Diagnóstico ambiental das águas do estuário Jundiaí-Potengi pela determinação dos índices de qualidade da água e toxidez

This study is an environmental diagnosis of the Jundiaí-Potengi/RN estuarine system waters, using calculations of pollution indicator indices such as the Water Quality Index (WQI) and the Toxicity Index (TI). The samples were collected at twelve points on the estuary, at high and low tide, between August and November 2007, over four campaigns. The study area, located in a high impact region, has various activities on its banks such as: discharge of untreated or undertreated domestic and industrial sewage, shrimp farming, immunizer stabilization lakes, riverside communities, etc. All the parameters analyzed were compared to the limits of CONAMA Resolution No. 357 of 2005 for healthy and saline Class 1 waters. The results found prove the impact caused by various activities, mainly the parameters related to the presence of organic material, such as DQO, DBO, COT and thermotolerant colliforms. The IQA for most of the collection points was of medium quality. For the metals, although values above the Resolution limits were found, most of them were lower than the detection limits of ICP-OES used, indicating that they tend to be transported by the dynamic of the tides or rainfall and are deposited in bottom sediments, resulting in a TI of 1.0 in this water, when they are absent, which occurs in most cases, or 0.0, when heavy metals are found in these waters

Monitoramento das águas da bacia hidrográfica pirangi pela determinação dos índices de qualidade da água-iqa e índice de toxidez-it

The problems of water supply in Northeast Brazil are severe and require more focused studies. This work was intended to assess water quality in the watershed Pirangi, located in the Northeastern state of the newborn using the Water Quality Index, AQI associated with the Index of Toxicity-IT. The data presented in this study were collected in November 2008, June 2009 and March 2010 at eight sampling stations distributed throughout the basin. The study covered nine parameters, based on guidelines established by CETESB, and seven members of Metal Toxicity index-IT. These waters are framed in the classification between GOOD and BAD showing AQI 41.34 minimum and a maximum of 76.23. Virtually all seven metals analyzed were below the detection limits of ICP-OES giving IT a water equal to one when they are absent and 0 when there are levels of trace metals

Limonologia e qualidade ambiental de um corpo lêntico receptor de efluentes tratados da indústria de petróleo

Environmental pollution has become a subject of public interest throughout the world. Not only have developed countries been affected by environmental problems but also the developing nations have started to suffer from the serious impacts of pollution. Within this context it is necessary to collect simplified environmental data to assist in the management of water resources by the appropriate authorities. These data are obtained through an environmental index that allows a space-time comparison of points distributed in the same aquatic body, or between different water bodies, for physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters. The aim of this present study was to determine the environmental status of the Lagoa de Baixo at Guamaré/RN, where a production unit of PETROBRAS RN/CE is located. For this purpose the Water Quality Index (WQI) was used in both an add and multiply form, the Trophic State Index (TSI) and the Environmental Quality Quotient (EQQ), as well as determining the concentrations of metals. The average values obtained for the WQI, in its two forms were 68,67 and 62,76 respectively which were inside the good qualification. According to the TSI the lagoon showed characteristics of a middle trophic state, and an impact level of regular as determined by the EQQ

Prevalência de excesso de peso em pré-escolares na cidade do Natal

Obesity is currently considered a public health problem and there has been growing interest in the study of various aspects related to this infirmity such as: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and others. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of weight excess and overweight in preschoolers in Natal, Brazil and relate them to variables such as gender, age, type of school (public or private) and zones of the city (east/south and north/west). This is a transversal study, carried out in Natal, Brazil between August and September 2004, in 20 public and 20 private schools/day care centers selected by the systematic sampling method. We measured the weight and height of 3721 students between the ages of 2 and 6 years. The children were stratified, according to age, into age group 1 (2 to 4 years) and age group 2 (5 and 6 years) and according to the region of the school, into north/west and east/south zones, the regions with the smallest and highest quality of life indices in the city, respectively. Children were considered to have weight excess when BMI ≥ 85th percentile, including those with BMI ≥ 95th percentile and overweight when BMI ≥ 95th percentile. The prevalence of weight excess was 26.5%, and of overweight 12.4%. There was greater prevalence of weight excess in the private schools and in the east/south zones. Overweight displayed the same epidemiologic profile, with a greater prevalence in private schools and in the east/south zones. The prevalence of weight excess in preschoolers in Natal, Brazil is high and is related, above all, to private schools and to those located in the highest quality of life areas. Therefore, prevention programs should be implanted in elementary schools in order to decrease weight excess and possible associated co-morbidities. This research project met the norms established by PPGCSa/UFRN and aimed at promoting the interrelation between different researchers and between different fields of knowledge, using multi and interdisciplinary concepts. This study was enriched by the interaction between the following professionals: pediatrician, pediatric gastroenterologist and physician nutrition specialist, pediatric endocrinologist, epidemiologist and biostatistician

Avaliação da qualidade da água do Rio Piranhas-Açu/RN utilizando a comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos

The biomonitoring technique for water quality in water bodies has been incorporated increasingly in management of the natural resources, using mainly indices of its aquatic community characteristics. In Brazil the first efforts to use this technique was restricted to the South and the Midwest region of this country. Located in the northeast region, this study was conducted at Rio Grande do Norte state and had as main objective the assessment of water quality in the Piranhas-Açu river using benthic macroinvertebrates community as biological indicators. Thus, were applied two biotic indices, the BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party score system) and the IBF (Family Biotic Index). According the requirements of these indices, two periods of sampling were determined as basic methodology, in dry seasons of 2006 and 2007. The sampling sites were around the municipalities of Açu, Ipanguaçu, Alto do Rodrigues and Pendências. Physical-chemical measurements; a protocol of rapid assessment of diversity of habitats, and determination of the degree of tolerance of each taxon to organic pollution were also performed. The most abundant organisms found in the river were tolerant with the prevalence of Chironomidae (Diptera) and Melanoides tuberculata. This results, together with those ones got in indices application, showed a considerable organic pollution in the four sample places and the reaches were classified as modified to impacted. According to the used indices, this study suggest that this river have significant alteration in the biotic community and water quality on the organic pollution, and this fact, occurs in the reach of the river further downstream, where were expected a good water quality. Considering these results, measures aiming the conservation of this water body are needed regarding as it is inserted into a fragile ecosystem with dry season phenomenon, and the water of this river has extremely importance for the local economy

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

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Estratégia de produção e competitividade :estudo de caso com enfoque de estratégia de foco em empresas de fibra de vidro

The objective of this thesis is to study the theory of production as it relates to and focuses on the strategy of production and competitiveness. The theory utilized was based on Terry Hill s Strategies through the utilization of Matrix of Manufacturing Strategy Issues and supported by the studies of others in this area. The methodology used for the development of this study was based on observing the engagement between two companies over a long period of time. Through interviews and discussions it was possible to collect the necessary information to guide this study; and by constant involvement in each of these companies, their ways of thinking, performing and administrating were observed and understood. In conclusion, this work created an understanding of the importance of the strategy of production, not as the only important element but as an important factor to direct attitudes and decisions in the company under the concept of strategy and competitiveness

Desenvolvimento de uma desfribadeira para obtenção da fibra da folha do abacaxi

In 1998 the first decorticator was developed in the Textile Engineering Laboratory and patented for the purpose of extracting fibres from pineapple leaves, with the financial help from CNPq and BNB. The objective of the present work was to develop an automatic decorticator different from the first one with a semiautomatic system of decortication with automatic feeding of the leaves and collection of the extracted fibres. The system is started through a command system that passes information to two engines, one for starting the beater cylinder and the other for the feeding of the leaves as well as the extraction of the decorticated fibres automatically. This in turn introduces the leaves between a knife and a beater cylinder with twenty blades (the previous one had only 8 blades). These blades are supported by equidistant flanges with a central transmission axis that would help in increasing the number of beatings of the leaves. In the present system the operator has to place the leaves on the rotating endless feeding belt and collect the extracted leaves that are being carried out through another endless belt. The pulp resulted form the extraction is collected in a tray through a collector. The feeding of the leaves as well as the extraction of the fibres is controlled automatically by varying the velocity of the cylinders. The semi-automatic decorticator basically composed of a chassis made out of iron bars (profile L) with 200cm length, 91 cm of height 68 cm of width. The decorticator weighs around 300Kg. It was observed that the increase in the number of blades from 8 to twenty in the beater cylinder reduced the turbulence inside the decorticator, which helped to improve the removal of the fibres without any problems as well as the quality of the fibres. From the studies carried out, from each leaf 2,8 to 4,5% of fibres can be extracted. This gives around 4 to 5 tons of fibres per hectare, which is more than that of cotton production per hectare. This quantity with no doubt could generate jobs to the people not only on the production of the fibres but also on their application in different areas

Estudo da fibra de coco como reforço em tijolo de solocimento

To take care of to the demand of the new constructions in the low income communities and to develop the production of a strengthened alternative brick with staple fibers of coconut, capable to contribute mainly with the recycling of the green and mature coconut in the urban and agricultural lexes, this research was developed, to confection bricks of soil-cement with coconut fiber. Ecologically correct material and of low cost, since the greenhouse use of or oven for burning will be manufactured without. The study it presents a set of tables and graphs that prove good indices found in the values of the density, water absorption, axial compressive strength and isolation term acoustics, with evidential results that make possible the production in industrial character with press mechanics or the place of the workmanship with manual form. The preparation of coconut staple fibers was made of natural form without use of chemical products not to deprive of characteristics the properties mechanical physicist-chemistries and of the same ones. The sixty bricks produced in simple and manual press had been carried through in four lots of fifteen units. The mixture of aggregates was made in four different traces composites for: ground erinaceous, cement, fiber of dry coconut and water; the bricks had been compact in the press and cured in natural way under an area covered during the minimum time of seven days

Análise da salubridade do meio urbano com base na utilização de índices ambientais: aplicação na bacia de drenagem XII da cidade do Natal-RN

The growing accumulation of people in urban centers caused chronic problems of the cities to begin to take an increasingly unsustainable. Primarily related to lack of infrastructure coupled with sanitation and lack of investment in critical sectors such as health, education, housing and transportation, these problems start to deteriorate markedly the quality of life of city dwellers and put into test management policies of the spaces urbanized. To reverse this situation, shows is essential to the use of tools (highlighting this harvest rates and environmental indicators) that help in assessing the current conditions and may assist in predicting future scenarios. From the information listed above, now put the research seeks to present an index called ISBA Environmental (Sanitation Index) which looks at the four urban systems (water, sewer, solid waste and urban drainage) from the viewpoint of application in a geographical cutout specific - in this case the Drainage Basin XII, defined by the Plan of Urban Drainage Stormwater in the city of Natal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte. This index, together with analysis of other factors sought to trace the current conditions of the basin and thus, assist in proposing the best solutions. For the preparation of the index was applied a questionnaire with a sample of 384 (three hundred eighty-four) households that aimed to study two variables: access to services and satisfaction of the population in relation to these. The ISBA has shown that the system is the most deficient collection and disposal of effluents (ICE = 47.66%), followed by the drainage of rainwater (IDAP = 54.17%), water supply (AAI = 61, 36) and solid waste collection (IRS = 78.28). With the ISBA was possible to verify that the qualitative data shows whose subjectivity is evident (as is the case of user satisfaction) can be of great importance when an assessment, since we obtained the correlation coefficient between the variables "Access" and " Satisfaction "equal to 0.8234, showing a strong correlation between the existence / quality of service offered and the impressions of the population that receives them

Prevalência de doença arterial obstrutiva periférica (DAOP) e alterações sensoriais em pacientes diabéticos tipo 2: impacto da DAOP sobre a qualidade de vida, nível de atividade física e composição corporal

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) affected approximately 171 million people in the world in the year 2000 as described by the World Health Organization (WHO). Because DM is a multisystem disease it can cause several complications especially those related to the cardiovascular system. The Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) of the lower limbs and the Diabetic Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy (DDSP) can affect the DM patient causing consequences as the diabetic foot and eventually amputations. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of PAD and sensorial impairment in 73 type 2 DM (DM2) patients and also assess the impact of PAD on quality of life, level of physical activity and body composition. For clinical assessment it was used: the ankle-brachial index (ABI); quantitative sensorial test for tactile sensibility (ST), pain (SD), vibration (SV); Achilles tendon reflex (RA); quality of life questionnaire (SF-36); modified Baecke physical activity questionnaire and bioelectric impedance. Prevalence of PAD in the studied population was 13.7%. ABI was inversely correlated to age (p=0,03; rhô= -0,26), diabetes duration (p=0,02; rhô= -0,28) and blood pressure (p= 0,0007; rhô= -0,33). There were lower scores for physical health summary on the SF-36 in DM2 patients; however, the presence of PAD predominantly mild did not significantly impact quality of life, body composition or physical activity level assessed by questionnaire. Fourteen patients (19.2%) present bilateral and symmetrical alterations in two or more sensorial tests compatible to DPN diagnosis. Abnormalities in ST, SD and SV were present in 27.3%, 24.6% and 8.2%; respectively. There was association of results from ST abnormalities with RA and mainly with SD, suggesting the importance of 10g monofilament use in DM2 routine assessment. In conclusion, the prevalence of PAD in subclinical DM2 was slightly higher compared to the general population and in agreement to previously published data in DM patients. The PAD severity was predominantly mild and still without repercussion on quality of life and body composition. Our study demonstrated a significant prevalence of both PAD and DPN in DM2 without previous diagnosis of these complications and indicates the necessity of early preventive and therapeutic interventions for this population

Impacto sócio-dentário das oclusopatias e suas respectivas necessidades de tratamento na qualidade de vida de adolescentes

Nas últimas décadas, com a significativa redução da cárie dentária em crianças e adolescentes, uma maior atenção tem sido dada a outros problemas bucais como as oclusopatias. Em termos epidemiológicos no Brasil, esta tem ocupado o terceiro lugar dentre os problemas de saúde oral na população e, portanto, a inclusão destas como um problema de saúde pública se deve não apenas à sua alta prevalência, mas também ao impacto social, que interfere diretamente na qualidade de vida das pessoas. Diante do exposto é que este estudo objetiva buscar o impacto da presença e severidade das oclusopatias e suas respectivas necessidades de tratamento na qualidade de vida de adolescentes escolares de um município. Sendo assim, foram examinados 356 escolares na faixa etária de 15 -19 anos e determinadas a prevalência, severidade e necessidade de tratamento de oclusopatias através dos índices DAI, IOTN e ICON. O impacto sócio dentário das oclusopatias na qualidade de vida dos adolescentes foi analisado através do índice CS-OIDP. A fim de se verificar possíveis influências de variáveis estudadas na determinaçao do impacto na qualidade de vida das oclusopatias, estas serão coletadas através do estatus sócio-econômico, gênero, idade e tipo escola. Nos resultados parciais, relacionado a 50% da amostra, se observou uma maior prevalência do escolares de escola pública(68,1%), idade entre 15-16 anos(74,7%), gênero feminino(52,7%) e maior prevalência do SES baixo(77,5%). A análise estatística usando o teste qui-quadrado mostrou uma associação significativa do impacto da oclusopatia na qualidade de vida apenas quando avaliada com o índice ICON e o A-IOTN do examinado, comprovando uma associação da necessidade de tratamento com a presença do impacto na qualidade de vida. Com isso, busca-se comprovar e enfatizar a necessidade de se estabelecer políticas públicas que trabalhem na prevenção e interceptação dessas oclusopatias na população, melhorando, portanto, a qualidade de vida e saúde oral dos adolescentes.

Impacto sócio-dentário das ocusopatias e suas respectivas necessidades de tratamento na qualidade de vida de adolescentes

Nas últimas décadas, com a significativa redução da cárie dentária em crianças e adolescentes, uma maior atenção tem sido dada a outros problemas bucais como as oclusopatias. Em termos epidemiológicos no Brasil, esta tem ocupado o terceiro lugar dentre os problemas de saúde oral na população e, portanto, a inclusão destas como um problema de saúde pública se deve não apenas à sua alta prevalência, mas também ao impacto social, que interfere diretamente na qualidade de vida das pessoas. Diante do exposto é que este estudo objetiva buscar o impacto da presença e severidade das oclusopatias e suas respectivas necessidades de tratamento na qualidade de vida de adolescentes escolares de um município. Sendo assim, foram examinados 356 escolares na faixa etária de 15 -19 anos e determinadas a prevalência, severidade e necessidade de tratamento de oclusopatias através dos índices DAI, IOTN e ICON. O impacto sócio dentário das oclusopatias na qualidade de vida dos adolescentes foi analisado através do índice CS-OIDP. A fim de se verificar possíveis influências de variáveis estudadas na determinaçao do impacto na qualidade de vida das oclusopatias, estas serão coletadas através do estatus sócio-econômico, gênero, idade e tipo escola. Nos resultados parciais, relacionado a 50% da amostra, se observou uma maior prevalência do escolares de escola pública(68,1%), idade entre 15-16 anos(74,7%), gênero feminino(52,7%) e maior prevalência do SES baixo(77,5%). A análise estatística usando o teste qui-quadrado mostrou uma associação significativa do impacto da oclusopatia na qualidade de vida apenas quando avaliada com o índice ICON e o A-IOTN do examinado, comprovando uma associação da necessidade de tratamento com a presença do impacto na qualidade de vida. Com isso, busca-se comprovar e enfatizar a necessidade de se estabelecer políticas públicas que trabalhem na prevenção e interceptação dessas oclusopatias na população, melhorando, portanto, a qualidade de vida e saúde oral dos adolescentes.

Avaliação da relação entre qualidade de sono e uma intervenção com jogos para o desempenho de crianças e adolescentes

The sleep is an active brain process that allows the efficient realization of daily tasks. The changes on sleep patterns may influence the different cognitive processes performance. Many recent studies show the possibility of cognitive performance improvement, through the cognitive training with the use of computer games. The question is if these interventions may be influenced by the sleep quality. Thus, we evaluated the sleep quality effect about the efficacy of an intervention with computers games based on the working memory and attention for a cognitive performance training of elementary school students. The sample was constituted by 42 students with average age of 10,43 years old (SD=1,23), with 22 male participants and 20 female participants. We used to evaluate the sleep with the parents a sleep questionnaire, a sleep diary and the Sleep Behavior Questionnaire. In regard to intervention, the subjectives were distributed in an experimental and in a control group, both with 21 participants. In the first group occurred the intervention that consisted in the working memory and attention training with two cognitive tasks (Safari e Brain Workshop) during 30 daily minutes, for a 6 weeks period. In an equal period, the students from the control group should reproduce an artwork using drawing software. To evaluate the cognitive performance we applied before and after the intervention period the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III). The results showed that in both the groups the performance of the intelligence, working memory, attention and visuospatial skills was below of the mean. The cognitive processes evaluated after of intervention in the experimental group had a performance significantly higher in the Perceptual Reasoning Index (t = -6,24; p < 0,01) and in the Full Scale IQ (t = -5,09; p < 0,01) and Performance IQ (t = -6,52; p < 0,01), suggesting a improvement on the visuospatial skills, attention, working memory and processing speed. On the control group, the performance was significantly higher in the Coding subtest (t = -5,38; p< 0,01) and in the Perceptual Reasoning Index (t = -3,66; p = 0,01), suggesting a improvement on the visuospatial skills and attention. The mean obtained with the Sleep Behavior Questionnaire was 53,76 (SD=14,96) for an experimental group and 61,19 (SD=12,82) for a control group, indicating tendency for a bad sleep quality in that last one. Not only during the first days, but also in the last fifteen days of the intervention we verified in the two groups an adequate time to sleep, duration and regularity, in the weekdays and on the weekends. We didn t find significant differences between the two groups in none of the sleep variables. We verified statistically meaningful improvement on the performance of the experimental group with the intervention in the two games. We didn t verify significant correlations between the games performance index and in the sleep variables of the experimental group individuals. We verified significant correlations among the performance on the Brain Workshop and the Cubes subtest, the Perceptual Reasoning Index and the Scale Performance IQ, suggesting that the significant improvement of the visuospatial skills and of the attention was correlated with the performance in the Brain Workshop. Although the absence of correlations with the performance in the Safari, possibly it also has relieved in the improvement of the cognitive performance. The findings support the hypothesis that the computer games might be a satisfactory tool for the improvement of the performance in visuospatial skills and attention. This can be resulted of the insertion of visuospatial stimulations in the task, for example, graphical elements with thematic for children that increase the interest. The IQ below mean the individuals might have influenced the improvement absence on the cognitive processes like the working memory with games. Moreover, it wasn t verified a relation between the sleep quality and the intervention efficacy. It might have been influenced by the n of the sample. Future studies must focalize in the improvement of the effect of the interventions with games

Qualidade de água como tema para a socialização do conhecimento científico em região semi-árida brasileira

During the dry and rainy periods, in the Piranhas-Assu river hydrographic basin, variations in bacterioplankton and trophic state indexes were studied in the lotic and lentic environments. The means of total bacterial density wavered in the order of 107 organisms. mL-1 and they were higher in the rainy period. Cocci bacteria were numerically predominant in all sampling points, influencing the total abundance of bacterioplankton. Total bacterial biomass varied from 659 to 1997,3 µgC.L-1 due to the high values of filaments cellular volume. Total phosphorus amounted 108 µg.L-1 and it had a positive correlation with chlorophyll a (r = 0,94; p < 0,05) during dry period, when these variables presented higher concentrations. There wasn t a high spatial variation. The low transparency of water and the phosphorus and chlorophyll concentrations indicated eutrophic or hipereutrophic levels in studied points of reservoir. These variables, associated with high density and biomass values found, alert to the necessity of a constant monitoring of the semi-arid aquatic ecosystems, where the quality of water is affected by dry occurrence