O afeto além dos muros e portões : o apego a vizinhanças na cidade do Natal

Place Attachment is a positive affective bond between people and environments, and its main characteristic is the desire to maintain closeness to the place of attachment. Neighborhoods, in turn, are spaces close to the dwelling, which varies according to environmental, social and cultural characteristics. Facing the contemporary scenario of diminishment of neighborhood relations and its importance to the understanding of cities social-environmental context, the present work aimed to investigate the attachment to neighborhoods at the city of Natal-RN. This study had two stages. The first stage consisted on investigating, through an experts panel, the main characteristics of attached neighborhoods, aspects that contributes to the development of these neighborhoods, the ones that difficult, as well as look for indications of neighborhoods at the city of Natal that may be identified by these elements. In the following stage I interviewed 11 residents of two indicated neighborhoods at the district of Alecrim, to better comprehend the main characteristics of this attachment and the elements of the context that enable its development. The content of the interviews, categorized and evaluated by judges, indicated that, due to the 10 participant experts, the main characteristics of attached neighborhoods encompass elements of socialization, cooperation, physical space usage, intimacy and identity. According to them, these are characteristics enabled by temporal and rootedness aspects, by spatial contact, familiarity between neighbors, and cultural inheritance. The interviews with residents showed that attachment to the studied neighborhoods is specially grounded on support and cooperation networks between neighbors, on satisfaction with the proximity of services, and on the bond to symbolic aspects and local traditions. In addition to be enabled by spatial organization, by low displacement of residents, and by the district s history, relations at these neighborhoods are fostered by an intention to establish this kind of ties, carried by cultural values

Partículas inteligentes de poli (nisopropilacrilamida), quitosana e poli (ácido acrílico): efeito da temperatura e do pH sobre suas propriedades em suspensões aquosas

The present study describes the stability and rheological behavior of suspensions of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-chitosan (PNIPAMCS), and poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-chitosan-poly (acrylic acid) (PNIPAM-CS-PAA) crosslinked particles sensitive to pH and temperature. These dual-sensitive materials were simply obtained by one-pot method, via free-radical precipitation copolymerization with potassium persulfate, using N,N -methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinking agent. Incorporation of the precursor materials into the chemical networks was confirmed by elementary analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The influence of external stimuli such as pH and temperature, or both, on particle behavior was investigated through rheological measurements, visual stability tests and analytical centrifugation. The PNIPAM-CS particles showed higher stability in acid and neutral media, whereas PNIPAM-CS-PAA particles were more stable in neutral and alkaline media, both below and above the LCST of poly (Nisopropylacrylamide) (stability data). This is due to different interparticle interactions, as well as those between the particles and the medium (also evidenced by rheological data), which were also influenced by the pH and temperature of the medium. Based on the results obtained, we found that the introduction of pH-sensitive polymers to crosslinked poly (Nisopropylacrylamide) particles not only produced dual-sensitive materials, but allowed particle stability to be adjusted, making phase separation faster or slower, depending on the desired application. Thus, it is possible to adapt the material to different media

Reforma a vapor catalítica do metano: Otimização da produção e seletividade em hidrogênio por absorção in situ do CO2 produzido

Topics of research related to energy and environment have significantly grown in recent years, with the need of its own energy as hydrogen. More particularly, numerous researches have been focused on hydrogen as energy vector. The main portion of hydrogen is presently obtained by reforming of methane or light hydrocarbons (steam, oxy, dry or auto reforming). During the methane steam reforming process the formation of CO2 undesirable (the main contributor to the greenhouse effect) is observed. Thus, an oxide material (sorbent) can be used to capture the CO2 generated during the process and simultaneously shifting the equilibrium of water gas shift towards thermodynamically more favorable production of pure hydrogen. The aim of this study is to develop a material with dual function (catalyst/sorbent) in the reaction of steam reforming of methane. CaO is well known as CO2 sorbent due to its high efficiency in reactions of carbonation and easy regeneration through calcination. However the kinetic of carbonation decreases quickly with time and carbonation/calcination cycles. A calcium aluminate (Ca12Al14O33) should be used to avoid sintering and increase the stability of CaO sorbents for several cycles. Nickel, the industrial catalyst choice for steam reforming has been added to the support from different manners. These bi-functional materials (sorbent/catalyst) in different molar ratios CaO.Ca12Al14O33 (48:52, 65:35, 75:25, 90:10) were prepared by different synthesis methodologies, among them, especially the method of microwave assisted self-combustion. Synthesis, structure and catalytic performances of Ni- CaO.Ca12Al14O33 synthesized by the novel method (microwave assisted selfcombustion) proposed in this work has not being reported yet in literature. The results indicate that CO2 capture time depends both on the CaO excess and on operating conditions (eg., temperature and H2O/CH4 ratio). To be efficient for CO2 sorption, temperature of steam reforming needs to be lower than 700 °C. An optimized percentage corresponding to 75% of CaO and a ratio H2O/CH4 = 1 provides the most promising results since a smaller amount of water avoids competition between water and CO2 to form carbonate and hydroxide. If this competition is most effective (H2O/CH4 = 3) and would have a smaller amount of CaO available for absorption possibly due to the formation of Ca(OH)2. Therefore, the capture time was higher (16h) for the ratio H2O/CH4 = 1 than H2O/CH4 = 3 (7h) using as catalyst one prepared by impregnating the support obtained by microwave assisted self-combustion. Therefore, it was demonstrated that, with these catalysts, the CO2 sorption on CaO modifies the balance of the water gas-shift reaction. Consequently, steam reforming of CH4 is optimized, producing pure H2, complete conversion of methane and negligible concentration of CO2 and CO during the time of capture even at low temperature (650 °C). This validates the concept of the sorption of CO2 together with methane steam reforming

Eficiência mastigatória e impacto da saúde oral na qualidade de vida em pacientes reabilitados com próteses totais removíveis implanto-suportadas

Edentulous patients with complaint about mandibular conventional denture might experience poor masticatory function and negative impact of oral health on quality of life. The aim of this controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of mandibular overdenture on oral health-related quality of life and masticatory efficacy in patients wearing mandibular complete dentures. The edentulous patients (n=16) were rehabilitated with new maxillary and mandibular complete dentures and, after 3 months, mandibular overdentures retained by 2 implants (bar-clip system) were fabricated. The Brazilian version of OHIP-Edent questionnaire was used to assess the oral healthrelated quality of life. Masticatory efficacy was evaluated through a colorimetric method with chewing capsules. The mean OHIP-Edent score was 8.5 with conventional dentures and 2.0 with mandibular overdenture, which means a positive impact of oral health on quality of life with overdentures (p=0.001). The mean absorbance for masticatory efficacy was 0.025 for conventional dentures and 0.073 for overdentures. There was statistically significant difference for masticatory efficacy before and after implants rehabilitation (p=0.003). However, there was no correlation between masticatory efficacy and OHIP (p>0.05). So, mandibular overdenture retained by 2 implants improved the quality of life and masticatory efficacy of edentulous patients with complaint about mandibular conventional complete dentures

Serviço Social e Política: uma análise da participação dos assistentes sociais no Conselho Regional de Serviço Social 14ª região

This paper analyzes the political participation of Social Workers at the Social Service Regional Council Region 14th. The theoretical and methodological framework of this investigation has as its perspective the totality of social life and its determining relations within the object of study. To the production, analysis and collecting of data it was used a qualitative approach considering a bibliographical and documental research as well as a series of twelve interviews with 2005-2008 and 2008-2011 managing counselors of CRESS/RN. It was also used the data obtained from other special interviews held with the social workers in the period between 2007 and 2008. The results of this study allow and affirm the political dimension of Caseworkers and the CRESS/RN as a space of political activity with opportunities for effective and collective elaboration of strategies in order to reach the fulfillment of the ethical and professional policy of the Social Work. From a historical viewpoint, the beginning of this process is marked by the struggle for democracy, the end of military dictatorship, the establishment of the State of Human Rights. The Democratization of the so called Federal Council of Social Workers and its Regional Councils of Social Workers, CFAS / CRAS, respectively, area a result of the participation of the category in an effort to fight for democratization in Brazil. The objective of this research, so, is to understand which the socio-historical determinants are, that focus objectively and subjectively in the demobilization of social workers in CRESS Region 14th - in the contemporary and historical context. Among the results obtained we identified the ignorance of some professional workers and also of some advisors, regarding the existence and the role of the Council, as well as the commercialization of Education that compromises the quality of the professional training in its theoretical and methodological, ethical and political dimensions. According to our understanding, this shows a the presence of a non-critical professional profile based on a false reality, on the precariousness of employment contracts which undermine the political organization and submit the worker to various social exploring mechanisms such as double shift and ultimately the fragility of the management of the Regional Council -, as a consequence of the offensive capitalist system that ideologically invests to stop the political organization founded in a critical and democratic perspective. The low participation of some advisors and, in general, the category in CRESS / RN, despite its objective conditions, is a reality and it is presented to us as a challenge to future managements and policy consolidation to society. Inasmuch as the category intends to guarantee the high quality of its social workers, the demands of future counselors, their skills and abilities in dealing with regulatory issues, administrative policies that pervade the everyday life of CRESS / RN are necessary

Paralelização em GPU da segmentação vascular com extração de Centerlines por Height Ridges

The vascular segmentation is important in diagnosing vascular diseases like stroke and is hampered by noise in the image and very thin vessels that can pass unnoticed. One way to accomplish the segmentation is extracting the centerline of the vessel with height ridges, which uses the intensity as features for segmentation. This process can take from seconds to minutes, depending on the current technology employed. In order to accelerate the segmentation method proposed by Aylward [Aylward & Bullitt 2002] we have adapted it to run in parallel using CUDA architecture. The performance of the segmentation method running on GPU is compared to both the same method running on CPU and the original Aylward s method running also in CPU. The improvemente of the new method over the original one is twofold: the starting point for the segmentation process is not a single point in the blood vessel but a volume, thereby making it easier for the user to segment a region of interest, and; the overall gain method was 873 times faster running on GPU and 150 times more fast running on the CPU than the original CPU in Aylward

Extensões ao Projeto LVWNet: mobilidade, interação com equipamentos reais, comunicação direta, e registro dinâmico de nós

Due to the constantly increasing use of wireless networks in domestic, business and industrial environments, new challenges have emerged. The prototyping of new protocols in these environments is typically restricted to simulation environments, where there is the need of double implementation, one in the simulation environment where an initial proof of concept is performed and the other one in a real environment. Also, if real environments are used, it is not trivial to create a testbed for high density wireless networks given the need to use various real equipment as well as attenuators and power reducers to try to reduce the physical space required to create these laboratories. In this context, LVWNet (Linux Virtual Wireless Network) project was originally designed to create completely virtual testbeds for IEEE 802.11 networks on the Linux operating system. This paper aims to extend the current project LVWNet, adding to it the features like the ability to interact with real wireless hardware, provides a initial mobility ability using the positioning of the nodes in a space coordinates environment based on meters, with loss calculations due to attenuation in free space, enables some scalability increase by creating an own protocol that allows the communication between nodes without an intermediate host and dynamic registration of nodes, allowing new nodes to be inserted into in already in operation network

O lugar do estudo das mídias na formação de professores numa perspectiva emancipatória

The media currently play a dual role in the physical and symbolic structure of social organization. It is through the media that companies have achieved control of their distribution and production. It is not only through the media, but mainly so, that certain world views circulate and are legitimized. Access to material and symbolic goods has become a mark of social distinction. The project of a more democratic society also involves the preparation of its citizens to be able both to deal with the media products that already circulate as well as to develop a critical perspective of media products. This research stemmed from the need to understand what place this study of the media occupies in training for teachers in early grades, given that children are already immersed in a media world from an early age. This research shows that this is a place which is under construction and despite the existing adverse conditions, emancipatory practices are being developed. The research is guided by the study of the media in teacher education from an emancipatory perspective. This perspective develops in a time that, in this case, has proved slow and fragmented, but not nonexistent. The process of teacher training is influenced by working conditions and educational policies that hinder both working with the media in school and also improving the critical understanding of the media. The research shows that training opportunities, even in these conditions, can allow for more meaningful criticism. The emancipatory perspective also includes a reflection on practices. These practices are being developed and this research sought to provide support for a proposed study of the media from this perspective

O poema e a canção em as coisas, de Arnaldo Antunes: imagens da primeiridade

Ce travail a pour but d analyser un corpus de six textes hybrides, que nous classons comme des poèmes-chansons/ poèmes-chantés à cause de leur double présence dans deux systèmes sémiotiques différents. Le premier, la littérature, ou plus spécifiquement la poésie, a comme support le livre As Coisas [Les Choses], d Arnaldo Antunes et l autre, la chanson, est enregistré dans les disques du même auteur. Notre travail lance un regard sur ce corpus, en essayant de vérifier un aspect recourrent dans l oeuvre d Arnaldo Antunes qui est la présence da priméité, catégorie theórique développée par Charles Sanders Peirce. Au-delà de l observation de cet aspect sémiothique, nous ferons une discussion sur la chanson populaire, et ses rapports avec la poésie et par conséquent avec la Litterature. La théorie sémiothique s appuyera sur deux piliers : En ce qui concerne l étude de la priméité, nous travaillerons avec les théories de Peirce, mais en nous servant aussi des ouvrages de Lúcia Santaella, Winfried Nöth, Júlio Plaza et Décio Pignatari ; Dans l autre voie, pour ce qui concerne l analyse des chansons, nous utiliserons la théorie de Luiz Tatit, fondée sur la sémiothique de Algirdas Julien Greimas. Tatit trace une méthode d analyse, où il est possible d analyser une chanson en exploitant et le texte et la mélodie, ce qui permet une meilleure compréhension de l étude des poèmes-chansons et ses variations. Comme support pour la discussion sur la musique, nous nous servirons des théories de José Miguel Wisnik, Claude Lévi-Strauss, Roland Barthes et Jean Fisette

Propriedades termo-eletrônicas da molécula do DNA

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Transporte eletrônico e propriedades termodinâmicas de nanobiomoléculas

We use a tight-binding formulation to investigate the transmissivity and the currentvoltage (I_V) characteristics of sequences of double-strand DNA molecules. In order to reveal the relevance of the underlying correlations in the nucleotides distribution, we compare theresults for the genomic DNA sequence with those of arti_cial sequences (the long-range correlated Fibonacci and RudinShapiro one) and a random sequence, which is a kind of prototype of a short-range correlated system. The random sequence is presented here with the same _rst neighbors pair correlations of the human DNA sequence. We found that the long-range character of the correlations is important to the transmissivity spectra, although the I_V curves seem to be mostly inuenced by the short-range correlations. We also analyze in this work the electronic and thermal properties along an _-helix sequence obtained from an _3 peptide which has the uni-dimensional sequence (Leu-Glu-Thr- Leu-Ala-Lys-Ala)3. An ab initio quantum chemical calculation procedure is used to obtain the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) as well as their charge transfer integrals, when the _-helix sequence forms two di_erent variants with (the so-called 5Q variant) and without (the 7Q variant) _brous assemblies that can be observed by transmission electron microscopy. The di_erence between the two structures is that the 5Q (7Q) structure have Ala ! Gln substitution at the 5th (7th) position, respectively. We estimate theoretically the density of states as well as the electronic transmission spectra for the peptides using a tight-binding Hamiltonian model together with the Dyson's equation. Besides, we solve the time dependent Schrodinger equation to compute the spread of an initially localized wave-packet. We also compute the localization length in the _nite _-helix segment and the quantum especi_c heat. Keeping in mind that _brous protein can be associated with diseases, the important di_erences observed in the present vi electronic transport studies encourage us to suggest this method as a molecular diagnostic tool

Modelagem Matemática e Computacional de fenômenos eletrocinéticos em meios porosos carregados eletricamente

In this work we present a mathematical and computational modeling of electrokinetic phenomena in electrically charged porous medium. We consider the porous medium composed of three different scales (nanoscopic, microscopic and macroscopic). On the microscopic scale the domain is composed by a porous matrix and a solid phase. The pores are filled with an aqueous phase consisting of ionic solutes fully diluted, and the solid matrix consists of electrically charged particles. Initially we present the mathematical model that governs the electrical double layer in order to quantify the electric potential, electric charge density, ion adsorption and chemical adsorption in nanoscopic scale. Then, we derive the microscopic model, where the adsorption of ions due to the electric double layer and the reactions of protonation/ deprotanaç~ao and zeta potential obtained in modeling nanoscopic arise in microscopic scale through interface conditions in the problem of Stokes and Nerst-Planck equations respectively governing the movement of the aqueous solution and transport of ions. We developed the process of upscaling the problem nano/microscopic using the homogenization technique of periodic structures by deducing the macroscopic model with their respectives cell problems for effective parameters of the macroscopic equations. Considering a clayey porous medium consisting of kaolinite clay plates distributed parallel, we rewrite the macroscopic model in a one-dimensional version. Finally, using a sequential algorithm, we discretize the macroscopic model via the finite element method, along with the interactive method of Picard for the nonlinear terms. Numerical simulations on transient regime with variable pH in one-dimensional case are obtained, aiming computational modeling of the electroremediation process of clay soils contaminated

Mecanismos de alojamento de magmas granitóides :exemplo do plúton de Japi(RN)

This dissertation describes the igneous suites of the Japi granitoid pluton, intrusive in the Paleoproterozoic gneiss-migmatite complex of the eastern domain of the Seridó Belt, northeastern Brazil. Field relations show that the pluton is affected by strong deformation associated to the Brasiliano orogeny (known as the D3 phase) , with a NW-trending extensionalleft-hand senestral shear zone (the Japi Shear Zone, JSZ) bordering the intrusive body to the west. Four plutonic suites are found in the main pluton and as satellyte intrusions, besides Iate pegmatite and pink leucogranites. An alkaline granitoid suite, dominated by syenogranites bearing sodic augite (and subordinate hornblende), define a main elliptical intrusion. In its northern part, this intrusion is made up by concentric sheets, contrasting with a smaller rounded stock to the south. These granites display a pervasive solid-state S>L fabric developed under high T conditions, characterized by plastic deformation of quartz and feldspar. It is especially, developed along the border of the pluton, with inward dips. A regular magmatic layering is present sometimes, parallel to the tectonic foliation. The syntectonic emplacement as regards to the Brasiliano (D3) event is indicated by the common occurrence of dykes and sheets along transtensional or extensional sites of the major structure. Field relations attest to the early emplacement of the alkaline granites as regards to the other suites. A basic-to-intermediate suite occurs as a western satellyte body and occupying the southern tail of the main alkaline pluton. It comprises a wide variety of compositional terms, including primitive gabbros and gabbro-norites, differentiated to monzonitic intermediate facies containing amphibole and biotite as their main mafic phases. These rocks display transitional high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic affinities. Porphyritic monzogranite suítes commonly occur as dykes and minor intrusives, isolated or associated with the basic-tointermediate rocks. In the latter case, magma mingling and mixing features attest that these are contemporaneous igneous suites. These granites show K-feldspar phenocrysts and a hornblende+biotite+titanite assemblage, displaying subalkaline/monzonitic geochemical affinities. Both suites exhibit SL magmatic fabrics overprinting or transitional to solid-state D3 deformation related to the JSI. Chemical data clearly show that they are related to different parental magmas. Finally, a microgranite suite occurs along a few topographic ridges paralell to the JSI. It comprises dominantly granodiorites with a mineralogy similar to the one of the porphyritic granitoids. However, discriminant diagrams show their distinct calc-alkaline affinity. The granodiorites display an essencially magmatic fabric, even though an incipient D3 solid-state structure may be developed along the JSI. Intrusion relationships with the previous suites, as well as regards to the D3 structures, point to their Iate emplacement. All these suites are intrusive in a Paleoproterozoic, high-grade gneiss-migmatite complex affected by two previous deformation phases (D1, D2). The fabrics associated with these earlier events are folded and overprinted by the younger D3 structures along the JSZ. The younger deformation is characterized by NE-dipping foliations and N/NE-plunging stretching lineations. In the JSZ northern termination the foliation acquires an ENE orientation, containing a stretching lineation plunging to the south. Symmetric kinematic cri teria developed at this site confirms the transpressional termination of the JSZ, as also shown by orthorrombic quartz c-axis patterns. E-W-trending d extra I shear zones developed in the central part of the JSZ are interpreted as antithetic structures associated to the transtensional deformation along the JSZ. This is consistent with its extensional-transcurrent kinematics and a flat-and-ramp geometry at depth, as shown by gravimetric data. The lateral displacement of the negative residual Bouguer anomalies, as regards to the main outcropping alkaline pluton, may be modelized by other deeper-seated granite bodies. Based on numerical modelling it was possible to infer two distinct intrusion styles for the alkaline pluton. The calculated model values are consistent with an emplacement by sheeting for the northern body, as already suggested by satellyte imagery and field mapping. On the other hand, the results point to a transition towards a diapir-related style associated to the smaller. southern stock. This difference in intrusion styles may relate to intensity variations and transtensional sites of the shear deformation along the JSZ. Trace element and Sr and Nd isotopes of the alkaline granites are compatible with their derivation trom a more basic crustal source, as compared to the presently outcropping highgrade gneisses, with participation (or alternatively dominated by) of an enriched lithospheric mantle component. Like other igneous suites in the Seridó Belt, the high LlL contents and fractionated REE patterns of the basic rocks also point to an enriched mantle as the source for this kind of magmatism. Geochemical and isotope data are compatible with a lower crustal origin for the porphyritic granites. On the basis of the strong control of the JSZ on the emplacement of lower crustal (porphyritic and alkaline granites) or lithospheric mantle (basic rocks, alkaline granites or a component of them) magmas, one may infer a deep root for this structure, bearing an important role in magma extraction, transport and emplacement in the Japi region, eastern domain of the Seridó Belt