believe that the social representations of the group are translated in death and dying as biological and psychosocial events and anchored in the transcendental aspects, we do not see obvious differences in the testimonies of doctors and nurses , and the factors that interfere the construction of these offices is the culture, including religion

A morte a concepção de estudantes de enfermagem

Understanding the meaning of death for student nurses is the subject of this research. The motivation for the meeting place of my difficulties as a person and especially as a teacher in the face of nursing students in dealing with death on a day-to-day hospital during the undergraduate course. Death became known that this evil looms before men and destabilizing, causing often irreversible mental disorders when faced with family loss. Therefore, it is appropriate to study it the possibility of making us reflect on our way of living life and dealing with human beings from the perspective of finitude. Aimed to understand the meaning of death for nursing students. For this purpose, it was based on the following guiding question: What is the meaning of death for you as a nursing student? From this perspective, the study was developed within a qualitative dimension of the phenomenological approach. To perform ten students were interviewed during the month of July 2009. Emerged from these interviews a variety of feelings such as fear, anxiety, insecurity, failure, sadness, as the sensory experience of each. To understand the meaning units that emerged from the empirical data which constitute the essence of this research were fundamental studies dealing with Heidegger about the death in a phenomenological perspective, as well as authors Bicudo, D'Assunção, Dastur, Morin, Boff, Kübler-Ross, Boemer, among others. From the understanding of the phenomenon, we can say that death produces mixed feelings in these students that lead to selfprotection, understood, often as a departure from the other, at the approach of death. However, it proved to be sensitive and receptive to the approach of death in other dimensions, beyond the highly technical aspects, pointing to a paradigm shift that has the yeast's own willingness to change. In addition, the research highlights the weaknesses in the education of nurses regarding the understanding of the whole human death and the need to overcome them.