Recuperação e purificação de quitosanases usando adsorção em leito expandido com streamline DEAE com modelagem e simulação usando redes neurais

Expanded Bed Adsorption (EBA) is an integrative process that combines concepts of chromatography and fluidization of solids. The many parameters involved and their synergistic effects complicate the optimization of the process. Fortunately, some mathematical tools have been developed in order to guide the investigation of the EBA system. In this work the application of experimental design, phenomenological modeling and artificial neural networks (ANN) in understanding chitosanases adsorption on ion exchange resin Streamline® DEAE have been investigated. The strain Paenibacillus ehimensis NRRL B-23118 was used for chitosanase production. EBA experiments were carried out using a column of 2.6 cm inner diameter with 30.0 cm in height that was coupled to a peristaltic pump. At the bottom of the column there was a distributor of glass beads having a height of 3.0 cm. Assays for residence time distribution (RTD) revelead a high degree of mixing, however, the Richardson-Zaki coefficients showed that the column was on the threshold of stability. Isotherm models fitted the adsorption equilibrium data in the presence of lyotropic salts. The results of experiment design indicated that the ionic strength and superficial velocity are important to the recovery and purity of chitosanases. The molecular mass of the two chitosanases were approximately 23 kDa and 52 kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE. The phenomenological modeling was aimed to describe the operations in batch and column chromatography. The simulations were performed in Microsoft Visual Studio. The kinetic rate constant model set to kinetic curves efficiently under conditions of initial enzyme activity 0.232, 0.142 e 0.079 UA/mL. The simulated breakthrough curves showed some differences with experimental data, especially regarding the slope. Sensitivity tests of the model on the surface velocity, axial dispersion and initial concentration showed agreement with the literature. The neural network was constructed in MATLAB and Neural Network Toolbox. The cross-validation was used to improve the ability of generalization. The parameters of ANN were improved to obtain the settings 6-6 (enzyme activity) and 9-6 (total protein), as well as tansig transfer function and Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm. The neural Carlos Eduardo de Araújo Padilha dezembro/2013 9 networks simulations, including all the steps of cycle, showed good agreement with experimental data, with a correlation coefficient of approximately 0.974. The effects of input variables on profiles of the stages of loading, washing and elution were consistent with the literature

A relação de amizade nas redes sociais de estudantes universitários de Natal/RN

The basis of sociability in humans is based on cooperation. The relationship of friendship is vital to the social, emotional and cognitive development of an individual and can be understood as a consequence of selection for reciprocal altruism in humans. The period of adulthood is considered very suitable and appropriate for the investigation of the relations of friendship, but the Brazilian literature on friendship in adults is still nascent. Therefore, the objective was to characterize the relationship of friendship among college students. The study gathered 500 students from higher education institutions in the city of Natal-RN, Brazil, and 250 women (average age 24.1 ± 7.66 years) and 250 men (mean age 26.77 ± 9.64 years). Two questionnaires anonymously and individual were applied: a sociodemographic questionnaire and the other with the desired characteristics in idealized friends. Study 1 assessed the degree of importance of characteristics in the process of choosing a friend of the same sex and opposite sex of the participant. Study 2 investigated the relationship between patterns of idealization of friends and self-assessment of participants. Overall, were the preferred characteristics "Companionship" and "Sincerity" to idealized friends. We also found the influence of sex on the characteristics attributed to an female ideal friend, with emphasis on men for "Beauty/Good looks" and "Intelligence" and women to "Companionship" and "Sincerity". Finally, we observed a positive correlation between participants' self-assessment and preferences for the characteristics of the friends devised. This study revealed important elements for understanding the relationship of friendship, specifically the process of choosing friends. The results reinforce the importance of studying the relationship of friendship to a better understanding of human social behavior.

Análise de redes do cotidiano a partir do encontro entre usuários e profissionais da estratégia saúde da família

O presente estudo discute a formação de Redes Sociais no cotidiano da Estratégia Saúde da Família, a partir de aportes da teoria sociológica sobre redes, interações, dádiva e reconhecimento. O objetivo geral é analisar as redes sociais locais em saúde a partir da interação de usuários e profissionais da Estratégia Saúde da Família na Unidade de Saúde de Ligéia, em Natal, RN. Seus objetivos específicos são: Mapear as redes sociais locais em saúde existentes no território adscrito; Identificar os tipos de interações cotidianas entre os sujeitos; Compreender a percepção dos sujeitos sobre o processo de formação de redes sociais a partir das interações. Caracteriza-se enquanto pesquisa qualitativa exploratória cujos sujeitos foram profissionais e usuários vinculados à referida unidade de saúde. Para a coleta de dados foram utilizadas entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas e debates em grupos focais, estimulados pela Metodologia de Análise de Redes do Cotidiano (MARES), pertinente para abordar a complexidade das relações sociais e mapear os diferentes conteúdos expressos e as formas de mobilização coletiva. A análise dos dados foi realizada através da Técnica de Análise Temática de Conteúdo, proposta por Minayo. Os resultados foram interpretados à luz das Teorias da Dádiva (Mauss) e do Reconhecimento (Honneth). Os sujeitos visualizaram: Rede Virtual (28,20%); Rede de Atenção à Saúde (25,64%); Redes de Usuários (17,95%); Rede Pessoal (10,26%); Conselho Comunitário (10,26%); Escolas (7,69%). Os participantes não perceberam os arranjos familiares enquanto Redes Sociais. Os tipos de interações sociais identificadas foram: Confrontação/Negociação (41.02%); Harmônicas (25,70%); Correlativas (17,90%); Definidas pela Organização (15,38%). A formação de redes sociais ocorre a partir de interações cotidianas entre pessoas, pela articulação inseparável de conteúdos e formas, catalisadas pelo contexto, experiência e cognição, valorizando a liberdade, a expressividade e a diversidade dos parceiros de significação. Foram encontradas duas categorias, na percepção dos sujeitos, sobre a formação de redes sociais do cotidiano: Diálogo e Encontro. Validamos e recomendamos o uso da metodologia MARES: Na formação, para despertar uma visão mais tolerante e humana de si e do outro; Na avaliação qualitativa dos serviços, por facilitar a reflexão sobre a prática e (re)organização do processo de trabalho; Na comunidade, para estimular movimentos sociais existentes ou emergentes. A aposta no circuito da dádiva e do reconhecimento recíproco, durante o trânsito nas redes sociais em saúde, pode ser capaz de tecer uma práxis transformadora, pela busca e alcance de confiança, respeito e estima, nos espaços de encontro entre usuários e profissionais da Estratégia Saúde da Família

Abordagem dirigida a modelos para redes de sensores sem fio

Research on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) has evolved, with potential applications in several domains. However, the building of WSN applications is hampered by the need of programming in low-level abstractions provided by sensor OS and of specific knowledge about each application domain and each sensor platform. We propose a MDA approach do develop WSN applications. This approach allows domain experts to directly contribute in the developing of applications without needing low level knowledge on WSN platforms and, at the same time, it allows network experts to program WSN nodes to met application requirements without specific knowledge on the application domain. Our approach also promotes the reuse of the developed software artifacts, allowing an application model to be reused across different sensor platforms and a platform model to be reused for different applications

LWiSSy: uma linguagem específica de domínio para modelagem de sistemas de redes de sensores e atuadores sem fio

The field of Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks (WSAN) is fast increasing and has attracted the interest of both the research community and the industry because of several factors, such as the applicability of such networks in different application domains (aviation, civil engineering, medicine, and others). Moreover, advances in wireless communication and the reduction of hardware components size also contributed for a fast spread of these networks. However, there are still several challenges and open issues that need to be tackled in order to achieve the full potential of WSAN usage. The development of WSAN systems is one of the most relevant of these challenges considering the number of variables involved in this process. Currently, a broad range of WSAN platforms and low level programming languages are available to build WSAN systems. Thus, developers need to deal with details of different sensor platforms and low-level programming abstractions of sensor operational systems on one hand, and they also need to have specific (high level) knowledge about the distinct application domains, on the other hand. Therefore, in order to decouple the handling of these two different levels of knowledge, making easier the development process of WSAN systems, we propose LWiSSy (Domain Language for Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks Systems), a domain specific language (DSL) for WSAN. The use of DSLs raises the abstraction level during the programming of systems and modularizes the system building in several steps. Thus, LWiSSy allows the domain experts to directly contribute in the development of WSANs without having knowledge on low level sensor platforms, and network experts to program sensor nodes to meet application requirements without having specific knowledge on the application domain. Additionally, LWiSSy enables the system decomposition in different levels of abstraction according to structural and behavioral features and granularities (network, node group and single node level programming)

Verificação formal automatizada para sistemas de raciocínio procedural (PRS) utilizando redes de petri coloridas (RPC)

Este trabalho apresenta uma técnica de verificação formal de Sistemas de Raciocínio Procedural, PRS (Procedural Reasoning System), uma linguagem de programação que utiliza a abordagem do raciocínio procedural. Esta técnica baseia-se na utilização de regras de conversão entre programas PRS e Redes de Petri Coloridas (RPC). Para isso, são apresentadas regras de conversão de um sub-conjunto bem expressivo da maioria da sintaxe utilizada na linguagem PRS para RPC. A fim de proceder fia verificação formal do programa PRS especificado, uma vez que se disponha da rede de Petri equivalente ao programa PRS, utilizamos o formalismo das RPCs (verificação das propriedades estruturais e comportamentais) para analisarmos formalmente o programa PRS equivalente. Utilizamos uma ferramenta computacional disponível para desenhar, simular e analisar as redes de Petri coloridas geradas. Uma vez que disponhamos das regras de conversão PRS-RPC, podemos ser levados a querer fazer esta conversão de maneira estritamente manual. No entanto, a probabilidade de introdução de erros na conversão é grande, fazendo com que o esforço necessário para garantirmos a corretude da conversão manual seja da mesma ordem de grandeza que a eliminação de eventuais erros diretamente no programa PRS original. Assim, a conversão automatizada é de suma importância para evitar que a conversão manual nos leve a erros indesejáveis, podendo invalidar todo o processo de conversão. A principal contribuição deste trabalho de pesquisa diz respeito ao desenvolvimento de uma técnica de verificação formal automatizada que consiste basicamente em duas etapas distintas, embora inter-relacionadas. A primeira fase diz respeito fias regras de conversão de PRS para RPC. A segunda fase é concernente ao desenvolvimento de um conversor para fazer a transformação de maneira automatizada dos programas PRS para as RPCs. A conversão automática é possível, porque todas as regras de conversão apresentadas seguem leis de formação genéricas, passíveis de serem incluídas em algoritmos

Dinâmicas de reprodução do comércio e os novos papéis urbanos de pequenas cidades norte-rio-grandenses: um olhar a partir das redes associativistas de supermercados

The work presented here aims to make an analysis of the socio-spatial dynamics of associative supermarket chains and their importance in redefining the roles of small urban North Rio Grande cities. The theoretical approach gives priority to business as a city constituent whose understanding allows us to seize the new socio-spatial dynamics of small towns in the face of globalization and which caused changes in the scope of its commercial forms. In this sense, we understand that trade, as an essentially urban activity has a very specific characteristic, with respect to its ability to transform the content and meaning of places. Another important factor in the construction work was the context of changes in the capitalist production system with the advent of flexible production and the determinations of the economic globalization process that brought new ways of organizing trade. The empirical analysis of the research includes two associative supermarket chains, the “Rede 10” and the “Rede Seridó”, bringing together basic elements for understanding the genesis and evolution of this new organizational model of trade in small towns of the state, as well as allowed -In understand the main changes in this segment of commercial activity. The methodology we used literature in books and periodicals, collected mainly secondary data collection with the SEBRAE and the ABRAS and was still a field research where interviews were conducted forwarded along to the associative network managers to supermarkets, owners of associated facilities and with consumers of the surveyed networks .Finally, we conclude that the formation and expansion of associative supermarket chains in the context of small cities potiguares is essentially in a survival alternative traditional small traders, that sharing the associative principles albeit somewhat rigidly guided by the training cooperation networks can not only stay in the market , but to impose as a new agent in the capital of the reproduction process. Thus, the associative supermarket chains in the search for new spaces, particularly within small towns end up promoting new momentum in these cities providing different flows and interconnections with different places, giving new content and urban roles. By taking not only the condition of the place of living, but also the place to reproduce the capital, small towns offer their population better able to make purchases, thus avoiding the mandatory population shifts to other urban centers in order to meet their consumption needs.

Inovações institucionais na pesquisa agrícola na América Latina e no Caribe

PEDRO, Edilson da Silva; SALLES-FILHO, Sergio; MENDES, Paule Jeane. Inovações Institucionais na Pesquisa Agrícola na América Latina e no Caribe. In: SIMPOSIO DE GESTAO DA INOVAÇAO TECNOLOGICA, 24., 2006, Gramado. Anais...Gramado: ANPAD, 2006.

O Uso das Redes Socais no Âmbito das Bibliotecas Universitárias Federais Brasileiras

Aborda a questão das Redes Sociais Virtuais como ferramenta na comunicação e no repasse de informações nas Bibliotecas Universitárias Federais brasileiras. Objetiva analisar o uso das Redes Sociais como recurso estratégico na comunicação e na melhoria de produtos e serviços no ambiente de bibliotecas universitárias brasileiras, observando suas vantagens e dificuldades de manutenção na visão dos profissionais bibliotecários. A metodologia empregada foi a da pesquisa bibliográfica e estudo de caso, utilizando como universo de pesquisa as Bibliotecas Universitárias Federais do Brasil, com observações e aplicação de questionário como instrumento para coleta de dados. Ressalta ao final que o uso das Redes Sociais torna-se relevante na atual sociedade, como também nas Bibliotecas Universitárias, por possibilitar um repasse de informação mais eficiente e uma comunicação mais ativa e participativa em seus ambientes.

Tecendo vivências e sentidos do câncer infantil : família, doença e redes de apoio social em Natal-RN

This paper discusses the experiences related to the treatment of children´s cancer which had children, their mothers and families as their main characters. They were mainly originated from areas in the countryside and urban poor areas in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. The non-governmental organization Grupo de Apoio à Criança com Câncer (GACC) was the privileged ethnographic location. In this setting, the mother, which was called acompanhante (companion), and the children, defined as pacientes (patients), were often sheltered in reason of therapeutic practices and the treatment undertaken by children in a nearby hospital. This study aims to focus on the therapeutic itinerary, beyond the children´s suffering, dealing with the family as a whole, since the moral values from these popular families imply the complete involvement of the family in relation to the illness and its treatment. Therefore, it is experienced as a family problem. We also intend to understand the construction of meanings to the illness, dealing with the ideological continuity in the relationships between the families and the GACC. These meanings were built in the intersection of these two spheres, which refer particularly to medical, religious and emotional explanations. Ethnographic methods were applied in this research at the entity and another social contexts, such as the family households. I also tried to retrieve the process of treatment outside the GACC, visiting the family context, when doing dense interviews or just having conversations with informants. It was found that the GACC, as a non-governmental organization, generates a negotiation of identities, which develops, then, through the family as a whole, but also through the child and especially the mother, affecting, in some way, their internal organization. Furthermore, the meanings of the experience of illness appeared to be shaped by the family sphere as well as by the logic of public health structures

Predição não-linear de curvas de produção de petróleo via redes neurais recursivas

One of the main activities in the petroleum engineering is to estimate the oil production in the existing oil reserves. The calculation of these reserves is crucial to determine the economical feasibility of your explotation. Currently, the petroleum industry is facing problems to analyze production due to the exponentially increasing amount of data provided by the production facilities. Conventional reservoir modeling techniques like numerical reservoir simulation and visualization were well developed and are available. This work proposes intelligent methods, like artificial neural networks, to predict the oil production and compare the results with the ones obtained by the numerical simulation, method quite a lot used in the practice to realization of the oil production prediction behavior. The artificial neural networks will be used due your learning, adaptation and interpolation capabilities

Desenvolvimento de sistemas embarcados para redes de sensores e atuadores sem fio aplicadas em unidades de elevação de petróleo do tipo Plunger-Lift

The Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) methods applied to the lifting of oil present as an area with growing demand technical and scientific in view of the optimizations that can be carried forward with existing processes. This dissertation has as main objective to present the development of embedded systems dedicated to a wireless sensor network based on IEEE 802.15.4, which applies the ZigBee protocol, between sensors, actuators and the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), aiming to solve the present problems in the deployment and maintenance of the physical communication of current elevation oil units based on the method Plunger-Lift. Embedded systems developed for this application will be responsible for acquiring information from sensors and control actuators of the devices present at the well, and also, using the Modbus protocol to make this network becomes transparent to the PLC responsible for controlling the production and delivery information for supervisory SISAL

Um sistema para a inferência de variáveis usando redes neurais artificiais

This work aims to obtain a low-cost virtual sensor to estimate the quality of LPG. For the acquisition of data from a distillation tower, software HYSYS ® was used to simulate chemical processes. These data will be used for training and validation of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). This network will aim to estimate from available simulated variables such as temperature, pressure and discharge flow of a distillation tower, the mole fraction of pentane present in LPG. Thus, allowing a better control of product quality