Avaliação dos efeitos agudos de diferentes niveis de PEP sobre o padrão respiratório e volumes operacionais de pacientes com Parkinson

Objetivo: Determinar os efeitos agudos de diferentes intensidades de pressão expiratória positiva sobre o padrão respiratório e volumes operacionais de pacientes com doença de Parkinson. Métodos: Foram eleitos para o estudo 23 pacientes em estágios II ou III da doença, estando na condição ON , sendo 8 excluídos, e 15 controles saudáveis. Os indivíduos foram submetidos a uma avaliação inicial, constando de dados gerais, avaliação antropométrica, função pulmonar e força muscular respiratória. Após esta etapa inicial, realizou-se a avaliação dos volumes pulmonares com pletismografia optoeletrônica associado a utilização de pressão expiratória positiva (PEP) em três intensidades de pressão positiva, 10 cmH2O, 15 cmH2O e 20 cmH2O em ordem aleatória. Resultados: O grupo Parkinson apresentou valores espirométricos e de força muscular respiratória significativamente menores que o grupo controle (p<0.01). Houve diferença nos valores de volume corrente (Vt) do grupo Parkinson em relação ao grupo controle na respiração tranqüila (p<0.001) e aumento no Vt do grupo Parkinson com uso das três intensidades de PEP (p<0.001), sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as intensidades e com diferença na distribuição compartimental do Vt entre os grupos (p<0.001). O fluxo inspiratório médio e o volume minuto do grupo Parkinson foram menores em relação ao grupo controle na respiração tranqüila (p<0.001) e aumentaram com o uso das três intensidades de PEP (p<0.001), sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as intensidades. Houve diferença na variação dos volumes operacionais entre os grupos em todas as intensidades de PEP (p < 0.001). O volume pulmonar expiratório final não aumentou no grupo Parkinson com uso de PEP. O volume pulmonar inspiratório final aumentou no grupo Parkinson em todas intensidades de PEP (p < 0.001), não havendo diferenças entre as intensidades. Conclusão: Os pacientes com doença de Parkinson apresentam alterações em diferentes componentes do padrão respiratório e a terapia com PEP determina modificações clinicamente importantes nos volumes pulmonares, considerando a intensidade de 10 cmH2O suficientes para este objetivo terapêutico

Ssitema integrado de gestão pública: proposta de implantação de um sistema integrado de gestão, autuação e distribuição de termos circunstanciados e inquéritos policiais entre os juizados especiais criminais e delegacias de Natal

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Caracterização estatística de processos sísmicos via Distribuição Generalizada de Pareto. Estudo de caso: João Câmara-RN

The work is to make a brief discussion of methods to estimate the parameters of the Generalized Pareto distribution (GPD). Being addressed the following techniques: Moments (moments), Maximum Likelihood (MLE), Biased Probability Weighted Moments (PWMB), Unbiased Probability Weighted Moments (PWMU), Mean Power Density Divergence (MDPD), Median (MED), Pickands (PICKANDS), Maximum Penalized Likelihood (MPLE), Maximum Goodness-of-fit (MGF) and the Maximum Entropy (POME) technique, the focus of this manuscript. By way of illustration adjustments were made for the Generalized Pareto distribution, for a sequence of earthquakes intraplacas which occurred in the city of João Câmara in the northeastern region of Brazil, which was monitored continuously for two years (1987 and 1988). It was found that the MLE and POME were the most efficient methods, giving them basically mean squared errors. Based on the threshold of 1.5 degrees was estimated the seismic risk for the city, and estimated the level of return to earthquakes of intensity 1.5°, 2.0°, 2.5°, 3.0° and the most intense earthquake never registered in the city, which occurred in November 1986 with magnitude of about 5.2º

Uma estratégia aleatória chamada de MOSES

This paper we study a random strategy called MOSES, which was introduced in 1996 by Fran¸cois. Asymptotic results of this strategy; behavior of the stationary distributions of the chain associated to strategy, were derived by Fran¸cois, in 1998, of the theory of Freidlin and Wentzell [8]. Detailings of these results are in this work. Moreover, we noted that an alternative approach the convergence of this strategy is possible without making use of theory of Freidlin and Wentzell, yielding the visit almost certain of the strategy to uniform populations which contain the minimum. Some simulations in Matlab are presented in this work

Caracterização comportamental e distribuição de neurônios inibitórios em um modelo animal de autismo induzido por ácido valpróico

Autism comprises a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders that affects the brain maturation and produces sensorial, motor, language and social interaction deficits in early childhood. Several studies have shown a major involvement of genetic factors leading to a predisposition to autism, which are possibly affected by environmental modulators during embryonic and post-natal life. Recent studies in animal models indicate that alterations in epigenetic control during development can generate neuronal maturation disturbances and produce a hyper-excitable circuit, resulting in typical symptoms of autism. In the animal model of autism induced by valproic acid (VPA) during rat pregnancy, behavioral, electrophysiological and cellular alterations have been reported which can also be observed in patients with autism. However, only a few studies have correlated behavioral alterations with the supposed neuronal hyper-excitability in this model. The aim of this project was to generate an animal model of autism by pre-natal exposure to VPA and evaluate the early post-natal development and pre-puberal (PND30) behavior in the offspring. Furthermore, we quantified the parvalbumin-positive neuronal distribution in the medial prefrontal cortex and Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of VPA animals. Our results show that VPA treatment induced developmental alterations, which were observed in behavioral changes as compared to vehicle-treated controls. VPA animals showed clear behavioral abnormalities such as hyperlocomotion, prolonged stereotipies and reduced social interaction with an unfamiliar mate. Cellular quantification revealed a decrease in the number of parvalbumin-positive interneurons in the anterior cingulate cortex and in the prelimbic cortex of the mPFC, suggesting an excitatory/inhibitory unbalance in this animal model of autism. Moreover, we also observed that the neuronal reduction occurred mainly in the cortical layers II/III and V/VI. We did not detect any change in the density of Purkinje neurons in the Crus I region of the cerebellar cortex. Together, our results strengthens the face validity of the VPA model in rats and shed light on specific changes in the inhibitory circuitry of the prefrontal cortex in this autism model. Further studies should address the challenges to clarify particular electrophysiological correlates of the cellular alterations in order to better understand the behavioral dysfunctions

Avaliação genética da eficiência reprodutiva em vacas pardo-suíças por meio da análise de sobrevivência

Among the traits of economic importance to dairy cattle livestock those related to sexual precocity and longevity of the herd are essential to the success of the activity, because the stayability time of a cow in a herd is determined by their productive and reproductive lives. In Brazil, there are few studies about the reproductive efficiency of Swiss-Brown cows and no study was found using the methodology of survival analysis applied to this breed. Thus, in the first chapter of this study, the age at first calving from Swiss-Brown heifers was analyzed as the time until the event by the nonparametric method of Kaplan-Meier and the gamma shared frailty model, under the survival analysis methodology. Survival and hazard rate curves associated with this event were estimated and identified the influence of covariates on such time. The mean and median times at the first calving were 987.77 and 1,003 days, respectively, and significant covariates by the Log-Rank test, through Kaplan-Meier analysis, were birth season, calving year, sire (cow s father) and calving season. In the analysis by frailty model, the breeding values and the frailties of the sires (fathers) for the calving were predicted modeling the risk function of each cow as a function of the birth season as fixed covariate and sire as random covariate. The frailty followed the gamma distribution. Sires with high and positive breeding values possess high frailties, what means shorter survival time of their daughters to the event, i.e., reduction in the age at first calving of them. The second chapter aimed to evaluate the longevity of dairy cows using the nonparametric Kaplan-Meier and the Cox and Weibull proportional hazards models. It were simulated 10,000 records of the longevity trait from Brown-Swiss cows involving their respective times until the occurrence of five consecutive calvings (event), considered here as typical of a long-lived cow. The covariates considered in the database were age at first calving, herd and sire (cow s father). All covariates had influence on the longevity of cows by Log-Rank and Wilcoxon tests. The mean and median times to the occurrence of the event were 2,436.285 and 2,437 days, respectively. Sires that have higher breeding values also have a greater risk of that their daughters reach the five consecutive calvings until 84 months

Distribuição diária do comportamento da mosca da fruta Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi, (Diptera: Tephritidae) em laboratório.

The knowledge of Anastrepha zenildae behavioral aspects combined with the biology of Tephritidae may contribute to monitoring and control programs of this fruit fly that is considered as economically important to the Rio Grande do Norte state. In order to characterize the daily activity profile of this species, we studied the behaviors of resting, locomotion, feeding, cleaning, courtship, copulation and oviposition of animals submitted to an artificial 12:12h light-dark cycle (750:1lux) with controlled temperature (26±2 °C). The observations were made with groups of 16 males and 16 females during 3 consecutive days each generation from parental to F5. Resting, locomotion, feeding and cleaning data were recorded as frequency and time of occurrence by scanning technique in 15 minutes windows per hour, with a record each minute. Courtship, copulation and oviposition were recorded as frequency, time of occurrence and duration by al occurrences technique. Resting was the most frequent behavior with males resting more than females. Locomotion was more evident in the first half of the ligh phase with higher values in females. Cleaning and feeding behaviors were more frequent in the second half of the light phase for both sexes with females eating more frequently than males. During the courtship, males were grouped in lek formations showing wings vibration and pheromone liberation. Courtship occurred more frequently 4 to 7 h after lights on (81,9%) with copulations being more frequent 6 h after lights on with a mean duration of 58,1±40,4 min. Copulation attempts were observed in males inside and outside the lek with aggressive behavior being observed only between males in the lek. Oviposition behavior was similar to that described for other species of the genus with a peak of this activity 2-3 h after the lights on, mean duration of 43, 7±34, 8 sec and 2 to 5 eggs by event. According to the results, sexual behavior of A. zenildae is temporally different of other sympatric species of the genus, being favorable to the reproductive isolation as well as the use of resources as oviposition substrate.

Distribuição espacial, formação de grupos, uso do hábitat e ecologia comportamental de jovens de tubarão limão, negaprion brevirostris (poey 1868), no arquipélago de fernando de noronha

Lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, are common in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, but detailed information about the species in this site is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the spatial distribution, grouping behavior, habitat use and behavioral ecology of juvenile lemon sharks in the archipelago, and their interaction with some environmental and ecological factors. During 2006 and 2007, the presence and spatial distribution of juvenile sharks were quantified through scuba diving and snorkeling at several sites of the archipelago. In 2008 the habitat use of juvenile sharks was quantified through visual census while snorkeling along 300 x 8 m strip transects. During these transects the grouping behavior of lemon sharks was quantified by ad libitum. Results indicate that Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is used as a nursery area for lemon sharks, and the parturition occurs from November to April. Juveniles preferred using shallower areas available by the tide variation and formed groups only in the presence of adult conspecifics. This preference for shallower habitats and the group behavior probably are anti-predatory tactics used by juvenile lemon sharks, in response to the low availability of shelter and high predation risk of the studied areas. Quantifications of prey availability and predation risk of juveniles showed that, in general, lemon sharks are trading-off food by security and investing in sites with higher possibility of energetic return. Behavioral observations enabled to record juvenile carangid fishes following juvenile lemon sharks, remora host-parasite and juvenile sharks foraging on schools of herrings and octopuses. We also recorded the behavior of juvenile sharks following conspecifics of similar size, circling with two or three individuals and smaller individuals giving way to larger juveniles. When adults are present, juvenile lemon sharks are more social than solitary, indicating that predation is one of the factors that contribute to social behaviors of the species. Results also suggest that when grouped the juveniles have a hierarchical organization according to body size. Furthermore, observation of large adult females with several fresh mating bites and scars in the same habitats used by juvenile lemon sharks, indicates that Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is used as nursery and mating grounds by this species

Caracterização de subpopulações de interneurônios imunorreativos para proteínas ligantes de cálcio no córtex pré-frontal do Sagui (Callithrix jacchus): distribuição e morfologia

Cortical interneurons are characterized by their distinct morphological, physiological and biochemical properties, acting as modulators of the excitatory activity by pyramidal neurons, for example. Various studies have revealed differences in both distribution and density of this cell group throughout distinct cortical areas in several species. A particular class of interneuron closely related to cortical modulation is revealed by the immunohistochemistry for calcium binding proteins calbindin (CB), calretinina (CR) and parvalbumin (PV). Despite the growing amount of studies focusing on calcium binding proteins, the prefrontal cortex of primates remains relatively little explored, particularly in what concerns a better understanding of the organization of the inhibitory circuitry across its subdivisions. In the present study we characterized the morphology and distribution of neurons rich in calcium-binding proteins in the medial, orbital and dorsolateral areas of the prefrontal cortex of the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Using both morphometric and stereological techniques, we found that CR-reactive neurons (mainly double bouquet and bipolar cells) have a more complex dendritic arborization than CB-reactive (bitufted and basket cells) and PV-reactive neurons (chandelier cells). The neuronal densities of CR- and CB-reactive cells are higher in the supragranular layers (II/III) whilst PV-reactive neurons, conversely, are more concentrated in the infragranular layers (V/VI). CR-reactive neurons were the predominant group in the three regions evaluated, being most prevalent in dorsomedial region. Our findings point out to fundamental differences in the inhibitory circuitry of the different areas of the prefrontal cortex in marmoset

Ritmo circadiano de atividade motora e distribuição diária dos comportamentos afiliativos ao longo da fase juvenil em saguis (callithrix jacchus)

The temporal allocation of the active phase in relation to light and dark cycle (LD) changes during puberty in humans, degus, rats and rhesus. In marmosets, the animal model used in several biomedical researches, there is evidence of a delay at the beginning of the active phase and an increase in total daily activity after onset of puberty. However, as this aspect was evaluated in animals maintained in natural environmental conditions, it was not possible to distinguish between the effects of puberty and of seasonality. Furthermore, as motor activity is the result of different behaviors in this species, it is also important to characterize the diurnal distribution of other behaviors in juvenile stage. With the aim of characterizing the circadian rhythm of motor activity and the diurnal profile of affiliative behavior in marmosets, the motor activity of 5 dyads juveniles between 4 and 12 months of age and their parents was recorded continuously for actímetro. The families were maintained under artificial LD 12:12 h, constant temperature and humidity. The duration of grooming behavior, proximity and social play among juveniles was recorded 2 times a week in sessions of 15 minutes each hour of the active phase. Afetr onset of puberty in juvenile, it was observed that there was no change in the parameters of circadian motor activity rhythm which were common to most animals. Despite the absence of pubertal modulation, it was observed that the circadian activity profiles have stronger synchrony between individuals of the same family than that of different families, which may indicate that the circadian activity rhythm was modulated by the dynamics of social interactions. In relation to age, the total daily activity and the ratio between evening and morning activity (EA/MA) were higher in juveniles than in adults, which may be associated with differences in the circadian timing system between age groups. Furthermore, the onset of the 10 consecutive hours of higher activity (M10) occurred earlier in adult males than in other members of the group, probably as a way to avoid competition for resources in one of the first activities of the day that is foraging. During the juvenile stage, there was an increase in total daily activity that may be associated with increased motor ability of juveniles. In addition to the circadian activity rhythm, the daytime profile of proximity and social play behaviors was similar between the 5th and 12th month of life of juveniles, in which the interval between 7- 10 h in the morning showed the highest values of proximity and lower values of play social. Moreover, the duration of the grooming showed a similar distribution to adults from the 8th month, wherein the higher values occurring at the interval between 11 14 h of day. Considering the results, the parameters of the circadian activity rhythm had a greater influence of social factors than puberty. In relation to age, there were no changes related to the allocation of the active phase in relation to the LD cycle, but total daily activity, the ratio AV/AM and the start of the M10 is possible to observe differences between juveniles and adults

Distribuição diária das atividades comportamentais dos camarões marinhos Farfantepenaeus subtilis (Pérez Farfante, 1967) e Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad, 1938) em condições laboratoriais

Marine aquaculture has developed in the last decades all over the world, especially related to shrimp management. In Brazil, the introduction of the species Litopenaeus vannamei has contributed to the success of the activity, even if there are problems associated with the management of a exotic species, such as new diseases and ecological pressure on native species. It has been emphasized the need of research for developing new methodology that will allow native species management, being the most important Farfantepenaeus subtilis and Litopenaeus schmitti. Most knowledge obtained from research with those species has generally used a technical approach and mainly focused feeding process. There are no specific behavioral data on their activity pattern which should be of great importance for the use of native species on commercial culture farms. So, it was our objective to study and compare the daily distribution of behavioral activities of the marine shrimp species Litopenaeus schmitti and Farfantepenaeus subtilis. Forty animals of each species, 5 individuals per aquarium, were maintained in aquaria containing 200L of sea water under continuous aeration and filtration. They were marked individually and were observed by the instantaneous focal time sampling, along 10 continuous days, in 6 daily 15 min observation windows, every two hour. In each window, behaviors and location position of the animals in the aquarium were registered at 1 min intervals. Food was offered 3 times a day, representing 10% of each aquarium biomass. Aquaria were maintained in artificial photoperiod, 12hour light/l2 hour dark, 4 aquaria in light cycle equivalent to the environmental one (light from 06:00 to 17:59 h and dark from 18:00 to 05:59 h) and the other 4 in the reverse light cycle (light from 18:00 to 05:59 h and dark from 06:00 to 17:59 h) to allow sequential behavioral observation in both phases of the 24 hour cycle. There was a clear distinction between the distribution of behavioral activities of F. subtilis and L. schmitti in the two phases. The activity pattern of Farfantepenaeus subtilis demonstrates that species has prominently night habits and a burying pattern during the light cycle. Exploration, inactivity and swimming were the most common activities. The behavioral pattern of Litopenaeus schmitti indicates that species is active along both phases of the light cycle, and the most evident behaviors were exploration, inactivity and swimming

Análise imunoistoquímica da distribuição de Serotonina, transportador de serotonina e receptores de serotonina no hipotálamo do sagui (callithrix jacchus)

The hypothalamus is a diencephalic portion located around the third ventricle below the hypothalamic sulcus, limited by the optic chiasm, and by the mammillary bodies, acting as a center that integrates behavioral and homeostatic functions. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced in limited sites in the midbrain and brain stem, but is distributed throughout the central nervous system and has many functions, acting through specific receptors that are also distributed throughout the nervous system. Using immunohistochemical techniques, the aim of this study was to delineate the hypothalamic nuclei of the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and study the distribution of serotonin transporter and serotonin receptors in the hypothalamus of this species. We used the Nissl method to determine the cytoarchitecture of the hypothalamic nuclei, and immunohistochemistry to reveal the presence of NeuN as a method to determine the contours of the hypothalamic nuclei. As a result, we found serotonin containing fibers and terminals throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the hypothalamus, more concentrated in some nuclei, and even absent in some. Like serotonin, serotonin transporter was observed between pre-optic area and tuberal region of the hypothalamus, in densities and distribution similar to serotonin. The 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors were found with minor differences among itselves regarding the disposition and intensity of staining.

Padrão de distribuição e caracterização morfológica de fibras serotonérgicas nos núcleos da linha Média/ intralaminares do tálamo do mocó (Kerodon rupestris)

The midline/intralaminar nuclei form a remarkable group of nuclei of the medial and dorsal thalamus. The midline nuclei, in rats, comprises the paratenial nuclei (PT), paraventricular (PV), intermediodorsal (IMD), reuniens (Re) and rhomboid (Rh). The intralaminar nuclei comprises the central medial (CM), paracentral (PC), central lateral (CL) and parafascicular (PF). Such nuclei have dense serotonergic innervation originating from the brainstem, especially from the so-called ascending activation system. These nuclei, in turn, send projections to various cortical and subcortical areas, specifically to limbic areas, which suggests the important role of this neurotransmitter in the limbic circuitry. The aim of this study was to characterize the distribution pattern and morphology of serotonin fibers in the nuclei of the midline and intralaminar thalamic of rocky cavy (Kerodon rupestris), a tipical rodent from brazilizan northeast. To reach this aim we used four rock cavies adults. Following the transcardially perfusion with paraformaldehyde and brain microtomy steps was performed immunohistochemistry for serotonin (5-HT), Nissl technique and subsequent achievement and image analysis to characterize the cytoarchitecture of these nuclei and the serotonergic fibers visualized. An analysis was made of Relative Optical Density (ROD) to semi-quantify the concentration of serotonin fibers in the areas of interest. Thus, we observed a cytoarchitectonic arrangement of these nuclei similar to that found in rats. In case of fibers distribution, those immunoreactive to 5-HT were presented in a higher concentration according as ROD in the midline nuclei relative to intralaminar; Re being the core which has a higher pixel value followed by the PV , Rh, IMD and PT. In intralaminar CL showed higher pixels, followed by nuclei CM, PC and PF. The serotonergic fibers were classified as number of varicosities and axon diameter, therefore find three types of fibers distributed through this nuclear complex: fibers rugous, granular and semi-granular. In PV fibers predominated rugous; in PT fibers predominated granular; IMD, CL and PF fibers were represented by semi-granular and Re, Rh, PC and CM fibers showed granular and semi-granular. Morphological characterization of serotonergic fibers and differences in density between the nuclei may suggest different patterns of synaptic organization of this neurotransmitter beyond confirming his large repertoire functional

Uma Análise Comparativa entre Sistemas de Combinação de Classificadores com Distribuição Vertical dos Dados

In systems that combine the outputs of classification methods (combination systems), such as ensembles and multi-agent systems, one of the main constraints is that the base components (classifiers or agents) should be diverse among themselves. In other words, there is clearly no accuracy gain in a system that is composed of a set of identical base components. One way of increasing diversity is through the use of feature selection or data distribution methods in combination systems. In this work, an investigation of the impact of using data distribution methods among the components of combination systems will be performed. In this investigation, different methods of data distribution will be used and an analysis of the combination systems, using several different configurations, will be performed. As a result of this analysis, it is aimed to detect which combination systems are more suitable to use feature distribution among the components

Uso de replicação móvel para distribuição de vídeo digital em redes de computadores

A maioria da soluções apresentadas como candidatas à implementação de serviços de distribuição de áudio e vídeo, têm sido projetadas levando-se em consideração determinadas condições de infra-estrutura, formato dos fluxos de vídeo a serem transmitidos, ou ainda os tipos de clientes que serão atendidos pelo serviço. Aplicações que utilizam serviços de distribuição de vídeo normalmente precisam lidar com grandes oscilações na demanda pelo serviço devido a entrada e saída de usuários do serviço. Com exemplo, basta observar a enorme variação nos níveis de audiência de programas de televisão. Este comportamento coloca um importante requisito para esta classe de sistemas distribuídos: a capacidade de reconfiguração como conseqüência de variações na demanda. Esta dissertação apresenta um estudo que envolveu o uso de agentes móveis para implementar os servidores de um serviço de distribuição de vídeo denominada DynaVideo. Uma das principais características deste serviço é a capacidade de ajustar sua configuração em conseqüência de variações na demanda. Como os servidores DynaVideo podem replicar-se e são implementados como código móvel, seu posicionamento pode ser otimizado para atender uma dada demanda e, como conseqüência, a configuração do serviço pode ser ajustada para minimizar o consumo de recursos necessários para distribuir vídeo para seus usuários. A principal contribuição desta dissertação foi provar a viabilidade do conceito de servidores implementados como agentes móveis Java baseados no ambiente de desenvolvimento de software Aglet.