Estudo da frequência e perfil epidêmico-sorológico da toxoplasmose ocular em pacientes atendidos no ambulatório de oftalmologia do hospital universitário onofre lopes no município de Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

Toxoplasmosis, provoked by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most prevalent parasitoses in the world. In humans, transmission occurs by three evolutionary forms of the parasite: oocysts, tissue cysts and tachyzoites. Wild and domestic felines are definitive hosts. The ocular form of toxoplasmosis can be of congenital origin with early or late clinical manifestations, or acquired after birth. T. gondii is considered the main culprit for most cases of infectious uveitis. This study aimed at assessing ocular toxoplasmosis, relating it to factors associated to the patient s lifestyle and describing the epidemic-serological and clinical profile of affected individuals. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a population of 159 patients. Univariate analysis (odds ratio) was used to evaluate the data, with a confidence interval of 95% and p-value < 0.05. A prevalence of 4% of ocular toxoplasmosis was observed in the population of patients treated at an ophthalmological clinic. Of patients directly examined by immunoenzymatic assay (MEIA-AxSYM®- Microparticle Enzyme Immune Assay), considering only uveitis, a frequency of anti-T. gondii of 73%, most of whom exhibited titulation between 40-99 UI IgG/mL. With respect to location of ocular lesions, bilaterality was observed in 57% of patients assessed by the ophthalmoscopy technique. When compared with the results of an active search of medical records, a similarity in ocular toxoplasmosis (74%) and bilateral lesion location (55%) was observed. Type I lesion was the most frequent type observed, with intraocular disposition in the macula. An epidemiological survey revealed that direct contact with cats; consuming raw or poorly cooked meat and direct contact with the soil were significantly associated with greater likelihood of acquiring ocular toxoplasmosis. Sample characterization in relation to age range was significant for patients between 31 and 40 years [χ², chi-square test (p = 0.04)], but population traits such as schooling, sanitary district, and monthly income were not significant. Results confirm that ocular toxoplasmosis is widely distributed in the metropolitan area of Natal, Brazil, with significant prevalence of ocular lesions provoked by T.gondii. It is suggested that sanitary authorities exert greater control in order to minimize the risk of toxoplasmic infection, mainly in pregnant women.

Controle de qualidade físico-químico e biodisponibilidade relativa em ratos de suspensões orais de naproxeno sódico obtidas de farmácias de manipulação na cidade do Natal RN

Compounded medicines have been reported by the ANVISA due to decreased of the therapeutic response or toxicity of these formulations. The aim of this work was to investigate the physicochemical quality control among naproxen sodium oral suspensions 25 mg/mL obtained from six compounding pharmacies (A, B, C, D, E and F) and the manufactured suspension (R). In the quality control test, the tests of pH, content, homogeneity, volume and physical and organoleptic characteristics were performed according to the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. The analytical method for determination of naproxen in suspensions was validate. This method showed excellent precision, accuracy, linearity and specificity. In the content test the suspensions B, C and E showed lower value and the F suspension showed a high value of the content. The products C and E were disapproved in the description of the physical and organoleptic characteristics test. In the pH test, three suspensions were outside specifications (C, E and F). Only the products R, A and D showed satisfactory results in these tests and therefore they were approved for relative bioavailability test. The R, A and D suspensions were orally administered to Wistar rats and the blood samples were taken at time intervals of 10, 20, 40, 60 min, 3, 4, 6, 24 and 48 h. The plasma samples were immediately stored at 80 ºC until analysis of HPLC. The bioanalytical method validation showed specificity, linearity (R2 0.9987), precision, accuracy, good recovery and stability. The chromatographic conditions were: flow rate of 1.2 mL.min-1 with a mobile phase of acetonitrile : sodium phosphate buffer pH 4.0 (50:50, v/v) at 280 nm, using a C18 column. The confidence interval of 90% for the Cmax and AUCt ratio was within the range of 80 - 125% proposed by the FDA. Only one suspension, obtained from the compounding pharmacy D, was considered bioequivalent to the rate of absorption under the conditions proposed by this study. Thus, the results indicate the need for strict supervision from the relevant authorities to ensure the patient safety and the quality of compounded drugs by pharmacies

Justiça juvenil: teoria e prática no sistema socioeducativo

Em um momento histórico de violações e ameaças aos direitos fundamentais de crianças e adolescentes, é preciso somar esforços na luta pela transformação das políticas voltadas para esses sujeitos. A ideologia que fundamenta a criminalização de adolescentes pobres e da periferia é a mesma que impõe a redução da idade penal e que autoriza e legitima as violências institucionais cometidas no sistema socioeducativo. “Justiça juvenil: teoria e prática no sistema socioeducativo” vem apresentar fundamentos teóricos e experiências práticas com vistas à desconstrução desses processos ideológicos e à defesa intransigente da proteção integral

A confiança interorganizacional nas compras

This research is part of the field of organizational studies, focusing on organizational purchase behavior and, specifically, trust interorganizational at the purchases. This topic is current and relevant by addressing the development of good relations between buyer-supplier that increases the exchange of information, increases the length of relationship, reduces the hierarchical controls and improves performance. Furthermore, although there is a vast literature on trust, the scientific work that deal specifically at the trust interorganizational still need further research to synthesize and validate the variables that generate this phenomenon. In this sense, this investigation is to explain the antecedents of trust interorganizational by the relationship between the variable operational performance, organizational characteristics, shared values and interpersonal relationships on purchases by manufacturing industries, in order to develop a robust literature, most consensual, that includes the current sociological and economic, considering the effect of interpersonal relationships in this phenomenon. This proposal is configured in a new vision of the antecedents of interorganizational trust, described as significant quantitative from models Morgan and Hunt (1994), Doney and Cannon (1997), Zhao and Cavusgil (2006) and Nyaga, Whipple, Lynch (2011), as well as qualitative analysis of Tacconi et al. (2011). With regard to methodological aspects, the study assumes the form of a descriptive, survey type, and causal trace theoretical and empirical. As for his nature, the investigation, explicative character, has developed a quantitative approach with the use of exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling SEM, with the use of IBM software SPSS Amos 18.0, using the method of maximum verisimilitude, and supported by technical bootstraping. The unit of analysis was the buyer-supplier relationship, in which the object under investigation was the supplier organization in view of the purchasing company. 237 valid questionnaires were collected among key informants, using a simple random sampling developed in manufacturing industries (SIC 10-33), located in the city of Natal and in the region of Natal. The first results of descriptive analysis demonstrate the phenomenon of interorganizational trust, in which purchasing firms believe, feel secure about the supplier. This demonstration showed high levels of intensity, predominantly among the vendors that supply the company with materials that are used directly in the production process. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, performed on each variable alone, generated a set of observable and unobservable variables more consistent, giving rise to a model, that needed to be further specified. This again specify model consists of trajectories was positive, with a good fit, with a composite reliability and variance extracted satisfactory, and demonstrates convergent and discriminant validity, in which the factor loadings are significant and strong explanatory power. Given the findings that reinforce the model again specify data, suggesting a high probability that this model may be more suited for the study population, the results support the explanation that interorganizational trust depends on purchases directly from interpersonal relationships, sharing value and operating performance and indirectly of personal relationships, social networks, organizational characteristics, physical and relational aspect of performance. It is concluded that this trust can be explained by a set of interactions between these three determinants, where the focus is on interpersonal relationships, with the largest path coefficient for the factor under study

Relações interorganizacionais e confiança no setor da carcinicultura: um estudo de caso na camanor produtos marinhos

This study investigated how the types of confidence based on competence and good will act in the formation and maintenance of cooperation relationships between the Camanor and its partners (Aquatec, Purina, Caçuá, Uvifrios and Malta / Cleyton). It used organizational approaches on networks based primarily on studies of Powell (1987, 1990), Das and Teng (2000, 2001), Child (2001) and Contractor and Lorange (2004) which have described the advantages that cooperative relationships can provide, as well as their limits as alternative governance structures. Confidence has been considered an important factor affecting the actions and development of organizations involved in networks or in strategic alliances (ZAHEER; HARRIS, 2006) and is the most appropriate control mechanism in these situations (SYDOW, 1998). Confidence is seen from two different approaches: the economic and the sociological (ZAHEER; HARRIS, 2006). To facilitate the understanding of confidence some typologies have been created, as proposed by Barney and Hansen (1994), Lane (1998), Das and Teng (2000), Child (2001) and Wever, Martens and Vandenbempt (2005). This study made use of the case study as proposition of Yin (2005). Semi-structured interviews were held with pre-determined routes, in a single stage performed in early 2008. The research subjects were owners and / or responsible for Camanor and its business partners (Aquatec, Purina, Caçuá, Uvifrios and Malta / Cleyton). Also secondary data were collected in several sites related to the industry and enterprises studied, in addition to data collected by previous studies conducted by CARCINEREDES (2006). The primary data were analyzed using the analysing technique of the content proposed by Bardin (1994). Regarding the secondary data, they were qualitatively analyzed according to documentary analysis technique (BARDIN, 1994). Thus, through the data collected, could be concluded that although there is confidence based on good faith in relationships(UZZI, 1998; OF; TENG, 2001), their presence does not determine the formation and / or maintenance of a partnership, serves only in order to facilitate the relationship, making them more flexible. The confidence based on competence (DAS; TENG, 2001) influenced the formation and maintenance of relations studied. Because whether or not to form a relationship with another organization it is used the perception of the partner acts, namely the reputation (image) as decision basis. And it is through the verification of the performance of the partner activities that will determine the continuation of the partnership

Previsão do índice bovespa por meio de redes neurais artificiais: uma análise comparada aos métodos tradicionais de séries de tempo

Forecast is the basis for making strategic, tactical and operational business decisions. In financial economics, several techniques have been used to predict the behavior of assets over the past decades.Thus, there are several methods to assist in the task of time series forecasting, however, conventional modeling techniques such as statistical models and those based on theoretical mathematical models have produced unsatisfactory predictions, increasing the number of studies in more advanced methods of prediction. Among these, the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are a relatively new and promising method for predicting business that shows a technique that has caused much interest in the financial environment and has been used successfully in a wide variety of financial modeling systems applications, in many cases proving its superiority over the statistical models ARIMA-GARCH. In this context, this study aimed to examine whether the ANNs are a more appropriate method for predicting the behavior of Indices in Capital Markets than the traditional methods of time series analysis. For this purpose we developed an quantitative study, from financial economic indices, and developed two models of RNA-type feedfoward supervised learning, whose structures consisted of 20 data in the input layer, 90 neurons in one hidden layer and one given as the output layer (Ibovespa). These models used backpropagation, an input activation function based on the tangent sigmoid and a linear output function. Since the aim of analyzing the adherence of the Method of Artificial Neural Networks to carry out predictions of the Ibovespa, we chose to perform this analysis by comparing results between this and Time Series Predictive Model GARCH, developing a GARCH model (1.1).Once applied both methods (ANN and GARCH) we conducted the results' analysis by comparing the results of the forecast with the historical data and by studying the forecast errors by the MSE, RMSE, MAE, Standard Deviation, the Theil's U and forecasting encompassing tests. It was found that the models developed by means of ANNs had lower MSE, RMSE and MAE than the GARCH (1,1) model and Theil U test indicated that the three models have smaller errors than those of a naïve forecast. Although the ANN based on returns have lower precision indicator values than those of ANN based on prices, the forecast encompassing test rejected the hypothesis that this model is better than that, indicating that the ANN models have a similar level of accuracy . It was concluded that for the data series studied the ANN models show a more appropriate Ibovespa forecasting than the traditional models of time series, represented by the GARCH model

Estudo estatístico sobre eventos de precipitação intensa no nordeste do Brasil

The Northeast of Brazil (NEB) shows high climate variability, ranging from semiarid regions to a rainy regions. According to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the NEB is highly susceptible to climate change, and also heavy rainfall events (HRE). However, few climatology studies about these episodes were performed, thus the objective main research is to compute the climatology and trend of the episodes number and the daily rainfall rate associated with HRE in the NEB and its climatologically homogeneous sub regions; relate them to the weak rainfall events and normal rainfall events. The daily rainfall data of the hydrometeorological network managed by the Agência Nacional de Águas, from 1972 to 2002. For selection of rainfall events used the technique of quantiles and the trend was identified using the Mann-Kendall test. The sub regions were obtained by cluster analysis, using as similarity measure the Euclidean distance and Ward agglomerative hierarchical method. The results show that the seasonality of the NEB is being intensified, i.e., the dry season is becoming drier and wet season getting wet. The El Niño and La Niña influence more on the amount of events regarding the intensity, but the sub-regions this influence is less noticeable. Using daily data reanalysis ERAInterim fields of anomalies of the composites of meteorological variables were calculated for the coast of the NEB, to characterize the synoptic environment. The Upper-level cyclonic vortex and the South atlantic convergene zone were identified as the main weather systems responsible for training of EPI on the coastland

Modelagem estocástica do índice de radiação ultravioleta na costa leste do nordeste do Brasil

The increase in ultraviolet radiation (UV) at surface, the high incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in coast of Northeast of Brazil (NEB) and reduction of total ozone were the motivation for the present study. The overall objective was to identify and understand the variability of UV or Index Ultraviolet Radiation (UV Index) in the capitals of the east coast of the NEB and adjust stochastic models to time series of UV index aiming make predictions (interpolations) and forecasts / projections (extrapolations) followed by trend analysis. The methodology consisted of applying multivariate analysis (principal component analysis and cluster analysis), Predictive Mean Matching method for filling gaps in the data, autoregressive distributed lag (ADL) and Mann-Kendal. The modeling via the ADL consisted of parameter estimation, diagnostics, residuals analysis and evaluation of the quality of the predictions and forecasts via mean squared error and Pearson correlation coefficient. The research results indicated that the annual variability of UV in the capital of Rio Grande do Norte (Natal) has a feature in the months of September and October that consisting of a stabilization / reduction of UV index because of the greater annual concentration total ozone. The increased amount of aerosol during this period contributes in lesser intensity for this event. The increased amount of aerosol during this period contributes in lesser intensity for this event. The application of cluster analysis on the east coast of the NEB showed that this event also occurs in the capitals of Paraiba (João Pessoa) and Pernambuco (Recife). Extreme events of UV in NEB were analyzed from the city of Natal and were associated with absence of cloud cover and levels below the annual average of total ozone and did not occurring in the entire region because of the uneven spatial distribution of these variables. The ADL (4, 1) model, adjusted with data of the UV index and total ozone to period 2001-2012 made a the projection / extrapolation for the next 30 years (2013-2043) indicating in end of that period an increase to the UV index of one unit (approximately), case total ozone maintain the downward trend observed in study period

Aptidão física relacionada à saúde de escolares Norte- Rio-Grandenses

O sedentarismo é cada vez mais acentuado entre os adolescentes em todo o mundo. Objetivou-se neste estudo analisar o estado nutricional e a aptidão física de escolares norte-rio-grandenses. Participaram 2065 sujeitos, selecionados aleatoriamente (Masc = 1066, Fem = 999) (Natal n=1158; Mossoró n= 312; Lajes n= 231), divididos em três grupos etários pelos estágios maturacionais: 10 a 12 anos, 13 a 14 anos e _ 15 anos. Foi avaliada a composição corporal (IMC, dobras cutâneas tríceps e subescapular); o hábito alimentar (questionário de prevalência do consumo por grupo alimentar); o índice de atividade física (questionário Baeck) e o nível de aptidão física (testes do salto em distância, flexibilidade, resistência abdominal e cardiovascular). Utilizando-se a estatística descritiva, testes de médias pela análise dos intervalos de confiança, o teste de Kruskall-Wallis, teste t, o Qui2 e o coeficiente de contingência. Encontraram-se diferenças significativas com p < 0001 na distribuição do índice de massa corporal (n = 1701); Região Leste Potiguar (RLP) com excesso de peso e obesidade de 16,8 % e 15,2 %, a Região Oeste 16,3% e 9,6 % e a Região Central 10,4 % e 3,9 %, com as escolas privadas contribuindo significativamente na prevalência dessas variáveis nas RLP e ROP com p < 0,003 e p < 0,001 respectivamente. O hábito alimentar demonstrou que 98,3% dos sujeitos consomem alimentos do grupo das massas 98,3%; cereais 97,7%; laticínios 94,7%; frutas 92,3%; gorduras 88,3% e as hortaliças 61,6%, não havendo diferenças significativas no consumo alimentar entre o tipo de escolas e gênero (n = 300). No índice de atividade física habitual há diferenças entre esses respectivos extratos: 2,65±0,78 e 2,81±0,80 (p < 0,014) e 2,89±0,82 e 2,57±0,78 (p < 0,001), com as práticas de atividades esportivas, programas de exercícios físicos e lazer ativo mais significativo em escolas privadas 2,85 ± 1,06 e 3,37±1,26 (p < 0,001) em prol do sexo masculino com 3,47±1,24 e 2,75±1,03 (p <0,001). Resistência abdominal ( =19) e força de membros inferiores ( =128,5 cm) foram classificadas como muito fraco , a flexibilidade ( =26,9 cm) razoável e resistência geral ( =1439 m) como bom . Conclui-se que o hábito alimentar e o baixo índice de atividade física habitual influenciam negativamente os índices da aptidão física relacionada à saúde dos escolares, com menor incidência em instituições privadas em função das práticas esportivas. Este estudo apresenta relação de interface multidisciplinar, tendo o seu conteúdo uma aplicação nos campos da Medicina, Nutrição e Educação Física

Estado nutricional antropométrico, composição corporal e pressão arterial em adolescentes

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: (1) estimar as prevalências de excesso de peso e de gordura corporal, obesidade central e pressão arterial elevada (PAE) em adolescentes beneficiários do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE) da rede municipal de ensino de Natal-RN; (2) verificar a associação entre variáveis antropométricas e de composição corporal com a pressão arterial, a maturação sexual e a história familiar positiva de fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular (FRDCV); (3) comparar dois padrões de referência para classificação do excesso de peso em adolescentes; e (4) propor equações preditivas de massa gorda (MG) e massa livre de gordura (MLG) baseadas nos perímetros corporais. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com 526 adolescentes beneficiários do PNAE, em Natal, Brasil. O tamanho da população de estudo foi definido por amostragem aleatória, em dois estágios, e ponderada segundo número de alunos de cada escola. No primeiro estudo, o excesso de peso foi determinado por Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), a gordura corporal estimada por dobras cutâneas e a obesidade central por perímetro abdominal. A pressão arterial elevada foi classificada conforme a American Academy of Pediatrics. As prevalências foram apresentadas em valores relativos e efeito do desenho. Realizou-se uma análise fatorial para sintetizar o conjunto de variáveis antropométricas visando identificar fatores comuns. Extraíram-se dois fatores: (1) padrão excesso de adiposidade e (2) padrão adiposidade central elevada. Para avaliar a associação entre os padrões de adiposidade corporal com pressão arterial elevada, faixa etária, maturação sexual e história familiar de FRDCV utilizou-se a Razão de Chances e respectivo intervalo de confiança de 95% e regressão logística. No segundo estudo, calculou-se a sensibilidade e a especificidade do excesso de peso classificado segundo o IOTF e a World Health Organization WHO em relação ao excesso de adiposidade corporal; e a estatística Kappa para medir a concordância entre os dois padrões de referência. No terceiro estudo, foram elaborados modelos preditivos de MG e MLG com base em nove perímetros corporais, utilizando a bioimpedância Byodinamics 450 como padrão de referência. Para tanto foram selecionados 218 adolescentes eutróficos, segundo o IMC a partir do estudo transversal. As equações foram estimadas por regressão linear múltipla, considerando a idade e os perímetros corporais. Os resultados apontaram que 14,1% dos meninos e 15,7% das meninas tinham excesso de peso; 15,3% dos meninos e 11,6% das meninas tinham excesso de gordura corporal e dentre os meninos 14,3% tinham pressão arterial elevada e as meninas, 21,4%. Todos os efeitos do desenho foram inferiores a 2,5%. Nos meninos, o padrão excesso de adiposidade foi associado à história familiar positiva de FRDCV (ORajust=2,60; 1,09-6,22), maturação sexual (ORajust=2,92; 1,04-8,22) e PAE (ORajust=3,66; 1,34-9,94). Os meninos com 12 anos e mais apresentaram 6,1 vezes mais chance de apresentar padrão adiposidade central elevada do que os adolescentes com 10 a 11 anos (IC95% 2,32-16,04), assim como os púberes apresentaram 3,2 vezes este mesmo padrão em relação aos pré-púberes (IC95%1,14-8,85). A partir da comparação entre os dois padrões de referencia de classificação do excesso de peso por meio do IMC, observou-se que a sensibilidade foi de 79,3% para o critério IOTF e de 88,9% para WHO e a especificidade foi de 94,7% e 89,9%, respectivamente. O nível de concordância foi maior para o critério IOTF (Kappa=0,70 x Kappa=0,64). Em relação à construção das equações preditivas de gordura corporal, do total de 106 meninos e 112 meninas, foram desenvolvidas duas equações para estimar MG e duas para MLG, considerando o sexo. No sexo masculino, a equação para estimar a MG incluiu as variáveis idade, punho, quadril e perímetro abdominal (R2=0,552; AIC=416,04) e MLG, idade, punho e antebraço (R2=0,869; AIC=578,24). Enquanto que no feminino, MG foi estimada pelas variáveis punho, perímetro do abdômen, do quadril, da coxa proximal e da panturrilha (R2=0,838; AIC=415,36); e a MLG por idade, punho, perímetro do abdômen, do quadril e da panturrilha (R2=0,878; AIC=512,48). Conclui-se que os adolescentes tinham elevada prevalência de excesso de adiposidade corporal e de pressão arterial elevada. Tanto o padrão excesso de adiposidade quanto adiposidade central elevada constituem-se em padrões de risco. O padrão excesso de adiposidade foi associado à pressão arterial, história familiar positiva de FRDCV e maturação sexual em meninos. O critério IOTF mostrou-se menos sensível, mais específico, com maior nível de concordância e maior probabilidade de identificar corretamente o excesso de gordura corporal nos adolescentes avaliados. Quatro equações foram desenvolvidas para a estimativa da MG e MLG em adolescentes. As equações desenvolvidas para estimar a MG no sexo feminino e MLG para ambos os sexos apresentaram valores elevados de coeficiente de determinação ajustados e, portanto, são as preferenciais. Este estudo foi realizado com a participação de equipe multidisciplinar composta por professores da área de Nutrição, Endocrinologia Pediátrica, Estatística, Educação Física, discentes do Curso de Graduação em Nutrição e residentes em Pediatria

Abordagem inicial de lesões mamárias por biopsia helicóide: estudo experimental

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the kit-Bh performance in carrying out of breast biopsies. METHODS: They were randomly selected a sample of 30 patients with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy, based on the results of a pilot study from February 2008 to April 2010. They were excluded women with had not palpable, stone-hard consistency tumors, previous surgical manipulation or that contains liquid. Using the helicoid biopsy Kit (kit Bh) and an equipment Core biopsy with cannula and needle and 14 gauge respectively, it was collected a fragment of sound equipment in the area and in tumors in each specimen, totaling 120 fragments for histological study. For data analysis, it was defined a 95% confidence level and used the SPSS-13 version, the Kappa index and the parametric Student t test. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 51.6 years (± 11.1 years). The infiltrating ductal carcinoma showed a higher incidence, 26 cases (86.7%). The Core biopsy had a sensitivity of 93.3%, specificity of 100% and accuracy 96.7%, while the helicoid biopsy had a sensitivity of 96.7%, specificity of 100% and accuracy 98.3%. By comparing the histology of tumors and the fragments of biopsies, there was high degree of agreement in diagnoses (kappa of 0.93 with p <0.05) CONCLUSION: Both devices provided the histological diagnosis of lesions with high accuracy. Results of this study showed that the helicoid biopsy is a reliable alternative in 22 the preoperative diagnosis of breast lesions. Further studies in vivo better will define the role of Kit Bh in the diagnosis of these lesions

Impacto da atividade física na qualidade de vida em mulheres de meia idade: estudo de base populacional

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Juizados especiais federais e o acesso à justiça federal no Rio Grande do Norte

This work aims to study the performance of Juizados Especiais Fedrais (JEF) in Rio Grande do Norte and its contribution to the facilitation of access to justice by ordinary citizens. Created in 2001, the JEF looks simplify and reduce the procedural steps and reduce the number of appeals referred to the courts so that justice is possible to provide a more agile. In this sense, are designed to contribute to the democratization of access to justice. In Rio Grande do Norte, the JEF was established and began operating in January 2002, serving in causes civil pension. From 2005, the Court began to receive all types of civil cases and have a virtual system of processing of cases. Among the methodological procedures used in conducting research, highlight the documentary survey in the virtual site of the Federal Justice of RN, to obtain data on the shares tried and sentenced in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007, using the quantitative research. Were also conducted interviews with federal judges, using the qualitative research method. Among the results, we conclude that the Juizado Especial Federal in Rio Grande do Norte is complying with its objective of making justice more accessible and responsive to ordinary citizens, especially the short time that an action leads to the entry in the Court to be given the sentence

Entre a potência e o ato: atitudes políticas e percepções de mobilização em Natal e Porto Alegre

The recent democratic process in Brazil made it as element for its consolidation the idea of participation. It requires a state model that included on its agenda democratic society participation in decision-making process, and a society that has as a principle based participatory civic consciousness. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the level of political participation in two Brazilian state capitals , Natal and Porto Alegre. Data were obtained through quantitative data from the application of 384 questionnaires in both capitals. We chose some variables that will form the basis for our study; Duties of a good citizen, a good citizen rights, Confidence, Index of socialization, exposure to media, degree of interest in politics; Mobilization; Associations. Already qualitative research sought to address the political, cultural and institutional of the two municipalities

O controle social do judiciário: a experiência do Observatório da Justiça e Cidadania no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte

This dissertation deals with the possibility of build an effective social control of the judiciary Brazilians. The theme was bounded by a cut geographic and secular: the experience of the Center of Justice and Citizenship in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (OJC/RN), which begins formally in august 2003. The research approach and leave of experience in judicial practice and policy specific substrates to theorize about the subject. We collected documents about cases, the judicial diagnoses, reports, news material, in addition to lifting bibliographic. Therefore, it is working with about notions of a democratic state of right in the light of the Brazilian Constitution of 1988, in order to contextualize the insertion of the judicial system, by the prospect of legitimacy, which is considered by a look formal and material. It is a brief analysis of the system of official control of the judiciary (internal and external), is emphasizing its shortcomings functional and its corporate character, which suffers from poor conformation democratic. Then there is a discussion about the need to establish the social control of the judiciary, through the prism of relations of power that are locked in the judiciary, the lack of formal criteria for the guarantee of obtaining the correct judgment (laws, precedents and conscience of the judge), the problems of impunity and justice class, and from the examination of some cases, as the body of search. From this conjuncture, prepares to be an outline of shapes and the limits of social control, consonant the proposal erected in certain sectors of organized civil society, represented by the movement s social OJC. In the end, considerations are made on the legitimacy and constitutionality of OJC